Today was the day. After reviewing the speech for the most part with Porrim, Karkat had a basis of what to say. Overall she was ok with his idea. Even the more dangerous parts. Kanaya had forced him to dress at least a little more formal for the occasion. Black vest and a red tie. She claimed he looked the part of Johnny's son more than ever with it on. When Karkat stared into the mirror he could see what she meant. It gave him confidence. Something he would need a lot of.
Finding the old hideout to be cramped, Johnny had upgraded to a proper building a while back. Droog made it into a coffee shop on the visible floors with all the family business located at levels below prying eyes. The shop was closed when Droog led him into where the announcement was to be held. Droog spoke to Karkat but the words were lost on him. Nerves had made him all but deaf to the outside world. Karkat opened the door to the world below. In there he saw Johnny's legacy. The Midnight. Today it was his turn to lead them. All heads turned towards Karkat as he walked to where Johnny spoke to them. All thirty.
Karkat couldn't breathe. Desperate attempts to get words out failed. How was he supposed to command these adults? Be their leader? Out of the corner of his eye Karkat could see Droog pale with dread. Both knew the pressure was consuming him. His mind entertained running away. Karkat's hands began to leave the table, one where usually Johnny tended to have his knife stuck in. Someone pushed them back. Warm hands. Looking up he saw Terezi. Karkat froze for a moment. When he blinked she disappeared. 'Let's be brave together.' Her words rang in his ears. Karkat straightened himself. There was a promise he needed to keep.
"Where the fuck is Slick?" Karkat began. The men stopped sizing Karkat up and focused on him. "I know that's the question on your mind as well as why this little fuck is up here making his declaration of war." Nods of other men and quiet whispers. "Your answers are simple. Slick is wherever the fuck he feels like being and he told me to announce our manhunt for the Felt." As Karkat spoke he never stopped watching. Observing the mood and adjusting what he was going to say. Some of these men he knew for years. He understood what made them tick. "I will be quick with who I am. I am the adopted son of Spades Slick. The name is Karkat Vantas."
The group erupted into chaos. Tables flipped and men shouted. Disbelief was rampant in the ranks. Words like liar were tossed around. Karkat took a deep breath. "When the fuck did I say I was finished and you could bitch and moan? The most important part you all need to understand is that for this operation I'm your fucking leader. So get your panties out your assholes and remember you are Midnights! We don't tolerate deranged housewives disguising as men." Everyone stared hard at him. Rage. However they were also focused. It was easier to convince people when they were paying attention. "Tonight we talk about the Felt. What they did and how we are going to deal with them." Karkat said. People tensed at the very word. All of them were here for this. One man stood and ignored his companion's protests. "What the fuck do you know about the Felt? You don't know shit!" The man said. From his appearance he looked to be one of the newer recruits. Many seemed to agree with his insight and the man swelled with newfound confidence. Veterans to the Family faces all darken in unison. Karkat saw an opportunity. One Johnny wouldn't have let him passed. "You new kids don't know dick about who I am do you? Let me educate you and let the shame of wasting time replace the lecture you deserve."
Karkat walked up close to the man. The entire group surrounded the two. "Let's move aside that they murdered my parents on national television. The fact that they killed the man who then raised me and my brother. My last blood relative. You know the small shit." Karkat said. Every word he stepped closer as the man backed away. Swears and whispers increased as he continued. Karkat knew they saw his eyes change. Now was for the last thing to push them over the edge. Karkat grasped the sleeve of his shirt. They wouldn't believe he had a lot in this if they didn't see the damage. For a moment his facade showed signs of breaking. Then he pulled it back. "Snowman's work. Every inch of my body. Last thing she got to do before I killed her. As a bonus I kicked Slick's ass thinking he was after my family too. Ask Droog, it was the reason he lost his eye." Karkat said. The man crumpled to the floor. Everyone including Droog stood stunned. No one knew about the marks until today. It was hard to rebound from learning the truth. "Their debt to me runs high but that's not why we are here. For there is a crime greater than what they did to just me. It was what they did to all of us. Their insolence."
