((Hello guys! First fanfiction that I'm uploading here. I didn't want to mention these on the summary, so I'll mention them here, first chapter:

This WILL MOST LIKELY be triggering. There will be self harming, abuse, and eating disorders. The pairings here are Gamkar, - which is the main - Erisol, Rosemary, JohnDave, DirkJake and CronKri, and there's a possibility more will be added.

Please, read with caution. I don't want anyone to get triggered by this. If you think you can't handle it, please, don't read.

The rating will start low, but when the triggering writing starts, I'll bump it up to M. I'm not planning on this being NSFW, so don't count on it, but there's a possibility. The only NSFW-related things so far are sex talk, sex jokes, etc. So yes.

Otherwise, enjoy! I have no updating schedule. I update when I wish, so that's just an fyi.))


"Fuck!"

The shout was heard from no one as the small boy it was emitted from danced around his room, hopping on one foot and holding the other. He had stepped on a thumbtack that was laying around and was currently bleeding out. Well - that's what it felt like.

After a few minutes the boy managed to settle down. Plopping onto his bed and ruffling the black comforter, he groaned in pain.

"Damnit, Karkat.." he cursed, hating himself for being dumb. Being honest he hated himself anyways, but this was just gasoline in the fire.

The black-haired kid pulled the needle out, biting his lip and screwing his eyes shut. Sighing in relief, he pressed a tissue to his wound. He patted the flesh slightly after a few minutes and collapsed onto his back, wrapping his blanket around himself. Tomorrow was his first day of college, he should probably -

Karkat groaned, annoyed, as his phone lit up on his bedside table. He reached behind him, grabbing his new iPhone - curtesy of saving up for three years for it, along with his apartment. He looked at who it was and sighed, unlocking his phone to read the text all the way -

From: Solfuck

you ready for college 2morrow? ii am. fuckiing exciitiing riight?

To: Solfuck

Shut the fuck up. I'm trying to sleep. And your typing is annoying.

After he replied he shut his cellphone off and tossed it on the floor, gently. He rolled over, turning off his lamp so his room was engulfed in darkness. As his eyes shut, he felt himself drifting off...

The alarm in the morning was an annoying wake up call. His hand met the off button after an agonizing minute of beeping. Groggily, Karkat sat up and rubbed his already baggy eyes, the blackness underneath them like a stain from his high school years of partying and drinking and staying up late but having to get up early.

The boy sat up all the way, his legs dangling over the side of his bed. He contemplated not going, calling in sick the first day. But he soon realized that would make a bad impression, so he dragged himself into the bathroom. After staring at his scowling reflection for five minutes, he grabbed a towel and threw it on the counter next to his shower before turning said object on and climbing in. Karkat found himself being woken up by the relaxing water, and quickly washed his hair. He was out in about ten minutes, and the student's hand flew out of the shower curtain to grab his towel. Speedily, he dried himself off and walked into his room, looking through his closet for something to wear. Karkat decided on a black Harley Davidson shirt and dark grey jeans, and his usual black Converse, not really noticing what he picked out.

He hopped into his jeans and slid his shirt over his head after throwing the towel to the side. The dark-haired boy picked up the discarded cloth and started drying his hair, picking up his phone in the process. He turned it on and decided to call his idiotic friend. Quickly finding him in his contacts, he hit the call button.

"Hello?.." He was greeted with a tired, low voice.

"Hey, dumbass. You're not up yet?"

"Holy shit Karkat, it's early as fuck!" the lightly-lisped voice yelled, and Karkat heard another, stuttering voice asking him to calm down.

"Yeah, but our class is 'early a'th fuck'," he replied, mocking him, and walked back into the bathroom. He held the phone to his ear by lifting his shoulder up, and started brushing out his messy raven hair to his liking.

"But it's fucking six thirty!"

He took a second to respond, fixing his bangs slightly. "Hey, I can practically hear you screaming at me through the fucking wall. I'm coming over."

