"So…we're good then?" Dave asked with a resigned slump of his shoulders, stuffing his hands into his pockets. He couldn't believe he actually had to do that.

"Of course brother. It's all fine." Gamzee took a step closer and looked down at him from his sleepy eyelids, shaking his head slightly. He probably wasn't even aware of it.

Dave was really glad he caught him when he was stoned out of his mind, because maybe there was a chance that Gamzee wouldn't remember this. God it felt so fucking degrading trying to apologize to this bastard. Dave really hoped that the popularity and recognition at the party was going to make up for all the embarrassment he had to go through just now. At least Karkat wasn't in the room, he'd never hear the end of it.

"So like you're not mad and stuff?" Dave asked for what hopefully would be the last time while trying to sound only half-heartedly apologetic.

"No, I never was." he said sincerely…or sarcastically, it was really hard to tell with this guy. "I understand completely what you're going through." He put a hand on his shoulder like a father would and nodded. Okay now that was definitely ironic.

Instead of relief Dave felt somewhat even angrier at his response. Yesterday he basically told him he hated his guts, not to mention the constant verbal abuse Gamzee had to deal with from Karkat and he was just fine with all of it? How fucked up in the head do you have to be to accept this kind of bullshit? Some part of Dave wanted Gamzee to lash out, get angry for once in his life and not be so o-fucking-kay with everything and everyone. It was infuriating.

"Okay that's cool." Dave said nodding. His cool kid façade was in place and unchanging.

"You know Dave, you and I are not that different." Gamzee thought out loud stepping back.

"I doubt that." Dave deadpanned. He wasn't about to start kissing his ass just because of some party. He did what he had to do, he apologized. It certainly didn't mean they were suddenly going to go on a friend cruise across the god damn Atlantic. Dave had more pride than that.

"Oh, but I think we are." He shook his head smiling "Because it's like the great Baba Ram Dass said-"

"Is that even a real person?"

"-only that in you which is me can hear what I'm saying." He explained to Dave like an adult trying to prove to a four year old why two plus two equals four and not a bucket. The fact that Gamzee was half a head taller than him wasn't helping the situation either.

Dave took a deep breath steadying himself. He had to keep in mind that he had to be on his best behavior until the party. Of course by 'best behavior' he meant that Dave had to refrain from punching or yelling at him, which he could totally do.

"Sure, whatever man."

Gamzee looked him over with a slightly smug smile, but maybe Dave was just imagining it.

"I'm so glad you got this off your chest, Dave." He came closer once again, placing his hands on his shoulders. What was with all the touching, couldn't he keep his claws to himself? "Whenever two motherfuckers have a heart-to-heart it strengthens the special bond they have. So I appreciate you opening up your sensitive soul to me." Gamzee ever so slightly leaned in a bit closer and ushered in a quieter tone that was definitely smug this time "It was quite an intimate experience." That fucker

Dave clenched his teeth slightly. The dickpipe knew his pressure points and he also knew Dave wasn't going to do anything about the fact that he was pressing or more like stomping on them. Maybe it was a ruse Gamzee was doing to see how long Dave would hold out? If he didn't find the mere sight of him appalling, Dave would probably admirably nod his head, shake his hand and say "well played".

"Let's wrap this business up. C'mere you motherfucker." Gamzee suddenly embraced Dave before he had any time to comprehend what was happening or protest. Gamzee covered him with his entire body in one rib-crushing hug. Dave had no means of escape, not until the clown was good and ready to let him go.

Hot blood was rushing and creeping up Dave's neck and up to his face, his breathing became quicker and ragged since his lungs were pressed up like in a waffle iron. He had the sudden urge to claw his hands into the stoner's back, dig in deeply, rip something, or draw blood. Dave wasn't sure why though, from one side there were thousands of reasons, it was everything about this creep and the situation he was putting Dave in, but from another there was no specific reason either. He just knew that he wanted to inflict damage of some kind, any kind. Every fiber of his body was shaking with the need. There was a sick yet overwhelming and powerful feeling of satisfaction from the thought of shoving this guy's face into a brick wall. The fact that he could feel every inch of Gamzee pressed against him and his nose was buried in his messy hair was only making the feeling stronger.

