Toby dragged Nico into combat first, leaving Masky and Hoody to spar half heartedly with each other. They obviously weren't very competitive with each other and didn't really want to hurt each other either. Toby on the other hand, had already put his mouth guard and goggles back on. Hardly giving Nico any time to draw his sword before eagerly lurching forward, swinging his left ax at Nico.
Nico spun away only to nearly run into Toby's right axe which was coming at him from the opposite direction. Nico fell backwards, letting the axe go over his head rolling back away from Toby. While Nico was on the ground, Toby tried to get on top of him. But Nico kicked out his feet, meeting Toby's chest forcing him to stumble back coughing and gasping. That gave Nico a moment to get back to his feet. Toby laughed, out of breath, twitching in a way that made his neck crack. Toby winced, he knew Toby couldn't feel pain but that could not be good for him.
Nico lost the fight against Toby, but he thought it was more to do with being worried he would hurt him than anything else. It was a long fight though. They were fairly evenly matched and as Toby did most of the attacking. That made it a good chance for Nico to work on defending against an opponent with two weapons. He hadn't done much of that in the past, and it took all of Nico's focus. So much that he didn't notice Hoody and Masky were leaving until they were gone. Unfortunately for Nico the distraction of wondering where they had gone was all Toby needed. He tackled Nico pinning him to the ground.
"I win." Toby said sounding far too pleased with himself. Though, Nico couldn't see much of Toby's face under his goggles and mouth guard. He struggled but couldn't get his arms up to push Toby off. After a couple of attempts he relaxed admitting defeat. Toby didn't seem in any hurry to get off Nico though, he sat up so he was straddling Nico's stomach.
"Okay you win, you can get off now." Toby slid his goggles up into his messy brown hair. He then took off his mouth guard and let it hang around his neck. Though he didn't get up, it was starting to make Nico nervous.
"Where did Masky and Hoody go?" Nico said, trying to distract himself as he propped himself up on his elbows.
"They're always wandering off together." Toby said finally getting up and reaching out his hand to Nico. Nico took it and Toby helped him up, they were both still breathing hard from the fight.
"Let's wander off too. I bet they'll come back looking for us soon, and if we're gone Masky will freak out." He started to practically dance away towards the woods. Nico sheathed his sword, shoved his hands in his pockets, and followed.
"Why would Masky freak out?" The phrase freak out still felt weird in Nico's mouth. It hadn't been hard to figure out what it meant when he first heard it, but he still wasn't totally used to saying it.
"Because every time I wander off he assumes I'm getting into trouble." Toby's laugh was interrupted by a twitch. He stood still for a moment, giving Nico time to catch up to him.
"Which is fair enough, I set things on fire more than I should." Toby said after his pause, and then started moving again. Nico chuckled even though he had no doubt Toby was telling the truth.
"Where are we going?" Nico asked changing the subject.
He was still following. He didn't know his way around the grounds of Slenderman's mansion at all yet. So following seemed like the best option anyway.
"The lake!" Toby said happily. "It's warm, besides I think I said something about swimming earlier."
Nico found himself smiling. Normally being around someone as hyper at Toby would annoy him. But Toby seemed to exude his energy well.
Nico found himself standing up a little straighter, and walking a little faster as Toby beamed. He was stretching the hole in his cheek in a way that would have probably made Nico uncomfortable. If he wasn't used to spending so much time around zombies that is.
Even though Nico was walking faster, Toby still got out of the woods before Nico. By the time Nico walked out of the trees into the clearing around the lake, Toby was pulling his shirt over his head. Nico felt something in his stomach flutter at the lean, scar-covered muscle of Toby's back. He did his best to ignore it, he didn't even know why he had a thing for scars.
"If you don't mind, I don't think I'll go in with you. I'll just sit on the shore and wait." Nico said unbuckling his sword from his belt so that he could sit down on the grass.
"Awww why?" Toby pouted.
Nico tried not to blush as Toby kicked off his pants, leaving him only in a pair of black boxers.
"You're wearing all black. You must be even hotter than me." Toby gave a crooked smile that emphasized the double in his words. Nico could only be glad that his slightly darker skin would hide most of his blushing.
