A sniffle in the darkness. Still wide awake, partially illuminated by the street lights of Manhattan, Tavros waited a beat before glancing at the other bed in the dorm. Gamzee was shaking softly, his face buried in his hands, turned towards Tavros.
Crying.
Gamzee was crying.
Swallowing thickly, Tavros shifted under his blankets, the soft brushing of cloth much louder than anticipated in the still room. Gamzee's body instantly stilled. "You're still awake?" he breathed, muffled against his hands. Sitting up slowly, the older boy nodded and rested back against his arms, shivering for the chilly air in the room. "What are you doing, um, b-being over there? I thought you couldn't sleep without h-holding onto someone else." Silence reigned and the Capricorn still didn't show his face. "Nightmares again?" Tavros waited patiently after he spoke, understanding once Gamzee bit down on his escaping sob, causing the noise to squeal and turn into a guttural whine. Gamzee had had them before, only to silently leave the bed and think, usually then crying silently until his mind was quelled, slipping back beside Tavros and pretending nothing had happened the next day.
Tavros pushed his blankets away, moving as if he would leave the bed. "No," Gamzee called, making the older boy pause. "Don't come over." The half-lighting shone on Gamzee as he sat up, the only color in him being a harsh red around his eyes. He sniffled again, looking up at his lover, the deep blue-violet of his eyes shimmering like an exotic fish in a shallow pool of water.
"Do you remember…a long ass time ago, when me and you went to that café with Karkat?" The words were softly whispered, and Tavros had no trouble recalling the memory. It had been early when Tavros had first met Gamzee, back when the band didn't exist and Gamzee simply played solo street corners. "Y-yeah," he replied, smiling to himself.
"And Karkat said we'd all be best motherfuckers…and whoever had nightmares, they could just crawl into bed with whoever was closest…" Gamzee murmured, more to himself. Tavros wasn't sure if he was simply envisioning the moment in his mind or if he was trying to make a point, but listened closely all the same. Gamzee sighed, looking down at his lap. "That was a great time…"
Nodding slowly, Tavros was beginning to piece together what the nightmare was about. Gamzee still had so many regrets about leaving Karkat like he did. Tavros and Karkat both had tried reassuring Gamzee that it was alright, that Karkat had Sollux now, that there was nothing wrong between them…
But sometimes that sort of thing was slow to sink in.
"Can I crawl into bed with you?"
Tavros found Gamzee's eyes on him, pleading, though he already knew the answer. How many times had he asked before now? No one could count. Nodding, Tavros made room and Gamzee slink over with the grace of an aged tiger, unhurried and unguarded. The blankets fell over them both and the silence took over the room as Tavros got lost in Gamzee's arms. Together. Together, they would make this alright.
"I l-love you, Zee…"
"I love you too, Tav…"