When Tavros woke up the next evening, the last thing he expected was for him to be in snuggled up to his best friend's chest, the two of them being sprawled out on the couch.
He started, confused before he remember the night before and he stiffened, mortified.
Oh my, he thought, did that really happen? Well, what do we do now? What if he was just high and doesn't actually like me that way? Oh, this is going to so awkward…I should just leave now and hope he doesn't remember.
Unfortunately, Tavros didn't know that Gamzee is a very light sleeper and so he'd woke up instantly after Tav had moved just slightly.
"Well, mornin' to you Tavbro, get a good sleep?" He asked lazily, re-snuggling Tavros back into his bosom.
"Heh, yeah…um," Tavros stuttered helplessly, not looking him in the face.
"That's good. Hey, are you okay?" He inquired, brows furrowed worriedly.
"Uh-"
Before he could finish there was a knock at the door, and Tavros quickly jumped up and into his four-wheel device to go answer it, missing the look of disappointment and hurt that made its way onto Gamzee's face.
"Hello Tavros, we've come fur the purrrrty!" Nepeta squealed at him when he opened the door to find her and the rest of the trolls all standing there in a wide assortment of outfits.
"Um, what?" he stated helplessly.
"We were told via Trollian that you were hosting a costume party today, is that not true?" Kanaya asked, seeming to notice his confusion.
"Uh…"
"You know what? Who cares! I didn't get dressed up for nothing!" Vriska exclaimed, pushing her way past Tavros and was then followed by the rest of the trolls.
"Tavros? What's going...?" Gamzee called from the other room, trailing off when everyone came into the living room.
"A costume party, I guess?" Tavros replied nervously, not looking Gamzee in the eyes.
"Huh, okay. I'll go get some drinks for everyone." Gamzee replied, not seeming to notice the other troll's awkwardness, or if he did he didn't say anything.
Tavros stood there for a few minutes, not knowing what to do after seeing everyone already absorbed in their own conversations. Luckily, Aradia soon noticed and walked towards him.
"So Tavros, how are you doing? I feel like we haven't talked in some time." she greeted him, a smile on her face.
"Oh, uh, good! And yeah, I miss you, too. I feel like we haven't been as close as we used to after...uh, well, you know.." He trailed off (again) not wanting to upset the other troll by bringing up her death.
"You mean my dying? It's alright Tavros, you can say it. I'm not affected by it anymore." Aradia quickly reassured him, still smiling.
"Oh, well that's good. You're so strong, I don't know how I could ever get over something like dying." He stated, shuddering a little at the thought.
"Yes, well, It's not as hard as you think. Anyway, I noticed when we came in that Gamzee was already here. And since I know it is way too early in the night for him to be up, he must've slept over. Care to explain?" She prodded gently, wiggling her eyebrows.
Tavros instantly blushed, "Well, uh, you see...It's not like that, okay! Well, for him I mean. Although he did, uh, kiss me last night, I don't think he meant anything by it, or even remembers." He responded sadly.
"Heeeeeeeey Tavros, how you doing and all that shit? Just kidding, I don't care. What's this I hear about someone smooching on ya?" Vriska asked him, putting her arm around his shoulders and getting in his personal space.
"Uh, nothing...y-you must of h-heard wrong.." He stuttered helplessly," And why were you eavesdropping on our conversation, anyway?" He questioned, angry with her for invading his privacy.
"Oh, no reason, I just don't want anyone taking advantage of my poor little Taaaaaaaavros, not that you could stand up for yourself anyway. Hell, you'd probably even like it!" She remarked, getting even closer to him before laughing loudly at her own joke.
Out of the corner of his eye he could see Aradia getting continuously irked with Vriska and just as she opened her mouth to reprimand her for that last statement they heard something crash.
Tavros looked over to the entrance of his kitchen to see Gamzee standing there looking furious, a tray of broken glasses and spilled liquid at his feet.
"Gamzee, what...?" Karkat tried to ask him, but Gamzee shut him up with a glare.
"Excuse me, spider bitch, but do you mind stepping the fuck off of Tavbro? Because if you don't within the next three seconds I swear to gog..." Gamzee threatened, trailing off ominously.
"Wow, layoff, clown, jeez. Unless...Oh don't tell me YOU are the one who kissed little Tavros?! Hahahaha that is just hysterical!" Vriska laughed, letting go and backing away from Tavros, much to his (and Gamzee's) relief.
"Why is that so funny?" Gamzee questioned warily, but somehow still looking angry at the same time.
"Oh please, like Tavros would ever fill a quadrant with you, much less a matespritship! You're nothing but a dumbshit stoner clown that can't even take care of himself. Tell me, how does someone like that expect to be able to care for someone as needy and pathetic as Tavros?" She replied smugly, laughing once again at her own jokes.
Gamzee was getting less and less angrier looking throughout Vriska's spiel, and more and more depressed and withdrawn, like he was actually believing what she'd said.
"Alright, I believe this is where we take our leave. Tavros, this has been pleasant, but I believe you want some alone time with Gamzee, no?" Kanaya said, barely giving him time to reply before she started speaking again. "That's what I thought. Come on, everyone, let's go." She finished, herding everyone out the door and then giving him a wink before closing the door behind them.
The ensuing silence was suffocating. At least, for Tavros it was, but he didn't know about Gamzee since he was facing away from him and too scared to turn around.
"It's okay, you can say it." Tavros heard him say, he then finally turned around with a confused expression.
"Gam, what-"
"What Vriska was saying, about me not being good enough, I know you all up an' don't want to be hurting a brother's feelings, but I get it." He interjects, shoulders slumped and not making eye contact.
"Huh?! Gamzee, wait-"
"Seriously Tavbro, I got it. I'll just all up and get out of your way from now on." He states somberly, starting to get up.
"But Gam-"
"It's fine, bro. Really-"
"GAMZEE!" Tavros shouts, huffing angrily. Gamzee pauses, and then sits back down.
"Look, Gam, don't listen to Vriska, okay? Just don't." Tavros pleas desperately, "None of it is true. And uh, while I know you don't want to uh, be with me like that, I just want you to know that I do. Want to be with you, that is." He finishes awkwardly, looking away with tears in his eyes.
He hears Gamzee get up, but he still won't look at him, the closer Gamzee gets the more he starts shaking, biting his lips to keep the tears in.
A hand lands on his cheek, stroking tenderly. Tavros looks up, surprised to find the love and gentleness he sees in Gamzee's eyes.
"Now, my sweet brother, what possibly gave you the idea that I didn't want to be with you like that?" He questions in a soothing voice.
"Well, because, you're just so great and I'm so, uh, not. And I am really needy and pathetic so I understand if-"
"Hey, you stop right there motherfucker. Because if there's one thing I know it's that you are the most amazing troll I've ever met, and if anything it's I who doesn't deserve you. But despite that, I uh, well...I love you, Tavbro. Always have." Gamzee tells him, never breaking eye contact.
The tears finally spill over, and Tavros wrap his hands around him, sobbing into his chest.
"I...I love you, too, Gam." He manages to get out between sobs. "I love you, so much."
"Well, that's great, Tav, but then why are you crying?" He asks confusedly, stroking Tavros' back consolingly.
"They're tears of joy." Tavros says happily, wiping away the last of them before looking up at Gamzee, smiling.
He smiles as well, before he leans in to kiss those sweet lips one more time, and certainly not for the last.
"Do you want to be my matesprit?" Gamzee asks once they break away.
"Of course, forever and for always."
"Forever, huh? I like the sound of that."