Sollux jolted awake with a start, his entire body flailing as he unceremoniously crashed to the floor from the couch. He groaned quietly, completely disoriented, and rubbed his aching backside, peering around the darkened living room with blurry vision. The troll scowled at himself in confusion and mild annoyance when he finally got his bearings, the shapes around him becoming more distinct. "I finally get thome dethent thleep and I can't even enjoy it…" he grumbled, not bothering to cover his lisp as he began to untangle himself from the blankets, "what the hell even woke me up?"

It just always happened to him, didn't it, he thought sourly. Hopefully, he didn't wake up Karkat with that embarrassing stunt. Lord fucking knew his best friend needed the sleep after everything that had happened. Just as he was finally dragging his sorry ass back onto his makeshift couch-bed, a loud cry sounded from the back room. Sollux froze in his actions, his blood becoming ice in his veins. That was.. Karkat? He scrambled to his feet in the next instant, cursing loudly as panic flooded his mind and his heart hammered in his chest. "Not again, not again, not again!" his mind chanted while he threw open the bedroom door.

For a few terrifying seconds, the room was too dark for him to see anything, and Sollux stood in the doorway, taut as a wire. Slowly, his eyes adjusted to the lack of light and he swallowed harshly, peering through the inky blackness, his heartbeat loud in his ears. "KK..?" he whispered loudly, his eyes darting to the bathroom door.

The sound of quiet gasping reached his ears, and Sollux swung his gaze to the bed, where he could faintly make out a shaking shape curled up under the blankets. Dizzying relief flooded him, causing him to sway momentarily, only to be quickly replaced with concern. Sollux stumbled towards the bed, gnawing on his bottom lip as he became more aware of the quiet sobbing emanating from the smaller troll. Before Karkat had.. gone to the hospital, he'd had nightmares nearly every night, and Sollux normally climbed into bed with him to calm him down. But they had stopped ever since, so why were they coming back now?

With a quiet sigh, Sollux forced the questions out of his head and pulled himself onto the bed. The tall adolescent slid under the covers, scooting closer to his still quivering best friend and tugging him into his arms. Karkat's head shot up, and Sollux flinched at the tears covering his face, concern pinching his heart painfully. "I-I'm sorry," Karkat choked out, his voice breaking at the end, "I-I woke you up ag-again..!"

Another quiet sob burst out, shaking him even harder, and Sollux carefully pushed his head back down. "It's alright Karkat.." he murmured, "I've already told you I don't mind.."

He felt the smaller troll shake his head and he sighed once again, rubbing small circles into his back. "You're okay KK, it's alright," Sollux whispered firmly.

He felt Karkat take several shaky breaths, and then finally go limp as exhaustion finally took hold. "Okay.." he slurred out, and Sollux knew this was NOT the right time to be focusing on it, but he couldn't help but notice how fucking cute he was right then, his wet eyelashes curled against his cheeks, and his head resting on his chest peacefully. Sollux grunted quietly, internally scolding his sappy, idiotic brain.

They laid in silence for a few moments longer, and Sollux paused in his movements before his hands almost unconsciously traveled from his back to Karkat's wrists. The smaller troll immediately tensed in his arms, and Sollux quickly jerked his hands away, face flushing in shame as he rapidly apologized; "Thorry thorry, shit, thorry- sorry, KK I didn't mean to-"

"It's okay.." Karkat assured him quietly, slowly relaxing once again in his arms, "you can go ahead.."

Sollux stopped and chewed on his bottom lip with anxiety, glancing down at Karkat in uncertainty, then hesitantly allowing his hands to drift to the shivering troll's wrists once again. His fingers gently grazed over the raised lines crisscrossing up and down his friend's arms, an unidentifiable feeling welling up in his chest as he paused at the newest additions. He inhaled sharply, and a sudden lump formed in his throat, tears beginning to sting his eyes when a slew of memories assaulted him. This was his best friend, the person who walked him to school everyday in middle school, the person who played video games with him for hours on end, the person who reminded him to eat and drink when he was an idiot and forgot, the person whom he loved more than anyone else. He was almost gone forever, this bright, beautiful, vibrant person who was everything he wanted in this goddamn world.

The taller troll blinked and the heavy tears gathering in his eyes finally fell, leaving warm trails down his cheeks while his breathing hitched. He felt Karkat stir and lift his head, and he clamped his mouth together in a vain attempt to keep himself from completely losing it. "Sollux?" Karkat asked in quiet alarm, brushing his fingers across his face. Sollux shivered slightly and pulled his best friend closer, burying his face in the crook of his neck and trembling violently. "Sollux, hey what's wrong?" he questioned as he frantically tried to calm the still sobbing troll.

"You- you-" Sollux struggled to speak clearly around the increasingly hysterical tears and swallowed harshly, "you can't go Karkat, pleathe, I need you h-here..!"

Karkat shifted in his hold and Sollux heard a soft sigh before he felt warm arms wrap securely around his middle as a choked sob escaped him. Sollux's hands clutched at him desperately, afraid that he would slip away for good this time if he didn't, and a loud cry broke free from his throat while he tried futilely to apologize for the mess he'd suddenly become; "K-Kark-Karkat I-I'm th-th!-"

"Shhh.." Karkat murmured, seemingly unbothered by the flood of tears covering him, "I'm right here Sollux, it's alright.."

A few minutes passed, and eventually Sollux's breathing started to even out, the tears slowing and stopping. His inhaled deeply, confirming to himself that, yes this was Karkat, and yes he was okay. The tension slowly slipped from his body. A wave of embarrassment slammed into him and he finally relaxed his hold on the short troll, a hot blush spreading across his face. He wasn't normally a crier, especially in front of other people, even more especially in front of Karkat, who was probably feeling like shit and blaming himself now. Sollux swore at himself internally, and opened his mouth to apologize again, only to be stopped when Karkat's tired voice spoke up, "Don't you dare try to fucking apologize again.. You're entitled to a good cry once in a while too.."

Sollux sighed in relief and chuckled shakily. "Alright.." he whispered, "thankth KK.."

"Don't mention it.." Karkat slurred, sleepiness dripping from his voice. He gave Sollux a reassuring squeeze before relaxing into his arms again.

All was quiet for a few minutes as Sollux waited for Karkat to return to sleep. When his friend's breathing evened out completely, Sollux finally closed his eyes, ready to get back to that decent sleep he'd had earlier that he was still sorely needing.

"Love you S'lx.." he heard the troll on his chest mutter very quietly.

Well.

Sleep was overrated anyways.