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localspacelesbian · 4 years

Text

You Already Are Ok

Cyrus helps Amber realize something about herself.

Andi Mack Appreciation Week: Day 3 - Favorite Friendship - Cyrus & Amber

word count: 1621

“Checkmate.” Amber moved her chess piece and gave Cyrus a smug look. Amber had decided that as “punishment” for lying about teaching Jonah how to play chess, she was going to actually teach Cyrus how to play chess. So far, it was going… ok. He had yet to win a game, but he could at least name all the pieces and how they moved now, which was an improvement from a couple weeks ago.

Cyrus sat back and sighed. “Ok fine. You win. Again. Are we going to talk about why you’re really here now?” The chess lessons had been cutting into their ‘counseling sessions’ more and more for the past few weeks, and Cyrus had started getting suspicious about her motives since he could tell there wasn’t something she wasn’t telling him.

Amber looked down. She was silent for a second, but Cyrus could tell she was thinking, so he didn’t say anything; he just waited for her to speak. “How do you know when you like someone?”

He wasn’t sure what he had been expecting her to say, but that wasn’t it. He tilted his head to the side. “Shouldn’t you know that? You’ve had more boyfriends than I have,” he joked.

She looked up at him. “Just, answer the question.” She looked almost desperate.

Cyrus decided not to push it. He nodded slowly. “Ok… Well, how did you know that you liked Jonah?” He thought that might be a good place to start.

Amber shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess I thought he was cute. And I really liked being around him. And when I saw him with Andi, I got really upset.” Cyrus nodded. He could relate. “And I guess he made me feel better about myself. Sometimes.”

Cyrus waited for her to go on. When he realized that she was done, he asked, “That’s it?”

She nodded. “Is there supposed to be more?”

He shrugged. “I’m pretty sure my feelings for Jonah were stronger than that.”

Amber gave him a confused look. “Wait, you liked Jonah?”

He nodded. “Yeah, but that was a long time ago.”

“Huh. I guess that kind of makes sense actually.” She shook her head. “But, so how did you know then?”

“Well, like you said, seeing him with Andi sucked. A lot. But realizing that just kind of made all the other things suddenly make a lot more sense.”

“What other things?”

“You know, like I was nervous around him all the time. And I was constantly trying to impress him. And there was that time when we were supposed to have a double date with you and Iris, and you two bailed, and I insisted that Jonah and I still went, just the two of us. Honestly, I’m not sure how I didn’t realize it right then. I mean, we basically went on a date and then I got upset when he didn’t want to wear matching jackets to school the next day.” He shook his head at the memory. “And I felt more when he just acknowledged my existence me than when Iris kissed me. And when he hugged me, my heart would start beating really fast.”

Amber nodded, clearly thinking about something. “Was it like that with TJ, too?”

Cyrus nodded. “Pretty much. I mean, it was a little different because we were friends first and then I started to like him, so there wasn’t as much nervousness. It was more like I kind of instantly felt comfortable around him, which was weird because I wanted to hate him, but I just knew that I wanted to get to know him better and that there was more to him than just the ‘scary basketball guy.’ And as we got closer, I think we were both constantly looking for excuses to be around each other and touch each other. And seeing him with Kira was so much worse than seeing Jonah with Andi had been. And when we hugged, my heart went baboom baboom baboom.” He hit his chest with his hand to imitate the sound of his heartbeat the same way he had when he’d told Buffy about his crush on Jonah. “And then, somehow, he actually liked me back, and here we are. And he makes me so happy.” He smiled, like he always did when he talked about his boyfriend.

Amber wrinkled her nose. “Gross. That’s my brother.”

Cyrus rolled his eyes. “You asked.”

Amber sighed. “Yeah, I guess I did.”

Cyrus looked at her with his head tilted to the side. “So, you never felt like that with Jonah?”

Amber shook her head and pulled her knees up to her chest. “I don’t think so. Or any guy I’ve dated, now that I think about it.”

“Have you ever felt like that about anybody?”

She nodded slowly. “I think so.” She looked close to tears, so Cyrus got up and moved over to the couch next to her and held her hand. She looked up at him and took a deep breath. “Cyrus, I think I like Andi.”

“Oh.” Cyrus nodded slowly. “That… makes a lot of sense actually.”

“It does?”

He nodded again and gave her a soft smile. “Well yeah. I’ve seen the way you look at her.”

“How do I look at her?”

The same way she looks at you. “Like she’s the most amazing thing you’ve ever seen.”

Amber blushed and looked away. “Well, she is.” He smiled at her and squeezed her hand. She looked back at him. “What do I do?”

“What do you want to do?”

She smiled and looked away again. “Well, I want to hold her hand and kiss her and call her my girlfriend and be as disgustingly cute together as you and TJ are.” She looked down sadly. “But that’s never going to happen, so I also kind of want to just hide in my bed until the feelings go away.”

“Who says that’s never going to happen?”

She gave him a look like he was an idiot. “Come on. She’s obviously straight.”

“That’s what I thought about TJ.”

She shook her head. “Even if she isn’t, why would she ever want to date me?”

“Because you’re beautiful and smart and confident, and she knows exactly how hard you’ve worked to become a good person over the past year. Andi was the first one to defend you when you first started trying to change. And she has always believed in you. And you deserve to be happy.” He squeezed her hand. “So don’t give up without even trying.”

She smiled at him. “What did I do to deserve a friend like you?”

He smiled back. “I thought I just answered that question.”

She shook her head fondly and pulled him into a hug. “Thank you.”

“It’s just another service I provide.”

Amber laughed and pulled away. “I thought that was just something you, Buffy, and Andi say to each other.”

Cyrus shrugged. “You’re an honorary member of the Good Hair Crew.”

“Oh? Well, how do I become an official member?”

“Well, first, you have to get approved by all three of us and then fill out some paperwork. There’s a whole ceremony and everything. I can’t give away too many details though. It’s top secret.”

She laughed, which made him laugh. She leaned her head on his shoulder as their laughter died down. She sighed contentedly. “Hey, Cyrus?”

“Yeah?”

“Does this make me a lesbian?”

Cyrus turned to her, forcing her to lift her head up. “I don’t know. Does it?”

She thought for a second before nodding. “I think so. Yeah, that feels right. I mean, I don’t think I’ve ever actually liked a guy, and now that I think about it, I’m pretty sure I had a crush on Iris back in middle school.”

“Yeah, I could see that.” They both laughed again. “So, how does it feel? Being a lesbian?”

“I’m not sure yet. It’s kind of nice, finally understanding why I’ve always felt so weird about boys. But it also sucks, having a crush on someone I have no chance with.”

“I think you have a pretty good chance.”

She looked skeptical, but didn’t argue. “Whatever you say.” He smiled at her and she leaned her head back on his shoulder. He put his arm around her. “Cyrus?” she asked again, more softly this time.

“Yeah?”

“Am I going to be ok?”

He smiled softly and repeated what Buffy had said to him so long ago. “You already are ok.”

She smiled, and they sat like that for a few more seconds before she spoke again. “Do you think we have time for one more game before I have to go?”

Cyrus raised his eyebrow even though she couldn’t see him. “Um probably? But are you sure you want to?”

She sat up and nodded. “Yeah, I could use the distraction. I think I’ve talked about my feelings enough to last like a week at least.”

Cyrus laughed. “Fair enough.” He got up and moved back to the other chair. He started to set up the chess board while she watched him. When he finished, he looked up at her. “Did I do it right this time?”

She inspected the board. “Close.” She smirked at him as she switched the king and queen around on each side. He always got those two mixed up. She gestured toward the board. “You go first.”

He nodded and looked at the board for a few seconds, trying to figure out which piece to move. He moved a pawn up two spaces. When he looked up at the evil smile on her face, he instantly regretted his decision, but he couldn’t go back now.

#andi mack #andi mack appreciation week #my fics #cyrus goodman #amber kippen #ambi #tyrus - mentioned #sorry this is a bit late

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penguin-writes-books · 5 years

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I Trust You, Theodore James Kippen

A one-shot for the amazing @tyrusflavoredtea in return for the masterlist she made me!

***

“Flight 283 out of Gate 32C has been delayed from its departure time of 4:50 to 6:00. I repeat, Flight 283 out of Gate 32C will now be departing at 6:00 pm.” The flight attendant’s voice was nearly inaudible over the quiet din of chatter throughout the gate. Cyrus rolled his eyes, sitting back in his chair and trying to get comfortable. He glanced up at the desk, watching yet another hopeful passenger be informed that there were no more flights out of DCA into ORD until 1:00 in the afternoon the next day.

“I apologize for the inconvenience, sir.”

“No, that’s alright. You don’t decide what flights go where and when,” the man assured her.

“Thank you for understanding, Mr. Tallman. The airline will provide you compensation for your time,” she promised.

“Oh? What kind of compensation?” he asked, leaning slightly over the desk with a nearly intimidatingly suggestive smile.

“Sir, I-”

“Please, call me John.”

“Mr. Tallman,” the attendant emphasized, stepping backward slightly. Cyrus sat up as he watched this happen, already standing up as John began to speak again.

“Oh come on, baby-” Cyrus was standing next to him in no time, beginning to open his mouth before he was beaten to the punch.

“Is there a problem here, sir?” A deep voice asked from the other side of Mr. Tallman.

“Yeah, there is, actually-”

“-Sir,” Cyrus cut in. “I recommend you stop right there. She’s clearly not interested, and I can’t blame her. Move on, and stop taking flights if you can’t keep it in your pants long enough to speak to a flight attendant.” Mr. Tallman opened his mouth to argue, but Deep Voice Guy was stepping in front of him, hand on his chest.

“Mr. Tallman. You either walk away or you face the No-Fly list,” he said, towering over the man. Who rolled his eyes and walked out of the gate, muttering something.

“I- would that even get him on the No-Fly list?” Cyrus muttered, mostly to himself.

“Well, no,” Deep Voice answered, turning to face him and holding out a hand to shake. “But he thinks it would. I’m TJ Kippen.”

“Cyrus Goodman.” They shook hands, smiling gently.

“Thank you guys, so much,” the flight attendant said.

“Oh, it was no problem,” Cyrus promised, hooking his thumb into the strap of his backpack.

“Not at all,” TJ agreed, smiling at her. “Do you need anything?”

“No, no, that was plenty.”

“Okay, then.” TJ turned to Cyrus. “Come sit with me?”

“I- um, I guess so.” Cyrus was weighing the possibilities of TJ’s status as a serial killer in his head, and not only could TJ tell, he also found it ridiculously endearing.

“Come on, I promise not to harm you.” TJ smiled wide, gesturing to an open row of chairs.

“I don’t think that was the right way to assure someone of your trustworthiness.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes,” Cyrus chuckled, sitting down next to him.

“What would you prefer, then?”

“I don’t know.”

“Well that’s not fair!”

“Life isn’t fair, Kippen.”

“Yeah, yeah. Who are you, my mother?”

“Who’s to say?”

“...You?” TJ asked.

“I respect that,” Cyrus conceded. “Anyway, is DC home, business, or pleasure?”

“School, actually. Georgetown. I stayed six extra weeks to take a history course.”

“Freshman?”

“Yeah, I am,” TJ laughed.

“Me too. Yale, though.”

“Then why the hell are you in DC? And going to Chicago?”

“Summer internship - Capitol Hill. And Chicago is home. Sort of. Chicago is home plus about four hours of driving.”

“Same. O’Hare is just the closest big airport to Shadyside.”

“Shadyside?” Cyrus asked, facing TJ.

“Yeah?”

“You’re lying, right?”

“No?” TJ promised, one eyebrow raised.

“You have to be lying. I’d know you if you lived in Shadyside.”

“Ah. You live there too?”

“No. I live there. You, on the other hand, are a liar.” TJ shook his head, reaching into his pocket for his wallet and pulling out his driver’s licence. He handed it to Cyrus with a smug grin.

“Shadyside, Midwest. Born and raised,” he said, only for Cyrus to chuckle at the card.

“Theodore James Kippen. Theodore. Theo Kippen,” Cyrus laughed. “Your name is Theodore.”

“Oh hush. You were named after a sculptor.”

“Not so. I was named after Cyrus the Great, Achaemenid-Persian King, and Cyrus McCormick, physicist. And who were you named after? Ted Bundy?” Cyrus deadpanned.

“Not funny! Theodore Roosevelt and James Joyce.”

“Oh. That’s… Not actually something I know how to make fun of.”

“Lucky me.”

“I like your shirt,” Cyrus said after a moment, smiling softly at the pride pattern.

“June’s almost over. I figured I should probably wear it a few more times before the hets get mad,” TJ joked, glancing down at Cyrus’s pride bracelet. “The same for you, I presume?”

“Nah. This bracelet never leaves my wrist; it’s been a part of me since my best friend made it for me.”

“And how long has that been?”

“Nearly six years. Since the day I came out to her.”

“You’ve got a good best friend, then,” TJ smiled.

“Two of them, actually.”

“Ah. Me too. Well, a best friend and a twin sister.”

“Good support system,” Cyrus approved. “Does your sister go too Georgetown, too?”

“No, UCLA. I haven’t seen her in far too long.”

“Reunion day tomorrow?”

“Yeah.” A smile came over his face as he spoke. “Marty, Amber and I haven’t seen one another since the holidays.”

“Marty?! That’s your best friend?”

“Uh, yeah?”

“He’s my best friend’s ex-boyfriend,” Cyrus gawked.

“So your best friend is… Buffy Driscoll! Then your bracelet maker is Andi Mack.”

“You are correct. And your twin sister is dating my best friend.”

“She is, yeah. And your other best friend dumped my best friend for… Someone else. Whoever she cheated on him with. I never got around to finding out who.”

“Buffy didn’t break up with Marty for someone else or cheat on him? She broke up with him because they were going off to schools on opposite sides of the country and she didn’t want them both to get hurt.”

“Marty said she…”

“She didn’t. Buffy’s not that kind of person.”

“How am I supposed to believe that?”

“I give you my word, Theo.”

“Is that gonna stick?”

“Are you gonna go after Buffy for cheating?”

“I asked the first question.”

“I asked the more important question,” Cyrus rebutted.

“Fine. I trust you.”

“Then I trust you, Theo.”

“Is that all it takes to buy your trust?” TJ crossed his arms.

“No, actually. My trust costs quite a lot more than that.”

“Like what?”

“Like… Your ID, the pride pattern on your shirt - a gift from Marty when you two came out to one another. Your luggage tag, the watch you’re wearing - which just so happens to have been picked out by Andi while helping Amber shop for her brother. Your backpack, which you borrowed from Marty. Your shoes, decorated by Walker Brodsky, Andi’s ex boyfriend. Your varsity jacket - Grant High basketball. The music playing out of your earbuds - a playlist no doubt formed by Bowie Quinn, Andi’s dad.

“Your pants - bought at the mall five miles out of town. Your hair, which fits Amber’s description of her brother. The tattoo on your wrist of your little sister’s name; Molly passed away a few years ago, and you spoke at her funeral. I only met her once when Amber brought her along to hang out at the park, but she looks just like you. And the polaroid in your phone case. Amber put it there right before you went separate ways.”

“You collected all that information in one conversation?” TJ asked.

“My trust isn’t easily handed out.”

“Question - do you hyper analyze everyone you meet?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Tell me about that lady,” he said, looking pointedly in the direction of a woman sitting alone in a row of chairs.

“She just got back from visiting her kid at Howard.”

“How can you tell?”

“...It says so on her sweatshirt.” TJ glanced up to find that yes, she was wearing a Howard sweatshirt.

“Touché.”

“You just chose a bad person. That was too easy.”

“Fine. That flight attendant back there. She’s in uniform, so you can’t derive clues from that,” TJ said, a smug grin on his face.”

“Bad choice, Theo. She’s in uniform, but I know her profession and I’ve had an entire conversation with her. She’s engaged, and she hasn’t seen her fiancé in a few weeks. This is her last flight before she gets to see him in Chicago. And before you ask- she’s wearing an engagement ring.”

“That’s mildly terrifying. How do you pick up so much information so quickly?”

“All four of my parents are psychiatrists. You pick up the skill after a while.”

“Ah. That’s… fascinating,” TJ said.

“Well that was convincing,” Cyrus deadpanned.

“No, I mean it! That’s genuinely cool, Cyrus.”

“Yeah, yeah. It’s kind of my single defining character trait. Or rather, my single defining skill.”

“Oh, come on. You’re worth more than this one skill,” TJ insisted. \

“Like…?”

“Whatever’s in your bank account, I presume,” he teased.

“Theodore Kippen!”

“It was a joke, I promise,” TJ said, hands in the air as though pleading innocence.

“I know it was.” Cyrus smiled softly, a silent promise that he believed him.

“What are you majoring in?” TJ asked, opting to change the subject entirely. Cyrus clearly noticed, raising an amused eyebrow.

“Doubling in Poli Sci and Philosophy. You?”

“Majoring History and a minor in German.”

“Are you fluent?”

“Uh, yeah. It’s actually my first language. We lived in Germany until Amber and I were 10.”

“Seriously?” Cyrus asked. “I wouldn’t have guessed.”

“My American accent is really good, I guess,” he responded, letting his natural German accent show.

“You should probably just be handed a German major,” Cyrus marveled.

“I don’t think that’s how that works.”

“You know, I think I actually prefer your natural accent to the American.”

“Is that a compliment?” TJ’s accent was thicker now - he was clearly starting to fall back into it after using a false one for so long.

“Of course it is!”

“Well then, I’m glad you heard it.”

“So am I. Goodness, do you think the plane should be at the gate by now? It’s… 4:45, and we’re supposed to depart at 6:00, so we should be boarding very soon.”

“Ja, das sollte es auch.”

“Pardon?”

“Hmm? Oh! Um, yes, it should be. Sorry, I wasn’t really thinking and-”

“Don’t apologize! It’s fine.”

“The plane should definitely be here,” TJ said, sidestepping the topic. He looked out the windows to where the plane should be.

“What do you bet it gets cancelled tonight?”

“Oh, definitely,” TJ agreed. “I’ve been waiting for the other shoe to drop since the first delay.”

“So have I. The attendants at the desk even look like they know it’s going to be cancelled.”

“I feel so bad for them.” TJ glanced to the desk, a sympathetic look on his face. “Wait, look-”

“Hmm?” Cyrus looked to the desk, where the flight attendants were reading something and one was reaching for the microphone as another typed frantically into a computer.

“Cancellation or delay?” TJ asked.

“I say cancelled.”

“I say another delay,” TJ countered.

“Passengers of Flight 283 out of Gate 32C, Flight 283 has been cancelled. All passengers have been placed on one of two flights tomorrow and will be emailed the details. Passengers have also been awarded miles to be used for United Airlines flights. Thank you for your patience and flexibility.”

The other passengers at the gate all grumbled slightly, sighing and exiting the gate. Many said something about getting dinner. TJ stood up, pulling out his phone to look for rooms at nearby hotels.

“I’m gonna run up to the desk really quick, hang on.” Cyrus was gone before TJ could ask. Naturally, he followed.

“What can I help you with?”

“I was wondering what times the flights are tomorrow?” Cyrus asked, approaching the desk with a smile.

“Well, we’ve put all the passengers in coach on either the flight at noon or 1:00 pm. However, we can also put you and your boyfriend in first class at 4:00 pm instead of giving you complimentary miles,” a flight attendant said.

“I’ll definitely take that offer,” TJ said from behind him, ignoring the flight attendant’s assumption. Cyrus couldn’t help but notice that his American accent was back in full swing.

“Me too, absolutely,” Cyrus agreed. “Do we owe anything extra?”

“No, no.” The attendant from earlier stepped forward, overhearing their conversation. “You helped me out earlier, so consider it a gift from the airline. I’ll cover any extra fees,” she promised.

“Oh- are you sure? I’d be happy to pay-” Cyrus started.

“No, no. There’s truly no need.”

“Thank you so much,” TJ said, smiling at her gratefully.

“Thank you!” Cyrus exclaimed, turning to exit the gate with TJ. “Did you get anywhere on hotel rooms?”

“There’s only one room open at any hotel nearby.”

“Ugh, I guess that means I’ll have to drive out urther and come back in the morning.”

“...I mean, you could,” TJ said. “But it’s got two queen beds, if you’d rather stay nearby and split the cost?”

“Really?”

“Yeah, of course. I don’t particularly want to pay for a room on my own. Especially not at Chicago prices.”

“I don’t either, as long as you’re sure.”

“Eh, my twin sister really likes you,” TJ reasoned. “I’m gonna take the room.”

“Good, how much do I owe you?”

“Um… 60 dollars.”

Cyrus nodded, handing it to him with a smile.

“Now, should we go get dinner?”

“Yes, definitely,” TJ said. “Just- not in the airport.”

“Right. No 16 dollar burgers, got it. You know, I think I have an idea. There’s a place I really like nearby. It’s not much, really, but… any dietary restrictions?”

“Do you count penicillin as a dietary restriction?”

“No, you idiot! I meant like lactose intolerance or veganism.”

“Ah. Well, none of those things.”

“Good. Do you have a car here?”

“No, I took a cab.”

“Okay, I’m driving then,” Cyrus said, pulling his keys out of his pocket and waving them at TJ. “Shall we?”

***

“Have you ever had kebab?” Cyrus asked, handing TJ his food.

“I lived in Berlin for ten years! Of course I’ve had kebab. Never in America, though.”

“Ah, well… I can’t promise it’ll live up to Berlin’s standards. However, I say we eat it while it’s warm.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

“Okay, then.” TJ feigned a toast with his kebab, biting into it in sync with Cyrus. “...Well. it’s no Berlin, but it’s good. And anyway, even if it was awful- I’d eat awful kebab a thousand times over if it means another date with you.”

“This is a date now. Theo?”

“Only if you want it to be,” TJ flirted.

“I don’t think I’d mind that.”

“Yeah?” TJ’s grin was enough to change his mind if he’d been at all on the fence.

“Oh, absolutely.”

They finished their food quickly, talking aimlessly about their friends in Shadyside. Before he knew it, Cyrus was walking up to the front desk of their hotel with TJ at his side.

“Hi, we have a room, under Kippen,” he said.

“Yes, of course, here it is. I’ll just need ID and a card for incidentals?” Cyrus handed his credit card over while TJ set his driver’s licence on the desk. “...And there we go. You’re all set in room 619. Elevators are around the corner to your left. Have a good evening!”

“You too, ma’am, thank you!” TJ said.

“Thank you!” Cyrus followed TJ to the elevators, racing him to push the button.

“You’re ridiculous,” TJ huffed, pouting as Cyrus beat him to it.

