just a small warning, but there's descriptions of needles and giving tattoos and stuff so if you don't like that stuff feel free to skip over it :))

tyler watched as josh gathered up the needed materials and placed them onto the carpeted floor of his bedroom. his brown eyes scanned over the items, acquainting himself with what each of them were; a pen and pencil, sewing needles, some thread, india ink, a lighter, and alcohol wipes. he was vaguely familiar with what each would be used for, but he would leave josh with the technicalities.

josh stuck the needle into the space between the metal and eraser on the end of the pencil and began wrapping thread around it, securing it in place. tyler was enthralled by the process and couldn't take his eyes off of it, but brendon didn't seem phased by it all.

"you seem like you've seen josh do this before," tyler commented, gaze still glued on the string around the needle.

"i've seen him do this at least ten times before," brendon responded, hanging his head upside down off the side of josh's bed.

josh switched the lighter on and held the metal through it, waiting until it glowed red to take it out. he teasingly began to bring it towards brendon's face and the raven haired boy scrambled away, falling off of the bed with a loud thump.

"i'm gonna go wash my hands again, i'll be right back," josh mumbled and left the room. he came back shortly after and sat on the ground next to tyler, ripping open a pack of the alcohol wipes. "so where do you want the first one and what's it gonna be?"

"uh, my shoulder? and it's gonna be the heart," tyler said and josh nodded, rubbing the cold wipe against the area to clean it off. he let it dry and popped the cap off of the pen, drawing a small heart onto tyler's shoulder.

"like that?"

"perfect." tyler smiled. josh unscrewed the lid of the india ink and dipped the needle into it, letting the excess ink drip off before he turned to tyler with a serious expression.

"before i start, are you one hundred percent sure you want to do this?"

"yes, i'm sure." tyler playfully rolled his eyes and looked over to brendon who was watching them intently. tyler grinned a bit at the way brendon's head was tilted as he observed the situation.

"this is probably gonna hurt a little," josh warned as he brought the needle up to tyler's shoulder, raising his eyebrows as if asking for one last reassurance from tyler.

"i'll be fine, i've been through worse," tyler said, motioning towards his tube. josh took that as an 'okay' and poked the sharp metal into tyler's skin, making the first dot. he let it sink deeper, just enough so that the ink wouldn't fade, and pulled it out before doing the same thing right next to it.

he bit his lip and furrowed his eyebrows in concentration as he went through the process, brendon and tyler both staring at him in awe. tyler noticed the freckles that scattered across his rosy cheeks and shoulders, contrasting beautifully against his pale complexion. his nose had a small bump on its bridge and it added to his unique appearance that tyler found himself subconsciously swooning over.

"you're both staring," josh chuckled, not taking his attention from his task. tyler and brendon quickly looked away, embarrassed from being caught. "i never said you had to look away. i like the attention."

tyler giggled, the metal that prodded against his skin becoming less and less evident as he got used to the feeling.

"i'm bored," brendon groaned, dragging out the 'o' as he repositioned himself so he was hanging off of josh's bed again.

"i'm just finishing this one up and then i can give you a tattoo." josh smirked as brendon gasped.

"nuh-uh, that's not happening. in your dreams, buddy boy."

"c'mon, don't be a party pooper!"

"fine, but only because i love you," brendon gave in and josh lit up, clapping excitedly.

"i know exactly what i'm gonna give you. oh boy, you're gonna love it," josh chuckled, wiping away the last of the ink that built up around tyler's heart. "tah-dah! all done!"

tyler inspected the little design on his shoulder, beaming brightly and giving josh a big hug. "thank you, thank you, thank you! it's so cute, i love it."

"okay brenny, you're up, get on over here." josh beckoned the dark haired boy over and the three of them sat on the carpet together, josh going through the same process with a different needle for brendon.

tyler was quiet and tried to hold in his laughter at what josh was tattooing on brendon's index finger, ignoring the questioning looks he was getting from the raven haired boy.

"josh, hurry up. tyler looks like he's going to explode and i'm starting to get concerned." brendon winced at the repetitive poking on his finger. "and it's uncomfortable."

"done." josh gave a satisfied smile and a thumbs up, him and tyler bursting into laughter as brendon inspected the ink in his skin with a horrified face.

"are you fuckin' kidding me, josh? daddy, seriously? you're going to let me tattoo the same thing on you and you're not going to complain."

"oh, tyler! you should get it too and it'll be like a friendship bracelet, but better!" josh exclaimed to which tyler giggled but agreed to in the end.

•••

this whole thing has been like one giant filler lmao it'll get into the actual story line soon don't worry
-carina