Do you remember that first night where we sat under the stars together, and spoke of our dreams?
…
It was a chilled morning, the fog had been rolling into the darker parts of town for days on end. The fog never truly left, it just continued to sink lower, eventually becoming one with the ground and formed light puddles on the ground. The sun was blocked out by the gray sky, only a few rays hit and scattered to just barely warm the surface.
"Are you sure it's okay to visit them, Dave...?" John asked shyly. It had been a week since they met up with Karkat and Gamzee, and he felt conflicted about the experience. Dave didn't seem to mind his affection for Karkat, but never the less it was still an awkward situation. Though the two talked it over and decided to help them in any they needed; John's stomach still took a leap at the thought of seeing Karkat again.
"It's not as if your ex has tentacles growing out of him in weird places. You're acting like he is a fuckin' alien or something, chill, man." Dave's analogies made John chuckle. "I don't mind, you're man-crush is perfectly legit in my book, which is to say a fuckin manuscript as thick as the legal rights to owning an Apple product."
"...Sure thing, Dave." John gave a smile, as usual he had no idea what Dave was talking about; though he would like to think he does a good job pretending he does. "So... if Karkat and I..."
Dave looked at him. "Dude, even I want a piece of that red hot choice ass."
John turned bright shade of pink. "S-So... you and I...and him?" John swallowed as they approached the apartment complex. "Like... really weird?"
Dave shrugged. "Nothin' is weird to me much anymore." He opened the door to the lobby for John. "Let's keep that to ourselves, yeah? Just don't go doing anything without me knowing."
John shook his head frantically. "No. Never! I would never do something like that to you." He spoke with truth.
Dave smiled, his face lightening up behind the cover of his shades. "I know. Me either. Because... I love you, man." Dave took John's hand gently, squeezing it tightly as they started up the stairs.
They reached the top of the stairs to see Gamzee leaning against the door frame of his and Karkat's apartment. John blinked. "What are you doing out here, Gamzee...?" He exchanged a look with Dave. "Is everything okay?" John asked.
Gamzee looked at them, as if he was confused and didn't recognize them for a moment. Then, slowly, he remembered who they were. "Ah... Karbro is just all up in there clearin' stuff out, not wanting me in his way." He half slurred.
"Clearing things out for what?" Dave interrupted John before he could speak.
"Don' think we can afford the place anymore, don't worry, it's all cool." Gamzee answered.
Dave took a moment to process and pushed past Gamzee, leaving John in the dust behind him as he stormed into Karkat's apartment. There were boxes hastily thrown everywhere, various things shoved into them. Karkat was near the kitchen he had been carrying a box.
Dave stood up straight, looking at Karkat through his sunglasses. "Somewhere to go?" He asked calmly and Karkat shook his head. "Fit to travel?" Again, Karkat shook his head. "Alright." Dave nodded and walked out of the apartment.
He pushed past John and Gamzee again, and headed downstairs. Karkat swiftly followed him, encountering John in the hallway. "What in fuck's name is he scheming?"
John gave a small smile. "He's determined. He's got that Strider look on his face, the same one his brother had before..." He trailed off and started to head after him, turning briefly to say "He is going to make something happen."
…
Hours later, Dave kicked the door with his foot. "Open up." He growled through the door, pushing quickly past Karkat with a large box in hand. "where do I put my shit?" He asked.
Karkat watched him for a second, asking himself how someone could be as full of himself as this douche. "You can't just come fucking blubbering in like a retarded!" He seemed as if he was trying to stay quiet, Dave assumed that Karkat had put Gamzee to bed.
Raising an eyebrow, he partly glared at Karkat. "We bought out your extra room, paying your rent for now."
"Why would you do that!?" Karkat snapped. "I don't need help from you!"
Dave continued with his unamused look. "Because we are going to move in. You are going to get a job. We are going to get Gamzee help. And someday we will live somewhere nicer. Deal?"
Taken aback, Karkat struggled for words. "I... Just... Don't fuck anything up..." He eventually spat out.
Dave snorted. "Right. Is a 'thank you' too hard to manage?" His question was met with a blank state. "Alright then... Mr. fucking-happy." He paused as John entered.
"Karkat." John spoke quickly, looking over Karkat. He was wearing his usual black sweater and had his arms crossed, foot tapping impatiently. "Dave said it was okay." He took the last few steps between them, bringing Karkat to him for a calm, warm kiss.
