It had been two weeks burdened with incredible weight. It was not a physical weight. Gamzee didn't mind carrying Tavros around or exercising his legs and hips, he didn't mind helping him bathe and tend to hygienic issues, but the wait for Equius was nearly killing him. If not for being around his potential matesprit, he would have gone mad. Who go could mad though with Tavros around, he was so sweet to him and modest. He tried his best to lessen Gamzee's burden of taking care of him, not that he could do much except drag himself around and do smaller things himself. He insisted that Gamzee didn't have to bathe him and feed him; he could still take care of himself despite his paralysis. He was just…so sweet.

Another two weeks, he told to himself, before Equius' arrival and he would be making him a new spinal cord. Until then, during this time of burden, he and Tavros had grown rather close. They shared stories of their past, which Gamzee was more than generous enough to share (in an attempt to redeem himself from the way he acted toward his previous matesprit when asked about it) and partook of reading some of their favorite stories to each other. Gamzee shared with him the many prophecies and tales of his mirth messiahs and his religion whilst Tavros shared fairytales, which the highblood found adorable. He knew them all by heart, it was quite adorable.

They tried to share a few hobbies, some of which were rather difficult since the Taurus could not move at all from the waist down. So instead they settled for slam poetry, which was quite enjoyable and brought them many laughs, and other non-exertive things. They were horrible at slam poetry, often going on so long they'd each be out of breath. In one instance, Gamzee decided that he didn't want to get up because he was so "exerted" from the slam poetry. He wrapped his arms around Tavros' waist and rested his head on his chest. It had been awkward for the brownblooded troll since he was still growing accustomed to the highblood's feelings. It wasn't bad uncomfortable though, snuggling was nice and an efficient pacifier. It reminded him of all the times he and Tinkerbull would snuggle, or when the small lusus would cuddle up between him and Aradia.

Tonight seemed a tad different; Gamzee was quieter, if not a little more languid than usual. Was something wrong, had he done something wrong? He bit his lip softly before pulling himself up against the pillows and sitting up best he could. The highblood took a gander at him for a moment, pulling his attention from the fairy tale book that he had gotten Tavros from the library, to assess the shift in the bed.

"You a'ight Tav?" Gamzee asked softly.

"Uhhh…I'm…I'm fine," he smiled awkwardly. Gamzee smiled softly, setting the book aside.

"Bro, I've been meaning to all up and motherfuckin' ask," he raised his hand to Tavros' face. At this point the Taurus was no longer afraid of the gesture; he welcomed the Capricorn's hand as it settled on his cheek, "Can I all up and get my motherfuckin' kiss on with you?"

"K-kiss on?" Tavros blushed a bit, looking to the side as he considered it. They had kissed before; Gamzee was an incredibly good kisser. The pleasure of the act though was not what he sought, he wanted there to be a pre-existing connection. It had been his reasoning behind not pailing with him when he had the chance. He could have had him around his fingers; he could have used him and taken down the tyrant their group had sought to destroy. He wasn't a tyrant though, he was just…Damned…It was a horrible word that was entirely accurate of the highblood's genetic situation. He was too gentle for such hypocritical methods. He wanted to change Gamzee, just as Karkat did. Blood could not salvage the goodness within Gamzee, only breath could revitalize the lighter shades of blood within him that screamed for peace.

Now, as their relationship was growing, he felt he could kiss the clown honestly. He could progress into something romantic with the highblood. He admitted that his feelings weren't entirely red; they were between the two blushed quadrants. No harm could come from simple kisses though; at least he was not being forced. He considered that Gamzee could take advantage of him if their kissing became heated, but the highblood had other opportunities to do so and did not. He could trust him.

"O-okay," Tavros blushed a bit, turning back to him, "B-but, uh, take it slow. Please?"

