~defy~

Making eyes at this husk, around my heart,

I see through you and we're sitting in the dark,

So give me your filth, make it rough,

Let me, let me, trash your love.

Carousel music chimed along with the chatter of the crowd as Sam stood in the line to get on the ride with Michael. When his brother had finally found him the next day trying to hide out down on the beach, the older had literally yelled himself red in the face. To say that he had lost a piece of the trust with Michael was putting it gently, but Sam knew that he could easily gain in back. If he could do it over, he would not have changed anything. He loved his brother very much, but at that moment both of their lives were hanging in a tangled glistening web and without the proper information they could easily perish.

With one wrong move they could have fallen to the darkness with no knowledge that it had existed in the first place and Sam hadn't been willing to take that chance. As an up front apology to Michael, Sam had offered to take him to the boardwalk and to buy them dinner and ice cream. Only after staring at the younger with wary eyes for a few minutes did the older finally agree; with the condition that they went before nightfall. It pricked at Sam to think of being dragged away before he would be able to see Dwayne, but he would stall as long as he could.

The few people that were waiting to ride were allowed to board and find their seat as Sam rushed towards one of the horses that he had seen earlier; a dark horse with purple straps. He lifted himself onto the horse as Michael sat on one of sled-like seats just in front of him. When everyone was on safely the glassy eyed operator started the ride with a sigh and they slowly began to spin. All around him everything blurred together, but he watched on each turn as the sun set. Just as the last beams dipped below the horizon the carousel began to slow.

He firmly ignored the look from his brother as the world quickly gave way to the night. When the ride stilled he carefully got down, walking towards the exit. There was a shout behind him and Sam whipped around to find Michael being forcefully sat back down into his seat by David. Fingers entwined with his and before he even looked he knew that it was Dwayne. It took everything in him to not stop the man from making his brother ride again, but if Dwayne followed David with unblinding trust, Sam knew that no harm would come to Michael. With a silent gaze the man led him away into the crowd and towards the food booths.

It was as if Dwayne could sense everything that Sam was feeling, because as they made it to the line of delicious smelling stalls he directly got into a line for pizza. Sam couldn't help his smile as they quietly waited for the line to shorten. By the time they had gotten his food and a drink, Marko had found his way over to them and they all sat at a picnic table by the railing. After eating half of his pizza he finally looked up to where Marko sat watching the sea of people, "What exactly is David speaking with Michael about?"

The arm around his waist tightened a bit at the question as Marko glanced over still chewing on his pinkie, "Just of the things that Dwayne spoke with you." As Sam went over the discussion in his head, his brow furrowed together. There was a small chuckle from the curly haired man as he winked, "While Dwayne found you Sam, David found Michael." Then everything melded together and Sam had to force himself not to choke on his pizza. It wasn't a particularly funny situation to be going through, so he shouldn't be finding it humorous that Michael is finding himself in the same richety boat.

Michael was more stubborn that Sam would ever be and Sam prayed that he would at least listen to what David had to say without blowing up. He could just imagine all of the tension that would be surrounding the group like a fog until Michael finally thought about it in a mature manner before giving any kind of answer. With his own tension between himself and Dwayne, he wasn't sure how much of his brothers he could handle. Beside him Dwayne shifted and he was suddenly aware that he had completely zoned out. In front of him Marko erupted into laughter as Paul appeared beside the table out of the crowd.

"Why do I always just miss the punch line?" At this even Sam started laughing with Marko, even though he felt a pang of pity for the man. Paul just looked to Dwayne in confusion before sighing and sitting next to the curly haired man, putting an arm around his waist. When his laughing abated he watched as Paul rested his chin on Marko's shoulder and pulled him closer. There was no protest from the shorter and instead he just sank into Paul with a small sigh as he began to once more eye the crowd. Sam's question was hanging silently in the air as he glanced to Dwayne who only nodded gently.

At the go ahead Sam turned to Paul who was already watching him with a smirk, "You want to know about Marko and I?" The fact that the man was more alert would have shocked Sam if it hadn't been for the fact that he was sitting as the mate to a supposedly mythical creature with his friends. "Marko found me when I had just moved into Santa Carla with my parent, much like Dwayne found you." Marko cocked his head to the side as an amused smile came to his lips, obviously having told this story before. "My parents weren't anything to be proud of but being around Marko made everything feel better and we connected like magnets."

