In Time RP (Polo!)

“Hold on.” Toby's voice stopped him, and Griffin froze, glancing back questioningly.
“Let me get my jacket.”
Blinking in surprise,  Griffin nodded mutely, and waited for Toby to grab his jacket from the hook, then join him at the door, looking completely ready to go. Griff, on the other hand, seemed unsure. "Toby," He began uncertainly, "What-"
Suddenly, an accusing finger jabbed towards him, and Griffin fell silent with a little squeak of surprise, squinting to see the tip of Toby's finger hovering inches from his nose.
“But I'm only going for an induction." His boyfriend informed him firmly, "Don't get any ideas.”
He looked at Toby, considering him for a moment, then frowned and shook his head. "No." He said firmly, "Toby, listen to me." He reached out to touch Toby's cheek, his eyes searching the man's face gently, "I don't want you to think you have to do this, or that I'll be upset if you don't. It was just an idea, that's all, and there are plenty of other jobs that you could do." He pulled back, stuffing his hands into his pockets, and raised his shoulders slightly as he looked up at Toby. "I just don't want you to feel like I'm trying to push you to do something you don't want to do," He sighed, "I just want to make sure you're safe, so I can sleep at night. That's it."
Shrugging, Griffin shrank away, fiddling with his keys in his hand. He wasn't sure why he suddenly felt so timid and insecure again, but he did. Toby's fear of Timekeepers had never occurred to him before, and now that it had, he was starting to wonder if his idea perhaps wasn't so smart after all. Sure, Toby would be less likely to become a suspect working in the belly of the beast, but if he screwed up even once, he'd be locked up before even leaving the building. For perhaps the first time, reality began to truly hit him. His whole life, he had lost everyone he ever cared about. That was why, for a long time, he had stopped caring altogether. Now, Toby meant the whole goddamn world to him, and his life had already been on the line since day one. Since he'd moved to New Greenwich, he was basically just a sitting duck.
With a sickening crunch of fear in the pit of his stomach, Griffin remembered at last exactly why he had tried so hard to break it off with Toby before he moved away. He was terrified, terrified to the point of feeling physically ill, that somehow he would lose his boyfriend.

“No.”
Toby stopped and blinked at Griffin. Wasn't this what he wanted?
A hand rested on his cheek and Toby frowned at it. He noticed Griffin looking at him with great empathy. Why? He'd already made up his mind...
“Toby, listen to me. I don't want you to think you have to do this, or that I'll be upset if you don't. It was just an idea, that's all, and there are plenty of other jobs that you could do.”
Toby looked bored by this point. But you would get upset. You got upset just now and I hadn't even turned it down.
“I just don't want you to feel like I'm trying to push you to do something you don't want to do. I just want to make sure you're safe, so I can sleep at night. That's it.”
This actually made him smile. After everything that had happened last night, and Griff wanted to make sure Toby was safe? Seriously?
“It's just an induction.” Toby assured him, taking the hand off his cheek and wrapping his fingers gently around them. “I'll go. There's no point turning it down until I've tried it anyway.”
Smiling fondly, he rand a hand through Griffin's hair – messing it up purposely – until his hand found the back of his head. He pushed their foreheads together and closed his eyes contently, then released a small sigh.
“I know you care about me. But honestly, I'm okay. If it doesn't work out I'll look for something else. No point sitting here on my own all day.”
He kissed Griff's nose gently, then pulled away and yanked on his jacket. “Come on. There's n point us both being late, is there?”

“It's just an induction.” Toby said, taking hold of his hand, “I'll go. There's no point turning it down until I've tried it anyway.” Griffin's eyes scanned his face, wide with worry. "But-" Toby smiled, and Griffin stepped when he felt a heavy hand ruffle his hair. "Hey!" He objected, twitching away, and smiling despite himself. He let Toby ease his head forward, and slid his eyes shut when his forehead met Toby's. He took a deep breath, releasing it in a shaky sigh.
“I know you care about me." Toby murmured, mirroring his sigh, "But honestly, I'm okay. If it doesn't work out I'll look for something else. No point sitting here on my own all day. Come on. There's n point us both being late, is there?”
A pair of lips met his nose, and Griffin grunted in surprise, pulling back, and wrinkling his nose. "I..." He rubbed the back of his head uncertainly, lifting his own jacket from the rack. "I guess..."
He swallowed anxiously, then shrugged on his jacket, and pulled open the door. It was windy outside, and the air tasted of snow. Griffin breathed out a mouthful of steam, and tugged at the collar of his jacket, squaring his shoulders against the chill.
He waited for Toby to join him, then closed the door, and headed for his car, hands thrust deep into his pockets. The usual smile on his face wasn't there, now. Instead, it had been replaced by a number of worried creases in his forehead, but if Griffin was worried, then he didn't say a word. He never did, after all. It simply wasn't his way. He couldn't think it, though... In fact, he couldn't stop thinking it.
What if they catch you? What if they take you away, and there's nothing I can do? What if... I have to be alone... And start over, all over again?
What do I do?

Toby smiled fondly at Griffin's response, but when he didn't get any sort of patronising punishment back, or any sort of retort really, he began to gget worried. Griff had changed his tune to this whole idea very quickly, hadn't he?
They left the house in silence, but when they headed towards Griff's car Toby caught a glimpse of worry in Griffin's eyes, and he felt himself frown. This had been Griff's idea. He'd been so excited to bring Toby to work with him, so why the change of heart?
Even more, why wasn't he saying if something was bothering him?
“Griffin.” Toby murmured, stopping his boyfriend by catching his hand gently before he could get in the Mazda. “Come on, mate. Tell me what's bothering you. I can't read your mind, you know.”
Toby cocked his head to one side, studying Griff with concern in his eyes. He couldn't understand it... But he guessed this is what Griffin had done the whole time when anything was bothering him. He'd done it with the assassin when he'd found out it was his father who had sent her, and it had taken him a while to finally open up.
Eventually Toby's gaze softened, and he gently traced a thumb over the skin under Griffin's eye like it would break if he touched it too roughly.
“Do you want me to come with you? Be honest.”

