Chapter Text
You always think that kind of stuff only happens in movies, it's depressing to know that nothing eventful could ever happen in the small town you grew up in. You always think you'll never be anything important, even if you can't admit it.
—---------
Jordan, a small town in the middle of nowhere. It was peaceful, quiet, and stuck in a time period between peace and war. It was the type of place where you see everyone you grew up with when you go to the grocery store. A place for elders, a place to raise your kids. It was typical, and Karkat Vantas HATED it there.
Karkat contrasted his surroundings, even in school, where young people similar to him were MEANT to roam. Still, he stood out like a sore thumb.
Sitting on the floor in front of his full length mirror, he painted his eyes black with the dust of his expired eyeshadow. Despite how much he disliked the constant harassment, he never took away the things he got the most shit for. It was a subtle ‘fuck you’ to those who cared to comment on it.
He pulled his clothing over his frail body. A dark, ripped sweater and dark blue jeans, rolled at the cuffs. He dressed his feet in black muddy combat boots. Karkat's outfit today was similar to the one he always wore, there was no point in changing anything, there was no one to impress.
Today would be his first day of senior year, and for once, he wasn't feeling too bad. At least he only had nine months left, then, he could be a piece of shit for the rest of his life and nothing more.
Most people didn't dream of that simplicity, but he did. All Karkat wanted to do was live till it was necessary, then die. It was all torture, thats what god intended.
Karkat learned a lot about god, and the bible and such. He was raised in a christian household afterall. His brother was the most extreme extremist there was. Kankri Vantas.
Kankri was convinced that maybe if he started dragging his little brother to church, he'd stop acting so blasphemous. It wasn't an easy feat, things had to be threatened, but in the end it all worked out. Even though he was so convinced that Karkat had been taken by the devil, he loved him. He loved him a lot, and was a good caregiver. Much to Karkat's displeasure. He had no reason to hate him.
And on top of that, Karkat knew Jesus loved him, for the bible told him so.
Life was dull, and that was okay.
—---------
“Who do ya’ got for first period?” Walking along the crowded halls next to Karkat was Dave Strider, his best friend. You'd never guess it by looking at them, but they had always been perfect support for each other.
Despite how much shit he got in for it, Dave wore these obnoxious radiators to class every single day. Karkat sometimes thought that his ‘coolness’ was all preformative, but he was insistently told that the shades were ‘ironic.’ It didn't bother him much.
What did bother Karkat, was the face his friend wore on his head. Dave was smug as ever, sometimes it felt embarrassing to stand beside him, but that reflected nothing on their friendship.
“Mrs. Kennedy.” Karkat gruffly mumbled. He wasn't upset, but it was all part of his attempt to ruin his day from the second he wakes up. Nothing could be positive, everything was just out to get him, or so he told himself.
The two turned a corner around the hall. “Same.” Chill as ever.
Karkat would never admit it, but he was actually quite ecstatic that he wouldn't have to start his day alone. He pretended to just want to be in his own world all class, but when partner projects were assigned, nothing was more embarrassing. It was undeniably nice to have a friend around for that.
The two contrasting figures made their way into class and were seated in the back. Karkat sat next to the window, the very last row, and in front was Dave, who was already striking up conversation with one of his other friends. One he’d never seen before, he tried his best to aver his gaze.
“Sup bro.” His friend shot out at him. The two boys shook each other's hands across desks, the stranger sat on the right of Dave, the other was the window. Their handshake wasn't casual, it was loud, and rowdy. Karkat couldn't believe that this was the type of people Dave liked to surround himself with.
“Sup.”
“Havent heard from ya’ all summer.” Both of them had a way of talking in this similar forced dialect. Douchey. Looking over the guy, Karkat decided this guy wasn't as cool as he thought he was either.
“I know. I've been busy, got it?” Dave spat out his words harshly, like he was warning his friend to not let this topic go any further. Karkat knew exactly what he had been busy with, he'd never say anything.
