Minizerk One-shots

You'll never know

Song: Panic! At The Disco- The Good, The Bad and The Dirty
It has nothing to do with the one-shot apart from the lines that I'd started it with.

Enjoy 🙃
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'Truth is that it was always going to end
The symphony buzzing in my head
Took a market of filth
And sold like summer'

How the Sidemen ended was no mystery to the public. It was obvious that one day the group of seven gamers would have enough of each other and split up. Some due to other plans with their lives, some getting carried away by fame.

The breakup wasn't rushed. It happened slowly, starting with JJ. The boy left because he felt repressed; he wanted to make his way in the world by producing music.

Harry was next. He hadn't been fully a part of the group for three years anyways. He didn't know why he should stay. Constantly commuting between Gurnsey and London to record a few videos here and there, just didn't worth his time.

Next stop was Tobi. His leaving hurt them the most, especially to Josh. But there was no point in holding him back. If he wanted to move to America in hopes of exploring and a more adventurous life, then it was the best for them to let him do it.

Ethan. Ethan proposed to Emily in the middle of summer of '19. The pace of their relationship didn't leave the boy time or space to keep doing what he enjoyed the best -playing video games. Soon Emily was expecting.

Now it was just the three of them. Simon, Josh and Vik. Team Sidemen House ~The Dream Team.

And what can a three people team do? You may ask.

Keep going.

That's what they did.

They kept grinding videos to avert losing their relevance. Inventing unused challenges over the well-known platform of entertainment. New merch dropped every month, milking the Sidemen name while it lasted.

And then one night, the two taken boys became single from one too many glasses of vine.

Josh confessed to Simon in front of both of their girlfriends. The latter didn't reject him in his drunken state and kissed him instead. Both were too blind to realise that their action wasn't just an intoxicated mistake.

Vik was the only one left.

The year is 2020 when our story continues.

Josh extended his ZRK LDN, creating a non-merchandise related, but still exclusive, rare-to-find clothing line by the help of Lewis. Josh sure had the idea of business and marketing so he was able to make a huge profit out of a seemingly lost cause.

He was still in touch with Tobi and Vik after the final disintegration of the Sidemen. Even Ethan tended to show up in his stores from time to time -he was a big fan of fashion after all. But he hadn't heard of the other three since they seperately walked out of his life.

Josh was on his way home after a long tiring day of work, he walked slowly over a bridge, crossing  a narrow creek. Music blasted through his headphones, it was a miracle that his hearing was still fantastic. After all this time of taking the same route every day, he still found the nature around him intriguing. He stopped in the middle of the bridge and leaned against the railing. As he was observing the water he didn't notice the figure stopping beside him.

The other person just stared at him for a few seconds building up the courage to accost him. But as they stepped closer to the brunette, Josh felt their presence, turning his head to the side to see them.

Josh's eyes widened at the sight before him.

"Simon?"

Simon hadn't changed much since the last time they met. He looked a tiny bit older -more worn out that's for sure-  his hair was still styled the same way, the only outstanding thing about him was the fact that he was wearing actual jeans, not tracksuits, and a button-up shirt slightly visible from under a drape coat.

"Hey." Simon gave him a weak smile, stuffing his hands into his coat pocket.

The afternoon was chilly, nominal wind blew silently around them on the gray street.

"Yeah, hi." Josh hummed, stopping his music, pulling his jacket closer to his body, searching the other man's eyes. "Long time no see."

His comment earned a nod in response.

It was never like this before. The two could never shut up around one another. There was always something that they needed to discuss, whether it was a 'first world problem' or who had a better taste in (wo)men, it didn't matter they could talk for hours. This silence was new. Never did they think that they would end up like this.

Like strangers.

Like old class mates with whom they'd promised to keep in touch but never actually meant it.

"Josh, I-. I'm sorry." Simon breathed out, stepping closer to him.

Josh didn't need to say anything, he knew what Simon was reffering to. Without thinking, he wrapped his arms around the taller boy's body, pulling him into a close embrace.

Simon instantly leaned into his touch, resting his head on his shoulder.

"Don't mention it." Josh murmured, burrying his face into his chest. "It was easier."

"It wasn't." Simon pulled away, looking at him straight in the eyes.
"I shouldn't have shut you out like that. Our friendship is worth way more than this."

Josh let out a deep sigh, glancing at his shoes for a split second before he looked up again.
"Was it just a friendship, though?"

"Yes. But that's the biggest problem." Simon chuckled easily taking his hand in his and intertwined their fingers. "We should talk it out. I want my Josh back."

~
It took them two years to finally settle down and make up for the lost time. But fixing a broken friendship was the best decision that they've ever made -at least according to their wedding vows, that they'd said in front of JJ, Tobi, Ethan, Vik, Harry and a single priest.

You'll never know what the future  brings.