ex·hi·bi·tion·ism (ĕk′sə-bĭsh′ə-nĭz′əm)
> The deriving of sexual gratification from fantasies or acts that involve exposing one's genitals to a nonconsenting stranger.
Tyler is a exhibitionist with twisted views of what a relationship is.
Josh is a...
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Josh grunted softly as he felt someone shaking him awake. He blinked a few times and his vision adjusted to see Hayley standing there with a bag of takeout.
"I brought you food." Hayley said and sat down next to him in another chair. It had been a week and Josh had barely left the hospital room. Hayley would stop by and give him food, just so he would eat something that day. "You need to come back to work Josh." She said with the best intentions.
Josh scoffed and rolled his eyes before looking at Tyler. In all honestly, Tyler looked fine. His brain swelling was completely gone and the staples in his head were making sure everything was healing properly.
"I don't know I can't leave him." Josh said and it was Hayley's turn to scoff.
"Please Josh this guy's such a user." Hayley said and opened her box of takeout, breaking the wooden chopsticks in half before picking up some noodles. Josh glared at Hayley as she ate some of her food. "Oh don't give me that look. You know it." She said.
Josh picked up his takeout angrily and didn't say anything as he took out a plastic fork.
"He treats you like shit. After everything you've done for him, he just runs off and now you're wasting at least two weeks of your life waiting for this shit to wake up and act like nothing happened." Hayley said and Josh stood up and walked over to the door.
"Get out Hayley. We'll talk about this later." Josh said cooly and Hayley sat there with a shocked expression on her face before she got up and left.
Josh closed the door behind her and ran his hand through his hair. The thing was he knew, he knew that Tyler was toxic. He knew the Tyler could probably never commit to him. He knew that maybe Tyler would never really love him.
But Josh really didn't want to think about that, especially not now. Not while Tyler was laying in a hospital bed with bruises still on his skin. Whether Josh liked it or not, he has fallen in love with Tyler, his messed up kinks and all. Whether that love was healthy for him, only time could tell.
**** "Mr. Dun, Tyler Joseph's family is here and they're coming in. Thought I'd give you some warning." The nurse said as she checked Tyler's monitors and vitals.
Josh's eyebrows knitted together in confusion. He hadn't remembered Tyler talking about his family before.
"Oh my god." A soft gasp came from the door as what Josh assumed to be Tyler's parents walking through the door. There was another boy with them that looked similar to Tyler, maybe his brother.
Nobody noticed him at first until the woman turned to look at him. "Who're you?" She asked.
"Oh I'm..." Josh trailed off because what was he to Tyler? He wasn't his boyfriend, or even his friend. "I'm a new friend of Tyler's." He finally said.
"We all know what that means." The boy who resembled Tyler said with a smirk.
"For once shut up Zack your brother is in the hospital." Chris said sternly, causing Zach to zip it.
"What's your name?" Tyler's mother asked. Josh sat up in his chair better.
"I'm Joshua Dun." Josh said and she gasped.
"You rescued him from the attacker, I read it in the report. Oh we're so thankful someone was there for him. Tyler doesn't have a lot of...friends..." Tyler's mother trailed off.
"Oh where are my manners? I'm Kelly, this is Chris and our second oldest son Zach." Kelly said sweetly. Josh realized she had been holding Tyler's hand the entire time.
"So how long have you been friends with Tyler?" Kelly asked and Josh shrugged.
"Not very long." Josh said trying not to let any dirty details slip out. He was sure they'd be appalled.
"We haven't really been keeping up with him much, ever since he moved out he was clear how much he wanted to he left alone." Kelly sighed. Chris and Zach had sat down in the other two chairs.
"Well he's been back and forth living with me really. I was gonna take him back to my place when he wakes up." Josh said and Kelly nodded slowly.
It was silent for a long while, them just waiting to see if Tyler would wake up. When it became clear he would be sleeping for another day, they got up to leave.
"Wish he'd stop by every once in a while. Would you tell him that for me please?" Kelly said while they were on their way out. Josh nodded and waved slightly as they left the room.
Josh dozed off in the chair again, waiting.
*****
"Josh?" A small voice croaked and Josh was immediately awake, his eyes adjusting to the darkness that had fallen over the room.
"Oh god hey baby how're you feeling?" Josh said getting up quickly and going to the side of the bed. Tyler's eyes were wide and and scared.
"M'thirsty." Tyler said dryly.
"I'll be right back okay?" Josh said going and getting a cup of water with crushed ice in it. When he brought it back, Tyler has already sat up against some pillows. "Here you go."
Tyler sipped on the water gratefully, finally able to have his normal speaking voice back.
"How long was I out?" Tyler asked as he crunched on some ice.
"A few days. You cracked your skull." Josh said and Tyler raised his fingers to his head that was now shaved, feeling the stitches there.
"Oh shit." Tyler whispered softly. Josh didn't have the heart to tell him not to curse. "Anyone come visit besides you?"
"Your family that you neglected to mention stopped by." Josh said and Tyler scowled.
"Yeah well that's all your ever hearing from them, trust me." Tyler said and Josh's eyebrows knitted together in confusion.
"She said she wished you stopped by more, they miss you." Josh said and Tyler sat there with his shoulders hunched over, thinking.
"My Mom said that?" Tyler said, his voice cracking slightly.
"Yeah Tyler. I don't know what happened between you two but you'll always be her son. She'll always love you." Josh said sitting on the side of the bed and gently running a thumb across Tyler's cheek, catching a falling tear.
"It's just...she didn't want a slut living in her house. After the tenth guy that stopped by I didn't really blame her you know?" Tyler sighed and Josh stiffened a bit. He wouldn't judge Tyler for his past. He wouldn't.
"Why'd you run away baby?" Josh said softly, cupping Tyler's chin.
More silent tears fell down Tyler's face. "I don't know. I'm scared."
"Of what?" Josh asked, pulling the trembling boy onto his lap so he could curl up. They carefully avoided the iv line.
"Of messing it up. I've never had someone like you before." Tyler said and sniffled, hugging Josh closely. Josh's arms wrapped around Tyler's waist.
"I told you before I'm in this no matter what. I love you." Josh said and kissed Tyler's neck.
Tyler pulled back a bit and looked Josh in his eyes, not hesitating this time. "I really love you too."
***** a/n: about to either discontinue or unpublish this story sorry