Gamzee chuckled, stroking his cheekbone with his thumbs, "A'ight, wouldn't want you to get all uncomfortable and shit,"

The Taurus shivered uncomfortably before settling into Gamzee's embrace, their lips chastely meeting as he brought him closer. The peck lasted a moment before Gamzee pulled away, looking over Tavros' blushing face momentarily, before pushing for another kiss. He cupped his cheek gently, his other arm wrapped around his waist, as he continued to kiss him heatedly for another minute.

"Uncomfortable, bro?" he asked softly, moving to his neck.

"Mmm," the paraplegic blushed harder, "No, that feels, uh, nice…A-ah! That tickles!"

The highblood chuckled at the reaction, rubbing up and down Tavros' sides.

"Ah!" Tavros giggled, squirming best he could to avoid the tickles. It was all for naught however as Gamzee situated himself in his lap, straddling his waist in order to keep him still. He continued to tickle up and down his sides, idly caressing his vestigial grub legs playfully. Tavros smirked cleverly and began to tickle Gamzee as well between their kisses, drawing some chuckles from the highblood but not much. Idly, the indigoblooded troll began to rub down past his waist. He began to massage his thighs as he often did with his former matesprit. Tavros whimpered a bit; a tad unnerved that he could no longer feel Gamzee's hands on him.

"G-Gamzee," he squeaked, head craned back so Gamzee could kiss his neck, "W-Where are you, uh, hands?"

"Hm?" he hummed idly, "On your motherfuckin' thighs…Oh…fuck…"

He lifted his hands up and to the level of his highs, shifting away from Tavros somewhat, "Sorry bro, I just…Got all up and excited…I guess…Been with Karkat so long and he used to motherfuckin' love…"

Tavros frowned a bit as he went on.

"O-oh…Motherfuckin' apologies again bro, I just…" Gamzee frowned, cupping his cheek gently, "You're not his motherfuckin' replacement or anythin', I just, miss him, y'know?"

"I know," Tavros sighed, "It's, uh, fine, I just feel sorry for him,"

"For Karkat bro?" Gamzee asked.

"No, for, uh, Eridan," Tavros clarified, "They were so…deeply in pity…"

He paused when he noted Gamzee's pained expression, his eyes straining between sobs and tranquility.

"D-Did he not…" Gamzee strained a bit, "Why did he have to motherfuckin' stray?"

He held the 69 pendent around his neck, voice cracking as he tried to speak. He had never asked because he knew he'd still betrayed. After all this time, after growing so close to Tavros, he still wanted an answer for Karkat's infidelity. If not for his own sake, than for the Cancer to rest in death knowing that he would not have to salvage the remains of their red romance.

"Gamzee?" Tavros cupped his face, wiping gently at his tears.

"Was I not motherfuckin' enough for him?" Gamzee asked softly.

"O-Oh," Tavros shifted uncomfortably, "I…I don't think it was, uh, you…It just kinda, uh, happened…."

"Why bro?" Gamzee asked softly.

"Well, um…I mean, maybe you two just weren't, hatched for each other," Tavros started delicately, "W-what I, uh, mean to say is that, Karkat does care about you. He told me so, but, uh, he also didn't want you to hurt anyone. He did care, just, uh, he wasn't as red for you. When he met Eridan he felt a sort of, uh, connection? I guess…That's how you put normally put it? And they just, became flushed for each other. Some trolls are just hatched for each other like that…"

He paused, wording his next sentence carefully, "Karkat and you are more like moirails. Maybe you two were hatched for each other like that? Moirails?"

Gamzee was very quiet as he took that in; he appeared to be calming down. Tavros was uncertain though as to how he'd respond. Karkat was always affluent with the indigoblood's mannerisms; he knew what to expect. Tavros did not, he could never be certain of what Gamzee would do next. He was so whimsical and unpredictable when it came to his emotions.

"Do you think you were motherfuckin' hatched for me?" he asked softly, leaning in closely until the tips of their noses were touching.

"U-uh, w-well," he stuttered, "M-maybe?"

