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In all honestly, Equius doesn't think he was a good Moirail. Too angry, too uptight, according to others. Nepeta isn't happy with him. He tried fulfilling a need, making sure that she didn't stoop so low as to talk to those low-blood trash heaps, (Even though they were closer to her blood color than he ever was). Now, deep in the throws of the game, keeping her away from them just seemed pointless. Blood suddenly means nothing, and he just feels… lost.
As shameful as he is to admit it, he might honestly be… bad for Nepeta.
"TACKLE POUNCE!" In five seconds he's flat on the floor.
He sputters, "Nepeta! Get off! Release me!"
She does not release him, but she does stand, bringing Equius with her. He awkwardly gets his legs under him, like a newborn colt, "You have that sad face." She pouts, her face sadder than his.
"I did not—"
"You most definitely did." She says, angling for a pap. Equius avoids it.
He rolls his eyes, "Nepeta, the only one with a sad face is—"
"Feferi please!" Eridan begs, chasing his Ex-Moirail, "Just wait a second! Let me—" Feferi ignores him, marching right to the end of the ship.
"—Him," Equius trails off.
Nepeta scoffs, "I'm glad I don't have a Moirail like that."
Eridan and Nepeta. He's offended at the mere thought, "That's the bottom of the barrel. If I saw you settling for someone like him, I would personally go to your hive and kill them myself."
Nepeta raises an eyebrow, "That's a high-blood, higher-than-you blood."
He jolts, breaking out of her hold, "W—Well, that's true… we should respect…" His voice trails off. Eridan is a high-blood, as undeserving as that is. He's above and Equius is below. He's forgotten. It's so easy to forget on this crazed, depraved meteor.
"Besides, I don't need to worry about that. I already have a Moirail." She leans against his shoulder with a soft purr. It stops once she gets a look at his pursed lips, "Equius?" Her pout turns into a genuine frown. She reaches to pap him again, and he jerks away. Hurt covers her face, "Are you breaking up with me?"
"What?! No!" He stumbles back, "I— why would I ever—? Who would be stupid enough to—?"
"I don't know!" Nepeta frowns, crouching so she's on the balls of her feet, "You're distant, and you're acting like I'm gonna need a new Moirail soon, so..."
He sighs and sits down next to her, leaning against the wall "I don't… There is no desire to break up with you. Not now or ever."
"…But?"
"But I am unsure of what good I could bring you!" He snaps, "Before there was order, before it was clear that I had to guide you, to make sure you could live up to your purpose, and now…"
She nods, "Now there's just us."
He nods back, "The entire balance of our Moirailship has been thrown off. You still calm me, and yet, there is nothing I can do for you."
She taps her toes on the metal floor, "I'm not your Moirail because of balance, I'm your Moirail because I like you."
He tenses, "Yes, but— You're putting yourself in a bad situation—"
"I decide what's a bad situation for me!" She says, rapidly papping his face, a light purr her shoosh. It would be comforting if she wasn't moving at mach 2, "Me! Not you, or Karkat, or anyone else on this blasted meteor, me!"
He frowns, a scowl forming, "However—"
"No howevers!" She paps his face, "You don't wanna break up, and I don't wanna break up, so let's not do that!" Equius tsks, and Nepeta gives him a deadpan stare, "I don't care about balance, or what you could give me, or any of that! I care about you!" She pokes him again.
This was a losing battle from the start, "And I care about you." He sighs, unsatisfied, "So then… what next? Where do we go from here?"
Nepeta thinks for a moment, "Cuddles," She says first, throwing her head into his chest, her hand still papping his cheek against his face, "and then some good noodles with grub sauce. Then we can watch a movie."
He blinks at her, "and then..?"
"I don't know," She shrugs, "Forward."
"Forward," He repeats, slowly stroking her back.
She looks up at him with a bright smile, "I'm not leaving you behind."
He nods, "I could never leave you behind. Lets… stay Moirails."
"Moirails!" She cheers, shooting her arms up in the air.
He scoffs and picks her up, moving her off his waist, "How did I ever end up like this?
She sticks out her tongue, letting herself be picked up and placed, "Someone needs to look out for you."
Equius scoffs, "I believe that's my line."
She snorts, "Really? Where would you be without me?"
"Again, that's my line."
She giggles her little cat trills and gets up. He quickly follows suit, his forehead meeting her horns. They stand, smiling, until Eridan screams something raw and angry. Sollux quickly follows, leaving the Moirails rolling their eyes.
"I suppose there is one thing I can give you," Equius mutters.
"Hmm? What's that?"
"Protection," She laughs, her full mocking laugh, "What? I'm serious!"
"Prrease, I can handle myself."
He nods, "True, but we're stuck with a bunch of lunatics, plenty of which are stronger than you."
She snorts, "And they're not stronger than you?"
He laughs, letting a cocky grin overtake him, "For you? Not one of them could take me down."