Insane Stuck
Karkat Vantas II

Author's Note: So I'm sick today and this cold is kicking my butt. :/ On the up side for you guys, this means I'm going to pay more attention to getting this done and keeping my promise. And on the up side for me, it's raining and I love the sound of the rain. Don't have much else to say… Oh wait. Yes I do. u_u;; It's official. As of January 6th, 2012, I will be out of state for family reasons and will not be able to keep up with the updates. So for the entire month of January, I won't be on here to add new chapters. Sorry. Hopefully, we'll have gotten to a good place in the story by then though, so my little break doesn't seem so huge.

Also, in case you're wondering, this occurs on the same day as the previous chapter, with Sol's uncles.

It was 5 o'clock, time for lights out in the common rooms. The boys and girls would be separated, sent to their private wings where they could talk amongst themselves until 9, the real lights out. Dr. Eridan, Dr. Karkat, Nurse Kanaya, and Nurse Travos were all ushering the patients out as usual. Dr. Karkat and Nurse Kanaya were in charge of the girls. It wasn't that Dr. Eridan didn't have other staff that couldn't help out. He had plenty of staff. However, he knew Dr. Karkat especially looked forward to this every day-even if he would never admit it himself. He knew Terezi Pyrope had been his childhood friend and he hoped to help her regain her memory. He wasn't about to take that small hope from him. So far, she hadn't remembered much but Karkat was just as stubborn and ridiculously hardheaded as Eridan. He wouldn't give up on her, not yet, definitely not any time soon.

Dr. Eridan glanced at his own source of stubbornness. Just as he expected, Sollux hadn't moved. He waved Dr. Karkat off when he moved to help. Dr. Karkat rolled his eyes in annoyance and helped lead Terezi back to her wing. Dr. Eridan and Nurse Tavros began ushering the boys out. With one last glance back at Sollux, Dr. Eridan left him alone in the room. Sollux had to be moved on his own and he couldn't do that while taking care of Equius and Gamzee. Nurse Tavros was taking care of the other patients on this floor, making sure they all got back to their wing safely and received their evening medication. Unfortunately, at least in Dr. Eridan's opinion, since Equius and Gamzee were both in here for drug-related problems, they were kept in a separate part of the boys' wing. He didn't think they belonged in the drug-addict section anymore but that wasn't up to him. As long as he had to follow the orders of the board of directors, they had to stay in this section of the wing. Those were the rules. He gritted his teeth as he heard the groans and raving typical of those going into withdrawal. Violent outbursts in this sections weren't uncommon-in fact, they tended to be expected. That only worried him more.

"Equius, Gamzee." He whispered to them. He couldn't give them obvious special treatment, especially here. That was asking for trouble. "I'm going to leave your doors unlocked tonight. If anything is wrong, if anything happens, you both know the way to my office right?"

Gamzee gave an absent smile, staring at the wall but Equius nodded solemnly. "Of course, Doctor Ampora… I know…the way. I'll look after…Makara for you…"

He gave the former PCP user a rare smile. "Thank you, Equius." The only response he got was a small blue blush and lots of sweating. He wondered if there was a way he could help him with that but he wasn't a medical doctor. He didn't have a clue why his sweat glands went into overdrive. He led them to their rooms, making sure each was comfortable in there, before shutting the doors. True to his word, he didn't lock the doors. He made a mental note to talk to the board of directors about their rooms and the treatment they were receiving. Equius could probably finish up his treatment in a couple months. With a bit of effort, he should be able to interact with everyone else normally. With that thought in his mind, he headed back to the observatory.

He found Sollux in the exact same position that he'd left him, still staring out at the scenery. He didn't seem to mind being alone in that room. He shuffled across the soft carpet, the sound of his movements minimal, before finally kneeling beside his patient. He was silent for a couple minutes. "Hey Sollux. It's time to go back to your room." He wondered vaguely why Sollux disliked him so much. There were other doctors in this place he disliked. He didn't like doctors who called him anything but his name and he didn't like doctors who touched him longer than hethought was necessary. He was picky that way. Dr. Eridan tried not to do the things he disliked but Sollux continued to pull away from him. He couldn't figure out how to change so that he would feel more comfortable with him. It hadn't always been like this. When he first met Sollux-

He shook his head. Now was not the time to go down memory lane. Besides, it was clear that Sollux had forgotten all about that. He didn't wantto remember- Dr. Eridan froze, his thoughts screeching to a halt. The air rushed out of him as if he'd been winded and he stared at Sollux with wide eyes. He'd responded. He'd responded to him. It was just a small nod of the head but he actually responded. He felt a bit giddy and light-headed. Then, to his complete surprise, Sollux turned his head to look at him. He stared at him for several long, long minutes. For a moment, hope sparked deep inside his chest. Maybe he was finally remembering! Maybe Sollux finally realized who he was, how long they'd known each other. But no. No, Sollux wouldn't remember something like that. Not now. Not after all these years. Confusion colored Dr. Eridan's thoughts. "Sollux?"

