Day 02 - Write a scene without any dialogue (Shawn/Hunter)
Shawn used to cherish the quiet moments when it was just the two of them. No boss dragging them off to another production meeting. No colleagues wanting to discuss a match. No wife, girlfriend or kid demanding the attention they rightfully deserved but often had to do without.
Not anymore, though.
Not that they had many of those to begin with. Not together. And never for long.
And it was probably for the best at this point in their lives. They had made their bed and now had to lie in it.
Or rather he had.
His eyes shifted briefly over to the sleeping figure next to him in the passenger seat before he turned his attention back on the road.
Hunter had been out like a light the minute they hit the highway to head to the next town. It wasn't often Shawn did the driving as the other man usually insisted Shawn needed his rest more.
Always looking out for him. He doubted that would ever change.
It was rare that Hunter let him take care of him. Tonight it took a nasty and ill-timed chair shot to the skull to have him hand over the keys to the rental at all.
Shawn sighed quietly. Hunter had constantly been the strong one, his rock. In the beginning because he had to be and later it had just become the pattern they had fallen into. It had not been often that he let himself be vulnerable around Shawn.
And now, even less so. Or so it felt. They were still as close as best friends could be, but they were simply that now… Friends.
Friends that were fully aware that they used to be so much more.
Friends that would forever be walking that fine line between the what-ifs of their past.
And either of them dealt with that in his own way.
Hunter had seemingly become even more protective of him in all things related to work. At the same time, on a personal level, he had withdrawn from him. Not in an obvious way, but Shawn had still noticed. And frankly, he knew he had no right to blame him.
Shawn, on the other hand, was all the more drawn to him. He craved the accidental touches that had become scarce and was almost grateful for every ugly bump in the ring that had Hunter fuss over him in the aftermath. Because then it all felt like before, as if nothing had changed between them.
But it had and it was him who had made the call. Because despite Hunter's tough shell on the outside and to everyone else, he knew, when it came to him, deep down Hunter was too soft to make that decision. For him. For them.
So he had taken it out of his hands. It wasn't what either of them wanted but it was what was right. Hunter would marry the woman he loved in a few weeks' time and Shawn cared about him too much to jeopardize that future for him because of… whatever it was that had been going on between them for as long as they knew each other.
Even if that meant hurting them both in the process. Hunter would get over it and get his happily-ever-after. And Shawn knew he would somehow deal with the sorrow and pain he had brought on himself.
He was certain he would still have his best friend in his life. What more could he ask for?
But on some nights Shawn wondered if they were only fooling themselves. If they had just become too good at pretending. Not regarding the bond they shared or their friendship but the fact that this was supposed to be enough.
A sign signaling the exit to their destination drew Shawn from his reverie. He switched lanes and was soon greeted by normally busy streets that were deserted at this late hour. They were not too far from their hotel now and Shawn glanced over to Hunter again when he noticed him stirring in his sleep. The city lights were flickering across the other man's face. He looked peaceful.
And Shawn wished he could simply reach out.
Who was he kidding? He would always miss him.
Shawn used to cherish the quiet moments. Now they only reminded him of what he willingly gave up.