it's not living (if it's not with you)

Grizz?" A hopeful voice sounds behind him.

"You're back." Sam signs, the blue in his eyes brighter than he's seen them before, already wet with tears threatening to run over.

"I am." He says, body stiff and aching to touch Sam.

"You're safe." Sam reaches forward, his hands softly pushing back the strand of hair that fell from his bun.

Grizz' jaw clenches at the touch, his eyes squeezed tightly as he takes a step back, out of Sam's reach.

"You're a father." He says, not bothering to sign it. Sam's face falls at the words, his eyes flicking between Grizz' lips and eyes multiple times in panic.

"And I have a town to fix."

or

in which grizz is a badass leader who wants to fight for what's right and (stupidly) believes he can't do that while being with sam

AVAILABLE ON ARCHIVE OF OUR OWN