Making and Breaking

[Tobias Vaughn]

Tobias was unsure of himself. It may have been alcohol he had running through his veins. Perhaps it was the fact that he’d just run down several back alleys to hide from the police. Or maybe, just maybe, it was the fact that he had just realized that Andy had offered to walk him home and that his home was really Kyan’s home. Andy was walking him back to Kyan’s house. The chilly pre-November air was crisp and shrill when the breeze blew through the trees, shaking a dead leaf or two off with every blow. The crunch of the browns and oranges under his Robin Hood-styled boots made him smile secretly to himself. crunch crunch crunch crunch Once so full of life, and now so fragile.

Damn, he hated himself when he got all deep and philosophical like that. ”You’re talking like a girl again, son” his father used to tell him. Oh, if he only knew. Wait a second – he did know, hence Toby’s current predicament. He knew that the silence between himself and Andy was growing a little awkward the longer it went on but he couldn’t find anything worthwhile to say.

“Am I doing the right thing?” Tobias said out loud, suddenly breaking the silence. “I mean, I can’t live with Kyan forever, right? And if my parents, if my father especially, are willing to take me back… should I forgive them? I mean, my own father kicked me out of my home for being a homosexual. I’m glad he’s trying to be an adult about this, but… I don’t know. I wonder if he deserves a second chance.” Tobias looked over at Andy, trying to catch his initial reaction. People’s eyes tended to give more away right after you ask them something, before they have a chance to digest the information and formulate a response.

“I’m sorry if this is too much. I don’t mean to overload you with my personal life. I guess I’m just doing this for my mother. This whole thing has hurt her more than anyone else, I think.”

((ooc- I'm sorry if that was horrible... but it feels great to be posting again! I promise they'll get better from now on! ^_^ I have missed this so much!))

[brower]

((It's fine, but Toby definitely already asked Andy out, they're officially boyfriend y boyfriend))

As Andy walked alongside Toby, set on walking him home -- that seemed like the sort of thing a boyfriend should do, as Toby had recently suffered a concussion-- he was content to walk along in silence. He allowed himself a privately pleased smile as they continued along, his boots clicking along the ground in time with Toby's.

He was almost taken off guard by the suddenness of Toby's question. He glanced over at him quickly, his blond bangs sliding forward into his face.

"That's a lot for you to take in," Andy assured him. "It's only natural that you'd wonder about it."

He placed a hand on Toby's shoulder, and attempted to stifle the small smile as he realized the gesture was almost natural for him.

"It sounds like your parents might actually be sorry for what they did," he said. "Maybe you should give them a second chance. If it doesn't work out, I mean. . .you could. . .I have an extra room if things get too hard."

[Tobias Vaughn]

((ooc- whoops! Forgot that happened. It has been a while, hasn't it? I fixed my post))

At first Tobias was afraid that his question had been an awkward one for Andy. He looked over so quickly that Toby wondered if maybe he was talking too much. Maybe this wasn't the sort of stuff Andy wanted to deal with right now. Instead, he found his new boyfriend offering some sound advice.

Boyfriend. Wow, that was strange. Also scary. What was he going to tell Kyan? Kyan had made it perfectly clear that he wasn't looking for a relationship, so why did Toby feel so guilty about starting one of his own? He hated that everything was happening at once; his injury, the party, getting together with Andy, moving out of Kyan's home and back into his own. He wished he had the time to take a step back and deal with everything on it's own. Unfortunately, he did not have that option.

As wrapped up in his thoughts as he was, Toby managed to take in everything Andy said. "You're right... I should give them a chance. I just feel bad for not giving Kyan any notice. I mean, my mom did ask if I would come back tonight, so I could be home for her birthday tomorrow. And I meant to tell Kyan at the party, it just didn't seem like the right time, then the cops came, and... yeah." Tobias sighed.

"If it doesn't work out, I mean. . .you could. . .I have an extra room if things get too hard."

Toby knew that they had just gotten together, and they barely knew each other, but he also found a strange comfort in the knowledge that he always had somewhere to go if he needed it.

"Thanks. I'll keep that in mind." They were only a block away now.

[brower]

Andy felt a small, barely perceptable uncomfortable feeling in the pit of his stomach as Toby mentioned Kyan again. He knew that the subject couldn't be avoided, but he still didn't enjoy hearing about him.

