Notes: I got my keyboard working again woooo. I know what I'm gonna do next but this is probably long enough for now. Review if you think it's not long enough and I'll get to finishing the next (probably the last) chapter of this arc faster. Ideas for other one-shots/arcs are appreciated.
Warnings: Nah
Rated: The usual
Uploaded:12/27/13

Best Bros Chapter 19

Nightmares Part 4

The two matesprites stood in embrace for a long while before anyone spoke again, and when words did again fill the air, they were filled with defeated amusement.

"I gotta be honest," Gamzee signed through his nose slowly. "I've no fuckin' clue how to explain my way outta this one." He relaxed slightly as he felt the chest against his back rumble in quiet laughter.

"I'd call bullshit before you got the chance." Tavros rest his chin on Gamzee's head lightly, his small smile fading as he remembered the way his friend had acted, how he had shook when he'd been caught. He sighed and ran a hand through Gamzee's hair, marveling in how much shorter Gamzee was than himself, before closing his eyes and sighing into Gamzee's long hair.

The two stood there a moment longer, before Tavros did the only thing he could think to do.

He took Gamzee home.

And if the smaller troll was surprised when Tavros picked him up and cradled him to his chest, he didn't say anything, only wrapped his fingers tightly around Tavros's arms. The only sound in the halls as Tavros wandered slowly back to his hive was his metal footsteps. He only pretended not to feel Gamzee flinch at the sound, but tightened his arms anyways, his facial muscles tightening.

He had no idea what was wrong, and it bothered the hell out of him. Hearing that Gamzee had left his hive had lit a light inside of him he thought had gone out, and hearing that the small troll had lashed out was nothing new, though it was worrying.

Hearing that he had caused himself harm, looked ragged and tired, and had exploded over a conversation Tavros had left on his husk top however, was much more worrying. He had never known Gamzee to be upset over something he had done before, and the thought that something had happened to his mate sprite in the weeks he had hid himself away bothered him immensely.

As Gamzee continued to flinch in his arms, Tavros found himself pretending not to flinch too. It was only after he had finally reached the entrance to his hive that he realized Gamzee had been tightening his grip on Tavros's arms so tight he had drawn blood. Clenching his jaw at the sudden pain, Tavros pressed Gamzee's face gently into his own shirt, hoping to hide the damage from the troll as long as possible.

He didn't know what was wrong, but he was going to help.

It wasn't until the screaming started that Tavros realized Gamzee had passed out in his arms. Jolting at the unexpected sound, and also at the pressure of claws pressing more forcefully into his skin, Tavros frantically examined his matesprite. Setting him down on the unfortunately hard floor of his home, Tavros searched for anything, everything that could have caused his friend pain.

His hand shot to his mouth when he finally understood, and he bit down hard into his own hand to muffle any devastated noises escaping his mouth.

He shook his friend desperately, frantically, oblivious to the brown blood streaking down his arms or dripping from his teeth where had bit into his own flesh. When Gamzee refused to wake up and his screaming only got louder, Tavros allowed himself to fall back and sob.

How was he supposed to fix nightmares?

He hid his face in his hands, his mouth a thin line as he tried to hold his own fears back and gain the courage to help. He had to. After a short moment, Tavros picked himself and Gamzee up, and started rocking. He ran his fingers through black hair, unsure of whether he was trying to comfort himself or his friend, but comforting all the same.

A shot of anger hit him, and he growled loudly and angrily at the thought of how this had been going on for days, weeks probably! His chest vibrated with his voice, and he felt Gamzee squirm in his arms. It wasn't until he felt Gamzee's hands loosen slightly, that he realized his violent growling was actually soothing him. So Tavros growled, and he didn't stop, even when Gamzee suddenly jolted awake, and out of his wet arms.

Gamzee panted loudly, trying to collect himself and gain his bearings. His eyes were wide as he caught sight of Tavros, and they widened even further when the continuous growling reached him. Tavros forced his growling to cease, and was about to speak when Gamzee's eyes suddenly and unexplainably narrowed, his face contorting in a rage Tavros couldn't have seen coming.

