Us Against the World

"Never."

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I've added tw tags to the description so please look at them once more. If you are triggered by the topics please don't continue the story for your own safety as it is a big part of the story from this point froward. Thank you and stay safe <3IMPORTANT!! PLEASE READ!!

"I'm telling you, it's not his!"

Toby stands outside waiting for Tommy as he puts his shoes on from the porch.

"What makes you so sure," Tommy grumbles, not fully into the idea of going back to that cave.

"I asked him." Toby keeps his speaking casual as Tommy looks up at him mid-movement. His head shakes in disapproval and he stands to follow Toby to the cave. Their steps and voices are the only sounds heard through the walk; the forest eerily silent. Toby's heartbeat quickens as he tries to work Dream's suggestion into the banter.

Tommy mindlessly walks directly to where the cave is, not realizing Toby's slowed steps getting further behind him.

"How do you know where it is?"

Tommy stops and turns slowly, jaw tense and stressed.

"Dream told me what you did. With Schlatt and everything." He almost spits his next sentence, "What the hell is wrong with you? Did you really think I-"

"Toby, he was going to kill you."

His mouth stays agape, brows knitted together as he realizes what the other just revealed. Tommy slowly lowers himself to sit on the ground, eyes trained on Toby.

"What?"

"Schlatt was using you! Using you like a fool," Tommy's voice lowers as he continues, "and such a fool you are."

"Excuse me?" Toby's blood begins to simmer, tired of his best friend's behavior. "I wouldn't feel the need to be doing all this if you weren't such a dickhead! Constantly hushing me, belittling me as if I never do things right... I'm better than you think Thomas," he snaps. His stance is offensive as Tommy stares at the ground from where he's seated.

"Then why didn't you kill me?"

Toby's muscles tighten as he's chilled by the question. Words escape him as he struggles to find them. Before he has the chance to form a response, Tommy continues, "You say you're better than I think, but you can't even hurt me. You can't- not even a bruise." He rubs his hand against his neck, feeling as there were no tender spots in aftermath.

Tommy's gaze rises to meet Toby's eyes. He rises from where he was sat on the ground and Toby flinches the slightest bit, feeling the atmosphere change as he looks up at the other. Toby hears him chuckle as he rubs his face, being swarmed by a muddle of emotion. Schl- Why is he laughing? Is he- He's doing it again... Anger and fear being the most prominent as Toby's thoughts begin racing.

"I feel so bad for you Toby. It's so sad to see you end up like this." Tommy walks towards Toby who backs up at the movement. He senses anger spilling from Tommy, unsure of how he can. He watches, frozen, as Tommy begins lifting his hand. Toby steps back, his face like a deer in headlights.

He turns and he runs.

He runs feeling the wind slicing into his ribs, causing his lungs to curl in on themselves in defense. He struggles to breathe enough to support his sprint and doesn't look back. The crunching of leaves is heard double as Tommy pursues him, slowly catching up. Toby feels the angered young man getting closer, panic overthrowing his bones causing them to ache. He's then caught by the collar, it cutting into his neck as it abruptly stops him. Fear pierces his heart, turning to see Tommy looking at him with calm, glazed eyes. Toby stumbles, trying to back away and ends up beneath the other.

"I'm everything you always wanted to be," he brushes his fingers along Toby's jaw, gazing through his eyes into his soul, seeing it shake. "Let's deal with the issue; you wish you were me." He wraps his hands around Toby's throat lightly squeezing. Toby's eyes widen, remembering the night he was found out. Fear pours through his veins, lighting fires in chest. It hurts to breathe, he thinks. Please. Let me go please. He tries to move but finds himself with no space to move beneath Tommy. Tommy laughs at him saying something under his breath. 'Pathetic.' It slams into Toby's thoughts, ruining his sanity. He struggles to move as the grip on his throat tightens.

"You're nothing without me, and you truly thought you could carry this," he laughs, tightening his grip more as Toby's face builds more pressure. Panic builds while he struggles to speak and loosen Tommy's grip.

"P-please... Please Tommy," he half-gasps. Tommy ignores his pleas and keeps a tight grip filled with anger and pride. "I-I'm only seventeen," he whimpers. "I don't want to die yet..."

"Yeah well I'm sixteen and here I am doing what you couldn't, Toby." Tommy looks down at his friend as his expression changes to one unrecognizable, still holding his grip.

"Do you remember the conversation we had the day you came home with me?" He asks slowly, heat appearing around his eyes. His throat begins to ache, signing unwanted emotions coming through to him.

"Could you see me as your enemy now?"

He almost laughs out the question as Toby's consciousness begins slipping from him. He watches as Toby's eyes lose their bright shine of life and he begins passing out. Yet though all of this, he lifts his hand to brush a tear from Tommy's eye. He weakly smiles and barely whispers a word before passing out. Through painful sobs, his grip remains tight until he feels Toby's heartbeat slow, depleting until it no longer quakes. 

IMPORTANT!! PLEASE READ!!

I've added tw tags to the description so please look at them once more. If you are triggered by the topics please don't continue the story for your own safety as it is a big part of the story from this point froward. Thank you and stay safe <3IMPORTANT!! PLEASE READ!!