Slowly, Gamzee looked up to Karkat, his eyes and face soaked. Karkat gently touched the side of his face and Gamzee's eyes fluttered shut, as he leaned into his touch. Karkat was reluctant at first, but eventually could no longer last, he leaned down, and gently pressed his lips to Gamzee's. At first, it was like kissing a stone; his lips were cold and dry. But, as though warmed and awakened by Karkat's lips, Gamzee began to return the kiss, with a deep, shaking exhale. Karkat slowly entwined his hands into Gamzee's hair and pulled his face closer, leaning over him. Gamzee's own hands found Karkat's sides and he slid his hands under Karkat's black shirt, hungrily feeling his skin.
Gamzee found himself lying back, between Karkat's legs, his hands running up and down Karkat's back, kissing him like he hadn't kissed anything in far too long. Desperately, ravenously, passionately. Eventually, Karkat sat up, and pulled off his shirt, Gamzee's own following his, and he eagerly kissed Gamzee's collarbones, tasting the salty sweat on his skin. Gamzee's breath caught slightly, as Karkat gently nibbled at his neck and shoulders, while grinding his hips against Gamzee's. Gamzee lifted his hips, producing a low moan from both of them.
It didn't take long before Gamzee was inside him, with the help of a few products that eased the motion. Karkat rode him slowly, whimpering and moaning with each movement, while Gamzee dug his fingertips into Karkat's hips, breathing heavily and moaning softly, his eyes so tightly on Karkat's body, watching him as he moved, that Karkat could nearly feel them physically running down his skin. Karkat's back arched and he let out a long, loud moan as he felt Gamzee press against his prostate, as deep as he could be, and Gamzee whimpered, shuddering from the pleasure, as he gently stroked the other man. Both orgasms were very close together, hard, and quivering. Afterwards, Karkat collapsed beside Gamzee, breathing heavily, still whimpering from the after-effects. Gamzee held him close, finally feeling contentment for the first time in far too long. Contentment was always the happy consequence of passion.
In the middle of the night, Karkat awoke to Gamzee shivering violently, muttering to himself, his eyes rolling behind his eyelids. He frowned, and pulled the blanket up further over the both of them, holding him close, and easing him through the night.
They admitted him into a rehabilitation centre the following week. The nights before, Karkat had spent holding Gamzee close and rocking back and forth with him while he shivered and sweated. He couldn't keep food down, couldn't sleep, could hardly walk half the time. And Karkat hadn't left him the entire time.
The rehab centre put him on a prescription of methadone to assist with weaning off the drugs. Karkat had to return home, but he visited two or three times a week, for three months. At first, it was difficult, as he spent most nights screaming or shivering or crying because of how much his body ached and desperately craved the toxins he used to feed it. Eventually, however, they became fewer and farther between, and the dosage of his medication decreased. Terezi was also admitted to recover from her cocaine addiction, and she had a far easier time, and was released a month before Gamzee.
The day Gamzee was released, Karkat had managed to encourage Gamzee's closest friends to convene in Gamzee's newly-cleaned home. Everything was like a fresh start, and clean slate, something new and exciting. He had missed the sight of Equius and Nepeta, and even Sollux and Aradia agreed to join. They sat around and had a few drinks, ordered pizza, and caught up with each other's lives. Watching Gamzee smile and laugh again, was enough to set his mind at ease.
He had filled back into his skin, very pleasantly. His hair was clean and although it was still messy, it seemed well kempt. His teeth and eyes were white, and even his posture had improved. He glanced over at Karkat, taking a drag off of his cigarette, before grinning and nodding at him. Karkat rolled his eyes and smirked in return.
At first, any journeys Gamzee made outside the home, needed to be guarded by someone, usually Karkat or Terezi. Karkat's semester had ended, and he was given time off, most of which he had spent at Gamzee's. His progress was better some days than others, but all in all, Karkat seemed to be impressed. Gamzee met some individuals with whom he used to hang out, but conversations with them hardly lasted longer than a fleeting greeting or momentary small talk. Gamzee seemed more focused on getting food or walking about in the parks. Karkat allowed him the occasional bowl of pot, as it eased his nerves during the days that weren't going as well. Sometimes, his mood swings seemed almost out of control, to the point of him threatening attempting suicide. Usually, Karkat seemed to keep him sated and calm simply with his presence. Gamzee looked into acquiring a job, and put out a few resumes, though many establishments turned him away when seeing what he looked like, or learning about his history. He did get a few call-backs, however, and some places seemed promising. Other than that, he kept the apartment clean, began doodling and practising his juggling as pass-times when his usual company was preoccupied, and even vocalised intentions on returning to university.
