Chapter Text
They had only been together a couple of weeks, but those weeks had been the best of Toby’s life. He never knew what it was like to have someone. Someone who made him smile and laugh and who saw him simply as who he was. It was refreshing. Adil was so kind to him and he made him so happy. Thinking back to his life before, he was saddened by how lonely it was, how closed off and hidden he had been.
Tonight was no different than any other. He had dined with his mother, a meal which was filled with awkward conversations and attempts for her to set him up with one respectable lady or another.
“I know you’ll like them if you give them a chance,” she would say, “You won’t even try darling. I know you’re so lonely now that Freddie is away, and I just want you to be happy.”
She was right about one thing at least, and that was that he wished Freddie was here to take the attention off of himself. When Freddie was in a room every single eye was drawn to him. Everyone wanted to speak with him – Lord Hamilton - and nobody noticed little Mr Hamilton in the background. And that was how Toby liked it.
After dinner he excused himself and made his way to the bar, where there was always plenty of hotel guests and Betsey singing her heart out on the stage. As soon as he stepped into the room he glanced to the right and couldn’t help but smile when he caught sight of Adil. Adil hadn’t seen him yet, he was busy pouring out a drink and having a conversation with a young lady. He slowly made his way over, taking a seat just to the right of the women. After Adil had finished with her he turned towards Toby, and when their eyes met Toby couldn’t help the small stutter that his heart made. He didn’t think this would ever get old. Looking at Adil was like looking up at the stars in the sky and not being able to tear himself away from the beauty.
“Good evening Mr Hamilton, what can I get you today?” Adil asked, a small smile gracing his face. He smiled at all the customers, of course he had to, but Toby knew that this was his smile. Not a fake one that he sometimes wore when someone would say something a bit too offensive, or the automatic one that appeared whenever he took an order. This was a private one, just for him.
“Just the usual please,” Toby answered, his smile getting wider as they maintained eye contact. He knew he was not being subtle, that if anyone looked closely at his face they would be able to read the emotions pouring out of him. The only people who could see him though were behind the bar, and since Tom was busy with another customer it was only Adil who saw. And that was the way it was meant to be.
He watched Adil as he made up the drink. When he was done he slid it over towards him, and Toby placed his hand down on the glass, covering Adil’s fingers with his own, just as they had done long before. This time it wasn’t a stolen touch though, it was a promise of more.
“Thank you, Mr Joshi,” he said after a few seconds. He wished he could stand here with Adil all night, even just a touch of their hands made happiness bloom in his chest, and he felt like his cheeks would start hurting from all the smiling. He’d never smiled so much before Adil. He pulled his hand away slowly, reluctant to separate. Adil smiled again before having a quick glance around and then winking at Toby before turning his back and speaking to the next customer.
Toby felt his face heat up as he picked up his glass and made his way towards a table, where he sat facing the bar. He pulled his book out of the pocket in his jacket and opened up where he had left off last time. He could feel his heart still beating too quickly in his chest, and he wondered how a two sentence conversation could make him feel like this.
It was a long time before the night died down. People drifted out in small groups until it was only Betsey, Sonny, Adil and Toby left.
“Mr Hamilton, would you like me to fetch you someone to take you upstairs?” Betsey offered, breaking Toby out of the way he had been staring at Adil. He quickly snapped his head around, and he knew a blush was already gracing his cheeks but he was relieved to see that Betsey was just smiling down at him. She didn’t suspect anything, thank God.
“That’s okay, thank you though Betsey. I think I’ll just have one more drink before I head up,” he replied whilst closing his book and standing up. He could tell she was a bit worried by that, and she looked across at Adil who was wiping down the bar.
“It’s fine, I’ll finish up here. You and Sonny can go,” he said, nodding at her.
“Only if you’re sure…” she replied, looking a bit guilty at the thought of leaving Adil on his own.
“Of course, it’s no bother,” he reassured, smiling at her. This smile was his persuasive one. With this one he could get people to do anything that he wanted. Seemingly having accepted that he wasn’t going to be angry at her she said her goodnights before walking up to the stage to get Sonny.
Both the boys watched them leave, and as soon as they had gone Toby was striding across the room, stopping in front of the bar right across from Adil.
“Hello Mr Hamilton, how did your reading go tonight?” Adil asked, and although he kept a professional demeanour Toby could tell he was trying very hard not to laugh and not to reach over and touch him.
“It went awfully I’m afraid, I kept getting distracted by a very beautiful person,” he replied quietly. He was feeling much more confident now that they were alone, but he was still paranoid that someone would walk in.
“Is that so?” Adil chuckled, leaning slightly towards Toby, his eyes shining with happiness. Toby’s breath hitched and he felt himself inching closer. His brain was telling him to stop. This isn’t your hotel room! Anyone could walk in! But he couldn’t help the urge that he felt, the bond that was pulling them closer and closer. Before their lips could meet however, Adil pulled away and walked over to the side to put some glasses on the shelf, leaving Toby with only the ghost of a breath on his lips. He let out an audible sigh as he deflated, his body moving backwards so he was standing normally and not leaning half way across the counter.
“You and your stupid face,” he mumbled.
Adil laughed.
“You love my stupid face.”
“I love…” Toby started before abruptly cutting himself off. You, his mind helpfully supplied. I love you. He glanced up and caught Adil’s gaze. It was too early for that. Toby had never loved someone before, not properly. Even within his family he had not loved his father. His mother, well, he supposed he loved her. Freddie, of course, he loved. But that was different. Twins were two parts of the same soul, they completed each other. He was always going to love his brother. But this? Everything was so new and the last thing he wanted was to scare off the best thing that had ever happened to him. No, it was too early, Toby decided.
“I love… your… coffee,” was what ended up tumbling from his mouth. He mentally scolded himself as soon as he had spoken. Coffee? Really?
Thankfully Adil just chuckled and didn’t seem to realise the importance of that moment.
“Well then, I shall bring some up to your room as soon as I’m done here,” he said, and to Toby it looked like he started to move a bit faster.
As Toby made his way up to his room, his heart beating fast and his palms sweating in anticipation, he couldn’t help the grin that spread across his face.
I am in love, he thought. I am in love, and it is the greatest feeling of them all.