A day before, on Monday.
It was late evening when Toby and Memis returned back home.
“Hey mom!” Toby closed the door behind him and took off his shoes.
“Hey.” His mother sat in the kitchen, watching TV while blowing smoke into the air. “I thought you wanted to get groceries after class.”
“Yeaah, I think I’m gonna do that tomorrow…” Toby set his skateboard aside and took off his blood-stained hoodie. Memis went ahead into the kitchen.
“Mh. Sure.” His mother put out her cigarette in the ashtray. “But do go then. We’re almost out of milk. And eggs.”
“Yeah yeah, I will…” Toby now joined her in the kitchen. “Have you eaten yet? I’m gonna heat up some TV dinner!”
“No… make me some, too.”
“Okay!” Toby took the food out of the freezer. “Memis, you can have the leftover pasta if you want to.”
“Oh yes!!” Memis barked. “I love pasta!”
Toby removed the plastic wrap from the plate and put it down on the floor, Memis immediately jumping on it.
Mrs. Williams watched the Dog Morpho for a second while Toby thawed the frozen food. “Is it really okay for him to eat human food all the time?”
“It’s okay~ He’s not an actual dog after all.” Toby removed the first meal after the microwave pinged and placed it down for his mother. “Actually, Morpho Mons aren’t too different from humans, biology wise.”
“Hm…” His mother didn’t look at him. “You really enjoy all that Morpho Mon Defender stuff…”
“Yes! It’s really interesting… I’m really glad I joined the Defenders.”
She didn’t reply, and quietly started eating.
Toby watched his food rotate in the microwave.
Today hadn‘t gone as planned, that was for sure. He‘d made a fool of himself in front of Roy, and despite ending the day on a more positive note after they had burgers and walked through the city, Toby still felt dissatisfied. He really wanted to tell him how he feels. But this day had set him back, and he hoped he’d get another opportunity again eventually.
But… Even if today hadn‘t been a disaster and Roy would have actually accepted his feelings.
How would he have told his mother?
As much as he was confident in his sexuality, he still hadn’t come out to her. Not that this was a big deal for him - he was more or less sure his mother wouldn’t mind. She had actually consumed media with openly gay and lesbian people in it, and had never said anything foul about them.
Still, Toby was unsure about how she’d react when he told her the truth. But there was no other way to find out then to just do it.
Toby took his food out of the microwave and sat down in front of her. He began eating quietly, not sure how to kick off this conversation.
“You look pensive, Toby.” Mrs. Williams pierced him with a stern look in her eyes.
“Mh?” Toby looked up.
“Is anything on your mind?”
“...” Toby pressed his lips together. “Well… actually…” He put down his fork. “Mom… what would you think… theoretically – if I got a partner… who wasn’t a girl….”
Mrs. Williams raised an eyebrow. “Elaborate?”
The brunette gulped. “I mean – what if my next partner was… a man…”
She puffed out air through her nose. “Toby. You know what I always tell you. I don’t care who you hook up with, as long as you use protection.”
Toby’s mouth stood slightly agape, but he didn’t say anything.
“It’s your life, not mine. As long as they don’t hurt you, you can date whoever you want. I don’t care.”
“... Okay…” Toby looked back down at his plate. While he was glad she didn’t mind, this response was also not really what he wanted to hear.
“You look awful, Toby.” She stood up and tossed the tv dinner plate. “When did you brush your hair last? It looks like a bird’s nest.”
“Uhm- Maybe- two days ago?”
“Stupid, you have to brush it every day.”
“... c-can you help me?”
“If you bring me your brush, sure.”
“Okay…” Toby got up from his seat and went to the bathroom to retrieve his hair brush.
“Toby? Are you okay?” Memis followed him.
“Hm? Oh yeah. I’m good, actually.” Toby smiled slightly at him. “Why don’t you go ahead to our room, maybe we can try to record some music later.”
“Mh… Okay. Call me if you need me!” Memis headed to Toby’s room.
Meanwhile Toby returned to the kitchen and gave his mother the brush.
“Sit down, Toby.”
He did as he was told, sitting down in the chair.
“You’re a mess…” Mrs. Williams removed his hair tie and moved her fingers through his hair to make it fall over his shoulders. “When are you going to cut it already? It’s been getting so long.”
“Mh… I actually like the look of it the way it is.”
“Tch.” She began to brush his hair from the bottom to the top. “You can’t even properly care for it anymore.”
Toby touched his own arms. “I’m sorry… I don’t mean to be a burden for you with this.”
“It’s fine, whatever.” She laid her hand on his head to slightly move it. “But you’re aware you’re at an age where you can’t just always rely on your mother to do everything for you, right?”
“Yeah…”
“One day I won’t be around anymore to brush your hair. Then it’s your problem.”
Toby looked to the ground. He liked the feel of having his hair brushed, but the current situation wasn’t comfortable for him at all.
“Here you go.” Mrs. Williams pressed the brush back into Toby’s hand.
“Thanks- I’ll go to my room.” Toby got up from his seat.
“Feel free.” She gave him the once over. “Toby, did you gain weight?”
“Huh?” Toby shook his head. “I- I don’t think so! Maybe I gained some muscle mass, I have trained quite a bit since I joined the Defenders.”
Mrs. Williams frowned. “Well. Pay some attention to your diet. I don’t want you to get fat.”
Toby gulped. “Sure, I will- thanks…” Toby left the kitchen and went to his room, silently closing the door.
He didn’t open it again until the next day.
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