Chapter Text
Tavros adjusted his mask, settling the simple black and white trimmed fabric back against his nose. It was itchy, but he would feel out of place without it in the expanse of dancers, male and female, who waltzed around the open hall. There were a few standing off to the side who had removed theirs long enough for a drink set out by the hosts of the affair, but no one else had done so. He knew many of the girls were excited for the big reveal at midnight to see who had swept them off their feet, but Tavros wasn’t really interested in it. He had only agreed to come to appease his best friend and roommate, Aradia, who loved these kind of things. It was her club’s monthly event and she had finally gotten him to go.
Almost instantly she had been taken away, and he could see why. His friend had been dressed to the nines in a deep red antique looking ball dress she had made herself and a genuine mask covered with matching feathers that stood out brightly against her dark hair. Even he could admit that his friend was beautiful in her own right, and he could only imagine what the other people who actually liked women were thinking.
Thankfully, he had gotten away with a simple outfit she had made. He had told her when she first asked that he didn’t want all of the frills and overdone costume ideas that she had planned for him. She had managed to talk him into a very nice black vest and bow tie combination over a long sleeved white shirt with pressed black pants. She also had pleaded with him until he had accepted the black cape as well. He had to give her credit, it was well pieced together and he really liked the way the cape moved. She had even managed to get his hair to lie flat, slicked back with who knows how much gel.
“What is a cute fucker doing over here all by himself?” A deep voice asked from behind him, causing Tavros to jump and spin, nearly falling over. A black gloved hand shot out and grasped his upper arm to steady him and he mumbled out a quite thanks before he looked up at the speaker.
And up. The man was nearly a whole head and a half taller than him. Tavros watched as the smile he wore curled even wider, head cocked slightly to the side as almost-purple eyes met his. His mask was a such a deep purple that it was almost black with a short beak jutting out ever so slightly. Gold accents to the edges and swirled designs brought out an entirely different elegance that made it look less like a faux Mardi Gra mask and more like a regal crown.
When Tavros could finally tear his eyes away, he noticed that his outfit was of a similar quality. Unlike his choice in clothing, the man had opted for a black cravat that spilled into his white vest, off set by a black undershirt. He also sported a cape that draped over his frame, the outside black with the underside matching his mask.
“Like what you see?” the voice asked again, this time with a lighter tone to it. Tavros swallowed hard as he forced himself to look back up at the eyes dancing back at him.
“It’s a very nice costume,” he said automatically, though not without honesty. He hadn’t missed the undertones of the question but he wasn’t about to show how flustered he was over it. “Must have taken a long time to make.”
“Wouldn’t know. It’s a family thing. I only ever wear it for events like these.” Those eyes ran down and back up the length of his body. “Yours is fucking sweet.”
Tavros forced back a blush and turned back to the dancing mass. “My friend over there-” he stopped, not seeing Aradia where she had been. “Well, wherever she is, she made it and dragged me here.”
“Glad she did, or else I wouldn’t have met you.” He held out a gloved hand. “Names Gamzee Makara.”
“Tavros Nitram.” He took the offered hand, meaning to give it a firm shake but Gamzee gently pulled him closer and laid a light kiss on the back of it.
“It’s very nice to meet you, Tavros. Would you care to dance?”
Tavros blinked and pulled away, thankful that the mask shielded a good portion of he cheeks against the raging blush crawling up his face. He barely knew the man and he was already pushing all of his buttons. In a good way. A very good way. Needing to distract himself from that line of thought, he shook his head and glanced away.
“I’m not a very good dancer.”
“Don’t have to be. It’s all about your motherfucking partner and how well they can lead. Come on, I’ll show you,” he said, linking himself to Tavros’ arm.
“But we’re both men.”
Tavros wished he could see the expression on Gamzee’s face as he faltered and looked down at him. He would bet that it was as intense as his eyes. “Doesn’t bother me if it doesn’t bother you.”
He wrestled with himself of a moment. Aradia said to have fun, right? And it wasn’t like anyone here knew him. He could just leave before the reveal…
Nodding his acceptance, Tavros allowed Gamzee to pull him to the edge of the crowd just as another song started up. It was a sweet melody that was vaguely familiar, but he lost all thought of it as Gamzee fixated his hands appropriately and led him off into a simple waltz. Terrified that he would mess up, Tavros tried to focus on the moves, eyes on the floor until he felt a sweep of warm breath on his neck as his partner leaned in to his ear.