He hadn't even realized how close they were until he suddenly moved forward. Suddenly, Sollux's lips were pressed against his and Eridan's eyes widened in shock. What the hell? This wasn't a response he was expecting and he tried to find a way to make it make sense. Their glasses clinked against each other, the sound dimly registering to his confused brain, before he felt their foreheads bump together. Thirty seconds. That's how long it took him to get his thoughts together. He couldn't call it a kiss. He raised a shaking hand, intending to rub the lip contact away but he stopped. He couldn't do it. He couldn't erase the first reaction he'd received from Sollux. His hand still trembling, he let it fall away. He could feel his cheeks heat up in a purple blush but now was not the time to be embarrassed. There was a perfectly logical explanation for this, there had to be. He sighed, closing his eyes for a brief moment, before standing up. He reached for Sollux, picking him up as he always did. "Let's get you back to your room now, hmm?"

Sollux wasn't fond of walking or moving on his own. Most of the time, the doctors actually had to force him to move so his arms and legs wouldn't atrophy. It wasn't uncommon that they'd have to carry him to certain areas, like the infirmary to get his check up or to the cafeteria to eat. Dr. Eridan didn't mind too much; he figured Sollux would move on his own when he was ready. As he picked Sollux up, his arms wrapped around his neck and he nodded. Dr. Eridan pushed the door open with his foot and stepped out into the hallway. Carrying him down the hall, he wondered if Sollux wanted to interact with the other patients tonight. He opened his mouth to ask him, paused, and closed it again. He could still feel that slight pressure of chapped lips on his own. He'd rather Sollux not do that to anyone else, especially not another patient. Dr. Karkat might rage but at least he'd probably be able to brush the incident off like he was trying to. He didn't have confidence that the other patients could do the same.

When they got to his room, Dr. Eridan placed him on the bed and had him put his arms up. He tugged off his shirt, leaving his glasses askew. A smile tugged at the corner of his lips at the sight and Dr. Eridan tried to hide it, reaching to gently remove them. Mismatched eyes blinked up at him. He got up from the kneeling position in front of Sollux and walked over to the dresser, one of the only other pieces of furniture in the bare room. He pulled out a drawer and drew out a change of clothes. He pulled the pajama top over his head and eased off his pants. Sollux tried to pull him closer but Dr. Eridan placed his hands on top of his, stilling the younger man. Slowly he drew up the pajama pants, not wanting his patient to feel uncomfortable. He tried not to think of the abuse he'd suffered at the hands of his aunt and step-uncle before he arrived here, that abuse that had left him so jaded.

Sollux made a sound of annoyance and drew Dr. Eridan to him again. Eridan didn't object, didn't press forward or pull away. For a long while, he just knelt before Sollux, his hands resting on his waist as he felt the tight grip of his patient's arms wrapped around his neck. He wanted Sollux to know he wasn't rejecting him. He also wasn't about to take advantage of him, either. He hoped, oh he dearly hoped, that this would be a step in the right direction to getting Sollux to trust him. Maybe then, maybe just maybe, he'd be able to help him come out of his shell. His knees were starting to hurt and his back was stiff from staying in that position for so long when he decided that he'd stayed still long enough for Sollux to get the picture. He tried to pull away gently but it was like trying to get away from a rubber band. Sollux's arms tightened and he landed with his face in his chest. "Oof!" Of course, it was at this moment that Dr. Karkat walked into the room, looking for him.

"What. The fuck. Sollux? Eridan?" His voice took a strangled tone as he pronounced his fellow doctor's name. Dr. Eridan immediately tried to pull away but Sollux's vice-like grip tightened around his neck. He made a small choking sound and his arms came up to try to free his windpipe. Meanwhile, Dr. Karkat continued his rant. "What the hell do you think you're doing, Eridan? Have you completely lost your mind? No, don't answer that, I already know the answer. Of course you have. Because we both know if even a single cell of rational thought was capable of being processed in that useless cranium a top your head, you wouldn't be doing this. If that meaningless decoration you call a skull wasn't so obviously empty already, I would say you need to get your brain checked out. But it's okay! Because clearly, you have no brain. No, scratch that, it's still not okay. Even a brainless monkeywith absolutely no possibility of sentient thought would know better and not do what you are doing in this moment. You are lower than the lowest scum, you don't even deserve to-Eridan?"

