Karkat continued clinging to his custodian's leg, eying Sollux's warily from where he sat. Crabdad's clicks and grunts caught his attention, making him look up at his custodian. A claw came down, resting on his shoulder as he was suddenly hefted from the ground and coddled like a small child. As if on instinct, he put his arms around Crabdad's neck and clung to him, the claws of the Lusus wrapping around him. The slender troll soon fell asleep in his Lusus's arms, his head resting on his shoulder.

Karkat was still sleeping when Sollux emerged the run-down building in a panic, frantic to find the other troll. "KK!" it was clear the Sollux was in a state of panic, looking frantically back and forth. He kept at it until a grunt from his Lusus got his attention, his eyes passing over Karkat and his lusus to his own. He growled and pointed a claw at him, "don't grunt at me becauthe I will not thtop until I know where KK ith."

Said troll stopped talking, stopping the red-blooded troll he'd been looking for. Karkat was clinging to his Lusus like a young grub, sleeping as he was held. The sight almost made Sollux smile, laugh even. But he dared not wake his friend with such an action, he figured Karkat could use the sleep. Sollux just went and settled by his own Lusus, sighing as he leaned against him then closed his eyes. The tall Lusus dwarfed him, but it was nothing concerning to the yellow-blooded troll. He could easily handle his Lusus with his psiionic powers, though there'd be no need for it at the moment.

Sollux listened for sounds of movements though there weren't many, save for the occasional shift of fabric and shift of the two Lusus.

Several hours passed before a different kind of sound joined the orchestra of quiet shifts, grunts, clacking, and breathing. Sollux stirs, sitting up at the unfamiliar sound. He'd fallen asleep to the quiet lullabye the sounds had become, this one was new. Different than before. At first, he thought it was another predator or the one who'd attacked Karkat had come to finish what it had started. But nothing was quite that foolish to approach two large Lusus and the psiionic troll.

It was only Karkat waking up from his slumber, Sollux settled against his Lusus once more and closed his eyes. He listened to the quiet grumbling of his friend's voice, telling his Lusus to let him down. That he was fine, well enough to walk though it didn't sound like his Custodian bought it. Either way, Karkat was set down, albeit reluctantly by his Lusus. A stagger, but it was to be expected seeing as he was held all of this time while he slept. His legs had probably fallen asleep, or were just unsteady.

What Sollux didn't expect was the quiet thud next to him as Karkat seated himself next to him, and although his eyes were closed. The yellow-blooded troll could feel the scrutiny of his friend's gaze. Sollux said nothing, a silence stretching on between them as Karkat looked upon him in a fixated manner. The silence was broken by one word, one that was filled with doubt, distrust, cautious curiosity, and wonder. "Why?" Karkat asked bluntly, watching and waiting for a response.

"Why, what KK?" Sollux asked in turn, shifting his gaze as he opened his eyes to look upon him. Damn, he was in a bad shape but he wouldn't point it out. He figured Karkat knew that, it shocked him on levels he didn't ever contemplate and wasn't about to start thinking about those now.

"Why did you come after me? After all this time..why? I thought I was all but a fucking memory to you assholes." Karkat growled, it was clear he was trying to keep his voice from breaking and fighting back the red tears that threatened to fall. He was upset, and confused. Confused as to why Sollux, of all people, would show up. Upset that no one had come before now to find him, that no one had even stopped him from leaving.

Even hurt, Karkat looked fierce. Even moreso now that he lost a hell of a lot of weight, though he didn't look like he could harm a young pawbeast. He could probably still scrap with the best and come out on top, despite his emaciated form.

Sollux just sighed and smiled tiredly, he was worn from his journey here despite having stayed right beside Karkat in the makeshift bed and sleeping with him.
A shrug before the response, "it's...not the same anymore. Not without you," the psiionic troll finally admitted, albeit hesitantly.

Karkat glared his way, scrutinizing him as if trying to figure out if he was lying or telling truth. A frown played across the mutant blooded troll's features before they relaxed as Karkat sighed. He just leaned against Sollux, the warmth of another's body was foreign to him after all this time. He'd all but just forgotten what it felt like to be near someone, someone other than Crabdad. Though he cared for his Lusus deeply, it wasn't the same as when he was near another troll. Crabdad's body was hard and cool to the touch, it left him battle ready at all times when the time came. Even when the Lusus slept, it was hard to creep past him when he was nearby; poised to strike at whatever tried going in. Or out.

Sollux was surprised when Karkat leaned against him, a hand going through those tangled ebony locks of his. He felt Karkat tense but said nothing of it, sliding the hand free of his hair and resting it on the other's shoulder as if to draw him closer but he didn't He figured Karkat was still..tense..about letting anyone near him, let alone pull him closer to an embrace. Especially in his current condition, however his hand was not pushed away. Not yet, anyway. He wouldn't be surprised if it was, whatever reason would be justifiable.

It was silent once more, Sollux found this one uncomfortable. He didn't know why, he had a sudden urge to break it. "Tho...your hair ith longer, KK." It was something Sollux had just plucked out of thin air, unsure as to what to say. While it was true, he never thought he'd see the day where Karkat Vantas would stop cutting his hair and just let it grow out into the semi-tangled mess it was now. It wasn't bad, it was as though it had been tousled in his sleep though instead of the usual result of it being spiky. It was entwined with itself, creating the view Sollux was looking at now.