“I know,” Cyrus said. His face was still occupied by a smug grin as he stepped out of the elevator onto the 6th floor. He led TJ down the hall toward their room. Sliding the room key into the lock, TJ pushed the door open.

The room was full of white bedding and soft carpeting and the same air freshener employed in every hotel Cyrus had ever stayed in. He let TJ take his hand and pull him inside, let him simply stand and stare into Cyrus’s eyes, let him step forward and kiss him, let his back hit the door as he looped his arms around TJ’s neck.

“Thank you,” TJ breathed, still crowding Cyrus against the door.

“For what?”

“This. All of this. Letting me kiss you.” Cyrus simply shrugged, tugging TJ back toward him.

“I trust you, Theodore James Kippen.”

#Andi Mack #tyrus #tj kippen #cyrus goodman #amber kippen #Amber (Andi Mack)#amber brown #Marty from the party #buffy driscoll #good hair crew #kippen twins #be nice to flight attendants

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multimetaverse · 5 years

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Tyrus in 3c

I’ve gotten a lot of asks about what might happen with Tyrus in the rest of the season and I’ll use this post to answer them all. We can already tell by the fact that they started this story line without the audience actually knowing that TJ is gay and that he and Kira only have 3 eps left that most of this plot is going to be subtextual and off-screen. Things have to end on at least a strained note for Tyrus in 3x15, the real question is whether they reconcile in 3x19 or if they only end up on good terms again as they confess in 3x21. The latter is always an option with Disney’s restrictions but there are some reasons to be cautiously optimistic that we’ll get the former and I have to blindly hope that TJ and Cyrus won’t be made into victims and will be allowed to be the heroes of their own stories. This will be a long post but tldr: what we know of Kira’s screen-time suggests that she’s largely redeemed by the finale, some sort of big gesture is likely needed for TJ to truly apologize to Cyrus like a rap or hug, it’s noteworthy that TJ’s scenes in 3x19 are all at school, and there are some interesting similarities between what’s going on with Jandi and Tyrus and noticeable differences between what’s going on with those ships and Muffy.

TJ and Kira have 3 eps left while Marty has 4-5 and Amber has 6 so already we can tell which story lines are most important. TJ disappears for three eps after 3x15 which is the longest he’s been away since he returned this season and the longest they seem willing to let the important love interests be off-screen. The gap is largely because the wedding is in 3x18 and TJ isn’t allowed to be there but eps 16-18 are likely to span at least several weeks in universe and suggests an opportunity for off screen growth and change on his part. Perhaps most importantly we know for the finale that Raquel was only on set for one day and that was the same day that all of the other main and recurring kids were on set so Kira is not going to get very much screen-time in the finale which along with the fact that she is even at the party suggests she’s already on good terms with Cyrus and TJ.

We know that Raquel was on set for only one day for 3x15 and it seems likely that Luke was only on set for a day as well during the filming of an outdoor basketball game with teen boy players; probably the same set up we saw in 3x13. This must be where Cyrus tries to talk with TJ but doesn’t really get anywhere, it will be interesting to see how angsty of a note they end on and if it’s meant to be something that sticks with us or something that they want us to forget about until 3x19. Fwiw it does look like TJ is wearing the same camo hoodie in 3x15 as he was in 3x07 so an angsty callback to’’ you’re the only person I can talk to like this’’ may be in the cards. Raquel never posted from set during 3x19 (presumably that’s when she appears though if she for some reason needed to have solo scenes with Cyrus she could potentially appear in 3x16 or 3x17). She wasn’t seen in any of the casts posts from that week so she likely wasn’t on set for more than a day for that ep either.

Three days of filming spread over 3 eps means Kira will be lucky to have more than 5 minutes of screen-time the rest of the season and that her redemption arc will have to be fairly quick. I have to hope that her redemption arc will begin in 3x15 when she realizes or is made to realize the hurt she’s caused TJ and Cyrus. Since Raquel confirmed that Kira knows what’s up with Tyrus I’d expect that the only way to redeem her would be for her to become TJ’s Buffy and support him in his sexuality as Buffy has with Cyrus which would mostly happen off screen but since they’re willing to let them have solo scenes could begin in 3x15, maybe with Kira offering to hear TJ out if he wants to talk. We need to see something from her that shows that she’s not an evil person and that she can learn to do the right thing.

I’d expect this plot line to look like a peer pressure/manipulation/being true to yourself plot line to little kids and the fear of homophobia story line it is supposed to be for older audiences. It looks like they’re trying to show a coming out story line where the fear isn’t internalized homophobia such as it was with Cyrus but external homophobia but I think that difference will escape much of the audience. We’ve seen TJ be so happy to hang with Cyrus at school or the park or at the spoon or at his work or with his friends so I wonder what little kids think of him suddenly being afraid to be seen matching with Cyrus.

Where does this leave Cyrus after 3x15? Again the audience has never had it confirmed that Cyrus likes TJ so that affects how the audience sees this conflict. Is he going to be allowed to talk about what’s going on with his friends or will this just be ignored until 3x19? Letting TJ be able to have solo scenes with Kira means that the show can wall this plot off from the rest of the show until 3x19 which is the route they’re going, I fear.

For Cyrus I think this will primarily look to him like TJ is ashamed to be close to him which is why I find it noteworthy that TJ is at school in 3x19 especially since before the re-shoots 3x19 was the last time the show filmed scenes at school. Cyrus feeling that TJ doesn’t want to be close to him would be devastating for Cyrus even if he’s not allowed to express it on screen. They had TJ say I’m sorry for the first time in 3x13 and he can say it again to Cyrus but I think TJ needs to show Cyrus that he’s important to him.

Jonah left Cyrus upset after refusing to wear their matching jackets in S1 and even though Jonah didn’t realize or care the hurt he caused Cyrus he did end up making it up to him by publicly praising him at the awards dinner and giving him a space otters jersey and a hug. I don’t think TJ’s apology would get anywhere near that level of attention but I think another rap is likely but this time it’s a more personal message from TJ to Cyrus. Or something like a hug or a callback to’’ He’s with me’’ from 2x08, something that shows Cyrus that he’s important to TJ. I’d imagine Kira would have to help out with whatever spurs their reconciliation so the audience at least doesn’t hate her anymore. I’m not saying TJ has to jump on stage and rap or hug Cyrus on stage but some sort of moment at the school in front of at least a couple of other people is needed for Tyrus to move past this conflict.

Luke was on set for two days in 3x19 and he and Josh had at least one wardrobe change so we’re probably looking at more than one day in universe. The potential Jandi and Tyrus scenes at the game could be very important as I’ll get in to in a bit. It also looks like TJ may have scenes with Buffy and Cyrus and Cyrus has a scene with Gus in the theatre which suggests Cyrus is getting more focus than usual and could be set up for a callback to 3x13 where Cyrus was miserable on stage but in 3x19 he’s happy.

So far in S3 Tyrus has been cycling through all their big moments: muffin, swings, dyscalculia, and somersaults. If the pattern holds we should get a look back in 3x15. I do think the audience needs something to show that TJ is gay and has a crush on Cyrus if this plot is to have any hope of succeeding. It mirrors something that @cyrusgoodboye noted after S2 aired; that in 2x12 Andi listed all the things Jonah had failed to do in what she thought was their relationship and then in 2b Jonah did all those things in the order she listed as they rekindled their relationship.

One thing that really caught my eye in 3x13 is the out of nowhere Jandi/Tyrus parallel they threw in with both Jonah and TJ letting down Andi and Cyrus (though for obviously different reasons). All of the GHC have a thing for sporty white guys but Andi and Cyrus have a more specific type: green eyed captains with hidden depths and secrets and poor coping mechanisms; which is why the both liked Jonah in S1. Andi and Cyrus are more alike than they are with Buffy just as Jonah and TJ are more alike than they are with Marty. Jonah and TJ have been written as foils from the beginning of TJ’s arc and the show even invented a past for them and has now established them as friends.

In contrast things are going much smoother for Muffy. The show could have dug into Marty icing Buffy out but the show blamed Buffy and dismissed it out of hand. That’s not to say they won’t have drama and angst but ‘’the boy I like has a girlfriend’’ is an order of magnitude less than the issues Andi and Jonah and Cyrus and TJ are facing. What’s also interesting is that Muffy is the only endgame couple that are together by the wedding. We know that Machel sinks in 3x17 as Marty is at the wedding in 3x18; he’s not there as Buffy’s platonic plus one. But obviously Tyrus doesn’t canon until 3x21 and Jonah singing You Girl to Andi isn’t until 3x20 which seems like that’s the big Jandi get back together moment. So both Jandi and Tyrus having scenes together in 3x19 shortly before they canon is very interesting timing and opens up the potential for more endgame parallels.

Another reason I think there may be another rap is that Terri does like to recycle her work and Cyrus realized his crush on TJ during the first rapology and during the second he could realize that TJ likes him back; it’s like poetry it rhymes. It would also create another parallel between Tyrus and Jandi as both of their love interests make a big gesture.

That’s not to say that Tyrus will get anywhere near the attention Jandi or even Muffy gets, it’s far too late for that, but it is interesting that the writers seem to be linking Tyrus with Jandi more so than Muffy; it does suggest a certain ambition on their part even if those ambitions are frustrated.

There are lots of interesting paths for the show to take in 3x19, but as always when it involves Cyrus’ story line, it’s a question of what they’ll be allowed to do. We have Andi and Jonah and Cyrus and TJ in the same scenes for only the 3rd time in the show and the first time they’ve been at the same game since 2x18. There’s potential for Jonah to call back to his ‘’are they friends’’ line and they’ve gone out of their way to make Jonah and TJ friends, will there be any pay off to that? Jonah knows that Cyrus is gay and knows what a look back means, Andi knows that Cyrus is gay and suspects TJ has a crush on Cyrus and is only allowed into Cyrus’ sexuality story line rarely, Buffy would be at the game and she knows that Cyrus is gay and suspects that TJ has a crush on Cyrus and has always been Cyrus’ staunchest supporter, hell Cyrus even has scenes at the spoon with Amber who knows what look backs mean.

The posters we saw in 3x07 spell out the endgame of all this; for TJ to take pride in who he is and for Kira to learn to respect others. Does TJ resuming his openly affectionate ways give Cyrus the confidence to decide to come out to him? The narrative is asking TJ to in a fairly quick time span be okay with being out to the whole world; something it has never demanded of Cyrus. With Andi, Buffy, Jonah, and Kira all knowing about them does that mean Cyrus and TJ will be allowed to act coupley in front of everyone at the party after they confess or can only those four other characters know? Does TJ even have scenes with Marty and Amber? Bex and Bowie are at the party and Bex likely knows that Cyrus is gay from their talk in 2x07 and both of them know who TJ is from 2x18, are they allowed to be the supportive adults who congratulate Cyrus or must they be kept in the dark as well? I can only hope that Terri managed to convince Gary Marsh to let her pull off a satisfying arc in these remaining eps

#Andi Mack #Tyrus #TJ Kippen #Cyrus Goodman #Kira #Jonah Beck #Buffy Driscoll #Jandi #Muffy #Andi Mack Meta #Andi Mack Season 3

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seriestrash · 5 years

Text

Summer-Salt

Summary: A tyrus one shot inspired off Mount Rushmore or less. It follows the events during and after costume day. It wasn’t intended to be a ‘fix-it’ piece but I suppose it could be read that way :)

Word Count: 7330

read on ao3

■ □ ■ □ ■

Pre Summer:

It’s Wednesday afternoon and TJ sits at his kitchen counter doing homework whilst his mother Tess prepares dinner. TJ is interrupted when his phone buzzes. The basketball captain reads an email from the principal about costume day.

“This Friday?” TJ mumbles to himself.

“What’s that, hun?” TJ’s mother stops chopping vegetables and picks up her gaze.

TJ shrugs as he puts his phone down, “It’s just an email about costume day being this Friday.”

“That’s short notice.” Tess crinkles her brows. “Are you going to participate this year? I know you didn’t want to last year.”

“I think I might...” TJ nods his head casually. “But I already spent this weeks pay on the new video game I’ve been saving for.” TJ frowns.

Tess’ expression falls, mirroring her sons, “Teej, I can give you some money.”

TJ smiles almost guiltily, “I didn’t mean it like that-“ which was a lie, he did mean it how she took it. TJ hated taking money off his mom since she worked so hard as a single mother to keep things afloat for her three kids. “-I just like to be independent, I’m trying to prove to you I’m responsible enough for a dog, remember?” He adds with a smirk. His mother smiles too although she doesn’t believe his excuse.

“I’m sure we will be able to whip something up from things we already have at home.” She smiles happily, “Are you going to do something on your own or something with your friends?”

TJ thinks for a moment, things were strained between him and Reed -not that Reed was much of a costume day guy himself- and sure he could ask one of his friends on the basketball team but what TJ really wanted to do was ask Cyrus.

“I might see if Cyrus has anything planned yet...” TJ says with a slight shrug, his mothers smile picks up.

“That will be nice.” She affirms.

“You got any costume ideas?” TJ leans forward and rests his chin in the palm of his hand.

She purses her lips and then a look of delight sparks across her face, “At the work office party I went to a few months back a couple went as salt and pepper shakers, it was adorable.”

TJ scrunches up his nose as he turns that idea over in his mind. It also made him nervous that his mother suggested a couples costume.

“Well I don’t know, honey.” She laughs at her sons reaction, “What’s something the two of you have in common?”

TJ rolls his head around in his palm as he thinks. They weren’t a lot alike in the way of interests which was funny since they got along so well. It was more moments that bonded them together. They had the swings but that didn’t seem like a plausible option considering he didn’t have money to put towards the costume. There was of course the somersault but how does one dress up as that? Then it clicks in TJ’s mind. Somersault that was it.

“Thanks mom!” TJ gets up excitedly from the counter.

“What?” She’s confused, “You’ve changed your mind about the salt and pepper costume?”

“Not exactly,” TJ quickly scoops up his books from the counter, “I’m going to go work on my half of the costume-“ TJ was already halfway down the hall but stops, “Is our strainer still blue?”

“Well I’ve not purchased a new one..” She furrows her brows.

“Doesn’t matter, I’ll switch,” TJ swats the air, “Do we have a beach ball?”

“Check the twins room..” Her look of confusion remains as her son disappears down the hall completely.

Pre Salt:

After Cyrus parts ways with TJ the afternoon TJ shared his costume idea, he’s picked up by his mom. She’s barely done asking Cyrus how his day was before he interjects.

“Can we please stop by the mall on the way home? I want to get a shirt for costume day.”

“I thought you only needed a sheet for Mount Rushmore?” Leslie is lightly perplexed.

“I’m not doing that anymore.” Cyrus shakes his head.

“Andi changed her mind?” She questions.

“No.” Cyrus wears a look of guilt. “TJ asked me to match and I’m more excited about his idea..”

“Fair enough, but is Andi alright with you pulling out of the group costume?”

Again Cyrus is hit with a wave of guilt, “I’ll talk to her.”

“Alright.” Leslie smiles trusting her son will do the right thing, “What kind of a costume are we shopping for?”

“I just need a white shirt, I’m going to get the graphic tee designers to print an S on it.” Cyrus says enthusiastically. “I should have the rest at home already.”

“An S?” Leslie questions.

Cyrus laughs as he realises his mother has no idea what he’s talking about, “I’m going as a salt shaker, TJ’s going in beach wear. Together we are somersault.. It’s an inside joke.” Cyrus smiles to himself.

“Very clever.” Leslie doesn’t push for any further information, instead she smiles at her happy son for a moment before pulling out of the parking lot and heading towards the mall.

Thomas Jefferson:

Costume day was officially over and Cyrus begins to walk home, blue in the face —or more accurately grey in the face— and he reflects on how drastically things can change in a few hours. Barely even 24 hours before, Cyrus had been texting with TJ about his costume coming together but now he found himself questioning their friendship. There was no other way to describe how Cyrus was currently feeling other than completely and utterly devastated.

Cyrus is still exiting the school grounds when he hears someone calling his name. It’s his fellow president —also still grey in the face— Buffy.

“Hey, Buffy.” Cyrus says flatly once she catches up.

“You still bummed TJ changed his mind?” Buffy asks gently.

“Oh no, this mopey walk home is because it’s my turn to wash the dishes tonight.” Cyrus jokes weakly.

Buffy wears an empathetic smile, she might have had a blast reconnecting with Marty as half of Mount Rushmore but she couldn’t ignore that the other half —consisting of her two very best friends— were not enjoying the day as much.

“I can’t believe TJ bailed without telling you,” Buffy seems angered, “After it was his idea!”

Cyrus just gives a weak shrug of his shoulder, “Maybe this is my karma from bailing on Andi without telling her.”

“Cyrus,” Buffy frowns at her friend, “You at least knew there would be someone to fill in for you with Mount Rushmore.”

“I still should have said something to Andi myself.” Cyrus mumbles.

“True.” Buffy answers honestly but she stops Cyrus walking and holds his gaze, “But that doesn’t mean you deserve this.”

Cyrus only shrugs. “It just hurts coming from TJ of all people, you know?”

“I know.” Buffy nods softly. “You really like him, huh?”

Another weak shrug combined with a tiny nod from Cyrus. His voice is soft and he stands so small and unconfident as he says, “The worst part is I let a tiny piece of myself believe that maybe, just maybe, he could like me too.”

Buffy coaxes her head with a heartbroken expression, “Cyrus-“

“I guess that’s why they call it a crush, because that’s exactly how they make you feel.. Crushed.” Cyrus exaggerates a sigh as he wanted to try and end the conversation or steer it differently at the very least. “So TJ likes Kira, time to accept that and move on.”

“You think TJ likes Kira?” Buffy questions. “Are you sure?”

“He was willing to bail on a costume with me for her after knowing her all of five minutes so sure, I think it’s possible.” Cyrus nods, “If not I’ll have to entertain the idea that TJ got a better offer for costume day and doesn’t value our friendship as much as I do so he was willing to change his mind just like that.. and I’ve been disappointed enough today, so...”

“Cyrus-“ Buffy begins but Cyrus cuts her off again.

“I don’t feel like talking about this, I’m going to go.” And with that he quickly hurries home.

Cyrus thought about going to the swings to make himself feel better but there was the issue of being painted grey and looking strange in the park but the real reason he doesn’t go is because he wanted to distance himself from TJ as much as possible.

Once home Cyrus quickly tries to retreat to his room to continue his wallowing in peace but he’s stopped by his mother.

“Cy, your face?” Leslie stokes his cheek with her thumb, “What happened to your salt costume?”

“Jonah pulled out of Mount Rushmore so I subbed back in.” Cyrus lies to spare having to open up about his disappointment.

“Oh no,” Leslie frowns, “Was TJ okay with you changing last minute?”

“Yep,” Cyrus forces his smile although it felt terribly sad resting on his face, “he was perfectly okay with it.”

Dribble:

TJ was no stranger to self-loathing but never had he hated himself more than he did come costume day. And it wasn’t just that he had ditched Cyrus without warning —because it was that— it was why he did it and he is so embarrassed of himself for being such a jerk, to Cyrus of all people.

TJ was sure he had spent the day looking like a criminal. Guilt written all over his face. To make it worse, Kira had glued herself to his side any chance she could. The only escape TJ really got was class as they didn’t have any together and then he’d keep his jacket zipped up like he was trying to hide the evidence.

Final bell couldn’t come quick enough. All TJ wanted to do was get home as soon as possible but before he gets the chance Kira stops him and asks for a photo before they go. TJ tries to brush her off as he didn’t want to document today in anyway, he wanted to try and forget any of this ever happened. It doesn’t help that TJ hears Buffy call after Cyrus whom TJ had noticed changed costumes soon after TJ’s betrayal was revealed. Kira calls back for TJ’s attention and he makes an excuse to leave.

“I really have to get going. I’m supposed to pick up my brother and sister from preschool.” TJ shifts awkwardly on his feet.

“Kippen you are such a buzz kill.” Kira sighs, “Were still on for tomorrow right?”

TJ mumbles some form of agreement before Kira finally leaves.

TJ is halted again before being able to leave himself, this time by Buffy whom seems to be approaching with a rage bubbling and considering TJ knew she’s just come from Cyrus, he can only imagine the verbal beating he was about to receive. To try and lessen the blow TJ starts walking so they’d at least not cause a scene right in front of school.

“Is Cyrus mad at me?” TJ asks with a loud exhale once their strides were in sync.

“No, Cyrus isn’t mad at you- I’m mad at you.” Buffy says in a frustrated heap. “How could you do this to Cyrus. Why did you do this to Cyrus?”

“It was a last minute decision. I didn’t mean to ditch him.” TJ lies, “I wasn’t trying to be a jerk.”

“Yet amazingly,” Buffy throws a lot of sarcasm into her statement, “You managed to be one.”

“Yeah, I get it.” TJ huffs. He really didn’t need this right now —although he knew he deserved it— he didn’t want to feel like Buffy hated him again.

“And for Kira?” Buffy scoffs, “Do you even know her?”

TJ remains unresponsive.

“That just makes it worse.” Buffy grumbles. “I’m not beyond believing people are redeemable but Kira isn’t a nice girl. So the fact that you’d ditch Cyrus for a costume with her is infuriating.”

“Buffy, I get it.” TJ huffs again.

“I’m not sure you do.” Buffy folds her arms. “Did you see how upset Cyrus was today?”

“Yeah, I’m a jerk.” TJ shrugs.

“Do you know he blew off Andi to match costumes with you?” Buffy questions.

“He did?” TJ frowns.

“Yeah. He did.”

“Well I didn’t know.” TJ sighs. “I didn’t mean to cause trouble or upset Cyrus- You don’t understand. I just had to go with Kira.” TJ is trying to get the conversation over and done with.

“You’re right, I don’t understand.” Buffy states. “You had to?”

“I wanted to, same difference.” TJ scrambles.

“I’m not sure it is.” Buffy shakes her head.

“I really didn’t want to upset Cyrus,” TJ is genuine but his expression is defeated, “It’s just- complicated.”

Buffy softens. “I hope you know you can talk to me.. About Kira.. Cyrus.. Anything...”

TJ studies Buffy’s gentle and understanding expression and he had no doubt she knew exactly what was troubling him —well maybe not exactly but enough of the details to know he liked Cyrus— TJ suspected she’s known for at least a little while, he’s caught her trying to hide a small smile or side glance at the two of them when they all hang out which was enough to make TJ nervous about being obvious but he at least trusted Buffy was the kind of genuine person not to say anything, that’s why Kira’s forwardness scared TJ enough for him to hurt Cyrus in an attempt to protect himself.

