Disclaimer: I do not own Homestuck.


Tavros Nitram liked being the quiet guy. He liked being nice to everyone. He liked watching life from behind the scenes. He liked seeing people interact.

What he didn't like was when the elevator was out of order.

The elevator was a way of life to him. It was his way to his third floor apartment.

It was an elevator.

So why isn't it working?!

Tavros sighed. He'd been sitting in front of the metal doors for a good ten minutes and was beginning to become frustrated (read as even more hopeless than he was upon first discovering the elevator wasn't working).

Every now and then someone would walk by, press a button on the panel next to the doors, wait impatiently and tap their foot, then get frustrated and walk off to the stairs.

Tavros hated that.

Though he's always been silent about that particular thing, he's also been more than ready to comment on it. It just irks him. He gets that it's their choice to take the stairs or not but sometimes he just doesn't agree. He just wishes he were able to walk again.
But until his wish is granted, he's stuck with a faulty elevator and no way to his apartment.

"Oh no." Tavros faced palmed. This is not good. He looked up once more, hoping his eyes were just tricking him and the elevator was working.

It was not.

What is he to do? He can't call anyone, he can't ask for help for several reasons, he can't… he can't focus on his bad situation when there's a weird clown guy staring him down from down the hall. Tavros took one quick glance and turned back. Who is this guy? What does he want? Why is he staring like that? Tavros crossed his fingers and hoped the man would walk away, however he didn't.

He just… stared. Somewhere along the lines, his lost looking expression morphed into a determined smirk. It was unnerving.
After a stare that lasted longer than it should have, the man at the end of the hall spoke much to Tavros's displeasure.

"Well hey there motherfucker."

Tavros slowly peered in his direction, never maintaining eye contact.

"Hi."

Tavros decided to turn his focus back on the elevator. Maybe he could fix it himself. Couldn't be too hard, right? All it would take would be a lot of tools and engineering knowledge that he certainly didn't have.

"Is everything alright?"

"Um… no." Tavros hoped he'd leave since his question was answered.

"What's the problem?"

Damn, this guy is persistent. What more does he want?
There's not much that could be wrong with the elevator. Couldn't he just figure out the problem for himself? Tavros really wanted this guy to leave him be.

"The elevator is out of order." Though Tavros believed the inquiring to be done, he was proved mistaken when it continued.

"You call someone?"

"I would have but my phone is upstairs so needless to say I do not have it… because it is upstairs."

The two sat in silence, where Tavros continued with hoping that the clown man would just leave.

He did not.

"Did you tell the dude at the front desk?"

"He's not here…" Tavros was starting to lose it. This guy's unrelenting question asking was starting to grate on his nerves and that smile! Why is he smiling? There is absolutely nothing in the lobby to be smiling about. So why is he?

"You can use my phone, bro."

In that moment, Tavros's heart grew ten sizes larger. The heavens opened up, angels sang, he had a way to call now. He offered the stranger a kind, appreciative smile.

"Oh, wow, really?"

The guy nodded as a response and pulled out his phone. He typed in a few things before handing Tavros the device.

"Thank you." Tavros immediately started typing in his roommate's number and sighed in relief as his call was answered. "Hello-?"

"Tav?"

"Yes, it's me."

"This isn't your number… you left your phone up here again didn't you?"

"Yes."

"Dude… and you're calling me from this number because the elevator's broken again, right?"

"Yes."

"Come on, this happens like every other fucking weekday."

"Well this wouldn't happen so often if the elevator actually was fixed from the numerous amount of times they supposedly fixed it."

"Ya know, it's almost ironic how-"

"Now is not the time for your irony."

"Whatever."

"Will you just call the guys? That'd be appreciated."

"Sure."

"Thanks."

"It's probably going to be a while… go hang out with someone or do something."

"I guess I'll go to the park and come back later."

"Lame."

Ignoring the insult that wasn't really an insult, Tavros responded, "Bye." and hung up.

He handed the phone back up to the man.

"Thank you…I don't know your name…" He felt bad about not knowing the clown man's name but it didn't seem to bother the latter. His smile remained in place as he replied.

"I'm Gamzee. I just moved in."

"Hi, Gamzee. I'm Tavros. Uh, thank you for letting me borrow your phone."

"It's no problem, bro. If we're gonna all be apartment buddies, we gotta help our brothers and sisters out, right?"

"Yeah. I guess. If you can get everyone else here to feel that way that is." Tavros smiled at the clown's hopefulness. No one who lived there ever wanted to have everyone get along. In fact, the only time anyone ever really got along with anybody was when there was a party and they wanted to go. To everyone living in the building, if they weren't your roommate, they were an enemy. Treat them as such.
It was clear this clown would change that or die trying.

"What do you mean?"

Tavros ruffled his hair and focused on a painting on the wall near them.

"They just aren't into that kind of stuff, you know?" That was very much of an understatement and he knew it. But he couldn't stand to rain on the clown's parade. His never-ending smile was actually becoming… endearing. If not, a little creepy.

"Yeah, I fucking know the feeling."

"Everyone is still pretty nice, they just don't, uh, like many people... that much." So he was stretching the truth more than a sumo wrestler stretches skinny jeans… it's not like it'll matter though right?

Right?

Tavros began twiddling his thumbs, looking away from Gamzee. Neither of the two said anything, however this silence wasn't awkward… it was promising.

There was something about it all. Something about Gamzee, the silence, the constant smile.

All Tavros can focus on at the moment though is how glad he is that Gamzee didn't walk away.

For several reasons.


Thank you for reading and so, so sorry for not updating for weeks! There was a reason though, but that doesn't really matter I guess.
Anywho~ My summer break just started, so updates will become more regular.
Tis' all~