When Gamzee could travel on his own, he was rather proud of his accomplished independence. He didn't go anywhere he shouldn't, he spoke to no one who would unhealthily affect his life, and he took pride in his self-control. Over all, he felt much better. He no longer felt as though his head was trapped in a washing machine, that didn't even clean out his mind, and he even managed to take a few steps on the road to accepting that two of the most important men in his life, were dead, including a good and more recent friend of his, and although that wasn't going to change, the memories with each of them were better than dwelling on the unchangeable.
He had been out to retrieve milk, Faygo, and chocolate from the corner store. Karkat had returned home for the week, and Terezi was working late, and would probably pass out when she got home. Gamzee figured he might as well pick her up something for when she awoke, and his mind was wandering through the potential things she would like. He eyed various bags of candy and things, idly playing with his bottom lip, while the cashier listened to music. He considered purchasing a bucket of jujubes, because she did adore the red ones. As he was leaving the store with his items in a bag, he was stopped by a sudden sound.
"Hey there," he heard the hissing voice of an old friend. "Long time no see again, Gamzee."
Gamzee turned and swallowed hard when he saw Caliborn emerge from the darkness, a sinister expression on his face.
"Sup, bro," he said, quickly, not stopping as he headed back home.
"What's the rush?" Caliborn followed him. "I just wanted to catch up. You've been busy, I heard. Hitched the sobriety train. Good on you, man. I'd never have the balls for that shit. Went the whole rehab route, I heard. Probably wasn't your choice, am I right?" he cackled. "Listen man, I'm sorry how shit went down when we last saw each other. I guess I shouldn't have approached it that way. It's my fault. Guess it's just been tough without her, you know?"
"I can be imagining that shit, bro," Gamzee said, holding his things tighter.
"Yeah, so," Caliborn dismissed the topic. "I know you're sober and all, but I just got a whole Q of Sopor in yesterday. You know that shit isn't like other drugs. You ain't gonna relapse or nothing. A little slime won't hurt you."
"Thanks, bro," Gamzee said, not looking to the shorter male. "But I been getting my head clear and I've all up and realised that I don't need that shit to be understanding them miracles, man. I been good on my motherfucking own, and getting back on that motherfucking horse ain't gonna do shit for that. I got this bro, I been not all up and prepared in taking no steps backwards now."
"Gamzee, truth is," Caliborn jogged to be ahead of him, and turned to face him. "I'm a bit short on cash at the moment. I could really use a little help, so I figured we could just put our hands in each other's pockets for a while, you know? I can't even afford the milk you have in your bag, man. You understand?"
"I'm real motherfucking sorry to hear that, bro," Gamzee still didn't look to him, attempting to get away from him as quickly as possible. "I could all up and front you a couple bucks, but that be really all I been motherfucking had lately. Sorry, man."
"You're not just gonna leave me like this, are you, Gamzee?" Caliborn's eyes were like red hot irons burning into Gamzee's exposed flesh. "High and dry like? I can't even afford the rent on my place. I'm gonna get kicked out. I have nowhere to go!"
"I can't be helping you bro," Gamzee insisted. "This shit ain't on me."
"Damn straight it's on you," Caliborn snarled, before pausing, and relaxing, a small smile stretching across his face. "Fine. Have it your way, then."
Suddenly, Caliborn reached behind himself, and produced a pistol, which had been tucked under the waistband of his pants at the small of his back. Gamzee widened his eyes, and paused, not at all expecting this turn of events to transpire. Caliborn didn't hesitate in cocking the gun, his arm not shaking or faltering as the mouth of the gun laughed ruthlessly at Gamzee.
"I didn't want it to have to be this way, but you're not leaving me much of a choice, here," Caliborn growled. "Put the bag on the ground, and give me everything you have on you. Now!"
Gamzee slowly lowered his bag of items to the ground, before reaching into his deep pockets, and retrieving a few coins, the change and receipt from the purchase, a roach, the stub of a movie ticket, and some old bread crumbs from his pockets, placing that on the ground as well. Caliborn then shook the end of the gun, demanding for Gamzee to step away. Gamzee slowly raised his hands and did as he was told, watching Caliborn with a calm expression, though his heart was racing. Caliborn slowly picked up Gamzee's discarded things and while he did so, Gamzee took this as an appropriate time to extend a hand behind him, as he was nearing closer to the side of a building, and search for something he could use to potentially defend himself.
