Chapter Text
Darlin used to prefer being on their own; easier to hide that way. Not so much anymore. It was harder to sleep without Sam by their side. They’d gotten used to his little whistle snores. And as much as they loved living so far out in the woods with him, when he wasn’t there, it made them feel the distance from their pack.
They’d considered calling Angel, or Asher, asking them over to drive away the itch the quietness brought. But it was late. Even without Sam here, they’d never kept a normal sleep schedule; vampire hours and daytime naps had always appealed to them.
Besides, they’d never hear the end of it from Angel or Asher. They’d spend the next four months gushing about how ‘naw you do love us!’ Darlin rolled their eyes, as if they hadn’t already made that abundantly clear.
Sweetheart was an option, their job made sure they kept shit hours too, and they’d probably be more normal about it. Or at least, they’re teasing would be far more bearable. But they’re likely tired as shit and as much as it would delight Darlin to steal them from Milo for a night, they deserve to spend their off time with their mate.
Milo was off the table for the same reason. Also they didn’t need him making fun of them for being a scaredy cat or something. Seriously, you jump at a scary movie one time when you’re a teenager and suddenly it’s your whole personality.
David would assume something was wrong. And then when he realised there wasn’t, he’d just be confused, and then they’d have to awkwardly try to back out of the conversation while David awkwardly tried to agree without sounding too weirded out by the whole thing and frankly, they did not need that.
So it was down to surviving the quiet on their own.
Until it wasn’t.
They sensed the vamp’s presence before the knock on the door. Ever since Quinn had pointed out how close he’d gotten without them noticing, they’d been trying to train their senses just as much as they did their body.
The knock was strong, loud, and confident. Darlin assumed it must have been someone Sam knew, and went to open the door. They weren’t pleased with how right they were.
They’d only met Alexis once. Well, they didn’t really meet her, they just saw her. She was present with the rest of the Solaire clan at Quinn’s execution. She’d locked eyes with them in the crowd, followed them the whole time. They held onto Sam and ignored her; they were there to worry about their own ex, not Sam’s.
They took one glance at her, standing in front of Sam’s house, on Sam’s property, and went to slam the door shut. A hand flew out to stop it from closing, because of course it did.
Darlin sighed, and pulled the door fully open once more, stepping out onto the porch and closing the house behind them. She didn’t get to see inside. That was their den, Sam’s home. It wasn’t for her eyes.
“What the hell are you doing here?” They grunted, stuffing their hands in their jacket pockets and leaning back against the door.
“Well, that’s not a very nice way to greet a stranger,” Alexis replied, her voice smooth and snarky.
It made Darlin’s blood boil, but they just levelled her with an unimpressed stare.
“I know who you are. You know who I am. We ain’t strangers.”
“Ah, yes. I should have guessed Sam would have told you all about me, it makes sense. You have an evil sadistic vampire ex so he might as well tell you about his,” She said with a mixture of bitterness and sarcasm. She obviously wanted to make fun of the idea that she was the same as Quinn, but resented the concept in the first place. “It’s so cute; you’re like those couples that wear matching shirts.”
Darlin huffed something approximate to a laugh, but without any of the humour.
“Yeah, well, my ex is dead now, so unless you want me to make it so that Sam and I are properly matching, I suggest you get the fuck out of here.”
Alexis looked taken aback for a moment and let out a surprised laugh.
“You can’t threaten me.”
“Who’s going to stop me? William? It’s his invocation that’s supposed to keep you away.”
“William only took away my ability to invoke Sam, didn’t say anything about coming to his house,” Alexis retorted, a smug smile crossing her lips.
“Well maybe I should call him, get him to revise that particular clause.”
Alexis scoffed at that. “As if you have his number, a bit above your station, don’t you think?”
Darlin shrugged. “I’ve got Vincent’s. And there’s always David, if we want to make this a formal complaint.”
Alexis rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest, letting out a put-upon sigh.
“Sam’s ‘southern hospitality’ didn’t rub off on you I see. You really know how to make a girl feel unwelcome.”
“That’s because you ain’t welcome here. So either tell me what the fuck you are doing on this goddamn porch, or beat it, before I beat you.”
“I just wanted to meet my replacement.”
“Well then I suggest you search elsewhere, ‘cause they ain’t here.” Darlin pushed themself off the door and took a step forward. Alexis didn’t step back, but she looked like she wanted to. Good. “Sam didn’t replace you Alexis, he moved on. I suggest you do the same.”
“What makes you think that I haven’t?” Alexis was good at sounding unbothered, smooth, confident. But her actions betrayed her.
“You’re here, aren’t you?” Darlin responded.
A sour look settled over Alexis’ features. Then it fell, just a little, revealing something else.
“I just want to know how he is; Vincent won’t talk to me about him,” Alexis voice grew quieter. She seemed… desperate, sad.
Part of them felt bad for her. They hated it, but they had always been sympathetic to the fuck ups and the assholes. Alexis cared about Sam. Quinn had cared about them, too. It’s the nasty kind of care, the care no one deserves to be subjected to. Obsession, or whatever. A need to be a part of someone’s life: even, or in Quinn’s case especially, when it hurts them.
But this wasn’t about them and Quinn. This was about Sam, and Sam was all that mattered right now. Not their feelings, not Alexis’. His.
“He’s happy. And healthy. That’s all that should matter and that’s all that I can say. Now get lost.”
Alexis knew she’d been defeated. Maybe she’d been humbled in the past few years. She stepped back from Darlin, but paused before fully turning away.
“I’d prefer if you didn’t mention that I came here.”
“You and I both know that isn’t going to happen. It’ll be up to Sam whether this goes any further than this porch. Now leave.”
Alexis looked like she considered saying something else, but thought better of it. In a flash, she was gone.
After they were sure she was gone, Darlin let the tension drop out of their shoulders and sighed, heading back inside. As soon as they were in the door, they pulled their phone out of their back pocket and dialled.
“Hey, Darlin’,” Sam’s voice came through the phone. “What’s up?”
“Sam, have you got a minute? I’ve got to tell you something.”