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"This is the last smile that I'll fake for the sake of being with you."
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"Are you feeling any better, sweet boy?"
It had been a few days since Tyler had agreed to play a role in the ever-evolving effort to rescue the missing Keepers. Just in that short period of time, he had gone through an entire slew of emotions -- shock, numbness, anger, denial, fear, sadness, and, finally... acceptance.
Today was cold and rainy, the weather outside matching the chill inside of Tyler's bones. Heart and limbs tangled up with his Protector, he cherished the feeling of Josh's hand on the small of his back, tracing tiny circles into bare skin as they laid together.
"I'm... not sure how I feel," Tyler answered, ducking his face into Josh's neck, his voice soft and hesistant. "I don't know what's what anymore, honestly."
Josh nodded. He understood more than he would ever admit. But if there was one thing Tyler didn't need, it was something else to worry about right now. "I just want you to know that I'm proud of you. You're such an inspiration to me and I know you're going to be one to them as well."
Tyler curled his fingers against Josh's chest. "I don't know what's so inspirational about running away from your abusive Protector. I shouldn't have let him do those things to me in the first place. I was so weak."
"No, you weren't, Ty. You left him. You escaped. A lot of men and women can't do that because they're afraid, and rightfully so. I know you felt that way too but you still found the courage to leave. And if you ask me... that's incredibly inspirational."
Tyler was silent, taking in the power behind Josh's words. "You... you don't think I'm a coward?"
Josh frowned. "Of course not. Why would I think something like that?"
Looking away, Tyler's face went blank as memories of laying on the floor, bleeding and crying, came rushing back.
"I could beat you black and blue, but you still wouldn't dare leave me. You know why? Because you're nothing but a coward."
"No reason, I guess."
In the back of his mind, Josh worried if such a huge responsibility like this would cause Tyler more harm than good. He didn't want him to unravel at the seams... not again.
"I don't think I can... express how much you mean to me, Josh," Tyler continued. "You give me so much hope, and I don't say thank you nowhere near as much as I should for everything that you do for me."
Pure love flooding his veins, Josh pressed a kiss to Tyler's forehead. "You don't need to thank me, baby. I try my best to give you my all, and believe me, that's only a fraction of what you truly deserve."
Thunder rumbled in the background as Tyler closed his eyes, inhaling the scent of the person that he loved oh so much. "I think I know how I'm feeling, Josh," he whispered.
Josh tightened his grip around Tyler before whispering back. "Tell me."
"Calm."
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When Tyler asked Josh to take him to the park, despite the fact it was raining outside, his Protector couldn't find a good enough reason to say 'no' when time wasn't really on their side anymore.
Tyler held the umbrella over them, nothing but light conversation between them as they listened to the rain hit the pavement.
"Feels kind of therapeutic, huh?" Tyler mused as they slowed to a stop.
"I've never been one to willingly be out in the rain." Josh chuckled a little. "But I agree, this is really relaxing."
Sadness came over Tyler as he stared out at the muddy landscape. "I used to do this a lot when I was with him. He'd be passed out drunk and I'd sneak outside and just let the rain... drown me." He looked at Josh. "Sorry, I know that probably sounds really melodramatic."
"No. Not at all." Josh wished he had known Tyler back then, so he could've saved him from his ex-Protector. "If anything, I'm glad it helped you... even if for just a little bit."
"Thank you." Tyler stared down the path ahead of them. "Hey... let's go to the jungle gym, so we can get out of the rain."
It didn't take long for them to reach their beloved spot, one that held so many cherished memories.
"Little drier here," Josh said as he settled down next to Tyler. "You know... I think we had our first kiss here," he lightly teased.
Tyler smiled, the first real one Josh had seen from him in days. "We did. Thinking about it still gives me butterflies."
Josh smiled back. "Yeah?"
"Mhm." Tyler leaned his head on Josh's shoulder. "Well, honestly, you still give me butterflies. Every time I see you smile or you touch or kiss me, it feels like I have a giant nest of them in my stomach."
"Hey, that's funny, Ty, because I get the exact same feeling with you too." Josh chuckled as the blush he knew and oh-so-desperately loved made a surprise appearance on Tyler's cheeks. "What are the odds?"
