War Makes Beasts of us All
by bakedpotatocat

==> Be Vrissy Maryam-Lalonde.

You’re not sure whether you are more or less fucked now that KARKAT FUCKING VANTAS, LEADER OF THE REVOLUTION, is here. Less likely to be literally killed, yes, but holy shit you are in trouble once mom finds out. You haven’t seen this guy since you were like 3 sweeps old. He’s a lot taller, scruffier, and quieter than you remember, and while his voice is soft, its got the rasp like a lifelong smoker and still has the intonation of him yelling. He leans down, and while his voice is restrained and gentle, it has obvious notes of urgency in it.


Makes sense he’d call you that, he and Mum are apparently still really close.


You wonder why he’s asking you this, but you can tell he’s pointedly trying not to look at Vriska, and Harry and Tavros are both in mild states of shock.


You know he knows who Vriska is. You recognized her on sight, for fucks sake.


She sways on her feet, blood leaking from beneath her eyepatch, and Harry catches her.


He slings her up in a semi-piggyback, loosely tying her hands around his neck, and securing her legs against his waist.


Its one hell of a parade. You take point, and Tavros and Harry walk inbetween, with Karkat, more than a foot taller than anyone else, holding the rear with Vriska strapped to his back. There’s a pistol strapped on his leg – faster than captchaloguing, you suppose – and a knife hilted at the small of his back. He’s a seasoned commando, you remember. Terror of the troll forces. His eyes have filled in completely candy red, but its unsettling, in the same way the pictures of Terezi were. His skin is darker and rougher than any of the trolls ectobiologized – the genetic code was synthesized from adolescents, and adult trolls on Earth C never quite grow into their full ancestral forms, staying closer to the light grey, mostly humanoid form the young trolls possessed.

Karkat may be an ecto-clone himself, but something about the paradox source meant he was still bred for war. Mum is too, but she doesn’t look it, being a rainbow drinker and all. You look down at your own hands. Soon you’ll start the process of your final molt – you were one of the first all-natural trolls on Earth C. Straight from the mothergrub. Your fingers are soft and light. If the stories were to be believed Serket had already killed thousands by your age. Hell of a heritage. You suppose you could ask her, but she’s rambling about Troll Metal Gear Solid and FLARP and how cosplay got a hell of a lot better.

Vriska’s great. It’s hard being a kid and growing up under a fascist dictatorship, but you get the idea that she understands better than anyone else.

You round the corner, and the juggalorator’s corpse is still there.


Too bad there’s some random asshole laying claim.


She doesn’t seem to notice the adult troll walking up to her.


Faster than anything you’ve ever seen Karkat slams her against the lockers, fangs out and one hand holding her up by the throat.


He rips the phone out of her hand and smashes it beneath his boot.


Tavros and Harry look sick. You get the idea they’ve never seen real violence in person before. Vriska is just straight up vibing, somehow. The concussion really did a number on her. And as sick to your stomach seeing a grown man assault someone your age makes you… you get the feeling this is him showing restraint. Alternia ain’t nothin to fuck with. He scoops up Gamzee’s body in a fireman’s carry and holy shit he must be ripped beneath that urban camo jumpsuit. Carrying two deadweight bodies like its nothing. You stalk through the halls to the back lot, where Tavros’s car is.


A combead you didn’t notice before now buzzes to life in Karkat’s ear.


He turns to the three of you, a tired yet determined look on his face.