Wanted: {joshler}

2: No Such Thing As Stranger Danger.

"So, uh, what's with the hair?" The man said, a nervous chuckle accompanying it.

"My...My hair?" Josh said, one hand reaching up towards his red hair. His brow furrowed more then, and Josh decided to ask just what a man was doing in an alley all alone. With his fingers still tangled in his red hair, Josh took a deep breathe before speaking again, "If you don't mind me asking, what are you doing here this late?"

"You don't know me, and I don't know you, and you're suddenly asking what my business is?" The man said, Josh taken aback by the stranger's sudden sass.

"I'm just being kind, but fine. My name's Josh, I work at a stupid office building. I don't like my life very much but there's nothing I can do to change it. I work long hours, but I'm still broke. I live in a crappy apartment, but I make it work. My full name is Joshua William Dun, but that may be too much information. I don't really care if you steal my identity, however, because there's not much you could do with it. Jail probably has better living abilities than what I have," Josh rambled, telling about himself in a way too casual ways. In truth, he really didn't care if this man was going to kill him. He was too tired to do anything, anyway.

The man who was knelt before Josh was silent for a moment, and Josh presumed he was processing. Probably deciding what to do with him. The silence didn't last very long, the man across from him looking up before opening his mouth to speak in a quiet tone.

"I'm Tyler, you don't need to know my last name just yet. I need to know I can trust you, which is something that can be hard to earn from me. I'm not a very safe person to be around, and that's exactly why I'm on the run and go. Speaking of, you should run and go away before anyone catches you trying to help me or whatever. I have the shadows to help me, if needed."

Josh didn't take too long to think about what Tyler had just said, only drifting to the thought that he might've been a murderer or a runaway prisoner.

"Well, Tyler. Do you have a place to stay?"

Tyler looked around for a second before locking eyes with Josh for a moment before nodding his head, "No."

Josh sighed. Was he really going to take a stranger who he'd just met to his house for the night? Yes, the answer was yes. Josh chuckled to himself before extending a hand to Tyler, who's face held a slightly confused look. Josh grinned back at him, trying to seem as kind as possible.

"Come on, then," he said, and Tyler hesitantly reached out to grab his hand. He pulled away for a moment, staring at his hand before grabbing onto Josh's extended hand. Tyler was pulled up from the ground then, Josh's mind still rambling on and on about how this was a bad idea. He didn't care, someone needed his help, and Josh had nothing better to do. Better than his stupid job, or his stupid lifestyle. He needed the change.

Tyler followed him easier than you'd think a stranger would. Well, in Tyler's mind, he wasn't as much of a stranger anymore. He knew him a little bit, by what he'd told him. Tyler didn't know if he could trust the man, though. Not yet, he'd have to earn it. Still, it was better than possibly being caught by anyone. They'd be looking for him soon, they'd know.

Josh led Tyler back to his crappy apartment building, jogging up the stairs while occasionally turning to make sure he was still behind him. Once reassured that he hadn't been making his way and making the offer in the first place, Josh placed the key in lock and gripped it tightly. Was he really taking a stranger who'd he'd met in an alleyway into his house? Josh sighed for what seemed like the millionth time that day, but twisted the key anyway. Yet another possible regret to add to his already extremely long list. Tyler was silent while the whole thought process was going on, silent the whole way back, in fact.

The dimly lit apartment seemed a little more lonely than usual, but Josh continued to do his routine of throwing his bags and everything on the floor by the kitchen counter. He turned back to Tyler, who was still in the doorway, placing a small but hesitant smile on his face, "You can stay here for tonight."

Josh didn't say much more after that, turning back to the kitchen sink before placing his used plates into it. Josh didn't hear what Tyler mumbled. Tyler was okay with that.