Chapter Text
".... Just not right now, okay? "
He knew, deep down, that Kenny wasn't ready to talk. No one could blame him. Because it hurt, putting all of your faith into something and watch it break down in front of your eyes. It happened to him quite a few times.
He understood, he really did. That doesn't mean it didn't hurt.
He watched the boy leave. He was a bit disappointed, not gonna lie. But he now understood that it wasn't always up to him. He did what he could. He said he was there. He said he would be there. And now Kenny would decide when -if - he wanted to talk. So even if it hurt, he knew he had tried, and that it's what you do when you care about someone. You don't give up.
You just up and left without looking back. Like it never meant anything. Like I never meant anything.
He felt that hollow ache in his chest, the one he felt every time he remembers her words. That conversation still haunts him. Every waking moment he has. Every dream he has. All of his time. God, he had been such an asshole.
He needed to fix that. He needed to make her understand. Cause he cared. He did. So much. He just had the worst way of showing it.
Robby turned around, but he didn't find her sitting on the fire truck with Devon anymore .In fact, he couldn't see her anywhere.
He swore. Of course she would leave the second he stopped looking.
Fuck.
He walked, defeated, up to the vehicle. A paramedic was standing there, talking to a retreating police officer. Still no sign of her.
" Do you know where the blonde girl that was sitting here went? " He asked the man, who turned around so he could see the boy.
" She already left. Her and the younger girl that refused to leave her side " the man explained. Robby deflated.
Of course she left before he could apologize. That was just his luck.
" Is she okay? She seemed to be in pain. There was something on her hand, and the fight could have made it worse" he heard Mrs. Larusso ask, her voice coming right behind him. It reminded him of how out of it he was, being completely unaware of his surroundings. The woman came to stand besides him, giving his arm a light squeeze.
" Her hand is definitely broken. I recommended her to let us take her to the hospital to get a closer look, but she didn't want to. She did say she would go tomorrow, and I'd like to ask you guys to make sure she did. That hand is severely injured, and we need to know if it'll need surgery "
Robby felt as if someone had dumped freezing cold water all over him. Because he knew her. Of course she would downplay how hurt she actually was. If it was nothing, if it was merely a training accident she wouldn't have to wear the brace. He fucking knew that. And still, he left himself be swayed away from what really matters to him if it meant that Silver could be stopped.
Did you ever care? Or was I just convinient for the time being?
He felt sick.
" Thank you, sir. I'll personally see she does " Amanda answered the paramedic. Robby still couldn't move. The man nodded and left to continue assisting the remaining people around them.
Surgery for a broken hand.
" She said it was a training accident and not to worry. I let her get in a brawl with brain-washed assholes that wouldn't think twice about hurting her when she might need surgery "
She could need surgery. Her hand could be severely damaged. Tory was the most active person he knew. She was never still. She didn't stop. She always had to have her hands busy. She did a hundred things daily without complaining. She worked double shifts. She had two stable jobs. She never took breaks. She doesn't know how to stop. Even if it hurt. Even if she needed to. God, Tor. Why can't you just be honest with me?
Robby didn't realize that he had spoken out loud until Mrs. Larusso turned her big reassuring eyes his way.
" You didn't know. And there's no stopping Tory of doing the things she wants to. I'm sure you know that better than anyone. "
He pictured her. Back ram rod straight, fiery hazel eyes, arms crossed over her chest, one slightly raised eyebrow. Challenging. Determined. An unstoppable force, wrecking every thing that stood in her way.
Don't tell me what to do.
He knows her. Inside and out. Every inch of her body and soul. Like he knows his own name.
" Getting her to go to the hospital will be a feat "
Amanda shook her head dismissingly.
" Don't worry. I got that "
He knew she did. Amanda must be one of the handful of people Tory actually respects in this world. Whose opinion she holds high. Who she would actually stop for and listen to and maybe even consider following. Tory Nichols does not follow. Not everyone, at least. Certainly not him.
His dad half limps towards them, distracting him from that impossible girl for a minute. He rests a strong hand on Robby's shoulder, aiming for gentle but just short from crushing. He examines his son for the fifth time, as if trying to find a non-existent injury he overlooked the last time.
" Robby, are you sure you're alright? I swear to God you're faking not being hurt... "
" I'm fine, dad. You, on the other hand... "
The boy ran his eyes down Johnny's bruised form. If anyone here needed a doctor, it was him. He raised an eyebrow. His father shrugged.
" Yeah, yeah. I know. I'm actually going to the hospital because everyone refuses to understand what a minor wound is "
Amanda and Robby snorted.
" You have a very unique definition of minor " she added.
His dad couldn't say whatever stupid retort he had came up with because Miguel interrupted him.
" Hey, Robby, we're leaving now. You're with me, Sam, Ant and Tory, if she wants to. Hawk offered to drive her home if she doesn't want to be near yo- I mean- her house it's on his way so. Let's just ask her"
It would have been funny, Miguel putting his foot in his mouth and then realizing he messed up, his eyes getting bigger and bigger as he tried to backtrack from it, their dad's comically disapproving expression, as comical as you can look with that many bruises on your face. But it just reminded him how Tory would rather be anywhere else than in his presence.
