"Is Serena someone I should know? Based on your reaction I would guess that is either an x-girlfriend or ohhhh! Is that someone who rejected you? Maybe I should see what type of girl turns you down, they sound fun." Cora taunted.

The sunset was gone now. Cora was glad she packed a light just in case. If she tried climbing back down now the combination of being tipsy and not being able to see in the dark would kill whatever 'cool' vibe she had going. Not that she imagined he would let her fall flat on her face. He seemed like the type to be more than capable handling leading a woman in the dark.

"Hmm, I mean, getting close to a girl is one thing. I'm not sure where having her wipe your dogs drool on your shirt really ranks." Cora would have to venture that was somewhere dancing with the friend zone.

Then, they moved away from that again. She felt his hand on hers, calloused and secure. It was...nice. She was glad for the darkness now. If she looked down and found where their threads met, she might just scramble for her bike after all. Can't imagine what that was like...

Cora snorted, a bit bitterly. "It wasn't like anything. Only thread I never had to cut. She did it herself. Can't miss someone you don't remember." Maybe that was a lie. You could miss a lot of things when someone wasn't there. Being raised by a guy and picking fights at school because you didn't know how to do your hair, or didn't know how to put on makeup. Deciding it was easier to just keep your hair short because hell with those idiots and their standards.

She glared at the darkness for a moment, but then it faded. She settled back into the warmth from drinking, and now the warmth from his hand, and Bruno who had stayed close. It took no more than a few breathes to push thoughts of family away. They were having a good time. No need to ruin that. "So is night vision in your mutation or should I find my lantern before we have to let Bruno lead us down the hill?"

Did Serena reject him? Yeah, in fact she didn’t even give Sam a chance to ask her out. It was the wrong tree… or was that Ami? Sam couldn’t keep track of how he was informed he didn’t have a shot with her but more importantly she beat him in a danger room session. Badly. Shaking his head, ”She wishes. his ego answered. ” No, she keeps reminding me I’m nothing like the old Sam.” he said shrugging trying to make it seem like it wasn’t an issue. ”Not fun.”

”Not sure either.” he smirked, ”I’ll keep you posted when I find out.”

Giving her hand one final squeeze when she snorted and releasing it he wasn’t sure how to respond. He never really gave much thought about his parents now. Maybe that wasn’t true. He did think about them a lot but he knew they were dead now. When he was a kid he had hoped that they’d come recuse him but that never happened and over time he had to grow up. Daydreaming didn’t keep you alive. Living in the moment did.

”Thermal.” Sam corrected the air getting colder around him. Cora and Bruno started to glow before he shook his head and turned off his own cold. ”A lot harder to figure out.” Sam said figuring that was the reason older him kept the eye patch. Only thing that made sense seeing as he was surrounded by healers.

”I kinda already memorized the path.” Sam said shrugging. There were a few points he wasn’t sure where to over step a large rock or the angle of a climb but memorizing terrain was something Sam was accomplished in. There was some light from the stairs and moon not to mention the openness of the trail. Sam pushed himself up from the drop and offered a hand down to Cora. ”I mean, I can lead you down but that would require you to trust me in the dark.” he smirked.

Cora made a face regarding the comparison to ‘old Sam’. ”I feel like being compared to your older self is like literally being compared to a past version of you. Like, actions and mistakes that you haven’t done or a person you haven’t been in years. Yeah, for them it was recent, but I think you have a right to be who you want, now or in the future. If the age thing reverses, heck, it would just be meeting the new you for me.”

She wondered how it would have felt if she had met the old him and then met the new him. A bit confusing, but in the end, it would only matter getting to know the current person. She would never want to be compared to the her she was at a different point in time.

Cora felt a little shiver as the air gold colder, and without his hand it felt more pronounced. She pulled her jacket close and crossed her arms to conserve body heat. The whisky only did so much.

”Memorizing there path is pretty impressive. I have a good memory but not like that.” she took his hand and managed to stay fairly steady on her feet, all things considered. She held her liquor pretty well. ”I hate throwing around the word ‘trust’, but you didn’t drop me off a rock climbing wall so I guess I’ll let you get me to the truck in one piece.”

They walked in silence for the most part and finally got to the vehicle. Cora leaned against the side of his truck and scratched Bruno behind the ears, trying and failing to avoid shivering now. ”I blame you for it being cold.” she commented with a little attitude, but was secretly amused.

Sam didn’t like the idea of older him having to meet Cora. To him that just meant he would no longer be him. Would that mean all his time younger was a waste? Would he remember her or anyone else he met? Sam frowned in the dark and then clicked to Bruno to let him know they were on the move.

”Practice.” he summed up. ”It will be a privilege.”

Sam kept his mouth shut for most of the way focusing on the path making sure not to lead her astray. Stopping when he needed to, to turn and help Cora or let her know when a rock or branch was sticking out.

”I mean it did get cold before me right?” Sam smirked, ”I only did bring one blanket.” he smirked reaching into the back of the car and pulling one base layer so they weren’t on the cold metal and another one to drape over. Sam didn’t need one but it was more a comfort than anything else. Bruno obviously was the pillow.

Laying the base down on the bed of the truck he tapped the back for Bruno. ”Bed time.” Bruno let out a bark and hopped up and sprawled out the width of the truck leaving plenty of room. ”Still got that whiskey?” he asked offering the other blanket.

Cora watched the dog clamber into the back and make himself comfortable. She smirked and swung her backpack off, pulling out the bottle where it had been stashed. ”I didn’t drink it on the way down, despite temptation. Figured you would have to keep your promise not to let me freeze this way.”

With the blanket it really wasn’t so bad. She had dressed for the weather, and she may not be super familiar with owning a dog, but having been around enough of them she knew they carried enough body heat.

Climbing into the back she stretched out, putting her bag behind her head as a little extra cushion. Without the bottle in there it wasn’t so bad. She looked up at the sky, taking in the stars and moon. When Sam joined them, she scooted closer and made herself comfortable.

”Favorite constellation,” she asked thoughtfully. It didn’t take long for her to move so she could use his shoulder as her new pillow.

It took a minute to get everyone comfortable but when they were he felt his pulse quicken a bit. Bruno must have sensed this because he wrapped his meaty head around Sam and placed it on his other shoulder. Sam was now effectively immobilized. Sam took a deep breath and slowed his heart rate and held the bottle in one hand. Reaching up and taking a swig he answered.

”Ursa Minor.” Sam said as if there was no other answer but decided he’d elaborate. ”Makes it easy to determine where you are going.” he said with a shrug. It revealed where Polaris was and that was usually his heading. He found the further north he was the more control of everything he had. His powers and his environment in particular.

Sam was about to return the question when he noticed her relaxed breathing. Coupled with Bruno’s he had to hold back a laugh upon both of them fell asleep. Staring up at the sky he found his constellation he tracked it to his star and wrapped his arm around Cora and closed his eyes.

Cora slept surprisingly well. It wasn't so cold with her human pillow and the dog close by. Compared to most nights, it was actually nice. Not that she would admit it. Saying she liked having company was like admitting she liked the idea of being with someone. She was plenty happy on her own.

Although, she couldn't help but look up and smile a little, noting the stars she heard mentioned before she had fully fallen asleep.

Before it was quite morning Cora woke up and brushed down her hair. Slinging her backpack on, she noticed her actions had woken Sam. She smirked, leaving the bottle with him and climbing out of the truck.

"I'll give you a call again soon. This was fun." There was still a bit of chase left between the two of them. She hoped he wouldn't get bored quite that quick.

Cora walked back to her bike with that in mind, waved to the park guard and took off into the early morning.