tyler spends the next few days helping josh prepare for some big party. between running errands with felix, keeping the house in control when josh is out, and making almost a grand per night, tyler is exhausted. he isn't sure if he even wants a party. josh says it's all for him, though, a celebration for him moving up the ranks. he can't just sleep through the whole damn thing.

there's a knock on his door, startling the boy out of his nap. josh enters without waiting for an answer, smiling upon seeing the sleepy brunette.

"aw, look at you."

"uh-huh," tyler mumbles, lazily wiping away the drool that pooled in the corner of his mouth. "what time is it?"

"party starts in an hour, if that's what you're asking," josh winks, entering the room and shutting the door behind him.

tyler takes a moment to appreciate the man in all his glory, dressed in a tight-fitting, white, button up shirt and black dress pants. the top couple of buttons of the shirt are undone, of course. josh notices himself getting checked out and chuckles.

"come on, dear. it's time to get up. where's that outfit we bought yesterday?"

tyler points to his dresser, where the pile of clothes sits on top of. rubbing the tiredness out of his eyes, he crawls out of bed and hugs josh.

"you're so cute when you're tired."

"uh-huh," tyler responds, lips curling slightly as a kiss is pressed to the top of his head. "let me get dressed."

"what, i can't watch?"

"if you want to," the brunette chuckles.

"nah, it's okay. meet me in the living room when you're done, i'm going to gather the girls."

"okay," he agrees. josh leaves after the two share a few kisses.

with a tired groan, tyler pulls on the outfit josh bought for him to wear tonight. black skinny jeans, a black shirt, a flower kimono, and all black converse. he stares into the mirror at himself, thinking the kimono looks a bit silly. josh insisted he wear it because he "would look beautiful" but tyler begs to differ.

the brunette combs his fingers through his hair in a lazy attempt to tame the growing fluff. after he stares at himself for a few seconds longer, only growing more and more insecure, tyler decides to just head downstairs before he has a mental breakdown.

everyone is waiting for him, again. except this time everyone casually stands around, less tension in the air than their previous meeting. tyler decides to stand with ashley, seeing as jenna is in a heated conversation with felix.

"no, the numbers on the toaster are for minutes."

"they are not," felix shakes his head. "it's for the toastiness."

"oh my god."

"okay," josh starts, interrupting their little argument. "as you all know, the party starts in a little less than an hour. i except everyone, everyone, to be on their best behavior. you know my rules, they're simple.

you are to make absolutely no advancements on any guests. if they come to you, offering money, then fine, i can let it slide. you are not to leave sight of your bodyguard. if one of them comes to me saying they can't find you, we will have an issue. no hard drugs, that should go without question. pot, fine. anything else, absolutely not. if someone offers you a cigarette, do not fucking take it."

he pauses and raises an eyebrow at hayley after that one. she offers a tight-lipped smile.

"any questions?"

"yeah, actually," ashley says, half-way raising her hand. "what if i want to fuck jenna again?"

"again?" tyler's eyes widen.

"it happened last time we got drunk," she shrugs.

"yeah, whatever, i guess that's fine. anything else? no? okay, you're dismissed."

"wow," jenna says, turning towards tyler. "who is that and what have you done with josh?"

"huh?"

she laughs. "he's being more laid-back than usual. i like it. keep doing whatever you're doing," she winks, elbowing his side.

"whatever," tyler says. he rolls his eyes but can't help the smile that follows. "anything for you, jen."

"so anyway," she says, turning back to felix. "i can't believe you're so stupid. the toaster-"

"tyler," josh calls out, ruining the boy's eavesdropping. "come help me in the kitchen."

"yes, sir," the brunette nods, quickly joining the man in the other room.

together, they set out several snacks: a cheese, pepperoni, and crackers platter, a veggie tray, fruit salad, a bowl of olives and a jar of pickles (tyler's request), two dozen brownies, and two dozen chocolate chip cookies, both of which jenna made. they concoct a bowl of spiked punch next, then spread out the various bottles of liquor on the countertops. josh sticks bottles of soda into a cooler of ice while tyler intricately places a few shot glasses before each liquor bottle, then sets out plastic plates and solo cups.

"looks good to me," tyler shrugs, taking in everything they'd done.

"yeah, me too," josh agrees. "oh, by the way, i forgot to tell you how beautiful you look in that kimono."

"thanks." tyler smiles sheepishly, standing on his tippy-toes to kiss the man. "i'm kind of nervous."

