Chapter Text
It was another mundane night in Forest Lawn, Michigan. The cicadas were loud and the birds croaked overhead. The air was crisp as the seasons were changing from summer to fall. All things considered, it seemed rather peaceful.
Or it would be anyway, if there wasn't a certain boy covered in blood and soot sitting in the middle of the otherwise pristine kitchen floor.
"Toby..." Ryven started, parting their lips for a moment before closing their mouth. They didn't quite know what to say. The pair had been sitting in silence for what felt like hours and they felt the need to try and probe through the tension.
Tobias flinched at their voice, as it snapped him out the dreaded silence. He felt as if he almost wasn't fully there, like he was observing himself from outside of his body. So, their voice was a clear and bright note among the muck of his own mind threatening to eat at him.
He couldn't quite process what he was feeling, even as he was coming to grips with he had done in the last couple of hours. His brain felt hollow and his body buzzed like TV static. His throat was dry and he felt as if he could throw up. The fact that he ran all the way here and was completely winded didn't help things.
"I didn't know where else to go..." Tobias' voice was soft and cracked. His eyes felt wet but he also felt so still, like he knew that he should probably be crying but the tears just wouldn't fall. "I just... maybe I should go. I don't know what I was thinking. Dragging you into this." Tobias starts to ramble as he tries to stand. His knees felt like they were wobbling.
"Sit down." Ryven's voice is firm and booming, despite the fact that they are hardly speaking above a normal tone. Something about their words make it sound like a command, and Toby adhered to it. He firmly sat on the tiled floor without protest. Sheepishly, he began to pick at the edge of the sleeve of his flannel. It's all stained with a mix of grass, dirt and blood.
"Is any of it yours?" Ryven asked.
Toby stared down at his hands, it finally registered how bloodsoaked he was. His body trembled slightly and he looked up with a dispondant expression.
"I... Don't know." Toby replied. It wasn't a lie, per say. If there was any pain to indicate a wound or injury on himself, Toby wouldn't be able to feel it. Ryven gave him an assessing look, to try and identify any limbs bending out of place or bruised areas. It was a little difficult with Toby's layered clothing, but they figure they could get a better look when he stripped.
"Okay. Hold on." Ryven walked out of the kitchen and climbed the stairs, presumably to get their mother who they lived with.
Toby had met her many times, Ryven and her were rarely ever apart. And she knew him too, as Ryven's best friend. She wondered what she would think of him now, looking like this. That revelation crawled under his skin and he felt a pit of disgust sink into his stomach.
Deidra, Ryven's mother, came into the kitchen shortly after Ryven had left. Toby was snapped out of his train of thought, so caught up in his mind that he didn't hear the creaking of the stairs. She had a bundle of garbage bags under her arm and gestured a hand at Toby as she spoke.
"Take off your clothes." She urged.
Tobias took a double take, scrunching his face as if unsure, "Uh... Why?"
Deidra frowns and raised an eyebrow. "You have to get rid of your clothes." Her tone was as if the answer was obvious, "Give me everything. Shoes included. Don't worry, we can find you something else to wear. You know Ri has a ton of oversized stuff."
Toby nodded, feeling a little stupid as he didn't catch onto the gravity of the situation right away. He hadn't even told them anything, and yet they already knew how to handle it. Despite the guilt at the core of his stomach, there was something so relieving about the fact this family was actually helping him. His eyes threatened to spill over but he took a sharp breath and stood up.
Toby stripped down to his boxers and Deidra took Toby's clothes and threw them all in the extra-large trash bag. After filling one bag, she wrapped it into another bag to make sure it was extra secure before promptly throwing it directly into the trash. It was a shame. Toby really liked that flannel.
Deidra tossed his clothes into the trash bin outside. As she exited out the door, Ryven reappeared from upstairs to usher Toby to the bathroom. They reassessed him, glancing over the small cuts and bruises that littered his wirey frame. Some of them were old, deep wounds, that long since scarred over. But, a few were fresh. Ryven's face darkened as they recalled all the other times they have patched up their friend. They had long since stopped asking questions. They already knew the answers, so there was no need to speak an explanation. Ryven sighed and Toby slouched slightly, making himself seem small. Although he was the tallest person in that house.
