Chapter Twelve

People made of glass were dancing like ballerinas in music boxes. Around and around they spun, all in beautiful colors and painted faces. Gamzee danced with them, just as fragile and in tune with the song. It was a light, playful melody, almost like a carnival.

Around and around he spun, holding his partner tight. The music tinkled on, and the people all danced as one. They moved together, stepped together, and spun together. Gamzee spun with them, around and around. His partner was holding him tight. Too tight. It began to hurt, and his delicate glass body began to break.

"Stoppit! You're hurting me!"

Around and around the people danced, music sprinkling down on their fragile bodies. The cracks began larger, breaking out of control and jolting all over his body. It hurt, like paper cuts, and every time he moved they only grew wider. Around and around his partner spun him, until Gamzee cried out and turned to broken pieces in his arms.

The pieces fell to the floor like little snowflakes, spiraling away as the people danced.

Around and around they spun, like little dolls, all to the same tune.

Gamzee awoke gradually, his heartbeat strangely slow and calm. He was surrounded by the smell of Tavros, which made him smile faintly. His body ached, but as he lay in the tangled sheets of his lover's bed, he couldn't bring himself to care. The physical pain felt like a gift after all the years of mental agony.

Turning his head, he caught the slight of a ruffled Mohawk and a peacefully dreaming face. Warmth bloomed inside of Gamzee, chasing away the darkness in his mind as he saw his love. Tavros…Tavros was always there for him. When things got to be too bad, he was the one to pick Gamzee up and tell him he could make it.

Gamzee leaned over and softly pressed his lips against Tavros' forehead, then nestled back into the sheets, waiting for Tavros to wake. He didn't know what he'd done to deserve someone as fantastic as the man sleeping next to him right now, but he profusely thanked whatever act it was.

"Gamz?"

The groggy voice broke Gamzee out of his musings and he looked over to see Tavros blinking sleepily at him, "Hey Tavbro." He smiled and ran his fingers through the shaggy Mohawk.

Tavros smiled tiredly and nestled closer to his lover, "How're you feeling?"

"Loads better, my wicked brother. Loads better." Gamzee murmured, though his eyes were still a little bloodshot, and he kissed the top of his head. "It was chill of your folks to all up and let me stay with you."

"Yeah." Tavros mumbled, looking a little out of focus as he thought about what he and his mother had spoken about. He shifted closer and slid an arm around Gamzee's waist, letting their legs tangle together. He casually ran his hand along Gamzee's face, pausing at his forehead for only a second before moving on. His fever had broken.

Gamzee closed his eyes at the caress and ran his thumb over Tavros' cheek, "I love you, Tav."

Tavros smiled at the gentle touch, "I love you too, Gamzee."

"No bro, I mean I really love you." Gamzee stressed, opening his eyes and suddenly looking serious, "You're always all up and there for a brother whenever he needs you. You never judge even when a bro acts like a stupid motherfucker. You're just always there and understanding and I'm one lucky motherfucker."

"Gamzee, you don't have to thank me for that." Tavros said softly. He was just glad that the real Gamzee was back, instead of that person from before with so much pent up rage. "That's what a friend and, uh, a boyfriend is for." He smiled, his cheeks darkening slightly as he blushed.

"…what the motherfuck did I ever do to deserve you?" Gamzee murmured, looking at Tavros like he was a hand delivered miracle. Rolling over so he was on top of him, Gamzee gave him a slightly more genuine smile and leaned down, gently pressing his lips against Tavros'.

A small smile lifted up Tavros' lips and he loosely wrapped his arms around Gamzee's shoulders, rubbing his back soothingly. He loved that soft sound of happiness that vibrated on Gamzee's lips as he ran his hands down his back.

Gamzee broke away, moving his lips down Tavros' jaw and to his throat, nibbling playfully. He loved that small hitch in his lover's breath as he ran his tongue up his throat before kissing just under his jaw. Tavros' hands were still wandering over his back, fingers playing with the small strip of skin where his shirt had ridden up. He smiled and lay down on top of Tavros, nuzzling his head up under his lover's chin.

"Hey, Gamz?" Tavros said after a while, reluctant to break the tranquility of the moment.

"Yeah bro?" Came the muffled murmur.

"I have to go to work today, but when I come back I think there's a lot of, um, well stuff we gotta figure out, you know?"

"I hear ya bro." Gamzee mumbled, sounding rather apathetic towards the whole thing.

Tavros smiled and ran his fingers through his lover's mess of hair, "I'll be back in the early afternoon, alright? If you need anything just as my mom—she'll help you out."

"Thanks bro…I dunno what this here motherfucker would do without you."

Soft lips pressed against the hollow of his throat and Tavros shivered slightly, before managing to push the sleepy Makara off of him and begin to get ready. He was aware of Gamzee's eyes on him as he pulled on clothes and straightened his hair, just lazily watching Tavros get ready for a work day. When he had his shoes on, Tavros went back to the bed and kissed Gamzee tenderly, "I'll see you later, okay?"

"Have a good day at work, Tavbro." Gamzee chuckled, smiling up at him.

"Thanks, Gamzee."

