After the conversation with Tavros, Sollux left the bookstore, Karkat sound asleep in his arms. He smiled softly down at the albino as he walked, happy that the teen was finally getting some long needed sleep, even if it was only fleeting.
His smile faded though and his pace slowed as he raised his head from looking at Karkat to look at Gamzee, who had fallen in step with Sollux. The hacker wrinkled his nose at the other male, Gamzee's pungent scent hitting Sollux like a train. He had been drinking. What Gamzee couldn't get drug wise, was replaced instead with heavy doses of alcohol and cigarettes.
"Hey computer bro." Gamzee said as he shakily pressed a cigarette to his thin, painted lips, lighting it. He took in a long drag. He then let out a shaky breath, quick and almost strangled, the smoke billowing around his thin face.
"Put that out. Thatth the latht thing Karkat needth ith your cigarette thmoke." Sollux growled quietly, the distain in his voice thick.
Gamzee sighed and stopped walking," c'mon man. I'm doin this so I don't do anything heavier right now. Lemmy have a couple drags then I'll put it out." Gamzee begged, taking in another deep breath of the smoke, blowing it out of his nose away from Sollux and Karkat.
"Ugh fine, but then put it out." The blond scooted away from Gamzee, holding Karkat a little closer as he did. His dual colored eyes staring daggers at the juggalo, if looks could kill, Gamzee would be beyond dead.
"Don't look at me like that man. I have enough shit to deal with without you hatin me too." Gamzee said in a raspy tone as he finished the cigarette. He took one last drag then put it out on the bottom of his shoe. The blond raised his shaggy head to look sorrowfully at Sollux before flicking the cigarette into the gutter," seriously. I've been cleaning up. I don't deserve your shit."
Sollux rolled his eyes," indubitably." His tone was laced with sarcasm as he shifted Karkat's weight again.
"Fuck man I don't even know what that means." Gamzee let out a heavy sigh letting his eyes fall to the ground, shuffling his feet slightly," you…you up and talked to him didn't ya?" Gamzee asked, stuffing his hands deep into his pants pockets.
"Who? Tavroth? The newly dubbed cripple?" Sollux smirked a little, raising an eyebrow when he saw Gamzee cringe and bite his lip. Good. It was obvious that Gamzee was miserable.
His figure was thinner than normal; each and every bone could be seen under his thin, sickly skin. He wore no purple jacket, and instead, sported quite a few purple bruises up and down his needle scar ridden arms. As he moved, his form seemed to quake, as if in a second he would fall apart, breakdown, or lose consciousness. He was a husk of what he once was, which in this case, was already a husk, so now all he was, was a bag of bones and a pair of sad, lost eyes that searched Sollux for some answer. Searched for some sort of fleeting possibility that Tavros missed him, needed him and wanted him back in his life.
Sollux scoffed," yeah I talked to him. Or whatth left of him. The poor boyth been through hell and back. You know what though? He actually looked happy." Sollux stated, his eyes narrowing as Gamzee fidgeted.
"Oh. And um…hows his legs?" Gamzee asked, jittering from withdrawals.
"What legth you moron?" Sollux snarled, his tone bitter as he rocked Karkat a little, trying not to raise his voice enough to wake the albino.
"Don't do this to me man…do you know how fucking shitty I feel for everything? I wish I could just tell him I'm sorry. Give him a backrub or something. I'm clean! I'm off my shit…Well most of it…I still drink when I can and smoke. And pot." He shrugged and drooped even more as he thought about the other shit he still did, the cheap shit. The gang had left him with nothing. Now he was a homeless druggy. Gum on the bottom of society's shoe. Nothing.
"Ha. Funny. You. Clean. Yeah no. I highly doubt that you pethtilent." Sollux growled," why don't you go and ask Tavros how he is yourself? I'm no methenger. I want to keep the little bugger thafe but I think Rotha hath that down."
"Fuck man stop using words I don't know. What the fuck is a pestilent?" Gamzee asked, feeling stupider and stupider around the intelligent boy. "And I can't just talk to him after what I put him through."