((Just read over my last post, and realized how utterly terrible my writing was... Sorry about that. XD ))

As he was about to get into the car, Griffin felt a hand catch his wrist, and he stopped obediently upon hearing his name, glancing back toward Toby. “Come on, mate. Toby urged gently, "Tell me what's bothering you. I can't read your mind, you know.”
He studied Toby's face uncertainly, then smiled and said simply, "It's nothing. Come on, we'll be late..." He tried to turn back to the car, but a touch on his cheek stopped him, and he looked back at Toby, blinking timidly. If anything, the gentility in his boyfriend's eyes seemed to put him on edge even more than before.
“Do you want me to come with you? Be honest.”
"Yes," Griffin answered automatically, then, "No... I don't know."
He sighed, leaning back against the Mazda, and dropping his head to watch the ground at his feet.
"It's..." He swallowed, "It's just-"
Again, he broke off, and for a while he just stood there, kicking absently at a loose stone on the ground. Honestly, he wasn't sure if he wanted to confess what was bothering him... He didn't want Toby to think he'd become totally dependent on him, or that he couldn't live without him or something. He didn't want to let the man realize just how attached Griffin had grown to him.
"What if I'm wrong?" He whispered at last, surprising even himself with his thoughts. They had slipped from the back of his mind to his tongue without him even realizing it, but now that he'd started, there was no going back. Slowly, he looked up, meeting Toby's gaze with fear in his eyes, "What if it all falls apart, and they do figure it out? I didn't want you to come here in the first place..." Blinking quickly, he looked away again, and swallowed thickly. "What if I lose you?"

((It wasn't, I promise. XD Sorry, mine's a bit al over the place today. ))

“Yes.” Griff replied automatically. Then, “No... I don't know.”
Ah, so there was something going on.
Griffin tried to explain himself, but he couldn't seem to get a grasp over his words, so ended up kicking miserably at loose pebbles on the floor instead. Toby leant against the Mazda, dangerously close to setting it's alarm off, and studied Griffin curiously. It seemed Toby's outburst had made Griff realise another side to his plan, and he wasn't so confident about it than before. It seemed he'd decided his idea was a bad one after all.
Perhaps it would save both of them stressing if he didn't go in there that day. Griff had got away with himself, but it seemed now he couldn't see the side to this idea that he had before.
“What if I'm wrong?” He asked suddenly, surprising them both. Toby frowned at him. Griff looked terrified. “What if it all falls apart, and they do figure it out? I didn't want you to come here in the first place...”
Yes you did, Toby thought to himself, remembering the way Griffin had greeted him in the Timekeeper HQ car park.
Griff blinked quickly as if pushing back tears, and then added in quietly, looking up into Toby's concerned gaze. “What if I lose you?”
Wow... Griff really looked scared now. But honestly, Toby was touched. Rarely did he see Griff show so much weakness in front of him, and especially now, he got to see for himself exactly how much Griffin cared.
Sighing, Toby wrapped an arm around Griff's head and pulled it to his chest, cradling it like a child. He was smiling fondly. “Griff, after everything that happened last night, and you're worried about losing me?” The grin was obvious in his voice, but Toby was proud. Proud that Griff worried about him, cared about him. It made him want to show Griff even more gratitude for it.
He stroked the man's fluffy hair, caressing the back of his neck and kissing his head every now and then.
“Come on, Gryfindor. I'm your Superman, aren't I?” He murmured with a swagger, cupping Griff's face and easing it up to look at him. Toby's eyes shone. “Wherever you are, whatever's happened, call me, and you know I'll always come running. No matter what.” He cooed, kissing the man's soft forehead.
“Now I guess if the thought of me going to work in a Timekeeper's HQ makes us both nervous, I'd better leave it for now.” He winked, then let his hands drop to his pockets coolly. “But I'll take your advice and go job-hunting. Your lunch break is at twelve-thirty, yes? I'll be outside with a surprise for you.”

When he saw Toby's arm reaching for his head, Griffin tried to pull away, too stubborn to let Toby comfort him. He didn't want reassurance, and he damn sure didn't want pity. Already, he was kicking himself for what he'd said. Toby didn't need to know how he felt. That knowledge only gave him power, and power was something that Griffin was in no position to give away. He never had been. Still, when Toby's arm folded around his head and pulled him forwards, Griffin stumbled into the man's embrace without objection, letting his eyes slide shut as he rested his cheek against Toby's warm, strong chest. He had to admit, he did feel safe. Whether he liked it or not, Toby was  his rock. Without him, Griffin would be completely lost. The past week had showed him that much.
“Griff," Toby's voice said at his ear, "After everything that happened last night, and you're worried about losing me?" He could hear the smile in Toby's voice, but his own lips remained tight, even when he felt his boyfriend's hand stroking his hair. Of course he was worried, now more than ever. If anything happened to Toby, well... Who would look after him? It hurt his pride sorely to think it, but deep down, he knew he couldn't look after himself. He wasn't big and strong, and he could hardly hold his own in a fight. If Renwick's men tracked him down, which they were bound to, eventually, he was counting on having Toby there to protect him. How could he do that if he was locked up in a jail cell?
“Come on, Gryfindor. I'm your Superman, aren't I?” Shocked, he drew in a hiss of breath, and his eyes widened when Toby lifted his chin. It was as if Toby had read his mind...
“Wherever you are, whatever's happened, call me, and you know I'll always come running. No matter what.”
Uncertainly, his eyes searched Toby's face, but as much as he tried to trust in the man's promise, his logical mind could conjure nothing but doubt. How was Toby supposed to 'come running' if he was already locked up, or worse, dead?
The man's lips met his forehead, and Griffin held his stony silence, bowing his head to accept the kiss. "Toby," He murmured softly, "You know it doesn't work like-"
“Now I guess if the thought of me going to work in a Timekeeper's HQ makes us both nervous, I'd better leave it for now.” Toby chirped casually, cutting off his halfhearted objection, “But I'll take your advice and go job-hunting. Your lunch break is at twelve-thirty, yes? I'll be outside with a surprise for you.”
"No," He pushed Toby gently back, and forced a smile, trying to hide the lingering worry from his face. "Don't bother meeting me," He said, pulling open the door of the Mazda, "I never take a lunch break, anyway. There's too much work to do." He swung himself into his seat and buckled up the seatbelt, then looked to Toby with a gentle smile. "I'll see you at home, okay? If you need any references for a job, give them my number. My name should mean something." He reached over to squeeze Toby's hand, then closed the door and started the engine. "See you later!" He called, offering a brief wave as he reversed down the driveway. Now that it came down to it, he just wanted to get away as soon as possible. His mind was infested with worry, and for all Toby's comforting, the image of his boyfriend locked up and helpless was all that his mind's eye could see.
He can't come near HQ. If they even see him, then... I don't know. I just don't know.
Compared to Dayton, New Greenwich was a whole new ball game. And frankly, Griffin was beginning to feel a little outclassed.