Sollux and Karkat were basically best friends, even if neither of them would admit it. They had decided to move into the same apartment complex, but not the same apartment, since Sollux had a boyfriend and the slightly younger boy didn't like seeing them make out, and /definitely/ didn't like hearing them. Don't get him wrong, Eridan wasn't really a bad guy - in fact, Karkat knew him longer than Sollux and they used to be best friends until he met the speech-impaired boy and they became a triple team - but he wasn't into seeing his friends kiss. To be fair though, Eridan could be pretty annoying and slightly degrading, but he was only douchey every once in a while.

Before his friend could reply, Karkat hung up and slipped his phone into his pocket. He grabbed his backpack, slinging it over one shoulder, and took his keys and wallet, slipping the second object in his back pocket. He opened the door, before turning around and closing it. The black-haired boy locked it, before walking down the hall a few doors.

When he arrived at the front of his friends' door, he pounded his fist on it loudly.

A few minutes later, a dirty-blonde boy with a purple-and-slightly-darker-blonde streak in his currently messy hair answered the door. He was wearing a plaid purple and white button up shirt, though it was unbuttoned and revealed a plain white teeshirt underneath. The sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, and covering his legs were slightly baggy black skinny jeans. He had on white socks, but no shoes, and his hipster-like prescription glasses rested on his nose. He also wore a woven brown bracelet, matching his boyfriend's around his right wrist, which fell down his arm a small ways as he held the door open with one hand, leaning on it slightly. Karkat had to admit - he looked good. Although their friend Kanaya - who they were meeting with later - would disagree.

"Hey, Eridan," he said, raising an eyebrow.

"Hey, Kar. Sol is in the shower," he replied, opening the door a bit wider. Karkat stepped inside, throwing himself and his backpack on their light brown couch. He noticed how ruffled the usual tidy couch looked (Eridan demanded it stayed nice and clean and "W-Wrinkle free!") and groaned ever so slightly, shutting his eyes.

"I'd ask why you weren't in there with him but I think two days in a row is a lot, even for you two," he said, turning his head in the general direction he thought his friend was. "I'm surprised you can walk."

Karkat didn't even have to open his eyes to know Eridan was blushing. He heard it in his voice, in the small stutter. "Sh-Shut up, K-Karkat.." He also noticed by the way he didn't use the boy's usual nickname. It was times like this that it really stood out how much younger the hipster was - well, by a few months. Despite him being the youngest of their group of friends, even if simply by thirteen weeks, he had the brain capacity of Einstein. All of his friends appreciated him staying behind and not skipping off to go to six grades ahead, though. And while he'd never admit it, Karkat knew the smartass's bipolar boyfriend was the happiest about his decision. He saw it in his best friend's actions - the way his eyes lit up when Eridan laughed, even if his smile didn't. The way he shoved him firmly, but gently, and if he fell over he'd help him up automatically. And even the way he held the smaller boy - his own arms wrapped around his waist while the purple-obsessed moron's were around his neck, his head nestled under Sollux's chin, the computer geek's lips coming down to meet his head.

And then he thought about the sex.

God, did they have a lot of it.

Karkat shivered thinking about it, and opened his eyes as he heard the door slam, seeing Eridan stomp down to the bathroom to tell the other boy to, "Fuckin' hurry up!"

There was the fights, too.

But they always made up. Always.

Damn, did Karkat want a relationship like this.

A few minutes later, Karkat heard a door open, and he sighed in relief when he saw a chocolate-haired boy walk out of a room, a blue shirt with red streaks over his chest, light-washed jeans on his legs. He was setting his glasses on his nose, his bifurcated eyes hidden under his eyelids. Snickering to himself, Karkat gasped in horror and then coughed in fake disgust.

"Jesus, Eridan! Is this a condom? You'd think Sollux would clean up!"

At that, his best friend's eyes shot open and he stumbled into the living room, as did his boyfriend.

