Karkat was a little taken aback by the outburst from the much larger troll. It was more an instinctual reaction as his body tensed and readied for the defensive. His hand on the weapon on his hip without thinking twice. Even though the logical side of his brain knew that this troll hadn't made much of a move against him. Those faux grey eyes glanced at Sollux, he had the same reaction. The same posture and his shoulders tense tall and at the ready. The large troll looming over Karkat was his wriggling-hood friend, his eyes softened. Those large clawed hands moved up with his palms outward, up above where he weapon rested on his hip and showing that he meant no harm. Karkat wondered what it was like, for a moment he wondered what it was like to be viewed as a threat at any small thing. Not that it wasn't a fair assumption. Just look at him, how quick he was to threaten another high blood's life. But that look those deep purple eyes gave him, worry and frustration, all in one. Karkat sighed through his nose as his hand dropped from his waistband. He was being hasty. He knew that. Karkat had survived on quick escapes and almost trigger happy tendencies. Sollux was waiting on him to make a move, he knew this. Mainly because Karkat was the one that invited this troll in their hive. Karkat straightened up and pinched the bridge of his nose. This caused Gamzee to slowly bring his hands back down. Those pointed ears dropped and he grumbled out through barely parted lips.
"Sorry. I just am frustrated, you know? Shit, if it was up to me I would have been here that night you asked me to come over. I've had a lotta time to motherfucking think about all that. It isn't fair I get it. I read through some of those logs, but I just wanted to see if you are still even alive." Gamzee spoke as his hand nervously brushed through his own hair. Brushing that mane out of his face, his make up looked similar to when he was a wriggler. A small bit messier and that painted grin had grown jagged teeth. The make up around his eyes mimicking an almost furrowed brow to juxtapose the grin. White paint evenly caked over almost all of his features. He had made himself look cleaned up. Put in effort to present himself to these two trolls. It was unlike the old Gamzee Karkat once knew.
"Well I'm right here Makara, it's probably just as much of a shock as it is for me honestly. I get that you didn't have a choice but you can't expect me to be exactly excited to see a giant subjugglator. Even if it is you." Karkat spoke in own defense. He knew that probably didn't feel good to hear but Gamzee needed to understand the actual effect all this had on most trolls around him. Granted just the form of the purple blood showed he probably knew well enough. Karkat had a few cuts along his skin, but he avoided that sort of thing at all costs. If he bleeds he is dead. Gamzee on the other hand was covered in scars and cuts. He spoke about being beaten already, but it was still all so hard to wrap his head around.
"I know…" Gamzee spoke simply as he tried to keep himself collected. Karkat saw it in his body language, the way he seemed uncomfortable standing there. With a shake of his head Karkat took bold steps closer to the purple blood. Reaching warm hands up to barely brush at his painted cheek, it was a softer gesture. Something meant to be calming and gentle. Foreign to the purple blood. Without thinking twice Gamzee leaned into the touch. Karkat looked at those purple eyes before glancing past him to Sollux, giving him a very silent plea for space. Which the yellow blood took in haste, not wanting to get wrapped up in this mushy bullshit. "Ya know I really missed you."
"I missed you too, Gamzee" Karkat spoke so softly to him, his hand still on the massive troll's cheek. He had to lean down to even accept the small touch but he seemed more than eager to have even the miniscule amount of affection appointed to him. Gamzee leaned into his hands before he couldn't handle lack of affection to the much smaller troll. His arms wrapped around Karkat's waist, purring softly to him even still. Karkat started to brush his fingers through his hair and around his horns. It was a mess, a massive mess on top of his head.
"You really need a haircut, Gamzee, or at least let me braid it or something so it isn't everywhere. Not that it looks bad but holy shit. How do you not just trip over yourself here, or get shit completely stuck in it all the time." Karkat slightly sighed as he just rambled over his now long hair. He really had changed so much. The offer to have his hair played with more and just something calming and nice for once. Eventually the pair would settle down and start to go on about what had been happening. Gamzee brushing his claws over Karkat's hair. Brushing it out of his face and to the side. While his own king locks were intertwined and braided.
"You know I ain't here to hurt ya or Solbro right? I mean shit I can't pretend I am a motherfucking saint or anything. A lot's changed you know? I bet you have done so motherfucking much in the last few sweeps." Gamzee spoke with a very soft smile as he leaned down a little to rest his chin on top of his head, between Karkat's horns. He held the red blood against his chest tightly, as if this troll was going to vanish. As if it all was in his head, nothing more than a good dream.
"You read through the logs, you should have an idea of what I've been up to." Karkat grumbled as he rested his forehead against the highblood's chest. "Only trying to keep trolls alive and sort of away from trolls like you. Shit this is all so fucked up. Like a night terror before you turn me into the damn empress herself." Karkat muttered against him. His grip moved to the massive troll's arms, trailing his fingers over scars along his skin. The feeling of calloused skin meeting even rougher scars wouldn't normally be considered inviting to most. But it was a better indication that this was real.
Gamzee's expression softened and he sighed, nosing into his hair and rubbing all that clown makeup into his hair. His fingers moved down from his hair to his back. Hand splayed across it as he pulled him in. "Sorry but that ain't happening. Shit isn't my problem what she wants with ya. I get to choose my jobs."