The Boy raised by Lusus

Fifteen human years later.

"It's not fucking fair and you know it asshole!" Karkat shouted getting closer to Kankri to yell into his face. Kankri only frowned at him then gave him one of his famous discipline glares. Kankri crossed his arms; his brother was always just too childish to realize there were topics more important than him. Kankri huffed as Karkat continued to yell; the others at the campsite watched with mixed emotions, some with sadness and others with surprise. It wasn't exactly the first time Karkat just felt the need to express his opinion openly but to do it like this? No, this was a first. He had never exploded on anyone with this much hostility in his tone. Kankri shook his head in disapproval and closed his eyes.

"Karkat you know we don't mean to leave you out. We just don't want you getting hurt…." Kankri looked down at the youngest in the group with a calm, sincere look on his face. He sighed as Karkat looked at him with an annoyed yet angry expression.

"Are you fucking kidding me right now? You retarded fuckwad! Even Nepeta knows more than me and she's the smallest one here! Don't you think I should at least know where were going next? I mean is it that hard for your slow complicated brain to at least tell me what village or town were going to next so I don't have to constantly bug your ass?!" Karkat hissed in anger his finger jabbing into Kankri's chest with every insult. Nepeta looked like she was going to cry while Porrim only frowned as she watched the younger Vantas get even more aggressive with her moirail. Porrim knew though not to interfere in there affairs as that would instantly set off not only Sollux, who had been getting even more testy with each passing minute, but Kanaya too since she cared for Karkat on a motherly term. Kankri was red in the face from anger as his frown became more noticeable and everyone, minus Sollux, Kanaya, and Meulin, almost scooted away from the seats they sat at from around the bonfire.

"WELL MAYBE IF YOU'RE WEREN'T SO INSUFFERABLE I WOULD TELL YOU WHAT YOU WANTED TO KNOW! YOU NEED TO GROW UP KARKAT VANTAS AND THAT'S FINAL! STOP YOUR UNEEDED WHINING AND COMPLAINING AND GET YOURE ACT TOGETHER BECAUSE IM AM UP TO HERE WITH YOUR EXCESSIVE BULLSHIT!" Kankri shouted at Karkat in anger and Karkat momentarily flinched at the harsh commanding tone that came from his brother before snarling with as much ferocity as his older sibling. The others in the circle gasped loudly except for one member who snarled loudly. Kankri almost never cursed and especially to his younger brother who on the other hand seemed like a broken machine with how much curses he spat but here Kankri stood giving his brother a daring glare while he tapped his foot, waiting for his siblings retort.

"THAT'S COMPLETE UTTER BULLSHIT AND YOU KNOW IT! YOU ARE SUCH AN ASSHOLE YOU KNOW THAT? GET YOUR HEAD OUT OF YOUR NOOK AND YOUR BULDGE OUT OF YOUR EARS AND JUST LISTEN TO ME-"

"Boys, boys what in the world is going on here?" Just like always the Signless came in to play peace maker between the two boys but was shut out as Kankri screamed back at Karkat making the other troll raise his voice to talk over his brother.

""Y-You guys pawlease quiet down." Nepeta spoke quietly.

"SHUT THE FUCK UP NEPETA!" Growl.

"DON'T YOU DARE TELL HER TO SHUT UP!" Snarl.

"BOYS!" Both trolls stopped instantly at their father's harsh tone and looked toward their father who was frowning. "What is the meaning of this?"

The Disciple had come looking for the Signless fallowed by the Psiioniic and the Dolorosa after hearing all the yelling. The Disciple looked between the three confused then looked to Meulin who was comforting a crying Nepeta. The Disciple looked to the Signless and gave him a worried glance to which he returned to with a sigh and a promise that he would explain later. The Signless looked at Karkat and gave him a hard glance.

"Karkat go to your room." Karkat only glared at him.

"Why the hell do I-" The Signless frowned.

