Karkat finished swearing violently to himself as his phone died, and shoved it angrily back in his pocket. 27Th Avenue, North East, perpendicular to another street called Sitular Street (probably named after some stupid human celebrity or something, he didn't care). He hugged his arms around his chest again, shivering in the cold night air as he turned and made his way back down to the bench. Okay, maybe if he tried to remember which way he came from, remember the turns and what not he took when he was dreaming, he could figure out his way back. He plopped down onto the wooden seating, and just as he managed to get himself some degree of comfortable, he heard a clap of thunder, and looked up.
"It cannot seriously start fucking rai-" He began, but was interrupted by a second clap, followed by a slash of light, and then the next thing he knew, it was pouring. He scowled, jumping up from the bench and running over to the side of a building, shivering as he tried to get in some place out of the rain, but unlike most parts of the city, this section didn't seem to have any kind of cover like an empty phone booth or a tree, nothing. Of fucking course, this was just his awful as shit luck.
Within minutes, the red blooded troll was soaked, he gnashed his teeth together, and went back to the bench, might as fucking well keep sitting there, standing next to the building wasn't doing much anyway. At least he'd be able to sit down.
Gamzee had just brought his cycle to life, and was starting to pull out of the parking lot, when a flash of lightning over the city, caused him to give pause, eyes averting upwards to follow the line of the spidery streak in the brief seconds it was alive. Then, downtown's sky scrapers gradually began to fade, indicating rain, and not even ten seconds later, Gamzee could feel rogue droplets on his head and coat. Damn, he'd better get his move going. The cycle's engine revved, and he pulled towards the gate, showing the guard his student ID, before the gate rolled open. There was a squeal of too quickly romped tires against dampening pavement, before Gamzee and the black and purple spotted cycle, were but a flash and stream of head and tail lights.
The Capricorn slowed as he came to each street, eyes skimming over the name, before snarling his machine back to life and continuing on. He drove until he was nearly downtown, the rain pounding into him. The cool, unforgiving droplets feeling like small pebbles slamming against him at the increasing speed, slowing to a gentle patter at the decreasing. Despite the gradually slick roads, the limiting visibility, and the numbness that was twitching at his fingers, Gamzee's pace didn't slow in the slightest. In fact, he began speeding up and circled some blocks multiple times. For the reason that, in his growing internal anxiety, he couldn't remember what streets he had already crossed.
That, and the rain was starting to mess with his mind a little bit. It wasn't the darkness so much, troll's were originally built to be nocturnal after all, but he was beginning to see images in the sheets of water that fell from the heavens. Fuck, when was the last time he recharged on sopor?
He was at a stoplight, the motorcycle idling beneath him, when he finally managed to capture a break. There was a whisper at the back of his mind, and the male looked up. Through the street lights reflected in the rain, he could just make out one of the blue signs, [i]19 Avenue West[/i]. Motor snarled, and Gamzee took off away from the street, heading towards the next one, and to his relief, the numbers started going up. Gas was twisted, the clutch pressed, and the Capricorn took off, sliding tires sliding dangerous against the pavement. Okay, get to 27 and head East, then all he'd have to do is look for the stores Karkat had mentioned, and he'd be able to find the male's general location.
Karkat gave up attempting to talk to the people around him. A group of kids had run past him earlier, avoiding him and giving him big, buggy eyes when he asked them which way Skaia university might be, like he was going to eat them if they answered wrong or something. He tried asking a man who had been walking by, attempting to get out of the rain, but just got a somewhat snotty grunt in reply, at which point, he decided fuck these humans he was going to figure it out on his own.
Dammit, why hadn't his sleep walking self been smart enough to grab a fucking map, or even a damn coat or something?
It had taken all of five minutes for Gamzee to figure out which way East was. After he had gone the wrong way and noticed a gradual decrease in buildings instead of increase. The error had been corrected quickly enough, though the lost in time had caused that uneasy feeling to increase. Now, he was pushing dangerous speeds down 27 Avenue heading East, focus split between glancing at building names, and the sidewalk. After all, Karkat hadn't asked him to come get him. Maybe he would have tried to walk back?
Indigo eyes were narrowed against the persistent rain, flinching only slightly whenever drops came dangerously close to his eyes. Yet his motorcycle stayed steady, the movements smooth, even as the tires slid against the wet pavement. Yet, despite the close moments where he was a breath away from disaster, his heart beat remained steady. That was until he zoomed past something that could or could not be a hunched troll sitting on a bench, and a JC Penny's to one side. Brakes were nearly slammed, tires, skidded, and the motorcycle slid until it was balancing on it's front tire. Gamzee however, hardly seem fazed, he leaned back, putting his weight on his hips to keep the cycle from tipping forward and twisted, causing the bike to pivot and do a complete U-ey, minus the U.
