"Go away."

The words stung.

They turned Gamzee's blood cold as the words shot up his spine and finally registered in his brain," go away?"

"YES! Get out! Go! Leave! Like you did before! Just leave me alone! I'm doing so good here! I have a job! I'm going to school! I even got colleges offering me scholarships! I have my whole life ahead of me!" Tavros explained in a desperate tone, begging Gamzee to understand. His words were strong again, clear. No stutter, just strength.

"I've been seeing a physical therapist even. He's my counselor too…he's taught me to never take shit from anyone. He's really cool….I talked to him about to." Tavros looked down and sank back into his chair," wanna know something funny? He has the same name as the fish you gave me….but anyways. He told me that I'll do what I think is right. He told me love will find a way, but he also told me that you can't love someone else unless you love yourself."

"I've learned to love myself. You haven't though. Have you?" Tavros asked, staring up at Gamzee, trying to make eye contact, but the boy wouldn't look at him, so Tavros continued.

"Vriska loves herself….I've…actually been hanging out with her…thinking about rekindling things. She's strong and she helps me feel strong too…"

Gamzee swallowed hard, he didn't realize until now that his fists were clenched and his knuckles were white. Slowly he unclenched his fists," and you're happy with that motherfucker?"

"Yeah. She's changed since you beat her up. She really has. All of us have changed since Eridan's death. Me, Aradia, Vriska, Terezi and Nepeta have been hanging out. They're really fun to be around. They've been giving me advice too. We…..we were able to cheer Aradia up even. Remember how she was so quiet all the time? Like she was dead? Well we got a hold of her and dressed her up all pretty, borrowed some red clothes from Terezi…she's beautiful. She saw herself and just cried. Since then she'd been nothing but happy. I wish you were that easy…"

Gamzee glowered at the cement then slowly raised his head to respond, but as he opened his mouth, he was interrupted by a very familiar voice:

"Taaaaaaaavros!" Vriska called out from down the street.

Gamzee clenched his fists and teeth, turning to look at her.

With her was Terezi, tapping alongside her, a big smile on her round face," hey Tavros! The group wants to meet to play again! You free?"

Gamzee's face darkened and his eyes widened as anger boiled up inside him. All he wanted to do was get Tavros back. Why did everything have to happen when he was trying to do that? WHY?! WHY COULDN'T HE JUST GET HIS LOVER BACK?!

Tavros looked up and Gamzee and felt his stomach drop," G, Gamzee? You ok?" He asked slowly.

Finally Vriska and Terezi arrived next to them," so what's your answer Tavros?" Vriska asked, her good hand on her hip. Her other arm was bound in a brace, still injured from when Gamzee beat her up.

"He's….not…going…anywhere." Gamzee choked out as he turned his dangerous eyes to look at Vriska.

"Fuck off juggalo!" Vriska sneered at him," let Tavros be his own man!"

"Vriska don't." Terezi urged, starting to back away from Gamzee," he doesn't smell right."

"I don't care about your nose Terezi! The fact of the matter is that this fuck head needs to leave Tavros alone! Can't you tell he doesn't want to be around you?" Vriska said cockily to Gamzee, a wide smile on her narrow face.

Gamzee stayed silent, just staring at Vriska as if she was a piece of meat and he was a starved lion.

Vriska wouldn't waver though, she kept talking and insulting and nagging and jabbing. Terezi stayed silent, her face blank as she continued to slowly back away. Tavros just watched in horror as Gamzee slowly raised his hand and grabbed Vriska's face, squeezing hard.

"OUCH WHAT THE FUCK?! PUT ME DOOOOOOOOWN!" Vriska snarled, trying to bite his hand.

"No motherfucker. Not this time." He said through clenched teeth as he put his other hand on her neck, prepared to break it.

There was a moment where everything was still, all attention was on Gamzee and no one knew what to do.

WHACK.

Gamzee let Vriska go and stumbled backwards, his eyes turning to glare at Terezi," WHAT THE FUCK?!"

Terezi stood in a half moon stance, her cane outstretched and now a little bent," back off or I'll hit you again. This isn't fair. Vriska can't defend herself, she's still to hurt from you almost killed her."

"You almost killed her too motherfucker." Gamzee yelled as he advanced on Terezi.

Terezi let out a slow sigh, her blank eyes fixed on Gamzee," she deserved it then. Now she doesn't. You deserve it more. Leave her alone."

Gamzee ignored her and grabbed the end of her cane, yanking hard.

Terezi smirked and let herself be yanked, in one fluid motion she twisted her cane out of his hand and sent her palm rocketing into Gamzee's chest, once he started to stumble back she whirled where she stood, using the momentum to crack her cane against the side of his head, knocking him to the ground. She ended in a crouching tiger stance, her now very bend cane arched above her head, ready to knock him down again.

"Whoa." Tavros said, eyes wide.

"Hehehe yeah sorry, I've been taking martial arts." Terezi said as she straightened up," I smell blood though…I think I hit him too hard. Sorry bout all this Tavros, we'd better go, we'll hang out some other time ok?" Terezi said as she felt over to Tavros to kiss the side of his head," good luck with this asshole! I need a new cane." She grumbled then felt over to Vriska," carry me home!" Terezi demanded as she jumped onto the taller girls back," MUSH!"

"GOD FUCK TEREZIIIIIIII! Fiiiiiiiine." Vriska grumbled and started to walk Terezi home.

Tavros held out a hand to them though and squeaked," b, but what do I do with…." But they were already gone," Gamzee….." Tavros sighed and looked down at his knocked out friend," may be you do deserve another chance…oh I don't know! Tavros what the hell are you saying? URGH!" Tavros held his head, shutting his eyes tight.

He sat there for a little while, calming himself down. Slowly he removed his hands from his head and looked at Gamzee. He did love him. He was worried about him, he was just afraid. Afraid of the future and honestly, afraid of Gamzee.