Hot for Strider (Karkat/Bro)

[solarOrigins]

Karkat Vantas was miserable. His seventeenth birthday had been less than a month ago, when he had a loving mother, a mostly dependable father, a warm home and a decent future. Now he was huddled under an awning, hugging his jacket to his lanky form and trying to eat the pre-packaged sandwich he bought with the last of his money.

His seventeenth birthday was the start of horrible nightmares about a game called sgrub where he was a grey skinned alien with candy corn like horns. Most of his friends were in it as well, but grey skinned as he had been. Less than a week later, his mother was violently stabbed to death in their home and his father tracked down the murderer in a fit of grief stricken rage only to stab him to death in turn.

The trial had been fast; his father had plead guilty from the start even though his lawyer had tried to get him off by being unstable from the grief, but it didn't work and he was in prison now, awaiting a chance for parole.

While he was in Prison, Karkat was sent to stay with his uncle and best friend, to keep him out of the foster care system and which also explained Karkat's current situation.

His best friend was bipolar and his uncle was actually out of town for the week. So, when Sollux started his manic episode, Karkat was stuck with him. He had only stepped out to take out the trash and Sollux had locked him out of the house from his clothes, his keys, and most importantly: his bank card. While Karkat was far from broke, he needed the card to get to his cash, which was still being deposited from his dad's account as allowance, and without it, he was stuck as he was, eating cheap, unhealthy food and hoping sollux unlocked the door so he wouldn't have to spend another night sleeping on a park bench and being woken up by hobos trying to steal his shoes. It would also probably help if it stopped raining.

[midnightVigilante]

Dave was practically pouting as he rushed home from school. Bro refused to pick him up, regardless of the fact it was raining. "A little water won't kill you," he had said. A little water? The roads were filled with water and most lawns now looked like small lakes. This was a bit more than "a little water".

Besides, they need to go grocery shopping still. And the store was right down the street from school. Bro was such a dick sometimes. Most of the time actually. The rain was starting to die down slightly. Dave was soaking wet by the time he got home though.

Bro was smirking as he looked up at him from the couch. He was playing a game on the xbox. Lil Cal was sitting next to him (and also had a controller). "What happened to you?"

Dave ignored him as he set down his backpack. "Can I play?"

"No. For two reasons. First of all, we need to get food. Secondly, Cal is playing. Now, get changed. Be ready in two minutes or you go to the store wet."

The rain was down to a drizzle by the time they were leaving for the store.
"So," began, "How was school today?"
Dave only shrugged as he looked out the window. "Same as always, boring."

Neither spoke for the rest of the ride. They still weren't talking as they got out of the car to go inside. Bro started to talk about something food-related, but Dave wasn't paying attention. Something had caught his eye. He slipped his shades down his face slightly to get a better look.

A familar little figure with wild black hair was hunched by one of the smaller stores. What the hell was Karkat doing? Out in this shitty weather? And by himself.

"Bro, I'll meet you inside. I need to go talk to someone."

The older Strider shrugged and continued walking. "Text me when you need to find me." Dave nodded before making his way over to the smaller boy.

[solarOrigins]

Karkat sniffled and wrapped the second half of the sandwich back in the plastic, shoving it in his pocket to save it for later. That had been his last two bucks, thankfully he had a bad habit of shoving change in his pockets rather than putting it straight in his wallet, otherwise he'd be broke and starving.

He leaned out from under the awning a little to check the status of the rain, then quickly recoiled when a fat drop of water hit his nose. If it cleared up anymore, he would walk back to the house and see if Sollux would let him back in yet.

He hadn't let him in that morning, or the day before, so Karkat wasn't getting his hopes up.

[midnightVigilante]

Dave slowly approached him. The smaller boy didn't look too good. His clothes and hair were completely soaked in water. The bags under his eyes were more noticeable than usual. He was trembling too. Quite frankly the poo little thing looked like a hot mess. Dave could feel his cheeks heat up slightly. He'd always had a bit of a crush on Kakat. But he didn't want to get his hopes up. Why get involved with someone when it won't last long. Then, their two sessions of Sburb merged. Maybe it wasn't too late. The younger Strider put his cool face on and approached.

"Yo, what's up? You look like a drowned cat."

[solarOrigins]

Karkat shot a hesitant glance at Dave. "Fuck off, my parents taught me not to talk to douchebags that wear sunglasses in the rain." he stated, shifting away from him. "And that itself should answer the question of why I look like a drowned cat before you decide to ask."

[midnightVigilante]

Dave only huffed. Still a grumpy, little asshole. Even when he needed help he was still going to be snarky. The older boy pushed his shades up the bridge of his nose. "First off, don't get that snarky, bitch attitude at me. I'm just trying to be nice and you bite my head off. Secondly, no that doesn't answer why you look like you just took a swim in the river. Now, there's two things that can happen. You can get your head out of your ass, tell me what happened, and I'll do what I can to help. Or you can get pissy all you want and I can just leave."

[solarOrigins]

"Look Strider, I'm not supposed to know you in this life. I don't know how the fuck I remember half the shit I do, and I barely remember it as it is, but the point remains that I'm having a really fucking bad month and I don't want to talk about it, especially not to you" Karkat hissed.

[midnightVigilante]

Dave was scowling at this point. Now he remembered another reason why he never told the smaller boy how he felt about him. That fucking attitude of his. No matter what he had a snarky or sarcastic remark for everything. "Fine. I was just trying to be friendly. But clearly that's gonna get no where with you. You can stay out here and freeze. I'm leaving."