"how come, dear? you've got nothing to worry about, i'll be by your side all night," josh assures, hugging him against his chest.

"just not really a people person, i guess. i don't like being surrounded by people i don't know. this sounds dumb, but it makes me scared. i'm sorry," tyler frowns, knowing how stupid he probably sounds. he definitely feels stupid.

he's josh's new bottom. he's supposed to be brave and strong, not scared and weak-minded...

"hey, why are you sorry?" josh asks, grabbing the boy's chin and lifting his head so they make eye contact. "you have nothing to be sorry for. i get it, that's not dumb. that's serious."

tyler offers a weak smile, despite his hands shaking from the thought of having so many people over. "yeah..."

"i'll be right with you, okay? if not me, then felix. if you start feeling anxious or want to get away, just tell one of us. we'll take you to my room. okay?"

"okay," tyler replies, feeling like he wants to cry. he doesn't know why, exactly. maybe it's just that he feels so stupid or maybe it's because of josh's changed demeanor. he's kinder, more caring, more understanding. he's trying, and it means a lot to tyler.

"you'll be safe, i promise. everything will be okay. god tyler, i really think i l-"

"hey guys," felix interrupts, sneaking up on them. "oh, sorry, did i interrupt something?"

"no," josh says, taking a step back from the boy. and tyler just wants to cry more.

josh is trying, sure, but it's like he's still afraid to show tyler affection in public. even in front of felix. it's annoying, and what's even more annoying is that felix stopped josh from saying something tyler was sure was going to be along the lines of "i love you."

"okay, well the first guest is here. some guy from a few towns over."

josh nods. "if at any point throughout the night tyler tells you he needs to take a break, take him to my room and stay with him until he's calmed down."

felix nods, no questions asked. tyler appreciates it.

