Karkat heard the words, but didn't understand them.

"Karkat?" Dr. Carmen asked. The phone dropped from his hand, shattering in pieces as it hit the cement.

"Karkat? KARKAT!" John's voice was blurry and distant, like he was underwater, as his vision tunneled, while legs swayed, unsupportive. He saw John reaching for him, and then everything went black as he fainted.

John watched in horror as his boyfriend slapped to the ground, his arms barely encircling him, supporting his head from crashing into the pavement.

"Karkat! Karkat!" he shouted, patting the unconscious boy's cheeks and shaking his shoulders. A nearby zookeeper ran over and knelt down.

"What happened, kid?"

"I don't know! He just… fainted!" he said desperately, eyes not leaving Karkat's face, which had drained of even less color.

"You want me to call an ambulance?"

"No. Please... just… can you help me get him to my car?" John looked up pleadingly. The stranger nodded grimly, helping John heft up Karkat a few inches from the cold ground. They carried him out to John's car, where John thanked the man profusely as he walked away. John buckled Karkat into his seat and walked around to the other side. He had no idea if he should take Karkat to the hospital, or go back to the school. He decided the best place to go would be the school, remembering back when Karkat mentioned hating nurses and hospitals.

Karkat sat motionless, head slumped against the glass of the window, and mouth open just a bit. John sped home, driving way above the speed limit, but not caring. He just wanted to make sure Karkat was okay. The inside of his lip was quickly chewed open by his large teeth, the metallic taste of blood touching his taste buds. Whimpers of worry made themselves known, even if John didn't voluntarily make them.

The drive seemed so much longer, when if fact he shaved off a good ten minutes. He drove into the school's parking lot, taking a spot, then unbuckling his seat belt quickly. He leaned over, gently cradling Karkat's head and patting his cheeks gently.

"Please, Karkat. Please wake up," he whispered to the boy, who after a moment grunted, blackness swimming in his eyes when they first opened. Slowly, blurry light filtered in, and John's face came into view. He sat, looking at John's fearful expression for a moment, puzzled, before he suddenly remembered.

The memories flooded in, the phone call, the flashbacks he had had, and the darkness that had enveloped him. The phone call. The phone call.

Tears sprang forth and he jolted back, smacking his head against the window. With one hand, he clutched the sore scalp, and the other fought off John, attempting to unbuckle himself. He smacked John accidentally in his cause, lunging out of the car and sprinting off. He didn't know whether it was thunder coming from the suddenly overcast sky or his head throbbing in pain, but the roar was deafening.

"Karkat!" John yelled after him, quickly getting out of the car. "Karkat, wait!" he called out once more. But he was already gone. "Karkat..."

"Fuck!" he shouted, slamming his door closed and darting off, unsure where to look first.

Karkat sprinted all the way to their dorm room, running inside, and smacking straight into Gamzee, still in tears, and sobbing mercifully. He hugged his roommate tightly, clutching to the baggy hoodie of his best friend.

"Hey, bro, you okay?" Gamzee asked, panic in his voice. Karkat shook his head, unable to respond with much more than a painful wail. "Yo, what's wrong? Did something happen with John?" When Karkat didn't answer, he took it as a yes. He released Karkat from the bear hug he'd wrapped him in and stiffened.

"Best friend, I'll be back." Karkat had already sunk down on the couch, and could only nod yes while we wrapped himself in a blanket. Gamzee left the room, closing the door with a bit more gusto than usual.

Gamzee made quick work of finding John. He was on the swing set where he and Karkat had their first kiss. Gamzee came up behind him. John turned and saw him once his presence was noticed. "Gam-" He was interrupted as he was lifted up by the collar of his shirt.

"What did you do to him?" Gamzee hissed, indigo eyes sparking, and poison dripping from his voice.

John looked at the tall guy in horror. Was this really the same boy that was always calm and out of it? Wait... John realized something. Didn't Karkat...?

"Gamzee is always high, it mellows him out. He's a fucking lunatic without it. The whole school knows about it, and that's the only real reason he's here."

"Oh, you're rooming with Gamzee?" "Yeah, trust me, I had to plead my case. Gamzee's a super genius, but his past is... well, it's worse than anyone I've known so he's kinda..." "And what's the big deal with that?" "I'm the only person that can control him when he's sobered up."

Karkat! John's brain screamed. "Wait! Gamzee, please, let me explain!" he cried.

Gamzee snarled at him, making him even more terrified. "And why should I let you motherfucking explain, huh?" he growled.

