Welcome to the Dark Carnival

[HOMESTUCK FANFIC] WARNING: there's foul, foul language in this story. :S

The honking. The constant, constant honking. Keevan could put up with a lot of it, but this was ridiculous.
     "Gam!" she finally shouted at one point, standing outside his bedroom door. "Enough with the honking! Go outSide and honk if you have to honk So badly!" The honking still did not subside.
     "Gam, I'm coming in," Keevan finally shouts, having enough. "I can tolerate moSt of your honking, but thiS iS where I draw the line." Keevan gripped the doorknob and opened the door.
     Her blood ran cold when she saw Gamzee, sitting against the wall in his room, head down, a horn in each hand, honking one, then the other, and repeating the cycle. Right, left, right, left, right, left.
     "G-Gam," Keevan stutters out. He stops honking, but keeps his head down. Keevan clears her throat and says again, "Gam, are you okay?"
     "Never motherfuckin' better," he said. He was serious. She could tell by the tone of his voice. It wasn't his usual carefree and laid back tone. It caught her so off guard she didn't bother to scold him for his language. She quickly darted her eyes around the room. There were no Faygo bottles to be found.
     Her heart seemed to thud so hard she thought Gamzee could hear it. He was sober. When Gamzee was sober...
     "Gam, I'm gonna go," Keevan said, trying to remain calm. Gamzee became hostile and homicidal when he was sober.
     "Don't go," Gamzee said, a lighter note in his voice. "the party's just gettin' motherfuckin' started!" Keevan turned and slammed the door shut behind her. She didn't want to see Gamzee's expression. She didn't want to be near him. She ran to her own room, slammed the door closed, locked it, and rushed to get her laptop open to troll Karkat. She didn't think of just leaving the hive.

--loveableLawlsquid has begun trolling carcinoGeneticist--
LL: kar!
CG: WHAT?
LL: i need your help!!!
LL: now!!! i'm Scared and i don't know what to do!!!
CG: WHY?
CG: WHAT HAPPENED?
LL: gamzee'S Sober!!
--carcinoGeneticist has ceased being trolled by loveableLawlsquid--
LL: kar!
LL: KARKAT!
LL: D****T KARKAT!