"come on, ty, let's go greet our guest."

~~~

it's about an hour and a half into the party, and it's safe to say tyler is absolutely smashed.

he's done shots with jenna and ashley, shared a cup of punch with felix, and shotgunned a can of beer with some old man he can't even remember the name of. it's great, he feels great.

josh has done a good job of introducing him to nearly everybody and making him feel secure. he's not sure where josh is now, he's too busy giggling with felix at the sight of jenna and ashley making out.

"that's ssso hot," felix grins, his arm wrapped around tyler's shoulders.

"i wanna do that with josh," tyler pouts. "where's he at? haven't seen him... for like ever."

"not sure," felix responds. "talking to thaaat russian dude, maybe?"

"maybe," tyler nods, glancing around. the room is spinning, his eyes half-shut. there's so many blurry people, he can't make out any clear faces or distinctions. "miss him, felixxx, gotta find him."

"kay," the blonde agrees. "jooosh!"

"joooosh!" tyler joins in yelling, making both of them laugh. "ah, god. where is that fucker?"

"felix."

"ah, shit!" felix yells, both boys turning around to find josh standing behind them. "ahhh, hey man! we were lookin' for you. tyler wants to make out," he grins, making kissy sounds.

"i'm so sorry, baby," josh says, giving the brunette a quick kiss. "but i don't have the time right now. felix, we have a problem. are you too fucking drunk or can you help me?"

"nahh, i'm not drunk, dude! i got you, come on. what is it?"

"hey, wait-" tyler tries to stop them, but they're gone before he can get another word out. well, shit. what's he gonna do now? he glances around the room, smiling upon seeing a bottle of vodka. he takes a few gulps, nose scrunching at the burning sensation.

"damn, a boy can drink," an unfamiliar voice says.

"hey, sorry, want some?" tyler asks, turning to a man he hasn't met yet and holding out the bottle.

"i'm good," he chuckles. "you're tyler, right?"

"the one and only," the brunette smiles proudly. "s'like i'm famous orrr somethin'!"

"you're also wasted."

"yeaahhh.." tyler laughs. "you got me. who're you, anyway?"

"a good friend of josh's," the man grins, and tyler is too drunk to tell whether he's being sarcastic or not.

"ohhh, cool! i love josh, man. he's great."

oh, wait. fuck. did tyler really just say that? he really just said outloud that he loves josh. and to some random fucking man. well, it could've meant nothing, right? people can love someone as a friend... yeah.

the man raises a confused eyebrow, then grins again. "i see."

except it's probably obvious that tyler love loves josh. the man can probably tell from the look in his eyes and the blush on his cheeks. hopefully he just mistakes that as tyler being drunk.

"did i already ask who you are?"

"uh-huh," he responds.

tyler suddenly notices he's being led down the hallway by his elbow. "hey, wait," he frowns, confused. "where're we goin'? party'sss out there."

"i just wanted to show you something really cool i found," the man says. it's convincing enough for tyler.

"okay, cool!"

until suddenly, it's not.

until suddenly, tyler is being pulled into a bedroom, hayley's to be specific. it's cool until the door is being locked and tyler is shoved up against the wall, pinned by his throat. it's cool until tyler feels like he can't breathe and his palms are trembling.

"w-what-"

"shut up," the man barks. "i'll give you five thousand dollars if you just shut the fuck up for once. i have to see what's so great about you, what i'm missing out on..."

and tyler is too afraid to speak, so he just stands there, wide-eyed and breathless. who the hell is this guy and what gives him the fucking right? tyler opens his mouth, but a hand is clamped over it.

"you are one, stupid boy," the man chuckles. "what's so great about joshua, huh? he's got you wrapped around his fucking finger, doesn't he?"

tyler doesn't respond, he doesn't even move. he tells himself to just breathe, just steady his heart, just stop his fucking hands from shaking already.

"you realize he's brain washing you, right? he doesn't give two shits about some slutty little boy. he'll do whatever it takes to keep you around, whether it be fucking you or letting you think he cares about you. joshua doesn't care. he doesn't feel."

stop, stop, stop. stop listening tyler. just block it out. it's all wrong, all lies. isn't it...?

"you're wrong," tyler responds, his voice wavering. shit, he sounds so stupid.

"am i? certainly i know joshua better than you do, tyler. i know him better than anybody. whatever bullshit he's been feeding you, it's all just to get you to make him more money. that's all he cares about. he's a money hungry son of a bitch."

"no," tyler shuts his eyes, hoping it will somehow block of the words. "no..."

"i would never do that to you, honey. i could never play with someone's emotions like joshua does. it's just down right cold. you don't deserve that from him. you deserve better, a pimp who actually gives a damn about you. let me give that to you, honey."

"you-"

tyler is cut off when there's a sudden bang on the door. both jump, startled by the noise.

"shit," the man sighs. "well, you don't get your five thousand dollars. sorry, buddy."

"what?"

another bang, followed by a, "god dammit i know you're in there!"

"fuck off, asshole! i'm not hurting anybody," the man shouts back, finally letting go of his grip on the boy.

tyler hugs himself, looking back and forth between the door and the man with pure fear coursing through his veins. what's going on? is he going to get raped? is he going to get fucking killed? the shaking worked its way through his whole body now, each limb trembling rather violently.

"i will fucking kill you if you so much as laid a hand on him, urie!"

holy shit. tyler stares at the man in disbelief. it's him. it's brendon fucking urie. the man debby had warned him about. god, he feels sick. he needs to throw up. either that, or figure out how to fucking calm down.

"don't you worry your pretty little head, dun," brendon responds, chuckling once the door busts open. "i didn't hurt your precious boy."

tyler meets josh's eyes and immediately starts crying. he feels ashamed. he's weak, he's stupid, he's an embarrassment. the room is silent aside from the boy's crying.

