Archive of Our Own ^omega

Was coming out to their friends and family one of the scariest fucking things Sam had to experience? Definitely, but it cleared the air around them, there was no reason for people they cared about to discuss it while they weren't in the room and it was overall much easier to just be themselves. With limited public displays of affection. Or, well, complete lack thereof.

The Solby shit still kept going nonetheless. It was just much funnier looking at.

Despite being on only one date with Colby, which wasn't much of a date (it was literally grocery shopping with some extra steps), Sam could safely say that things were going well. He found out there were things their relationship suffered with over the years of not talking about them and this upgraded friendship status really helped him grow on some level.

And, like there wasn't enough to go through, they decided to go for a trip to Europe, Switzerland. The idea was mostly Sam's and he just convinced Colby, Jake and Corey to go along with it.

It wasn't just a pointless, unplanned trip though. He did his research.

Grandhotel Nebel in the Alps, one of the oldest hotels in Switzerland and Alps in general. It wasn't very well known globally. Yet, there was a lengthy list of famous people who had stayed at that hotel, some important decisions were made there and it all contributed to its status of a national treasure.

When he presented all of it to Colby over lunch, like it wasn't an international, oversees flight that also included being left to stay in the middle of the mountains, surrounded by nothing but snow and rocks, of course he said yes.

Sam took it upon himself to book their flights to Zurich and to plan out the trip to the smallest details. It gave him a chance to get his mind off everything that had happened so far in his life. Colby did offer to help when he had trouble communicating with hotel's staff because he didn't speak German and they apparently didn't speak English to the extent he hoped they would, but Sam refused because he had given Colby the task of dealing with editing of their latest video.

After their eleven hour flight, they got something to eat and then continued on with their journey by taking the train to the place that was close to the hotel. There, they rented a car and drove there, advised by the person who rented them their car to ''be careful and stay safe out there''. Immediately a red flag, it seemed, but not to them.

''Not only is this going to be a killer video, it's also gonna be the best winter vacation ever,'' Sam said, checking for the documents that he needed to carry with him all the time.

''Not really a vacation if you're working while there, brother,'' said Corey, to which Jake agreed.

''We could try not to overdo it. I mean, we're staying for a while, we could probably film some two hours of content and call it a day,'' Colby replied.

''Oh, about that,'' Corey leaned closer, ''Sam, did you maybe, perchance, perhaps, fail to mention that this hotel is haunted? Because, like, don't know if I'm up to that shit you know,'' he laughed, and so did Colby.

''Well, if it was known for it, I think it'd be the first thing to pop up when I researched it. And it didn't. But then again, I did spend most of my research translating pages worth of text from German in Google Translate,'' Sam added jokingly.

While Colby parked the car in what seemed to be a really out of place garage, they took in the view of the beautiful, over a century old hotel that rose above the landscapes of Switzerland's mountains, with the altitude being so high they could also see the glimpses of a distant lake.

Sam was drawn immediately to the gothic arches, gargoyles on the angles of steep pinnacles at each side of the main building. The bridge connecting it to the newer part held resemblance to the original architectural style, but it all worked well together.

After checking in for their reservation in the foyer, they were shown to their room. It consisted of the huge living room area and a kitchenette which were divided by a kitchen island, serving as a sort of dining area. It had a balcony, with an astounding view. It was also connected to two bedrooms and a bathroom. Overall, it was structured as an apartment.

''Maybe we should just move in in here, dude,'' Sam said, wrapping an arm around Colby's shoulders. He was kind of distant the whole way there, sleeping for the most time on the flight and on the train even. He looked jetlagged and exhausted, but still wrapped his arm around Sam and left a kiss on his cheek.

''That'd be sick. What do you think about going for a nap with me? You haven't slept that much.''

Always a victim to travel jitters, Sam truly tried to sleep through the flight too, but was constantly woken up, always thinking about all the things he might've forgotten while packing and it drove him insane. He still didn't feel the adrenaline wear off.

