#tyler rust fanfic

[inastrangerskiss]

boots

Tyler Rust x OFC

content warning: none just a good old fashioned hiking shop

summary: mel just wanted her day to end. then tyler showed up.

a/n: i wrote this before he was released and became taylor and i am too lazy to change all of the names

It was a normal Tuesday in the shop. The space was quiet, a few customers milling around, browsing the selection of hiking boots and carabiners. Locals hustled down the sidewalk outside, rushing through their lunch breaks, oblivious to the way the sun broke through the clouds, the way the light cast itself over the sides of the mountain in the distance.

Mel leaned over the checkout counter staring longingly towards those mountains, wishing the day would end and afford her the time to go for just one hike. Just one stroll through the trees, past the lake and into the hills.

By all accounts, it was a normal Tuesday.

And then he walked in.

He was unassuming, dressed just the same as any other customer. But there was something different about him, something intriguing. His hair was a shade of glittering blonde, half pulled back into a tiny bun. His shoulders were broad, his entire body sculpted by muscles. His glowing aura sucked Mel in, but she quickly shook herself free from its hold. She didn't have time to fall in love with every handsome nature bro that walked through the front doors.

He walked slowly towards her, a sense of confidence in his gait. Despite her better intuition, her heart began to beat wildly against her chest.

“Where might I find hiking boots?” He asked, leaning one arm against the countertop.

Without so much as a word, she pointed towards the racks of shoes against the far wall. The man stared at her for just a second too long and she felt sparks of electricity travelling down her spine. He looked to the shoes and then back at her before letting a gentle smile unwind across his face.

As he walked away and the distance between them grew she finally felt capable of taking a deep breath. She made a dedicated effort to keep her eyes focused on the computer in front of her as she checked on upcoming shipments and e-mail inquiries.

If she couldn’t see the man she couldn’t fall madly in love with him.

But the man had other ideas.

“Can I ask you a question?” He called over to her.

With a small sigh, Mel turned towards him. He was holding a shoe box in his hands but his face looked utterly confused.

“I hate to be that guy but I was wondering if you had the Salomon Xs in a size 11?”

His voice was soft and fully aware that his question was the bane of every retail worker’s existence. The gentleness in his tone was, in a word, disarming. Mel found herself forgetting the mental wall she had built so hastily upon first glance and warming up to him as she walked towards where he stood.

With her thumb pressed to her lower lip she studied the display of identical boots, quickly scanning over the boxes but not finding what he was looking for. She then browsed the surrounding displays, still coming up empty handed.

“It doesn’t look like it. What we have is what’s out here so we must’ve sold out.” She offered an apologetic frown.

“I get it. This is the third store I’ve tried today with no luck.”

They stood together silently for a moment before Mel pointed to a different stack of boxes. “You could try the new La Sportiva’s. They’re similarly priced and have a lot of the same features as the Salomons.”

The man walked towards the boots, picking one up in his hand and examining it from its different angles. Then he sat on a nearby bench, removed his current shoe, and tried the new one on. He stood and walked a few paces all while Mel watched on, blissfully unaware of any other customer in the store.

“How do I look?” The man asked, a goofy grin taking him over. “Think I could outrun a bear in these?”

Mel unleashed a sharp laugh before quickly covering her mouth with her hand. The man looked at her, amusement sparkling in his eyes.

“I don’t know if you’d outrun a bear but I’m sure you’d be a very handsome dinner.”

Blush crawled over the man’s cheeks but Mel couldn’t see as she looked down at her feet, embarrassed by the words that had spilled free of her. A comfortable tension built itself up around them - the kind that appears when there’s an inkling within the back of the mind’s of two strangers that something special has just begun.

“Eh, I don’t know. I think I’ll keep looking for the Salomon’s.” The man finally spoke as he sat down to unlace the shoes.

Mel wandered back to her computer, reluctant to separate from his intoxicating presence.

“Y’know,” She called over to him as she scrolled through her invoices. “I could order them for you. If you don’t mind waiting a week or so, that is.”

The man looked up to her. “Yeah?”

“Yeah, it’s no problem.”

He stood from the bench and approached her. The tension returned and an unfailing smile permanently etched itself over his face. He studied her face for a moment before giving a playful shrug.

“That’d be awesome actually.”

Mel nodded, tearing a piece of receipt tape from its machine. “If you don’t mind, write your number here and I can call you when they come in. I’ll order them now and I imagine they’ll arrive this time next week, give or take.”

The man did as told, writing out a series of numbers, in what could only be described as chicken scratch, and then writing the name Tyler at the top.

“Tyler?” Mel read it out slowly, trying to make sense of the impossibly bad penmanship.

Tyler nodded.

Mel then ripped off another piece of receipt tape and scribbled the shop’s number down under her name before sliding it towards him.

“Mel?” He read just as slowly as she had, mocking her inability to read his scribbles.

Mel laughed quietly. “Yes. You can use that number to check in on the order if I forget to call you or something.”

Tyler paused for a moment, staring at the paper. “And what if I wanted to call to ask you to get a cup of coffee with me? Is there a number for that or am I allowed to use this one?”

The pounding of Mel’s heart returned at a rate that threatened to crack a rib. Once more, sentence structure was at war with the signal overload in her brain. She tried to form something coherent but her bashful smile was working against her.

“Uh, I- I think it’d be the same number.” She finally murmured.

“Great.” He tucked his head down in an attempt to hide his own shy elation. Carefully, he folded the piece of paper and slid it into the pocket of his shorts. “It was nice meeting you, Mel.”

As he walked towards the front door, Mel found her voice. “It was nice to meet you too, Tyler.” He threw a smile over his shoulder before exiting, back into the open outdoors.

Mel watched as he walked up the sidewalk, stopping at the windows that resided beside the cash register, stopping so he was nearly right next to her once more. His back faced her though and she assumed he hadn’t realized how he had positioned himself. He pulled the paper free of his pocket and stared at it for a moment before pulling his phone out.

Before she knew it, the shop phone was ringing.

She picked it up, giving the standard greeting, unaware as to the person on the other line.

“Hey, uh, this really cute girl that works at this shop gave me this number to call in case I needed to get in touch.” The voice coming through the receiver spoke with a tiny shake, nervous excitement betraying its stability.

Mel turned towards the windows to see Tyler now turned around, looking at her, beaming like a golden retriever.

