Josh Dun x Reader

Bandito: Part Two

"That's good to hear."

"What about you? Rumor is you've been on a couple rescue missions."

You hated the nights Josh went to Dema, no matter his purpose. Despite the short amount of time you had spent together, his solo rescue mission had created a bond between the two of you that wasn't easily broken. Whenever the two of you weren't working or outside the camp for one reason or another, you were at each other's side.

"I'm tired, but the work we're doing is important. The more people that we can get out of there, the better off we are."

"Are you trying to rescue everyone?"

Josh turned to you, eyebrows furrowed slightly. "Why wouldn't we?"

"Well, if you rescue everyone, then what do the bishops have to lose? They'll just come at us full force and take back whoever they can. It just seems like a vicious cycle."

"We can't rescue everyone, that's a given," Josh sighed. "But that doesn't mean that we won't try."

Josh's face had fallen at the mention of not being able to save everyone. Feeling guilty for even bringing it up in the first place, you reached out and gently took one of his hands in your own. You lightly traced your fingers along the back of his hand, taking extra care to be gentle around the cut he had received last time he went to Dema.

"You're doing good work, Josh. Even saving one life is better than saving none."

He nodded slowly, eyes still focused on the fire in front of him. His grip on your hand grew a little tighter, desperate for the contact.

"I'm going back tonight."

Your stomach flipped. "Again? You've already been so many times this week."

He finally met your eyes again. You could tell this was hard for him, especially when he knew you were so worried about him.

"There are more people to save. I can't sit idly by while I know I have the power to bring them here."

"I'll come," you said plainly. "I know Dema better than anyone."

Josh shook his head, "You escaped hardly a week ago. They'll still be looking for you. Not to mention that you don't know the tunnels yet, in case you get lost. It's just too risky, for the time being."

"Then I better start learning the tunnels, because I plan to accompany you someday. You're not the only one who wants to save people."

Josh's mouth curled up into a smile, "I would like that."

"But since you are going without me for the time being, I want you to take this."

You pulled your hand away from Josh's, trying not to frown too much at the lack of warmth that he had been providing. He eyed you carefully as you reached into your jacket and pulled out the tiny, black notebook that you always carried with you.

"What is this?" he asked, taking it carefully from your hands.

"All the information that I gathered when I was planning my escape. There's all sorts of information in there: walking patterns of the bishops, phrases that I picked up on, passageways that I noticed people slip through when they thought they were alone. That sort of thing."

Josh began to thumb through the pages, his eyes widening in surprise as he read over the things you had scribbled down. He was the first person to actually see the content of the book, you had been too scared to let anyone onto your secret within Dema. Now that you were here - outside the walls - it didn't seem so risky.