Wowie this was a long one! I'm pretty sure these chapters are just gunna get longer and longer too... :T hopefully it isn't a turn off to you guys, I know I like long chapters so I hope you do too! Anyways enjoy!
"Okay. Just to make sure we are clear. You were mad because a girl you like got hit on by another guy. And that's it." Kankri watched his brother for a response. Karkat however had no intention of answering this again, he remained seated with his head in his hands.
Realizing Karkat wouldn't be answering Kankri continued, "Karkat I know you realize how senseless that is. From what I am gathering, she did not even accept his advances. And you still went livid."
Karkat's hands moved from covering his face to run through his hair as he exhaled deeply. "Yeah Kankri, I know. I told you it was nothing."
"Oh it most certainly is not "nothing" Karkat! If something so simple gets you so mad well… I hate to say it but… you might need some help."
The black haired boy's eyes went wide and his head shot up to face his brother. He couldn't believe what he was saying, Karkat didn't need help! He was just fine! "Kankri what the hell are you talking about. I don't need help okay? I'm just fine, I just get a bit too irritable is all. People should just learn not to fuck around like God damn idiots! Maybe then I wouldn't get so fucking pissed off all the time!"
"Karkat calm down. Please."
Karkat realized what was happening, the two boys had stood up and Kankri had moved away from his little brother, using the couch to put a barrier between the two. Kankri was afraid of his brother, and for good reason too, he did knock him out earlier that day. But Karkat was shocked by this, he began to tear up and unclenched his fists. "I think you're right. I… I need help Kankri. What the hell is wrong with me?"
"I think, you might have anger issues."
Karkat laughed at his brother's painfully obvious observation. "No shit Kan, so what do we do about it?"
"Well brother, you're going to need to see a counselor or therapist to answer that question. I will make the necessary calls in the morning while you are at school okay?" Karkat nodded. "I also need to inform your school of this. To make sure they take into account not to trigger you." A sigh escaped from the white haired boy. "It will all be okay though, we can get this all sorted out okay? For now though we should get some rest. I, for one, am very tired."
"Yeah. It has been a long day huh."
And with that the two boys embraced and went to their rooms, sleep quickly taking Kankri while Karkat was plagued by his thoughts; reminders of what he had done to his brother, and his worries of what his future would hold. Like many nights before, he wouldn't be sleeping tonight either.
-2 WEEKS-
John cleaned his glasses with the bottom of his shirt as he swung his legs from the high bench in the courtyard of his school. "C'mon Karkat you never go out with us anymore!" Placing his glasses back on his face he looked to his friend.
"I told you I'm busy John."
"Yeah but busy with what dude? For like, two weeks now you've been "busy" every weekend." John's face was one of curiosity and disappointment.
"It's…uh family stuff. Okay?" Karkat was struggling to come up with a good excuse and everyone in the group knew it.
"Oh screw that Vantas," Vriska scoffed, "we can all tell that's bullshit."
"Hey fuck you! Who are you to tell me what is and isn't bullshit in my life? How about you guys just stay out of my fucking business huh?!" Karkat's brows furrowed and his lips began to show more of his teeth than was necessary. He could feel it and he knew he needed to get out of this situation and quick. Even though he had been getting more and more help with his anger management it would still happen. There was no one to help him at school. The counselor was shit and told him to just "block out the issues". If he could do that he would. "You know what, I'm not doing this." Karkat sighed as he hopped of the high bench. He landed with a thud and began to walk back into the school.
"Aw, come on Karkat don't be such a piss-baby!" Vriska earned herself a middle finger from the pale kid who was now inside the school, and an elbow to the side from the blind girl sitting next to her.
"Why do you always antagonize him Vriska?" She scolded.
Vriska simply rolled her eyes and continued John's earlier conversation about the plans for the weekend. "So what's the plan again?"
"Uh, well my cousin and Dave's cousin are coming over for the weekend and I thought it'd be fun for them to meet my friends so I guess… just a hangout at my place?"
