Chapter Text
Chapter 1: Highway to hell ____________________________
He’d know this was coming for weeks, months even but he didn’t think any amount of time could have prepared him for it. He was leaving, leaving this stupid town, all its stupid people including his family. The same family who he reminded himself , was sending him away, away from them, away from the town he’d spent his whole life in, away from all his ‘problems’ and most importantly them, the people he’d grown to (If not grudgingly) call his friends.
Vance felt like he could cry, standing there in front of them. But he couldn’t let himself, even if he wanted to, he had to be strong in front of them all. He’d always been the strong one, the one to try protect them, always throwing himself in the line of fire to try keep them safe, even after they’d escaped that wretched place, even when he knew he was fighting a losing battle. He had an image he wanted to keep, he loved these guys more than he’d ever care to admit, he trusted them more than anyone else but opening up to people was never Vance’s strong suit.
“I’m gonna, … miss you.” Griffin sniffled against his chest, he was holding onto him for dear life like he was something special he couldn’t bare to part with (He wasn’t special).
“We all are.” Bruce added from where he was standing a few feet away alongside the others, eyes seeming to increasingly redden by the minute (Why was he so sad, over him of all people).
“Even if you are an asshole.” Robin stated before receiving an elbow to the ribs from Billy and Finn.
“Wow you are so funny, you know that, don’t think I don’t know you guys couldn’t wait to get rid of me.” Vance drawled sarcastically, all while still trying to blink away the stinging sensation behind his eyes (You’d think he’d be better at glossing this stuff over).His remark resulted in an onslaught of outraged arguments. God they were making it harder and harder to keep the tears from welling up in his eyes (Screw these guys and their emotional witchcraft).
“ Oi! Hurry it the fuck up, you’ve got a plane to catch!” Vance’s dad bellowed from the drivers seat of his rundown truck.
“Alright that’s me, Griffin I’ve gotta go now.” He spoke the last bit softly (As softly he would be caught dead by anyone) to Griffin who was still clinging to him like a toddler would it’s mother (God he felt like one sometimes, these guys would probably be the death of him).
“ You can’t go! We’re all a team we can’t separate, not after everything.” He cried Slightly mumbling the last part into Vance’s shirt. He started to panic internally, he really couldn’t handle Griffins crying face right now. The ache in Vance’s chest was starting to become way too painful for his liking, god when did he start to care about these losers so much, he knew the answer to that of course but it still shocked him (If anyone else dared to hug him like this he would’ve knocked their teeth out).
“ listen up short stack, this isn’t permanent you’ll be sorry to have me back in no time ok?” He tried reassuring him, despite not even knowing himself when he’d be able to come back to Denver. After a few more tearful goodbyes and bone crushing hugs Vance was finally looking out the window of his dads old truck, watching as they all waved him good bye.
He watched them until they were out of sight and the oh so familiar surroundings of the place he’d grown up began passing him by. Only when they were out of sight and past the edges of their shitty town did the tears fall, he couldn’t bare to hold them back a second longer, the only thing he did was clasp his right hand tightly over his mouth to help muffle any sobs that he might let escape. Wether his dad noticed or not he didn’t speak a word to him the whole drive,( Honestly not that surprising) so Vance just looked out the window, as he used the sleeve of his jacked to scrub away at the tears sliding down his face (Why had feeling pathetic become something regular?).
This was gonna be a long day.
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