Karkat almost felt as if he was ready to pull away, but John was so gentle, so warm and soft. He wanted more, like they used to have. His stomach gave a lurch when John pulled away, he found himself chasing after the boy. He noticed Dave was watching closely and froze where he stood. His mind was racing; Was this just a one time thing? What were these two even fucking thinking?
Dave nodded to Karkat and took John's hand, leading his boyfriend into the back room without another word. Karkat stood there, baffled and conflicted, watching them until they shut the door.
Neither of them came out until later that day, when Dave emerged from the room and headed to the kitchen. He looked over to Karkat who was busying himself with the television, selectively ignoring Dave. Chuckling lowly, he peered in the refrigerator; frowning at the sufficient lack of food. Then it occurred to him; they didn't even have the money for food. His stomach dropped and he cast another look at Karkat. In scanning him over he noticed how thin he was, he couldn't remember if Gamzee looked that thin; no, of course not. "When did you last eat?" Dave demanded, leaning over the counter as he gazed at Karkat.
Taken aback by the sudden question his attention was drawn away from the screen, briefly look at Dave he quickly turned away to stare at the floor. "Yesterday." He answered sharply, hoping he would drop the subject.
Dave frowned. "Vantas." He growled.
"What?!" Karkat snapped back.
Dave circled around the counter, moving to stand directly in front of the liar with his arms crossed. "Shirt. Off."
Karkat blinked. "The fuck has gotten into you?"
Dave leaned forward, inches from Karkat's nose. "Now."
His words sent shivers down Karkat's spine and he found himself obeying, slipping out of his long sleeved shirt. He kept his eyes away from Dave's burning stare more in shame than anything else. Dave ran his hands down Karkat's fragile frame, his face twisted in concern. He painfully counted Karkat's ribs, closing his eyes his voice almost shook. "We'll fix this." He vowed, sliding his hand to Karkat's shoulder. "I fucking promise."
Karkat flinched away from Dave's touch, closing his eyes. "You... can't just come into my fucking life and turn everything around by throwing money at the fire." He snagged his shirt, slipping it back over his head as he continued to avoid Dave's gaze. "You are a shitty person. The shittiest person of fucked up shit town. You'd be the fucking mayor of shit town." He growled. "What the fuck is wrong with you and him? Playing with my - my, what ever the fuck, feelings like that?"
Dave watched him for a moment. Removing his sunglasses, he sat next to Karkat. He placed a hand on his shoulder, snaking it up to his neck and behind his head. Karkat almost pulled away but was strangely curious to what would happen next. Dave felt the other relax, to enable him to turn his head towards Dave. "Whatever you think I'm doing, I'm not going to stop." He spoke bluntly, leaning dangerously close to Karkat's lips. "You better damn well get used to this, or I-"
He was silenced by Karkat's lips pressing into his own. His eyes widened in surprise. He only meant to tease Karkat, move into this later with John but... this felt so right. He returned the kiss, his fingers tangling in Karkat's hair and he advanced closer on him.
Karkat was the first to pull away, realization hitting him with terror. "Dave. Dave fuck. I am so fucking sorry!" He inched away from Dave, once again refusing to look at him. "You and John. I.. I'm not a greedy bastard, alright? I'm not going to come between you two." He stated firmly, hands shaking.
"Dude, you seriously don't get it." Dave sighed. "It's both of us. John and I both want you... get it?"
Karkat's mind was whirling, he never considered being in a relationship with two others. How could that not be cheating? But no... This was different, all three of them knew and... "It... seems fucking weird."
"Look, I know it sounds weird as fuck but we... could make it work. The three of us? And Gamzee, once he's better. Like... " He cleared his throat. "Sort of like a family."
Karkat looked up at him, his heart felt as if it skipped a beat as excitement and apprehension flooded his body. What sort of fucked up situation had he gotten himself into? "I..." Karkat paused. "I don't know... it seems... strange. I can't..." He shook his head. "No. I shouldn't of made any sort of fucking move, just.. go." He growled.
Dave hesitated for a moment and then stood, as he was exiting the room he looked back. "Don't think this will change our minds about helping you and Gamzee, alright?"
"Yeah, sure..." Karkat nodded, his mind continuing to spin long into the night after Dave closed the door.
