𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗘𝗔𝗥 (Ticci Toby x Male Reader)

‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾ ₐ ₗᵢₜₜₗₑ ₜₕᵢₙ𝓰 𝒸ₐₗₗₑ𝒹 ₜᵣₐᵤₘₐ ☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙

Toby's POV:

It took me a second to focus on what Y/N was talking about when he wanted to show me something. When he moved his hair, I was confused for a moment before my eyes widened to the size of dinner plates.

On his neck, in a place just behind his ear, was a marking of his own. It looked just like the one on my wrist, except smaller and the color red. Over the marking was what seemed to be a tattoo of a red beetle or bug, obscuring the initial view of the symbol.

The gears and cogs in my mind almost stopped working, and I had to lean closer to get a better look.

"You have it too... but different," I said, holding onto the back of Y/N's seat as I tempted myself to touch it, but I resisted.

"Yeah," Y/N shrugged. "But I want to know where you got yours..." He said, looking at me through the corner of his eye.

I shrunk back, sitting in the center of the back seat. I heard Y/N's soft chuckle, and I could feel embarrassment flood my cheeks. I pulled my knees to my chest, as if trying to hide myself, but my eyes stayed trained on Y/N's vibrant marking.

"Slenderman..." I answered sheepishly, saying his name like it were a curse.

Y/N stayed silent before he sighed, leaning back in his seat.

"I always knew you were special." Y/N whispered, as if talking to himself.

I could hear what he said, and it made the tips of my ears burn red. I reached over and grabbed a bag of cheese-filled pretzels, opening the noisy packaging. I was about to put one in my mouth, but I decided to ask a small question first.

"What about yours?" I said, a slight stutter finding its way into my voice. "What does the symbol mean to you?"

Another long silence fell over the car ride, only broken by passing cars and the rumble of the highway. Y/N turned the radio completely off before speaking.

"It's a reminder." He replied, his eyes staring into the road ahead before he clicked on the turn signal to move to a different lane.

My heart reached out, but I held back my empathy in my chest. I understood how that felt. To be constantly remembering that I'm just a pawn in a sadistic game.

"I get that," I said quietly, popping a pretzel bite into my mouth and looking at my lap. Another question interrupted my own train of thought.

"Why the beetle?" I asked, taking out another pretzel from the bag.

"I wanted to hide it." Y/N said, tilting his head. "But I can't tattoo over it or get it removed, so I made it into a bug." He smiled.

The small joy he wore became contagious to me, and I smiled too, looking at the little bug for far longer than necessary. I looked down at my own marking before something dawned on me—something that made my stomach clench.

"Does that mean he makes you do work too?" I asked, my face becoming disturbed out of pure reaction.

"I'd rather not answer that." Y/N said, his smile dimming to a flat line.

I looked down at my lap, half tempted to apologize for saying too much.

It was still dark out, but most of the stars had disappeared. It wouldn't be too much longer until the sun peeked over the horizon.

Y/N took another sip of his energy drink and covered up the red beetle from sight. I could feel myself become a bit sad when he did, but I would just ask more about it later. Y/N turned the radio back on, and I rested my head against the window, looking out at all the road signs and fields.

I felt something in my heart feel more connected to him than ever.

Y/N's POV:

I focused my eyes on the road, something in my head telling me that I shouldn't have told him, but there was no going back now. I rubbed my eye, keeping my other hand on the wheel, as a wave of tiredness hit me like a ton of bricks.

I heard Toby make a few noises in the backseat, and I sat up a little straighter, adjusting my mirror.

He was sitting on the tips of his feet, staring outside the side window. I chuckled softly, leaning my head against the headrest.

"Enjoying yourself back there?" I asked, glancing back at him again.

Toby looked over before speaking.

"Can we please go there?" He asked, pointing to a Denny's restaurant.

I raised an eyebrow, switching my turn signal to take that exit.

"I don't see why not." I said, smiling to myself as I thought of Toby's childish antics. He was lucky I was a good driver, since he wasn't wearing a seat belt.

I pulled into Denny's parking lot, and it wasn't much earlier than five a.m. I got out of the car with my wallet, tucking it into my pocket. Toby got out of the car, and when I looked down, I realized he wasn't wearing shoes.

"Toby, you have to put shoes on to go inside." I said, gesturing to the abandoned sandals in the back seat. He would probably run around barefoot all the time if he could.

Toby sighed with a pout, slipping the sandals over his feet and shutting the door. I locked the car, and we went inside. I could feel his stare at the back of my head, but I was used to being watched, so I did little to bother me.

I walked inside and glanced around, guiding Toby to a seat. We sat in a both, across from each other. A waitress came over shortly after and handed us menus. I told her we needed a little time to decide out drinks, and she left for a bit. I figured it would ease some pressure from Toby's shoulders.

"What are you thinking about getting?" I asked, holding up the menu and looking over it.

Toby's menu rested down on the table as he looked at it, twiddling his chewed thumbs.

"Uh, m-maybe I'll have the country breakfast and a lemonade." He said, putting his pointer finger on his lip to pick at it.

I glanced up from the menu, gently pushing Toby's hand away from his mouth before looking back at the options.

"Sorry..." Toby mumbled, holding his hands in his lap between his knees.

I shook my head.

"It's fine." I said softly, dismissing the apology without trying to sound like an asshole.

I read over the menu before deciding what I wanted. The waitress came back just in time, and I cleared my throat.

"I'd a black coffee, and I think we're ready to order, so I'll have the classic breakfast. I want my eggs scrambled, but instead of wheat, I want sourdough bread, and instead of sausage, I would like bacon." I said, folding up the menu.

The waitress nodded, writing everything down before looking at Toby. He froze, looking at the waitress.

I could see the internal panic in his eyes, even if it didn't show outwardly.

"He wants the country-style breakfast, with a lemonade." I smiled, nodding at the kind woman. "And can we get an extra side of butter?" I asked.

"Of course," she said, taking the menus. "Let me just get these out of your way, and your food will be done shortly." She added before walking away.

I gleamed at the woman before looking back at Toby. My smile was wiped from my face, and my heart fell.

Toby's eyes started to tear up.