Another week had passed as Rufioh and Tavros tried to adjust to their new life obstacle of having no legs. For the young Nitram it was often hard to do anything even rolling his wheelchair around the house. Rufioh couldn't count the times his son had ran over his toes or bumped into the corner of walls and furniture alike. The two Taurus' decided switching rooms would be for the best though Rufioh would rather stay on the couch just in case Tavros needed something at any time. The elder Nitram knew his son absolutely despised feeling helpless but couldn't bring himself not to help his boy when he needed it. "D-dad, I'm fine, R-really. I-i will have to g-get used to the chair by m-myself anyway." Tavros complained meekly as his father pulled the wheelchair back and maneuvered it to go through the door. "I know... Its just..." Rufioh began as he let his son wheeled himself into the living room the rest of the way. "Dad i-i get it. I-its g-going to t-take some getting used to. But you don't h-have to baby m-me." The young Nitram looked down at his none existent legs and sighed, "I s-start school again n-next week, s-so I have t-to be sure I got e-everything down. Like n-not crushing feet a-and b-bumping into things." Rufioh kneeled down in front of Tavros and gave him a reassuring smile before giving him a tight hug, "I love you so much my little bullfighter."
Tavros hugged his elder with a weak grip and patted his back gently, "I love y-you too dad." A loud knock came at the front door pulling the two Nitram's attention to it. "Oh, that must be Gamzee and his dad." Rufioh assumed as he moved to the door and opened it up with a smile. "Hey Mr. Nitram." Gamzee greeted first as he looked around the Taurus in search of something. The tree long diagonal scars were very obvious even with the make-up he used to try and hide them. Rufioh chuckled, "Hey Gamzee, Tavros is just through there." He pointed to the living room entrance. "Thanks bro." Gamzee stated as he moved to see his friend eagerly. Rufioh turned his attention back to the other Makara whom was starring at him. "Rufioh you look awful." The elder man said in a concerned tone. "Charming as always Makara." Rufioh said in a smart ass tone and gestured for him to come in. As the elder Capricorn walked in he clarified, "No, I mean, have you even slept since Tavros got released from the hospital?" The elder Taurus placed a hand on his own cheek, "you can tell huh?" "Its kinda obvious..." The Capricorn man mumbled, "Will you be okay drinking with me tonight?" This made the elder Nitram laugh a bit, "yeah I'm fine. You're the one driving tonight any way. Let me just say bye to Tavros and get my wallet." The taller man nodded and waited by the door.
Rufioh grabbed his wallet off the magazine covered coffee table and kissed his sons forehead before happily saying 'good bye'. "B-be safe dad." Tavros muttered as the four waved goodbye at each other. The two adults got to the car they exchanged a look. "Should we be doing this? Our kids were..." "Oh no, you're not backing out of this. They need their space at least for tonight. And you need to let loose. Get out of the dam house." Kurloz reassured the other man with a bit of a demanding tone to his voice. The younger man sighed and hesitantly got in the beaten up pickup truck. As they drove there was only silence between the two men. This would be the first time the two had ever hung out as friends and it was just as awkward as it felt. Rufioh sighed and pulled out his phone looking to see if he had any messages. Suddenly Kurloz reached over and took the phone from the shorter man whom snapped his attention to the Capricorn. "Hey!" Rufioh snapped childishly. "No. Not today. If I give this back you will just sit at the bar texting your son." The elder Makara elucidated on the matter before placing the phone in his pants pocket and continued, "I already told you that you need to relax." The Taurus rolled his eyes and lied like a child as he crossed his arms, "I was just going to play a game."
Kurloz blew a raspberry in the air as he kept his eyes on the road, "yeah sure I never heard that one before." "What ever 'Dad', I will do as you say so hold on to my phone. And don't loose it." Rufioh demanded as he gazed out the window. The bags under Rufioh's eyes were just as painfully obvious as Gamzee's scars in e reflection. It looked like the Taurus had not slept in months and just looking at himself made him want to listen to Kurloz and relax for a bit. Once at the bar the two men began drinking right away, starting off with a few beers to loosen themselves up a bit. Kurloz smiled at the now relaxed Taurus whom was smiling happily and looking around at a few men and few women. The Capricorn smirked and leaned in to ask a question, "Would you like to hear a joke?" Rufioh turned his face to meet Kurloz's gaze and happily stated, "Sure." Kurloz's adjusted himself in his seat and began, "A guy walks into a bar sits down," the Taurus had to interrupt by jokingly chiming in, "oh my god that's me!" The elder Makara chuckled and shook his head, "just you wait, I don't think you would wanna be the guy in the joke." Rufioh gave him a confused look before shrugging and letting the other man continue the joke.
