What the fuck.
Why are there only four humans returning?
Why are the only four humans to return the ones you don't give a shit about?
Where the fuck is Dave?
"You look awful," Kanaya's saying worriedly, running forward to catch the stupider-looking Strider as he stumbles.
"I feel like shit," Dirk says, pushing her away gently as he regains his balance and stands on his own. "But it's fine. We won."
Terezi stares before a wide grin breaks out across her face. "Yesssss! I knew it!" she cheers, pumping her fist into the air excitedly. "I knew sending you guys in would do it!" She grins down at Vriska, still unconscious on the ground. "Saved your sorry ass," she adds, snickering.
You look around them; maybe the others are trailing behind? Maybe they're getting rid of English's body? Maybe they're..?
Your hands ball into fists, and you grit your teeth. "Where are the others?" you ask, struggling to keep your voice even. You turn and look at them, and the looks on their faces make it difficult to stop the tears from coming to your eyes. "Where the fuck is Dave?"
"I…" Jane bursts into tears suddenly, like a dam just broke. Your bloodpusher is not where it belongs. It does not belong in your stomach. The girl clings tightly to Roxy, crying into her shoulder.
Roxy averts her gaze, hugging Jane tightly and shooshing her. "Shhhh, Janey, it's okay."
Your claws are digging into your palms and you don't fucking care because you need to see Dave Strider right fucking now, where the fuck is he? "Someone answer me," you hiss.
Jake looks down at the ground awkwardly, and you swear you see his shoulders shake with the force of a silent sob. Is it possible for your heart to drop farther than into your stomach? Can that happen? You should probably seek medical attention. Dirk draws a deep, shaky breath. "Gone," he finally says, voice weak. "They're gone."
Kanaya steps back a bit, eyes wide. Her hand covers her mouth, and it's like she hadn't figured it out before now. "W-what do you mean gone..?" she says meekly.
"I mean they're not coming back," he says, and his voice breaks. You've never seen him like this, but you really couldn't bring yourself to give less of a shit if you tried.
"So he killed them, and you didn't fucking do anything to stop it?" you hiss angrily. You're surprised your voice is still so quiet. You expected to yell.
"No," he says, shaking his head. "They're not dead. He sucked them into some…house-shaped juju thing." Jane's crying even harder now, and Roxy glares at Dirk with tears in her eyes. Jake curls in on himself a bit, and now Dirk's looking away from everyone. "We… we couldn't do anything," he adds weakly.
"Bullshit!" You can feel blood on your hands; your claws broke the skin. But it's nothing compared to the burning feeling in your chest. "What do you mean you couldn't do anything?! You were all supposed to watch each other's backs!" Fuck, your vision's blurry and everything's tinted red; you hate crying.
"Karkat." You feel Terezi's small hands on your arm, pulling you back. You hadn't even realized you'd started storming towards him. And you barely feel it when you tear your arm away from her and continue forward. By the time your fist meets Dirk Strider's face, all of your senses are numb. You don't feel anything. "Karkat!"
Kanaya's crying. You hate seeing Kanaya cry. Even worse than that is seeing her worrying about you when she's already crying. But why is she crying? She doesn't give a shit about Dave. She doesn't know what you're feeling. "Karkat, please," she's saying, "don't. It won't bring them back." Why is Kanaya holding you back? This is the troll who sawed Eridan in half for killing her, even when she came back as a badass rainbow drinker. And now you're standing in front of four immortal humans who are responsible for your matesprit – no, boyfriend's disappearance, and she doesn't want to let you punch one of them?
"Let go," you growl, yanking away from her. She has an iron grip on your arm, and soon you feel Terezi clinging to the other one. "Fucking let me go!"
"Chill the fuck out, Karkat," you hear from behind you. "Your boyfriend's gone. Fucking deal with it."
You spin around as best as you can with them holding onto you and glare at Vriska. "Shut the fuck up, you-"
Why is Vriska making that expression? You can't even read it. Is this what Vriska Serket looks like when she's about to cry? But why does she give a shit? "You're not the only one fucking hurt by this, so stop making it about you," she spits, before turning and walking away.
"What the fuck do you know?!" you yell after her, ignoring the way your voice cracks. "Y-you-" You sob, and that's it. You've already expended all of your energy, and Terezi and Kanaya let you go just in time to let you sink to your knees and cry.
"Where are you going?" Terezi asks. Who cares, really?
Vriska scoffs. "In case you forgot, there's a whole new universe waiting for us," she says without turning to look back at anyone. "And there's gonna be a pissed off snake monster if you guys don't get your shit together to take care of it like she wants."
"Vriska, please," Kanaya says tiredly. Her arm is around your shoulders. "She's right, though. We have work to be done, Karkat."
"Leave me alone," you growl.
For some reason, you followed her gentle tugging, and found yourself numbly shuffling along back to Echidna's lair. You had no idea what the fuck she was saying, and you honestly tuned Kanaya out entirely by the time you got there. You really don't remember anything after that.
Where the fuck are you now?