"You do understand that the situation in the lunchroom didn't need to happen."

"It wasn't our fault, those guys in the cafeteria were pi-"

"I don't want to hear of what they had done Mr. Vantas. Those fools will be reprimanded later when I get the time. As for you two, especially Kankri, I don't tolerate fighting or jumping on student's backs."

Karkat growled lowly as the principal looked him straight in the eyes. She scoffed and adjusted her fuchsia glasses, directing her gaze to Kankri. He was fidgeting in his seat with wide frightened eyes that were staring at the floor. He had never been to the principal's office before. He was afraid his papa would be upset with him if he found out so he stayed silent. Maybe if he remained that way he would become invisible.

"Kankri."

"Huh?" He peered up slowly.

"Now I understand that those boys were bothering you but there is no need to stand on the table and toss food."

Kankri nodded again, biting his lip as he fidgeted again. She took notice of his nervousness and shook her head with a sigh, glancing between the two brothers.

"Alright. I'll let you both off seeing as you didn't start it. But don't get into something like that or I won't be as lenient, got it, little guppies?"

She fixed them with a sickly sweet smile which bore wicked intentions if they disobeyed. The two nodded and with a wave of the hand from the principal, they stood and left the office with relieved expressions. Karkat looked over at his brother and mulled over what to say to him as they walked the halls. Kankri beat him to the punch and spoke.

"Karky..I-I'm sorry for getting us in trouble."

"It's no problem Kankri. You were just standing up for yourself even if it did result in some chaos."

He seemed happy to hear that response from his younger sibling and smiled lightly, "That's really good to hear then~"

He had a little jump in his step from then on, it was obvious that since he had came to this school, dealt with stares and bullies and meandered his way to classes that he was frightened and sad. So Karkat's simple answer was strangely enough to comfort him. Perhaps it was a sibling thing he couldn't explain. Either way, it didn't matter much as they strode to their respective classes.

~.~.~.~.~

The rest of the day went by calmly and trouble free. Kankri however, did receive a few curious stares in most of his classes. Those who didn't outright see the teen's outburst had heard from word of mouth. He paid them no mind, ducking his head behind his book and staring blankly at the words in front of him. A sigh escaped him as he rested his head on the desk and watched the clock idly tick by.

Eventually school had ended and Kankri skipped along to the end of the hallway near the school exit. His foot tapped to a tune in his head as he waited for his brother. He soon saw the shorter in the approaching crowd, dragging his feet and growling at the other teens who bumped him. He noticed Kankri awaiting him and slowed his pace. The older brother gave him a cheery smile and a playful bump to the side, earning a side glance from the other. Along the way, he remember what had transpired earlier in the morning with that girl. Perhaps Karkat knew her and what she meant when she had said what happened to him wasn't her business let alone a secret as well.

"Hey Karky?" Kankri questioned as they strode down the street to their home. Karkat grunted in response to show he was listening. He bit his lip as he pondered a sly way to ask him about the girl he ran into today.

What was her name? Latia? Latuna? Oh yeah, Latula!

He twiddled his fingers with a faint smile before asking.

"I ran into somebody today."

Karkat hummed in response, "Is that so?"

"Yeah! Her name was Latula~ She was really nice to me and helped me get to class...and she uh, also said something else."

"Uh-huh. And what was that?" His attention slowly began to move to him as he went on.

"She mentioned something about stuff that happened back then. The uh, accident.."

Karkat went silent, pausing in his steps which went unnoticed by Kankri for a few seconds. He turned his head and saw his brother gripping the strap of his bag. His expression seemed serious as he narrowed his eyes.

"I told you already. Leave it alone."

Kankri's shoulders sagged at that. He really was curious like any child would be. Which was unfortunate for Karkat himself who wanted to speak nothing of it. He only wanted to bring back Kankri's old memories and return him to his old self. But with this current version of him continuously prying for a situation of the past, he had no idea if he could accomplish it.

So he settled on sighing and resuming his walking. Kankri's eyes were on the floor, a forlorn air drifting around him as his brother passed him by. He trailed behind keeping his eyes low. It wasn't until the silence became so overbearing that Kankri opened his mouth to fill in the gap.

But Karkat beat him to the punch.

"Why do you want to know so bad?"

"Hm?"

Karkat didn't repeat his question.

"W-Well...everyone's just so secret about it. And I don't like it! Mama told us that keeping secrets isn't good!"

"Yeah. Well mom also said that you can have secrets when they're needed to protect people or they're just in the past."

Kankri pursed his lips, surprised at the comeback.

"So..is it in the past or to keep me safe?"

Silence once more lingered between the two siblings.

"It's in the past. I doubt it'd damage you if it was said."

"Then why can't you say it?!" Kankri emphasized the sentence with a immature stomp. He was trying the others patience. The grip on the backpack strap grew tighter. But it was unseen by Kankri who resorted to the kid's way of getting anyone to tell them something. Chanting 'tell me' over and over as they were closer to home.

"..Tell me!"

Karkat grit his teeth and spun on his heel to face Kankri whom stopped at the sudden movement.

"You really wanna know? Fine! I'll tell you. You fucking fell down the stairs okay? That was the accident. You. fell. down. the stairs."

And with that proclamation, he spun back around and speed walked the rest of the way home. Kankri was left on the sidewalk with wide eyes and a surprised disposition. He fell down the stairs? Why? Did someone push him? Such an answer, harsh as it may be, only left more room for questions.

But he knew better than to bother him at the moment when he was so heated up. As he continued his own pace, he couldn't help but notice a strange nudging sensation in the back of his mind.