Toby lowered his face to kiss Griffin's lips, when his boyfriend stopped him. What was wrong this time? Then Griff tried in the friendliest way to tell him not to come at all, not to even pick him up, and Toby looked at him strangely. He'd been in the car park before. Some of the Timekeepers would already know Griff was with someone. If Toby was there for a few minutes it wouldn't matter, he wouldn't need to approach the building, would he?
Perhaps it wasn't the best idea, but Toby knew Griff was going to be lonely going back to work for a whole day and not seeing him. Would it hurt to pop over during lunch to see how he was?
“I'll see you at home, okay? If you need any references for a job, give them my number. My name should mean something.” Griff had sat in the Mazda by this point, and reached over to squeeze Toby's hand, like he'd been the one on the midst of tears a minute ago.
“See you later!”
“Yeah, you'd better,” Toby replied, unsmiling, and returned the brief wave before the Mazda reversed into the driveway. Toby crossed his strong arms over his chest and watched it disappear out of the mansion, hoping he'd see it again that day.

Not long after this, Toby had got together a few copies of a CV he'd thrown together, along with Griffin's number. He remained dressed as he was, in a black, leather jacket and a blue checked shirt, along with coloured chinos and a pair of Italian, tan-leather business-shoes.
He was out the entire day travelling around the city, although he had a feeling he'd barely scratched the surface of the place, but he managed to find a few decent areas that were interested in hiring him.
He based his search on bars and hotels, ranging in class and pay, and surprisingly all recommended he wore an arm warmer on one wrist. To be honest he'd missed those. But... One?
The last place he found was a casino bar, only for the top of the tops, and the pay was extravagant, plus the tips were ridiculous. You could be given an extra day just for smiling at the customers.
Ironically, this was the place who seemed most interested in employing him, and although it was far more than he'd hoped,Toby knew he'd blend in like the furniture here. Rich people didn't pay attention to the people serving their drinks, and as long as you didn't say too much they pretty much left you alone.
The pay was a month an hour. He'd be loaded by the end of his first day.
He gave the boss – a broad man with a shiny, bald head and a suit he was falling out of – Griffin's number for reference and his own, and the boss told him to come the next day for an induction.

By the time Griff had arrived home, Toby was grinning from ear-to-ear, ready to greet him at the door.
“Guess who has an induction at the Rendezvous casino tomorrow.” He winked, waving the sheet of paper with the boss' number on in Griffin's face.

(('Cuz jobs just kinda fly in like that. ))

From the moment he arrived at work, Griffin knew it was going to be a bad day. He sat down at his usual desk, took out his same mundane paperwork, and began working away at it like a plough horse, plodding steadily through the stack of pointless papers. He had always enjoyed being a Timekeeper, but with this lousy New Greenwich office work, he was coming to hate it. Everything had to do with fraud, or petty family feuds that were only important enough to be considered Timekeepers' business because the people involved were so loaded, they could buy off the entire force. There was nothing to investigate, and nothing to do. So, after his 'work' was complete in the next two hours, Griffin spent the rest of the day researching Charles Renwick, to see what he could find out.  He learned nothing of importance, but he did gain a little more insight into Renwick, or at least, into the public image of him. He lived in a mansion up on Falcon's rest, a pristine mountain near the outskirts of town. The website mentioned round-the-clock security, high electric fences, and a number of other extreme precautions for keeping people out. If he was to get inside that fortress, it would take some serious planning. Not that he intended to infiltrate Renwick's home, of course... What would be the point of that?

When at last the clock struck five, Griffin packed up his things and turned to go. He had not spoken to any of his colleagues that day - or at all, really, since moving to NG. Toby's initial absence had left him feeling a little depressed, and even now Toby was here, the assassination attempt had been of little help. Frankly, he was struggling even to pretend to be his bright, chirpy self. All he felt was worry and stress, and by the time he arrived home, the weight had still not lifted from his shoulders. He parked the Mazda in his double garage, then let himself into the house, to be greeted by Toby waving a sheet of paper at him the moment he stepped through the door.
“Guess who has an induction at the Rendezvous casino tomorrow.” His boyfriend boasted, grinning from ear to ear. In an instant, Griffin's worries fell right to the back of his mind. "What?" he mirrored Toby's grin, and threw his arms around the man's neck, giving him a firm squeeze, "Toby, that's awesome! Congratulations!" He set his boyfriend at an arm's length, grinning, then punched him playfully on the shoulder and said, "Come on, let's celebrate! I think I've got some champers in the frigde." He winked, kicking the door closed, then grabbing Toby's arm and running off to the kitchen with him in tow. He wrenched open the fridge door and grabbed the bottle of champagne, pulling it out excitedly. "I'm so proud of you!" He chirped, and he meant it, too. A job at the Rendezvous would keep Toby perfectly out of the spotlight, but not so far out that he looked shadowy and suspicious. It was the ideal cover, and Griffin was relieved.
Without a thought as to where he aimed it, Griffin shot the cork out of the champagne bottle, only to have it bounce of the ceiling and hit him right in the forehead. The force of it knocked his head back, and Griffin nearly dropped the bottle in his shock, only just managing to steady his grip on it before it hit the ground. Bruised and dizzy, he rubbed his sore forehead, and stared dazedly at the cork on the floor.
"What did I just do?" He asked blankly, blinking down at it, "I feel woozy."

