Josh came to most of Tyler's basketball games, sitting in the back of the bleachers as moral support because they weren't going to push any further. They didn't have anyone to sit with, but it's alright, because they'd much rather focus on their boyfriend, anyways.

They'd often bring a sketch pad to draw on to keep themself busy during the time being, tucked away in the very corner of all the seats. Josh's muse plays in front of them, every second giving another motive to move their hand across paper. Tyler did that to them. Tyler inspired them.

He may not be the team captain, but he's definitely one of the best on the court.

Or maybe Josh is just bias.

His team was winning 6-4, and by the time it was over, it was 16-8.

The gym is full of cheering as always. Players run out to their families for praise, and Tyler runs to Josh for the same thing. The latter comes down after tucking the sketches into their messenger bag, meeting Tyler at the bottom of the bleachers. He wraps his arms around their waist, lifting them up from the ground; tight, loving, strong.

"Good job," Josh whispers into the crook of his neck, running their fingers over his shaved head.

"You're our good luck charm." He tells them.

Josh rolls their eyes and gives him a playful slap on the arm once Tyler sets them down. "Shut up."

He shrugs. "It's true."

Josh brushes it off and instead fiddles with the strap of their bag, watching Tyler's teammates walk over to them. They're all smiling ear-to-ear, arms around each other's waists and shoulders. Everyone is also very, very sweaty.

"Joseph!" One of them yells.

Tyler turns around to face them, eyebrows lifted. "What's up?"

"Get change, we're going to Denny's." His name is Dallon. "Matthew's paying."

Tyler purses his lips at the information, body leaning towards Josh as an indication to everyone. Dallon seems to understand, looking down at them before back to Tyler. "Josh too. Come on."

"Uh, yeah. Okay. Meet you there." He doesn't have to ask which Denny's because they always go to the same one every time after winning. A celebration between the team and their family, friends, and lovers. It's nice. Needed.

Once everyone walks away and the gym starts to clear out, Tyler looks down at Josh's wrist momentarily to see a green bandana around it. Confirmation. He pulls them close and rests his head onto their shoulder, huffing, letting loose. He doesn't hold them like Josh does, he lets his arms dangle.

He's exhausted.

"That's okay, right?" Tyler mutters. "Going to Denny's."

Josh nods, pecking his cheek. "Free food is always alright with me."

Tyler chuckles. He stands up straight again, grabbing their hand. "I have to shower, I'm not going drenched in sweat."

"Can I come?" Josh smiles a little.

So does Tyler. He nods, leading them into the locker room and sitting them down on one of the benches beside the showers once he grabs a towel. Really, Josh shouldn't be in here. Only the basketball players are allowed, but Tyler doesn't care enough.

Josh sits back with one knee pulled to their chest. Watching Tyler undress isn't anything new, it's actually casual for the two of them. He sheds his skin more often than not, and Josh gets to enjoy every second of it. They watch him pull down his shorts and briefs, and expose the subtle dip at his waist once taking off his basketball jersey. The shower runs and so does Josh's mind, but they don't make any move to act upon it; their imagination is just fine.

Maybe it has something to do with being an artist, or maybe Tyler really is that handsome, but Josh has every part of his body memorized. Head to toe.

They know his body more than he probably knows his own.

Josh watches water fall down his skin, running over curves and edges, falling off points. They'd sit here all day to draw him like this, but time moves too fast, and they move too slow.

Other teammates come and go, not bothered by Josh's presence in the locker room because they're used to it by now. Each of them are used to just seeing Josh in one place, at one time, looking at one person. Everyone comes and goes, but Tyler always stays, and so Josh does too.

It's a dynamic neither of them planned to have, and neither of them minded.

Before Josh knows it, Tyler's standing in front of them with his nudity shining. He only looks down at them, drying off his back, so Josh kisses his hips, and when they remember no one is around now, they start licking too.

Tyler pushes their head away, laughing. "Stop. We need to get to Denny's."

Josh rolls their eyes with a smile but nonetheless does stop, leaning against the lockers. They wait for Tyler, who finishes changing fast enough for the two of them to be in Josh's car in a matter of minutes.

Tyler gets the aux, it's fine. Josh is alright with listening to early 2000s hits.

They hold hands over the dashboard and sing together, Tyler messing with the bandana around Josh's wrist because he can, and he's tired, and he's trying to stay awake for them and the team.

By the time they're at the restaurant, it's packed purely of highschool students and their families. Dallon calls for Tyler when he sees them, pointing to two saved seats at the biggest booth there.