"No. Nope I'm fine I'll keep my clothes on." Nico said, cursing himself internally at how flustered he sounded.
"Okay!" Toby said with a wicked grin.
Before Nico realized what had happened, Toby had lunged forward, scooped Nico into his arms, and was dashing towards the lake.
Nico yelped, swearing when he automatically reached for his sword. Only to realize he had already taken it off. Toby laughed wildly as he started splashing deeper into the water. It reached his knees quickly before it started to make it's way up Toby's thighs as he waded forward.
"Toby take me back to shore put me down!" Nico yelped grabbing Toby's shoulders to steady himself.
"OKAY!" Toby yelled, and dropped Nico into the water.
Nico spluttered, nearly breathing in the lake water. He ending up taking a large gulp of the green water. Nico staggered to his feet completely soaking wet and breathing heavily.
"YOU ASSHOLE!" Nico yelled, pushing Toby so he fell back into the water as well, laughing uproariously all the way.
Toby lunged forward through the water tackling Nico back down into the water with him. Nico squawked splashing water into Toby's face, forcing him back. Why wouldn't he stop laughing? Nico was trying to be angry, but Toby's laugh was so contagious he could feel the corners of his lips twitching up. Despite his best efforts to keep them down in a frown.
Toby splashed him back. When Nico realized this would turn into a full-fledged splash war he couldn't keep the smile off his face. The best he could do was make sure it was the grin that scared people. The one that he knew sent shivers down peoples spines. He splashed Toby again when he responded in kind making Nico laugh.
"Dammit Toby, I'm the literal son of death! I'm supposed to be the scary one!"
Toby laughed and tried to tackle Nico into the water again. Nico stepped back out of the way, but forgot about the water resistance and ended up falling anyway. He had to admit he had been too warm and the water was nice, though not as much when it was being splashed in his face.
Nico and Toby called a truce when they were both panting. Toby started swimming farther out into the lake, but Nico stayed near the shore.
He didn't feel safe out in bodies of water. It wasn't that he couldn't swim, he didn't like any situation in which his feet left the ground for longer than it took to jump or shadow travel.
Toby didn't try to force him to go any farther out. After a little while Nico waded back to shore settling himself in the sun to let his clothes dry. The sun was warm enough that he didn't shiver even in his wet clothes, in fact it was quite nice. He turned his face up towards the sun closing his eyes.
"So how did you end up in the woods anyway?"
Nico looked down to see Toby laying in the shallows in front of him, chin propped on hands watching him. Nico sighed but he didn't feel like lying.
"Well it's a long story, but to shorten it. This guy who everyone knew I wasn't a big fan of, and almost got killed a couple times, went missing recently. I don't know how many people blame me but I know they're there and it was best to get out before anyone could bring it up. Besides his girlfriend yelled at me a lot when I told her that I wouldn't necessarily feel it if he died. I know she just wanted the comfort of at least knowing he was alive and was upset that I couldn't give it to her but still I… I just ran." Nico was looking at the ground now. "I shadow traveled away, no destination in mind, just away and the woods was where I ended up."
"What's shadow travel?" Toby asked. Nico was glad he hadn't asked about any other part of the story. He knew it wasn't very clear, but he didn't want to be any more specific
"It's something some kids of Hades' can do because all shadows are a portal to the realm of shadows if you how to access it. If you do you can step into one shadow and out of one on the other side of the world if you want to. Only creatures of the underworld can do it though. If you stay there too long you start to lose your sense of self and become one of the shadows." Nico started touching blades of grass absently, watching as they shriveled and turned brown as he sucked the life out of them.
"Huh, that sounds handy!" Toby said finally getting out of the water and coming to sit down next to Nico. Still in just his boxers. Nico tried not to look and succeeded by closing his eyes and turning his face back up towards the sun.
"It is pretty handy though, it took me a while to figure it out. I ended up in china a lot, not sure why but it seems to be my default place to end up. Now I know some Mandarin because it was important to know where I was. Especially when doing it still tired me out so much I would have to rest a few days before I could do it again."
"So could you, like take us to another country for the day? Just to hang out?" Nico glanced over at Toby, who seemed to be trying to see how far he could rock backwards before he fell over.
