I wasn’t planning on doing anything for @toa-rarepair-week, but then I got inspiration for today’s Ocean prompt, so have a short little ficlet. This takes place during the late spring/early summer after Wizards.
CW: relationship drama, past bullying, and mentions of drowning
“Wait, really?” Steve asked. “You’ve never been to the beach?”
“No,” Toby said. “I don’t see why it’s such a big deal.”
“We live in California! Coastal California! And you’ve lived here all your life! How have you not ever been to he beach?”
Toby turned away from his boyfriend of six months, crossing his arms. “It’s none of your business.”
“Oh, really? So we’re going back to this?”
This was the nebulous state Steve had remained in for probably a little too long, with Jim, Toby, and Claire not really trusting him because of how he’d acted before he’d learned the truth about trolls, and even afterwards. And yes, he had changed, or else Toby wouldn’t have started crushing on Steve, much less dating him, but it was painfully easy to fall back into the mindset. And Toby didn’t want to fall back into it, but right now it was hard to see Steve as his boyfriend, whom Toby loved and trusted with his life, and not the bully who picked on people like Jim, Eli, and Toby for no other reason than to get a sick power rush. It was hard right now to not see Steve as someone who would take the knowledge and hold it over Toby’s head, spreading it around the school so it would be yet another thing to make fun of the unpopular short fat kid with braces over.
“Come on, talk to me,” Steve said.
Toby crossed his arms a little tighter.
It was stupid, he hadn’t even been there when his parents had died, so it was a stupid reason for having a trauma response, especially when compared to everything else he’d been through. And dammit, Toby was crying now.
“Toby, please.” Steve got down on one knee, placing one hand on Toby’s shoulder and using the other to cup Toby’s chin. “Talk to me.”
Someone getting on their knees felt condescending normally. Toby knew he was short, but seriously? Did they have to remind him? But coming from his boyfriend, the gesture felt sweet. Comforting. Genuine and concerned.
“My parents drowned when I was little. That’s why I can’t swim and don’t like the ocean.” Steve’s face fell before he pulled Toby into a hug.
“I’m sorry,” Steve said, rubbing small circles into Toby’s back. “I shouldn’t have pushed.”
“You didn’t know.” They had so many issues, and communication was one of them. But they could try to work on that.
