3404 words

tyler sits at his desk working on a paper for his psychology class. his elbows rest on the wooden surface, fingers tangled in his brown locks as he breathes out a frustrated sigh. he's been trying to get started on writing the actual paper for around an hour, but realized the side of the argument he was trying to take was extremely flawed and it would make more sense to argue the other stance. he was able to find enough sources to back up his claims, but has just been sitting staring at the blank google doc for five minutes because he doesn't know where to start.

writing usually comes easy to him, but he's having a hard time collecting his thoughts today. his two halloween costumes are neatly folded on the dresser behind him, not even in his sight, but it's all he can think about. he and josh just recently bought the finishing touches for their costumes and they had yet to wear them in front of each other. tyler insisted on waiting, but now he regrets it.

he desperately wants to see josh's reaction to him dressed as blue from blues clues. if tyler himself thought he looked adorable in it, he can only imagine what josh will say. as for their other costume, tyler couldn't care less about how josh thinks he looks in a robe and sailor hat. what he really wants is to see josh in his playboy bunny costume. josh hasn't really shown him anything he purchased for the costume, so tyler has no idea what to even expect. he just knows it's going to be great.

he slowly raises his eyes from the desk back towards his screen, the empty document taunting him. ashley would be able to help him, but she's busy downstairs baking the apple pie he spent days begging her for. he couldn't possibly ask her to do this for him too. ryan might be useful, but he's busy on a date with brendon. tyler can't even fathom the idea of having to ask josh, so he just continues to stare helplessly at his screen.

with a slow exhale, he places his fingers on the keyboard and starts typing. he reads his first sentence but is unsure how to continue from that so he immediately erases it. his hands raise to his head again, dragging down his face as he groans. he takes another minute to collect himself before he finally comes up with the perfect introductory sentence.

just as his hands are hovering over the keyboard and about to type, the bedroom door opens.

his focus is gone just as quick as it came, his eyes quickly diverting towards the door where josh stands with a package in hand.

"josh!" tyler gasps, abandoning his work station and meeting his boyfriend in the doorway with a tight hug. "what are you doing here? you didn't tell me you were coming!"

"surprise," josh chuckles, squeezing the younger tightly and pressing a kiss to the top of his head. "i finished lab early so i went to the post office and grabbed this. it's a surprise for you."

he is about to hand tyler the package, the latter giddy with excitement, before he suddenly draws it back in towards his chest. "wait. were you busy?"

"no!" tyler is quick to fib, knowing josh is looking at the desk behind him. he doesn't care, he's dying to know what the surprise is.

"what were you doing, then?" josh raises an eyebrow, gesturing towards the desk where tyler's laptop still displays the empty google doc.

tyler groans, rolling his eyes as he turns away from josh to go shut his laptop. "nothing, just trying to get started on a paper," he admits, then when josh gives him a look he quickly adds, "but it's not due until next friday so i have time!"

"mhm, sure," josh teases, ruffling tyler's hair with his free hand while the other holds out the package. "here you go."

tyler is quick to tear the package open, pulling out two articles of clothing that are individually packaged in a plastic material. he thinks he knows what they are just from the colors, but doesn't say anything until he rips one of them open. he bursts into a fit of giggles as he holds up a bluey onesie in front of him, looking at josh with wide eyes.

"no way! you actually got them!"

josh watches with a big grin as tyler opens the other, thrusting the bandit onesie towards him. he holds it out in front of him, both boys examining their new onesies. tyler pulls josh in for a hug, thanking him profusely.

"i'm glad you like them, sweetheart. should we put them on?"

"duh!"

tyler doesn't give himself time to register his insecurities as he very swiftly strips to his underwear and dresses himself again in the bluey onesie. by the time he's done, josh is also clad in his. the sight makes tyler giddy with excitement, his contagious laughter spreading to josh as they both admire each other. tyler drags him over to the mirror, his body pressed against josh's as they examine their reflections.

