this is war [brenny]

Son of Hecate

Toby was laying back in his bed, head wrapped rather thoroughly in bandages, and he stared at the wall opposite him. According to the clock now, compared to the time that they had come in, the surgery took a little under four hours. It was now early in the morning, and his mind wandered from the hospital room. It first thought about where Finnegan was. Had he gone to camp to sleep? Camp. Currently Camp Half Blood was under attack. Currently? Toby assumed that the battle was still raging, or rather he hoped. Sure, camp could have won, but so could the monsters, and that would be equally distressing. After a couple minutes of musing it occurred to Toby just how quiet the room was; as in, it wasn't quiet. He couldn't believe it. His ears worked. Although muffled, voices in the halls were audible, and cares on the street outside the window hummed past. Although it sounds ordinary, to Toby it was magnificent. When he heard the doorknob, Toby's head snapped towards the sound, so quickly that pain shot in his ear, but he ignored it. When he saw Finnegan, he sat up straighter in his bed in anticipation. Toby's boyfriend quickly strode to the bedside and took Toby's hand. This was sweet, but Toby was so overly joyous that he leaned over and gave Finnegan a long kiss before leaning back in his bed. His smile was goofy, and he felt like his teethe were taking up half of his face. When Finnegan gave Toby the note, Toby laughed lightly, his voice a little hoarse but otherwise still full life. "Finnegan, I can hear," he chimed. He began to explain about what had happened. When he had woken up the doctor explained his acoustic trauma, and the surgery they had done to fix it. The details were sort of strange, and even a bit gross, but Toby was glad that he was cured. Well, at least for the most part. Every sound that he could hear sounded like he was hearing it through glass or something. Perhaps it would get better over time, but he did not mind. He was enthralled to be hearing all over again. He squeezed Finnegan's hand tightly.

DATE: 1/23 | NOTES: 817 words.
TEASPOONS @ CAUTION 2.0

Son of Hecate

Finnegan seemed just as excited as Toby that he could hear, and that they were both safe. As they kissed, Toby could feel the same sparks as he had before. It wasn't the same kind of affection that Finnegan gave to Toby when he was injured. He didn't know why, but it was just... different. Toby moved an empty hand to their intertwined hands, and he laid it on Finnegan's, so that he was holding the boy's hand with both of his. Finnegan seemed like he wouldn't release Toby's hand any time soon, but that was really fine with him. If nothing, he would simply embrace Finnegan's grasp. He understood that he didn't want to let go of Toby again, because after all, if they had stuck together Toby probably would have been able to avoid blasting his ears out. When Toby's brown eyes observe Finnegan let out a yawn, he smiles a little. It was really cute, but before he knew it he was letting out a yawn of the same caliber. He hadn't been aware how late it had gotten until that moment, and then as if a dump truck had dropped it all on him, a wave of fatigue crashed onto him, and he let out a small sigh. His bones ached, and his head pounded. Although he had just woken up, he felt like he hadn't slept in a long while. Toby watches Finnegan get settled before answering. "The doctor said I could leave really soon. He has to do some paperwork first." Toby stopped and bit his lip a little, watching Finnegan. "Well I uh, I gave them my dad's name. They've probably called him up to do some paperwork..." Toby watched Finnegan's expectant face. He probably didn't understand the big deal with that, but Toby had no desire to see his father. "As in, let's scram," he continued, hoping Finnegan would do something. After Finnegan's next question, the smile on Toby's face is now as nonexistent as it had been before the surgery. It wasn't so easy to answer. Toby's body pleaded to him to stay away from the place that had taken his hearing, and even his courage was not very strong. However, guilt was flooding through his systems, and also a sense of duty. Finnegan wouldn't like his answer, and to be frank, Toby hoped Finnegan would veto his decision. "I..." He took a slow breath. "I can't promise... Even after all of this," Toby stopped a minute, recalling the horrible sensation when the bomb went off. He closed his eyes to calm himself, trying hard not to shake. "I think we should go back." He can't believe the words exited his mouth, but they had. Toby half expected Finnegan to just let go of Toby's hand and start yelling at him for being so stupid and irrational. He couldn't stop himself anymore, and his body began to tremble.

