Characters of Andrew Hussie.

I got into sadstuck for a bit and this happened...

"Fuck, John. Pick up!" Karkat hissed into his phone as it rang endlessly.

The troll continued down the sidewalk as he waited impatiently for the other to answer his cell. Moments later his call was sent to voicemail and he hung up and re-dialed. He had called John many times in succession already and was seeming no closer to talking to his Matesprite than he was earlier when he tried Trollian. The last time he had seen John the boy was crying as he flew off into the night sky a few hours ago. At first Karkat had been too angry to do anything but pace around his hive, but when John didn't come back after an hour he started to worry. He sent messages to the boys' Pesterchum account and any other site he could think of that the other used. When he got no reply he grabbed his phone and left, called John continuously hoping for the boy to answer.

Karkat knew it had been his fault, things like this usually were. John had just been caught in the crossfire and Karkat was kicking himself for that. Because of him his Matesprite was out at this ungoggly hour most likely sobbing alone in the dark somewhere as if Nick Cage had died. As angry as Karkat felt running around in the dark in some random direction looking for John he was far angrier at himself for the whole mess.

"Egbert you fuckass, answer your fucking phone!" He growled as he was sent to voicemail again.

- ectoBiologist [EB] began pestering turntechGodhead [TG]

EB: hey dave

TG: hey bro

TG: sup

EB: are you busy right now?

TG: not really

TG: why

TG: something wrong?

TG: egbert you still there?

EB: yea

TG: whats wrong man

EB: i need to talk to you

EB: can i come in?

TG: you outside bro?

TG: yea you can come in

EB: thanks

- ectoBiologist [EB] ceased pestering turntechGodhead [TG]

John pocketed his PDA and stood up from where he had been sitting outside his friend's door and waited for Dave to come down and let him in. He rubbed at his eyes to wipe away any lingering tears and tried to put on a strong face. He didn't want his best bro to think he was a wimp or a crybaby. Dave was at the door in moments, pulling it wide open. Upon seeing John's red puffy eyes Dave's normal straight face grew both surprised and concerned. John forced a smile as best he could and waved sheepishly.

"Hi, Dave." He greeted weakly.

"John, what's wrong dude?" Dave asked stepping aside to let the other boy enter.

"It's, uh, well it's..." John hesitated as he slunk into Dave's house, the door being closed behind him.

Dave waited for John to finish and after taking a deep breath he did.

"It's Karkat." He said finally.

"I figured as much, bro." Dave replied, "You want something to drink?"

"Uh, water I guess." John said as he rubbed the back of his neck nervously.

Dave led the way into the kitchen and went about the task of getting his friend a drink, along with a few snacks tossed on the counter just in case. John didn't touch them and only sipped at the water. He kept his eyes down as Dave pulled up a seat opposite him at the counter.

"So what happened?" Dave prompted when John remained silent.

"We had a fight." John replied simply.

"Obviously." Dave countered, sighing when John's sad expression deepened.

They sat for another minute before John spoke up.

"I don't think he likes me anymore." He said quietly.

"Why?" Dave asked, his blank expression hiding his surprise well.

"Because I'm annoying and I get in the way a lot." John replied, his voice staying near a whisper.

"Egbert-" Dave started but was cut off as John continued to speak.

"I know I talk a lot about Nick Cage, and I ask a lot of stupid questions, and I know I don't understand a lot of things-" John's hands were shaking against the glass of water as he spoke and tears started forming in his eyes, "-But I can't help it. I want to understand, I do. I just have trouble getting the facts straight sometimes." By now his voice was shaking and tears were rolling down his cheeks, "I know I talk more than I should, but I can't help it. And now- Now Karkat hates me-" John broke off altogether and sobbed, burying his head in his hands.

Dave swiveled quickly from his seat and rounded the counter, embracing his distraught friend. John turned into the hug and buried his face into Dave's chest as the other shooshed him and pat his back. The feeling of John's warm tears seeping through his shirt tugged at Dave's heart and he gave his friend a squeeze. He had never seen John cry like this before and it seriously bothered him. John was the happy one, the master prankster; seeing him cry was in a single word, unnerving. It made him angry too, really angry. What, in the fuck, was Karkat thinking making his best bro cry like this? Well, this shit was not gunna fly. Not with Dave fucking Strider.

"D-Dave?" John started in a strained and slightly muffled tone, "Can I -hic- stay here t-tonight?"

"Of course, bro." Dave replied patting his back.

After John had calmed down a bit Dave set them up in front of the T.V. with a bunch of snacks and put on one of his kickass movies that he knew John would like. They talked about bullshit, though to be honest it was Dave who did most of the talking this time around. John participated a bit but for the most time he just sat and watched the screen blankly.

"You feelin' okay, bro?" Dave asked after a while.

