Look At Who || Sanders Sides AU One-Shot Companion to the L.A.W. AU

Look At Who

You thought I was done? You thought you were SAFE? THINK AGAIN. Here's another one-shot for my L.A.W. AU!! Toby-centric this time!!! BECAUSE I CAN!!!

Warnings: violence, child abuse, panic attacks, injury mention, self-deprecation

Enjoy! ^-^

Toby grimaced, trying to pull out of his father's grip. He thought he'd been careful. He'd checked Ethan's schedule, told his parents he only worked today, and he'd still screwed up.

Just like when he made Ethan dislike him by being annoying. Just like when he asked so many stupid questions he could have just googled instead.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Father snarled, pulling Toby out of the museum with mom trailing behind, baffled. "That f*gg*t doesn't deserve to be alive, let alone-"

"Don't call him that!" Toby snapped, managing to wiggle away. "Listen, I don't-" he gasped, doubling over when father punched him in the chest.

"Jared!" Mom gasped. "What are you doing?"

"This piece of shit thinks he knows more than I do." Father snarled. "Tell her, Toby. Who's in there?"

"...Ethan." Toby whispered guiltily. "But-" father punched him again, knocking Toby's head back.

"Jared!"

"Shut up, woman!" Father yelled, beating Toby into the wall of the museum. Toby whimpered, clamping his eyes shut.

"Hey! Stop!" In moments, the assault stopped. Toby slid down the wall, still covering his head as museum security pulled father away. He heard sirens, and his mom's voice, but only looked up when two others broke his terror.

"Toby! Oh my god, you're bleeding!" Sarah pulled his hands down, cupping his chin gently.

"The man is gone," Mitch reported, tone as flat as ever. "Are you... alright?"

"Does it look like he's alright?" Sarah snapped, pulling Toby to his feet.

Toby winced, gingerly reaching to feel his face. Bloody nose, split lip, and pain.

Awesome. If this was anything like what Ethan had gone through the night he left... fuck. Toby's eyes widened. Ethan.

"What do you need?" Sarah asked gently. "I can't believe... you're at work! Who was that guy? He just fully traumatized a third-grade field trip, too. Oh, I'll be having fun explaining that to their parents."

"I-I'm okay." Toby stammered. "Where's Ethan?"

"Ethan?" Sarah frowned. "He was only here for a second. Oh, let's get you an ice pack." Toby let her pull him into the breakroom, past a few museum patrons who watched with scandalized expressions. Awesome.

"Who was that?" Mitch asked, fishing an ice pack from the freezer.

"My dad," Toby muttered. "He saw me talking to Ethan and flipped out. Ethan was just here, he's-"

"I thought Ethan was your brother." Mitch frowned.

"Mitch, cut it out!" Sarah snapped, socking him in the shoulder. "We just had a crisis, and it's not your business!"

"Fine. Ethan's stuff is in the lab, want me to get it or...?"

"He left his stuff?" Toby stood up, swatting away Sarah's hands as she tried to push him down. "He needs his cane to walk, god he's such an idiot!"

Ethan's phone was ringing when Toby got to the lab. He winced, answering it.

"Virgil..." Toby sighed, closing his eyes. "This is Toby."