Chapter Text
"Whatcha doin'?"
The surly affectation of his best friend's voice nearly startled Sam out of his skin. He panicked and crumpled up the sheet of lyrics he'd been writing, shoving it into his pocket. "Shit, Seb. Scared me. You're early."
"Sorry. My parents are arguing. It's annoying." Having clearly not missed Sam's clumsy attempt at hiding his work, Sebastian squinted and eyed him up and down. "You didn't answer my question."
"Oh." Sam hoped his face wasn't as red as it felt. "It's, um- it's just some lyrics I was tinkering with. Nothing yet, still early stages."
"Uh huh," Sebastian replied with a dubious cocked eyebrow. "Sure, man. What's on the docket today, then? Covers or originals?"
"Hm… Well, I've had one of the songs from the Hades II soundtrack stuck in my head all week." Sam stood and crossed the room towards his guitar, preparing to start band practice.
Sebastian was following close behind, heading for the synth. "'Rock and a Hard Place' or the one about clawing out your eyes and drowning to death?"
"'Coral Crown,' actually," Sam answered. He started to continue an explanation of how much he enjoyed the guitar riffs in that song, but as he lifted his arms over his head to duck under his guitar strap, Sebastian swiftly darted his hand into Sam's pocket to fish out the crumpled paper stuffed inside. In his panic, Sam yelped and had to stop himself from chucking his guitar at the wall. "No-!"
"So. What's this." Sebastian used his superior wingspan to block Sam from retrieving the lyric sheet. He shook the page with his one free hand to loosen it from its crumpled ball while he watched Sam's twisting expression with careful scrutiny.
Never a match for Sebastian's devious trickery or quick reaction time, Sam gave up and flopped back into his desk, slumping over and burying his hands into his hair. "It's nothing yet."
"You're never shy about your songs," Sebastian pointed out while he unraveled the page- delicately, now that he had access to both hands. "I usually hear them before you've written them down."
"Yeah, well. There's a first time for everything," Sam grumbled.
"Must be personal," Sebastian said quietly as he looked over the lyrics.
Sam's anxious leg shook his whole body as he drove his heel feverishly into the floor. "You could say that."
The room was thick with the sharpest silence Sam had ever endured while Sebastian finished scanning the words. "Love song," he blurted out, obviously surprised. "Not our usual."
Defensive, Sam practically shouted. "No! I wouldn't- I wouldn't use those words specifically. It's just a song."
Sebastian snorted. "Mhm." He looked over the words on the page again and read one of the verses aloud.
Do you imagine the sun brighter when he's joined by the moon in the sky?
When he shines alone, does he wonder when next they'll pass each other by?
He shot Sam a pointed look. "Love song."
"See, I wasn't gonna make you do this one," Sam explained. "I know it's not your thing. I can do it solo."
"What, you think I'm gonna mock you for writing something that isn't miserable and anti-capitalist? That I won't be seen on stage with you unless the song makes the audience want to throw themselves into the heart of the Ginger Island volcano?"
"I don't know." Sam massaged the muscles in his brow and forehead, as he often did when he was anxious.
"I like other things, too," Sebastian added. "And anyways, I always wanna know what you're working on."
Sam felt his cheeks flushing a deeper shade of red. "No, it's just… It's like you said. Personal." His best friend was giving him an endless, inscrutable glare, and he was desperate to parse anything out of the expression, but it was ice cold. His leg pumped harder into the floor.
"I must admit to being somewhat curious," Sebastian said in a cool, measured tone. He looked back over the song's lyrics. "You've made no mention of anybody I could possibly imagine this being for. Penny?"
"No," Sam replied way too quickly. "I mean, it's not for anyone. It's just for me."
"Not Penny." Sebastian nodded slowly. He crossed to lean against the desk a few inches away from Sam, still looking at the page. "I notice you've avoided gendering this… 'moon.'"
"That's because it's just a moon," Sam insisted clumsily, knowing full well he wouldn't be believed.
"Could be anybody," Sebastian continued, ignoring him. He gave Sam a subtle smirk. "Shane?"
"No!"
Sebastian laughed. "Hey, just because I hate the guy doesn't mean you have to. Only two employees in the JojaMart, sneaking into the back when Morris isn't looking…"
"It's not like that!" Sam huffed. "He's not- It isn't him."
"So, then." Sebastian grinned devilishly. "Will you enlighten me?"
Sam opened his mouth to try another attempt at some bold faced lie, but clammed up instead and turned his face away.
"Or, should I say 'illuminate?'" Sebastian clarified, his voice softening slightly.
"… What?"
"The sun is bright, hot, constant. The moon… dark, cold, phasing." Sebastian gently placed the lyric page on the desk and crossed his arms. "The moon has no light of its own. Without the sun, it'd be a forgotten shadow. A small absence of stars in the night sky, like an iceberg on a dark horizon. But you don't mention that in your lyrics."
"I guess I never thought about it that way," Sam admitted quietly.
"Well, sure." Sebastian paused thoughtfully. "The sun only ever sees the moon through the radiance of his own light. Never when it's hidden behind the shadow of the Earth."
Sam tried hopelessly to control his shallow breaths. "Wh- What are you getting at?"
Sebastian shrugged. "Nothing. You're not ready to talk about it, we don't have to talk about it. But I'll be here." He tousled Sam's hair and crossed to the synth. "Should we get going, then? Band's not gonna practice itself."