The car ride is short, Tyler is silent, Josh is too. They don't really feel like talking at the moment. The silence is somewhat comforting for both of them. Tyler needs space to reflect and Josh processes what happened a few moments before. Close. So close, their breaths mixing, heartbeats going in synch. And it all felt so right even though it shouldn't have. It was their first date, Tyler's actions felt rushed but god damn, his lips were so warm and welcoming. Why did it feel so right?

Finally. Tyler parks his car. The ride had slowly started turning tedious. Josh is happy to finally be able to stretch his legs. The only thing the boy is not very content with is leaving the comfort of Tyler's warm car.

The curly-haired boy's heartbeat speeds up when he sees where the small black car had been parked and all the troubling thoughts melt away almost instantly. His warm eyes fill with excitement, small hand gripping tighter onto the older man's over the center console. Josh's eyes quickly shoot over to Tyler, a bright smile on his face. Pure bliss, childish excitement.

"The fair?" Joshua gasps as the brunet opens the door for him. He had already hopped out to open the door for his date.

"Indeed it is," Tyler replies, quickly linking his fingers with Josh's softer ones.

His thumb caresses the back of the boy's hand, Tyler feels Josh shaking. With anxiety or excitement, Tyler doesn't dare to ask. Both of their hands are cold, Tyler's are slightly warmer, perhaps because he's dressed slightly warmer than the younger boy. Tyler wonders if the cold nipping at his soft skin bothers the boy. Josh's reddened knuckles scream for help but the boy seems unbothered. Tyler opens his mouth with the intention of offering Josh his gloves but the boy jolts forward making Tyler bite his tongue.

The two start walking, Tyler speeds up a bit to match Josh's pace. The boy would run if Tyler wasn't holding him. They were both equally as excited but Josh's steps are a tad more rushed than the older man's. Tyler feels like he's walking with an excited puppy.

The fair bursts with artificial light. The tiny bulbs are everywhere, every shape and form. Every both has different lighting and decorations, overlapping, plastered on messily, competing against each other. Everyone wants to be the brightest, the most vibrant. The smells and the sounds mix into one, shuffling, morphing into one colourful masquerade over Josh's head. The incoherent muffled chattering of the people is suddenly drowned out by the electricity buzzing inside the wires as it travels at the speed of light, supplying each and every booth.

Josh's head is spinning, tingles running up and down his body. He feels Tyler's hand clutching his stronger. From all the colourful things at the fair, the Ferris wheel is the most prominent. Looming over everything and everyone, it spins lazily, small reflections bouncing around the environment making it look even more chaotic.

Joshua is caught up in watching the Ferris wheel and many other smaller rides that he doesn't even notice his date had already bought the pricey tickets. Josh is brought back by a tight tug on his small wrist as Tyler ties a neon green park bracelet around it.

He focuses on the older man's hands as he carefully clips the plastic together, not too tight and not too loose. Just right. Josh can tell that he tries really hard to make sure it was comfortable enough, readjusting it a few times. It's quite cute, honesty. Josh feels a sudden tightness in his chest when the man's eyes capture his, gazes meeting for a few seconds before Josh glances away shyly. The unexplained tightness slowly passes and the boy breathes freely again.

The curly-haired boy's eyes widen with joy when he sees a game he's never played before. The boy had his fair share of fair games even though he grew up kinda poor. His parents always tried to get at least one ticket to five different games. He pokes Tyler's shoulder, trying to get his attention. It's quite easy since the man doesn't take his eyes off his date for more than ten seconds.

"Can we go over there?" Josh points at the small booth with a well-lit sign that reads 'Knife Toss'. Before Tyler can even get in a response as simple as a head nod, Joshua pulls him quickly like a little kid.

Tyler reads the rules before turning around to Joshua, explaining the game. It's quite obvious but the man recites it again, giving Josh instructions in a sugary voice. He feels like protecting the boy, he had this giddy vibe to him that makes the man's brain manifest butterflies and rose gardens around him.

Josh cannot stay still, he stares at the small knife in Tyler's hands. Its rounded edges are quite blunt for a good knife but sharp enough to wedge into hardwood if you throw it hard enough.

Tyler slowly runs his finger along the rounded edge. He tilts it slightly in the light, the glint it gives off nearly blinding. He quickly glances at the target and notices how hard you'd have to throw to achieve anything.

"Here," Tyler says as he drops enough money on the small table for four shots.

He takes the knives and hands one to Josh as if the boy couldn't grab them by himself.

Josh thanks him and adjusts his hand on the grip before instantly tossing it. No aim or anything. Just brute force. He flings it too low, missing the entire target. The small metal object lands in the grass behind the target. Josh huffs but then realizes he has three more. Three more opportunities to fail, if he keeps throwing them like that.

He quickly learns he indeed is not good at aiming as he misses the target with all but one, the single one that made it nowhere near winning a prize. It's barely at the edge, hanging on by a thread. A single blow of wind could rip the knife away.

