Okay, so I've decided to turn this into a series of oneshots. So basically, this is just another oneshot, with the other ones I have they aren't really connected at all. Each one stands on it's own, so if one story says something about Reid and Tyler's past then it has nothing to do with any other story. Just putting that out there because one time I read a series of drabbles like that and it confused the heck out of me before I figured it out.
Oh, and I own nothing but the plot line.
So yeah. Here's another one, I would absolutely love some reviews...so pretty please? Reveiw?
"It's getting closer to the end, every part of me.
And then disaster takes it toll, and now I'm left with only me.
Maybe sorrow plays a role, when you feel unkind.
Your abuse is medicine, and I'm forever lost in time.
Save me, save me.
Before I drown."
-Limp Bizkit
"Are you sure we should be doing this?" Tyler asked as they crept down the empty hallway towards the pool. An odd sound was emitted from the blond beside him, somewhere between hiccup and a snort.
"Of course we shouldn't be doing this Tyler. It's illegal." Reid whispered, peering around the corner in case the security guard decided to do something other than sleep through his shift for once. He turned back to face Tyler, a smirk on his lips. "But we're going to do it anyway Baby Boy."
"And what if we get caught?"
This time Tyler was sure it was a snort that Reid emitted, followed by a couple of chuckles that sent chills down his spine.
"We won't get caught Baby Boy, trust me."
Rolling his eyes Tyler continued to follow his friend, because, honestly he didn't think they would get caught. Reid was too good to get caught, besides he just tended to worry about these things.
Hell, he worried about everything.
"Do you remember the last time you asked me to trust you Reid?" There was a pause and Reid's pale blue eyes glanced back meeting Tyler's.
"Yeah, so? It's not my fault you chickened out."
Tyler flushed and thanked whoever it was up there that it was dark, hoping that Reid didn't notice the color of his cheeks. He broke eye contact a moment later, choosing to examine his shoes in the dim light instead.
"Come on, I set you up with one of the hottest girls at Spencer and you can't even take her to bed. That's your problem man. How the hell was I supposed to know someone got that shit on video?"
His voice was harsh, but they both knew he didn't mean it, in all honesty Reid was angry at himself for having sent Tyler on a date that made him the laughingstock of Ipswich for a week. Even if it was only for a week, while Reid had been considered the biggest fuck up Ipswich had ever seen since he was thirteen.
"At least you became an internet sensation." The blond said after a long moment trying to lighten the mood, Tyler shot him a glare.
"Yeah, fucking great. Thanks a lot Reid." It was bitter sarcasm, but like Reid, they both knew there was no anger behind it. A hint of worry crept into Tyler's voice as he asked again "Still, are you sure we should be doing this?"
"It's going to be fine Baby Boy," The blond assured his friend. "I've done this hundreds of times and I've never been caught. Come on."
Reid tugged on Tyler's sleeve gently, his fingers curling around Tyler's wrist pulling him along behind him.
"You mean you've never been caught doing this." Tyler muttered smirking.
"I'd watch your mouth if I were you Simms."
"Hey, you made me an internet sensation, it's only fair that I repaid the favor." Reid chuckled and gave Tyler's wrist a soft squeeze.
"First of all." He said ticking off a finger, "I didn't make you an internet sensation, some other fuckface did that." A stony expression flitted across his face for a moment before he ticked off another finger with his signature Garwin smirk. "Second, recording me signing 'I kissed a girl?' Come on, that wasn't even my ipod, that was Caleb's. You could have done way better than that Baby Boy."
Rolling his eyes Tyler gave Reid a sugar coated smile.
"Whoever said I was done Blondie?"
The trip through the rest of the school was filled by a comfortable silence, both boys on the lookout for the security guard and cameras. Finally though they reached the double doors to the gym without incident and Reid gave a loud whoop.
"See, I told you we wouldn't get caught Baby Boy!" His jubilant cry seemed to echo around the deserted hallway and Tyler smacked his arm.
"Be quiet Reid!" They both fell silent and glanced around in case they had been heard, but luckily there was not a soul to be seen. Reid shrugged and pulled a small metal box out of his pocket.
"Whatever Baby Boy, just keep watch. Okay?"
And with that Reid knelt in front of the door, opening the box and carefully extracting a few thin metal picks, settling down to work. Tyler sighed and leaned against the wall to wait. Normally it would have taken Reid a few seconds if he was allowed to Use to pick the lock, but Tyler had banned that so he was reduced to picking the lock the old fashioned way, which took a fair bit longer. He sighed in annoyance and glared at the lock wishing he could just will it open.