"Huh? Yea, I'm fine." John replied.

"You are a shitty liar, Egbert." Dave said, giving his friend a bland look.

"I'm fine, really. I just-" John jumped as his phone went off in his pocket, checking the ID he frowned a bit, "Its Karkat."

"Don't answer it." Dave instructed with an ever so slight scowl on his face.

"But, what if he wants to apologize?" John said, his face showing the hope that laced his voice.

"Dude, he's an ass. Let him stew in it." Dave replied.

"But-"

"No." Dave swiped the phone from his friends hand and tossed it behind him, "No talking to him. You are going to sit here and enjoy this awesome movie."

"But Dave!" John whined.

"No, dude, trust me. Just let it go." Dave said with raised hands as John had moved to retrieve his phone, "Just chill out and watch the movie. You can call him later right?"

John thought about this for a moment before settling back down. Dave was his best bro and was looking out for him. If he shouldn't talk to Karkat right away about it Dave would know. Taking a deep breath John tried to focus on the movie and not his phone which was ringing like crazy from across the room.

- turntechGodhead [TG] began pestering carcinoGeneticist [CG]

TG: hey douche lord

CG: I'M A LITTLE BUSY RIGHT NOW

TG: how about shut up for a minute

TG: i want you to tell me what exactly you said to egbert

CG: IS HE WITH YOU?

CG: IS HE ALRIGHT?

TG: tell me what you said to him

CG: LET ME TALK TO HIM

TG: No

CG: DAMNIT DAVE, JUST LET ME FUCKING TALK TO HIM!

TG: tell me what you said to him

CG: ITS NONE OF YOUR FUCKING BUISNESS

CG: NOW LET ME FUCKING TALK TO HIM!

TG: not gunna happen anytime soon

TG: dont call him anymore either hes not going to answer and the constant ringing is fucking irritating

CG: DAVE, YOU INSUFFERABLE EGOTISTICAL NOOKSUCKING PRICK, PUT JOHN ON THE FUCKING PHONE SO I CAN TALK TO HIM!

TG blocked CG

- turntechGodhead [TG] ceased pestering carcinoGeneticist [CG]

"Fuckass prick." Karkat hissed vehemently at his phone before trying Trollian again.

- carcinoGeneticist [CG] began trolling ectoBiologist [EB]

CG: JOHN

CG: COME ON, PLEASE ANSWER!

EB: what did i tell you about talking to him asswipe

EB blocked CG

CG: DAVE YOU FUCKASS!

-carcinoGeneticist [CG] ceased trolling ectoBiologist [EB]

"FUCKING FUCK!" Karkat yelled tossing his phone across the sidewalk and having a rage tantrum, cursing Dave and all he stood for.

After he calmed down a bit he retrieved his phone and started off in the direction he roughly knew Dave's to be in. He was a long ways off from there and that was the extent on his knowledge on the matter, but he had no choice. If he was going to talk to John at all at this point it would have to be face to face. There seemed to be no way Dave was going to let him talk to John, nor vice versa it seemed. Why, of all the people John could have fled to, did he choose Dave? Why not Tavros? At least the Taurus would've allowed them contact so they could've worked it out already.

Flipping open his phone again Karkat skimmed the list of names for people who could possibly know how to get to Dave's place. Someone had to know his address; he just hoped no one would ask why he needed it.

It was late when John showed signs of fatigue and so started the process of going to bed. Dave set up a spot for him to sleep on his bedroom floor after haphazardly clearing a space for him and lent him some clothes to sleep in. While John got changed Dave went about his own process of locking up his house. It's not that he was worried about anyone breaking in or anything, it was just something Bro had always instructed him to do at night. It was at this time that a sharp knocking came from his front door, which struck him as extremely odd. He knew the knock of basically everyone who bothered to visit him and of the people on that list none of them would be at his door this late at night.

Dave made his way back to the door he had just checked and looked through the peephole. His eyes widened when he got a look at who it was and cursed under his breath. How the hell did that bastard get to his house? Looking towards the hall that lead to the bedroom Dave tried to gauge how much time he could spare before John would think to come looking for him. Figuring he had enough he undid the latch and slipped out the door, Karkat stepped back a few steps as the blond did so.

"Dave, I just-" Karkat was interrupted abruptly by a Flaming Rage Strider Punch to the face.

Landing firmly on his ass Karkat rubbed his cheek and looked at the other boy with both shock and apprehension. Dave stood tall looking down at the troll, has shades hiding his seething eyes as the rest of his face remained mostly unreadable.

"The hell do you think you're doing here?" Dave asked, glaring through his shades.

"I need to talk to John." Karkat replied remaining on the ground.

"To tell him how annoying he is some more?" Dave asked sharply.

"I never said that-"

"But you implied as much." Dave cut in.