“Relax. Let the music take you. Don’t motherfuckin think, just move.” Tavros shivered and tried to do as he was told. He closed his eyes and let Gamzee lead him around. He drank in the music, pulling it into himself as they moved across the floor. When he finally opened his eyes, dark ones were staring back with an almost hungry look to them that made Tavros’ heart speed up.
Instead of the normal shyness that would come from something so intimate, Tavros felt emboldened. He moved closer to Gamzee, feeling the way the other moved against him as they danced until his head was swimming. He hadn’t looked away in so long and the heat filled eyes made his stomach want to claw its way out of his mouth. He pulled Gamzee to a halt, closing his eyes for a second to regain his bearings.
“You alright?” The honest concern in his voice made Tavros smile and open his eyes again.
“I think I just need some air. A bit dizzy.” It was a lie, albeit a small one. He was going to take Aradia’s advice to heart and do something he normally wouldn’t do except for in his wildest fantasies.
“Then allow this motherfucker to escort you outside. Don’t want you passing out without someone watching over you.” Tavros nodded and took the offered arm, leaning on it with the slightest of pressures. He was quiet as Gamzee led him out into one of the gardens surrounding the large home. He wondered briefly who it belonged to before he realized that Gamzee had taken him into a small sheltered area that looked like it had been carved out specifically for a lovers meeting place. It contained part of the low wall that ran around another part of the garden, blocked from view, except for the front opening, by tall shrubs.
Tavros leaned back against the wall and opened his mouth to ask Gamzee how many people he had brought here before when he felt hands on his waist. A moment of weightlessness followed as he was lifted and placed on the wall with a squeak. It drew a low chuckle out from Gamzee as he looked at Tavros with a wide grin. The wall had given him the extra boost he needed to be level with the others gaze.
“Air helping any?” Gamzee asked, hands still on his waist.
Tavros adjusted his cape so that he wasn’t sitting on it and let his hands slide up to rest at Gamzee’s elbows, fingers toying with the long sleeves of his shirt. “Much better. I’m surprised you knew about this place though. It seems out of the way from the main area.”
Another smile and chuckle. “I know the area pretty well, and it’s always helpful to have a get away spot when you need some time to fucking chill with yourself.”
“Is that so?” Tavros asked lightly, hands slowly working their way up to his shoulders. Gamzee shifted closer, allowing him to.
“It is.” He was quiet for a minute. “In fact, you’re the first motherfucker I’ve ever showed this place to.”
“Really? Why?”
Gamzee shrugged, looking away. “I thought you’d like it. It’s peaceful and all calm like. You can still hear the music but, it’s like it’s in a far off place, drifting in the back of your mind.”
Tavros nodded absently and finished his climb up to Gamzee’s shoulders. He rested his hands on them for a moment, gathering his courage, before sliding them down ever so slightly and fisting a handful of material from his black shirt. When Gamzee looked at him in surprise, Tavros lowered his head and looked up at him through the slots of his mask before pulling him closer, head tilted just enough so that he wouldn’t jam his face into the small beak of Gamzee’s mask as he laid his lips over the others gently.
He felt a giddy jolt rush through him as Gamzee hesitated for a fraction of a second before kissing him back. Maneuvering around the mask easily, lips caressing the others in soft touches, he nudged Tavros’ legs apart to slide closer. His hands sliding up his sides to undo the clasp of his cape that dropped onto the wall with a quiet hiss.
Tavros pulled away briefly, fingers fumbling with Gamzee’s own cape, and let out a hushed gasp as his lips went to his neck, the beak of his mask scraping deliciously along his skin. Encouraged by the sound, Gamzee gently dragged his teeth over the delicate flesh as his hands found the buttons first on Tavros’ vest, and then dress shirt. Freeing his chest from clothing, he started to run his fingers down it, only to pull away with a frown at the black gloves still on his hands.
