The streets smelled of car exhaust and complete bullshit, at least that was what was running through the mind of Karkat Vantas. The youngest in his family and possibly the most easily agitated in his small three person household. He had come out here with the intention of hopping in a few bars on his winter break back him. While he went to the campus in town and was never too far from his father it was always nice to visit during the holidays. But he was tired as shit and it was closer to three in the morning as he started to make his trek back home. Gamzee was suppose to wonder his high ass out here and fucking hang out with him. Hell he still had the guy's Christmas gift in his back pocket. Even if his odd clown religion or whatever the fuck he wanted to call his obsession didn't celebrate it.

Karkat just gave a soft sigh, pushing past his lips and into the chill winter air it was easily visible against the dimly lit street corner he stood. He had grown up in this town and so it was virtually impossible to get lost. But with his current slightly buzzed state he was having to stop every so often to get his bearings. However he knew well that he wasn't but maybe three blocks out from his little suburban neighborhood. He pulled his thick grey coat tighter over his black turtle neck sweater, the coat was at least good at breaking the frosty wind of the winters night. He ran his fingers slowly through his hair, his cheeks a light red flush from the nipping cold and the bubbling bits of alcohol in his system. Karkat had stopped to rest his head against the brick of the nearest building. To his left was a street lamp illuminating him like a spotlight, while to his right was the stark blackness of an alleyway.

Though the phone he pulled from his pocket illuminated his ghostly pale features well enough. He had a softer looking face, a small button nose and larger eyes that were only lined by darkened bags under his eyes. His hair was a dyed black from the white it was suppose to be. Even his lips were pale enough to almost blend into his skin like his eyebrows did. He would just look like he was made of snow if he didn't dye his hair a deep raven black. His brother was born with albinism as well, though he didn't hide a damn thing about it. His father was more ginger and his mother had dark deep brown hair, how they hell they made two monstrosities was beyond him. Those deep red eyes looked over his phone screen in absent vacant amusement as he scrolled through his social media.

The small college man had barely noticed the rustling from the alley way beside him. Let alone the man that had just walked out from the brick wall he was leaning on. Karkat could barely get a glance at the taller's silhouette against the dim streetlight and the light of his phone screen in his face. This was until the man waltzed his way over and quite frankly snatched the phone from Karkat's hands. Something he honestly never expected. He looked up as soon as his device was nabbed. The albino man glared up at the offender with disdain before he went off.

"What the ever-loving fuck do you think you are doing cockwomble?" Karkat practically barked at this man, his face twisted in a sneer before he went to nab his phone back,which was simply pulled away higher than he could reach. The man before him was lightly tanned, tanner than Karkat was, with large thick black glasses sitting at the bridge of his nose. Deep almost violet eyes stared down at him past his nose, quite literally looking down on Karkat. He wore an ungodly amount of rings on both hands, minus both of his ring fingers. Granted who the hell would want a pompous shit like that anyway? He had a strong jawline, which was only emphasized by clinched teeth, he wore a black sweater with blue stripped skinny jeans, not even a jacket on this man. He gave a board look as he rolled his eyes and began to tap away on Karkat's phone.

"Relax, I just need to borrow-w it for a moment." The taller spoke as if it was obvious, he had a very slight accent to his tone and his shoulders stood tall with his back straight. He was not quite as tall as Gamzee was to Karkat but he was still well over a head taller. But the entitled air about him showed off enough to rub Karkat the complete wrong way. There was just something about it all that he hated. So Karkat lunged for the phone, being only about 5'3" sure as hell made for a disadvantage for this sort of thing. However it was not just the height that was against him, the taller did not hesitate to pull an actual fucking gun on him. He felt the cold metal pressed to his jaw before he realized just what it was. His heart dropped right to his stomach. "Don't try anythin'."

"What- fuck alright alright, calm down." Karkat spoke quickly, his palms out a bit. He felt as though he should be running, however turning his back to this gun-toting psychopathy with a stutter may not be the best call here. Karkat was used to his fair share of danger considering all the little back alley deals he had accompanied Gamzee on, but this? This was fucking insane. His head tilted away from the weapon as it was still pressed against his skin.

"W-well then you shouldn't mind me usin' your phone." The man spoke coldly as he didn't seem that concerned truly about rater Karkat lived or died at this point. As long as he got whatever he needed from this interaction. His fingers nimbly tapped a few things on the screen one handed before it was pressed to this man's ear. As he spoke on the phone the weapon slid down Karkat's neck, the cold steel making it painfully obvious it was there. "I need a ride. Yeah... I'm off main. Cro I sw-wear to god, no just get here. Yes everythin' w-went fine." He spoke to whoever was on the other end calmly, not like he had Karkat right there as some sort of backwards ass hostage. Though since he was so deep in his little conversation of who knows what Karkat took the slightest step back. Only for the sound of the clicking if the gun, a live round falling right into the chamber and ready to fire. The man narrowed those eyes Karkat's way, a warning it seemed. He took that warning extremely serious as he stood stiff.

As the call ended Karkat's hands were still up, palms still facing the other. Hell even despite the cold weather he felt as though he was sweating. He was so goddamn fucked. Though as the call ended his gun lowered and then was holstered at his side, under his jacket, concealed. Those violet eyes gave Karkat a once over, before he tossed him back the phone. Karkat stumbled but managed to catch it. "Fucking hell" Was all he could mutter to himself.

"You know-w, you w-were at least slightly of use." The man spoke before he gave a light huff, his arm going around Karkat's shoulder as he leaned in. He gave quite the shit eating smirk Karkat's way as he practically hummed "You got a ride home? W-what's the sayin'? No good deed goes unpunished? Might as w-well help you out since you helped me out." He was acting like this was of Karkat's own free will. Which was complete bullshit but he wasn't sure if he should call this asshole out.

"I can get my own fucking ride home. I'll just call my brother or something." He grumbled as he now had his own phone, he had a message from Makara because of fucking course that clown was up this late, but nothing in return when he messaged Kankri. Of course not, he would probably be up at the ass crack of dawn. Not only on top of that he had this insane man that was strapped hanging off his shoulder like they were glued at the goddamn hip. "Damn it" Karkat muttered under his breath. Looks like he didn't have much of a choice.