A/N:

Hey guys! I'm so sorry for the long wait! I'm back at uni and the school year has been incredibly busy these last two weeks (more than I thought it would be). But it should slow down in a bit, so I'll be able to update more often when it does <3 Thank you all for being so patient and for your support <3













A smile touched (Y/n)'s lips as she looked ahead at Marcus's house, happiness blooming in her chest at the idea of seeing her two friends. Though she didn't think Tobias would call her his friend, he was way too emotionally stuck up for that. Not to mention that she had given him his fair share of hair pulling when they'd been living together. He probably considered her more of an annoying little sister rather than a friend.

(Y/n) would take it though. The fact Tobias had warmed up to her at all was already a huge win.

She knocked on the wooden front door, expectantly waiting for someone to open the door for her. Usually Tobias was the one to come and open it, with a half bored half annoyed expression. She wondered if she'd see the crease between his brows soften at the sight of her, or if he'd grow even more annoyed.

None of these scenarios happened though. Marcus was the one to open the door for her this time.

Surprise settled on his features as he stared at her with wide eyes.

"(Y/n)?"

(Y/n)'s lips curved in a smile as she waved at the old man.

"Hey Marcus." She said, excitement bubbling in her chest at the prospect of talking with him and telling him all about her new job and life with Lupita. Marcus had always been supportive, never questioning her choices and always aiming at being there for her, so (Y/n) was really looking forward to sharing these new pieces of her life with him.

But somehow Marcus didn't seem to be returning her excitement. And (Y/n) thought it might have been because he hadn't expected for her to show up unannounced. She herself hadn't planned on coming to see them until she had her first pay, so that she could thank both Marcus and Tobias properly for taking care of her during her first weeks in the city. But she had been looking forward to telling them about her new job, that she hadn't been able to wait more than two weeks. Part of her had also missed them... greatly.

"I'm sorry, I know it's sudden and I should have told you I was coming but I thought that maybe you'd like the surprise." (Y/n) tripped over her words, trying to apologize for whatever it was that had Marcus looking so bothered.

Marcus wasn't upset with (Y/n) though. On the contrary, he would have been delighted to see her and welcomed her inside...

If he hadn't known better.

But he did, and that is why he couldn't let (Y/n) come in, why he had to make her leave as soon as possible. Before things escalated and got out of his control.

Tobias had been doing so well in staying away from (Y/n), in keeping the both of them safe, and Marcus couldn't risk this fragile equilibrium shattering. He needed to help his grandson in controlling his Infection, and unfortunately this implied keeping (Y/n) as far away from the both of them as possible.

"You should leave, my dear." Marcus said quietly, something akin to guilt flashing through his eyes.

(Y/n) blinked. She wondered if she had heard him well, Marcus hadn't spoken much above a whisper and he could have said a thousand other things.

But (Y/n) knew she heard him right when he made no move to welcome her inside, instead shielding the entrance with his body.

"I'm really happy you came to see us, but you should leave." Marcus continued, not quite meeting her gaze. (Y/n) couldn't understand what was happening.

Had she done anything to upset him? To upset Tobias? Was it because she hadn't repaid them for their kindness yet? What had changed since the last time she'd seen them for Marcus to act so distant?

"Marcus, what's wrong, I-"

"(Y/n)?"

A familiar voice cut off. And (Y/n) swore the temperature in the room dropped several degrees as Tobias lazily walked out of his room and up to the front door. But this wasn't what retained her attention, although maybe she should have paid more mind to the way Marcus stiffened beside her at his grandson's entrance.

She hadn't seen Tobias in two weeks and she could barely recognize him.

The strong, healthy man she knew had grown into a shrunken version of himself. The dark bags under his eyes told (Y/n) everything she needed to know about his lack of sleep, the hollow of his cheeks was a telltale sign that he'd dropped weight, and the lackluster of his hair was as much a sign of his decaying state as the rest.

Still, in spite of his terrible condition (Y/n) swore Tobias's dark green eyes momentarily lit up at the sight of her, filled with life and vitality. Before his gaze

flitted over to Marcus.

Guilt was written all over the old man's features, and that was all it took for Tobias to know what was going on.

"You need to stay away from her. It's the only way for the both of you to be happy." Marcus's words echoed in his head, along with his grandfather's sympathetic yet firm expression.

In spite of all his precautions, Marcus had seen right through him, much like he always did. Tobias had never been able to hide anything from his grandfather, even now that he had grown into a twenty four year old man. Not that it mattered to Tobias usually, it's not like he had much to hide, if anything he was quite an open book to those close to him. This had been the first time Tobias had actually tried to deny Marcus's claims.

"It's not what you think. I'm not- This is not-"

Of course, Marcus had heard none of his grandson's protests.

"Yes it is. You know it, Tobias." Marcus continued, more firmly this time, leaving no room for negotiation. "And you know what you have to do."

Indeed, Tobias knew what he had to do. He knew that it was in his best interest to stay as far away from (Y/n) as possible, and he knew that Marcus had been doing the right thing in trying to tell (Y/n) to leave.

So why did he feel such a sudden rush of blind hot rage towards his grandfather for trying to do what was right?

I'm stronger than this. Tobias tried to tell himself, tried to argue with the better portion of him that ached to run over to (Y/n) and engulf her in his arms.

He had never hugged her before. He'd already been close to her, for sure, but this was different. And right now, Tobias bled to know what having her in his arms would be like. What having her would be like.