The indigoblood smiled softly, seemingly satisfied with the answer as he leaned in for another kiss. Tavros leaned in, mainly to appease him, when there came a gentle tapping. It did not distract the highblood, who continued to peck the side of his mouth lovingly as the brownblood swiveled his head to the side, trying to find the origin of the tapping. He turned to face the window as Gamzee gently eased him back against the pillows, grazing his sides with his long fingers whilst his lips worked with his neck. Tavros gasped and immediately pushed him off.

"T-Tinkerbull!" he cried, flushed in embarrassment.

"Huh?" Gamzee furrowed his brow before turning toward the window. There was the small fairy-bull outside the window, tapping on the glass. He seemed to be struggling as well, as if trying to break through it. He smiled a bit as he noted the bull horns; it was obvious that this particular fauna was Tavros' lusus. He stood and eagerly walked over to the window, which he immediately opened. The small lusus fluttered in swiftly and made way over to Tavros.

"T-Tinkerbull," he smiled softly as the small lusus settled down in his lap.

"Aw, looks like he all up and motherfuckin' missed you," Gamzee smiled brightly as he shut the window.

"Yeh, I, uh, sent him away before I was captured," Tavros sighed happily as he petted his back gently, "He kept coming back and, uh, I had to keep sending him away,"

"Aw, c'mon bro," Gamzee pet the spot between his horns, "He can all up and stay. No one will motherfuckin' hurt him, I promise,"

To everyone's solace it appeared the small group would be passing the border ahead of schedule. The scare of the Subjugglators had called for some rash decisions, mainly by Eridan who pressed the team forward. His self-entitlement drove Sollux to anger, who thereby used his psionic powers on the tunnels. Such a strain drove the team onward, as if wishing to finally be rid of the overzealous seadweller. They all knew he was just trying to move things along though; he wanted to get home and gather his army. He wanted to save Karkat and take down the fucker who ruined his life. Feferi did her best to quell him but with little avail, except for this particular daybreak when they decided to stop after nearly several, endless nights of treading through dirt.

Eridan rested his head in her lap as he held a plush object to his chest, small rivulets of fluid running down his face.

"It just fuckin' sucks Fef," he sniffled, "I get bitched at for tryin' to go back, noww I'm being glared at for pushin' us forwward! It's not evven my fault wwe got found out, it wwas Ar's and Sol's fuckin' fault!"

"Eridan, shhh, clam down," she rubbed his back gently, "I'm certain all will be forgiven when we get past the border,"

She giggled a bit, "If not for your whining, we might not have made such progress,"

"Wwell, not like I could do much tryin' to go back," he cursed under his breath, nuzzling the plushie against his chest. It was a small trinket he had taken from Karkat's tent; a crab-shaped plushie that was bright red. It had been a gift, he heard, from Terezi to her former matesprit. That did not stop him from stealing it; he saw no reason for such audacity to be unpermitted. Karkat was his matesprit and he wanted to feel close to him. The plushie even smelled like him.

"Y'knoww Fef," Eridan started softly, "Wwhen you become the Empress an all, since…Meenah's dead…Wwhat use ya' gonna havve for me? Dualscar is still there…Y'think I could just stay in this kingdom? Patch all this shit up? Y'knoww, stay wwith Kar,"

"Eridan," Feferi responded softly, "You're my moirail, you know I'd like to keep you close. But, if you reelly wanna stay here and fix things, it's not like I can say no."

She leaned down and kissed his cheek, "I might stay here a bit longer myself,"

"Oh?" Eridan sat up to look her in the face, "Why?"

"Whale, y'know," she smiled, blushing slightly, "Clean the waters here, get Redglare's advice and strategies on fixing faith in the lowblood population. That sort of stuff,"

"That's not all of it," Eridan started, "You're thinkin' of stayin' here wwith that slimeblooded troll, aren't you?"

