He was staring out the car window, watching the cars go by, the people, the streets, the buildings, the trees, and the civilization. Soon they would arrive to a place he had never seen before in his life, or at least he didn´t remember. They were heading towards the country side, away from the city, away from the suburbs, to a place his only neighbors and friends would be the cows and sheep his grandfather raised with hard work. He kept his eyes fixed on the nature going by his window, the cool air escaping the AC contrasting with the asphyxiating heat from outside, his thoughts still somewhere else. Still back were his friends were at. He felt a tinge of sadness hurt his chest, wanting to come out liquid through his tears, but he refrained from doing so. His father was watching him through the mirror, making sure he was okay and didn´t regret his decision. His father was capable of turning the car around and heading back towards the city if he saw desperation in his son´s eyes. He had decided this. He wanted it. He needed to get away from his ex-girlfriend, who was getting on his last nerve lately, and he needed some time off from reality to think quietly, some time to be alone and decide what he wanted from life. He just seemed to be unable to do so in the rush of friends, parties, job, and fights with said mean girl. He let out a stressed sigh that caught his father´s attention at once.

-You okay, son?-

-uh... oh… yeah, I´m fine. I´m just tired.- He excused himself, taking a deep breath to calm down, trying to convince himself that what he was doing was the right thing. After all, they were just a couple of weeks… he could manage.

-We´re here. - His father chimed excitedly, opening his door as fast as he could after parking somewhere near the big house. Tavros opened his own door slowly, watching in awe as the enormous amount of space unfolded itself all around his new house, making him feel as small as he ever imagined feeling. The hot air blew his fluffy Mohawk around his face, and he wasn't able to hold a couple of deep breaths to feel its scent enter his nostrils and fill his lungs, with a subtle smile on his face. –Son! Come here. - His father called after him, and he followed. The house was bigger than he had imagined, a large barn at the side of it, just a couple of meters away. He could sense the thick smell of animals emanating from inside and hear the familiar sounds. He walked towards the front door where his father had already made his way inside, hearing how his grandfather laughed out of pure joy at how a great surprise it was to have his son finally back at the farm. He smiled deeply as he entered the dirty ran down kitchen to meet his grandfather, receiving a tight hug wet with tears that made his heart shrink with warm affection.

-oh, dear lord, just… look at you!- his tired happy voice seemed to get caught at the back of his tightly closed throat form the emotion, his tears unable to stop dripping from his chin to the floor. –I haven´t seen you in ages! You are so big…- Tavros´ father laughed softly, putting some water to boil on the stove, not needing any more time to feel at home once again.

-He doesn´t remember you dad. - He laughed. –it´s been too long. - His father laughed softly as well, probably remembering how small his grandson was at the time when he met him for the first time.

-Right. - He patted his cheek lovingly, inviting him so sit beside him at the table to wait for the water to boil and eat some fresh pie.

-Where´s mom?-

-You know how she is… she´s at her friend´s house near the town. Said she´ll come back late.

- He said as his son served them some tea, taking the liberty to search for the pie as well and serve it. Tavros wasn´t able to concentrate on the conversation for long, feeling too tired, feeling too dizzy, too overwhelmed. He was sure now he had been there a long time ago, small fragments of something like memories floating around his mind, getting a headache from trying too hard to remember clearly. He asked to see his room and get upstairs to rest, being led by his own father, getting a room all for himself on the highest part of the house, in the attic. It was hotter in there too, but he didn´t really mind much due to the fact that it was almost night time already. He saw his father rush downstairs to get his luggage, being left alone for a while to observe his new room and check if there were any spiders hiding in the corners or in his bed. He got inside his bed, not wanting to cover himself because of the hot weather, hearing how his father put down his heavy bags besides his bed while he slowly drifted into a deep, well needed sleep.