"What?" they yelled together, each of their faces a dark shade of red. They glanced at each other and groaned, Eridan slinking to the floor, hands covering his face, as Sollux leaped over the arm of the couch at Karkat, who was on his back, laughing.

"You're a fucking asshole, Karkat!" he yelled, pushing his friend off of his couch.

"And you're both gullible."

"Whatever. Kan's meetin' us down at Starbuck's, so I suggest we get goin'," called the hipster on the floor. He stood up, patting his hair, and then his hands met his neck. He furrowed his eyebrows and quickly ran off to his and Sollux's room.

Said boy rolled his eyes, watching his boy toy leave. "He's a fucking idiot," he mumbled, swinging his legs over the side of the couch.

"You love him, though."

"I hate him."

"Watch it," Karkat warned, arching an eyebrow. "He's sensitive. Keep that up, you'll lose him, and bam-" he snapped his fingers for added effect "-no more sex for Sollux. You'll have to resort to prostitutes."

Before the other could reply, Eridan returned, a purple and black scarf laced around his neck, light indigo Converse on his feet. "Let's go. Get your asses up," he snapped, grabbing his bag and keys. The sassy gay boy made his way over to his apartment's door, and he opened it before strutting out.

"Oh so sensitive," Sollux muttered, groaning as he stood up and slipped his own white Converse on. Karkat stumbled up and grabbed his backpack again, and his best friend grabbed his laptop bag, which was chilling at the end of the couch. They made their way out of the apartment and Sollux locked the door. They trailed after Eridan for a bit before the computer geek seemed to of gotten a bit impatient, and he ran ahead, slipping an arm around his lover's waist. The blonde looked up at him in surprise before leaning into his touch, his gaze looking forwards again. Karkat sighed, a minuscule smile tugging on the corner of his lips. They were so fucking mushy, it was disgusting, and the cranky boy admired it. He admired it even more knowing that he had helped it.

"Hey, dumbasses, I'm still here!" he called, catching up to walk next to Eridan.

"Did you hear somethin', Sol?"

"Sounded like the wind."

Karkat scoffed, rolling his eyes. But the second he saw someone staring, he flipped them off quickly and they looked away. He was very protective of his friends, even if he didn't always show it.

Pretty soon they were at the local Starbuck's, and quickly Karkat spotted his long-time friend. "Kanaya!" he called, and a tanned girl with short, nicely-trimmed black hair turned, a smile on her painted black lips. She stood up and made her way over, her green knee-length dress flowing as her hips swayed. Her strides were long and meaningful, and the dark-haired boy couldn't help but admire and appreciate her. She was so graceful.

"Karkat, love, you're finally here," Kanaya mused, her slight French accent seeping into her words.

"Yeah, and so is the hipster and that other guy," he replied, nodding over to the couple who were in line, ordering. Karkat never ordered for himself when him and his friend were to meet, because she knew exactly what he liked and he knew exactly what she liked. It was more or less a kind of tradition - whoever got there first payed for them self and the other. But they never complained, or ever walked slower to their meeting place. They didn't mind.

Kanaya peeked over his head at Sollux and Eridan, her eyebrow raising slightly. "Still as fashionable as ever, I see," her reply came, her tone smooth and sarcastic. Karkat laughed.

"Oh, yeah. Like you're better. Who still wears dresses anyways?" he joked, pulling at her elbow-length sleeve. She looked mock-offended.

"Classy people. That's who." She paused for a second, a small pink blush painting her cheeks. "Except for Rose. She's always classy."

Karkat pushed past her and laughed again, throwing his hands up as he walked to their table. "All of my friends are flaming homosexuals. You, Sollux, Dave, even my fucking brother!"

"What about Aradia? Are you implying Equius is a female? I'd have to disagree."

He sighed, and Kanaya chuckled lightly as she sat down after him. "Yes, that's a thing. I mean, he does have the hair."

"Nepeta, too. She's completely straight. For you."

