Josh draws small shapes into the cloudy window using his finger. He waits for Tyler to buy the doughnuts and hurry back to the car. The rain starts pouring again while the man was in the shop, meaning he'll have to walk back in the rough storm. Josh's eyes gaze at the sky through the foggy window, droplets race each other down, eventually merging into one stream. Josh feels at peace watching the water run down the glass. It's soothing, the pitter-pattering is like a natural lullaby. Josh's head falls forward, the boy jolts awake, chuckling that he almost fell asleep.

Josh laughs as he watches Tyler almost slip on a wet leaf due how fast he's running. Josh is thankful he doesn't drop the doughnuts, though. The man's legs wobble on the slippery ground, Josh watches Tyler's lips move as he curses. The sound of Tyler's words is muffled by the soft rain.

"Goddamn, it's cold out there," Tyler exclaims as he hands the boy the box of sweets and slams the car door once he's in.

Tyler shakes his head softly making a hail of cold droplets fall on his knees and chest. Some land on the steering wheel, Tyler wipes the water off with his palm, grumbling something about the interior being brand new.

"Holy shit" Josh's eyes widen in awe when he opens the box, immediately grabbing one of the circular pastries.

The boy is drawn to it because of the lack of overdone sprinkles and simple pink frosting. He looks over at the man and lifts the doughnut in his hand, silently asking if he's allowed to eat it yet. Tyler stares into Josh's pleading puppy eyes, wide and glittering. How could he say no to that face?

"...You can have it if you pass me one first." Tyler hesitates at first, knowing there will be crumbs all over his clean car.

"Thank you!" Josh beams, handing the man a doughnut before taking a large bite of his own.

As the younger boy bites into the doughnut, he practically moans. Tyler's eyebrow rises with intrigue meanwhile Josh's face redden from embarrassment.

"I wish you sounded like that when I was with you..." Tyler stifles a laugh, Josh slaps the man's shoulder

"Oh, shut up," he murmurs, smiling widely at the man joke

Josh sets the box on the back seat, wrapping the seat belt around it. He doesn't want the fragile box to slide off when the car comes to a stop. Josh assumes that the two are going to Tyler's house because it's closer, but soon the boy realizes he's wrong as they pass the turn they should've made.

"Why don't we go to your house?" Josh points out, mentally counting out how many times the man had been to his place.

Tyler's jaw tenses, he glances at Josh for a brief second before getting his eyes back on the road. The soft music emitting from the radio fills in the uncomfortable silence that had fallen over them. Josh assumes Tyler's not going to answer but after a long, unnecessary pause he does.

"It's nothing special," Tyler continues before Josh can talk again. "Plus, it's being renovated. It's not safe."

"B-but," Josh pouts "From the outside, I saw that-"

Tyler's hands grip the wheel tighter, Josh shuts his mouth not wanting to provoke a reaction. He knows that Tyler is tense today, the man had a rough day but sometimes Josh's inner child comes out and he couldn't help but nag.

"I just wanted to say," Josh says softly, thinking that his soft voice would somehow make Tyler any less pissed "It can't be that bad, right?"

"Josh, you can't-" Tyler takes in a sharp breath when he is cut off again

"If you can live there that means it's not that unsafe-"

"Josh," Tyler's voice rises, shutting the boy up with a squeak, "I said no."

The younger boy sinks down in his seat, a cold tremor in his heart. Tyler never yelled at him before and this was pretty close. The man continueS driving, eyes sharp and on the road. Josh tries to shrug the feeling off but it sat on top of his chest heavy.

Tyler only glances at Josh when they come to a stop in front of a traffic light, the man's face shifts immediately, there's a flash of guilt in his eyes. The man reaches his hand out to grip the boy's arm. Josh scoots away, pressing against the door as far away from the man as the small space of the car allows him.

Tyler sighs, lungs expanding with a shiver as he inhales.

"There are bare wires on the floor," Tyler states, voice as calm as it could possibly be "And even if I tell you to watch out I can't risk you getting hurt."