He and Josh both sit, connecting hands beneath the table naturally.

"What took you so long, dude?" Dallon chuckles, taking a sip of his soda.

"Sorry I actually showered." Tyler responds.

"Hey, I'm fucking starving. There's no time for showering." The conversation ends there between them, Dallon instead focusing on his phone.

The entire table, though, is full of talking. There's at least nine people at this one booth, and instead of anyone conversing with Tyler or Josh, they talk to each other. It doesn't surprise either of them, because they both know Josh is the black sheep. They always are and always will be.

The basketball team likes to pretend it's not true, but it's too obvious to deny.

The waiter comes around asking Josh and Tyler what they'd like to drink, and once he's gone, that's finally when anyone actually pays mind to them. Well, Josh.

His name's Otto, and he says, "Tyler tells us you draw a lot."

Josh shrugs, nodding. "Yeah."

"Do you think I could see? I'm a sucker for art." It seems nice enough, so Josh allows it. They unbuckle their messenger bag and pull out the rough sketches of Tyler and random doodles they did tonight during the game.

They hand it to Otto.

He flips through the sketchbook with wide eyes, scanning over everything.

He studies a few pages and even past the ones Josh had done tonight, delving further. They're hoping he doesn't go too far or else he'd see stuff he probably didn't want to.

Josh really did draw Tyler a lot. All of Tyler.

Otto looks to the latter, nearly shaking his head in disbelief. "He really is good. Fuck."

Tyler clenches his jaw, and so does Josh, but for a completely different reason. They take the sketchbook back from Otto gladly, completely tuning everyone out after that. Especially Tyler.

Josh pulls their hand away from his under the table and even goes as far as moving away so they weren't touching at all.

Tyler notices, too, but won't say anything right now.

He'll wait until they're alone, so in the meantime, they don't speak a word to one another. They order their food and eat it silently, they observe silently, they ignore one another silently. Maybe Tyler's teammates notice the tension as well, because they don't talk to either of them for the rest of time spent there until everyone is leaving.

Plates are cleaned, drinks are empty. Everyone says goodnight, and Tyler can't help but thank Matthew before heading out. He pays everytime.

He really doesn't know how, either.

Even as Josh and Tyler are out of the restaurant, they don't say anything. Even as they're in the car, they don't say anything. It's not until they're halfway downtown when Josh finally speaks up. "You haven't told them, have you." It's dark and Tyler can't see their face, but he knows their jaw is still clenched. It has been for a while now.

He sighs, staring out the window. "No."

Josh runs a hand through their hair, its been through multiple colors but is stuck at its natural, grown out state.  "You said you would."

Tyler did. "I know. I'm sorry."

There's no music playing this time, so it's just them. All them. Every croak and quiver.

"Why haven't you?"

It takes a while for him to reply. Maybe he's ashamed, embarrassed; sorry for letting Josh down. "Because they won't understand and they're not going to. I don't want you to have to deal with them acting like you're some outcast. It's already bad enough as it is. They rarely try to talk to you, I'm surprised Otto did tonight." Tyler groans, rubbing his eyes. "I fucking love you, Josh. I don't want to see you get pestered by their shit."

Josh knows Tyler's right. They know not one of those guys will understand, and there's no point in trying, which really is saddening on its own.

"I'm such a burden sometimes." They mumble. "I'm sorry."

Tyler holds their hand again, and Josh doesn't pull away this time. They need him, they always do. "Babe, that isn't true. You shouldn't feel like being yourself is burden. As long as you're happy with who you are, who cares what anyone else thinks."

Josh huffs. "I care."

"You shouldn't." Tyler tells them.

Once they're at a red light, Josh pulls their hand away from the steering wheel and leans against the seat.

Tyler takes this time to brush his lips against their knuckles. "Do you want me to tell them? I will."

Josh shakes their head. "No. You're right."

"Josh, actually. Do you want me to tell them?" It's their entire identity, people have the right to know even if they may not grasp it.

Josh, still, shakes their head again. "Let's not bother with them. All that matters is the people who mean the most to us know." Josh still hasn't told their parents, and most likely won't. Especially not while they're living with them. Tyler's mom knows though, and she tries her hardest to understand. They often will have to remind her what the color of every bandana meant, but she respects them. Him. Her. Whatever. Kelly is nice enough to do that.

Tyler is nice enough to do that.

"My house?" They ask instead.

Tyler nods.

So Josh's house it is.

***

By the time they make it home, they're both exhausted. Tyler grabs his and Josh's bags from the backseat and carries them inside, instantly walking up the stairs to Josh's room while they spoke with their parents downstairs.

