Caring 2

The next morning Eridan wakes up on his side, curled against something radiating heat. His ribs ache along with the rest of him, but he ignores it in favor of the rhythmic rise and fall under his head.

"Hey, I know you're awake." Eridan keeps still as his head is lifted then set back down a moment later. "Eridan?" He cracks an eye open to see Karkat's face looming just above him.

"Mm?" Brown eyes watch him closely.

"Are you hungry? My dad and brother left, but he's letting me stay home from school today to stay with you." Eridan nods slowly, eyes closing again. "Okay, well you're going to have to be up to eat it so come on, I'll give you something actually warm to wear." He wants to put up a fight, but follows instructions and stands up slowly, still rubbing the grogginess from his eyes.

"Sorry..." The words are soft and he rubs his arm in his discomfort.

"Why? You aren't the person in the wrong. You have no reason to be sorry." Karkat's eyebrows are furrowed but he has a soft look to his eyes that makes Eridan want to break down again.

Instead of protesting he follows Karkat to what seems to be his room while the Iranian searches through drawers and a closet for clothing.

"Medium should fit you right?" Karkat looks over his shoulder at him. "Alright. Here, these should fit. Might be a little short though." Eridan takes the clothing with a small smile. "You can change in here, I'll be back in a second." The shorter leaves and shuts the door behind him, leaving Eridan to stand awkwardly for a moment before stripping and tugging the other clothes looks around at the room, holding his clothing in his arms as he shifts from heel to heel. Karkat comes back a few minutes later and takes the clothing from his arms.

"Those feel good?" He nods. "Alright come on. I've got breakfast out here." The Iranian leads them down two short halls, stopping to go into one room and coming out without his old clothes, and shows him to the kitchen.

"Smells good in here." His stomach growls at the scent of something unfamiliar, yet smooth and almost like eggs.

"Yeah, my dad cooked some stuff before he left. So I heated it up a bit." Karkat points at a stool at a counter and motions for him to sit. He does and rests his hands on his thighs. Karkat brings two plates of something over and he notices a vast array of vegetables and meats in it. His mouth starts to salivate at the sight. "Well eat up. Seriously, you're a twig."

Eridan points his fork aggressively at Karkat and takes a bite, letting out a deep breath when he does.

"That's really good."

"Your capability to repeat the same thing over and over when, yes, I know seems to be working." The Iranian gives a small grin across the counter at him. "So I was thinking you and me could just hang out and relax here today. Try not to aggravate your body and have you rest a bit." Eridan gawks the entire time Karkat speaks, who in turn glares at him afterwards.

"Really? You'd let me stay all day?" Karkat sighs and nods.

"You really don't do this? I mean you always talk about how high and mighty your family is, yet you don't have friends?" The question is completely innocent in manner but Eridan pokes at the food again, looking down.

Eridan goes rigid, about to say something back but stops. The guy in front of him had helped him when he didn't have to. Had cared. Taking a calming breath he shakes his head. "It's all I've got. I'm worthless otherwise."

A tan hand reaches out and covers his own. His skin prickles at the surprising action but he doesn't move away.

"You're not worthless. No one is. You're here for a reason and there are people that love you. And while you might not see it now you will later." The hand gives his a tight squeeze, he looks up, "And even if not you're important to me." The shaking starts slowly, first only his hands and moves up his body until he's shaking so bad tears stream down his face in hot waves.

Karkat stands and moves around the counter to hold him and rub his back, speaking soft things to him. He doesn't know how long they stay like that before they go back out to the living room to curl up on the sofa and watch some movies and have a feelings jam.

Later that evening Karkat ends up calling his house again to say where he is. And when his brother and dad get home he offers dinner. His dad tells him it's okay for him to stay another night until the weekend and he takes him up on the offer immediately.

He and Karkat go up to his room that night to sleep and he ends up curled between the wall and the short, but very warm Iranian. For once he's not afraid for the next day or wanting to end that one. He feels, happy.