Fear Will Lose // twenty one pilots // Joshler

Chapter 3

Josh blinked a few times and his vision focused, revealing the white bedroom ceiling above him which was illuminated by the sunlight creeping underneath the curtains.

He stretched his arms and yawned before turning his head on his pillow to see Tyler.

Tyler had propped himself up against the headboard and was completing a sudoku puzzle against his bent knees.

"Oh look who finally woke up," he joked as he noticed Josh looking at him.
"Morning," Josh replied, smiling as he shuffled up the bed to mirror Tyler's position. "You been awake long?"
"Kinda," Tyler admitted.
"You should have woken me,"
"It's okay, you were super tired yesterday so I figured you probably wanted to lie in this morning, and that's what Saturday's are for, right?"
"Thank you honey. So what have you been up to? Puzzles?"
"Mostly, yeah. I had to go downstairs to check a few things, but I managed to keep it under 15 minutes. Then I finished some stuff for Dr Wakefield, and the rest of the time I've been doing these." Tyler said, gesturing to the half complete puzzle with his pen.

He had been quite vague, but Josh could fill in the gaps.
Tyler had a mental list of things he needed to check several times a day, even more often when he was stressed or upset, and he justified each with a reason that he thought was logical but wasn't to Josh.

When he had been really unwell, the list was so long that he had to write out a paper copy to make sure he did everything without forgetting any, as forgetting led to panic attacks and tears.

With the help of the hospital, and Dr Wakefield, Tyler had managed to slowly reduce the list and the time spent completing the checks, but they still needed to be done. The usual things Tyler checked included: stove knobs, water taps, door locks, the house alarm, windows, plugged in appliances, house lights, car doors, candles and both of their wallets.

Although Josh would prefer for Ty to not have to do any of them, he was happy that he was making so much progress.

"15? Check you out." Josh replied, hoping to convey his pride in a light manner. Tyler laughed for a moment before smiling, and filling in a number on the grid.

"Did you have breakfast yet?" Josh asked, knowing that he would say no.
"No not yet, I waited for you."
"Thank you, I'm pretty hungry so how long do you need?"
"What time is it?" Tyler asked.

Josh rolled over to reach his bedside table where he had left his watch the night before.

"It's 9.43," he answered, knowing that Tyler would want the specific answer.
"Okay, 10.04?"
"Perfect, I'm going to hop in the shower but I'll meet you downstairs with time to spare." Josh said as he stood up and walked towards the bathroom.

"Josh?" Tyler yelled from the dining room.
"Yeah?" He called back from the kitchen as he plated up the waffles he had just made.
"Josh come here." Tyler yelled again, an urgent undertone noticeable.

Josh put down the knife he was using to slice strawberries, and jogged to the next room.

"Are you okay?" Josh said panicked.
"Your phone," Tyler said, shying away from the vibrating iPhone that Josh had left on his own placemat. Josh quickly picked up his mobile and rejected the call.
"Tyler, I'm sorry," he apologised, putting his hand on Tyler's to comfort him.

Tyler immediately snatched his hand back and ran out of the room. Josh groaned internally as he realised what he'd just done.

Tyler obsessed over contamination, and a particular fear of his was screens; Josh had not only put his phone where they would be eating, but he'd also touched the phone and then touched Tyler.