Glancing around every now and then Tyler was trying to keep watch, really he was, but the whole place was deserted so instead he focused his attention on the squatting blond beside him.
Reid had pushed his white blond hair out of his face, one pick held between his teeth, the other in his pale hand busily working the lock. The look of deep concentration on his face was ruined only by his scrunched up nose, as if something nasty smelling was held beneath it. It took all of Tyler's self control to keep from laughing, Reid always scrunched up his nose when he was concentration hard on something.
Personally Tyler thought it was kind of cute.
After a few long minutes Tyler sunk to the floor sitting Indian style beside his friend sneaking a look at Reid quickly before asking, "You've done this before?"
Ice blue eyes stared at him for a minute making Tyler fidget, Reid's pale fingers still busily working the lock.
"Yeah, you really didn't think I was getting laid every time I ditched sleeping in the dorm did you? Only people who look like fucking Greek Gods could manage that."
Tyler just shrugged, because he truly had thought Reid was off fucking some whore every night. Once again breaking eye contact Tyler stared at Reid's thin fingers as they maneuvered the small picks in the lock before saying, "You're close enough."
"To what? A Greek God?"
There was the faint smile on Reid's face and Tyler grimaced, he hadn't meant to say that out loud. Groaning he hurriedly tried to cover up his mistake.
"Ehh…no. Maybe a Norwegian god?"
Reid's hands stopped moving.
"Are you saying I look like Thor?"
There was silence for a moment before Tyler scoffed. "No way man, Chris Hemsworth is way hotter than you. It's just the blond hair, blue eyes thing."
"Thanks for the love Ty."
There was an audible click and the blond rolled back on his heels, a wicked smile on his face.
"We're in Baby Boy."
Following Reid through the door, Tyler let out a little gasp. The pool looked completely different at night than it did during practice. He almost didn't recognize it as the same pool where he was legally tortured five days a week. The building lights were off, but that only seemed to make the blueness of the pool gleam brighter. Moonlight was streaming through the windows in the ceiling and the pool lights were on making the glossy water glow and shimmer in the darkness.
"This is…this is…fuck man." Tyler finally managed to get out once he found his voice, turning to find Reid struggling to unzip his hoodie.
"I know right? It's pretty fucking awesome after dark isn't it?" Tyler wasn't sure he could quite express just how awesome it was.
"I can see why you come here." He muttered kneeling by the side of the pool to stroke the water, watching in fascination as the glass like surface was destroyed by soft ripples floating through it.
"Well hurry up Ty. I'm not waiting all day for you." Turning around Tyler found that Reid was now shirtless and working on his belt, his clothes in small crumpled pile beside him.
"Strip." The blond ordered.
"Yes sir!" Tyler mocked him, giving the blond a stiff salute before pulling his sweatshirt over his head noticing the way Reid's pale blue eyes followed him. Stripping off his t-shirt, Tyler starting undoing his belt, yanking his jeans and socks off till he was standing in just his plaid boxers. He raised an eyebrow at the blond as if to ask "satisfied?"
The little smirk playing on Reid's lips told Tyler all that he needed to know.
Steering the younger boy to a spot at the side of the pool, Reid gestured for him to get in before turning and disappearing toward the diving boards.
"Now. Watch and be amazed Baby Boy." Reid's voice called out as Tyler slipped carefully into the pool.
Smiling despite the cold water lapping around his body Tyler watched as the moonlight lit up Reid's body as he climbed up the ladder. Pausing at the top Reid peered down at Tyler.
"Are you ready for this Baby Boy?"
"Yeah yeah, just get on with it you fucking drama queen." Laughing Reid stepped back and began to bounce gently at first and then with more vigor, Tyler could just make out the devilish smile on his face.
"You asked for it Baby Boy." Reid called down to Tyler before he sprang off the board, his pale body hitting a ray of moonlight as he twisted and spun in the air. Tyler watched him almost as if in slow motion seeing, no craving the way his pale skin glistened, his sleek muscles contorting into different shapes, white blond hair whipping around his face, his nose scrunched up in intense concentration.
He got so caught up in watching Reid's perfect body twisting and flying through the air that he forgot what came when Reid hit the water. A wave of chlorine infused water hit Tyler right in the face and he sputtered for a moment, trying to get the taste out of his mouth as Reid swam over to him.