DATE: 1/23 | NOTES: 817 words.
TEASPOONS @ CAUTION 2.0

Son of Hecate

Toby allowed himself to relax a little, letting the touch of Finnegan's hand soothe him. His hand tingled where their skin touched. When Finnegan responded to his comment about his dad, he couldn't help but look away rather quickly. He could almost smell the putrid sent of alcohol seeping through his memories and up his nostrils. Sometimes the memories were even so strong in his cabin back at camp, he half expected loud knocks at the door twenty minutes before midnight. On those nights he would watch the clock until a minute had passed, and then settle back into his warm bed and fall asleep, hoping to forget some day about his past. A small laugh to his side snapped him back into the present. He hadn't realized he'd done something funny. Maybe someone in the hallway did something funny? Toby's eyes glanced out the door, confusion obvious within them. However, when he feels the firm grasp of a boy's hand begin to loosen, he turns his head, looking frightened. When Finnegan's hand completely drops to his side, Toby makes a motion to take it again, feeling almost deprived without it, but Finnegan seemed pretty non-compliant. When his voice begins to rise, Toby's ears ring. His jaw drops in aw. Was... was Finnegan yelling at him? His chest felt cold, but his hands were really sweaty as if the room was extremely hot. As Finnegan yelled, Toby observed that it was mainly an argument for concern of his well-being, until he said something that made Toby's stomach drop. His ears continued to ring even after Finnegan was done yelling, and Toby just stared at the boy's face blankly and in silence. Finnegan would simply let Toby go to camp by himself. It was astounding, and Toby was utterly speechless. He would have cried perhaps, if he had not cried so much over the past couple of days already. Instead he felt a little bit sick. What if something worse happens. "What if something worse happens?" he repeats in a whisper. A small spark ignited his chest. "What if something worse happens? Finnegan, people could be dying right now. What about them?!" His breaths came in short gasps between his sentences, and Toby's own voice sounded strange through his newly repaired ears. "Nothing worse can be happening to them! How can you only be thinking of yourself right now?" His voice caught at the end of that sentence. "How can you-" he began, but faded off and he commenced to crying for what seemed like the hundredth time. He shook his head, and then began to tremble again. His mental and physical beings were overridden with stress at this point. His systems begged for sleep, and for relaxation, but all Toby was offering up was emotions and more emotions. He brought a rugged hand to his face and wiped his cheek, where lines of tears were clearly visible on his dirt-layered cheekbone. It was an extremely saddening sight to see such a grown boy, beaten up, bandaged, shaking, and crying in one small room without any parents, or anyone to care about him. Except for Finnegan, but even now Finnegan was prepared to simply walk away if the decision was made for Toby to return to Camp Half Blood.

DATE: 1/30 | NOTES: 817 words.
TEASPOONS @ CAUTION 2.0

Son of Hecate

Later that night, Toby and Finnegan once again shared a hotel room. It was almost impossible to convince Finnegan to let Toby go back to camp, and after a lot of fighting, and the sound of Toby's dad's voice, the pair had sneakily exited the hospital and found the hotel they had shared previously. And now, Finnegan was sprawled across the bed with his hands behind his head. Toby lay quietly with his head on Finn's chest, and his fingers absently played with the fabric of his friend's shirt. He was not completely in the moment, however. All he could really think about was how horrific the night had been. The screams, the explosion, the silence. The haunting faces of the monsters danced across his eyes. He could still feel his body buzzing from terror even as he just watched the wall. The lights were dim, and by the slow rising and falling of the chest underneath him, Toby figured Finnegan had fallen asleep. His eyes flickered to the door as a thought crossed his mind. He could make a dash, Finnegan wouldn't know. He could go find camp, if there was anything left at least. No. Surely there was still a camp. The gods would have done something if it had gotten too bad, right? Toby lifted his head up slowly and carefully, being sure not to awake his pillow. He then watched Finnegan's face. He looked tired, pale... well, he was also sort of cute. Oh shut up, Toby, he told himself. It was ridiculous to be thinking about that right now. Still, he couldn't help it. Being in the hotel room had brought back memories. Toby slowly and quietly moved upwards to be face to face with his partner, and very gently kissed his lips. It was a very soft touch, more of a brush than a kiss, but nevertheless Toby's action to Finnegan made Toby smile. Their faces were inches apart, and Toby could see everything he liked about Finnegan's face, except he couldn't see his eyes. After a couple minutes of laying like this, Toby's goofy grin began to fade and he scooted down to lay his head upon Finnegan's chest once more.

DATE: 1/30 | NOTES: 817 words.
TEASPOONS @ CAUTION 2.0