"I'm sure he'll understand if you just explain things to him," Andy said. "It's not like you were given much more notice."

"Thanks. I'll keep that in mind."

"Good," he said with a smirk.

They were very nearly at Kyan's house at this point ((I'm assuming, Andy came to meet Toby there first, so he'd know that)) he noticed. He wondered if they'd have one of those awkward goodbye kiss moments that tv shows were so fond of. ((Lemme know when you want Kyan to drop in then))

[Tobias Vaughn]

The second he mentioned Kyan was the same second he regretted it. After all, Andy had just agreed to go out with him. They were dating! And all he could think of to say was something about the boy he'd been living with, the boy he'd made out with a few times, though there had never been the chance for anything more to come from their close encounters. He needed to stop making Andy feel uncomfortable, though it didn't help that they were walking him back to Kyan's house.

After Andy reassured him that Kyan would understand Toby simply nodded in response, not wanting to push the subject further. He did note the smirk on Andy's face at the idea of Toby always having the option to move it with him. That made him smile as well, a smile that stuck with Toby for the next block until they were outside of Kyan's house.

"Thank you for asking me to the party," Toby said. "Everything considered, I had a great time." Toby stopped walking so that he was facing Andy. They must've looked like quite the pair in their costumes, though it was still Halloween so they probably didn't look as out of place as Toby felt.

He wasn't sure what was expected of him now. A goodnight kiss? That seemed so stereotypical of the moment, but at the same time he didn't want to *not* kiss Andy and give the impression that he didn't want to. After only a moments worth of hesitation he leaned in, placing his lips on Andy's for the expected 'thanks for walking me to my door' goodnight kiss. His lips curled up into a smile as he did... he couldn't help it.

((ooc- Whenever you want Kyan to drop in! ^_^ I suppose that depends on how awkward you want to make this for Toby. ^_^))

[brower]

((I think I've got how I'm going to handle this.))

"Thank you for asking me to the party. Everything considered, I had a great time."

"Hey, don't mention it," Andy assured him. "I had a lot of fun."

Now came the moment they'd both been waiting for. Their second kiss, but their first official kiss as a couple. This time Toby initiated it. He smiled a bit at Toby's hesitance at first, glad when he continued on and leaned in for a kiss. He pressed his lips into Toby's, returning the geture with matching force (or lack thereof).

A part of him wanted to continue; didn't want him to leave. However, the part of him that was more himself reminded him not to rush a good thing. His eyes opened and over Toby's shoulder he caught a glimpse of two teeneage boys looking on the chilly side, approaching the house. He broke away from Toby, recognizing the blond figure as Kyan.

"I'll let you talk things out with him," he said. "Let me know about the movie, okay?"

He gave Toby another quick, but gentle kiss before backing up and walking a few stes along the sidewalk. He couldn't help the grin that spread across his face, as he made his way back home.

[Kyan Walker]

((feel free to have Toby post in response to Andy as well. . .I just wanted to get this out there))

As Kyan approached his house with Ravi a few feet behind him --he was walking at a slightly drunken faster pace-- he saw something he hadn;t quite expected. Brower and Toby practically making out right in front of his home. Jesus, couldn't Toby even give him his own house as a sanctuary?

They were kissing goodbye or somtehing ridiculously similar or similarly ridiculous. . either way it was disgusting. He walked right past Toby and staggered up the stone steps to his house. His balance wasn't serving him as well as it generally did, but damn it he'd crawled up these steps in much more inebriated states than this. He reached into his pocket and extracted his keys, searching carelessly for the house key. He held up a silver key and stuck it in the lock, but found the edges of the locks to be a bit blurier than he remembered. Fuck. . .he'd thought the talk and walk with Ravi had sobered him up. Apparently he'd been wrong.

He tried to stick the key in the lock a few more times (muttering obscenities under his breath) before giving up and turning to look back at Toby. He smirked at the distantly receeding figure of Andy turning a corner and disappearing all together.

"What happened to your twinkie?" he asked with a slight chuckle. "You should have invited him in for some . . . treats."

[Tobias Vaughn]

Our first kiss as boyfriends he thought, smiling against Andy's lips. Tobias felt like a silly schoolgirl over these new budding relationship sentimentalities, but it was something that could not be helped. This was the start of a new relationship. A real relationship. Not just 'if-I'm-in-the-mood-we'll-do-something-non-exclusivity'. His first relationship since he'd come out to everyone, that was why it was so special to him, and that must've been why he was so sentimental about it. Not that he'd admit this to anyone other than himself.

