PROMPT: Toby getting jealous and Jason defensive over a guy hitting on/bugging Spencer

Defending Her Honor

"Have I mentioned how much I hate parties?" Caleb muttered as he returned with three bottles of beer, handing two off to his comrades and collapsing onto the couch. "It's really just an excuse for the popular kids to show that on top of everything else, they're even better at puking than the rest of us."

Toby chuckled, exchanging an amused look with Jason perched in the armchair. The oldest was grinning in spite of himself, sipping contentedly on his new Budweiser. "Are you already drunk enough that you're forgetting who threw this party in the first place?"

It was Spring Break. And because Hanna's mother was still out of town on business, the boisterous blond had deemed it the perfect opportunity to celebrate right from the comfort of her own home. Unfortunately that also meant that half of Rosewood High was crammed into her house, so inebriated that most of them looked to be on the verge of forgetting their own names.

Caleb ignored the second part of the question, making a dramatic sweeping motion of incredulity with his free hand. "Not even close. This is only my second drink."

Jason gestured pointedly over Caleb's shoulder. "And how many has she had, exactly?"

Both Toby and Caleb followed his train of view, where Hanna was making quite a show of herself. One hand was up in the air as she shimmied her hips to the beat, her voice straining to outmatch the volume of the music that was singing along to. She stumbled clumsily into Emily's frame, giggling profusely in drunken amusement.

Caleb winced, sighing dejectedly. "Oh, Jesus Christ…I'll be back."

He was on his feet in an instant to march to her side, carefully extracting her from Emily's hold to relieve the raven-haired girl of her duties. Hanna threw her arms around his neck in exaggerated cheerfulness, loudly announcing that she wanted to do something that was rather R-rated. Toby immediately turned back to Jason, pretending he hadn't heard it for the sole purpose of preventing his ears from bleeding.

"Where's Spencer?" Jason asked as he toyed with the label on his bottle, his voice clearly indicating that he didn't expect the answer to be a simple one.

Toby inhaled sharply before regarding the blond-haired man to his left. "Around here somewhere, I'm guessing."

There was a beat. Jason peered at him from over the rim of his beer, the wheels in his brain silently turning.

"I take it things are still…um…"

"Confusing?" Toby added helpfully. "Yeah, to say the least."

It had been almost four months since their romantic rendezvous in the motel on the outskirts of town. And ever since, things hadn't quite been the same. They had agreed to take things slow from that point forward and try to work their way back to what they used to be. But with Spencer's senior year fast concluding, college applications hanging in the balance, and a particular girl in a particularly red coat, they hadn't really had much time to get the ball rolling.

He hated every second of every day that he had to wait to be with her, but her happiness was of the utmost importance. And he knew that until she had put some of her proverbial ducks back in their rightful rows, he could not pressure her.

Jason grimaced sympathetically. "I'm sorry, man."

"Don't be," Toby argued, plastering what he hoped would pass as a genuine smile. "It's gonna take time. And I just want her to be happy."

"Yeah," Jason said distantly, his concentration stolen as a certain petite brunette with an affinity for older men skipped by to quickly whisper something in Emily's ear. The swimmer laughed unabashedly at whatever she had said, and they linked arms and disappeared into the crowd. "Just want her to be happy."

Toby eyed him surreptitiously as he took a sip of his beer, but did not bring attention to Jason's unrequited love. Instead they shared a moment of silence for the women they could not have.

"It'll be okay, though," Jason began, so quiet that Toby hardly heard him over the subwoofer. "I know how much you love her."

"Yeah, well, at least one Hastings does," said Toby gratefully, unable to suppress the hint of resentment in his tone.

It had certainly been interesting, having Jason back in town. Though the two had never really spoken much in the past, they had formed an immediate camaraderie when the elder returned to Rosewood to assist in bringing down 'A.' Despite his own safety being in jeopardy, Jason had reiterated time and time again that he would not allow someone to so maliciously prolong the mourning of Alison's memory.

Additionally, Toby had gotten the distinct impression that Jason did not want to lose another sister to the same crazed maniac that had ended Ali's life far too soon. The older man seemed to keep a constantly watchful eye on Spencer, as if to ensure that she was remaining out of harm's way.

And Toby was not one to complain about something such as that. They had a common goal in that regard, and it had been the basis for their initial bonding in the first place. It didn't matter that it had never been discussed aloud – they were both aware of the other's protective intentions.

"I am a Hastings, technically, aren't I?" Jason mused, a look of distaste crossing his features. "Still feels surreal."

"I don't blame you," Toby chuckled. "I can't imagine finding out my dad isn't actually my dad."

"Trust me," Jason began darkly, "there is worse family drama than a little paternity mix-up."

He didn't have to specify. Toby knew he was referring to the death of his sister. He was about to come up with some way to apologize when something rapidly changed in Jason's expression.

"Speaking of family drama…"

Toby turned to follow his gaze. Jason was already on his feet and making long strides to his point of contention.

Spencer was leaning on her elbows over the counter top, looking rather dizzy. Noel Kahn was using the opportunity to get a bit handsy, his fingers curled around her shoulders as if to give her a massage. She was impatiently trying to bat him away, but he didn't seem to be catching the hint.

Toby was following in Jason's footsteps in an instant.

"I said I'm fine, Noel," she grumbled irritably, angling her body away from him just enough to release herself.

"It's okay, Hastings," he said in his usual cocky drawl. "I can help."

"That won't be necessary," Jason growled, seizing Noel by the wrist to yank him around. His pale green-blue eyes were burning daggers into the younger's face, conveying a silent warning. "I'll take it from here."

