Chapter Text
Up until the Muffin Encounter, Cyrus only knew three things about TJ Kippen;
1. TJ Kippen is mean,
2. TJ Kippen is a bully,
3. TJ Kippen is unfairly attractive.
Not in the way that Jonah was cute, but TJ was tall and toned and blonde. Unfortunately, he was also a massive dickhead – which Cyrus would never say out loud, he didn’t swear – and that fact negated any pretty facial features TJ happened to have.
Beyond wishing TJ would lay off Buffy, Cyrus didn’t necessarily have any deep thoughts or opinions on him. When TJ approached Buffy in the cafeteria Cyrus stepped back, carefully out of the splash zone between the two as they argued. Cyrus had never seen TJ up close, and it was interesting to see how he only seemed to sport two expressions; bored, or annoyed. It was an ingrained habit of his, with four psychologists for parents, to want to read people, learn their motivations. It was a bad habit.
Cyrus wasn’t really listening, more watching the two clash – TJ aggressively, and Buffy (equally aggressive) shutting him down. He tuned out their words, seeing how TJ scowled and huffed and smiled bitterly for about two seconds in scorn of something she said. He got up in her face, cocking his eyebrows in emphasis or frustration or –
“- You’ll get my friend Cyrus here a chocolate chocolate-chip muffin. Then, we have a deal.”
TJ seemed to notice Cyrus for the first time.
He cocked his eyebrows again, this time in a scoff – or maybe disbelief?
“You can’t get your own muffin?’
Cyrus turned to Buffy, “I didn’t need this extra level of embarrassment.” He turned to TJ, “… But no.”
TJ looked around, shrugging. Was he amused? No, Cyrus must be reading him wrong.
“Well, I can do it, but…” TJ looked Cyrus in the eye. His eyes were green, that was a surprise. Oh, and look at that, TJ was smiling. “Teach a man to fish...?”
Cyrus smiled back out of pure instinct and TJ’s hand came down to rest on his shoulder but before he had time to panic over this physical contact with a cute, mean boy who was now very close to him, Cyrus turned his attention to what said cute, mean boy was saying.
TJ pointed over to the counter where the last muffin sat on a dish. “Walk to the muffin like you already own it.”
“He can’t do that,” Buffy said.
TJ frowned, letting go of Cyrus and turning back to her, “Don’t tell him what he can’t do.”
“Dancing with danger is on my bucket list!” Cyrus interjected before they could start arguing again. “Then what do I do?”
TJ smiled and shrugged – he did that a lot, surprisingly. “Take the muffin.”
“That’s it?”
“Just don’t let anybody stand in your way.”
Buffy was still looking at the both of them like they were insane, but Cyrus steeled himself – all 5 feet 3 inches of sweaters, button up shirts, and innocuous dinosaur knowledge – and walked forward (and if TJ shoved him forward a bit, well that was no one’s business).
He reached for the muffin, “Mind if I, uh…” and all the kids in the queue next to him immediately yelled at him. On instinct and to ensure no 6th grader mob would swarm him today, he withdrew his hand.
And then there was TJ. Brushing shoulders, standing next to Cyrus.
“He’s with me.”
The kids in the line averted their eyes. No sixth grader wanted to deal with TJ Kippen, even on a matter as serious as the last chocolate chocolate-chip muffin. TJ turned back to Cyrus and jerked his head to the muffin. With another wary look to the line of middle schoolers, Cyrus grabbed it.
“…You are gonna taste so sweet.”
TJ huffed another laugh, before turning back to Buffy. His smile reverted back into a scornful arrogance.
“I’ll need at least a C plus,” and TJ walked off, leaving Cyrus happy, Buffy annoyed, and a line full of frustrated 13-year-olds.
Huh. TJ Kippen was mean, and a bully, and seemed to have a habit of antagonising anyone who was on the same level as him, but he also smiled at Cyrus genuinely. A stark contrast from the way he smiled at Buffy – full of bitterness and spite.
Huh. Cyrus updated his mental list.
1. TJ Kippen is mean,
2. TJ Kippen is a bully,
3. TJ Kippen is unfairly attractive,
4. TJ Kippen has green eyes.