There was a snort from the shorter, who finally looked Sam in the eye, "He would put it like that all romantic. David had told me about mates just years after my change and unlike him, I searched up and down for mine. While David knew that his mate would find him eventually, I was impatient with mine." At this it was Paul's turn to snort, "I was needy and rough with him. Everything started off sexual and love came later." Dwayne actually rolled his eyes at that while Paul leaned in and began to faux whisper in Marko's ear.

"That drive never went away though." Blood rose to Sam's face in a blush that flushed down his neck, disappearing into his shirt. Marko's eyes flashed in mischief as Paul noticed, "I wonder how far that blush goes." It was then that Dwayne stood from the table, gently pulling Sam up with him. He began leading the younger into the crowd with a shout from Paul following them as the two lovers cackled, "Dwayne! Come back! I was just messing around!" Sam snickered at the way that Dwayne was behaving; his expression was blank, though his actions spoke volumes. Whether it was possessive or jealousy, it was a bit more adorable than strange.

Together they easily navigated their way from shop to shop, until they walked into one lined with different kinds of jewelry and decorations. Sam wandered around the counters as Dwayne stood near the entrance looking over a rack of signs. Finally he found a case of intricate rings. One in particular caught his attention and he actually smiled when he saw it.

It reminded him a lot of Dwayne with it's black steel and winding make. Vines wrapped all around each other in a circle. One day possibly, Sam thought. Sighing softly he made to go back to the man, when he almost ran into his chest. "Do you like it?" He followed the mans gaze back to the jewelry case. It sounded much more like a statement than a question as Sam simply nodded.

"It sort of reminded me of you." The words sounded strange as they rolled of his tongue, but they didn't seem out of place. Suddenly Dwayne was flagging over the clerk and Sam's eyes went wide. Before he could even make to stop Dwayne, the ring was being taken out of the case and placed on his left ring finger. Sam marveled as the ring fit snuggly around his finger as if it was meant for him. "Wait, Dwayne." The younger said softly as he continued to admire the ring.

It was strange that it didn't feel heavy or out of place; that he didn't feel out of control. "I know that I don't want to think of any other path but this one." He took one of Dwayne's hands in his as he spoke, looking little more than guilty. "But I want to be able to know with absolute certainty that this is the best path for both of us. It will still be here when we're ready." The man took Sam into his arms, forcing him to wrap his arms around Dwayne's neck in the process.

There was a sigh by his ear and Sam shivered against the taller, "Soon then." The meaning behind Dwayne's words slammed into Sam with full force and before he could stop himself he gently pecked the man on the edge of his mouth. The hands around his waist ran up and down his sides soothingly and Sam pulled away with a small smile. Dwayne truly wanted him to be comfortable with this arrangement, in which their free will was being hindered.

"Thank you." It was whispered so quietly that he was sure only Dwayne could hear him and finally his smile was returned. He was assisted in removing the ring and allowed the clerk to place it back into the case. Their fingers entwined as they wandered back out onto the boardwalk and to a quiet place where they could watch the water.

Footsteps approached them from the side and they looked to find David walking a quiet Michael to them. "It's time for dinner." The man said before casting one last glance to Michael before going off towards the beach. Dwayne squeezed his hand before releasing it and following after David. Sam kept his eyes trained on the man until he disappeared completely from sight before turning to his brother. His slate eyes were flickering from place to place as if millions of thoughts were zooming around his head and he couldn't sort them.

Empathy washed through Sam, knowing exactly how his brother was feeling. Without a word, he took his brothers arm in his and led him towards where the bike was parked. They made their way through the sea of people and even though he was out of it, Michael kicked started the bike and drove them up the hill to the house. When the older left the bike in the drive and walked into the house, Sam sighed and rolled the bike into the garage himself in case it rained. He prepared himself for at least a few days away from Dwayne to help Michael come to terms with everything.

I will sing to you everyday,

If it will take away the pain,

Oh and I heard you've got it, got it so bad,

Cause I am the best you'll never have.

~defy~