[solarOrigins]

"Fine, its not like that's what I've been doing for the last two days" Karkat growled back. "And I know for a fact you only have two settings, sarcastic and irony" He shivered violently, wrapping his jacket tighter around him. It was warm during the day, sure, but now that it was getting darker, it was getting colder.

His eyes started to sting, and he knew that he was starting to tear up. He had held it in since his mom's funeral, but he was just so frustrated and stressed out. He sniffled, trying to hold back the eventual flood.

[midnightVigilante]

Dave rolled his eyes and sighed internally. He couldn't leave Karkat, not like this. Even the younger Strider wasn't that much of a dick. The older one? Most likely. But not Dave. He grabbed Karkat's hand and starting pulling him towards the grocery store.

[solarOrigins]

Karkat tried to tug his hand back with a half hearted wine, but ultimately gave in and followed after Dave like a kicked puppy. A shivering, starving, sleep deprived kicked puppy that was about to burst into tears, but obedient none the less.

[midnightVigilante]

Dave pulled his phone out of his pocket as he continued to drag the smaller boy along. He pulled up Bro's number and starting typing out a text. "Bringing a friend with me. I think he might need some help." By the time they were inside the older Strider had sent a message in reply. It read, " If you got him knocked up, it's your problem. Otherwise, I'm in the chip aisle."

Dave only huffed as he put his phone away. Hopefully Karkat hadn't seen that text. The older Strider was where he said he was going to be. Usually he'd tell Dave one aisle, but was actually five aisles away. He was looking at the back of two chip bags and was comparing them. He didn't look up as they younger two approached him.

"Explain later. We need to get this shit and leave."

[solarOrigins]

Karkat's shoes made loud squelches on the linoleum, and now that he was moving, he was painfully aware of how damp his feet were. His ratty chucks were soaked, and the hobos from last night somehow managed to steal his socks. He didn't pay much attention to what was being said around him, concentrating on biting back his tears. They would address him if they wanted his attention.

[midnightVigilante]

Bro scratched something off a piece of paper after picking out a bag of chips. He tossed them into the cart and continued the down aisle. Dave was still holing Karkat's hand as they followed him. "So, who's your cute little friend?"

Dave could feel his cheeks heating up. Why did Bro always have to embarass him somehow. "This is Karkat," he mumbled.

[solarOrigins]

Karkat let out a small sniffle and a hiccup. His hand was limp in Dave's and suddenly it was taking a lot more effort to stand up straight. He just wanted to go find a bench under a dry tree and sleep. Actually, he really wanted his mom not to be dead so he could be curled up with his head in her lap as they watch their shows together.

[midnightVigilante]

Bro had just put a case of pop into the cart. He had stopped to finally look at Dave and his friend. Quickly, he slid his shades down the bridge of his nose. He pushed them back up immediately. "Jesus christ kid," he started. "What's wrong with the other kid. He looks like shit reheated twice."

"I told you he needed help," Dave huffed. "I was being serious when I sent that text." The older Strider ignored the younger and walked past him. He picked up the smallest boy like he was a baby. "Push the cart. We need to check out and leave."

[solarOrigins]

Karkat's fingers curled into the fabric covering Bro's shoulders and his face pressed into his chest. He started shaking, unable to hold back anymore as he started sobbing quietly, and very wetly considering he was still dripping wet on top of crying.

[midnightVigilante]

Jeff akwardly started to pat Karkat's back as they head for the check out lines. He'd never been good with crying people. Normally he left the room when someone started to cry. Thank god for his awesome, ironic shades. Otherwise everyone else could probably tell he wasn't sure about what to do. He didn't follow Dave when he got in line. He grabbed his wallet from his pocket and handed it to him. "I'm taking him to the car. Deal with this." The younger Strider only nodded. The older one turned to leave. He pulled out his phone and 1. Robert was on speed dial. If anyone could tell him what to do, it would be the older Egbert.

[solarOrigins]

Robert answered on the second ring. "Robert Egbert speaking." he stated clearly, sounding chipper as usual. "How can I help you?"

On top of sobbing, Karkat started hiccuping, shoulders jerking with each of the loud noises, in comparison to the quivering shake of the sobs.

[midnightVigilante]

Jeff surpressed a sigh. "Rob it's me," he began. "Look I don't know the full story right now, but just listen. I'm in the parking lot of the store, about to head home. Dave brought one of his friends from the parking lot or something and said he needs help. The kids is drenched and looks like shit. I think he might be sick. I don't know what to do."

[solarOrigins]

"Well, you can take him home and let his parents take care of him, or you can take him home with you and make sure he gets some sleep and some warm soup." Robert suggested. "I assume he's the one hiccuping?"

[midnightVigilante]

"Yeah," he hugged the smaller boy close to him. "I'll call you if I need anymore help. Thanks bye." He hung up before Robert could say anything else. Jeff felt bad for the kid. He looked so tired. "Hey. Can you talk to me? What's goin on kiddo?"

[solarOrigins]

"FfFfFf I m-m-m-mi-i-isssss th-th-the-em" Karkat sobbed. "I-I J-Ju-ust w-wa-ant t-to g-go h-home a-an-and th-them b-be th-there ah-again"

He gripped Bro's shirt tighter.

[midnightVigilante]

Jeff started to pat his back again. Geez, he really wasn't making things any better. He was probably making things worse, actually. But he couldn't see Dave anywhere. And he couldn't leave Karkat now. "Want me to take you home?"

[solarOrigins]

Karkat let out a loud, pathetic sob. "I-i-i don't ha-have one!" he hiccuped, gasping for air and only sobbing harder.

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