Josh allows the man to touch him, scooting back in the seat. Tyler's hand land on his thighs where the boy places his own hands on top, lacing their fingers together.

"It's dangerous,"

"You can get hurt as well," Josh bites his lips, stroking the back of the man's hand with soft fingers

Tyler's digits grip Josh's tighter. He brings Josh's knuckles up to his mouth, a soft kiss is all that Josh needed to calm down.

"I'll be alright, flower," Tyler smirks, pleased that his angel cares about him too "You don't have to worry."

"When will it be done?" Josh asks, scared to be too nosey "The renovation?"

"In a couple of weeks," Tyler shrugs, removing his hand from Josh's grip to change the gear "Maybe a month. I don't know."

"Can I visit then?" Josh's eyebrows rise with hope

"Of course, precious," Tyler nods "Any time you want."

"Oh, okay. " Josh accepts it easily, turning up the music dial up and changing the radio stations until he finds a song he knows.

♢♢♢

"You're still shaking." Tyler points out as he gently wraps a thick blanket around the boy, shifting so Josh is leaning against him.

The box of sweets had been temporarily abandoned on the kitchen counter when the man noticed how cold the boy still was. He cannot let his precious flower get sick.

"How about a warm bath?" The man lists over ideas of ways to keep Josh warm, he knows the boy was already getting sick, though.

Josh hums and snuggles into the brunets side, the warmth making him feel protected. His eyes fall shut as he gets comfortable, head lazily leaning against Tyler's shoulder. Tyler takes that as a yes, wrapping the blanket tighter around the boy and slowly lifting him off the couch. Tyler lays Josh on the soft bed once he's made it up the stairs, propping him up against the headboard with a few pillows behind him.

Tyler quietly walks to the bathroom across the hall, taking the doughnuts with him for some reason, leaving both doors open on his way in case Josh needs him. He fills the tub after checking the temperature several times to make sure it's perfect for his flower. Of course, he doesn't forget to add the bubbles. The box of pastries sits quietly on the bathroom counter.

"Love? Are you asleep?" Tyler whispers as he walks into the small room, slowly approaching the bed.

Tyler soothes his fingers through the soft, black curls on Josh's head. He gets an answer of a small 'No' being mumbled, barely heard by Tyler. The man unwraps the shaking boy from his blanket, softly grabbing Josh's smaller hand in his own. Josh immediately wraps his legs around the brunets waist when he's picked up. He's shivering without his blanket, wanting to be close to any warmth he can find.

Tyler sorts through Josh's clothes and finds him a warm pair to change into, balancing the boy on his hip as he clings to the man like a baby koala. Tyler locks the bathroom door once he enters although there's no need for it. He does that out of habit sometimes.

"Can I take these off?" Tyler questions, softly gripping the hem of Josh's borrowed hoodie and shirt, waiting for an answer.

Josh hums, but the brunet doesn't take it; he waits for actual words.

"Use your words, flower," Tyler says, soft air tickling Josh's cheek

"Yeah," Josh confirms, lifting his arms to help get his hoodie off, shirt following right after it.

Josh wraps his arms around his torso as the cold air hits his bare skin. The boy's toes curl, he feels the heat of the water coming from the tub and all he wants to do right now is submerge into it as fast as he can.

"Is this okay?" Tyler makes sure as he hooks his thumbs on the inside of Josh's pants. He wants to make sure the boy is as comfortable as possible.

"Yes," Josh's voice is muffled against the man's shoulder

Tyler holds the boy's clothes, setting them next to him on the counter in a neatly folded pile. The man helps Josh off the counter, lifting him and gently setting him in the warm tub. Josh shivers at the temperature change but quickly adjusts, sliding down so only his head is peaking through the layer of light pink bubbles.

"Where are you going?" Josh sits up a bit as he hears Tyler unlock the bathroom door to leave.

"To wait for you in your room," Tyler assumes Josh isn't quite comfortable with sharing a bath with him yet

"I thought you were joining." The boy whispers, leaning back in the bathtub thinking Tyler was leaving the room.

