There were two things Karkat Vantas hated most.
One: Waking up in an unfamiliar room.
Two: Being hungry as fuck.
Sadly, both events were occuring at the same time. He pulled himself out of the warm, though unknown, bed, first checking to see if anyone was lying next to him. Clear. Standing, Karkat proceeded to the door. The room was painted blue, and had a few comic books laying askew on the floor, and his bacpack was propped against the far wall. His clothes were in tact, a scruffy grey hoodie and a faded pair of jeans, that was good. There were no traces of a hangover. So, why was he in this room?
"Fuck." Karkat sighed, to no one in particular. Last he'd known, he was walking along the side of the highway, somewhere near Houstan Texas.
The door clicked open, allowing Karkat to waltz out. A long hallway, wooden floors, and two other doors greeted him. As he neared the end of the hall, Karkat saw there was a living room. On the couch in this living room, in front of a large television, sat a blonde.
Cleching his fist, Karkat let out a snarl. "Who the fuck are you, and why am I here?"
"Whoa, Jesus. You scared me man," the blonde leaped, turning around. He wore sunglasses, shading his eyes. "Look, chill! Egbert and I found you on the side of the road, and you said not to call the feds and shit. So...we brought you here."
Karkat wasn't really buying the story, but then a sudden flash if a memory hit him. He had said something about the cops, but it was hazy. "I'm hungry." was all he said.
The blonde grinned, "Egbert's cooking. I'm Dave, nice to meet you."
"Karkat. Likewise." he outstretched a hand, and Dave shook it.
Footsteps bounded from the left, and Karkat heard a rather adorkable voice. "Dave! Dave! I heard you talking! Is he up? He is! Hi!"
A geeky looking boy with thick, square glasses and buck teeth was staring at him, goofy smile in tact. He had short, brown hair, and was wearing a Ghost Busters shirt.
Karkat blinked, dumbly. "Egbert...was it?"
"Yep! Did Dave tell you?" Egbert squeaked, happily. Karkat could only nod. "I made pancakes, you must be pretty hungry, huh?" Another nod. "Wow, okay. This way to the kitchen!"
The kitchen was smaller than his, but Karkat could've cared less. A round table, cluttered with various drawing and sheet music, was topped with pancakes.
Karkat didn't think twice before digging in. Dave watched, bemused as Egbert(First name learned to be John) winced at the boy shoveling food in front of them.
"So...why were you on the side of the road?" John asked, peeking one eye opened.
"I've sorta run away from home. In a sense." Karkat shrugged, scooping another bite of syrup covered goodness into his mouth. "Needed some time to myself."
Dave, who was chewing on his own pancake, suddenly asked. "Why'd you collaspe of hunger, then?"
"Forgot to eat." said Karkat, simply.
"Oh." John mumbled, "Okay, wow. So you left home all by yourself? Where did you live?"
"Oklahoma," Karkat took another bite of the pancake.
Dave looked impressed, "And you walked?"
Karkat nodded, "An entire week."
John gasped, and Dave's eyebrow's raised to his hairline. Somewhat bashful, Karkat looked back down at his eighth pancake. John was babbling about how cool it was, and Dave was weakly adjusting his sunglasses.
"Shit man." said Dave, "Shit."
Karkat blushed, swallowing his meal. "Thanks...?"
"So, are you gonna go back on the road again?" John smiled, "I mean, it's cool if you wanna crash here for a few days, right, Dave?" He shot a hopeful look at the blonde, who just grinned a rather attractive grin. "Hey, if you say it's okay, then it's fine with me."
"Uh, no. I mean. I really don't want to impose, plus, your house is fucking small. You'd have to share a room." Karkat shook his head, raven locks flicking back and forth.
"No, it's fine! I think you should stay here until your strength builds up, okay?" John let a cute smile overtake his face, and Karkat looked back down at his plate.
"How old are you guys, anyway?" he muttered the question.
