[fic] brothers be; the vampire diaries, matt/tyler; pg13

[krickets]

title; rating: brothers be; pg13
fandom, pairing; word count: the vampire dairies, (prelude to) matt/tyler; 588
notes: for tvd_rareships weekend comment fic party (and for gigglemonster; while it is a one-shot, this is definitely a prelude of things to come!

This is before.

This is before wolves and fangs and magic. This is before Vicki, even. This is just the two of them, like it has always been and always will be. Or so they think. Tyler's face is bloodied and bruised and they were supposed to have a sleepover. They're thirteen, going on fourteen, and Matt has never seen him like this before -- blood crusted at the corner of one lip, cheekbone sliced in a short straight line, his nose still red around the edges where it was bleeding.

Matt answers the door and Tyler just stands there like that, not even an overnight bag slung over his shoulder, his t-shirt ripped at the collar, head down, hands shoved into his pockets.

Matt's jaw sets. They've never talked about it. This is before they have the words for such things. But Matt knows. He's always known. Some things are just understood. Yet still, the sight of his best friend like this fills him with a kind of rage he's never really experienced before. Tyler though, is oddly calm. Matt watches him clean himself up through the crack in the bathroom door. He doesn't seem angry and he doesn't cry. And the question "Ty, what happened?" is caught in Matt's throat, because he's sure as soon as the sound fills the room that Tyler's just going to lose it right there in the bathroom.

Matt lends Tyler one of his shirts and they play video games and eat nachos. Vicki shows up with a couple of her older friends for a little while, but then she says there's nothing to eat and that they're all going to Missy's for the night. Matt complains for a long time about his mom never being around and Tyler changes the subject, telling Matt that he found his Uncle Mason's old porn stash, tells him he'll bring it next time. Matt blushes, his ears turning red.

"Oh, come on," Tyler teases him. "Don't act like you're not curious."

Later, they watch a movie rental in Matt's room, propped up on pillows next to each other. Matt doesn't remember what movie it is or what it was about because the whole time all he can do is stare at the tiny blood stain at the cuff of Tyler's jeans. He can hear Tyler laughing next to him at something in the movie, and the two things seem about as incongruous as two things can get. He doesn't understand how Tyler can laugh. He doesn't even understand how Tyler can do anything: eat, breathe, give Vicki that not-so-subtle up-and-down look every time she comes into a room, watch movies, joke with his best friend, think about porn. Anything.

Matt gives Tyler the bed that night, and he's almost asleep when he can hear soft muffled, crying sound, Tyler's voice cracking into a sob.

"Tyler?" Matt sits up from his spot on the floor. "Ty, buddy."

After no response, Matt scrambles to his knees and crawls next to Tyler in the bed.

"That son of a bitch," Tyler mutters through a sob.

"I know," Matt puts a hand on Tyler's shoulder, Tyler's back to him, and pulls him close. "God, Ty, I know."

Matt closes his eyes tight, squeezes Tyler's bicep and presses his forehead against the back of Tyler's neck. Slowly, his best friend quiets, his shaking subsiding, his breathing slowing.

They are brothers, the pair of them. And Matt vows then that it is brothers they will always be.

Always.

-fin

Comments

[gigglemonster.livejournal.com]

Omg dude what are you talking about?!
Lack of what? Cuz lemme tell you, there is certainly no lack of my heartstrings being seriously yanked on.
Oh Tyler. Oh Matt. OH BOYS.
This is so gorgeous and one of those that goes immediately in my head canon lol. This happened. It's settled.
And that last line, ugh perfect
I cannot wait for more of these two :D

[crickets.livejournal.com]

Haha well it didn't exactly earn its forward slash. It is really more of a comma, haha.

Also, you are awesome I'm so glad you liked this! I hope I can deliver on the whole more front! I have a real actual idea now though, and I'm pretty sure that you're the only person in the universe who is going to read it, but that's okay.

Thank you!

[ellensmithee.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure that you're the only person in the universe who is going to read it

No, she's not! This is awesome! I can't wait to read more (seriously, why isn't there more of this pairing in this fandom???).

[crickets.livejournal.com]

Haha, oh, if only you knew the craziness that lived inside my brain. Seriously. Haha.

[ellensmithee.livejournal.com]

As long as it comes out in a coherent readable form, I'm happy. ;-)

[consumedly.livejournal.com]

Yup, she definitely isn't! ;-P This is great!... and when I think I wanted to write something *sigh* I'm glad I didn't because WOW!

[crickets.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Aw, well I'm glad you enjoyed it! You should still write them btw!

[sunsetdawn20.livejournal.com]

OH. MY. GOD.

This is delightful! Well, first of all, beautiful writing, which is always great to see. But let me just squee a moment about Matt/Tyler! I love them so much together, I kinda really hate that their initial friendship sort of dwindled away over the two seasons bc of girls and creepy supernatural stuff. Also, I secretly wish ppl would ship them more, bc I just love the idea.

But yeah so this was a gorgeous scene. I love the little details, like, about Vicky, for example. I love how in character they both are and yet a bit different, younger. And just poor Tyler. *hugs him tight*

Thanks so much for this fic! :)

[crickets.livejournal.com]

Hee! Thank you! I really hope that Matt and Tyler find their way back to being friends. The idea is always something that's been in the back of my mind, especially when you watch season one and certain parts of season two. They're very shippable. (And yes, I ship Tyler with almost everyone!)


You're welcome! And thank you for reading and reviewing!

[ozmissage.livejournal.com]

Dear lord, woman, you have broken me. This is beautiful; I love that last line. It's such a sweet sentiment, so childlike, but with Matt I believe he'd hold himself to it.

[crickets.livejournal.com]

Aw, yay. I live to break you. (That sounds so cruel!) Thank you hon! YOU NEED TO WRITE THIS SHOW MORE.

[venacavaa.livejournal.com]

This was so beautiful, and I just love it to pieces.

[crickets.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I know I missed the comments on this fic, but I really appreciate you taking the time to read!

[starsimpulse.livejournal.com]

ack, i love this so much. sometimes i think that their bromance is the thing i miss most from season one. this is just really lovely and sad, and yay, pre-series fic. pre-series fic about matt and tyler, and how it just to be matt that he went to. i can't even. these kids.

[crickets.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! I miss them too. I was really happy to see shades of them in the last episode. (Sorry so late!)

[dkbond78.livejournal.com]

This was good, I can't wait to see what else you come up with and how you're going to do the next part. That is if i read right and you are going to continue it.

[crickets.livejournal.com]

Aw, I may just write this pairing again I doubt it will be a continuation of this. Except when it does into my personal canon like this one did, hehe.

Thank you! (Sorry this comment is so late!)

[gigantic.livejournal.com]

I really liked this. Very nice snapshot of them as young friends.

[crickets.livejournal.com]

This is late but I wanted to say thank you very much!

[theinfamousjeri.livejournal.com]

So sweet.

I've been looking for a good Tyler/Matt friendship story, and this was wonderful.

[crickets.livejournal.com]

Aw, thank you so much! (Sorry this is late.)

[streussal.livejournal.com]

Oh Matt. Oh Tyler.

Very nicely done.

[crickets.livejournal.com]

Thanks a million. I appreciate it, even though my comment is late!