Their siblings are usually always asleep by now, besides Jordan, who's right next to Josh's room and is notorious for playing video games until three in the morning. Really, it's not fun for anyone else.

At the thought, too, Jordan walks out of his room with his gym shorts hanging low and his shirt too tight.

"How was the game?" He asks, pausing mid-step.

Tyler drops his and and Josh's bag into their room, leaning on the doorway. "Kicked ass. Sixteen to eight."

Jordan's eyebrows raise, continuing to walk. "Damn. Good job."

"Thanks." He mutters, making his way inside Josh's bedroom once Jordan continues heading downstairs.

Tyler slips his shoes off as soon as he can, falling onto the bed face-first with a groan. All he wants to do is sleep. He'd been practicing every weekend and most weekdays because of that game, and although it's rewarding to have a win that big, it isn't enough to fill the lack of energy and content missing from him.

He's not sure why he even plays basketball anymore. At first, it was something his father pushed him to do, but now that isn't the case at all. Now, he just does it.

Tyler supposed it's a part of his routine, and he isn't willing to let that go yet. He'd lose track of himself, because without having Josh or basketball around, he really didn't have much at all.

The door opens and closes behind him, and he smiles. He can't help it.

It's not long before Josh is crawling onto his back and laying their legs on either side of him. They kiss the nape of his neck and run their hands underneath his shirt.

"You did amazing tonight." They utter, lightly pressing against a knot in his shoulder.

Tyler moans, he's always sore. "So did you."

He can only picture Josh rolling their eyes right now. "I literally did nothing."

Tyler shakes his head, breathing in the bedsheets because it's a smell he's become close to. "You've done the unimaginable."

He turns around to face them. Josh sits at his hips, and he's probably just sleep-deprived, but he can still feel their tongue against his skin. He'd like to feel it again, and then he remembers he can barely keep his eyes open. It'll have to wait.

"Someone's sleepy." Josh whispers.

Tyler hums. "Take your clothes off already and let me spoon you."

Josh laughs at that, but does indeed follow through. They widdle it down to just their boxers and a t-shirt, and Tyler's too tired to do the same thing so Josh does it for him. They unbutton his jeans and pull them down his thighs until they're able to get them off from his ankles.

"Socks?" They wonder.

"Socks." He replies.

With that being said, Josh nods, standing up from the floor-- where they've somehow ended up-- and walks over to their bedside table, opening up the small chest atop of it. Tyler watches them unravel the bandana from their wrist and place it inside before closing it back up and turning the light off.

"I miss your face." He says as soon as it's dark.

Josh chuckles, crawling into bed and allowing Tyler to pull them close. They mold together easily; Josh fitting in the curve of Tyler and Tyler's arm fitting in the curve of Josh's waist. It's a puzzle piece that has somehow comepleted itself.

"Goodnight," Josh whispers, squeezing their boyfriend's fingers.

They don't get a reply. Tyler's out in a matter of seconds.

***

Josh always wakes up earlier than Tyler, it's not surprising. He works his ass off for weeks on end and instead of doing things for himself afterward, he sticks at Josh's side. Really, it's heartwarming. Being around his partner is for himself too, of course, but Josh would always think he'd find something better to do.

He never does.

Josh sits at the corner of his bed and draws in the meantime, eyes moving back and forth from the paper to Tyler. He studies his sleeping figure, recreating it through pencil lead and drive. It's something he's willing to do for an eternity, because as long as Tyler was always in sight, so was his sense of security.

For the longest time Josh would never show him any of his work, but after a while, he caved. He needed that praise sometimes, and Tyler was good at giving it.

When he saw who Josh had been drawing, though, he was in shock.

Now it has become a casual thing between them. If Josh isn't drawing Tyler, something doesn't feel right. His body on display is solace, and recreating it gives him time to bask in the glory.

At a certain point in the morning, Laura comes into the room.

She sees Tyler fast asleep, and she sees Josh's unnerving concentration, so she keeps quiet and makes her way around her son's bed. "What are you drawing?" She asks in a soft tone, leaning over his shoulder a bit to see.

Josh shows her, once again, another drawing of his boyfriend: slick lips, closed eyes, steady features.

"I can never get his nose right." He whispers.

Laura shakes her head. "He's lucky to have you."

Josh's mom is kind. Really, his whole family is. Not coming out to them has nothing to do with their behavior, but more so the lack of courage he has. They're proud of him, and his siblings can look up to him-- it's not anything he wants to lose over something like gender identity. Josh struggles, and they won't know. Josh crumbles, and the bandanas around his wrist mean nothing.

