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They stared at the stars above them. Stargazing always brought Darlin comfort. The silence, the dark sky being lit up with millions of stars, and thousands of constellations. This was the only thing they could do and just...breathe
Darlin closed their eyes as the wind blew against their skin. They never liked the solstice, the whole pack getting together for a big party always rubbed them wrong. They always ended up being the butt of every joke, receiving every side eye and judgey look from the older wolves, they always felt so different. Even standing in the middle of the crowd, they always felt alone. But out here, they could finally just be themselves.
"Shouldn't you be running with your pack right now?"
The sudden voice behind them made Darlin yelp, clenching their fists and whipping their head around. They sighed a sigh of relief when they felt that familiar faint aura.
Sneaks.
"Don't you have some pups to look after?" Darlin retorted. Sneaks chuckled under their breath and took a seat next to Darlin. "Nah..Angel and Baabe took over. They have a bigger baby fever than I do, David and Asher better keep it under control." Sneaks said, their hands sliding against the grass behind them. "Why are you out here by yourself?" They asked.
Darlin inhaled sharply and turned their head away from Sneaks. "I didn't feel like running with the pack tonight. So I slipped out during David's annual speech and came out here." They explained, biting the inside of their lip. No matter how long the two of them had been friends, Darlin still felt butterflies when they talked to Sneaks.
It had been years since the two of them dated in highschool, then broke up before Sneaks joined the Department. They both knew it would be for the better, but Darlin still couldn't help but feel like the breakup was their fault. Sneaks had always seemed so happy with them, so why did things have to end?
"Do you always come out here during the pack runs? Or..is it just tonight?" Sneaks asked, curiosity and concern laced in their tone. "Well..when I was a teenager I used to always just hide in the bathroom until they came back. No one really seemed to notice I was gone.." Darlin said softly, a lump forming in their throat. They took a deep breath in attempts to keep the tears at bay.
"Tank I-" "It's fine. You don't need to say anything. You don't even have to be out here right now." Darlin quickly shut Sneaks down. The longer they sat there, the more they wanted to cry. Sneaks frowned, softly covering Darlins hand with their own. Darlin tensed at the feeling, but shortly after they let themselves relax again.
The two of them sat in silence. They didn't know what to say, they just wanted to enjoy each others company. Darlin turned their head back to face Sneaks, but they were looking up at the sky. "Did you know that stars don't actually twinkle? They only appear to twinkle, especially when they're near the horizon." Sneaks explained, staring in awe at the night sky. They had always been a huge astronomy nerd, even when the two of them were just teenagers.
"Hey...can I..can I ask you something?"
Sneaks shifted their gaze back to Darlin and nodded. "You can always ask me anything." They smiled. Darlin sighed. "Why are you always so nice to me?"
"Would you rather I be an absolute dick to you?" Sneaks responded. "You know what I mean asshole." Darlin lightly punched them in the arm. The two of them shared a laugh and sighed. "But seriously, you can ask me anything. What's up?"
Darlin swallowed nervously. "I um...shit." They stuttered. Sneaks didn't push, they didn't rush them. They were always good at giving Darlin the time they needed to say the right words. Darlin always loved that about them. How Sneaks was always so patient with them with zero complaints. Darlin took a deep breath and started again
"While I was out here, I was thinking about how after we graduated and before you joined the Department, we..ended things. Back then..and even now I wonder why we broke up. Everything seemed to be going so well and you seemed so happy..I just never knew the reason. And I knew I never made things easy afterwards, disappearing for a whole year and a half with zero contact. I guess I always just thought that..I was the reason we had to end."
Darlin sniffled and wiped the tears that somehow made their way down their cheek. They inhaled sharply and shook their head. "And if it was me I don't blame you..I wasn't always the greatest partner and I get-" "Tank."
Darlin broke away from their monologue and looked at Sneaks. Sneaks turned their body to fully face Darlin, and they grabbed Darlins hands and held them in their own. "You. Were not. The reason." Sneaks said with authority, not breaking eye contact with Darlin for one second. "R-really?" Darlins voice broke.
"Yes. You were never the reason. I know I ended it abruptly and I'm sorry if I scared you. But I knew that it would have been hard with me always working, and I didn't want to put you through that. But it was not your fault, it was never your fault." Sneaks explained, cupping Darlins face with their hands.
"And you were a great partner to me. I never regretted dating you, not even for a second. I loved you, and even if things are different now..I still love you. I hope that me telling you this brings you some sort of closure."
Darlins face was stained with tears now as they were holding back tears. "Sneaks I..." They tried to speak. "Oh honey.." Sneaks sighed, pulling them into a hug.
Darlin wrapped their arms around Sneaks, burying their face into their neck. "Thank you. Thank you so much." They sobbed, clenching their shirt. "Of course Tank." Sneaks said softly.
They both sat their for what felt like hours. Wrapped up in each others arms, holding one another. Just like old times.
"You know..." Sneaks finally spoke. Darlin lifted their face up. "What?" They asked. "The pack should be back any minute. Do they even know you're gone?"
"Shit shit SHIT!" Darlin cried, scrambling up from the grass and running off towards the house. They stopped shortly after, turned around and ran back towards Sneaks. They grabbed Sneaks' hand and pulled them up. "If I get caught you're coming down with me." Darlin chuckled. "Wait what?!" Sneaks cried as Darlin yanked them forward.
They were running towards the house, laughter and faint curses were the only thing heard between them.
Just like old times