Keeper and Protector (Joshler) ✔️

8

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"Shouldn't let you torture me so sweetly."

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"Is your hair naturally that blonde?"

The following afternoon, Tyler and Fynnley were on the back porch together, letting the breeze brush across their faces as the birds' sing-song floated down from the trees.

"No, I'm a dirty blonde, actually, but I bleached my hair a couple months ago." Fynn ran a hand through his hair. "I've been thinking about going darker, though."

"Oh? I like your hair color. Really makes your eyes stand out."

"Yeah? Thanks, Tyler."

Sitting out on the back porch was just a series of things Tyler and Fynnley had done since the start of the morning. Josh was working from home today (but busy) and Tyler had woken up feeling sad, so Fynn was doing his best to keep him and his mind occupied.

Fynn watched as Tyler pulled his legs up to his chest before resting his head on top of his knees. "Still feeling kinda down, huh?"

Tyler shrugged. "A little. I shouldn't be. I felt happy when I went to bed last night. And I still am happy, I just... I don't know."

"I understand. You've had a lot going on recently. Are you feeling overwhelmed?"

"Yeah." Tyler rubbed at the side of his face and sighed. "I'm nervous too. About Josh being my new Protector."

"Yeah?" Fynn crossed his legs and smiled . "A little birdie told me you two got a little mushy with each other last night."

Tyler looked away, cheeks tinged red. "Gosh, you're such a creeper, Fynnley."

Fynn made a mock offended face. "Me? A creeper?" He leaned in closer. "Tyler Joseph, are you blushing?"

"Shush," Tyler mumbled as he tried to hide his face.

Fynn laughed. "You're adorable. You liiiiike him, don't you?"

Tyler rolled his eyes a little. "Well, he is my Protector."

"Adorable and sassy."

And just like that, Tyler went from "sassy" to shy. "Are you flirting with me?"

"Nah, dude. If I were flirting with you, you would know."

"Oh." Tyler wrapped his arms around his legs, connecting his hands in the middle. "I'm pretty bad at this stuff, so I probably wouldn't know."

"It takes practice."

"Josh has been... kinda flirty? But I also think he's scared of me."

"Why is that?"

"He's scared of hurting me. I mean, I'm scared too, don't get me wrong. But I'm trying to be brave. I keep telling myself 'it'll be different,' but I just don't know. My ex-Protector always told me he would change, things would get better, we just needed to try harder. But he never did. They were all just lies to keep me from leaving him." Tyler's eyes drifted away. "I'm so ashamed."

"Ashamed? Why?"

"That I wasn't strong enough to leave him sooner. That I let him put his hands on me all those times and never hit him back." He sighed. "I'm a weak, spineless excuse of a Keeper."

"Hey. Don't you dare say that." Fynn's voice was stern, surprising Tyler a little. "Even if it took you one minute or one year, you still left. You don't know how much courage and strength that takes for someone in your situation to do." He reached over and placed a hand on Tyler's knee. "Look, I know we haven't known each other long and I'm never going to understand everything you went through. But I do know that you can do this. I've known Josh for years and believe me when I say he's a wonderful person. I think he's really gonna surprise you."