Partially, it's his fault.

They're supposed to love him no matter what, that's their duty as a family, but the overwhelming feeling of not being accepted by the people who are supposed to mean the most to him wins the battle of freedom every time.

Josh never responds, so Laura continues. "I came in here to ask if you guys might want to go to the movies with us, but he probably isn't going to get out of bed any time soon, is he."

She knows how much he works himself, and still, no one knows why he does it.

"Everyone's going?" Josh wonders.

"Yeah," she responds.

Josh isn't going to deny that being home alone with Tyler piques his interest more than going to see a movie with his family does.

"Yeah. He's definitely not going to be up any time soon." He says, for his own benefit. "He needs to rest, anyways."

Laura nods, pulling away from her son and instead making it over to the door again. "We'll be leaving in a little bit, then." She declares. "Want us to bring you two food on the way back? I already know Jordan will ask."

"Please." Josh murmurs.

"I'll text you when the show's over." She says, about to leave the room, but not without adding, "I love you."

This is not something Josh can lose.

"I love you too."

She closes the door behind her after that, and she also closes Josh in with thoughts solely of Tyler again. This time, they're a little more provocative than before, but he still does nothing except sit back and continue drawing.

It's not until about a half an hour later when he can hear everyone downstairs leaving, and the door closing.

Immediately, Josh is throwing his sketchbook aside and moving next to Tyler again. He kisses up his legs and thighs, waiting to see his eyes blink open before crawling onto his chest and snuggling him.

Tyler groans in response, stretching his arms. "Hmm?" He lets out.

Josh kisses his jaw, limbs locked around him. "Everyone's gone."

The youngest chuckles airily at the information, rubbing his eyes from the harsh sun coming through the window. "You're crazy," he whispers, raspy.

Josh loves it. "Say it again." He mutters, lips against his throat.

Tyler runs a hand over his backside to steady himself, lashes fluttering. "You're crazy." He repeats.

Josh really loves it. He digs his nose into Tyler's Adam's apple and sucks against the skin there, beginning to lick as well. Tyler's still in and out as it happens, grip on the back of his partner's thighs delicate.

"Have you even brushed your teeth?" He asks.

Josh groans as he pulls away, shoving Tyler's head into the pillow. "Fuck you."

He sighs while standing up from the bed, watching Tyler roll his eyes but nonetheless lets Josh leave the room to do such.

It's quiet in the house; it's great. There weren't many times where the two of them would be left alone, so they value it. In most cases, Josh is left sucking Tyler off in the locker room after hours, or getting sucked off by Tyler in the car. It's not romantic, it's nothing special. They have the decency of not doing anything while their family is there-- well, sometimes.

Otherwise, Josh would have probably gotten on his knees by now.

He stares at himself in the mirror while brushing his teeth, and that's when he watches Tyler come into the room and walk up behind him, resting his chin onto his shoulder.

"How are you feeling today?" He questions.

Josh still hasn't put on a bandana, and Tyler hasn't been up long enough to notice any sort of mannerisms just yet. He needs reassurance.

"Like I'm going to throw you on your ass this time." Josh grumbles behind the toothbrush.

Tyler laughs. "Oh, really now?" He grins, nibbling as much as he can on Josh's earlobe despite the gauge.

Josh doesn't respond, he only spits out all the toothpaste and swirls enough water in his mouth to clean the rest out. Afterwards, he turns around in Tyler's arms, staring at him with his lips pursed before bringing both of theirs together abruptly.

Tyler still hasn't brushed his teeth and it's kind of gross, but the mint in Josh's mouth evens it out enough for the both of them. He pushes him against the wall and licks into his mouth before sucking on his bottom lip, it's hungry, it's needy. He wants him now and even sooner than that.

He grabs onto Tyler's waist and digs his nails there, pressing himself close enough to where their cocks can brush together.

Both of them love it; it's no secret.

"Josh--" it's only a matter of time before he's sinking to his knees like he'd been wanting to do since last night, biting at the fabric of Tyler's underwear and kissing the skin around it. "Fuck."

He's is on a mission; sliding his boyfriend's briefs down and pecking at what seems worthy enough to focus on. Tyler isn't hard, but the longer Josh toys with him, he knows it will change.

He works his tongue back onto his hips like he had been the night before, moaning in a small manner as he does so, and Tyler can't handle it. He's running his fingers through his hair, and he wants to ask to take control, but he's letting Josh do it for now. He craves it more than him and it's obvious: pinning Tyler, teasing Tyler, overwhelming Tyler.

