With a scowl on his face, Karkat pulled up the hood of his jacket and reluctantly stepped out into the pouring rain. It was four in the morning. He was not a happy camper. Ten minutes earlier he had been awaken by a drunken call from Gamzee. After a headache inducing conversation with his friend, he agreed to come over. Normally the grumpy male would tell him to just go back to bed and they'll talk in the morning, but the abrupt end to their phone call worried him.
"That little assbutt probably passed out after a night of partying again" he grumbled to himself as he powerwalked through the flooded streets. Nearly nine minutes passed before he arrived at the shack of a house Gamzee called home. A bolt of lightning streaked through the sky as he pushed open the rusted gate door and made his way up the cracked walkway. Growling lightly to himself, he walked up the four rotting steps of the porch and opened the door. Knocking would only prove useless. Gamzee barely remembered to lock his doors in the first place.
"Gamzee, are you alright in here?" Karkat called out as he closed the door behind him. Pulling down his hood, he walked into the living room. A string of curses could be heard as he nearly tripped over the varying horns, empty bottles, and fast food remnants that were carelessly strewn about the dingy carpet. "Dammit, how many times have I told him this shit could get someone killed?" Shaking his head, he flipped on a few light switches and searched the house. It didn't take long to find him.
As Karkat entered the kitchen he stumbled upon his friend unconscious on the tile floor; his cell phone, covered slightly by his hand, lay beside him. "G-Gam…What did you do this time?" Sighing softly, he knelt down and checked his pulse. "Still alive" he whispered as he sat on his knees. With another shake of the head, he glanced over Gamzee's body in the dim lighting. Sprawled out on the floor, the other male was wearing only a pair of dark violet boxers. The clown makeup he was known to wear was smudged and covered with patches of dirt that were also scattered about his body. Several bruises could be seen forming over his ribcage and arms.
Squinting, Karkat leaned closer for a better look. "Oh God, is that blood?" His eyes widened when he noted that some of the dirt was a dark, reddish brown. The scent of iron was present as well. A light groan caused him to jerk and scoot back a bit. "Gamzee…What the fuck did you do?!" Karkat held back the urge to slap him as he came to.
"Whoa…Dude, calm your titties will ya? There's no need to fuckin' yell." With another groan Gamzee sat up, gently cradling his right arm. His hair was matted and dirty. After a moment of silence, he opened his eyes and looked at Karkat. They were bloodshot and…were those tear streaks running down his face? "I see you actually came over this time grumpy pants." He sniffled and wiped his face on his left arm.
"Well, of course I did! It sounded like you passed out. I couldn't just leave you to possibly drown in your own pool of vomit." He pinched the bridge of his nose before glaring at Gamzee. "Anyway, why the hell are you practically naked, covered in dirt and…and fucking blood man?!" The thought of Gamzee getting hurt or in legal trouble from doing something stupid frightened him, but he wouldn't admit it.
"Must've left my clothes…in the ally? I think they were ripped off without my knowing…" Gamzee's face scrunched in thought as he attempted to stand. Faltering, he settled back on the floor before he'd fall on top of his friend. "Help me to my room, will ya?" he muttered as he ran a hand through his disheveled hair.
"Fine, but you're telling me what happened afterwards." After taking off his jacket, Karkat rose to a kneeling position and wrapped his arms up over Gamzee's shoulders. With a light grunt, he aided him back to his feet. Whilst grumbling another string of curses, he walked with Gamzee back to his small bedroom. It was the size of a bathroom, but it was enough for the drunkard stoner to live with. "Now, what in the great flaming hell happened?" he asked as he carefully laid him down onto his sagging mattress.
"On my way home I got in a fucking fight with a couple of bastards who worked for my dealer. Motherfuckers tried jumping me. They were sent for…to collect payment. Guess I forgot it this week." A glimpse of confusion flashed across his face as he tried to recall what happened.
"Christ, man did you kill them? Do the police know? Any normal person who could've found your ass or saw what happened would've turned you in or something." Karkat rubbed his brow and tried not to lose his temper.
