Shortly after this little exchange Karkat and the Ampora's were ushered into this massive building. They were greeted by others all dressed in expensive gowns and tailored suites. In all honesty Karkat was dressed more like the busboys that wandered around the party with snack plates. This did not at all help his feelings of being out of place. If anything it made it all so much worse. Regardless he tried his best to seem like he knew what he was doing. Only to end up sticking by Eridan's side with a hand slightly grasping at the back of his suit. It was cute to Eridan and he wasn't going to stop Karkat if it made him feel safe.
It was nice to have someone just close and not as sure of themselves. It made Eridan feel less out of place himself. He always boasts about his lavish lifestyle. But the way they all seemed to bicker and argue about the most pointless things. Snub their noses at even more ridiculous bullshit that really didn't matter in the slightest. Whatever. Not like any of that mattered with Karkat. He spoke his mind and would tell off anyone that aggravated him. Eridan honestly wondered how well he would do in this sort of setting. So far he was quiet and a little bit awkward. Nervous even. The grand ballroom was large and lavish with marble pullers meeting marble flooring intricate carving throughout. It was well crafted Karkat would admit this much.
This was the first part of the Galla themed party. Dancing and chatting among high class individuals. Karkat noted there were some eyes on him and his grip only tightened around Eridan's coat tails. However it seems the Ampora would shift from his clothing being grabbed to his hand as he took Karkat's in his own. His thumb gently brushed over his fingers to say that everything would be okay. He was right. There was nothing really to worry about of course. He leaned a little more against Eridan, shoulder pressing into his side. As if he could hide away there. Vanish from existence. Of course this wouldn't happen, but it was a nice thought.
"It's fine Kar, they just aren't used to someone as cute as you." Eridan whispered to him in regards to the staring. Karkat knew this wasn't true. He knew it was how out of place he looked. But it was still sweet to hear. Those pale cheeks went a shade or two pink.
"Oh shut up Eridan." He spoke back playfully but with a light smile. It was nice to see on those features. However, the grasping of his hand went to intertwining fingers as Karkat shifted about. It just made him feel better. Since he caught the eye of Cronus giving them a glance Karkat brought their clasping hands up to kiss the back of Eridan's. It was now his turn to get a little flustered as his heart skipped a beat. Karkat really was good at small little flirts.
It did not take long after they arrived for Eridan and Cronus to be approached by various women, and a few men, asking to dance. As no surprise to anyone Cronus was willing to do so with just about anyone. While Eridan politely declined everyone. However it was just getting frustrating as it became a hindrance to Karkat's conversation with Eridan. Having to stop mid rant time and time again for these fuckers that paid him not even a second glance. Finally Karkat stopped speaking for a long moment before he offered up a hand to Eridan. Their hand holding long stopped after they found a place to settle and talk.
"Do you want to dance?" Karkat asked as he looked up at the blonde. He looked almost taken aback as he sipped gingerly on his glass of some expensive piss poor excuse for alcohol.
"You wwant to dance wwith me?" Eridan seemed almost bewildered that he was even asked. Yes he thought about offering but they were just there as friends. Their hand holding seemed intimate enough. But of course he was not going to turn him down. "Do you evven knoww howw to dance?" Eridan joked with a smile to try and hide his excitement.
"I mean maybe not full ballroom dancing but it can't be that fucking hard. I'll even let you lead, lucky you." Karkat teased back as he still kept that hand offered. Slowly Eridan took it in his own. His other hand gently found Karkat's waist as they wandered onto the dance floor. The music was very soft and fitting for the setting. It really did feel like something out of a movie. Karkat did tense up slightly to the more intimate closeness and the touch. It felt so oddly nice. Karkat on the other hand was unsure where to put his hands. So Eridan gently guided the one not in his own to his shoulder. Eridan had Karkat right against him as they danced, both of them smiling, even if it was a little sheepishly. They would butter little things to each other during this as well.
"I nevver took you for the dancing type." Eridan practically cooed to him.
"Yeah well it always looked fun but I didn't exactly know anyone willing. You are pretty light on your feet, I didn't expect that." Karkat answered as his fingers squeezed at Eridan's.
"Wwell it isn't like this is all that hard. Maybe I can teach you howw to wwaltz wwhen wwe aren't so public." Eridan leaned in to where he spoke in Karkat's ear. The shorter nodded to this but he decided he wanted to be closer. So Karkat pressed more against Eridan, to where his chin was almost on his shoulder. This was to hide how flustered all this was making him. If this actually was a date it would be the best one he has ever been on in his life.
