The sky remains overcast but no longer threatens rain, which Karkat decides is a good thing as he begins the process of walking to the park. He has to remember where it was for a good while, since his thoughts seem to be escaping him at the moment. Probably doesn't help that he keeps sneezing every two seconds.
It's already rather late by the time he manages to wander to the small park, and he wonders how he didn't get jumped or some shit on the way here because to be pretty honest he's pretty out of it.
The setting sun seems to be straining to be seen through the thick cloud layer, but only a few rays land on the damp grass, even those quickly fading away. It's not even that late yet, not even seven but it seems like fall is taking its hold early.
Karkat sighs and leans against the metal play structure, facing the beginning of the treeline. He hopes that the yellow shirted guy will show, hell, maybe he won't and it was all a hallucination. Is he crazy? He's honestly not that sure anymore. The fabric seems to feel heavy on his skin, almost as if reminding him that it's there.
Movement catches his eye and he turns quickly to follow it, immediately regretting the motion when his head pounds. He loses sight of whatever it was when he leans his head in his hands. He can feel that his face is flushed from a fever and he begins to worry if he'll be able to get home. He does have to walk after all, damn, this wasn't as well thought out as it should've been.
Karkat realizes that there are footsteps approaching, and he leans his head up to see that crouching a few feet away is the winged boy, the golden appendages tucked against his back and partially splayed behind him. He's staring curiously until he realizes that Karkat is staring back, then he quickly looks away.
"Hey," Karkat greets, his voice breaking the heavy silence that had built.
"Oh, uh, hi," The other teen seems to scramble for something to say, which makes Karkat tilt his head and smile shallowly.
"What's your name? You never did tell me," He starts off, moving so that he's sitting cross legged instead of keeping his knees close to his chest.
"My name is Sollux, what's yours?" Sollux answers warily, but then moving a bit closer so that Karkat can almost reach out and touch him.
"Heh, I'm Karkat, I honestly didn't expect you to show, since there's no way you can be real or anything," Karkat see's Sollux frown, and feels himself smiling again.
"What do you mean there's no way I can be real, I'm right here aren't I?"
"You have wings though!" Karkat says in response, waving an arm over Sollux's shoulder. Sollux flinches, but doesn't move back at the action.
"I still don't understand," Sollux replies, shaking his head. Karkat rolls his eyes, but quickly finds that to be a bad move when his head pounds.
"Hey are you ok?" Sollux looks concerned as Karkat grimaces, once again moving his knees to his chest.
"Yeah not really, but I'll be fine. I forgot what I came here for...oh yeah," Karkat mumbles, eyes sort of glazing over as he remembers why he was waiting out here in the first place. He tries to slide off the jacket but finds that Sollux's hand has somehow ended up on his shoulder and is keeping the material from moving.
When Sollux notices what he's done he instead sets back and waves his hands in a placating way, "I only meant that you can keep it, I mean I already told them that I'd lost it so it's fine for you to keep it."
Karkat frowns, feeling like Sollux is lying somehow, but then again he's really cold, when did it get so cold? He shivers underneath Sollux's unsure gaze and pulls his phone from his pocket, contemplating asking Gamzee to come get him or something. Then again he doesn't really feel like he can look at th e bright screen of his phone without throwing up.
"I don't think you're ok, are you sick or something?" Sollux hesitantly presses his palm against Karkat's forehead, brushing away the teen's bangs and withdrawing his hand quickly after making contact with his skin.
"You're burning up, do you live near here or should I ask someone to come get you?" Sollux thinks quickly, seeing that Karkat's holding a phone, and carefully removes it from Karkat's loose grip, and when he receives no protest begins to go through the contacts.
He tilts his head at the strange names, and nicknames it seems, before he pauses above one, KERAMIN (MOM).
"Should I call your mom?"
Karkat's eyes widen and he becomes more lucid, quickly latching onto Sollux's arm with a surprisingly strong grip, "No no don't call her, I don't want her to be angry at me for interrupting her during a case, please don't."
Sollux seems more shocked from the contact than anything, but nods and continues looking through, "Ok who then?"
Karkat takes a moment to think before answering, "Text Gamz, he might actually answer the phone, don't call him though because he won't recognize your voice," Karkat allows his arm to fall and he shivers a bit more.
Sollux feels worry course through him, and he scrolls around before finding 'Gamz' and creating a message.
From: Karkat
To: Gamzee
hey gamz can you come get me please? I'm at the park at the corner of scratch ave and fang blvd.
He isn't very shocked to receive an answer seconds later.
From: Gamzee
To: Karkat
On my way karbro whats all up and wrong :O(
Sollux doesn't bother to answer since he doesn't know what he'd say, instead he carefully hands Karkat back the device, closing the teen's fingers around it when Karkat doesn't. Sollux can faintly detect them calling for him, which is surprising because it's so early, usually they're fine with letting him stay out longer. He knows that Karkat will hear them too if he doesn't go back.