As he went to pull them off, Tavros reached out and brought one hand to his lips. He smiled and bit the end of one finger, tugging the cloth until it had shifted. He moved down the line of fingers, doing the same to each before he returned to the middle and grasped the loose fabric in his teeth again. He leaned back, pulling the glove free of its prisoner before dropping it into his lap and setting it on the wall next to him.
He grabbed the other hand and gave it the same treatment. Halfway through he realized how still Gamzee had gotten and glanced up at him as he pulled at one of the fingers. He watched as he chest rose and fell rapidly, eyes intent on his every move. Tavros suppressed a grin as he realized that he had hit a few buttons on his own and dragged out the process of removing the last glove. When it had joined its mate and Gamzee was pulling his hand back, he tightened his grip on the hand and looked straight into his eyes before sticking his tongue out to lap at the tip of his middle finger.
He heard a gutted groan, as if the other was holding back. With more determination to drag it out of him, Tavros took the digit into his mouth, tongue sliding along the underside before he drew his teeth over the skin. He sucked on it all while staring straight into Gamzee’s eyes. When he pulled back, he brought a second finger to his mouth and drew it in as far as he could go. It earned him another groan, this one less strangled, as he sucked and bit at the fingers, his tongue intertwining between the two. He felt them twitch in his mouth as he bit particularly hard and they pressed down on his tongue as Gamzee’s thumb rubbed circular motions along his jaw.
Tavros let out a moan of his own and closed his eyes, sucking on the fingers as hard as he could before they were pulled away, a trail of saliva following them. He blinked his eyes open, looking up as Gamzee crashed lips against his own in a frenzied kiss, tongue running over his lips in a silent beg to let him in. Tavros eagerly opened his mouth to him as hands caressed his chest and he reached for Gamzee’s vest, wanting to feel his skin.
As the clothing came loose and Tavros finally found skin, Gamzee pulled him closer to the edge of the wall and pressed against him. If there was any doubt in his mind that Gamzee was interested in him, it would have vanished as he felt the very obvious erection rub against his own. He whimpered softly against Gamzee’s lips and tangled a free hand in his hair, pulling his mouth closer as their tongues danced for dominance and explored each other thoroughly.
Pulling back to catch their breath, Tavros let the hand still touching Gamzee’s chest slide down. It came to rest just above his erection, stopping at his pants. He started to go lower when a loud gong sounded throughout the area, making him jump.
There was silence between them as the bells chimed out the hour. 12 bells tolled and in the distance they both heard someone announce that it was time for the revealing hour. Breathing hard, Tavros looked at Gamzee who smiled and reached out, fingers brushing along the edge of Tavros’ mask.
With that one gesture, everything inside of Tavros broke. He pushed Gamzee’s hand away, suddenly fearful. Inside his mind was racing, that it wasn’t a big deal. That Gamzee could easily see who he was and no mask would hide that. All rationale flew out as he realized what he almost had done, and with a complete stranger at that.
Choking out a startled “Sorry,” Tavros hastily grabbed his cloak and bounded off the wall, bolting past a bewildered Gamzee. He didn’t stop running until he had reached the place where Aradia had parked her car. He stopped beside it, bent double as he tried to catch his breath. He wasn’t sure how long he had been standing there when he heard someone call out his name.
“Tavros? Are you okay?”
He looked up as Aradia approached the car, followed by her lanky friend and not-so-secret crush. He watched as she stood on tiptoe to kiss his cheek, leaving him stuttering and cursing softly in his lisping voice before she approached him.
“What happened Tavy? You’re clothes are all a mess.”
He shook his head and glanced behind her at Sollux who was standing patiently out of earshot. “Later. Are you going home now?”
“Yes. Sollux is coming too, if you don’t mind?” She looked at him with hopeful eyes and he forced a smile out.
“No problem.” She grinned and swooped down to kiss his forehead as he gathered up his fallen cloak and frowned when something small fell from it. He bent low and scooped it up before he realized what it was.
“Come on Tavy. Let’s get you home and off to bed,” Aradia said as she maneuvered her outfit so that she could sit comfortably in the car. Sollux climbed into the front seat beside her as Tavros clambered into the back.
As she started the car and began the drive home, he looked out the window, mind buzzing with everything that had happened. The black glove clasped firmly in his hand.