Toby's grin broadened at Griffin's reaction. He knew the man had been down all day, he could tell from the dull look in his eye, but the second Griff digested the news his face lit up considerably. Toby chuckled with pure glee, glad to make his boyfriend better, and kept his words to a minimum in order to gain his reward quicker – he was hoping a passionate kiss, or something amorous along those lines – which ended up happening in his favour. He caught Griffin before he could be overthrown by a man smaller than him and dug his face into Griffin's neck. He was proud of himself, definitely. It might be a slightly tedious job and not as friendly as his last one, but it was still ideal.
He didn't get anything much more amorous than a hug, but Griffin still showed he cared, as if his reaction wasn't enough. Toby followed him excitedly to the fridge, where Griff pulled out a bottle of champagne, and opened it eagerly. Unfortunately the cork seemed to have something against him, as it shot like a bullet to the ceiling and dropped back on his head.
Toby winced for him.
“What did I just do?” He asked with a puzzled look. “I feel woozy.”
“Yeah...[/i]” Toby smirked, wrapping an arm around the small of Griff's back and leading him back to the lounge. “I think you'd better sit down. I'll get some glasses.”
And he did. He retrieved two champagne glasses from the cupboard, thinking about how much he was going to be doing this the next day, and brought them back to Griffin.
“Come on, Gryfindor. Drink up.” He urged cheekily, pouring them both a glassful and sipping away at his own. “It'll make you feel better. And after this, I'll show you my new uniform. They won't let me wear any different, unfortunately.”

Shaking his head to dispel the dizziness - and regretting it the moment his bruised forehead started throbbing - Griffin allowed Toby to guide him to the couch, where he sat down automatically. "Thank you." He said, flashing a sheepish grin at his boyfriend. Trust him to get hit in the face with a cork. He and champagne had never really got along 'sparklingly'.
Soon enough, Toby returned with a pair of glasses as promised, and Griffin took one, holding it up to accept his champagne. Just because he didn't get along with it didn't mean he didn't enjoy a good swig of bubbly now and again.
“Come on, Gryfindor. Drink up.” Toby said as he filled his glass, “It'll make you feel better. And after this, I'll show you my new uniform. They won't let me wear any different, unfortunately."
Griffin didn't need to be told twice. He drained is his champagne on one, then set the glass down on the table, looking expectantly at Toby.
"Ooooh," He teased, grinning, "Got a fancy uniform have we? Name tag and everything I'll bet." He leaned forward toward Toby, smirking deviously, and reached out to kiss his lips. Then, at the last minute, he snatched the champagne glass from Toby's hand instead, raised it to his lips, and downed it the same way as the first one.
"More for me." He said with a hiccup, winking at Toby as he picked up the bottle of bubbly, hugging it like a newborn child. "Now go put on this uniform you've been bragging about," He dismissed Toby with a wave of his hand, "Go on, I want to see."
He took another swig of champagne straight from the bottle. His cheeks were starting to show some colour now, as a happy warmth started spreading through him. Ut had been a bad day - it always was, at the office - but he was starting to feel better about it now. He supposed it had something to do with Toby. Somehow, being around his boyfriend always made a bad day better.
((Yeah. Nothing to do with him getting all drunk. XD Denial, mate. ))

Toby blinked as Griff downed the champagne in one go shamelessly like it was water, then look at him expectantly. If he kept going the way he was Griff was going to be bladdered in the next ten minutes.
“Got a fancy uniform have we? Name tag and everything I'll bet.” Toby frowned at the sudden flirty behaviour, suspicion suddenly dawning. Griff wanted something, he knew it, and he had a feeling he wouldn't like it.
“Actually, not yet...” He muttered, watching Griff's lips creep closer to his. In a way he just wanted to hold the man and kiss him, kiss those lips until they were swollen with longing. Except there was something wrong. Griff didn't kiss him out of the blue unless he was either encouraged or he wanted something. Then, before he could shrug and kiss them anyway, his champagne glass was snatched from under his nose and Griff pulled away to gulp down his entire drink.
“Oi!” Toby snapped, only mildly annoyed, then tried to reach for his glass. But it was already empty. “You jerk.”
“More for me.” Griff gurgled, hiccuping with the alcohol in his body. He then picked upthe champagne bottle and held it like a child held it's teddy, his entire body beginning to curl protectively around it. Toby just glared at him.
He felt so used.
“Now go put on this uniform you've been bragging about.” His boyfriend ordered, ignoring Toby's sulky expression. “Go on, I want to see.”
“I don't know.” Toby narrowed his eyes. “If I look too handsome you might want to break up with your new partner.” He nodded to the champagne bottle, but stood up anyway. Honestly, he was rather looking forward to showing off his uniform. He'd seen the other employees wearing them, and they were down right classy. He just prayed it fit him.
“If you fall asleep whilst I'm getting ready I'll steal your champagne.” He called over his shoulder, picking up the pile of clothes and heading to the downstairs bathroom to change.

Fifteen minutes later he came back out again.
He'd made a complete transformation even compared to the luxury outfits he now wore in New Greenwich. The uniform was simple: a navy blue, long-sleeved shirt tucked into a pair of black trousers, covered with a satin, black waistcoat. The shirt was buttoned right to the throat, embellished with a black bow tie with the 'Rendezvous' logo of a silver dove perched on a fancy 'R'. Toby had brushed back his hair and held it there with water, to create the image that it had been gelled, and he had even put on the pair of shiny, black shoes they had given him.
He adjusted his bow tie, then opened his arms out to gesture to himself with a cocky little smirk. He knew he looked good, and he felt it too. Luxuries like this hadn't been possible in Dayton, but he had to admit, he was enjoying his stay here.
“How do I look, sir?” He mocked, as if Griffin were a customer and he was the bar man.

“I don't know.” Toby replied, and Griffin raised an eyebrow in response, “If I look too handsome you might want to break up with your new partner.”
"Oh, I don't know." He answered with a cheeky little smile, stroking the bottle in his hands, "Champers here just gets me, you know? Great kisser, too."
As if to prove his point, he rolled back on the couch, raising the bottle of champagne to his lips, and sucking out another great, bubbly mouthful. He kicked his feet childishly in the air, smirking to himself as Toby finally walked off to get changed.
“If you fall asleep whilst I'm getting ready I'll steal your champagne.” Toby's voice called back, echoing from the bathroom. Affronted, Griffin resurfaced from the top of his champagne bottle, and shouted back, "You two-timing whore!"
Huffing in satisfaction, he leaned back in the couch again, cradling the bottle of champagne in the crook of his arm, then picking up the remote with his other hand, and flicking through the channels on the TV. He had just settled down to watch 'Finding Nemo', when Toby emerged from the bathroom, looking rather fine indeed.