"Still gotta work on the last bit there. It's not supposed to make a splash that big." Tyler brushed some of his wet locks out of his eyes.
"That was brilliant Reid! I didn't know you were going to try out for the dive team, I thought you were just going to stick to the backstroke!" Reid just shrugged his shoulders and twisted around in the water.
"Thought I'd try something different after you know…" They both fell silent, Reid's father has died last year in the hospital.
On the same day that Reid had won state for the backstroke.
Tyler watched the blond as he lazily floated away from him. Sighing softly Tyler swam over to Reid.
"Is that why you come here?" He asked, but Reid didn't answer, instead flipping over so he was floating on his back, his blue eyes tightly closed.
After a moment Reid spoke in a quiet voice that was drastically different from how he normally sounded, yet Tyler knew it. He had heard it before. Many times before. "Yeah, I guess so."
Slipping underwater for a moment he resurfaced next to Tyler, white blond hair plastered to his forehead, blue eyes trained on Tyler's in an intense, piercing gaze.
"He shouldn't have died Tyler."
Turning away from his friend Tyler frowned, "I know."
"It wasn't his fault, he had even stopped using so much. He was going to make it, he said he was going to see me graduate, get married, live my life. He promised me Tyler..."
Reid's voice broke and he disappeared underwater again for a minute before returning for air.
"He-he said he wouldn't leave me Ty...He was supposed to always love me, supposed to always be here for me..."
Tyler didn't turn around, nor did he say anything. His mouth was set in a thin line, eyes squeezed shut in an effort to control his own swirling emotions.
The only sounds that could be heard were the water gently lapping against the side of the pool and Reid's uneven, pained breathing.
The younger boy turned back to Reid, but didn't trust himself to speak, opting instead to watch his friend as Reid moved through the water gingerly, his pale skin glittering as the water droplets reflected the moonlight. Tyler's dark blue eyes searching his friends body for the thick silvery scars that he knew were there. Giving a low hiss when he found them, glittering brightly along with the rest of Reid's body Tyler winced.
Because Tyler knew exactly how Reid's father had loved him.
He could remember each and every time Reid had ended up in the hospital because of that love.
He could remember every broken bone, every bloody cut, every tear stained look.
He remembered all the fucking shit Reid's father had pulled and he had hated it all. Hated him.
Tyler had never been able to comprehend the relationship Reid had with his father. Mr. Garwin beat the shit out of his son, he put him in the hospital more than once, he nearly killed Reid a number of times, yet Reid had never said a word against him. He always stood up for his father, defended him, cared for him.
Loved him.
Tyler just didn't understand. His own father had never raised a hand against him, never once hit him, spanked him or slapped him, choosing instead to put him in time out or ground him as he got older. But Tyler had never felt any feelings of loyalty or love concerning his father, or at least nothing that compared to the ones his blond friend felt.
"Reid…" An exasperated sigh escaped Tyler's lips and his friend's bloodshot eyes latched onto his.
"Reid…how the fuck can I say I'm sorry he's dead?" Those pale blue eyes were drilling into Tyler's skull, as if Reid was trying to see into his mind and read his thoughts from the inside of his head, but this time Tyler forced himself to hold his gaze, not to break eye contact this time.
Because this was important, he had to say this. He just had too.
"I'm not sorry he's dead Reid…As a matter of fact I'm fucking glad he's dead. You know why? Because now I don't have to wake up at three in the fucking morning and drive to the hospital to find you two inches away from death. Because now I don't have to see you beaten to a bloody pulp anymore. Now I don't have to worry about dropping you off at home and wondering if I'm ever going to see you alive again!"
He hadn't realized he was yelling until Reid clamped his hand over his mouth, eyes black as the sky above them narrowed at Tyler who could feel the water swirling around his body, pressing up against him, tightening around his body.
"He loved me." Reid hissed through clenched teeth. "He fucking loved me. And I loved him."
The water was swirling around them both now, slowly getting higher lapping at Tyler's chin, constricting around his neck, pressing on his chest. Tyler inhaled sharply in a mixture of pain and anger.
"He beat the shit out of you Reid! He nearly killed you!"