"Do you want me to?" Tyler walks back into the bathroom, crouching down to the height of the tub and smoothing Josh's bubble-covered hair.

"Y-yeah." Josh bites his lip, face dusting over with pink.

Tyler couldn't tell if it was because of the cold or not. The boy plays with the bubbles as he waits, gathering them in his palm and blowing them around.

"Alright," Tyler says plainly, already tugging his shirt over his head

Josh stares at the foam as the man undresses, damp clothing dropping on the floor. The water level rises as the man climbs in, sinking down carefully, not to make the bath overflow and spill on the floor. The bubbles are dangerously close to falling on the ground but once the man adjusts the foam sinks down a bit. Josh is happy that Tyler poured a generous amount of bubble liquid, that way he can hide behind his white foam wall so that the older man couldn't see his blushy cheeks.

"Hey," Tyler's knees are bent all the way to his chest, the man looks uncomfortable

"Is this comfortable for you?" the younger boy questions

"No," Tyler chuckles, shaking his head lightly

Josh shifts in the bath resulting the water to splash out a bit but it's nothing he couldn't clean up after, just a few drops of water on the tiled floor. The boy manages to turn around, sliding closer to Tyler until his back is against the older man's chest. It's warm and soft, Tyler's skin is soft against Josh's freckled back.

"Is this good?" Josh asks not turning his head to look at the man. He lays his arm along the side of the bathtub and relaxes back.

"It's perfect," Tyler runs his soothing hand along Josh's sloping shoulders "Just what I needed."

Josh giggles, Tyler's fingers gently massage his shoulders, tickling him in the process. Josh's neck cranes upwards and the boy can't take it anymore.

"What if I give you a message instead?" the curly-headed boy suggests, turning slowly in the bath
"That would be great," Tyler's hands, wet and soapy, grip the boy's sides

Josh smiles softly. He straddles the man, wiggling his hips to get into a comfortable position. His movements are slow, almost as if the boy had become water itself. Tyler bites his lip, hands roaming up and down Josh's torso, owning it. His. Josh was all his.

"No," Josh snorts as the man threatens to tickle him again "Relax."

Tyler's head falls back, he closes his eyes to enjoy Josh's gentle hands squeezing his shoulders, fingers pushing against his skin. The hot steam rises from the water forming dew on both of their skins. Josh's soft hands on Tyler's chest, on his skin, burning it like paper and the man loves every second of it. There's something about Josh that makes the man's usually collected, calm and chill personality fall apart like a house of cards. With Josh, he is giddy, with Josh he is smiling. With Josh Tyler is happy.

"Whatcha thinking about?" Josh stops massaging for a second, Tyler's eyelids flutter shut

Tyler's fingertips dance on Josh's skin for a moment before they trace back to his own chest, bringing Josh's hand there as well. Tyler smiles, pressing Josh's hand against his heart to feel it thumping. The boy chuckles, caressing the skin tenderly with his thumb.

"I don't know," Tyler answers "You... I guess? You. Always."

"Gosh, how am I supposed to answer to that?" Josh jokes, already wiping a tear from his eyes

"That's the trick, you don't," Tyler pulls the boy closer "You just have to kiss me."

"I can do that," the boy whispers before connecting his lips with Tyler's and it feels like heaven

Josh has his hands thrown around the older man's neck, Tyler's strong arms snake around the boy's torso, holding him so close. The boy suddenly gasps and backs away. Tyler's facial expression changes drastically, thinking that he did something wrong.

"The doughnuts!" Josh exclaims, already bending over the edge of the bath to reach the box

"Careful," Tyler warns, helping the boy get a better grip on the box

Josh submerges his torso back into the water, holding the box higher up so it wouldn't touch the water. He shakes off the water of his hands before grabbing a doughnut and taking a big bite.

"What about..." Tyler gently takes the box from Josh's grip "I hold the box while you eat?"

