Camouflage: the ability to blend into one's immediate surroundings.

{tw: talk of panic attacks, scars, mention of PTSD, fights, masturbation, sexual-ish content (kissing while horny)}

PSA that even tho these characters are minors, they still get horny and will think about stuff like sex. They don't sex or anything like that but there will most likely be more minor sexual content in later chapters. If this bothers you please message me about it!

The next day, Josh and Tiana return home, much to the delight of their worried families.

Tiana's father enforced a curfew for her, stricter than the one that she had before so the only places she can go is her house, Josh's, and school. She doesn't always listen, which isn't surprising, so he installed Life360 on her phone to make sure she was always safe.

Josh's siblings were pissed off and super confused since they never got a clear answer why he showed back up covered in scars and with enough emotional trauma to last another two lifetimes. They'd all left to get on with their lives, though, so it was just Josh and his mom left in the house when he came back.

His mom, she... she just hugged him. She held Josh close, pissed off and in tears, and begged him never to disappear again. He knew that she knew but he couldn't talk about it. When she hugged him he melted and started sobbing, unable to get out any words to defend himself. It's the effects of Alley Cat's manipulation, he tells himself. It isn't.

The first day they go back to school, it's quiet. To be more accurate, Tiana is quiet, and that means everything else is as a result. Everyone immediately takes notice.

A few brave people ask about their absence. Josh makes up the half-assed excuse of them both ending up with the flu. He can tell nobody buys it but they don't try to poke holes into his story.

Some ask why Tiana limps and moves slower than before. Her back and leg are completely healed, but the nerve damage in both remains, so she can't turn and stand without hurting herself.

Other try to find out where Josh got his scars on his neck and ears. The ones from that night in VESSEL, the night Tiana lost her wing.

Every question asked hits them like a punch in the gut. The rates of Josh's panic attacks reach an all time high, so much so that he's on a first name basis with the school nurse. He's strung out every hour of every day, always jumpy and hyper focused, scared of every unexpected noise or movement.

Tiana acts the same way as he does, if not more violent. Just like before, she takes her overwhelming emotions out on other people. She's gotten into three fights in the month they arrived back, even hospitalizing one kid because she forgot how much stronger she is than others now.

Her carefree, loudmouthed reputation had been replaced with one of hushed rumors and averted eyes. Everyone except for Josh is scared of her.

They catch up easily with homework- it'd only been a week, but it felt like months- and fall into a steady schedule. It's comforting to have a schedule,

For the first two months, the tension builds as they try and stay away from the spotlight. The Alley Cat attacks become more sporadic and intense. Fearing for their family's safety, Josh and Tiana stop going out on patrols in January. They leave that task for Hayley, who they still haven't spoken to.

Tyler joins her sometimes, but spends most of his time either at Josh's house or at his own. He and Josh have become closer since Josh showed up half dead in the bushes. Josh trusts him almost as much as he does Tiana, but their relationship has a completely different dynamic.

See, not only has their anger been dialed to the highest setting, but all of their emotions have been fucked with. Even the less... innocent of emotions.

This is a long winded of saying that Josh, as much as he loves spending time with Tyler, can't be in a room with him for longer than two hours before his teenage hormones start to fog his brain.

February's around the corner and Tiana won't stop talking about getting cuffed. She wants cuddles, she says, cute coffee dates and more promiscuous after-dates. Despite everything that's changed, she's still loud and without a filter.

"Cuffing season was in October," Josh says as he's splayed across the couch, the two competitively playing Mario kart.

"So? I'm lonely and want a girlfriend," Tiana groans, sitting with Josh legs over her laps. She's in first place.

"And? I'm lonely want a boyfriend. We can just be lonely together."

She rolls her eyes. "Or... we could be not lonely. I am so full of sexual frustration I feel like I will explode."

"TMI," Josh scrunches up his nose. "I don't need to know how horny my best friend is."

"You're a guy, I know y'all are always horny," she laughs.

