Sollux leaned back against the lamp post, sighing and watching the plume of condensation fleeting into darkness. It was nearly pitch black out, though not a moment after eight, and he'd been out here for goodness knows how long. His fingers were shoved under his arms to keep them warm, head ducked as he stared blankly down at his shadow. Shouldn't he have been here by now? He did sound pretty upset earlier.. Not that he'd inquired what had happened. Probably just a sad moment in one of his dating shows or something.
Karkat scoffed the toe of his shoes over the sidewalk with every step, making up for a lack of Gamzee's ass to kick instead. After so long, after every time he'd rejected Gamzee, why did this have to hurt now? It wasn't bad, not like a betrayed lover or some fucked up poetic shit like that, he was no mother fucking damsel in fucking distress, he just felt hurt that after everything he'd been through with Gamzee, he'd changed his mind just like that. The bastard was the only one who knew of Karkat's (slight) fear of being alone in the dark, and now that he was staying at Tavros' more than part time, Karkat felt lonelier than ever. As the park and the lone lamp post came into view, Karkat picked up his pace and greeted Sollux with a half-hearted wave.
The taller nodded in his direction, light reflecting off his red and blue glasses. He straightened up -now a good head taller than Karkat- and let his hands fall to his sides. "Hey man, you feelin' alright?" He asked, though his voice was as bland as always.
"Fuckin' prefect," he growled, huffing heavily. His breath condensed into fog and floated upward, out of sight, out of mind. "Gamzee's fucking dating Tavros."
Sollux frowned, stepping back to leave some room in the circle of light for Karkat. "That'th.." He started, his lisp stifled with the quietness of his voice. He knew there was something between Gamzee and Karkat, or at least there was, and it left him unsure of how to reply.
Karkat pouted angrily, sitting on a nearby bench and ignoring the chill he received. "I fucking thought we were best friends," he grumbled, "now he's left me up to dry and shit."
"Thorry, KK," he sighed, sitting beside him- though being sure to leave him his personal space. An upset Karkat was a homicidal Karkat, after all. "Tho.. what happened? Courthe if you don't wanna talk about it, that'th fine."
Karkat looked over at him as if to say 'of course I don't fucker', but something inside him said he needed to get it out. Well, if Sollux would be a sympathetic ear... "I dunno, man...after that whole scar thig with Gamzee...he's changed." Karkat looked up at Sollux, as if waiting to be corrected, as if he was expecting Sollux to tell him otherwise. "I don't know who the fuck he is anymore."
Sollux shrugged a bit, replying, "we were never clothe, but yeah, I think everyone notithed hith change. No one ever talked about it, though..." He let his arms hang behind the bench, looking up at the sky; stars blotted out by the heavy city lights.
Karkat remained silent a moment, looking up like Sollux was. "...Do you think I'm over reacting?" he asked, surprisingly calm for once.
A long moment passed, the only noise that of the muffled city chaos that went on 'round the clock. Sollux glanced to his friend, lips pursed. "No." He said finally, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. "Don't know what the hell I'd do if my betht friend did that thit to me.. Juth up 'n leavin' and all. It'th juth wrong.."
Karkat bit his lip softly. "Well, I mean, I don't know about fucking wrong, but...if he is in love..." Karkat sighed in frustration. It hurt his head just to think about.
"Regardleth," Sollux pressed, "he thtill ditched you and I thtill think that'th wrong." He let out a silent sigh, wishing he could say something more... friendly, but feeling awkward about doing so. "You alright at home alone, Vantath?" The 3D-glasses wearing man asked, looking back to him. He'd never been one for being entirely alone..
Karkat mumbled a low "Fuck, no." before shoving his hands under either arm, trying to keep warm.
He sat back, sympathy lacing his usually blank features. "Thorry to hear that..." Sollux replied, his voice a bit quieter than before. "Gueth you're welcome over at my plathe if thingth get to bad," he said, completely serious about the offer. In his eyes, Karkat was his best friend, even if in Karkat's book he came second to last.
Karkat glanced over to Sollux, almost wanting to decline for pride's sake. "..Fine. Come over to my place, I'll get some shit and we can head to yours."
"Alright," Sollux said with a nod, standing up with a brush back of his bangs, rearranging his glasses on his nose. "Juth one thing." He turned to look back to the short boy, holding up a finger with the slightest traces of a smirk pulling at his lips.
"What?" Karkat asked snidely, not one for terms of living partners.
"If you're gunna watch thothe datin' thows, at leatht keep the volume down to a decent level, okay?" He huffed with fake exasperation, holding out a hand to help him to his feet. Sollux wanted to lighten the mood, if only a bit.
Karkat opened his mouth as if to throw an insult, but soon smirked as he realized what Sollux was trying to do. He took Sollux's hand gratefully and got to his feet, leading the way back to their...his... tiny apartment.
Sollux gave his arm a playful, light punch. "There'th that thmirk," he commented, crossing his arms to try and hide his fingers from the biting cold. It occurred to him that his apartment contained only a few necessities and the rest was occupied with gizmos and gadgets; wondering where the two of them would be sleeping. His bed was probably wide enough for them both, but Karkat was hot-tempered and prideful, meaning Sollux would most likely be out on the couch.
"Yeah," he murmured, his smirk growing as he punched back, a bit harder. "Don't press your luck; I'm still fucking peeved."
"Eh, quit your pmething and let'th get you packed up." He chuckled, nodding towards Karkat's nearby apartment complex. He was grinning a bit despite himself, pulling his thin, pale green jacket closer.