John whimpered in response. Karkat... help me..! The tall boy's nostrils flared and he brought up a huge fist, swinging down into John's stomach with the force of a sledgehammer.

Gamzee was sober. Sober, angry... and Karkat was nowhere to be found.

Karkat cried for a half hour before he ran out of tears and was reduced to sniffles and whimpers. He looked around, realizing Gamzee was still gone and got up. It was a perfect opportunity to clean up the slob's room. He approached on teetering legs, still wobbly from his faint. He entered Gamzee's room and paused.

Weird... It doesn't smell like pot that much... he thought, blinking. He decided to check his desk, which is the usual place he keeps the drugs. Wait... There isn't...

There was no pot, or any other drugs. His desk was completely empty, spare a stray seed or two. His face managed to go even paler than it had been. If there were no drugs, that meant…

Karkat let out a gasp, realizing the conversation and questions Gamzee had asked earlier.

"JOHN!" he screamed, and bolted out of the dorms. He stopped once outside, thunder boomed overhead again.

"Where would that idiot be?" he gasped aloud. "Where would I go?"

The swing set.

Karkat ran faster than he'd ever run before.

Gamzee administered another punch, already having broken John's glasses, and giving the much smaller boy a bloody lip and black eye. His stomach had been a main target, along with his sides and ribs. John wheezed for air, tears pouring down his face, and mixing with the red.

John coughed as he was hit in the stomach. "What did you do to him?" Gamzee demanded.

"I didn't do anything!" John cried, gasping for breath. I feel like... I'm about to pass out... he thought. He yelped in pain as he was thrown onto the ground. He gazed up at Gamzee, who seemed like a giant from his position.

Gamzee's eyes were bloodshot, filled to the brim with horrifying anger and hatred. He lifted a hand, this time fingers extended, where claw like nails glinted menacingly. John couldn't tell if they were real, or some sort of weapon, but he squeezed his eyes shut regardless.

"Gamzee!" a voice echoed. Gamzee turned, swinging down, catching Karkat in the shoulder with the claws, ripping the sweater. Thunder boomed again, and it started raining, fat drops pouring down on them in heavy sheets. Karkat yelped and gripped his shoulder. Gamzee straightened up, instantly realizing what he'd done.

Karkat looked at John, taking in how he looked. He visibly bristled with rage, rushing over to Gamzee, who finally took in his surroundings.

"Yo, best frie-"

SLAP!

Gamzee's eyes got big, as he looked down at Karkat in disbelief. John winced when he thought Gamzee was going to hit him, but instead a weak, almost strained voice came out of Gamzee's throat.

"B-bro?" Karkat's lips curled up, nostrils flaring. His hair matted his head in strings, and his back hunched in anger. He appeared taller than Gamzee in that moment, orange in his eyes seething red.

"Get out, Gamzee," he growled, "GET THE FUCK OUT." Gamzee cowered back and nodded, agreeing to get his stuff. Karkat didn't switch from his hulking position; teeth bared, and fists curled. Gamzee ran off.

Karkat looked at the ground, one arm going to his shoulder, holding the bleeding skin. He sank down into the mud. John scooted up, coming closer. He reached out and touched Karkat, who hissed at the physical contact, before shaking and slamming his free fist into the muddy water, splashing himself.

"Fuck. Fuck. FUCK. I can't even protect my own fucking boyfriend!" he growled, but sadness melted into the voice. He was shaking from anxiety, adrenaline, and a fresh onslaught of tears. "I should have come earlier. I didn't know he was sober. I'm so sorry, John. I understand if you hate me now. I'm worthless. I'm trash who couldn't even protect his boyfriend from his crazed best friend. I-" He stopped, taking a gasp before sobbing loudly, a low guttural noise that tore John's heart.

"Karkat, stop," he said as best as he could, scooting closer and wrapping an arm around his shoulder. "I don't hate you. I could never hate you. You aren't trash. You aren't worthless. I love you the way you are, and don't ever forget that, okay?"

"My mom died, John." Karkat looked up. John had never seen a more heartbreaking face. Dull orange eyes, those that were always so vibrant, had given up, eyebrows creased together, and tears poured from his eyes. John felt tears forming in his own eyes and gripped Karkat, who was wincing from his shoulder. John took notice this time; Karkat's blood was more red than usual.

He held Karkat closely until he stopped crying, unburying his face from John's soaking shirt. They were shaking with chills from sitting in the mud and rain. Plus, Karkat was looking more sickly than usual. John stood up. Karkat tried to as well, one of his sleeves red, but he crashed back to one knee, hand holding John's shirt like a lifeline.

