Again, I apologize how OOC I make Dave! I'm not sure why, but I just can't...grasp his personality very well. Probably because I'm the complete opposite of cool. :B

"That's quite the conundrum," Rose hummed out softly, leaning back against her black leather chair with a thoughtful expression that was only slightly condescending. "And how does that really make you feel?"

"Cut the crap Rose," Dave said calmly, straightening the sleeve of his coat. He'd come straight from work, his most recent bouts of uncool beginning to distract him from his duties.

"Dave," Rose sighed, adjusting herself so she was a bit more lax, though still retaining her natural professionalism. "Perhaps your guilty conscience is beginning to catch up with you? Causing an unbearable anxiety that is forcing the walls you've built up to slowly crumble, a metaphoric rust as it were. And perhaps the mere thought of the walls beginning to deteriorate is causing you to overthink it, ultimately leading to a self-inflicted downfall."

"Guilty conscience?" Dave drawled.

"Well yes, of course. You've been lying to the love of your life for seven years now, and you fear that all you've built up for him and for you will be destroyed in one fell swoop thanks to Gamzee's reappearance."

Dave made a thoughtful noise, going tight-lipped. He looked at the chessboard he'd momentarily forgotten. "Bishop to B5."

Rose's face contorted into a smirk- or more, a satisfied smile. "That will cost you your Queen, Dave."

Dave's mouth twitched ever so slightly, but he contained himself, trying to build up the walls he'd let falter in the last week. He exhaled slowly, attempting to make it as soundless as possible.

"Dirk would be ashamed of you, letting yourself be so easily perturbed," Rose said conversationally, taking Dave's Queen without mercy. "Don't you think?"

Dave calmed the nerves he thought he'd let die long ago, remaining deathly silent.

"Rook to C7, checkmate. I win," Rose said, leaning back in her chair. "Now tell me about Terezi."

Dave would have looked taken aback if he weren't trying so desperately to gain back the control he'd once had on his psyche. "What about her."

"Well you must know what I'm talking about, you had several calls from her on your phone," Rose said, regarding her clipboard for a moment.

"You went through my phone," Dave replied with an aggressive firmness. "That's a violation of privacy. Isn't that against the therapist's code or whatever?"

"I didn't go through your phone," Rose said, taking a sip of the tea she'd left on her desk. "I was only insinuating I had done so in the hopes that you would cop to your lascivious ways."

Dave stared at her for a moment. "I walked right into that one."

"Indeed you did dearest brother."

"We just hung out. Tav was missing and I was worried so I called her over," Dave said, leaning back against the couch. He threw his arm over the back-support.

"I am already filled in on with the details, even at your best I can read your face like an open book," Rose said. "Moving along, how is John?"

Dave looked away. "Miserable."

"How is Tavros?"

"Equally as miserable. Seeing John like that is killing him inside," Dave said, brushing his bangs back with his thumb.

"And you hate yourself because you don't have the emotional capacity to console him," Rose observed, causing Dave to look up abruptly. He narrowed his eyes behind his sunglasses.

"Who said that?"

"I did. Just now. It was an observation, Dave, and your defensive reflex only proves my assumption."

"God you can be really annoying sometimes, you know that?" Dave asked, straightening himself up again. "John will be okay soon. He's an optimistic guy. And then, when he's better, Tav'll be better too. And everything will go back to how it was."

Rose looked up at him as he stood, remaining seated. "You can't rely on John to keep Tavros happy and by your side Dave."

Dave paused, giving her an unreadable expression. "Your assumptions are getting awfully close to the line, Rose."

"John is a romantic. One day he'll be your imminent downfall. Tavros is a pushover, Dave, John will see he belongs with Gamzee and shove him right into your enemy's arms."

"Rose," Dave warned.

"Gamzee will find a way. His natural charisma will draw Tavros in and before you know it your little love will be all snatched up-"

"Rose," Dave said more firmly, his shoulders trembling involuntarily at the thought.

"Just like back then-"

Rose was cut off by the door shutting. Not slamming, like she'd anticipated, just shutting quietly due to her cold brother's hand.

John and Karkat had been occupying the couch since Tavros had arrived. He was just getting back from his law classes, when he got the call from Gamzee. His best friend was in their apartment, sobbing his eyes out and incoherent since the early hours of the morning.

Tavros explained to them what John could not; And both were sympathetic to the situation. Gamzee more-so, who suddenly became calm and a bit reserved once Tavros had explained.

"I'm going to step out for awhile," Gamzee said somberly, disappearing onto their balcony.

