Karkat: Meet With Dave

I was nervous. Why was I nervous for a simple band meeting? I don't think there is a single person on this earth who could answer that question. I pulled up to the store slowly at around 7, taking out my keys and exhaling loudly. My head was still swimming in possibilities as to why all this was happening, but then I added a new topic on things to think about; Why did I care so god damn much?

My thinking was cut short by a loud tapping on the passenger side car window, causing me to nearly jump through the roof of my car. I saw Strider standing there with a very small smile, and he already was making me want to lose it. I got out of my car, locking it before making my way over to him and pointing at him as angrily as I could. "Don' t you EVER fucking scare me like that again or I swear to god I'll tape you to the hood of my car and" I was once again cut short by him putting his hand over my mouth.

"Dude, chill. Just get inside."

He walked into the building and I simply stood there with my finger still pointing and my mouth open. Did. Did he just fucking shush me? It hadn't been more than 2 minutes and he already pissed me off, that must be a new record.

I stormed into the place and opened my mouth to say something, but he quickly said "Yeah yeah, Strider don't you dare touch me again or I'll blah blah blah, let's just do this." That shut me up pretty damn quick. I wasn't sure if I was more offended or surprised at the fact that he just knew what I was going to say. My face grew a bit hot as I followed behind him aimlessly, but something felt…off. I had no idea why I thought it, but everything seemed weird, malicious even.

We eventually made it into the practice room, and I was the first to talk "So, what is it you wanted to work on that required me?" He stayed silent, and that was when I realized he didn't have everything he needed to practice. "Strider?" Still nothing. "Earth to Dave, I'm trying to talk to you!" "Karkat" he started, staring right through me with his shades "I just wanted to talk to you about something I heard."

"Alright, so you lied to me, great I j-"

"Vantas. Let me speak."

I was about to let him have it with a slight glare at first, but then I saw his face, and it was glazed over with a look of seriousness, I sat down and let him talk. "I was down at a local pub, because I just go there a lot for drinks and gossip and shit, and there were some people talking about you. A lot." "So some people were talking about me, are they not fucking allowed to or something? " He looked slightly annoyed and I shut up once again. "You don't understand, they weren't just talking. They were, planning."

I stood there, not making any kind of connection to what he was saying. So he sighed and kept going "They were planning to hurt you, Karkat. There are people, who want to hurt you." My smugness fell right off my face the moment he finished speaking. Did he just say what I thought he said? "What? But...why?" "Well, judging from the fact that they were members of a cover band, I'm guessing it's because they don't want any competition. And they've heard you sing before and they know you're good enough to butt them out of the running" He paused after saying this, sighing and crossing his arms "..so they want you out."

"I...I don't believe you. I haven't done a damn thing yet, there's no way someone already wants me dead. Plus, why the hell do you care?" He shook his head, pushing up his shades. "Because I don't want you to get hurt, dumbass!" Hearing that made a warm feeling shoot through my body. It wasn't enough to counteract the obvious fear in my veins, but I'd be damned if I said it didn't help.

I let out a small laugh, looking straight ahead. Here came the irregular breathing again. "Well A-fucking-plus. Now people are trying to kick the shit out of me, maybe even kill me." He scratched the back of his neck, looking slightly next to me. "Okay, this is going to sound weird, but. I think you need someone to watch over you wherever you go." "Who would be willing to do that forever, that's right fucking no one..." Then, the silence and him chuckling a little bit gave it away "You? YOU want to protect me all the time everywhere I go like some mother watching over her fucking kids?"

"Yeah I do."

The bluntness of it set me down a few pegs, but I quickly recovered. "HA, no thanks! I can handle myself, alright? I don't need a guardian angel, and especially not one like you. This is just catching me off guard, that's all." Dave then bent down and looked me straight in the eyes "No, you can't handle this by yourself. We're talking at least 4 people, Karkat. Each one of them wants you out of the business, any way they can manage. I'm not letting you think you can take them all on. I can fight, and protect you so-"

"Well I'm so fucking sorry, Mom, but you don't get to decide that! I'm my own god damn person, and I can take a few ass holes who think they can just pull me out of this! And do you even have any proof that they're actually going to attack me?"

He bit his lip and hesitated. "Well…not really. But it's still good to be on the cautious side." I scoffed and put my hands at the floor, starting to stand up "Listen to what I'm saying!" He pleaded, his normally neutral face frowning slightly "They can strike whenever you least expect it, be it on the street or even in your home."

"Yeah well we'll see if they've got the balls. And when did you suddenly start giving a fuck about my well-being?" I stood up from my position and walked out of the practice room. I heard him mumble under his breath and then run after me. "Karkat, wait. At least take my phone number, okay?" I turned, annoyed as hell at him. But it was obvious this was the least I was going to be able to do to get him off my back. "Fucking, fine. Just write it on my hand or something."

He sighed and grabbed a Sharpie, writing down his number on the back of my hand. "Great, thanks. Now if you'll excuse me, I have some actual shit to do, by myself." I turned to leave, when he grabbed my arm. I turned and began to yell when he said in a soft voice "Be careful." My voice caught in my throat, but I yanked out of his grip with a scowl and left the shop. I got into my car and looked over at the entrance, and there was Dave, watching me. If it wasn't weirdly comforting, I would have been telling him t-...wait what the hell was I thinking?

I simply coughed a bit, and pulled out of the parking space, driving back to my house. I was weirdly angry at him, and I wasn't sure if it was the fact that he scared the shit out of me or he just began to be kind of a friend out of the blue. Either way, I was pissed and all I wanted to do was go to sleep till Friday.

I eventually made it back to my driveway, slowly stopping once I made it in all the way. I pulled out my keys and saw Dave's number on my hand. I instantly started up talking to myself "Fucking asshole, telling me I can't take care of myself. What the hell does he know?" But for some reason, I took out my phone and created a new contact with Dave's number in it. Maybe I was actually scared, maybe it was cause I wanted him in my phone, I had no clue, I did it anyways.

Afterwards, I got out of my car and walked to my front door, absolutely exhausted. I grabbed the doorknob and was about to turn it, when it opened just by pushing it. Something was wrong. I opened it all the way and walked in, my heart almost thumping out of my chest when I stepped into the suffocating blackness of my house. "Hello?" I called out softly, hoping desperately no one would respond this time. My tongue started turning into a cinder block, and I began shaking again. My eyes squinted to see anyone, while my ears carefully listened to hear anything, or one, in there with me. To say I was scared then was an understatement.

After a few seconds of complete silence and stillness, my shoulders slowly began to slump from their raised and tense position. I exhaled softly, speaking out loud. "It's just Strider getting to you, that son of a bitch. Nothing's wrong." Then, the door slammed shut, and I heard it lock in the darkness. "Welcome back, honey" said a gritty voice behind me. I could hear the horrible grin in his voice and Dave's words flashed in my head; "They can strike whenever you least expect it, be it on the street or even in your home."

"…even in your home"

The only words I could get out of my now baren mouth was

"Fuck."