"you look so cute, baby," josh gushes lovingly, wrapping an arm around the boy's waist and pulling him in closer.

he lifts the hood of tyler's onesie, chuckling at the boy's reaction. tyler gasps as the hood is pulled over his head, watching in the mirror as bluey's face and ears come into view. he reaches up to grab the ears, smushing them down flat and grinning when they stand back up.

"i love it," he murmurs, more to himself than to josh.

josh puts his own hood on, revealing bandit's face and his ears too. they beam at their reflections for a moment before josh speaks.

"i smelt something good when i got here. my guess is ashley's making something?"

tyler nods, unable to pull his gaze away from the mirror.

2 times 3 is 6...

"she's making apple pie with the apples we got from the orchard," he informs, studying the way his body rests perfectly against josh's as if they were two pieces from the same puzzle.

3 times 4 is 12...

"ahh, i see," josh hums, analyzing tyler for a moment before continuing, "i was thinking we should carve our pumpkins now since halloween is next weekend. what do you think?"

4 times 5 is 20...

"okay," tyler agrees, the soft pink hue on his face deepening as josh leans down and places a kiss on his cheek.

5 times 6 is 30...

lately, he's finding it more difficult to resist falling into little space in josh's company. he can't help the fact that his boyfriend makes it so easy for him to regress with his sweet words and gentle affection. not to mention the fact that tyler has started to feel more comfortable being vulnerable around him. he assumes josh also feels more comfortable now in his role as tyler's daddy, given how often he seemingly purposefully coaxes the brunette into little space.

tyler wishes he could build up the courage to ask josh whether he prefers him to be big or little, but he doesn't think he actually wants the answer to that. he chooses to stay ignorant, allowing josh's fingers to lace with his own as the older leads them downstairs.

they poke their heads into the kitchen to find ashley closing the oven door and pushing buttons to set the timer. she wipes her hands on her apron, sighing in relief as her eyes land on josh and tyler.

"hey guys," she greets, quickly removing her apron and setting it on the counter. she rinses her hands off in the sink, a thin layer of sweat coating her hairline as she rambles.

"i have to go. i was supposed to leave ten minutes ago to watch something debby's in, but i underestimated how long it would take me to make that pie crust. it's in the oven now. can you just take it out when the timer goes off? you can just leave it on the counter and i'll take care of it when i get back. i made apple cinnamon oatmeal cookies too, but they're cooling off right now. they should be good in like ten minutes. save some for me, would you? see you!"

she doesn't take a second to breathe between sentences and is out the front door before tyler and josh have time to process. they stand in the doorway to the kitchen, eyeing the cookies that sit on a wire cooling rack.

"come on," josh speaks, patting tyler's back, "i'm gonna go grab the pumpkins. can you cover the table with newspaper or something?"

"newspaper?" tyler frowns, a soft blush creeping to his cheeks as his voice comes out smaller and more high-pitched than he intended. "don't think we have any."

"ummm, that's okay. you can use a garbage bag. it should fit over the table if you cut it open..." josh hesitates. his thumb and index finger grab hold of tyler's chin, turning the boy's attention away from the cookies and forcing him to meet josh's eyes.

his face only grows hotter under josh's stare, peering up at the older through his delicate lashes. his skin tingles where josh's fingers lay, a nervous smile working its way to his lips. "what?"

"can you do that for me, baby?" josh asks, "or should i?"

"i can," tyler assures, knowing darn well josh has already picked up on the shift in his demeanor. how hard can it be to cut open a garbage bag? actually, the answer is probably extremely difficult with how deliciously tempting those cookies smell.

"good boy," josh murmurs.

those two simple words are enough for him to finally let himself slip into little space, his tummy filling with butterflies as he offers josh a small smile. the latter plants a tender kiss on the his forehead, leaving tyler certain that his face is bright red.

josh goes to retrieve the pumpkins from their spots on the front porch. tyler knows he doesn't have much time before he comes back, so he quickly scurries to the cookies and lifts one to his mouth. despite not having crisped up at all since they haven't fully cooled, it's the yummiest thing tyler has ever tasted.

he hurries to eat the first one and then grabs another, using his free hand to rummage through the cupboard under the sink to find the garbage bags. he hums in satisfaction as he finishes eating the second cookie and debates grabbing another. before he can act, josh is back in the doorway to the kitchen with big, bright pumpkins tucked snuggly beneath his arms.