John bent over, and scooped up Karkat bridal style, sloshing through the mud back to his and Dave's dorm. When he stormed in, Dave just stared, flabbergasted for a moment.

"Dave, don't ask, just go get the emergency kit I keep under the sink." He laid Karkat down on the couch, who protested angrily the entire time, curse words slurring from bluish lips.

John tried to push Karkat back into a laying position when he swung up uneasily, but Karkat pushed his hand away.

"No, just… Let me get a fucking shower," he hissed, arm and head throbbing. Dave had returned with a rectangular case. Karkat got to his feet slowly. He snatched the case from the albino and looked at John expectantly.

John's eyebrow rose in confusion. Karkat sighed loudly in frustration. "I have never taken a fucking shower here. Just because you are well acquainted with my living quarters doesn't mean vice fucking versa. I've never even gone to the fucking bathroom here."

John realized that that was true, and motioned for Karkat to follow him. He showed him the rather large bathroom. Karkat closed and locked the door, cranking the hot water on, before taking the sweater off his tender body. Three long gashes covered his shoulder. They were deep and long, but Karkat doubted they would scar. He adjusted the water a little bit, wrestling out of his pants and jumping into the steam.

He hissed when the water hit his cut, as he looked around. John and Dave seemed to have staked separate corners of the shower, but both had modest amounts of product compared to Karkat. He washed up with John's supplies and stood under the water for a long time, heat reviving his strength. His knees still shook a bit, but he was able to stand straight and walk confidently again.

After around an hour, he turned off the water, wrapped a towel around his hips, and rubbed his hair almost completely dry. He opened up the rectangular kit and pulled a tube of ointment from the insides. He wiped the steam from the mirror, and watched as he slathered the balm over the three cuts. He grabbed a long roll of gauze, and professionally started at his armpit, wrapping slowly his upper chest and arm, then winding around his neck and down to create a sure barrier of stark white.

Karkat realized he had brought no clothes with him inside the bathroom, and gulped, holding the towel tightly as he crept out. He peeked around the corner, and saw only John sitting on the couch, nervously chewing his thumbnail.

"Psst! John!" he called quietly, leaning out a bit. John looked up, and sprung to his feet, coming closer. Karkat retreated a bit, leaving only his head showing. John raised an eyebrow at this, and Karkat simply blushed in response.

"I need clothes, John…" he mumbled. John smiled widely.

"Well, okay then, c'mon!" He walked through the doorway that concealed Karkat, and took in the glory that was his wet boyfriend's body. The scar that covered his upper body stuck out, obscured slightly by the bandages he had tied. Karkat patted John's cheek, snapping him out of his ogling session.

He took Karkat's free hand and led him to his bedroom. Karkat sat on the bed while John searched through the messy closet. He pulled out a pair of pajama pants and a bright blue hoodie, tossing them Karkat's way, before a pair of underwear hit him square in the face.

Karkat peeled them from his red face, eyes wide as John laughed at his reaction. Karkat mumbled a few cuss words and sat holding the clothes.

"Um… John could you… step out for a few minutes? So I can get dressed? Please?" There was shyness to his blushing voice while he looked at his bare feet, which made John's heart flutter.

"Sure!" he exclaimed, quickly leaving the room and closing the door behind him. John heard the door at the end of the hall open, and turned to see Dave smirking from his doorway.

"What?"

"Vantas staying here tonight? You two better behave, I don't want any birthday sex going on," he teased. John felt an anger boil up in his stomach. He stormed over to Dave, and stuck a finger in his best friend's chest.

"Dave, that is not cool. Do you even know what the hell happened? Why he's hurt? Why I'm hurt? Why he's staying here? Why my face looks like I was run over by a damn truck? Karkat's mom died today, Dave. I got in a fight with Gamzee, Dave. And Karkat Vantas saved my god damn life, getting hurt in the process, Dave." Each time he said the name it got more and more violent, with a jab to the chest.

Dave's face went poker, but behind the shades his red eyes flew open.

"Oh my god, bro. I had no idea," he whispered. John scowled, pulling his hand away.

"Well get an idea before you make assumptions like that." He turned around, going and waiting back by his own door, arms folded across bruised ribs, and head facing down. He had on an extra pair of glasses he always kept, having left the shattered ones in the mud.

