Chapter Text
“You taking me somewhere special, then?” Sam laughed as Tank pulled him up a steep hill, their hand firm around his wrist. They hadn’t said much since the two of them had left the bar, and Sam was starting to get a little nervous.
“Mhm. Not been in a while.”
Sam loved that about them. They probably didn’t notice it, but they spoke in short bursts, like their mouth moved faster than their brain could. It brought a warmth to his cheeks that he had to shake his head to get away.
“How come?” he asked, not wanting to pry too much. It was an open question; Tank was welcome to answer if they were comfortable, but didn’t have to if they weren’t.
They didn’t say anything until they reached the top of the hill. The whole city was visible from up here, since they were in the suburbs; Dahlia might have been a smaller city, but it was in no way as small as that made it sound. The expanse before Sam was bright, full of life, and it brought a wide, toothy smile to his face that pulled a laugh out of Tank. “Your fangs are out,” they said, hand in his. He just nodded, eyes fixed on the cityscape in front of him. “I used to come up here alone as a teenager. Here-“ they pointed to a spot on the pair’s left, “there was a bench there. I’d sit there and do homework. Boring shit like that, but at night it was amazing.”
“You came at night?”
“Always.”
They sounded more resolute than usual - Sam supposed this wasn’t a bad thing. Tank had been closed in on themselves until now, and he was sure that something had happened with the pack, although he wasn’t sure what, apart from that they’d talked to David.
“Werewolf shit, I guess. I always liked night more than most people.” they explained. Sam hummed, and watched as they stepped into a spot of moonlight, shaking their head and looking up at the sky. He knew he’d told them before, but he said it anyway.
“You look so beautiful in the moonlight, darlin,” Sam whispered, knowing Tank would hear him. They smiled, but kept their eyes trained on the sky; here, on this hill in what felt like the middle of nowhere, the stars were almost unhindered by light pollution, and Sam thought that he could almost see the milky way. Tank was grinning, the stars reflected in the light of their eyes, and he found himself mirroring their expression.
“I’m glad you could come out tonight, Sam. I- I dunno. It feels different when I’m here with someone else.”
“Different? In a good way?”
“Course,” they replied, an easy smile on their lips, “most things are better with you, anyway.”
“Most?” the vampire laughed, coming to stand with them in the spot where the bench should have been.
“Mhm. Most. I don’t like fighting anymore. You’ve ruined it.”
They were whispering, not really smiling anymore. They looked away from the stars, then, and for once actually looked Sam in the eyes. He nodded, not saying anything, not breaking eye contact in fear that if he did, they’d never try it again.
“I- isn’t that good?”
“For you. I don’t know who… who I am without it. It’s stupid. I just don’t- I guess I don’t have any hobbies? I mean sure, I have stuff I do for fun but- fuck, I don’t know. I feel like I don’t have a purpose when I’m not punching shit.”
“It’s not easy to adjust to a new way of living, huh?” he replied, chuckling slightly.
“That’s- I didn’t mean it like that, come on.”
“I know you didn’t. I was trying to say that I know what it’s like, and I’m here to support you.”
Tank was quiet. They weren’t looking at Sam anymore, and he only then realised that it was because they were crying.
“I want to go home, Sam. I’ve talked too much tonight.”
He held out his hand, palm relaxed, and waited for them to take it. They hesitated first before walking closer to him slowly, talking hold of his hand and dropping their head. He let them.
“Come on. We’ll walk. I’ll come down for your bike tomorrow.”