wynnie-r:
“Yeah I mean… you don’t know what’s happening at his home, Tobes… give him a little grace…” Wynter hummed quietly, trying to focus on the contents in the pan not sticking to the only one they had left that wasn’t broken in some way. Sometimes it was hard to think about the ways to assure Toby the captain wasn’t an alcoholic while also being reminded of when her dad would come home from after-work-drinks. She had heard about the captain and his suspected drinking problem for three nights in a row now. Before that it was the receptionist who took too many smoke breaks, and before that was the new guy who couldn’t quite get the drills right.
Wynter loved Toby, and there was never any doubt that she did anything but love Toby. She missed him when he was at work, she missed him when he was in the shower after he got home from work, and all she ever looked forward to at the end of every day was simply being with Toby. Wynter listened to every word he said, day after day, year after year. She felt like it was such a privilege to get to lay with him and listen to him speak whatever was on his mind. Wynter had worked to gain the trust to listen to his thoughts, his troubles, his jokes, and she loved it. But sometimes, just sometimes, she felt like she was only there to listen.
Not just to Toby, but to everyone. Being the youngest, smallest, and quietest sibling meant everyone shared their woes with her, as if she hadn’t experienced it too. Her oldest brother was battling his own sobriety journey, one she had watched him struggle with since the time they were homeless. He had slipped up again just that morning when he was brought back to her sisters house by the police. Her sister, who was having troubles in her own marriage, had called Wynter in hysterics about both situations. Toby’s youngest sister called to report that Elena had forgotten to pick them up from school, again. Did Toby even know that yet?
Toby, who was going through his own inner turmoil, again, had just said something about wanting a beer. A beer right now also sounded like the most tempting thing to Wynter. Wait no, he said it was nicer to come home to her. Turning around, she looked up at him and smiled, she had missed his face all day. Standing on her tiptoes, Wyn gave him a small peck on the cheek before turning back around to the stove. “Hey can you reach that spice up there… I can’t reach it and you’re so tall”
He hummed in response, considering her soft tone for a moment before the image of his captain’s life outside of work came flooding back. He was certainly a lonely man. His children had grown up and moved out, he was divorced. The only thing that he had was his job and that old ass dog. That has to be enough to drive someone to drink. Although, anything is a good enough reason when you’re searching. “How much grace are you supposed to give someone?” Toby questioned, both confused and exasperated, “I mean- we are responsible for peoples lives. Each others lives.”
It was a small gesture. A quick kiss and then she was back to work. “Are you flirting with me, Miss. Rhodes?” Toby teased, drawing out the last name that he was hoping to use significantly less in the future. He held her hip with one hand as he leaned over and picked up the seasoning, using his ‘balance’ as an excuse to hold her close. It was easy to flirt, it came naturally to him, so he was grateful to use it as an excuse to push the conversation away from his admitting to wanting a beer. Placing his chin gently on her shoulder, he handed her the spice and tried not to let his mind continue to spiral. “This looks great,” he spoke softly, but his head was tilted now- admiring her profile for just a second longer. He was an incredibly lucky man. She was beautiful. Talented. Kind. Patient. Funny. Toby was sure that he had never laughed so much until he met her. He wasn’t deserving of her, and yet, here he was holding her in their little kitchen listening to music they both knew by heart. “You look great,” he added soon after, reaching over her shoulder to tilt her head toward him gently so he could kiss her for the first time since he got home. Well- the first kiss that wasn’t just the quick kiss on the forehead she got every time he got home, or the sweet one she had just given his cheek. Even after all of this time, she was the only one he could ever see himself loving forever. He didn’t want to end up like the captain. Alone. Drunk. Sad.
Letting her go, reluctantly, he returned to his place leaning against the countertop. “Did I tell you that we had to go to the underground the other night?” Toby started up again- his mind back on topic. “Not exactly inside, but that platform area before the stairs, you know?” He asked, glancing toward her even though he hardly stopped for her to say either way as he assumed she didn’t. Had she ever been there? The memories of his time spent down there was spotty at best, but he was sure if he was going to ask anyone to help him down there…it was going to be Sam. He wouldn’t have put Wyn anywhere near there on purpose. “Someone had a shitty fire pit and it basically caught that whole area on fire. No one was hurt or even around…but it was crazy to be back there. Have you heard from Sam any time recently?”
"I don't have the answer to that..." The conversation was quiet, a weird topic to be casually talking about, and yet was talked about constantly in their house. "How much would you wanna be given at that point?" She shrugged, thinking back to when he was in those actual steps, certain he wasn't always at work sober. And yet wanting to lighten the mood and talk about something else for the night, she lifted the spoon to up to him to try whatever she was making.
She blushed, like always when he teased her, trying not to drop the contents of the spoon when he playfully pushed her over. "No come on don't spill!" Wyn laughed when he pulled her in, still flirting with her even though they did this all the time. Her new ring still felt heavy on her hand in a fun way, and the engagement glow hadn't faded. "Well did it taste good too? I don't know how to cook you know this.." But blushed harder when she was interrupted by a kiss. All the two ever did was be with each other, and yet it never got old. "You're the one flirting with me!" She poked at him, pretending to be busy with cooking but she just wanted to flirt back.
Picking up the spoon, Wyn gave Toby a side eye at the mention of the underground. It never led to anything good, even in conversation. Listening to his story, she could see it all in her head. She didn't really know how to respond besides shaking her head, wishing it should've burned down if no one was there. "Lucky it wasn't down the stairs. Or did you have to go inside? Like to the main area?" She questioned, hoping he wouldn't have to have seen too much. "Were you there the time there was that huge fire in that back area?" When Sam came into the conversation Wynter turned more to look over at Toby, trying to gauge his tone. "No, you know I haven't..." She was sure he had something to do with her own brother's relapse last night, and really didn't want to argue about him. "Have you?"