"Well!" He grinned, hopping to his feet, and leaving the champagne balanced precariously on the couch cushion. It seemed that Toby's new look had trumped the alcohol after all.
"Don't you look swish?" Griff praised, setting his hands on Toby's shoulders, and feeling the crisp, clean material of the fancy new shirt. "Very posh indeed, sir." He pulled playfully on Toby's bowtie, then stood on his toes to mess up his hair, flashing a savage grin. "Although, I think this look suits you better. I never applied to trade my surly Dayton barkeeper in for this fancy corporate sellout."
He offered a teasing smirk to take the sting from his words, and reached up to give Toby a peck on the lips, assuring him that it was only a joke.
"Want some bubbly?" He asked innocently, "If there's any left, that is."

“Don't you look swish?” Griffin praised him, and Toby accepted it like royalty. He didn't care that Griffin's words were slurring and he wasn't being the most romantic he could be. “Very posh indeed, so.”
“Thank you.” Toby responded proudly, then quickly brought a hand to his bow tie as Griff tugged at it to keep the man from stealing it. The last thing he wanted was sweaty marks on it before he'd even started work. Then, whilst he was occupied protecting that, Griff reached on his tiptoes and ruffled at Toby's wet hair, splashing tiny droplets onto his shoulders. He pulled a face at the gesture.
“Although I think this look suits you better. I never applied to trade my surly Dayton barkeeper in for this fancy corporate sellout.”
“Sellout?” Toby echoed, raising an eyebrow. But before he had the chance to think of a retort, Grif had kissed him briefly to shut him up. Toby shrugged. Griff was drunk. As long as as he didn't cross forbidden territory, Toby would forgive him. As long as he got something out of it.
“[i]Want some bubbly?” Griff asked innocently. “If there's any left, that is.”
Toby wondered what he was talking for a moment, and even he started to blush. Then he noticed the champagne, abandoned on the sofa, and released a breath he didn't realise he'd been holding.
“No, you can have it.” One side of his mouth lifted into a cocky smirk. “I just hope you don't have work tomorrow, mister. Because if you do...” He bowed his head slightly, catching Griffin's chin before he could look away or go shy. “I'm so going to make life hell for you in the morning.”
He chuckled deviously, winked, and pecked Griffin's lips in response.
“Now I'm going to go change before you drool on me. I know I'm sexy and all, but...” He shrugged, like this was normal to admit, and fled back to the bathroom. “No spilling the bubbly!”

"Oh, please." Griffin scoffed, pausing to allow Toby's peck, then dismissing his teasing with a wave of his hand, raising his chin proudly out of Toby's grasp, "I haven't had that much, you know. The bottle's still half full." He folded his arms, and narrowed his eyes, as though daring Toby to point out that it was also half empty, and Griffin was the only one who had touched it... He knew that. He had done the math.
"For the record, I'm not drunk." He added stubbornly, "If I was, you'd know."
“Now I'm going to go change before you drool on me." Toby told him, clearly not interested in hearing his excuses, "I know I'm sexy and all, but...” Griffin rolled his eyes, standing with his weight on one leg as he watched Toby go, looking thoroughly unimpressed by his over-confidence.
“No spilling the bubbly!” His boyfriend added as he vanished into the bathroom. Griffin huffed in response, rolling his eyes.
"Wouldn't dream of it..." He muttered to himself. "Not without reason, anyway..."
A dark smirk curved his lips as he thought of Toby's cocky expression, and he grabbed the Champagne bottle by the neck, holding it as though to choke it. He had a feeling that it was time for a certain 'sexy someone' to get the hell off his high horse, and eat some humble pie. ((It's raining cliches. XD )) Not to mention the fact that he had to get Toby back for implying that he was drunk - which he so wasn't.
He tipped the bottle slightly to one side in his hand, smirking at his cruel reflection in the dark green glass, then he dropped it to his side, and strolled casually to the bathroom door. Opening it shamelessly, he walked straight up to Toby - who appeared to have stripped down to his boxers by this point - and cheerfully emptied the entire champagne bottle over his head, smiling sweetly.
"You gotta accessorize to be sexy, Tobes." He pointed out snidely, clapping Toby roughly on the cheek.
"Here." He pushed the empty bottle of bubbly into Toby's hands, "You finish it. You look cold."
Looking thoroughly pleased with himself, he snickered deviously, then turned on his heel and flounced out of the room, twirling his fingers in a cheeky backwards wave.
If there was one thing Griffin Everett would never be, it was predictable.

Toby spent a while undressing out of his work clothes, because he tried to make sure to fold them all up neatly in a pile once he was done with them. He'd just finished folding his trousers and had placed them carefullly on a pile on the lid of a toilet seat, when the bathroom door opened suddenly behind him. Toby checked in a moment of panic to make sure he had his underpants on – thankfully he had – and shot Griff a strange look.
“Didn't you know the bathroom's vaca-” He began snidely, except he was silenced by something shockingly cold and fizzy being poured over his head, shocking him into silence. Champagne dribbled down his bare chest, causing his muscles to tense at the sudden change in temperature.
He was drenched. All over his hair, face, shoulders and stomach. He licked his lips to make sure it was champagne. Yup. Definitely champagne.
“You gotta accessorize to be sexy, Tobes.” Griffin told him dryly, then, unfazed by Toby;'s glare, shoved the empty champagne bottle in his hands. “Here. You finish it. You look cold.”
Toby's eyes glanced down at the bottle in his hand, then at Griffin, then back at the bottle. Then, very slowly, a smile pulled onto his lips.
“You got me.” He replied, nodding for some reason. “That was very clever.” At first it seemed like he was admitting defeat. He put the champagne bottle carefully on the floor, causing droplets to trickle down his fingers and onto the tiled flooring. He was even smiling. Except, Toby wasn't going to let Griffin get away with that.
“Now,” He turned around, his shoulders square yet towering above Griffin's. His eyes twinkled deviously. “How about a hug?”
I'm not going to be the only on soaked in champagne, mister. Whether you like it or not.
He opened his arms out, and with that started strolling to Griffin shamelessly in nothing but his boxers.

