vell80-johnson/atpulov: staring

Sam had a tendency to stare.

Ann didn't mind it very much, seeing as how they never seemed to know what they were doing until Ann gently brought it to their attention, but there were times when it would get unnerving. Especially with those somewhat sunken in, ruby red eyes of theirs. Sometimes it would feel as if Sam would stare right through her to her very core with those eyes.

So, today, she would finally ask them why they always had this slightly uncomfortable habit of staring. Particularly at her. Sure, there was always the possibility of romantic infatuation, but Sam didn't seem to be that kind of person. Romance was most definitely not on their aura unless a certain someone was brought up into the conversation, but that was another talk for another day.

So now seemed to be the best time to bring it up, Sam's eyes carefully trained on her as she carefully cut the crusts off the sandwiches she was making for them.

"Sam?", Ann asked as she finished de-crusting the first sandwich for them. "Sam, are you alright?"

Sam made a small sound upon being asked, as if they were suddenly broken from a trance.

"Yes, Miss Johnson?"

Ann paused to hand Sam their plate, and Sam took it with a small, polite "thank you".

"What's going on up there?", she continued, "Y-you seem very..."

She paused for a moment, the word on the tip of her tongue.

"... Focused? Deep in thought?"

Ann smiled at Sam, seeing that they already started taking small bites of their food. They already somehow managed to get bread crumbs in that chocolate-coloured mop of theirs despite not even having the sandwich in their hands for a full 10 minutes.

"I just want to know what you're thinking about, because it, uh... It looks like there's a storm going on up there," she said, tapping her head somewhat. "It's even making your hair stand up on end..."

Sam looked up at her, somewhat wide-eyed, and put down their food. They placed a hand on their bangs, as if trying to hold them down.

After a short pause, a small, astonished "Really...?" came from their lips.

"No, no," Ann laughed, "It was just a joke, but I really do want to know what you're thinking about."

"... Oh. Okay."

Sam looked down somewhat and started fiddling with their bangs. Some of the bread crumbs fell out as they did so.

"You see," Sam began, "You, er..."

Sam paused, and Ann looked at them somewhat expectantly, simply waiting for them to collect their thoughts.

"... You look like and remind me of my mother, so I've been trying t-to, um... objectively pinpoint exactly why this is so."

Sam took in Ann's odd, somewhat surprised expression at the notion, and curled up in their seat behind the kitchen counter somewhat.

"I know it's... I-it's idiotic for me to think like this", Sam continued, "Seeing as how she passed on when I was only five years of age and I shouldn't remember her very well, but..."

Ann sighed a little in relief, thankful that Sam's reasoning seemed innocent enough.

"It's fine," she reassured them with a comforting smile, "It's perfectly fine..."

Sam looked back up and over at her, their hands now somewhat curled up near their chin awkwardly.

"I-if anything, you're like my second child at this point," she smiled. "I mean, I know you haven't told me your age, but..." She paused for a moment, deliberately, capturing more of Sam's interest in her words. "You're still a kid. Y-you just kind of... Have that atmosphere about you."

"... Y-yes," Sam nodded.

"And, at the risk of sounding, um... Like your mom..." Ann laughed a little quietly. "As long as you come to me to take care of you, I'm always going to take care of you. You're a part of our little family, too, okay?"

Sam didn't respond.

"... Sam?"

Ann could see that their eyes were starting to water up and that they were starting to bite at their lip. Their eyes were darting about the room as if they were trying to make sure that no tears would roll out of their watering eyes, but it became obvious that their attempts would fail when a small squeaking noise sounded from their throat.

Another sigh, not of frustration, sadness, nor longing, escaped from Ann's lips, and she walked out of the main kitchen area and around the counter. Sam got out of their chair, already hunched over from trying to hold back, and Ann wrapped her arms around Sam tightly.

Sam quickly returned the embrace upon realizing that they were truly safe here, and as long as Ann had breath in her lungs and life in her sky blue eyes, they would stay safe here.

Sure, there was no real way to figure out if she actually was their mother, just as a different person, but that was okay.

Sam didn't need to know.

Not right now.