"Hey will you be alright till he gets here? He shouldn't be too long," Sollux tries to keep the nervous tone out of his voice, but he can see Karkat glance at him. Although, it seems that Karkat feels more panicked that Sollux will be leaving so quickly.
"You'll stay till he gets here won't you?" Karkat's voice almost makes Sollux want to stay, but he can hear them calling louder and closer, and he just can't take that chance.
"I have to go, they're looking for me and I don't know how they'll feel about you," Sollux replies with guilt, but fear overpowers the guilt when he hears them near to the treeline. His wings quiver and unconsciously lifts him from the crouch to a few feet away from Karkat.
"Sorry," He murmurs earnestly as he turns and begins running swiftly towards the treeline, forcing his wings to keep still as they spread out behind him, as if preparing for flight.
Karkat can only watch as Sollux's silhouette fades into the trees, and wonder who was calling for him.
The humming of a familiar (and crappy) motor catches his attention and he turns his head to see Gamzee 's van idling in the parking lot, the gangly teen walking towards him.
Karkat grimaces internally as he attempts to stand, having to lean heavily on the metal playstructure behind him as his head spins.
"Karkat what are you all up and doin' out here so late?" Gamzee questions, watching carefully as Karkat swallows hard and tries to reply.
"Just seeing if I could return the guy's jacket," Karkat replies simply, but hoping that Gamzee doesn't sense the lie that seems to be obvious to him.
"Aw, did he not show Karbro?" Gamzee asks, frowning sympathetically. Karkat just shrugs, beginning to take a step forward before stopping abruptly as his head pounds.
Gamzee watches him carefully, observing that Karkat looked like he would fall over any second.
"You alright Karkat?" Gamzee can't understand what Karkat mumbles in response, so he takes a few steps closer and copies what Sollux had done earlier, brushing aside Karkat's bangs and feeling his forehead. Although Gamzee isn't as afraid of the contact and just frowns more as he takes a step back and leans down to look at Karkat's eyes.
"You're burnin' up Karbro," Gamzee doesn't waste a second to pick up the smaller teen and carry him back to the still idling van. Karkat weakly protests that he can walk himself but ends up just allowing Gamzee to set him down in the passenger seat.
"Is your mom home? Or should I call her," Gamzee asks, seeing that Karkat is still holding his phone.
"No it's fine, don't bother her, just take me home," Karkat replies quickly, having to cough when his voice starts to get raspy.
"Are you sure Karbro..." Gamzee trails off when he notices something glimmering near his feet.
"Yeah I'll be fine Gamz," Karkat attempts a smile before leaning his head back against the seat. Gamzee nods, closing the door then picking up the glimmering thing near his feet. After turning it around in his hand, he realizes that it's a single honey shaded feather. The thing is almost as long as half his forearm and nearly as wide.
Gamzee shrugs and keeps ahold of it as he gets in and drives Karkat home, immediately seeing once he pulls into the driveway that there are no cars and that all the lights are turned out. Had Karkat even come home? Gamzee looks over to ask him when he realizes Karkat's asleep. He shakes his head with a small smile as he gets out.
"Guess it's a good thing my bro's getting some Z's, guess I'll have to all up and carry you in." Gamzee lifts him bridal style, tucking the feather in Karkat's jacket pocket. He was lucky enough for the back door to be unlocked, so he contemplates turning on some lights before leaving them off for now.
He knew Karkat's room was just down the hall so he sets Karkat on his bed before quietly walking back out to the kitchen. He gets a glass of water and some medicine stuff before walking back and setting it on the bedside. He chews his lip in contemplation, because he really doesn't want to leave his sick bro alone, but he knows that Keramin wouldn't want to find him in their house this late.
To solve the issue he just decides to write her a note and leave it on the table where she'd most likely see it.
Hey Karkat's mom, Karbro all up and has a fever. He was asleep when I drove him home so I didn't give him any medicine but I left some stuff on his bedside table in case he wakes up. He didn't want me to call you which is why I didn't. Just thought I'd tell you, -Gamzee.
Gamzee sighs and flips on the kitchen light before setting the note down on the table. He tries not to feel guilty as he closes the door and walks out to his van, he knows that it's better if he leaves because Keramin never has really liked him much. Gamzee shakes his head to clear his thoughts and begins driving away, one little thought nagging him.
Where did that feather come from?
AN:
What's this? An quick update?
Ok not going to lie I've been waiting to post this chapter because I had it typed up but I hate doing back to back updates (unsure why, just a thing) but gah I love this chapter. I hope you guys do too, because my goodness we find out the winged apparition has a name!(*cough* we all knew his name anyway *cough*) and I mean I finally get to like reveal some stuff in this chapter.
Ah well, I'll shut up now, hope you guys liked it!
Until the next upload!
