I looked at the time on my laptop and submitted my English essay. It was about time to start getting ready for work. I went to my closet and pulled out a black tank top and a pair of jeans. I debated on showering, but knowing how work was going to go, there wouldn't be a point to it. I stripped off my clothes and started pulling on my clothes for work.

"hey, Kankri, did I leave my jacket in here?" I froze at Cronus's words followed by the door to my bedroom opening. "oh, sorry! I didn't know you were changing"

"its still in my closet I think" I bit down on my lip. "you can go ahead and get it"

"okay" I clutched my shirt to my chest as he walked to my closet and picked his jacket up from the floor. He walked back over to me, placing his hands on each of my shoulders. "you okay?"

"w-why wouldn't I be?"

"you just seem off today. And you walked in on your brother in his boyfriend's lap"

"don't remind me of that.." I tried not to picture it and failed miserably. "I'm fine. Are you almost read for work?" his hands slipped from my shoulders to my arms.

"yeah I'll be waiting for you downstairs"

I quickly got ready, so we could stop somewhere for dinner before work. I opened my bedroom door and heard Karkat talking to Cronus.

"he wants to take me to the mall, he said we'll be meeting up with a few of his friends"

"listen, Kat, I get you want to go, but you gotta ask Kankri"

"he's going to tell me no"

"you don't know that"

"after what he saw, yeah I do"

"well, I'm sayin' no because I can't tell you if you can without talkin' to him first. Which, I ain't doin' because its not my place to ask him"

"you're so fucking helpful"

"just ask him, chief, you got this"

I stepped out of my room and descended the stairs. "you ready, Cronus?"

He nodded. And placed his hand on the doorknob.

"hey, Kankri?"

"what is it Karkat?"

"can I go to the mall with some friends?"

"who?"

"Kanaya, Rose, John, and Dave"

"Kanaya, you say?" he nodded. "sure," I pulled out some money and handed it to him. "this is for food. I want a receipt and the change back. If you want to get something else, let me know beforehand"

"alright"

"and for the love of all that is good, let me know if you guys get drunk at a party this time, I'd rather not have to identify corpses" he looked down.

"you wont have to do that again, I promise"

"I better not, now we're off, behave and stay out of trouble, for once" Cronus opened the front door and we walked out of the house, Karkat shutting the door behind us.

"where do you want to eat tonight?"

"how about Whataburger?"

"sounds good to me"

We pulled up into the driveway. All the lights in the house were off, and I had no missed calls or texts from Karkat. It was almost two in the morning, the malls were closed and he was supposed to let me know when he left the mall to do something else.

"do you have any missed calls from him?"

"no I don't have any and he hasn't texted me all night"

"alright hold on before you jump to conclusions" he pulled out his phone and dialed a number. I looked out at the house-apartment we were renting.

"hey Eri, sorry its so late" a pause "lil bro, I cant hear you could you move outside or at least away from the music" a long pause. Cronus looked at me and smiled, sending butterflies fluttering from my chest to my stomach. "that's much better thank you" I could hear someone on the other line. "I need to ask you, have you seen Karkat at any of the parties you've been to tonight?" I heard a somewhat frustrated reply, granted I couldn't make out a word of it, the voice calmed. Cronus narrowed his eyes and put the car into reverse "thanks bro. I'll get you a pack we're on our way there now" he pulled out of the driveway as he hung up the phone.

"I got to stop by a convenience store then we're gonna go to a party" he put the car into drive. That little brat was in big fucking trouble.

Authors note: holy shhhht i am so sorry this took so long.. ive been so busy but ill be uploading another chapter tonight after i try to catch up on my Davekat fic (also im sorry for any mistakes my laptop is messing up so much so some keys dont always work)