"what did you fucking do to him?" josh asks, getting in brendon's face.

"nothing," he responds calmly. "you decided to ruin the fun before the fun even began. such a party pooper, joshua."

then suddenly, fists start flying. tyler doesn't know what to do, he's too fucking drunk for this. the room is too dark, he can't tell who is who anymore. he backs himself into the corner. tears leaking down his cheeks as he prays josh is going to fix everything.

it must've been at least five minutes of wrestling, punching, kicking, and groaning before tyler hears a gun click. he holds his breath, terrified of what's to follow.

"you get the fuck out of my house, right now, or you are a dead man."

"alright, sheesh, dun. there's no need for that. i can show myself out."

"felix, take his ass outside and make sure he doesn't come back."

felix, who had been standing in the doorway the whole time, holds a gun to the small of brendon's back as they leave. josh flicks the light on, his mouth dropping at the sight of tyler. the brunette can only imagine how awful he looks. his hair distraught, tears smeared across his face, whole body trembling despite being pressed up against the corner, and probably some nice finger-shaped bruises around his neck.

"oh, ty, i am so sorry."

and the tears flow harder. tyler runs at the man, capturing him in a tight hug. he doesn't care about getting snot on josh's white shirt, he just needs to be held right now. he doesn't feel safe anymore. he needs to feel safe.

"baby, i am so, so sorry. god, what was i thinking? i shouldn't have left you by yourself, i'm an idiot..." josh sighs, comforting the boy by rubbing his back.

"s-s'my fault," tyler sniffles. "should've known better... too drunk.. sorry, joshie..."

"shhh, it's not your fault, dear. it's not your fault at all. you had no idea. it's okay," he says in a low, calming voice. tyler just shakes his head.

"can't fight.. too weak, too stupid. i'm an embarrassment."

"hey," josh makes tyler look at him, only for the boy to find him frowning. "don't say that about yourself. you are not an embarrassment. i'm not ashamed of you at all, okay? you did a good job, tyler. you were so strong."

"nuh-uh," tyler refuses to agree, unable to get himself to calm down. "got too scared.. couldn't stop the f-fucking, ugh, the fucking shaking!"

"it's okay," josh sighs, letting the boy rest his head back on his chest. "it's okay."

"need a b-break," tyler hiccups. "can't calm do-down."

"okay, it's okay," josh repeats, lifting the boy up and holding him like a toddler. he begins carrying tyler to his room. they pass felix on the way, who looks extremely concerned for tyler, but josh shoos him away. once in josh's bedroom, the door is immediately locked and the two are laying in bed. "come here."

tyler curls himself up right next to josh, still crying as the man's arms close around him. josh doesn't say much now, he just rubs the boy's back and plays with his hair until he's able to stop crying.

tyler wants to pretend like he's only so emotional because he's drunk, but he knows it's more. he's traumatized, quite honestly. unable to stop replaying everything brendon said about josh over and over and over again. is it all true? is josh really just fucking with his mind to keep him around? is he really as money hungry as brendon said?

"hey, you," josh says softly, noticing the boy's crying has lessened. "what're you thinking about right now?"

"bad things," tyler admits.

"about?"

"everything."

"don't want to talk about it right now?"

"no," tyler shakes his head, deciding to just try his best to block out his thoughts and enjoy being held. he can't deny that it has helped him calm down. he's even stopped trembling, finally.

"okay, that's okay," josh says, and when tyler glances up at him it seems as if he's struggling with what to say.

he looks rather emotionless, honestly. maybe a bit disoriented, a little upset. it's hard to tell, and it's hard to believe. tyler knows he shouldn't listen to anything brendon says to him, but he can't help it. after all, he's had those same worries himself. and now that someone has confirmed them... well, tyler feels lost.

"i was going to kill him, tyler. i should've. especially now that i see those bruises around your neck. i should have fucking blown his brains out, god..."

tyler doesn't respond. he can't find the strength to. he just wants to wake up and find out this was all a bad dream and that he's actually still a renegade prostitute and that no man by the name of joshua dun even exists. his life would be a whole hell of a lot easier.

"i promise you, if he ever comes near you again, there will be hell to pay. nobody, fucking nobody, can try to take you awake from me and get away with it. you're mine, tyler."

the brunette gulps, feeling his hands start to act up again. "please stop," he says in a small, pathetic voice. "please..."

"oh my god, i'm sorry," josh sighs, holding the boy tighter. "i'm sorry, i didn't mean to upset you. do you want me to just leave you alone? would you rather be with felix?"

"josh, please," tyler urges. "stop. stop talking about it."

"right, you're right," josh agrees. "have i told you how beautiful you are?"

tyler involuntarily smiles, pursing his lips to try to hide the fact.

"you're so small, your body fits against mine perfectly. your skin is so soft it makes me want to rub your back all day long. your eyes are captivating, even when they're red and puffy. looking into them makes me feel like i'm floating on a cloud."

he's brainwashing you.

he'll do whatever it takes.

he doesn't feel.

all he cares about is money.

"josh?"

"yes, dear?"

"...nothing. i think i'm going to fall asleep."

"that's okay, ty. do you want to undress?"

the brunette nods, letting josh remove his clothes (except his briefs) and slide one of his t-shirt's over the boy's head. josh then follows suit, undressing until he's clad in only his boxers. together, they climb underneath the duvet.

tyler is still pressed tightly against josh's side, his head resting on the man's chest. he yawns, tangling their legs together. his eyes are shut, and josh must surely think he's asleep. because otherwise...

"i won't ever let anything happen to you. you're the most important person in the world to me."

....he never would've whispered that.

__a/n__

3500 words for your reading pleasure <3

love you guys