Keeper and Protector (Joshler) ✔️

6

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"I linger in the doorway of alarm clock screaming monsters calling my name."

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When Tyler came down into the kitchen the next morning, still sleepy as could be, he found Josh with his head nearly inside his cereal bowl.

"Joshua?" Tyler said his name softly. When he didn't get a response, he came a few steps closer and touched his shoulder a little. "Josh?"

Josh jumped awake, making Tyler jump as well. "Oh, gosh," he mumbled as he rubbed his eyes. "Must have nodded off." When he looked up and saw that it was Tyler, he smiled a little. "Good morning, Ty. How did you sleep?"

Tyler shuffled back and forth on his feet. "I slept okay. I take it you didn't sleep well?"

"I went to bed a little late. I was up finishing a project that's due today at work."

Tyler's mind went back to the previous night's activities; they had finally ate the dinner Josh had promised he'd make and then they watched Netflix and talked for a long time. It was sometime after midnight that Tyler had started falling asleep, so Josh helped him upstairs, gave him some clean pajamas to change into and told him good night.

He'd assumed Josh went to bed after that as well... but apparently not.

Chewing at his bottom lip, Tyler looked down at his feet. "M'sorry I kept you up so long last night. I didn't mean to."

"Sweetheart, you have nothing to be sorry for." Josh reached over and took Tyler's hand. "I wanted to spend time with you. You're much more important to me than some dumb work project. Trust me."

Tyler memorized the way that Josh's hand felt in his, tiny sparks running through his fingertips. "You really mean that?"

"Absolutely." Josh gave his hand a small squeeze. "How are you feeling today?"

Tyler shrugged. "I'm okay. Still tired and sore, but better than I have been."

"I'm glad." Letting go of his hand, Josh stood to his feet and picked up his cereal bowl. "Guess I should get dressed for work, yeah? Fynnley will be here before I leave."

"Oh, okay."

"If you're feeling up to it, I'd like for him to take you shopping so you can buy some clothes and anything else you might need. I'll leave my credit card with him."

Tyler was astonished. Josh was giving him money to spend on himself? "Really?"

"Of course. But only if you feel up to it, okay? I don't want you overdoing it."

Tyler nodded a little. "Thank you, Josh. It means a lot." Swallowing hard, he leaned over and pecked a quick kiss onto Josh's cheek. It probably was too forward, but... he had to at least do something to express his gratitude, right?

But, to his surprise, Josh just smiled and patted the side of Tyler's arm. "I'll be in my room if you need me," he said over his shoulder as he walked away.

Tyler touched the spot where Josh's hand had been, a tiny group of butterflies fluttering inside his stomach.

He hadn't felt that in forever. It was strange, peculiar, exciting...

It was... nice.

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Tyler felt like the most boring and bland person ever as he sat in Fynn's car, hand gripping onto the door handle as they weaved in and out of traffic.