Come as you are

Colorful relapse

Dave ran for what seemed like hours. His eyes burned and his throat was dry. He ran until he reached a small apartment building. He pushed a buzzer and was let in. He ran up the stairs, and didn't bother knocking as he entered a small apartment. There was a small table in the middle of what was supposed to be the living room, a window that was covered up, and a kitchen that usually stayed empty. Dave was panting as he looked over to the small couch, he saw someone sitting there, smoke filling the air around him.
"Well Dave, didn't expect to see you back so soon" the other had a smile on his face and blew more smoke.
Dave dropped his bag and walked over.
"Just give me what you got and I'll pay for it after"
Dave was given a pill and he slowly fades away.

Karkat walked and walked until he finally collapsed on the curb and waited for Kankri. He let tears drop down his cheeks and fall into his lap. He felt like an idiot. He felt used and dirty. He brought his knees to his chest and sniffled. He heard a car pull up and a car door open and slam, he then felt two arms around him. Karkat wrapped his arms around his brother and cried again. Kankri shushed him and got him up and into the car. Karkat's head was spinning and he felt sick. Kankri tried to ask what was wrong but after he received no response from the other he stayed quiet for once.

They got home and Karkat numbly walked inside and up to his room.
"Karkat...are you going to be okay?" Kankri asked softly.
Karkat nodded and then looked back at the other,
"If I feel something's wrong, I'll let you know." he smiled and then kept walking.
Kankri chewed his lip and messed with the sleeves of his sweater. He knew what Karkat could do in a state like this. He just prayed this time would be different.

Dave sat back and breathed heavily. He slid on his boxers, pants and shirt before he took a hit off something, and a tab of something else before he grabbed his bag and left. He walked out of the building and he felt numb. He liked it. Getting high and fucking up his sense of reality made what he had to do in order to get in that state less of a chore. He walked down the street and it was dark outside. He stopped by a gas station and grabbed a coffee before continuing on. He walked on for a few more minutes before he heard his phone go off. It was Karkat. He opened the message and braced himself,
"Hi Dave. So um.. I'd first like to say Fuck you, and second I would like to say that I can't see you again. I may not have been anything to you, but you were something to me and I can't just pretend it didn't happen. I won't be going to anymore meetings, I won't be texting you anymore.. I just..I want you to forget about me. Goodbye Dave"
Dave felt tears falling from his eyes and he dialed Karkat's number.
"Answer the phone Karkat...please" he pleaded as the phone rang.
Karkat sent the message and turned his phone off. He made sure his brother was downstairs and he walked into the bathroom. He looked in the mirror and he opened the cabinet behind it. He chewed his lip and grabbed something out of it. It was his sleep medicine.
Dave didn't get an answer so he dropped his coffee and ran. He remembered the address Kankri had given him and he ran with all his might. He ran up their porch and pounded on the door. He had tears coming down his face and sweat on his brow.
Kankri answered the door and put his hands on his hips.
"What the hell do you want?" Kankri had venom in his words.
"I need to see Karkat. Please. I have to see him."
Kankri went to close the door but Dave pushed past and ran up the stairs. Kankri called after him but he didn't listen. He tried each room until he couldn't open one door and knew the other was I'm there.
"Karkat open the door!" he cried.
The door clicked open and Dave pushed in. He saw him lying with his face over the toilet and shivering. He knelt down beside him and Karkat pushed him away, with the strength he had.
"Get away from me, fuckface!" Karkat slurred and slid away from the door. Dave saw his medicine empty on the counter and he grabbed the other and lifted him into his shoulder.
"Kanny, we gotta get him to a hospital"
Kankri had tears in his eyes and ran with Dave the the car. They got in and sped off. Dave held the other close but Karkat kept pushing him away.
"Get away from me! Kankri make him go away!" Karkat wailed.
Kankri pulled into the lot and they ran into the building, Karkat in Dave's arms. Doctors took Karkat away and asked the other two to wait in the waiting area. Dave nodded and went to sit down when Kankri grabbed him by the shoulder and decked him in the jaw.
"Why are you here?!" Kankri spat at the other.
Dave grabbed his face and looked at the other. Kankri was about the same height as Dave, but he was broad in the shoulders so he seemed bigger.
"I needed to talk to Karkat" he said softly.
"You had no business barging into my home and gallivanting around like a lunatic!" He almost shouted
Dave stood up and got in the others face,
"If I wouldn't have, Karkat would still be in that bathroom! He'd be dying and you wouldn't even have known it!" Dave yelled.
Kankri backed away and dropped to his knees, and began to sob. Dave walked over to him and sat next to him.
"Im sorry..that was out of line" Dave whispered.
Kankri shook his head and wiped his eyes,
"I shouldn't have yelled. I'm sorry"
They got off the ground and sat in the chairs. The only sound in the room was the ticking off the click and the sound of their breathing. After what seemed like hours, the doctor walked in. They had no idea what to expect, they just held their breath.