since tyler has made no progress on prepping the table, josh sets the pumpkins on the kitchen counter. he offers to help, but tyler stubbornly shakes his head and begins carefully cutting up the side of a garbage bag. the sweet cinnamon taste from the cookies still lingers in his mouth as he catches josh eyeing the cookies. the boy has to purse his lips to try and hide his sly grin.

once he finishes very crookedly cutting the garbage bag open, tyler carefully places it on top of the small kitchen table. it's just big enough to cover the surface. he waits as josh checks his phone to be told what to do next.

"okay," josh starts, tucking his phone back into his pocket, "where do you want to sit, dear?"

"hmm.." tyler ponders for a moment before choosing the seat facing the doorway, his back to the wall. "this one!"

the older smiles at his choice, gently placing the pumpkin tyler picked out for himself on the table. he places his own pumpkin beside it, about to say something when he interrupts himself to check his phone. tyler sits patiently, curious as to who josh is texting when he sighs at his phone.

"tyler?" he asks in a rather stern voice, eyes flickering between the boy and his phone.

his tone immediately floods tyler with guilt, the brunette shrinking slightly as he slumps his shoulders. his frame grows smaller as his mind does the same. "what, daddy?" he wonders, trying to maintain his innocence.

josh glances over his shoulder at where the cookies rest on the counter before turning his attention back to the boy, his gaze stern. "did you eat some of those cookies?"

"no," tyler lies, his eyes wide while he swallows thickly. he's a terrible liar and they both know it. he tries to hold josh's eyes but feels himself beginning to crack, dropping his gaze down towards his lap instead.

josh continues, "...because you know ashley said they weren't ready yet."

"mhm," the little one hums, his body growing hot under josh's unwavering stare, "i know..."

"and you didn't take any?"

"uh-uh."

"that's weird... ashley told me how many she made but there's two missing. i didn't eat any... and i didn't see you eat any either. unless you snuck them because you knew you weren't supposed to."

tyler is quiet, his face turning red as he slowly comes to realize he's not getting out of this. he's usually pretty well behaved, so he hasn't been in a situation like this with yet where josh is clearly not happy with something bad he did. but it's not his fault! those cookies were practically begging to be eaten.

his lecturing is only pushing tyler further into little space.

"nothing to say, huh?" josh places his index finger beneath tyler's chin and gently lifts his head upwards, urging their eyes to meet.

he raises an eyebrow at the brunette who can't seem to find his words. he just blinks at josh, nervously chewing on his lower lip. it's a bit strange and tyler can't quite explain it, but despite the anxiety he feels knowing he's going to get in trouble, the intensity behind josh's eyes makes his tummy flutter with butterflies.

"you knew what you were doing was naughty, didn't you?" josh beckons further.

he almost wants to argue and test the older just to see what would happen, but decides against it. for now, at least.

"yes..." he finds himself admitting, watching a half-smile tug at the corner of josh's lips.

"i know, hon. did you really think you could lie to me?"

tyler shakes his head slowly, not breaking eye contact with the older. "no, daddy."

"well," josh sighs, removing his finger from below tyler's chin and instead patting his head, "i probably would've just let it go if you didn't try to lie to me. but i think this means no more sweets for tyler tonight."

"what!?" the younger whines, putting on his best puppy-dog eyes and jutting out his lower lip. "i'm sowwy, daddy..."

"i forgive you, baby, but you're not supposed to lie to me. that's a rule, remember?"

tyler groans, knowing full well that he's right. "but, daddy... apple pie."

"i guess you'll just have to have some tomorrow, won't you dear?" josh offers a smile, holding tyler's face in his hand and rubbing his thumb back and forth across his cheekbone.

"daddy," tyler tries again, "pweeeease?"