He almost made a small sound in victory as his fingertips brushed against the cold, rusted, metal surface of a crowbar. He slowly wrapped his long, slender fingers around the bar, and lifted it off the ground, noiselessly, hiding it behind himself, his eyes still tightly upon Caliborn, whose pistol was lowered, defenses down. Slowly, he stepped towards him, the crowbar in his white-knuckled grasp, well hidden behind his back. He envisioned himself inching closer and closer to him, before whipping the crowbar from behind his back, and clocking it over Caliborn's too-round head. It seemed like the perfect plan. It would knock him out, while giving Gamzee a chance to get away, and perhaps inform the cops.
Unfortunately, when Gamzee was about four feet away from Caliborn, the latter finally finished counting the change, and his attention was diverted back to Gamzee. He narrowed his eyes when he noticed that Gamzee was clearly hiding something. Gamzee threw caution to the wind, knowing there was probably no chance of him escaping this situation, he raised the crowbar, and attempted to attack Caliborn.
Caliborn, being much smaller and equipping a much lighter weapon, managed to scramble away, and ready the pistol. Gamzee stopped and lowered the crowbar, realising his situation only milliseconds before Caliborn squeezed the trigger.
The feeling of the bullet entering Gamzee's gut was like someone had kicked him in his stomach. He was pushed backwards, but managed to regain balance, before the pain actually kicked in. At first, it was a dull, throbbing pain, which got worse as his body slipped out of the initial shock of the situation. His hands found his stomach, and pressed against the hole in his skin, feeling it immediately wet and sticky with his own blood. He slowly looked down to himself, whimpering in pain and shock, before looking back up to Caliborn, his eyes wide. Caliborn's expression was blank, as he fired another two shots, one in Gamzee's shoulder, and the other closer to his chest. Gamzee fell backwards and landed on the cement with a loud thump. Unconsciousness gripped him and pulled him under and, before he knew it, he was lost in oblivion, darkness closing in around him, slipping away, lying in a pool of his own blood, in a back street, dying, alone.
Terezi was confused as to why there was a distinct lack of Gamzee in the apartment when she returned home. She had called out his name, since it wasn't as though she could see him, and received no answer. She called out again, and, again, nothing. She assumed he had gone out to get a few things, and took to having a shower. She carefully picked her way through the home and into the bathroom, before removing her clothing, and stepping into the warm, running water. Afterwards, she left the shower, and called out for Gamzee again. This time, she received an answer, but it wasn't Gamzee's voice who called back. Instead, it was like the snarling of a wolf pup, returning to her ears.
"I'm just dropping off a little something," the voice said. "I figured Gamzee meant this for you."
"Who are you?" Terezi demanded, staring off into the darkness, yearning for at least temporary sight.
"Just a friend," the voice replied. "I figure you'll be seeing more of me around here. Catch you later, Terezi."
With that, the voice left the room. Terezi called after it, but received no reply. She tapped her cane against the walls and objects about the home, before making her way to where the voice had stood. She reached her hand along the table, feeling the smooth, wooden surface, until it was suddenly halted by a strange, cylindrical object. A container, she assumed. She carefully picked up, and felt it in her hands for a long moment, before her fingertips managed to find and grip the lid, pulling it off. She immediately smelt jujubes and smiled at Gamzee thinking to pick these up for her. However, another scent assaulted her senses, and she immediately frowned. She slowly reached her hand into the container, and instead of feeling the soft, dry, shaped candies, she felt a candy, covered in something warm, wet, and sticky. She reluctantly brought the candy to her lips, and extended her tongue. At first, she could only taste the red essence of the jujube, her favourite flavour, and her tongue experimented around the surface, until it stopped at the sticky stuff. At the flavour of it, she dropped the container of jujubes onto the floor, hearing them scattering on the surface. Her hands shook and her eyes were wide, her mouth ajar as she registered the flavour: metallic, and salty. Blood. The jujubes were covered in… Blood.
She let out a blood-curdling scream, and stepped away from them, her shaking hands quickly finding the phone. She dialed Karkat's number, and listened the dial tone for what felt like hours, before Karkat finally answered. Before he could even get a chance to talk, Terezi managed to cry out a very desperate. "Get over here, now. Something's wrong."
"What is it?"
"Just get over here," she shouted. "NOW."