“You got me.” Toby admitted, and Griffin stopped to smirk smugly at him. He knew that. “That was very clever.”
"Come on, Toby." He perched a hand on his hip, and raised an eyebrow, looking far too satisfied with himself, "Who are you talking to?"
Silence spanned between them, and Griffin watched as Toby slowly placed the champagne bottle on the floor, then straightened up and began advanc9ing towards him. From the smile on his face, Griffin could tell that he was planning something.
"Toby...?" He asked cautiously, taking a step back. He had expected Toby to be a little more shy about being caught in his skivvies, but he supposed that had been one extreme misjudgment on his part. Since when had Toby shown any sort of shame about anything?
The man's bare, champagne-covered chest was inching closer to him, and soon enough, Griffin was the one who was blushing. He didn't know how he hadn't seen this coming.
“Now,” Toby looked directly at him, and the twinkle in his eye made Griffin want to bolt before it was too late. He froze, eyeing Toby warily. Now what? “How about a hug?”
"What?" Toby started advancing toward him, and Griffin scrambled backwards quickly, "No... no, no, no! You're soaked!" He stumbled back another step, but Toby's arms were wide open before him, and he had never quite noticed before just how big his boyfriend was in comparison to him. He was at least a head taller, and with that broad chest in his face, Griffin found himself becoming fairly certain that he could fit himself into one of Toby's shirts five times over, and still have some room to wriggle.
"No!" He repeated, a shrill squeak of a laugh leaping from his lips this time. It was a sound that would have got him stuffed in a locker in highschool.
"Go away!" He laughed, shoving Toby's chest, then ducking under his arm and bolting out of the bathroom.  He darted out into the lounge, diving behind the couch, then poking his head over the top, a wide grin splitting his face. He just couldn't help it.
"Stay back," He warned, jabbing a scolding finger at his boyfriend, "Seriously, don't you dare!"

Toby knew from Griff's reaction that his bare chest itself was having some sort of effect, and not only that, but his size was helping him also. He kept advancing on Griffin, wearing that same devious smile that Griff had used against him moments earlier. Perhaps his boyfriend thought pouring champagne over him was a good idea at the time, but it was soon going to work to his opposition's favour.
Just when Toby was sure he had the man cornered, Griff pushed firmly against his firm chest, and before Toby could react Griff had darted under one of his arms and fled from the bathroom. But Toby wasn't done yet.
The squeaks that came out of Griffin's mouth had to be the cutest little noises Toby had ever heard, and yet they egged him on even further. He wanted to hear laughing like that, wanted to hear the joy he brought to Griff's life even through silly little playful moments like these.
However, despite Griff's attempts to keep from Toby, he couldn't flee for long. Eventually Toby had pinned him against the sofa, and with his presence alone he managed to send Griff falling back towards the cushions. But before he fell, Toby caught him around the waist and pulled him to his soaked, sticky chest with a feral growl.
“Gotcha, Gryfindor!” He jeered, lifting Griff off his feet and swinging him around with a huge face-splitting grin. He practically used Griff's back to wipe up the remaining champagne off his skin, not once bothering about the man's clothes, and by the time he was dry, Griff had an uneven patch on his back. Toby lowered him to the ground and dug his face into the man's neck, kissing him playfully, loudly. “And for that, I'm sleeping shirtless tonight.” He teased, sticking his tongue out at Griff cheekily. He liked having power, even if it never lasted long.

Despite Griffin's warnings, Toby just kept approaching, and Griffin soon found himself running rings around the couch trying to keep out of reach. "I'm serious, Toby!" He called, trying hard to look it. The grin on his face didn't help. "I swear, if you-" He broke off suddenly, squeaking with surprise when Toby suddenly appeared in front of him, cutting off his escape. His hand flew up to cover his mouth, and he spun around to escape, only to find himself running straight into the couch. Before he could scramble over it, a pair of strong - and slightly damp - arms closed around his waist, and Griffin felt himself lifted off the ground, kicking and squealing.
“Gotcha, Gryfindor!” Toby jeered cheekily in his ear.
"No!" He laughed shrilly, "Put me down! Hey!"
But despite his objections, Toby squeezed him tightly to his soaked chest, and spun him around so fast that Griffin actually started feeling dizzy. His objections soon turned gibberish as he choked on his laughter, and his face was flushed from all the running around. His grin simply refused to leave.
"Noooo..." He whined as Toby put him back on the ground, considerably stickier than before. "Ugh!" He stuck out his tongue, trying hard not to laugh. "Look what you've done to me!" He squirmed uncomfortably away from the wet sensation on his back, but Toby held him fast, and deposited a loud smooch on his neck. "Oi!" Griff jerked his head aside, pushing a palm unceremoniously into Toby's face, "No way do you get to keep kissing privileges after that."
“And for that," Toby teased, clearly ignoring him, "I'm sleeping shirtless tonight.”
"Oh, sure." Griffin scoffed, laughing to himself. He turned to face Toby, and when his eyes - still shining with laughter - fell upon the man's handsome face, Griffin felt an inexplicable wave of affection washed over him. He didn't just love Toby; he loved being with him. Every minute of it. In fact, he couldn't even recall a time he'd had such fun as he had with the man before him.
A fond smile curved his lips and, wrapping his arms loosely around Toby's neck, Griffin stood on his toes and reached up to kiss his boyfriend. His eyes shut as their lips met, but he could still feel himself smiling. After a moment he broke the kiss, and pulled himself closer to Toby's, resting his cheek fondly against the man's bare chest.
"You're suck a jerk." He chuckled, letting one of his hands slide down from Toby's neck, to rest over his heart instead. His flushed face softened, the perpetual smile still curving his lips, "But I love you."

