ANOTHER GAME TO BE PLAYED

For the third day running, Ebony sat at the table, munching down on a bowl full of Lucky Charms. Each glance at the colourful box sent her into a fresh wave of shameful memories, when she destroyed not only her home but herself. After that point, she had changed, and she was still deciding whether it was for better or for worse. 

"Ebony?" Sam waved a hand in front of her face, amused smile gracing his lips. A cup of steaming coffee warmed his hands, and his long fingers curled around the cup. No matter what time of year it was, the bunker was always freezing first thing in the morning. 

With a glint in his eyes, he took a seat in front of her, shifting comfortably in the wooden chair. His hair sprung out in different  directions, all trying to flee to unknown places. The bags under his eyes had lessened since her first night, and she took a grim satisfaction in knowing that he felt as though he could sleep, as though he was safe enough. He wished. 

"I'm sorry, just deep in thought." Self consciously, she tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, flashing a quick lift of the lips. 

"They must've been some pretty deep thoughts," Sam slurped his coffee, face twisting at the sudden scorching heat. "So I was thinking today we watch Game of Thrones? I think if we try hard enough we can finish two seasons in a day." 

"Challenge accepted, Mr. Winchester." 

Sam grinned at her, all sleep erased from his drooping face. "Great! I'll set up the DVD if you make the popcorn." 

"Do you remember the last time I tried using the microwave?" He erupted in laughter, thoughts flown back to a day ago when Ebony decided to warm up some cake for two minutes... and burnt it. 

"Even the birds didn't touch it," Ebony hit his arm playfully across the table, smirking as she did so. "At least the birds have common sense." 

"You didn't complain about my cooking last night!" 

"Yeah, but I didn't compliment it either." A cheeky smile lit up Sams face, and Ebony held her heart in shock. 

"How could you!" In her 'anger', she snatched up the Lucky Charms box and ignoring the time capsule it was, grabbed a handful and tossed them at Sam. He let out a cry, trying to battle off the incoming food. Cereal scattered everywhere, gathering in groups in Sams hair. He shook his head like a wet dog, sending marshmallows and whole grain catapulting all over the room. She swallowed her comment about him being an animal. As much as she wanted to remind him of the vile creature he was, she needed to be kinder. The best way to shred the Winchesters apart was to be a friend, and then stab them in the back.

"You've got some of it in your hair." She slowly leaned over the table, adjusting her top so that it didn't cling so close to her body. Her attempts were futile. Sams breathing stopped. His gaze became fear stricken but excited at the same time. She continued her timeless journey, reaching out a hand and plucking out a marshmallow from his hair. She held the spongy treat between her fingers, and not removing her eyes from his she licked her lips.

"I'm going to grab the DVD," Sam sprung up from his chair, knocking it backwards with a ear splitting bang. He rushed out of the room, leaving behind a smirking Ebony. 

"Ebony one, Sam zero." Joyfully, she placed the food in her mouth. Her smile never fell. 

*

Ebony snuggled into the mattress, tightening the blankets around her. Sam lay a good distance from her, munching noisily on the popcorn that she had successfully made without burning the bunker down. Both of their eyes were glued to the TV screen, never moving from the adventure. 

Without taking her eyes off the screen, she grappled for the bowl of popcorn. Sam was momentarily distracted, frowning at her patting hands. 

"Here," he placed the bowl between them, accidentally brushing her hand. She felt vile at his touch, but glanced up at him with a sweet smile that could make anyone's knees tremble. Sam grinned back, keeping his long fingered hands on hers. She moved her gaze off of his chiselled face and looked intently at their hands next to each other. His tan skin made her seem even paler, as though she was on the brink of death. All she could think about was how many times she'd held Celeste's hand, and how it never escalated into something she yearned for. Having his fingers on hers brought back memories of when Celeste and Ebony would lay down and stare at the ceiling, talking and holding hands. 

A scream made the two jump, jolting their hands away from each other, and knocking over the popcorn. Ebony let out a near silent sigh of relief; she didn't know how much longer she could pretend to be friendly with him. They both spun to the TV, seeing Bran falling to his doom off of the tower. Sam chuckled nervously, tight face suddenly relaxing and soon Ebony found herself giggling too. 

"Don't you think it's inappropriate to laugh at a little boy being pushed off a tower?" Ebony chuckled, hand on her stomach. Her laughter had stolen all of the oxygen out of her body, and she was gasping gleefully. 