As Andy backed away he noticed his gaze dart behind where he was standing and froze in partial terror.

"I'll let you talk things out with him," he said. "Let me know about the movie, okay?"

"Uh... yeah... okay..." Toby said, all-to-aware of Kyan stumbling by next to him before making his way up the stairs. Shit! He hadn't meant for Kyan to see them kissing, that hadn't been the way he wanted to break things to him. He was already off to a bad start. "Bye!" Tobias called after Andy, realizing that his stuttered reply and distracted manner really hadn't been a proper reply. This left him standing on the sidewalk outside of Kyan's home not quite sure what to do or say next.

"What happened to your twinkie? You should have invited him in for some . . . treats."

Tobias ignored the comment, passing it off on the fact that Kyan was very intoxicated. He couldn't even open his own front door! Pulling out the spare key that had been given to him by Kyan's parents Toby placed it into the lock and turned it over, listening for the click that meant he could open the door.

"Kyan, look... I need to talk to you," Toby started. He wanted to make sure that Kyan was actually listening to what he was saying and could comprehend everything. He wasn't sure exactly how much he had to drink and Toby didn't want any misunderstandings about anything.

[Kyan Walker]

Kyan grudgingly stepped aside as Toby unlocked the front door. He didn't make eye contact with him, but instead called over to the other figure.

"Malone," he'd decided to stick to using his last name while intoxicated. "The phone's in the living room. It's just passed (past?) the kitchen."

He turned back towards Toby, folding his amrs across his chest , and pasuing a moment, to rebalance his legs. Damn it, his mind was functioning all right, now why couldn't his body keep up? It morelikely than not had to do with the fact that now that he and Ravi were done talking, he wanted to be drunk: those who were more willing to let go, often got drunk more easily.

"Kyan, look... I need to talk to you."

"What about the blond bombshell?" he asked with a derisive snort (a sort of "ch" sound). "Well, I'm right fucking here, so go ahead and talk."

[Tobias Vaughn]

Tobias had been so distracted by his kiss with Andy and Kyan's sudden appearance that he had never really registered the fact that Ravi was also there until Kyan had addressed him. Somehow he knew that Ravi wasn't going to use the phone; he had eavesdropped before, so what would stop him from doing it again? Not that it mattered. Toby needed to say what he had to say and get it over with before he changed his mind.

"It's not about the blond-- Andy. Well, not entirely. Not that it's really a big deal, but we're going out now. We're dating."

Tobias knew that this was the completely wrong place and time but he still couldn't help the small smile that tugged up at the corners of his lips. He had been naive enough to think that maybe Kyan would like him enough to date him, back after their first encounter, but that hope had long since passed, crushed by Babylon flings and Kyan's outright denial for a desire to be in any exclusive relationship.

"But that isn't what I wanted to tell you. Listen, Kyan. My mom called today..." Toby hesitated. "She wants me to move back in. She said that it had just been a shock for my dad, and they wanted to try and come to terms with everything, but that she couldn't do that if I wasn't talking to them. So tomorrow morning she's coming by and picking me up... and I'm going to move back home for a little and see how things work out."

Finished with the news, Toby took a deep breath and braced himself for whatever reaction Kyan would have.

[Kyan Walker]

"It's not about the blond-- Andy. Well, not entirely. Not that it's really a big deal, but we're going out now. We're dating."

"Well fan-fucking-tastic," Kyan said, with a sarcastic little smile on his face. He hadn't expected that, but he'd be damned if he was going to give Toby the satisfaction of knowing he'd thrown him.

"But that isn't what I wanted to tell you. Listen, Kyan. My mom called today. She wants me to move back in. She said that it had just been a shock for my dad, and they wanted to try and come to terms with everything, but that she couldn't do that if I wasn't talking to them. So tomorrow morning she's coming by and picking me up... and I'm going to move back home for a little and see how things work out."

Kyan blinked a few times wordlessly at Toby, glancing from Toby to the front door and back again. He was moving out tomorrow morning? That was some warning he'd given him. Although, it was as he'd told Ravi, he supposed, Toby didn't owe him anything; not even advanced notice.