"I'd like that Eridan. I'd like that a lot"
Sadly the song couldn't last forever and soon enough they would have to part. But as they leaned back from each other they hadn't quite let go. Hands still together and arms around each other. They sure were a sight. This was, of course, gaining attention. Eridan was still an important figure in the crime world even without being his fathers future successor. He already had blood on his hands, there was no real way he could just step back now. Whoever he dated would be pulled along into that lifestyle rather they wanted it or not by proxy. If Eridan knew they were going to get close like this he may have chosen something a bit less public for an official date. As far as his father or brother were concerned, he and Karkat had been dating for months now.
Karkat however was just enjoying his time with the man. Hell he was already starting to fall a bit harder than he would want to admit. This felt more like a dream than reality. With those grey eyes staring into the violet gaze through Eridan's thick rimmed glasses. Karkat did the unthinkable. He leaned in and kissed Eridan. The first kiss they shared, it made Eridan's eyes widen and his body tense. All of a sudden he could feel all those eyes, hear the mutters. He didn't pull away at first however. But he didn't kiss back either. This caused the albino man to pull back and his face blew up in a bright red in embarrassment.
"I- fuck I'm sorry." Karkat muttered before he pulled back. "I'm just… I'm going to go get a drink." He said awkwardly to a still stunned Ampora. He tried to clear his throat and find the words. Tell him it was fine, he loved the kiss. He just… he panicked. He had no clue what to do in the gaze of prying eyes. But he let Karkat go, so they could talk during the dinner phase of the party.
Karkat felt so stupid. Why did he do that? They were just friends, they came here as just friends. Uhg that was such bullshit. Karkat walked to the snack table, glancing at the matching dressed servers. He really didn't belong here, did he? Karkat grabbed a glass of some of that fancy liquor that barely packed any punch. Sipping at it as he tried to force his shoulders to relax. Well Eridan didn't seem mad at him, so that was something. But fuck that is going to be an awkward conversation on the way home. He was not excited about that. As Karkat leaned against the snack table in the back of this massive room he didn't quite pay any mind to the people around him. They all seemed too busy with their fake over exaggerated laughter and gestures to kiss each other's asses.
That however would turn out to be quite a mistake as a man wondered his way up to the side of the table. He was dressed in a tux that probably costs more than Karkat's own closet combined and his face flushed with inebriation. The man's eyes were locked on him, he was a bit of a bigger man. Not exactly portly since he has some height to him, but larger. Karkat raised a slight brow but he wasn't going to go off just by staring. He tried to nod towards the man and go about his business. This seemed to only annoy the already drunk off his ass bastard. The man made a motion with his hand for Karkat to walk up to him, a come here motion with his finger like someone would bitterly do to a dog. To which Karkat promptly ignored. This serves to piss him off more as he finally rounded the table, his hair black and full of way too much gel. It looked as though if anyone touched it it would crackle in a sticky mess. But with this guy storming up to him Karkat pushed himself from the table. Standing firmly on his feet.
"I was calling you over boy, you need to listen." The man spoke in a huff, seemingly pleased with his own tone while at the same time acting like a spoiled brat.
"I mean you didn't say anything, just made some mild hand gestures. I'm not moving if that is what you want. Also not looking to dance, thanks." Karkat snapped back a tad bit. He can only hold back so much but his tone said it all.
"Well you need to start doing your fucking job. I need another drink. See this? See how empty it is?" The man spoke as if this was obvious. Shoving his empty glass into Karkat's face, which only gained his hand pushed away. This disrespect wouldn't go unpunished however. "Don't you touch me, I could buy and sell you if I wanted. Do you have any idea who I am?"
"Some jackass that has no idea what personal space is?" Karkat asked as he tried to side step out of there. He doesn't need this shit. He already fucked up once, he didn't need to make a scene. But before he could even get out from between the man and the table his shirt was grabbed. Before he knew it his cheek stung, there was an echo of skin on skin so loud people could hear the sting. He got slapped. Actually slapped.
Oh hell no.
That smug look the man had did not last long as Karkat was not one to just take a hit and walk away. His fist balled, he put all his weight into that strike. Punching the rich pompous douche right in his nose. The man reeled back, holding at his face that was now stained red, as the color started to roll down to that nice little suit of his. It took a moment for him to actually process that he could possibly be struck. His response was to lunge at Karkat. Lucky for both men they had caused enough commotion that security grabbed the man before he could do anything else. However Karkat was also grabbed to keep the peace between the two. The hosts soon joined in, meaning Eridan and Mr. Ampora standing behind security. Karkat felt his heart drop a bit. He really had fucked up.