Don't make me wait too long.

The next day was much quieter than the previous. Dave woke up at the crack of dawn; he slipped his sun glasses on and crawled out of the room. He thought over the previous day, trying to assure himself that there was absolutely nothing strange about four young adults all sleeping in the same bed. It was one thing curling up next to John to sleep, but he eventually came to reason this was a onetime thing, it was late, and we were tired, etcetera. Signing, he took a seat on one of the crude chairs amusing his mind with the blank wall. Dave sat there in the silence for a long time, deep in thought.

"Morning, fuckass, I see you are still here." Karkat growled, exiting the hallway and heading for the kitchen. It would of made Dave jump if he wasn't so accustom to surprises.

"Can't exactly leave Egbert here, now can I?" He responded dryly. "He is usually up before me, you really threw a curveball at him last night. It's a Egbert/Harley thing to sleep through whatever shit has been dished for them to deal with."

Karkat made scoffed. "Sure, what the fuck ever." He muttered; closing the refrigerator empty handed.

"No need to have a stick shoved up your ass about it, it's cool of you still care about him." Dave rolled his eyes, becoming interested with the floor.

"What?" Karkat snapped, "Look, I didn't say a damn thing about still caring about that no fucking good bastard!" He hissed, anger flashing through is eyes. In seconds, Dave had Karkat violently pinned to the wall, his knee in Karkat's stomach and forearm against his throat.

"Do not ever insult him that way." Dave growled, his sun glasses slipping down his nose to revel the intense gaze of his red eyes. "You have no fucking idea what he has been through, and you have absolutely no right to say one negative thing about him, do you fucking understand me?"

Karkat gagged, his feet dangling off of the floor by a few inches, he did not bother to struggle against Dave's grip. "Y-Yes!" He choked out and Dave released him, dropping him to the floor.

"Good." Dave muttered, spinning on his heels as he started back for the chair he had been sitting in.

"Strider." Karkat growled, making Dave stop in his tracks. "I don't know why the fuck I am telling you of all people this, but for the ever loving fuck don't you dare repeat this to Egbert, I don't care or want to even remotely think about how close you two are. Yes, I still care for the ignorant fuckass, but he obviously doesn't give a fuck about me anymore. So shut the hell up and stop pretending that you know me, that you know what went on between me and the dweeb." He ended his speech with a small puff of air.

Dave listened, when Karkat finished he turned back around and sat on the floor a few feet in front of Karkat. "Look, I don't care about your past. I don't care about what you have done. Last night, you needed help. Gamzee needed help. And I will never turn a blind eye to those who need a hand up, got it?" He paused. Well, that was the cheesiest fucked up gayest thing you have ever said to a dude. No, scratch that, you have said worse to John. Dave thought to himself, and then spoke again. "And I can speak for John, when I say, he doesn't care about your past together, he just wants to move on if that if chill with you."

Karkat took a moment to process what Dave told him, he forced the tears back and gave a swift nod. "Yeah, whatever you say fuckass. Get out of my sight."

...

John Egbert had his ear pressed to the door; he had woken when Karkat stepped out and slipped off of the bed to see what Dave would say to his ex-love. He listened intently, smiling softly at hearing Dave's position correctly stating his own position on the matter. The truth was, he loved them both, and his heart hurt at the thought of leaving either one forever. He heard them go off into indistinct chatter, and he turned around to find that Gamzee Makara had woken up, and had been staring at him the entire time.

John was initially struck with terror, but seeing a friendly and warm smile upon the other's face he could not help but relax. Gamzee was different than he remembered him in high school; he no longer wore his face paint, and he looked a lot thinner than he used to. His face was long and pale and his curly hair thickened with grease build up in his hair. Yet, Gamzee smiled past the hunger, past the withdrawals, past the urge to scream building up in his throat. "He talks about you." Gamzee's voice was raspy, and it cracked on the end of his words.

John blinked away his happiness at the thought. "What… what does he say?"

"Kind things." Gamzee eyes wandered away from John and he stared off into space. "It'd be nice if you stayed… both of you, it would be good for Karbro…" He mumbled before his eyes rolled up into his head and he fell asleep again.

...

"Hey, thought you died in there, man." Dave snorted and put a hand on John's back after standing from his seat. He gives a tail end of a smile and nodded to Karkat, standing but several feet away. Before John could say a word, he was caught in a tight embrace from Karkat.

They were in high school; it was their first hug, first real hug. John remembered how Karkat spoke about hugs meaning more to him than kisses. Hugs brought their hearts close without making them speed up more than needed. People were staring at them, but neither of them cared. John had asked Karkat to the senior prom, and Karkat's only response was the deep, meaningful hug seared into their memories. All sound and movement was lost around them, for in that moment, it was just them.

John blinked when Karkat released him, he gave a quick glance to Dave who nodded. "I-I… I don't understand…" John spluttered, looking at them both now. Dave only gave a very faint smile, and Karkat looked to the side to avoid John's eyes.

"C'mon, Egbert, we should be going…" Dave mumbled and took John's hand, heading for the door."Yo, Vantas." Dave stopped and turned around, making Karkat jump and look up. "We'll be stopping by, alright? So don't go anywhere, got it?" Karkat swallowed and gave a faint nod as they exited the apartment.

"What was that about…?" John whispered as they walked down the hall.

"Tell ya when we get home." He squeezed John's hand in a loving manner.

...

I missed Egbert so much, and I am sure Gam misses you too. We don't have much… My father died when I turned nineteen… I was on the streets after we lost my mother's house; the owner of this complex took me in and found me a job. The company went out and well… I found Gamzee… It's not my place to tell his story, he had it rougher than me. Our co-renters moved out when we couldn't make the bills… I get a bit of money each month, but it's barely enough to pay the rent. I have to steal mostly… I have… to steal drugs too. I am scared Gamzee will die if we don't bring him off slowly. And … D-Dave, I can't lose him, he is all I have left.

I just need a reason to keep going.