"Okay, so what? I'm fine with not doing anything about it."

Tiana wins and they immediately start another round. "Why don't you ask out Tyler?"

Josh whips his head at his best friend, moving so fast that his neck cracks. "What? Why?"

"Don't you have a crush on him?"

"Wha- I don't- he's not- no!"

She shoots him an unconvinced look. "You guys hang out as much as we do, you guys stare at each with heart eyes, and there's so much sexual tension that I could cut it with a butter knife."

He's so flustered that he can't even respond. Josh sputters for a few seconds, trying to come up with a way to respond and just ops to return his eyes to the screen.

Later that night, Josh lies in bed, staring at the ceiling his mind buzzing with thoughts.

As much as he's thought about it, Tyler's not his type. He's gay, sure, but not someone who would like Josh. Josh is... squishy, awkward, weak. Tyler is always angry, sharp tongued, and annoying, but also brave, kind when he wants to be, and selfless. Who wouldn't have a crush on him?

Nope. Nope, nope, nope, nope. Crushes are not on his agenda. There's too much on both of their minds to even think about something like that. Josh knows Tyler won't like him back, so why bother him with his own feelings? Whatever his feelings are.

Warning: sexual content ahead!!!

What if Tyler did like him? Would something happen between them? Would they date? Would they hug and kiss and-

His stomach churns almost painfully at that last thought. Josh groans in frustration and presses the balls of his hands into his eyes until he see stars, trying to pull his mind out of the gutter.

But Tyler's just so damn hot, especially in his hero outfit, and when they spar, Josh seems every lean muscle working under the tight leather.

He slithers a hand under the waistband of his sweatpants, sighing softly once he gets a hand around himself. He's too lazy to get his phone and google porn, so he just lays there, both unsure of his actions and already wanting more.

His mind wanders to Tyler again. How good he looks in his suit, how cute he is when he's flustered. How it would feel if he kissed Josh, if he held him, if he-

Josh arches off his bed as he moves his hand faster, biting into his hand to keep from making too much noise. He moans low in his throat, his hips bucking on their own accord.

All he's running on is Tyler, Tyler, Tyler. He knows it's weird and wrong, but any sense of reasoning has completely vanished from his mind.

When he's close, so close, he's interrupted by a small rap on his window. Josh jumps, his body going tense, before recognizing the silhouette and familiar glowing eyes as Tyler's.

He huffs, tries to adjust himself so he doesn't seem as suspicious as he's sure he looks, and goes to open the window.

Tyler looks at him with wild eyes, pupils almost drowning out the glow of his red eyes. Josh furrows his brows in confusion, stepping back once he gets the window open.

"Hey, is something wrong? You never come here in the middle of the-"

He cuts himself off when Tyler climbs through the window and starts to back Josh up. Tyler plants both of his hands on either side of Josh's head once they reach a wall.

"You're so fucking loud," he says, his breath tickling Josh's flushed face. "I could feel it for miles. Do you really feel that way?"

"W- what?" Josh whimpers. He then realizes. Tyler's an empath.

Tyler takes a step back, eyes flashing blue. "Oh, shit, I'm sorry if I intruded. It's just- I can barely sleep now become I'm always horny and it's getting really annoying."

Josh stares for a second, letting his words sink in, before letting out a snicker. "You too, huh?"

"I just want to be able to play one game of monopoly without having to leave to jack off in the bathroom."

That sends a frenzy of images to Josh's head- and dick- and Tyler's gaze goes shape and red again. He steps into Josh, a hand cupping his cheeks and kisses him, rough and impatient but sweet. Josh like him.

Josh squeaks, shocked at first, but allows his eyes to flutter closed. He puts his hands on Tyler's shoulders, steadying himself until they're both pinned against the wall. They grasp for each other's free hands, seeking purchase in their bodies as the world around them fades into ecstasy.

He doesn't have time to repress this emotion. No time to overthink it now. Josh just lets himself feel for once, freely and without fear.