"A guy walks into a bar sits down and says to the bartender, 'give me a Jack and Coke.' The bartender comes over hands him an apple which the guy said, 'this isn't what I ordered.' The bartender looks at him and says 'take a bite.' So he takes a bite of the apple and replies 'OH MY GOD! that tastes like Jack.' The Bartender then tells him to turn it around. So he turns the apple around and takes another bite. Once again he says 'Oh MY GOD that tastes like Coke.' So the guy has a few and starts to get a little tipsy then asks the bartender for a Jaguer Bomb once again he hands him an apple. So he takes a bite and it tastes like Jaguer he turns it around and it tastes like Red Bull. He has a few more and is now pretty drunk. He looks at the bartender and says 'To bad you don't have one that tastes like pussy.' The bartender simply smiles and throws him another apple. The guy looks at him with astonishment on his face then takes a bit but he soon spits the pieces of apple on the bar and yells 'THAT TASTES LIKE SHIT!' The bartender shouted back at the man, 'TURN IT AROUND!' " The Taurus burst into hysterical laughter as Kurloz chuckled along with him. The two men had begun going back and forth telling all the jokes they know to each other happily.
Rufioh smiled as he looked across the bar and spotted a mechanical bull. "Ah, hell yeah!" The Taurus exclaimed drunkenly as he ran over to the rodeo bull. He requested to ride it as the operator accepted and allowed Rufioh to climb onto the robotic beast. Kurloz tried to make his way through the crowd of on lookers to stop the drunk man from hurting himself. Once the sober man reached the closed gate he saw the elder Nitram holding the bull's rope with one and the other in the air. The creature came to life and bucked and spun trying to get its rider to fall off to no avail. Rufioh laughed as he held on which made the bulls operator smirk turning up the power a bit more. The mechanical bull spun and bucked harder than it had before but the Nitram man determined tightened his grip on the rope. Kurloz seemed thoroughly impressed as he stood behind the gate and silently cheered for Rufioh. The operators voice came across the intercom with a sense of pride, "Lady's and gentlemen! It looks like we are gonna have a new bull riding champion tonight!" Rufioh's hand slipped a bit and he almost flew right off but didn't. The operator slowed the bull before completely stopping it as the crowed cheered for their new champion. Kurloz swiftly moved to his dizzy friend and helped him off back of the robotic beast.
"Rufioh, are you insane?! You're completely plastered and you still got on that thing." The Capricorn scolded the younger, drunken man, "you could have gotten hurt." "I am fine! I'm okay big fella." The drunk man slurred as he hugged the other man. Kurloz stiffen in the Taurus arms and muttered, "Rufioh, let's just get you home. You're drunk." Rufioh chuckled as they walked out of the bar arm in arm, "Oh I see. You want to take me home so we can do all the hanky panky. Well no can do. I'm married." "Rufioh, you are seriously drunk... And no I don't -" the Capricorn was interrupted by Rufioh pressing him against the side of the building and whispering in his ear, "why can't I get over you?" "W-what?" Makara asked, blush covering his face as he looked down into light brown eyes. "I loved you so much. Just looking at you makes my heart ache with pain... Why did you walk back into my life? Do you want to hurt me even more than you already have?" The Taurus asked as his eyes filled with tears. The taller man cupped Rufioh's cheek in his hand, "No, Rufioh. I... I never meant what I did." Rufioh gripped the other mans hand as he leaned into it, "Prove it." He demanded. Kurloz licked his lips absentmindedly and leaned down a little more.
Their eyes locked for a moment before the door to the bar opened beside them causing Kurloz to jump and shove the other man away. Rufioh fell hard against the concrete floor and just sat there dazed and confused. "Oh god I'm drunk." Rufioh stated before chuckling, "I shouldn't let my boy see me like this." He patted his pockets in search of something before giving up and lied down where he landed. Kurloz rolled his eyes and picked Rufioh up off the floor and walked him to the car. "No. No. What would Tavros say if he saw me." Rufioh complained as he got into the car. Kurloz buckled him in before sighing and reluctantly muttered, "we are going to my place so quit yapping." Kurloz shut his door and ran around to the driver side. Once in the car he looked over at Rufioh whom was staring at him, "What?" Rufioh chuckled again, "I saved up enough money for a trip." Kurloz narrowed his eyes a bit trying to figure out if the other man was just spouting drunken nonsense. "Let's talk about that in the morning when you're sober." The Capricorn suggested. "Yes, Yes, let's." The Taurus agreed in his happy drunken state as he shut his eyes before the car started. The elder Nitram smiled as he slept a dreamless sleep only waking up once to get from the car to a bed inside the Makara home. The Taurus man could have sworn something had kissed him once he was under the covers but shrugged it off as a dream he would soon forget.