#gorbek

It just kept happening, Torbek and Frost couldn’t seem to avoid eachother. Though admittedly it was Torbek who was trying to do most of the avoidance. Trying his best to shield his heart, and Frost seemed to be making it all the more difficult as he seemed to borderline follow the bugbear around.

“Well Torbek could go with Gricko?” Torbek suggested, the group had to split to investigate the area. Gideon and Kremy, Gricko and hootsie and then that left Torbek and Frost. Torbek couldn’t handle the idea of being alone with frost, every interaction they had only made him more infatuated with the tabaxi and he couldn’t let himself fall any deeper.

“Torbek, you’re going with Frost, end of story” Kremy explained before motioning to everyone to go their separate ways, previously agreeing on meeting back at that spot.

So Frost and Torbek began in their exploration. Frost felt upset, angry. What was so bad about him? That Torbek couldn’t be alone with him, more to the point why did he care so much. Torbek is always slightly skittish so why was this getting to him the way it was.

“Have I done something to upset you Torbek?” Frost asked, his eyes looking up and seeing the bugbears anxious expression as they continued their walk.

“Nooo, Torbek just….Torbek thought we could change it up a bit” Torbek lied through his teeth, the only explanation that came to his head when confronted with such an upfront question. Something that wouldn’t cause Frost to pry anymore into it.

“I don’t know Torbek, it just seems like the past few days I’ve done something to upset yo-“ Frost was of course, despite Torbek’s best efforts, still trying to pry until his foot caught on a root and sent him flying forward. He braced to hit the floor only to feel hands holding his waist, as Torbek gently brought him back to his feet. Once Frost was once again upright, Torbek quickly pulled his hands away. Frost was upset by that, in a strange way he could imagine the feeling of Torbeks hands still being there, wrapped around his waist. He kind of wished they where still there.

“Guys! I think we should set up camp here! Kremy and Gideon found a spooky cave and you guys picked the furthest path!” Gricko cut through the tension like a knife as he came bounding over with the rest of the group. Torbek mentally sighed in relief, at least he didn’t have to answer Frost’s question. Frost was slightly annoyed, he would never be able to get to the bottom of anything with everyone else around.

And still everyone set up camp, Kremy and Gideon had disappeared to their tent, the rest of the group being thankful that part of the wish for their tent was making it soundproof. Torbek had disappeared to his tent as soon as he put it up, because if Frost tried to pry in front of the rest of the group they would all absolutely figure him right out.

Hootsie had gone to sleep in her’s and Gricko’s tent as her father sat speaking with Frost by the camp fire.

“And I don’t know Gricko, I can’t explain it but I just want to be near him all the time, he keeps getting all worked up and finding some way to avoid me altogether, I’m just frustrated…why can’t I put the pieces together? It doesn’t make sense” Frost rambled to his best friend, not noticing the grin that spread across the goblins face.

“Frosty, for someone so smart you really are very stupid” Gricko interjected Frosts rambling, the tabaxi looking at him in shock.

“You know what’s happening?” Frost asked, looking at Gricko with a pleading look, he had been searching within himself so desperately for answers and apparently Gricko could’ve told him the whole time.

“You like him Frosty”

“Well of course I like him he’s my frie-“

“No you like himmm”

It took a minute for Gricko’s words to process in his brain and then it all came together. He did, he had grown affectionate for Torbek, he had never felt this way about anyone before, it all made sense. But then his clarity was interrupted by his second problem as he turned back to Gricko and asked, “Well then why has he been avoiding me?”.

Gricko took a moment to think, before his eyes lit up and his grinned even wider, “well he obviously likes you too, but you know Torbek he’s never had a good day in his life the poor lad, we all know he don’t fink much of himself” Gricko explained nonchalantly, as if the whole thing was just so obvious. Frosts eyes widened with the realisation that his friend was probably right.

Unbeknownst to them, Torbek had heard mumblings of conversation, not quite knowing what they had said as he peaked from behind the flap of his tent. Only now being privy to the conversation occuring at the campfire.

“Do you think I should tell him?” He heard frost ask. Oh no, Torbek thought. Frost had already figured him out. Torbek continued to listen, maybe they weren’t talking about him, maybe he just had to hear more.

“Of course! Although he went to bed the minute he put his tent up so he must be tired, best leave him to rest…wouldn’t want to upset him” Gricko replied, Torbek could feel the tears forming in his eyes. Of course the bugbear had no idea that Gricko was simply inferring that frost not disturb him from his slumber. Torbek immediately assumed the worst. He sat down behind the entrance to his tent. Listening as the pair said goodnight to each other before returning to their respective tents.

Torbek knew he was right, why did he let himself fall so deeply when he knew it would never work. When he knew that he truly was unlovable in that way. He thought about what Frost may say to him in the morning, he couldn’t bear to think about it, and if Gricko knew too. That meant everyone knew. It was all too much for him as he took off from his tent and disappeared into the dark forest.

Frost was unaware he had just completely and unintentionally shattered the poor bugbears heart as he laid in his tent, thinking about how to confess his feelings to him. He sorted through countless options, trying to find something that would be just right. He was at it for over an hour when he heard a loud cry out in the forest.

“HELP TORBEK, SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP TORBEK”

Frost sat bolt upright as he heard Torbek cry out for help, why was he awake, why had he left his tent. None of that mattered in that moment because all Frost knew, Torbek was in danger

He rushed from his tent, Gricko also rushing out at the sound of commotion, Kremmy and Gideon clearly not hearing a thing through their tent.

“Get those two up and follow the sound, meet me there” Frost exclaimed as he ran through the trees, Gricko immediately followed orders as he watched the tabaxi disappear into the tree line.

Frost was desperately following Torbek’s cries for help, he felt as though he was getting closer. But then he was suddenly following Torbek’s cries of pain, followed by cries he didn’t recognise. When he finally reached Torbek he was covered in blood, shrouded in darkness

“Torbek! Are you okay?!” Frost asked, fearing that Torbek had been savaged by something. Until he realised something. They were shrouded in darkness, there was no glow from the witchlight canisters attached to Torbek’s back. He realised all too late what had happened as the bugbear turned to face him, his face twisted in a menacing grin.

“When will you idiots realise, I’m not Torbek!”

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But neither could he... Who was he now? He wasn't the same bugbear as before... And he never will be again..