dcstroya

          “ Pretty sure wherever you were was better than here. ” She pushes herself off from the couch and instead chooses to sit in a nearby armchair, tucking her feet underneath her as she quirks a brow. “ Their graves, right? Dunno’ why you’d want to do that, revisiting the past is pretty lame. ” She huffed at his words, blowing hair from her face with a shrug, “ whatever, you did what you wanted, right? ”

‘’-- it wasn’t..’’ there’s a moment of silence and he shrugs. ‘’ if you’d call it graves. i just visited where i hid their bodies. just.. felt like visiting, i s’pose.’’ it was random, at a time like  that to just leave yeah.. but when his secret was out, he felt overwhelmed and just needed some time to himself. and tobias could definitely tell, something was off. ‘’ bambi, i’ve been a shit brother. i know i have. but.. i’m going to make up for it.’’

‘’ I’M sorry i haven’t been around much. but that’s going to change, y’know ?? how’ve you been, lor?? ‘’

          Bambi walks into the front room just in time to see her brother take a seat, a subtle irritation rising in her throat as she’s reminded of his stark absence the past few weeks, an absence that had done nothing to help her state of mind. “ Hey, idiot. ” She pushes the words through her teeth, forcing a vibrant smile to her face as she leans onto the back of the couch, “ have a good trip? ”

‘’it wasn’t a good trip. it wasn’t good, but it was well needed because i.. got some closure ?? visited my parents.’’ he’s silent for a few minutes, looking down to avoid her gaze. ‘’ just needed some time away, i s’pose. but.. i’m sorry for leaving up out of the blue. i missed you a lot.’’ finally, tobias looks up at her with a weak smile and only shrugs. 

he’s been away longer than expected, so when he comes back.. he’s relieved to find the town still standing. tobias opens the door to the mitchell home, and sets his stuff down-- plopping down on the couch. ‘’ guess who’’s HOOOME?? ‘’ 

his words cause a deep blush to creep up onto her cheeks, a twinkle of awe and disbelief in her verdant hues along with an angelic giggle she was clearly unable to control.  ❛   wow— i—- no, you’d be the first actually. thank you ?   ❜  was she supposed to thank him? she’d never accepted a compliment before in her entire life.  ❛   i’m always going to be here for you, toby. always.   ❜ 

even in the midst of all the shit going down around them, tobias found a reason to smile. and that reason-- was standing in front of him. watching her talk, he could feel his smile grow and that made him reach out to take her hand. ‘’ and i appreciate you always bein’ there. i wouldn’t have it any other way, faith.’’

❛   goodness.. there’s really no need to thank me at all, toby. it was a no brainer, really. i just wanted to make sure you were okay, & i’m super glad i got to make you the feel the slightest bit better in the process.   ❜

‘’ YOU’RE truly amazing. has anyone ever told you that ?? ‘’  HIS smile is genuine as he stares at her, nodding. ‘’ i mean it. for all you’ve done.. thank you so very much.’’

❛   why not ?  that’s kinda what you are, right ?  what else do they call people that murder other people these days ?   ❜  despite her ruthless use of sarcasm, she can’t help but feel guilty after the words part from her lips. she sighs, chocolate hues suddenly filling with a genuine regret.  ❛   shit, i’m sorry, tobes. you know i didnt mean that.. you’re still my brother no matter what, & i still love you.   ❜ 

‘’ -- INSANE obviously. but i’m not insane.’’ shrugging, he waves it off. ‘’ ‘s fine, rubes.. i probably deserved it. been avoidin’ shit this long, just gotta take it head on. word of advice, ‘s better not talking. to anyone.. or anything. thank you for understandin’ though.’’ he moves to grab her shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. ‘’ i mean it.’’

“i’m a heartless bitch jokes. classic.” pippa rolled her eyes, already not a fan of this conversation. not that she hated sarcasm. “fine. as fine as i can be being locked up in a hotel with no power. you can sit on the floor.”

‘’ didn’t exactly say you were heartless, but.. whatever.’’ shrugging, he tilts his head and makes a face. ‘’ wait-- what ?? why do i have to sit on the floor ?? from what i can see, there’s another seat beside you. ‘’ 

‘’-- i’m.. ‘’ trailing off, as he sits down beside his sister.. he lets out a sigh and leans against her. ‘’ i know this isn’t the time, but.. i hope.. your view of me doesn’t change. i hope you don’t think of me as a murderer.’’

‘’ listen-- i know.. i know i shouldn’t be doing this.. right now, but-- i just-- wanted.. to say thank you. for doing what you did the night my secret came out.. i really appreciate you faith.’’

everything’s been kind of quiet now, after the text has gone out. he’s been locked in his own hotel room. not wanting to talk to his family or ANYONE. ‘ they hate you. they practically hate you, and don’t want anything to do with you.’ shaking off the thoughts at the sound of his phone buzzing, he slides it open in a frustrated manner-- scanning over the message. tobias has gone still for a few minutes before shutting it, a void look coming across his features. there’s no goin’ back now. 

❛    you—- probably don’t remember me, & that’s okay because—– well—- it’s not like i was expecting you to remember me, that would just be silly & downright deluded seeing as we were kids & it’s been eight whole years—– i—– um, you’re sister is one my bestest friends if that helps, &—— i just wanted to let you know that everybody is thinking about you. what that text said about all those people is just awful.. nobody should be able to expose the darkest parts of somebody like that, it’s just wrong. & i’m sorry.. that it happened to you but i’m positive that those who love you aren’t going to look at you any differently because of this.    ❜ 

the realization does hit his features and he only nods slowly hearing her words, remaining completely quiet. a hand goes to take hers entwining their fingers together and he only squeezes her hand-- in hopes she’d get he was trying to say ‘thank you.’ tobias was still momentarily before moving to lunge forward, his arms wrapping around her in a tight embrace-- hugging her tightly.

          At this point her heart is beating so hard against her ribcage she can barely breathe, simply rushing into the embrace instead, “ good! I just… ” Her words are breathy, barely holding any weight to them, the redhead suddenly feeling like the vulnerable child she used to be. “ Whatever happens… ” She chokes out, noticeably struggling as she tries not to panic, “ we’ll protect you. That’s what siblings do, that’s what family does. ”

his hand runs up and down her back in an attempt to calm her  down, nodding. ‘’ i know. i know, i can always count on you both..’’ pressing a kiss to her forehead, he keeps her close before letting out a laugh. ‘’ yknow.. this is the longest i’ve gone with talking..’’ he whispers in an attempt to lighten up the mood, staring down at her.

          “ Yes, STUPID! Moronic, idiotic, dumb as fuck –––– –– How many other synonyms would you like? A has no proof and you think, what, running away is going to help your chances? Newsflash, it won’t! And what about Rory? You think she can handle something like this? Abandonment? On top of one of her friends dying? She needs you to… Fucking hold her hand and listen to her cry and do all the shit that I can’t, because I can’t do any of it, Tobias! I can’t–––– –– I’m not YOU, I’m not–––– –– ” She pauses, shaking her head furiously, trying to stop the tears from forming in her eyes and failing miserably as they begin to trail down her flushed cheeks. “ I can’t do this WITHOUT you! ”

‘’-- bambs..’’ trailing off, he moves towards her immediately-- arms wrapping around her. he pulls his sister in, hugging her tightly as his own tears fall. ‘’ i’m sorry-- i won’t.. i will never leave you or rory.. not ever.’’ tobias murmurs, keeping her close. ‘’ i’m so sorry. i won’t do anything.  i’ll be here with you both.’’