Chapter Fifteen

Tavros had to keep Gamzee out of the water for almost an entire week after he'd stitched him up, keeping a close eye on him as he healed. In fact he hadn't gone home since he'd been forced to pry that cold ball of steel out of his friend's shoulder. Gamzee had thankfully been out cold and missed the entire thing, but it had kept Tavros up for more nights than he'd like to admit. Finally Gamzee, who was a little drunk off pain killers, realized his Matesprit was missing sleep. He made Tavros sleep with him—which surprisingly helped the both of them.

Now he was wheeling Gamzee towards his old room on a staff wheelchair, reminding him again and again, "Don't over exert yourself, don't touch the stitches, and if you feel anything different or if it starts to bleed or something happens to the stitches—tell Karkat or me instantly, okay?"

"Chill Tav, I'm not gonna go belly-up on you just yet." Gamzee chuckled, eager to be back in the water and, more importantly, see his brother. He leaned forward as Tavros took him into his old home, eyes scanning the water excitedly.

Kurloz surfaced immediately, his icy demeanor gone and replaced with a massive smile as he watched his brother approaching the ramp. He swam over to the ramp and hovered around anxiously as Tavros picked Gamzee up and walked over.

Grimacing as he walked down into the water, Tavros crouched down and let Gamzee slip from his arms and into the water, smiling as Kurloz was there in a second. He may cold shoulder everyone else, but it was clear Kurloz cared deeply for Gamzee.

He watched as the two of them caught up, Gamzee chatting excitedly and Kurloz eagerly drinking in every word. Tavros sat down next to the wheelchair as Gamzee and Kurloz swam around the pool, Gamzee's voice ringing through the room as he told his brother about his life in the pool.

Tavros couldn't help but compare them. Everything he knew from Gamzee, he realized, meant nothing. Kurloz was completely different from his younger brother, even in appearances. But it was his personality that was most noticeable. But was that because of being raised in captivity? Gamzee had been raised in captivity…but Kurloz had probably been abused. But he'd also never spoken a single word to his little brother. Even when Gamzee had been shot, Kurloz had remained silent.

This chilled Tavros, and he cast his eyes over Kurloz once more. But that smile when he'd brought Gamzee into the room…that had been genuine.

It was no use. He'd never be able to figure out that species. It was impossible and, Tavros realized, he didn't want to know. It was like what Karkat had been saying all along; Gamzee was a person. All people were different.

Standing, Tavros slipped away, leaving the brothers to themselves.

"Man motherfucker I can't believe you're here." Gamzee sighed happily, floating on his back as Kurloz played with his hair. "This is the most wicked of miracles."

Kurloz tugged teasingly on his hair before continuing to toy with the unruly black locks so much like his own.

"Hey, bro, what do ya think about Tav?" Gamzee rolled over, treading water across from his brother.

Kurloz shrugged and grimaced, not looking too pleased by the question.

"Aw come on bro, you gotta think something about him." Gamzee grinned, whapping his brother with his tail.

Kurloz rolled his eyes and shrugged again.

"He's something special." Gamzee said softly, smiling past his brother, "He's my Matesprit, you know." He yelped in surprise as Kurloz grabbed his arm suddenly, looking at his brother in surprise, "Ah, what bro?"

Kurloz began speaking in silent rapid fire, his hands moving around in almost frantic gestures as he tried to convey whatever was on his mind.

"Uh, woah there brother, I can't all up and understand you when you get like that." Gamzee said, looking a little bewildered by the ferocity of some of the signs. He watched as Kurloz repeated a specific set of words over and over, frowning, "What?"

Kurloz made the signs again, mouthing the words.

Gamzee blinked, "I…nah bro, that's not possible."

Kurloz nodded and glared, jabbing his finger at where Tavros had vanished.

"I…I didn't know." Gamzee said helplessly. "I…But it's not important, right? Right…?"

Kurloz nodded again, dropping his hand with a small splash.

"Oh." Gamzee said in a small voice, his shoulder starting to throb. His head snapped up, feeling guilty as he watched his best friend and Matesprit walk in carrying a stretcher.

"Alright fish fuck number two," Karkat drawled, earning an ugly look from Kurloz, "Get your tail over here we gotta check you over."

Kurloz bared his teeth in a silent hiss.

"Oi! I'm not thrilled with this either!" Karkat snapped, "Just get over here and make this easy for everyone!"

"It's okay," Gamzee turned to his brother and smiled, "Karkat's my best bro. He'll all up and take good care of you."

Kurloz looked far from happy, but after some gentle coaxing from Gamzee, he finally swam over and allowed himself to be loaded onto the stretcher.

"Sorry," Tavros smiled apologetically at Kurloz, "it was Feferi's idea. Just a check-up, I promise."

Kurloz glared mutinously at him, making Tavros a little nervous, but didn't bite anyone as he was lifted onto the stretcher and carried out.

A couple minutes later Tavros was back, and he smiled at Gamzee as he closed the door behind him, "Hey Gamz."

Gamzee looked up and grinned before swimming over to the side of the pool, "How's Kurloz?"

