#fuck i'm sorry i forgot to add the trigger warnings at top

[penumbra-mayhem]

(EDIT) TW: domestic violence, abusive relationship

In my personal hc, Quinn and Tank didn’t have a “brief dalliance”. They dated for much longer than in canon, like at least a year.

Gabe’s death hits Tank hard. He was practically their adopted father and was one of the only people looking out for them. Then Tank’s family moves to Washington, and Tank is left alone, for all intents and purposes.

They meet Quinn soon after. It’s a “friendship” that quickly evolves into something more complicated. Quinn is a masterful manipulator, and he reads people very well. He can see how isolated Tank is, with no outlet for their grief or self loathing. He knows he can use this to his advantage.

However, he can also see that Tank has strong morals. They are loyal to a fault and have a resolute sense of justice. Quinn knows he has to play his cards right. He can’t reveal his true nature to them until they are so tightly wrapped around his finger that they can’t bear to let him go.

So he lures them in. He lets them be wild and messy. The two of them break social rules and engage in taboo activities, like feeding. They’re reckless, but they don’t hurt anyone (other than themselves). Quinn only brings Tank into certain crowds, only lets them see certain sides of himself.

Then he starts to hurt Tank. They take it because they’re “tough”, and they think they deserve it. The abuse worsens. The pack starts to get concerned. In response, Tank pulls away. They don’t want the pack to be concerned or get involved. Tank accepts Quinn’s behavior because his cruelty is only directed at them.

Eventually, Quinn brings them into his innermost circle. He stops hiding his criminal activities. He stops hiding how he hurts people. He lets them see how inhumane he is, believing Tank is too far in and too loyal and too damaged to ever defy him.

But Tank is a good person. Despite what Quinn tells them. Despite what Tank believes. They have a good heart and care for others deeply. So when they see Quinn’s true colors, they report him and leave.

And Tank thinks that makes them weak. But it’s one of the strongest things they’ve ever done.