Empathy [Josh Dun - Twenty One Pilots]

TWENTY FIVE

"Oh, Josh," he whispered as his hands reached the back of Josh's neck. He closed his eyes, trying not to let the tears flow out, but they were already digging their way onto his cheeks. "Josh, come on..." Tyler pleaded, "Please wake up..."

Tilting his head down, taking a deep breath, Tyler finally decided to open his eyes. Josh, just like Mark, seemed peacefully asleep. With trembling hands, the boy patted his best friends chest, and arms, and stomach, searching for any gunshot wound and praying the Lord he had managed to divert the bullet's trajectory. 

"What happened?"

Tyler jumped, a small gasp escaping his lips as he realized his best friend had just woken up in his arms. Instantly, the boy reached out and hugged Josh. No matter how disorientated Josh felt, he needed to know that Tyler was sorry. 

"What are you sorry for, man?" Josh asked, hugging Tyler a little tighter, a nervous laugh escaping his lungs. "You just... You saved my life."

And that's the moment Tyler chose to burst into tears. There were plenty of things Tyler was sorry for, but saving Josh was not one of them, and he held onto his friend for a little longer, feeling his chest move in sync with his own breathing to make sure he was alive and well. 

"What happened, bro?" Josh thought, because for some reason, in moments like this, thinking was easier than actually voicing the words. "Are you okay?"

Tyler sighed one last time against Josh, and then broke the embrace to look him in the eye. "You passed out when I... The guy almost shot you and I... All my energy kind of -" Tyler didn't know how to say it. He wasn't even sure what had happened exactly. "All my energy went into that bullet that was about to hit you and I think I diverted it but it created some sort of implosion and the whole room was swept... You all passed out."

"Where's the police? They should be here any minute now, right?" Josh asked, looking up to Tyler. The boy stayed strangely silent, and it only took a few more seconds for Josh to understand. There was no police. "How did you-"

Tyler shrugged, his finger pointing to his temple. It all came from there. Josh opened his mouth, surprised but not that much. He had always sensed Tyler was much stronger than he thought, and he could feel that the extent of his powers was a thing he was still uncomfortable talking about. So instead of digging deeper, figuring that would happen later, when everyone would finally be safe and sound, Josh changed the subject. "How's Mark?"

Tyler shrugged again. "Passed out just like you but he looks f-"

A sudden wheeze, coming from right behind them, made the boys jump in surprise, and Josh sat up, before quickly raising to his feet at the sight of Mark, still leaning against the wall, but just a little more pale. The young boy coughed harshly and obviously winced in pain as the other two crouched down next to him. Without a sound, he placed a hand on his right side, where the pain had just come from before his eyes shot wide open. "Wh-" he started, his voice getting caught in his throat.

"Oh my God, Tyler-" Josh suddenly exclaimed.

But Tyler couldn't. He couldn't look. He couldn't breathe. The dizziness clouding his mind made him lose balance as Josh started shouting instructions, his hands pressing on Mark's stomach. But Tyler couldn't hear. All he could do was watch the blood, thick and red, so red, ooze from the wound he had caused. 

He had caused this. 

The thoughts swirled, eating him from the inside. He had caused this.

He had caused the blood and the hurt, and maybe - his stomach churned at the thought - death. And Tyler knew he would never forgive himself if that happened. Yet he stood there, motionless, and Josh's face contorted in fright and pain and anger as he kept shouting and shouting and shouting and sh-

"TYLER FRICKIN' JOSEPH! WAKE UP! NOW!" his best friend screamed at him, and Tyler's hands started trembling as he crouched down.

"The bullet- The bullet must have- I diverted it but I didn't-" he stuttered. "I didn't mean to- I didn't want this Josh, I'm s-"

"It doesn't matter right now, Tyler, okay?" Josh shouted in response, obviously not wanting to hear any apologies. He probably hated Tyler now. "You need to DO something now or..."

"he's losing too much blood"

"Please, Tyler..."

"don't let him die"

"Do something, help me..."

"he's gonna die on me if you don't"

"I know you can do something. I know you can. I can feel it so please..."

"I can't do anyth-" Tyler finally spoke, his voice low and trembling.

"Yes, you can, Tyler! Remember The Green Mile? You can do this."

"I've never tried!" Tyler retorted, but with each passing second, his conscience was falling apart.

"Then TRY NOW! You've made a frickin MESS and now you're gonna MAKE UP FOR IT OKAY?"

Silence.

Tyler and Josh looked straight into each other's eyes for a second, their mouth nor their mind saying a single thing. Then, finally, Tyler gulped, wiped the last tears at the corner of his eyes, and balled his hands into fists to take in a deep breath. Slowly, he approached Mark on his knees and, avoiding Josh's gaze, pressed both of his hands on the wound, right above Josh's own hands. With a swift movement of the head, he told Josh to remove his pressure.

In a matter of seconds, Tyler's hands had turned red. Not able to stand the view, Tyler closed his eyes. And he focused, channeling the energy through his fingertips and hoping for the best. He was ready.

He had no choice but to be ready.

Ready to save a life.

Ready to lose a friend.

Josh hated him, now.

|-/|-/|-/

Breathe, guys. Josh is alive.

Next update will be on YCTIO because Empathy got two updates in a row.

Please leave your thoughts in the comments, I always appreciate them - and do vote for the chapter if you feel like it!