He opened his eyes suddenly, seeing darkness. He sat up, looking around, slowly remembering where he rubbed his eyes with his palms to drown the headache he now noticed he was feeling. Great. He squinted his eyes to see better, stretching his hand towards the top drawer on his bedside table, thinking it wouldn´t hurt to check his phone for the time. It made a low vibrating sound as it trembled in his hand, its bright screen blinding him and piercing sharp knives through his skull. Bad idea. It said it was around 5 AM, but he thought he couldn´t be sure. He thought it would be nice to check his messages on the internet, but then he remembered he wouldn´t get any signal out there. He made a mad, frustrated sound escape his throat as he turned the device off again, stuffing it back in the drawer where he surely would leave it for the rest of his visit. He laid back down on the bed, feeling a wave of dizziness was over his head as he did so, and covered himself with the covers to get some more sleep and try to sleep off the hangover. He closed his eyes, and drifted off.

-Son, I´m leaving.- He jumped startled, opening his eyes immediately, seeing his father´s face next to his. –Son?-

-Yeah, dad…- He grunted while nodding, sitting up to pretend he was fully alert.

-I´m already leaving. Be good, and… Is that alcohol I smell?- He leaned close to his face, sniffing him, making Tavros grunt and try to push him away. –You reek of alcohol, son.- He chuckled, knowing he had drunk too much, and knowing his head must hurt like hell. He had also known the bliss of the town´s alcohol when he was younger.

-Why are you leaving so soon?- He tried changing the subject.

-I gotta get back to work. Get up, grandpa was already asking for you!- He clapped his hands to pump good humor into the grim, dark room, making Tavros grunt in pain and anger as he laid back down on the bed. –Bye son. Be good.- He repeated, leaning down over him to press a soft kiss on his forehead.

-Bye. I´ll see you…-

-Not so soon I hope!- He flashed his white teeth before leaving, closing the door behind him. Tavros felt a pang of sadness hurt his chest, missing his father already as he heard him go down the stairs. He was a good father. He sighed, trying to forget it, trying to suck it up and not hurt for it so soon. He decided to get up and ask his grandfather for a pain killer, knowing it would be no use. He probably didn´t even know what a Valium was. He tried to remember what he had drunk for the pain to be so bad, and he slowly remembered fragments of the night before. The beer, yes, it had been a beer. He was never having one of those again. The ride towards and back from the small, cute town. And he suddenly remembered having tasted Gamzee´s lips. He blushed uncontrollably, covering his mouth in shame, remembering every last bit of contact he had made with the other man´s body. He tried to remember if they had sex, but he was sure they didn´t. He sighed a little bit ticked off, mad for the lack of control over himself he had when he was drinking. He didn´t know if he should apologize. He couldn´t remember if Gamzee had opposed. He could remember he himself had liked it, though. He obliged himself to get up and grab some fresh clothes to wash up before his grandfather nagged him.

It was still dark when he got outside. He didn´t eat any breakfast, both because he wanted to avoid his grandfather noticing he had a hangover and because he felt too dizzy like to eat anything. His grandfather had told him to go fetch milk for their breakfast since he wasn´t going to eat, and there he was, walking towards the barn where he knew the fattened cows were at, mooing and stomping out of good humor for the new day, those happy bastards. He grunted, still feeling grumpy from the pain, and entered the large barn. He heard someone murmuring. He got closer to the cows, and saw the black haired man sitting down on a small chair besides one of the fat animals. He heard him come inside and greeted him with a small smile.

-Good morning.- Gamzee greeted him to then get back to grabbing the cow´s udders, starting to tug at her tits again to squeeze the warm milk out of her. She mooed loudly, and Tavros could have sworn it was as if she was greeting him as well.

-Hey…- He stood next to Gamzee, curious as to what he was doing. –Does that… hurt her?- He asked after a moment of silence, bending down a little to watch him closely.