"Probably." Sam flashed her a smile, "Let's pause this, I'll make some more popcorn if you clean up?" Ebony nodded and he untangled his legs from under the blanket and strode out of the room. Smile plummeting off of her face, she begrudgingly picked up the individual popcorn kernels. It was tedious work, and after about thirty seconds and only having picked up six she huffed, ripping the blankets off her and spraying the room with food. 

"Son of a nutcracker!" She murmured, quoting her favourite Christmas movie that she always forced Celeste to watch. 

Heaving a big breath, she got off of the bed and knelt down. Kernels crunched under her as she sat down on the floor, slowly collecting the fallen food. They dug into her legs and stuck to her jeans, but she ignored it, and continued picking up the food around her. 

Footsteps echoed down the hall way, getting louder and louder with each stomp. A second later, Sam showed up at the doorway holding up a pack of Skittles. "This was all I could find." 

"They're great," She brushed up more food. Sam stood at the doorway, biting his lip in a way that would make all the ladies and gay men crazy, and tapping his foot. "Can you help? This'll go quicker if we both do this, and I really want to know if Bran is dead." 

"Sure, sure." Sam scurried into action, dropping beside her and gathering as much as possible. They worked in silence, the only sound being their breathing. "So," Sam turned to her as he brushed up more, "you don't like Bran." 

Ebony wondered if this was how he got all of the ladies. "Yes, I think he's an irritating brat." 

He raised an eyebrow, stopping what he was doing. "We've only watched one episode." 

"I like to think I have a good judgement of character." She avoided his gaze, busying herself with picking up the last few kernels. 

"Okay then, Miss Modesty, what's your judgement of me?" 

She halted her work, suddenly standing up and pooling all of the dirtied food in her hands. Ebony walked to the bin, biting down on her tongue hard. She had to swallow all of things she was going to say. Scum. Thinks he's better than he is. Liar. Manipulator. Traitor. Killer. "I'm not sure." Tossing all of the food in the bin carelessly, she turned around to him. "I'm not sure about anybody any more." 

"Why?" Sam abandoned the task at hand, and fixed all of his attention on Ebony. She squirmed under the intensity of his gaze. 

"People these days try so hard to hide their true selves that it's difficult to see who they are behind the mask." Ebony thought of how much she related to this; she pushed the thought aside. 

"I'm not lying to you, Ebony. This," he waved to his body, "Is all me."

"How do I know you're not lying?" 

"You don't." 

"That's reassuring."

"Would you prefer to feel better and had been lied to or realise the danger and been told the truth?"

She smirked, attempting to lighten the mood. "Depends what day it is." 

He didn't appreciate her joke, and stared at her. She felt as though he could see everything: her back story, her issues, her true self. Trying to fill the quiet, she cleared her throat nervously. "What about you?" 

"What?" Confusion spread across his face.

Ebony sat down on the bed, tilting her head. She saw him swallow, and she gave him a closed mouth smile. "What's your judgement of me?" 

"Well, I think you're a good person, fiercely loyal, funny when you want, and kind." 

That was who she was before vengeance stained her pure soul. She nearly sniggered at the irony. "You've only known me a few days." 

"And? That doesn't change who you are." 

She dragged a hand through her hair, pushing it to the back. Turning her head into her shoulder, she grinned sheepishly. "Thank you." 

Sam stood up, shoving his hands in his pockets thoughtlessly. "No problem." Again, he flashed that smile. It made her want to punch him. 

Keeping up her act, she thrust herself into his arms. He stumbled back, surprised. She wrapped her hands tightly around his middle - tricking herself into believing that she was squeezing the oxygen slowly out of his body - burying her face into his tense chest. It hurt her to think that Celeste had once hugged him this way, but despite the pain, it made her feel closer to her dead friend. Her dead friend that they killed. 

Unsure, Sam placed his arms around her back, lightly holding her in his grip as though she would break. His muscles relaxed, and he stood there peacefully embracing a girl he thought would never be twisted by the hunting life. He bent down, nuzzling his head into her shoulder. He seemed happy, at home, where as she glared at the wall behind him, hand ready to grab a knife to stab him in the back.

-

hey assbutts! happy bonfire night! what are you guys doing tonight? I'm sitting in writing fanfic and hoping my music is loud enough to block out the sound of fireworks ahaha

-thirdwheelchurchill