[The silence is enough of an answer even without Stephen confirming it right after, and although Karkat heaves an exasperated sigh, it's not Stephen he's annoyed with. Not really.]

Shut up. I get it, whatever.

[Or not whatever. He still wants this fucking thing out, but maybe there's some other way? Or maybe it's like the lights or...]

[He shivers and very carefully tugs his cloak a little closer around him.]

Maybe dying will fix it.

[... Oh, what the hell.]

[His head lifts.]

Yeah? Then what about my heart? Do you think they packed it in ice or whatever the fuck to make sure I could still use it after this? I don't know what you think you know about trolls, Strange, but guess what, we can't just regrow major organs organs if one goes missing.

[He can't believe he's hearing this. Actually, he can, but that doesn't make it any less irritating.]

You think I want to not come back? And what the fuck am I supposed to do if I keep this thing, just deal with having it talk to me all the time? And even if there's a way to shut it up, I don't want it. So, what, do I try and find someone who can perform the surgery and—and take one of the hearts from my friends? Because they're dead and they don't need it anymore?

[His anger had been easy to hold on to until that point, but thinking of the others now, the prospect of actually having to go through with any of the ideas he'd spouted—he feels sick, both from the horror of all that he suggested (he didn't mean it, could never mean it) and fury at himself for even thinking of the prospect. If Equius were here, he could make Karkat a new heart, and even if it had some weird chip in it that made him appreciate nude musclebeast portraiture or something, he'd take that in an instant instead. Anything but taking from his friends, and anything but what he has right now.]

[He doesn't say anything more, the point has been made, but he is going to curl up his side and begin to cry. He can't take this place anymore.]