Keevan slammed her laptop closed and froze. The honking had started up again, and it was getting closer.
     "You can't motherfuckin' run from me, Kee!" Gamzee was shouting. "You might as well come out!"
     Keevan was terrified. She tried to remember the last time Gamzee was sober. She didn't remember what she did to deal with it. The first time was so horrible, she chose to block it out completely.
     The honking was closer and closer. Right outside her door.
     "I'm opening the door," Gamzee said, a chuckle at the end of his sentence. As an impulse action, right as Gamzee opened the door, Keevan dashed to her window, barreling herself through the glass and falling to the ground two stories below. She hit the ground with her right shoulder. Ignoring that pain, she got up and ran away, stumbling, from the hive into the woods.
     She had the state of mind that Gamzee was right on her tail, right behind her, as she ran. In only a few moments she bumped into Karkat, who had been running from his hive to her aid.
     "Keevan!" he exclaimed when she ran into him. He locked his arms around her, holding her close, relieved that she was safe and that the juggalo f**k hadn't killed her.
     "K-Kar..." she whispered, almost completely out of breath. She was shaking from exhaustion. "We...we have to go. He'S...right behind me!"
     "I don't see him," Karkat said calmly. "and I don't hear any honking. What happened to your shoulder?" Keevan backed out of his embrace and walked past him, her breathing still rough and uneven.
     "Kee," Karkat said, his hand gripping her right shoulder. She winced, groaned, and jumped away from his touch.
     "I h-had to jump through m-my window," Keevan said, regaining a bit of her breath. "I hurt my Shoulder when I fell."
     "I'll kill him!" Karkat shouted.
     "Don't!" Keevan shouted back.
     "He's going to kill you!" Karkat shot at her. "And then the rest of us when he gets the chance! We have to stop him now."
     "I don't care!" Keevan exclaimed, practically close to tears at this point. "You're not killing him! He'S juSt Sober, we probably have to get him Some Faygo or Something, or..."
     "It's not that simple, Kee, you know that," Karkat said quietly. Keevan lowered her head. She didn't want to do anything to hurt her moirail. She hoped it wouldn't have to come to that.
     "Can we try to not hurt him, at leaSt?" Keevan asked Karkat softly. He put his hands on her shoulders, and she looked up, meeting his gaze. "We can try," he said, just as soft.
     "Honk."
     Keevan and Karkat both froze. Gamzee was about ten feet behind them, and instead of the horns he had earlier, he held nothing. His makeup was smeared and smudged, and his usual easygoing grin was replaced with one that was wide and menacing. Keevan looked into his eyes. He didn't see her Gamzee in those eyes.
     Her pulse was pounding in her ears.
     "Ready to keep the motherfuckin' party going?" Gamzee asked, his grin seeming to get wider. Karkat clenched his fists, faced Gamzee, and held his arms out at his sides.
     "You're not hurting her!" Karkat snarled. "You'll have to kill me to get to her!"
     "Kar...!" Keevan whispered. "Don't...don't provoke him!"
     "I have no motherfuckin' problem with that!" Gamzee shouted, running toward Karkat. Karkat dug his toes into the ground and pushed off, running toward Gamzee at the same speed.
     No. No. No. No. No. NO. Keevan's heart was beating so fast she thought it was going to pummel itself out of her chest. They were going to kill each other if Gamzee didn't kill Karkat first.
     Keevan closed her eyes when the two trolls made impact, Karkat's fist meeting Gamzee's nose and Gamzee's fist meeting Karkat's cheek.
     "That all you motherfuckin' got?!" Gamzee screeched, stepping back and wiping the purple blood from his nose. Karkat held his hand on his cheek, feeling it swell. "I'm just getting started, you juggalo a*****e!" He charged at Gamzee again, swinging his fist at the same spot he aimed for before. Gamzee ducked and kicked out his leg, striking Karkat in the stomach.
     A small scream came from Keevan, who had fallen to her knees, unable to believe what was going on and how powerless she felt. She had left her katana in her room! She didn't even think to grab it!
     Karkat held his stomach, spitting on the ground. Gamzee's malicious grin was back, looking more confident than it did before.
     "Give it up," Gamzee taunted. "you're not going to win, Karkat."
     "To protect Keevan," Karkat said, standing up straight and glaring at Gamzee. "That's my only motivation to win. I'm not backing down!"
     "You're gonna get yourself killed," Gamzee said, getting into fighting position once more. "Better go say goodbye to her!" Gamzee charged and socked Karkat in the stomach again before he could react. Gamzee then struck him under his jaw, his left cheek, right cheek, and kicked him in the groin.
     Karkat vomited and leaned back against a tree, covering his mouth with his hands. Keevan knew her tears were uncontrollable by now. She could do nothing but stare.
     ThiS iS why Kar didn't want Gam to be my moirail at firSt, she thought. So he wouldn't hurt me if thiS ever happened.
     Gamzee gripped Karkat's throat and lifted him a few centimeters off of the ground, shoving him painfully into the tree. Karkat looked to have a death grip on Gamzee's wrist.
     "Goodbye, Karkat," Gamzee said, his grip tighter on Karkat's throat. Karkat's hold on Gamzee's wrist faltered, his hands falling to his sides.
     Keevan was numb. But before she knew it, she was standing, stumbling over to Gamzee.
     Her mind was fuzzy and her vision spotty, but she acted on impulse. She noticed bright red tears leaking from Karkat's eyes.
     "Gam," she said, her voice hoarse. "Gam, Stop it." He didn't listen.
     "Stop it, Gam."
     Still nothing.
     "Gamzee," she said again, louder. "Gamzee, Stop it."
     He still ignored her. She snapped.
     "GAMZEE," she shouted, more tears spilling out of her eyes. His eyes widened a bit, his grin faltering. His hold on Karkat's throat lessened. Gamzee looked at her.
     "Stop thiS, Gam!" Keevan shouted, falling forward and hugging him, hooking her arms around his neck. "No more, no more! You're killing Karkat, let go of him!"
     "K-Kee," Karkat choked out. Gamzee began shaking.
     "Keevan," he barely whispered. He let go of Karkat. Karkat thumped to the ground, coughing and inhaling violent breaths of air.
     "Keevan," Gamzee whispered again, his voice wavering. His arms slowly wound around her. She still had her arms around his neck.
     "It'S okay, Gam," she said softly, her right hand behind his head. "You're okay now, and So iS Karkat. We're all okay now." She was still crying. Gamzee slowly sunk to his knees, Keevan sinking with him. She held him like that for a long while before Karkat helped her walk Gamzee back to their hive.

