This is the Sequel to Tobin's Friendship Comes With Strings and The Morning After The Morning After The Morning After (why'd I make this title so long?), this one is set after Reckoning and deals with more Torge (Tobin and George) and more Coder Boyfriends (Tobin and Leif). I haven't seen the Christmas movie yet, I'm waiting to watch it with my dad, but I'm really looking forward to watching it and I plan on releasing a silly ZEP Christmas fic on the 23rd that has all the different little ships I have for Tobin in one big, festive Polycule.

Tobin bounced on his feet, feeling anxious as he waited for Leif to show up at breakfast.

It had been a very busy few days since the Chirp revealed widespread company racism and Simon and Tobin had stood up for themselves. Leif and Tobin had been on good terms since then, but there was something left unsaid between them.

Well, actually, there was someone left unsaid between them.

Since the first time Leif had accidentally interrupted George and Tobin on a date, George and Tobin had hung out a few more times. George was always quick to remind Tobin that they weren't labeling anything until Tobin had talked to Leif. Today, Tobin was going to do that.

"Hey. We should talk," Tobin said when Leif sat across from him with his coffee.

"Yeah?"

"These past few days have been weird," Tobin said.

"Yeah, they have. But I'm really proud of you for speaking up about your experience at SPRQ Point."

"Thanks, Leif. But that's not the only weird thing. The other night, when you brought me my wallet-"

"It's okay, Tobin. Really. I'm happy for you for figuring out what and who you like. You don't have to explain anything."

Tobin let out a pained little laugh, "Thanks but actually, I really need to tell you something."

Leif placed a hand on Tobin's hand, "Alright, buddy. I'm a safe person to come out to."

"Well, I mean, obviously I'm gay. Well, bi. Pan. I don't know. I like people…"

"I get that, I like people too. There's no rush to find the right label. But I appreciate you telling me."

How did Leif not see how nervous he was?

"There's something else I have to tell you, though?"

"Okay, shoot."

Tobin took a deep breath, "I think I'm polyamorous."

"Oh, okay, awesome. Thanks for telling me. I completely support you."

This was hard! It was carving a hole in his heart. Leif was supporting him while not making eye contact.

"You're not listening to me, Leif."

"Well, maybe you're not really saying anything. I'm trying to be here for you as a friend, what more do you want?" Leif crossed his arms now.

Tobin felt all shaky, damn it, why was he so bad at feelings? Why had this been so much easier with George?

"What I want is for you to be here for me as more than friends."

"What?" Suddenly Leif was making too much eye contact and Tobin had to squirm.

"The thing is that I've always had a thing for you- I've always liked you. George might've been the one to drag me out of my closet but you were the one who made me realize that I was queer. I'm sorry if that's too much or if you don't feel the same way but I have feelings for you that I just had to express."

"Oh."

Leif was silent for a minute. Any other day they would've been getting up to go to work by now, but today time stood still while Leif pondered Tobin's confession.

"You're serious right now? You're not just joking around?" Leif finally asked.

"I wouldn't joke about this, Leif."

"Okay." Leif stood up and Tobin looked terrified. That was it, just okay?

"Okay, what?"

"Okay, I have a lot to think about. We'll talk later, let's get to work."

Tobin's heart shattered into a million pieces then and there. Leif was an all-in kind of guy. He fell in love fast and he didn't keep it a secret. Leif didn't love him, or he wouldn't need time to think about it. What Leif was probably thinking about was how Tobin's confession had ruined their friendship. It took Tobin a few minutes before he could even think about getting up and going to work.

G: How'd breakfast go?

T: Bad

G: Oh no! What happened?

T: He said he had a lot to think about when I confessed and then he left

G: That just sounds like Leif to me?

T: I think if he liked me like that he would know

T: He wears his heart on his sleeve

G: I'm sorry :( I hope things work out for you but if nothing else I'm here

T: And I love you for that

T: Can I see you tomorrow?

G: I was just about to ask the same thing. I'll cook this time, Partner :3

That word revived his heavy heart.

T: I really do love you

G: I know, Tobin. Ily2

Feeling a bit better after texting George, Tobin stood up and headed out, ready to face whatever was waiting for him.

Leif didn't say anything to him for the rest of the day, to the point where even Zoey could notice that something was wrong.

"Hey, Tobin, is everything okay between you and Leif?" Zoey interrogated.

"Absolutely. Why? Did he say something?"

"No, you just both seem distracted. If something's going on… You should talk to him."

"I can handle my own relationships. By the way, George says hi." That was a lie. George didn't give a single shit about Zoey after she fired him a second time, Tobin just wanted to steer the conversation away from his relationship with Leif.