-Naw.- He said confident, letting go of her to then stand up. –Your turn.- Tavros looked at him for almost a full minute, not being so sure of wanting to touch the cow. –Come on, she´s waiting for you.- He teased him, backing up a little bit to let him sit at the small chair. Tavros did as asked, sitting down and facing the pink tits that hanged from the black and white animal before him. He bit his lips, not sure of how to proceed. He looked up at Gamzee, who chuckled amused and bent down to teach him. He grabbed the cow once again, telling Tavros to watch how he did it. Then he told him to copy him. Tavros let his hands surround the tits, and tried pulling them, obtaining nothing more than a loud cow. He giggled at his own failure, and patted the cow to make her shut up. He felt like a child. Gamzee chuckled along, taking Tavros´ hand to guide him through it. –Squeeze tight.- He ordered him, and Tavros obeyed, feeling Gamzee´s slender, warm hand over his, squeezing as well. Somehow they managed to milk the cow at last, hearing the heavy sound of liquid splashing against the container under her, and Tavros began to laugh goodheartedly. He never thought he was going to milk a cow in his life, and now he felt so accomplished and strangely happy. Gamzee let go of his hand, sure that Tavros was an expert now. He looked at him and Tavros did the same, a childish smile on both of their faces that faded slowly as they realized they were much too close to one another´s face. Tavros was able to see his reddened cheeks as he stood up to get away. –Milk a little more, we better get that inside your house soon.- He said, starting to walk slowly around the cow distractedly. Tavros did as asked again, suddenly remembering he had a headache. It slowly came back.

His grandfather boiled the milk they gave him, since his wife had felt sick and was still in bed, and he ordered Tavros to clean the stables while they ate breakfast. He did as asked, and the day went by as a hazy rush of work, sweat, heat and animals. He was still tired from the day before and for staying up that late, and he hadn´t spoken to Gamzee since that morning. He had forgotten to bring up the subject of the night before and apologize, even though he didn´t really think that was an appropriate thing to do. He looked into the orange horizon and felt grateful that the heat was going to die down. He glanced up at him as he finished off feeding the few horses, noticing he was already done with whatever task his grandfather had ordered for him to do and was now sitting against the barn, smoking silently, watching him back. He smiled shyly before taking another puff at the thing, to then look away as if he hadn´t been watching him the whole time. Tavros chuckled. He cleaned his hands on his pants, looking back at the horses again. He remembered last time he tried ridding one at a fair he fell and broke his arm. He shook his head, wondering if he would do any better now that he was ten years older. He held on to that though, walking over to where Gamzee was at.

-Hey…- He lifted up a hand as he got closer, and Gamzee nodded back as a response. –Do… do those horses work?- He asked, watching as Gamzee suddenly began to laugh loudly, amused, letting the smoke escape his nostrils and mouth as his body began to shake under his laughter.

-Well they sure as hell ain´t broken.- He responded, watching as Tavros´ cheeks got red form embarrassment.

-You know what I mean…- He said in his defense, chuckling along. He waited until Gamzee stopped laughing at him to turn around and face the horses, waiting for a response.

-Yeah. Sometimes I ride them to the town or my house. When I don´t feel like using my truck.- He commented, standing up. –They´re pretty fast, don´t let their age fool you.-He continued, starting to walk towards the stable, expecting the younger man to follow. He touched one of the horses´ snout while it ate the rest of its dinner, petting at it and smiling quite stupidly. –This one´s Buck.- He told him, turning around to make sure he was listening. –But if you ain´t no expert, I´d say you start out ridding Spot over there.- He pointed at a white horse with a big brown spot on his face, honoring his own name. Tavros nodded. –He´s a good listener.- Tavros wasn´t able to tell if he meant the horse was good at taking instructions, or at listening to a man´s useless attempts at conversing with it. Tavros kept quiet for a moment, thinking that his grandfather wouldn´t mind if he went and did whatever he pleased now that he was done with his work.

-Would you… teach me?- He asked then, reaching a hand out to touch Buck as well. The horse backed up and gave him a piercing glare through its black eyes. Gamzee didn´t seem to notice.

