Curiosity {Joshler}

55. Together - Side by side, not apart.

So yes, Tyler gave up on Josh.

Until one night, when he arrived home at his apartment after a long day of work, and found Josh sitting at his dining room table.

He'd gotten taller, a bit more muscular, and his shoulders had filled out. He had scruff on his face, as well. But every feature Tyler had once loved about him--his eyes, his hair, his smile--were still the same.

Tyler just stood there in his work clothes, awe-struck. His brain was almost having trouble connecting the boy he had once loved to this fully-grown Other.

"You came back."

Josh stood, almost warily. A look of concern was covering his face. "You moved away."

"You moved away first."

This made Josh crack a smile, but there was grief in his eyes. "I did."

Carefully, Tyler took off his jacket and hung it on the rack by the door. "By choice, or by force?"

Josh swallowed. "Once they got me into their ship, I told my parents everything, how I'd..." He paused for a moment. "How I'd fallen in love on Earth and wanted to stay there. But they told me it was insane, that I had my choice of any of the Others and I had to come with them to our new planet."

"So they made you?"

"Yes, and no." Josh's voice grew soft. "They convinced me that we could never be together, and they took me away."

Tyler stayed quiet for a moment, because he didn't know what to say. "But you came back."

Josh took a step forward. "I did. Because even after years of trying to live with my family, in my old life, I just couldn't do it, Tyler." His voice cracked. "Not without you. I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere ever again. I'll stay here with you, if that's what you want, or we can go to New Anathema and live there together. I just know I have to be with you." Josh's eyes were pleading. "If you'll have me."

Tyler's kiss was the only answer Josh ever needed.

The End