Øverturning the lies (a twenty one pilots fanfiction)

~19~

In that moment, Tyler isn't sure which would be worse: Nico letting his anger out on him, or on Clancy.

And, as it turns out, the bishop's rage affects both of them.

Nico grabs Tyler roughly by the shoulders.

"He and the others-the other deserters-they believed by leaving Dema they would still be able to survive. But do you see the condition he is in? Had he not left this-this sanctuary-he would have been cared for."

Tyler can't see Josh at the moment, but he thinks he knows what his fren would say at that moment.

He would say that Dema is really a prison.

And part of Tyler would want to believe him.

But to some degree, the bishops really did care for those who lived in Dema. And...he glances at Clancy.

The man looks exhausted, and his clothes are torn and muddied.

Tyler frowns.

What might he have encountered outside of the city walls that did that to him?

"Do you see?" Nico asks. "He would have been much safer here."

Tyler nods.

Part of him really does agree with that.

Nico shakes his head almost sadly. "He would have been protected. He was."

"But-" Tyler shivers at the bishop's tone. "He chose to throw that all away. And for nothing."

"For nothing," the bishop's voice is menacing as he says those words.

Tyler is struck by a sudden wave of fear. It's overwhelming.

And he realizes-trying to oppose him, and all the rest of the bishops-it's an impossible task, one that could never succeed.

Nico meets Tyler's eyes, and he wants to pull away. But he can't.

"You tried to leave this city once," he says softly. "You very nearly succeeded, too."

Tyler blinks.

Broken fragments of memory chase themselves around his mind.

He remembers walking through a cave.

No, not just walking.

Leading.

He and-

Wait.

And Josh.

Yes, that was right. Josh had been carrying a torch, lighting the path the rest of the banditøs would follow.

He remembers panicked shouts. The sound of running.

Josh's voice, telling them to go.

And then himself, trying to convince Josh that he would be fine.

"You can't go back, Tyler," Josh says. Pleading. "You can't."

"I have to," Tyler says softly, not meeting his fren's eyes. "The bishops will find you otherwise. They'll take you back. I can't let that happen."

"Tyler-" Josh grabs his arm.

But Tyler pushes him away. "They need you, Josh. They need you to lead them to safety, do you see?"

"Please..." Josh says. "Please don't."

"I'm sorry," Tyler says, turning away.

He says it again, as if those two words will somehow make things better. "I'm sorry."

He turns away from Josh. Turns back to the city in the distance, huge and imposing.

He begins to walk towards it. Then he runs.

"I'll come back for you," he hears Josh yell. "No matter what it takes, I'll come back for you!"

His fren's promise lodges in his heart, allowing him to take those last few steps that would secure his doom.

He allows the red-cloaked bishop to grab him, to drag him away. He doesn't fight. Because when he looks back, all he can see is the yellow figures in the distance, moving towards freedom at last.

Aw, the bean sacrified his freedom so they could get to safety!! How's that for loyalty?