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His thoughts were rather vacant, for him being asleep. His dreams that were more often than not plagued by visions of death, pain, and torture were blank, no more than an abandoned canvas sitting in an empty room. He liked this kind of sleep. And he knew he was sleeping, like a lucid sort of sleep in which he could only sit and be aware that he was asleep. He liked these days, because even though they weren’t all that restful, they were peaceful.
The sudden, harsh pain to his side wasn’t appreciated, like, at all. His eyes jerked open and his arms tightened around his favorite bee plushie.
“Sollux! Come on, get up!” a gravelly voice pierced through Sollux Captor’s peaceful sleep. Sollux whined of his loss of sleep, opening his eyes briefly to the bright lighting of his room. The man jostled awake, the only feeling left in his body being irritation. Irritation from being woken up, irritation from his two-toned glasses (that he forgot to take off before passing out) digging into his nose, and the irritation of realizing his roommate caught him sleeping with a bee plushie. At least he didn’t say anything.
“What the hell do you want, KK?” Sollux slurred, adjusting his glasses and sitting up. His face scrunched up into an all-too-common scowl.
“I need you to take me somewhere,” Karkat mumbled. Sollux grumbled in response and kicked Karkat, who was leaning over him still.
“Just ask Nepeta or something,” he sighed, drinking in the thought that he was never going to sleep that good again. He kicked at Karkat again, making him get off the bed. He hastily flung the covers off of himself and swung his legs over the edge of the bed. Sollux grimaced just at the feel of his feet touching the floor. He didn’t want to do anything .
“You know exactly why I won’t do that!” Karkat griped, standing with his arms crossed, waiting for Sollux to get up. “Ugh, why do you have to sleep at ungodly times of day? It’s almost 7 PM!” He poked and prodded at Sollux’s sides, making him jerk.
“Fuck, okay! Okay! Where the hell are we going anyway?” Karkat stood there, arms crossed, while Sollux got dressed. He put on a pair of skinny jeans and a yellow jacket over his black t-shirt. Yeah, That would do. Sollux scowled as he walked past his mirror, running a hand through his blue hair. It’s fading. Almost time to go red again.
“I’ll tell you on the way, now come on!” Karkat grabbed the sleeve of Sollux’s jacket and pulled him out of his room. The two stumbled through the apartment (okay, Karkat fucking walked), until they reached the front door. “Come on, shoes! Keys! Let’s go!” Sollux gave his friend an incredulous look. He was being extra pissy, today, okay.
Sollux couldn’t help glancing at Karkat while he drove. Maybe because Sollux liked to see the rare moments in which Karkat’s furrowed brow smoothed out. Mainly when Sollux wasn’t talking. His roommate kept giving him aggressive directions (“Turn left. Do you know how to turn left, asshole?!”), but for the most part, Karkat sat silently in his seat, arms crossed, staring out the window.
That’s besides the point. Sollux was now fully awake (sadly) and could now fully process Things™. It was during a fleeting glance that Sollux noticed the fading puffiness underneath Karkat’s eyes. They were still slightly bloodshot. He shook his head and looked back to the road, wondering what could have possibly happened this time. He was betting it was either Terezi or Vriska. Maybe both.
“So are you gonna tell me where we’re going now?” Sollux mumbled, watching the cars driving in the other direction. Lucky for him, the after-work rush traffic ended around six thirty.
“Actually, I was going to, but because you keep asking, I’m not telling you until we get there.” Karkat folded himself up, bringing his legs to his chest, a deep frown etching its way onto his face.
“Seriously? I've only asked twice!” he sighed, rubbing his forehead with a free hand. This guy was a walking headache. How did Sollux put up with this guy for all these years?
“Yeah well I’m sick of it already. Just fucking drive.” Karkat leaned upwards to glance at the road. “Take a right here.” Sollux cursed at the last-second directions.
