Pairing: None
Warning: None
Spoilers: None
Author's Notes: The alternate plot for "Dark". Honestly, I think I like this one better just because I have a longer fic planned for the other one. This one is fluffier too. :D So either I'm writing angst that will make you cry or fluff that will give you diabetes. One extreme or the other, there is no middle ground for me. Review, loves.
The dark still terrifies him. He'll never tell anyone, but the childhood fear of the dark has never left him. He doesn't remember where the fear came from, just that it's been there as long as he can remember. He hates waking up in the middle of the night, the darkness so oppressive and smothering all around him. When he was younger, he would crawl into bed with Hank, his older brother sighing and moving over night after night, knowing that Evan needed the comfort.
As he got older, he pretended that the fear had went away, but it wasn't true. It was still as strong as it had been when he was a kid, though he didn't want Hank to know that. He was an adult now, something as harmless as the dark shouldn't have him cowering in fear, blankets clutched tightly around him, panic squeezing his chest. He tries to muffle his whimpers in his pillow, but somehow Hank hears him anyway and comes into his room.
He doesn't say anything, just sits down on the edge of the bed and strokes Evan's hair, offering comfort the only way he can. Evan inches towards him, burying his face against Hank's hip, sniffling and trying not panic anymore now that Hank was here.
Hank makes everything better for him. He always has and Evan knows (hopes) always will.