"Why were you with her!?" Tavros flinched back, and was cut off before he could respond. "That fucking bitch took your legs! She took your fuckin lusus! She took your motherfuckin life and you still go to her!?" Tavros barely had the time to realize what Gamzee was talking about before suddenly the troll was upon him, and his back was slammed into the round.

Black dots erupted in Tavros's vision as his head immediately followed his back, slamming into the hard floor with nothing other than air to cushion it. He blinked dully, before catching back onto what Gamzee was saying.

"-not good enough for you!? That motherfucking bitch isn't worth your friendship! What's so good about that bitch that you-!?" Tavros had to concentrate harder to see that his friend was crying. He winced as he realized how wet the ground around him was becoming, not having stopped his bleeding arms or hand. From Gamzee's face, he hadn't seen the blood yet.

The thought that maybe he had, and didn't care terrified Tavros, and he forced himself into a sitting position to be more face to face with his matesprite, who wasted no time in getting right up into his face. His head lowered involuntarily, out of what he refused to admit was fear.

"Why were you with that bitch!?" Gamzee growled fiercely. "I told you not to hang out with her! After what she did to you-" Gamzee cut himself off suddenly with a shocked gasp, and Tavros's head shot up, worried his friend had hurt himself, only to see a look of horror blooming over his friends tear stricken face.

"Oh…oh my god." Gamzee fell back as he took in his friend's appearance. The blood, the fear, and the pain he knew immediately he had caused. "Oh my god-." Both his hands shot to cover his mouth as his body hunched over, and Tavros got a look at the most devastated face he had ever seen anyone make in his life.

Gamzee forced himself to keep looking, even though he desperately wanted to look away. He looked at each nail mark, and was horrified to see a total of ten of them. When he reached the dazed expression of worry on Tav's face, and the blood slowly drying on his lip, Gamzee came to the conclusion that he had seriously hurt him.

His eyes slammed shut as his body lurched forward, trying and almost failing to keep bile out of his throat.

What had he been doing? He couldn't remember. Tavros had been carrying him, and then there'd been blood. There'd been so much blood, and then it was gone…but he'd gotten so mad-

He jolted when arms still slick with blood wrapped around him carefully, and Gamzee almost started crying again at how gently they hugged him. He sobbed and hugged his friend back, and let himself pretend that Tavros still loved him.

Who would love him after what he had done?

"She wanted to apologize."

Gamzee stiffened as Tavros talked, his hands fighting not to clench and wound more than he already had.

"She's found someone she really likes, and she decided to go see him." Gamzee fought back his feeling of disgust and anger than anyone would care for such a disgusting, vile, motherfucking-

"She wanted to say bye before she left, and she said sorry. It's over. She's gone." Tavros pulled back to rest his forehead carefully on Gamzee's, who was watching him with fear and sadness.

"I love you."

And then Gamzee was mad again. He pushed Tavros away, gentler than he had previously and growled, "Why!? Why would you still love a motherfucker like me? I hurt you! I clawed you!" His eyes caught sight of the bite on Tavros's hand and his startled gasp broke through his words. "I fuckin bit you!?"

Tavros pulled him into his arms again, clenching his eyes as the world swam around him. "Nah…that one was me."

There was a stunned silence. "Why?" Gamzee shook in Tav's arms, "Why'd you fuckin hurt yourself?"

"Does it make you sad when I hurt myself?"

Gamzee's head shot up, "Of course it motherfuckin makes me sad! I love you, you dense motherfucker!"

He was prevented from saying anymore when Tavros glared at him, and understanding started working its way into his brain.

"You…" Tavros shook his head disbelievingly and ignored the blackness lingering at the edges of his sight, "are the dense motherfucker. How long have you been having trouble sleeping?"

Gamzee gaped at him, before forcing out, "Few weeks-"

"And not once did you think to come to me for help? To go to anyone for help?" Gamzee struggled and failed to answer. "Why did you do that?" Tavros's face grew sad as he looked at the lost expression on Gamzee's face. "I don't want to see you hurt yourself either…"

"…I'm sorry…"

Tavros nodded, "And you're forgiven." His arms slackened and his vision finally blurred, "As long as you never do this again."

The last thing Tavros saw before he passed out was Gamzee's horrified face as he hurried to support his friend's faltering body.