“Did she now?” She teased.

“Yeah and she said if I wanted to ask her out for a cup of coffee I could use this number as well.”

“Mhm.”

“I kind of want to ask her out for a cup of coffee.” He spoke with finality, sighing quietly as though he were finally free of a mounting burden.

Mel gained her composure, never breaking eye contact with Tyler through the windows. “She’d be happy to accept.”

“Cool, cool. Let her know that I’m really excited and I’ll come in tomorrow to figure out the logistics of this date.”

“I absolutely will.”

There was a significant pause as the two gazed out to one another, enraptured by the others' existence.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Mel.”

Tyler’s voice was a warm comfort, a new reality that she was more than happy to sink into. She no longer wanted to quell the way she felt about him. Today was meant to be different.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Tyler.”

[inastrangerskiss]

match tapes

Taylor Rust x Reader

content warning: a lil bit of angst but not much else

summary: you try to cheer taylor up after an injury sidelines him

“You can’t sit there all day.” You mumbled under your breath.

It had been days since you had seen Tyler anywhere but in front of the computer. With an injury keeping him from the ring he had devolved into a man possessed, his one singular purpose being the need to inundate himself with old match tapes. The light from the screen bounced off his face in the dimly lit room, his expression blank as he focused, rewound the video, fast forwarded.

“Tyler?” You waved your hand in front of his face.

He blinked slowly for a moment before looking at you, suddenly registering your presence.

“What’s up?” He asked quietly.

“C’mon, lets go do something.” You pleaded.

“I’d rather just stay home.”

With a heavy sigh you crossed your arms. He returned to his videos, his eyes flickering across the screen rapidly. Finally, you couldn’t stand it anymore.

You reached down and pressed the button on the back of the monitor, instantly causing it to turn black.

Tyler sat back. He wasn’t angry or frustrated, just defeated.

“Get up.” You commanded. “We’re going grocery shopping.”

He gestured to his crutches. “Do you know how tiring it is getting around on those?”

“You practically live at the gym and you’re telling me you’re too weak to go on a lil errand run with a pair of crutches?”

His eyes dropped into his lap, his fingers wringing one another.

“I’m not weak.”

A smile crossed over your face. You didn’t exactly feel good, needling in on his current insecurities, but if you knew one thing about the man you loved it was that he loved to prove people wrong.

“Thats what I thought. Let’s go. Get your jacket on.”

He hesitated. And then, slowly but surely, he grabbed the crutches, and began to make his way to the front door. You followed closely behind, a slight spring in your step. Carefully, you helped him get his jacket on, one arm after the other. For a moment, you could’ve sworn you saw him smile but, before you could be sure, he pulled your head close to him, kissing your temple.

You both walked to Tyler’s decrepit Subaru, this time Tyler getting in on the passenger side while you sat behind the wheel. He hadn’t exactly been wild about you driving his car when he first got injured and you knew that well enough but it was the only mode of transportation either of you had. You tried to be as cautious and confident as possible but it didn’t escape you when he winced every time you braked just a little too hard.

“Sorry.” You murmured.

“No worries.” He responded, unconvincingly, his hand gripped around the grab handle above his window.

The drive was short, the heat barely kicking in before the key was taken out of the ignition. You continued to follow Tyler as he slowly worked his way towards the cart corral. He wasn’t struggling as much as he implied he would be.

“What are we here for?” He asked over his shoulder.

“I’m going to make you something that I know you’ll love.”

He stared at you for a second but decided against questioning you further.

He followed your directions, grabbing the almond flour and the confectioners sugar. When you asked him what flavors he wanted he simply answered chocolate so you placed cocoa powder in the cart. He grabbed snacks as you walked down the aisle. It was never anything exciting - just seeded crackers and dried fruit - but the subdued smile on his face was a treat in and of itself.

“What next?” He asked,

“We need eggs. Just six of them.”

He reached for a clear case of organic, large brown eggs but you stopped him.

“Just get the regular ones. They’re cheaper.”

He paused for a moment to look at you. “Do you know what they put into the ‘regular’ ones? They’re full of chemicals and antibiotics and they’re not nearly as healthy as-”

You held up your hand, realizing the lecture you were about to receive. “Just put them in the cart, babe.”

He grinned, pleased with his success. You allowed him to pick out organic butter and heavy cream as well, just satisfied that he was enjoying his time out of the house. He had seemingly forgotten about the discomfort of his crutches altogether and that alone was a victory on your part.

You went to the checkout and he paid, balancing on one foot as he handed over a couple of bills and stowing the change away in his pocket. He hardly even complained when you nearly merged his car into a sedan that had crept up into your blind spot on the ride back home.

You carried the grocery bag into the house as he hobbled from the driveway back into the front hall. You helped him out of his jacket and waited until he had his shoes free of his feet. You walked to the kitchen as Tyler attempted to walk back to the computer, snacks in hand.

“Where do you think you’re going?” You asked, a hand on your hip.

He paused like a deer in the headlights.

“I was gonna go back -”

“Nope.” You stated. “You’re gonna sit here and help me.”

You expected Tyler to protest or grumble out a sigh but instead he shrugged and sat at the kitchen table, his open box of crackers placed beside him.

“What am I doing?” He asked, a certain tone of curiosity tingeing his voice.

You placed the almond flour, cocoa powder and the confectioners sugar in front of him, dropping a measuring cup next to the bags.

“Two cups of the flour and one cup of the sugar. A tablespoon of cocoa powder. And then whisk it together.”

He studied the components before seemingly deciding that his task seemed easy enough. He immediately dug the measuring cup into the bag of flour with a little more confidence than was appropriate.

“Use a spoon.”

Your words caused him to stop and raise an eyebrow. You understood. How hard could measuring dry ingredients possibly be?

You handed him a spoon and a butter knife.

“Spoon it into the cup and then level it with the back of the knife.” You explained.

He nodded slowly before following your instructions. While you whipped egg whites and sugar together, you could see him, meticulously filling and leveling the measuring cups, his brows furrowed together. He finished whisking and gave you a bright smile.

“All set!” He chimed, pushing the bowl forward.

You handed him another bowl and a sieve and his face fell ever so slightly. You explained the need for all the ingredients to be sifted together in order for the recipe to turn out correctly. He rolled his sleeves up, certain that he was no match for the fine mesh obstacle that stood before him.

