Prompt #38
Requested by @Phanic_AtTheDisc-*** (I'm sorry I consider that a bad word 😂)

Idoot helped DJ_Tatortot

Summary: You and Tyler have been friends for years, and you've unfortunately developed a crush on him.

QOTP: Do you like Cheerios?

Word Count: 1746

Tyler Joseph.

Your best friend since high school.

You listened to No Phun Intended when he first wrote it. You're featured in some videos on the Slushie Guys channel. You listened to Twenty One Pilots and Regional at Best before they were even released. You were there for the car radio incident, and you were sitting in the audience during all the skits and singing he did at church. There are lyrics in his songs that are about and/or based on you.

You're very close, and you've known each other for a long time. And when you look back on all your memories together, you find it hard to pinpoint exactly when you fell in love with him. What you do know, however, is that you've loved him a long time.

Sure, you've had one or two boyfriends along the way, but they never lasted. No matter how hard you try to get over Tyler Joseph, you can't.

It's not that he's unavailable or anything; he's single, and has been for some time (much like yourself). You just don't want to ruin this over-a-decade-long friendship. So, it's better to keep it all inside than run that risk.

It really does suck sometimes, though.

The worst is when you see posts about fans shipping you and Tyler together; you want to comment that you ship you and Tyler, too, but, of course, you don't. You can't.

So, here you sit, watching Tyler and Josh attempt to throw Cheerios in each other's mouths from across the tour bus "living room" and pretending you're not in love with one of the idiots standing before you.

You decide to go live on Instagram so the fans can also bear witness to this tomfoolery.

Tyler (finally) catches a Cheerio in his mouth, then looks at you with a triumphant grin on his face and his fists in the air. "Did you see that?!"

"Yes, Ty, I saw it," you reply, amused. You look at the comments and find a few saying how cute it was that Tyler immediately made sure you were watching after he accomplished such a "feat". Others just commented about Tyler's cuteness in general, which you could definitely agree with. You chuckle. "People think you're cute, Ty."

He puts his hands under his chin. "That's 'cause I am."

"Throw a Cheerio, man," Josh says. You turn the camera to Josh, who's prepared to try to catch another Cheerio.

"Are you really that bored that you're doing this right now?" you ask. Tyler throws a Cheerio and Josh goes for it, but misses.

"Yeah, pretty much," he replies, picking up the Cheerio and tossing it in the trash.

"We should start doing this on stage," Tyler says. "Like in the middle of the show, we just stop playing songs and start tossin' Cheerios."

You snort. "You know, judging from these comments, I honestly think they'd be perfectly fine with that."

"Sick."

////

They eventually stop throwing Cheerios at each other and decide to sit down and bury themselves in their phones like civilized people instead. You don't know what Josh is doing, but Tyler is scrolling through fan accounts.

Tyler shows you and Josh a few funny videos and things, but mostly keeps silent as he scrolls. You look over a few times at some of the edits and art he's looking through.

Once, when you look over, he's looking at a video edit someone made of you and him. It's pretty realistic, even though it's fake. Tyler likes it and continues scrolling.

You sit there, stock-still, wondering if you saw what you think you just saw. The edit was clearly made to show you and Tyler in a romantic relationship, which, as we have established, you're not.

So why did he like it?

You're trying to think of some explanation other than the idea that he likes you, too, when you're snapped out of it. "You okay?"

You look at Tyler. "Huh?"

"Are you okay?" he repeats. "You looked a little spaced out."

To mention it or not to mention it - that is the question...

"I'm fine. Just zoned out," you reply, turning back to your phone.

Sure enough, not ten minutes later, people are talking about the fact that he liked the edit and freaking out.

On the inside, you are, too.

////

You make it to the venue for that night's show about an hour later. The crew starts getting everything inside, the merch table starts getting set up, and Tyler and Josh make their way to their dressing rooms. You're helping with set up.

Finally, Tyler and Josh come out - changed - to rehearse. You sit in the mosh pit and listen, as you always do, and Tyler asks for your input, as he always does.

Mark once got it on camera earlier in the tour, and the clip made its way into the tour video, further fueling the Ship/Name fire.