"I could, I need to build back up my power reserves first though. I used up almost all of it over the past few days. After my run in with Jeff last night I felt more… empty than I have ever felt before. I guess it's a perfect example of not feeling something that's always there."
"Cool, I've always wanted to go to Japan." Toby said making a quiet wooping noise as he finally fell over.
"Why?" Nico asked but Toby just shrugged.
"It doesn't seem like Masky's even noticed we're gone but I think we should go back now." Toby said changing the subject. "Swimming always makes me hungry."
"Okay." Nico said. Toby got up finding his clothes and pulling them over his, now dry, body as Nico reattached his sword to his belt. As they walked back Toby was more subdued, maybe it was because he was hungry or because he had already been quite active. Either way he seemed to be content to walk with only a slight bounce so Nico didn't have to jog to keep up.
When they got back to the mansion they went in a back door that went directly into the kitchen. Probably from the times that kitchen staff would have to go out to barns and chicken coops. Nico spotted Masky and Hoody leaning against the counter, he opened his mouth to say hi and then froze. He hadn't realized at first how close the two were, more than close, they were kissing. Their eyes were closed, and Hoody's hands were in Masky's hair.
"Masky!" Toby shouted. Nico winced expecting Toby to react negatively to what they had just seen. "You didn't come looking for me when I wandered off. Don't you care anymore?" Toby laughed as he pushed between Hoody and Masky. Masky seemed mad but Hoody laughed.
"Like I ever did in the first place?" Masky snapped scowling. Toby gave an exaggerated pout. "I just figured Nico would keep you from setting on fire!"
"Aww that's not nice Masky." Toby said sulkily
"Well is anything on fire?" Masky asked crossing his arms.
"Weeell no." Toby admitted.
"Then I was right." Masky said, Hoody laughed again. Nico turned around and walked back outside. He didn't really know where his legs were taking him, but he didn't care. He just needed to think, he needed quiet and alone to think. Without his interference it seemed his legs took him to the only place on the ground he knew, besides the training area, the lake.
Nico sat on the shore of the lake his legs crossed, staring unseeingly at the small rippling waves the wind called out of its depths. He noticed Toby coming to flop down on the shore next to him. Nico was deep in his own thoughts. Before he had come here his sexuality had been fairly simple. He knew he liked men but assumed this was still taboo as he had a vague notion it was when he was young. If homosexuality was taboo and not practiced, there was no need to tell anyone or ever bring it up.
Now he was questioning that, he had assumed all along that Hoody and Masky were just very good friends. More affectionate than most male friends true. But still friends. Now he knew better and he was almost sure everyone else had known all along and they hadn't treated Hoody and Masky differently at all. Was this something that had changed in overall society or just another way that this group defied social norms? Either way it meant that Nico could tell the others about his sexuality if he wanted to but did he want to? He took a deep breath reaching up to massage his temples sighing, Gods of Olympus, why was this so hard?
Suddenly Nico felt hand grasping his and Toby was turning Nico around, then pressing his lips to Nicos. Nico lost his breath his eyes widening, he couldn't kiss back he was too shocked. He couldn't think either, his mind was blanked by the feeling of Tobys lips on his own. It was like Toby had sucked Nico's brain out through his mouth in the most pleasant way possible until Toby pulled away.
"Just putting that out there." Toby mumbled awkwardly before standing up and wandering away. Nico blinked three times before he managed to process what had just happened.
"Toby." Nico called "Come back!" Why on earth had he said that? Why did he want Toby to come back?
Toby looked back and smiled coming back a lot slower than he usually moved. By the time Toby was back sitting next Nico he was back to not thinking. He still didn't really know why he had called Toby back except… he needed to feel that again so he could figure out what he thought of it.
Nico leaned in hesitantly he barely made it halfway before Toby rushed in to close the remaining space between them. Nico's mind blanked again. He felt his hands moving up into Toby's hair seemingly of their own accord, and felt Tobys arms around his waist. They only separated when the need for air drove them apart. Toby was grinning and they were both panting. Oh thought Nico, Oh this is what I've been missing.