"I didn't mean it like that. Hell, I didn't mean it at all!" Karkat growled.

"I don't give a flying monkey's fuck what you did or didn't mean. He seriously cares for you and you made him cry!" Dave spat, "You're an ass and don't deserve Egbert in the first place."

"I know." Karkat hissed, which made Dave stop, "I know alright? I'm an ass. I was pissed off and I made a mistake. I vented on John and I know I shouldn't have, but I did."

Karkat sat glaring at his feet as he said this, making no attempt to get up. Dave was caught off guard by this. Karkat was usually loud, angry and speaking the infinite praises about himself; this right here, was not the normal Karkat. This Karkat, although still angry, seemed more sorrowful, even ashamed. After a few moments passed Dave let out a sigh and crossed his arms.

"So, what happened exactly?" Dave asked.

Karkat growled and ran a clawed hand through his hair. He did not want to tell Dave anything; unfortunately Dave was the wall that stood between him and John at the moment. If he didn't say anything Dave could and most likely would keep the Heir of Breathe out of his reach and securely tucked in the relative safety of his home. Taking a deep breath Karkat continued to glare at his feet as he spoke.

"It was fucking Vriska mostly. She's been all over me since John and I became Matesprites." He started to explain, "I ignored her and have been ignoring her from the beginning." Karkat sighed heavily, "But it's not as simple as just ignoring her. She went and blabbed about it to everyone else as soon as she could, which I didn't really care about at the time. But now I've got Equius and even Eridan bitching about it-"

"I thought going with guys wasn't an issue with trolls." Dave interjected.

"It's not, but dating someone of a different species altogether? Not exactly smiled upon." Karkat growled.

"And you didn't bring any of this up to Egbert?" Dave asked.

"No, why would I? He'd probably try to talk to them and then they'd be on his case about it. As far as they're concerned at this point it's just me going after him with him not knowing any better." He said rubbing his temple in exasperation.

"Well, whatever you said to him earlier has got him convinced that you hate him now." Dave informed.

"Fuck." Karkat cursed, "I don't even remember half the things I said."

Karkat scratched his head with his claws and growled under his breath. Looking at him now Dave kind of felt a pity for the troll. He had been dealing with the bigotry and prejudice of the worst of the trolls, kept it all from John and even somehow found his way here to his house in order to apologize for a fight. He had to give the troll props; he maybe wasn't as big an ass as he had first thought. Hell, John had fallen for him somehow right? So there must have been something good under all that bitching and moaning.

"What are you going to do now then?" Dave asked.

"Fuck, I don't know." Karkat replied with a sigh.

"You still love him?" Dave asked, getting the troll look at him fully before looking away quickly.

"Of course." He replied, a tint of blush on his cheeks.

"Well you should make sure he knows that, don't you think?" Dave said, "Thing about John is he tends to over think these things. If you don't keep reminding him that you love him he'll start to get bent out of shape about it. Thinkin' you don't care about him anymore or some stupid shit like that."

Karkat didn't reply and they both remained silent for a moment. Getting dating advise from Dave was highly unusual and somewhat unsettling for the troll. Although as much as he hated the blond the kid did know John pretty fucking well and the advise did seem sound enough, not that he'd ever admit that.

"You'll keep him here for a while?" Karkat asked suddenly.

"Uh, Yea. Why?" Dave questioned, his brow knit with confusion.

"I think it may be best if we did spend some time apart." Karkat replied getting to his feet.

"You just gunna leave him here?" Dave asked.

"Yea. Don't even tell him I was here." Karkat replied as he turned to leave.

"Okay, now I'm lost. I thought you came to apologize and make up and all that."

"Let's think about this for a minute. If I were to apologize and take him back with me it wouldn't help matters any right now." Karkat explained, "It might be better if we stayed apart for a bit."

"What changed your mind all the sudden?" Dave asked as the troll made his retreat.

Karkat just shook his head and kept walking. Even if he had taken John back home with him it wouldn't make anything better. Vriska and the other two would still be on his case about it. He needed some time to figure out a way to deal with them. He needed time to think and he couldn't do that with John around. He would be distracted by the boy, or worse, he might yell at him again; in frustration and maybe even in time, resentment. That's what Vriska had said, and damn it if he believed anything she said. But there was still a chance, and he didn't want to take that chance.

Dave sighed and went back inside. Closing and locking the door behind him he was surprised to turn around and find John sitting quietly on the couch facing the blank television.

"So, uh, you heard some of that?" Dave asked hesitantly.

John nodded, but said nothing. Dave made his way over to the couch and was surprised to see a smile on John's face, a small happy smile. Dave placed a concerned hand on his shoulder.

"I heard him say he still loves me." John said after a moment, looking over at Dave, "Knowing that, I can wait. However long he needs, I'll wait."