Birthdaypresent(s) [Broshler]

I'll show you then

"Sooo will Brendon be there too?"
"Yes. Why?" Josh smirked, knowing Tyler couldn't see his face through the phone anyway.
"Oh. Eh. Because it be fun to see him too. I guess?" Josh could hear the little hasitation in Tylers voice, smiling softly as he poked Brendon's side. They hadn't made an effort yet of getting out of bed after their morning 'workout', and Josh had called Tyler to ask him to join them going out that sunday night.

"Say hi to Tyler", Josh told his boyfriend, pushing the phone against Brendon's face.
"Hey Tyler", Brendon mumbled, voice still groggy after he had fallen back to sleep and just woke up again.
"Hey." Josh could hear Tyler chuckle.
"Did you have a good trip?"
"Yeah, was good. Coming home was better. Thanks for keeping Josh sane", he yawned then.
"You're going to join us tomorrow night?"
"Uhm, yeah. Sure."
"Good. See you tomorrow then." Brendon pressed the phone back into Josh's hands.
"Did he wake up a little grumpy?"
"Hmm, not at all actually", Josh chuckled.

——

"Okay, let me just get this straight. You two invited me to the open-mic night here, but neither of you participate and Brendon doesn't even really want to be here?" Tyler frowned, slight amusement on his face, looking from Josh to Brendon.
"Yep." The older nodded. "Josh made me go."
"I did not!"
...
"Well maybe a little. Brendon just wanted to get out of it easy and make me take you here."
"Well maybe", Tyler shrugged, "that would've been better than taking this grumpy old man to ruin all the fun." Tyler stuck his tongue out towards Brendon, who sat at one of the uncomfortable wooden chairs, arms crossed over his chest. He huffed and reciprocated his actions by doing the same.
"We couldve had a nice date", Tyler joked towards Josh, before Brendon reached out and tried to grasp his wrist. But Tyler was faster, laughing as he jumped behind Josh, to use him as a shield.
Josh chuckled, placing Tyler down at a chair while sternly speaking to them both. "Now be nice, both of you. Wait here, i'm going to get us drinks."

"Why does he want to go to open-mic nights if he doesn't sing or play an instrument?" Tyler asked as he shifted a seat to sit next to Brendon. The latter shook his head softly, eyes following as Josh walked off. "His parents never let him play any instrument. He always wanted to play guitar or piano, but I guess it didnt fit into their 'perfect plan'. So he never got to."
Tyler nodded, his eyes also on Josh, who was trying to get the bartenders attention. "Why doesn't he learn now?"
"Bad memories. He just likes to hear others play, playing himself kinda has bad vibes I guess."
"Do you sing? Play instruments?" Tyler questioned then, focus shifting towards Brendon.
Brendon shook his head again, before turning to Tyler. "No. Well. In the shower I sing pretty damn gorgeous", he winked, "but other than that, no. I can create a lot off stuff with my hands and a pen or a computer, but my coordination sucks, I couldn't play a guitar if I wanted to. You?"

"I used to, when I was a kid", Tyler shrugged, slouching down in his seat, slightly disappearing. "I played piano, guitar, drums. But, uhm... I had to stop when I was 15. Now all I got is a keyboard, but I don't really play anymore."
It was silent for a slightly uncomfortable minute.
"Did... did Josh tell you, what I told him?"

Brendon frowned softly, suddenly noticing a huge insecurity in the earlier confident boy.
"No. Not really. Only that you didn't have an easy life so far. But that's it..."
"Oh. Okay."
Brendon sat up a bit, noticing Tylers stare in the distance. Or maybe at Josh. "Are you okay?"
It pulled Tyler out of his little trance. "Oh. Yeah. Just... he can tell you, if you're interested. In case he's not sure. I just... don't want to get into it now. If you even want to know, of course. "
"Okay", Brendon smiled. He was curious, but aware of the heavy weight of the situation.

At that time, Josh had received the drinks from the bartender. He grabbed all three between his fingers, a big beautiful smile showing on his face as he started to walk back. Brendon sighed softly. The pink messy curls, the grey NASA shirt and ripped black jeans.... The crazy beautiful pearly teeth and sparkly eyes. "Look at him", Brendon dreamed out loud, "so fucking handsome." He chuckled when he noticed Tyler staring too. "Right?"
Tyler blushed, hoping it would go unnoticed, when he nodded softly and mumbled a "yeah."

——

"Am I really the only one drinking tonight?" Josh pouted, asking this for the third time by now, another terrible mic-night coming to an end. "So boring", Josh continued while rolling his eyes. Brendon had to work tomorrow morning and didnt want to drink, and for whatever reason Tyler was sober too. Josh had only planned to take 'a' drink, but one turned into two and two ended up like probably five or six. He wasn't wasted, just a little giggly and whiny. He knew he was slightly annoying Brendon, who was just in a pretty serious conversation with Tyler that Josh couldn't focus on.

Josh did like how the two interacted, glad Brendon was open to become friends too, an apparently they got along just fine. It was nice. Tyler was the sassy, cocky boy at times, and Brendon was the one to easily bite at whatever joke or comment Tyler made. They were bickering at times, and Josh smiled softly as he continued to watch their lips move, little smiles shared.

Until Tyler stood up and crossed his arms over his chest. "Fine. Whatever." Josh zoned back in and looked up, wait, what happened? "What?"
Brendon rolled his eyes. "Pay attention will you? Pretty boy here claims he can sing. I called bullshit, so now he wants to make a fool out of himself by getting on the stage." Brendon smiled a smug grin towards Tyler. "YES DO IT", Josh clapped, before trying to shut Brendon up by covering his mouth. He failed. "Josh! You're supposed to be a good friend and not make him look like an idiot!" Brendon huffed as Josh almost pushed Tyler towards the stage. "You know, maaaaybe, he can actually sing?"
"Fine. If it is terrible, I do not know you", Brendon jokingly added, hands up in defeat. "Go!" Josh encouraged Tyler one more time.

So Tyler laughed, walking up to the host, talking a minute before turning back to the two boys watching him, sticking him thumb up. Josh copied his gesture, Brendon punched his shoulder. "I can't believe i'm being the only one here trying to protect the boy from disaster."

Josh huffed, but now maybe a little concerned Tyler would make a fool out of himself on the stage.

They waited for Tylers turn, Josh leaning his head on Brendon's shoulder. After a bit of silence, Josh could feel Brendon shrug softly. "He's cool", the older spoke suddenly. A random, subtle statement, but somehow it made Josh feel so relieved. He was just, for whatever reason, so glad Brendon and Tyler seemed to get along too.

The couple of glasses of alcohol helped Josh to be thinking about his words less, as he nodded. "And pretty." He hummed. "I like 'm."
"Yeah", Brendon just replied softly when Tyler than got on the stage. To both their surprise he sat down behind the keyboard, brushing the dust off of it, before smiling mischievously towards the other two boys.

And then, music started, both Josh and Brendon watching in anticipation for Tyler to sing. They saw him watch his fingers as he started playing the keyboard, looking up as soon as he started singing.

"All around me are familiar faces, worn out places, worn out faces."

"Holy shit!"