Time was a decidedly difficult concept for Tobias in every sense. His ability to perceive its ebb and flow notoriously fickle. The young man, sometimes, appearing to hold at least some sense of when an event occurred even if only in relation to some other memory and yet, other times, he so often seemed to struggle with the concept of even past and present in any capacity. As such, it was a distinctly rare thing for the deviant to so make any query of time at all. That request to know just when Risque had returned a distinctly unusual one when Tobias so often disregarded such knowledge entirely and yet, here and now, what fractured fragments remained of his mind so clearly desired to know- even if that understanding might yet prove to be limited. His dark gaze continued to linger upon his companion as Tetradore seemed to consider that very answer. Tobias long since having become aware of those near subtle shifts in his companions features whenever the emerald-eyed man was prone to thought.

The lanky leopard was merely content to wait before Tetradore announced it had been a year. A year. He had heard that word before and yet his ability to truly perceive it as a length of time, it seemed, was shockingly limited. His own features merely inclined to frown in some hint of the struggle that surely turned within his very thoughts before Tetradore so made that effort to link that time to something more tangible. A memory- and one Tobias could place well if only for the sheer importance of that very memory in turn. His first time driving. That query on whether or not he remembered prompting several nods off his head. His mind so delicately attempting to make that connection between that drive and Risques return. That near contemplative look finding him once more, his features frowned again as that silence between the pair persiste. Tetradore, as always, so affording him those long moments of silence to puzzle out those words before Tobias' gaze so suddenly met the emerald of his chosen Alpha's once more.

"This is....many.....night times. Why did.....Tetra not......tell...me when it....was.....less night times?"

Those jumbled, garbled words so hung within the air then. Tobias so attempting to query just why Tetradore had failed to tell him Risque had returned. Those very words so decidedly free of but any judgement and yet the very why of that matter so lingered all the same. Tobias, perhaps, not quite so capable of understanding his companions desires to protect him in that moment. The deviant so tending to be decidedly direct in his understandings of such things. Such news, to his mind, so surely the kind that should be shared. His features frowning but slightly once more as Tetradore's own gaze averted. Guilt, it seemed, was not an emotion Tobias readily perceived. The boy so merely shifting, near comically, to place himself back in Tetradore's line of sight as if simply believing his companion had forgotten where he was. Those very shudders that so afflicted his best friends figure however had not failed to go unnoticed. Tobias shrugging his own jacket from his figure then in a distinctly rare display of genuine care before offering it to Tetradore then. The lanky feline seeming decidedly appeased as the other man pulled that jacket into place. This, he was sure, was the cure for cold. Yet it was hardly an effort to further chase that chill that so suddenly seemed to prompt the deviant to tug at his companions arm. Tobias so abruptly content to insist they needed to go.

It was not without considerable effort that he so managed to haul Tetradore to his feet. His companion clutching at his arm in an effort to remain balanced. The very steadfastness of that grip so seeming to draw the deviants attention and yet- his own hand so merely reached forward to rest upon his companions arm and return that very grip in that near silent solidarity- and too- an effort to further steady the elder man. His own words then were near adamant in their refusal to return to that vampire woman whom had kept him near consistently chained to the walls or sofas of Syn. Tobias, despite never speaking of those very memories, so clearly remembering them all the same. Those next words uncharacteristically soft in their admittance that Tetradore's continued presence with that very woman so.....hurt him in turn. Though in what capacity that hurt existed so remained to be seen. Tobias so notoriously refusing to admit to any pain on his own part and yet, here and now, within the dark of the room- that very truth surely lingered. It hurt him to have Tetradore hurt in turn.

His hands continued to tug against his brothers arm then in the moments Tetradore glanced away. Tobias insisting once more that they needed to leave. The Leopard, it seemed, willing to give up their home and all they had worked for if it so meant escaping that woman. This, perhaps, this first time within the very expanse of Tobias' entire life he was so choosing to flee rather then fight. Self-preservation, it seemed, far stronger than pride in that moment. His fractured words holding within them a striking emotion as they never truly had before. Tetradore's attempts at protest near instantly cut short by that very pleading that had taken hold of the younger man then. Tobias, in all his life, so never having pleaded before. That very emotion so at last exposed near rawly. The boy, perhaps, not truly seeing sense in that moment. Tobias simply desiring escape even despite the price to be paid for it.