"Well good for you," he said, the sarcasm ebbing away. He looked past Toby's shoulder instead of at him. "Thanks for the heads up." He folded his arms across his chest. "Was that all you wanted to say?"

[Tobias Vaughn]

"Well fan-fucking-tastic,"

Tobias couldn't tell if Kyan was upset or not. This sarcasm could've just been like any other time they had spoken. Whenever Kyan was thinking something but didn't want to betray his thoughts he always turned to sarcasm. It was frustrating in the fact that Toby never knew what was really on his mind.

Then again, it was a welcomed reply since he didn't really want to pursue the subject further with Kyan at this time. When he told him about moving out, however, it was obvious that Kyan was a little shocked.

"Well good for you. Thanks for the heads up. Was that all you wanted to say?"

Sighing, Tobias nodded. "Yeah. Sorry for the short notice. I just found out today, and I wanted to tell you before the party but we missed each other, I guess... it's her birthday tomorrow, or I would've put it off a little more," he added quickly. "I'm doing this for her sake, you know. If it was up to me I'd never go back home."

The thought of dealing with his father after all of this was not something he wanted to deal with. He decided to try and end the conversation on a positive note.

"Thanks for letting me crash here, though. It was a huge help... you're a great friend." Toby meant it.

[Kyan Walker]

"Yeah. Sorry for the short notice. I just found out today, and I wanted to tell you before the party but we missed each other, I guess... it's her birthday tomorrow, or I would've put it off a little more. I'm doing this for her sake, you know. If it was up to me I'd never go back home."

"Well, I'm glad you're going to patch things up with your parents," Kyan said at length.

He needed to distance himself from these emotions, and the fact that he was still intoxicated and had just shared some things with Ravi was not helping matters in the least.

"Thanks for letting me crash here, though. It was a huge help... you're a great friend."

A firend? A friend?! Kyan let out a soft laugh, as he looked back at the door. This was something all together different for him. He had always been the one to explain to someone that they made a great friend. Never once had he been on the receiving end of the cliche line.

"Hey, don't mention it," he told Toby. "My house is always here if you need a place to stay."

As to the friend thing. . .he stepped forward and clapped Toby on the shoulder, stopping his hand from doing anything else at all. For the first time he hadn't been about to do anything sexual, he had simlpy wanted to hold onto Toby's shoulder. This thought worried him more than the thought of Toby leaving and seeing Andy. He let his hand drop back to his side, and shifted his gaze to the street.

"You're a good friend too," he said, indifferently, attempting to mask his confusion.

((Hey do you still wanna do the Kyan Gabe thing? Cause I'm working on a way to make that happen, if you are.))

[Ravi Malone]

As soon as Ravi spotted Toby he wanted nothing more than to run forward and punch every inch of him that he could get to. However, as strange as it seemed there was a part of his brain that was allowing for rational though towards this situation for the first time in ever. Perhaps it was best for Kayn to handle this himself. Ravi allowed himself to be pushed into Kyan's house while scowling at Toby to use to phone. Oh, but once the door shut behind him, Ravi pressed his ear against the door and listened in.

Toby was dating Andy??!?!!? WHAT??!?! That miserable sack of shit! How could he do this to Kyan?!!? It took every ounce of self control to stop Ravi from bursting out side. He kept reminding himself that Kyan had to handle this on his own and Ravi would only make things worse. Then Toby said he was leaving. He was just up and leaving Kyan's house! With barely any notice!! Ravi was positively scowling in the dark house. When Kyan told Toby he was a good friend, that was the last straw. Ravi burst/ stumbled out of Kyan's home and turned to Toby.

"YOU ARE AN UNGRATEFUL SACK OF SHIT!" Ravi screamed at him. "Do you have any idea what you did to Kyan? You just don't even care do you? You just don't even care how he feels! YOU ARE CRUSHING HIM!!! I KNOW WHAT HE TOLD YOU IN THE HOSPITAL!!! AND NOW LOOK WHAT YOU'RE DOING TO HIM!!! YOU ARE AN ASSHOLE!!! You don't deserve to stay in this house anymore!! So just go!" Ravi gave Toby a hard drunken push and almost stumbled over. "You stupid dick head!"