“I don’t have anything to talk about.” TJ lies, “I didn’t want to wear a dumb costume so I changed my mind.” Being jerky was his easiest defensive mechanism, he hoped it would work enough to make Buffy angry and leave him alone.

Buffy knew TJ was deflecting to protect himself so even though his words angered her she remains calm, “When you finally decide to apologise to Cyrus for being a jerk, try and not call the costume dumb to his face, you’ve hurt him enough.” And with that Buffy turns on her heels and leaves.

TJ retreats home and ignores his mothers chirpy greeting. He’s also short with the twins and grumpily heads to his room. He very dramatically removes his dribble shirt and throws it towards his waste bin with a grumble.

TJ flops down on his bed with a sigh and pulls out his phone. He clicks on Insta and finds Buffy’s happy snaps with whom TJ now knows is Marty from the party. The last photo in her thread was a forced cuddly picture with Cyrus. It was cute even though Cyrus looked uncomfortable sandwiched between Buffy and Marty. Then TJ tries to convince himself that it wasn’t so bad he bailed because Cyrus had Mount Rushmore to fall back on but he knew that was a weak attempt at trying to make himself feel better. Not surprisingly it didn’t work.

TJ flips over to his texts and finds Cyrus’ thread close to the top. The last message he received from him was two emojis; a beach umbrella and a salt shaker. A text in which TJ ignored this morning after a whole lot of back and forth with how he was going to tell Cyrus he was bailing. TJ had committed to Kira’s costume idea out of fear but what he feared more was disappointing Cyrus so in an even more cowardly move he decided not to text him at all that morning. Much like he did that night —even though he spent hours wondering if he should text a simple ‘sorry’— eventually, he passes out for the evening.

Summer:

The following morning, TJ knocks on the front door of Cyrus’ home. Leslie answers with a smile.

“TJ, I didn’t know you were coming over today.” She welcomes him inside.

“I’m just stopping by, is Cyrus home?”

“He’s awake, he’s in his room. You can go back if you like.” Leslie says.

“Thank you.” TJ smiles but was growing more anxious knowing what follows.

“Oh and I’m sorry to hear about costume day.” Leslie says before TJ parts, “I hope Cyrus changing last minute didn’t spoil your plans.”

TJ furrows his brows for a second but ultimately casually brushes past her remark and makes his way to Cyrus’ room.

TJ gently knocks on Cyrus’ bedroom door and realised he was holding his breath.

“I told you I’m not hungry, mom.” Cyrus’ voice is muffled behind the closed door.

“Uh, it’s TJ. Can I come in?” TJ calls back.

“TJ?” Cyrus opens his door with a confused expression an expression that is even more perplexed when he sees what TJ’s wearing.

“Hey.” TJ says with a guilty look upon his face.

“You’re about a day late, summer.” Cyrus has a weak glare pointed at TJ’s summer themed ensemble.

“I know.” TJ frowns, “But since I didn’t know what an apology costume looked like I thought I’d come in this..”

“You don’t need to apologise.” Cyrus shrugs casually and sits back on his bed.

“Yes I do.” TJ frowns. “It was a jerk move and I clearly upset you yesterday-“

“You’re mistaken,” Cyrus forces laugh, “My down nature yesterday was because I got stuck doing Mount Rushmore. I love Andi but I wasn’t too invested in the idea.. so I mean sure I was bummed our costume plans fell through but no big deal.”

“Really?” TJ asks unconvinced.

“Yes. Chill.” Cyrus laughs. “Sure a text would have been nice but why end a friendship over it?”

TJ was so relieved by Cyrus’ response he let himself believe it. “So were good?” TJ asks for final confirmation.

“We’re perfect.” Cyrus forces his smile.

“Good.” TJ let’s out a breath of relief. “So you told your mom you were the one that changed your mind about costume day?”

“It was easier that way.” Cyrus says nonchalantly, “the therapist in her would have made it into a bid deal like we needed to spend forever talking about it.”

TJ nods mindlessly and an awkward moment passes between the two.

“So..” TJ —still standing in the doorway— swings on his feet, “What are you doing today?”

“Pretty much this.” Cyrus motions referring to him sitting in bed. “Comfort sweater and everything.”

“Your bash mitzvah sweater?” TJ raises a brow.

“Yeah I guess it is kind of dorky.” Cyrus frowns down at his blue hoodie that has his own face on it. “I guess you probably threw yours out. Anyway, forget it.” Cyrus shakes his head after accidentally letting his insecurities slip through. “You want to hang here too?”

“I can’t, I actually have- Work.” TJ frowns.

“Okay. Tomorrow?” Cyrus questions. “There’s a few good movies out I want to see.”

“Maybe we could just hang out at your dads? Play some ping pong, go in the pool maybe..” TJ suggests.

“Sure.” Cyrus bops his head. “See you tomorrow.”

Cyrus:

Shortly after TJ leaves, Cyrus drags himself out of bed. He didn’t feel like lying around anymore and not because their talk made him feel better. The talk made him feel worse actually so he wanted to do something to distract himself. Unfortunately his attempts are futile as all Cyrus can think of as he walks to the park is his how cowardly he felt for lying about his true feelings towards the costume day situation. The only reason he had done so was so TJ didn’t get weirded out by him being overemotional or catch onto his hidden feelings. Cyrus just wanted to protect himself from seeming too invested in the friendship.

Cyrus was planning on meeting Andi at The Spoon for a round of apology baby taters and he decides to take a detour through the park on the way.

It’s in the park where Cyrus quite literally bumps into Kira.

“Cyrus.” Kira says with a growing smile as she steadies herself.

“Kira..” Cyrus says awkwardly and he gives her a quick wave with the intention of brushing past her.

“Sorry about costume day.” Kira grimaces.

“Plans change last minute, no big deal.” Cyrus forces a casual shrug.

“I know but just because he was embarrassed doesn't mean he still shouldn't have called you about the change in plans.” Kira says.

“Embarrassed.. About ditching me?” Cyrus asks almost hopeful that was all TJ was worried about.

“Sure,” Kira stifles a smile, “That’s what he was embarrassed about.”

Kira’s delivery was enough to hurt Cyrus all over again and confirm his dreaded thoughts that TJ was embarrassed by him.

“Anyway,” Kira swats the air, “Personal jokes are fun and all for anyone involved but our costume was good for everyone. The guys on TJ’s team got a kick out of it- which is good considering they’re going to be my teammates soon.”

Cyrus must have looked somewhat perplexed since Kira continued with an explanation. Although Cyrus didn’t actually care for one since he was on a thought spiral about how hurt he was by TJ.

“Didn’t he tell you?” Kira coaxes his head, “Since Buffy won’t let me be on the girls team I’m going out for the boys team.” She grins from ear to ear. “TJ’s going to help me prepare for tryouts, actually, he should be here soon.” Kira says glancing at her watch.

“Oh.” Cyrus says quietly. “Well I’ve got to get going but good luck with everything.”

Cyrus was quickly trying to make an escape but as he sets on his way he meets the guilty looking expression of TJ. Instead of saying anything, Cyrus tries to continue past him in silence but TJ grabs at Cyrus’ arm to stop him.

“I didn’t know you got a new job as a coach.” Cyrus scoffs.

“I would have told you.” TJ says unconvincingly.

“How come you lied?” Cyrus questions, “Why say you have to work when that’s not true?”

“I thought it might be weird because of the whole Kira thing.” TJ looks past Cyrus and towards Kira who was still where Cyrus left her, looking at the two of them intently. TJ drops his grip from Cyrus’ arm. “I didn’t want it to look like I was ditching you again for her.”

“I’m not like obsessed with you.” Cyrus scoffs but it turns into more of a nervous laugh. “You can hang out with whoever you want.”

“That’s not what I’m saying at all..” TJ furrows his brows. “I just- I don’t know.” TJ shifts awkwardly on his feet before he looks back at Kira again.

“You better get going.” Cyrus says in a defeated way.

“Are we good?” TJ asks, already fearful of the answer. “We’re still on for tomorrow right?”

“You mean hanging out at my dads house where you don’t have to be embarrassed by me in public?” Cyrus asks after the emotions he was trying to squash got the better of him.

“What?” TJ’s voice is quiet but full of guilt.

“It’s all good, TJ, you don’t have to do me any favours pretending to be my friend anymore.”

“How could you possibly think I’m pretending to be your friend?” TJ is hurt by the suggestion.

“I know I can be over the top and persistent but you didn’t have to be my friend, you didn’t have to go along with it.” Cyrus frowns. “I was nice to you when you were awful to my best friend because I thought I saw something she didn’t. Something you didn’t even see.”

TJ didn’t know how to defend himself against what Cyrus was saying so he tries to make it about something else, “You’re clearly not over the costume day thing and that’s exactly why I was afraid to tell you why I really couldn’t hang out with you today. ”

“Of course I’m not over the costume day thing, I lied to try and spare all this..” Cyrus huffs. “But you’re changing the subject. You know what it doesn’t matter.” Cyrus lets out a defeated sigh.

“It does matter,” TJ says quietly, “I’m sorry about costume day and I’m sorry for lying today too.” TJ sounds sincere but his gaze continued to flick back to Kira every so often as she was still intently watching them just out of earshot. “You are my friend, Cyrus, you have to know that.”

Cyrus follows TJ’s gaze for a moment and his own sad expression lands on Kira for a second before pointing all his attention to TJ once more. “Okay I do know that.”

“Yeah?” TJ looks almost relieved but he still didn’t feel confident in how things were turning out.

“I tried to play the whole double dribble thing off like I was cool with it because I didn’t want you to think I was being weird or obsessive but I do value this friendship. A lot. And I know I’m that weird and half the people at school make fun of me because I’m different and that’s just whatever,” Cyrus shrugs lightly, “So you can be embarrassed by me, —god knows Andi and Buffy are half the time— but I cant be friends with someone that makes me feel like I should embarrassed about myself.”

“Cyrus-” TJ could barely even get his name out.

Cyrus interjects, “I’ve made it weird now. Weirder than it has to be. Just forget about it. No hard feelings, okay?”

TJ:

After Cyrus made a quick escape, TJ is left standing there at a loss for words. Once the whole encounter was over, Kira approaches the basketball captain.

“That seemed dramatic.” Kira chuckles softly. TJ tries to ignore her and walk away but she stops him. “Kippen, you're supposed to help me prepare for my tryouts?”

“You were the star player at your old school, you don’t need my help.” TJ rolls his eyes and starts to walk away.

Kira coaxes her head with a challenging look, “I guess Cyrus would agree with me that you’re not someone who follows through with their commitments.”

TJ stops in his tracks and spins back towards Kira with an angry look upon his face, “Why are you doing this to me?”

“Doing what?” Kira shrugs innocently before folding her arms.

“You know exactly what.” TJ grumbles, “Cyrus thinks I’m embarrassed of him because of you and he’s probably never going to speak to me again because of it.”

“I didn’t make you switch costumes, TJ.” Kira says without a care. “If Cyrus thinks you’re embarrassed of him it’s not because of me.”

“You're acting innocent, you know what you were implying when you bullied me into doing the costume with you.” TJ is hurt and his voice is shaky but he tries to hold it together.

“Bullied? That's rich coming from you.” Kira laughs almost hysterically. “I might be new around here but you’ve got quite the reputation.”

“That’s in the past.” TJ lowers his gaze.

“I know. You’re a real...softie...now.” Kira smirks.

“You're doing it again.” TJ's expression deflates.

“I’m not doing anything.” Kira insists, her innocent act unwavering.

“I have had my fair share of awful moments but using my feelings or anyones against them like this is- I literally don’t have words.” TJ lets out a frustrated huff.

“I haven’t said a single thing about your ‘feelings',” Kira uses her air quotes around the word, “You jumped to your own conclusion about what I meant, so this is on you, TJ, not me.”

TJ lets out another frustrated groan and he knows he has to remove himself from the conversation before she sends him into an anger spiral he wouldn’t be able to pull himself out of.

“Whatever,” Kira rolls her eyes, “Have the weekend to mope over your little fight with Cyrus but I still want your help on Monday before my tryouts.”

After Kira walks away, TJ is wondering how Kira was still somehow manipulating him into spending time together. There was an anger bubbling inside of the basketballer and he storms home with no real idea on how to calm down. This whole situation sucked. He had Cyrus feeling bad about himself —which was crazy, TJ wouldn’t change a single thing about him— but was it easier to let Cyrus feel bad about himself because the alternative would be telling Cyrus the truth, thus causing TJ to reveal his hidden feelings. The Cyrus of it all was devastating and TJ had no idea what to do so he instead solely focuses on his anger towards Kira and how she was still playing coy about her emotional manipulation even after TJ called her out on it. But perhaps what angered TJ the most was even though he knew exactly what Kira was doing, he still didn’t have the courage to go against her out of fear of what others would think if they knew.

Once TJ arrives home he storms into his apartment ignoring his mother on the way through. Fed up with her sons grumpy attitude for the last two days, Tess uses TJ’s full name in a stern tone and demands him to stop but when her previously angered son turns around with a broken expression she immediately drops her hardened stance and throws unconditional love and understanding his way.

“Honey, what’s wrong?” Tess asks full of concern.

“I don't want to talk about it.” TJ continues on to his room but Tess follows anyway.

“Something has been bothering you since you came home from school on Thursday.” Tess states, “I'm guessing it has something to do with costume day and why you changed your mind last minute.”

“I wish I never even tried for costume day in the first place. I hate that kind of stuff.” TJ hugs at a pillow on his bed whilst trying his best to avoid his mothers kind and understanding expression out of fear he’d crumble and tell her everything that has been bothering him lately.

Tess gently coaxes her head and corrects, “You used to hate those sorts of things.”

She was right. They both knew it. TJ looks up and he does meet his mothers loving stare and just as he feared, he crumbles and opens up about everything. Costume day, Kira and the Cyrus of it all.

TJ has always been a boy of few words, not exactly distant but he was definitely reserved when it came to his mother. Tess knew TJ struggled with his father leaving them a few years back and that made his behaviour spiral and she also was aware of how hard TJ could be on himself about his learning disability. Although TJ has come leaps and bounds in the past year in ways of his happiness and self acceptance, Tess still feared these things weighed on him. What Tess didn’t know was that there was a whole lot more to her sons distance than she originally believed.

So when her son of few words gave her an emotional ramble that just kept on coming she almost didn’t know how or when to respond to it all. Tess summarises the main points in her mind. 1) My son is gay 2) My son has feelings for his good friend Cyrus, and 3) My son feels pressured to come out or be outed. Although surprising, naturally, only one of those things upset her and deeply.

After TJ’s outburst fades into something less coherent Tess grabs her sons hand and forces his watery eyed gaze. Just as every parent should, Tess assures her son he’s loved and accepted unconditionally before trying to help him cope with the Cyrus and Kira situation.

“You have nothing to be ashamed of but no one should make you feel pressured to be who you are before you’re ready.” Tess says, “It’s your choice to share when you want.”

“I don’t want to now.” TJ shakes his head.

“Then that’s perfectly fine.” Tess nods. “Why don’t you talk to Cyrus about it?”

“I can’t do that!” TJ say frantically.

“I’m not suggesting you tell him everything, you’re not ready for that and you might never be and it’s okay-” Tess assures, “But Cyrus seems to be an understanding friend.”

“I don’t want to tell him about the crush and I don’t want to tell him about me either.” TJ shakes his head.

“Okay.” Tess nods, the last thing she wanted to do was force her son into anything. “How about just talking to him about the Kira situation then, remove feelings and just tell her how she was implying something?”

“So Cyrus can think I’m an unaccepting jerk?” TJ scoffs. “No thanks.”

“I don’t know, honey.” Tess wear a weak smile as she’s out of options, “You’re not ready to talk to Cyrus about it yet. That’s fine, you don’t have to, but you’ve got to give him something, hon because I know you’re not ready to lose him.”

“That’s the problem, mom,” TJ looks at her with sad eyes, “I don’t want to lose him but I don’t know how to apologise without opening up to him about it.”

“I think you can talk to him - not about the feelings - about Kira.” Tess says and before TJ can reject her again, she continues, “He knows the real you, Teej. He’ll know you’re not ‘an unaccepting jerk.”

“I don’t know.” TJ mumbles. “What if I say something and it makes him question my feelings. What if I stand up to Kira and she spreads something around the school?”

“Even if what she’s saying is true it’s just gossip coming from anyone but you.” Tess puts it simply, “The truest thing about this whole situation is that you and Cyrus are friends. If neither of you care about what people are saying then everything other than your friendship is just gossip.”

TJ really takes what his mother said on board. Maybe she was right, maybe he could explain to Cyrus that Kira was trying to make nothing into something and he handled it poorly. Who cares if people did talk about their friendship in a speculating way, if TJ could manage to salvage a friendship with Cyrus after the damage he has caused the last two day then that was all that really matter. TJ figures his mom was right, just because Kira’s silent accusations were true doesn’t mean they are true to anyone else, what was true was his friendship with Cyrus and that was more than enough to find some courage and fight for it.

TJ tries texting and calling Cyrus over the remainder of the weekend but all go unanswered. TJ considered going around to Cyrus’ house to try force him to listen to his apology but he didn’t like the idea of cornering the boy. Instead TJ devises a plan to get through to him at school. A way of making Cyrus understand that he had it wrong, TJ didn’t want to hide their friendship at all.

Cyrus:

Monday morning rolls around and Cyrus was dreading facing his problems. He had ignored all of TJ’s attempts to reach out. The last thing Cyrus wanted was to suffer through a forced apology from TJ. One he felt obligated to give because Cyrus had gone all overemotional on him.

After filling in Andi and Buffy about all that had transpired between them he asks his bodyguards if they’ll take an extra shift for the day. The two girls agree to shield Cyrus from the drama.

Cyrus makes it through his morning without a hitch but come lunch he couldn’t help but feel like people were staring at him.

“Do I have something on my face?” Cyrus asks Jonah in a panic as they walk towards the cafeteria.

“No- Not on either of your faces.” Jonah says but he’s not looking at Cyrus.

“What do you me-” Cyrus follows his friends line of sight and his gaze falls upon a very blue sweatshirt that sports a big picture of his own face hanging off TJ’s body. “Holy Bash Mitzvah sweater.” Cyrus says with wide eyes as he springs towards TJ. “Why are you wearing that?” He looks around at a few of their peers quietly chuckling.

“You assumed I threw mine out. I didn’t.” TJ jokes lightly trying to break through the tension. “You wouldn't answer my calls and since I couldn’t tell you I’m not embarrassed by our friendship I had to find a way to show you.”

“Well you’re embarrassing me now.” Cyrus says in a hushed tone, “Take it off, TJ!”

“Are you going to listen to my apology?” TJ asks.

“You can’t blackmail me into hearing you out.” Cyrus frowns.

“I’m desperate.” TJ shrugs.

“Fine.” Cyrus whispers, “but please take it off?”

“Fine.” TJ agrees and removes the blue hoodie on their way out of the cafeteria.

They stop in the relatively empty hall but before either of them could say something Kira interrupts.

“TJ, I’ve been waiting in the gym for fifteen minutes.” Kira huffs.

“I’d hate to interrupt your plans again,” Cyrus almost rolls his eyes but he doesn't, “I’ll leave you two be.”

“I should have known you’d be with Cyrus.” Kira scoffs. “I heard people talking about some dorky sweater you were wearing today but I thought it was a joke.”

Cyrus’ cheeks burn red with embarrassment.

“Kira, had you of gone about things differently I might have been happy to try help you get on the team, girls or boys but I’m not going to let you bully me into it.” TJ says firmly and his statement completely perplexes Cyrus.

Kira knows she’s lost her hold over TJ so she surrenders, “Whatever. I’ll get myself on the team.” Kira looks somewhat embarrassed although she tries to keep her composure in front of Cyrus but TJ could see her act was unraveling. “I hope you two are happy together.” With that she walks away.

“What just happened?” Cyrus is confused.

“I don't want you thinking that I’m embarrassed by you and even more importantly I don’t want you to think you should be embarrassed about yourself.” TJ says quickly like he needed to get it out before being interrupted, but when he’s met with Cyrus’ still lightly perplexed stare he slows down and continues, “I have not met anyone like you ever and I mean that in the best way possible. You are persistent and weird but I wouldn’t change a single thing about you. I really need you to know that.”

“I do know that.” Cyrus says quietly. “That’s why I was so upset when I doubted it. You have only every encouraged me even when I’m being my most Cyrus-y self.”

TJ lets out a sigh of relief.

“So if you’re not embarrassed by me I still don’t understand how Kira fits into this. She said you switched costume ideas because you were embarrassed..”

“She did?” TJ furrows his brows. “Of course she did.”

“Now she’s bullying you into helping or hanging out with her?” Cyrus is still confused and almost unconvinced, “TJ, what is going on?”

“I didn’t want to do costume day with Kira at all, I really wanted to go as summer-salt with you.” TJ says.

“Then how come you didn’t?” Cyrus questions.

“Kira made me feel like I had no other choice.” TJ is still struggling to find the courage to explain things, even if he had talked himself into it over the weekend.

“I don’t understand.”

“She was making it out like people would talk about us if we did a matching costume together.” TJ says and Cyrus seemed like he still wasn’t following. TJ groans internally, this was a lot easier in his head after his pep talk.

“How’s it any different than doing a matching costume with-” Finally it clicks in Cyrus’ brain and Kira’s ‘I hope you’re happy together’ comment makes sense too. “So what?” Cyrus is upset and is defensive, “It’s not like we dressed up as Romeo and Juliet- and who cares if we did-”

This definitely went better in TJ’s head, he was supposed to be all ‘sorry, if people talked you might have been uncomfortable and I didn’t want you to be weird about our friendship because I value it’ but it was coming off more jerkier than that. Feeling cornered once more TJ decides to be a little more truthful with his friend out of fear of completely losing him because Tess was right, TJ wasn’t ready for that, he never would be.

“I cared.” TJ admits quietly, “I didn’t want people to talk because I wasn’t ready for them to.” It takes everything in him to control the shakes in his voice.

It takes a second for Cyrus to make sense of that and when it registers in his brain his expression flashes to wide eyed surprise.

“I forgive you.” Cyrus blurts out. “You didn’t want people to talk, I understand, you’re not a jerk. We're good and I actually mean it this time.”

TJ’s heart was racing at this point, he had more than subtly implied he was gay to the boy he has a crush on. “Do you even understand what I’m trying to say?”

“Yes I do. And I don’t want you to say it- or I do- I really do-” Cyrus speaks quickly and a little frantically so he tries to compose himself, “I just want you to tell me because you’re ready and that’s what you want, not because you feel cornered or pressured into it by Kira or anyone for that matter.”