You splashed vanilla into the meringue mixture and finished whipping it together while he created a thin, dusty layer in the bottom of his bowl. Occasionally, he would lean down and check to see if the sieve was actually doing it’s job only to find (much to his chagrin) that it was indeed functioning properly if not a little slowly.

You powered off and abandoned your mixer to stand behind him, running your fingers through his golden blonde hair while he worked. Carefully so as to not to disturb him, you pulled strand by strand back until you had gathered it all in your hands, a silky ponytail captured in your palm. You wrapped one of your scrunchies around the hair, tying it back behind his ears so it could no longer fall into his face. He stopped sifting for just a moment to turn back to you, a smile replacing the determined look on his face.

“Thank you, darling.” He spoke softly, genuine emotion crossing through his words.

It was the first time you had heard any sort of warmth in his voice since his injury.

He finally finished combining the ingredients together into a fine powder and you mixed it all together and before too long you were sitting on the couch together, waiting for the small circles on the baking sheets to re-emerge from the depths of the oven. His arm wrapped around your waist, his legs kicked up on the coffee table, one socked foot exposed, one covered in a boot. He was breathing slowly, calmly, a small grin laced up on his cheeks as he scrolled through his phone.

You wanted to stay like that forever. The way he smelled, bringing peace to your senses. The way his touch felt, holding you close as if he didn’t want to ever let go.

But the oven timer beeped and you separated from him to retrieve your baked goods. You were surprised when he stood quicker than you, grabbing his crutches and holding his hand in your direction.

“C’mon, before all my handiwork gets burnt up.” He laughed.

You took it upon yourself to remove the baking sheets from the oven, checking the little circles to see if they had risen in the heat and slid off the parchment paper with ease. You were pleased when everything seemed to have turned out properly.

You started making the filling, combining butter, more cocoa powder, more confectioners sugar, and heavy cream together. As you once again returned to your post standing in front of your mixer, Tyler’s arms wrapped around your waist, his head resting on your shoulder. He peppered tiny kisses up your neck and to your cheek. The kisses were without words but you knew they were meant with a dozen silent ‘thank you’s’.

You turned your head slightly and offered a kiss of your own, pressed to the side of his face. He looked at you and, for a moment, it was as if he was studying you. His eyes traveled over you as though he were reading a book. And then finally, after what felt like an hour in his gaze, he sighed a contented sigh and squeezed you tighter.

He insisted he help with piping the filling in so you filled two bags for you and for him. He wasn’t exactly neat about it. He would squeeze the bag too hard and overfill the little circular shells or he’d accidentally pipe over the sides but he seemed to be enjoying himself. That was all that mattered.

Time passed, the baking excursion was completed, and the sun began to set as the final dish was loaded into the dishwasher. You made your way to the couch, collapsing into the pillows with a heavy exhale. Baking was hard work and you were more than ready to check out for the rest of the evening. Tyler disappeared once more and a sinking feeling cropped up in your chest.

You had tried so hard and he finally was starting to look so happy. But you were back to square one, it seemed.

You flipped the television on, frustrated and disappointed. You lit your favorite candle and curled up, hoping to sink into the couch cushions before the night was through.

“You’re not about to fall asleep on me, are you?” Tyler asked, startling you.

There he was behind the couch, a blanket around his neck, the tray of completed macarons in one hand, and a crutch under his arm. He had a cheesy grin on his face and you couldn’t help but find it infectious.

“I thought you were gonna go back to your computer.”

You helped unburden him as he came to sit beside you. He spread the blanket over your body and beckoned you closer until your head was resting against his chest.

“I thought about it.” He admitted.

His eyes stayed trained on the television, as though he wasn’t yet ready to look you in the eye, to admit that he was wrong.

“But?” You prompted.

“But it gets pretty lonely sitting in there on my own. I didn’t realize how much I missed you and, y’know, doing things.”

You smiled a self satisfied smile. Your plan had worked. You cuddled closer to him and he pulled his arms around you, kissing the crown of your head.

“Thank you for this.” He first gestured to the baked goods but then to the rest of the room and, for just a minute, you were confused. “For all of this.”

“All of what?”

“For… for bringing me home when I always need it most. If that makes sense.”

You understood. You brought yourself up so you were face to face with him, placing a small kiss on his cheek before pulling him into a tight hug. You felt him laugh quietly, amused by your happiness.

“No matter what,” you murmured, resting your head in the crook of his neck. “I’ll always be here to bring you home. However you want. However you need.”

And so, you laid there for the rest of the night, eating most (if not all) of the macarons, wrapped in blankets while the cold fall winds blew all around the house. You were warm and you were together. You were happy.

And, in spite of Tyler’s continuing injury, the old match tapes remained unwatched and untouched, until long after he had healed.

[inastrangerskiss]

four paws

Taylor Rust x Reader

content warning: tyler rust said he worked in an animal shelter once and i lost my mind

summary: you find a lost dog and you need to get it home

You walked down the street, four furry paws beside you. These four furry paws did not belong to you. In fact you had no clue who they belonged to.

But, for now, this pup was your responsibility and you were going to do everything in your power to ensure he found his way home.

You had gone up one street and had received only shrugs and “I don’t know”’s from the people you spoke to. You went down another street only to receive the exact same treatment. You began to worry that maybe this dog had somehow managed to cross city lines and you were going to be the saving grace in his Homeward Bound-esque journey.

And then you saw a sign stapled to a telephone pole.

It read “Lost Dog - Reward if found”, a big picture of the dog by your side in the center, and a phone number printed at the bottom in big, bold print. You called the owner immediately. The line only rang once before a man picked up.

“Hello?” Asked a voice, filled with frantic energy.

“Hi. I was walking in town and I think I found your dog.”

“Really? Where was he? Is he okay?”

“Yeah, yeah. He looks perfectly fine. He was just kind of trotting down the sidewalk.”

The man on the other end of the line let out a deep sigh. “Okay, great. Thank you so much. Do you think we could meet up so I could bring him home?”

“Absolutely! I’m near the post office if you’d like to meet there.”

The man eagerly agreed and before you knew it, you were waiting on the corner, the mystery dog’s collar held gently in your hand, your eyes peeled for an approaching Subaru. When it arrived, you made your way to the driver’s side door and the owner stepped out.

