Fleurs Captives (Joshler)

61. Ambrosia

Ambrosia:
meaning- love is reciprocated

***Trigger warning for PTSD.***

Start the song. It's Rings Grow by Florist.

Josh didn't go to classes on Monday. He slept all day, still curled up into a ball beneath the covers. He didn't eat or shower or leave Tyler's bed for any reason, feeling too exhausted to move at all. The only times he even moved were when Tyler came and went from the bed, coaxing Josh into his arms when he came and assuring him he was still safe when he went.

It wasn't until Tuesday afternoon that Tyler was able to coax Josh out of the bed and into the bathtub. Tyler sat on the lip of the tub as he wiped away the sweat and grime from Josh's skin. The sudden influx of anxiety on Sunday had made Josh sick though, so he was shivering in the warm water despite how overheated his skin was. Tyler used a cup to rinse the suds off of Josh's body so he wouldn't have to be dunked under the water. Josh knew he was afraid that if he made Josh hold his breath, it wouldn't be stable when he let it out again.

"You know what's really cute about you?" Tyler asked casually as he used the cup to rinse the little soap bubbles off of Josh's back.

Josh simply looked tiredly at Tyler in response, his vision hazy and his teeth chattering together. His boyfriend treated this as a completely normal response and proceeded with the conversation. Josh was grateful for that.

"I think it's so cute that even though we didn't stop texting until a few months ago, you never really felt the need to tell me that you tattooed your entire arm," Tyler continued, making Josh smile slightly. "You know, just casually. You also didn't tell me you took your lip ring out and pierced your nose, which is fucking adorable by the way. I'm half convinced that you've spent the past two years strategically making yourself hotter so that if I ever saw you again, I would have no choice but to sleep with you."

Josh rolled his eyes, grumbling out, "Whatever." His cheeks hurt from smiling though.

"Don't whatever me, Joshua. Just because your plan worked doesn't mean I didn't know about it," Tyler mused, making Josh's smile widen.

Josh's laugh sounded weird as his teeth chattered around it. It made his boyfriend's eyes light up though, so it didn't really matter. Josh leaned over and rested his head against Tyler's knee.

"Wow, what's it like to be so hot that you don't get in trouble for getting my jeans wet?" Tyler laughed out, making no move to shift Josh off of his leg.

Josh smiled, turning his head to press a kiss to Tyler's thigh. "Almost as good as it is to have a hot boyfriend who lets me get his jeans wet."

Tyler snickered. "Okay, I know you have a fever, but you have to know how that sounds."

"How what sounds?" Josh asked, his eyebrows drew together in dazed confusion.

Tyler laughed. "Nothing. It's fine. Are you ready to get out of the tub?"

"Yeah," Josh replied quietly.

Tyler reached in and unplugged the tub, letting it drain as he went to get a towel for Josh from the cupboard. He had to help Josh stand from the tub, seeing as he was shaking too hard to do it himself. Tyler wrapped Josh up snugly in a towel before wrapping his arms around Josh's waist. He went up on his tiptoes to press a kiss to Josh's lips before releasing him and leading him toward the bedroom.

"Let's put you in some warm pajamas, and then you can snuggle with me and watch Netflix on my laptop while I do homework. Does that sound alright?" Tyler asked as he guided Josh to sit down on the bed, still wrapped up in a towel.