It's odd that he cares so much about the happiness of someone who isn't in his family. He's spent his entire life protecting Adelaide because kids couldn't understand someone who was different from them. Despite their cruelty, he ensured that his younger sister would be able to smile twice a day.

After all, it wasn't her fault that she couldn't have childlike wonder and innocence without being punished for it.

Now, here he is again trying to make another person happy with gifts, pranks, and affection. For Tate, hearing your laugh is the best part. It tells him that he did a good job of making his partner happy, and it makes his smile ten times more genuine to hear that initial giggle that blooms into a sputter of laughter. 

It's worth every single bit of effort he puts into it, every job he's ever worked, every argument it's ever caused.

Today was supposed to be innocent; another day spent to try to make you laugh, to take you by surprise and, God, he swears that you're supposed to be laughing.

It started with him inviting you over after school stating that he'll meet you at his house after picking up his sister. You were none the wiser.

He makes sure to be home to begin setting up. Fake blood smeared the floor, splattered on the walls, covering both his clothes and the knife he flung nearby. Perhaps pretending to have been assaulted wasn't the best idea for this. The door opens then closes just as quickly, the sounds of your footsteps growing closer causing his heart to skip a few beats as he lays down, keeping his body still.

Instead of laughter, he hears a gasp that's followed by a scream. You're supposed to be laughing, so, why aren't you laughing?

"Hey, hey, hey," Tate coos while scrambling onto his feet, his bloodied hands reaching to grab your face. "Look at me, I'm okay, alright?" God, this wasn't how it was supposed to go at all.