WHEN BEAUTY NO LONGER EXISTS

1

a/n: this story might frustrate you, and this was also very difficult for me to write, so please appreciate this hah

btw, i know you probably think that every story ive written takes place in an apartment, but that's because i never write anything that holds ty and josh being old enough to really own a house, yannno?

major trigger warning.

***

Your parents always teach you things. Not to talk to strangers, not to run with scissors, not to play with guns, and so on. They teach you never to panic during an emergency, even when panic is expected, and to try and think as clearly as possible. But, there's no way to know if any of those things stuck to you, and stayed in your mind, until the ideal situation comes along, presents itself, and calls for it. And, like an idiot, I figured nothing bad was ever going to happen to me, to the point where I would be forced to recall anything you do doing an emergency to make it seem like less of an emergency.

Personally, I never wanted to learn the hard way whether or not I retained the information. But, I did, and I wanted to remember something. Anything. Like calling 911, or locking myself in the bathroom. I didn't, though. I didn't. Because I wasn't supposed to panic, but I forgot about that particular instruction, and I did anyway, seeing as that's the only thing I could think of to do. I didn't expect it, is all. Obviously. Who would?

"Mercury!" Josh called lowly, ducking his head under the kitchen table we had, searching for our cat that does whatever it feels like doing. "Would you come here, please? I've got, uh, milk? Do cats even drink milk anymore, Tyler?"

I was sitting on the kitchen counter, a mixture of coffee and a ridiculous amount of sugar in the cup I was holding. "Uh. I don't know. Google it," I chuckled, and he stood from his crouched position, setting the saucer of milk down next to where I sat.

"He, like, disappeared," he spoke, shaking his head at the floor, before moving his eyes back to mine. "I love that cat. I want him to come back."

"Has it ever occurred to you that he's scared of the dog?" I asked, moving my fingers across the skin of his bicep, before pulling him closer to me, setting my drink down for the time being. He frowned, because the dog hated him, but I just moved my hand over his shoulder and down his chest, bathing in the feeling I got when he was near me."How about," I continued, pressing my lips to his. "We don't worry about animals, and just make out? Before you leave to do the laundry, or whatever people like you do."

"I don't know. Work and laundry, possibly." He corrected, and, before he could shut his mouth, his hands found their way under my thighs, and he hoisted me up from the counter, holding my entire body in his arms, and I gasped, tossing my arms around his neck. "I'm a busy man."

Scoffing, I tipped my nose to his. "You're no man."

"Seriously?" He exclaimed, narrowing his eyes at me. "You weren't saying that yesterday, were you? In fact, you've never said that. Especially not when I'm fucking the good lord out of you, you asshole."

"Guess you'll just have to prove your masculinity," I challenged, shrugging.

"Guess so," he spoke, pressing his lips to the corner of mine. I could feel his smile on my face, and I was grinning, too, and I was happy. It just amazes me, looking back, at how different things were before, and, even now, I want it all back.

~~~

"I'm off to do the laundry, like men do," Josh grinned at me, throwing a small jacket over his shoulders, and toeing my boots on over his feet, though they were probably a bit too small for him. He always wore them anyway, and I thought it was cute. He was so cute, and I was so in love with him, and I remember feeling like I had to tell him that.