"Suck me." He tries.

Josh looks up at him, fingers threaded in his underwear and nose pressed to his hip bone.

"Suck me." Tyler says again.

Josh loses eye contact and instead pulls him down to the floor forcefully, back against the wall and knees bent at either side of him, legs wide. Tyler's Adam's apple bobs, watching Josh stare him down like a prey.

He starts dragging his lips on his inner thighs, and Tyler's definitely hard now. Josh sucks and licks and nibbles and is trying to leave hickies. He knows what to do and uses it to his advantage, testing how far Tyler is willing to go for him before this could end.

He thought they'd spend their time in the bedroom but he's proven wrong as Josh pushes his legs apart further, harder, until his knees are touching the wall too.

He kisses his thighs one last time before standing up and focusing on something at the sink.

Tyler's left on the floor. "Josh?"

He ignores him, purposefully. Willingly. So Tyler is watching him through the mirror instead, and then travelling his eyes down his entire body.

He's lucky.

The faucet turns on and off, and Josh faces his boyfriend once again, sticking a toothbrush in his face. "Brush your teeth." He says.

Tyler looks up at him, then down at the toothbrush, taking it reluctantly.

Josh gets back onto the floor with him afterwards, gripping the sides of Tyler's ass and pulling him closer, closer, close enough until his tongue finally makes contact with his cock, just the tip and just for a moment, but he still whines.

Josh pushes the toothbrush into his mouth. "Brush your teeth."

They look back and forth at one another but neither of them say anything, so he continues, licking a long stride at the base and to his slit, where he dips his tongue a few times. Tyler curls his toes and moans from the back of his throat, head titling back. He nods, encouraging Josh to do it again-- do something again.

Josh stares at him straight in the eyes, making sure he's brushing his teeth, which he is. So, he continues.

He presses a kiss to his balls, once, twice, a few times.

"Fuck, Josh, do something." Tyler groans around the toothbrush.

Josh huffs, the hand he has at Tyler's ass becoming harsh; nails digging into the skin. Tyler winces, about to say something else, but his mouth falls slack when his boyfriend starts sucking on the tip of his cock. His grip on Tyler's ass is still rough, but he kind of likes it, and he's sucking his dick, so he really doesn't mind.

Tyler lets go of the toothbrush and runs his hands through Josh's hair, giving it small tugs every now and then. The pull becomes stronger though when Josh slowly gets lower and lower until his nose is pressing against the hair at Tyler's pelvis.

Tyler usually doesn't shave, and it's okay. Josh is into it.

He pulls his head back only to suck all the way down the base once again. Then, he bobs his head in the slightest so Tyler's cock is touching the back of his throat repeatedly. Josh still isn't the best at sucking dick, neither of them are, and he finds himself gagging horribly after a certain point.

He brings Tyler's cock back out of his mouth, coughing with a flushed face, and Tyler opens his eyes to watch.

He exhales heavily, brushing away the terse amount of tears at the edge of Josh's eyes.

Josh heaves just like him, but nonetheless, he leans forward once again and treats his prick like his favorite desert. Maybe it is, too.

He breathes against him, slowly licking the tip once more. He spits on it only to suck it right off and pulls back every time he gets lower to steady himself.

"So good, baby," Tyler mutters distractedly, Adam's apple bobbing as his eyes squeeze shut again. The warmth of Josh's mouth is phenomenal, and he finds himself bucking his hips into it, which only makes Josh gag again but he doesn't pull away this time, just looking up at Tyler with wide eyes and furrowed eyebrows. "Let me fuck your mouth."

Josh nods as best as he can.

Tyler spits out the toothbrush, toothpaste falling onto his cheeks and chin but he doesn't mind. All he can think about is how fucking amazing his partner looks and feels right now.

He carefully switches their positions. He stands, and pushes Josh against the wall.

Josh is so unbelievably hard through his boxers.

"Open wide," Tyler whispers, smirking.

His heart skips a beat when Josh slowly opens his mouth, lips raw already, and eyes desperate. Mouth desperate. He's desperate, which makes Tyler's cock twitch knowing he's managed to gain control in the situation now.

Carefully, he pushes himself between those lips, giving a few gentle thrusts before tangling his fingers into Josh's curls and pulling him forcefully onto him again. His hips pick up speed the more into it he gets, to the point where Josh has to grip onto his thighs because he's losing his balance while sitting on his knees.

