Author's Note: This is a 'kind of' sequel to my last Toby/Adam fanfic, "Even Starflowers Fade & Fall." However, this one can read as a standalone story. The other fic just explains how spanking was introduced to their relationship.
Summary: After noticing suspicious scars on Adam's neck, Toby decides to open old wounds.
Warning: discipline/spanking of an adult male.
FADE WITH TIME
by Evgeniya
The oil snapped and crackled in the pan. The angry bubbles made the humid heat of the Cove even more unbearable, but Toby found solace in the creativity it took to concoct the cuisines deserving enough to be served at the island's hottest club.
Between the sizzling pops from the pan, Toby could hear the waves crashing against the shore. The sounds created a sensation that was far more relaxing than watching simmering oils all day, but the act of mastering food always captivated him to the fullest.
With the ocean view behind him and the hot stove in front of him, Toby knew he was only missing one thing... A smile quickly stretched across his face as he felt Adam step behind him and his hand trace the line of sweat down his arm.
"Ambrosius will kill you if he catches you back here," Toby teased as he lowered the heat on the burner.
"I'm on break." Adam took his place beside Toby and leaned against the counter. "I dreamt of this, you know? Sneaking off back to fool around with my boyfriend. It's just the two of us back here. We could do anything without anyone knowing—"
"Adam, I'm working!" Toby tried not to encourage him by laughing, but he failed when he grinned every time Adam went for his waist. "And you should be, too!" he firmly reminded and pushed him away.
"I'm just making up for lost time." Adam winked then melted him with a smile.
Toby closed his eyes and slowly inhaled some of the salty air around him. It was too hard to resist Adam when he stared back at him like that.
"I think I hear Ambrosius calling you," Toby muttered and went back to stirring the pan.
Adam's hand found Toby's arm again and was tracing the same line that he had before. "I told you: I'm on break."
"Good. Then you can lend me a hand." Toby smiled as he watched his boyfriend roll his eyes.
Adam groaned as he found himself pushed in front of the stove.
"Just watch the pan while I get more oil," Toby instructed.
It couldn't have taken more than two seconds to grab the oil, but Toby wanted to savor the image of Adam before a stove. The sight of his two greatest passions gave him a sense of security in this sleepy island town.
Toby's eyes fixed on the parts of Adam's body that his uniform did not hide. His golden muscles gleamed beneath the sunlight and the sweat of a hard day's work. Toby gradually settled behind Adam and the other man slanted his head back to reach his kiss.
"Didn't you just tell me to knock this off?" Adam smirked.
Toby cleared his throat abashedly. "That sounds like something I would say…" He took a step back to give Adam his space, but he still kept a hand on his neck. His fingertips played at the ends of Adam's hair and he smiled at the way the other man tried to shake him off. However, his expression dimmed as he noticed several healed wounds on Adam's neck.
"I never noticed these scars before," Toby murmured as his fingers slowly counted them. The small puncture wounds were shiny and white. They appeared in pairs and he couldn't fathom what could have caused so many marks in such a small area.
Adam squirmed beneath Toby's touch until he finally knocked his hand away. "Yeah… they're more obvious now that I'm working on my tan. Don't worry about it, man."
"Don't tell me not to worry about it," Toby responded and unsuccessfully tried to examine the wounds again. "Where did they come from?"
"Darker days," Adam snapped. "I'm done reliving that shit. I just want to put that all behind me, if that's alright with you."
Adam heatedly pushed himself away from the stove to let Toby take over. Unfortunately, that wasn't going to end the conversation.
"Does Ambrosius know about this?" Toby inquired through tightly tensed lips.
Adam paused momentarily; obviously not happy with the hidden accusation. "Maybe."
Toby huffed. "Maybe? Yes or no, Adam! Which is it?"
"Why not ask the man yourself?" Ambrosius dared darkly as he suddenly appeared into the kitchen. His hand was on Adam's chest and he pushed the boy several paces away from his chef.
Toby angrily gripped the pan in his hand. He couldn't bear the thought that Adam had a secret that Ambrosius was in on.
"Tell him what you said about scars," Adam asked Ambrosius and Toby's insides started to twist in aggravation.
"The wound is the place where the Light enters you," Ambrosius recited slowly and Toby gritted his teeth.
"An old poet said that," Bro explained. "That is a point you should find admirable, Toby, since you of all people know there is darkness to be found on this island."
Toby hissed as his hand caught a splatter of oil. He found it so much harder to breathe normally with Ambrosius in the room.
"It's all about what hurts and what heals," Adam added. "We all have scars, whether it's broken bones or broken hearts. I can't be ashamed of what I did in the past, but I can be proud of what I overcame. It's a testimony of my inner strength and I couldn't have done it without you, Toby."
By the time Toby looked up, Ambrosius had struck a match and was holding it between his fingertips.
"All the darkness of this world cannot put out the light of one small candle," the warlock continued to recite.
Toby finally removed the pan from the burner. He may have played a key role in Adam's recovery, but he always wondered about Ambrosius's contribution to his addiction. It appeared that he would get no answers and it was no less aggravating that there were huge chunks of Adam's memory that he still couldn't recall.
