Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Tank and Ash had spent the next several hours jumping around town doing errands. They'd gone by the local grocery store for off-brand snacks; they'd picked up some prescription medicine for arthritis; they'd picked up mail from the post office. By the time they were pulling into the driveway, Tank was nearly nodding off to the steady rocking of the truck.

That didn't stop them from noticing David's truck parked along the curb. Tank stiffened, suddenly on high alert.

Ash looked at them appraisingly while he put the truck in park. "You don't like David." It wasn't a question.

Tank shrugged sheepishly. They didn't like David, and David didn't like them, but they should have at least pretended for Ash's sake. "I never said that..."

"You don't have to lie - you're actually kind of bad at it," Ash snickered. Tank flushed red. "Is it because he's got a resting bitch face? Because I totally get it. Sometimes he looks like he wants to strangle me."

"That's not- I mean, kind of. He's just..." How was it possible not to dislike David? David threw away trophies like they meant nothing. Tank had never gotten a trophy in their life. Not even a participation award. They knew that Ash would wait for hours till they finished their sentence. "He's just kind of a dick."

Ash laughed. "Yeah." A beat of hesitance. "He's also a really good friend, too."

Tank resisted the urge to snark 'he started it.' David had never given them a chance. He'd made it entirely clear that the only reason their presence was even tolerated was by Gabe's good graces. He was older than them and taller - why should they have to be the bigger person? Thankfully, Asher was unbuckling and stepping out of the truck before Tank could say any of this out loud.

The thought occurred to them that this would be a perfect opportunity to make a run for it. They could avoid David altogether and prevent whatever fight building up between them at the source. Instead, Tank sucked in a deep breath and exhaled it slowly, following Asher into the Shaw house.

Gabe and David were in the kitchen when Tank and Ash walked in. They quieted upon their arrival, and Tank watched David's eyes darken. Gabe smiled warmly. "Hey, how was traffic?"

Ash shrugged, easily sliding into a seat beside David. "The usual."

"Obnoxious?" David supplied, voice low and gravelly. "How many idiots were on the road today?"

Gabe snorted. "Davey almost got T-boned on his way here."

"He was swerving like a drunken idiot," David snarled. As much as Tank disliked David, they didn't like to picture what could've happened. They walked towards the fridge, feeling David's eyes catch and linger on them. "Get me a water?" he asked.

"Ooh and I'll take a juice box!"

Tank started rifling through the fridge, conscious of their actions but glad to have something to do with their hands. "Is Milo here too?" they asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

"He's working a shift," David said.

Tank turned - almost threw the water bottle and juice to their respective targets before they thought better of it - and instead set them gently in front of Asher. They popped open an energy drink for themselves, taking a liberal gulp before leaning against the wall.

Gabe sighed. "Those aren't good for you."

Neither was the alcohol. They didn't say that, though. "I don't drink them all the time." That was a lie but white lies didn't hurt anybody.

David rolled his eyes. "You could try a water every once in a while."

"Are you gonna tell me to eat my vegetables next?" A thrill of excitement shot through Tank's body. That was the first good response they'd had in a while.

"It wouldn't kill you."

"Neither would minding your business."

David scowled now. "You might be willing to run yourself into the dirt but you don't get to project onto me."

"Run my-?" Tank scoffed. "Do you think drinking some water will earn me a gold star? Is that all it takes to get a pat on the head?"

"What is your problem? " David snarled, slamming his bottle onto the table.

"You!" Tank stepped forward, ignoring Gabe as he opened his mouth to speak. "You act like you're better than everyone just 'cause you follow all the rules and kiss all the right asses-"

"As opposed to what? Sleeping all the time? Fighting? Acting helpless like you ?"

Tank's chest tightened like they'd been stabbed. "I'm trying-"

"Are you? Because all I ever see is you butting yourself into our lives and then treating us like rotten meat."

"That's enough-" Gabe started.

"All I ever see is some perfect little golden boy who's had everything handed to him since the day he was born, acting like the rest of us are failures for not having the same options!"

David bawked. " Handed to me? You think everything I have just fell into my lap ?"

“Yeah, actually, I do! Because no matter what you do, people love you. No one ever questions you. No one ever assumes the worst of you. Meanwhile, I breathe wrong and suddenly I’m some screw-up who’s never gonna amount to anything.”

"Maybe if you didn't act like one, people wouldn't think that."

Tank barked a laugh, too hyped up on adrenaline to feel the hurt anymore. "There it is."

"I said that's enough!" Gabe said. It wasn't a shout, but the order came loud and firm enough that Tank had to fight not to flinch. Asher sunk down into his seat. "I've got a garden out back that needs tending to, and it looks like I've just found two punks who have nothing better to do with their time than argue about a fucking monster. So I've got a better idea - you're both gonna work this out. Together . Starting tomorrow. Understood?"

David turned a bright red.

"I said , is that understood?"

Tank ducked their head, nodding.

"Good. I'll see you both at 7 in the morning."