"He's, ah, good. Not too happy though." Tavros began pulling off his clothes until he was down to his underwear, then slid into the pool, "He wouldn't let us look in his mouth, almost took my fingers off when I tried."

Gamzee felt a small twinge of discomfort but quickly pushed it aside when Tavros swam up to him, "Yeah he doesn't all up and like people poking around at his face." He wrapped his arms around Tavros and pulled him out to the middle of the pool, rubbing his lower back absentmindedly. He wanted to tell his Matesprit what Kurloz had told him…but he didn't really want to throw that at Tavros when he had so much going on to begin with.

"Hey Gamz, why doesn't Kurloz talk?" Tavros asked, unable to hide his curiosity.

"He does, just not with words." Gamzee felt his heart ache for his older brother, "We don't all up and have to talk, mostly we use hand signals and shit. I used to do it when I was a grub but nobody understood what I was all up and trying to say."

"Hand signals? Like sign language?"

"Eh, sort of." Gamzee rested his head on Tavros' shoulder, "Hey Tav?"

"Yeah Gamzee?"

"What's gonna happen to us?"

"What do you mean?"

"Kurloz and I."

It was Tavros' turn to feel upset, and he sighed softly into Gamzee's hair, "I don't know. Feferi is figuring it out now but…I don't think you'll be staying here."

Gamzee was quiet for a long time. The soft rippling of the water caused by his tail filled the empty room as the two of them slowly floated around the pool. After a bit, Gamzee kissed the side of Tavros' neck, "Whatever you think is right, Tav, I'm sure will be the best thing for us."

Tavros felt his chest constrict and he held on to Gamzee tighter. He wanted to be selfish. He wanted to go right now and convince Feferi that the safest place for Gamzee was right here, in this pool and in his arms. He almost did too.

But he remembered Gamzee's fascination with the outside world, that childlike awe at the things around him, things he didn't know existed. He knew how much Gamzee wanted his freedom. Tavros knew what was best for Gamzee, but it hurt him more than anything.

He looked up at Gamzee and their eyes met. They both knew what was going to happen to him and his brother. Tavros tilted his head and pressed his lips softly against Gamzee's, savoring the feeling. Their time was limited, and already it seemed like they were running on a clock.

Gamzee ran his hands up and down Tavros' back, kissing him softly at first, and then with a more demanding urgency that made them both gasp.

When they parted for breath Gamzee wasted no time. He kissed down Tavros' neck and nipped gently at his collarbone, shivering as he heard his Matesprit gasp. He could feel Tavros' hands roaming over his body, caressing his lower back and chest, running over the place where flesh melted into scale.

Tavros exhaled in pleasure as Gamzee's teeth found that one sensitive spot on his neck, and his breathing hitched when those sharp teeth pressed into it gently. Everything felt surreal. The touch of Gamzee's hands, the softness of his lips, that powerful tail moving between his legs to keep them both afloat. It all traveled through Tavros' body like a current, making him gasp and moan as it grew more heated.

It was getting hard to keep them both above water, so Gamzee began to steer them towards the ramp. He pushed Tavros onto it and then pinned him down with his body. The shallow water lapped at their bodies as lips met and tongues battled.

Tavros moaned softly as he felt Gamzee catch his lower lip in those sharp teeth and he rolled his hips up, needing to feel all of his Matesprit.

Gamzee got the hint and his hands were on Tavros' boxers instantly, putting them down and letting them float off carelessly. His hands hesitantly ran over his Matesprit's erection, still unsure of how to make him feel good. But when Tavros made a small sound of need, he forgot about his uncertainty.

Feeling Gamzee's cool hand sliding up and down his erection made Tavros arch his back and cry out sharply. Waves of pleasure rolled through him and his moaning grew louder as he felt lips and teeth attack his neck again. Then the hand moved away and was replaced by something slick and flexible, wrapping around him desperately before beginning to move over him.

"Ahngh!" Gamzee let out a shaky moan as he felt his bulge twist and turn around Tavros' member. The tentacle moved with an urgency that took their breath away, and the room was filled with cries of pleasure and desperate pleas for more.

Tavros could feel his climax building inside him quickly and he reached down, wrapping his hand around the bulge and his dick. Squeezing firmly, he hastily stroked them, the purple genetic material from Gamzee acting as lube.

"T-Tav! S-shit I c-can't—oh god yes please more don't motherfucking stop." Gamzee moaned incoherently and his bulge tightened around Tavros' erection, making his Matesprit cry out desperately. It was over in a flash of white and their release pooled over Tavros' hand and down his thighs.

The bulge retracted slowly, brushing Tavros' sensitive member and making him whimper softly. Gamzee lay on his Matesprit, panting, and then purred as he felt Tavros wrap his arms around him. He looked up and felt his blood pusher miss a beat at the warmth in Tavros' smile. His own face mirrored that expression as he moved up and gently pressed his lips against Tavros'. "I motherfucking love you, Tavros."

Tavros felt something overpowering bloom inside of him and he held Gamzee tightly, "I love you too, Gamzee. A lot."

They lay there for a while longer, and then slipped into the pool and swam slowly around it, holding each other the entire time.