Work Text:
Tobias found himself once again entangled in his father’s displeasure, falsely accused of actions beyond his doing. Tobias wanted to feel upset, but his urge to embrace anger within injustices was met with ineffable guilt. He was lucky he wasn’t even grounded, he should be grateful he was just met with a few strikes to the wrist. Although it seemed he’d never get used to the stinging.
Tobias sat criss crossed on his favorite spot of the woods, not too far from the house. But out of visual distance. This spot was also where Mattias would find him and comfort him. Part of him sat there hoping for Mattias to bring him the reassurance he desired. He yearned for the sympathy he so desperately sought. The silent hope lingered in the forest air, a formal testament to the poignant ache that filled his disgusting heart. Did he even deserve consolation? Perhaps his father was right, maybe he was right to punish him as he did.
Tobias found himself swarmed by self loathing. Would these perpetual mistakes be his unalterable fate? No matter how hard he seems to try, he’ll always be grappled with the repeating specter of apathy, navigating existence merely out of habit. A sickening burden who lacks just enough power to change. The thoughts and feelings became nauseating as he clutched onto his shirt tightly, losing his breath to fate while he began to notice everything around him to an extent he was unfortunate enough to find himself familiar with.
Suddenly, everything was unbearably loud, everything was uneasy and his heartbeat sped up relentlessly. Each breath of air seemed more hopeless than the last. Uncontrollable twitches plagued his eye, and involuntary jerks of his head manifested as cruel reminders of his escalating anxiety. Alone and tormented, the tics occurred the more he was aware of them. The more desperate he was for it to end, the more intense they became.
Tobias was sat alone in these woods, bringing himself involuntarily pain all the while his anxiety was through the roof. The fear Tobias felt within this unexpected tic attack would soon consume him, if it weren’t for the footsteps he abruptly became aware of. Tobias quickly looked up, shaking and still ticking time to time. Right in front of him was a blonde furry creature that seemed around his size. Its strong build and pointed ears intrigued Tobias, but left him a little shocked.
“..um…” Tobias croaked, quickly wiping formed tears from him eyes.
The canine, tilted its head, extended its tongue in a panting gesture. Pondering the situation, Tobias didn’t know what to do, nor was he entirely sure what it was, it looked like a wolf. The canine proceeded to approach, prompting Tobias to cautiously retreat. Soon enough the dog was inches from Tobias, panting directly in his face. his tail wagged happily while bestowing a cheerful lick upon Tobias’s cheek. Though Tobias couldn’t shake the notion of its unsanitary nature, his eyes betrayed his thoughts with a subtle spark of delight.
Tobias was momentarily taken aback, Before forming an awkward smile. “Um…Good..Boy?” Tobias praised the dog as he hesitantly extended his hand to stroke the dogs remarkably soft fur gently. The dog seemed to like it as the dog sat itself on top of Tobias and quickly got comfortable. “Oh, you are heavy.” Tobias commented, knowing the canine wouldn’t understand. Tobias continued to play with the dogs fur, carried with an unexplainable feeling of pleasure in his chest. Entranced, He couldn’t look away, nor could he stop petting the thing. “Father wouldn’t approve of this, father’s cynophobic..” Tobias thought to himself, a subtle smile creeping up on him.
Something about this creature weakened him. The dog treated him with undeserved kindness, appreciation he knew he was unworthy of. This guilt overwhelmed him. What was even worse, this dog would be too stupid to understand what an horrible excuse for a human Tobias was. Tobias found envy in that. Tobias also found envy in his siblings, any transgression near him resulted in his unwarranted punishment. Before Schneien comprehended the depth of his emotions, an irreversible stream of tears began flowing down his face. The multiple drops of liquid bouncing onto the dogs fur quickly caught his attention, accompanied by the muffled sounds of sniffles.
In a poignant turn of events, the canine promptly rose, tenderly licking away the tears as if seeking to offer comfort to Tobias. Unfortunately, this only caused more tears. The dog was met with unexpected embrace. Clearly, the dog had no clue what was happening, as it’s tail had been wagging basically since it got here. Tobias’s sniffles and crying was more than audible now, his desire to be as unaware of how terrible his life was just as this dog was, became unbearable. In the midst of his tears, Tobias couldn’t escape the unfairness of his life, expressing his frustration with a heartfelt, ‘It’s not—*hic* fair…’”