Trigger Warning: I Have A Gun.

KANKRI: Kankri kn9cked 9n Karkat's d99r, sighing a 6it. He chewed 9n his 69tt9m lip 6ef9re s9ftly calling 9ut Karkat's name. "Karkat? Are y9u in here? I, Uh, Haven't seen y9u In a few days and I'm 6eginning t9 get w9rried. C9uld y9u please unl9ck the d99r? If y9ur upset with s9mething, 9r s9me69dy, We c9uld talk a69ut it. If y9u want. Just..Its n9t healthy t9 6e inside f9r s9 l9ng.."

CG: Shit. Karkat's gaze moved to the door, a slight panic taking over. It wasn't the first time someone had tried to have him let them in, and he was fairly certain that, assuming he made it past today, it wouldn't be the last. He remained silent, instead grabbing a book and throwing it at the door. That would work, hopefully. More than anything, he wanted someone there with him. But it would only be harder for them all when he finally did die. No, best that he piss them off as much as possible. Best that they all hate him in the end.

KANKRI: "...Karkat, what was that? Did y9u fall? Are y9u alright?" Kankri kn9cked 9n the d99r again, pressing his ear against it. "C9uld y9u please just 9pen the d99r? At least tell whats wr9ng, s9 I d9nt have t9 w9rry a69ut y9u 6eing hurt. 9h. 9h, Dear, I just realized that y9u might 6e s9 hurt that y9ur incapa6le 9f reaching the d99r. D9n't w9rry Karkat, I'm c9ming in thr9ugh the wind9w."

CG: Karkat muttered a few curses which were vulgar even by his standards. He figured that Kankri was going to get in there one way or another, so he might as well accept it. Groaning as he stood, Karkat made his way over to the door, pulling him inside before anyone else could come around the corner and see. Once the door was secured again, he turned around. He must have looked like shit, he knew. What, with the blood and the circles under his eyes which were even darker than usual. Not to mention the fact that he'd lost a significant amount of weight, now looking to be no more than skin and bones. "What the fuck do you want?"

KANKRI: Kankri stared at him f9r a m9ment, his expressi9n 6lank. He 6linked a few times, taking everything in 6ef9re he started talking. "Karkat, what happened t9 y9u? N9, M9re imp9rtantly why didnt y9u tell me that y9u were hurt? What p9ssessed y9u t9 sit ar9und in this h9use f9r s9 l9ng with9ut getting help? Karkat, y9ur a c9mplete mess! N9w sit d9wn and tell me what happened while I get s9mething t9 clean y9u up." Kankri snapped at him, A s9mewhat rare sassy t9ne slipping thr9ugh int9 his w9rds.

CG: He'd intended to argue, to confront him, basically do anything other than what he ended up doing. But it was the change in his voice and the surprise that resulted from it that caused him to do as he was told. "I'm not hurt, you moron." Karkat half mumbled this, eyes on the ground as he sat down. "You'd think that since you're apparently so concerned with everyone's mental state that you'd bother to not be such an asshole who jumps to conclusions so quickly."

KANKRI: "Well y9ur 6l99dy, y9u l99k a6s9lutely terri6le, and it smells like death in here. 9f c9urse y9ur alright, what in the w9rld was I thinking? It's c9mpletely n9rmal t9 g9 MIA with9ut explanati9n. Why w9uld y9u let any69dy kn9w y9ur fine? That's just plain ridicul9us. I ap9l9gize, sincerely, f9r assuming that s9mething was wr9ng. H9nestly, what kind 9f 6um6ling idi9t am I, t9 even assume such a thing?" Kankri rushed ar9und, gathering things t9 clean up the mess.

CG: "Actually, sarcasm doesn't suit you. I'd go back to insulting people in roundabout ways." If he planned on continuing, he didn't get a chance to. A coughing fit overtook him, decided that it would rather he double over, eyes shut tight as he heard drops of blood land on the floor. "Y-- you want to know why it smells like death?" He had to force the words out once he recovered enough to do so. "It's because that's exactly what's happening."

