Hot for Strider (Karkat/Bro)

"s'cnd one" Karkat mumbled with a soft sigh. "M'hungry too"

Jeff nodded as he sat up and stretched. He got off the bed, then picked up Karkat bridal style. Out in the kithcen Dave was making pancakes. The older Strider set their house guest down and the table then went into the kitchen. A minute he cam back with three glasses of chocolate milk. He placed one on the table, handed one to Karkat, and kept one.

Karkat Looked at the glass in silence for a few minutes before taking small sips. Dairy wasn't good for you when you were sick, it curdled in your stomach when you had a fever and contributed to mucus and phlegm production. He didn't want to impose any more on the people who took him in out of the goodness of their hearts.

Jeff chugged half of his in one swallow. He sat down at the table across from Karkat. "Don't strain yourself cutie. Eat and drink what you can. Don't push yourself to do anything your body can't handle."

Karkat nodded, setting the cup back down and laying his head down in his hands. Admittedly, he didn't feel too bad.

Dave didn't say anything as he came in with a plate of pancakes and bottle of syrup. He them on the table and went back in the kitchen. He came back with plates and silverware. He placed them at his spot, Karkat's, and Jeff's. He still hadn't anything as he sat down to eat. Jeff either hadn't noticed had quiet he was being or didn't care as he served himself.

Karkat didn't even lift his head. Pancakes were a definite no. He was most certainly not ready to handle something that heavy.

Jeff had eaten a whole plates of pancakes and was getting more when he noticed Karkat hadn't eaten yet. Dave was only paying attention to either of them. He was mostly just picking at his breakfast. Jeff tried to get the youngest male's attention. "You alright? Need me to make something for you? Maybe some toast?"

Karkat shook his head. He couldn't think of anything that he really felt like eating now that he was up. Tea sounded nice, but he didn't know how to make it, and he highly doubted the striders had any.

"I'm gonna get the medicine for you," Jeff got up and went into the kitchen. Dave didn't say anything as he got up and went into his room. The older Strider sighed when he got back to the table. "I don't think I'll ever understand that kid. I hope he's not sick now too." He knelt down by Karkat and held out the little cup of medicine. He had a glass of water in his other hand.

Karkat lifted his head long enough to take the little cup and down it like a shot, and take a drink of the water Jeff was holding for him. After he grimaced at the taste, he set his head back down.

Jeff picked up the small boy again and kissed the top of his head. "You should rest today hun." Dave was in his bed, curled up in a ball. He was under his covers and facing the wall. Jeff only sighed again as he placed Karkat in the bed. "Just call for me if you need anything. Dave, are you okay? Feel bad?" The lump on the bed didn't say anything or move. Jeff sighed inn aggravation now. "I swear to god you need to be medicated for bipolar depression." He didn't say anything else as he left the room.

"M'sorry if I got you sick" Karkat mumbled after a little bit alone with Dave. "Didn't mean to"

Dave snarled, but didn't roll. "Yeah I'm sick. Sick of Jeffery's shit."

Karkat looked at Dave over his shoulder with a small, confused frown. "What?" he asked.

Dave was still snarling as he wrapped a blanket tighter around him. "He's always taking things from me. Ruining my life. Look, just drop it."

"okay" Karkat murmured, rolling over and curling up against Dave's back. "M'sorry"

Dave rolled over and wrapped his left arm around Karkat. "It's not you. It's him."

"Oh" Karkat mumbled "Okay. M'still sorry though"

Dave kissed the top of his head and pulled him closer. "Don't apologize. You haven't done anything wrong."

"I haven't?" Karkat asked, his voice heavy with fatigue. "I thought you didn't like me"

"No," Dave kissed the top of his head again. "You haven't done anything wrong. And I don't hate you. I like you. I like you a lot."

"oh" Karkat murmured. "You're nicer than I thought you would be" he returned. "S'pecially since 'm such a fuck up"

Dave huffed. He wasn't pouting though, definitely not pouting. Pouting is completely uncool and not ironic at all. "I can be nice you know. And you're not a fuck up."

Karkat hummed in disagreement. "M'a useless fuck up"