The group all agreed to these terms and settled on a time to hang. The rest of lunch went on happily for the group, yet for Karkat he had to spend his lunch with his counselor, but there seemed to be a waiting line.
Karkat reluctantly took a seat next to someone he knew all too well. Eridan Ampora was next to see the counselor.
"Hey there asshole." Karkat was still mad about Ampora flirting with Terezi and he had been wanting to confront Eridan about it for a while now.
"What do you want?" The boy's accent was thick as ever. Karkat forgot he had the accent too since he hadn't spoke to the tan boy for about two weeks.
"Why are you in here?"
"Oh like you care?"
Karkat's brow lifted. He had a point, Karkat didn't care at all. "Just making small talk I guess."
"How about you just don't talk to me at all instead."
A scoff came from the angry black haired teen. "What the fuck is your damage Ampora?"
"Fine, you want to know why I'm here?" Eridan finally turned to face Karkat "I'm here for "harassing girls". Which is fucking stupid."
The shorter of the two was silent for a minute before laughter erupted from his small body. "Are you fucking serious?!"
"Hey watch your language young man!" The woman at the desk reprimanded.
Both boys blushed and apologized to the woman. "Well hey maybe you should stop being so damn desperate you dick. Hitting on girls you don't even know. Just stay the fuck away from them okay?" Karkat growled to the other boy.
"Whoa now who has damage?" Eridan smirked.
"Fuck you, just stop being such a tool and maybe some girls will like you."
Eridan fell silent, maybe Karkat was right? He was being way too pushy with girls. He couldn't help it though all he wanted was a friend. Not even a girlfriend, although he wouldn't mind that either. Since he came to this school no one had even tried to be friends with him. His brother Cronus would constantly make fun of him for not having a girlfriend and would offer tips on how to get chicks. So far they weren't working.
"Why do you act like that anyways?" Karkat's voice pulled Eridan from his thoughts.
"…I just want a friend." He admitted.
"Really?" Another laugh from the other boy. "Man that is sad."
"Fuck you." Eridan had to bite back tears.
"Hey come on now. That's no way to talk to a friend is it?"
The hazel eyes behind his glasses grew wide as Eridan lifted his head to look at Karkat. "You w-want to be my friend?" Upon receiving a nod from the pale head of his conversation partner Eridan smiled as wide as his mouth would let him.
"Alright Eridan, sorry for the wait." The counselor walked out of his office. "Oh, hello Karkat! I'll be with you in a few minutes okay? Let me just get him squared away." The two disappeared into the counselor's office and just as promised emerged minutes later. Karkat exchanged a quick fist bump with his new friend and headed into the office to discuss his problems.
"Look sir, I just need to figure out something that'll be able to take my mind off of things when I get mad."
"Or you could find out how to let things bounce off of you. Don't let things get to you so much okay?" The older male stood from his chair. An action that meant he was done talking about this. Karkat stayed seated though, a sign he most definitely was not done talking. The old man sighed in defeat. "Okay what exactly do you have in mind?"
"I don't know…" Karkat thought a bit. When he got mad he usually hit things. His wall for example. It calmed him, got all his rage out in a few good hits. So he should find something similar to that right? "Would I be able to get into the private gym area during school?"
"Hmm… I think it would be okay. Yeah, I would be able to get you a special pass for it. You just can't take advantage of this okay?" The student nodded vigorously, eager to get into the gym and check it out.
The counselor printed out a special pass for him to carry around on the back of his ID and handed him a key to the locked area of the gym. That specific area was used by the wrestling team and any special students who were on one of the coaches' good side. Karkat took his pass and his key to check out the room before he had to go back to class.