Ambrosius finally blew out the flame. "You have customers waiting," he shortly reminded Adam.
"Break's over," Adam announced apologetically to Toby and quickly got back to work. He busied himself by offering a light to a patron's cigarette.
Toby watched Adam and was all too aware of Ambrosius's eyes upon him.
"What?!" he snapped irritably.
Ambrosius sharply inhaled. "Adam's scars pulse with buried memories. I don't suggest you unearth them."
"I didn't ask you." Toby tried to distract himself by fiddling with the stove's knobs.
"The scars are already there. However they came to be are of no concern to you. He looks to you for comfort. That is where your concerns should lie."
Toby blinked against the sunlight. He couldn't make sense of any words spoken by his enemy. When his vision finally cleared, his eyes settled against Adam at the bar. He walked away from Ambrosius and headed towards where he needed to be.
"Here you go," Toby said as he handed the platter to a customer. "Enjoy your meal."
Adam raised an eyebrow at his boyfriend. A chef rarely emerged from the kitchen. Toby spotted the matchbook Adam used to light the customer's cigarette and he quickly took it in his hands.
"What's the Lair?" he muttered sternly as he read the text. "Do you know this place?"
"Toby, just drop it." Adam insisted before he attempted to walk away.
"No!" Toby said firmly and tugged Adam back to him. "This obviously means something to you and I want to know what it is!"
Adam clenched his jaw and slowly debated something in his head. "No… you don't," he clarified. "Leave it, Toby. I mean it."
Toby tensed his shoulders as he watched his boyfriend's retreating back. "Adam—!" he called after him and was stunned by the reply.
"Fuck off!"
Toby took a step back and tightened his hands into fists at his sides. If Adam wasn't going to give him the answers he needed, then he knew exactly where to look first…
Toby spent the rest of the day in the kitchen. He stood at the exact right angle where he could still watch Adam through the door. Questions continued to boil in his mind. Toby's mood had not improved by the time his shift ended, but he was slightly relieved that Adam nevertheless dropped by to give him a goodbye kiss.
"I'll be heading off now," Adam said. "Don't take too long cleaning up, you hear?"
"I won't," Toby promised, but his lips were still tense. "We'll talk at home."
Adam snorted at the quiet command and shook his head. "I don't think so, man."
Toby frowned as his boyfriend walked away. He wasn't about to let this discussion end so easily. He caught Brit right as she was about to take over Adam's shift at the bar.
"I need a favor," Toby announced as he gripped Brit's shoulder. "Keep an eye out while I search Ambrosius's office."
Brit paused. "What?"
"Just two seconds. Please? All you have to do is stand by the door. If I get caught, you can run. I'll take all the blame."
Brit groaned and rolled her eyes. Against all her better judgment, she followed Toby back to the office.
Brit crossed her arms and resigned herself to standing guard outside of Bro's office. Toby was at the computer, desperately searching for anything related to the Lair.
"What the fuck—?" Toby grumbled search after search. "It's like this place doesn't even exist!"
"And what do you think that means, huh?" Brit countered from nearby. "Perhaps that's a sign to leave well enough alone? Any mystery of the Cove is better off left unsolved, that's what I say. Maybe you should just drop it."
"Like hell I will," Toby vowed beneath his breath as he continued to type. "Fuck!"
"What precisely do you wish to find?" Ambrosius inquired as he emerged behind Toby. He showed up out of nowhere as if he had been lurking in the shadows the entire time.
Toby cringed and spun around. Then his head quickly snapped at the door to see that Brit was still standing guard. There was no way for Bro to have entered without her noticing.
"Well?" Ambrosius scolded once he lost patience.
Toby winced and hesitated for a response. Bro's eyes casually wondered over the computer screen.
"Are you searching for sex clubs during work hours on my computer?!" The warlock questioned heatedly as he took several frightening paces forward.
"My fingers slipped!" Toby proclaimed as he raised his hands up in surrender. He found himself flinching at the expression Bro shot him.
Ambrosius's dark features contorted into irritation. "I had better hear a sufficient excuse."
"Uhh…" Toby looked around the room only to discover that Brit had fled. He realized that wasn't such a bad plan after all. "I have to go…"
Unfortunately, Ambrosius's hand was on his chest and preventing him from taking another step further. "I am waiting," the warlock coldly reminded.
"This is the only place with a computer," Toby admitted softly as if it were an excuse.
Ambrosius groaned. "I feel so honored."
"Look, all I needed was an address! That's it! That's all I need! It should have only taken a few seconds, but this stupid club is obviously trying to be elusive as part of some pathetic publicity campaign!"
Ambrosius slowly blinked as he examined the boy in his grip. He noticed that Toby had something in his hand. "Give it to me."
Toby blinked a moment himself, but ultimately put the item in the warlock's hand.
Ambrosius studied the matchbook fondly. "I have the address," he suddenly offered.
Toby stumbled back a couple of steps. "Wait… what? Why would you help me? That doesn't even make any sense."
Ambrosius pondered it for a moment. It didn't take long for his lips to curl into a devilish smile. He leisurely slung an arm around Toby's shoulder and pulled the boy closer.
"I am willing to help you, Toby," the warlock confessed darkly, "because this can only end badly for you."