“Oh, sure.” Griff replied, still grinning after being thrown around like a rag doll and used to dry the champagne from Toby's chest. He'd now have a damp patch on his back, but oh well. He deserved it.
Still, Toby raised an eyebrow. Was 'oh, sure' meant to be Griff giving him permission? And here Toby was thinking Griff hated the thought.
Shrugging, Toby ran his hands down to the small of Griff's back and leant back slightly to have a better view of his boyfriend. With eyes shining like that, Griff looked genuinely beautiful. His smile suited him, and seemed to brighten up his entire face. Almost like he was glowing.
Just before Toby was about to say something, it seemed Griffin knew him better than he did. Instead of saying the words, Griff gave him a chance to show exactly how he felt. And this time Griff didn't need any persuasion, he just smiled and kissed Toby like it were the first and last time they would ever kiss. It was, in a word, incredible. And Toby knew he would give his life for this man. Anytime.
Griff tickled at the back of his neck, and the smile it brought Toby forced him to break away from the kiss. He'd never admit it, but he was rather ticklish there.
He tightened his arms around Griff's waist, and the man did the same, pressing their bodies together. It felt bizarre that Toby was wearing very little and Griffin was fully dressed, and even more so when Griff ran a hand down his chest to his heart.
He swallowed, but tried to hide the heat on his cheeks. He was going red.
“You're such a jerk.” Griff replied, which brought a smile to Toby's lips. He took this as a compliment. “But I love you.”
He felt his boyfriend's face smiling against his chest, and for a moment Toby just stood there in golden silence, running a hand through Griff's thick blonde hair. “I love you too.” He replied softly.
This would have been a wonderful moment to fold neatly and store away somewhere in Toby's mind, but he didn't have time to do that. For some reason the fact he was wearing nothing but his boxers and the fact Griff's hand was on his chest got a little much, and an uncomfortable sensation began to grow between his legs.
“Erm!” He grunted and pulled away, eyes wide with alarm. He knew exactly what was happening, but he didn't want Griffin to know about it. He forced a smile, but his eyes were still wide. “Yeah, on that note I'm going for a shower. I'm all sticky.” He winked, then wheeled round before Griff could have any idea.
“See you soon, Gryfindor!” He jeered, and jogged back to the bathroom, making sure to lock the door this time. No way was he letting Griff see him in this state.

Toby spent longer than necessary in the shower, until all evidence of his little 'moment' had disappeared, and his head was clear. He emerged from the bathroom in loose sweat pants and a dark, fluffy dressing gown that was loose enough to reveal a small triangle of chest below his collar bone, and wandered barefoot into the kitchen to make himself a hot beverage.
“You fancy some cocoa?” He called to his boyfriend, although he knew Griff would probably despise the idea, knowing his taste in salt. “Or would a stock cube suffice?”

As Toby's fingers ran through his hair, Griffin let his eyes slide shut in ecstasy, savouring the feeling. He leaned into Toby's warm chest, resting his head heavily, as though on a pillow. 
“I love you too.” Toby's soft voice murmured, and Griffin smiled, curling his fingers absentmindedly against his boyfriend's bare chest. He would have been quite content just to stay there in Toby's warm embrace the whole night long, but before he could get any ideas, Toby suddenly pulled away, grunting awkwardly.
Somewhat taken aback, Griffin stumbled back a step, frowning up at Toby. His eyes searched his boyfriend's suddenly panicked face, confused and concerned all at once. A less naive man might have understood, but Griffin was either too innocent or too stubborn to notice the tightness in Toby's boxers. Instead, he just watched his boyfriend's face turn the colour of an overripe tomato, and asked uncertainly, "Tobes? You okay?"
“Yeah," He said, and Griffin wondered if he knew that his wide-eyed smile made him look like something out of 'Chucky', "On that note I'm going for a shower. I'm all sticky.”
"Hey!" He objected, "I'm sticky too, thanks to you! I've got dibs on first shower."
But Toby wheeled around anyway, leaving Griffin frowning at him with his arms folded across his chest. What the hell was wrong with Toby? And why wouldn't he talk about it? ((Griff, Buddy, let it go. XD ))
“See you soon, Gryfindor!” Toby called back over his shoulder, dashing into the bathroom as if the devil was at his heels. Griffin heard the door lock, and despite his best efforts not to, he began to feel rather sorry for himself. What had he done to deserve to be abandoned so abruptly just when he was really enjoying Toby's company?
He huffed, the champagne in his belly quickly trading in his misery for peeved indifference, and turned on his heel, heading off to his own bathroom to change  out of his sticky clothes, and have a shower of his own.
By the time he was clean and dressed in his pajamas, Toby was still in the shower, so Griffin sat down on the couch and turned on the TV, flicking boredly through the channels. He had decided to let go of his annoyance, probably because somewhere deep down, he knew the reason for Toby's strange behaviour, even as oblivious as he was. 

When his boyfriend finally emerged, Griffin was watching some documentary on coins, which had proved to be considerably more fascinating than one might expect. 
“You fancy some cocoa?” Toby called from somewhere near the kitchen, “Or would a stock cube suffice?”
"Make it black coffee or nothing." Griff shouted in response, putting up the volume on the coin documentary. "And while you're at it, get me some crackers. I'm hungry."
He glared at the pennies on the screen, silently blaming them for ruining his moment with Toby. It wasn't very often that he found the confidence to be intimate with his boyfriend, and now that he had, he was annoyed that it had ended so soon.
The grey-haired gentleman on the TV began saying something about the queen, and at last, Griffin rolled his eyes and shut off the TV. There was nothing interesting about coins, no matter how hard he tried to convince himself otherwise. Feeling distinctly grumpy, he stomped into the kitchen, found Toby, and draped his arms loosely around his neck, stretching up to peer over his shoulder, and see what he was doing.
"You're not doing it right." He said, pointing to the mug of cocoa. "It needs more milk. Where's my coffee?" He leaned awkwardly over Toby, practically climbing up him like a tree, and reached over his shoulder to steal the mug of cocoa. He took a sip, then spat it out, spraying Toby in the process. "Ugh!" He pulled a face, handing the mug back to his boyfriend, "How can you drink that sweet crap? It's like drinking syrup." Griffin shuddered at the thought, then repeated impatiently, "Where's mine?"

