Bus rides were always great. The quiet murmuring of strangers, the ignoring if you did something embarrassing. Karkat loved them.
Snuggled up on a seat, he dreamed of home. His mother, bickering with his brother, his father dropping by with Meulin every now and then, and Karkat who balanced the dysfunctional family perfectly. That was all behind him, now.
All because of one stupid mistake.
The bus stopped for gas, Karkat rushed to the building to use the washroom. And make a quick call. In his pocket, crumpled slightly, was Egbert's cellphone number.
"Hello~?" chirped a happy voice. Karkat smiled into the plastic reciever.
"It's me." he breathed, shyly.
"Oh! Karkat! You called! I was beginning to get worried," John sounded so happy about it, Karkat almost blushed. "Where are you at, Karkat? Hey that rhymed!"
"I'm in Louisiana," he stated, "You're the only one I think to can call right now. I'm so fucking alone."
"You should call your Mom." John scolded from the other end of the phone.
Karkat bit his lip, swaying on his feet. He was lucky these damned payphones made long-distance calls, "I'd call her if I could, okay? But she told me never to speak with her again."
John started to defend her, "She was only angry at the time, I'm sure-"
"No. You weren't there." muttered Karkat, "The bus is about to leave. I'll call you when I get to Florida."
"Okay. Bye!" John said, sadly, knowing he shouldn't press the subject. He hung up the phone, feeling relieved.
Karkat stalked back to the bus, sorry that he had to cut the conversation short. He liked talking to John, it was a change from his angry family. His former family. Memories flooded him all too quickly.
"Get out of my sight."
No.
"Leave this house! Don't you ever come back here, you filthy cocksucker!"
Stop.
"We will not have people like you ruin our household!"
Karkat clapped his hands over his ears, a futile attempt to block out the remembered words. A few people on the bus spared him a glance, but he didn't fucking care. It didn't fucking matter. He was fine. He was fine.
...
Karkat was back on the road, yet again. Walking was more prefferable than a whiny toddler that had hopped on the bus. It was cloudy, and he had just made it into Florida. True to his promise, Karkat called John. They had a long conversation about sand crabs, for who knows what reason.
Plip.
Karkat knew it was a raindrop. Of course it was a fucking raindrop. They splattered down, drizzling at first, then bam! It was pouring, he was running. In jeans. Lucky for him, there was a motel just ahead, and he was saved!
"Hello, I'd like to check in!" he yelled, all but kicking down the door.
At the front desk, a young girl of about sixteen had her head rested on her arms, looking to be asleep. Karkat stomped up to the bureau, then slammed his hand down on the service bell.
"I wasn't sleeping, Equius! I sw-" she started to say, then realised it wasn't who she thought it was. Sitting up abruptly, ringlets bouncing near her chin, she blushed. "O-oh! Hellow sir, I'm Nepeta! I'll be at your service, today."
"It's fucking raining outside," Karkat snapped, "I'm cold and wet, and I need a good drink of something."
Nepeta looked slightly offended, "I...what?"
"Fuck. I'm sorry, I'm just..." What could he say? "Really lost right now, I have no fucking idea where I'm going, I was kicked out of the house, and yesterday I sat six hours in a car filled with lesbians! Being gay, the appeal to this is fucking lost! JUST LIKE I AM. I'M LOST."
He told her the truth. He was lost, cold, shivering, and standing in front of this poor kid who didn't give him pity. She stood, rounded behind the desk, revealing she was pretty short considering Karkat's height. And this girl hugged him.
"Hey, I'll get you a towel, okay?" she meowed, patting his back. 'Nepeta' if Karat recalled properly, dashed off calling something like Equestria or some shit. He felt a little flushed that she'd hugged him, but he really did prefer men.
"Hello, how can I help you?" a stoic voice said. Karkat turned to see Nepeta standing next to a tanned man, broken sunglasses on his face, and dreadlocks tumbling to his shoulders.
"This is Equius!" she mewed, "He's my fiance!"
Equius tossed a towel in Karkat'd direction, nodding with Nepeta's statement. After a quick look over, Karkat realized they were one of those miss-match couples, Nepeta being petite and energetic, wheras Equius seemed the strong and silent type. after drying his shaggy hir with a towel, Nepeta pounced at him with questions.
"So, why are you on the run from home? Why were you with lesbians in a car? Not that there's anything wrong with lesbians, but, why?"
"No idea." he shrugged. It was then Karkat saw how young she looked and questioned her in return, "How old are you?"
"I'm twenty-furr!" meowed Nepeta, cat-pun in tact. Seeing Karkat's shocked expression, she added, "Equius is twenty-five."
The whole fiance comment made sense, now. "Oh."
After checking in, Karkat dumbly went to his room and showered. He finally changed out of his grey hoodie and jeans, into a black turtleneck and sweatpants. Nepeta was kind ebough to let him use the washing machine.
It was a small inn, owned by Equius' family, which he had inheirited. Nepeta had apparently met him while she was in Florida for an Anime Concention, and she fell in love. They'd managed a long-distance friendship until Nepeta showed up again, claiming her love for Equius. They'd been together ever since.
"Fuck," Karkat said, "I wish I could relate."
"Surely you've got girls pawwing at you!" Nepeta laughed, "I would if I wasn't totally in love with Equius."
Equius blushed at that statement, and Karkat found that unnerving. "Well, actually, I'm not really into girls..."
Nepeta leaped up so suddenly, her face filled with glee. "You're gay?!"
"Yes..." he closed his eyes, ready for hatred.
"YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL NO MATTER WHAT!" Nepeta cried, clearly a supporter.
And for the first time since Kanaya and Rose had dropped him off three days ago, Karkat smiled. "Thank you, Nepeta."
Her happy expression suddenly turned soft. As if a wave of realisation had struck her, "Stay as long as you like, Karkat."
He gulped. Had she figured out why he was on the run? Either way, Karkat was grateful. "Okay. Thank you, again."
"Don't mention it." Equius said, crookedly smiling.
As he slept that night, Karkat felt a warm feeling tingling in his chest. The feeling of acceptence.