Noel merely smirked in reply, holding his hands up in mock surrender. "Sorry, man. Thought she was single now."

He sent a pointed look in Toby's direction, as though to make it perfectly clear that he was referring to their current separation. Toby involuntarily curled his fists at his sides.

"She's my sister, asshole," Jason seethed.

Noel looked surprised – as surprised as he ever did, anyway. It translated on his face as being just as pretentious a reaction as anything else he produced. His eyebrows shot up his forehead slowly, his eyes darkening with morbid curiosity.

"Can't say it comes as a shock," he said icily. "My dad said your mom would put out for anyone."

Jason lurched forward suddenly, causing Noel to step backward out of reflex. The elder seemed to think better of it, however, as several partygoers fell quiet to watch. Jason exhaled shakily, his mouth squeezed tightly into a thin line of irritation.

"Cocky little prick, just like your brother," Jason spat.

Noel arched his face closer to Jason's in a silent taunt. "I learned from the best."

Jason stepped forward once more out of pure instinct, and Toby chose that moment to intervene. He put a hand on Noel's chest to back him safely away from his friend, squaring his jaw in a way that surely matched Jason's determined expression.

"C'mon, Noel, how about finding someone who doesn't think you're a useless piece of shit?" Toby asked brashly. "Jenna's probably around here somewhere."

Noel barked in derisive laughter. "Didn't you hear? Your sister traded hard wood for carpet, if you catch my drift. I'm not really her type anymore."

Oh, right. The lesbian rumors.

Toby narrowed his eyes, ignoring the jab. "Get lost."

"Oh, but Hastings was enjoying my company," Noel crooned, making a dramatic show of snaking an arm around her waist.

"Stop, Noel," she pleaded. She was standing upright now, at least, but still seemed to be having difficulty maintaining her balance.

"But baby, you love it," he laughed, pulling her roughly against his chest. She weakly pushed against him to keep his puckered lips at a fair distance.

Toby released a guttural sound from somewhere deep in his diaphragm, and it sounded akin to something he'd seen in a Planet Earth documentary.

"That's it."

He grabbed Noel brusquely by the shoulders to pull him loose, shoving him violently against the refrigerator.

Noel looked aghast at his audacity. Before Toby realized what was happening, the younger boy had barreled toward him with the ferocity of a charging rhinoceros, knocking the wind out of his lungs as he sent them both careening into the island counter.

"Toby!" Spencer cried, alarmed.

It was easy to regain the upper hand, however, as Noel was considerably more intoxicated. Toby had grabbed him by the shirt collar and swung him around, the two of them falling to the floor in a knot of limbs and rogue fists.

He was just about to deliver a well aimed right hook that would have assuredly broken Noel's nose when he felt two arms yank him up and away. He flailed in the hold of his captor, trying unsuccessfully to get back to what he had started.

Noel was being pulled away now, as well, Caleb having secured both of his arms behind his back.

"You're a dead man, Cavanaugh!" Noel hollered, blood trickling from his lip. "I swear to God, you better watch your back!"

"Get him the hell out of here, before I rip his throat out," Jason said through gritted teeth from somewhere behind Toby. He realized after a beat that he was the one holding him at bay.

Caleb didn't need to be told twice. He was already leading Noel toward the front door, shouting wildly about 'starting shit in his girlfriend's house' before Jason even had a chance to finish the command.

Toby relaxed considerably with Noel out of his sight, though he still felt his jaw twitching in outrage. Jason seemed to sense his newfound calm, for he released him and spun him around.

"He's not worth it," he growled, shaking Toby by the shoulders, his eyes blazing with intensity. "As much as I would have loved to see you kick his ass, we don't need to draw any more legal attention to you."

The gravity of his statement was settling in with such rapidity that Toby suddenly felt nauseous. Jason was aware of the incriminating rumors of Toby's past, as well as the part he had played in Mona's schemes to gain her trust.

He nodded resolutely, but said nothing.

"Toby, are you okay?" Spencer asked softly, taking his face in both of her hands. Her chocolate eyes were alight with sudden sobriety, worry glistening in their boundless depths.

"Yeah, I'm fine," he muttered, both sets of fingers lightly brushing the curvature of her waist. "Are you?"

She nodded emphatically, a small smile teasing her lips. "Yeah, of course. It's just Noel being Noel."

Jason cleared his throat purposefully, and Toby had almost forgotten he was there.

"I have to…uh…be…somewhere else."

He sent one last supportive look in Toby's direction before disappearing without another word.

"What on Earth got into you?" she asked, neglecting to hide the appreciation in her tone.

Toby shrugged sheepishly. "You asked him to leave you alone, and he wasn't listening. And it didn't help that he called you single."

She cocked her head at him, realization dawning in her features. He felt suddenly embarrassed, not to mention guilty, for bringing it to her attention. He wanted to respect her need for space. Wanted to make sure she was doing what made her happy. He had to ensure that she –

Her lips were pressed against his before he even realized what was happening. He eagerly responded to her embrace, using his hold on her hips to yank her closer to his frame. Her mouth tasted like rum, but Captain Morgan had never been so sweet. She dove her fingers into the hair at the nape of his neck, and he felt his heart flutter wildly in reply.

She pulled back after a beat, a sleepy, resigned sort of smile on her face.

"I'll never get used to it, you know," she said raspily.

He furrowed his brow in her direction, only vaguely aware of the stupid grin plastered across his mouth. "Get used to what?"

She smirked quietly, affectionately flattening the collar of his button-up shirt.

"Actually liking the role of damsel in distress when you're my knight in shining armor."