"I SAID GO!" Karkat opened his mouth then shut it and without glancing back he went. Everything went silent and the only noise that was heard was Nepeta's loud hiccups as she tried calming down.

The Signless looked to Kankri and crossed his arms giving him an expected glance. Kankri stared back at him then sighed.

"Father I-"

"Save it. Kankri, you are older than him. You shouldn't stoop down to his level. I thought I taught you more than this." Kankri only nodded as his father turned and left with the rest of the adult rolls. Sitting down Kankri covered his face with his hands looking up only when Nepeta pulled at his sleeve.

"Kankitty is Karkitty going to be okay?" Nepeta sniffled and Kankri forced a smile onto his face, pulling his little sister close, he pat her back gently.

"I hope so Nepeta. I hope so…" Nepeta rubbed her tears away and smiled being lulled to rest as Kankri hugged her she started purring loudly.

-
With Karkat Vantas.

"Fucking idiots." Karkat grumbled as he hugged his knees to his chest. He sniffled lightly before rubbing at his eyes to get rid of the tears that collected there, it wasn't like he liked getting into fights with his family, quite the opposite really, but he just felt like no one ever told him shit and when something big did happen he either didn't know or was the very last to know. He was only a couple sweeps younger than his older brother and he was still treated like a grub and he was so fucking tired of it! It was… kind of like they didn't even really need him. All he ever did was fuck things up. He wished he had a different family, a different blood color, a different life…. After all living a life in secrecy wasn't as fulfilling as a regular life. So here he sat, alone, in a dark tent, to busy sniffling and sulking to realize his moirail had entered his room. It took him a moment to register the arms then slowly yet comfortably slid around his waist as he was pulled in to his moirail's chest. Karkat clutched Sollux's shirt as he shoosh papped him, and Karkat's eyes closed slightly as he got comfortable in his lap.

"Thooth kk, it'th all right. Jutht calm down." Sollux slowly pulled Karkat towards him as he softly stroked his cheek. Karkat immediately felt almost weightless as the calming effect spread throughout him body leaving him with this warm tingly feeling. Sollux shooshed him again then slowly planted a kiss on his cheek and then on his forehead. He seemed to always like pushing the strictly pale walls that Karkat had enforced ever since they had barely came moirail's and no he wasn't dumb either, he knew about the red feeling's Sollux had harbored for him; In fact almost everybody knew. Nepeta even made them a ship called 'Solkat' or some shit like that. Karkat just… didn't feel even an ounce of red for him; it would be as weird as dating Kanaya or even worst dating his own brother. Sollux was just too stubborn though to give up what he felt and even though Karkat said the relationship strictly platonic his advances became even bolder and bolder.

After a moment of silence Karkat snuggled deeper into his hold absolutely craving the pale interactions; Karkat listened to his loud yet surprisingly soothing purr and even began to purr himself as he felt his worries and fears instantly vanish as his best friend held him. God it would suck to not have a moirail.

In his room Kankri thought the very same thing as he laid his head in Porrim's lap; she messed and toyed around with his hair as a quiet purr poured from within his chest making it rumble. Kankri sighed as he nuzzled his moirail's lap absolutely loving the comforting notion she made as she shooshed him. Porrim was always such an exquisite moirail and always knew how to comfort Kankri when he was at his darkest moments truth be told he didn't know what he would do without her. Her voice was as soft as the finest silk yet could be loud enough to frighten you when she was angry, it held a motherly tone to it that just comforted him when he heard it and his purr rose to a new height as she spoke out.

"Kankri you can't always keep him locked out you know. In the long run it won't do either of you any good mentally and physically." Porrim sighed tired.

"Please Porrim can we not talk about this for now?" Kankri just wanted some peace and quiet to sooth his headache. Yes, he knew but it wasn't really a topic he wished to talk about during their feelings jam.

"No we may not! I have never seen either of you act this hostile towards each other! You almost fought each other and I have a feeling you two would have if not for your father stepping in like that." Porrim glared at you softly. Well… there goes that motherly tone.

