Author's Note: omgf I don't think I've ever written a story this sad before. I consider myself good at emotions, I guess, but this one I had a lot of trouble picturing what happened. I added in as much detail as I could before I published it. Hope you like sad stuff, I guess. Don't worry, it'll get better. ;-;

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"Best friend! Got'cha something to cover up those marks." Gamzee said as he made his way through the doorway.

Back downstairs, Karkat hadn't realized he had fallen asleep for about a half an hour. He jolted awake hearing Gamzee's voice and froze. He coughed loudly after he accidentally choked himself by swallowing, letting Gamzee know where he was.

Gamzee sighed and smiled. He walked downstairs, sliding his hand on the stair railing. He walked to Karkat, who still could not move because of his internal and external bruises everywhere. He may even have a featured bone or two. The clown knelt down to Karkat, who looked away, shaking violently from fear. Karkat hid his face in his longish white hair.

Gamzee brushed the hair away from Karkat's face. He smiled again at Karkat's red eyes and pale skin. "Tomorrow's your first day of school, brother," Gamzee explained. "And I'm counting on you to not tell…..anybody. Got that?"

Karkat teared up, but of course he agreed. Karkat let out a painful, shaky sigh and tried to look up at Gamzee. He coughed once again then said, "…I….I ca-an't…..move, G-Gamzee…." Karkat tried to explain.

Gamzee looked at Karkat and grinned. "I'll get you upstairs to your bed, alright?" Gamzee said as he picked up Karkat bridal style.

Karkat, who almost screamed at the pain this brought him, was lifted off the ground and up the basement stairs. He felt a few tears running down his face, but he didn't dare say anything. He held his breath, trying his best to hold on, but soon, he gave in. He started to quietly sob. He lifted an arm to wipe his nose-

"Stop."

Karkat froze. He stopped crying immediately and closed his mouth. Gamzee's expression wasn't a happy one.

He walked up the stairs slowly, painfully, trying on purpose to make Karkat feel pain. One step at a time, Karkat felt like he was going to explode. He let out the shaky breath he didn't realize he was holding as Gamzee finally got to his bedroom door. The clown turned the knob, walked in a bit faster, and suddenly threw Karkat onto the floor, purposely missing the bed.

As Karkat flew through the air for a few short seconds and hit the floor, he screamed. He screamed like he had never screamed before. His bones were fractured, bruises sending pain all over his body. He closed his eyes and doubled over in pain. He lay there for a minute, crying as Gamzee watched with amusement, a smirk on his face. Sobbing like a maniac, Karkat wiped his tears and slowly began to lift himself up off the ground. Cries of pain were sent throughout his room as Karkat finally got up onto his bed.

Karkat let out a violently shaky sigh and felt the coldness of the sheets wrap him up, he hated it. It reminded him of the cold basement in which Gamzee played fun with him almost every night. Tattered and torn, Karkat sunk into the blankets, sobbed a little more, and quickly fell asleep, no dreams detected. Peaceful. Finally free for a while.

"Goodnight, best friend."