"Eridan, don't call him that. You can't say much either, Karkat's a mutantblood," Feferi scolded lightly.

"Fuck…I…I know Fef, but he's wwith Ar! I mean, you twwo…Ergh," Eridan grit his teeth, he had adopted some respect for the lower parts of the hemospectrum, especially since meeting Karkat. The idea though of Feferi being romantically intertwined with a troll whose company he did not keep well unnerved him, "I mean to say is, it ain't fair to Ar…"

"Oh Eridan, we're not that flushed," Feferi told him, "Besides, Sollux wouldn't cheat on Aradia. She's so sweet and kind, a little pale and unfazed sometimes, but sweet nonetheless. If we ever decided to become something redder, he'd be gentle in breaking it off with her,"

"Wwoww, Fef, that's seems a little…" Eridan shook it off, "Nevvermind, I just don't wwant anymore drama around here, 'kay? It's enough of a trial as it is,"

Feferi frowned, sensing disappointment from her moirail. Of course he had the right to be disappointed with her. She was flirting with another troll and unintentionally convincing him to leave his matesprit whilst she had a troll who already loved and adored her unconditionally. It was almost worth of guilt and repentance; alas such taboos did not exist. Matespritship ended, that was that. She ended with her moirail for purposes of her being, now she was willing to break a matespritship because she attracted to another troll? It was a rather unfair arrangement, she supposed. Only time could tell, it was Sollux's call if he wanted to stay with Aradia or not.

"Fef," Eridan started up again, "Do you really think Kar's okay?"

"What? Of course Eridan!" she forced a big smile on her head, "Gamzee would never krill him, he pities him so much!"

"Wwell, looks like I'll havve to fight him wwith a bigger gun," Eridan squeezed the plushie tighter.

"And you'd be justified in doing so," Feferi nodded, "Now c'mon, we should get some sleep,"

"I'm still feelin' awwake," Eridan turned, setting the plushie down on top of the blanket. It had been serving as his pillow since he had taken it from Karkat's abandoned tent, it was quite comforting, "You head along, I'm gonna stay up for a bit. Got some thinkin' to do,"

"Alright," she kissed his cheek, "Don't stay up too late,"

"I won't," he promised as she left. He waited a few minutes before leaving the tent himself. He would have left the tent with his moirail, but he'd rather keep their conversations to the privy of his rather small tent. He unscrewed the lid to his canteen; he felt rather thirsty and would enjoy some water. It had been such a long time since he and Feferi had the privilege to dive into a large mass of water, they could not risk going up to the surface. The two had to make due with spraying water over their gills, it would keep them from suffocating but it did not suffice with so much dirt around. The result was a need to consume more liquid than normal, as their bodies were depleting the deposits rapidly due to a sufficient lack of gill-breathed oxygen. He approached the barrels of water and dunked his canteen in, sighing sadly as little air bubbles popped at the surface. They idly reminded him of Karkat and his desire to take his matesprit to a cleaner ocean and dive into the sea with him. He would never let his beloved drown, for as long as Karkat held onto his matesprit he'd be safe. Granted they could not dive too deep because land-dwellers lacked the evolutionary advantages to dive thousands of feet under the sea, but just to have a swim with him through coral reefs and pods of whales and such. Oh, he'd look so beautiful surrounded by the eerie, blue glow of the saline water around him.

He took a swig of the liquid, smiling nostalgically, before screwing the lid back on. He made to return to his tent when a choking sound filled his ears. It was too soft for any land-dweller to hear, his fins before his ears acted as sonar sensors; obviously this creature wished to not be heard. They were quite close too…what was that behind the wagon? (The barrels were kept close to the wagon for easy reloading.) Furrowing his brow he approached the area between the dirt wall and wagon, dropping his canteen as he caught sight of something most horrifying; maroon blood. Aradia was shaking violently as she tried to maintain her coughs; her hands and the ground covered in her rusted plasma.

