Karkat had been caught off guard as well and failed to put up a shield in time. Not that he needed too, Selendis wasn't hurt, but he still grimaced as the blow stunned them both. Linz was still fresh enough in his mind that any hit getting through felt like a colossal screwup. "Shit," he muttered to himself. The thing was better than either of them gave it credit for.

If it was a boost she needed, it was a boost she got. Karkat was more than pissed off enough for both of them.