Tavros loved his imaginary friend. The two of them were the best of friends, always chatting and playing silly games. His imaginary friend’s name was Rufio. Tavros thought he was just the coolest, and he always wanted to be like him. That’s what best friends had always wished, right?

Even though Tavros and Rufio were best friends, no one believed Tavros when he said that Rufio was real. Gamzee pretended to think he was there, but it was never real. Karkat just scolded him for it. Dave said that only babies had imaginary friends. Even Jade, one of his closest human friends said that she had given up her imaginary friend when she was five and that it was quite childish to have one at his age. It always made him so upset that no one believed him.

However, there was one girl who did believe him, and that girl was [Name].

[Name] was always there for him. Every moment of every day, she would be right by his side. At school, she would help him with his homework. At home, she would play games with him. At night, she would stay with him and stare at the stars out the window. She was the friend who made him smile the widest, and Rufio even enjoyed her company, too. They were all the best of friends.

“Uh… [Name]? Why are you always so nice to me? Why do you listen to everything I say… even though, uh, no one else does?” Tavros asked this almost every day. He did it because as much as he liked [Name], he didn’t understand why she didn’t act like everyone else.

Of course, every time she would smile at him and speak the exact same words: “Just as I answer every time Tavros, it’s because you’re my best friend and I love you.” And after that, she would give him a kiss on the cheek and they would hug for a long while.

Tavros and [Name] were the cutest couple, or at least, that’s what Rufio said. The two were insufferable obviously and never wanted to be apart. Sometimes, Rufio would even call [Name] Mrs. Nitram. The only bad thing was…

No one believed that [Name] was real, either.

The two people that Tavros loved the most were not believed in. It was almost like when your older siblings broke you the news that Santa didn’t exist… except this nonexistence was a complete and total lie.

“Why does it matter if they believe in me, Tavros?” [Name] would question. “As long as we love each other, nothing even matters.”

Tavros knew this was true, but he was hurt that no one believed him. He was hurt that people would trash Rufio and [Name], thinking they didn’t exist, when in reality, this would really be hurting their feelings.

“It’s okay, Tavros.” Rufio would always reassure him. “Even if no one believes you, you know in your heart that we’re your real friends.” Then, the three of them would always sit in the windowsill and watch the stars.