This chapter is alternately titled Sick And Wanting The Dick. Also I just realized that molestation of butterflies being illegal in California is not common knowledge for most people and I might have been the only one to go through a phase where I only looked up strange and stupid state laws in my spare time. For this I apologize. Someone was confused so I thought I'd mention that.

Karkat was sick. Terezi was right when she mentioned he might have been coming down with something. He had to call out of work again for a few days and although Equius was a bit disgruntled he said Nepeta and he both wished him better health.

He slept through most of the morning but had to get up around noon because someone was knocking on his door. He groaned and pulled his blanket around himself as he crawled out of bed and reluctantly answered.

It was Dave, "Hey, man. You don't look so good."

"What do you want, Strider?"

"I was going to invite you to the Halloween bash at my club this weekend but you don't really look up for it."

"No shit," Karkat sniffled.

"Alright, then, that settles it," Dave pushed himself inside Karkat's apartment.

"What settles what?"

"Vantas, have you eaten anything all day?"

"I just got out of bed."

"Ick. That's not good. I'll make you soup. Go take a hot bath."

"YOU CAN'T JUST-!" Karkat broke into a fit of coughs.

"I'll call someone to have them drop off some throat lozenges and medicine. And if you don't want to take a bath, I could always help," Dave wiggled his eyebrows.

"I got it! I'll take a bath."

"Good."

Karkat slumped off into the bathroom and started to run the faucet. How dare he bust his way in and boss a sick person around! Although, Karkat had to admit, having someone that could look after him felt pretty nice. He slipped into the tub.

When the tub water was high enough Karkat relaxed and submerged his head under the water. It felt a lot better than trying to sweat out the sick, wrapped up in his bed. He slid back up, resurfaced and found that he could almost breathe normally again.

The door to the bathroom opened and Karkat splashed around trying to cover himself as Dave entered, "What are you doing in here?!"

"I came to get the blanket you've been carting around. I'm cleaning your sheets. Do you have any extras I can change your bed with?"

"…They're in that little closet in the hallway."

"Gotcha," Dave didn't make any more comments or remarks. He just took the blanket and left. It was a bit out of character and Karkat briefly wondered if Dave was the one not feeling well.

However, the situation seemed comfortable. It was like a taste of what it would be like if two people actually lived together. The whole domestic cohabitants-thing was kind of nice. And being doted on a bit was also pretty fun.

After the steam of the bath settled and the water was only lukewarm, Karkat got out of the tub. He forgot to bring a towel and Dave had taken his clothes along with the blanket. Shit.

He peeked out from behind the bathroom door and the smell of soup made his stomach gurgle, "Dave!"

"Yeah?" He was in the kitchen.

"Could you… Could you get me a towel from the hallway closet?"

"Why, Karkat. Is that an invitation to-?"

"DAVE, JUST GET ME A TOWEL."

A few seconds later, Dave slipped the towel into the slightly ajar door, "Soups cooling. Go get dressed into something warm and comfy."

"Okay…"

With the towel wrapped around his waist, Karkat made his way to his room. The sheets were changed and a set of sweats was laid out on the bed.

"Hey, Karkat! I know you're the type to carry around a blanket when you're sick but, I swear to god, if you bring one out you'll get it dirty, and I just changed your sheets so-."

Karkat put the sheet he was pulling off the bed back into place, "I wasn't going to!"

Dave laughed and it sounded genuine and nice- This was too good.

Karkat crept slowly into the kitchen and eyed Dave suspiciously, "Who are you?"

"Jesus, man. I know you're sick but do you actually not remember who I am?" Dave set a bowl on the table and beckoned Karkat over by pulling out a chair. Karkat complied. The soup really smelled good. Dave sat across from him with his own bowl and began to eat. He stopped when he saw Karkat was looking at him instead of partaking in the soup, "Is there a problem?"

"Is there?" Karkat narrowed his eyes.

"Whoa. Okay. What did I do?"

"You came into my home, cleaned my sheets, made me bathe, and made me soup."

"Okay. And I repeat 'Is there a problem?'" Dave smirked.

"I'm so confused…," Karkat began spooning some of the soup into his mouth. It was just as delicious as it smelled. Oh hey. He could taste again.