"It wasn't his fault!" Reid screamed, the moonlight lighting up his face. For a moment Tyler was struck by how deranged his friend looked. His endless black eyes leering at him with those bluish purple half moons underneath that came from a serious lack of sleep, his normally pale, porcelain like skin tinged with angry red splotches, the power seeping from his skin, waves and waves of it slamming into Tyler's mind and body.
"He was drunk!" He shouted and Tyler felt the water close completely around him, holding him in a stiff and uncomfortable embrace. He couldn't move anymore and it was getting harder and harder to breath. Angry tears were leaking out of Reid's black eyes as he yelled.
"He always apologized in the morning, he would Use to fix me up! He always said he loved me after!"
Reid's voice broke again and he plunged his head underwater, tears silently leaking out of his now blue eyes as he resurfaced. The water fell back into the pool, no longer suffocating Tyler who was now gasping for breath.
"Th-those were the only times he ever said he loved me Ty…he-he would say he was sorry…he would say he was so sorry, that he would never do it again, that I was the most important thing in his life. That he loved me more than an-anything."
Reaching out Tyler gently rubbed Reid's back in small circles, still sucking in air as quickly as he could, trying to stay calm, to keep his own temper under control.
Because he knew, he just knew that he wasn't the only one who had figured out what was going on. Mrs. Garwin had known, of course she had known. She lived in the same house as them, as Reid. She must have heard them, because it's not like Mr. Garwin was ever quiet when he was drunk, and it's not like he had never torn apart the house when he was busy throwing his son into the furniture. She had known.
Of course she had fucking known.
And Tyler was fairly sure that his father had known too, that Mr. Parry had known. That Mr. Danvers had known. They had been friends, brothers, just like their sons. His parents acted like he was oblivious to everything, like he didn't see the pitiful glance they would send in Reid's direction when he spent the night, or the way the Parry's would always take extra care to seat Pogue and the boys as far away from Mr. Garwin as possible at dinner parties. They had all known. They had all known, and they had all let it go on.
Suddenly Tyler ripped his hand away from Reid, disappearing underwater himself, his own dark blue eyes flickering between blue and inky black.
All those fucking bastards.
They had let him hurt Reid. They had let him ruin Reid.
It was their fault too. They could have stopped it, Tyler was sure they could have stopped it, they could have stopped him.
It was their fault that Reid associate pain with love.
It was their fault Reid hurt himself.
It was all their fucking fault.
Wrenching his onyx eyes open despite the chlorine Tyler watched as the water swirled before him, twisting into different shapes, different thoughts, the power flowing through him, crashing over him like the surf.
Tyler had seen the scars on Reid's wrist, he had watched the blond as he made them, slicing open his skin. He had watched the red blood ooze out of his best friend's body, he had seen how he cried, how he begged, how he prayed for someone to bring his father back to him. Tyler had noticed how Reid started fighting again, how he began to instigate the fights, taunting mirthlessly until someone threw a punch, he had seen the look of almost pleasure mixing in with the pain as Reid fell to the ground, bleeding and bruised. He had stood by and watched as Reid would drink himself into a stupor, his mind replaying the same old scene from his childhood before his father developed his drinking problem. Tyler knew all the different ways Reid coped with his father death. Because it really wasn't coping at all.
So Tyler may not have been able to understand why Reid loved his father, but he could understand this, he could understand Reid's logic.
He had always been able to understand Reid's logic, as screwed up as it was. And yeah, maybe that said something about how screwed up he was too, but that wasn't what was important now. Reid was what was important now, and saving Reid before he stepped across that line and ventured into the place where he could no longer be saved.
Tyler knew Reid wasn't suicidal like Caleb thought when he had seen the scars, he understood that Reid just needed to remember. That Reid just wanted his father back and this was the only way he knew how to get him. He knew Reid wasn't asking for attention when he started fights in the hallways like Pogue thought, Tyler understood that Reid just needed to be reminded that people did care for him, that the pain gave him that reminder.
Reid needed that pain, he needed to feel the hurt, the ache. Because that was his only reminder that his dead father loved him, that anyone loved him. As fucked up as it was.
Because it was sure as hell fucked up alright.
"Fuck!" Tyler shouted causing Reid to flinch. "Fuck all of this Reid!"
"Ty-"
"He should have loved you without nearly killing you! He was supposed to fucking love you without hurting you! And those fucking assholes, they should have stopped him! They should have at least tried to help you!" Tyler ran his hand through his hair, well aware of the confused blue eyes that were focused on him.