-Of course.- He assured him, opening the gate right away to get started. He then prepared the horses while Tavros waited and observed what he was doing, trying to memorize the steps to remember them next time and maybe impress him. He smiled at that. Gamzee called him over to Spot, telling him it was ready to mount. Tavros stood by the beast, looking up at his tall back where he was supposed to climb, and felt small. He doubted he was going to be able to get up there without embarrassing himself. –Just grab this and pull yourself up, I´ll help you.- He assured him, crouching a bit to ready himself in case he needed to push him up by the leg.

-Okay…- He mumbled, holding onto the mount and pulling himself up by the strength of his biceps. Gamzee helped him anyways knowing that a good pair of arms weren´t always enough to get on top of such a tall animal. And Tavros found himself on the horse at last, glad that he didn´t fall off just yet, beginning to feel his heart beating hard and rapidly inside his chest and making his breathing start to get uneven. It was tall. The animal was stirring. –oh shit, I´m gonna fall!- He laughed, holding onto the reins desperately, leaning forward to grab the horse´s neck in case he started getting violent.

-It´s okay, you´re just fine.- He chuckled, watching him shut his eyes close as if he didn´t want to see if he did indeed fall off.

-No, no, no, get me off!- He kept on laughing nervously, knowing he was being a coward, but being unable to keep the memories of his broken arm, the hospital, and the stitches away from his mind. Gamzee petted the horse in case it got scared from Tavros nervousness, and then touched Tavros´ head to get his attention. –Get me off!- He pleaded again, this time showing some stray tears shining in his eyes and wanting to fall from his eyes. He was beginning to get really scared.

-Move back.- He told him firmly, moving his hand as if to make his order more explicit. Tavros let go of the reins slowly, trying to move closer to the horse´s rear, starting to shake, knowing he would fall off if he wasn´t careful enough. Gamzee waited for him to make space and jumped up, getting on the horse easily in front of Tavros.

-I wanna get off!- He repeated again, letting his hands hold on to Gamzee´s shoulder, accidentally digging his nails in his flesh from fear.

-Don´t be scared, city boy, I´m not gonna let you get hurt.- He told him with a smile, trying to get a good look at him by turning his head around. Tavros looked at him for a second, slowly starting to nod. He wasn´t going to argue. –Hold on tight.- He advised him, and the younger man surrounded his torso with his arms tightly, getting as close to him as he could manage, letting his head rest against his back. Gamzee´s cheeks got red as he sensed his hot breathing warming up his back. He then licked his lips, and slowly made the horse get out of the stable, closing the gate behind him expertly. Tavros just watched the ground, trying to get used to the frightening height. –Where to?- He asked playfully, making the horse jog a little in no specific direction.

-I have no idea.- He chuckled, speaking next to Gamzee ear in case he couldn´t hear him. Gamzee decided to show him the real beauty of where he lived.

-Aight.- He whipped the reins to get the horse to run, making Tavros squeak and hug him tighter, lifting dirt and making the beast under them neigh loudly as it took off towards the mountains rapidly. And it was freedom. It was euphoria, and it was freedom, and it was going back to nature and embracing its perfection. The tall grass ran by in a yellow blur, and his grandparents, house and barn were left behind soon after. They could see the trees in front of them from afar getting closer, the mountains maintaining their huge distance as well as the sun. He dared to lift his face from Gamzee´s back and look around, swallowing the thick warm air and almost being unable to breathe. It seemed as if they were the only ones on the fields. They tasted the wind on their buds and felt the speed caress their skin, Tavros´ flesh getting covered with goose bumps completely. And he was laughing like a small child from the speed, giggling and screaming into Gamzee´s hair because it felt so wonderful, and he swore he was flying through the air, and the horse was speeding up and leaving behind every trace of civilization, leaving behind everything that made them human. And his heart was ripping through his rib cage furiously, and his hands were shaking from the frenetic pulse as he held on for his life to Gamzee´s body. And then they came to a stop. He found himself panting for air, and he looked around to see where they were. He hadn´t noticed they had left the open fields to wander around some crowded trees, and he wondered if there was a deep forest beyond the furthest trees. They continued to jog into the vegetation, entering a much darker place than they were before, only patches of dying, orange sun being visible over the foliage. Tavros´ breathing calmed down, and he barely remembered the fear he had felt when he had gotten on the animal.

