Ticci Toby//

You were sitting on the grass, next to the fallen log where he used to hide. You'd become one of them a long time ago, even though you had to put up with Masky's complaints and Hoodie's indifference, but there was one boy who never, ever left you out...
Yesterday I asked you to meet me in the forest.

You heard it before you saw it: ragged breathing, a dry twitch in the neck, the scraping of axes against wood.

He appeared from among the trees, his hood up. He stopped a few steps away, not coming any closer. He jerked his neck sharply to one side, blinked rapidly, and clenched his teeth.

"You should... leave," he said suddenly, his voice breaking. "I... scare people. I'm... weird."

He took a step back, as if he expected you to run away. But you stayed still.

"My... my tics..." He touched his neck angrily, as if trying to silence himself. "They won't stop. I'm always... always moving. I'm broken. Aren't you afraid?"

You looked him in the eyes. You didn't move.

He froze. Another tic, stronger this time. He lowered his head, ashamed.

—Nobody… nobody stays. Everyone… leaves. They say I'm pathetic… that I'm dangerous.

You took a step toward him. He looked up suddenly, startled.

"Why?" she whispered, almost voiceless. "Why... don't you leave?"

You extended your hand slowly. He hesitated a long time. He was trembling. Finally, he brought his hand closer, slowly, as if he were afraid of breaking you. It was cold.

"No... I don't understand," he said, his voice breaking. "I'm... a mess."

—And yet… —he murmured, squeezing your hand gently tight—…you won’t leave.

He lowered his hood. He looked at you, and for the first time, he didn't look away.

"Okay... if you stay..." he whispered haltingly. "I... I'll take care of you. Nobody... nobody's going to hurt you. I swear."