A/N First off I've finally done some research into the injuries John would have, and he wouldn't have a cast and couldn't have taken a bath (but a shower is still an option ;D)… which are the only errors that really bother me enough to mention and I'm too lazy to go back and fix the last chapter, so… yeah. I have this week off and am going to be doing a ton of character research to make things interesting. I'm excited for where this is going!

=== John Egbert: complain

A few weeks in the future, be john and be absolutely miserable.

"Kaaaarkaaaat…."

"WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU WANT NOW?"

"I need to get up!"

"SO? I AM BUSY!"

"I have to pee again."

"WELL THEN GET YOUR WALKER AND FUCKING GO TO THE BATHROOM. I AM NOT HAULING YOUR ASS AROUND THE HIVE NOW THAT YOU CAN WALK AGAIN."

"Uhhhgggg…."

"NO!"

You let you let out one final exaggerated sigh. It's been three and a half weeks since your accident. Your ribs have finally stopped hurting, and your shoulder has made enough of a recovery that it is no longer in a sling. The doctor says your arm is useable enough that you should try to walk a little with the aid of a walker. In another week or so your arm will be able to hold you on crutches. Till then you're stuck looking like a little old lady hunched over a silver walker, complete with fluorescent yellow tennis balls to prevent to floor from scuffing…

But even a couple minutes of walking are exhausting and still really painful. Like everything about trying to make it from the sofa bed to the bathroom, five feet away, is the longest most excruciating trek you've ever had to make. And you know very well it's not.

On top of that you have to sit down when you pee. They should come and take away your man card just for that.

"Karkat… would you at least come help me get up?"

You look down at your legs hanging off the side of the mattress. They've gotten less muscular, thin from lack of use… Not that you were all that muscular to begin with, so you guess the change is only dramatic for yourself. Not that he would tell you if he noticed. Karkat tiptoes around any discussion of physical appearance. It's just something he's always done. You can only imagine that his discomfort stems from his mutation. He never really learned to accept himself but he accepts that you accept him, and you guess that it's good enough.

But, from the kitchen you can hear your boyfriend growling and dishes being tossed around in frustration and for the first time in a long time you wonder how much of it is for show and how much is genuine.

Karkat hardly ever intends to hurt you with what he says, but anger is his default when he's stressed or upset... which is most of the time. Lately though you have been much more dependent, to the point where you feel like a burden and a nuisance.

Less pitiable and more pitiful.

When Karkat finally walks in you don't look up. The irritation that seems to roll off of him could probably manifest into an actual being and slap you across the face... Stranger things have happened. You can feel him roll his eyes as he places the shiny structure around your legs. You don't move.

"JOHN…"

". . ."

"JOHN. GIVE ME YOUR HANDS."

". . ."

"JOHN, I DON'T HAVE ALL FUCKING DAY!"

Karkat sighs in exasperation and reaches over. Despite the rage in his voice; he gingerly takes your hands in his own, placing them on the foam padded bars. You manage to keep them in place and take a deep breath. When you muster the courage you tilt your head up, and look at the angry troll above you.

But he isn't.

The look on Karkat's face isn't the look of anger or even irritation that usually scowls at everything. His brow is creased in a look of concern. When your eyes meet, his lips turn up into that small pitying smile that you know means so much more than "I'm sorry".

He reaches up and wipes away the tear that you didn't even know was there.

"JOHN, IT'S OK. LOOK I KNOW THIS IS HARD FOR YOU, I'M NOT TRYING TO BE AN ASSHOLE… IT'S JUST… I DON'T… SHIT, HOW DO I SAY THIS…?"

He runs a hand through his hair and you can see him trying to organize his thoughts, Karkat Vantas always has to say exactly the right thing.

Another moment of concentration and Karkat finally finds his voice.

"I'M WORRIED JOHN."

"What?"

You honestly have no idea where he is going with this.

"I DON'T THINK THAT THIS ACCIDENT WAS AN 'ACCIDENT'."

"Karkat, I really don't understand? Are you saying that whoever that was hit me did it on purpose? Like, I was targeted."

"YES. HONESTLY YOU'RE UNBELIEVIBLY UNOBSERVENT SOMETIMES…"

Or just really good at repressing things… until you go to sleep that is.

"LOOK AT THE EVIDENCE, JOHN. YOU WEREN'T EVEN THAT CLOSE TO THE SIDEWALK. THE DRIVER AIMED RIGHT FOR YOU… VRISKA SAYS THAT THE CAR WENT OUT OF ITS WAY TO HIT YOU. I'VE BEEN TALKING WITH THE HUMAN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WHO WERE ASSIGNED TO YOUR ACCIDENT, AND THEY HAVEN'T FOUND HOOFBEASTMANURE. I THINK IT'S TIME TO TAKE THIS ROLE OUT OF THEIR INCOMPETANT HUMAN PRONGS."

"Who would want me dead?" You pull your hands back and hold yourself.

"I DON'T KNOW. BUT WHEN I FIND OUT…"

Karkat's eyebrows knotted together and the concern on his face deepened into a kind of anger that you haven't seen in him since you first met. Rage boiling just beneath the surface, bloodlust burning in his fiery eyes. This is the side of trolls that still frightens you.

Are you scared?

Yes… But not of Karkat. You are scared for whoever Karkat sets that burning gaze upon. May God have mercy on their soul.

=== Be Karkat

That's not possible; you couldn't possibly handle the kind of emotion the alien is experiencing. Plus, he is scaring the shit out of you at the moment.

Who else could you be? You're tired of being John and it's kind of painful to be him, what with a broken femur and all.

Why not try to be the spider girl everyone's talking about?

Ya… that sounds good.

=== Be the totally badass spider troll.