Of course, during this time Dr. Eridan had been trying to break free of Sollux's hold so he could explain himself. However, once he managed to pry Sol's arms from around his neck, Sollux had immediately wrapped his legs around his lower abdomen, shoving Dr. Eridan's face further into his chest. As Eridan's arms tried to pry his legs away, letting go of Sollux's arms in the process, his arms quickly moved to wrap around his neck again. Eridan gave a small noise of discontentment as a fleeting thought passed through his head that this must be what it felt like to have a pet octopus that wouldn't let go. His chest already slightly compressed from having Sollux's legs wrapped around him made it difficult to breathe. Added to the obstruction of air to his throat and mouth, thinking was becoming a little arduous. He couldn't think of any reason why Sollux was acting like this, except maybe he hated him enough that he wanted him dead.

Dr. Karkat gave a disgusted grunt, completely misunderstanding the situation. He instantly jumped to conclusions again. "Eridan. Jegus, Eridan, are you even listening to me? Are you seriously so far gone that you can't help yourself in front of me? Gog, this is so disgusting to watch. You are a doctor, Eridan. You, do you have any fucking idea what this would do to your career? To you? Think for a minute! Get it through that infinitely small brain of yours that this misbehavior doesn't affect just you! Sure, you would lose your license and your job ad everybody's respect for you but who cares about any of that? Boo fucking hoo. That's no big deal, I'm sure you'd be able to bounce back from it in no time." It was hard to tell if he was being serious or sarcastic. Eridan's oxygen-deprived brain said sarcasm but he couldn't be sure. "And that's just you, you miserable waste of space. Do you have any idea what our patients would go through? Stressful questions, painful memories brought up, past traumas relived and constantly revisited. Ad they'd probably be dragged to court to be mocked and made fun of because of you, the bane of my existence. If you do go to jail for this, I will rejoice and dance around like an idiot, because maybe then you would learn so fucking manners and decency. And the employees! Your employees here would be questioned extensively and have to endure al kinds of scrutiny-Eridan you nooksniff fucker, are you listening to me? You're putting my job at risk! Don't flail around like you're choking on a bonebuldge, you idiotic lug. I know you wouldn't dare lay a hand on a patient, so let go of him already. And you, Sollux, drop your precious mute act and speak up. Tell him you don't want to play his stupid games!"

"Mmm mmm!" Eridan cried out, getting tired of Karkat's rant and his inability to breathe through Sollux's cotton shirt. "Mm mmm mmph!"

Karkat rolled his eyes and yanked Eridan backwards. "What are you even saying? I can't under-"

Eridan greedily sucked in air, gasping. "I said get him off me." He panted. He'd never been more annoyed at Karkat's habit to rant without listening to anyone else before. Normally, he was stronger than Sollux, or so he'd thought, but he'd been put at a disadvantage today. That position had given his patient the upper hand and he was apprehensive of exerting his full strength for fear of hurting him. Dr. Karkat finally caught up with the situation. He helped Dr. Eridan pry Sollux off, at which point the good doctor scrambled to his feet. Sollux's arms shot out, trying to grab for him again, but Dr. Karkat stopped him.

His eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Did he approach you?"

Dr. Eridan rolled his eyes, not sensing the seriousness of the situation. "Of course he did, Karkat. Despite your terrible opinion of me and my work ethic, which you made abundantly clear just now, I don't have a habit of laying my hands on my patients. I've told this to Vriska dozensof times already. Should I start telling you as well?"

Dr. Karkat made a low sound in the back of his throat that was suspiciously close to a growl. "Sollux, you bonebuldge licker, don't you dare get close to Eridan again. I won't have you dragging him down." He grabbed Eridan's wrist and tugged him out of the room just as he opened his mouth to rebuke him. He dragged him halfway down the hall before he confronted him with an intense glare.