He opened his eyes sharply, waking up a little uneasy, sitting on the edge of the bed to catch his breath, black being the only thing his eyes saw. He had had a nightmare, or at least he thought he had from the way his chest was heaving strongly for air, is hands were shaking, and sweat dripped form his forehead, but he was unable to remember what he had dreamt about. He was confused for a couple of minutes, not remembering where he was or how he had gotten to that hot place thick with the smell of warm wood, but after a while he was able to remember he was far away from the city, in the middle of nowhere in the country side, at his grandfather´s house. And now he needed to use the restroom. He tried the lamp at his bedside table, feeling grateful for the first time in years for electricity. He had half way expected that he would have to light a candle to get a light source. He stood up from the bed, walking towards the door, to carefully go down the stairs after grabbing a flashlight from on top of the big desk besides the door. Probably his own grandfather had put it there in case his grandson needed to get out of the room in the middle of the night. He had just met the old man and he already felt he loved him. Even though, technically, he always knew him. He searched for the bathroom quietly, trying to use his memories of the place to guide himself, not wanting to wake up his father for help. He snorted quietly at that thought, thinking he would have to search for his room as well before that. No point in doing that. He finally found it, being able to relieve his bladder, to then wash his face with the cold water from the rusted sink to cool his heat down a bit, the sweat having been unable to stop by itself. He dried his face and hands with a small towel, turning the lights off before going into the corridor again with the flashlight in hand. He noticed through the window that the moon was high above in the sky, huge and white in the center of a clean dark blue silk sea, illuminating the whole landscape outside beautifully. He decided to keep the flashlight off for a while, getting closer to the window to admire the small hills that looked black in the distance, admiring how the subtle hot breeze made the tall dried grass dance in the night, admiring how beautiful, and simple, and quiet it all was, and realizing just how much he had needed this peace. He kept on smiling as he kept his eyes on the landscape, getting suddenly startled when he saw a dark figure stand near the barn. He tensed up, new, cold sweat dripping from his body, a sudden wave of terror building up inside of him. He couldn´t remember the last time he had felt more afraid in his life, more in danger, weaker. He was sure the figure was some sort of ghost or psychopath, and felt the urge of running through the house to search for his father and ask him for help, to tell him that they all were in danger because a mad man was walking around the farm, now actually entering the large barn slowly. He felt as if they were all in danger. His father, the old fragile man that he had just seen after so many years, and probably the sweet old woman that was also his grandmother… He stashed the flashlight inside his pocket, opened the front door, and went towards the barn, not without grabbing a rake from the grass to protect him from the transgressor. He tiptoed towards the big doors of the barn, seeing the electric light inside blind him for a second as he spied through the door crack, searching for the man, finding him petting a cow. He frowned, opening the door slowly, getting closer form behind, maintaining a safe distance before clearing his throat, pointing the rake at the man. He turned around slowly, having heard the sound he had made, and Tavros found himself staring at a pair of lazy blue eyes that looked at him curiously.

-Whoa there, pretty boy, you might wanna put that down before you hurt yourself. - He snorted, extending a hand towards him to avoid being attacked, his deep, thick southern accent making Tavros lower his weapon for a second.

-What are you doing? This is my grandfather´s property. - he said daringly, still pointing at him with the pitiful rank, his voice sounding as confident as he ever had managed, but his hands making the rank dance from their trembling.

-I know that. - He responded, giving his back to him again, not thinking the younger man had it in him to actually attack him. He continued petting the cow on the nose.

-I… Wh-why are you here… then…? - He suddenly felt stupid. He had just arrived and he was already looking for trouble in a place where it probably didn´t even exist. He started lowering the rank.

-Put it down, I ain´t no bad guy. - He said just as the rank hit the ground, being discarded by the tourist. –Just came by to say goodbye to Belle. - He explained, making it clear he meant the cow he was softly petting.

-I… uh… who are you?-

-Might as well ask the same thing to you. Never saw you here before. - He let the cow alone to turn around once again, finding the foreign man sitting on a wooden bench, rubbing his eyes. –I´m Gamzee. - He said anyways, walking towards him and extending a hand to shake his. Tavros looked at his white skin, dirty nails, and looked up at his face as he shook his cold hand, scooting over to let the other sit by him, still a little skeptic. –I sometimes work for your grandfather. Help him out when no one else can. - He explained. Tavros nodded, looking at his feet.

-Sorry for, you know… Pointing at you with that. - He motioned towards the forgotten rank. Gamzee laughed softly as he shook his head, giving Tavros a long curious look in the face as he did so, not tearing his eyes away for a while, making the other feel a little bit uncomfortable.

-It´s all kinds of fine.- He said cheerfully, still looking at the tan boy, unconsciously nibbling on his lower lip as he did so, his lazy eyes watching his lips purse from embarrassment. –You gonna tell me your name? - He finally asked, a crooked smile on his face.

-Tavros. - He murmured, offering a shy smile as a response. –So, what were you doing, out here this late? You… scared me.-

-No shit, you should have seen your face! - He mocked, remembering his terrified face when he saw him after he came inside. –I said I was saying goodbye to Belle over there. She´s such a good girl, the best cow there is. He´s gonna sell her tomorrow morning, your Grandpa. I don´t want her to go… but I can´t decide on such things, you see? - He said sadly, staring at the fattened cow with a preoccupied expression that madeTavros feel his heart skip a beat. –Such a good girl. - The cow mooed loudly, flattering her ears, making some other cows stir too. –look at her, all up and knowing I´m talking about her! She´s too smart to be a cow. - He said thoughtfully, running his fingers through his hair, noticing Tavros had been staring at him while he spoke. –Sorry to scare ya. - He smiled again, patting his shoulder softly. Tavros felt his cheeks heat up a little, the burning ghost of his touch lingering a short time after.