"no, tyler. stop begging or we won't carve pumpkins tonight either," the older threatens, raising an eyebrow as if to say try me.

tyler wants to argue; he wants to yell and cry and beg josh to let him have more dessert. he wants to scream that it's not his fault and maybe josh shouldn't have left him alone with the cookies. he wants to see how far he can push it before josh either gives in or increases his punishment. he chooses not to do any of these things, though, afraid showing josh his bratty side would result in him no longer liking the boy.

he's ultimately the one who gives in, sighing heavily. "m'kay, daddy. i's still sowwy."

"i know, tiny," josh murmurs, the nickname making tyler's heart swell. he gingerly takes tyler's hand and raises it to his lips, pressing an affection-soaked kiss to the back of it. "let's carve our pumpkins now, yeah?"

"daddy's mad at me?" tyler whispers, returning the frown josh gives him.

"no, silly. daddy's not mad at you. you're still my little boy."

tyler's heart leaps. he fails to fight the smile that spreads across his face, his cheeks flushing as josh places a kiss against his forehead this time. "m'kay."

"okay? ready to carve some pumpkins?"

"yep!" tyler declares, popping the 'p'.

the two quickly forget about the prior predicament as they get to work on their pumpkins. josh carefully cuts the tops off both of them, laughing along with tyler as the latter squeals each time he sticks his hand in the pumpkin to remove its squishy guts. when their pumpkins are empty (tyler's mostly thanks to josh's help) and the pumpkin seeds are separated for them to bake, the two carefully use a sharpie to draw on their design.

"can i see?" josh asks, gesturing towards tyler's pumpkin.

the boy shakes his head, tongue captured between his teeth as he carefully uses a little carving tool to follow the outline of the T + J that he made. "is a surprise!"

"ohh, okay," josh grins, looking down at his own. "mine's a surprise too, then."

they work quietly and diligently, being sure to take their time as they cut shapes into the pumpkins. tyler's wrist is burning by the time he's finished, whining as he holds it against his chest.

"lemme see," josh urges, offering an outstretched hand. tyler sets his wrist in josh's palm, goosebumps forming over his skin as the older places soft, firm kisses to the inside of his wrist. "better?"

"uh-huh!" tyler squeals, the tips of his ears burning as josh flips his hand over and also kisses the back of it. "daddy?"

"yes, baby?"

"you always do that," he points out, his small smile turning into a toothy grin when josh repeats his actions. "see!"

"what can i say? i just adore you," josh speaks warmly, kissing the back of tyler's hand once more as if to prove his point. "i'm all done if you're ready to see."

tyler tries to ignore the pounding heart in his chest, josh's words making his head spin. although they don't quite carry the same intensity as i love you, tyler finds himself wanting to tell him, i love you too. he wisely decides against it, the words caught in his throat as he returns the smile josh gives him. "m'kay."

josh doesn't hesitate to turn his pumpkin around, revealing J  🖤 T carved into the front. tyler squeals, quickly spinning his around to show his very similar design.

"stop, that is too cute," josh grins, his laughter mixing with tyler's giggles. "i think we must be soulmates, or something."

"you t'ink so?" tyler chortles, taking josh's outstretched hand and lacing their fingers together.

"i know so," josh confirms, "now, come on. it's starting to get dark out. let's go put them on the front steps."

tyler carries his pumpkin with ease this time around since its contents are now gone. he carefully places his pumpkin on the step below josh's, angling them slightly towards each other. the older lights two tealight candles and carefully places them inside each pumpkin, snuggly fitting the lids on top.

it's chilly outside, a shudder rippling through tyler despite the warm onesie wrapped around his frame. josh is quick to wrap an arm around him and pull his body flush against his own, instantly warming the boy as a deep blush spreads throughout him. they stand side-by-side, admiring the soft orange glow spilling from the pumpkins. tyler is proud of his neat carving, and even more proud that josh's displays a similar message.

J  🖤 T.

(a/n: heyyy lovies!

we're almost at 3k reads on this story that's so crazy :') thank you guys i love you all sm

i'm so excited to write the next couple of chapters and i apologize in advance mwahaha

i wish i had time to update more frequently but i work 10 hour shifts sun-wed and simply can't be bothered before work :-)

anyway, let me know your guys' thoughts! i hope you enjoyed! <3)