The Book

by Nobra

Tavros is dying. Gamzee isn't ready to accept this. He's doing everything he can to help Tavros, but there's not much you can do for someone that's gotten slammed by a eighteen-wheeler in a freak wheelchair accident. Gamzee finds a book Tavros has been keeping. It's a notebook- containing the story of the two since they met, told by Tavros. I don't own Homestuck!

2. We Met in a Storm

Chapter Two: We Met in a Storm

I remember when I met you. Mom was pushing me down the street. It was snowing. Heavy snow, and the wind was howling. Mom's car was broken and we needed to go get some groceries. Everything is really, really clear to me. But that's probably because I met you. So it was the most important day of my life, you know?

So, anyway, Mom was pushing me down the street. trying to wheel me over ice patches without jostling me too much. We were laughing, but also freezing. I was holding the grocery bag. I think it was just some milk and maybe some extra stuff. But that's not really all that important. We were fighting our way through the snow, and you were up ahead. There was some other kid near you. He was kicking you, and laughing. I recognized him from school. He was the kind of kid that stole your lunch money as a kid. That one idiot that makes fun of the kid in the wheelchair. But he was kicking you around. And he'd stolen your coat. And you were fine with it. You had a bloody lip. And you were smiling. You didn't say a word, but I could tell that you were doing just fine. I realized that even though that boy was trying to smash you to a pulp, you still knew you were better than him. And that was impressive. I gaped at you. Mom started yelling at the boy. I don't remember exactly what she said but she threatened to call the cops and all that. He dejectedly threw your coat over your head and ran off.

And when you pulled your coat off your head, you giggled. And then you stood up. I remember noting how tall you were. And thin. You had your pale skin and that makeup you wear around your eyes and your mouth. I thought it was kind of strange. I was staring, I realized and looked down at the bag of groceries. You tousled up your messy black hair and reached out your other hand to shake my mother's hand. She carefully took it and you gave it a shake.

"Thanks, miss! I don't know what I was going to do if that motherfucker took my coat!" You took your coat and threw it around your shoulders. My mother was a bit put off by you, I could tell.

"Er, your welcome," she responded standoffishly. With that, we were off, heading towards home. "Have a good day."

"You too, miss!" You called. Then you turned and looked at me. My stomach dropped. Or maybe my heart leapt. I couldn't really tell, you know? "You have a good day too, there, bro," you said. Then you winked at me. I didn't know what that meant. Well, I still don't. But I don't understand a lot of the stuff you do, you know? };)

"G-goodbye," I sputtered out after a minute. I don't know if you could hear me. But you waved and I waved back.

Of course Gamzee remembered all of this. He bit his lip and wiped his eyes roughly with his shirt sleeve, glancing up at Tavros now. Still sleeping. He began to cry. That Tavros. The same one he met that day. What he wouldn't give to make it so that he was the same old Tavros. Even if he was in a wheelchair then, he wasn't broken. He wasn't like this.

As it turns out, you were the new kid at school. Because the next day at school, you came into my History class with a chill smirk and a sloping posture. I recognized you, and sat up a little. You turned to me, and a big grin spread across your face.

"Hey! You're that Wheelchair Boy from yesterday!" You sat next to me. The seats next to me were usually empty. I was surprised you took it. It made me feel kinda cool. That sounds stupid now, but it's how I felt. I smiled a bit.

"Oh, hello,' I whispered. "You're new here?" You nodded, still grinning.

"My names Gamzee," you offered. You seemed really excited. I wasn't so nervous about you anymore. You seemed really nice!

"I..I'm Tavros!" I stuttered then. Well you know how I stutter when I'm nervous. Or happy. Or sad. Or anything. Ha ha!

"Tavros," you said. "That's a motherfucking cool name." I began to pick up on how you sure did like to say 'motherfucking' a lot. But I was okay with that because you did seem like you meant well. "Mind if I be your bro?"

"B-b-bro?" Gamzee smiled.

"Friends. Buddies. Bros." I agreed. And that was how it all started, I guess.

Gamzee did the math in his head. That was a bit over a year ago when they first met. Now it was winter again. Gamzee sighed. A lot had happened in a year. Gamzee looked down at the book. There was still plenty to read.