The message was received. Karkat peaked up, curious to take in who this guy was, which was a mistake. Regretfully, Karkat turned his head away when he made eye contact with Dave's friend.
Eager to change the topic, the boy used him. He was still shamefully staring out the window. “So who's this?” A pause as the guy gestured to you with his thumb. “New boyfriend?”
Karkat visibly flinched, but quickly was flooded with anger. He knew he wouldn't have to defend himself though. Dave was way ahead of him. People often judged why he'd hang around a loser like Karkat, it was absurd, but they had been childhood best friends, nothing would get in the way of that.
Dave had to deal with shit like this all the time, he was used to it. “Yeah that's great, as if we don't get that enough.” He spoke dullyly. Honestly he was tired of it. “Real funny shit.”
Dave was never harsh enough, Karkat didn't like that about him. Because, when they got the typical comments that they did, he’d always have to step in, which he took great displeasure to. He never could stop himself from blowing up.
Karkat turned his head to the guy again and his face was practically red with rage. He hated it, every part of the harassment. Even the littlest comments sent him over the line. Fuck.
Karkat was sure to keep his voice low, yet threatening, as to not alert the supervisor of the classroom. “Does it really matter who I am?” He hissed. “I was real fucking sure that you wouldnt even glance over here since you seem to be too busy spewing bullshit out of your fat mouth to even think that other people could be conscious and real too.” His face darkened, almost like he was feeding his own anger with his spiel. “So how about you turn around—and get back to jerking your own god-damn ego, so maybe next time—you won't have to waste breath on saying something as idiotic as that.” Karkat turned back to the window. He was embarrassing as shit.
The guy scoffed and shifted to face the front of the classroom. As dramatic as Karkat was, he was good at getting people to shut up. Maybe it was just that no one really knew what to say to his unrequited blow-up.
Dave paid no mind to his pals' monologue, and shrugged back to face the class and hoped he wouldn't have to pay for it.
—---------
Somehow, every year Karkat's misfit band of friends were able to arrange their schedules in a way where their lunches lined up. It was mandatory. Hanging out after school was always an option, but there was no better time to scheme than within the building. On top of that, they'd always have to have the same table.
The lunchroom was small, which made sense considering the fact that the school was practically miniature. The yearned for table sat in the very back right, farthest from the door, farthest from all the other seating areas. They'd like to think they were there by choice, but it was likely because no one wanted to be near them in the first place.
Dave was teased for sitting with them, Dave was teased for everything regarding his friends.
A well kept, groomed young man was the final to arrive at the table, like always. Perhaps he had been busy attempting to be permitted to sit anywhere else. What he just couldn't accept; out of all the misfits at the table, Eridan Ampora was distinctly the worst.
Eridan sat his tray down on the table, keeping his eyes down and his eyebrows furrowed. He wouldn't give his ‘friends,’ the glory of looking at them, he was either looking up, or down.
Silently, he began to eat thoughtfully from his plate, every once in a while pushing his slicked back black hair through his fingers. He flicked his black glasses up with a smooth motion.
Now, sat four boys at the table, there was chair room for more, yet they'd never be filled.
Usually the first to break the silence was Karkat, he was loud, and had a lot to say most of the time, whether or not it was criticism. It usually was. And it would be. “Did we not agree to call about schedules over the summer?” He didn't care that much, but it was an easy jab at his friend's incompetence. Assert his superiority, hoping it was not forgotten in the three month absence.
Across the table from Dave and Karkat, somewhat next to Eridan, but spaced apart by two chairs, sat a boy who could be considered rather harsh on the eyes. His light brown greasy hair fell just above his eyebrows, and his skin was polluted with acne. His facial structure was really what nerfed his appearance, he had the most awful overbite, which sabotaged his speech as well. He would always be cursed to talk in this obnoxious lisp. Sollux Captor, it was obvious why he was here. He glanced up from his tray. “You really thought that wouldn't fall through?” Some spit emerged from his teeth as he practically spat out his words.