Gamzee took his fucking time though, while Dave clenched his fists tightly and held his breath. When he let go with an even wider smile and stepped back and out of Dave's personal space, the blond drew back his hands quickly and locked them behind his back, his left hand clenching the wrist of the right one.

His heart was still pumping furiously, but the flush on his face wasn't that obvious. The rage dissolved just as quickly as it appeared.

Dave made the obvious conclusion that he wouldn't do well in the shoes of Bruce Banner. He'd be hulking out too often, but mostly because Bruce is a fucking nerd and Dave was too cool for that.

"That really wasn't necessary." Dave's voice was controlled and calm.

"Oh I think it was." he looked around the room with a confused expression like he was looking for something "I think I'm late for something." he wondered or more like asked himself.

"Yeah dude, you need to get moving."

"Why? Am I in the way?" Gamzee asked after a pause distracted, the previous thought flow already forgotten.

"You just said you were late for something." Dave reminded him. Gamzee drew his eyebrows together concentrating hard.

"Oh! I'm supposed to be getting to class!" He exclaimed, his face clearing up and spreading into a wide smile. Dave looked at his phone, it was 6pm. All of the lectures have already ended.

"Yeah that must be it."

"Sometimes things just fall out of your head without a reason." He swatted his hand absentmindedly and then suddenly a mysterious look overcame his features "And do you want to know how or why they come back to us?"

"No."

"Miracles." Gamzee smiled from ear to ear

"I'm pretty sure that's bullshit." Dave dropped after a sigh

"Hey don't judge a brother just for believin'." He couldn't even act sincerely offended. God damn pathetic. "Alright I'll leave you alone so you can gather your thoughts and write something deep and meaningful." He looked very serious while saying that and headed towards the door.

Not five seconds after saying his goodbyes and shutting the door he was already back, knocking on it. Dave thought that getting rid of him this easily was too good to be true.

"I remembered something." He explained excitedly "Wow what a day, things aren't falling out of my head like they usually do." He said dreamily staring off into the distance. "This isn't just like another day another dollar, more like another day, another mi-."

"Gamzee."

"Yeah?" he was sidetracked again

"What did you remember?"

"Right! Could you lend a CD to your good motherfucker?" What could he want with a thing like that? Who even uses CD's anymore? The realization that he didn't give a rat's fart about that came quickly so he kept his mouth shut. Besides, Dave was anxious to get him out his radically combed hair already so he spotted the first CD case somewhere on Karkat's pile of stuff, saw that it was a rewritable one and grabbed it without a second thought. Dave refrained from shoving it to him and handed it.

"Take it just delete whatever's on there."

"Thank you so much man, you like saved my life here." He twirled the case in his hands, admirably watching how the light danced on the shiny surface.

"Yeah." He dropped and closed the door on him, hearing the clown finally walk away.

Dave dragged his feet back to his bed and flopped down on it, extending his legs for that long needed stretch. The tension from his muscles started easing out of him as he felt himself sinking into the softness of the bed bit by bit. The sheets and the creaking wood beneath the mattress along with the frames of the bed were soaked to the core in a different scent. It was heavy, Dave could feel the weight of it sort of pressing him down, it had a bit of dulled sweetness in it, an obvious bitterness from the cigarettes and a hell load of pretentious asswipe just twirling in the air.

The sensible step would've been for him to open up the window, but that meant getting up from the bed and that wasn't gonna happen. He was already settled in too well to make himself get up, he'd rather plug his nose. Dave sort of understood now why Gamzee wouldn't get out of this bed by his own will. But it could be only his tiredness talking.

