Warnings: Will contain blood, potential gore, eventual romance, swears, and all kinds of things.

Notes: Well hi… I don't have much to say. e_e Just. Enjoy my not so good writing. Also this is dedicated to my friend AJ(who is a butt)

"Please listen to me!" Wrapping his arms around the troll's waist the human looked up worriedly. It'd only been a month since Karkat had started living here and already things were getting worse. "Stop!" he screamed loudly as the other kept fighting to get him off. John and his father had done what they could to try to help ease him back into society. "Hey," he growled when there was a soft punch to his face. It was difficult considering what had happened just a couple months ago. "Fuck!" The troll had wriggled free and was desperately trying to get to the window. This happened at least two times a week, these panic attacks. "Karkat calm down." Leaping for Karkat once more he managed to bring him to the floor this time.

The panic in the trolls face was obvious. It was coursing through his veins with each small movement that the human restraining him from getting away. There wasn't much he could do at the moment either as Egbert had finally pinned him down so he couldn't move at all. Instead he started shaking and surrendered at last. His nerves weren't about to calm down just yet but he gave up trying to escape.

John sighed and reached out to gently touch his face. "See? It's okay." By now this had become usual and the human considered himself a professional at this. Then again it filled him with worry and concern each time this happened to his friend. Dave would help him out whenever he could but those two didn't always get along too well. Noticing there was a tear that slipped away he wiped it with his thumb. "Shhh… it's okay Karkat. It's okay. You're just fine."

Instead of calming down the troll just closed his eyes and tried to avoid looking at John. "J-jo-"

"Shoosh." He papped his cheek and smiled. "I know, I know. You're sorry. Don't worry about it," he reassured him before slowly scooting off of him. He kept close to his friend however in case this wasn't the end of the attack. "What triggered it this time?" he asked softly.

Karkat just curled into a ball and cried into his knees, remaining there on the floor to sob quietly. After a few minutes of laying there he held out a hand. The best friend took it in his own, knowing that he just wanted comfort. At least John had patience with him by now. "Come on, tell me," he urged him to explain the situation this time.

"John… I-I-, " he gasped for air and squeezed his eyes tighter together. "I saw…" Feeling a hand running through his hair and the thumb on the back of his hand he shuddered and whimpered.

"You saw what?" he cooed trying to slowly pull out the answer. The thumb continued to run across the back of the gray hand. John was sure he knew what this troll had seen but it didn't hurt to confirm it and attempt to avoid it for next time, right?

"I sa- saw that f-fucking r-red bl-" he cut himself off already but that was enough.

That was all John needed to hear. Reaching over he picked Karkat up in both of his arms. Egbert knew exactly what had happened. As he stood with the troll clinging to him and still weeping softly he sighed. "It's okay, I understand. Your safe now though, let go of it." As much as he wished this would be a simpler thing to do than say for the crabby bitch in his arms that was near impossible at the moment.

Glancing about the room with those clear blue eyes he spotted the cause of all this mess. Both of them had decided to go ahead and try out crafts. Sadly the scissors had nicked the soft gray finger and just the sight of blood always sent Karkat into a panic.

"Come on, let's get that fixed up. I'm sure dad will be home soon too." That was a lie. His dad was on a business trip. He said that to make them both feel better. Although Dave and his brother Dirk would come help out with house-sitting, which really meant they needed to check in on their resident troll and make sure he hadn't managed to slip away.

The derp heard a soft little cough and looked back down at Karkat who was starting to gain control of himself once again. "John?" he sputtered in a surprisingly clear voice.

"Yes Kar?" he answered and adjusted his hold on the troll.

"You lied… again," he stated clearly to make sure that his best friend knew he knew.

A false smile danced on the pink lips of the human. "What are you talking about?" He gave a nervous laugh which seemed to strengthen the resolve of the troll.

"Why?"

"Huh?"

"Tell me why you keep lying to me, now." The troll had loosened his grip and wasn't even looked up. Instead he was still wiping away the stupid red tears he hated so much.

"Listen Karkat I'm not lying-"

"Tell me," he pleaded.

"Look I'm bei-"

"Tell me god dammit," he demanded and let go of the shirt all together.

John was quiet for a moment, processing all of this in his head for a good long minute that seemed to only infuriate the troll even more than usual. "Karat, before you say anything, I just want you to know I'm doing the best I can do here."

Setting down the small figure on the counter he retrieved the aid kit. The human medicine didn't work on Karkat but the bandages were fine enough. Lucky for them the damned brat hadn't gotten sick on them just yet. Not sure how that was going to work. Taking a bandaid he wrapped the finger up tightly and kissed it softly.

Pulling up a stool he sat down himself and crossed his arms on the table so that he could lay his head down. "I don't know to be honest with you."

"Oh." That was the only response he got.

"But! But I just want to keep you safe and I guess…. I slip in lies because that way you don't have to deal with the pain." There was that nervous laugh again.

No response came from the other. As Egbert was about to speak again he looked up just in time to catch the troll from falling off the counter. Well he'd passed out. Probably worked himself up to the point of conking out once again.

Smiling he shook his head. What was he going to do with this mess? At least he knew this probably wouldn't happen for at least three more days, which meant the crabby and cranky Mr. Vantas would be back.

It would never be the same though. After all that had happened… it just wasn't going to be the same.