“And you’re okay with that?” TJ asks surprised. “Just walking away from this conversation and pretending like nothing happened?”

“If you’re okay with it.” Cyrus nods. “This is your choice, who you tell and when.”

A smile creeps on TJ’s face, he already knew he was accepted by Cyrus without actually having to tell him anything but Cyrus was still giving TJ his choice back and that meant the world do him.

“Okay.” TJ’s smile remains as he nods, “But before we start pretending like we’re not talking about it, how will I know when I’m ready to say anything to you or anyone?”

“Okay, for example... Let’s say it’s us,” Cyrus begins, “We’re sitting in my dads basement like we always do and we’re playing ‘who am I’ and I guess something so ridiculous that you laugh so hard you squirt chocolate milk out your nose and naturally you’re really embarrassed and mumbling how you’re a stupid cow and apologising because I was in the splash zone but I say-”

“I like cows.” TJ jumps in with a look of light awe on his face and Cyrus smiles. This story was awfully familiar although in real life the roles were reversed, Cyrus being the milk offender.

“You’ll be thankful I said something so accepting, one of those moments where you feel truly accepted and you’ll think ‘there’s no better time than now’.” Cyrus continues, “And even though the moment was perfect you still might chicken out and that’s okay too, other moments will come up that feel right too.”

TJ was in shock about what Cyrus was now implying. “Cyrus are you-”

“Hey, I’m giving you your moment.” Cyrus coaxes his head. “Let me keep mine too.”

“I was just going to ask if you wanted to hang out after school.” TJ chuckles lightly. “I hear there are lots of good movies out.”

Cyrus laughs softly too. “It’s a date-” As soon as the words left his mouth, his eyes widen, “That's just a saying, you know what I mean... buddy.” Cyrus playfully punches TJ’s shoulder.

“Sure.” TJ laughs nervously. “I know exactly what you mean...”

They might have an agreement to leave it unspoken for now - whether their moments arise tomorrow, the next day or months from now - but it might be a little harder than they thought to pretend things haven't changed between them. Fortunately, not all change is bad, not even slightly.

END NOTES: HEY FRIENDS! It’s been months since I’ve written something! As most of you know that’s because I’ve been travelling! But boy have I missed this. I actually started this one shot right after the episode aired but I never got time to finish it until now! At least the hiatus played in my favour and that this is still relevant lol.

Anyway! Sorry if it seems like I was super villainizing Kira in this one shot, what she did was nasty but I’m sure the show as a redemption arc coming up for her too and I’m totally open to it. Just wanted a little disclaimer that I’m emphasising her manipulation for the purpose of this narrative and not because of any hate I harbour for the character.

Sorry if you don’t like the ending of this one shot. I went back and forth about how to end it for a while, I didnt like that TJ felt like he had to come out to apologise so I wanted to give that back to him. I hope it works for you guys too x

#tyrus #andi mack #tj kippen #cyrus goodman #kira (andi mack)

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anarcoqueer1994 · 5 years

Text

Please Don't Go: Chapter 3

Another chapter in my post costume day fic. I will be posting another chapter of my Trans Tarty story soon. Let me know if you want to be on a tag list for either.

Yesterday had been one of the best days Cyrus has had in a long time. TJ, his sweet, oblivious, gorgeous boyfriend, took him on a real date. They even held hands...in public! As he lays in bed, letting the morning sun shine on him from his window, it's all he can think about. He can't believe anyone could care about him so much.

Every wall TJ has ever put up, he let Cyrus tear down. He even let Cyrus help him with his fear of thunder. He knows how proud TJ could be so Cyrus knew that this was a big deal. In fact, anytime TJ let Cyrus see his vulnerable side, he knew it was a big deal. He could not get over how happy TJ made him feel. TJ captivated Cyrus with everything he did.

He picks up his phone and stares at a text from last night. It had started storming again around 11pm, and without a second thought he had sent TJ the playlist from the museum with a short note.

Cyrus:

"Songs That Make Me Think of TJ"

In case you need this <3

TJ:

Thanks Underdog.

TJ:

Can I FaceTime you? I kind of rather hear your voice…

TJ:

You don't have to though. I'm sorry.

Cyrus:

Don't be sorry. Of course you can.

Moments later, he got a video call. That's how they spent the next few hours, with TJ under a blanket with headphones on, just listening to Cyrus talking about anything to block out the the thunder rumbling outside their windows.

Cyrus keeps smiling as he sits up in bed to get ready for the day. He blushes to himself as he thinks about TJ's cute text. He actually said he wanted to hear Cyrus' voice. Cyrus can't help but gush over TJ. How could he be so lucky? He considers sending a good morning text to TJ but decides against it. He knows his boyfriend likes to sleep in most weekend mornings and really does not want to bother him. So he throws on his clothes and gets ready for the day.

**********

After breakfast, Andi had called Cyrus to see if he wanted to hang out with her, Amber, Buffy, Jonah, and Marty. They were going to spend the day at Andi's, maybe watch some movies and order pizza. Of course he accepted, but part of him was a bit disappointed that he couldn't invite TJ. Obviously with the exception of Amber, none of them liked TJ. They only tolerated TJ at school because he was Cyrus' friend.

Cyrus actually feels really guilty towards TJ. He wishes his friends would be kinder to the older boy. He sees the way they shoot him looks; he is not blind. He knows they are being protective, but he does not need babysitters, he needs friends When they are all hanging out together, he tries to ignore those looks and focus his energy towards TJ. Most of the time he gives him gentle, apologetic smiles to counteract his friends' negativity. He never wants TJ to feel bad and he hates that his friends are part of the reason he may. Even Andi, who has a crush on TJ's big sister, won't let up on him.

One of the things that stuns Cyrus the most about TJ, is he doesn't complain about the way the GHC(and friends) treat him. Cyrus would understand if he did. They could be terrible towards him. He is a little worried that he is doing that so Cyrus won't feel bad. He knows his boyfriend always puts Cyrus' feelings before his own. He does this to a fault.

On more than one occasion, Cyrus has run into TJ at school, and noticed how sad the basketball player was. Whenever he asks about it, TJ promises that it is nothing, and puts on a big beautiful smile but Cyrus can see how the smile doesn't reach those green eyes. Cyrus knows that when TJ is truly happy, that happiness radiates from his entire face, like yesterday when he stared at Cyrus talking about every dinosaur in the museum. He can't believe how TJ could make him feel like he was the only one that mattered.

That is the problem though; TJ did not treat himself like he mattered. That's why Cyrus is convinced there is something happening at school that TJ is not telling him. He does not know what to do because he doesn't want a push him to talk though. One thing that is for sure, his friends are not making whatever it is better.

***********

In the early afternoon, he starts heading towards Andi's. It is mid November but it had been pretty warm, so he did not expect it to be that cold. He is only wearing a light button down. It's a little chilly when he gets outside but not cold enough to go back inside and grab a jacket.

Boy, did he regret that decision. By the time he reached Mainstreet, the wind picked up and he was shivering. He walks past the little supermarket on the corner when he spots a familiar tuff of dirty blonde hair. The older boy is examining some apples on a stand outside the store, trying to pick out the right ones. He doesn't notice Cyrus sneaking up behind him. Cyrus stands on his tiptoes and whispers "Boo" into the TJ's ear.

TJ spins around around and smiles as he sees Cyrus. Cyrus takes a moment to absorb how cute TJ looks right now. He does not have his hair done up with the usual copious amounts of gel. Cyrus likes it better this way. He likes the way little strands of hair fall on TJ's forehead. It reminds him of the night at the park when they first got together. He is wearing a pair of faded jeans with his blue basketball team hoodie, and a jean jacket over that. Cyrus thinks he can stare at TJ all day. He reminds himself that he should speak though.

"Hey Teej." He flashed the other boy a smile.

"Hey Underdog." *TJ fought everything inside him that wanted to pull Cyrus in for a hug. He couldn't help it. Every time he saw Cyrus, he wanted to touch him, even if it just to hold his hand.

"So what are you doing today?" Cyrus immediately feels dumb asking. Obviously TJ was shopping.

"Just picking up some things for my mom. We are going to bake some apple pie flavored muffins tonight."

"Bake? I didn't know you liked to bake."

"What can I say, Cy? I have layers." He laughs softly before continuing."It's kind of a thing my mom and I do together when it is just us. Dad is working 2nd at work tonight and Amber is going to be at Andi's for some movie night. I'm guessing that's where you're heading, right?

Cyrus nods his head slightly. He still feels bad going, knowing TJ was not invited. He really wants to hang out with his friends, but he also wants them to see TJ like he does. TJ was genuinely a sweet boy, albeit misguided at times. He has worked so hard to let the good come through. God, was he proud of TJ.

As if TJ could read his mind, he says kindly "Enjoy your friends tonight Cy, I'm okay. I promise."

"I just...I just think you deserve to be seen for who you really are…" Cyrus wants to say more but a small gust of wind blows, sending shivers through his body.

TJ notices Cyrus shivering from the cool fall air because of course he does. He notices everything about Cyrus. He slips off his jacket before pulling the hoodie up over his head. He puts back on the jacket and then hand Cyrus his hoodie. "Put this on, it's cold. I don't want you getting sick."

Cyrus cannot bring himself to argue with TJ. Plus he is pretty cold, so he welcomes the idea of warmth. The smaller boy slips it over his body. He likes the way that it smells. It smells citrus-y, just like TJ. He is not sure if it is the soap TJ uses or what, but whenever they are close together, he swears TJ smells like lemons. He takes a second to inhale the scent from the piece of clothing.

TJ blushes as he looks at Cyrus in his hoodie. The sleeves are too long and the hoodie is too big for his small frame, but TJ thinks he is adorable. Something about his boyfriend wearing his hoodie makes him feel so pleased. He always sees other sports players' girlfriends in their hoodies and letterman jackets. So giving Cyrus his hoodie felt so right. He says quietly "You look good in my hoodie...I think you should keep it for a while."

Cyrus' face is bright red at this point. He has to remind himself not to do anything to give them away. He settles on a soft smile as a response. TJ lets out a quiet laugh before saying "Better get going, Muffin. Text me later?"

"Yes of course." Cyrus says before turning around to head out. TJ's eyes linger on Cyrus a little longer before going back to what he is doing.

The rest of the way to Andi’s, Cyrus is smiling like an idiot. He can’t really explain why TJ has this effect on him, but he does. He pulled the hood over his head so he could literally be surrounded by TJ’s scent. He wants fill his entire world with this smell. It makes him feel like he is not alone, like TJ is with him, even when he is not.

Before long, he arrives at Andi’s front door. He forces himself to put on a nonchalant face before knocking. Andi comes to the door and lets him in. “Cyrus, took you long enough.” She laughs as she holds the door open.

By the looks of it, he is the last one to arrive. When he walks into the living room, Marty and Buffy are on the ground in front of the couch, talking about something that Cyrus really has no interest in. Jonah is on the chair in the corner, while Amber is on the couch next to an empty spot that Cyrus assumes is Andi’s. Cyrus takes a seat on the floor and faces the rest of the group.

“Hey Cyrus” Buffy says taking her attention away from Marty for a second. Her greeting is echoed throughout the room. Cyrus looks around at his friends. He loves them all so much and they are so wonderful to him. He tries not to let them see him frown as his mind drifts back to TJ. They all go back to what they were previously doing.

It is Amber who ends up interrupting his thoughts. “Hey, isn’t that my brother’s hoodie?” All the eyes suddenly turned to look him.

Crap. He forgot to take it off before he came in. He has to come up with a good cover. “Yea, I saw him on the way over here. I forgot my coat and I was really cold. I asked him if I could borrow his hoodie since he had a jacket. Honestly, it was pretty dumb of me to leave the house without a coat…”’

Buffy rolls her eyes. “Wow, TJ actually did something nice for you for once. Don’t get used to it.”

Cyrus didn’t know what to say, he did not want to give away too much and he knew he had to be careful what he said. Luckily, he did not have to worry about that right now because Amber piped up.

“Hey, I know you guys don’t like him but that is still my little brother so be nice.”

Buffy rolled her eyes even harder. Cyrus knew Buffy wasn’t Amber’s biggest fan either so he did not know if she would listen. For now though, Buffy seems to have dropped it. Jonah, ever spacey to what is going on around him, says “So when is the pizza going to be here? I am starving.” The room laughs and he just shrugs his shoulders.

**************

Cyrus should have known that Buffy was not going to drop the TJ stuff permanently. It was not long after the pizza arrived that she started at it again.

"I don't get it Cyrus, why are you still friends with that guy? I mean, he is not..."

Marty interrupts her. "Buffy, if he wants to be friends with him, isn't that his business, not ours?" Cyrus has never been more thankful for Marty.

She shoots back at him. "Cyrus is my best friend and it is my business when some jerk isn't worth being his friend." Andi nods is agreement.

Cyrus doesn't know what comes over him but he stands up and says louder than intended "Don't call him that! He is not just some jerk. He is a really great guy. And you know what else? He is so considerate and sweet. You don't know anything about him, Buffy. So just stop.

Everyone is quiet for a moment. They are all shocked by his outburst of assertiveness. To be honest, Cyrus was shocked by it too. He looks around at his friends' stunned faces waiting for someone to do something. Buffy takes a deep breath and stands up to be face to face with Cyrus.

"Cy, do you still like TJ?" She says in a quiet, understanding, voice. Cyrus doesn't know how to answer. In reality, he wants to just tell them all the truth. He wants them to know that he doesn't just like TJ but TJ likes him too. More than that, TJ is his boyfriend. He wants to tell them all how happy TJ makes him, how even now, in this tense situation, his boyfriend's scent, enveloping him in the form of a hoodie, helps him feel stronger.

"I need some air, okay?" He manages to choke out. He knows Buffy wants to push more but he is grateful that she doesn't. He gets out of the living room and into the backyard.

He really doesn't know what to. His head is spinning as he sits down on the bench. Why is this so hard? Being with TJ is so easy. Why can't telling people be this easy? He knows it is not his right to out TJ so telling his friends now is not an option.

He really doesn't want to bother TJ tonight. After all, he is spending his night baking with his mom. But it is as if his fingers have a mind of their own.

Cyrus:

I don't know what to do.

TJ:

What is happening? Are you okay, muffin?

Cyrus:

Yea, I'm okay. It's just, I screamed at Buffy. She just called you a jerk and I lost my temper. Then she asked if I still had a crush on you and I panicked, and now I am outside like an idiot.

TJ:

Cyrus, I'm so sorry...I hate that you are feeling bad.

Cyrus:

I wish you were here

After that text, Cyrus does not hear anything. He hopes he did not weird TJ out by being too clingy. He is kicking himself for being so dumb. He sits outside for another 30 minutes and he is glad his friends let him be. He keeps staring at his phone in case TJ texts him back.

He finally collects himself enough to head back in and face his friends. He does not know what he is going to say but he will figure it out.

He walks back through the back doors to the living room. He is still lost in his thoughts so he barely notices his surroundings. He is not even looking up because he does not want to meet his friends' eyes. That’s why he is caught off-guard when he hears an unexpected voice say "Hey Underdog..."

Cyrus' voice catches in his throat. He can barely believe who he is hearing. He looks up from the ground to meet TJ's eyes. Then he quickly looks around at his friends who all look as confused as he is. He goes back to TJ's eyes. "You actually came..." Cyrus thinks back to the last text he sent.

"Of course, I came." TJ beams at the younger boy. TJ had shown up a few minutes prior. Andi had answered the door. She was not expecting him but let him in anyways. He was just about to head outside to look for Cyrus. TJ continues to stare into Cyrus' eyes. They are in their own world again. Cyrus feels his heart flutter in his chest. TJ dropped everything to be here for him. How could he be so lucky?

As usual, Buffy is the first to break the silence. "Okay, what is going on between you two?"

Cyrus bites his bottom lip and silently asks TJ with his facial expressions for permission to say out loud what he wants to say to his friends. TJ nods his head slowly and Cyrus feels a weight lift off his shoulders. He mouths "Thank you." Without removing his eyes from TJ, he says in a shaky voice "TJ is my...boyfriend." He feels it get harder to breathe as his chest restricts. He knows that this is also difficult for TJ but once again, TJ puts Cyrus' feelings first.

Everyone in the room stares in shock at the two boys.No one quite knows what to say. The air is thick and Cyrus could practically cut the tension with a knife. Out of the corner of his eyes, he sees everyone's faces. Buffy, Andi, and Jonah all have mirrored looks of surprise on their face. Marty looks kind of clueless, which Cyrus expected.

But it is Amber he appreciates the most right now. She is smiling over at her brother. TJ is so focused on Cyrus, that he doesn't notice her but Cyrus does. He is so thankful that someone else really cares for TJ. He focuses his attention back to his boyfriend. As soon as sees his face, he melts. TJ is practically glowing as he smiles at Cyrus.

TJ steps closer to Cyrus. He moves so he is at Cyrus' side, grabbing his hand. He squeezes his hand gently, urging Cyrus to continue on. He clears his throat and begins to talk, this time in a way more confident voice.

"TJ and I started dating a month ago yesterday. It’s been the best month of my life. He even took me to the Natural History Museum yesterday, on like a real date. TJ treats me like I'm important."

TJ interjects "Because you are important, muffin." He blushes when he realizes he said that out loud. Cyrus smiles even bigger. He runs his thumb over TJ's knuckles. Buffy looks like she is going to laugh at the overly cutesy nickname but Cyrus shoots her a look that makes her reconsider.

Andi steps up closer to the boys. She looks hesitant at first but then gives a small, nervous smirk. "That explains a lot...but I still don't get it. " She turns her head to TJ. "Why did you abandon Cyrus on costume day?" Cyrus goes to speak but TJ interrupts him. "It’s okay, Underdog... I want to be open with your friends..."

He pulls Cyrus to the couch so that they are sitting against each other. Their fingers are still laced together. The other kids sit down too, getting ready to listen. He takes a deep breathe. “It was Kira…she figured out I liked Cyrus…a lot. She had come up to me to ask about being on the boy’s team, and I turned her down. Cyrus had come up, and she seen how we interacted. At the time I was oblivious to how obvious I was about liking Cyrus. She made me feel bad for wanting to do a costume with a boy. She made it seem like people would know I was…gay if I did. It was dumb, I know. I was dumb. I understand why you all hate me, because I hated me after what I did. I kind of still do.” Cyrus looks at TJ with sad eyes. It kills him that TJ feels this badly about himself. He tries to focus on the rest of what the boy has to say. “Cyrus deserves the best and it makes me so happy to know that you care for him so much.”

Buffy looks so angry. Cyrus is afraid of what she is about to say. He does not want her to still hate TJ. She spits out “How could she do that?! Oh god, I am so sorry, guys. I kicked her off the girls team, and she went after my friends…I can’t believe her! I’m sorry for the way we have been treating you, TJ.” She pause and thinks about something. She laughs to herself. “Who would've thought a year ago, I would be apologizing to you?”

TJ laughs back. "It's fine, you were only protecting Cyrus...I would of done the same thing."

Jonah chimes in. "So is Kira still bothering you, man?"

TJ gets quiet and Cyrus feels him tense against him. Cyrus turns to face TJ. "Wait...TJ is she? Is she doing anything to you?"

"It's nothing, I promise…"

"Teej, don't lie to me...please tell me. I see you sometimes at school, looking so sad. I never want to push you to talk when you are not ready, but it is breaking my heart knowing that someone is making you that upset. "

TJ looks around at the room. Marty speaks up "Look, if I know anything about this group of people, they will all go above and beyond for their friends, and that includes standing with them when someone is giving them trouble.” Buffy looks behind her at Marty and smiles.

Cyrus squeezes TJ’s hand and pleads with him. “Baby, please tell me if something is happening.”

TJ feels so vulnerable right now. He has worked so hard for the past month to hide this from Cyrus. He hates putting so much on the brunnette. Cyrus has already done so much for him, he really did not want to add to that. But now, here he is with his big brown eyes peering through TJ. The way Cyrus called him baby made his breath catch in his throat. Cyrus literally could make him putty in his hands. TJ could not possibly hide anything from him now.

He tries to keep his voice calm and as detached as possible. He does not want to come off as too emotional over this. “It’s really not that important. She just says some mean things sometimes…” TJ tries to look anywhere but back at Cyrus. But it is no use. Everywhere in the room he looks, he sees a pair of concerned eyes looking at him.

Cyrus says tenderly “TJ, what kind of mean things does she say? “

“Just...just like..umm things to remind me that I’ different. She likes to point out how unfortunate it would be if my secret got out. She is right though, this is a small town and not everyone is that accepting.But like she is threatening me for the fun of it. But she doesn’t have any proof so I think that is why she hasn’t outed me...us. Oh and sometimes she brings up cute girls in front of my teammates and asks me what I think about them.I think she just wants to embarrass me. She gets some sick pleasure out of making people feel small. Or like...on Friday, she noticed I was struggling in math so she started basically calling me stupid. I did not even turn in anything to Coleman…” TJ was rambling and he was starting to speak faster. Cyrus could see how upset he was getting.

Cyrus pulled TJ into a hug, squeezing him tight, in an attempt to push away any hurt TJ was feeling. Cyrus was so beyond angry. How could Kira be so cruel? He never wants to see TJ hurting.especially when that hurt was caused by a senseless reason. Kira was a bully and for some reason, TJ was her target. It just wasn’t fair.

Cyrus could tell that TJ was getting uncomfortable around all these people. He knew TJ was trying to hold himself together and put on a strong face for them. As he hugged TJ, he whispered “Wanna go to the swings?” TJ nods slightly as a response.

Both boys let go of each other as they go to stand up. “We are going to go, okay?” Cyrus gives them all a weak smile. Everyone understand and bids their farewells. Right before TJ walks out the door, Buffy grabs his arm. “Hey, you know we got your back, okay? We will figure out a way to handle Kira.” TJ gives her a little smile. “Thanks, Driscoll.”

*************

It's about 6:30 when they get to the swingset. The sun is starting to set, and the park is pretty empty. TJ likes it that way. Now it can be just him and Cyrus. He takes a seat on the swing next to Cyrus’. “Hey Cy?”

“Yea?”

“I am glad we told your friends…

“Me too...but can I ask you something?” The shorter boy asks meekly.

“Anything, Muffin.”

“Why did you change your mind about telling them? Was it just for me?”

“Well part of it was for you..” The blond says honestly. “But part of it was for me too. I was kind of hoping that...they could be my friends too. I know that sounds pretty lame but sometimes I get jealous of anyone who has friends. Besides you, I don’t really have any.”

“That is not lame, not lame at all. And I think after tonight, you have a huge group of friends.”

