Exiguity

Tony frowned as once again Kate was praised by Gibbs and all he received was a head slap. It was an exiguity he didn’t like. He knew Gibbs wasn’t know for praise, but yet he continued to give it to Kate and Abby, but never him. This bothered him.

He’d given up on Gibbs returning his feelings a long time ago, but he didn’t understand the unnecessary cruelty. Didn’t he deserve to be treated as human? Gibbs shouldn’t even know about his feelings.

He didn’t understand why Gibbs treated him this way at all. Did he fall for his act like everyone else? Tony had always thought he saw through the act, but now he wasn’t so sure.

Then when he met Stan, it tilted his world view. Gibbs talked about Stan like he was the perfect partner. It made him question what he knew about Gibbs and his methods of operating.

By this point in time, it was pretty obvious he was being singled out. He just wished he knew why. Gibbs was a straightforward man. If he wanted Tony gone, he’d say so. So Tony was at a loss as to why Gibbs behaved this way and singled only him out.

Why was it only him that Gibbs never praised or if he praised him they were backhanded comments quickly taken away?