He was handsome, broad shoulders and an impeccably built body, dressed in gym shorts and a tank top. His golden blonde hair was half pulled back into a top knot. You found yourself taken away by the smile that spread across his face the moment his dog jumped into his arms.

He peppered the dog with kisses and the dog dropped both paws on either side of the man’s head. The man laughed to himself, embracing his animal tightly before clipping a leash to his collar.

“Oh what are you doing out here!” He cooed. “I have been worried out of my mind over you!”

You stood awkwardly, unsure as to whether or not you were invited to participate in the conversation.

“Did you just find him?” He finally looked up towards you.

His eyes were bright, twinkling as he moved his gaze up to you. You felt your heart flutter as you looked back at him.

“Yeah, he was just sniffing around the street. I thought it was weird that he didn’t have a leash on or a person near him.”

Every attempt the man made to stand was thwarted by the front paws of the dog. Eventually, you reached a hand out and helped pull him to his feet. His fingers delicately found their temporary home against your wrist as he pulled himself to a vertical position and you worried he’d feel the blood pulsing through your veins.

“Thanks.” He spoke through a small grin.

“No problem.”

“I mean for finding him.”

“Whats the little guy’s name?” You asked.

“Tucker.”

“Tucker?”

Upon hearing his name, Tucker’s head tilted and he quickly padded over to you, intent on receiving some degree of affection. You didn’t mind, leaning forward and scratching him behind the ears.

“Yeah. He’s a good boy. His leash broke when we were at the dog park. I didn’t think it’d be a problem until he slipped the gate and started running up the street.”

The man was standing perilously close to you now. His arms were folded against his chest, his muscles ruthlessly on display. The golden sun was beginning to draw shapes against his face, illuminating the stray hairs, pulling away from his head. As he inhaled, you exhaled, both standing in silence entertaining Tucker as he excitedly bounded between both of you.

“Do you have a name?” You asked.

“I’m Tyler.”

You turned to find him looking at you, a warm smile still wrapped over his face. He took a hand and rubbed it behind his neck before stretching both arms over head. His shirt rose up on his torso, exposing his abdomen for just a moment.

“Um, anyways, I can Venmo you the reward for finding Tuck. I definitely don’t have enough cash on hand.”

You quickly shook your head.

“No, it's no problem. I couldn’t take a reward. I’m just happy you got him back.”

“I can’t not thank you.” He looked from you to his feet before continuing.

Without thinking, you held a hand out to Tyler’s arm, a reassuring nod following the gesture. “It’s okay. Trust me.”

He looked at your hand, a small twitch stirring his fingers, and for a moment you wondered if maybe he would reach out to you to meet your touch. But he didn’t and as you went to remove your arm from his space he began to speak again.

“I mean, if you’re not busy I could take you to dinner?”

You felt a raging blush spread across your cheeks, the heat of a million wildfires blazing through your skin. Your brain failed to create coherent strings of words, leaving you to just stand and foolishly grin. You wanted to form the word “yes” but you knew you wouldn’t be able to.

“I can’t tonight.” You sighed, your motor skills reluctantly beginning to cooperate.

“That’s okay. I just-”

“Wait.” You spoke quickly, not wanting to lose the offer. “I’m free tomorrow.”

“Oh. Really?” He asked, his eyes lighting up once again.

“Yeah. And if you are maybe we could-”

“I’m free.” Tyler spoke in a voice that was just as eager as the moment he had picked up the phone.

“Then it’s a date.” You chirped.

Tyler’s eyes met yours and a nervous laugh slipped from his lips. As his gaze washed over you, you felt a warmth tear through your body in spite of the setting sun.

“So, do you do this often?” He asked, gesturing to Tucker. “Finding dogs and returning them to their owners as like a side hustle?”

You couldn’t help but laugh.

“This is my first time.”

“You hear that Tucker? You’ve gotta be on your best behavior, you’re making a first impression for lost dogs here.”

As if on cue, Tucker sidled up to you, nuzzling your leg and forcing your hand to pet the top of his head.

“You know, he’s really shy. I’m kind of surprised he let you wrangle him.” Tyler spoke slowly, as though he were confused. “When he got loose I was worried he’d panic and not let anyone get close to him. I was devastated.”

“Aw, he’s a good boy, though. Isn’t he?” You ruffled the dog’s fur as he leaned in to your loving touch.

“Yeah he is.” A fond expression melted Tyler’s face as he coaxed Tucker back to his side, a white knuckle grip on his leash.

A comfortable silence fell over both of you.

“Well I should get this guy home.” Tyler sighed, starting towards his car. “Maybe you could text me? And we could figure out a place to go tomorrow night?”

“I think I can do that.” You nodded, a coy smirk resting on your face.

Tyler helped Tucker into the car before opening his own door. Before he sat down, he placed an arm on the roof of the vehicle and turned to you.

“Hey.” He called. “I’m glad that if anyone was going to find him, it was you.”

The words trailed off, becoming almost too quiet to hear. But you heard them. And when you looked him in the eyes, you felt something. You didn’t know what it was exactly but it made you feel whole. It made you feel safe.

“I think I’m glad I was the one who found him too.” You shrugged.

And of course you were. Because in finding the dog, you just may have found something even better.

[inastrangerskiss]

under the covers

Tyler Rust x Reader

content warning: today i have prepared for you a fun tooth-rotting take on the "theres only one bed" trope

summary: tyler drives you back after a long day out together

The car rolled slowly down the road, your eyes feeling heavier with each passing street lamp. The hum of the wheels below you and the almost inaudible radio had turned into your personal lullaby.

Tyler was beside you, his eyes focused on the white and yellow lines, squinting at every sign, gently decelerating with each twist and bend you encountered. You always teased him for driving like an old woman and he always scolded you for driving like a teenage boy. Occasionally, his eyes would cross over to you as if he were checking to make sure you were still there.

It had been a long day. He picked you up in the early hours of the morning, convinced that the best way for you to start your day was with a hike through the hills. You begrudgingly followed but only because you were willing to do anything if it meant spending time alone with him. This is how it always was. He went grocery shopping with you because it usually ended in hours of sitting on your couch discussing your lives. You would ask him to come over to perform inane handyman tasks like hanging picture frames for you and end up catching the late showing of whatever movie was in the theatre down the street from your apartment.

Once he called you at four in the morning asking for you to pick him up from a bar and you happily hopped into your car, pajama clad and bleary eyed, to haul his ass home to your couch.

