By My Side - Sam/Aomaris Fanfiction

8) Party Preparations

I sat in complete silence, trying to convince myself I wasn't insulted. In all their excitement, it was understandable they'd forgotten about me. Or at least, that's what I told myself. The fact that they'd forgotten hurt me more than I cared to admit, but I did all I could not to let it show in front of the boys. Although by the look of it, none but Sam had even realised I was still there. I glanced at him to see his eyes filled with sympathy, and looked away before I could see more. I remained quiet as James called his brothers to attention and began designating different areas to prepare. The incubi nodded one by one I stood with them when James finished speaking.
"Anything I can do to help?" I asked. A look of surprise dawned on James' face.
"Oh, Mx! I hadn't- I mean..." He cleared his throat. "I had thought you would be heading out with friends as well."
"You don't have to pretend, James, it's okay. And no, I... I'd rather stay and help."
"Very well, then. My brothers and I have the house covered, but feel free to join one of us and help if you want to." I smiled and the incubi departed to their different sections. Who to go and help? That was an easy decision.

I walked out into the front yard, making sure to settle my headphones comfortably and play some music before I left the house. I was expecting to see Sam working, but instead happening upon him with his eyes closed, doing Tai Chi. Of all the things I thought Sam would do to train, this was not one of them. I headed up to him, peering at his movements. It looked easy enough to do, given how slow-paced it was, but the fact it was a form of martial arts made me hesitate. Those were often far more difficult than they seemed. Instead, I sat myself down on the path to the house, realising it had already been swept, as had the stairs. I gazed around in shock. Somehow, in the few seconds it had taken me to walk from the dining room to the front yard, Sam had cleaned and tidied the entire area.

"You've got super speed, don't you?" I asked him. He opened an eye to gaze at me.
"What gave it away?" He asked me sarcastically. I was too in awe to retaliate.
"Do all of you have super speed?"
"No, just me. We've all got different stuff. I've got speed and strength, Damien's got his mind-reading, and the rest of them... Well, I don't care enough to remember. All I know is that they hardly ever use their powers."
"That's awesome..." I breathed. A small smile graced Sam's lips.
"What are you doing out here, anyway?" He questioned. I shrugged in response.
"James said I could help someone, so I figured I'd come to help you. Not that you need it, evidently..." Sam peered at me again.
"Why me?" I averted my eyes.
"Well... I honestly don't know. I like you, I guess. I trust you." Pink dusted Sam's cheeks. I blushed as well and quickly changed the subject.

"So... when did you learn Tai Chi?"
"A few years ago. It was an anger management thing, more than anything." I tilted my head curiously. Sam seemed to notice and hesitated for a moment or two, but he elaborated soon enough. "My brothers and I, all our mothers are succubi. Our dad is something called a brute demon. My brothers got lucky and their brute demon traits are dormant. Mine... Aren't." He let out a long sigh before continuing. "I have the ability to take and use rage energy instead of sexual energy if I want. It was mostly what I lived off of in the demon world. I don't like the idea of forcing someone to..." He glanced at me uncomfortably. "Well, you know what I mean. I would've taken your anger instead of kissing you, but you had none. That's part of the reason I knew there was something up with you."
"What do you mean?"
"Like sexual energy, all humans carry rage energy because there's always something they're pissed off at. The government, school, work, whatever. You had nothing."

I almost snorted with laughter.
"I'm hardly a little ray of sunshine. I get pissed off at so many things."
"Yeah, but you have the most laid-back attitude of any human I've ever come across," Sam explained. "I can sense rage somewhere deep inside you, but you're far too... I don't know how to put it."
"My attitude is 'ah well, shit happens'?" I suggested. Sam nodded. "Huh. Good to know my soul isn't just a burning ball of hellfire." The incubus chuckled at my words.
"Yeah, something like that. It's not really a bad thing, it's just weird." We remained in silence for a while after that. Sam continued his Tai Chi and I laid back on the path, enjoying the heat of the midday sun shining down on us. There was something peaceful about spending time with Sam. While in other social situations, I wouldn't speak because I rarely felt comfortable enough to, with Sam, I felt no pressure to try and keep up a conversation. There was no need for mindless chatter when you simply enjoyed the pleasure of the other's company. It's moments like that where silence is golden. Just the breeze, the birds, and the quiet music playing through my headphones.