To the unhappy pleasure of a honking car and angry unknown driver.
The motorcycle's engine revved, but pulled out a much easier rate, going the wrong way on the street for a brief moment, driving past the benched troll again, but only for a few seconds, before he turned around and pulled up on the sidewalk, ignoring the few humans that lashed out angry remarks, as he came to a stop in front of the bench. That normal uncontrollable mess of hair was nearly flat, lumped awkwardly against his skull, clinging to his neck and horns as that smile on paint streaked lips, pulled to nearly reveal fangs. Well, not just his lips, his entire face was streaked as he did not have a helmet or anything else shielding his cranium from the elements. "Man Karkat, the rain has got some serious hearts for you."
There was no way Karkat could mistake that wild mane of black hair and slightly curved horns, what fooled him was the motorcycle. He merely stared for a few moments at the troll, eyes flickering back and forth between the bike's owner and the bike itself. And before he could stop himself, his mouth was running. "What the fuck possessed you to get a motorcycle?" He asked, and then shook his head, wait, that wasn't the point here. "Whatever, is that your only way back to the dorms?"
Not that he had anything against motorcycles, hell he was uncomfortable enough on buses. So sue him if he was more comfortable on his feet then in a metal case of death with wheels that ran on an explosive substance.
Gamzee laughed, a small, bubbling sound. Though it didn't show on the outside, he was relieved in truth, to see that Karkat (besides wet like a drowned cat) was otherwise fine. "Miss Mirth here is a wicked bitchtit of a two-wheel device, I knew we could have some serious synchronization since the moment I got my see on her. It was like a motherfucking sign... but yeah bro, she's the only way back to HQ. If you're all worried about getting more water clinging to ya, then I think you'll be fairly sated. When we get flying, most of the water will be hitting me, so you should be able to get nice and comfy." The idea that someone might be more hesitant of the motorcycle itself than the rain, seemed to not have registered with the highblood at all, as he offered out a hand for Karkat to grab and use to keep balance if he should choose to swing a leg and hop on. Not that the Cancer had very many options open to him at this point.
Miss Mirth? He named the fucking thing? Karkat had to bite down on his tongue to keep from commenting on the retarded as hell name. He didn't want to piss off Gamzee enough to have him refuse to get him back to the dorms and he really didn't want to spend the fucking night out here waiting for Sollux to answer. Granted he was pretty sure Gamzee would take just about any insult Karkat threw at him, he was just too used to dealing with people who had no problem ditching him if they happened to be a little annoyed. He wouldn't hold it against them for long, honestly it was amazing to him how easily Sollux and Gamzee managed to brush off his comments.
But still, he didn't want to get on that two wheeled device of destruction. It just gave him a bad feeling, and on top of that, it kinda required close contact for two people to ride it, and Karkat was so not comfortable with that. Fuck he didn't even like shaking hands.
But did he really have a choice?
The troll sighed, a somewhat unsure look crossing his face as he chewed slightly on his bottom lip, waiting a few seconds and seeming to consider it before finally giving in and walking over. He knew how to get on a motorcycle, it didn't take much common sense to do it right even if one had never done so before, but still, just to keep from making himself look like a total idiot in case he ended up slipping or something due to being all wet, he did accept some of Gamzee's help, using the other male's extended hand to balance himself as he swung one leg over and got onto the damn bike, obviously very uncomfortable. "Like this right? Does this thing even have any sort of safety features like a belt or something?"
The indigo blooded troll glanced over his shoulder, adjusting somewhat to the awkward feel of someone else behind him, one paint smeared eyebrow raising in silent amusement, though he was with-holding the urge to laugh once more. A belt, on a motorcycle? Well yeah, he'd seen them on some cycles but, "Nah brother, shit can be more dangerous if we crash on a two wheeled device and are strapped in. It's all motherfucking safer to not be latched on so that we can all roll free if she slides. Don't get your hell worry though, I haven't crashed yet and I've had her for nearly a sweep. Watch the exhaust pipe, that part gets real hot, and when we make turns, keep all straight and aligned with the cycle, don't lean with her" and then he turned, giving the motor a few test revs, listening to 'Miss Mirth' as she purred happily beneath his finger tips, lips pulling a broad smile as she sounded as clean running as ever.