That utterance of his name so at last seemed to prompt the boy into silence. Tetradore's hand reaching upward to settle upon the back of his neck and draw him closer, Tobias entirely willing to permit that very gesture as he was not for so many. His forehead resting against his companions uninjured shoulder then before his own arms so lifted and- in a truly rare moment of genuine love and affection- so wrapped themselves about his brothers waist. Tobias wholly content to, gently, hug Tetradore to him in that moment. His face near burying into his brothers shoulder if only to hide the decided rawness of those emotions- more real and profound then he so often ever displayed for any other being. Moments such as this, perhaps, casting true light on the very depth of that bond the pair shared- even if they so rarely displayed it to the world at large. That uttered promise that Tetradore would, never again, allow Risque to have him so prompting those words uttered lamost shakily into his companions shoulder.

"I....do not want....you to.....leave me.....again..."

Those years they had been separated had been far more difficult then Tobias had perhaps ever truly admitted to. The lanky leopard having spent years following Tetradore's trail with single-minded determination. The boy so barely having survived it. After all, a mere child of barely six years old cast onto the streets so surely had the odds of the world stacked against him. Just how Tobias had survived at all perhaps a marvel in itself and yet that very loyalty had so never faltered. The boy so clearly fearing that Risque might, somehow, take his companion away again if he returned to her. That soft release of Tetradore's hand so readily saw Tobias unwrap his own arms in turn and lean but slightly away from his brother to meet his gaze again. Those very words he was offered then, those reasons why they could not leave, seeming to prompt at least some measure of consideration within him. Those very emotions and sense, it seemed, so content to war with one another. His words briefly halted by that hand that reached out to ruffle his hair in that near habitual gesture Tetradore had held since their youngest days, that very touch seeming to prompt a simper of sorts to his lips before those final words so saw his own head near vehemently shake. His words, this time, holding a far greater strength then before.

"You are not okay."

Tobias, it seemed, was content to utter the truth even if no other was. Even if Tetradore himself would not admit it. Those words lacking any stutter or pause. The conviction within them decidedly clear as his head shook again. His gaze unwavering from his companion. This, it seemed, was a fight Tobias was unwilling to back down from. Not tonight.

"She will....kill you....one day. Tetra knows.....and Tobi knows. One day when...Tetra is to.....old or she is....bored. Then...pack will have....no one to....protect them and it will not....matter if we....stayed tonight."

Tobias paused then, his gaze so searching his companions features for some sign Tetradore so understood just what he was saying. Sensible arguments from Tobias as rare as that very affection and yet his point was so surely clear. If Risque so desired to end them all- she would. Staying to protect their pack would do little in the end and yet that very mention of Raven, it seemed, was enough to prompt the boy to pause in turn. Raven- who he loved best. His mind so clearly attempting to puzzle but something out as those seconds dragged on. The boy so abruptly moving away from Tetradore then to cross the room towards his companions bedside table. That paper and pen fished from within it. Tobias so proceeding to scribble near frantically upon that paper (though how good his writing and spelling was is surely debatable) that paper so suddenly folded and held upward.

"I...leave....note for....Birdie. She will.....understand...yes. Birdie....always understand. That is why she....is my....best girl and we will....come back for....Birdie....first."

That he so refused to abandon his very mate was surely clear. His head nodded with a clear conviction. Raven, it seemed, the very first one they had to return for when they could. Tobias moving to cross back across that room then, his gaze briefly lingering upon those chocolate bars upon the sofa as if near contemplating the feasibility of packing them before his attention returned to Tetra once more.

"Frost and......Tetra's.....friend who is....fancy can....keep pack....safe together. They will....do it if you....ask. Send them.....the words on...your phone."

The word 'text' it seemed, was not yet one Tobias had mastered. The boy remaining adamant in that desire to flee the Ark if only to get Tetradore away from that vampire woman. His lack of judgement and logical thought perhaps readily attributed to emotion that night. His hand reaching out once more then to rest against Tetradore's own arm and draw the mans attention to him a final time.

"Maybe we will....die now or will....die later. She will...kill us anyway....we might as well....try."

His free hand lifted then to point towards that drawer he knew Tetradore kept the car keys within. Maybe they would hardly get far, maybe that vampire woman would, one day, kill all of them- but maybe she wouldn't either. Maybe she would never find them again. In the least they could die trying, Tobias, it seemed, assured that defiance alone was worth it....

"Come, Tetra.....it is time to go."

madness, as you know, is like gravity: all it takes is a little push