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It was the first night they hung out in a car together, and Tuck did not look well. His face was pale and his eyes were squeezed shut, his hands were shaking and his head was jittering. It took a single “don’t go” for TSV to clock awake and see what Tucker was doing. He glanced over, very tired, seeing his friend clearly in a nightmare, his face was expressive but also weak and pale, he looked like he was almost turning purple.
“Hey…” TSV said, reaching his arm out to touch Tucker. He rubbed his shoulder gently, trying to get him to wake up. “Tuck…it’s alright.” He said, knowing Tucker wouldn’t respond or even hear him.
It must’ve been about his family, about what happened to them.
TSV sighed, staring worriedly at his friend. He hated seeing Tucker in so much distress, he hated seeing anyone in that much distress. He shook his shoulder again, this time a little harder, hoping that would snap him out of it.
His eyes bolted open, tears dripping out of them as he glared over at TSV. “You…” He murmured, his scleras bloodshot.
“Where are they…” He said, his voice shaky and confused.
“Who?”
“My…parents and…my sister…”
TSV turned his head away, sighing. “Did you seriously forget.” He mumbled, his face pensive. Tucker stared at TSV confused and fearfully for a few moments before the truth clocked in his head.
“Oh…right. Sorry. I…must’ve just forgotten.”
Tucker rubbed his eyes and sat up in his seat, pulling his knees into his chest, staring out at the darkened city. “It’s alright, Tuck.” TSV said, putting his hand back on his shoulder, rubbing it gently. “Thanks.” Tucker hissed, his eyes still sore from the squeezing.
TSV and Tucker just sat in their respective seats and didn’t speak, unknowing of what to say now. Tucker sighed again, his face melancholic.
It was difficult for him, for everything he’s gone through. He lost his mother, his father and his sister to these monsters, and now that Natalia has gone missing as well, he couldn’t help but be scared. Everything felt as if it was crashing down sometimes, that they’d never find her.
He looked over at TSV, who was sitting on his phone, still holding his shoulder with his other, and smiled. He was glad he has someone right now, someone who cares, or at least pretends to care. He sat there stoically, his blackened veins on his face being incredibly distracting.
“Your…face?”
TSV looked over, before sighing and turning back to his phone. “You already know what happened.” He sneered. Tucker stared at him, confused. What a mood change. “I know…they’re just interesting.” Tucker laughed quietly, his smile fading quickly as TSV didn’t react. He nodded, sighing again, his hand on Tucker’s arm tightening.
It was odd for TSV to look this serious, he seemed like a generally smiley person, not this cold and tired man with dark circles under his eyes. “Are you feeling better?” He asked, glancing over at Tucker.
“I think so.” Tucker muttered, crossing his arms slowly.
TSV smiled slightly, his face still pensive. “Can I go back to sleep then?” He asked, releasing some of the tension from his hand that was holding Tucker’s shoulder. Tucker sighed, nodding slowly. “You didn’t need to wake me up, you know?” He spoke, his voice almost sounding guilty.
TSV already knew that, he knew he could’ve just let Tucker stay in his nightmare, but he couldn’t bare for that. He wouldn’t wish that on anyone, especially after all Tucker has dealt with. He opened his mouth slightly, not a single word coming out.
“…I know.”
He turns his head away, engulfed in shame. He didn’t know why he felt so ashamed, but it tugged at his heart. His head hung as he placed his phone on his lap, closing it and sighing. “I already know that, Tucker…” He reopened his phone, just staring at his home screen. He didn’t want to open Twitter or Whatsapp, he didn’t want to see the remaining records of his friends, not anymore.
“You can go back to sleep, TSV, I’m not trying to keep you awake.” Tucker said, tilting his head towards TSV, who’s eyebrows were furrowed. “I…I know.” He responded, picking at his fingernails, trying to collect himself. Tucker couldn’t help but feel a little guilty too. Did he scare him that bad? That he doesn’t wanna go back to sleep? He swears he didn’t mean to, he didn’t realize he’d have a nightmare about his family, or that he’d start sleep-talking.
“Are you mad at me…?” Tucker asked reluctantly, slightly concerned about TSV’s coldness. He jerks his head over, his grip on his hand tightening aggressively. “Why would I be mad at you??” He says, confused and almost frustrated. He freezes up, breathing inward before exhaling, his face relaxing slightly. “Sorry…why do you think I’m mad at you, Tuck?” He reiterates, now in a more calm tone, still slightly confused.
“I don’t know, you just seem very upset right now.” He says, turning his head down and scratching his scalp with his finger. “Is it because of me? My nightmare?”
He shrugs, finally letting go of Tucker, now resting his hand on his own thigh. “You know how we’ve been searching for our friends, Danyon and Nat? I guess that could…be the reason why I’m so…shaken up.” He shakes his hand around after saying the last part of his sentence. “I miss Danyon.” He sniffles, his emotions getting to him.
It was frustrating how much he relied on Danyon for his mental stability. He was all he had, his only friend in the world from before this fucking apocalypse happened, and now he was gone, taken by these weird death cultish people. He had no doubt Natalia’s disappearance was affecting Tucker the same, ever since these nightmares started at least.
Tucker looks at him empathetically, his mouth a melancholic frown. “I understand how it feels, man.” He speaks up, still staring at his feet, anxious.
“I really do.”