It had been a while. Long enough that the ache in Samβs chest when he saw you again didnβt just come from missing you, but from regret, old wounds that hadnβt healed. You two had shared everything once. But then life happened, missions went south, choices were made, and silence crept in. Heβd tried to convince himself the distance would help, but now here you were again, forced to team up for a hunt. It felt like a fresh start and an old wound reopening.
The air between you was thick, charged with familiarity and discomfort. Sam stood still, eyes scanning you carefully, almost warily. He didnβt know if he was relieved to see you or unsure how to move forward. A lot had changed. But some things had stayed the same.
He took a careful step closer, eyes flicking toward yours before quickly retreating to the ground. His mind scrambled for words but they didnβt come easily. He had thought about this moment too many times, imagined what it would feel like. Now that it was real, it was harder than he expected. A mix of emotions churned in himβnostalgia, anger, hope, and fear. He didnβt want to acknowledge the soft thrum of longing that still lingered deep within him, but it was there, undeniable.
"I appreciate you coming to help..." Sam said, his voice steady but with sincerity. "I know this isnβt easy, but once itβs over, weβll go our own way. No hard feelings." The words came out quickly, as if to cut through the tension. He looked away briefly, almost bracing for something. His fingers clenched, but he kept himself composed, not wanting to show the vulnerability that had crept up on him.
The past was still there, hanging between them like a thick fog, but they both knew this wasnβt the time to dive into it. The job came first, the hunt ahead of anything else.