This specific noise echoes in the bathroom, one of Josh completely choking on his boyfriend's dick, one where Tyler doesn't stop.

Josh looks up at him pleadingly, a blush at his cheeks, and Tyler's eyes roll to the back of his head, biting his lip.

"I'm gonna make your throat--" Thrust, and a gag. "Raw." He gets out.

Josh whimpers around him, the sound easily getting drowned out by Tyler's quick thrusts. He squeezes his eyes shut, grip on Tyler's thighs tightening the deeper he goes. His nose is being repeatedly met with his pubes, and Tyler suddenly angles his hips differently which only makes the situation more overwhelming for Josh.

"Fuck, I'm-I'm gonna cum." Tyler murmurs, breath stuttering.

At that, Josh collects the drool falling from his mouth on his pointer and middle finger, hand snaking around to where he prods them against Tyler's anus.

"Oh, god." He whispers at the feeling, thrusts slowing down momentarily.

Josh carefully pushes his middle finger inside him, making Tyler lean his head against the wall and moan. Still, he manages to bring his hips forward, letting out small grunts.

Josh moves his finger in and out of him, getting even harder at the feeling of his boyfriend so tight around him. He wants to be touched, he wants to get fucked. Something. Because this is unbearable.

"Anoth-another." Tyler mumbles quietly, legs trembling in the slightest.

Josh listens, pushing his pointer finger in as well, moving them back and forth a few times before curling them.

That's when Tyler gasps, thrusting abruptly to make Josh gag once again. "Right there, holy. . . Holy shit. Again, again, please."

He does do it again, prodding them right into the same place and curling his fingers against him, pressing hard into that specific spot, which has Tyler an absolute mess. He hits the back of Josh's throat repeatedly with his cock, drooling on the wall unashamedly.

Josh chokes, Tyler moans.

"Oh my god, oh my god." He breathes loudly when Josh continues the pattern. "Fuck, yes. Yes."

It takes one more forceful thrust, and one more rough curl into his prostate until Tyler is filling up Josh's mouth. He stills his hips, twitching, knees tensing.

He heaves, slowly letting go of Josh's hair.

Josh pulls his cock out of his mouth, swallowing thickly. One thing he is somehow good at is swallowing. It's hot, it's sexy, and it makes Tyler even more horny. He doesn't move his fingers out though, he knows that Tyler has to take it slowly. He doesn't like the feeling of being empty after such a memorable moment. If he could, he'd let Josh stay inside of him forever.

Of course, it doesn't work that way.

Tyler can barely open his eyes, blinking a few times before looking down. "I love it when you do that," he whispers.

Josh chuckles. "Finger you?" His voice cracks horribly as he says it, which makes him blush even more.

Tyler smiles in a haze. "I love it when you surprise me. I wasn't expecting that."

Josh hums, slowly pulling his fingers out which makes Tyler let out a noise of displeasure. His kisses his thigh in return. "Jack me off. Eat me out. Something." His voice is so hoarse, and his throat is already so sore.

"How about all of the above?" Tyler smirks.

"That works," Josh concludes.

Tyler takes him back into the bedroom, and he does jack him off, and he does eat him out. At the same time. In some strange way, it makes Josh fall for Tyler even more. Behind the sex appeal, Tyler accepts him for who he is, and there's nothing more he'd rather have. Today, Josh is a boy, but tomorrow, things might change, and to know Tyler would still jack him off and eat him out-- still love him-- either way, that's what makes his heart swell the most.

***

Tyler and Josh made sure to clean up the mess they made in the bathroom. There was toothpaste everywhere, so that is what they spent their time doing after Josh reached that perfect moment of ecstasy.

After a while, his family eventually does come home, and Laura walks inside the room with a bag of Taco Bell. She never did call Josh for their orders, but that's probably because she knows full well what both of them want by now.

When she walks in, Tyler has Josh between his legs, back against his chest and arms wrapped around him. They're watching a movie on Netflix.

Josh smiles at his mother. "Hell-fucking-yeah!" He exclaims, voice cracking once again.

Laura laughs, shaking her head.

Josh grabs the bag from her, searching through it quickly with a big grin on his face. Tyler's the one who grabs the slushies from her.

"Thank you," he mutters.

"Of course, hun." Laura pushes a strand of hair behind her ear. "Good job last night, by the way. Josh told me how well you did."

He gives a soft smile. "Thank you."

She nods. "Of course." She says, taking a step back. "You two enjoy. I'll be downstairs if you need anything." That's the last she says befor walking out of the bedroom, closing the door behind her.