"The Felt walked into our city. Then went against the rules. Those fuckers killed our people. In our line of work we thrive off of crime but we are no savages. No outsiders are hurt. Ever. Picking on the weak are for men without the stones to challenge the strong. That is the words of Slick and the mantra of our group. We built this city and we will safeguard it from all avenues of hell. They are terrorists and the Law has failed in ridding them. When the light of society cannot protect the people it falls on the monsters in the darkness to prey on the evil that dangers it. I am not a man of words but I don't have to be to spell out what we must do. Tonight marks the beginning of the purge on the Felt. To rid the city of the filth." Karkat said. "Am I understood?" Most nodded still numb from earlier. Yet Karkat saw passion starting to pump through their veins. "Wow if I didn't know better you are ok with this. That was not the sound of angry men! Am I understood?!"Karkat shouted. Recovered from his previous mistake, the man Karkat talked to was the first to scream in agreement. What followed left the room shaking. Karkat felt the adrenaline in the air. The pleasure of having his thoughts understood was much greater than anticipated. "Better. Now let's get down to business."
Karkat assigned a series of men for each of the 14 main men of the Felt. After discussing with Droog he realized that they would need to be stuck down to bring out Doc Scratch. Scratch was the behind the scenes for many of their operations and would need to be taken out to bring out English. The leader and the one who had never been seen by the public eye with the exception of when he lobbed off the Sufferer's head. Droog along with the rest of the Crew were in charge of giving the men what they needed and making sure the flow of information was fast. One member was told to sit out until further notice. When everyone yelled at him Karkat explained himself. "His wife is pregnant. He didn't want to tell all of you but I have heard some of his conversations over the phone. The big day is anytime now. We aren't letting the new members of our Family being brought into the world without their father." The man cried and gave him a silent thank you. Behind him Karkat could see Droog give approval of his handling of the situation. It was then decided that the place to talk about information would be the diner Karkat worked at. As a waiter he could visit multiple tables and pass information to the men without arousing suspicion. Finally on the matter of when one of the men was discovered Karkat denied permission to kill them. "That is the easy way. We are here to teach a lesson and make an example. I want you to find out everything about them, follow them everywhere. Drive them mad. To them every shadow lurks an enemy, every flash is a knife, and every bang is the last thing they expect to hear. Then they begin to lose sleep spending all night drinking to keep themselves awake in fear of what happens if they don't. When they contemplate suicide and stare at the gun at their bedside for long hours into the morning. Then we come. When their final day just begins their deepest nightmares are actualized as the full force of our Family falls upon them. I wouldn't be surprised if they killed themselves. I'm sure we will make them wish they had if they don't."
After that Karkat won all of their respect. Even Slick hadn't come up with such a devious plan since he started raising Karkat. They saw in him what Slick lost. Droog talked with Karkat for a short period. Then gave him detailed information as to where the bathrooms were. "Avoid the floor kid." Droog said. Couple minutes passed and Karkat was hurling in the toilet. Being a leader was hard. Echoes of anger at his own arrogance rang in his head. The cold sweat made his hands slip off the toilet. Spent the last minutes afterwards staring at the floor. "She would be proud Karkat." Karkat could feel someone massaging his back. Kanaya. That meant that she saw everything. A tornado of emotions ran through his head. So many things that he would want to say. Yet Karkat knew he was a leader. Slick didn't break in front of his people. Karkat had to at least try. "Anyone tell you not to go inside the men's room." Karkat said. Kanaya offered to help him up but Karkat rejected and got up. "This is the women's." Kanaya said. Karkat noticed the disturbing lack of stalls. "Thank you Kanaya." Karkat said. A weight felt lifted knowing that he didn't colossally fuck up that meeting. Also it was a chance to change the subject away from the fact he landed himself in the wrong bathroom. Kanaya began to fidget with her fingers. "Would you...like to spend the night?" Kanaya asked. Her gaze shifted from her hands to him. Karkat sighed. "The days when I can let you babysit me are gone Kanaya." Karkat said. Both left the bathroom. Downstairs the sound of drinking could be heard. Kanaya continued to follow him. "That may be the case but that's not what this is. I had dinner prepared for two and well things came up with the other person. That would be an awful waste of food." Kanaya said. It was rare for her not to find just the right way to put things. There was no getting out of dinner with her. The thought of Terezi doing the same thing a couple days ago came to mind. Karkat laughed. Kanaya gave him a strange look. Then it hit him. He never laughed in front of her before. She had a huge grin. "Looks like someone has left their influence." Kanaya said. "Fuck off." Karkat replied. Though he couldn't deny it. As usual Kanaya hit the nail dead on the mark. He found it so much easier to breathe when his mind thought about Terezi. Being brave wasn't as bad Karkat thought it would be. At least it wasn't when he didn't stand alone.
