TEN ♋

[selfhatred]

I
IT HATCHED


THE DRAGON EGG FINALLY HATCHED!

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[selfhatred]

[There's a small pause]

...IT'S ALRIGHT IF I CALL YOU THAT, RIGHT?
I MEAN YOU'VE BEEN MORE OF A DAD TO ME THAN MY ACTUAL DAD WAS SO...

[nosigntospeakof]

IT WOULD BE AN HONOUR IF YOU'D CALL ME THAT.

[selfhatred]

...OKAY.
DAD.

[nosigntospeakof]

[He needs a moment to get over crying like a wuss in his office.]

AH, I ALMOST FORGOT.
I HAVE A BIRTHDAY PRESENT FOR YOU.

[selfhatred]

[It's okay. Karkat's close to crying himself. Vantases are saps.]

YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO.

[nosigntospeakof]

YOU'RE TURNING 14.
OF COURSE I DID.

[selfhatred]

I'LL DROP BY AFTER I SEE AUNT DI MOM AFTER EXAMS.

[nosigntospeakof]

I'LL BE IN MY OFFICE.
AND GOOD LUCK. <3

[selfhatred]

[And true to his word, a little closer to dinner time, there's a knock on Sal's door.]

[nosigntospeakof]

It's open!

[selfhatred]

[Taking a deep breath, Karkat pushed the door open, poking his head in first.]

Un...Dad?

[nosigntospeakof]

[Gosh that's going to take some getting used to. Sal is on his feet and quickly striding toward Karkat to wrap him in a tight hug.]

How did your exams go?

[selfhatred]

[It's going to take some getting used to for Karkat too. He's used to Sal's hugs by now, but he tentatively reaches up to return it.]

Okay I think. Potions kind of sucked though.

[nosigntospeakof]

[Yeeeeeeees, progress!!!]

I'm sure you did fine. [Sal gives him a quick squeeze before pulling away and kneeling down to his level.] Now close your eyes.

[selfhatred]

[He's a little skeptical but he does as he's told, eyes slipping shut. He toes the floor with his sneaker but other than that doesn't move.]

Now what?

[nosigntospeakof]

[Smiling, Sal reaches into his cloak and pulls out a small box.]

Now open them.

[selfhatred]

[Well that was fucking useless. Karkat doesn't actually say that though, and instead opens his eyes anyway, tilting his head when he sees the box before he reaches out to take it. Even after three years he wasn't really used to presents on his birthday.]

What's in it?

[nosigntospeakof]

Open it and find out.

[selfhatred]

[He gives his uncle a look before drawing the box to him, fingers wrapping around the lid. Cautiously he started to open it, tilting his head to get a view of what's inside. Knowing his uncle it could be anything, though he was more suspicious because, well, he'd been in the same dorm as John Egbert for three years. You grow to suspect anything as a trick. But this was his uncle so...]

[nosigntospeakof]

[Inside is a pocket watch. It's clearly old but well taken care of and freshly cleaned.]

Your grandfather gave this watch to me when I graduated. I was considering saving it for either you or Nepeta when the two of your graduated but considering the few months you've had I think this is a good time to give it to you.

That and Nepeta is more likely to use it as a cat toy.

[selfhatred]

[Karkat took hold of the pocket watch, opening it up and looking at it with a bit of awe on his face. He looked up when his uncle spoke, biting his bottom lip.]

A-are you sure? I mean Nepeta is your actual kid...

[nosigntospeakof]

I asked her about it and she agreed you should have it. She also agreed that it would make an excellent cat toy.

[Sal presses a firm kiss to his nephew's forehead.] Happy birthday.

[selfhatred]

[He made a mental note to do something for his cousin later, closing an eye when his uncle kissed his forehead.]

Thank you, un...Dad.