Tj smiles at the thought of that. He clears his throat to continue speaking. “I really am sorry for not telling you about Kira. I just did not want you to worry.”

Cyrus looks around for anyone who may be watching. They might have come out to their friends but neither of them are ready to come out to anyone else. Their friends are pretty understanding people, but Shadyside could be kind of conservative. Not every kid, or even adult would be so kind to them. When Cyrus is sure they are alone, he twists in his swing to face TJ. He grabs the other boy’s hand.

“Teej, it is my job to worry about you. It is part of the whole boyfriend deal.. Think about it, You would want me to tell you if something was happening to me, right?”

“Yeah, of course!” *TJ says almost matter of factly.

“Well I feel the same way. Kira doesn’t get to bully my boyfriend and get away with it, you understand?” Cyrus says in a very controlled voice.

TJ nods.How could he be so dumb to believe that Cyrus wouldn’t want to hear about his problems, about his bully. God. He does not understand how Cyrus does it He already thought Cyrus was attractive, but he has never looked cuter than right now. TJ took in the image in front of him. Cyrus’ face looked so confident as he spoke about standing up for his boyfriend. Adding to that, Cyrus was still in TJ’s hoodie. The sleeves were pushed up slightly and the hood was draped down the top of Cyrus’ back.

TJ reaches for one of the strings hanging from the hoodie, and plays with it as Cyrus stops talking and looks at him. TJ’s green eyes meet Cyrus’ brown. He bites the bottom of his lip as he notices Cyrus’ eyes flicker down to his lips. He stands up from his swing and steps closer to the other one. As he stands over Cyrus, he leans down and cups the bottom of Cyrus’ chin with on hand as his lips press against the other boy’s.

It is like the world stopped spinning around them. TJ has never felt more connected to another person in whole entire life. He could stay like this for hours, if only he did not have to breathe. When they break apart, TJ goes back to his swing and sits. They spend the next few minutes in blissful silence, both of them lost in their own happy thoughts.

Unfortunately, neither boy realizes they were not alone in the park. Come tomorrow, their whole worlds are going to change.

@abg-blah

#tyrus #andi mack #angst #Kira is a jerk

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swingsetboys · 5 years

Text

bandi headcanons

these headcanons are a (legitimate) gift for @bandi-mack !! happy birthday annabelle!! you are wildly funny and talented and you have no idea how much I appreciate our cursed conversations. I'm so lucky to hear about your favorite musicals and poptropica adventures and I'm happy to call you my friend. 💞 anyways, bandi time:

they are mutually pining FOOLS and cyrus knows this but can't tell the other the truth so he's constantly screaming in the middle

once andi tried to ask buffy out but she took it as a friend thing and they both told cyrus about it

cyrus: andi what's wrong?

andi, laying face down on the floor: I'm going to die here

meanwhile

buffy: andi asked me to the spoon again today. you're coming right?

cyrus, well aware that was supposed to be a date: uh—

for their first actual date they go to a 50's themed diner on the other side of town (amber jokes about them being traitors but is so happy tha they're finally going out)

it has “sock hop saturday” where they blast 50′s music and use the parking lot as a dance floor for customers

it's basically perfect for them and they dance well beyond their feet hurting

andi constantly steals buffy's hoodies and jackets

buffy doesn't mind but andi always feels bad about it so she returns them (eventually)

she even buys her a brand new jacket one day with DRISCOLL stamped on the back and says “now I can’t wear it because that isn't my last name”

she wears it within the next few days, obviously

cyrus and tj get buffy into musical theatre (she starts by calling them nerds for their interest but she ends up loving the choreography of the performances and it spirals from there)

so obviously she gets andi into theatre as soon as possible. she loves it immediately but is especially appreciative of the set and costume design

andi makes scrunchies for buffy to tie her hair back with

she has one for each outfit at this point and has a Lucky One™ for basketball games

buffy isn't the best at sentimental gifts but for andi's birthday she gives her a shadow box filled with pictures and tickets and the napkin andi doodled on during their first date and other important things—like her lucky scrunchie

(her team loses terribly during the next game they play and andi is like… I'll get the scrunchie out)

flash forward many years when they're living together in a two bedroom apartment in shadyside with a sweet dog and a few fish

andi constantly steals buffy's Fun Cereals because she insists on buying the boring ones for herself like an Adult™

buffy walks their dog every morning before work with a go-cup of coffee

and the best part of her morning is coming back from that walk to see andi groggily getting out of bed and struggling to make oatmeal with semi-closed eyes

oh and ofc they get matching jackets that say DRISCOLL-MACK on them after they get engaged

#andi mack #bandi #my posts #I love you annabelle!!!!!!

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thirteen-beaxhes · 5 years

Text

Our Last Words - Chapter 6

Summary: In a universe where the last words your soulmate speaks to you are printed, Cyrus Goodman wants nothing more than to never meet them. And he definitely doesn’t want it to be the blonde-haired boy in his class.

ALL LINKS IN REBLOG

~~~~

come out and play - billie eilish

Well, this was getting ridiculous, Cyrus thought to himself, deciding to change his shirt for the third time in half an hour. He had to look as good as he could, while also keeping the outfit appropriate to the activities they were doing.

Snapping another picture of his new outfit, he sent it to his group chat with Andi and Buffy.

Cyrus: guys im freakin out

Buffy: not this again

Andi: cyrus tj wont care what ur wearing

Andi: hes probably freaking out about ur date rn

Buffy: exactly cy

Buffy: now will you just choose a goddam outfit n get ur man

Cyrus: ok ok just one more

Buffy: CYRUS GOODMAN DON’T YOU DARE

Andi: sry buffy u gotta deal with him alone. im hanging out with amber

Cyrus: ooooooooooh

Buffy: amber huh nice nice andi

Andi: …….

Andi: i hate u guys

Cyrus laughed quietly, shaking his head slightly. Oh Andi. Not realising how obvious her crush on Amber was. Not that Cyrus had any grounds to say anything to her on that. Cyrus sighed and went and grabbed another shirt, changing for what was now the fourth time.

He was acting stupid, he knew that. TJ wouldn’t care what he wore, but Cyrus did, and he wanted to look perfect for their first date. They were going to Adrenaline City, surprisingly Cyrus’ choice. He had been afraid to go on the new rollercoaster, mostly because he and heights really did not mix, Well, he and heights and loops and being upside down. But he had his motion sickness patches! And TJ would be there.

Cyrus smiled to himself, thinking about TJ. He was one of the only people who could convincingly talk Cyrus down from his fear spirals and calm him down. TJ always believed in him, no matter what. And he had helped him do so many things he never imagined he could ever do, like somersaults and even dirt biking. And those were their best moments together, Cyrus glancing towards the white ‘S’ shirt from their ‘Summer-salt’ costume, his heart soaring at the memory of that Costume Day.

He was so lucky.

Of course, there was a little voice in the back of his mind, reminding him about the thing, but Cyrus pushed it away. He wasn’t going to worry today. Besides, he’d make sure to be home before 5:30 pm just to be safe.

His phone chimed, a text from TJ telling him he was outside. Cyrus practically tripped and fell down the stairs to reach the door. Outside, he saw TJ standing, wearing a green shirt with a black jacket. He looked so good, death was just inevitable, wasn’t it.

“Wow, TJ. I didn’t know you owned anything other than hoodies or basketball shirts,” Cyrus said, running up to the boy.

“Ouch, Underdog. Bullet after bullet. Is my fashion really that bad?” TJ said, faking offence.

Cyrus just remained silent, giggling at the way TJ’s face morphed into one of shock as he lightly punched Cyrus in the shoulder.

“Wait, what? I thought you liked my style!”

“Liked is a strong word,” Cyrus replied, still giggling. TJ tried to fake anger but failed miserably, soon collapsing into laughter with Cyrus.

“So, shall we?” Cyrus asked, holding out his hand to TJ after they both had calmed down.

“I thought you’d never ask.” TJ replied, slipping his hand into Cyrus’.

Cyrus never expected holding TJ’s hand would feel so normal. Like it was something he was always meant to do. Like it was natural. They swung their hands slightly as they walked in comfortable silence, both constantly sneaking glances at each other. Often they would catch the other staring and look away, blushing messes. God, they were such saps.

Somehow, he just knew that he was going to have the best day of his life.

“Okay, TJ, I changed my mind. I really don’t wanna go on it,” Cyrus said, trying to turn around in fear.

“Come on, Cy. What is it scaring you? Is it the 7 loops or the fact that the ride is named ‘Death Trap’?” TJ joked, holding onto Cyrus so he couldn’t run away.

“Oh haha, very funny. Easy for a fearless athlete like you to be like this.”

“Hey,” TJ said, smiling brightly at Cyrus. “I’m right here, I’ll protect you.”

“Pinky promise?” Cyrus said, holding out his right pinky. “And I don’t care if we look like dorks.”

TJ laughed softly, linking his pinky with Cyrus’. “Promise. And I don’t mind looking like a dork if it’s with you.”

Can this boy try not to give Cyrus a heart attack for once in his life?

They went up to the booth, pinkies still linked, Cyrus feeling significantly less panicked and scared. And while he was scared out of his mind throughout the duration of the ride, with his hand firmly clasped with TJ’s, it wasn’t so bad.

After Cyrus’ stomach finally stopped doing somersaults, the two boys walked around the park, occasionally bumping into each other’s shoulders. They were currently having a very serious debate over whether chocolate chocolate chip muffins were better than blueberry macadamia ones. And it was no surprise who was on which side.

“How can you deny the absolute decadence of biting into a chocolate chocolate chip muffin? It’s a chocolate cake, and chocolate chips thrown in!” Cyrus argued.

“But how can you say that to the incredible fruity burst of flavour of blueberries and the crunch of macadamia nuts? How Cyrus how?” TJ replied, grabbing him by the shoulders and shaking him.

There was a moment of silence when they just looked into each other’s eyes, before collapsing into laughter.

“You know, this is probably the best date I have ever been on,” Cyrus said, as they continued walking.

TJ looked at him with an expression of amusement and fondness. “Yeah?”

Cyrus nodded, a smile creeping up on his face.

“Glad I could be of service,” TJ said, his face slowly turning red.

“Well, of course.”

They walked for a while, talking about nothing in particular when they passed by the ring toss games. Cyrus desperately hoped that TJ wouldn’t notice them, but when has his luck ever been incredible?

“Hey, we should try these! I bet we can win that teddy bear,” TJ said, excitedly running over to the stall.

“Hurray,” Cyrus said in a flat voice, as he watched TJ run up excitedly to the counter.

This was going to be a disaster.

“This is impossibly embarrassing,” Cyrus groaned, hitting his head on the table of the stall. He had been trying for the past 15 minutes to try and even reach the bottles but to no success.

TJ just laughed, holding a giant teddy bear he had won for Cyrus on his first try. “Don’t worry, Underdog. This is quite fun to watch.”

Cyrus simply glared at him, no malice behind his eyes of course. “This isn’t fair, you’re an incredible championship-winning athlete and I walk into glass doors and fall while skateboarding. The playing fields are on two different planets.”

Pouting at him, TJ asked, “Do you want my help?”

“Nope. No. Nuh uh. I’m doing this.”

“Okay,” TJ backed off, holding his hands up. “Just know that Bear and I,” TJ said, holding up the teddy bear, “Are rooting for you.”

Will there ever come a day when TJ Kippen doesn’t induce heart attacks with his soft words? No. The answer is no.

Cyrus squinted his eyes and was about to take aim when he heard TJ chuckle. “Okay, you’re doing it wrong.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, your stance is off. Here,” he said, walking up behind Cyrus. Suddenly, Cyrus felt arms wrapping around his waist. And he swore at that moment, he stopped breathing. And thinking. And living. Honestly, he just ascended to another plane of existence.

“You need to keep your balance on the back foot,” TJ whispered into Cyrus’ ear, helping adjust his position.

Cyrus could barely hum in response, his heart was beating so fast.

“And you need to keep your arm this way,” TJ continued, holding Cyrus’ hand and guiding his arm into the correct position. There was no way TJ didn’t know what he was playing at. That sucker.

“Okay,” Cyrus choked out.

TJ laughed quietly, backing away from Cyrus. Much to the chagrin of Cyrus.

“Now, don’t use too much energy, okay?”

Cyrus focused, and threw the ring. It felt like it was going in slow motion, and everything around him had stopped. And then, by some miracle, it landed on a bottle.

“YES!” Cyrus cheered, jumping up in excitement as the employee handed him a giant purple T Rex.

“Cyrus, I knew you could do it!” TJ yelled, pulling in Cyrus for a hug. It was kind of hard with a giant stuffed dinosaur in the middle, but they made it work.

“I never stopped thinking you could,” TJ said, turning to kiss Cyrus on the forehead. And Cyrus gave apples a run for their money with how red he knew he was turning.

“You never do,” Cyrus said, holding onto TJ’s hand. “Well, I believe this is yours, Not-So-Scary Basketball Guy,” Cyrus said, presenting TJ with the T Rex.

“And this is yours, Muffin,” said TJ, handing Cyrus the teddy bear.

“Still going with Muffin?” Cyrus asked, his eyes gleaming.

“Yeah, just feels right,” TJ said, looking at his feet.

“I love it,” Cyrus replied, placing a quick kiss to TJ’s cheek, leaving the boy a stuttering and fumbling mess for a solid 5 minutes afterwards.

“I’m glad.”

5 rides, 2 cotton candies and a throwing-up scare later, Cyrus and TJ were still roaming around Adrenaline City, constantly threading their fingers together as they walked.

“Maybe we should head back,” Cyrus said, looking up at the greying sky. “Looks like it's about to rain.”

“Maybe we should,” TJ replied, following his gaze.

They stood in place for a while, neither one having any inclination to leave anytime soon.

“We aren’t leaving, are we?”

“Only after we are drenched to the bone will we think about it.”

The two boys started laughing, Cyrus holding onto TJ’s shoulder. When it died down, they looked into each other’s eyes. Cyrus was keenly aware of the tension, and he began to lean in slowly. He could feel TJ doing the same. They were so close, Cyrus thought, noticing the many freckles on TJ’s face, and how his eyes seemed to glow. So. Close. Oh. My. God.

Just then, Cyrus’ phone began ringing in his pocket, startling the two, Cyrus inwardly groaning. When Cyrus saw the caller ID, however, he was surprised to see the name ‘Slayer’.

Why was Buffy calling him?

“Hey Buffy, what’s up?”

“Cyrus, can you come to Andi Shack? Like right now?” Buffy asked, her voice panic-stricken.

“Wait, Buffy what happened? I’m with TJ right now,” Cyrus said, growing more concerned by the second. What was going on?

“It’s okay he can come too. Just please.”

A moment of silence. Then, in a broken whisper, almost inaudible to Cyrus.

“It’s Andi.”

~~~~~

this is the fluffiest thing i have ever written omg. anyway, guys im going out of town where there is no WiFi for 6 days so, rip and remember me. so updates will resume after 6th April!

#andi mack #tyrus #our last words fic #my fic #tyrus fanfic #tyrus fanfiction #tyrus soulmate au #tj x cyrus #tj kippen #cyrus goodman #fluff #tyrus fluff

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sophies-earbuds · 5 years

Text

A Tyrus One Shot: Beats Me

Ao3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/16464776/chapters/41762759

Word count: 808

Finally, the school day is over.

The last bell on a Friday is like music to Cyrus’ ears, however annoying and loud it may be. Picking up his binder, he files out of the cramped classroom along with all of the other eager kids, heading to his locker across the hallway. There isn’t a whole lot in his locker aside from the four binders and two folders, his backpack, and his winter coat. Knowing he doesn’t have homework over the weekend, he leaves all of his school things and slips on his jacket, shouldering his backpack.

Walking along with the huge crowd of kids all trying to leave the building, he checks his phone, finding notifications from a fairly lonely Andi, his mom, and TJ. And yet, still nothing from the probably estranged, and physically far away Buffy. With a sigh, he pockets his phone, and glumly looks up to watch where he’s going, as he’s already felt multiple people bump into his arms while he was looking away.

Suddenly, there’s yelling down the hallway, and people are starting to snicker to each other, confusing Cyrus immensely as he tries to see over everyone’s heads. Some people are even looking at him, seemingly trying not to laugh, covering their mouths with horrible effort. As the shouting gets closer and louder, Cyrus realises that it sounds a lot like TJ, whooping and hollering at the other end of the hall.

“Cyrus!”

Now everyone is looking at him, not trying to hide their smiles and giggles this time as Cyrus’ cheeks flare up with heat. Over the heads of people, he can see TJ this time, smiling as he runs down the hallway toward him, his happiness being ever-contagious.

“I got a C!” TJ yells, beaming brightly, clutching a packet in his hands, practically bouncing up and down once he stops running, now standing in front of Cyrus, who stops walking to celebrate with him.

“That’s awesome TJ!” Cyrus congratulates him. He’s more surprised, however, when TJ reaches forward to wrap his arms around him. And if that isn’t flustering enough, his feet suddenly lift off the ground, and they spin around for a moment, Cyrus letting out a nervous laugh, before TJ sets him down, letting go and staring at the ground with a wide smile on his face. They’re almost alone in the hallway now, and while a few people are staggering behind to stare at them, Cyrus can definitely understand why, because he’s feeling pretty blushy at the moment. His brain can’t even come up with a better word than “blushy.” It’s definitely become too hot to be wearing a winter coat, though.

“I’m really proud of you,” Cyrus says after a beat of flustered silence, reaching over to pat TJ on the arm. Is that a normal thing to do?

“I thought for sure that I failed it. I think I yelped when I got it back today during class,” TJ tells him, redness definitely painting his face. Maybe it’s from all of the excited running and screaming he just did.

Starting to walk away backwards, TJ calls back, “I just figured you’d want to know. I gotta go tell the team, don’t miss your bus! I’ll text you!” And with that, he turns around, and sprints down the hallway, letting out a loud whoop that Cyrus can’t describe as anything other than adorable.

Cyrus shakes his head in admiration, laughing as he starts walking down the hallway again. People are definitely still looking at him, and yet he can’t stop smiling so much that his cheeks hurt.

He feels like he’s walking around in a daze, even almost heading down the wrong hall when he comes to a junction before snapping back to reality, seeing Andi waiting by the front door of the lobby, staring at her phone, looking bored.

Cyrus walks up to her, ready to follow through on their plan to walk to The Spoon, when she suddenly looks up at him sharply.

“Woah, did you run here? You’re all red and blotchy,” Andi observes, making Cyrus’ cheeks burn even hotter at how easily she noticed.

“Um, yeah. I was running late,” he lies, offering a tight smile, hoping that she’s convinced and won’t guess that he’s completely smitten because a certain basketball player picked him up and spun him around in front of a bunch of people.

She raises an eyebrow skeptically, scoffing before letting it go, rolling her eyes and wrapping an arm around Cyrus’ shoulders. Walking out of the building, Cyrus sees TJ standing with a group of guys, showing off his C-test with a proud smile on his face.

“What’s he so happy about?” Andi asks, tilting her head, her gaze moving from TJ to Cyrus in question.

Cyrus smiles, shrugging his shoulders and shaking his head.

“Beats me.”

#tyrus #tj kippen #cyrus goodman #andi mack #tyrus one shot #tyrus fanfic

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bored-fan-bs-thoughts · 5 years

Text

Fluff and Holiday Cheer: Chapter 2

Part 2 of my tyrus fanfic!

Read Part 1 here

————

After quality time playing board games at T.J.’s apartment, Cyrus prepares to go home. Despite its small size, it was nice and homey, and Cyrus absolutely loved his time there (though maybe it was the person he was spending the time with).

“T.J.,” Cyrus begins, his voice uneven and unable to look away from T.J.’s stunning green eyes.

T.J. inhales deeply as he takes a step towards the nervous boy in front of him. He can’t help but notice how adorable his chocolate-brown eyes look all wide in his current panicked state.

“Cyrus,” TJ begins, his heart pounding in his chest, “I want—“

Suddenly, the front door swings open. They jump apart from each other, and Cyrus quickly finds his shoes very intriguing.

“Dad,” TJ nearly shouts as a deep blush makes its way onto his cheeks, “I didn’t expect you to be home so early.”

“I got off early, so I thought I should come home and make dinner. We can order Chinese another night,” his Dad replies. T.J. is deep in thought trying to break down what he thought was about to happen. He barely grasps what his father tells him and opts to nod nondescriptly and hope he won’t become suspicious.

In the awkward silence, Cyrus steps forward and holds out his hand, “I’m Cyrus. It’s nice to meet you Mr. Kippen.”

“Nice to meet you too,” he says, giving the boy a firm handshake that nearly dislocates Cyrus’s arm. “TJ has told me so much about you.”

T.J.’s face heats up even more, his blush deepening. “Uh, Cyrus,” he begins, now a stuttering, blushing mess, “Well, he was just about to leave.”

T.J. puts a hand on Cyrus’s back to steer him towards the door.

“Why don’t you stay for dinner?” His Dad asks. T.J. begins to panic. No way can he get through the awkwardness that is bound to ensue. Before T.J. can protest, Cyrus is nodding enthusiastically with an adorable, puppy-like smile on his face. T.J. can’t say no to that face.

————

Thirty minutes later, T.J., his dad, and Cyrus sit around the Kippen’s kitchen table in silence apart from the forks scraping up the spaghetti and meatballs from the bowls in front of them. T.J. can’t help but steal glances at the dark haired Jewish boy across from him. Despite the awkwardness, he loves the domesticity of it and smiles at the idea that this could be a normal occurrence if the boy likes him back. Cyrus and him sitting around a dinner table with a home cooked meal.

“So Cyrus,” Mr. Kippen finally says, “Do you have any plans for the holidays?”

“Yeah, I celebrate Hanukkah which starts on Sunday,” Cyrus answers excitedly. “It’s always a busy time because I have two sets of parents, so I spend the eight days hopping around between houses.”

T.J. admires how Cyrus’s eyes light up when he talks about the holidays, and he can’t help but smile at the dorky boy.

“Ah, so you’re Jewish?” T.J.’s dad asks, “All four parents?”

Cyrus nods and adds, “Also, all four are therapists.”

Mr. Kippen raises his eyebrows in surprise, “Wow that is a lot of mental health professionals! Must get overwhelming!”

Cyrus laughs and nods sardonically as he looks down at his plate. T.J. slyly puts a hand on his knee comfortingly, noticing his discomfort with the subject. Their eyes lock for a brief second, and T.J. has to look away to keep himself from blushing.

“So T.J. hasn’t told me much about any holiday plans,” Cyrus says, desperately filling the silence and steering the conversation away from his overbearing parents. “What do you guys do for the holidays?”