"I dunno, but the odds are pretty high that you're a massive dork."
The two started laughing, and for a moment, everything felt... normal again.
"You know, s'only fair for you to kiss me since we're sitting here," Tyler murmured, a coy look on his face.
"Is it?" Josh smiled as he closed the distance between them.
Tyler let out a soft sigh when their lips met.
They were interrupted just a few kisses in, though, when Tyler's phone started buzzing in his pocket.
Huffing a little, Tyler pulled away and reached for his phone, already annoyed at whoever was trying to message him right now. Turning it on, his feelings changed, though, when he saw that he had just received a new message from the TKD.
"Josh," Tyler breathed out as his eyes flicked back and forth. "Look at this."
New Message: Keeper #12011988
Tyler,
All of us at the Time Keeper Database want to extend a huge 'thank you' for accepting your role in rescuing the missing Keepers. We understand that this will be quite the undertaking for a Keeper, both physically and emotionally, so we would like to provide you with an update.
In about a week or so, our goal is to put our plan into action. This will include traveling to a rural location outside of Kharkiv, Ukraine, where we believe the NATN is operating from. We will provide further details about how and when this will be carried out in the days to come.
However, because of your background, the enormity of the situation, and the effect this will have on your Time Keeper, we have made arrangements for your Protector, Joshua Dun, to accompany you to Ukraine. Also, we have reached out to Fynnley Harrington for his much-needed practical assistance in our effort.
Again, we would like to express our deep gratitude and appreciation for the courage you have shown both in the past and in the present. Thank you.
Warm regards to you and Joshua,
-TKD
"Baby boy," Josh whispered excitedly as he pulled Tyler into a hug. "We'll be together!"
Tyler completely fell apart. Sobbing into Josh's shirt, he held onto him as tightly as he could, never, ever wanting to let him go, short of being placed six feet underground.
"Shh, sweetheart, I'm here," Josh whispered as he rubbed tiny circles into Tyler's back. Once his Keeper's cries turned into nothing but soft hiccups, he pressed a slow, soft kiss to his forehead. "I love you so much, baby. Please don't be upset."
"I love you too," Tyler whispered back. He sniffled before rubbing at his eyes. "I'm just so relieved. Because I can't do this on my own. I need you, Joshua. I need you."
"And you have me. I'll be with you every step of the way. I promise." Cupping Tyler's tear-stained cheeks in his hands, he gave him a long kiss. "I'm so proud of you, Tyler. You're so strong. Please believe that, okay?"
"T-Thank you..." He leaned his forehead against Josh's, a wobbly, yet happy smile on his face. "Do I really deserve you?"
"You deserve the stars, baby love." Josh picked up Tyler's arm before placing a kiss on his Time Keeper symbol. "I can't give you all the stars, unfortunately. But I can love you to the end of the galaxy and back."
Tingles running up and down his arm from the feeling of warm lips against cold skin, Tyler closed his eyes and blushed, a soft giggle leaving his lips. "Can we make every day Happy Josh Day, please?"
"Right after we make every other day Happy Tyler Day." Josh smiled before kissing him again. "Hey, I have an idea."
"What is it?"
"Let's head home, get out of these wet clothes and put on some warm pajamas. Then we can turn on a movie and snuggle up together." Josh smiled. "And maybe a little kissing too? How does that sound?"
Tyler's thumb went up to his lips. "Could... could we try a little more French kissing too?"
"Um, I think anything less than a 'yes' would be an unacceptable answer, sweet boy."
Tyler laughed. "Hey, we should eat some ice cream before we do that."
"Ice cream?"
"Yeah, there's just something about how your lips taste afterwards."
"Well, I could think of something else sweet for you to taste..." Josh winked at him, a mischievous smile on his face.
"You're such a dork." Now visibily flustered, Tyler tugged on Josh's hand. "Come on, J."
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Stick with me, frens, I appreciate you.
What's the last song that you listened to?
Bonus question(s): Should I add GIFs of Josh and Tyler to the chapters? Or should I add videos for all of the song quotes? ♡
EDIT: I added GIFs to the first 25 chapters and videos for all of the song quotes.
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