Toby smiled fondly at Griffin's grumpy reply. No doubt whatever he'd done would be made better with a kiss and an 'I love you'. Griff seemed more eager to love him when he didn't have a shirt on, so he'd try that out once they'd both gone to bed.
“Black coffee it is.” He murmured to himself, preparing a mug as he prepared the cocoa for himself. He then added a pinch of salt to the coffee, because that was how Griffin liked it. He also grabbed a pair of animal crackers to keep from being shouted at again. Just as he was about to serve his boyfriend his coffee and crackers, Griff was behind him. He felt the presence there for a moment, then Griff was on him, climbing up him like a ladder until he could see over Toby's shoulder.
There was no point trying to give him anything at that point. He'd only spill it.
“You're not doing it right.” Griff told him pointlessly, gesturing to his cocoa. “It needs more milk. Where's my coffee?”
“There.” Toby nodded to the coffee. “I'll put water in it in a min-” Griff took the cup of cocoa and sipped it shamelessly. “Oi!” Toby tried, but there was no point trying to get it back. It would only end up all over him.
Which it did anyway.
He ignored the man's retorts, ignored the mouthful of hot chocolate on the back of his neck, and just glared at his reflection in the tiles on the opposite wall. No point trying to have a conversation with this person until they were done.
“Where's mine?”
Toby snatched his hot chocolate back, bent back so Griff's feet were both now on the floor, and sipped at his drink. It tasted fine to him.
“I hid yours.” He lied, even thought it was on the work top right next to them, but didn't have water in it yet. “And you're not getting it or the crackers until you go for a shower.” He pursed his lips then walked behind Griffin and tapped his backside in a patronising fashion.
“You smell.”
He didn't, but Griff had just spat hot chocolate on the back of his neck. He deserved a childish insult or two. Toby dabbed a damp cloth on his neck to get rid of the stickyness, then strolled into the lounge to watch some evening television.

“I hid yours.” Toby answered, although Griffin could plainly see the coffee sitting on the countertop, waiting innocently for its water. He prestended not to notice it, and huffed irritably in Toby's ear.
“And you're not getting it or the crackers until you go for a shower.”
"Huh?" This surprised him so much that he forgot to be grumpy, and released Toby, tilting his head questioningly to one side. 
But I just did...
He frowned, and just as he was trying to get his head around what he was pretty sure was an insult, Toby tapped him sharply on the rump. He jumped in surprise, spinning around, just to hear Toby tell him, “You smell.”
"I- I do?" Too stunned even to scold his boyfriend for crossing his boundaries, Griffin just watched blankly as Toby left the room. Suddenly feeling rather small and insecure, he shrunk back into himself like a snail into its shell, rubbing his arm shyly. When he was sure Toby was gone, he glanced cautiously into the lounge, then lifted his arm and gave it a sniff. He smelled like soap and a particularly girly brand of 'unisex' lavender shower gel.
Do I smell?
Having never really had any friends or role models to speak of throughout puberty and adulthood, Griffin honestly wasn't sure, and for some reason, the thought made him rather paranoid. Had he seriously spent his whole adult life stinky? It was not a welcome thought.
Attempting to shrug off the comment, Griffin turned around and picked up the boiled kettle, tipping some hot water into his mug, then stirring the coffee with a teaspoon. There was no point in showering again, anyway. If he smelled so bad, then Toby could just keep his distance, and that would be fine with him.
I think I'll tell him that. Griff decided indignantly, helping himself to a packet of animal crackers from the shelf. He popped one into his mouth, and walked back into the other room, shooting Toby a glare. He imagined he must look particularly terrifying with a headless lion protruding from his mouth.
Sitting heavily on the opposite end of the couch, he grabbed the remote, and changed the channel back to the coin documentary. Mostly because it was so damn boring, he knew it would drive Toby crazy without a doubt.  And Griffin was feeling quite vindictive enough to make that a rather desirable incidence.

Toby was very happy watching a five-year-old episode of Top Gear whilst sipping his hot chocolate, until Griff came in, stole the controls and put it on some weird documentary about the production and history of coins. He frowned at the screen. Top Gear was Top Gear. You didn't just turn it off.
He shot Griff a questioning look, but the one he got in return was far more fierce than he was expecting. Griff was definitely peeved at him.
“Alright.” Toby shifted across the sofa, resting an arm on the top of the cushion so he was practically wrapping an arm around Griff without touching him. “What have I done, now?”
He asked, softly kissing behind Griff's ear sensually, purposely doing this to ease Griffin from his tension. He knew exactly how to get to his boyfriend, he knew little tricks of loosening his tongue.
He pressed his lips against the side of Griff's neck, casually distracting him from the god-awful documentary by kissing him as if he were made of glass, and poking the very tip of his tongue from between his lips every now and then. It was a crafty task, and there was no guarantee that it would work. But it was worth a try.
“And don't say 'nothing'.” He purred, lifting his chin to start kissing Griff's temple.

Griffin stared at the TV screen with such concentration, it was obvious his attention was elsewhere. He felt Toby shifting closer to him, and viciously bit the head off a giraffe cracker. “Alright.” His boyfriend said, and Griffin tensed when he felt Toby's arm slide behind him. Let him try to touch him, just once... “What have I done, now?"
"Nothing." Griffin grunted instantly, shifting irritably away from Toby. Unfortunately, his boyfriend was too busy kissing him to listen. Annoyed by this infringement of his boundaries, he jerked his head away, shooting Toby a glare. The other man just ignored him, and kept on at him like a newborn kitten. Griffin felt his temper rising.
“And don't say 'nothing'.” Toby added, lifting his lips to Griffin's temple. But before they could meet their mark, Griffin stopped them with a sweaty palm, shoving Toby's face back.
"Well, firstly," He snapped, shoving his boyfriend back to the opposite end of the couch, "I was watching that." He jabbed a finger toward the TV, narrowing his eyes. "Secondly, you never listen. I told you it's nothing, so don't tell me not to say nothing. I'll say nothing if I want to. Nothing. See?" He raised a hand, and held up three fingers, tapping the last one, "Thirdly, who the Hell said you could touch my ass? 'Cause I sure didn't. In fact, I distinctly remember telling you that if you touched my butt even once, I'd kick you out. So I guess I may just think about that now. Fourthly-" He broke off, frowning. Was fourthly a word? It sounded weird... He cleared his throat awkwardly, then added in a huff, "If I smell so much, maybe you'll be better off sleeping outside, before you choke to death on my toxic fumes." He wiggled his fingers mockingly, then shoved another cracker grumpily into his mouth.
"Also," he added, shamelessly spraying Toby with crumbs, "Nobody tells me when I can and can't have my crackers, asshole. Who died and made you King Butt Wad, anyway?"