-It´s-it's okay. - He managed, nodding rapidly, standing up to leave. –I´ll leave you alone… with the cow. - He said soberly, receiving laughter from Gamzee.

-You don´t have to leave. Stay. - He asked, patting the spot where he had been a second ago, inviting him to sit by him again. –there´s not many people around here. Too big of a space. It´s not that usual for me to be able to talk to a good looking guy like you. - He smiled, and Tavros felt his ears get a little red.

-I… fine.- he said, sitting on the wooden bench, sighing, wishing he had a watch to know what time it was.

-So, where are you from? - He asked after a moment of silence.

-The city. - He murmured, staring at Belle. She was a pretty, fat cow. –I just came to visit for a couple of weeks.-

-Huh. I see. Say, do you smoke? - He asked suddenly searching his pockets for what Tavros

thought were cigarettes and a lighter.

-No…- He shook his head, Gamzee standing up with the items on his hand, inviting him to follow him outside.

-Mind if I smoke outside? Come with me. - Tavros smiled amused, going outside into the night with him, noticing again how the bright moon made the fields look completely illuminated by its dreamy light.

-It´s so beautiful out here. - He commented, starting to walk, Gamzee following his careless walk while lighting his cigarette.

-Why would you want to come here? - He asked curiously, taking a long drag of his cylinder, watching the darker man from the corner of his eyes.

-… uh… I just. I don´t know. - He laughed softly. –I just, thought of being alone for a while and thought of this place. Good thing my dad had a house out here.

-I wouldn´t want to go to the city. - He commented, smoking thoughtfully.

-Why not? It´s pretty cool. There´s… technology, for instance. And fashion. - He joked, watching the man´s old clothes.

-nah… Nothing can compare with being completely free out here. - Tavros nodded, thinking he was right. Even though he was already starting to think it would be harder than he had thought to be out there in the middle of nowhere without the crowds.

-Are you married? - He suddenly asked, trying to get his mind to forget the city and focus on the present.

-Me? No. - He giggled, getting a little flushed from what Tavros could tell. –No, no. - He kept on shaking his head, now getting a little nostalgic. –Wouldn´t be legal out here anyways.- he continued, taking the last drag from his cigarette before throwing it to the dirt road and stepping on it until it was completely out. Tavros observed him for a couple of seconds, waiting for him to continue, not understanding what he was talking about. But then he realized what he meant.

-Oh…- He murmured.

-Does that bother you? - He asked, keeping his eyes in front of him, preparing himself to light another one, beginning to regret the impulse of being so honest.

-No… not at all, why would it? - Gamzee looked at him immediately, a confused frown on his face as the flames escaped the lighter.

-What? You mean it? - He asked.

-Of course, why are you looking at me so surprised? - He giggled at his seriously concerned face.

-Just… not many people out here that accept men like me. - He said thoughtfully, still confused.

-I´m not from "out here". - He said, smiling. Gamzee smiled back. He wondered quietly why he had been so honest with the tan boy. He had never told that aspect of his life to anyone that easily, but it just seemed something natural and normal to bring up with him. He felt he wasn´t like the people he had met until now, and that called for a different approach as well.

-Are you… gay too? - He dared to ask, blushing from saying it out loud after so long. He had only been honest with a couple of really close people throughout his life about his sexuality. Tavros laughed softly, looking up at the stars. He stared wide eyed at how close they looked, and at how many there were scattered across the sky. Where he was from, he could almost count the small little bright dots with his fingers.

-Well… Not… Not completely. - He continued. Gamzee didn´t seem to understand him. –I mean, yes, but I have dated women too. I guess I don´t really mind…? - He questioned himself, watching the thick cluster of stars that made up a little fragment of an arm of the Milky Way. He was used to being around "different" people back in the city. Most of the people he knew had had homosexual experiences anyways. Gamzee nodded, biting his bottom lip as he watched Tavros stare up at the sky while walking.

-I…uh… It´s pretty late. - He commented, still watching the younger man. Tavros looked around him for a couple of seconds, trying to recognize where they were, spotting the barn in the distance.

-Right. - He said, looking at the man to say goodbye. He had felt as if he could tell him anything without being self-conscious; he was the kind of person you could trust blindly, according to his hunch. –I have a feeling that I´m gonna see a lot of you. - He joked, thinking about what Gamzee had said earlier about working for his grandfather.

-Probably. - He nodded, smoking his second cigarette. Tavros waved goodbye at him, starting to head back to his house.

-Good night. - Gamzee waved back at him, feeling a sudden void inside of him as he got out of reach, as he slowly disappeared in the distance. He started walking towards his own house, looking back at Tavros as he did so, a mixture of different emotions filling his guts and making his heart race. He had an unsettling feeling that that man was going to make a difference in his life, and he didn´t know if that was a good or a bad thing. He sighed, having finished his second cigarette as he got closer to his house, still thinking of Tavros. He had never met a guy like him in his life.