"I-I don't think so…They ran after I broke their fucking noses and pulled a knife on 'em." The room fell silent as Karkat just sat there and stared at him. Gamzee only curled up and rested his head on his knees, being careful not to move or jostle his arm. "You're going to turn me in, aren't you?"
With a soft sigh, Karkat shook his head and sat on the edge of his bed. "No. I'm sure the cops were already called." He looked up and placed a hand gently on Gamzee's shoulder. "Look, I'll just head on home and act like I didn't hear or see this shit. If you get into trouble, I'll be supportive as needed…Not like your poor ass has anyone left to do so." The last part was mumbled quietly so he would not hear him.
Gamzee looked up and grabbed his arm when he was about to stand. "No! I…Please don't go. I-I don't want to be alone right now. If the fuzz come to get me, I won't make you bail my ass out or anything. Just…Just help me."
A few minutes of silence passed. Karkat only sat there and continued to stare. After a moment he finally let out a long sigh and squeezed his shoulder. "Alright, but if you do some stupid shit like this again, I'm letting your ass lay there." Gamzee only nodded at this and let him stand. "Now, let's at least get your dirty ass cleaned up a bit. Maybe get you examined. You look horrible." Leaving Gamzee with his thoughts, he walked out and headed to the bathroom to set up what he'd need. "That stupid pompous ass thinks he's invincible or something, I swear." With another shake of the head, he checked the temperature of the water he set aside before going to fetch Gamzee. "This is going to be a long day."
When Karkat returned, he was already sitting on the edge of the bed waiting. "Alright, I have some water and washcloths pulled out in the bathroom. Do you want me to help you to it?" Nodding in response, Gamzee managed to stand using his good arm to push himself up from the bed. With wobbly legs he took the few steps to reach him. Frowning, Karkat took to his left side to support him as they gradually made their way back to the bathroom.
Karkat's eyes traveled to Gamzee's right arm as he carefully sat him on the closed toilette. In the brighter light he noticed that his wrist and lower forearm were red and swollen. His knuckles were lacerated as well. "Fuck, man what did you do?" Genuine concern filled his eyes as he wet a washcloth and applied some soap to it.
"Well, when you're wasted and high off your motherfuckin' ass, your aim tends to suffer" he muttered in reply. "I probably broke something."
"After you get dressed, I'm dragging your ass to the ER whether you like it or not. I'm pretty sure you fucked up your wrist, maybe bruised a rib or two." Another sigh filled the air as Karkat cleaned up his friend, patting gingerly as he did so. "Ya know…you look better without that ridiculous clown makeup" he noted as he washed Gamzee's face, his fingers unconsciously trailing over the four scars that adorned it. A faint blush spread across his cheeks and he only shrugged.
"You know why I fucking wear it" he growled, turning his face to stare at the mold encrusted wall. Karkat bit his lip and kept silent as he cleaned up and put everything away. "If you want me to get looked at, go grab a pair of my sweats and a tee. There should be some clean ones in my second drawer. I can't go in just my big boy undies."
Nodding, Karkat stood and went to fetch clothes for him. "Here, if you can get dressed yourself I'll go out and start your car. You didn't lose your keys again did you?" Gamzee shook his head as he accepted his clothes and began to put on his pants.
"Nah, they're on the kitchen table…I think."
Leaving Gamzee to dress, Karkat walked back to the kitchen. The keys were carelessly tossed into a full ashtray. Scrunching his face he snatched them up and shook off the soot. On his way out he spotted several used needles in the corner of the room. "Aw hell no, that bastard better not be doing that." Clenching the keys in his hand, he walked out and started the old, rusty gray Volkswagen.
While the car heated up, Karkat returned to check on Gamzee. "I don't know how he can drive around in that clunky clown car" he mumbled as he entered the bathroom. The other male had managed to get fully dressed. "Hey Gam, I'm back. Your car's ready to go." With a light huff, the injured male stood and walked over to Karkat. Glaring slightly, he took his position on Gamzee's left side once more. "Once you get patched up, I'm having a stern talking with you."