Chapter Text
New York City, 2006
Scott worked silently in the kitchen. The energy of early New York traffic had already started to buzz in the air. He hummed to himself while looking through the fridge, which was full of meat. Being the only thing he and Shelby could eat as vampires, it was getting frustrating how expensive it was growing nowadays.
Scott looked at Shelby disapprovingly when she entered the kitchen. She yawned and sat down at the small table the two had gotten, stretching her limbs.
"Can you make some coffee?" She asked drowsily. Scott scoffed.
"Shelby, we don't even need to sleep. Why do you keep doing it still? And you're still sleepy?!"
Shelby leaned her head against her head as she looked at Scott accusingly. "You won't make coffee? Is that what you're saying? Also, the bed is comfy! I can't let it go to waste!"
Scott rolled his eyes as he got to work. He tried to hide his discomfort from how Shelby whined at the end of her sentence. It was too similar to someone he used to know...
He sat down next to Shelby as the coffee machine buzzed and filled the kitchen with the warm scent which now meant comfort. Somehow, vampires could drink coffee alongside blood. Scott didn't know why or how, but seeing as it was what woke Shelby up each day, he didn't want to complain.
"So–" Scott elbowed Shelby in the gut "–meeting Drift today? You were mumbling about her when you got home tired yesterday–"
"Shut up!" Shelby's face flushed as she punched Scott on the shoulder. "You said it–I was tired!"
"So you're not disagreeing with me?" Scott asked, smirking. He took the pot of coffee as the machine and poured it out in a red mug. He rubbed his thum against the mug; it reminded him too much of his cloak. Technically it was his own, but it had become Avid's the second he wore it. If only he was still–
Scott stopped himself from completing the thought as a hollow, dark ache settled into his heart.
"You know," Shelby straightened her posture, giving Scott a curious and concerned look. "We could throw out that mug. It's been bothering you since we got it."
Scott shook his head as he put the mug in front of Shelby. He felt her gaze follow him as he grabbed his coat from the hanger, its scratchy fabric uncomfortable on his skin.
"You don't go to the museum 'till nine." Shelby reminded him. "It's stil 7 am."
"I–I just want to go on a morning walk." Scott stuttered, looking away from Shelby as tears boiled up in his eyes. Scott knew he was't convincing her of anything, but he still flinched when she spoke.
"Scott, you sure you're okay?"
"What are you talking about?" Scott asked, turning his back to Shelby so she couldn't see his expression. He could practically feel her gaze boring through him.
He rushed out the door before she could say anything. He raced down the stairs to the bottom and felt a shiver up his spine as cold wind blew around him. Winter was approaching, it was becoming clearer.
He strolled through streets and alleyways, not paying much attention to his surroundings. He tried to think of anything but that oddly enthusiastic man. He tried recounting some of the stories drunken customers had told him last night. Didn't a guy named Martyn talk about trying to move on from his dead ex? That man looked familiar, and Scott had definitely heard the name before...
Huh, maybe that guy's predicament wasn't that different than Scott's. Though he didn't think that Ren guy was murdered by the few people Martyn trusted most.
Scott turned through another alleyway to get back to his and Shelby's apartment when something caught his eyes. He spotted a man cycling to the supermarket. He had curly brown hair (which actually framed his face really well) and deep violet eyes. He was humming some cheery song under his breath, occasionally mumbling out some of the lyrics. Scott knew someone exactly like him.
Scott knew that voice.
Scott knew that hair.
Scott knew those endearing eyes.
Scott tried to push his hope down. No way it was him. He was dead, and had been for a long time. By the time Scott snapped out of his head, the man was gone. Scott stayed here for a moment before rushing up the stairs.
He needed to tell Shelby.