"Don't make me feel bad, Kanaya. I know how madly in love with me she is, alright? But she's still in high school."

"She's a senior now."

Karkat groaned, resting his head on the table, completely ignoring his black coffee. "Makes it that much better."

Kanaya chuckled again as Eridan and Sollux made their way over, the brunette holding a large iced tea and the blonde holding a frappuccino. They sat down next to each other, and Karkat lifted his head again to see the hipster looking the girl over, and the girl looking the hipster over right back.

"Hello, Kan."

"Good morning, Eridan."

Karkat gave Kanaya a warning glance, and Sollux flashed Eridan the same kind of look.

"Nice.. scarf," she practically groaned out, her nose wrinkling ever so slightly.

"Thank you. Nice.. dress," he mumbled back, coughing and taking a sip of his drink quickly after.

Karkat rolled his eyes, and his best friend did the same. "You guys are fucking ridiculous," a lisped voice said, and Kanaya looked offended.

"It is not my fault your ridiculous boyfriend has no sense of fashion!" she whisper-yelled, leaning forwards towards the brunette. He simply shrugged.

"I don't care for his clothes," Sollux replied, smirking. It took a few seconds for it to register in everyone's minds, but when it did Kanaya and Karkat groaned, and Eridan blushed, sinking down in his seat.

"As much as I enjoy this sex talk," the black-haired boy choked out, "We're going to be late for class. So get your lazy asses up and let's move."

Less than three minutes later, the gang was walking down the street, towards their college. Kanaya and Eridan were bickering, and Sollux was interjecting with random comments, making the two yell at him, and him and Karkat snicker.

They finally arrived to their class five minutes early. Taking their seats near the back, the two lovers sat next to each other, the girl sat next next to the hipster, and the grump sat next to the girl.

As the two fashion-obsessed morons continued arguing, Karkat looked around the classroom. No one caught his eye. Everyone was normal, boring.

That was, until his eyes met a boy with shaggy black hair and a hoodie. His head was down, and he was picking at a loose string on his sleeve. When he looked up, Karkat was startled to see he had three white scars across his face. The boy's eyes were a deep hazel, and he looked uncomfortable as they darted around.

One question came to the short guy's mind: why did he have long sleeves? It was about two hundred sixty five degrees out and this douche was wearing a hoodie. Why?

Though he was curious, he wasn't about to get up and ask him. No way, no how. Who does that? Definitely not him.

Suddenly the strange boy's eyes darted over to Karkat, and their eyes were locked for a few seconds before he glanced away, his gaze back down on his hands.

"What are you looking at?" Kanaya's voice shook him out of his thoughts, and he nodded over to the boy.

"He's wearing long sleeves and I'm surprised he hasn't burst into flames yet."

Karkat sighed, resting his chin in his hand after he set his elbow on the table. His gaze looked up at the girl next to him as she spoke, her words slow and almost careful. "It could be for personal reasons, Karkat."

He snorted. "Like what? Hairy arms? Get over it." While his words were harsh, his curiosity grew, and he found he was also a bit worried. What was causing this guy to wear such clothes in such weather?

Karkat's attention snapped to the front, though, when he heard his professor start talking. He pulled his notebook and pen out and jotted sloppy and quick notes down, occasionally looking over at the boy, only to see him concentrating on what the man at the front of the classroom was saying, copying notes as well.

This pattern lasted the whole class. Listen, write, glance. Listen, write, glance. Listen, write, glance. When it was finally over, Karkat grabbed his things and quickly shoved them back in his bag. As he stood up to look around for the scarred kid again, he was disappointed to find that he had already left.

"Damn," he whispered, rubbing his neck.

"Maybe you should wait until tomorrow and see if he's wearing the same thing. But for now, let it go. What could he possibly be doing?" Kanaya questioned, taking her time putting her things back in her bag.

"I don't know," he admitted, narrowing his eyes. "But I'm going to find out."