It was Dave who replied. "I'm nineteen, Egbert here is eighteen and three quarters."
"'m seventeen." Karkat murmured, mouth full.
"See, we aren't that different in age! And Dave and I don't mind sharing a room, really." John had puppy-dog plead in his eyes. "Come on, Karkat, whaddoya say?"
"Well, if you don't mind..." he trailed off, letting John finish his sentance. "Okay, how about you stay for another night? That should be enough time to rest."
"Okay." Karkat sighed, "You realize we're total strangers, right?"
"We're offically Bros, now." Dave concluded.
And so they were. Karkat spent the rest of his day eating fruit, watching bad movies with John, and listening to Dave play his electric keyboard. It all felt sort of welcoming.
"Oooh! This is my favorite part!" Egbert cried, clinging to Dave's arm. They were watching some movie called Con Air. So far, it was disapointing. Karkat kept that thought to himself.
"What's the inflight movie, today?" asked a bald guy on screen.
The old creep replied, "I think you'll like it Cyrus, it's called 'I'll never make love to a woman on the beach again'."
John burst out laughing, his forehead pressing into Dave's shoulder. The blonde looked quite comfortable with it, wrapping his arm around Egbert's waist as he giggled along.
That was unusual. Boys their age don't normally act so touchy. Unless...
"Are you two fucking with eachother?" the words were out of Karkat's mouth before he could help it. Idiot. Not everyone is as gay as you.
"Yeah." Dave shrugged, "Not many people know about it."
Karkat went red in the face, quickly looking away. "Oh. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you or any-"
"You're gay too, huh?" Dave grinned that grin. "Don't deny man, I saw you checking out my boyfriend's ass."
John was laughing so loudly, it would seem he was oblivious to the conversation.
"Fuck! S-sorry..." Karkat quickly looked away, unsure of what to do.
Dave patted John's spiked hair, "It's cool, bro. You didn't know."
Newlyfound respect for Dave Strider twisted it's way into Karkat's heart, that day.
The film finished in silence, Dave was now openly cuddled around John, and the latter doing the same. Karkat envied the small happiness that was in the air. John fell asleep at some point during Nicholas Cage's bad acting, it took both Karkat and Dave to carry the short boy to bed.
"Thanks, man. He's a heavy little shit." Dave smiled, softly. But John was very light, just too squirmy for one person to manage.
Karkat rolled his eyes, "No fucking prob. You're the one who's being nice to me."
Dave waved him off, and Karat flopped back into the bed he'd awoken in. It was warm. He slept easy, that night.
...
The following morning, a smell of eggs and bacon drifted in the atmosphere.
"That smells fucking heavingly." Karkat whimpered, crawling out of bed. He stumbled into the kitchen, met with a humorous sight.
John.
Wearing a pink apron.
Twirling in circles as he cooked bacon.
Singing Taylor Swift.
"Cause I don't know how it gets better than this~! You take my hand and drag me head first, Fearless. And I don't know why but with you I'd dance in a storm in my best dress, Fearless." he was off key. Karkat wasn't sure if he should laugh or cry.
"Good morning." Karkat chuckled, and John froze.
Spinning around, face flushed, John cried, "Don't tell Dave!"
"Dave already knows." the blonde laughed, poking his head out from the other entrance.
"Shit." was all Egbert said.
Breakfast was almost silent, with the talkative John mortified. Dave kept reassuring him that it was fine, but John was too embarrased to answer.
Karkat wished he could stay longer, but he had to get walking. He picked up his backpack, used the washroom, and prepared to leave.
"Must you go?" John asked, handing Karkat a water bottle.
He accepted it, sadly. "Yeah, I'll write to you fuckasses, though."
"You have or cell numbers, too." Dave let another trademark grin escape.
"Call us!" John piped up.
"I'll call you as soon as fucking possible." Karkat smiled, and he turned for the door.
How had he just made his two best friends in less than 48 hours?