"Ignoramus." Sollux stated, a smirk twitching at the corner of his lips.
Gamzee glared," I said fucking stop. Why the hell do you treat me so badly? I didn't do shit to you!"
"HA! You hurt Kk. Which hurtth me." Sollux growled," why the hell do perniciouth people like you even exitht?" Sollux asked in a sharp tone.
Even though Gamzee had no idea what Sollux was saying, his words cut him deep, sitting heavily in his heart. He knew that was Sollux saying that Gamzee shouldn't exist. That he should just drop dead right then and there. He worried his lip and his fists shook, a single, frustrated tear fell from his blue eyes. He had nothing to say back to that. Nothing at all that would make him sound trustworthy, or even intelligent. Gamzee knew he was probably the stupidest thing that ever existed. He was unworthy of the air he breathed, the ground he walked on or the sun that warmed him. He was a wart on god's foot. Why hadn't he just rotted off? Why was he here to simply make a mockery of everything that could be good?
"Oh. You're going to cry now? Leave me alone you giant child." Sollux hissed, his words becoming more and more venomous as he spoke.
Gamzee opened his mouth to say something, but was cut off, by the scratchy, over used voice of Karkat.
"SOLLUX SHUT THE FUCK UP!" Karkat yelled, pushing himself from Sollux's arms, he fell hard. He winced and cursed as his skin was broken on his hands. He stood though, strong, clenching his bleeding fists and stood by Gamzee.
Sollux reached out, wanting to grab his hands and care for them, but backed away when Karkat snarled and lashed out at the blond, sticking close to Gamzee," kk what the hell!"
"WHAT THE HELL YOURSELF! STOP MAKING GAMZEE FEEL LIKE SHIT! HE ALREADY HAS TO DEAL WITH THE WORLD SPITTING IN HIS FACE EVERYDAY. HE DOESN'T FUCKING NEED YOU DOING IT TOO!" Karkat yelled, defending his long term friend.
Sollux glared," kk I have thtood by for too long and watched him make everyone mitherable. I am thpeaking up for you and everyone that he'th hurt."
"I CAN SPEAK FOR MYSELF YOU DICK HOLE!" Karkat yelled hoarsely, waving his hand.
Sollux flinched as little specks of Karkat's blood hit his face," kk. Let me fix your handth."
"DON'T FUCKING CHANGE THE SUBECT!"
"I'm not!" Sollux yelled back," you're bleeding really bad!"
"I DON'T GIVE A FLYING FUCK! I'M SICK OF IT! I'M SICK…of you. Of being babied. I can take care of myself." Karkat's tone wavered and shook as he finished his sentence," leave me alone. Leave me the FUCK ALONE!"
Sollux blinked; shocked, his lip shook and he opened his mouth, but was cut off by Karkat.
"DON'T YOU FUCKING SAY A WORD! I don't need you! You and your stupid over protective self! I'm sick of you treating me like I can't take care of myself! I'm sick of you making my lunch! Fixing my wounds...holding me when I'm sad….kissing my goodnight…." Karkat wavered again, thoughts rushing through his head," I'm….I'm done Sollux. We….we need a break. Ok?"
Gamzee blinked and his eyes went wide," oh hell fucking no! I am not coming between you two! Karkat let Sollux fix your hands! I'll just fucking leave if I'm going to drive a wedge! You two are like the happiest fucking couple I know! The last motherfucking thing I want is to break you motherfuckers up!" Gamzee said, holding his hands up and backing away.
"SHUT THE FUCK UP GAMZEE! YOU HAVE NO CHOICE IN THIS MATTER!" Karkat yelled. He looked at Sollux and narrowed his eyes," respect people that aren't as smart as you. Or am I just a pestilent too?"
"No kk…I…" Sollux choked on his words, reaching out for him.
