A Luxury Rescue [Petstuck Eridan x Karkat]

[NicTheDjinn]

Eridan was much less cautious about being picked up now, still slightly sedated and, as far as he could, he trusted the Striders. He didn't really bother taking in whatever Dave was saying. The gentle tone told him that it wasn't really necessary to respond, and he was happy about that. Being made to talk might have been the worse part about all that. He perked up a little at the mention of food, pressed tight against Karkat the moment he was able to do so. It would be nice to have the gnawing hunger go away.



Before Dirk could get back to the car, Eridan had already closed his eyes and slipped into a gentle sleep.

-----

Well, that was one advantage to him being loopy from sedatives... He was obviously still distrustful of humans, but at least he was too out of it to stress about it as intensely as he had before. It would be like earning Karkat's trust all over again, but this time it was a fear response instead of aggression. Honestly, that didn't sound nearly as bad... The only thing they seriously had to worry about is that if Eridan did choose to be aggressive at any point, he was significantly larger than the grumpy little troll and so capable of greater harm. Time would tell, but it wasn't a pleasant thought.

The albino didn't seem to mind the lack of response, though he did wonder how long it would take for him to start talking with them. This was something they'd never had to deal with before. Karkat, even when he'd still been 'silenced' was very vocal. Sure he could only manage hoarse whispers and broken squeaks, but he wasn't at all shy about letting you know exactly how he felt. After he'd healed from the reconstructive surgery, he'd ended up with a gravelly voice as they had thought he might, but he wasn't in any pain. He'd healed up nicely too something the vet had confirmed even in front of Eridan.

The small troll was happy to cuddle, putting himself between Eridan and the front seats. It was rather silly considering he was trying to protect a troll quite a bit bigger than him with his body, but the gesture was what was important really as the only one that was worried about Eridan's safety around them was Eridan himself. The ride home was a quiet one so as not to wake the exhausted troll just yet. Once they'd arrived, Dave was tempted to gently pick him up and carry him inside without waking him, but there was too much of a risk of him getting hurt if Eridan should be alarmed enough to defend himself if he woke in the teenager's arms.

Instead, Karkat was once again nosing him awake, as gentle as ever. "Hey... Eridan. We're home. You gotta wake up so we can get inside and eat." Urged the little troll, gently nudging him forehead to forehead.

-----

Eridan barely felt like he had blinked fore he was blinking himself awake again. There was a moment of irritation that presented as a growled chuff, but it faded as fast as it came. He lifted his head at the nudging, and wiped at his eyes. The felt dry and he still felt very heady, though it was getting a little better. He hadn't quite realized before just how much it had felt like he was constantly on the edge of drowning for the last week. Now, he could breath and though it hurt, it did draw in every bit of air that he needed.

His reality reconstituted slowly. The truck, Karkat, the human Dave looking at them expectantly. This was the safest he had been in months, and in his stupor, he really believed that. The sureness would leave him as the sedatives wore off, but for the moment, he felt actually safe with Karkat pressed up against him. A barrier to the horrors that had happened and a weapon against the horrors yet to come. It was all rather poetic, swimming around in his head. His tongue felt too thick to even begin waxing on about his mental state. It felt too thick to do much at all except nod groggily at words he hadn't quite picked up. So far, every time he's been asked to do something with the Striders, it involved being picked up so that was the guess that he gave to the words, even if no question had actually been asked.

His back claws flexed against the seat, pricking the upholstery was he fully tried to sit up. He was able to, but it felt like he was moving through syrup.

-----

"Atta boy... That's it... Good boy..." Cooed the teenager, as the larger troll wobbled up into a sitting position. Poor guy was majorly out of it, but he would be okay. Karkat had been a stumbling mess after his surgery and it sounded like Eridan had been put through the wringer to get him to this point. He would feel much better, but that didn't change the fact that it had been an ordeal. Slowly and carefully so he wouldn't startle him, he gently pet his head, running fingers through his bicolored hair. "Good boy... Come on, let's get ya inside." He urged before carefully scooping him up as the troll had expected.

Together the three of them made their way up to the apartment then, Eridan carried into Karkat's room and gently laid down on the bed there so he could sleep off the sedatives. When they weren't afraid he would swallow his own tongue or something, they would attempt to feed him. For the moment, they trusted the fluids he'd been placed on while he was out. "You want food, man?" He asked giving the smaller troll a gentle scritch under the chin.

Karkat couldn't help the happy, if scratchy little purr that left him at the attention. When he caught himself, he cleared his throat then shook his head. "I want to wait till Eridan is okay again. It doesn't seem fair that he has to wait." The human game him a nod before leaving him, the smaller troll coming back over to the larger again. Seemingly unable to help himself, he leaned in to groom the other troll in an attempt to comfort him.

-----

Eridan hardly flinched as he was stroked, pulling back sleepily, but eventually giving in and leaning into the touch. It didn't take much for him to relax, exhaustion catching up to him in full. He hardly stirred as they went up to the apartment, other than to grumbled at any jostling. Even then, it was quiet and only semi-coherent. He was already fully asleep by the time he was laid down, and stirred only to curl up in the bed. He was more than comfortable there and breathed a contented sigh that ached, and yet felt magnificent.

Unconsciously, he leaned into the grooming. Awake, it would have been confusing, but like this, it felt natural as the sleep that he couldn't escape from. Instinct had him by the scruff, and he was letting it lead him wherever it wanted to. Like this, he slept comfortably for hours.

[NicTheDjinn]

Thankfully the petting was accepted with virtually no fuss and the process of carrying him went even smoother. Once the poor guy was settled on Karkat's bed, Dave rejoined his brother to talk about what the hell they were going to do now... As it was, Dirk was sleeping on a pullout futon in the living room and they sure as hell didn't have space for a troll like Eridan, particularly as he grew older. It looked like Dirk might have to bit the bullet and come out of retirement. Silver lining was the fact they could live more lavishly if money started rolling back in.

Meanwhile, Karkat had been content to groom the larger troll till his instincts were sated. With that out of his system, he pulled the blanket over and snuggled up for a nap himself, pulling the blanket over them both. Together they slept peacefully undisturbed, the smaller troll curling up against the larger's side. This was something he'd never really gotten to indulge in... Though some subspecies of troll were more solitary than others, Karkat was more of the social type, even if his prickly attitude suggested otherwise. Being able to spend time so close to another troll felt better than he thought it would and eased the loneliness he hadn't realized he felt.