"Eridan, you squishy almost lovable fuckwad." Eridan rolled his eyes at the predictable insult. He felt almost cared for when Karkat put it like that. Karkat continued unperturbed. "Eridan, you might be a terrible boss and I honestly don't think you have any business running this place but you're not doing a pisspoor excuse of a job. It's actually pretty decent for someone of your caliber. You're not completely terrible and while I wouldn't say we're friends exactly, I don't hate you as much as other people. That's why I'm telling you this, so get it through that unbelievably retarded thinkpan of yours. Not everything is as it seems, okay? I know that sounds really cryptic and I'd like to tell you more. Okay, well no, I'd rather you never knew actually, but this is all I can tell you right now. Just. Just stay away from Sollux and those creeps who call themselves his uncles. They're bad news."

"Karkat…"

"No, Eridan, fucking listen to me for once. I know Sol is your first patient and all but you need to leave his treatment to me. I don't care how special he might seem to you, he's not, he's not special and he shouldn't mean a damn thing to you. You haven't made any progress with him anyway. He was worse than a-a, oh I don't know! Screw this. He was terrible when I first came here. I've gotten through to him though so back off and let me take over."

He made sense. Eridan knew what he was saying was probably true. He knew he should except what Karkat was saying. Karkat was the closest thing he had to a friend and he didn't want to lose that connection to him. That was what made saying the next words so hard. He'd been chewing his lip while Karkat talked but he quickly spoke up now, choking out the words while he could still say them. "Karkat, listen- No, listen Karkat. I had to… I had to tell the board of directors about what happened today." He saw Karkat freeze in place, stiffening with realanger. He felt him tighten his grip on his wrist until it was painful, extremely painful. Eridan grimaced inside, hating the role he had to play. He tried to keep a cool, indifferent composure-he had to be the boss right no, no matter how much he wanted to be Karkat's friend-but he could feel the nervousness slipping on his face. "I had to tell them, Karkat. You can take over Sollux's duty when you return, but most likely you'll be suspended during the investigation into your conduct."

"You asshole." Karkat spat out, flinging Eridan's hand back at him. He rubbed his hands on his coat, as if he'd touched something disgusting. And that's how he viewed him, that's what was reflected in his eyes as he stared at Eridan-disgust. "I was worried about you. I actually fucking gave a damn about your wellbeing, you moronic sludge of rotting sewage! I wasted my precious time and feelings in concern over you! And you actually have the gall to pretend like you had no choice in the matter? Fuck you. Fuck you Eridan and go to hell while you're at it. Or should I call you Doctor Eridan now? Would Director Fuckwad be a better title? How about Head Honcho In Charge of Backstabbing his Friends. That one suits you best. I bet you loved telling them about me, the screw up. I bet you were ecstatic to get a chance to finally one-up me. Good for you, Doctor Ampora. You finally got what you wanted. You've been dying to play the victim, haven't you? Well, here's your chance. Eat it up. I hope you choke on it like you're trying to gulp down a bonebuldge."

Karkat turned and stormed off, still cursing and ranting. Eridan longed to call after him. He wanted to explain. He really did treasure Karkat's friendship. That's why he had to tell the board of directors. If those men came back and claimed Karkat assaulted them, they could ask for his job and he wouldn't be able to help or defend him. And it wouldn't be just Karkat's job on the line, either. The whole hospital could come into question. Everyone's jobs would be in danger and Eridan couldn't let that happen. He wouldn't risk that, especially knowing it would kill Karkat if anything happened to this place. He would blame himself. It wasn't his fault, though, Eridan was sure of it. He'd been provoked, though he could see no reason for them to provoke him. That's why he had to make sure the board of directors heard his side of the story, heard Karkat's side of the story before they could be influenced or prejudiced against him. That's why he'd gone to the board, because he didn't want Karkat to lose his job. He didn't tell any of this to Karkat, though. Instead, he held all his emotions inside, practically drowning in them. He clutched the wrist that Karkat had nearly broken, his nails digging into his own flesh. He would hold it all inside. He would stay professional. Karkat was his employee. So he couldn't be his friend anymore. No big deal. So he didn't have a lot of allies on his side and losing Kar was a huge emotional blow. He could handle it. A small trickle of blood appeared as two of his nails broke the skin. A few drops of purple blood plipped on the ground without him noticing. Still clutching his wrist, Eridan turned and headed back to his office. He knew no amount of paperwork would make his pain disappear but it was worth a try.

So yes ~_~ A bit more serious this time around. Also, out of curiosity, would any of you mind telling me what you think of the characters so far? Especially Eridan and Karkat. I feel like I'm trying a bit too hard on them… u_u