Tanner Buchanan | Behind The Blinds (2021)

"Survival instincts," Lucas answers. "Passed down from our ancestors to help us live on through the ages and the bullshit. Wish it wasn't so jumpy, but it is what it is. Just need more distractions, I suppose."

He sighs and closes his eyes for a moment, feeling the sunlight on his face. It feels nice. A warm embrace that would otherwise hurt.

"Alright, penny for your thoughts?"

Muz’s smile softens as he watches Lucas, noticing the flicker of tension as he talks about the storm. There was something brittle that the storm had stirred up in everyone. He nods slowly, leaning back, fingers absently tapping the bench.

'Storm’s got everyone a little on edge,' he admits. 'Makes sense, y’know, the way it just settles in the back of your head. You ever wonder why we’re all wired like that? Could be calm as anything, but you hear one little sound and bam—you’re back there.'

Lucas hums.

"How many thoughts does a penny get you. I've got a few but I don't know how much you earn."

He smirks, enjoying the teasing conversation more than he usually would.

He looks over to the man with his smirk still in place.

A soft laugh escapes him. 'Exactly. You need to stay sitting for a few hours or I'll be out of a job.' He enjoys scavenging, more than he thought he would at least. When he first arrived Muz opted for what he though of as the least trying job with the least of a social aspect. Between trash collecting and scouring the place the way he does, he's happy with his decision. 'Go on. Hurry up, penny for your thoughts - or I've got a killer game of eye spy for us.' He raises his eyebrows in mock enthusiasm. 'Riveting.'

Lucas's smile softens to a concerned look.

"Do you want someone to talk to? Or to talk at? I'm a pretty good listener."

He flips open the counter and gestures to a chair next to his desk.

"I can try to answer questions. I know sheriffs out there are... not great, but here? We're here to help."

Catie narrows her eyes. 'You’re kidding,' she says, the disbelief in her voice impossible to miss. 'A sheriff. Deputies. What, have you got a judge and jury hiding somewhere back there?'

She doesn’t mean to sound so harsh, but the absurdity of it all—the structure, the formalities, the idea that any of this town could resemble real life—is too much. Her gaze flicks to the desk behind him, cluttered with papers and a coffee mug, as if this were any normal police station.

'Sorry,' she adds after a beat, though her tone is only slightly softer. 'I just... I don’t get it. I don’t get any of this.'

Lucas keeps holding her, knowing that once she's ready, she'll break the embrace.

He tries to think what to say that can help her. No flowery bullshit. Ana isn't like that.

"When my dad first got diagnosed, I refused to go to the hospital to visit him. I just couldn't handle it. There wasn't anything I could do to help. And it got worse when he got it again. The chemo just took this man I looked up to and whittled him down to a stranger."

He looks at the wall, running a hand up and down her back in a soothing gesture.

"There was a few months where I barely visited him at home even. Just felt pointless. I was scared that seeing him like that would ruin all the good memories I had of him."

More tears drop.

"But finally I went, and I realized that not going hurt me more than going ever would've."

He kisses the top of her head.

"I keep going because otherwise it is all pointless. Even if we never find a way out, we're still alive, and giving up means everything is pointless."

Anastasia tenses briefly in Lucas’s embrace—old reflexes, a habit of keeping people at arm's length. But then, something inside her lets go. Her shoulders sag as if she’s been carrying too much for far too long, and she leans into the hug, not for comfort exactly, but because standing upright suddenly feels too exhausting.

"I tried to hold the line, Luke," she murmurs, her voice brittle. "But it’s slipping through my hands. Every day, I wake up hoping today will feel different. That I’ll care, or find a reason to try... but mostly, I just feel numb. Like I’m already a ghost."

She stays still, not moving to pull away from him, but not clinging, either. Just resting, as if being in the same space with someone who understands makes things a little lighter, if only for a moment.

"How do you do it?" she asks, her voice quiet, almost desperate. "How do you keep going when it all feels... pointless?"

Adrien nods, sitting down and starting to carefully pull the phone apart.

"Anything is useful, just gotta figure out what use it's for."

His tongue sticks out as he manages to pry the phone open without making more cracks.

"Yeah. They basically run the place. They're really cool. You met them?"

He glances up and smiles at Charlie.

"I'm settling fine. Really crazy. Like I'm honestly surprised I'm even here crazy. How about you? Where'd they put you up at?"

charlie shrugged, it was weird because two days ago, her phone was her whole life and now she was stuck in a place where it was basically useless. at least to her, if they could use it for something else, then more power to them. she had no clue how things worked around here. "yeah, no problem. i just figured it could be useful in some way. i mean, who knows?"

she looked around the shop, taking everything in. this place was still so new and confusing, she wondered how this other new guy was taking it. he seemed so chipper but maybe he was just better at holding things together than she was. "el works here?" she asked, looking back at him. she thought back to how el talked about helping people and it being their duty. this made sense considering what they talked about their old life.

"how are you settling in?" she dares to ask, mostly just killing time before she has to be alone with her thoughts again. "crazy first night, huh?"

Lucas gives a breathless chuckle.

"Trust me," he says, continuing to stretch, "there are much better blood flowing activities I'd rather be doing. This is at least a consistent one."

He rolls his neck.

"Don't worry, I used to be the same. Especially when my dad would take us hunting. I would complain for hours and hours."

"Alright, suit yourself." he'll take another sip for himself and then place the bottle aside, listening as the other explains the morning run. "Always wanted to be that kind of guy, that's good man -- good addiction to have. Gets your blood flowin', gets you focused, serotonin all nice and unloaded. By the time you get to work you're ready to seize the day. I had to be dragged out of bed...most of the time, and still end up getting to work late nearly half the time -- dunno, it is what it is."

Lucas chuckles and shakes his head.

"You know that's not the scout sign, right?"

He raises three fingers up to demonstrate the salute as he takes a couple of steps backwards.

"Think Hunger Games without the kiss."

CHERRY CAN ONLY SHRUG IN RESPONSE TO LUCAS' WORDS . she almost feels bad, but how can she ? this wasn't the kinda place where you could be for everybody . this was the kind of place where you quite literally might get eaten alive if you didn't watch your own neck . she glances down at the hand he offers her, and after a brief scrunch of her expression she reaches down to shake it . " s'fine ." cherry shrugs ultimately, even as she raises her brows at his words . she's truly got no intention of taking anything from anybody, but she finds herself shrugging all the same because it's not like lucas needs to know that . " yeah, sure . you'll be the first to know ." cherry crosses her heart with a finger . " scout's honour ."

Lucas chuckles but does intentionally flex his stomach since he knows Rae is looking.

"It's one night i don't have to be sheriff," he says. "Might as well make the most of it. Show these kids we've still got it."

He leans against the wall, facing Rae and looking him up and down. He's not surprised to see the basic doctor get up, but he can't complain. Rae looks really good in it.

"So how have you been? I haven't been able to check up on you."

Being sheriff after a disaster really keeps him busy.

rae's costume, or his lack thereof, spoke volumes about his attitude towards the party. he stood there, his white lab coat hanging loosely over plain scrubs. the coat, usually a symbol of professionalism, carrying an air of nonchalance. it was clear that rae had taken the simplest route to participate.

his posture betrayed a certain weariness as he leaned against the wall, a weight that alcohol could temporarily lift. he glanced down at his cup, ruminating until he heard that familiar voice.

"hey," he greeted, perking up almost instantly. "you look… different," he observed, his gaze roaming over lucas' shirt, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "in a good way."

Tanner Buchanan | Behind The Blinds (2021)