KANKRI: "6ecause y9ur 9ne t9 talk a69ut insulting pe9ple,--" Kankri tensed up when he heard c9ughing, his c9mment cut 9ff. He nearly dr9pped the damp rag he was h9lding as he rushed 6ack 9ver t9 Karkat. "Sit d9wn. What d9 y9u mean 6y that?" Kankri supplied an nearly endless wave 9f questi9ns as he guided Karkat 9n t9 the c9uch and started da66ing at him with the rag.

CG: Letting out a long breath, Karkat swatted Kankri's hand away. "I'm dying, end of story." Though, it probably would be best to give at least a few more details. He was going to be asked to explain everything, anyway. "Started a while ago. It's just gotten worse since. Now I'm here and I don't think I'm going to last the rest of the week."

KANKRI: Kankri 6atted at Karkat's hand and c9ntinued t9 wipe away the 6l99d, scru66ing insistently. "Why havent y9u g9ne t9 get help? What g99d has sitting inside and r9tting d9ne?" Kankri sighed, standing up and walking away t9 get new cl9thes f9r him.

CG: "It's kept everyone from worrying and treating me like a fucking wriggler, for one." He rolled his eyes. "They've got more important things to focus on. I'll just waste their time." Karkat leaned back, gaze on the ceiling. "Which is why you're going to keep your mouth shut for once in your life, right?"

KANKRI: "Ha. Ha, Y9ur funny. Y9ur really funny. Y9u really think that I'm n9t g9ing t9 let every9ne kn9w h9w y9ur d9ing? Karkat, y9u need help! I kn9w y9u think the wh9le, needing help, thing makes y9u l99k 'weak' 6ut y9u need t9 st9p 6eing stu669rn, 9r y9u really are g9ing t9 die."

CG: Karkat got to his feet, eyes holding more intensity than usual. And while he wasn't shouting, his tone was far from kind. "Get out." It was closer to a growl than anything, really. "Before I punch you in the throat. Just get the fuck o--" His expression switched over to terror and agony in an instant as he doubled over, coughs interrupted only so that he could gasp for breath, something which appeared to be requiring a decent amount of effort. This was it, then. Forget the rest of the week, he wasn't making it another hour.

KANKRI: Kankri 6arely 6linked at Karkat's t9ne, simply staring at him as he sp9ke. He had his arms cr9ssed, still h9lding the rag. When Karkat started c9ughing again, Kankri's eyes widened. He immediately started fussing 9ver him again. "Lay 6ack d9wn, Karkat, get 6ack 9n the c9uch." Kankri s9unded terrified as he sp9ke, trying t9 f9rce Karkat 9n t9 the c9uch himself, 6ut still struggling t9 6e gentle.

CG: Despite wanting nothing more than to argue, Katkat didn't have the strength to resist, laying on his side to avoid choking on the blood. The coughs lasted for a solid thirty seconds more before it finally died down. A surge of pain shot through his body, causing him to convulse slightly. "Oh, G--" Another now, his breaths speeding up with the fear. No, no, he couldn't go yet. He wasn't ready.

KANKRI: "Calm d9wn. Y9u have t9 try t9 calm d9wn, Karkat. C9me 9n, 6reath sl9wly. C9unt t9 three." Kankri's v9ice was trem6ling, and s9 was he. His 9wn 6reath 6egan t9 pick up speed as he tried t9 calm Karkat d9wn. "C9me 9n Karkat, y9u cant die 9n me. N9t t9day. Y9ur t99 y9ung, y9ur n9t ready. Im n9t ready, Karkat, Please calm d9wn. 9h g9g."

CG: Shit, was that what he thought it was? Yes, he was definitely feeling tears begin to stream down his face. "I-- I'm sorry. I'm sorry." Make sure he knew that. Make sure he told everyone else, as well. Karkat could hardly manage the whisper, but was determined to continue on, even so. "I'm s-- I'm scared.... I-- I'm so fucking scared...." He hated to admit it, but the fact that he was crying didn't exactly hide it.

KANKRI: Kankri's tears came nearly in sync with Karkat's. They spilled d9wn his cheeks, s9me 9f them dripping int9 his eyes. He didnt 69ther wiping them away, and they kept c9ming. "I kn9w. I kn9w, and Karkat, Im scared t99. We cant 69th 6e scared, we have t9 get y9u threw this. 9kay? S9 I need y9u t9 relax." Kankri's w9rds came 9ut cracked and dry.