Zoey definitely seemed surprised, "You've talked to George?"

"I talk to him often, actually, since he's my partner."

"Oh, wow, okay. Does uh, does Leif know?"

"Yep. Told him this morning. Now if you don't mind, I need to get to work." He could see Leif lurking in the background and wondered if his friend had overheard him call George his partner.

Leif had overheard, and those painful words inspired him to seek a different perspective. He could have gone to Zoey, who clearly liked to stick her nose where it didn't belong, but he had kind of a different idea for how to gain clarity.

George had been working on his side hustle which was now his main hustle when he got a phone call from a number he didn't recognize. His first thought was that he was finally getting a call back for one of the many jobs he'd applied for and his second thought was that maybe it was his boyfriend pranking him and he was wrong on both accounts.

"Hi, is this George?"

"Yes… Who is this?" He was pretty sure he knew but he wasn't going to jump to conclusions.

"This is Leif. Uh, Leif Donnelly."

"Right. I didn't expect to hear from you."

"Yeah, sorry, I um… I'm sorry how things ended, with SPRQ Point-"

"I'm assuming you didn't call to talk about SPRQ Point," George interrupted.

"You've always been smart, I should've known you'd see right through that."

"So why'd you call, Leif? Don't you have people to manage?"

"I was just calling to ask you about Tobin."

"Oh." George really should have seen this coming.

"He told me he was talking to you this morning," George said, "I take it that didn't go well?"

"Why, did he say that?"

"Uh, yeah, actually. He thinks you hate him."

"That's really convenient for you," Leif muttered.

"What the fuck is that supposed to mean?" Suddenly, George was steamed. He hadn't fought back when he had been fired and he hadn't even considered being upset that he shared Tobin's heart with another but apparently Leif couldn't be as selfless.

"If I'm out of the picture you're his one and only, aren't you?"

"Why would I want to be his one and only if it made him miserable? Tobin has real feelings, he's not just some toy to play tug-of-war with. I am not in competition with you, Leif. I'm not trying to win. I want Tobin to be happy, and if that means he has a relationship with both of us, so be it. But I can see you don't feel the same. It was lovely talking with you, Leif, but I have to go."

"Wait-"

"What?"

"I really like Tobin, I just… I don't get it, George. He never told me anything, he never told me he liked me or even that he liked men. But then you came into his life and suddenly he's out and open about his feelings?"

"I don't think it was easy for him, Leif. And I don't think it's our job to question the timing. Tobin loves us. You have to decide if you love him back and if you're willing to share. Personally, I think Tobin is worth it."

The other line fell silent and eventually, George realized that Leif had hung up on him. Well, no use in meddling further in Tobin's affairs. It was time to get back to work.

"Hey, Tobin, do you still want to talk?" Leif asked, approaching him at the end of the day.

"Do you?"

"Yeah, I do."

"Great. Let's talk." Tobin seemed incredibly nervous.

"This morning I was upset when you told me you liked me, not because I don't want you to like me but because I couldn't get my head around the fact that you liked me and him at the same time."

"Oh. I was wondering if that would be your problem in this particular scenario." Tobin seemed just as dejected as he would have been if Leif had rejected him entirely.

"But then I called George, which, I know, I probably shouldn't have gone behind your back and done that, but- I think I understand why you like him, and well, I've always known why someone would love you. And if it meant I got to love you, I would happily share your heart with George."

Tobin nearly stopped breathing.

"You… You love me?"

"I would be stupid and selfish not to. Tobin Batra, you are the brightest spot in my life. You are the reason I want to succeed in life."

"Okay well, now you're just being dramatic. I already love you, Leif, you don't have to sell me on it. Come here, let's hug it out." They had hugged many times before but never like this. The way Leif hugged him now was so full of warmth and love, Tobin thought he could die happy right here and Leif felt like he was going to burst into song.

"Do you want to get out of here?" Tobin asked when they pulled away from the hug.

"Yeah. We could go to that karaoke bar."

"Sounds perfect, I can get drunk and you can serenade me. Although I'm seeing George tomorrow, so I probably shouldn't get too drunk…" For a moment, Leif frowned.

"Leif? You're not going to be jealous or possessive, right?"

"No, no, I'll work out any of my jealousy or possessiveness. We just have to work out like… A Tobin timeshare."

"You can't call it that, but I understand. As long as we all have autonomy in this relationship… I think it's going to be a good thing. I think we're going to make it work."

Leif took Tobin's hand and squeezed, "It is a good thing, and we will make it work. Because you're worth it, Tobin. Because we both love you a whole lot."