[Tobias Vaughn]

"Well, I'm glad you're going to patch things up with your parents,"

Toby give a harsh laugh. "I wouldn't say that so much. I doubt things will go over well with my dad. I just know this is all my mom's idea, and he'd just doing it so she'll stop being upset all the time worrying over me. I don't think any patching up will occur any time soon. But I have to at least give it a chance, I guess."

"Hey, don't mention it," he told Toby. "My house is always here if you need a place to stay."

This made Toby smile. Now he always had two places to stay if he ever needed them. It really was nice to know, though. Who knew? Maybe things wouldn't work out with Andy and he would need a friend to stay with... it was nice to know that Kyan didn't absolutely hate him because of all of this. Of course, he could've just been saying all of this to be polite, but somehow that just didn't seem like Kyan's way of dealing with things.

"You're a good friend too,"

Toby wasn't sure how to react to Kyan's hand on his shoulder. Every other encounter they had like this ended up with the two of them making out. He had to resist the urge to lean in and kiss the other boy, reminding himself that he had a boyfriend now. He couldn't just have spontaneous make-out sessions whenever he got the urge. Though he couldn't deny that he still had a huge crush on Kyan he knew that he couldn't act upon it any more.

He didn't have long to feel the comfort of Kyan's words and gesture, though, because it was at that precise moment that Ravi chose to burst through the door, setting off like a firecracker exploding into the night.

"YOU ARE AN UNGRATEFUL SACK OF SHIT! Do you have any idea what you did to Kyan? You just don't even care do you? You just don't even care how he feels! YOU ARE CRUSHING HIM!!! I KNOW WHAT HE TOLD YOU IN THE HOSPITAL!!! AND NOW LOOK WHAT YOU'RE DOING TO HIM!!! YOU ARE AN ASSHOLE!!! You don't deserve to stay in this house anymore!! So just go!" Ravi gave Toby a hard drunken push and almost stumbled over. "You stupid dick head!"

Toby was speechless for a minute, blinking in surprise at the younger boy's outburst. For one thing, it wasn't any of his business, though he didn't say that. Instead he focused on not letting the words Ravi had screamed get to him. He hadn't done anything wrong! He had given Kyan every single chance, but he had said he didn't want a relationship. And what Toby was looking for was an exclusive, honest-to-goodness relationship. Who was Ravi to deny him that?

"I-" he started, but closed his mouth again to think over his words. Part of him wanted to scream right back, but another part wondered if Ravi was telling the truth. Was he really hurting Kyan? But... no. Kyan had said he didn't want a relationship. So obviously Toby couldn't have meant that much to him... right? Now he was doubting himself. Toby bit his lower lip in thought.

"I am grateful. I never could've gotten through all of this without Kyan's help. He knows that. And I didn't do anything to him! He said he didn't want an exclusive relationship. I did. And I found one. End of story! Of course I care how he feels! That's why I told him everything. I just found out this afternoon that my mom wanted me to move back in tomorrow! I told him as soon as I could! And..." Toby paused. "Why am I explaining myself to you? All you do is stalk him around everywhere and stick your nose where it doesn't belong. Remember that time your prank got me sent to the hospital? Haven't you learned to just mind your own business yet? All you ever do is hurt the people you think you're helping!"

With that Toby stalked into Kyan's home, making his way to the upstairs bathroom to wash his face and get ready to turn in for the night. If Ravi still had to use the phone he wanted to make sure that he didn't run into him downstairs. This night had drawn on long enough for him...

[Kyan Walker]

Kyan felt his eyes begin to roll as ravi burst forth from his home. Just once he'd attempted to talk to Toby. . . just the two of them. Granted, Ravi was saying most of the things on his mind, but this was his fight; if it could even be considered that.

Kyan let out another soft laugh as he seemed to be referred to as though he wasn't even standing there. He was sorely tempted to point out that even though he hadn't wanted an exclusive relationship, Toby had never said to him that he had wanted one. He wasn't nearly drunk enough to mention things like that, however.

Toby then stormed into his house without so much as a good night or goodbye if I don't see you tomorrow. Kyan's gaze shifted slowly towards Ravi.

"Well that went well," he said with a sigh. "Go use the phone, Ravi."

In his new state of mind, he'd switched back to the first name. Once he was sure Ravi had gone in to use the phone, he relocked the door and slumped back down the stairs. He glanced down the right side of the street and made his way towards Babylon, meandering slightly while walking.