-That was incredible.- He murmured into Gamzee´s ear, accidentally sending a shiver down the older man´s spine. He could hear the grin on his voice. Tavros wanted to add that he wanted to do it again, and that he wanted to ride on the fields forever with him if he could, but he refrained from doing so. They were getting deeper into the trees, and the silence was getting too thick like to perturb it. He suddenly felt curious as to where they were going, but he didn´t ask. So he just held on to him tightly despite the fact that they were barely going faster than a quick walk, waiting to see what it was that he wanted to show him.

-This is it.- He said after a while of silence, the only noise being the horse´s hoofs hitting the ground. Tavros let go of him and Gamzee got down, lifting his arms up to offer some help to the other. Tavros suppressed a chuckle, letting the other pick him up and help him down. Gamzee tied the horse to the nearest tree, making sure that the beast didn´t escape and left them alone so far away from the farm. Then he sighed deeply, feeling a little bit sore from how tight Tavros had clung to him. But he didn´t complain. –Come on.- He smiled mysteriously, starting to walk among the dried leaves and moist dirt. Tavros followed closely, looking around to see if he saw any kind of wild life, slowly recognizing the subtle noise in the background to be running water. Soon, they were face to face with a river, its clear water running among the musky stones. It looked as if it had a slow and weak current. It definitely was perfect for a good swim. But the transparent, fresh liquid wasn't all that left Tavros open mouthed. The secret stream was beautifully concealed by the branches above, the patches of light shining on the small waves that snaked around the stones. It gave it a magical atmosphere.

-Gamzee, this is…- He was amazed.

-beautiful, isn´t it?- He replied almost proudly, crossing his arms over his chest as he smiled at the place that saw him grow up and beat the heat of summer away.

-Yeah…- He got closer to the water, crouching down and touching it with the tip of his fingers. –Wanna swim?- He then asked, smiling playfully at the black haired man. The other chuckled at his naughty face, shaking his head no.

-It´s almost night time already. Don´t want you getting sick.- Tavros pursed his lips a bit disappointed, dipping his hand inside the water to feel its coolness. He then stood up, hand dripping wet, and went towards Gamzee.

-Tomorrow, then… maybe?- He asked.

-If there´s time.- He responded. Tavros knew he was going to say that. He wrinkled his nose and touched Gamzee´s face with his soaking, cold hand, placing it over his eyes, nose and mouth, getting his whole face wet, and receiving his displeased, playful grunts as he tried to push him away.

-Stop!- He giggled, grabbing the other´s wrist to avoid his hand getting it all over his face again. Tavros stared at him with an innocent grin, to then bite his own lips. Gamzee had such beautiful dark eyes. He leaned in closer instead of pulling his arm free as Gamzee expected, tilting his head slowly as he inched closer to his pale face, his half lidded eyes shutting completely once he was close enough to brush his lips softly against Gamzee´s. The older man let a weak gasp escape his throat. They closed the distance, both mouths fitting perfectly against the other, molding and moving slowly in a dance of lips, teeth and tongue. Gamzee tasted so sweet and smoky. Tavros felt so soft and warm. And the younger man surrounded him with his arms again to bring him closer, digging his fingers on his hair, wrapping his tongue on his, breathing heavily and sporadically against his hot, pale face. They could have kissed until dawn if his horse wouldn´t have neighed so loudly, waking them up from their trance.

-Um…- He laughed softly, feeling his face red and hot. He glanced up at Gamzee, seeing him in the same state, struggling for the words to come out.

-We… better get going.- he managed, clearing his throat, licking his lips over and over as if he wished to taste him on the residuals of saliva still covering his lips. Tavros nodded, waiting for Gamzee to lead the way, noticing how the splotches of light that filtered through the trees were disappearing.

Sorry for taking so long but I have a lot of fanfics going on, specially on Deviant art

But thank you for keeping up with me!