[His hands are back at his sides and clenched into fists by the time Dave finds his voice again, and it's only the fact that grabbing the idiot and shaking him wouldn't help that stops Karkat from doing it. How dare he wear that look on his face, have the fucking gall to act like everything he's heard is some earth-shattering revelation? Has Karkat been that bad of a friend before now? What?

He has to bite his tongue to keep from snapping any of this as Dave continues, but his silence doesn't last for a second as soon as it seems like the other is done talking.]

You don't have to manage it alone, Dave! How many times do I have to say it before it gets through to you?

[Too fucking many, as far as he can tell, but there would be no point to this conversation if this weren't the last. Just—how can anyone be this fucking stubborn?!

He tries a calming breath, but as frustrated as he is, he just winds up making himself feel lightheaded. Focus. Focus. This isn't over yet. Dave has to be catching on by now, right? ... Right?

Fuck, he wishes Rose were here.]

Look, I... I know what you're going through, all right? You're not the only one who—

[He breaks off, bites his tongue again and sways in place for a moment, as if he'd been preparing to take a step closer and thought better of it. This would be so much easier if he could just—but that wouldn't work and it's stupid, why is he even thinking about it?]

You aren't going to fuck it up if you just talk to me.

[Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Why the fuck does he even have to say this, if Dave weren't so fucking determined not to understand—]

I want to help.