" Have you seen Tory? I was looking for her and I can't find her anywhere "
Sam asked them, appearing out of nowhere and still scanning the crowd with tired blue eyes.
Robby ignored his aching heart, just as he had been doing for the last month, and forced himself to speak. After all, he was the one that did this to them.
Well, I guess that's it.
" She and Devon already left "
Sam's face actually fell before she schooled her expression back to normal. Her shoulders had lost that tightness she carried since that night at the Tournament. At least someone felt at ease.
" Oh. Okay. I guess I'm ready to go now. I'll see you at home, mom "
She said goodbye to her mom, who would probably go to the hospital with the rest of the adults. Amanda nodded, giving her daughter a warm hug.
" See you later sweetheart. Drive safely "
He felt the slightest green of envy wrapping around the edges of the emptiness surrounding his chest. He could use a hug. Unfortunately, the only person whose arms he wanted embracing him was not here.
" Goodnight, guys "
Amanda said, hugging the two boys tight. They didn't even try to pretend they were against it.
" Goodnight, Mrs. Larusso "
She pressed a small kiss to his forehead.
He took the small comfort to his heart. He had the mind to be grateful.
There were times he didn't have this at all.
/
They walked in silence towards Sam's car. If he cared about anything else other than Tory at the moment, he would feel the weird tension between the other two. He didn't, and he didn't even attempt to talk to them.
Anthony was already waiting for them. The younger boy was practically bouncing on his feet, winning the fight had made him giddy. Once the trio made it to where he stood, he started babbling a mile a minute. Robby just tunned him out, making his way to the back seat of the Mercedes.
The others got in the car a bit later. Sam drove away. There was definitely some kind of discussion happening. He didn't take part in it. He couldn't, really. He couldn't take his mind away from Tory. Tory and her broken hand. Tory and her sad eyes. Tory a-
There was a firm tap to his side, breaking him out of his thoughts. He looked at his right and found Miguel's concerned eyes.
" What's wrong? "
Anthony beat his pseudo stepbrother to it.
" That's what we wanted to ask you. You haven't said a single word this whole time. You sure you're alright? That strike to the chest you took ha-"
Robby shook his head. He hadn't even thought about the fight until now.
" You don't have to worry about it. I'm alright. It's- it's not that "
Anthony's eyes got comically wider once he realized what Robby was referring to.
" Oh. So it's her. C'mon man. Don't worry too much about it. You can talk to her in the morning "
Robby sighed dejectedly, dropping his head into the seat and watching the red lights pass by. Easier said than done.
" She's not really talking to me at the moment. Not that I blame her. I messed up. I really really messed up"
He felt Miguel's warm hand giving him a comforting squeeze to the shoulder.
" I'm sure you can fix it, now that everything's out in the open "
God, he hoped he could. He would do anything to fix it. He- He couldn't wait for tomorrow. He convinced himself to wait before, and look at how well had worked out.
" Can you drop me at her house? It's o-"
Sam's blue eyes found his through the rear view mirror. There was no hint of accusation in them, the same that used to pour out every time Robby talked about Tory in her presence.
" Yeah, I know the way "
That's the last thing anyone said until Sam parked in front of Tory's apartment complex, where Robby left with three reassuring nods and half a smile.
/
Tory wasn't home when he got there. She most likely had to drop Devon off. She also does not have a car and wouldn't for the life of her ever call for an Uber, so she obviously has to walk. Robby decided to use the time he would have to wait to try and come up with a decent speech, one that wouldn't have Tory punching him in the face. She had previously ignored all of his texts, Instagram DMS and emails. She had answered just one of his million calls, just to say "Go to hell " and hang up.
So yes, he needed a damn good speech.
An hour passed by and there was no sign of Tory. He tried calling but it went straight to voicemail.
The boy couldn't help but worry. It's not that he doesn't know Tory can take care of herself, but this world is full of dangerous people that would hurt you without thinking twice. Plus, her hand is possibly broken and she took quite a few blows during the fight. He rang again. She didn't pick up.
Robby started pasing in front of the door to her apartment, trying not to come up with horrible scenarios of what could have happened to his girlfr- to Tory, walking around the worst parts of L.A in the middle of the night. He's gone through some pretty nerve wracking situations during his lifetime, but nothing comes close to the ninety eight minutes he spend waiting for the girl he loved in the middle of the night.
Another thing he cannot explain is how, no matter their time apart, he still feels her presence before he can hear her steps. And how he just knows, by the way she's sort of dragging her feet, that she must be exhausted and about to collapse the second she finds a sturdy-enough surface.
He focuses his tired eyes on her frame. His heart flutters, but only because of her beauty, but how worn out she seems. Her shoulders are slunched, her stubborn chin turned downwards, the green of her eyes lost to the blue hues of the bags surrounding them.
And even that doesn't compare to the pang on his chest when she puts up every single wall he had worked so hard to tear down for the last year, as he watches, helpless, how the girl he loves pretends he does not exit even when he's standing next to her.