SIX ♋

[selfhatred]

[Filtered to Salvador Vantas]

Can I talk to you?

[/Filtered]

LOOKS LIKE IT'S THAT TIME OF THE MONTH AGAIN, FOLKS.
GUESS WHO YOUR NEW QUIDDITCH ANNOUNCER IS, BITCHES.
THAT'S RIGHT. ME.
I'LL BE THERE WITH MY CHARMING VOICE AND PERSONALITY COMMENTATING ON EVERYTHING YOU FUCKERS DO.
EVERY
FUCKING
THING.
SO BE ON YOUR BEST BEHAVIOR, BOYS AND GIRLS, BECAUSE KARKAT FUCKING VANTAS IS IN THE HOUSE.

Comments

Private

[nosigntospeakof]

A lot.
Make sure you take your allergy potions because they're everywhere.

permaAction

[selfhatred]

[Karkat did just that. He should have known his aunt would try to populate the castle with cats. It wasn't like it was bad enough already with everyone else's pets. For a moment he fidgeted outside his uncle's office before he raised his hand to knock on the door, keeping one in his hoodie.]

Uncle Sal?

permaAction

[nosigntospeakof]

It's open, Karkat.

[selfhatred]

[The door opened and the younger Vantas shuffled in a bit awkwardly, like he didn't know what he was doing there. For a moment he didn't say anything before he finally spoke, his voice less harsh than usual.]

I'm sorry to bother you.

[nosigntospeakof]

[Sal isn't behind his desk when Karkat enters but in front of it, practically sitting on edge of it. He gives his nephew a warm, if tired smile. Judging by the dark bags under his eyes he could really go for a nap or three.]

My students are never a bother, especially not you.

[selfhatred]

[The look on his uncle's face makes Karkat feel even more guilty about what happened on Parent's Day. He kicks the door shut behind him before he looks at the floor, hunching his shoulders.]

I'm...also sorry for what I said on Parent's Day. It wasn't your fault, and it wasn't right to lash out at you. I was just so angry and scared...I lost control of myself.

[nosigntospeakof]

[Sal's smile fades and he pushes himself away from the desk to approach the teenager. When he's close enough he rests his hands on Karkat's shoulders and pulls him into a hug.]

Apology accepted.

[selfhatred]

[When he looked up and saw the smile had vanished from his uncle's face, Karkat immediately flinched and looked away. He shouldn't have expected things to blow over that easily, shouldn't have expected his uncle to just forgive him like that. He'd said some pretty horrible things, not just that time but also in the past. Hell he wouldn't have been surprised if Sal had finally had enough of his shit...

...the hand on his shoulder makes Karkat freeze, tensing up. In preparation for what he didn't know, but definitely not for a hug.]

...You're not mad at me?

[nosigntospeakof]

Karkat, I could never get mad at a thirteen year old boy who just found out his father died. [He hugs him a little tighter for a moment before pulling away, kneeling down just enough to be at eye-level with his nephew.]

I understand you were upset, are still upset. It's hard losing both your parents, I know. And it hurts and it's going to hurt for a long time.

But I want you to know that you're not, never have been and never will be a burden to your aunt and I. You're part of our family and we love you. If you ever need to talk we're both here.

[selfhatred]

[Karkat's hands clench inside his jacket pocket, around his wand as he looks down at the floor between them. It was a good thing that thing was flexible otherwise it probably would have snapped under pressure a long time ago. He opens his mouth to speak but no words come out, or at least any he wants to say. Finally he speaks, shifting a little.]

I finally worked up the guts to send him a letter. On her anniversary too. That's what I was mad about. That the jackass hadn't even stuck around long enough for me to tell him why I hated him. And he didn't even get it. I wasn't ready to face either of them. I didn't want to. So I hung out with Gamzee and Tavros in the Forbidden Forrest.

[nosigntospeakof]

Shhhh. [He moves his left hand to stroke Karkat's hair. The mention of the Forbidden Forest makes him frown but he'll address that later.]

It's okay to be angry with him. It's okay that you weren't ready to face them.

[selfhatred]

[Suddenly it feels like he's five again, standing in the kitchen and wailing at his mother with bleeding knees because he tried to be like the other neighbourhood kids for once. Karkat tries to duck his head away from his uncle's hand, or he wants to anyway. Instead he bites his bottom lip and sucks it up.]

No it's not okay. I'm supposed to be a fucking adult.

[nosigntospeakof]

No you're not.

You're supposed to be thirteen.

[selfhatred]

But...I've always been an adult.

[He tucked his chin into his hoodie, shoulders hunching a little more.]

Even when mom got sick and I had to take care of her because dad wasn't around. Even after she...she died, I took care of myself.

[nosigntospeakof]

You're not alone, Karkat. It's okay to let others take care of you sometimes.

[selfhatred]

Is it?