“One kind word can warm three winter months.”

Your name is Equius Zahhak. You’re a strong troll and high on the blood hierarchy, you’re a firm believer of the rigged system and would gladly die to prove your point. Despite your powerful body and blood, you have a problem. You’re in love with your best friend, Nepeta Leijon. You’ve known her for as long as you can remember. You’re opposites in every sense of the word. You’re stoic, easy to anger, and quick to conform to the orders from higher bloods. Your fellow trolls approach you with fear due to your temperament and aggressive aura. Nepeta on the other claw is one of the sweetest trolls you’ve ever met, she’s easy to excite, doesn't understand social cues, and loves to be attached to your side. You often find yourself a victim of her sweet pounces and hugs, and as much as you deny it, you do enjoy them.

You take care of her, and she takes care of you. Your platonic love is mutual, but you’re not sure any of your romantic feelings are reciprocated. It has made it rather awkward to hang out with her. You often visit her cave, it’s just as weird and charming as her. Her stone floors are covered in furs and skins, while the walls are mounted with the biggest beasts she’s slain. She was like you in some ways, you suppose. Most of your hangouts are filled with hours of listening to her explain her new favorite hunt or art piece, sometimes she gets too excited and hugs you. Due to your extreme strength, you’re scared to ever hug her back. Whenever you let your anger get the best of you (which is more often than you’d like to admit), you’re known to break things. To help curve your uncontrollable want for violence and destruction, you build robots in your free time only to end up brawling with them. You’ve lost a few sharp teeth and half a horn to these deadly brawls. You’re a deadly troll, and the idea of hurting her with a hug makes you cringe. In fact, that thought passes your mind right then now.

You must’ve made a face as you sat in the rare moment of silence between the two of you. Nepeta sits up straight and shoots you a curious look with raised brows. 

“Equius?” Her voice is so soothing, even when it’s high-pitched from curiosity. “What’s with the funny face?” Nepeta teased with that obnoxiously sweet look on her face. 

“Nothing,” you grumble. Nepeta’s face lights up with excitement knowing well that you were hiding something. She loves to be too curious for her own good. She scoots closer to you before sitting right next to you. Her weight shifts to her hands for support as she leans closer to you.

“What are you thinking about? Something grossed you out? Thinking about Karkat? Ooh, what about--” You wave a hand in front of her face to get her to quiet down. She looks a bit surprised, but it thankfully works.

“You don’t want to know,” you speak softly to try and ease her curiosity. You quickly regret your word choice once that dumb look plasters itself back on her round face. 

“Oh I so want to know,” Nepeta grabs onto your arm and tugs on it. “Tell me! Come on Equius.”

“No,” you groan at her persistence. You know there’s no point in fighting her on this. If there’s one thing you can’t ever beat, it’s Nepeta’s unwavering nosiness. 

“Please? You never tell me anything!” Her grip on your arm tightens as she pulls you closer. Everything about her is so warm, from the look on her face to her green overcoat. 

“Fine,” you grumble as you pinch the bridge of your nose. Her grip on your arm lessens, which disappoints you more than you’d expected. “I was just thinking about you.”

Nepeta tilts her head, her brows crooked in curiosity. “Well duh, I think about you all the time, silly!” She shoots you a toothy smile. Those words meant much more than she could have ever known. You try to fight back the warmth that spreads across your face by clearing your throat. You know she only means it platonically, but that doesn't stop your imagination from running wild. 

“Yeah,” you spit out flatley. Nepeta lets go of your arm and rests her head against your boxy shoulder. She knows not to prod more at least. You can’t bring yourself to choke out a confession, so instead you let her words resonate in your heart. Her words could warm three winter months.