You were always looking for reasons to see him and he was always creating opportunities.

But you were just friends.

And, anyways, the hike was worth it. Early morning exercise, fresh air in your lungs, Tyler’s hand guiding you as you carefully navigated rocky terrain. Upon reaching the summit of your hike, he sat down in front of you, centering his mind in the moment. His legs dangled over the edge of your resting spot and, although it wasn’t a far distance to fall, it made you nervous. You quelled your anxiety by slowly running your fingers through his golden blonde hair. Lock by lock slipped through your grasp, the warmth from the sun reflecting off of each strand. Carefully, you pulled it back into a ponytail holder that you had kept on your wrist for yourself. Snapping the elastic into place seemed to break Tyler of his trance as he turned back to you with a timid smile.

He held your hand to stabilize himself as he stood up. You could still feel his touch - even now, hours later.

You didn’t question him as he turned his blinker on and took the long way back to town. Instead, you curled up into a ball in the passenger seat, leaning your body towards his, while pretending to be engrossed in whatever was on the lock screen of your phone. His hand drifted from the steering wheel to the cup holder and began toying with a dime that had been sitting there for years.

It had appeared first back when you would’ve considered Tyler a simply platonic acquaintance. It was change from the day he bought you a drink on the way home from a beach party. You had told him how you had piles of paperwork to filter through before morning came so he pulled into a Starbucks and recited your standard order to the woman working the drive thru window. You had only given it to him once before that day. When he didn’t act like this sudden display of recollection was worthy of acknowledgement you also chose to ignore it. But the memory always lingered in the back of your head.

You lazily let your hand fall down beside his and he ran a finger against the back of your palm. Butterflies rocketed through your chest. He cautiously wove his fingers between yours. This wasn’t the first time this had happened. It wasn’t even the tenth.

But you were just friends.

“I’m dropping you off at yours, right?” He asked, not sparing a glance down to you.

Your brain shouted a million different versions of ‘no’ but you couldn’t formulate the word with your own mouth. You quickly tried to filter through your mental filing cabinet of excuses as to why you would be better suited to spend the night at his. You didn’t necessarily need an excuse but you certainly weren’t about to admit openly that the last thing you wanted to do was spend a minute without his body beside yours. Finally, you grabbed your bag with your unheld hand and rifled through it. You knew your keys were in the side pocket but you acted as if you were slowly growing more concerned.

“Hm.” You finally murmured. “I can’t find my key. Would you mind if I crashed at yours?”

“No problem.” He nodded. “I just washed your pajamas.”

How was he able to act so nonchalant? You wondered. Was it normal in his head for two friends to keep clothes at the other’s apartment? Was it normal in his head that they spent so much time together that designated drawers in the other’s dresser was deemed necessary? Maybe this would be acceptable behavior if it were the first time it had ever happened. It would all be a breakthrough in emotions, a beginning to a new chapter in your relationship. But nights regularly ended like this for the two of you. Quiet drives home, hands tangled together, the occasional kiss on the cheek that lasted just a second too long.

As if he could hear your thoughts whipping through your head at warp speed, he turned to you and smiled before returning his gaze to the road.

Your brain stayed quiet for the rest of the drive, your fingers stayed woven between his.

You were just friends.

He pulled into a parking spot outside of his apartment and helped you from the car before walking you inside. He waited in the kitchen while you changed into your sweats and you sat on the couch as he rummaged around in his linen closet.

Finally, he stood in front of you, arms crossed and eyes cast to the floor.

“What’s up?” You asked.

“Can’t find any blankets for you.”

This seemed unlikely but he had just spent a considerable amount of time seemingly searching for something to keep you warm so you crossed your arms and exhaled a sigh.

“I know how much you love being cold.” He spoke in a soft sarcastic tone, a sort of laugh crossing his face as he remembered every time you had turned into a petulant child in temperatures below 60 degrees. “You can stay in my bed if you want.”

Your heart beat fluttered against your chest. “No, it’s okay. I’ll survive.” Mentally, you gave yourself a pat on the back for resisting temptation.

Tyler nodded, his face emotionless. “You sure? It’s supposed to be a chilly night and the bed is big enough for both of us.”

You rolled the idea over in your head a million times in a million directions. Saying yes seemed preposterous but saying no felt like a rejection of the one thing you craved like an addict. You studied him for a moment as he gently toyed with a stray thread that had begun peeking out from his rug.

“If you’re okay with it-”

He quickly looked up to you, your acceptance of his offer already more than he needed to hear. “Yeah it’s fine. If I can’t share my bed with my best friend, who can I share it with?”

You winced at the phrase “best friend”.

Ignoring the wound his words had left in you, you pulled yourself from the sofa and marched to his bed. You just needed to fall asleep, forget the day, move on tomorrow. His side dipped as he rolled in beside you, maintaining a respectable amount of distance to uphold the platonic narrative you both found yourselves inside of. It didn’t matter, though, he could have been sleeping clear on the other side of the room and you still would feel a warm sort of tension resting in your chest. The air between your bodies seemed dense and heavy, like you could stick your arm out to touch him and need to muscle through the unoccupied space. As if you were floating in a pool, fighting the force of the water just to reach him.

You pulled the duvet to your chin, willing your brain to turn off, willing your eyes to finally close. He moved slowly beneath the covers, finding a comfortable position to lay in. His foot brushed your leg and you felt your heart pounding heavily against your chest. His arm was close to yours, his hand only a few inches from your hand.

You imagined closing the distance, wrapping his arm around your body, falling asleep in his clutches. You imagined him kissing the spot where your neck and your shoulders met, waking up to your head against his chest. The bed smelled of his cologne and your mind began running wild with images of lazy Sundays waiting for the sun to reach the highest point in the sky before letting your feet find the floor and early weekday mornings, kissing his head before leaving for work.

And suddenly all those thoughts stopped because Tyler’s hand closed the distance for you.

First, pinky hooked onto yours and slowly but surely the other four fingers found their way between yours. His thumb gently rubbed circles against the side of your hand, his grip only just tight enough that you felt held.

“Tyler?” You asked, not looking in his direction, afraid that maybe he was somehow asleep, reaching out for comfort while not conscious.

“Mhm?” He murmured, staring up at the ceiling.