"I can get hard again just thinking about how good this is going to taste." Josh mutters, kind of to himself, kind of not.

Still, Tyler shakes his head. "You're so weird sometimes."

Josh shrugs, grabbing a slushie from out of his boyfriend's hands and taking a sip. His eyes roll to the back of his head while he does, moaning softly at the taste.

Tyler purses his lips. "Well, don't do that. I might get hard again."

Josh chuckles, leaning back to bring him into a tender kiss. He closes his eyes, fingers brushing over Tyler's cheek bone. He rubs their noses together afterwards. "I love you so, so much." He whispers.

Tyler kisses him once more. "I love you most."

Josh blinks. "It's impossible."

"Anything is possible."

Josh exhales, pressing his lips to Tyler's neck. It's then when he notices the very faint hickey he wound up creating earlier this morning, right on his Adam's apple. "You know what's not impossible?" He wonders, a smirk slowly making its way onto his face.

"Hm?" Tyler lets out.

"The fact that my mom totally just saw the hickey I left on your throat." Josh says, biting his lip.

Tyler's cheeks turn a pale shade of pink, but that doesn't stop him from saying, "You know what else is not impossible?"

"Hm?"

"The fact that your mom totally noticed how fucked up your voice suddenly is. A little fishy, don't you think?" Tyler laughs to himself. "Cock sucker."

Josh is the one to blush this time. "You like it."

"Never said I didn't." He obviously likes it. "I'm just saying that now your entire family is going to be completely aware I fucked your throat so hard you can barely speak." Josh's face flushes even more, and he can't find any way to respond, so he only takes another sip of his slushie.

Tyler simply laughs harder.

***

After dinner, Jordan asks Tyler if he wants to play video games with him, which he easily accepts. They go into his room and get onto the Xbox, the two of them sitting on the extremely large bean bags, and Josh sits with his shoulders against Tyler's stomach, watching them.

He doesn't play video games himself, but he thinks it's cute how into it Tyler gets.

It's not until the second game, after Tyler and Jordan cheered very loudly and irritably from winning, where Jordan slumps further and says, "You know, the walls are thin."

Josh has no idea what he means, so he doesn't respond.

This leaves Jordan to continue.

"I heard what you two were talking about after mom left your room earlier." He mutters, shaking his head. "You guys are so gross."

Tyler laughs at that, but Josh doesn't find it nearly as amusing because it's his brother insinuating that he heard Tyler and him talk about their sex life. Ew. This is horrible. He turns around in Tyler's lap and hides his face into his thigh, groaning.

"You told mom Tyler was going to sleep in so you didn't have to go to the movies just to have sex." Jordan keeps going, and Josh really, really wishes he wouldn't. "That's gross, but smart. Maybe I should do that."

That's what makes Josh lift his head up. "Um, fuck no. You're only fifteen, you do not need to be having sex."

"I can't hear you over how much your voice is cracking." Jordan smirks, eyes never leaving the screen.

Josh huffs. "I'm serious."

"I'm serious." Jordan mocks him, forcing his voice to crack.

Tyler laughs to himself.

Josh bites his thigh.

"Ow! What the hell, Josh?" He looks down at him, brows pulling together.

"Don't laugh. I know all your darkest secrets; I can expose you at any moment." Josh says, because it's true. He can make Tyler just as embarrassed as him right now, maybe worse if he really wanted to. Say that Tyler loves it when he fingers him because it's surprising, and how despite being able to gain control, he'll beg for cock when he's desperate.

Tyler's cheeks go hot, looking back at the game and clearing his throat.

He knows. He should.

Josh nods, and Jordan's eyes widen, blinking a few times.

"Okay, then." He mumbles. "I really don't want to know. . ."

Josh never does tell him, and probably wouldn't have either way. If anything, it would only make his and Tyler's relationship awkward, and he wouldn't want that. Jordan likes Tyler, obviously, and he wouldn't want to mess that up.

Still, it's fun to play around.

***

Tyler stays over the entire weekend, even Monday night, and Tuesday, and Wednesday. He wears some of Josh's clothes considering he had nothing packed besides everything from Friday, which is a pair of jeans and a button up shirt, as well as his his basketball uniform, and finally saying "see you tomorrow," instead of, "goodnight," never gets easier.

Maybe being so dependent on each other should be more concerning, but neither of them are worried. It's so easy to be with one another, so simple, which leaves them to question why shouldn't they just be together all the time?

