this thing we keep

NATE

Who could ask to be unbroken
or be brave again?

Or honey hope even on this side
of the grave again?

Nate took a deep breath, matching his breathing along with Sams. ”She might be angry, yes. And... that does sound like a lot of bad, when you put it like that. But you can’t start to make it better until you start to face it, believe me.” It was hypocritical for him to be saying this, so much so that he had to swallow back a wince. Nate had never faced something head on in his life, had always squeezed around the consequences and the anger. ”I’ll go with you if you want. If you need.”

It seemed he had gotten himself more under control, Nate’s voice still worried, but calmer now, no trembling. His hand moved absently over Sams back while he considered what the other man had said. He hadn’t even really considered walking away until Sam said it, not right now at least. ”I’m not going to leave you. Well, I am going to walk away, to get things for your hand, but... you don’t need to worry about it. You give me... something I’m missing Sam. Stability, or... someone to worry about, or something.”

It was the closest Nate would get to any kind of real confession, and he immediately stood up after it, depositing Sam gently on the bed and leaving to grab the supplies he needed, trying to go as quickly as he could.

And who could ask it to be sound
or to feel saved again?

But stick around until you hear
that music play again