"Alright, I grabbed some clothes and a towel for you." They said, shuffling to readjust the bundle of cloth in their arms. "Just freshen yourself up. We'll talk more when you come out." Ryven's voice sounded casual, as if nothing was wrong. But, Toby knew better than that. He glanced at them, their eyebrows were pulled tightly, and one cheek was sunken in- a sign that they were chewing the inside of it.
Toby nodded, taking everything and placing it on the vanity. He still felt choked up, almost not wanting to speak. What could he even say? He felt like nothing could amount to the gratitude and relief he had welled up inside of him.
"...Thank you." He finally opened his mouth and his voice cracked as he spoke. "For everything."
Ryven finally smiled, melting their serious expression as they put their hand on Tobias' back. The small gesture made him shiver, making butterflies flutter around his stomach when they touched his bare skin.
"Of course." They said, a genuine sweetness softened their voice. A pause hung in the air before their tone shifted back to it's normal baritone. "Now, hurry up. Get dressed."
Toby was soon left alone in the bathroom and he finally got a moment to look at himself. When he looked at reflection, he sighed. He had hoped he didn't look as haggard as he had felt, but unfortunately his body had betrayed him. His brown hair was messy and dirty, full of twigs and leaves. His face seemed more pale than usual, and his eyes looked like he had seen Hell.
Well, in a way he had. The smell of smoke and burning flesh were still fresh in his mind. And Mr. Crothers...the look of horror and disdain that twisted on his face. His lifeless eyes that now were permanently fixed in shock. All of it was too much. Toby's breathing became more labored, clinging to the vanity in desperation. He stared down at the sink, unable to look in the mirror anymore. He couldn't. If he did, Tobias would surely see him there.
You did it... I knew it was you...! His voice echoed in Tobias' head, rattling his skull. I should've never trusted you.
"No... Please..." Tobias mumbled, close to tears. "Please, I begged you to believe me... I would never hurt Danny..." He whimpered and clutched at his hair tightly and pulling. He couldn't feel the sting, but at least he could feel the tension. He needed something, anything, to keep him grounded.
Toby cried softly. He didn't want anyone to overhear. He couldn't take it. The fatigue on his body was catching up to him and he just wanted nothing more than to collapse.
Toby took a long, shaky breath. He tried to remember was Ryven told him. In for seven... hold for four... out for eight. He counted methodically, focusing on the numbers silently. He cling to the counting like a life line, forcing them to sound louder than the voices. When his breathing steadied, he felt that numbness again. The faint buzz of adrenaline still coursing through him. Tobias had to remind himself that people were waiting on him and so he started the water.
Ryven and their mom waited in the living room. Both engaged in light conversation, to quell the tension of what they had just witnessed. Ryven wasn't quite sure what to make of it either way and could only say so much. All they knew is that their best friend came to the door covered in blood, shaking and asking for help. And, they did. No questions asked. No hesitation.
Toby came out of the bathroom, walked through the kitchen and entered the living room. Ryven gifted Toby one of their graphic t shirts that was several sizes too large for them, which fit like a normal size on him. The pair of grey sweatpants fell half way down his shins, but it wasn't egregiously small.
He wandered over and sat in a chair besides the sofa that Deidra and Ryven sat beside. The warm shower did relieve some of the tension in his body, he posture was still tight and slouched. Tobias fiddled with his hands, a little stunned by how strongly of coconut and shea butter he smelled like now. Since he had nothing, he had to use their body wash and shampoo. He knew there was no shame or judgement in it. But, he would find a way to pay them back. For all of this.
"Well, I said we would talk." Ryven broke the silence, placing their hands on their knees and sitting up further in their seat. Deidra had an expectant look, as she shifted to face Tobias. "Tell us what happened."
Tobias looked between the mother and her child. He expected to see some form of anger on their face, as if they would somehow already know what he had done and had condemned him in their minds. But, there was none. In actuality, all he saw was concern and a want to clear their confusion.
He sat up, clearing his throat whcih was hoarse from crying. He knew the deal. Tell the truth. All of it. Good, bad and ugly.