Just like that, Tobyās world seemed to flip around and totally fall back into place where it once was before. Toby remembered him. He knew who the vampire was. Their families were good with one another and when Juan wanted to get away from home, heād accept to babysit Toby when he was but a small wolf cub. They saw how good he was with Toby, even though he was a vampire. And they allowed him to take care of the youngest wolf when they were out of town. The two of them had bonded, on a much deeper level. But he didnāt want to ruin the moment now by reminding him, because this was making Juanās nonexistent heart swell. This beautiful boy remembered who he was and he was happy to see him again. Juan was happy to be back with his family, and tolerated Lucius, but this was something different. The bond they had back thenā¦Juan couldnāt find the words to describe just how meaningful it was to him. He laughed and hugged the smaller being tightly, with warmth and affection. Now he felt he was truly home.Ā āI missed you too!ā he said with a joyful laugh and rubbed the kidās back, taking in his scent. It never changed, even as he grew up. He smelled the same, the same scent Juan liked a lot.Ā āJust a week or so,ā Juan said when he pulled back and took a better look at the kid. He was taller, not as tall as Juan. Built too, lean and had muscle. That hair, Juan would kill for. That smileā¦all of that baby face had remained. It just had a bit more angular features now. This was a man in front of him, no longer a little boy.Ā āIām sorry, I am. Iām justā¦a lot of things are going on. But Iām here now. Weāreā¦weāre both here.ā It was like Juan forgot he was a total asshole, because it seemed to disappear anytime he was with Toby back then, and somehow now that never changed.Ā āWell, um, how about you come in and we can talk. We have a lot to talk about Iām sure. Just give me five to get cleaned up, yeah?ā Juan paused, and pulled Toby back into a hug, this time it was warm and loving and quiet.Ā āIāve missed you,ā he whispered into his ear.
āYou know, it would have been great if you kept in contact all these years.ā Toby started with a manner of chastising so unlike the easygoing, suave young man he was known for being. He had a knack of getting back on track with particular things, something that might prove to be a root cause for holding grudges in the near future, though it was highly impossible for him to have such against the older vampire. Even though he had readily heard how rough around the edges Juan was, how difficult he was to get along with from other people, and occasionally, through some shouting he heard from his end of the neighborhood (wolf ears be damned sometimes), he never figured out why others had perceived him so.
To Toby, he was all sorts of warm, ironic, given that he was a vampire. But he had always been kind to Toby, always been so sweet and caring, that it was hard for him to see that side of Juan, or at least, comprehend it even when he actually sees it being demonstrated on other people. And right now, nothing has changed, he was still gorgeous and charming and ever so affectionate, seeing him now as a teen boy had his knees buckling. His whispers gave him chills and itās that voice, he remembers, that same voice that turned knots out of Tobyās insides and riddles out of his own words. He missed him back just as much.Ā āDo you really need to get cleaned up?ā he inquires, propping his chin up against Juanās chest as he looks up at him, arms squeezing him further into the hug as he smiles oh so coyly.Ā āCanāt you just spoil me a little bit here and keep talking because I missed you tons.ā