Why Tyler Doesn't Date

Disclaimer: I do not own Covenant

Date #1

Tyler dragged his boyfriend behind him with unusual force. The usually meek boy was adamant that this would be the day. Ever since he had come out to his brothers three years ago they had all eagerly asked to see his current boyfriend. Unfortunately Tyler hadn't had many deep-enough relationships that would actually seem to require interaction between family and said other. But this guy, Tyler had this guy for a little over a month now and decided that now was a perfect time to introduce him to his brothers.

The only problem was that the guy, Alex, was being a little…shy. Or completely set on avoiding the meeting, but Tyler preferred to think shy. Using more force (because it was needed) Tyler pulled Alex towards the door, he could feel Alex's hand become clammy in his grip as they got closer to the doors of the Parry mansion. Tyler had chose Pogue first simply because he was probably going to be the most understanding. Tyler wanted to ease Alex into their midst, not freak him out. So Pogue was definitely the way to go.

"Alex, come on. I don't want to drag you all the way there"

Behind him his boyfriend muttered something about already being there and let up his death grip slightly. But he was still leaning backwards as if he was ready to run a moment's notice. He reminded Tyler of a skittish cat. Or a rabbit. Whichever or worked. After a particularly hard tug Tyler sighed and looked back. Immediately Alex looked into his eyes and said,

"Baby, listen. We don't really have to do this do we? I mean think about it, you've already met my friends and I've heard so much about yours. Does it really matter if we meet? Seriously babe, I don't think this is necessary"

"I do. And that's my point. I already know all your friends, don't you want to know mine? What are you worried about anyway?"

At this Alex muttered something incomprehensible and backed off. Tyler rolled his eyes and rang the doorbell, not seeing his boyfriend behind him say a quick prayer and put on an 'I Am A Good Guy. There Is No Way I Would Ever Hurt Tyler. He Is My Life' look.

The door opened, but it wasn't Pogue. A look of relief was on Alex's face, which the butler noticed but Tyler failed to see. Smirking slightly, the butler looked down at the youngest brother and let a smile grace his lips. Then he promptly informed them that 'Mister Pogue is in the backyard, I do not think that he will mind if you join him there…' To which Alex had responded that if Pogue was in any way busy they could definitely stop by later. To which Tyler laughed and said there was no need for the butler to accompany them to the fore of the house now come on Alex.

True to the butler's word, Pogue was in the backyard, Alex could have cried. But he didn't…it would have totally ruined his tough guy image. Tyler immediately ran to his older brother and gave him a surprise hug.

"Hi Pogue!!"

Pogue turned around startled and then smiled as he saw Tyler. He returned the hug with one arm and ruffled the smaller boy's hair with the other. Then he looked at the other male in the backyard, the change in expression was comical.

"Hey Tyler, who's your friend?"

Tyler stepped back and took a hold of Alex's hand, he had a feeling his boyfriend needed it. Smiling he looked at Alex giving him an encouraging squeeze then turned back to Pogue,

"Pogue, I'd like you to meet Alex, Alex this is Pogue…" Tyler hesitated then dropped the bomb "…Alex is my boyfriend"

He gave Alex a slight shove forward and said boy went forward holding his arm out tentatively. Pogue looked at the hand as if it was a piece of diseased meat and then looked Tyler's boyfriend in the eye.

"Hello Alex"

"Uhh…um…Hi"

Behind both of them Tyler sighed, he should have known better, maybe Caleb was the better choice. Oh well, too late to regret it now. Tyler looked back to see the other two teens engaged in a staring contest…well kind of. Pogue was staring down Alex and Alex…Alex seemed afraid to take his eyes off of Pogue. Great. Deciding that he better intervene before anything worse happened Tyler walked in between both males and said,

"Ok guys, enough. SO Pogue what were you doing before we got here?"

A strange but familiar glint in Pogue's eye made Tyler regret his question.

"Ty, wonderful of you to ask man. I was batting balls, I was actually getting a little bored by myself. Why don't you grab a chair, and I can show Alex here all my skills with a bat."

Completely missing the terrified look on his boyfriends face, Tyler cheerfully agreed and turned away to go sit on the lounge chairs set up on the deck. Behind him Alex gulped as Pogue picked up a metal bat and a hard baseball. Pogue stepped towards Alex who involuntarily stepped back. Pogue smirked then tossed the ball at him.

"You pitch first."

Alex nodded swallowing; it was going to be a long evening. With Tyler cheering from the sidelines, he got into the classic pitching position and threw the ball to Pogue. Who missed it. Tyler cheered crazily, jumping up and down yelling Alex's name. Feeling slightly more confident Alex threw another pitch at Pogue who missed it again. His cockiness came back to him with every miss and before long, Alex was throwing smirks towards Pogue and blowing kisses to Tyler.

Tyler was getting apprehensive. He didn't show it outwardly but on the inside he was freaking out, there was no way that Pogue was actually missing those balls. Besides the fact that Pogue was freakishly good at whatever sport he attempted if he actually had been missing those balls Tyler knew that he would have used just to show up Alex. So why was he missing them now??!!!

The answer came not three minutes later. Executing a perfect throw, Alex didn't bother to check if Pogue hit the ball and straightened up, letting his gloved hand fall uselessly to the side. A nanosecond later the ball hit him…in the balls. Tyler had never seen anyone that red before. Nor had he ever heard the noise that came out of his boyfriends mouth ever before. It was slightly frightening.

Tyler and Pogue sprinted to the fallen teen, well Tyler sprinted Pogue was at more of a relaxed jog. Skidding to a halt Tyler threw himself down at his boyfriend's side.

"Alex! Alex!! OHGOD are you ok?! Alex!"

"Relax Tyler," said Pogue coming up beside him, "Alex just needs to walk away"

Tyler looked at him strangely,

"You mean walk it off right"

"Of course baby boy, I wouldn't want Alex to leave, after all I was having so much fun getting beat today"

Tyler shook his head at Pogue and turned back to his blue-faced boyfriend. He winced in sympathy when he saw the baseball a couple feet away, those things were very hard. Alex let out another sound that didn't sound even vaguely human and Tyler immediately turned to him.

"Pogue I think he's getting worse. Maybe we should do something?"

Pogue waved a hand in the air,

"Nonsense, he'll be fine. All he needs is some ice, in fact why don't we go get it for him?"

And without waiting for a response Pogue led a protesting Tyler away in search of ice. Which just so happened to be in the basement of the house because Pogue had stashed it there in preparation for this visit. Oh well, no need to tell Tyler that, the youngest covenant member looked so determined heading for the kitchen. Pogue decided that he would remember the deep freeze in the basement in about, oh, ten minutes or so.

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