You wanted to ask him a million questions. You wanted to ask him if he really thought of you as just a friend. You wanted to ask him if he wanted something more from you in the same way you wanted something more from him. You couldn’t go your whole life wondering if those long car rides meant something, or if the way he laid your towel out at the beach meant something, or if the way he made you tea and soup when you were sick, tucking you in under a blanket meant something. You couldn’t go your whole life wondering if you meant something to him.

But the words didn’t come in time.

“Never mind.” You squeezed his hand but didn’t let go.

Neither of you moved for what felt like the longest time. Maybe you were hoping the other would fall asleep so the moment could pass. Finally, Tyler shifted slightly, pulling himself closer to where you laid. You silently crept close enough to rest your head on his arm. He released your hand and wrapped his arm around your back. You could hear his heart pounding out a frenetic pace. It matched yours.

This was a first.

This you had no frame of reference for.

“I had a nice day today.” You whispered.

Tyler continued to watch the ceiling intently, as if it were the thing orchestrating his movements. “Yeah. I’m glad we got out.”

A beat passed before his eyes finally began their descent down to you, down to the truth of what he had initiated. You could feel him looking at you, studying how you clung to his chest. His other hand found your arm and began tracing lines up and down it. It tickled but you didn’t dare react, for fear he would stop.

“I was hoping we’d get a chance to do that hike together.” He added after what felt like an hour. “I wanted you to see it.”

You quickly looked up to him. His eyes were bright even in the darkness, their blue shining in spite of the absence of light. You could see, however, behind his balanced facade that there was a slight furrow to his brow, a panic licking at his brain as he bit his lip.

“I was happy to go with you.” Was all you could manage.

“No. I mean, like - I don’t know how to explain it. I needed you to be there this morning.” He grew frustrated as he found himself at a loss for words.

You knew what had to happen. You didn’t know how to do it, though. You ran a hand down his cheek, gently scratching his stubble. He lifted his head from the pillow. Before you could figure out who initiated it, your lips were on his, his fingers were woven into your hair. He cradled your head with the utmost care. He held you against him with delicate force, offering you just enough leeway to escape if that was what you needed to do.

But you didn’t need to. You didn’t want to.

When you parted, nervous laughter filled the darkened room. It subsided to a tender lull. The tension between you was gone, like humidity after a storm. You could breathe again. You laid beside him, his face only inches from yours, begging to be kissed a second time. But you sensed a hint of fear in his demeanor, an anxiety that only you had the power to quell.

Your fingers intertwined once more, a wordless gesture to let him know it was okay. Everything was okay.

“Are we still friends?” He asked, his voice shy and distant.

You sighed heavily before leaning in and pressing another kiss to his lips. This was a shorter one than the first but it carried a heavier message.

“Can we please be anything but that?” You murmured as you parted, your breath still close enough to ghost over his lips.

He smiled. He smiled because he knew.

You were just friends. But, finally, you had the chance to be so much more.

[inastrangerskiss]

diamond eyes

Tyler Rust x Reader

content warning: a lot of fluff, a little angst and some references to alcohol

summary: you hadn't seen him in a year but there he was standing in front of you with more on his mind than you could ever know

vaguely based on the song diamond eyes by the deftones

It had been one year.

One whole year. Maybe a month or a few weeks or days more than that but, at the end of the day, it had been one entire year that you had been separated from Tyler. He had moved to a different state to pursue different dreams and you weren’t entirely certain that your paths would cross again.

But there he stood in the middle of the cafe.

You were grabbing your coat and ending your shift when you felt his presence. Something told you that when you walked back out, when you walked towards the exit, there would be something that shook you to your core.

And there he was. Hair pulled back. Arms crossed as he stared at the menu boards hanging over the cashier’s till.

You weren’t sure you even wanted to talk to him. You couldn’t remember how you had left things with him but you knew there was a reason you hadn’t texted him since the week before he initially left.

With that knowledge in mind you kept your head down and tried to beeline to freedom. Freedom from work. Freedom from customers. Freedom from whatever dreadful history you had with the man with golden hair.

But a hand caught you as you walked.

And there he was, smiling down at you, as if time hadn’t passed.

“Hey you.” He chimed in a quiet voice.

You didn’t know if you were meant to smile or shake your head but the way his cheeks lifted into a warm grin gave you enough information.

“Long time no see, kid.” He continued.

“You’re the one who left.” Your tone came off more accusatory than teasing and you quickly regretted it.

He backed down slightly, releasing your arm with a vaguely hurt expression across his face.

“Fair.” He offered. “Where are you off to?”

“Home.”

“Mind if I walk with you?”

You had two options. A part of you deeply wanted to shake your head and avoid whatever confrontation might ensue but a more persuasive part of you couldn’t deny the way he made butterflies rattle to life in your chest.

You looked to your coworker who seemed to be part way through taking his order and looked back to Tyler. Finally, you conceded, waving a hand ahead of you, encouraging him to lead the way. He turned on his heel and walked towards the door, holding it open for you as you passed him.

Outside it was calm, just the slightest bit of chill nipping at the breeze. The sun was beginning to set for the day, casting an orange light over everything in its path. The walk was slower than normal. You couldn’t tell if you were dragging your feet or if he was prolonging the inevitable.

“How long are you in town for?”

“I moved back last week.”

His voice was a sigh of resignation, heavy with unspoken displeasure. You decided you didn’t have enough time to unpack what he was thinking.

“So you’re living in town again?”

Tyler nodded, this time with a pleasant smile.

“Miss me?” He asked.

He knew the answer even if you hadn’t figured it out. You were quiet as you thought about how to respond but, as time and the squares of poured concrete passed, you realized that there was no need for a response. Your silence was probably already telling enough.

“Listen, I know we left things on sort of a sour note but I missed you.”

He sounded like the Tyler you remembered. Soft, comforting. Affectionate.

He sounded like the Tyler you had known right before he left.

Puzzle pieces started falling together in your head as that last night spent with each other appeared in your mind.

You had been at a party. He had texted you an hour before coming to pick you up, asking for advice on an outfit. You made a joke about him expecting to pick up a hot date. He had just replied with a winking emoji that made you laugh.

When he picked you up he was playing your favorite song on the car radio. He drove slowly to the party and you knew he was doing it because you were there sitting beside him.