Distance is good, yeah, but so is being able to roll over in the morning and kiss despite the horrible taste, or help one another with homework, or shower together because it's more. . . Efficient.

Tyler and Josh aren't Tyler and Josh if they're separated.

And, Josh supposes that's obvious, because at dinner, his dad grips his shoulder and says, "You'll see him tomorrow, you know, bud."

Josh nods numbly. "Yeah."

He finishes his meal and showers alone, lays in bed and stares at the ceiling. Life is black and white without his muse. He'd say it's because Tyler is one of the only people now who overwhelms him with happiness, but he knows that's not all it is. Tyler's more than just happiness, he's the only person who gets him inside and out. When him is her, or her is them, Tyler doesn't bat an eye. He kisses Josh's forehead and will comment, "You look beautiful today."

Josh smiles. Always, always smiling with Tyler.

Tyler is sunshine, right? Wherever he walks, the storm clouds can't follow. He plays with Josh's bandanas and uses them as reinforcement, a comfort mechanism, touching his body softly even if he's crying about dysphoria that randomly hits during the night.

"You know what I told my mom yesterday?" He once brought up on a night like that.

Josh sniffled. "Yeah?"

Tyler smiled for a moment. It's too dark to have seen, but it's a kind of feeling that radiates, anyways. "When you came over for dinner, sat across from me, wearing that super pink lip gloss and that mascara that makes your eyes so much bigger," he continues, mindlessly, humming to himself when he remembers. "I leaned over and said to her, she looks so pretty tonight, and Mom leaned back and said, you're so right."

Josh cried harder, holding Tyler like he would slip away, thriving woefully in that reassurance.

Tyler is reassurance, he knows. Without Tyler, he'd be miserable. And maybe it's another night like that one, because he finds tears slipping down his face while his phone rings, reminding him of how terrible he is alone. Under a roof full of uncertainty.

"Baby?" Tyler answers.

Josh cries. "You should've-should've stayed one more night."

Tyler doesn't have to ask him what's wrong; the two of them have been through this one too many times. "Just think, soon enough, there won't be much to worry about besides taxes and bills." He says. "Only you and I and our small house. You can wear dresses if you want, or lay on the couch with your dick out. And we'll have a dog."

Josh can't help but laugh through the torment. "Yeah. We will." He murmurs.

"What'll his name be?" Tyler wonders. He knows, he still asks.

"Jim."

"Mhm," silk, honey, sun. "He'll be our little boy. The only little boy we'll need or want, and we'll spoil the absolute fuck out of him."

Josh puts him on speaker when his sobs become too much to handle, resting his phone down onto the comforter before brushing his tears away. "We will, Ty. We will." He whispers, breath stuttering. "He'll be the-the-the most beautiful golden retriever anyone has ever seen."

Tyler hums. "Just like you,"

Josh shakes his head in response, sighing. "I'm not a golden retriever."

"I meant," Tyler starts. "You're the most beautiful person I've ever seen. How lucky am I to know you're all mine? I'm the only one who gets to kiss you, and touch you, and love you."

"I'm the lucky one." Josh utters.

There's not a doubt in his mind. Tyler doesn't have to be his boyfriend, but he is. Tyler doesn't have to stay over with him most days, but he does. Tyler doesn't have to devote himself to him, but he does. Tyler doesn't have to accept him, but he does, and why is he deserving of that?

"Spend the night at mine tomorrow, yeah?" Tyler suggests.

Josh needs out of his own house.

He's trapped.

"Please." He breathes.

"I'll tell my mom." Tyler decides, clearing his throat a little. "Bring whatever you want, okay? Whatever. You know you're safe here. You don't have to be scared."

Josh closes his eyes and takes it all in, nodding, nodding, nodding. Registering it. "I know."

Tyler's probably nodding as well. "I'll see tomorrow then, angel."

Josh smiles. So widely. Still though, it fades quickly, only because he's worried about their goodbyes. "Stay on the phone with me until I fall asleep, please." Tyler has done it time and time again; he knows how this works. When Josh's breathing labors, hangs, lingers, then he inhales like he was swimming and just came up for air, that's when it's safe.

"Of course," he mutters.

Josh curls up to himself under the covers. "You're the best thing to ever happen to me." He whispers, casually, tired. "I love you. I. . . Fuck, I love you so much."

"I love you most." Tyler replies. "Now sleep, and I need you happy and rested."

"I'm always happy and rested with you."

"Shut up, dork." Tyler chuckles. Music to his ears, a lullaby. "Goodnight."

No owls coo, but Josh's heart does. "Goodnight."