Chapter Text
If he’s being honest, Sam didn’t think he’d see the cabbie again.
He’s a good wheelman, sure, but after that first night, Sam figured he’d just take the money and go home to his wife and kids. He’s surprised when he sees him sprinting over to Salieri’s, though not as surprised as he is when he hears the kid wants to bust up some of Morello’s boys.
Sam’s not impressed yet, but he is intrigued.
—-
Turns out the cabbie can fight. Paulie vouched for him, but it’s different seeing it up close. Laying on the floor, bleeding out, Sam watches as Tommy guns down the bastards who tried to beat information out of him. He wonders where a cabbie learned to shoot like that.
Every couple minutes, Tommy runs over to check on him. It might be the blood loss, but Sam swears he can feel Tommy’s eyes on him every time he looks him over.
It suddenly hits him that Tommy’s eyes might be the last thing he sees. Which, okay, that wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. They’re a warm shade of brown. Honey, almost. And even though they’re full of concern, they’re still breathtaking, bordering on beautiful. Just like the rest of him.
The thought shocks him still. Tommy notices, of course, and runs over to check on him again. Sam just nods and says he’s fine.
He’s lost a lot of blood; his head’s all over the place.
—-
Over drinks one night, Sam finds out that Tommy isn’t married. The idea that Tommy could be single had honestly never occurred to him before. Tommy’s sitting next to him now, laughing at one of Paulie’s jokes. His eyes are lighting up again, and from this angle, they look golden. Sam’s not sure how he’s not tied down yet.
He blames the warmth in his chest on the booze.
—-
When Paulie starts mouthing off about stepping out on the Don, Sam tries his best to nip the plan in the bud.
——
Later, while they’re having a smoke, Sam begs tells Tommy not to listen to Paulie. Tommy’s heart gets in the way of his thinkin sometimes, and Sam doesn’t want him getting caught up in Paulie’s half-assed schemes. He can see Tommy nodding, but he can also see his eyes looking off into the distance.
The realization that Tommy isn’t listening makes it very hard to breathe.
——
Tommy’s eyes are wide. They’re pleading with him, telling him to say that this is all a misunderstanding, and something ugly is clawing its way up Sam’s throat.
Sam’s never seen this much emotion on Tommy’s face before.
As Sam talks, he can see Tommy’s brow furrowing. Sam can’t understand how Tommy could be so selfish. Tommy hasn’t grasped the gravity of what he and Paulie have done. Sam is heating up. Sam’s hands are shaking.
Tommy doesn’t understand how things are so maybe he can be excused just this once so now he must learn. It’s heartbreaking frustrating that Tommy doesn’t understand. Sam does what he’s ordered supposed to do and turns around so he doesn’t remember Tommy’s eyes like that so the boys can do what needs to be done.
It’s a shame. Sam Don Salieri really liked him.