“Well, this year T.J.’s sister and I have to work on Christmas morning, so I guess we don’t really have anything planned,” Mr. Kippen says.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Cyrus says soothingly.

“It doesn’t really feel like a holiday when it’s just the immediate family anyway,” T.J. bitterly states.

At this, Mr. Kippen seems to get mad. “Do you want to spend Christmas with your homophobic grandparents?” he scorns.

T.J. shakes his head, unable to make eye contact with his dad. Mr. Kippen takes a deep breath and lets out the tension in his body. It is clearly evident where T.J. gets his somewhat fiery temper from, but his dad is much better at handling it. Cyrus notices that T.J. is still silently fuming, and he becomes desperate to fill the silence before the other boy has an outburst.

“I usually spend Christmas Day at my friend Andi’s,” Cyrus explains, “But long story short she kind of just met her dad so this is their first Christmas as a happy family and I didn’t want to intrude on that.”

“I’m sure you wouldn’t be intruding,” Mr. Kippen assures him. “Any family would be lucky to have you for the holidays.”

The second part is said directly towards T.J. who has released his anger and seemed to shift all the way in the direction of flustered. He and his dad have a silent conversation with their eyes as T.J. begins to blush. He finally looks away, stands up from the table, and announces that they are going up to his room. Cyrus follows him out of the kitchen and up the stairs.

————

T.J. walks briskly through the door of his bedroom and sits heavily on his unmade bed as Cyrus quietly shuts the door behind him. The jock falls onto his back and covers his face for the pillow.

“Are you okay?” Cyrus asks timidly.

T.J. doesn’t answer, so Cyrus begins to examine the room around him. T.J.’s room is exactly what you’d expect out of a teenage boy. The walls are painted baby blue and there is a toy basketball hoop on the back of his door. The room is small, and the floor is littered with basketball shorts and brightly colored hoodies making it seem much smaller than it already is. There are a couple of trophies and baby pictures placed on shelves that clearly haven’t been dusted in the last five years. After a bit, Cyrus returns his attention to T.J. who has not moved from his position on the bed. For once, Cyrus doesn’t know how to comfort the boy, but he hopes that just being in the room with him will calm him down enough to talk. Eventually, T.J. pulls the pillow away from his face and sits up groggily. His eyes are tinged red, clearly from trying to hold back his tears.

“You don’t have to tell me anything,” Cyrus says comfortingly, “But I’m here to help if you need.”

“Sorry it’s just—sometimes when you talk about your family it just makes me realize that I don’t really have one,” T.J. explains barely keeping his composure.

“You have a dad and a sister,” Cyrus offers, “That’s all the family you need.”

T.J. takes in Cyrus’s words with his eyes on his hands. “Yeah, I guess,” he contemplates, “My mom passed away a few years ago, my dad doesn’t have any siblings, and we stopped seeing my grandparents, ever since my sister came out to them so it’s really just us three.”

“I’m sorry to hear about all that,” Cyrus says placing a soothing hand on T.J.’s, “What exactly happened with your grandparents, if it’s not too much to ask?”

“When my sister came out to us, it was about two years ago. My dad sat me down and said ‘I want you to know that what your sister is feeling right now is completely normal and completely healthy, and I won’t tolerate anyone who tells her otherwise’,” T.J. recites his father’s words like he had just heard them yesterday. “I remember it vividly because I was just starting to seriously question my identity. I think that’s when I knew that I would be okay no matter what, but it was still really difficult for me.”

“I get that,” Cyrus comments, thinking back to his own experience. Despite all the support he got from Buffy, he was still petrified when it came to admitting it to others. He hadn’t even told his parents yet, even though he was sure they have their suspicions already.

“The next year,” T.J. continues, “my sister came out to our grandparents, and they were not accepting at all. So my dad got in a fight with them, and…we haven’t seen them since. His own parents.”

“You’re better off without them,” Cyrus assures him.

“I know,” T.J. says, “It just sucks to know that my own grandparents wouldn’t be proud of who I am. Even though I am.”

Cyrus offers a small smile to the boy and says, “I’m proud of who you are.”

T.J. can’t help but blush and look away bashfully at the compliment. Cyrus is the most caring person he knows, so Cyrus being proud of the person T.J. is has to mean something.

————

After cooling down, T.J. heads downstairs to send Cyrus off. T.J. watches as Cyrus slides on his sneakers by the front door, a silence hanging over them that’s uncharacteristic for their friendship.

“Sorry if that was awkward,” T.J. says in a desperate attempt to release the tension.

“No, I had fun,” Cyrus assures him. “Thanks for having me Mr. Kippen!”

His dad yells ‘anytime’ from his place in the kitchen as Cyrus zips up his jacket. He casts a signature Cyrus smile at T.J. and turns to open the door.

“Cy,” T.J. whispers, stopping Cyrus in his tracks. Cyrus turns around and looks up at the jock who once again can’t bring himself to say what he feels. He settles for, “I’m really glad you’re my friend.”

Cyrus smiles his cutest smile and steps forward. He wraps his arms around TJ’s neck, pulling him into a hug. After a brief moment of shock at the physical intimacy, TJ’s arms find their way around the smaller boy’s waist. He feels as if his heart is about to leap out of his chest. He’s hugging Cyrus! The cutest of all cute boys has his chin resting on his shoulder! He never wants to pull away, but Cyrus reluctantly does after a few too many blissful seconds to be considered just friendly.

Cyrus’s face is painted with a shy smile as he says, “I’m glad you’re my friend too. See ya tomorrow.” His eyes cast a final glance towards TJ wearing a dopey grin as he disappears through the front door, leaving TJ in a dream-like state.

“Cyrus is nice,” T.J.’s Dad says, snapping him out of his haze. T.J. looks to his dad standing by the island in the kitchen, who witnessed the entire encounter. He has a knowing grin plastered across his face.

“What?” T.J. asks, maybe a bit too defensively.

“Nothing,” he replies. “It’s just good to see you happy after what happened at dinner. And happier in general.”

T.J. just nods and smiles to himself, as he walks over to the sink and begins rinsing off the plates from that night’s meal of spaghetti and meatballs. He’s pretty sure he knows what his dad is trying to get at, but he doesn’t want to confirm anything.

“Son, I know I’m not always able to be here for you,” his dad begins, “But you should know there’s nothing you can’t tell me.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about” T.J. lies. He tries to speed up his kitchen cleaning duties, suddenly feeling an impulse to get out of the conversation as soon as humanly possible.

“Let me just say this,” his dad begins. “I really like Cyrus. And I love you, no matter what. Understand?”

T.J. nods slowly in contemplation of if he should tell his dad the truth or keep perpetuating his poorly constructed lie. He knows his father can see right through him, but he won’t push too hard if T.J. seems uncomfortable. Making a decision, T.J. turns off the faucet and lets out a shake exhale.

“Dad,” T.J. whispers, his voice small and nervous, “I like Cyrus. I’m gay.”

Without hesitating, his father wraps his arms around T.J., his son melting into the embrace. “I’m so proud of you, son,” his dad assures him. “I love you exactly the way you are.”

“How do you feel about both of us being gay?” T.J. asks somewhat jokingly.

“I love you both just as much!” His dad assures him, “But I guess the bloodline ends with you two.”

“Yeah, I guess it does,” T.J. laughs.

After a bit, T.J.’s dad says, “For the record, I think Cyrus feels the same way.”

“You think I should tell him?” T.J. asks nervously.

“Yeah. Go get him tiger,” His dad encourages with a playful push. “Lock that boy down. Be a man and ask that boy out.”

“That’s not a statement you hear too often…” T.J. starts before he’s cut off by his father again.

“And then be the sappiest boyfriend in existence with your ‘Cy, I’m happy you’re my friend’,” his dad teases.

“Ugh, you’re the worst” T.J. says, unable to hide the blush that creeps onto his cheeks and the dopey smile that tugs at his lips. God, he is so far gone.

“I have an idea. Your sister has to work on Christmas, why don’t you invite your boy over so you’ll have someone to spend time with?” his dad offers, a mischievous grin gracing his face, “It’d be the perfect time to confess.”

“I knew that was coming,” T.J. says, his cheeks now burning and deep red, ”And he’s Jewish. He doesn’t celebrate Christmas”

“Perfect!” His dad exclaims, “He won’t have plans.”

T.J. sighs and says, “Something tells me you aren’t going to let this go.”

His dad shakes his head no and engulfs his son a tight hug earning a squeal from the basketball player. For a moment, T.J. and his father are carefree and messing around as they used to in old times. T.J. no longer holds a secret from his father, and his best friend in the world knows and accepts his identity. Plus, Cyrus Goodman is gay, cute as hell, and probably the sweetest person on the planet!

#andi mack #tyrus #cyrus goodman #tj kippen #tj smitten #cyrus goodgodimgayandinlovewithtj #tyrus fanfiction #tyrus fanfics #tyrus fanfic

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rosedavid · 5 years

Note

Cyrus leaves one of his tiny sweaters at TJ’s House and then TJ ends up wearing it and it’s basically a crop top on him but he LOVES IT and Cyrus is facepalming in the background as his boyfriend breaks the dress code

awwww hahahaha this is so funny! you are basically writing these for me lol

So TJ gets lowkey jealous because Cyrus wears his sweaters all the time, but he never gets to wear Cyrus’s sweaters? And he asks Cyrus about it one day, and Cyrus says, “Because they’re way too small for you, Teej.” And to himself, TJ is like BET.

One day, the opportunity strikes. Cyrus accidentally leaves his sweater at TJ’s house one night, not to mention it’s TJ’s favorite sweater of his (a gray, knitted cable sweater). TJ decides to wear it next morning to school.

When he puts it on, he realizes that Cyrus was kind of right…it doesn’t fit him well because he’s much taller, but other than it being too short, it fits great. Even though it’s way too short for dress code, he doesn’t care because he’s finally wearing one of his boyfriend’s sweaters and it smells like his cologne and he loves it. His mom raises her eyebrows at him when he comes downstairs, but she doesn’t say anything.

When he gets to school, everyone is looking at him because the basketball captain is wearing a crop top and also that definitely isn’t in the dress code. TJ doesn’t really care, though. In fact, he feels more comfortable than ever.

Cyrus sees him and his eyes bulge out of his head. His cheeks also glow red, and he’s speechless for a moment. TJ smiles at him like normal, leaning up against the locker and looking down at him.

“Is that my sweater?” // “I told you I would wear one of your sweaters!” // “Teej, you’re going to get in so much trouble!” // “It’s worth it.”

And yeah, Cyrus might not ever admit it to anyone, but it actually looks super good on TJ. Like, he can’t stop blushing because TJ is so adorable yet ridiculous at the same time.

Of course, TJ gets called to the office for a dress code violation (to nobody’s surprise). When he gets in there, the principle just lets him off with a warning and gives him a jacket to wear.

Later, when he’s telling the others about it, Buffy says something like, “I’m surprised he only let you off with a warning. Miranda wore a tank top the other day and got suspended.”

And since TJ is now way more aware of sexism due to changing his past beliefs, he’s like, “Wait, that’s doesn’t seem right. Do you think that the principal let me off so easy because I’m a guy?” // Andi and Buffy both stare at him like, “Duh.”

TJ marches right back into his office and demands to be suspended. The principal is like what is going on. TJ explains everything to him and how it’s not fair to hold them to different standards. The principal gets angry and ends up suspending him, as well, but technically it’s what TJ was hoping for anyway. He just hopes that the principal will be more aware next time this happens.

Cyrus is a Proud Boyfriend but also is freaking out that TJ got suspended. TJ promises him that he’ll try not to let it happen again. Meanwhile, Buffy and Andi are both super impressed with what he did (even though Buffy would never admit that to his face)

#andi mack headcanons #tyrus headcanons #tyrus #andi mack #cyrus goodman #tj kippen #prompts #answered #asks #my headcanons #tj x cyrus #cyrus x tj

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thinkingaboutyoungroyals · 5 years

Text

The Perfect Moment (Chapter 4)

Summary: When Cyrus is assigned to create a modern re-telling of “Romeo and Juliet” for English class, he decides to produce a movie. His stars, however, may pose some trouble. Will he finish his movie on time?

If you’d like to be on the tag list, please let me know here or send me a DM or a message! Or, you can also find my story on AO3 and subscribe!

Thank you!

(Last time, the chapter didn’t show on the tags so I figured it might have been because of the links. So, I’m trying not to add any in but if you need the other chapters, just go on my tyrus perfect moment tag or DM me!)

Despite his little accident, Cyrus was still ready to continue filming the next day. Time stopped for no one and neither did his deadline. If he was to become a real filmmaker, he couldn’t let something as small as getting hit in the face with a basketball and a bleeding nose stop him. Besides, his dad had taken him to the hospital the day before to make sure his nose wasn’t broken (it wasn’t).

So, the next day, after filming a short Dance scene at the gym (which Andi had decorated), he gathered his cast and crew and headed off to the park to film one of the most important scenes in his movie.

(And by cast and crew, he only really meant Buffy, T.J., Andi, and Jonah. The others were done shooting for the day and had gone home.)

“Okay! In this scene, Logan will do his monologue while watching Quinn from afar,” Cyrus explained to them. “Buffy, you’ll stand at the gazebo and look contemplative. Jonah, your camera will do a wide-shot, with T.J. close and Buffy in the background.”

Jonah gave him a thumbs up.

“Andi, will you fix Buffy’s makeup, please? We’re starting in five.”

The equivalent of the infamous balcony scene, Logan and Quinn agree to meet up. Quinn sneaks away to the gazebo and Logan follows her after. Then, the two do their individual monologues and then their confessions.

“You ready?” Cyrus asked T.J., who was standing on his spot, reading his script.

He was dressed in a lavender button down, black slacks, matching suit jacket, and a purple tie to match Buffy’s purple cocktail dress.

The taller boy shrugged. “As ready as I’ll ever be. You know… as long as Buffy doesn’t kill me after.”

Cyrus chuckled. “Well, then, you’ll be thrilled that I replaced the kiss with a hug.”

T.J. scrunched his face, looking disgusted. “She really would have killed me then!”

Shaking his head in amusement, Cyrus stepped forward and reached up to take hold of the purple tie.

“Your tie is all crooked,” he stated, fixing it. Then, he smoothed T.J.’s suit jacket, picking off some stray lint. “There, all handsome.” He looked up to smile at the other boy.

T.J. was red as he stared down at him.

Cyrus’ eyes widened in alarm. “Are you okay?!”

He placed a hand on the other boy’s forehead, wondering if he had a fever. Was he sick?! Had Cyrus been pushing him too hard?!

Despite his panicking, T.J. just chuckled and shook his head. “I’m fine. Really. I think it’s just a little hot out.”

Well, that made sense. It was a little humid that day. They better wrap up this scene so they could all go home soon. Plus, they all had a pretty long day at school. And it was Friday!

“I’ll get you some water, then! Don’t want my star to be dehydrated!”

And with that, he bounded off to get T.J. a bottle of water. (He was well-prepared with snacks and hydration!)

…….…….…….

He practiced his monologue all night, in front of his cat. Sure, Simon didn’t give a damn about the words he was saying to him as long as T.J. gave him his dinner, but still, he had felt confident.

So, when the time came to shoot, T.J. was proud to say that it went flawlessly. Okay, maybe he stumbled once and forgot a few words the second time, but by the third and fourth take, he had perfected it.

“Cut!” Cyrus called out. “That was great T.J.!”

His heart swelled with joy at the other boy’s compliment.

“Buffy! Get ready for your scene!”

As they moved the cameras closer to Buffy’s spot, T.J. found himself staying by Cyrus’ side. He subtly leaned in and pressed their shoulders together while the other boy adjusted his camera. Cyrus briefly turned his head to smile at him before going back to his task.

“Okay, Buffy! You ready?”

“Yep!” The girl gave them a thumbs up.

“And… action!”

“Logan… where are you?” Buffy said out loud as she looked out into the distance. “Is this really okay? Can we be together like this and not hurt our friends?” She sighed, loudly. “Does it really matter whether you’re in their team or not?”

Buffy’s voice droned on in T.J.’s ears. He knew he should be watching her because everybody else was. But, he couldn’t tear his eyes away from Cyrus.

The director’s concentration was firmly on the camera screen, barely breathing as his teeth subtly gnawed at his lower lip. He had really plump lips that stood out whenever he pouted.

Not for the first time, T.J. wondered what it would be like to kiss Cyrus.

“Cut!”

His voice broke through T.J.’s thoughts. Realizing what was just running through his head while staring at Cyrus, he blushed.

“Okay, that was great!” Cyrus called out to Buffy, oblivious to T.J.’s red face. “One more take! This time, try to act a little more…dreamy! You’re in love, remember? You’re daydreaming about him!”

T.J. knew all about daydreams.

Then, Cyrus turned to him. “We’ll do two more takes and then we’ll do the next scene, if you want to look at your script again.”

“Okay!”

He was smiling but on the inside, he was groaning. He and Buffy were supposed to hug in this scene after spewing some flowery stuff at each other.

But, he had to keep remembering that he was doing this for Cyrus. It was all for Cyrus. Just like in all of his other scenes, he just had to pretend that the person in front of him is the person he liked…which was Cyrus.

So, while Buffy continued to film her scene, T.J. read through his script again, memorizing and feeling the emotions behind those words. And even though the words were cheesier than The Spoon’s mac-and-cheese, they were words written by Cyrus…and he had a way with them that just reeled T.J. in.

Soon, he found himself standing under the gazebo, Buffy across from him and Cyrus in between them, explaining what he wanted them to do.

Walk to Buffy. Stand close. Take one of her hands and put it against his heart. Then… hug.

“Ready? And… action!”

T.J. got into character and sauntered over to Buffy. “Quinn,” he called out.

Buffy spun on her heels and smiled at him. “Logan. I thought you would never come.”

“Of course, I would.” T.J. took a few steps forward. “I promised you I would.”

“Are we doing the right thing? Keeping us a secret from our teams? Our friends?”

“You know what will happen if we tell them. They won’t forgive us.”

“I know but…”

This was the moment when T.J. was supposed to take Buffy’s hand and put it against his chest. So he reached out to do exactly that.

“Cut!”

They both turned to Cyrus, confused. Neither of them made a mistake on their lines.

Cyrus sighed. “You’re standing too far, T.J.”

The athlete looked at the distance between him and Buffy. It seemed like a respectable distance. He took a step forward.

“Like this?” he asked.

Cyrus left his camera to walk up to the both of them. Situating himself in between, the shorter boy gently placed a hand on T.J.’s back and pushed him closer to Buffy, who took a step back. Cyrus took her arm and pulled her back in her original place.

“Like this,” he stated, matter-of-factly.

Buffy looked up at T.J., lips in a tight line and hands clenched in fists at her side. He knew that she was holding herself back from punching him in the face and running away.

“Buffy, why do you look like you want to punch him?” Cyrus asked, looking at her. “You have to be in love!”

“I’m sorry! But his face…”

T.J. sneered. “Yours is no work of art either, Driscoll.”

“Why you-.”

“Guys!” Cyrus stepped in between them. “This is supposed to be the perfect moment and you’re ruining it!”

Buffy raised an eyebrow. “Perfect moment?”

Cyrus sighed again. “In every story, there is a perfect moment. The timing is right, the mood is set, and everything else fades away into the background. It’s the moment that captures the audience and sticks in their memory the most. This is the scene where Logan and Quinn pledge their love for one another and swear not to let anything get in between them. The perfect moment! So, please… get this right? For me?”

He was practically pleading at that point and T.J. felt guilty that his lack of romantic chemistry with Buffy was causing problems.

“I’m sorry, Cy, it’s just… really hard,” Buffy explained, looking sorry. “I mean… look at him!”

She gestured at T.J.’s face.

Cyrus looked up at him. T.J. grinned. And Cyrus blushed and cutely looked away.

“I see nothing wrong with his face,” he stated. “In fact, he looks quite handsome... and you’re very pretty!”

T.J. resisted the urge to blush.

“How about this?” Cyrus continued. “Close your eyes, both of you.”

“Why?” Buffy asked.

“Just do it, please.”

Obediently, T.J. shut his eyes. It took a moment but Buffy must have closed hers too as Cyrus cleared his throat and began to talk.

“Now, imagine that the person in front of you is the person you like.

T.J. pictured it in his head.

Cyrus standing in front of him, wearing that cute eye smile as he looked up at T.J. like he was the most amazing person in the world.

“The words on the script are the words you want to say to them.”

I’d give it all up for you. The team. My position. Everything if it means I can be with you.

“Picture how they look at you when you do. Are they happy to hear you say those words?”

No, Cyrus wouldn’t be happy. He knew how important basketball was to T.J. and would never let him give it up. In fact, he would probably be angry if T.J. tried. He would still look cute, though. Like a puppy trying to bark.

“How do you feel about them?”

T.J. would still give it all up if Cyrus asked him to.

“Now, open your eyes.”

T.J. obeyed and the first thing he saw was Cyrus looking up at him with a soft smile.

“There’s the look I needed,” he said, turning his head away to look at Buffy too, who now looked less tense than she was earlier. “We’ll resume in five, okay? Take in those feelings just now.”

He patted them both in the back before walking back to his camera. T.J. watched him go, worried because Cyrus just looked stressed out. He wanted to help him.

“Let’s get this right this time, okay?” Buffy’s voice interrupted his thoughts and he turned his head back to look at her.

The girl no longer looked like she wanted to kill him, which was a relief, honestly. That would make this scene easier to act out when she wasn’t glaring at him. It was just so easy to banter with her. He supposed that that was just what their relationship would always be like.

“Yeah, definitely. We should,” T.J. agreed. “I don’t want to make this any more difficult on Cyrus.”

Buffy flashed him a strange look. “You know… you should just hurry up and make a move.”

That caught him off-guard and he immediately felt the blood rush to his cheeks. “W-What?” was all he could manage. “W-What are you talking about?”

Buffy snorted. “Oh, please, you’re not exactly subtle. Practically everyone knows.”

His throat was suddenly dry and he swallowed. “E-Everyone?”

Buffy shrugged. “Everyone with eyes.” Her eyes softened. “Look, T.J., I may not be… fond of you.” She wrinkled her nose. “But, me and everyone else can see that you care about Cyrus. And Cyrus cares about you, too. Trust me, I’m his best friend.”

He almost felt touched at that. But, that didn’t mean she was right…was she? Could Cyrus care about him in the same way? Or maybe it was the kind of care that he felt for all of his friends. Cyrus was a caring person, after all.

“I don’t know…”

Buffy snorted again and punched his arm. “At least try to make a move on him or something!”