Sam shrugged. ''If you want. Let's just wait for our luggage to get delivered here so I can take a shower too. I feel disgusting.''

Colby snuggled closer, wrapping both arms around him and resting his head on his shoulder. ''I don't really care, you know. Seen your worse and arguably, the worst.''

''I guess you did,'' Sam chuckled and had to get Colby to let him go when Jake and Corey came to the lounge area too.

''No no, don't worry about us, we're just passing by,'' Corey said, laughing with Jake as they checked out their bedroom.

After stressful unpacking, Sam sighed as hot water hit his shoulders. He could literally feel how tense each and every of his back muscles was. He wasn't able to think about anything anymore, the adrenaline of travel wearing off as fatigue kicked in. When he got out of the shower, dried off and took out the toothbrush and the toothpaste to brush his teeth, for a split second, he swore he felt a cold breeze. At the moment, he quickly explained it by a possible draft coming from a window being open somewhere or vents.

What he couldn't justify was the very clear trace of someone's hand on the fogged glass of the mirror above the sink.

He couldn't explain that, unless he was so tired he forgot that he himself did that.

Sam was, however, not bothered. Not nearly as he should've been.

Sam was shaken awake by a disturbing dream. Those weren't so rare, not after what he had to go through. After what Colby had to go through. He slowly got out of bed, made sure Colby was safely covered with their shared blankets and went to their lounge area. Air felt clearer there.

The stars were much more visible here, and it reminded him of Kansas. Of nights where he would spend time with Colby outside, in the middle of nowhere, and stars would be so bright and uncountable. Engulfed by the view, he rubbed his neck, where the marks once were.

A cold hand touched his neck and he, true to God above, jumped, only to turn around and see Colby standing there, with his hair messy and his eyes so impossibly bright, confused.

''You're up,'' he said, his voice still raspy.

''You scared me shitless,'' Sam sighed, shaking his head. ''Why're you not sleeping?''

''Could ask the same thing. You know, I kind of had ten times more sleep than you. We could watch TV if you want?'' Colby pointed to the TV behind them.

Sam shrugged. ''Nah. We know how that ends up. You fall asleep and I have to wake you up to get you to bed, while you're trying to convince me to leave you there, even though I did, more than once, and it hurt your back.''

Colby chuckled. ''Oh shit. Well, let's go back then. We have that tour tomorrow, right?''

''I almost forgot about that, damn it,'' Sam said as he walked back to their bedroom and laid there, while Colby followed closely and laid next to him.

''That's why I'm here,'' he smiled.

Sam stared at the ceiling. ''I woke up again. Didn't mean to wake you up too. I've seen something in the bathroom, haven't mentioned that to you.''

''What'd you see?'' Colby rolled on his side and supported his head up with his elbow to watch over Sam as he explained.

''It looked like... You know how the mirror gets all foggy when you shower? I never wipe the fog off, I just wait for it to like, unfog or whatever,'' Sam explained, and Colby giggled at that.

''Unfog, got it.''

Sam turned to look at him with the most serious look he could manage. ''Really, bitch? Can I continue now?''

Colby kissed him and nodded. ''Yeah, yeah, go on.''

''So, it looked like someone wiped at it, but I don't think I did that? And there was nothing on the mirror when I was done showering. It appeared while I was grabbing my toothbrush. It was so weird.''

Colby reached for his hand and Sam held it.

''Maybe you did it without thinking,'' Colby said, quietly, unsure of what he was saying.

''Pretty sure I wouldn't do it out of nowhere and as a reflex and forgot it within seconds, though,'' Sam argued.

Colby came closer, putting his leg on Sam's. ''I know. I know that. Sorry. Just don't want you to freak out. You really went above and beyond to make this happen. I don't want you to worry all the time.''

Sam could feel his chest tighten at that. He looked at Colby again. ''I'll try.''

They both fell asleep soon after.