cant take it on my own (joshler)

introduction, part 1

When the door cracks open and light floods down into the basement, Josh is fully prepared for him to drag him to his feet and use him.

But it's not him who comes slowly down the stairs. It's someone Josh has never seen before. Fluffy brown hair, longer than he keeps it, brown eyes once Josh can make out his face.

"Hey." The man says, crouching down in front of Josh. "My name is Tyler. Tyler Joseph. I'm going to get you out of here, okay?"

His voice is quiet, calm, the exact opposite of his, and the kindness is what makes Josh instinctively trust him. He doesn't know how long it has been since he's been shown kindness.

"Is anything restraining you?" Tyler asks, and Josh is grateful that he's not approaching any closer.

Josh pulls on the chains around his ankles, then the ones around his wrists. They need a key, and he probably has a key.

"Okay. Key?" Tyler asks, and again Josh is grateful, this time that he doesn't have to speak.

Josh nods, and gestures up the stairs. There's a soft clank of metal, the shifting of chain links against each other.

"I will be right back." Tyler stands up slowly and goes up the stairs. The door doesn't close.

Josh is wary of this new figure. Maybe he invited someone over to use Josh with, and it's all a game of the new man being nice to test Josh, and the more Josh trusted him, the more he would be punished, and-

"I got the key." Tyler's voice cuts through Josh's spiral. "Does it unlock all of them?"

Josh nods.

"Can I come closer?"

Josh hesitates before nodding slowly.

Tyler steps forward and kneels down in front of Josh. Josh holds out a wrist and Tyler carefully slots the key into the keyhole and twists it. The cuff falls away, exposed raw redness and scabs where the skin has been rubbed through.

Tyler unlocks the other wrist and his ankles. They're in the same state.

"Can you walk on your own?" Tyler asks as he stands up.

Josh twists his fingers together nervously, wringing his hands. He doesn't trust himself to get out of the corner, scared that this is all a test, that he will come down at any moment and Josh will be punished.

"Want me to help you walk?"

Josh nods timidly, and Tyler holds out a hand. He doesn't seem expectant. Josh is still scared to touch him.

"Take your time. You have all you need." Tyler says.

It's a few minutes of Tyler being in the same position, Josh twisting his hands together and rubbing his wrists, before he reaches up and gently takes Tyler's hand.

Tyler doesn't pull Josh to his feet, instead providing a steady hand to help Josh stand on his own. He's grateful for that. He would've dragged Josh to his feet regardless of whether Josh was ready or not.

Josh stands on unsteady, weak legs. He can't remember the last time the stood on his own, supporting his own body. Tyler still has a nice, grounding grip on his hand.

"There are a lot of people outside, and some of them are going to want to ask you questions." Tyler says. "Can you handle that, or do you want to stay down here for a little longer?"

Josh points up the stairs and nods. He never wants to go back in this basement again.

There's still a lingering fear that this is all a test for obedience, but he hasn't appeared yet.