"Fuck Reid…he should have loved you right. He should have loved you better than…that that shit he pulled…"
Cautiously Reid swam closer to Tyler, flinching as Tyler cursed at the ceiling.
"Ty…I…I don't understand…"
"See! That's what I'm fucking talking about!" Tyler snapped, immediately regretting it as Reid flinched away from him.
"Fuck Reid…I'm sorry…I'm just…Love isn't supposed to hurt Reid, it's supposed to make you happy, it's supposed to make you feel good, like in those crappy romance movies we watch when there's nothing else on T.V…I mean, sometimes it might hurt when you get rejected or something. But it isn't supposed to physically hurt you, not like…not like what he did."
Reid stared at Tyler for a moment not blinking and Tyler stared back, ice blue meeting navy blue.
"No. No fucking way Tyler! I-I don't believe that. I can't believe that…"
"Reid…Reid please just-" But Reid shook his head, water droplets hitting Tyler in the face. And all of a sudden the anger was gone again.
"I-I can't believe that Tyler…because if that's true Ty," A few fat tears leaked out of Reid's pale eyes. "Then it means my own fucking father didn't love me." And the look on Reid's face was one of pain, tears silently falling from his eyes.
"I…I think I'd rather pretend that love and pain are the same than live in a world where no one gives a shit about me, where no one even pretends to love me."
"Reid…" Tyler's voice was barely a whisper, so soft that it strained his own ears to hear it, but Reid eyes showed that he had heard him and that was what mattered.
He took a deep, steadying breath and looked into Reid's bloodshot blue eyes.
"I love you Reid…I love you, and I never want to see you in pain ever again. I love you and I would never hurt you…"
There was silence for a moment before Reid managed to choke out, "You-you love me?"
Tyler nodded slowly, his eyes staring into Reid's. "More than ice cream."
It was an old inside joke between the two of them when they were children, that Tyler first and only love would ever be vanilla ice cream.
And so, gathering every ounce of fucking courage that he possessed Tyler slowly swam over to the blond, gently brushing some of Reid's hair out his face, slowly letting his hand drop down to skim the blonde's cheek bone. They were so close Reid could feel Tyler's breath on his face, feel the heat radiating from Tyler's body, the younger boy's hand soft and warm on his skin.
Leaning in closer Tyler stared into Reid's icy eyes, cupping the blond's face in his hands.
"I love you Reid…" He whispered gently before pressing his lips to Reid's.
After a moment he pulled away staring into Reid wide eyes.
"You love me…"
Tyler nodded slowly.
"More than ice cream Reid…"
Cautiously Reid swam closer to Tyler who had given him some space after kissing him, "You really love me?"
"Yes Reid. I really love you." Tyler answered, watching as a small smile crept into Reid's features. "I love you so much that it does hurt sometimes."
Suddenly Tyler found strong arms wrapped around his body, holding him tight, clutching at him as if he was a human life raft and Reid was drowning.
Because Reid had been drowning, he had been drowning for so long and no one had ever stopped to offer a helping hand.
Until now.
It was quiet, oh so quiet, a confession that he had needed help, that he had been drowning all this time, that he was grateful, Reid's whispered voice in his ear,
"Thank you Tyler."
He removed his body from Tyler's after a few long moments and stared at him hesitantly before placing a chaste kiss on the younger boy's lips, timidly wrapping his arms around Tyler's waist.
"More than ice cream huh?"
"Yeah. Way more than ice cream." Tyler muttered, and no longer able to control himself, he pulled Reid as close to him as he could get and kissed him fiercely, pouring every fucking part of him into that kiss, trying to convey every pent up emotion he had ever felt for his best friend, all the love that he held for him. Everything. Everything that Reid should have felt, that he should have grown up with, had they lived in a perfect world.
Tyler gave a small smile when he felt Reid kissing back tentatively and after a long moment they broke apart, Tyler's face flushed but smiling, Reid's with a shy smile that seemed so out of place because he was Reid fucking Garwin, yet so fucking perfect because he was Reid fucking Garwin that Tyler wanted to laugh aloud. Because he was hopelessly in love with Reid fucking Garwin, and there was nothing he or anyone else could do about it.
"Way fucking more than ice cream."
So there it is. I tried to write some angst and pain filled story, but it ended up with a happy ending because I can't write anything about these two that doesn't end with them hopelessly in love with each other and sickeningly happy together.
I hope you liked it, and please please REVIEW...