002. I'm here
Karkat knew from the first second that he was in love with John Egbert. Even when the hate had bubbled up inside him and confused his still young trollian think-pan, some part of him knew that he was beyond flushed for him. To have such a feeling requited was possibly the best thing that had happened to him, bar none. John was funny (when the pranks weren't being pulled on Karkat himself), kind, caring, adorable and just plain 'John'. John gave the impression of pure innocence, making it seem like nothing bad could ever happen to him on any day.
Today was not that day.
When John came home from grocery shopping, he was an absolute mess; clothes ripped and ruffled, hair mused, glasses askew. He was breathing heavily, like he had run all the way from the supermarket and he lacked the groceries he was going out to get. The worst thing about his appearance, the thing that struck fear and rage into Karkat's blood-pusher, were the tears glistening in his brilliant blue eyes and running in rivers down his face. "K-k-Kark-kat?" His voice was shaky and hoarse, so broken and terrified that it broke Karkat's heart. Dropping his coffee mug haphazardly on the kitchen counter, Karkat sped around the kitchen island to brought the trembling boy into his arms.
"Shhh, John," he murmured into his matesprit's ear, cuddling him protectively to his chest as to shield the poor boy from the world. "Shhh. It's okay. It's okay. What happened?" John sniffles and hiccuped, composing himself to tell Karkat the events that led to this. On the outside, Karkat was calm and reassuring but in the interior, he was outraged. He was livid. Someone had attacked John. Someone, some worthless motherfucker who didn't deserve the air they breathe, had pulled a knife on his boy. Some lowly, pitiful, dirt scraping BITCH of a human being had threatened to kill his Matesprit. Karkat wanted nothing more that to find this asshole and rip him to pieces with his bare hands.
But for now, he was going to sit on the lounge and hold his love; stroke his hair, fix his glasses and whisper sweet reassurances into his ear until he fell asleep in his arms. He kissed away the tears and bumped his forehead against John's, staring lovingly at his peaceful, sleeping face. "It's going to be okay, John. I'm here. I'll always be here."