Inside it was dimmer than the other rooms in the school and the lights were yellow rather than the fluorescent white in the majority of the building. Sandbags hung from the sturdy metal bars above and racks of weights were lined against the wall. A wrestling ring was placed near the middle and pull up bars lined the wall farthest from the entry door. Along the wall to Karkat's left were multiple lifting machines and treadmills. Karkat really liked the look of this room, and since it was a private room only a select few could get into, he felt safer here. With about ten minutes left to lunch, he dropped his bag and tried his hand at the sandbag nearest to the ring. Hitting it felt good, it was hard and hurt him a bit, but not as much as hitting his own wall had. No doubt this would become Karkat's new favorite thing to hit.
GallowsCalibrator [GC] began pestering CarcinoGenetecist [CG]
GC: H3Y K4RK4T
CG: WHAT'S UP
GC: 1 JUST W4NT3D TO 4POLOG1Z3 ON B3H4LF OF VR1SK4'S 4CT1ONS 34RL13R TOD4Y
CG: WHAT?
CG: OH
CG: YOU DON'T NEED TO APOLOGIZE FOR HER TEREZI. BESIDES IM OVER IT.
GC: R34LLY?
GC: YOU S33M… R3L4X3D
GC: D1D G4MZ33 G1V3 YOU SOM3 OF H1S "M3D1C1N3"?
CG: PFFT HELL NO
CG: I JUST FEEL…GOOD. IT'S WEIRD I KNOW
GC: GOOD B3C4US3 T4K1NG OTH3R P3OPL3'S P3RSCR1PT1ONS 1S 1LL3G4L YOU KNOW
GC: 1'D H4V3 TO PUN1SH YOU FOR B3H4V1OR L1K3 TH4T
GC: ;]
CG: OH MY GOD TEREZI
CG: YOU
CG: WHAT ARE YOU EVEN TALKING ABOUT
GC: MY G3TT1NG FLUST3R3D 4R3 W3?
GC: NO BUT S3R1OUSLY, 1 L1K3 TH3 R3L4X3D K4RK4T
GC: MUCH MOR3 FUN TO T4LK TO TH4N P3RP3TU4LLY 4NGRY K4RK4T
CG: YEAH I KNOW, IM WORKING ON THAT BY THE WAY
GC: HM :?
CG: THE ANGER. ITS KIND OF… A HUGE PROBLEM FOR ME NOW
CG: SO IM WORKING ON IT
CG: THAT'S WHY I CANT HANG OUT THIS WEEKEND
Karkat didn't mean to start telling her all of this but once she mentioned it he couldn't help himself. He felt like he could really trust her and he knew she of all people deserved to know. Seeing as how she always checked up on him when he made any signs of discontent.
GC: WH4T DO YOU M34N?
CG: IM GOING TO ANGER MANAGEMENT SESSIONS ON THE WEEKENDS. I DON'T KNOW IF THEYRE ACTUALLY HELPING OR NOT BUT I NEEDED IT ANYWAYS.
GC: :O
GC: 1T 4LL M4K3S S3NS3 NOW! W3LL YOU DO WH4T YOU H4V3 TO DO OK4Y? 4LL 1 W4NT 1S 4 H4PPY K4RK4T :]
Why the fuck did she say it like that. It sounded way too sappy and relationship-y.
CG: YEAH THAT'S ALL I WANT TOO HEH
GC: :P
CG: SO JUST TO SPITE ME WOULD YOU MIND TELLING ME WHAT YOUR PLANS FOR THE WEEKEND ARE?
GC: W3LL JOHN'S COUS1N 1S COM1NG OV3R 4ND H3 W4NTS US TO M33T H3R 4LONG W1TH D4V3'S COUS1N TOO.
GC: SO W3'R3 4LL GO1NG TO H4NG OUT 4T JOHN'S 4ND W4TCH H1S DUMB MOV13S.