Tavros first tended to John's needs, adjusting him into a comfortable position, curled up with his head in Karkat's lap, and set a class of water and a box of tissues nearby while a DVD of Tangled (John's favorite movie) ran on the television.

Finally, he stepped out, savoring the fresh air that immediately rid him of the lingering salt and dense air the apartment had become subject to.

"Hey," Gamzee said, gesturing for Tavros to sit down across from him.

Tavros did.

"Where were you today?" Gamzee asked. "We were trying to contact you for awhile."

Tavros nodded lightly, a bit disturbed by Gamzee's sudden solemness. "I was in class, I'm so sorry...I know he can be a little hard to deal with when he's really upset."

"No, no-" Gamzee shook his hand dismissively. "It's no motherfuckin problem, I...know what a brother's going through. I was just worried about you when you didn't return my calls."

"Yeah Professor Suri is really strict about phones during lecture," Tavros grumbled, looking away.

Gamzee perked up a bit, confused. "Wait. You mean like motherfuckin college classes and shit?"

Tavros nodded. "I'm attending Stanford Law," he explained with a small smile. "His mother has a thing with the dean so he got me in. And uh...well, she was also a legacy."

Gamzee wasn't sure what to say, so he only stared. When Tavros looked back up at him, he averted his gaze, looking down.

Tavros looked a bit dumbfounded, it was definitely not a reaction he was used to. He sunk in on himself, brushing his hair back nervously. "Uh, well, I mean, u-uhm..." he stuttered, suddenly becoming very self-conscious. "Is...something, uh, wrong with...that?"

Gamzee looked away, shaking his head. "Nah, nah. That's really motherfuckin tight brother. That's like..." he looked up and made a small exploding gesture with his fingers. "All mind-blowing and shit. You always wanna be a lawyer?" He popped open the top of a beer he'd brought out with him, taking a sip.

"Uhm, well, I uh...yes, I...think?"

"Doesn't sound very motherfuckin sure, Tavbro," Gamzee said, offering him some of his beer.

Tavros took the bottle in both hands, holding it like a nervous child. He gripped it tightly so it wouldn't slip from his fingers, and then took a big gulp, handing it back. "Uh, well..."

"Wannna play a game?" Gamzee asked suddenly, perking up as an idea struck him.

Tavros blinked, tilting his head just so. "I- uh- okay?"

Gamzee grinned. "Alright. Whoever makes the other squirm and whatever gets to ask a question that the other brother must answer with complete honesty."

Tavros blushed, nodding lightly. "I- yeah. Okay. Alright."

Gamzee grinned. "Good. You can go first."

Tavros stood, approaching Gamzee, unsure. "I- uh. Okay. Okay," he said, cautiously brushing some of Gamzee's hair behind his ear. "Uhm..." His heart was racing. What on earth was he doing? He was engaged to Dave! If he ruined the sanctity of their promises to each other...although. Dave had cheated in the past. With that Terezi girl. He didn't see her anymore, but...and this was all just harmless fun! It was just a game.

Tavros swallowed thickly, exhaling gently on Gamzee's ear, causing him to wiggle and let out a small laugh, tilting his head to get away. "Ah man Tavbro, ya got me."

"I uh- did!" Tavros look shocked- with good reason, too, he hadn't even meant to do that. "Uh...oh god okay." He sat back down in the chair across from Gamzee. "Uhm...Do you...like...m-m...making...stuff!" he blurted out.

Gamzee laughed nostalgically, leaning back. "I love to bake myself a good motherfuckin pie. But Kar doesn't let me use the good ingredients anymore." His smile faltered a bit, but he leaned forward and interjected before Tavros could reply. "My turn!"

Tavros looked embarrassed, but nodded. "O-Okay."

Gamzee kneeled down on the ground, taking Tavros' leg. Tavros tensed, trying to get enough movement in his limp arms to try and keep Gamzee from noticing. "Gamzee wait-"

Gamzee grinned. "I know how to make a brother squirm and shit. I would bet money a motherfucker's all sensitive right-"

He stopped, his fingers on the hem of Tavros' pant leg which he'd pushed up enough to reveal his beloved's ankle. "Tav-"

Tavros finally managed to break himself of his stone-like state, and he pushed his pantleg back down, trembling furiously. "P-Please I'm really, I uh, my legs, I'm, I, s-sensitive," he stuttered, cringing as his own fingers felt the metal, blocked by the thick cotton of his cargo pants.

Gamzee looked up at him. He looked lost, confused, maybe even a little hurt. Tavros looked away, swallowing nervously. "I...God Tav I'm really motherfuckin sorry, I didn't- Holy shit."