Uh, this is a bit out of character and shit, wasn’t originally Gamzee and Tavros, but someone suggested I change it. Enjoy. AU universe, Tavros is dying and Gamzee finds him.

“This isn’t happening, man.” I managed to gasp out through the torrent of tears cascading down my cheeks. “This isn’t happening, this can’t be happening.”
Desperately pressing the scraps of fabric against his chin, I felt my breath get caught in my throat as he finally gave a wheezing cough.

“Tavbro.” I did my best to speak clearly, despite the sheer emotional battle raging inside of me. I opened my mouth again to speak, but I found no words ready to slip from my lips.

“Gamzee.” He couldn’t match my clear tone. His, cracked and ragged with pain. The simple word seemed to catch in his chest, sending a violent cough through his body.

“Don’t talk.” I gasped out, shuffling closer to him. “You’re fine, man, you just can’t talk.”

“I’m going to die, aren’t I?”

Not if I can help it.

I didn’t answer. Couldn’t answer. I didn’t even know if it was for his sake or mine.

“I don’t want to die.”

“I don’t want you to die either.” I responded instantly, my voice cracking in a few places. My hand kneaded the fabric at his wounds, his hazel blood seeping through. “I love you. We’re going to make this. Together. Motherfucking miracles, man. They happen all the time. And this is no different.”

Letting loose a sigh that had been shadowing his lips, he slumped slightly, his eyes half closing.

“Stay awake.” I ordered. “Stay awake so I can get you somewhere safe. I need you to tell me where it hurts, okay?”

He seemed to chuckle, his eyes lighting briefly. With a sudden tug at my bones, I felt like I’d been taken back in time. When we first met… the innocent laughs, no real appreciation for the time we spent together, convinced we had forever.

“It, uhh, hurts everywhere.” He croaked out. “Except here…” He moved to raise his hand, but winced in effort. Instantly, I gently wrapped my fingers around his wrist, giving him support while he guided his himself, his blood soaked hand struggled with the effort, before he finally pointed at the point of his chest where his heart was.

“It doesn’t hurt here.” He smiled weakly at me. “And, uhh, I guess that’s because of you.”

I tried to smile but the tears seemed to burst, my bottom lip wobbling.  Biting down on it, I didn’t bother to fight the sudden wave of anguish coursing through me.  Every sense in my body seemed to tingle, and I could barely make sense as words suddenly bubbled out my mouth.

“Tavbro, you can’t go.” I gasped out, my head falling down to rest in the crook between his shoulder and his throat. “You were special, you were. When whoever created us made you meet me, you soaked up all the hurt, man. You made it all go away.” A sob ran through my body, and I bit down on my lip to restrain it.“But if you go it’ll all come back. I don’t want it back. I want you.”

“Uh.. Gamzee…” Tavros spoke, his voice suddenly even. “I wish I could think of something sweet to say, I guess.. I’m not good with things like that. But.. I love you.”

“I love you too.” I sobbed, abandoning the pressure on the rags on his wound, moving one arm to curl around his neck, the other grasping his hand. “And we’ll see each other again. I’ll spend every day waiting for that moment, Tav. I’ll never forget you.”

“Lift your arm, Gamzee.”

I obeyed instantly, moving the one from around his neck.

“Put it on my heart.”

Once again, I moved it, placing my palm over his chest, feeling it beat weakly.

“It’s beating for you. It always has done.”

With one final, strong thud, the metronome stopped. Never to beat again.

“I’ll wait for you.” I heard a whisper near my ear. “I’ll wait forever to see you again.”

And as a violent sob shook my body, I felt the presence of him leave me, and I curled up tightly against his chest, begging for just another second with him.