Levitate || Joshler

t w e l v e ☄️

When Ari was told to escort Tyler back to his tent, the child went from being submissive and obedient to angry and frustrated. He stomped his feet back into his room, while the Bandito followed.

He could see that the flower boy was upset.

"My dear, what is the matter?" Ari asked.

Tyler paced back and forth; trying not to scream.

"I thought Josh was the same person!"

"He is the same person."

"Well, apparently, he's not!"

Ari walked closer to him.

"Tyler, he's just trying to be our leader. He's doing all of this to come up with a plan to defeat Dema and keep you safe."

Tyler turned away and crossed his arms.

"He looked at me differently, like I wasn't the boy that he loves."

Ari could see the pain within the poor child. He stood behind him and touched his shoulder.

"I understand how you feel."

He sighed.

"Sometimes, Olene and I don't always see eye to eye."

Tyler turned and looked at him.

"Really?"

"Of course." Ari replied. "I can't count the amount of times we've argued, but sometimes things don't go the way you want them to. Josh may have given you the attitude that you didn't want, but at the end of the day, he loves you more than anything."

Ari speaking to him made him smile.

"I love Josh with all my heart." Tyler said. "I know he's trying to protect me."

The Bandito took his hand.

"And he always will."

Ari gave him a gentle kiss on his hand.

~

As soon as Josh walked in, Ari left the tent.

The two stood at the center of the room, face to face.

Josh had expected Tyler to be afraid and distant, but he stood there with his hands crossed and his face straight and offended.

He looked to his beloved flower and had the mood of worry.

"What is it, my love?"

"I didn't like how you spoke to me." Tyler replied.

"I understand your feelings, dear, but it's how I run this clan, and you should know that."

"Why treat me like I'm not your love? I am learning my way, that's why I want to somehow help this clan."

"And you will." Josh told him. "I have a task I want you to be a part of."

Tyler's frustration quickly turned to optimism and curiosity.

"Then, what is it?"

Josh walked over to the window and looked outward into the forest outside of the camp, while Tyler went and stood behind him.

"I'm organizing a scout trip tomorrow, and since you are of skill in nature, I'd like you to come with me."

When he heard this, Tyler's eyes lit up.

"Really?"

"Yes." Josh replied. "I want you to be by my side."

When he tried to reach for his hand, Tyler didn't take it.

Of course, the child was excited at the fact that he was going to join him on the trip, but he was still hardened at what happened during the meeting.

"You could've said that to me a while ago."

"Tyler, you know I had to. I'm the leader, and I want my Banditos to know that I reign on them, and that includes you."

The child went over and took a seat on the cot; looking away from the man that he loves.

"Josh... do you love me?"

The man came over and sat next to him; placing his hand on his leg. He held himself back from shedding a tear.

"Of course I do." He replied. "You're the love of my life. I promised you that I would never leave your side again."

Josh lifted Tyler face towards his.

"Trust me, I am doing this because I want to protect you and keep you alive. I am never going to let Dema hurt you again."

With those words, Josh kissed Tyler, and the child threw himself into his embrace.

Then, he let go.

"I wrote something for you."

"What is it?" Josh asked.

Tyler reached under his cot and pulled out a piece of paper, which contained a song that he had written for him while he was imprisoned.

Holding it in his hand, the child began to sing.

there isn't
a sight more beautiful
than you,
when you smile

when you smile,
your lips dance and sing,
and the sun comes out
just to see you

when you smile,
your eyes smile too,
and the stars hidden
in them turn your eyes
into a starry night

when you smile,
gray turns into color,
sunflowers gravitate towards you,
and you become the sun

When Tyler finished the song, he looked up and saw that Josh's eyes were red with tears.

He knew that it was the most wonderful thing he had ever heard, even more beautiful than the very first song he ever sang to him, while under the Magnolia tree, in the garden where they first met.

Josh stood up and started prancing around the room. His smile was so contagious, it caused Tyler to smile with him.

"My dear Tyler, that was the most beautiful song I've ever heard."

"Y-You liked it?" The boy asked.

"I didn't just like it. Josh said. "I loved it!"

Josh came over and picked up Tyler and his arms and span him around the room. His love for him overtook him, as if he was never a leader, but a man who loved his boyfriend.

At last, the two took comfort in knowing that no matter what was happening, they continued to remind each other that their love was more powerful than anything they could ever encounter.

And it was just the beginning.