He resisted the urge to rub his arm (damn, this girl could punch!) and, instead, ran a hand through his hair.

“I should…” he agreed. “But… what should I do?”

Buffy snorted again. “Well, don’t expect me to help you there.” She smirked. “Unless you beg.”

T.J. huffed. “I’m good, thanks. I’ll figure it out myself.” He hesitated before asking in a soft voice, “You think he cares about me?”

Buffy laughed. “You… are… oblivious,” was all she said before punching his arm again.

…….…….…….

“They seem to be getting along well now,” said Andi, looking towards the gazebo.

Cyrus followed her gaze and watched Buffy laughing before punching T.J. in the arm. From Buffy, that was practically a sign of affection.

Something twitched inside his chest and Cyrus turned away to look at the script again. “T-That’s good,” he said.

“You okay, Cy?” Andi asked, concern in her voice.

“Yeah, why wouldn’t I be?”

“You just seem… bothered.”

“I’m fine,” he insisted before clearing his throat. “Anyway, we should start soon.” He turned back to the two under the gazebo, ignoring the way his chest twitched again. “Get ready!”

The two paused their conversation and got in their place. Cyrus positioned himself behind the camera and checked to see if Jonah was ready, too.

“Okay… Ready… And… Action!”

Up ahead on the gazebo, T.J. began.

“Quinn.”

Buffy turned around smiled. “Logan. I thought you would never come.”

“Of course, I would.” T.J. took a few steps towards her. “I promised you I would.”

Buffy looked down at the floor. “Are we doing the right thing? Keeping us a secret from our teams? Our friends?”

T.J. moved a few more steps closer until he was at the spot Cyrus had shown him. “You know what will happen if we tell them. They won’t forgive us.”

“I know but…”

T.J. reached out to take Buffy’s hand.

Cyrus’ heart was pumping hard and fast against his chest as Buffy raised her head to look at T.J. And, there it was… the look. The look that Cyrus wanted. The soft, loving look that spoke volumes, even through a camera screen.

“I’d give it all up,” T.J. said.

Buffy’s lips parted, slightly, in shock at the declaration.

Cyrus felt himself swallow as he zoomed in on T.J.’s face.

“I’d give it all up for you. The team. My position. Everything if it means I can be with you.”

And with those last words… T.J. leaned forward and wrapped his arms around Buffy, who wrapped her own around his torso.

Cyrus felt the breath leave his lungs at the sight.

It was beautiful.

Perfect.

And, then, T.J. lifted his eyes to look at him. The look brought him back to reality.

“C-Cut!” he managed to call out.

The two broke their hug and stepped away from each other.

“T-That was great!” he called out, with a small smile. “We’ll do one more take from another angle! Great job, you two!”

He turned his back to them and slapped his cheeks a little. They felt way too warm. He needed water.

…….…….…….

After two more takes of the gazebo scene, Cyrus had T.J. and Buffy do a few scenes around the park for a montage.

They took a walk around the park while holding hands. Sat on the swings while talking (they didn’t have a script for this one but Cyrus wasn’t planning on having any conversation for the montage anyway so the two just talked about basketball). And sat by the pond, watching the ducks.

It was cute. Adorable. Sweet, even.

It stressed Cyrus out, for some reason.

But, after all that was done, they packed up everything and got ready to go home.

It was Friday so they weren’t shooting over the weekend. His project was due next Friday so he had a max of three or four more days to finish shooting everything. Plus, Mr. Spencer had asked him to re-write the last scene and so far, Cyrus hadn’t come up with anything.

“You okay?” T.J. asked, breaking through his worries.

The jock was walking him home, still dressed in his formal clothes but with the suit jacket neatly folded in a bag. Both tripod bags hung from his shoulders, as they didn’t want to go back to school to return them so Cyrus was keeping them and the cameras for the weekend.

“Yeah, just… worried,” he confessed.

“About what?”

“Not finishing this movie on time.” Cyrus sighed. “I have to start cutting the clips and editing tonight. In fact, that’s what my weekend will consist of.” He let out a frustrated groan. “This is harder than I thought it would be.”

T.J. gently bumped his shoulders with his. “Hey, it’s okay. I’m sure you’ll finish on time, you never leave anything up to the last minute like I do.”

Cyrus felt his lips twitch into a smile.

“And I can help you, if you want.”

He raised his head to meet T.J.’s gaze. “Really? You would?”

“Yeah, totally! I mean, I’ve never edited a video before but if you tell me what to do, I can learn. I wanna help!”

Cyrus considered it. T.J. had been a big help to him throughout this entire week. And he just couldn’t resist when the taller boy looked so hopeful and excited.

So, he agreed.

Fifteen minutes later, they were both on Cyrus’ couch, glasses of lemon water sat on coasters on the coffee table and laptop computers in each of their laps. Cyrus showed him how to scroll through the clips, pick out the best clips, write them down for Cyrus to keep track of later when he edits, and move them to a new folder.

Side-by-side, with headphones on and barely any space between them, they spent an hour doing exactly this and mostly in silence, the only sounds coming from the clips and the scratching of pencils against paper.

A few times, Cyrus couldn’t help but peek at T.J. from the corner of his eye. And each time, he felt that same twitching in his chest that he swore to ignore. But, how could he when seeing how seriously the jock was with helping made him feel all warm and fluttery? It wasn’t T.J.’s grade on the line, but he was taking precious time to make sure Cyrus would pass with flying colors.

T.J. turned his head to look at him. “What’s wrong?”

Cyrus blinked and realized that he had been staring too long this time. “Sorry, I spaced out,” he half-lied before removing his headphones. “I’m a bit tired now. Let’s take a break.”

He moved the computer from his lap to the coffee table and leaned back against the couch, closing his eyes. He felt T.J. moving beside him. Soon, a shoulder pressed against his.

He opened his eyes and turned his head to T.J. “Thank you for everything. Once this is all done, you are definitely getting free milkshakes from me.”

T.J. grinned. “It’s a date.”

Cyrus blushed and looked away. He knew that T.J. didn’t actually mean a date. But, his heart was weak and he tried to quell the brimming hope threatening to take over.

“Besides, I’m having a ton of fun,” T.J. continued, oblivious to Cyrus’ turmoil. “Maybe I can help you with your next video project, too?”

Cyrus’ body betrayed him once more and he felt his ears heating up. Nonetheless, he turned to the boy next to him and smiled.

“Really? I won’t let you back out, you know.”

“I won’t back out,” T.J. swore, looking serious and determined.

Cyrus laughed. “What if it’s a film about two men falling in love?” he joked.

“I’d still star in it.”

He blinked, surprised. “Really?”

T.J. nodded, eagerly. “If it means helping you out, Underdog, I’ll play any role.”

Ahhh, he was so sweet. Cyrus wished his heart would stop beating so fast. It was way too loud and he was afraid T.J. would hear it.

They continued working on cutting clips throughout the rest of the afternoon until night fell. Cyrus’ parents arrived on time for dinner and they invited T.J., who accepted the invitation. They talked about Cyrus’ project, asked T.J. questions about school, and whatever topic came up.

After dessert, T.J. announced that it was time for him to leave for home as his curfew was approaching.

Cyrus walked him out. “Thanks, again, T.J.,” he said as they both stood out on the porch.

The jock grinned. “Any time. If you need me to help you out more this weekend, just let me know. I’m working until 3 tomorrow, but I’m free for the rest of the day and Sunday.”

“I’ll make a note of that, thank you. Good night.”

“Good night.”

With one last wink, T.J. turned on his heels and walked away, not realizing that he left Cyrus’ heart doing somersaults.

Tag list:

@lemon-boy-tj @homosexualearthworm

@disastrxlogy

@new-to-the-phandom

@tyrusgoingfast

@tj-cyrus

@multifandom-bxitch

@completelysterling completelysterling

@spike-heels

@thedampjofangirl

@i-am-confussion confussion

@buffyshirley

#tyrus #tyrus fanfic #tyrus perfect moment #andi mack

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tjsmuffin · 6 years

Text

Some Autumn/Halloween Oblivious Tyrus Headcanons 🎃🦇🍁

Cyrus forgets to bring a jacket to school one day and is noticeably shivering, so TJ offers him his basketball hoodie.

It’s a size or two big on Cyrus, the sleeves hanging past his fingertips, but it’s warm and soft on the inside and smells like TJ.

He accidentally wears the hoodie home and still has it on when he facetimes TJ later that night.

Cyrus starts apologizing profusely for stealing the hoodie, but TJ just chuckles and tells him to keep it because he thinks Cyrus looks really cute in his clothes.

—

Buffy invites Cyrus to go pick apples at an orchard with her and Marty. Not wanting to be a third wheel, Cyrus invites TJ along.

Inevitably, Buffy and Marty end up going their own way, leaving Cyrus and TJ alone in the rows of apple trees with their little overpriced plastic bags for apple collecting.

They have a competition to see who can find the biggest, best looking apple. They run up and down the aisles, scanning the trees, giggling and yelling when they run into each other.

TJ sprints into a row and sees Cyrus standing by one of the trees, staring upward with a frustrated frown on his face. He jogs to stand next to him and looks up, spotting a perfect, sparkling apple dangling toward the top of the tree.

Cyrus groans in defeat that he can’t reach it. But instead of picking it for himself and winning the competition, TJ wraps his arms around Cyrus’ hips and lifts him up from behind, not caring that he just lost the competition.

Later, they meet back up with Muffy at the hay ride, sipping on apple cider and talking. Cyrus leans into TJ’s side and quietly thanks him for letting him win. TJ grins and they stay pressed together, not noticing the knowing looks Buffy and Marty give them.

—

The gang goes trick or treating on Halloween as a big group, but everyone kind of sticks with one or two people as they walk down the sidewalk.

Impatient with how slow the group is going, TJ and Cyrus speed ahead so they can get to more houses.

Cyrus Hates Running, so at one point, TJ squats down and tells him to hop on his back. He’s hesitant at first, but he can’t say no.

Once they’re done, they all meet up back at Andi’s house for pizza and candy and Halloween movies.

They’re all sitting on the floor with their candy piles in front of them, trading and bargaining with each other. TJ deflates when he realizes that he only received one mini snickers bar.

TJ looks over at Cyrus’ pile and sees an abundance of snickers. In an overly-sweet voice, he says, “Muffinnnn,” and gives his best puppy eyes, sticking out his lower lip for added effect.

Cyrus grins and rolls his eyes as he hands over all of his snickers bars. He doesn’t mind, they’re not his favorite.

TJ unwraps the chocolate and pops it into his mouth, closing his eyes and smiling like a little kid, and Cyrus feels his face get hot and his heart start to go baboombaboombaboom

#andi mack #tyrus #tj kippen #cyrus goodman #should i write these into fics

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screamoffkey · 5 years

Text

An Introduction to the New Romantics (Chapter 1)

TYRUS X HEATHERS (there’s some other ships too, check tags lol)

Chapter 1: The Rumors are Terrible and Cruel (but, most of them are true)

You move out of town for a couple of years and all of a sudden it’s like you step into a parallel universe. That was the thought running through TJ Kippen’s mind as he stared at the spectacle before him. He had left Shadyside after the eighth grade to be with his mom in California, but had moved back to Utah after some ‘parental difficulties.’ He had moved back home with his dad a quarter-way through his Junior year of high school because he wanted a taste of normal again, but… the sight he was staring at was far from normal.

It was his first day at his new school, Jefferson High, and he had barely walked into the classroom before his homeroom teacher had ushered him out into the halls with a boy who seemed eager to teach him the ways of Jefferson High School. His plucky tour guide, flashing a sticker that had the name ‘Marty’ hastily scribbled across it, looked familiar in a way that suggested TJ had definitely met him before. Marty hadn’t even managed to open his mouth yet before TJ interrupted.

“We’ve met before… haven’t we?”

Marty gave an uncomfortable laugh, as he tried to fight the awkwardness that was quickly building between the two. “Yeah, TJ… I, uh, tried out for the basketball team back in middle school before you moved. But, we didn’t really talk much after I got cut.”

TJ winced. The one thing he feared about coming back was his reputation as a jerk. A mixture of age, the paradisiacal California weather, and the major Surfer Vibes of his high school out West had softened him out of the douchebag mentality. It had felt like forever since he had been considered even slightly mean by anyone, but now he had to own up to the mistakes he made years ago.

“I’m sorry about… how I acted back in middle school. I’m totally nicer, I swear.” He offered a friendly, but apologetic smile at the brunette, who seemed more than willing to accept the apology.

“Dude, no worries, I get it. Everyone is so different from who they were in middle school.” He gave TJ a once-over, before meeting his stare with a mischievous look in his yes. You definitely look different.”

Marty had a point. Over the course of three years in California, he had grown a couple inched taller, a few shades tanner, and at least a little more stylistically inclined than he had been back in middle school. He’d since relaxed on the hair gel and the AXE body spray; and, while he hadn’t kicked his hoodie habit, they had all been approved by his sister as fashionable before purchasing. The fluffy white one he was wearing right now was a moving away gift from her, actually.

TJ laughed at the slight teasing while the boys walked down the hall, trying to keep pace with Marty’s power walking. Marty spoke fast as he gave the tour of the large high school, and freckled in some light conversations while walking past obvious structures like ‘library’ and ‘cafeteria.’ Jefferson high school was much bigger than its Jefferson Middle, with about 6 different intermediate schools feeding into it, and the school was certainly big enough to accommodate the massive class size. It gave TJ mild comfort to know that he could blend into a crowd for his last years of high school, without having to deal with too many people who knew that he was a total dick when he was 14.

Marty had somehow managed to spend the full class period leading TJ throughout the massive school, (and giving TJ a highlight reel of the best gossip that he’s missed out on) because soon enough, the class bell rang, and hordes of chattering students flooded the wide hallways that were previously desolate.

Which brings us to the display that TJ Kippen was currently watching. Everything that seemed like a normal passing period, until three figures appeared at the end of the hall. The silhouettes were nonchalant, but almost instantly the crowd cleared a path for them. It was like the world stood still as the three students started walking down the hallway, no one dared speak a decibel above the footsteps of three pairs of shoes on hard tile. It was like something out of an eighty’s movie.

“Guess you were going to meet them sooner or later.” Marty whispered into his ear, with a suspenseful tone that TJ really hoped was just him being dramatic. He began narrating the trio, who hadn’t looked even slightly bothered at the stares they were getting. First, a girl with a pixie cut in a blue romper, whose white heels that were clicking just a few steps ahead of her other friends.

“That’s Andi Mack, editor-in-chief of the yearbook. If you get on her bad side, she’ll immortalize your most embarrassing moment in the pages. Girls want to be her; guys and girls want to date her.”

TJ felt his chest tighten as a tall girl in a crimson red letterman jacket and curly hair came into his line of sight. He wasn’t sure if it was her or the boy she was walking beside that was causing the knots in his stomach. Marty continued his whisper commentary, clearly not noticing the building tension in his new friend.

“Buffy Driscoll. Captain of the track team, the girls’ basketball team, and the soccer team. 4.0 GPA. Recruiters are basically begging at her feet to play for their college.”

TJ detected the slightest bit of adoration in the boy’s voice when he spoke of her; or, maybe it was jealousy? He didn’t know Marty well enough to parse out that it was some odd mix of both. He decided not to ask.

“And, of course, Cyrus Goodman.” Marty paused as he looked up at him.

The pair found themselves engaged in some sort of odd staring contest with the dark-haired boy, who had stopped his conversation with Buffy and was clearly looking directly at them. He was a taller than TJ remembered him, and those vibrant brown eyes had gone cold and stoic. He wore a pale-yellow crewneck from a brand that TJ didn’t recognize, and black skinny jeans that tucked into Comme des Garcons converses. His hair was meticulously parted and combed - everything about him was flawless. He only stared for a about a second before deciding to resume his conversation with Buffy, not paying them another glance.

“The kid of Leslie Goodman, as in the TV Show Dr. Goodman. In other words, one of the richest families in Shadyside. Also known as the boyfriend of the senior class president Jonah Beck, and for being Co-Homecoming King with him last fall… Together the three of them make up the Good Hair Crew: they practically run the school. Solid Teflon, never touched, never bothered.” And with that, the trio had passed them, continuing on to wherever they were going.

TJ stood frozen in the hallway, even as the rest of the populous seemed to return to normal. His brain was reeling, desperately trying to keep up with the information he was processing. That was Buffy. That was Cyrus, and Cyrus has a boyfriend???? were seemingly the only thoughts his brain could manage to sputter, as though it had found a glitch. Error 404: my middle school friends all became bad asses without me.

After a few more moments, and an encouraging nudge from Marty, he snapped out of his daze.

“Marty, I know them. They aren’t like that. I remember in middle school those three-”

Marty hushed him hurriedly, looking around frantically to make sure no one had heard. “If I were you, I wouldn’t mention anything about the GHC in middle school if you want survive a day at Jefferson High. They’ve erased any trace of who they were back then.” He paused, letting the taller boy know that he was serious. “I mean it TJ. When I said everyone has changed since 7th grade, I meant everyone. They’ll have your head if you try to resurface some old memories.”

Marty hooked a friendly arm around TJ’s shoulder, ignoring that TJ was practically a half-foot taller than him, and shepherded him away from the spot to which his feet were planted. With a lighter tone, he continued rambling.

“C’mon Kippen. We have AP US History next period together. You can freak out all you want about everything you missed while you were busy being a Surfer Boy when Mrs. Peters is lecturing us about the importance of Grover Cleveland.” The quip managed to earn a soft chuckle from TJ, despite his head hurting from the mental confusion of the events that had all taken place within the last five minutes.

He conceded for now, and let the three mysterious figures he used to know exit the hallway and his mind, as he followed Marty down the hallway in the opposite direction.

#tyrus #tyrus andi mack #tyrus fanfic #Muffy #muffy fanfic #maybe some tarty idk yet #tarty #there's jyrus here too don't flip #jyrus

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runningonmarvel · 5 years

Text

be my valentine ch. 1

Happy Valentine’s Day!!! @you-get-to-exhale-now-cyrus For your valentine’s day gift I have written two chapters of a multi-chapter Valentine’s Day-centric fic (and I will of course be finishing and posting the rest of the chapters in due time, but, these two chapters are pretty long so I figured it works). Anyways, I hope you like it and happy Valentine’s day!!

A/N: takes place the two weeks before Valentine’s Day in their junior year. wonah. bandi. tyrus. a few curses. unedited but enjoy!!

Chapter 1: Put Your Hand in Mine

You know that I want to be with you all the time.

Jonah snaps the headphones over his ears and half closes his eyes, back against the bench. It’s a romantic song, too peppy for his current mood, but he can’t stop listening to it. He taps one foot against on the tiled floor while Grant students shove by each other.

Oh darling, darling, baby you're so very fine

You know that I won't stop until I make you mine

He’s so sick of love songs. Andi loves them: Taylor Swift and Meghan Trainor and Beyonce. So maybe there’s a reason behind his newfound annoyance with sappiness on the radio. But this one keeps sticking in his head. Jonah imagines reaching out his hand and taking someone else’s. And for the first time in a very, very long time, the person holding his hand in his imagination isn’t Andi. And it’s not Amber, or Natalie, or anyone else.

As half of Grant high school shoves by him, Jonah pushes the headphones down around his neck. He can hear his heart pounding way-too-loudly in his chest, and there’s a continuous beat and song inside his head.

Until I make you mine

And all he can think is: just in time for Valentine’s Day.

————

“Driscoll, catch!” Andi ducks out of the way just in time for Buffy to catch the miscellaneous basketball team member’s thrown shoe. She stares at it in confusion, but Buffy just shoves it into her backpack, gives a quick wave of thanks to the girl sprawled out on the bench, and turns back to Andi.

“Eleanor took my shoe on accident,” she explains, but Buffy’s eyes have already moved on from this conversation. They drift upwards to the large pink banner strung across Grant’s entrance, which is currently being pinned up and decorated with paper heart chains. Andi doesn’t stop to consider how an extra shoe can be taken accidentally and instead gapes up at the poster.

“Since when do we have a Valetine’s Day Dance?” Andi asks.

As if summoned by the deity of high school cheesiness, Student Council president Kip Warren steps into their path. “Since you juniors started sucking at raising money for our prom. We’re having a fundraiser dance—you buy candygrams and roses for people for three times the prices we bought them for. And we’re using that money to pay for a real prom, not one which you idiots scheduled in someone’s garage.” Kip storms away, and a lone senior—one of Amber’s friends—starts applauding.

“He’s way too salty. I heard that our student council planned a good prom but he’s just picky and annoying. Ugh,” Buffy says, glaring after him.

“And they’re probably spending more money on this dance then they’ll make from a few candygrams, honestly.” Andi bends over to grab a cardboard heart, which she reattaches to the wall.

“Cyrus is going to have a field day, though,” Buffy says. She looks curiously over at Andi. “Do you think you’ll go?”

Andi feels something rush through her: undeserved indignation, maybe, accompanied by an annoying blush she wishes would go away. “I mean… are you?”

“I would suggest the Good Hair Crew go, but you already know Cyrus is dedicating this night to his boy.” Buffy shrugs. “We could go together? Single and unattached?”

If Andi were eating cereal right now, she would choke. She hasn’t been to any date-requiring function since her year-long disaster of a breakup with Jonah. And now Buffy Driscoll had the audacity to stand in front of hear with her cheeks blushed dark and her eyelashes clipping her cheeks and ask her to the dance.

“I mean—sure! Maybe Amber could go with us too?”

“You don’t think Amber is going to ask Iris? I think she’ll finally get the nerve to do it. I should probably make a bet on it,” Buffy considers, digging for her wallet and frowning slightly.

“Maybe we should ask boys?” Andi counters, suddenly. Buffy glances up at her, and the look in her eyes could kill.

“Maybe I’ll ask Natalie. She’s cute.”

Andi can’t even respond to that. So she does what she learned best from her mother; she changes the subject.

“So, Buffy. What’d you think of the movie you and Cyrus saw?” Andi tilts her head, meeting Buffy’s eyes again. She thinks of the cheesy block letters glued to the Valentine’s Day Banner: Will you be our Valentine? February 14th at 7. Two weeks away.

Buffy knows this game, but Andi watches her play along. “Best Summer of My Life 2? It was alright. Not as good as the first one. The love story kind of sucked—classic girl meets bad boy trope.”

“Wish I could have seen it,” Andi says, adjusting the straps on her backpack.

“Yeah, well. How was Iris’s?”

Andi has a momentary flashback to Amber and Iris chucking Skyzone dodgeballs at her while shrieking filled the general vicinity. Somehow, Iris had been convinced to have a birthday at a trampoline place, and somehow, Amber had been coerced into going along with it.

