Always a Nuissance: Kankri x Reader pt. 3

-----Ch.3-----

The floor is a place you are starting to became well acquainted with. You aren't sure if that's a thing you're too happy about. Sometimes it's comfortable, and other times it's not.

Discarded garments lay around you, and a thin blanket is tangled over your sore limbs. Scratch marks mar your skin and bites drip with (b/c) blood. Your head hurts, and (h/l) black locks are mussed in disarray.

Hissing in pain, you sit up. With cautious movements, you gather your clothes. Pulling them back on irritates your wounds, and they look rumpled. Violet blood stains the corners of your lips, and it's caked under your nails.

There's no sign of Cronus, and that's for the best. You find it awkward to see him after a round of black rom. There's plenty of hatred between you two, but Cronus is so desperate. He's clingy, he tries too hard, and he isn't that good of a palemate. It's making you pity him, and that's no emotion for kismesitude.

Once fully dressed, you sneak out of Cronus' hive. He probably went to his recuperacoon after you fell asleep.

Your relationship with Cronus hasn't even worked to alleviate your thoughts of Kankri. The red sweatered troll seems to be everywhere Cronus drags you. Sometimes you meet eyes with him. The only way to break it off is Cronus smacking you in the head.

Distractedly picking at the violet on your nails, you sigh. Rufioh usually has great ideas, but this one just sunk. You wish Kankri would notice you the way you notice him.

With your eyes downcast, and mind lulled, you fail to notice the figure in front of your path. Colliding into another troll's back, you gasp. You hurriedly jump back and apologize.

"I'm so sorry! I didn't see you and I wa- Kankri?"

After being run into, Kankri turns to witness the shock on your face. The normal beating of your heart starts to fire up at the chance of a lecture. You see him often, but you haven't been subject to his words in ages.

You do not realize that those chances of a lecture are dwindling. Kankri himself is actually speechless at the disheveled state of your appearance. Cronus seems to have all of your attention. Your kismesis with Ampora is hardly a secret, Kankri sees the two of you courting from afar.

"Kankri?" His silence is new to you, it's curious.

"Ah, yes! (y/n)! You really should look where you're going. It can be very triggering to, uh... (y/n), are you okay?" Kankri trails off right at the start of his lecture. He's really acting quite strange.

"I'm fine." You assure him. Kankri eyes all of the bites and scratches, and you blush a deep (b/c).

"Really, I'm fine. I just left Cronus' hive."

Kankri's frown deepens and a strange look flashes in his eyes for a moment. The emotion vaguely resembles irritation, and you inwardly cringe. You didn't give any details, but your quadrant life is probably the last thing Kankri would care about. You probably set of a trigger.

"I-I'm sorry Kankri, I didn't mean to trigger y-"

"(y/n), please shut up." Kankri growls uncharacteristically. You jolt slightly and stare at him. "I'm not going to lecture you. I'm leaving." Kankri states briskly.

The red sweatered troll absconds, and you watch his retreating form. His harsh manner leaves your head swimming in a whirl of confusion. You've never seen Kankri look so mad. On occasion, certain triggers may leave him grumpy, but never as enraged as he just seemed. Kankri told you to shut up. He thinks the phrase is rude. Sure he's rude in a passive, unintentional way, during some lectures, but that is at least normal for him.

Pondering possible reasons for Kankri's behavior, you wander towards Rufioh's hive. He's gotten a short break with Cronus taking up so much of your time. Unfortunately, you think you're right back at square one.

Just as you lift your hand to knock on the door, it flies open. For the second time today, you run into Kankri. Also for the second time, it's literal.

Kankri's angered features are tinting candy red. He  snarls at you and shoves past. No trigger apology as he stomps away. You merely sink further into yourself. This almost seems worse than him ignoring you.

"(y/n)?"

Translucent (b/c) tears start to prick at the corners of your vision. Shoulders trembling, you turn to face your moirail. His eyes widen in shock before he pulls you into a hug.

"Woah there, doll!" Rufioh exclaims as he guides you into his hive.

"R-Rufioh... He hates me!" You blubber miserably.

"Kankri? Shit, doll! No he doesn't!" Rufioh sounds surprised as he assures you with shoosh paps.

"He does!" You shout as you push back from Rufioh. He endows a worrying look to you as your tears turn to those of ire. Rufioh didn't see the indignation in Kankri's eyes. He didn't hear how sharp the words were that Kankri spoke. Aside from hatred, what other reason could there be for his actions.

"Come on, doll. That can't be true. I know it's not true." Rufioh says in an attempt to console you.

"How can you know it's not true! Rufioh, he was acting so cold! I must have really triggered him, and now he's angry."

Rufioh's eyes light up and his lips part to speak, but he quickly retracts. His cloudy eyes plead for you to just believe him. You trust Rufioh with your life, but he doesn't have the proof you need.

"I'm sorry (y/n)."

You run a frustrated hand through your hair and try to take a deep breath. Once your tears lighten, you offer Rufioh a strained smile.

"I'm going to head back to my hive."

Rufioh follows you to the door in silence. You just step out when Rufioh calls out to you.

"(y/n), try confessing to him again." Withholding a reply, you leave in quiet.