Hey guys! This chapter is obscenely short, I know. And the quality is probably really shitty because I've had sort of a writer's block lately.
I also am recovering from a respiratory infection and writing is really hard when you're hurting. ;n;
Anyway! I hope you can at least enjoy this chapter even though it's horrible. u_u
"Gamzee?" Karkat touched his friend's shoulder with fragility, trying to move himself into a position that would allow him to peer into Gamzee's eyes and see how he was reacting, truthfully. "Are you okay?"
Gamzee shook his head, brushing his fingers through his hair. A small, broken laugh reverberated in his throat and he had to crouch down to keep himself from collapsing. "I need a cigarette," he finally decided, standing again once he'd caught his bearings.
"Gamzee," Karkat said sternly, a hint of concern in his voice. His posture slumped and he watched the other's back pathetically. "Gamzee, please no...not again, please," he begged, panicked.
Gamzee grimaced and turned, embracing his friend who, at first, protested and then relaxed, on the verge of tears as memories flooded back to him. He squeezed Gamzee, digging his nails into his friend's back as a warning. "Don't," he added quietly.
Gamzee pulled away from him, smiling crookedly. He patted Karkat's head and shook it affirmatively before turning away again. "I'm walking home," he said somberly, a familiar tone in his voice that had Karkat shaking in his vans. He grabbed Gamzee's arms, glaring hard but his friend pulled away and hurried off before Karkat could try to stop him again.
Karkat watched Gamzee's back as it receded into the darkness, his cigarette burning lightly until it faded along with him. Karkat's expression went from lost and hurt to angry and accusing. He stalked back into the restaurant, sitting down heavily next to John. He took his boyfriend's hand, squeezing it until the other gave him a concerned look, which Karkat ignored.
There was so much he wanted to say to a certain someone. To the bane of his and Gamzee's existence, as much as Gamzee denied it. He was nearly panting, his heart racing in his chest. He wanted to scream. He wanted to scream so badly.
"Karkat-" John whispered, but Karkat shushed him lightly under his breath, breathing harshly though his teeth to create a hissing sound.
Dinner proved to be a difficult task for Karkat to endure. His nerves were crawling under his skin the entire time and he wanted nothing more than to go after Gamzee, but he was terrified to at the same time.
The car ride dropping off John was even worse than dinner, and when John was finally gone, everything went to shit.
"Uhm...so...why did Gamzee leave?" Tavros asked Karkat timidly, looking over at him for a brief moment before turning his eyes back on the road.
Karkat glared over at him, sneering before looking back out the window. He was quiet for a long moment before whispering a faint. "You know why."
An awkward silence wafted through the car, drawing Tavros' shoulder down with pressure. He cleared his throat lightly, smiling a weak smile. "So...uhm...Do you know what street I take from here?" he asked, drawing up all his confidence.
"Take me to the park," Karkat replied shortly.
"Oh, but...Gamzee will be expecting-"
"No he won't." Karkat narrowed his eyes, looking back at Tavros. "Take me to the park, right now," he growled lowly, clutching the upholstery.
Tavros looked down, gripping the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white. "I know...that Gamzee is upset, but...There was nothing I can do right in front of Dave's whole family," he said quietly, watching the road with a distressed expression.
"You don't fucking get it, do you?" Karkat sneered, turning to look at Tavros. "You just don't fucking get it!" he screamed, throwing his arms up.
Tavros flinched, looking over at him. "Karkat I don't know what you're-"
"I know you don't know!" Karkat snapped, holding his gaze as he wrinkled his nose. "If you knew you'd fucking back off! You don't know anything, you are just...just...AGH!" he yelled, hitting the dashboard frustratedly.
Tavros watched him, trembling. "Karkat why are you being so-"
"Watch the fucking road!" Karkat yelled, grabbing the steering wheel and driving them out of the way of an oncoming truck. Tavros screamed, pulling his hands away with a loud 'Oh my God!'
The car drove up on the curve and into a fire hydrant. Thankfully the pipe wasn't ruptured, but both were left rather breathless and shaky. After a few moments of catching his breath and calming his heart rate, Karkat kicked open the door and got out, wobbling on his trembling legs.
Tavros got out as well, watching Karkat nervously. "Why...are you being so...mean?" he asked again, his breath coming ragged from the terror of nearly crashing.
Karkat's body froze, seized up, and he turned slowly. "Do you want to know what I fucking think about you?" he growled, stalking over the the slightly larger male. He poked him in the chest, making the boy scoot back until he was against his car.
"You-" Karkat began, shaking his head with a slight chuckle. "You...have no idea what you have done to Gamzee...what...what you DO to Gamzee. Last time he lost you...la...last fucking time-" He paused, looking down. Memories flashed in his eyes, and he looked down at his trembling hands with fear. "You...didn't have to be there for every fucking...overdose. You didn't have to pull that fucking gun from his head or cut him loose from that fucking..."
"Karkat..." Tavros whispered, reaching out to console him, but Karkat slapped his hand away.
"Just...just fucking...stay away from Gamzee!" Karkat yelled. "If I see you near him again I'll..." He looked down, swallowing back the worst of what he wanted to say until he was left with a simple; "I'll beat the shit out of you."
"At least let me...drive you back to the apartment Karkat," Tavros said, a hint of worry in his voice.
"I don't want to go back to the fucking apartment," Karkat grumbled, hugging himself as a cold breeze assaulted the side of his face.
"You can't sleep at the park," Tavros said quietly.
Karkat looked over his shoulder, eyes narrowed. "...If...I go back to the apartment...and Gamzee has...done something." He paused, looking down. "I'm not going back to the apartment tonight."
Tavros watched helplessly as Karkat left. He sank back into his car, sitting on the leather upholstery with his head in his hands. He didn't know Gamzee was struggling so much...He debated going to see him or not. If what Karkat said was accurate, then...he wanted to help him.
But his presence would probably only make things worse. He clutched his shirt, laying his head against the steering wheel. He didn't want this...He wasn't sure about marrying Dave, and he wasn't sure about separating from him...
He groaned lightly, reversing his car and inspecting the damage. It wasn't bad...just a little dented. He sighed thankfully and drove home.
