swingsets and dance routines ; tyrus

chapter #18: an emergency

No matter how hard he tried to fight it, Cyrus could feel a smile spreading across his face as TJ kissed him, which had the boy pulling away with an amused huff.

"What's so funny?"

"I'm taller than you on here."

TJ laughed softly, placing his hands on either side of the boy on the counter and leaning in again, hands settling on his waist. Cyrus looped his arms around TJ and pulled him in, trying hard to keep himself from smiling.

"Just this once," TJ mumbled, pulling away for a brief second before leaning back in. His lips still tasted sweet from the pancakes they'd had that morning, and Cyrus honestly couldn't get enough. It was only when he remembered exactly where they were that he finally pulled back, playfully pushing TJ away from him.

"We shouldn't be doing this," he said.

TJ smiled, glancing briefly around at their surroundings. "Yeah, probably not. How'd we even get here again?"

Cyrus jumped down from the counter, now officially shorter than TJ again.

"Well, you pulled me into a bathroom and kissed me. That's how," he teased, walking over to the door and pulling it open.

Warm light and sounds of chattering filled the bathroom for a moment as TJ stepped out, fighting back a grin. "That's right."

Cyrus' phone lit up with a message then, and he allowed himself to be guided through the crowds by TJ as he read over it.

Iris: CYRUS. EMERGENCY. CAN YOU COME OVER???

A frown formed on his face as he passed the varying shops that surrounded them, and TJ seemed to notice because he slowed down. He pointedly ignored the glares this earned him.

"Babe?"

Cyrus' brain short-circuited momentarily at the nickname, and he forgot for a second why he was even worried. A slow smile came to his lips.

"Did you just call me babe?"

TJ seemed shy all of a sudden, face reddening as he looked away in the opposite direction. Cyrus' heart melted.

"Sorry-" he began, but Cyrus interrupted him before he could continue.

"It's fine, I like it."

"You do?"

When Cyrus nodded, TJ began to smile. "Okay, cool."

There was a pause, then Cyrus was cursing himself under his breath and gently tugging TJ to the side, away from the stream of people walking past.

"I have to get to Iris' place," he said seriously.

TJ raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"I don't know, but she said it was an emergency. Also - she hardly ever types in caps lock, so it must be big."

TJ smiled despite himself. "Nice sleuthing, babe."

Cyrus playfully smacked his arm. "Not the time for compliments!"

"Okay, okay, we'll drive to Iris' place and see what's up then."

"We?" Cyrus questioned, folding his arms. "I don't think so. You have dance practise for the competition tomorrow in like an hour."

TJ sighed heavily, still smiling slightly. This was a fight he knew he couldn't win. "Fine. At least let me drop you off, though."

The stern expression faded from Cyrus' face. "...I can accept that," he agreed, which had TJ laughing as he wrapped an arm around the boy and began leading them toward the exit.