Toby softly chuckled. Nico smiled back realizing with some discomfort that he was almost on Toby's lap. Nico didn't really know where this would go but he knew he liked it, being this close to someone, He liked the kiss to, he liked Toby. He noticed something that made him laugh. Toby had been a bit too enthusiastic and had given himself a nosebleed, probably from rushing in. Nico could feel a bit of a sting on his cheek, that must have been where the impact had been.
Toby noticed where Nico was looking and touched his nose surprised when his fingers came away with blood on them. He laughed and twitched Toby never worried at all when he hurt himself, of course he couldn't feel it. Nico made a mental note to watch Toby a little more closely in future. If Toby got too badly hurt, Nico would have to be the one to make sure he got looked after. Any of the others could do it too of course, but Nico had assigned himself that responsibility.
"Oops." Toby said wiping the blood on his shirt and wrapping his arms back around Nico's waist. Nico didn't want him to let go. For all Toby was unnaturally pale he was very warm and it seemed to make the feeling of the underworld shrink from Nico's bones. Nico smiled again sighing softly. He didn't know how long Toby would be able to stay still, but Nico would make the most of the comfort while he did.
"Wow, that's very new." Nico said uncertainly wiping a little more blood off Toby's top lip. He leaned against Toby and they stayed that way for a while. Nico's head on Toby's chest so that his twitching wouldn't disturb Nico too badly.
"So why did you walk out like that?" Toby asked after a little bit. Nico took a deep breath, he wasn't ready to tell his entire story. Like being from the past and the time he had spent, well, out of time but he could tell part of the truth.
"The place I came from wasn't accepting of homosexuals." He said softly "I always assumed everywhere was like that so I just sort of… repressed my sexuality. It was simple I knew it wouldn't be accepted so I just never had to act on it or think about but just then I realized that. Here at least, being gay was okay so I would have to deal with it. I mean I've heard that other places are more accepting, is it true? Are most people okay with homosexuals now, or is it just another way that you guys are different than the rest of the world?" Nico felt toby's chest rise and fall in a sigh.
"There are plenty of places and people that aren't but most of the world is going that way. I don't know really. I mean my parents definitely were not, or at least my dad. But other than them and my sister I haven't had that much interaction with people from the "normal world." He put air quotes around the world. "So I'm really not the one to ask, Hoody and Masky might be better ones, or even Jeff, they've interacted with it more." Nico nodded sighing softly.
"How did you end up here anyway?" Nico asked and felt Toby tense slightly. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to." After all Nico was keeping things to himself as well. He couldn't ask Toby to be completely open with him when he wasn't being open either.
"No it's okay, there just is no one reason, it's a bunch of things. I mean I had to be homeschooled for most of my like because the Tourettes everyone bullied me. That was the start of it I guess but it was mostly my dad. He was abusive to the entire family, because I couldn't feel I tried to draw most of his attention away from my mom and my sister. Then me and my sister got in a car crash, I survived but she, well didn't. My dad didn't even come to the hospital to be there when she died. When I finally got home he just kept on going like her death didn't matter to him at all." Toby's hands clenched on Nico's shoulder spasmodically, it hurt but Nico didn't mention it.
"Finally I just got so done with him. At first I thought I would just run away but the voices in my head were full force by then and they told me I could do better thqn that. Besides if I left my mother alone with him there would be no one to protect her. I got a kitchen knife and made sure he could never hurt any of us again. I half thought my mom would be happy with me but when she came in and saw what I had done she obviously wasn't so I ran. Took my fathers hatchets, a container of gasoline and some matches. I meant to set the forest on fire as a distraction so I could get out, but I trapped myself by accident, at least I couldn't feel it. Afterwards Slender man came and found me, he brought me here and I've been working for him with Masky and Hoody ever since."
Nico didn't know what to do, he couldn't think of anything to say so instead he reached up and kissed Toby gently. From the way Toby's hand relaxed on Nico's shoulder he guessed it was the right thing to do. Suddenly Nico felt guilty, Toby had completely opened up to him but Nico was still keeping secrets.
But that was ridiculous, they had only met each other a couple days before. Just because they had kissed didn't mean that Nico was required to trust him with everything right? Toby gave Nico a small smile when they separated. Nico smiled back uncertainly, he would just see where this went. Maybe eventually he would trust Toby with everything.