"FUCK OFF!" Karkat yelled, slapping his hand," I'm going with Gamzee for a while. You have no fucking say in the matter. I'm going to help him clean up, again, and help him talk to Tavros. While I'm gone, think about what you said to him." Karkat snarled.
"Woah woah woah! No bro! No fucking way! Don't I get a fucking say in this? Karkat I don't have a home! I sleep under the bridge in the park! That is no place for you and your fragile motherfuckin self!" Gamzee said turning to Karkat," fuck man I'm still not really clean! Bro you come with me and I know you'll start fucking hurting yourself again! I will not be responsible for any more scars on that body of yours! Fuck man I can get my shit together myself!" Gamzee said, turning, trying to hurry away.
"Then I'll sleep outside IN THE COLD YOU ASSWIPE!" Karkat yelled after him," I'LL GO AND FUCKING SLEEP IN AN ALLEY AND BE RAPED BY SOME HOBO!"
"KK THTOP!" Sollux grabbed Karkat's wrist and tried to hug him," stop acting like this! I'm sorry! I'll apologize to Gamzee! Come home and let me fix your handth, or jutht come home and do it yourthelf!"
"GET. THE. FUCK. OFF. ME." Karkat shoved Sollux as hard as he could.
Sollux stumbled back a little, looking helplessly at Karkat," kk pleathe! Change your mind! If you're fucking with me I thwear to god…"
"No…I'm not…." Karkat grabbed Gamzee's hand, holding it tightly," I don't need you…I don't want you…"
Sollux stood silent, dumbfounded.
Gamzee flailed a little and yanked his hand from Karkat's," NO MAN! Go back to your motherfuckin boyfriend! You need him and I don't need your motherfucking help!"
"YES YOU DO!" Karkat glared up at Gamzee," need me…FUCKING NEED ME DAMMIT! I NEVER SEE YOU ANYMORE! ALL YOU DO IS HIDE UNDER YOUR BRIDGE LIKE A FUCKING TROLL AND ROT AWAY IN SELF LOATHING!"
Gamzee stared down at him, shocked," Jesus fucking Christ Karkat! I'll come and visit you more! Ok? How about I stay the night and you can feed me something and we can watch one of your stupid motherfucking romance movies? I just want you safe ok? With me you're far from safe!"
Sollux nodded," YETH! Gamzee come over for dinner pleathe? I'll cook you and Karkat'th favorite lathagna!" Sollux begged.
Karkat looked at Sollux then up at Gamzee; he bit his lip and turned to Sollux. He let his eyes wander over the skinny boy for a bit, then walked into him, pressing his face against Sollux's chest," fine."
Sollux let out a sigh of relief," in fact. Gamzee why don't you jutht thtay with uth for a while. I'll help you clean up and talk to Tavroth."
Gamzee blinked and fidgeted a little," uh it's cool bro….I…"
"YOU'RE COMING OVER AND YOU'RE STAYING OVER." Karkat snarled against Sollux's chest.
"Ok ok! Fuck!" Gamzee rubbed his forehead and looked at the two," thanks…I guess….and Karkat. Don't you ever motherfucking do that again. Stay with Sollux. He's good for you."
Sollux shot Gamzee a thankful look and held Karkat close
Karkat nodded and sighed, nuzzling Sollux's chest," that fall hurt. My hands hurt….and I think I bruised my ass a little."
Sollux smirked," not yet itth not."
Karkat glowered," fuck you." His face was mad, but his heart leapt, happy that he didn't have to leave Sollux.
"Hehehe when, where and how hard?" Sollux asked, looking down at him.
"DAMMIT SOLLUX!" Karkat glared up at him and stood on his toes, crashing his lips into the blonde's, trying to shut him up.
Gamzee watched the two, his hands in his pockets again. He felt left out and alone. A stranger in this lovely pair's life. He left with them though. He watched as they held hands and joked. He was silent though, he couldn't say anything. Why the hell would he? What else was there to say? He sighed and his thoughts wandered to Tavros, wondering how he was, and how the two would help him talk to the boy.