It was a loud event and you found yourself immediately gravitating towards the outside area. There was a sense of calm and peace when you stood near the large oak tree in the backyard. It made you think of Tyler. And as you compared their similarities in the back of your mind, sipping your drink slowly, the man on your mind appeared by your side.

“I was wondering where you were.” He smiled as he spoke. It was the same smile as the one you feel when you walk through the front door of your childhood home after being away for so long.

“I was wondering the same thing about you.”

“It’s not like I’m ever that far from you.”

You didn’t understand what he meant at that moment. You weren’t sure if you even understood now.

“You looking forward to packing up and moving out?” You asked, trying to steer the conversation back to familiarity.

He shrugged. “Gonna miss you.”

“You can always call me.”

“That’s not the same though, is it?”

You were going to miss him too. You were going to miss the long hikes on weekends and crashing on his couch after being in the sun all day. You were going to miss how it felt when he put his arm around your shoulder.

You were going to miss standing next to him.

You weren’t really sure how everything happened after that. He carefully took your hand in his as if he were learning the motion for the first time. You tightened your fingers around his, suddenly viscerally aware of how fleeting this moment was.

And then he kissed you. Or you kissed him. You couldn’t possibly know now, a year removed. But it felt right. It felt tender and gentle and like you could have stayed in that space for the rest of your life and never grown weary.

But your lips parted and you quickly stepped back, nearly tripping over the oak tree's roots. He apologized and you apologized and you shook your head and asked if it were alright if he drove you home. He hadn’t had anything to drink and, in turn, complied with your request.

And the night passed and the morning came and a text was never exchanged between your phones again.

And now he was standing outside of your house, leaning against the column that held your porch roof safely overhead, clearly biding his time.

“I never should’ve-” He started but you couldn’t hear him apologize again.

“It’s okay. It’s my fault for jumping back the way I did.”

“No. I get why you did.”

“You just took me by surprise.”

“There were better ways for me to tell you how I felt.”

You paused.

“How did you feel?”

A blush spread over his face as he looked to his feet. He rubbed a hand over the back of his neck, tousling his hair in a way that threatened to make your head spin.

“I don’t think it’s a secret that I like you.”

You hadn’t missed the sudden shift from past to present tense.

“Well, we’re friends. I would hope you like me.”

You knew you were trying to corner him into a confession but it seemed like the only way to get him to step past his shame and open up.

“You know what I mean.”

You did.

“When you like someone do you just not text them for a year and hope that when you come back things will have resolved themselves?” You asked, crossing your arms over your chest.

“I was worried you hated me.”

“I couldn’t hate you.” You felt a burning in your chest as you looked out to the street, cars racing by this awkward situation. “Anyways, I could’ve messaged you too.”

“I just feel really bad. I didn’t mean for everything to fall apart.”

You were quiet, unsure as to what to say but the gnawing sensation in the center of your mind wouldn’t quit. Your mouth wanted to form words, form an admission, but you couldn’t bring yourself to manage a syllable.

Slowly, Tyler bid a soft goodbye, moving to hop off the porch. Suddenly, a sentence came to your tongue and you spit it out as quickly as you could.

“I like you too, you know.”

Tyler had made it a few steps away when you finally found your voice but stopped walking the moment the words arrived at his ears.

“I was glad you kissed me. I wanted you to. I just didn’t react right.”

He tried to hide his smile as he turned back to face you but you could see the evidence of it in the tiny wrinkles beside his eyes. After so many years of knowing him you were pleased you could still recognize the parts of him you loved the most.

“Are you just saying that to make me feel better?” He asked hesitantly.

You couldn’t help but roll your eyes. “No, Tyler. I mean it.”

He walked back towards you, his face still a mess of confusion.

“Why didn’t you just say something?”

You let out a heavy sigh. “I guess I just thought that leaving it alone would be better for our friendship. I was clearly wrong but it felt like the right idea in the moment.”

“I guess I wasn’t much better.” He shrugged.

Your hands shook slightly from the adrenaline and for a second you thought to shove them into your pockets. Instead, you left them free of confines, deciding it was too exhausting to hide how you felt for a moment longer.

It was quiet on the porch again but this time there was a sense of relief to the silence. You could hear birds chirping and a dog barking in the distance, the grinding gears of your brain no longer taking center stage. The tension that you had noticed in Tyler’s shoulders had softened.

“I’m sorry.”

You held a hand out and he took it, tightening his fingers around yours. He pulled you in and wrapped you up in a hug the exact shape and size of the hole he had left in your heart when he moved away. You reciprocated with the exact amount of force required to fill that empty space.

Slowly, you looked up to him and he looked down to you. And then he kissed you. Or you kissed him. It didn’t really matter at that point.

This time you didn’t jump away.

“I really thought I wouldn’t get to see you ever again.” He murmured when your lips parted, his arms still holding you to his body.

“It’s not like I’m ever that far from you.” You whispered into his chest.

[inastrangerskiss]

the last time

Tyler Rust x OFC

content warning: a little bit of angst, a little bit of fluff

His arms wrapped around her torso. His lips on her neck. His hands pulling hers across her body. She didn’t think this was where they would end up.

She could remember the day he left her. He had to find himself. He had to find some peace within himself. She was too busy. She was too regimented. She wasn’t free enough with her time or her plans. But a few years had passed. She had tried to be more open with her schedules, cutting back on hours at the shop, moving to a new place by the beach. She learned to take deep breaths. He became more tied up, working everyday, filling every free moment with workouts and matches, missing friends and lovers more and more often.

“Don’t go.” She whispered against his shoulder. It sounded the same as the first time she had dared to plead out loud to him.

The first time he responded: “It’s not forever.”

But he had packed his bags all the same and drove away.

The days after were difficult.

Not waking up in the same bed. She would roll over to his side hoping to find his bare chest, exposed in the morning light, his hair a mess under his head. Sleep would mark his cheeks, drawing lines across his skin. The coffee pot was empty and the living room was empty, no yoga mat on the floor, no books strewn across the coffee table.

He found himself hoping he’d open his eyes to see her aimlessly staring at the ceiling beside him, still wrapped up in the duvet regardless of the heat that had or hadn’t soaked the space overnight. He would take two mugs down from the cabinet, fill the coffee maker with two cups of water only to find a realization more bitter than the black water. No one reminding him to tidy up after his morning meditations, no one to put the books back on the shelf.