"Why? Didn't think I would be the caregiver type?"

"Yeah, I guess that's it. I kind of thought your only agenda was to get into my pants."

"I thought I told you I was serious."

"BUT YOU NEVER SPECIFIED ABOUT WHAT!" Karkat's spoon clanked into his bowl as he pushed his chair back and stood up

"Hey. Calm down. It's nothing to be upset about. Just some miscommunication -."

"I AM COMPLETELY CALM!"

"Dude, you are not," Dave hastily got up out of his seat and walked over to where Karkat was standing. Dave's hand came up and palmed Karkat's forehead, "Fuck. Your fever came back with a vengeance. If you're done with your soup, you need to get back into bed. I'll get you a wet cloth to put on your forehead to cool you down."

"NO."

"No?"

"NO!"

"Okay, well, no to your no," Dave scooped Karkat up bridle-style.

"What do you think you are doing?" Karkat struggled to no avail.

"Getting you into bed. Terezi should be here soon with medicine. Until then, please try to calm down and get some rest," Dave dumped Karkat into his bed and threw the blanket over him.

Karkat panted heavily, frustrated and a little worn out. He dug the palm of his hands into his eyes, "My head is all messed up."

"Yeah, I know. But some sleep will fix you right up."

Karkat grabbed Dave's shirt as he was about to walk away, "Not about that."

Dave turned around and slowly ran his fingers through Karkat's hair. He began to lean down when he paused, hearing a knock at the door, "That's Terezi with the meds."

Karkat let go of his shirt and turned away from him. He stared disgruntled at the wall, "Go answer it."

Dave sighed and bent down to kiss the back of his neck, "That'll do, pig. That'll do."

"Stop quoting Babe at me and answer the fucking door!"

"You got it, babe," Karkat groaned.

The heat of Dave's lips still lingered on his neck and he ran his hand over it feeling like it burned. What am I doing? He couldn't hear the words but the sounds of the voices were audible; Terezi's, a bit scratchy and Dave's, smooth and relaxed. There was the sound of the door closing and footsteps that didn't stop at the bedroom. The bathroom maybe?

Finally, Dave walked in and slapped a cold damp towel over Karkat's forehead. He put down a plastic bag on the nightstand. He rustled through it and took out a bottle of Tylenol, some type of nasal spray, and cough drops.

"Two Tylenol for your headache. Take it. Right now."

Karkat did as he was told.

"The nasal spray is going to drip down into your throat and taste awful but we have cough drops so use them and make sure you don't fall asleep with one in your mouth."

"…Alright."

"Cool. You all settled down then?"

"Yes. Are you going to leave now?"

"Well, yeah. I mean you should be good, right?"

"Can you stay a bit longer?"

Dave took off his shades and set them on the nightstand, "Yeah. Sure. I won't leave until you fall asleep."

"Promise?"

"I promise."

Dave sat down with his back rested against the bed. With his head so close, Karkat could smell his shampoo. It smelled like… apples? It was nice and so very Dave; it suited him. The smell comforted him, to know there was another person watching over him and being near him. He didn't even notice when he began to drift asleep.

The next morning Karkat woke up alone and feeling fantastic. It was already two in the afternoon but Dave was right. A nice long rest really did make him feel much better. He also felt like a bit of an ass. He needed to thank Dave somehow.

Karkat walked out of his apartment and knocked on Dave's door. A, "Coming!" was called out before the sound of stumbling and then the door was yanked open. Dave had bedhead. Dave had bedhead and it was BAD. Karkat actually started laughing.

"Yeah? Yuck it up, Vantas. You think I got bad bedhead?" Dave bent down and Karkat could see himself in the reflections of Dave's shades. Good lord.

"Whatever. I didn't come over here for hairstyling tips."

"Why are you here then if not to catch a gander at my unmanageable locks?"

"I wanted to thank you for yesterday and also… I'll go to your gig tonight."

Dave looked thrown off, "Really?"

"Yes. Please don't make me regret it."

"I promise you won't," Dave gave one of those smiles that made Karkat's organs do weird things. No! No! Shit! Shit!

"Yes. Well. I'll see you tonight then," He told himself it wasn't a date. It was a way to thank Dave. He desperately hoped he wasn't going to make a mistake.