He's recording it again; you and Tyler half-shouting things at each other, as he's on stage and you're in the middle of the pit.

After rehearsal, you, Tyler, and Josh retreat into their dressing room to talk and hang out before the show, during which you'll be helping Mark get pictures and footage.

As fans arrive, you decide to go out and talk with them.

The fans freak when they see you.

You start taking pictures and talking to people, and even collect some letters and gifts for Tyler and Josh.

Then, a group of girls start talking about Tyler.

More specifically, you and Tyler.

"Did you see the edit that Tyler liked?" a girl asks excitedly.

You chuckle. "Yeah, I saw it. Whoever made it is pretty talented."

After that, you change the subject, and just before show time, you go backstage again to get ready for the show.

////

You're well into the show now, filming Tyler from side stage. It's time for the covers, and you're expecting Tyler to make up something about Josh and Iris.

However, he doesn't.

"This-This, actually, is, uh, Y/N's favorite song, so we're gonna play this tonight; It's called Y/F/S..." the crowd goes absolutely nuts. "Also, Josh likes to flex his muscles to this song." At that, he gets a laugh.

As he sings, you just stand there and film it all, confused as to why he's singing it, but happy nonetheless.

After the song ends, he spots you and waves you onstage. You walk on a little shyly, but with a huge grin on your face. The crowd cheers loudly. Tyler quiets them as you come to stand next to him. There's a pause, during which a fan shouts, "Date her, coward!"

Your eyes widen a little. As some of the crowd laughs, you opt to not look at Tyler to see if he heard. If he did, he pretends he didn't. "This is Y/N, by the way."

The crowd cheers again.

"She's really cool." You laugh, half shaking your head. Tyler laughs, too. "She has to go take pictures and stuff, so she's gonna leave now."

The crowd, again, cheers, and you walk off, waving as you go. The rest of the show, you continue to "take pictures and stuff" and try not to think about that fan's comment - and how much you wish he would.

////

Back on the tour bus, the three of you are exhausted, but elated. Shows are always fun, even if you're not the one performing.

Josh declares that he's heading to bed while grabbing a snack, but you and Tyler sit down on the couch.

It's silent for a while, then, finally, you work up the courage to ask, "What was that all about - the whole Y/F/S thing?"

Tyler blushes, shrugging. "I just wanted to sing a different song - spice it up a little."

"But why that one?"

He fidgets nervously. "Just 'cause..."

You raise an eyebrow. "Just 'cause, what?"

He goes quiet, seemingly thinking. "Just 'cause... I wanted to. It doesn't matter."

"Well, it matters to me," you reply, "so thanks."

He shrugs again. "You don't have to thank me for that."

It goes quiet again for a moment, then you sigh. "Honestly, I think I liked yours better than the original."

He smiles. "Really?"

You smile, too. "Yeah."

It, again, goes quiet, but for longer this time. Finally, Tyler works up the courage to say, "There might've been another reason I chose that song..."

He doesn't elaborate, so you ask, "Which is?"

"It's your favorite. And..." He stops and takes a deep breath. He doesn't look at you when he speaks. "And I like you - a lot - as more than a friend - and I understand if you don't feel the same way and I'm totally fine if you don't and we can just forget this ever happened and go back to being friends because I don't wanna make it awkward between us or anything, but I had to tell you because I've liked you for a long time and I had to get it off my chest, but if you don't like me like that, then it's fine - I just-"

After he said he liked you, you practically went into shock, and were unable to reply. He's still talking when you manage to get over it, and you decide to interrupt him with a very forward statement. "Just shut up and kiss me."

He freezes for a second, then nervously says, "Okay," and presses his lips to yours.

You've wanted to kiss him for who knows how long, and now that's it happening, it's so much more awkward than you thought it'd be. At least, at first. After a few seconds, you both start to relax. You scoot closer to him and he wraps his arms around you, and you put yours on his chest.

Then, unfortunately, he pulls away for air. "...Well."

You snort. "Well?"

"I-I don't know what to say," he replies, half-laughing. "I never thought that would happen. Like, ever."

"Me either," you say, "though I would like for it to happen again."

He smiles. "Me, too."

So, you kiss him again, and it's the second, less awkward kiss of many.