dear tyler joseph ☼ j.d. + t.j.

6

"hi, um, i was wondering if it would be okay if i took joshua dun out of the hospital today?" tyler said looking down over the counter at the old woman wearing brightly colored scrubs.

"what's your name?" she asked not looking up from her computer screen.

"tyler joseph."

"room number of the patient?"

"um, 249." tyler glanced around the mostly empty hospital lobby and tapped his finger on the counter waiting impatiently for his next question. the woman clicked a few things and typed some others.

"alright, well, it looks like you can take him anywhere you like just as long as you get back here by 5:30." she finally looked up at tyler and gave him a somewhat sympathetic smile.

"awesome, thank you." tyler smiled back and turned towards the elevator. the thought of taking josh out one last time before surgery came to him late last night. tyler wanted to do something special for josh while he had the chance, he knows all the things that can possibly go wrong. he knows josh might not make it out of the operating room, so if he doesn't tyler wanted him to have one last amazing day.

"there you are." josh said smiling as tyler walked into the room. "what took so long?"

"oh, just some traffic." tyler smiled back at him and walked over to the bed. he leaned down and placed a kiss on josh's lips, tyler rested his hand on josh's cheek and moved his thumb slightly, like josh had during their first kiss.

"okay now get up and get dressed we're going out." tyler raised his hands up a little as if josh would raise with them. "c'mon."

"what are you talking about?" josh laughed at tyler's attempt to get him up and pulled the blanket tighter around himself.

"i'm taking you out, like on a date."

"you're serious?"

"yep." tyler smiled and josh bit his lip a little unsure of what he should do. on the one hand josh really wanted to leave the poorly lit hospital that always smelled of disinfectant and the smell that people give off when they're taking a little to much medication, but on the other hand, josh hadn't been on many dates. what if he did something or said something wrong. a wave of insecurity washed over him as he folded the bed sheets back and stood up on the cold tile floor. 

"you asked about this right? like if it was okay?" josh asked taking a small step towards tyler. tyler slipped his hands around josh's waist and pulled him closer.

"yes i did." tyler kissed josh again and he smiled at the boys enthusiasm. "now go change. unless you wanna wear that hospital gown and let the whole world see your ass hanging out." they both laughed and tyler pulled his arms off of josh.

"alright i'm going."

•••

"so where are you taking me?" josh asked as they walked through the mechanical doors and stepped into the cool november air.

"you'll see." tyler smiled and hooked his arm around josh's leaning into him slightly. josh felt a piece of hair rub against his cheek and smiled. tyler was always getting way into josh's personal space, but he didn't mind. josh loved the fact tyler was that comfortable with him, he loved being that close to someone he cared for so deeply.

tyler unlocked his car and slipped into the drivers seat, josh followed and opened the door to the passenger side.

"want any music?" tyler asked turning the ignition.

"sure." he reached down and pressed play on whatever cd was still stuck in the player. an old 80's song began to play and tyler hummed along as he pulled out onto the empty street. they drove a couple miles in almost complete silence, the only noise being the music and the soft hum of the engine. josh was filled with anticipation at every turn they took, he had no idea where they were going but he new it would be special just being with tyler.

"here we are." tyler said as he pulled into a parking space that looked out on to an open field.

"where is here again?" josh laughed and unbuckled his seat belt.

"well we're almost there, we just have to walk a little ways." josh just looked at tyler not really sure what he had planned in the beautiful little head of his. "oh will that be a problem? i didn't even think about having to walk out there, its a little far. what if you get sick? it's kind of cold out there. oh god i'm the worst at planning i didn't even think..." tyler was cut of by josh's soft lips pressing against him.

"tyler it's going to be fine, i have a tumor. a little fresh air and a walk isn't going to hurt me. i promise." tyler let out a breath and smiled up a josh.

"sorry for kind of freaking out right there."

"it's okay ty." josh kissed tyler again before opening the car door and stepping out. the wind blew softly through his hair and he took in a deep breath. josh didn't even know how long it had been since he left the hospital, he exhaled and inhaled again letting the fresh air fill his lungs completely.

"you ready?" tyler asked now standing beside josh holding what looked like a basket and a plaid blanket.

"what's that?"

"lunch." tyler laughed and wrapped an arm around josh's middle, josh rested his arm over tyler's shoulder and squeezed softly pulling him closer, if that was even possible. they began walking towards a small opening in the trees, which turned out to be a trail. josh looked down and watched their feet walk over the yellow-orange leaves and waited to hear the crunch they made on impact.

the walk was short and easy and ended with another field surrounded by trees, tyler lead josh over to a cluster of huge rocks and set the basket down on one of them. he grabbed the blanket and laid it out almost perfectly on the dry grass.

"well i hope you're hungry because i made enough food for ten. i wasn't really sure what you wanted so i just made everything." tyler said sitting down and opening the basket in front of him. he pulled out sandwiches, salad, fruit, chips, and numerous other items one might take on a picnic.

"i didn't know you could cook." josh sat down beside tyler and looked over all the open containers of food.

"well i don't actually. most of this stuff didn't even involve a microwave." josh laughed and scooted closer to tyler, he leaned over and kissed him on the cheek which made the boy blush and tyler tried to hide the smile curling up into his cheeks.

"thank you tyler, for everything, you have no idea how much you mean to me, and all the things you do, i, just, thank you." tyler's smile grew even wider, and he nodded a little unable to think of anything to say. knowing how much everything meant to josh was the only thing tyler ever wanted to know, the only thing he ever needed to know.