Sleep wouldn't come though. Was it the smell, the frustration from today or the stress, either way his eyes weren't closing. Instead, he reached for his headphones and the first notebook that he could find and put on some classical music, doodling mindlessly on the notebook.

His roommate got back when Dave had just gone through the first two movements of the symphony by Bach? Beethoven? Something with a 'B' he was sure of it. He checked his iPod, it was Tchaikovsky. Close enough.

"'Sup." Dave greeted him dropping the notebook behind him on the desk and sliding the headphones down so they were around his neck. Karkat merely grunted in response putting down his bag.

"So how was hanging out at Terezi's, you guys got to first base yet?" Dave asked casually, sitting up more properly.

"What the fuck, Strider?" he stated more than asked. "Where is this sack of bullshit coming from? I wasn't at Terezi's!"

"Yeah you were."

"I was out doing some socializing for your information. Making connections, talking to people, I'm sort of a big deal here. And certainly no 'bases' were being covered." Karkat even made ironic air quotes and Dave had to bite down a laugh.

"Yeah okay I believe the last bit."

"What is your fucking fascination with me and Terezi? This is where you get off, isn't it you sick fuck? I honestly don't know where you're getting all this stuff about me and her from-"

"Her shades are on your head." Dave deadpanned.

Karkat stopped his rambling and experimentally raised his hand to his hair, felt the rims of the shades with his fingers and slowly brought them down to inspect if they were truly Terezi's. The whole process was quite dramatic reminding Dave of a horror movie when a devastating or intense plot detail is revealed. Because Karkat was definitely staring at them with horror while a deep blush began coloring his cheeks.

"Why didn't you tell me earlier?" he lifted his head finally, accusing him

"And miss that look on your face? Never." Dave smirked

"Well," Karkat fidgeted from one foot to another "I'd still prefer if you kept these accusations to yourself, I-I don't want them reaching her understand?" Dave raised an eyebrow at him and Karkat hurried to add "She's a good friend of mine I don't want things to get awkward."

"I wasn't gonna say anything." He shrugged "But seriously were you two like a thing?"

"You know what I think I'm just gonna spill it all out, clear this fart filled air once and for all, and tell you the whole story that me and Terezi were- oh wait, that's none of your fucking business." Karkat dropped and sat on the chair.

"Whatever dude, I was gonna offer you some solid advice there."

"Advise me?" the shorter one asked outraged "Like I would need advice from you! And like-" he shifted uncomfortably in his chair "just hypothetically so I could prove that, w-what sort of advice would you give?" his eyes were glued to the table and his voice was considerably softer.

"Well for one thing if you wanna get it on with her, quit being so mean to her, you know you don't really mean it, but she doesn't. And learn to be fuckin' cool man like me, 'cause it's a fact that chicks just love me, I can't help it."

"Dave the only person who thinks you're cool is you and it's just fucking embarrassing for everyone, but mostly for me."

"Yeah like I'm gonna believe that. And anyway, learn to take a fucking hint. If she's not interested, back the fuck off yo. Find someone else who tolerates you." Karkat stayed quiet for a few moments with a troubled look on his face

"Okay maybe that's not totally terrible advice." He muttered under his breath

"Yeah I know. We'll hook you up with another psycho at the party, which reminds me…" Dave sat up a bit straighter "You gotta be nice to Gamzee this week."

"The fuck for? Okay I guess I sorta get that I need to cool it down a bit and collect my scattered shit, and I'll try to be nicer to Terezi and maybe Kanaya, but Gamzee is fucking pushing it man."