"AlmoSt done," Keevan said softly, getting the washcloth wet again with cool water. Gamzee was sitting on the toilet, seat closed, as she washed the makeup from his face. She took him into the bathroom after Karkat had helped her bring him home. "The makeup'S almoSt gone, Gam."
     He said nothing. He just kept his head down and did as she asked.
     "Oop," she said. "you're noSe iS bleeding again." She set down the washcloth she was using to clean Gamzee's face and picked up another one, already half soaked with his blood. She found a clean part of it and gave it to him, telling him to kindly hold it to his nose. He did. Keevan got the other washcloth and wet it again, just to finish getting the makeup off of Gamzee's face.
     "There, all clean," she said as she got the last of his clown makeup from his face. Gamzee took the blood soaked washcloth from his nose and set it on the counter. He wasn't smiling. He just had a depressed expression on his face.
     "It'S okay, Gamzee," Keevan finally said, putting both washcloths in the sink. "you don't have anything to be Sorry for, it'S not your fault."
     "Yes it is," he said. His voice now was sad, depressed. His usual tone hadn't returned.
     "If anything, it'S mine," Keevan said, facing him. "I didn't check to make Sure we Still had Faygo, like I uSually do. I'm Sorry, Gam."
     "Don't you dare motherfuckin' apologize!" Gamzee shouted suddenly, standing up and taking a step towards her. Keevan flinched.
     He sighed. "I'm sorry for that," he said quickly. "It's like this, Kee. You shouldn't be the one taking care of me and all that s**t like you do now. I have to be taking care of myself, not depending on you for everything."
     "But, Gam, I don't mind," she insisted. "I enjoy it, it giveS me Something to do, and I'd worry about you if you actually picked up your garbage yourSelf. I'm fine with it, Gam."
     "You're not getting it," Gamzee said quietly. He pulled her into a gentle hug. "And another thing. I can't stand right now that I made you cry earlier. I never want that to happen again. I'm so sorry for that. What I did to Karkat, too..."
     "He'S fine now, Gam, I promiSe," Keevan said, hugging him back. "he'S not mad at you. Can't we juSt pretend today never happened...?"
     "No," Gamzee said. "we can't." He paused, and then said, "I want you to move your stuff out and go live with Karkat."
     "No, Gamzee!" Keevan shouted immediately, backing out of his embrace. "I'm Staying here with you! I have to take care of you--"
     "You don't motherfuckin' get it!" Gamzee shouted, shoving her out the bathroom door. She hit the wall across the hallway with a loud thump.
     "I don't want this to happen again," Gamzee continued, stepping out into the hallway. "and I don't want to be the one to make you cry again. The only way to make sure that happens is if you leave and let me take care of myself."
     "I'm not leaving," Keevan said, not meeting Gamzee's gaze. "I'll let you take care of yourSelf, but I'm not leaving, Gam."
     "What's going on?" Karkat asked. He had climbed the stairs to see what was happening.
     "Is it alright if Keevan moves in with you?" Gamzee asked him, his eyes never moving from Keevan, who was still leaning against the wall.
     "Why?" Karkat asked. Gamzee moved his gaze to Karkat. Karkat saw his expression and said, "Of course it is."
     "Good," Gamzee said. "she's going to be a good girl and pack up her stuff. She's not going to put up a fight, is she?"
     Keevan didn't say anything.
     "She's not putting up a fight," Gamzee said, turning and walking in the direction of his room.
     "Gam, wait!" Keevan cried, gripping his arm. He waited.
     "Gam," she said. "we're still moirailS, right?"
     Gamzee didn't move. It seemed the whole universe was holding its breath until he muttered one word: "No."
     Keevan let go of his arm and fell to her knees, doing her best not to cry. She didn't want him to know he had been the one to make her cry twice.

Her things had finally been moved into her new room, now at Karkat's hive. It had been three days since the incident. She hadn't had any contact with Gamzee. He wouldn't let her into his hive. He wouldn't leave the hive. He even blocked her on Trollian. Karkat as well.
     "He's being over protective of you know," Karkat tried to tell her good-naturedly. "I'm sure he'll come around, Kee." 
     Keevan didn't believe Karkat. She knew Gamzee better than anyone. When he slumped, he really slumped.
     She decided to busy her mind by digging in one of the boxes she hadn't unpacked yet. She found a bottle of red Faygo.
     She felt tears blur her vision when she looked at it. She hugged it close to herself and made a decision. She wasn't surrendering. Not yet.
    
"Kar," she said, knocking on his open door. Without turning from his computer, he asked her what she wanted.
     "I'm bringing Something over to Gamzee'S hive," she said. Karkat turned from his computer to stare at her. "Are you sure you want to do that?"
     She nodded, showing him the bottle of Faygo. Without waiting for a response, she turned and left Karkat's hive, walking slowly to Gamzee's.
     Truth be told, the walk through these woods now terrified her a bit. All of the trees made her think of how Gamzee had pinned Karkat against one. She shuddered every time the image weaseled its way into her mind. She knew she wasn't going to get much sleep in the next few weeks.
     She finally saw the hive. It looked dark and a bit menacing in the setting sun, no longer welcoming and like home. She looked at her bottle of Faygo and re-read the note she had taped onto it. She hoped he would read it. She set the bottle in front of the door, knocked really loud, and ran back to her new home, not waiting for Gamzee to open the door.

Gamzee opened the door, not expecting what he found. A bottle of Faygo with a note attached to it.
     He picked it up and read it. It was written in Kee's handwriting:

Dear Gam,
     I don't care what you Say, we're Still moirailS. >:S

Gamzee grinned his usual laid back grin and put the note in his pocket.
     "MiRaCuLoUs," he said, opening the bottle and taking a big drink of the wicked elixir.

Reviews

[Koda Demitri Tucker-Elr..]

Nice!

I got kinda sad at the end, when he said they weren't moirailS. But I know thingsll be okay :D

[Alexis]

Well, obviously I didn't understand eveything in this story, like "moirailS". That made it a little difficult for me to read and comprehend. But, I'm positive that if I did understand, I would think this was AWESOME. Even though I didn't fully get it I thought it was great! You had good descriptions, Keevan. Good story. :3