Josh pouts as he looks up at the large red-panda stuffed animal, he really wanted to win it. Tyler quickly notices, looking down and swishing his beer he had bought earlier.

"Hold my beer." Tyler murmurs, holding in a small hiccup.

"Okay..."Josh quickly grabs it from his hands, not daring to take a sip because the smell was already telling him it was gross.

Josh looks over at Tyler and takes in how good he looks. The red lights of the booth were reflecting off his smooth skin, the man's cheeks are a bit rosy from the alcohol.

Tyler stands straight, legs slightly spread for a comfortable stance. The man flicks his wrist, the knife rolling between his fingers like a rippling wave before it flings across the air with a faint whistle as it splits the air.

Josh's eyes immediately widen and a gasp passed his perfect lips as the knife jabs into the middle of the target flawlessly.

Tyler takes another knife, brows furrowed slightly as the knife lies cool on his palm. He flings it again, the tip of the dull blade slices into the target mere inches away from the previous knife. Josh's eyes cannot widen more when the third knife lands perfectly in between the two, wedged tightly. This was no luck, only one hundred percent of skill.

"How-" Joshua starts, his dry tongue failing to produce any sound.

Tyler just smiles and hands the boy the big red plush panda that Josh was dreaming to get.
"How the hell," He questions as Tyler's beer is taken back and replaced with the large animal that's roughly half his size.

"Come here, I'll show you." Tyler gestures, still having one left. Josh slowly sets down the animal, gripping the knife.

Josh squeaks as Tyler walks behind him. He feels two strong arms around his waist.

The boy winces in pain as Tyler places one hand right over the bruise on his hip, But it goes unnoticed. The hand that isn't on his hip wraps around his fingers on the knife, angling his wrist and fingers right.

"Spread your legs a bit more." Tyler slightly kicks Josh's slim ankle, he had been standing straight up. Joshua can practically sense the smirk on his face as well.

Tyler's warm breath against the nape of the boy's neck sends tingles down his spine. Tyler shiver's too, grip intensifying.

"Keep your right foot forward," Tyler continues, his hand tenderly running up and down the boy's waist. "Left foot slightly ba-"

Tyler is cut off by a loud squeal when he tightened his hand around the boys hip. The pressure on the large, and new bruise doesn't feel too good. All because of Josh's clumsiness. The knife slips from Josh's grip and falls into the grass. The boy's eyes brims with tears. Tyler panics, he had no intention of hurting the boy and Josh feels bad as well. Tyler didn't squeeze him hard, the younger boy was just overwhelmingly sensitive.

"I'm sorry, did I-" Tyler loses his breath for a second "Did I hurt you?"

Josh shakes his head. His lip trembles as hot waves of pain send more and more throbs down his side. It feels like it's spreading and splitting when in reality it was just a little nudge and squeeze. Josh walks up to a bench to sit down, bringing his plush panda to squeeze it close to his heart. Tyler walks up to him hesitantly, hurting maybe even more than Josh.

"I'm sorry," Tyler places his hand on Josh's shoulder carefully, afraid to hurt the boy even more.

"It's okay," Josh murmurs burying his face against the soft plush toy.

"Can I-" Tyler inhales sharply, pointing at Josh's side.

The boy shrugs, he feels like dying from embarrassment and guilt right there and then on that cold bench. Tyler carefully unzips the boy's jacket and lifts his shirt up exposing the nasty looking green-ish purple bruise taking up the majority of his side. Tyler's face twists, a sudden flash of anger glimmers in his dark eyes.

"Who did this to you?" Tyler seethes, Josh buries his face in his plushie embarrassed to tell the truth.

"I-I did." Josh stutters

"Josh?" Tyler reaches for the boy's hand and cups it softly in his palms 'Tell me the truth."

"I-" Josh sighs "I'm j-just clumsy, I ran into my door and tripped... I'm telling you the truth, I swear."

"Joshie," Tyler says softly before cupping the boy's face in his hot palms "You gotta tell me everything."

"It was an accident." Josh's eyes glisten in the light.

Tyler carefully leans in even more, palms still on Josh's cheeks, cupping them with care.

"If anyone ever hurts you," Tyler says sternly, his voice almost demanding, "You tell me, understand?"

Josh nods, Tyler's palms are so pleasantly hot against his reddened cheeks. The boy closes his eyes, head leaning more into the man's burning touch. Tyler's thumb strokes the boy's face, warmth spreading rapidly inside both of their bodies.

"Promise me, Josh." Tyler speaks again "Promise that you'll tell me."

"I promise," Josh nods shyly

"Promise me that you won't let anyone hurt you."

"I promise." Josh nods again not sure if he'll be able to keep the promise.

Tyler sigh with content, his warm hands grip Josh's freezing ones.

"Promise me that you will say yes when I ask you out on a date next time," Tyler smirks

A delicate chuckle erupts from Josh's throat. His slender fingers intertwine with the older man's and it feels so right. Like two puzzle pieces put together.

"I promise."