A selfish desire he knew he needed to push back to the deepest parts of his mind.

"Tobias, is everything alright?" (Y/n) asked, eyes trembling with anxiety as she looked from him to Marcus. It was obvious that she had no idea what was going on. And it was probably better that way.

She'd fear him if she knew the truth.

And Tobias would rather she hate him than ever fear him. Which was why he needed to take action now. Before his Infection gave her a reason to fear him.

He didn't answer her question, instead turning to Marcus and giving him a short nod.

'I've got this.'

Marcus understood, and although he hesitated, he soon took a step back and watched as Tobias led (Y/n) outside on the porch. Soon he closed the door, and Tobias finally let his eyes meet (Y/n)'s.

His breath caught in his lungs as he did.

Was it okay for him to just stare at her for the next minute? To bathe in the blissful feeling of a quiet mind and the comfort of (Y/n)'s presence? For the first time in two weeks he actually felt at ease, actually felt like himself and not like a trainwreck. Tobias didn't want this moment to end.

He wanted to look in (Y/n)'s eyes for however long she'd let him, feasting on the tranquility she granted him.

But he couldn't. The sooner he'd get this done and over with, the better.

His heart clenched in his chest, a ball of anxiety forming at the back of his throat the longer he gazed into (Y/n)'s expectant eyes. She was waiting for him to say something, and Tobias knew he had to break it to her at some point, but he couldn't.

The words he had to say tasted too bitter on his tongue.

We don't want you here anymore.

Leave us alone.

Go away and never come back.

A flash of (Y/n)'s hurt expression crossed his mind and his heart rose to his throat. He couldn't bear the idea of ever being the reason for her pain, this was the very basis of his Infection. But if he wanted to protect her from this part of himself, Tobias knew he didn't have a choice.

Which is why, even as bile clogged up his throat, he proceeded.

"You need to leave. You're not welcome here anymore."

The words hung between the two of them for a few seconds that ticked by like an eternity, the nature around them holding its breath as it waited for the peaceful silence to shatter.

(Y/n) blinked incredulously, hurt and confusion written all over her features.

"What?"

Her voice sounded small, unsure of what she'd just heard. Tobias ached to go back on his words and reassure her. But he did no such thing.

"Did I stutter? I said, you're not welcome here anymore." He said harshly, and his heart wailed as (Y/n) flinched under his tone.

He had never talked to her like this before, not even on their first day.

It's for the best. I have to do this. Tobias reminded himself, trying to find peace of mind in the idea that he was doing the right thing, for the both of them. A sore consolation for his current heartbreak.

(Y/n) stared up at him, hurt evident in her gaze and the way she fiddled with the sleeves of her sweater.

"But- What happened? I don't understand, I thought we were-"

"Friends?" Tobias cut her off with a cruel smile and a mocking chuckle that had ice trickling down her spine. "Don't make me laugh. You're insufferable, the only reason I was nice to you was because you needed our help. Don't mistake my charitability for friendship. You and I will never be friends."

Part of Tobias prayed that (Y/n) would see through his lies, cut through his facade and strangle him for what he just said, because choking the air out of his lungs would always be less painful than what he was currently inflicting upon himself. But (Y/n) made no move to kick him or argue with him, she just stood there, perfectly still and disturbingly quiet.

Not that she needed to say anything though, the look on her features was plenty enough for Tobias to gauge the emotions currently washing over her.

Betrayal. Hurt. Anger.

Exactly what Tobias had hoped to accomplish. And he could have stopped there, but Tobias knew he had to keep going. If he wanted for (Y/n) to state away from him forever, he had to make sure she hated him. If he could make her punch him in the face, that would definitely be a bonus. Not that he thought her capable of doing such a thing, though. She was way too kind for that, even if he was being a total scum towards her.

"Oh please, don't cry. It's pathetic." He continued, looking away from her and brushing a hand through his hair. He felt like throwing up. "You're not a baby anymore. That's probably the reason your sister left in the first place, she was too fed up with your-"

The heat on his cheek registered before the pain did.

(Y/n) took a step back, holding her hand to her chest as she gazed up at him with wide, horrified (e/c) eyes. If anything, she seemed more shaken by her own slap to his face than he did. She had probably acted on impulse when he had talked about her sister. Tobias knew this was the line he needed to cross.

Usually, Tobias wouldn't have been too happy about someone slapping him in the face. But he couldn't fault her for it, hell, he wasn't even mad at her or remotely irritated.

He had hoped she would slap him, help him numb the pain in his chest. He just hadn't expected for her to actually do it.

That's my girl.

Tobias actually felt proud. The helpless and innocent (Y/n) he had met had grown into a woman who knew how and when to stand up for herself. At the very least, he could find some sort of comfort in the thought that she was a bit less vulnerable than when she first came to the city.

If only this could be enough to quiet the voices in his mind. Unfortunately, this was very poor reassurance for Tobias's Infection.

"I-I've got to go." (Y/n) said in a quiet voice, wiping the tears that had started to roll down her cheeks with her sleeve. "Sorry for... slapping you. You won't see me again."

Tobias stood there, unable to say a word as his lungs squeezed in his chest and his heart caved in on itself. He watched, wishing the floor would swallow him whole, as the woman he loved turned her back on him and took off running.

And Tobias didn't know how long he stayed there, rooted in place, before Marcus's hand gave his shoulder a comforting squeeze.

"You did the right thing, my boy."

If only Tobias could bring himself to think the same thing.