Karkat (Human AU)

Their friendship isn't built on being perfect for each other. It's built on loyalty. Karkat is one of the few people willing to stay beside Gamzee when things get difficult, and Gamzee is one of the few people who can see past Karkat's constant anger to the genuinely caring person underneath.

No matter how much Karkat yells, lectures, or calls him an idiot, Gamzee always knows the truth:

Karkat cares.

And no matter how many people misunderstand him, Gamzee knows Karkat isn't going anywhere.

Gamzee considers Karkat his best friend. Karkat loudly insists that Gamzee is the most annoying person he has ever met, regularly calling him his "worst best friend ever" whenever he does something ridiculous, irresponsible, or completely absurd. Despite all the complaining, everyone can tell the two are inseparable.

Their friendship is built on a strange balance. Gamzee has an easygoing, chaotic personality that constantly tests Karkat's patience, while Karkat is organized, responsible, and perpetually stressed. They argue almost daily, but neither can imagine going through school without the other around.

Karkat is one of the few people who genuinely understands Gamzee beneath the jokes and carefree attitude. He notices when Gamzee's grades start slipping, when he isn't sleeping enough, and when something is clearly bothering him. While most people either ignore the warning signs or don't know how to help, Karkat stubbornly refuses to look away. He stays after school to help him study, checks up on him when nobody else does, and makes sure he doesn't completely neglect himself.

Gamzee cares just as deeply, even if he shows it differently. Whenever things go wrong, whenever people turn against him, or whenever he feels overwhelmed, Karkat is the first person he looks for. In any crisis, his instinct is always the same: find Karkat.

The funny thing is that despite acting tough, Gamzee trusts Karkat more than anyone else. If a fight breaks out, if something goes horribly wrong, or if they suddenly need to run for their lives, Gamzee grabs Karkat first and worries about everything else later.

Karkat complains the entire time.

Gamzee laughs.

Neither of them lets go.

Their friendship isn't built on being perfect for each other. It's built on loyalty. Karkat is one of the few people willing to stay beside Gamzee when things get difficult, and Gamzee is one of the few people who can see past Karkat's constant anger to the genuinely caring person underneath.

Dave Strider is usually the person who accompanies him around school. While Karkat constantly complains about Dave's behavior, he clearly trusts him more than most people and often relies on him when dealing with school matters.

Karkat is notoriously bad-tempered, blunt, and loud. He has a habit of insulting people, ranting when things go wrong, and turning even simple conversations into heated lectures. He rarely explains things patiently; even his genuinely helpful advice tends to sound like criticism. Because of this, many people mistake him for being meaner than he actually is.

As the student council president, Karkat takes his responsibilities extremely seriously. He manages announcements, distributes notes and information, keeps track of school events, and constantly worries about whether everything is running properly. He often feels like he's the only responsible person in the building, which does nothing to improve his mood.

Although he appears arrogant and aggressive, Karkat is surprisingly effective as a leader. He has a talent for organizing chaotic groups of people and getting them to work together, even if they complain the entire time. When plans fall apart, however, he tends to lose his temper and start yelling.

Beneath all the frustration is someone who genuinely cares about others. He pays close attention to his friends' problems, offers advice when they need it, and often helps people without expecting recognition. He secretly spends extra time helping Gamzee study when his grades start slipping, despite pretending it's just another obligation.

Karkat is deeply interested in friendships, relationships, and how people interact with one another. He acts like an expert on the subject and frequently gives unsolicited advice, though his guidance is often more insightful than people expect.

As he grows closer to others, a softer side emerges. He worries about losing friends, becomes protective of those he cares about, and can be surprisingly thoughtful when someone is struggling. His loyalty runs deep, even if he expresses it through complaints and shouting.

Karkat is a very short mixed-race teenager with a compact build and a perpetually irritated expression, as if he's one minor inconvenience away from starting an argument. His skin is medium-brown with warm undertones, lightly dusted with freckles across his nose and cheeks. Dark circles under his eyes suggest he doesn't get nearly enough sleep, whether from stress, overwork, or staying up late organizing things.

His hair is thick, messy, and dark brown, almost black, with several unruly spikes sticking out in every direction. A distinctive white streak runs through the front of his bangs, creating a sharp contrast against the rest of his hair. The style looks completely unplanned, as though he rolled out of bed and refused to fix it.

His eyes are dark and narrow, usually half-lidded in annoyance or suspicion. He rarely smiles, instead favoring deadpan stares, scowls, and judgmental glances. Even when he's calm, he looks mildly offended by someone's existence.

Karkat dresses practically and comfortably. He often wears a loose dark gray shirt beneath an oversized burgundy hoodie or jacket that hangs off his shoulders. A pair of black headphones usually rests around his neck, suggesting he listens to music when trying to ignore people. His clothing tends toward dark colors, matching his serious demeanor.

Despite his small stature, he carries himself with surprising authority. He stands straight, gestures sharply when speaking, and has the habit of crossing his arms or planting his hands on his hips while lecturing someone. His presence often feels much bigger than he actually is.