23. Mistletoe

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Mistletoe:
meaning- used to mark a place where no violence can take place

Start the song. It's Come into the Water by Mitski.

For the first time since Josh had been picked, Papa let him sleep in. He didn't come wake Josh and Tyler up for breakfast, and Josh wondered if it was because he knew Josh hadn't slept well for the past few nights. He knew Josh needed more time to feel safe again, and that safety was being given to him in the form of space.

Waking up naturally beside Tyler was the best thing that had happened to Josh in two years. His head was resting on Tyler's shoulder, and Tyler's arms were wrapped around him firmly even as he continued to snore peacefully. Josh smiled up at his boyfriend, revelling in the precious nature of such a rare moment of happiness.

Although Josh could hear breakfast going on downstairs, he felt no rush to go down and join them. There was no pressure to wake Tyler up and go downstairs to face another day of forgetting. He was safe up here, tucked away in Tyler's arms as birds chirped outside the window.

By the time Tyler drifted out of sleep, Josh had been awake for about twenty minutes, spending that time watching Tyler's eyelashes flutter again his cheeks, hearing little puffs of breath leave his lips, and tracing his fingertips along Tyler's jaw and through his hair. He smiled sleepily when he saw that Josh was already awake.

"Hey, you," Tyler grumbled drowsily, his voice deepened from sleep.

"Hey," Josh whispered back through a smile.

"Was I snoring?" Tyler mumbled, his eyes already closing again as he shifted to hold Josh closer.

Josh giggled. "A little bit, but that's okay. I like it."

Tyler chuckled. "Liar."

A grin spread across Josh's lips. "I'm not lying. I think it's cute."

"There's nothing cute about being a living foghorn," Tyler mumbled before pressing a soft kiss to Josh's lips. "You were in my dream. I don't remember what I dreamed about, but you were there. I can't give you any details, but it's probably safe to assume that you looked hot and were super cute the whole time. Also I probably saved your life or something."

"I thought you didn't have details," Josh pointed out with a grin.

"I don't, but you're always looking hot and acting cute, and I'm naturally very heroic, so it's safe to assume that I saved your life while you were being precious," Tyler deduced, making Josh laugh.

"Yeah, okay," he replied amusedly. "If I was so hot though, why didn't I leave any kind of impression?"

Tyler's fingers trailed along Josh's spine gently as he yawned, smiling into it when Josh's nose scrunched up at the smell of his breath. "I told you I remembered you were there, babe. That's your impression."

"A very subtle impression," Josh decided.

"But still dear to my heart," Tyler assured him lazily.

"You're dear to my heart," Josh provided.

Tyler smiled, pressing a kiss to Josh's forehead. "You're so cute. I just want to carry you around in a little basket and feed you muffins all day."

Josh blushed, burying his face against Tyler's neck and pressing a kiss there. "Hey, I love you," he reminded Tyler quietly.

It made him smile to hear his boyfriend chuckle and reply, "I love you too. Are you small right now?"

The blush on Josh's cheeks deepened as he nodded against Tyler's throat. "A little bit," he replied quietly. "I just feel warm and cuddly."

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