CG: It was the least he could do to do as he said, Karkat focusing now only on his breaths. Keep breathing, keep calm. He repeated this over and over again in his head, reminding himself that that was all that mattered. Because if he kept breathing, he would stay alive. Keep breathing, and stay awake.

KANKRI: Kankri went 6ack t9 wiping 6l99d away fr9m Karkat, ch9king 6ack quiet s96s as he did. He still didnt 69ther wiping away his tears, 6ut he at least was trying t9 stay quiet. He w9rked silently 9therwise.

CG: Every second felt as though it lasted dozens of sweeps. And in a way, that was worse. He was hyperaware of everything happening around him, every touch of pain as his body prepared to shut down. As much as he hated to admit it, he'd been wrong before. It most definitely wouldn't have been better to go through this alone. Allowing any last scrap of dignity to leave him, he gripped Kankri's hand as darkness began to engulf the edges of his vision.

KANKRI: Kankri gave up 9n getting Karkat clean and pulled him 9ff 9f the c9uch gently. He sat 9n the fl99r, cradling him and shaking. He was really s966ing n9w, and l9udly t99. "Im s9rry Karkat. Im s9 s9rry, I didnt get t9 y9u s99ner." He repeated this 9ver and 9ver,

CG: The faintest shake of his head, Karkat's eyes only half open. "S-- stop apologizing.... 'S not your fault...." Honestly, how could arriving sooner have fixed anything? A new wave of pain caused his breath to catch in his throat, and he took a sharp breath as soon as he was able to do so once again. "I-- I'm sorry...." He said this again, as it was all that was crossing his mind at the moment.

KANKRI: "Y9u can't ap9l9gize f9r getting sick, Karkat. If I had g9tten t9 y9u s99ner, I c9uld have taken y9u t9 get help. I c9uld have prevented all 9f this fr9m happening, and I didnt. And Im s9 s9rry that I didnt, Karkat, I cant l9se y9u. Y9u cant die. I kn9w y9u d9nt like me all that much, 6ut please. Please stay with me."

CG: "I c--" Come on. Come on, don't go yet. "I can't...." Every time. Every time someone needed him to do something, he failed. Even something as simple as staying alive. Karkat coughed up a little more blood, the now familiar taste promising that it would be the last thing he ever experienced. "A-- and stop with the self-pity shit, you taintchafing clusterfuck...." There was a smile on his lips as he said this, implying that it was meant more as a joke than an actual insult. Once it came, he let out a lengthy, trembling exhale. And didn't breathe back in.

KANKRI: Kankri fr9ze c9mpletely when Karkat didnt 6reathe 6ack in. His 6reath caught in his thr9at and he stared d9wn at Karkat, his eyes widening. "K..Karkat? Karkat, c9me 9n, keep g9ing. 6reathe. Y9ur g9ing t9 get thr9ugh this. Y9u have t9, c9me 9n. 6reathe." Kankri pleaded, h9lding him tighter against his chest. "C9me 9n. D9nt give up yet, keep 6reathing."

CG: He'd heard once that death was easy. Well, that was a load of shit. It fucking sucked. Because even after he was technically gone, he was still vaguely aware of what was going on around him. That Kankri was clinging to his body, begging him to just keep breathing as his grip on the other's hand went slack. And he wanted to. But he was really reduced to nothing more than trace amounts of vague consciousness. And even now, he was fading even still.

KANKRI: Kankri made a quiet, frustrated n9ise when Karkat didnt resp9nd. He was practically crushing the 9ther against his 69dy, still crying f9r him t9 stay alive. After a few minutes, his v9ice started t9 get h9arse. Eventually, everything st9pped c9mpletely. He just help Karkat against him, shaking and s966ing silently. He c9uldnt even cry pr9per;y. His chest just heaved dryly.

CG: Things were only getting worse by now. Hell, he wasn't even transported to the damn dream bubble right away. Karkat had had consciousness restore to him, though he was now observing unseen from a different angle. He'd only watched for a few seconds, but it was enough to make him feel as though he were dying again. However, that ended before long, and he soon found himself face-to-face with those lost so long ago. ((And with that, I must leave you. But this has been beautiful. Painful, but beautiful.))

dying!carcinoGeneticist [CG] disconnected.