Expectantly, Dave had no tray before him, too cool for that. He sat back in his chair. “Wasnt it your idea?” His eyes narrowed, that would be visible if he had the decency to take off his ‘ironic shades.’
Sollux just shrugged at that, who cares, too late now. Oftentimes, no one really wanted to engage in Karkats shit, but that would never stop him from digging.
Pause of silence among the table.
Eridan was trying his best to go unnoticed, he didn't want to talk right now, and he certainly didn't want to be called out. Tough luck. Karkat shot a glare over him. “Hey.”
Unwillingly, Eridan slowly looked up.
“You don't have to act all pissy just because your stunt that you pull EVERY year, failed again. Big surprise.” Karkat dug his fork into a sensible piece of broccoli.
Some people were less able to resist the bait. In his obnoxious posh accent, Eridan took it. “Well it's not me.” He rolled his eyes. “I thought it was obvious, people only have a certain distaste for me because I hang around you all.”
“Oh yeah sure.” Sollux glanced over at his table-mate with an uncommon smirk on his lips. He dropped the sarcastic tone. “Everyone knows it's cause’ you're a queer.”
Immediately, Eridan's entire demeanor shifted, his fists clenched together, and his chair squeaked as he abruptly moved to face his attacker. “I'm not a god damn queer!”
The argument spiraled around the table, Karkat spoke again, redirecting the attention. “It's us, is that right? We’re the problem? Dave hangs around us and people still like him.” He growled. It was irritating having to deal with one of your kind putting himself on a pedestal. “Just accept it already.”
Silence, everyone returned to their usual banter.
The next minutes to come were filled with usual banter, it didn't take long for things to shift back into the way they were. Despite the hatred each boy expressed for each other, this table was their safe space, a hideaway from the harassment they would usually face.
Soon later, the conversation was interrupted by footsteps dangerously close to their table. They were unfamiliar, was it finally happening? A figure loomed over the table, trayless, hands stuck in large pants. The attention of the group was swiftly redirected.
“Hey.” Standing in front of the table was a tall slender boy with wild unkept hair that hung over his shoulders. His clothing didn't fit, it looked like he had lost a bunch of weight and never had the option to go shopping. That probably wasn't the case.
Contrasting his unsettling demeanor, was the biggest smile stretching across his cheeks. That almost made it weirder. Without asking, he pulled the chair out between Eridan and Sollux, and placed himself at the table.
Everyone was too stunned to speak.
No one had to prompt the guy, he was way ahead of it. “My apologies for being so abrupt and shit.” Great. It was obvious from the look in his eyes that he was on some sort of drugs, there was that, if the smell didn't give it away already. “Got pointed this way, figured I'd take a seat.” He had been staring at his lap but made sure to take time to shoot a little smile up at the unsettled group.
“Is this a joke?” Karkat sputtered out. It was honestly a little sad that it was so unbelievable that someone would want to sit with them.
The new-comer laughed, like he had some sort of understanding on why Karkat even said that. He didn't, but it was somehow laughable anyway. “Naw, I'm Gamzee. Just moved here from ‘cross the country.”
A loud screech of the chair on the floor rang through the air. Eridan, attempting to be subtle, was already nudging his chair away.
“Uh, okay. Where?”
What were they supposed to say, tell this guy that sitting at their table was complete social suicide? He sat down at his own will, and maybe he belonged there, considering his unsettling demeanor. It was embarrassing that these things even had to be considered.
Even worse, someone had sent him here as an obvious execution. None of you were aware that your friend group was now being used as sacrificial grounds.
“California. Real different than around here.” Gamzee looked around the lunch room “Better, in all fuckin’ honesty. I was expectin’ to be sittin’ alone today, asked some kids if I could join em’ sent me here.” He looked the table over. “Mustve known you needed company or somethin’.”
That was the entirely wrong assumption. The positivity radiating off of this guy was suffocating.
“Okay...” Karkat muffled.
