Precious // Joshler // ddlb

*two*

"How are you feeling?"

Tyler looked closer at the man. He didn't look too much older than himself. He had stubble, a silver nose ring, faded red hair, and dark brown eyes. The brunet was confused, trying to think of everything that happened last night, and what was said. He gasped quietly before speaking.

"How old are you?" Tyler asked, remembering he never got his age.

Josh only chuckled, patting the smaller boy's shoulder.

"I'm nineteen, going on twenty in June," Josh answers, but quickly brushes it away, "How are you feeling, Tyler?"

"Okay, I'm thirsty." He whines, trying to get warm under the crappy hospital blanket they had given him.

"Hey, okay, relax. Don't move too much, okay? Stay still, I've got some water for you."

Josh turns to the bedside table and picks up a small plastic cup with a lid and a straw and hands it to Tyler. Tyler takes a sip from the cup, the icy water feeling amazing on his dry throat. When he finishes what he wants he hands the cup back to Josh, who happily takes the cup back and sets it down on the table.

"Thanks," Tyler says, rubbing his sleepy eyes, "I wanna go home. Wanna get away from here."

Josh nods, trying to pretend to understand what he meant by "home". He found Tyler leaned up against a dumpster at a gas station late at night when he was coming home from working almost all day. Usually when people do that they don't typically have a home, he was just hoping Tyler hadn't run away, he didn't want to get into anything legal.

"Where is  your home, bud?" Josh asks, placing a hand on the younger boy's thigh.

"Don't wanna go back, bad."

Josh sighs, definitely something legal, and he sure was not going to get into it.

"Okay, well, when I get you discharged do you want me to bring you to my home?" Josh asks.

Tyler nods, his eyes widening both from fear and from excitement. He had been out on the streets for just over 3 weeks now, he desperately wanted some heating from the frigid temperatures. Josh only chuckles at Tyler, not wanting to ruin the boy's joy over this whole thing.

"Alright, I'll  see how I can get you discharged, then we'll go to my place after, okay?"

"Okay."

* ^ *

"Ty, we're here." Josh says, opening Tyler's side door open.

When Josh doesn't get a response he proceeds to get Tyler's bags from the back and puts them in the house. Josh walks back out to the car where the small brunet is still sleeping in his seat. The elder of the two sighs, putting his hand on the latter's leg in attempt to wake him up. Tyler stirs, but stays asleep. The faded red hue finally gives in, taking Tyler in his arms, he carries him inside and to his own bedroom. Josh lays the boy down, making Tyler cry softly.

"Hey, shh, it's okay, it's okay." Josh whispers, "It's time to sleep for a bit, Ty."

Despite Josh's soothing words, Tyler continues to whine. He tosses and turns in the messy bed he was laying on. Josh sighs, shifting the younger boy onto his lap, cradling him. He slowly and softly rocks the brunet back and forth in his comforting hold. Sure enough, Tyler starts to relax and fall asleep.

Tyler turns his face into the warm crook of Josh's neck, sighing in content. His hands travel up slowly to Josh's shoulders, taking two small fistfuls of his shirt and pulling down. A small whine escapes through his throat, making him whimper into Josh's neck.

"You're okay, I promise, I'm not going anywhere, Precious." Josh whispers, continuing to rock the upset boy back and forth.

Josh reaches over to his nightstand, picking up the television remote and turning on the tv. It was currently twelve in the afternoon and Josh was hoping there would be something on that would calm Tyler down. After a few short minutes of searching, and Tyler softly crying, he finally found a kids' cartoon that he enjoys and hopes that Tyler would enjoy too.

"Look, Ty, look at the cartoon." Josh points in the direction of the tv, hoping Tyler would look.

Tyler looked up and looked over at the TV. His pink lips curving into a small smile as he relaxed a little more into Josh's hold. Minutes went by and Tyler was practically asleep in Josh's arms, which was melting the older boy's heart.

"S'funny." Tyler mumbles, pointing to a funny scene on the tv.

"It's very funny," Josh replies, hugging Tyler closer to him, "but how about we try to take a quick nap, okay?"

Tyler sighs, but makes no effort to protest.

"M'kay."

By the end of the third episode, Tyler was asleep, and Josh was so tired that not too long after he fell asleep as well.

⚫️🌼⚫️

Hey

I want friends

Be ma friend

I don't have too much to say

1. Because I'm publishing this at like 12:15 in the morning where I live

and

2. My life has been pretty boring lately

sooo...

Love ya!

~M ❤️