“Shit dude, really? Tell me earlier next time, fuck!” The pair lurched forward in their seats as Sollux had to step hard on the break. Note: Karkat is terrible at giving directions. Sollux didn’t even bother with a turn signal as he made the turn. Karkat said nothing.
As they drove, the scenery turned from bustling, overwhelming city to luscious forest and gravel roads. Sollux visibly relaxed, sinking into the seat and running a hand through his hair. He still had no idea where Karkat was making him take him, but at least they weren’t going to Vriska’s house for a screaming match. He watched the trees as they moved past him, lost in the constant pattern. Sollux nearly zoned out, the peacefulness from his earlier sleep creeping back into his mind. The lull of the rolling tires on gravel and the wind blowing through the cracked windows was like a lullaby to him.
“Sollux? Sollux! Dude!” He jerked, coming back into focus. Sollux took his foot off the gas, and turned to Karkat.
“What..?” he asked, trying to clear the fogginess from his mind. Karkat scoffed and punched his shoulder.
“We’re here, dumbass. Pull over.” Sollux did as he was told, and looked out of his window. There was nothing but…
“Why did you have me drive you to an empty field?” He pulled his jacket closer to himself as he got out of the car and locked it. The breeze was cooling off in the late September air as the sun began to set.
“Wrong side, dipshit!” Sollux turned, and realized Karkat was walking away from him. He quickly followed, and saw train tracks stretched out farther than he could see, running somewhat parallel with the gravel road they were just on. Karkat didn’t even turn to see if Sollux was following him, but the sound of an extra pair of footsteps crunching on gravel made it clear that he was.
“Okay, but why are we here? What’s so cool about train tracks?” Sollux really missed his fucking bed. “You finally gave up or something?” He regretted that joke as soon as he said it, his face twisted into a cringe. Karkat stopped walking, and turned around.
“No.” He turned back around, and started walking faster, basically marching towards the tracks. Sollux jogged to catch up with him. They walked together in silence, an awkwardness encasing them, but it's not like they weren’t used to it. It’s just… How they vibe.
As they approached the tracks, Karkat sped up, his posture loosening up. He hopped in between them, then stood on the right rail, and got his balance. He started walking on the track, a small smile on his face. He balanced fairly well, with the fast, short-stepped pace he set for himself.
“Do you want me to come with you?” Sollux quietly asked. Karkat stopped yet again and put one foot on the ground, facing his best friend.
“Of course I do, why wouldn’t I? Come on!” Sollux nodded, and put one foot on the opposite track from Karkat. Carefully, he lifted his other foot up as well, and tried to balance on the track. He walked a few feet, until he was in line with Karkat.
And people call me bipolar, Sollux thought as he walked. Karkat began walking again as well, slowing himself down to match Sollux’s wobbly, unbalanced pace. Karkat himself wobbled more at this pace, but he was content with it. As the two boys wobbled down the train tracks, their hands came out wider and wider to keep their balance. Sollux bristled as he felt rough fingers collide with his own. He looked at their hands just as Karkat did, but neither of them said anything. The only acknowledgement either of them gave was Karkat hopping off the tracks, and a light blush coming over Sollux’s face.
A few yards ahead, the train tracks delved between the trees lining the road, and tall, nearly-dead grass with a few sparse trees on the other side. Despite the lack of greenery, it blocked whatever was behind it. Karkat led Sollux through a small path through the grass. Sollux’s eyes widened as the grass and trees gave way to what was beyond them. There was a large field, with several large piles of random concrete chunks, probably left over from an abandoned construction project.
“Don’t bother asking about those,” Karkat mumbled, gripping Sollux’s sleeve and dragging him along. Apparently he was walking too slow. Okay. “I have no idea what they are, or how they got there.” Sollux nodded and stuffed his hands in his pockets.
He gazed around, and the tension he’d been carrying with him started to melt away at the peaceful scenery. The weird tunnel was quite a ways away. Karkat let go of Sollux’s sleeve, finally, and took in a breath of fresh air. He rested his hands on his hips and turned to Sollux.