When Tavros came home nothing seemed to be out of place. His family was still off at work and Gamzee was lounging around in the living room. Someone, probably Mrs. Nitram, had helped him change his bandages and forced him to shower. The youngest Makara looked a lot better. The bruising along his body had begun to fade into a sickly yellow and the gash along his cheekbone was knitting together cleanly.

"Hey Gamz," Tavros called as he kicked off his shoes and stretched, "how are you feeling—woah!" He was cut off by Gamzee's body knocking into him, hugging him tightly and restricting his breathing to a rather alarming point, "Ah, Gamzee, ribs…"

"Sorry bro." Gamzee grinned, backing off, "Welcome home."

The simple phrase filled Tavros with warmth and he blushed furiously, feeling oddly pleased, "Thanks. I've got some good news, actually!"

"Yeah? Lay that wicked shit on a brother."

"I got a promotion! Now I'm filing papers and all that shit for the boss of the factory. It practically doubled my pay." Tavros' grin was infectious, and Gamzee laughed delightedly.

"Congratulations motherfucker!" Gamzee ruffled his hair and kissed Tavros on the nose, earning a small squeak from his lover.

"You're in a really good mood." Tavros added, wandering over to the couch and flopping down.

"Yeah bro, I all up and got some good news of my own." Gamzee sat next to him and squirmed around excitedly, "You'll never guess who all up and called me today."

Gamzee got a phone call? Tavros sat up, feeling some of his elation melt away. Only a very select few people knew of Gamzee staying here—and almost all of them were people who Tavros didn't want to be hearing from. "Who?"

"Equius! Motherfucker all up and called a brother and told me what the fucks been going down since I…uh…left." Gamzee finished lamely, rubbing his bandaged hands absentmindedly.

"Oh? And what'd he say?"

"Well a few things; first up is my engagement has all up and been cancelled since apparently there 'is no Young Master' anymore." Gamzee said, quoting Equius with his fingers, "Which means nobody is gonna come after me! I'm motherfucking free."

Nobody was coming for him. It filled Tavros with two very strong, conflicting feelings. One was shock and sadness that Gamzee's family really didn't care about him. Sure, he'd they'd been pretty fucking horrible to him, but to not come after their only son? It really solidified Tavros' notion of them viewing Gamzee as nothing more than an item. He didn't have a family now. He was alone.

But no, he wasn't alone. He had Tavros. And nobody was coming for him this time, so they could be together. Gamzee was free, free from the suffocating life of the Makara family and from his abusive father. But Gamzee couldn't stay here…Mrs. Nitram had already said that much.

So that left the thing that Tavros had been thinking about all during work, "Hey, Gamzee? I wanna ask you something."

"Sure thing, bro." Gamzee smiled toothily at him.

"Want to get an apartment?"

Gamzee blinked, stunned, "What? Like, with you? Together?"

"Yeah. I have a job now so I can afford the rent—and I've saved a lot of my money. It, uh, wouldn't be a nice apartment though. We'd have to live…like in a…well a shitty neighborhood." Tavros shifted in his seat, feeling uncomfortable. He was used to living in bad places, and didn't really mind it. But Gamzee…Gamzee was another story. He was used to living a pampered lifestyle with servants and three solid meals a day. It would be a huge shock to him.

"Yeah!" Gamzee shouted, interrupting Tavros' thought process, "Fuck yes, Tavros! Oh holy shit our own place? Like, we get the keys?"

Tavros giggled, "Yes Gamzee you can have your own set of keys, but I don't think you understand completely. It's gonna be hard."

"I know." Gamzee said simply, "I'm not blind, Tavbro. We're gonna be poor motherfuckers and living in a shit place, but I don't care. I'm free and I have you. It's motherfucking paradise."

"Gamzee…" Tavros was taken aback, and then quickly hugged his lover, "Okay. Okay let's do it. Let's get an apartment together."

"Bitch tits!" Gamzee exclaimed, causing Tavros to snort and giggle into his hands. "Oh, and I got something that might help us along in the money aspect. I don't really know what the fuck half of this shit is, but it's expensive." Gamzee got up and vanished, only to return with his duffle bag. He opened it and showed Tavros the contents.

Inside, in a haphazard pile, were numerous items. Small, ornamental objects inlaid with jewels as well as hand painted carvings and small, foreign artifacts.

"My parents would always send me this shit when they traveled. It's gotta be worth something." Gamzee said casually.

"Is that what you crammed into your bag?" Tavros asked incredulously, remembering that Gamzee had indeed packed some things when he hadn't been looking. "Did you plan this?"

"Nah bro, I just figured it might be better to take some of this shit just in case." Gamzee smiled at Tavros and set down the back. "That should help, right bro? And I can get a job and help out. Don't worry Tav, you don't need to take care of me."

"Yes I do. You're impossible." Tavros mumbled, and then grinned. "Alright, I guess we better get going then."

"Sounds like a wicked plan, my best bro."

They grinned at each other and then curled up on the couch, satisfied with their plans for the future. Tavros thought about his job and the apartment they'd soon get, already making plans with what to do and where to look. Gamzee merely sat back and thought about Tavros, his Tavros, and let a small smile unfurl over his lips. He didn't have much to his name anymore, but he had Tavros. And to Gamzee Makara, that was all he needed.

The End.