But Who Would You Live For?

I Know It's Dire, My Time Today

The adrinaline was exciting to him now. He could remember a time when he was afraid to climb the stairs to the stage because he was too busy plucking the rubber band on his wrist or biting his fingernails. Now that same nervous energy was driving him. Like a cat trapped in a box. Bouncing around the confining walls. Just waiting for the top to open and release the ball of energy that he was. Release him to the fans standing a few yards away. Release him to the power of his own music. He needed the built up excitement to breathe now.

Tyler knew he hadn't achieved the slight control of his anxiousness on his own. He knew it had a lot to do with the man standing beside him right now. Josh might not be his life parner so to say, but he was definitely his band partner. He'd talked Tyler up from enough downward spirals before shows for his words to resonate with the man now. Without the other even having to mutter them. He could hear Josh's praises of encouragement in his ear whenever his head started to get a little too light. Or his breathing started coming in a little too fast. Or when he could feel his heartbeat dancing at the tip of his toes.

Tyler, you can do this.

You are the best at what you do. You were meant to do this.

Do you hear that? All those people came out here to see you.

You won't let them down.

Your words have saved their lives.

Your words have saved my life.

Tyler, get it together. Or we'll both end up puking on stage.

Or a personal favorite for both of them,

Do you want me to hold you until five minute call time?

When it came to performing, Josh Dun was Tyler Joseph's rock. When it came to a lot of things, Josh Dun was Tyler Joseph's rock. His soulmate in the platonic definition of the word. As for the non-platonic, well he needed her before shows as well. But Jenna couldn't travel everywhere with the band. At least not in person. Thank god for the advancement of technology. Thank God for Facetime.

"Are you still freaking out?" Her soft voice washed over him. Even through the crappy connection it soothed him.

"Only in the good way." He assured her with his voice barely shaking.

Josh's reached over to grab his bestfriend's hand. Hoping to comfort him a little more.

"Is Josh helping?"

"Of course!" He called out before Tyler could.

He turned his phone so that Josh was in the camera. Jenna waved. Josh smiled. A mutual understanding that neither of them really understood. The phone was turned so the camera was back on Tyler.

"It's going to be a good show. I can feel it." He gushed

"All of your shows are good shows." Jenna pointed out

Tyler decided to agree to disagree. "I keep forgetting you're Twenty One Pilots' number two fan."

She pursed her lips. "Who's number one?" Her boyfriend let the camera land on Josh again. Only long enough for her to see the shirt he was wearing. The bold letters 'T.O. P' were printed across his chest. Josh was known to rock his own merch. Jenna chucked. "Of course. How could I forget."

"We're on in three minutes." Tyler's hand tightened around his phone. Sometimes he wished he could take it on stage with him to keep Jenna on the line.

"I'm going to be blasting your music all day in here. Pretending I'm at my own Twenty One Pilots concert.

He could picture it. He'd seen it happen. "Will you also be performing the songs?"

"You know it." Jenna winked.

"I have to go." There were on in two minutes. "I love you."

"I love you back. Break a leg. But don't."

She ended the video call before he could. A stage hand was waiting at his side to take his phone. Holding her hand open for it without actually asking. Tyler reluctantly gave it up.

"Are you okay?" Josh let thier hands fall apart slowly.

Tyler glanced towards the empty stage. The stage where they would be perfoming in literal minutes. "Yeah."

"We're closing with Car Radio, right?"

"Yeah." Tyler's eyes narrowed in on the set up of the stage. Taking in the space. It was smaller than the arena stages they frequented. Which wasn't a bad thing. It made the entire performance more personal despite there being thousands of people who would be watching. The fact that it was an outdoor show made it better.

Josh's expression was knowing. "You're thinking about climbling, aren't you?"

Tyler bit his lip to hold back his grin. "Of course."

He bumped thier shoulders together. "Be careful, you monkey."

"You be careful doing that backflip." The other countered. "I worry about you sometimes."

He was only half joking but it still earned a laugh from his best friend. One of his genuine laughs. Where he showed all his teeth and his eyes crinkled at the corners. If Tyler wasn't feeling one hundred percent confident about taking that stage before, he certainly was now. Because his bandmate had the type of laugh that made everything in the world okay. At least for the present time. Josh ran his fingers through his brightly dyed hair. Drawing attention to the way the his strands seemed to be thinning. He really should slow down with all the coloring.

"Stage time." One of the festival workers called to them. The same girl who'd taken Tyler's phone. She guided them towards the five steps with a not so patient push. "Get up there!"

They walked up the first four in synchronization. Josh paused on the last one and Tyler followed suit. The worker looked like she wanted to throw them up the last step. Or strangle them. Maybe both. Tyler didn't care. If his best friend wasn't ready to go on the stage then neither was he. He twisted to face Josh. Trying to gauge the serious look that was now on his face.

"I told you." The words came so quietly that he would be sure he imaged them if he had not watched Josh's lips move to form them.

"Told me what?" He asked. Ignoring the glare from the woman under them. Ignoring the chanting of their band's name from the people waiting.

"That you were going to play in some of the greatest places in the world. And that people would love your music as much as I do."

"We." Tyler corrected.

"Oui?" Josh repeated. "As in French for yes?"

He rolled his eyes to mask amusement. "We as in us. There's no me without you, Josh."

"Well would the both of you get your asses on stage?" The woman rudely interrupted. "We have a schedule to keep!"

They shared a laugh as they took the final step on the stage. The crowd erupted into a series of screams as soon as they were visible. Tyler knew in that moment he'd been right in his assumption to his wife. This was going to be a good show. Nothing could go wrong when he felt like this.