They saw each other a couple times over the years. She came to his match with a new man. He went to a bar with a new girl. But every time felt like the last time. Like the last goodbye and the last kiss before walking out the door. As if no time had passed at all. There was a tender sort of pain that echoed through the air. It would enter when the other did. Tyler could be on the other side of whatever space they were in and he’d feel it in the back of his throat. She would know when her chest began to ache.

Let it go she would repeat to herself. He was never really there.

The words would play over and over until she had finally made it back to the safety of the sidewalk outside.

The moment he saw her leave he was filled with a bittersweet relief, the sort that you find when something ends that you secretly wished hadn’t.

But two years passed and they made changes. Changes that affected themselves. Changes that affected others.

She walked to the store that morning, still in sweats, sleep encircling her eyes like rings on a well loved coffee table. He had realized he needed oat milk for his tea. He lingered in the dairy aisle for a moment longer than he had planned to. Maybe it was fate drawing their lines back together, maybe it was coincidence. But for the first time in a long time, when they happened upon each other that morning, bashful smiles crossed both of their faces. She made a comment about how she would’ve gotten more dressed up if she had known she was going to see him. He told her that she looked fine. What he couldn’t manage to get out was that seeing her, looking just as she had always, all those years ago, was more of a comfort to him than anyone could ever possibly provide.

They got to talking. It was casual but it was comfortable. She mentioned picking up baking as a hobby in her spare time. She explained how she had found it therapeutic, how it had helped her “center herself” - something Tyler was always saying she needed to learn how to do. They walked to the checkout islands together. He discussed how he needed to take some time off. He had been working nonstop and it was beginning to burn him out. He told her about the road trip he was planning to take in a few weeks.

A road trip he would never end up going on.

After they paid for their items, he walked with her back to her apartment. She invited him upstairs to have coffee. She had made too much and it was just going to go to waste. Tyler couldn’t argue with that sort of logic.

Coffee became lunch and when they finally parted ways, it felt less like it had every other time. It felt less like the end and more like a beginning. Less like a “goodbye” and more like a “see you soon”.

A few months passed. And there they were, his arms around her torso, his lips on her neck, his hands pulling hers across her body. They sat like this for what felt like hours. Nowhere to be. No one to go to. Just their bed, their pillows, and their bodies. And she turned, her head meeting his shoulder.

“Don’t go.” She whispered, hoping she didn’t sound the same as the first time she had dared to utter this sentence.

But this time was different. This time her words were met with a kiss to the crown of the head, and a tightening of the gentle grasp he had on her.

“I won’t.” He murmured into the dark. “Not this time. Not again.”

[inastrangerskiss]

sleeping / waking

Tyler Rust x Reader

content warning: it is fluff and that is all literally just a ton of mindless fluff

summary: you wake up slowly, tyler by your side

Sunlight crept across the room, its bright light crossing over your eyelids, warming your senses out of their previously dormant state. You blinked a few times, your hands meeting your face to wipe the sleep from your vision. You became aware of the arm that was wound around your back, the chest beneath your head, moving up and down in a slow, rhythmic pattern. Tyler was still asleep.

You ran your finger over his bare chest, the physical contact raising goosebumps over his skin. A smile gently spread over his cheeks and you wondered if he was awake or asleep.

He seemed blissfully unaware of the mounting to-do list in your head.

It was quiet. You could hear the ocean waves lapping at the shore in the distance. The sound was still new to you. The smell of the salt in the air was still new to you. You didn’t mind it - in fact, you had quickly grown to love it - but it was still new to you.

Where you had come from there was no ocean and a rising breeze meant it was time to put on a jacket. Tyler had seemed to enjoy it for the most part but after about a year of him enduring the place you called home you had noticed he had become detached and tired. You couldn’t understand what had caused the change in demeanor until you woke in the middle of the night and found him scrolling through real estate websites, staring at houses on the coast. He tried to tell you it was just something he did to lull himself back to sleep but you knew better.

So you packed everything up and moved.

Tyler stirred beside you as you took in the space that was your bedroom. The wall across from the bed sat half painted, a plastic tarp covering the floor, furniture pulled towards the middle of the room, leaving just enough space for the two of you to walk behind. You taped the baseboards with blue painters while he taped the ceiling. You made fun of him for having a horrible painting technique and he made fun of you for being too short to reach the top of the wall. When you pouted just enough he lifted you up so you were a few inches taller than him, providing you with the ability to paint over the haphazard patterns he had created. He kissed your head as he placed you back on the floor.

Sunlight cut geometric shapes across the floor and the bed. He kissed your head as he rolled over in his waking sleep. His other arm reached around to embrace you.

Boxes sat against the unpainted walls, labeled in permanent marker with tags such as Tyler’s Clothes and Books and Hiking Gear. You had been patient waiting for him to unpack, knowing his job kept him on the road and made it difficult to keep up with the tedious chores that the average person might have accomplished weeks earlier. He had helped unpack the rest of the house anyways. The serverware was in cabinets because of him. The television was mounted on the wall because of him. And when you broke down in tears because the lamp your mother gave you had shattered in transit he held you to his chest and quietly hushed your sobs. He spent the rest of the day doing what he could to glue it back together.

You could feel his eyelashes fluttering against your collarbone.

“Are you ready to get up?” You whispered. He mumbled something akin to a rejection of the suggestion.

You remembered the first day after your arrival and how he had responded the same way as you laid on the beach. You sat on the edge of the towel, your feet shifting back and forth in the sand, allowing the tiny granules to massage your soles. The sun had started to set and the tide was beginning to roll in after hours of being far from its home at the top of the shore. You nudged Tyler’s arm, letting out a small laugh at your t-shirt that he had chosen to drape over his face to protect from the brightness and heat. You asked him if he was ready to go back up to the house. He uncovered his face for a second, looked around with a smile and shook his head, patting the space beside him, inviting you to join in the cat nap he was about to embark on. It was the first time in months that you had seen that smile and it made your heart sing.

Sunlight had fully arrived now, splashing a fresh layer of gold over your bedroom. You felt his hands drift under your shirt, his fingertips gently pressing into your skin. He traced shapes and lines over your skin. He traced wordless thank you’s for bringing his body back to where his heart had never left and silent declarations of love for everything you were to him.

He seemed blissfully unaware of the mounting to-do list in your head but it was okay. You were happy to lay there for another hour longer.