"W-Wwhat the fuck Ar?!" Eridan gasped as he rushed over, trying to aid her. Normally he would not care to aid an obviously injured lowblood; Karkat had taught him better than that. How could he truly love Karkat if he hadn't learned anything from him? Something about the bright red hues flowing through the Cancer's veins boiled his heart passionately, he had mutated himself. His heart had been transformed and it wretched at the memory of red blood being spent. Red-no matter the variation-stung his heart; he could not allow this blood to be drained. He picked her up, she was surprisingly very light, and rushed her over to her tent. Since it was her duty to unload the wagon and gather supplies from the surface her tent was quite close to the wagon, easily concealing the matter from the others.

He set her down on her matt and made to leave to get help when she grabbed his arm. He was forced to look back, she looked horrible. Her pale grey skin was livid with sickness and maroon blood had splashed upon her face and front in an exotic display of her ailment. What had caused this?

"Don't go," she pleaded softly, holding her burning chest.

"Ar, you're bleedin to death. For fuck's sake let me at least get Sol!" he urged.

"No!" she cried, "Please, no one must know."

"No one must…the fuck?" he furrowed his brow, "Ar, are you dyin or somefin? If you are evveryone deservves to knoww. Shit, you shouldn't evven be here if that's the case,"

She was silent for a moment before biting her lip. Shakily, she sat up; reaching for a towel she had left out for just this purpose, and began to wipe her face off, "I got sick long after I joined the rebellion."

"Fuck Ar, is this Devvourance?" he asked softly.

"Yes, it is," she sighed softly, coughing between her words. The attack seemed to be settling, which was good, "Tavros used to bring me herbs by the rivers to quell the infection in my lungs, but I can't go to the surface to get them myself since the attack,"

"Ar," he frowned, "Howw long havve you been dealin wwith this?"

"Nearly a sweep and a herbs really do work," Aradia told him. He held his chest, he imagined Karkat in her place. Those of red blood were prone to this horrible disease; it was not possible he could be contaminated by the infection as well. Empathy stabbed him in his vascular pump mercilessly, causing him to gently reach forward and push some hair out of her face.

"Ar, if you'd like," he started softly, "Fef's got this wwhite powwer, I don't knoww howw it wworks, but it could provvide you wwith just enough longevvity to get through this horrid disease,"

She smiled softly, oh how lovely she looked. He imagined Karkat smiling at him, "That would be lovely, but not even longevity can take away this illness. I'm close to death, I accept it,"

Eridan frowned, "Ar?"

"Please, please don't tell anyone," she asked softly, "I don't want to be treated like a commodity or anything special just because I'm ill. I'm going to pull through until I drop. I could not even imagine Sollux's reaction if he found out, he'd be devastated,"

Eridan's stomach wretched as he took it all in; not only was Aradia dying but no one in their group knew, except for him that is. Not only that but not even her matesprit knew she was dying. Along with that Feferi was consorting with the mustard-blooded troll! Well, perhaps that term was a bit too intimate, but they were getting close nonetheless. Aradia must've felt so lonely; going to the surface and consorting with the dead in order to shroud her presence, risking her life knowing she was dead anyways, seeing that the group had all their supplies, helping Sollux dig the tunnels with her own telekinetic powers, and then curling up in her tent, alone, coughing up blood? How could Sollux not even check on her?! Argh, he felt utterly disgusted by the whole situation!

"A-Ar…" he started; he wanted to tell her what was going on between Sollux and Feferi, but stopped himself. It would be too big of an emotional blow and her frail body could not handle it, "I'll keep your secret. Just promise me that wwhen you're havvin an episode to come to my tent. You'll need someone there, y'knoww?"

Aradia frowned, but nodded, "Alright, thank you,"

She rubbed her eyes, "I think I'd like to get some sleep now,"

"Good idea," he turned to crawl out of the tent, "I'll leavve you alone to get changed. I'll check up on you later,"