Sharing Pain《sambucky》

《not fair》

Sam saves hundreds of lives before he and his friend Riley are introduced to the program that is about to change their lives. It's risky, but both are ready to do it, anyways.

Both have different motivations though.
Sam wants to find the one, but help others in the progress with his paramedic knowledge. Riley just wants to be there for others and help avoiding tragedies. Soulmates losing soulmates. Just like he himself did.

Riley is one of those poor souls that got granted their biggest wish, which is having found their soulmate. But every happy ending has a prize.

Their name was Kelly, and they died of lung cancer at the age of sixteen.
Riley knew it was his non-binary friend ever since he was a twelve years old boy, only to lose them four years later.

Riley openes up to Sam about his soul mate bond right after finding Sam curled on his side and crying. Sam's soulmate is once again in pain, probably getting whipped judging by the pain against Sam's back, but Riley still doesn't know that, so he panics and wants to scream for help, thinking Sam got hurt as they both had another intense in-the-air session. But last minute, Sam notices his panicked friend and screams out.

"No! Please, I'm not in pain! It's not me, don't call!" Riley looks bewildered till realization settles in and he rises a perfectly shaped blond eyebrow.

"Your bond, then?" Riley pities Sam, the poor guy has to live in pain and misery since his soulmate is in pain, yet Sam can't do anything about it.
He knew a guy like that, and he managed to find his soulmate only through communication on skin. Cutting.

Sam uncomfortably swallows at Riley question, not a fan of people finding out about his failure. He can't get his voice to work, so he just meekly nods. It's as if a bridge was broken down, because once he admits to it, he spills everything.

And Riley just sits there and listens. He is thinking, Sam can see it in his brown eyes, but what comes out of Rileys mouth isn't what Sam expected.

Not at all.

Riley suggests selfharming and Sam is intrigued.

No, he is desperate.

But he's almost way too eager to try it.

That's when Sam for the first time tries selfharming.

Riley is the one to help through it, in the hopes of Sam's soulmate trying to reach out themself, and he stays with him as another paramedic. They both watch the blood drip down to the floor, the letters of the word WHERE morbidly beautiful against Sam's dark skin.

They wait five days, Riley making sure the wound on the thigh is healing correctly, when Sam gets frustrated.

"I have to try again! What if they didn't have a sharp object near them, and that's why they don't answer? Riley, please!"

"No, Sam! You can't. I know you're desperate, and I know you want to help. But if they don't respond now, wait at least a few weeks."

Sam ponders on that, thinks about it and agrees at the end. He concentrates on being a good Falcon, and he and Riley do amazing together. He doesn't notice it at first, but he trusts Riley more, now that he knows.

Riley is a good friend, and Sam owes him a lot.

It's such a shame Riley dies before he can repay his massive gratitude.