"It might be in the wise if you get your arms clinging around my upper abdominal area. You in the ready?"
Okay yeah now that he thought about it, a seat belt on this thing was a rather stupid idea. Though as the exhaust pipe was mentioned and the fact that he had to move with the damn bike to help it not tip over, make him glance backwards at the small bit of machinery behind him.
Each beat of his heart was sending a single thought, repeatedly, through his brain. This is stupid, thump, this is stupid, thump, this is stupid, thump, this is stupid, thump. The continuing chant of 'THIS IS STUPID' only got louder when Gamzee told him to hold onto him, the shorter troll scowled, but decided that since he had never ridden a motorcycle before, and now that he looked at it he could really fall off, simply complied, grumbling something beneath his breath.
"Ready as I'll ever be" he muttered, his voice less than excited.
Gamzee simply smiled, though Karkat clearly couldn't see it as the male was facing forward. As soon as he felt foreign arms slipping securely around his abdomen, he eased into the clutch, and propelled the cycle gently forward. The vehicle gave a very small lurch as it thumped off the sidewalk, the Capricorn directing the cycle in the opposite direction he had arrived, and steadily increasing the speed, keeping it as smooth as one could in heavy rain and thunder.
However, as soon as he had adjusted to the unfamiliar feeling of a second person on his cycle, and figured out how the bike moved with the extra weight, he let loose. The rain pelted him, but he barely felt it, his face and fingers having long since gone numb. Part of him kept aware of Karkat, though it was hard to read how the male was reacting without looking at him. He didn't want to scare the male, Gamzee had heard his share of stories of how many a motorcycle accident had been caused by a panicked passenger. Not that he was in the thinking that Karkat would actually full on panic, but still, didn't hurt to be somewhat careful.
If he saw a bump coming, he slowed so that they wouldn't be jerked to roughly, he did the same on turns, giving the Cancer some warning before making them, by leaning the cycle just slightly to the side, before navigating it to an angle necessary to make the turn. He was tempted, great mirthful messiahs he was tempted to tear around the corners and fly through the rain as he would have done by himself. The hold on his waist kept his think pan grounded, and when they were nearly there, he gave a shout over the roar of the motor and the pelt of rain, "You holding up Karkat?"
Oh dear gog this was fucking terrifying.
The instant the speed had been kicked up, Karkat's arms might as well have become a belt around Gamzee's waist. Within seconds Karkat decided that he was never going to ride this thing again unless his life depended on it.
Not to mention the view of the landscape flying by them, the knowledge that all it would take was a single, wrong movement, and he'd possibly send them both skidding across the ground, made his stomach do flip flops, so he fixed this issue by doing something to keep himself from throwing up, and basically buried his face into Gamzee's back and kept his bright red eyes as tightly shut as possible. Save for his arms, legs, and his neck (which was getting sore from being so tense) he let his body go somewhat lucid so that he could keep himself straight and not turn with the bike and make it fall or something.
As Gamzee asked him how he was holding up, however, the only response was a short string of muffled swears. Which probably meant he was doing okay if he had the thought to be angry and swear rather than flipping the fuck out.
Gamzee's grin grew somewhat, as he zero'd in on the faint sound of the muffled words and the very slight movement at his back. Man, if his bro's limbs stayed that tense, it'd be almost like he was hitting rigor mortises'. Karkat really needed to relax more, live in the moment and just let all that motherfucking stress go. Life was all kinds of fleeting, so easy to loose, so easy to take. Might as well sit back and enjoy the ride.
Fingers twisted, and the motorcycle sped up once more as they reached the home stretch, the dark silhouettes of Skaia University's buildings looming as he went around the brick and steel barrier towards the parking lot. It was at that moment, that Gamzee came to a conclusion. So far he'd been staying chill, waiting for his bro to come to him whenever he felt like it or wanted to. Maybe he needed to start taking some action of his own, start inviting his bro to go do things. Yeah, he'd show his best motherfucker how to feel the world, make some seriously wicked memories. Until Karkat could remember the old, he'd simply start making some new ones. That way whenever his mind was all back in the know of everything, he'd have a double whammy of mirth time.