"Well apparently his stinky ass is hosting the party and we both need to get in there. Well I need it more than you, and if you piss him off he might not let both of us in, and I like have stuff to do there and I can't be the loser who's sitting out on this type of stuff." Dave saw that Karkat was rolling his eyes and opened his mouth to respond. But sensing that the answer wasn't going to be a good one Dave continued "And you need to get in there too. Socialize or whatever. I'm not saying that you gotta kiss his fucking ass or listen to his miracle lectures, but y'know, bring the yelling to a minimum. Man this is a big deal for me and could be for you too so-"

"Fine, I'll behave." Karkat sighed

"Seriously?" Dave asked drawing his eyebrows together

"Yeah, I'm not the total asshole that you think I am you know." Karkat rolled his eyes again and turned towards the desk, picking out his notes from the clutter on it.

"Thanks. I know it's gonna be hard not yelling at the juggalo, but it's only temporary."

"That fucking creep pisses me off so much." He shook his head, talking more to himself than to his roommate.

"Everyone pisses you off." Dave stated matter-of-factly.

"Well…not everyone." Karkat shrugged now visibly turning away from him, rummaging through the stuff on the desk intensely "I guess you're like pretty okay to be aro- did you draw dicks all over the history notebook?!" he shouted all of a sudden, turning to the blond holding the evidence in his hand.

"I wouldn't know anything about that." Dave replied sinking into the bed once again, putting on his headphones.

"It's not even mine you asshole how am I supposed to explain this?!" he rambled on, but Dave merely pointed to his headphones and shrugged mouthing 'can't hear you' even though there was no music playing. But seeing as Karkat was on a roll on one of his rants he figured he might as well get back to where he left off.

Dave sank in properly into the bed once again and the smell wasn't bothering him that much anymore. Karkat's mouth and whole body was moving with every other word that was a swear as he was passionately ranting about something. The dramatic third movement of the symphony was drowning his voice out, giving his speech quite a background that was suiting him quite well.

…

Getting through the week was actually easier than it seemed. Dave thought that it would be quite a mental challenge for him, but on the contrary the week had gone by as smooth as his rhymes. His project, even though it wasn't the best, was received quite well by the lecturer. Dave was slowly getting the hang of classical music, and though he'd never admit it out loud to a living soul, he kind of even liked it.

But what was really surprising, was his totally chill attitude towards Gamzee. Dave didn't have another episode ever since he lost his shit and shouted at him nor did he have any further sadistic thoughts. Well of course there were always those occasional 'I'm going to push you over and fart on your face if you don't move the fuck out of my way' thoughts, but they are just a part of that wonderful college experience. But none of those thoughts concerned Gamzee, which was the important bit. He couldn't say that he had stopped disliking the freak, nor that he was getting used to him, but somewhere in his mind he just accepted the fact that the stoner was gonna be there and in his life for some time and there was nothing he could do to stop it.

In fact, Dave stopped talking to him altogether, because he figured that the best way to avoid saying anything too rude towards him was not saying anything at all. During this time, Gamzee was fussing a bit at Dave's lack of response like a small, spoiled child who didn't get enough attention. But this was only at first, after a few days it seemed that Gamzee grew bored of it. He was still there, almost every day in their room and everywhere he went, but he wasn't trying to get under his skin anymore or at least not that obviously.

He could tune out Gamzee's rambling, which was mostly harmless now, and it was peaceful in his head, much quieter. The poe- I mean rapper could properly organize his motherfucking thoughts together and there was more room for his ill beats. Dave's mind during that week was definitely a passive and serene place to be in, and perhaps a little empty and hollow…

Dave even got to the point where he didn't care if Gamzee was there while he was studying, mixing new beats or on a skype call with his sister Rose or Egbert who was traveling around the world like the adventure nerd that he was. Meanwhile the older man lay on the bed quietly, watching Dave from the corner of his eye.

It honestly did seem that Gamzee was getting bored of the little game he was playing with Dave, or maybe he was thinking of new ways to win seeing as his old tactics weren't working anymore? Who knew what was going on in that funny little head of his? And frankly who the fuck cared? It was a waste of time thinking about stuff like that. He was just a god damn stoner who was wasting his life and annoying others so who would give a shit about any of that? That's right. The answer was Dave Strider.