And so Gamzee became a part of the table. Who would they be to turn him down? He probably wouldn't understand, the guy was an idiot. He was stuck, if it was even considered a trap for him.
—---------
Karkat's basement was the place to be after school. They were always there, and though they didn't ever really have much to do, every hang out would end in ruin. It was strange that they all got along in a way. It was like they were all forced to like each other. In a way they were.
Most of their problems were rooted from Eridan, because truly, he didn't like his ‘friends’, and he made that clear. He was the type of guy to use people only when it benefited himself. So, when he was upset, all of a sudden they were all best friends. But if not. . .
“This is stupid.” That god awful accent.
All of the boys sat around on what was made to be the seating area, two ragged couches facing each other, dirty, and you'd probably stain your clothes sitting on it. As a form of rebellion, and group preformativeism, they were passing around a poorly rolled joint. Each participated, trying to seem like they fit in with one another, but not a single one would ever indulge in such a thing on their own time.
Everyone participated, everyone except Eridan, he’d scowl angrily when it got past him, it was a miracle he was even brought to sit on the couch, as to not stain his perfectly kept pants.
“Why do we even do this? Just sit around in here? Its fucking boring.” Eridan distastefully took in his surroundings as if he hadn't been there countless times before. Eridan was never too mean, he was just. . . judgy, and it was irritating as hell to anyone who had to withstand it.
Sollux, who sat on the other side of the couch. “Why do you come then?” What he said wasn't even harsh, but he learned how to press Eridan's buttons.
“Because—” He sputtered. “Well.” Eridan's pale face turned red and he abruptly rose to his feet, “Fine! You'll never see me again.” The boy had a tendency to be dramatic, but there he went, out the door. Everyone knew he wouldn't keep his word.
The awkward silence was only broken by the stomping on the steps out of the basement, then, a slammed door. He was gone.
And then there were three.
The energy was now distasteful, and Sollux had no place in energy like this. He could only stay in a place so long if he got to fade into the background, and. . . the balance was broken. Their friendship worked in a very coded way. Karkat and Dave were there for each other, and despite the hatred, Sollux and Eridan were there to fight with each other. Now it was just like some weird friendship third-wheeling. He was out.
Taking one more hit from the joint that had been passed his way, Sollux rose, soon after he passed it back to Dave. “Ill take that as a cue.” Then, his footsteps loomed over the room on the stairs as well. Just like that, Eridan had ruined everything again.
And then there were two.
Karkat shifted his position on the couch to lean his back against the armrest on his given side of the couch. He kicked his socked feet up on the cushions. Following suit, Dave shifted to face him as well.
Karkat was first to speak, you could tell by his expression his irritation. “Can you believe it? I mean, how can you even call us friends when we can't hang out without someone flipping their shit on another. It's idiotic and animalistic.” By that point, the roll had been put out in an ashtray, the mood was ruined.
“It makes sense.” Always had to be Dave, disagreeing just to disagree, and it pissed Karkat the fuck off, but he was preoccupied with his other blunderance. “They don't have a choice, they gotta be here, other than to accept being friendless for the rest of eternity.” He stretched his back muscles, twisting his shoulders. “Bet it's a comfort thing.”
“What?” Karkat hissed out, he hadn't thought of that before, all he knew was that his friends were assholes and that was the end of it.
“Sollux i cant speak for, but Eridans clearly got his own shit going on.” Dave took a deep breath. “Like, first of all everyone knows he's gay, or thinks, i guess. That shit doesn't fly around here. Second, he's always bitching about his family, so I bet they don't accept him either. Honestly, I don't even know if the dudes gay or not. But—uh we don't say shit about it really, bet it's comforting.” He never stumbled over his words like that, probably smoked too much. Would never admit it.
Karkat's red-tinted eyes reduced to squints. “Oh, I guess.” His thoughtfulness was quick to fade. “But, you'd think if we’re such a comfort to him, that he’d stop being an asshole all the time.” He sunk deeper into the couch.