CG: OH MAN
CG: THAT ACTUALLY SOUNDS LIKE A BLAST…
GC: YOU SHOULD S33 1F YOU C4N SK1P OUT ON YOUR S3SS1ON! 1T WOULD ONLY B3 ON3 D4Y
CG: I DON'T KNOW PYROPE… I WOULDN'T WANT TO BREAK OUT IN FRONT OF PEOPLE. LAST TIME THAT HAPPENED I KNOCKED OUT MY BROTHER HEHE
GC: :O OK4Y YOU H4V3 TO T3LL M3 TH4T STORY
GC: BUT YOU S33M L1K3 YOUR3 DO1NG SO MUCH B3TT3R 4LR34DY! ON3 N1GHT WONT K1LL YOU WOULD 1T?
CG: I GUESS NOT… OKAY ILL SKIP IT. BUT IF I START GETTING ANGRY IM LEAVING OKAY?
CG: LAST THING I WANT IS TO HURT YOU
What?
CG: GUYS
CG: TO HURT YOU GUYS. IS WHAT I MEANT.
Uh-huh. Smooth catch.
GC: WO4H TH1S WHOL3 S4PPY K4RK4T 1S 4 B1T OF 4 TURN-OFF. 1M K1ND OF M1SS1NG TH3 F1R3 NOW ;Y
CG: OH FUCK YOU
GC: TH3R3 1T 1S ;]
Karkat blinked. Was it just him or was Terezi winking a lot more than usual? Wait, was she…flirting with him? Karkat took minutes to collect himself, his mind was going every which way. This could just be harmless friend flirting… but friends don't actually flirt do they? He never toyed with any of his friends like this. Except for Terezi but he had a good reason.
GC: K4RK4T YOU ST1LL TH3R3?
CG: TEREZI PYROPE ARE YOU FLIRTING WITH ME?
Fuck. Caught in the act. She knew she was being obvious but she hadn't expected him to question it. She thought he would flirt back or grow flustered or something. But now she had to face the music.
CG: ILL TAKE THAT AS A YES
Or she could just throw it right back to him.
GC: DO YOU W4NT M3 TO FL1RT W1TH YOU?
Shit. Now how was he supposed to answer this? Deny himself the sweet joys of having the girl he liked flirt with him or come clean and say "yes I most certainly do" which would be embarrassing.
GC: 1LL T4K3 TH4T 4S 4 Y3S ;D
CG: WELL IF I SAID YES WOULD YOU LAUGH
GC: ONLY 4 L1TTL3
CG: THANKS. AND IF I SAID NO?
GC: 1D C4LL BULLSH1T
Damn. Was he that obvious with his feelings?
CG: AND JUST HOW WOULD YOU KNOW IF IM LYING OR NOT
GC: K4RK4T
GC: 1 KNOW YOU
GC: 4ND YOU 4R3 4 T3RR1BL3 L14R
CG: SO EVEN IF I SAID NO YOU WOULD STILL FLIRT HUH
GC: PR3TTY MUCH
GC: 1TS TOO FUN TO STOP
CG: SO WHAT YOURE SAYING IS
CG: YOU LIKE FLIRTING WITH ME
GC: UHM
CG: ADMIT IT PYROPE YOU LOVE IT
…
CG: COULD IT BE THAT YOU LOVE ME?
Karkat put this on as a little flirtatious joke himself but behind the screen he was shaking waiting for the answer. She took so long to reply that Karkat was ready to give up.
GC: 1 GOTT4 GO
CG: AW WHAT COME ON
CG: IT WAS JUST GETTING GOOD
GallowsCalibrator [GC] ceased pestering CarcinoGenetecist [CG]
CG: WAIT NO TEREZI
CG: OH MY GOD IM SORRY
CG: PLEASE ANSWER
Terezi couldn't be bothered with high school romance right now. Latula was in the living room with her with the news turned on. The main story tonight was about the boy who woke up from a coma after being in a deadly car accident. They finally released his name. Tavros Nitram was alive but not quite kicking.
Ah yes young love, it's been a while but it's finally starting to bloom! But at the same time so is drama.