Karkat kept watching the clock, much to the annoyance of Cronus. The greaser wannabe already knew what his boyfriend was watching the clock for and he already knew why Karkat kept watching the clock but he didn't know why he kept watching the clock. Yeah, okay so his best friend was coming back. Big whoop. But why was that such a big deal? Cronus just didn't understand. As Karkat's boyfriend, he should automatically be his best friend. Karkat should be watching the clock and counting down the seconds to when he gets to see his significant other next.

...Which technically wasn't needed now since Cronus was right next to him but still!

Karkat's leg was bouncing in excitement. One hand was in his pocket and resting on his phone so he could feel it if it vibrated with news from Dave. He kept trying to force a smile from not showing, his mouth making awkward twisting movements. He kept twirling his pencil around with his fingers. At one point he began biting his lower lip to keep the smile from coming. God this was just...wrong. It was fucked up in Cronus' eyes. Why was Karkat getting so excited over this? It is nothing. Dave is nothing.

The bell rang and Karkat nearly fell trying to stand up so fast. Cronus rolled his eyes and slowly began shoving book after book into his bag. Karkat said nothing but it was clear that he was getting a bit bothered by how slow he was going. Eventually Cronus stood up, Karkat grabbed his hand and dragged him out the doors and through the halls. Cronus dragged his feet as his boyfriend yanked him through the large crowd of teenagers also trying to leave but through different exits. He really didn't understand why Karkat was so excited.

The drive home was awkwardly silent, for Cronus that is. Karkat spent his time texting his friend. Best friend. Dave. Every time they stopped at a red light Cronus would look over, seeing his boyfriend smiling at his phone. His boyfriend laughing at another guy's texts. The light would turn green and he would continue driving, a tight hold on the steering wheel.

They were nearing Karkat's house and Karkat was already preparing to jump out the car and give a quick thanks to his boyfriend for the ride home. Like any sane boyfriend Cronus wasn't going to have that. As they pulled in, Cronus grasped Karkat's arm tightly, definitely getting his attention.

"Hey, before you go," Cronus flashed his boyfriend a smile, "have a good day. Alright doll?" The other nodded, slightly confused. "Don't do nothing stupid, aight?" Another nod. "And have fun." Cronus's smiled widened and Karkat nodded once more, slower this time. He was admittedly confused, Cronus usually didn't enunciate random words or smile so wide, but he decided against any questions.

Walking in, his mom greeted him with a warm welcome and telling him dinner would be ready at the usual time. Karkat halfheartedly responded with an 'ok mom' as he retreated upstairs to his room. JoJo was in there already, all laid out on Karkat's bed. She meowed as he dropped his bookbag and flopped down besides her, rubbing her stomach.

Have fun.

Karkat thought for a moment before standing up yet again.

~

This was fun. Right? It was some form of fun. At least that was what Karkat was trying to convince himself as he was thrown in the air by the douche super hero clad in pink, who's equally as douchey name is the Heartbreaker. It was fun. Cronus told him to have fun and this was exactly what he was doing.

Or maybe this whole idea was dumb.

Electricity shoot through Karkat's body and all he could see was neon pink. He wanted to screech in pain but he could risk nothing, instead he bit down as hard as he could on the front of his cape, trying to will the giant blood hand to break apart and form into smaller blood hands. The smaller blood hands were just the thing that The Red Baron needed to distract his heroic enemy long enough to let go of Karkat. Once the pink electricity was no longer affecting him he managed to get himself together long enough to dodge a sword attack. Katana attack? Whatever.

The fight droned on and Karkat was actually beginning to get annoyed. He could've been home right now, texting Dave. Instead he was here fighting. He didn't even know why he was fighting. It was like a magical hand forced his villain suit on and shoved him towards the city after telling everyone he was planning an attack. Karkat was just about ready to finish the battle when something caught his eye.

He didn't exactly know what it was. He just knew it was fast and bright red and coming his way. He paused for a moment, the blood hands occupying the Heartbreaker, and squinted to get a better look at the weird red thing.

That was when he got punched in the face.

It didn't hurt that much but it was enough to send Karkat spiraling backwards. When he regained his balance he looked up in utter confusion. It was another superhero. One with piss blond hair and striking red outfit. Karkat had never seen this guy before so naturally he stopped to stare, which got him punched again, this time by the Heartbreaker.

The mysterious superhero dressed in red giggled quietly. He was actually there. He had just punched his favorite super villain in the face with his own fist. This was great. Life was great. His skin was clear, his water was clean. Life was great.

"Hey!" Dirk- Whoops, The Heartbreaker- waved his arm in front of Dave's face. "Don't just stay there floating like a doofus, Clockwork." Ew. Dave physically cringed at his disgustingly shitty superhero name. Neither of them could think of something cooler! Or at least something cool that was in theme with his powers. Dave originally wanted to be The Obamarang but that may have been slightly...odd, to say in the least so it was shot down immediately. But it was fine. Later that same night, Dave was not going to rest until he came up with the perfect superhero name. "Do something!" Dave blinked and looked past Dirk, seeing that The Red Baron had risen once again and was simply...floating there. A slightly opaque blood shield surrounded him and his intimidating eyes seemed to be piercing through Dave's soul.

"Why isn't he doing anything?" Dave asked quietly to an equally confused Dirk. The other shrugged.

"Dunno. He's never done this before..."

"I'm gonna try something..." Dirk nodded and allowed his brother to cautiously float over to the super villain in question. "Uh, hi." Dave waved. He wasn't exactly sure what he was doing but at least he was doing something. "Name's Clockwork, I'm new." The Red Baron squinted in what seemed like disgust? If anyone could squint in disgust that is. A small stream of blood floated up out of his arm, forming a sentence.

"That is the most disgusting name I've heard." Dave smiled a bit.

"I'm not the most creative...and neither is The uh, The Heartbreaker...so..." He let out a nervous laugh and stayed there awkwardly. "So uh, you're THE Red Baron...that's cool. That's really cool actually."

"I don't think super heroes normally comments how cool they think someone who's currently destroying the lives of many."

"Well- uh, fuck. Yeah. Okay. I guess. I'm new. Sorry. It's just, uh, you're cool."

The Red Baron stayed silent now. This guy seemed so...nervous around him? A good nervous. Like, butterflies in the stomach nervous. And this new guy thought he was cool too? He honestly felt flattered. And maybe slightly creeped out. But damn, there was just something so familiar about him. He couldn't put his finger on it. This guy, Clockwork, seemed so...familiar. God it was bugging him and it would keep bugging him.

Now, the two of them were floating a good thirty feet apart in silence. But it was a comfortable silence. Not an awkward one where they felt forced to talk about something or fight. However it seemed like Dirk felt uncomfortable since he let out a loud and annoyed groan.

"Come on!" The pink clad hero took his stance and extended his arms, pink lightning shooting out of his palms instantaneously. Karkat reacted fast, using the blood hands he managed to grab a gold sized chunk of a pulverized building and chucked it in the general direction of the two heroes. This time, Dave reacted fast. He gasped and crossed his arms over his head, hoping the giant slab of cement would stop which it did. Red gears appeared around the piece of motionless concrete, they seemed like a sort of decoration. Dave looked up at the frozen piece and then back to where the Red Baron was only to see that his favorite villain had mysteriously vanished.