Kankri sat up as he sighed; he scratched the back of his neck as he looked down to avoid her stare. He knew she was slightly disappointed in him but she wasn't the only one; he too felt ashamed for getting so out of hand. Kankri was only, after all, trying to be a good brother.

"I just want what's best for him…" His voice was filled with sadness as you looked up to her, she took on a thoughtful look on her face and Kankri waited for her to respond.

"Well? What is best for him?" Kankri hadn't expected that. What is best for him? The question rang through Kankri's head as he asked himself that.

"To tell you the truth… I have no idea."

Hours pasted by as night slowly took over day and plenty of bright stars shone in the cold night sky giving all who stared at them a dazzling view, but one troll laid awake that night tired but unable to get any sleep what's so ever. The troll slowly got up from his moirail's hold, careful not to wake the sensitive sleeper; he tiptoed to grab his bag. The bag contained a fresh pair of cloths, his famous sickles, and drawing material for when ever he felt the need to draw or paint. The troll, now known as Karkat, grabbed his cloak that the Dolorosa made him and put it on securely. The cloak was strikingly similar to his father but was a simple midnight black with his symbol in gray on his back, perfect to help him get by unnoticed. Karkat figured he would go on a midnight stroll to help relieve his still pent up stress and then maybe go relax in the hot springs.

Slowly unzipping the tent he swung his bag onto his back and looked around, sighing to himself in relief he tiptoed past everybody's room, especially careful around Kankri's, and picked up the speed as he went up the trail to the forest. Looking around to make sure no one saw him he smiled lightly to himself and began walking up the path. He looked around the forest as he walked noticing how tall the trees were as the cold breeze drifted by rusting their leaves. Karkat held the cloak closer to himself as he felt a violent gust of icy air hit him. Winter was always a bitch, he swore to himself as he looked at the white snow that was around him. Stepping over a random pile of snow he sighed. Why could the weather ever be pleasant? Oh, right, it was its job to intentionally fuck you over.

Karkat smiled as he arrived at the hot springs and immediately dropped his bag under one of the many tree's around the empty area that were close to the hot spring's. He could already feel the amazing heat caress his skin as he slowly stripped his clothing; layers joined the discarded pants on the floor besides him as he slowly got in quickly warming his cold body up and making him feel even more relaxed than he was after his feelings jam with Sollux. He lowered his entire body into the water until he was completely under and then came up wiping the water away from his mutant eyes. It felt so relaxing to be away from his annoying family for once and he was glad he decided to do this. It was so worth the punishment he would probably be getting later if they were to find out. Pulling the bag closer he opened it getting the necessary cleaning product's he needed to wash himself and just like his mother used to do when he was just a tiny grub he put some of the hair products on his hands and ran his fingers through his hair. Sadly, just like everything else in this fucked up world, good things eventually came to an end. Karkat got up and reluctantly got dressed. Putting his usual sweater on, he blew his hair out of his eyes as he put the rest of the clothing in his backpack on; plus the cloak. Walking away from the springs he ventured further into the mysterious forest taking in every beautiful detail the forest had to offer him like the bright stars in the sky to the sleeping beast that would sometimes appear. He wondered why he was never aloud to do this…

Karkat halted when he heard rustling in the bushes, not fucking dumb enough to blame it on the wind, he froze. It happened all to fast and he let out a quiet gasp as his leg gave out from under him making him stumble and fall onto the cold forest floor. Confused at the pain that ripped through his side he looked down. There he saw what was causing the pain; an arrow was lodged into the side of his waist making candy blood gush out and stain the virgin white snow beneath him. He touched the wound slowly and brought it to his face; there was enough light in the forest for him to see HIS blood decorating his hand and all up his side, some even on his face. Indigo eyes flashed in the night and his breathing picked up, a highblood… No... The highest blood on the Hemospectrum he has ever encountered stood before him. Feeling a sudden wave of nausea wash over him like a wave his vision faded as the world suddenly became dark.