"But how are you going to eat then?" Josh's eyebrows draw together with concern

The man opens his mouth slightly

"Feed me," he chuckles

Josh grabs a doughnut from the box, holding it up to Tyler's mouth as he bites it.

"Good?" Josh smiles

"Good." Tyler murmurs, mouth full

♢♢♢

The water is tepid, the bubbles are almost gone, so are the doughnuts. Josh is shivering again and Tyler realizes that it's time for them to get out. Tyler hops out first, grabbing Josh's robe off the hook since he didn't bring spare clothes. Josh climbs out as well with the help of Tyler, the man is already wrapping a fluffy towel around the boy, patting him dry thoroughly. Josh appreciates the help, his eyes can't stay open no matter how hard he tries. The younger boy is extremely tired even though it's only ten in the evening and he's known for staying up way too late.

"Tired, baby?" Tyler coos as he leads the sleepy boy across the room, into his soft and warm bed

"Mhm," that's Josh's only response, he's already half asleep

Tyler doesn't get under the covers no matter how much he wants to just lay next to his love and sleep till the morning. The lights are still on, the bathroom is a mess and Tyler didn't remember if he locked the front door. The man plants a soft kiss on his boyfriend's forehead before exiting. He leaves a night lamp on just in case. It's there for a reason.

Tyler cleans up the bathroom, throws Josh's and his clothes into the washing machine. He's glad that he
has a day off tomorrow. Tyler hopes the boy has a day off since he won't be letting the boy out of the house. Josh needs a lot of rest, his day was stressful. Tyler's teeth grits remembering Dallon, the way he hurt his precious flower. He hates that smug little face of his.

Tyler doesn't let his anger rise, the man distracts himself by cleaning and he really gets into it may be a little bit too much. Soon Josh's bathroom is spotless, so is the kitchen. The man hums a soft melody to himself as he sets up a spot to sleep on the couch after he's done cleaning the house.

The man hears soft footsteps coming from the stairs followed by soft creaking of the floorboards. The older man turns around to see a sleepy Josh, a blanket around his shoulder, his hands slowly rubbing his eye.

"Joshie, why aren't you in bed?" Tyler questions, the clock is showing half past midnight

Josh walks into the light, his facial expression is not what Tyler expects it to be. The younger boy is terrified, horror across his face as he quickly taps his feet, practically running to Tyler.

"There's someone outside," he whispers, body shaking visibly

"What?" Tyler doesn't believe the boy "It's the middle of the night, are you sure there's someone out there?"

"Yes," Josh lifts his head up "I saw a light, I think it was a phone screen."

"Are you sure you're not dreaming?" Tyler soothes his fingers through Josh's hair "Maybe it was just a bad dream?"

"N-no, I''m not crazy," Josh begins to shake "There's s-someone in m-my yard."

"Okay, calm down, precious," Tyler sits the boy down on the couch "I'll check it out, just stay here, okay?"

"No," Josh tugs at the man's sleeve "We should call the police."

"There's no need for that, maybe it's just a drunk guy," Tyler attempts to calm down the boy but it doesn't seem to work

"Don't go out there," Josh shakes his head

"I'm well protected," Tyler grins, reaching for his switchblade that's been resting on the coffee table this whole time

"No!" Josh tosses the knife somewhere on the floor, a metal clank follows after "Wh-what if you hurt them and you go to jail? I don't want you to go to jail."

Tyler sighs and goes to pick up his knife. He unfolds it and hands it to Josh.

"Hold onto this then," Tyler instructs "I'll go check it out."

"Grab my bat," Josh whispers

"You have a bat?" a chuckle emits from the man's throat "You play?"

"No," Josh confesses "I just have a bat... It's in my closet upstairs."

Tyler nods and immediately heads upstairs. There really is a bat hidden deep in the boy's closet. The man grabs it, swinging it lightly to feel its weight. He's more comfortable with a knife as his weapon of choice but a bat will do.

The man glances out the window before going downstairs. There's a weak flash of light in the darkness before it disappears. A shadowy figure rises from the bushes.