Later that night Rufioh distracted himself by helping Tavros with his homework and making a spaghetti dinner. Tavros went on about how he was starting to struggle with math and how he was thinking about asking Vriska to help him since she was so good at it. Rufioh chuckled knowing how much his son was growing to like the blue eyed girl he spoke so fondly about. "Well I would love to meet her some day. Maybe you could have her come over for dinner some time?" Rufioh suggested as he spun his fork in his spaghetti keeping his eyes on his boy whom blushed deeply. "W-well... Maybe?" Tavros stated unsure of how he would ask. "Maybe I can hang out with her a little more before asking her to come and have dinner." Tavros continued before taking another bite of his garlic bread. "But we invited Gamzee so easily." Rufioh teased as his son blushed even deeper. "I'm kidding Tavros, of courses you can take all the time in the world." Tavros looked relived as he smiled to himself.
As soon as dinner was over the two Taurus's put up the leftover's and cleaned the dishes together. As they were finishing up Tavros heard his phone vibrate on the divider. The teen dried his hands and moved to grab his phone. The elder Nitram finished up with the dishes as Tavros spoke, "Gamzee says he won't be coming over for a few days." "Oh? Why is that?" Rufioh asked curiously as he dried his hands. "He said he is helping his dad with a few things." Tavros explained as he looked back down at his phone. He looked confused and a little hurt. Rufioh smiled and moved to his son, "well you know what I say, 'family comes first.' " Rufioh stated as he tussled his sons hair. Tavros gave an understanding look and smiled back before nodding, "you're right." Another vibration came from Tavros' phone. He looked at it curiously then smiled wide, "Its Vriska! She wants to hang out this weekend with me, Gamzee and Terezi." The two Taurus's smiled wide at each other. "You can, and we will see how long you can stay out on that day." Rufioh stated as he moved to his bedroom. "Thanks dad!" Tavros exclaimed as he ran up the stairs to his room.
The week came and went with little sight from Gamzee or Kurloz. The last Rufioh heard he was going to hang out with the group the Vriska girl wanted. The elder man had informed Tavros that he would be working late so he could stay out as long as he wanted since it was the weekend and all. Rufioh went into work with a smile and feeling quite cheerful. As he clocked in a new face walked into the bar. The man had long beautiful black hair, a very muscular build. The man pulled his long hair up in a ponytail as his deep dark blue eyes scanned the bar and landed on Rufioh whom blushed deeply and spun around scrambling to look busy. "Excuse me, barkeeper?he" !His voice a bit too formal and innocent to be in a bar. Rufioh chuckled and turned to face him, "Barkeeper?" The Taurus asked a bit amused. The other man blushed lightly and rubbed the back of his neck, "Well, um I never came to a bar before exactly." The blue eyed man explained a bit embarrassed. Rufioh poured him a light alcoholic drink, "well big guy, why don't you try this? If you like this, you are welcome to stay and I will take good care of you. Buuut if you don't then the bar life isn't cut out for you." The stranger nodded grabbing the glass before taking a swig.
He gave a surprised look at Rufioh and smiled, "this is pretty good." The Taurus leaned against the bar with a wide smile, "so can I get your name there handsome?" The question was flirtatious in nature. "My name is Horuss." Rufioh's expression turned to one of pondering, "Horuss ... Do i know you?" The man shrugged now looking at Rufioh a little more closely. "Horuss Zahhak?" The Taurus asked his lips curling into a friendly smile. "Yeah." The other said as it clicked, "Rufioh? Rufioh Nitram?!" They both gave a chuckle as the Sagittarius man stood and reached over the bar to hug him. "My goodness, how have you been? I have not seen you since graduation!" Horuss asked as he sat back down. "Oh, I had gotten married to my pregnant girlfriend after collage. It was easy to find this job. It was supposed to be temporary but then, my wife had passed. I ended up leaving my son with his grandparents on my work days. Long story short I am living a wonderful life." Rufioh decided not to bother Horuss with the detail of Gamzee and his father. "Ah, speaking of, what about you?" Rufioh stood up straight looking at the man before him.
