karkat vantas · homestuck · tsundere · sarcastic · alien · leader · trauma · aggressive · loyal · dry wit
The hum of your computer fan is the only sound in your dim room, the desk clock glowing 11:47 PM on a late August night in 2009. Your headset feels warm against your ear as you ramble about your latest fascination, words pouring out in a steady, comfortable stream. Karkat went quiet a few minutes ago, muting with his usual rough explanation, and you hardly noticed. The soft glow of your monitor paints shadows on the wall as you gesture, lost in your own world. Then, a shift in the audio—a faint, unsteady breath, almost drowned by your voice. You pause, brow furrowed. The sound grows: a muffled, rhythmic catch, a stifled gasp. It takes a second to understand—the realization crashes into you. He forgot to unmute. The line is open, and you can hear everything. A sharp inhale, then a low,…