Happy thoughts somewhat dimmed though, because then his thought pan processed that maybe he was repressing some bad memories too. His psychology professor was in the mention that sometimes that happens with instances that were traumatic... if that was the case, maybe it was best that he stayed forgotten, so that way his bro wouldn't have to relive unhappy dark times. Well damn, that was some depressing thoughts. Gamzee eased on the brake, slowing down and navigating around Karkat's death grip to get into his pocket, pulling out his ID for the guard, so that he'd open the parking lot gate again. It was late now, and understandably, the campus grounds were all but deserted. Not very many people or trolls were willing to walk around in the pouring rain. In silence, he pulled into one of the parking spots, straightening and bracing his boots against the pavement, before turning the key and letting Miss Mirth go back into dream land.
"There you go bro, safe as a fresh wrapped wriggler. Careful as you get your move off, the pipe's going to be extra spicy hot now," his voice gave no real hint at the thoughts that had been floating around his pan, as one hand reached down to poke the male's arm around his abdomen with a muffled honk.
Karkat pretty much refused to let go until he heard the motorcycle's engine shut off, at which point, he forced his strained arms to relax their grip, his fingers hurting from being locked so tightly around each other, and unpeeled his face from Gamzee's back, blinking to refocus his vision after keeping them shut so tightly. He felt kinda awkward right now, for many different reasons he wasn't going to rerun over his brain. It was just simplest to say that his fucking romcoms had way too many romantic scenes involving motorcycles or something like that for him to be comfortable with the situation. He knew it was nothing like that, but his stupid brain still bothered him.
He was extra careful of the aforementioned pipe as he slid off, surprised the guard to the campus grounds hadn't asked for his ID as well, but then again, Karkat was kinda small for a 8-9 sweep old male troll, and it was dark out, and the guard probably wasn't looking too hard. Good thing since Karkat didn't really have his ID on him, so whatever. "Yeah..." He responded simply, sliding off the bike, and managing to get the feeling back in his legs. Riding a bike was fucking weird, all the vibration seemed to have ripped the feeling from his legs like they had fallen asleep, or maybe it was just a first time thing.
Gamzee waited, ever patient, until Karkat made his safe slide from the two-wheeled machine, boot pulling out the kickstand before he fully stood and took his weight off of the cycle. He hummed lightly to himself, as he swung his leg with practiced ease over the seat, and came to a stand, stretching his back as he sighed at the pulled muscles provided a nice release to what little tensity the male had. He didn't even notice the slight numb in his legs that riding a motorcycle provided, having long since grown used to the feeling, as he turned to Karkat with a simple smile, "Well brother, besides nearly squeezing the air out of my breath sacks, you rode like a motherfucking pro."
The Capricorn gave a silent sort of pause for all of a few seconds, he had turned about to step on the side walk, but a thought had locked his limbs, and he looked back to the Cancer. That smile was still on his face, though it had lowered a fraction of an inch, making it look distorted with the paint smeared over his face, "You all okay Karkat?" Man, maybe his near sober brain was messing with him again.
"I'm fine" Damn, he said that a bit quick didn't he? Nevertheless, he just shook his head, sighing. "it's just fucking cold and I'm soaking wet" He pointed out simply, motioning towards himself as he began to head towards the dorm building, a hard look on his face as he shivered.
The indigo blood gave a sort of blink at the quick response, doing a once over of the male after he pointed out that he was cold, taking notice finally, of exactly what the male was wearing... and the lack of some items. Karkat was barefoot? Gamzee was all for feet getting their break up with possessive shoes, but why and how did the Cancer end up on the other side of the city, without any step covers? He fell into stride next to Karkat, his think pan attempting to process and rationalize that... though, rationalization wasn't really the male's strong point.
"Man, how did you end up located on the other side of the city without any feet oppressors?"
"I don't know, okay? I fucking woke up after trying to sleep and I was in the middle of a goddamn street" Karkat hissed back, deciding to just go with a simplified explanation of the whole ordeal. Way easier than explaining he had slept walked all the way out there.
"Woah," Gamzee held up his hands with a smile brushing his lips, "Sorry bro, just getting my curiosity rotating. Seemed kind of motherfucking weird is all."
Karkat didn't bother replying, not until the two were finally inside the damn modified apartment building and each was standing in front of their own door. As Gamzee passed him heading to his own room, Karkat opened his door, but paused.
"Thanks... for helping me get back here, I mean" he stated simply, his voice sounding almost quiet, defeated, and then he disappeared into his room, the door slamming shut behind him.
Gamze stared in silence at the slammed door, that smile still there, though it was attached in a way that just didn't fit. Quiet. "... No problem best friend," it was but a murmur from his lips, a knob was turned, and his room was entered. Damn, he needed some serious pie ingestion.