"Well there isn't much to tell. I work as a mechanic and I also have a son. His name is Equius. His mom divorced me a few years ago for some Italian play boy." Horuss chugged the rest of the beverage as Rufioh whistled sympathetically, "That's rough, bro." Horuss smiled at Rufioh whom had to move down the bar to help a couple that came in. As the night went on the two men had caught up and made small talk. They exchanged numbers and Rufioh was honestly having a great time. He had three more hours of work ahead as the work phone rang. He assumed it was someone whom needed to pick up something they forgot either a coworker or customer perhaps. He answered it with a pleasant disposition, "Hello, this is the Galloping Stallion Bar and Grill how may I help you?" The voice on the other end was very serious and professional, "Hello, is a Mr. Rufioh Nitram, there?" "Um, this is him." Rufioh affirmed as he got a little serious and he held the phone to his ear. No one ever called him on his work phone before so he was a little confused.
"Sir, this is Dr. Fox, you will need to come down to the Alternia Medical Center. Your son had been in an accident and he is in emergency care at the moment." The woman seemed too unfeeling as she spoke. Rufioh felt his heart sank as the phone dropped to the floor. "Jefferson, I have to go! Its an emergency! I'll explain later!" The Taurus shouted as he jumped over the bar after grabbing his keys. He ran to the car and fumbled with the keys. His heart started to pound in his chest with every passing moment. He swiftly drove to the hospital that was on the far end of town. Every red light he had hit made him feel more and more helpless. Each time he had to slow down brought tears to his eyes. 'My some could be dying!' His mind screamed, 'He could be dead! This is all my fault.' Time felt so slow for the elder Nitram as tears filled his eyes, threatening to escape. His tires screeched as he spun hard into the parking lot.
Finally at the hospital Rufioh haphazardly parked and ran towards the hospital entrance stumbling a few times before finally shoving the doors open. He frantically looked around hoping that he would see Tavros just waiting for him, ready to explain that one of his friends got hurt maybe broken an arm, but no such luck. His son was no where to be seen and the lump in his throat was finally shaken loose as he opened his mouth, "TAAAAAVROOOOOOS!" Rufioh screamed as he stumbled forward. The world felt as if it were spinning out of control around the Taurus. He begged to see his son as a few orderlies had to restrain him from running into the back with the patients. Rufioh sobbed loudly as he struggled against the two large men. Another man ran in and in a familiar voice shohuted, "Gamzee!" The shorter man turned to see Kurloz looking around in the same manner as he did. Rufioh moved to the larger man whom would have had to be sedated if he made a scene. The larger man looked down at Rufioh, confused, and saw the panic and tears in those bright brown eyes.
"What have you heard?!" The short man asked as he gripped the taller mans arms desperate for information. "All I know is that Gamzee is here and he is somewhere in the E.R." Kurloz clarified as Rufioh fell to his knees sobbing harder. He felt guilty for his earlier thoughts after realizing that Tavros may not be the only one of the kids that got hurt. Rufioh felt strong arms lift him up and guide him outside as he had his breakdown. Kurloz sat Rufioh on the bench near the doors and awkwardly trying to comfort him, "i-im sure the boys are okay. Just... Let me go in and talk to them. You need to breath. Okay?" Rufioh nodded as he struggled to calm himself down. Kurloz walked in the building and moved to the receptionist. The taller man seemed calmer than when he first walked in. The elder Nitram rocked himself a bit on the bench finally getting a grip on his emotions.
After what felt like forever, Kurloz stepped out of the building and as he stared at the concrete floor he struggled to get the words out his mouth, "Rufioh... It was... The accident..." Rufioh stood up and moved to the taller man. Bright brown eyes met dark indigo ones with desperation, "Makara." His last name made the taller man jump a bit as he struggled to look away. "Makara, tell me." Rufioh's voice seemed more desperate than his eyes. Kurloz balled his fists as he finally spoke again, "it was a car accident." Rufioh's body visibly stiffened as he stared blankly at the other man. It was as if all hope had left his body and he was just a hallow shell standing in front of the other man. "Rufioh?" The elder Makara's voice sounded far away as he spoke. The Taurus hardly felt the man's hands squeeze his shoulders or his tears falling from his cheeks. His lungs felt as if he were drowning and his heart felt as if it were stopping. The only thing that went through Rufioh's mind was that he would be all alone this time. He wouldn't have his one good thing in his life any more and the depression will crush what little life he had now.