“Its embarrassing. It's embarrassing to need that, people don't like bein vulnerable, that's just how it is. I'm sure that if he ever admitted to having cared for us, you'd give him hell.” Dave laughed lazily.
“No.” Karkat hadn't even thought of what he had been accused of, he just needed to bark back a retort as fast as possible. “Well—yeah! But I'm not asking for him to start being all weird about it, is it so much to ask for him to not bitch about every little thing. Maybe that could be his symbol of appreciation.” He stubbornly shot his eyes to the side, as if he was mad at Dave for something an entirely different person was doing. Maybe he was mad because he had pointed out something he’d never considered before. Maybe he was mad because Dave had thought that he’d even care what Eridan thought. “Can we just stop talking about this?” He gritted out.
Now there was silence, and that wasn't much better. “Well, what DO you want to talk about?” They met eyes across the couch.
“Um.” Karkat didn't know, but he hated things to be awkward, so he scrounged for something anyway. “Isnt it weird it always ends up just us?” He wondered if Dave felt awkward too or if that was just him.
The question lingered in the air of the dusty old basement. The small air vent like window blew in some cold air, forcing a shiver up both of the boys backs.
“No.” Dave was sure in his answer. “That's how it's always been. Something so normal couldn't be weird.”
“You think this is normal?” Something so simple, so short, and so quickly spat out, said a hell of a lot more. Both of them froze. Somehow speaking made this situation more unbearable. It hadn't been like this before, that's what Karkat meant by that. But, he hadn't thought about what he was saying. If things were starting to feel less normal, then what was there?
“Yeah. . .” Dave spoke with drawn out hesitation. “Just two bros sitting in a basement.” He could have made a reference there, but decided against it. “Nothing weird about that is there?” He wouldn't say it, but he saw it clear as day out on the table too.
“No, I guess not.”
Dave leaned forward, reaching for the remote that sat on the coffee table before them, such a mess too, nobody cleaned around here. “Might as well put on some—-” His finger lingered over the power button, but froze as he was cut off.
“Dave.” They looked at each other, really looked. “You could crash on the couch tonight, it's getting late. Im not—- I—” Karkat had a tendency to excuse assumptions that had never been put against him. “Im not— Ugh! It's just late okay.”
The other stared back with a judgmental eyebrow raised. “Uh, yeah.” He leaned back against the couch. “I cant, gotta get back home before ten, bros orders.”
“Oh.” Even as Dave turned on the tv and flicked through the channels, even as he was preoccupied, he couldn't handle the silence. It was an anxious habit. “Okay, well—-hey, what do you think about that freak that sat at our table today?”
“Damn.” Dave settled on some stupid gameshow that Karkat would obviously have no interest in, douche. “Hes just a guy. I think it's chill, ‘least someone doesn't think our table has some sort of disease.”
Karkat scowled, he hated how he did this EVERYTIME without fail. Dave had no reason to play devil's advocate, other than to tease him. FUCK. Why did he always have to be the bad guy? “Hes weird! On top of that, he got sent to our table AS A PRANK.” Karkat was getting increasingly irritated, his fingers digging into the greasy exterior of the couch.
And… Dave laughed, now that was it. He sat up from the arm rest he was leaning against. “It's not funny! You only think it's funny because despite being our friend, people still like you! You won't ever know what it's like to be one of us.” He huffed aggravatedly, but that was just Karkat.
Dave stared at him dull-like. A soft smile on his lips. “Whatever, that's not my fault. In fact I think it makes me sorta a good guy.”
Karkat was about to flip his shit, when he froze, a realization dawned on him. He finally understood what it was about Dave that never left him mad at him. He didn't react to his anger, he didn't get mad back, he didn't get upset. He just let it happen. It was nice. He wasn't trying to change him, he was just content. Content with him the way he was.
Karkat slumped back against the couch, his shoulders untensing. “Oh, fuck you.” No bite to it.
For the rest of the night till Dave had to go they watched that stupid gameshow, and things were alright.