“Well? What do you think?” Karkat looked proud of himself, and without waiting for an answer, he turned around and continued walking.
Sollux didn’t answer the question. “How did you find this place..?” He followed Karkat without looking where he was going, more focused on the way the sun delved behind the trees at the edge of the field.
“I dunno,” Karkat mumbled, almost inaudible as he walked in front of Sollux. “I just… did.” He turned around to face Sollux at the perfect time to watch him trip over his own feet. Karkat barked out a laugh, and watched as Sollux barely caught himself from landing face down in the gravel. In proper Karkat fashion, he pointed at Sollux, who was still on the ground, and continued to laugh. “You fucking idiot..!” Karkat continued laughing, even as Sollux got up with a glare in his eyes, and ran at Karkat. He shrieked and turned to run away, but only made it a few feet before Sollux caught him, attempting to wrap his arms around Karkat’s middle. But as they laughed, Karkat managed to squirm away. The two of them took a moment to breathe a little heavy, hands on their knees and soft giggles escaping their lungs.
“Come on,” Karkat beckoned as he straightened his back. He motioned over his shoulder for Sollux to continue following, and led him to a large concrete tunnel that was decorated with sparing graffiti. They took awkwardly paced steps as the tunnel sloped down, before coming to the end.
Karkat continued on toward a small hill of concrete dust, and quickly climbed up the side. Sollux followed, like always, and they went down another downward slope, towards a collection of concrete tunnels, larger inside than either of them were tall. Sollux jogged ahead and started weaving through them, before Karkat caught his arm and led him down a specific tunnel to the left. They neared the other end of the tunnel, where there was a plastic box sitting.
“What the fuck is that?” Sollux pointed at it, and simply watched as Karkat knelt down to pop it open, and pulled out a blanket. He spread it over the edge of the tunnel, and plopped himself down to look out at the scenery.
“Do you still want me to answer that?” Karkat gave him a small smile, and patted the spot next to him. Sollux complied and sat down, basking in the moment of silence between them. He shivered a little as their shoulders brushed together.
“So…” Karkat turned to face him a little more. “Are you gonna tell me why we’re here now?” Neither of them actually looked at each other, rather content to look at the space between them. “I just… I needed to get away.” Karkat sighed and rubbed his hands down his face. Sollux found the motion… Surprisingly gentle. “I saw Kankri again today. Had some stuff at his place I needed.” Sollux sighed.
“What happened?” He asked. He knew that Karkat had always had an issue with his brother, with their… Extreme differences, and whatnot. He was living with Kankri for the longest time, always yelling and arguing, which most often ended with Karkat at Sollux’s place, either mad or crying.
There was a miracle of change in Karkat when Sollux finally convinced him to move out.
“I just. I thought he wouldn’t have been home. Guess his work schedule changed, but he immediately started laying into me, you know how he is.” Karkat’s eyes watered a little bit as he remembered the events of the day. “Started telling me how wrong I was to leave him, how wrong I am for… Everything. Everything ever.” He sighed, and leaned a little more into Sollux.
“Wait, how did you get there?” Sollux asked. Karkat refuses to drive, making him his roommate’s chauffeur. And Sollux certainly didn’t drive Karkat to his brother’s place that day.
“Oh, I walked.” Karkat frowned at the expression Sollux gave him. “Don’t look at me like that, it isn’t that far. Besides, the shit I needed wasn’t heavy.” A pause sat between them. “Why aren’t you asking what it is?”
“Cuz I don’t need to know. If you wanted me to know, you would've told me already.” Sollux leaned and plucked a weed that sprang from a crack to avoid looking at Karkat. They had these weird, sentimental moments often, but neither of them really knew how to handle them.
