Tyed

chapter thirty six

Tyler's holding a coffee with shaking hands that are threatening to spill all over his lap. He'd called Ash earlier today and told him what he was doing; it was such an out-of-the-blue call that Ash had seemed surprised, but had made the time for him.

"Honestly, that's a good idea," Ash had told him. "One person validating that it's not as big of a deal as you think it is will help. Because you do have to tell him eventually."

"Within a month," Tyler nods. "That's what I promised."

And he knew Colby wouldn't forget. Colby would hold him to it, as much as he hadn't said a word even up until this point.

So Tyler's preparing to get screamed at, food thrown at him, and left in the dust. That's why he's in a cafe in a suburb where nobody knows him. He knows Lachlen better than that, and he probably won't blow up, but Tyler's not going to trust Ash to know exactly how bad this reaction is going to be. Because Tyler sure as fuck reacted badly when he found out, that's for sure.

Lachlen clacks in. He's got platform boots that increase his height over Tyler's, and he gets his fair share of stares, even in this hipster-ass place, mostly people admiring the gentle curl of his purple hair or how confidently he wears the choker that honestly looks more like a collar. Tyler absentmindedly touches his own day collar, the little silver ring he puts his finger through and feels against his skin.

"Hey," Lachlen says, sliding into the booth. "What's up?"

"It's, uh," Tyler's mouth is dry. "It's kind of a weird conversation to just... get into. Do you want a drink?"

Lachlen bites his lip. "I mean, sure. Like- don't worry about the weirdness of the conversation, yeah? I'm sure I know what it's about-"

"Nothing to do with Colby." That's where Lachlen actually raises an eyebrow. "Let's get your drink, and then we'll talk."

Tyler can't just jump right into talking about being fucked up. He asks Lachlen about his life first. Lachlen talks happily about most things, without much of a filter; he mentions how sex has been great recently, although his recent surgery put a short hold on it, in almost the same sentence as he mentions enjoying the new shoes he bought the other day. His candor might help Tyler, or it might not. There's only one way to know.

"...I know that's not what you came to talk about, though." Lachlen leans on his hands, the nails painted black. He's felt a lot more comfortable about femininity since high school ended and there wasn't anyone to regularly judge him anymore. "You said there was a specific thing and I feel like you're avoiding it."

Tyler narrows his eyes at Lachlen. "What gave it away?"

Lachlen smiles. "You've changed a little bit in the past few years, but I can still tell when you're not listening properly to what I say."

"I was listening," Tyler protests. "You were just talking about those shoes and how you almost fell down the stairs in them."

Lachlen shakes his head. "You know what I mean, Tyler. You're thinking about something else. And you also literally asked me here to talk about something specific, so you can't pretend it's nothing."

Tyler tries to put the words together in his head. "Uh. Well, yeah, I guess I did sort of want to say something. Like, I don't... but..."

Lachlen waits patiently, watching Tyler without pressure. That doesn't stop Tyler from feeling the pressure. He can feel his palms sweating, and he's never quite felt anxiety as sneaky as this, inching up through his ribs and wrapping around his heart. "Well, Lachie," he says before pausing again.

"Take your time," Lachlen says. Tyler has a guess at what he's expecting; some sort of coming out, or a question that Lachlen will have no trouble answering. Perhaps the worst thing Lachlen could be expecting right now is for Tyler to ask him out again or something.