"Gamzee, I swear if you try to tell one more joke...I will rage roundhouse kick you in that ugly caked up mug of yours."

"Honk."

They were almost there, Karkat's house being three or so streets away. The two had spent the majority of the time chatting and the shorter having to listen to his friend's incessant jokes and prattling on about miracles and the like. It almost seemed like they'd make it but an unwanted voice said differently.

"Well well, it seems the little baby got a bodyguard."

Karkat stiffened up, lips pressed together as he stopped walking and all sources of mirth or joking immediately left Gamzee's face as he turned around to face Vriska. Her arms were crossed and that smug smirk decorated her face. Her gang, like always, loomed behind her with cocky grins and fingers twitching in anticipation to fight. Vriska took a step forward, sizing up the two.

"Nice to know you're soooooooo scared that you had to get your druggie friend to protect you. Real brave of you."

"Oh and I suppose picking on those who seem to show a spark of bravery towards you is real brave also." Karkat bit at her.

She frowned, hatred burning in her eyes before she snapped her fingers and her goons had stepped forward, chuckling darkly.

"You guys take the clown. I'll get the crab."

She advanced towards Karkat who was immediately blocked by a stone faced Gamzee. He growled lowly as he looked down at her and cracked his knuckles.

"Why don't you go be a favor and back off? Don't wanna motherfucking mess up that pretty face of yours."

"Hah! As you could hurt me."

"Wanna bet motherfucker?"

She laughed mockingly at him as one of the guys snuck up behind the two males and grabbed Gamzee's shoulder, tugging him away from Karkat and into the circle of men awaiting him. The other made a noise of surprise and moved to go help his friend but Vriska shoved him in the shoulder with a cackle.

"What's the matter Karkat? Afraid to get beat by a girl?"

"No I'm not. I just don't like being trapped by a bitch, thank you."

She hissed and grabbed onto his shoulders, tugging him down to knee him in the nose. A sickening crack let him know that it was broken and he hissed a sharp curse as he pushed away from her, cradling his nose. Gamzee was punching the guys left and right, smirking when he heard a sound of agony from one he'd injured too badly. He looked over to see Vriska approaching his friend who had his arms in front of him, acting as a shield and an effort to hold back. Gamzee frowned at that because he knew that even though Karkat would hit a girl if they deserved it, he still hesitated at times. Which is what he was doing now and it made Gamzee want to destroy everything and everyone who dared block his path.

"Come ooooooooon Karkat, aren't you going to hit me? What are you afraid of?"

"Not you. But I still don't want to hit you."

Vriska sneered, eyes showing that same malice that she demonstrated to those who would dare face her or shown any trace of weakness. It was cold and calculating and sent shivers down the male's spine. A sharp pain registered on his face as he felt Vriska rake her nails across his cheek and toss a punch at his face. He yelped and pounced back but the girl was unwilling to allow his escape. She continued to advance and he continued to block.

Gamzee was knocking out the men left and right, his teeth grit as he held in his inner rage and tried to get rid of them as quick as possible. One of the men had grown quite afraid when they caught sight of the juggalo's fiery eyes and reached for a glass bottle on the street left by a careless passerby. Sneaking up on the clown, the man lifted the glass and brung it down harshly on the back of Gamzee's head, making him yelp in pain before falling to the ground, lingering on the line between conscious and unconscious. The men who were still fine had chuckled and circled him, ready to beat him into the concrete.

Karkat had chosen that moment to glance over and let a gasp escape him as he took in the sight of his fallen friend. Vriska shoved his shoulder to bring his attention back to her.

She cackled, "Aw, are you worried about your friend? Don't worry, I'll make sure the guys don't hurt him too much."

A feeling had bubbled up in Karkat's throat as he looked back at her, eyes gleaming with a new emotion and no sign of the previous hesitation and fear he once had. The girl raised her brows at this but shrugged it off and taunted him again, throwing a punch at him that he caught instantly. He bared his teeth and his brows furrowed as he lowered his head, gaining a sense of predatory anger.

"Listen Vriska," he spat, "you can do a ton of shit to me. But the minute you include anybody else especially the ones I give a shit about, you have to face me. And I decided that I'm not going to be your chew toy anymore."

With that, he formed his own fist and it flew through the air and made direct contact with her nose, making an audible crack that made her scream. She covered her nose, eyes wide as she stepped back and her gang stopped their assault to look at their leader. He took another step forward and shoved her onto her rear. She had to look up at the male who bore such intense anger and hatred in his small body that it threatened to destroy them all. He growled and hissed his next sentence at her and the gang.

"If I catch you bulgewhiffing asswipes coming after me again. In fact, I catch you picking on anyone again, you'll deal with me. Is your life really that worthless and pathetic that your miniscule forms can't do anything else but prey on others? Will you realize that when you fuck with the wrong person and get shot out in some remote place in the middle of nowhere?"

Silence was his answer.

"THEN GET THE FUCK OF HERE IF YOU HAVE NOTHING ELSE TO SAY YOU SHITSPONGES!"

The yelling made them all wince and though they were many, his anger clearly outmatched them and crushed any determination or malevolence they felt. So they helped Vriska up and slunk away. Karkat let out a sigh that cleared his head and wrath and made him direct his focus to his friend who was waking up with a groan.

"Motherfuck...that was all kinds unmiraculous, knocking a brother out with that glass shit..."

"Your fault for turning your back on them for two long idiot."

He looked up to spot his friend, looking at him with a scowl laced in concern as knelt down. His fingers lingered on the back of his head, making the taller hum as he was checked for injuries. Karkat sighed as he found none and sat on the sidewalk refusing to move as the sky began to grow darker.

He didn't care at the moment that his brother might be home.

All that mattered at the time was that he could now walk the street safely and that he's okay now.

He's okay...

A/N: Yay, Karkat's undeniably frightening rage has saved him and Gamz. But this story isn't over just yet, there will be more drama to ensue in this tale whether it is needed or not. I'll give you a hint however as narrow-minded as it may be. It has to do with a certain meddler. ;)

See you next chapter~!