“Oh,” Karkat mumbled. “Okay.” They sat in silence for a long moment. “It’s just… It’s fucking bullshit..!” Karkat began, a little louder than Sollux was expecting, causing a small flinch. “He thinks he knows what’s best for me, thinks he knows everything. Well, he doesn’t! He doesn’t know shit about me, same as our fucking dad.”
Sollux cringed as Karkat talked. He remembered their childhood, the constant look of anxiety and hatred on Karkat’s face whenever his dad was near. It wasn’t as if Karkat’s dad ever hit him, no. But Sollux knew, by the way he spoke to Karkat, that he wasn’t a good dad. He lost count of the amount of times he held Karkat while he cried about him.
“I’m sorry, dude.” Sollux nudged him with his shoulder, and hoped that his really terrible attempt at comforting his best friend would be effective. Karkat sighed and let his head dip for a moment, as he recollected himself.
“Thanks. Y’know, I really wasn’t planning on talking about it, when I dragged you out here.” Karkat huffed out a small laugh, before standing. He held his hand out to help Sollux up. “Come on.”
“Wait, what? We just got here.” Sollux took his hand anyway, which… Didn’t really help him up at all, to be honest. Sollux brushed himself off after he let go of Karkat’s hand. No, he wasn’t going to think about that any more.
“Yeah, we’re not leaving yet, dipshit, I wanna show you something else.” Karkat rolled his eyes and started back up the tunnel, and Sollux followed him, yet again.
As they breached the entrance, Karkat turned and went up the hill they just recently came from, before climbing on top of the concrete tubes, and moving to where two of them sat close together, before sitting down, and leaning back with his hands behind his head.
“What’re we doing up here..?” Sollux asked, awkwardly joining his roommate. He situated his hands behind his head as well, feeling the resistance of his jacket as it was trapped between his back and the concrete.
“Look up, numbnuts,” Was the only answer Karkat gave.
And look up Sollux did, only to be met with the pinks and oranges of the setting sun against the prickles of the trees in the distance. He sighed, and let himself relax a little more. The two of them sat, gazing at the clouds as they rolled in the sunset.
After a little while, Sollux sighed, and turned to face Karkat, with a hand keeping his head up against the concrete. “Can I tell you something?” He watched as Karkat sat up as well, and turned to face him.
“...What?” He asked apprehensively.
“I… I’ve been thinking about moving. Like. Out of the city. Away.” He waited for some sort of outburst from his roommate, but none came. Sollux looked in Karkat’s direction, to find him staring at him. Neither of them looked away, and the air suddenly felt tense.
“Like… Away away?” Karkat’s voice was quiet, and almost hurt. Sollux nodded, and looked away from him. “Can I…” Karkat turned away as well. “Can I come with you?”
“Of course you can, dude.”
“Okay, then let’s fucking go.” Karkat huffed, crossing his arms over his chest. Now that he’s got the idea in his head, it sounds like the best idea ever. “It’s not like anyone around here cares about us, not really.”
Sollux briefly thinks of Aradia. That was so long ago, though. He doesn’t think she’s thought about him for a long time. “I just. I wished I wasn’t trapped here anymore, y’know.” Everything in this city feels crushing. The constant drama with their ‘friends’, his deadend job, the… Everything else. He turns to Karkat, watching him sit up. He still looks up to the sky, but his expression is hardened. Confident.
“...Yeah, but we’ll be out of here soon enough.” Sollux could kiss him. He’s been thinking about this for months, and all he needed was his one confidant to come with him. Of course. They’ll be out of here before anyone even sees it coming.
And it’ll be just the two of them. It always has been, in a way. They’ll build a new life that doesn’t suck.
The two of them stay there until they’re stargazing, fingers starting to ache from the chill. Karkat silently leads Sollux back to his car, and they drive home in the same peaceful quiet. They don’t start doing anything, not even discussing where they could go, but they both retire to their rooms feeling… Accomplished. And happy, for once.
They’ll be out of here, soon enough. Just the two of them.