Karkat had heard the majority of the exchange, one foot in the air as he pulled on John's long Pajama pants. He gulped as finished pulling on his boyfriend's clothes. He heard a soft knock, and okay'd John to come back in.

Karkat's arms were way too short for John's hoodie, the sleeves covering his hands entirely. The pants bunched up at the bottom, and the hoodie went well past his butt. It looked like he was a child trying on his father's suit. John took in the sight of Karkat trying to pull up the hoodie sleeves, but failing as they fell back down his skinny arms. The bandages peeped out from under the blue fabric. John's brow creased. Karkat caught the look and frowned.

"Where did you learn to bandage yourself like that? It looks so… professional," John asked, obviously concerned at his boyfriend's knowledge.

"Oh, uh. Well… shit. Um… it's kind of a long story." Karkat looked back at his feet. Suddenly darkness was all around them as John flipped the light switch off. Karkat felt John gently pushing him down onto the bed. He winced when his shoulder hit the fluffy covers.

"Let's get in bed, then. It's getting late." Karkat nodded to the tall silhouette above him. He scurried back, slipping under the blankets as he felt John slide in next to him. Arms wrapped around him and pulled him into John's warm chest. Karkat sniffed, his nose stuffy.

"Well, we have time for a story." Karkat rolled over to face his now glasses-free bed-mate.

He sighed and tucked his good arm under his head.

"I've always been a fighter, not a lover, John. I might love all that romance shit, but it's actually really hard for me to translate it into a tangible relationship. I've basically spent my entire life getting into fights and getting hurt. I've been to the hospital on multiple occasions, and learned to hate it quickly. I begged my mom not to take me there, and she told me if I could prove I could take care of myself, I wouldn't have to go when I got in fights anymore. I guess I learned how to wrap myself up like the doctor's do it because I hate doctors." His eyes still had a more red tint than their usual orange, and he kept them looking away.

"Karkat, oh my god. How old were you?"

"When I learned how to do this? Uh... 7? Maybe 8?" He met John's eyes for a second before glancing back. "I should explain my blood too. I have an iron deficiency. I'm anemic, essentially. That's why I'm so pale, and that's why my eyes do this shit." He gazed up at John, who took in the full red. "We don't know why, but they shift colors a lot. They mostly stay orange, but sometimes they go red like this. Nobody really knows why."

"Your eyes are beautiful, Karkat. I love you, and your pretty blood, and your pretty eyes, and everything about you, okay?" John scooted down a bit, lips coming closer until they were only a hair apart from Karkat's.

Karkat took initiative and pressed his lips innocently against John's. John was shocked. It wasn't like any other kiss he had ever received. It was sweet and shy and... overall amazing. Like the ones in Karkat's romance movies that were screened to win big Oscars, and this one would have then them all. But it was real. Oh so real.

John kissed back after his secondary shock subsided, hand placing itself on Karkat's cheek, fingers cupping the back of his neck and behind his ear. His eyes closed, and he was engulfed in the moment, soft, warm pressure against his own mouth. They pulled apart, and John could hear a soft, shaky voice that was barely there.

"Wow…" John smiled at Karkat's comment, and opened his eyes to find sparkling ones. John pulled Karkat in closer as Karkat nestled himself comfortably on John's chest, his injured arm making itself comfortable around John's neck, whose head rested upon his own.

"John?"

"Yeah Karkat?"

"I can't get enough of you. I love you. I'm like the kid that gets caught with their hands in the cookie jar, and you're the cookies. I love you, John, you're chocolate chip." Karkat sounded sleepy, and soon the heavy breathing that defined his sleep was heard. John found himself blushing and smiling giddily, snuggled up to Karkat.

They fell asleep, a tangle of limbs and baggy clothes, warm with each other. They felt safe, secluded, and alone. But mostly they felt safe.

BR/N: So I heard Katy got a death threat or some shit. Excuse my cursing I'm in a foul mood. Anyways, since Katy didn't leave an authors note up here, I decided it was my time to shine.

...I'm kidding

Anyways, guys, enjoy the chapter. Hope you like it.

A/N: Guys, it's no big deal. I'm pretty sure the person was joking, but I had never spoken to them before so I was like "ahaha… ha…. Ha?" Thanks for sticking by ANDREW'S APPRENTICE (as I have been dubbed) And her QUEST FOR HEARTBREAK!

BR/N: Katy I love you for putting in the part I wrote with the Gamzee vs. John fight vwv

A/N: Bby your writing was so perf for this chapter. We had it planned. PLANNED.