“Horrifying.”

Buffy laughs uncomfortably, and Andi can hear the nonexistent joke fall flat. How long has it been like this? How long has the Good Hair Crew been out of sync, and the tension between Buffy and Andi unbreakable?

Almost a year. Too long.

“Well, I’ve got Lit. See you later?” Buffy doesn’t bother waiting around for an answer to the question. She strides away, and it’s all Andi can do to avoid staring directly at the back of her head as she leaves.

“Ask Natalie,” Andi scoffs to herself, kicking at a spot on the ground. Cyrus would call her pettiness levels off the chart, but Andi doesn’t have any other way to react to Buffy. It’s not just the ever-rotating list of new girls; it’s Buffy’s obvious annoyance with Amber, it’s Buffy’s piercing eyes and sharp, true smile she hasn’t worn in so long. It’s Buffy’s acceptance of whatever is between them, while Andi flounders, trying to pretend she’s still in the waters of freshman year, when Jonah was her only problem.

When did the thoughts in her head get so complicated? Don’t answer that, she tells herself, because she already knows the answer. Andi lifts her phone from her pocket and starts absentmindedly scrolling through her old photos. There’s Cyrus and TJ sharing a milkshake with Buffy’s arms around them. There’s Amber trying on a faded leather jacket and Andi wearing a worn suit at the Thrift Store. Andi and her mom attempting gardening while Bowie laughed in their general direction. Buffy, Cyrus, and Andi holding on for dear life while ice skating two winters ago. Further back, there’s Jonah kissing Andi on the cheek, and Marty with his arm around Buffy and Andi with her arm around Jonah on some ridiculous double date. There’s a couple miscellaneous photos of Cyrus in his costume from the musical. And then, from about a year ago—

Andi’s cheeks color red. Red, like the sauce on Bex’s homemade pizza she recently learned to cook. Red, like the color of the Space Otters’ failed sophomore year uniforms. And she shuts her phone.

This is why it’s so hard to talk to Buffy. More than the color of her eyes or the defiance in her words, it’s the specific memory every time Buffy smiles at her. It’s the memory that’s controlling her.

Andi glances back at the Valentine’s Day banner, and sticks her tongue out just for good measure. She won’t let a stupid dance run by stupid Kip Warren control her too.

Then, from behind, a hand grabs her by the shoulder and starts dragging her backwards. Andi yelps, already running through the list of eight things she learned in self-defense class with Bex this summer. Quote: if you’re not a strong athlete your best hope is to hit where it hurts. Anywhere.” Andi is about ready to swing when the arm drags her into a closet and reveals the body attached to it.

“Cyrus?”

“Sorry,” he pants, as if the physical effort to kidnap her from the hallway was exhausting. “Top secret… information.”

“Oh?” Andi says, suddenly interesting. “Another cult?”

“Heck no,” Cyrus says. “I’ve got a plan for Valentine’s Day, for TJ. But I wanted to run it by you and Buffy first. And probably Jonah too.”

Andi starts to smile, leaning back against the shelves on the wall. “Spill.”

“Well… since his big game is on Valentine’s Day…” Cyrus leads in, unable to contain his grin.

“Go on.”

“I was thinking… we could all go… and hold up signs—“

“Signs for TJ! Valentine’s Day signs?!” Andi puts a hand over her mouth. “Cyrus, that’s adorable. No, it’s perfect!”

“Yeah, and I’d ask him to the dance, and we’d go afterwards, and hopefully he won his big game, and then the dance would be super romantic, and he could take the signs home and hang them up on the walls of his room, and we’d take polaroids before the dance in our suits, and you guys would be there—“ “Thought about it much?” Andi cuts in, but her lips curl upwards with excitement. The mention of the dance is the only sour bit—Andi doesn’t need that subtle reminder that she’ll never know how to not be awkward with Buffy about it. She’ll never know how to articulate what she wants, so she’ll be stuck watching TJ and Cyrus and maybe Buffy and Natalie or some other random girl get their perfect Valentine’s Days.

“Well, maybe a little. Anyways, do you like?”

Andi breaks out of her thoughts. “I don’t like, I love. When do we make the signs?”

“This weekend maybe? To be ready by that Friday?”

“You got it, Cyrus. Text Buffy, she’ll be thrilled.”

Cyrus narrows his eyes. “She will not. I’m betting she doesn’t want to help with the signs, so it might just be you and me.”

“Aw, Buffy’ll help if you ask her.” TJ and Buffy don’t fight anymore, but it suffices to say that they’re not exactly best friends.

“I’m already asking her to hold up one of the signs. And especially if she ends up with a crucial word—for example, Valentine—I can’t risk losing her support. I’ll just ask her about that and see how it goes.”

Andi smiles. “You and TJ have been dating for a year now, Cyrus.” Strange. A lot happened a year ago. “I’m sure she’ll be happy to hold up a sign. She just might not cheer for him.”

Cyrus nods, laughing a little. He types out a text on his phone to Buffy, sends it, then looks back up at Andi, looking a little panicked. “Should I tell Jonah? I need him to hold up the sign that says TJ. I don’t think he’s busy that weekend, the Otters don’t have a game—“ “Text him,” Andi reassures Cyrus. He nods and types out the text while still looking up at her.

“I need Buffy, Jonah, you, and Amber. I’ll text Amber and Jonah tonight.”

“You’re asking TJ’s sister to help with his Valentine’s Day ask?” Cyrus and Amber have been friends since middle school, and it’s still hard for Andi to wrap her head around sometimes that Cyrus is dating the brother of one of Andi’s closest friends and is additionally friends with her. It’s the type of friendship that thrives off drama, and Andi has a feeling that even if Cyrus and TJ break up (which it seems like they never will), Amber and Cyrus will be close until the ends of the earth.

“Of course. Who else was I supposed to ask? Walker?” Cyrus asks, giving Andi a look. It’s a group-acknowledged truth that Andi drove Walker from the group, even if Buffy was the last one who dated him. Walker hasn’t hung out with them for a year and a half now, except maybe a few times with Jonah. Andi misses him and his lovely creativity, but she doesn’t miss the drama he brought; Buffy was happier with Marty than with him, but then she was happier by herself than with Marty. Andi blinks slowly, realizing how this topic has made its way back to her again.

“Amber will be fine,” Andi assures, her mind not really on Cyrus or TJ. “You think she’ll finally get the guts to ask out Iris?”

Cyrus shrugs. “I hope so. Who are you going with, anyways? Not Jonah—“

“No.”

A pause.

“Jonah is my friend, yes. But I’m done being romantic with him.” Andi stops, because the words sound harsh, even if they are true. “Buffy and I are just gonna go together, like old times.”

Cyrus smiles a half smile, because old times would include him too. And all three of them know that they’ve moved on from old times. Maybe Andi the most. And yet.

“I’m gonna go find TJ now. Keep the plan under wraps, ‘kay? Friday afternoon we can pick out supplies?” “Glitter glue!” Andi says, and she can’t stop it from coming out like a squeal. “Count me in.”

Cyrus steps out, the brightness of his phone lighting up the dim closet, and leaves Andi alone, still against the wall.

Alone.

In the closet.

Andi nearly throws her phone across the room.

————

There are three parks in downtown Shadyside: the tiny one off the elementary school, the Valley Park where legend says a swamp monster lives, and Agley Park. Agley is where coffee shop people go to be in nature; it’s also, incidentally, Walker’s favorite place in town. The Saturday morning is crisp, with light winter fog in the air, and Agley looks like the rolling fields and forests of some picturesque Scottish village. The only piece of color barring the serenity is the hunk of metal in the middle of one of the squares; that hunk of metal, though, is what has drawn Walker downtown this early on a Saturday.

“It’s kind of… underwhelming?”

Walker ignores the voice to his right and keeps reading the printed plaque beneath the statue. Installed four weeks ago, reads the monotone font, the Rest of Infinity display serves as a reminder to all viewers of the eternity of space and its never-ending mystery. The 20-foot tall sculpture contains seventeen rotating pieces and thousands of tiny gears. The reflective paints were mixed by the artist herself, and the glass portions were blown by her as well. Walker is aching to reach for a sketchbook and draw it, but he promised himself that this time he would just look. So he does.

After a while, the same voice cuts in. “So maybe I’m starting to see why Cyrus can be such a science nerd sometimes…”

Walker looks over his shoulder at Amber Kippen, who is wearing a faux leather skirt and carrying a latte. They were in the same studio class—much to Walker’s chagrin at first, who had found Amber’s eclectic, relaxed approach to art to be flighty. But when Amber’s realism came out looking like a photographic negative, and when her paints were soft pastels that fit perfectly into her nature theme, then Walker decided to give up on judging before he knew things.

And now, lo and behold, Walker and Amber were visiting an art exhibition outside of school. Together. For fun.

“I really like the colors on the back few layers,” Walker says finally, and his voice sounds gravelly from lack of use. “And the way the black pieces spiral to infinity first, with the smaller pieces following behind.”

Amber nods, and Walker notes that she’s not really listening. “Do yo know who would love this?”

“Yeah?” Walker does know, because there’s only ever one right answer. But he holds off.

“Iris.”

Amber’s eyes get dreamy when she’s talking about Iris, her crush of many a year. Walker recognizes the look because it’s the look he used to see on Andi’s face when talking about Jonah. Buffy’s face when talking about Marty. The faces of people in love with someone else, not him.

“I’m sure she would, Her photography project is so cool, maybe she could take pictures of the statue—“

“I think I need to ask her to the dance,” Amber says suddenly. “It’s now or never, right? Senior year will be too late. It’s got to be now.” “What dance?”

Amber looks shocked, offended, horrified, embarrassed—everything on the list—that Walker is unaware of said dance. “Uh, Grant’s Valentine’s Day Dance. On account of the fact that Kip Warren and the dance team girls want prom to not be in someone’s basement this year. But Iris!”

Walker considers this, as they start to walk away from the statue and back toward Amber’s car. He listens to Amber’s list of reasons: “We texted all last night, and she ended with a heart, not me. We’ve held hands twice and been to four movies alone together. Her eyes are the most beautiful eyes I’ve ever seen, and her bangs are so nice and her smile…”

In his head, Walker wants to make a comparison to something he’s feeling for another person. But he won’t let himself. Pretty eyes…hanging out alone together. His breath is catching, and Amber’s voice fades a little in the background. And that dance…

“Walker? Walker!” Startled out of a daydream, Walker feels Amber’s arm in front of his chest and suddenly sees the curb drop away in front of him. “Absent-minded much?”

“Call it an artist’s trait,” Walker says dizzily. He can’t stop thinking about the crush—shit, a crush—and it’s like the world is falling to pieces. It can’t be real, not over one movie and an air hockey game and a couple walks home from school. Maybe if he doesn’t think it, then it won’t be real.

“Walker.” Amber’s statement pulls him completely back to the surface, where he faces Amber’s scrutinizing gaze. “Are you going to ask anyone to the dance?”

Oh no. Walker opens his mouth to say something, and then doesn’t. They keep walking, but Amber’s eyes are staring him down with all the intensity she used to have as Grant’s resident mean girl. It’s the look she gets when she sees something she wants—or wants to know—and will do anything to get it.

“Um.”

“Um? Don’t give me that, Walker Brodsky. I spill my guts to you about Iris regularly. Now it’s your turn: who’s your crush?”

Walker blushes, reaching above his head to tug on a tree branch. “Amber, I—“

There’s a small voice in Walker’s head, and it’s trying to overcome the wave of anxiety he has about this situation. The voice is saying: Amber will understand.

Amber, who came out as lesbian when she was a freshman in high school. Amber, who goes to the LGBT alliance and activism meetings on a regular basis and cites it as her most important extracurricular, even more than dance or studio. Amber, who cries while listening to Heaven by Troye Sivan. Amber, who is staring at him right now with her Annabeth Chase-esque gray eyes and inquisitorial eyebrow raise. Amber, who has dated—

“Jonah.”

Amber doesn’t miss a beat, but Walker is already dizzy from the weight of the word.

“Jonah! Of all the people at school, you chose Mr. Heartbreak himself?”

“Um.”

Jonah is Mr. Heartbreak, isn’t he? Walker thinks of Andi, and the disaster that was the final six months of her and Jonah’s relationship. Jonah, who Andi always like more than him. Jonah Beck, who Walker first met at the art gallery, and then at the color factory, and then at canoeing. A couple months ago Walker ran into Jonah outside the skate shop, and they ended up making plans to see a movie in town they both wanted to see. Then, Walker started seeing Jonah more at school, and they were partners on a Bio assignment. The events keep spilling over themselves in his mind, and Walker feels two things: one, feelings. A crush. Like he had on Andi. The second thing is what has been washing over him for months and what kept him from telling Amber in the first place: he’s scared.

“Yeah,” Walker says, just to affirm it. “I like Jonah.” And there it is, again, the feeling in his chest of relief and anxiety all at once.

Amber nods as the rolling park ends and she clicks her key fob in the general direction of her station wagon. “Okay. Well, considering I’ve dated him, I’m probably authorized to give some advice—“

“No, Amber. He’s not even into guys; there’s no use thinking about it.” Walker slides into the passenger seat and takes out his phone from the glove box to start typing out notes about the statue.

“Walker, you never know. I mean, he’s never said that he does like boys, but he’s never said that he doesn’t—“

“That’s useless,” Walker says, keeping his eyes trained on his phone. “He’s straight, whatever. Let’s go home.” “Don’t play this card. You’re not the first person to fall for someone who you think is straight, and you won’t be the last, not by a long shot. Guess what? Jonah hasn’t said that he’s straight. So you have a chance. Don’t waste it.” Amber’s voice gets quiet at the end, as the grips the wheel of the still-parked car. Walker thinks of Iris, and he sees the pain of pining in Amber’s eyes.

“Hey,” he says softly. “You can’t give up either.”

She shakes her head. “Yeah, whatever.” She sounds just like Walker did moments ago, but Walker doesn’t push.

“So…do you still want to give me some advice on Jonah Beck?”

Amber starts to laugh, and she reaches across to give him a shove. “Of course, Walker Brodsky. Of course.”

————

“Heads up!”

Buffy runs in anyway and snags the rebound away from TJ. She brings the ball back to the top of the key, eyebrows poised in challenge, and checks the ball to him. Then she pounds it into the floor, slipping beside TJ to get in an easy layup.

“That’s 18 to 17,” Buffy pants as TJ sets it back up.

“Careful, Driscoll, don’t get too confident,” TJ warns, crossing the ball to take a shot from just inside the three-point line. The ball circles the rim, achingly close to the net, but rolls back out and sinks to the court.

“Missed me, missed me, now you got to—“ TJ interrupts Buffy’s taunt with a shove, and Buffy laughs as she grabs the ball and shoves it back into his hands.

“I will not,” TJ says, “allow you to complete that sentence.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Buffy laughs. “Don’t worry, I have no interest.”

“Good,” TJ asserts, and his next shot is nothing but net.

Three points later and Buffy has won the game, but they don’t keep score, shockingly. One-on-one has become a daily occurrence after their respective practices, because TJ has to wait for rehearsal to end to drive Cyrus home anyways. Cyrus tried to convince him that he could just go home on the late bus, but TJ has insisted.

“Ready for next Friday?” Buffy asks, once they’re done playing and are just dribbling around.

“I hope,” TJ says, chucking the ball up with zero regard. Buffy catches it and looks over at him.

“You better be ready for Valentine’s Day. I know Cyrus is excited.”

TJ does a double take, and Buffy laughs like she’s caught him unaware. “Well, yeah I’m ready for Valentine’s Day. Or I will be. But the game—“ “Screw the game,” Buffy says, and drives the basketball into the ground. “I mean—sorry. Screw my game, not yours.”

“What’s up? How’s the team doing?” TJ holds his hands out, and she throws it at him. He’s always tried to be somewhat lenient towards Buffy in her captaining, because he knows it must be hard carrying the girls basketball program on her shoulders. When they came to Grant, Buffy had to leave behind her newly-founded middle school team for a program that’s only improvement on Jefferson’s was the fact that it was school-mandated. The past few years Buffy has been constantly trying to mend a rivalry with Kira while simultaneously attempting to take the team to the next level.

“We’re doing alright. But we’ll be playing teams in the region tournament that have AAU girls and are state-ranked. I don’t want to get eliminated in the first round, but that looks like what we’ll be getting. And I’m trying to deal with Kira, but I really can’t—“ Buffy stops.

TJ shakes his head. “You can’t be so hard on yourself, Buffy. Regionals is a hard tournament, and it’s okay if you guys—“

“No! It’s not,” Buffy shouts, and her eyes flash. TJ steps back, because this is starting to feel too much like middle school. “I have to do well, and you don’t get to talk to me like that. Why don’t you talk to me like you would a teammate—“ Buffy stops.

TJ knows some people think Buffy can be harsh, but she’s harder on herself than she is on anyone else. The thing about being friends with her is never knowing exactly how to handle it. If Cyrus were here, he would know, but Cyrus is onstage pretending to be Lysander from A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

“If you were my teammate, I would tell you to stop worrying and play the game. It goes how it goes. And I’d tell you to get along with Kira. You have to,” TJ says.

“Yeah,” Buffy breathes. “Sorry. Now pass me the ball.”

TJ obliges, and she dribbles in for a layup. He doesn’t know if he handled it right; but, he did something. Which is better than nothing. Now back to the matter at hand.

“So, Driscoll,” he calls. “What else has Cyrus said about Valentine’s Day?”

“That’s not for me to tell,” Buffy shrugs, starting to smile. “But I hope you’re taking him to the dance.”

“Uh, what kind of boyfriend do you think I am? Of course we’re going.”

“Alright, good,” Buffy says, taking a jump shot.

“And,” TJ says, excitedly, “It’ll actually be fun. We’ve got the games, which everyone is coming to, and then the dance in the gym. Cyrus is coming over after, and we’re going to bake cookies and watch a movie—“ “Okayyy, I do not need to hear about your big date,” Buffy cuts in. TJ bites the insides of his cheeks so she won’t blush, because he had been planning a sort of date with Cyrus. But Buffy doesn’t need to know that. “But you’re right, it’ll be sweet. If your idea of romance is dancing in a sweaty gym in the dark.” TJ, who had been jogging back from the ball rack where he put away the basketball, stops to put his hands on his hips. “While you may be a cynical human being, Cyrus is a romantic—“

“So are you, TJ Kippen, don’t even try.”

“I refuse to acknowledge that statement. Buffy, you must come to the dance. It’s a part of the high school experience: the big game and then the sweaty prom.”

“Sweaty prom.”

“Sweaty prom!” TJ yells and does a spin around the gym. It’s exhilarating, he thinks, to have caring friends and a team he love to be on and a boyfriend who likes him back and has for over a year. And speaking of said boyfriend—

Cyrus enters the gym, and they both hear his hard-soled theater shoes from across the room.

“Cyrus!” Buffy shouts, and runs over to him. TJ follows. “Save me from TJ, he’s trying to force me to go to… wait for it… the dance!”

Cyrus snorts, and swings his drawstring bag over his shoulder. “TJ, are these accusations trustworthy?”

“Very,” TJ says, pulling in Cyrus under his arm.

“In that case, I support them. Buffy, we need you to go the dance! Who else will ridicule their music choices and teach Gus how to do the cha cha slide?” “First of all, the instructions are in the song. Second of all—“ Buffy’s phone dings from inside her pocket, and she stops immediately to check it. TJ raises his eyebrows at her as she frowns at the tiny screen, then stops frowning and smiles a tiny bit. TJ runs through in his mind who it could’ve been—not Marty, who Buffy parted with freshman year. He shrugs it off—a mystery for another time.

“Got to go,” Buffy says, and rushes off to the locker room.

“Buffy,” Cyrus calls, then shakes his head. “She’s been weird lately. I’m not sure what’s up.”

TJ nods absentmindedly, then turns to Cyrus. “How was rehearsal?”

Cyrus’s eyes go wide. “Some freshman dropped a set piece on Amber and she broke her pinky!”

“WHAT.” TJ feels his voice get quiet.

“Yeah, it’s okay though, it’ll be healed in two weeks. Show isn’t for another month. She said it feels fine.” “Fucking—sorry, fricking—freshman. Idiots, all of them,” TJ says, pulling Cyrus by the hand over to the bleachers so he can grab his bag.

“Can’t argue with that,” Cyrus shrugs, and they start to head to TJ’s car. “Oh, and Amber told me to tell you she’s staying out late tonight, so don’t wait up for her.”

“She’s going out with a broken pinky?”

“She’s got a tiny cast; she’ll be alright.” TJ squints, unconvinced. “Anyways, how was your practice?”

TJ pulls Cyrus against his side. “The usual, you know. You’re bringing the whole gang out to the games on the 14th, right?”

He nods and wraps his arm around TJ’s waist. “I can’t wait.” Then he does that Cyrus-smile: with his lips upturned to his cheeks, and his eyes intense. “It’s Valentine’s Day too, you know,” he says sweetly.

“Oh, trust me,” TJ says. He puts both his arms on Cyrus’s shoulders and pulls him into a kiss. “I know.” Cyrus blushes when he pulls away, and TJ spins him towards the car.

“Movie tonight?” Cyrus asks. TJ bites his lip, then shakes his head.

“I wish. I’ve got precalc homework which is going to take me approximately four hours,” TJ says, slipping into the drivers’ seat. “Ms. Walters is evil, I swear.”

“I’ll be sending good luck in your direction,” Cyrus says as he buckles his seatbelt. TJ drives to Cyrus’s house, and on the way they listen to Billie Eilish and discuss the day’s events, their feelings towards pineapples, and Degrassi, their show. By the time TJ pulls into Cyrus’s driveway, it’s gotten dark and Cyrus’s eyelids are slipping closed. TJ smiles over at him and bops his nose with his index finger. Cyrus blinks awake, focuses on the house, and smiles a sleepy smile. Struck, as he is daily, by how cute Cyrus is, TJ leans across the seat and kisses him. Cyrus takes TJ’s hand, squeezes it, and tumbles out the door with his bags.

“See you tomorrow, underdog!” Cyrus turns to wave back at him, and TJ can still see the soft smile on his face.

As he drives away, TJ stops at the intersection that breaks off back to the Kippen house, and he takes a left instead of a right. He thinks about Cyrus’s excitement over Valentine’s Day and the dance as he pulls into the Target parking lot. Cyrus Goodman, he thinks, his own smile filling his features, you deserve the world.

#andi mack #am gift exchange #friendom gift exchange #valentines exchange #wonah #bandi #tyrus #writing #fanfic

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