Josh Dun x Reader

Bandito: Part Two

"Y/N," Josh murmured. "This is impressive. You managed to gather all this information inside the walls?"

You nodded, "Like I said, you can learn a lot if you look in the right places."

"How long did this take you to put together?"

"Months, probably, of getting maybe a piece of information or two every few days. I started collecting information in the middle of winter with the plan of escaping when the weather got nicer and I had a better chance of survival. The information started to come more often as it got closer to my planned escape. I think they were starting to suspect that I was leaving."

"Survival?" Josh asked. "Didn't you know that we were out here? That we would help you?"

You shrugged, "I didn't believe anything that I hadn't seen with my own eyes. I wanted to believe it, but I refused to give myself false hope if there was nothing outside the walls."

Josh nodded and continued to flip through pages, examining all the notes you had taken. He finally reached the page where you had written down the various phrases you had heard, quietly whispered as residents had passed one another in the hall. It always seemed intentional, as if you were meant to hear it.

"Wait," you said, stopping his hand before he turned the page. "I had a question."

"What about?"

"This phrase," you pointed to it for emphasis, "what does it mean? I've figured most of the others out because people have been saying them, but not this one: sahlo folina."

The heads of nearby banditos swiveled towards you as you uttered the phrase. You scanned each of their faces, noticing the worry that was etched onto most of them.

"It's a distress signal, of sorts," Josh explained. "You say it when you're in need, hence the response you've created."

You muttered a quiet sorry to those around you, who simply smiled and brushed it off. They seemed reassured that you weren't actually in distress, just simply curious about the inner workings of the banditos.

Before Josh had a chance to keep looking through your notes, Tyler came wandering over. He was dressed in his typical camouflage coat and his mouth was set in a hard line as he looked down at the two of you.

"Five minutes," he said sternly.

"I'll be ready."

Tyler turned and walked off, most likely to collect the rest of the group that would be accompanying him and Josh to Dema tonight. Josh shut the notebook and rested it on his leg.

"This is invaluable, thank you for letting me take it," he said.

"Just don't lose it, alright?" you smiled, trying to lighten the heavy mood that had set in.

"I'll keep it in my bag, right next to the tape."

You watched the firelight dance in Josh's eyes as he stared down at the small fire. A nearby bandito threw a couple more sticks onto the fire, reigniting the flame. The warmth on your hands became more evident.

Josh must have felt you staring, because he slowly turned to you and met your eyes. You held his gaze, as tempting as it was to send him a message by glancing down at his lips. He had enough on his plate for the time being, your confession could wait.

"Be safe for me, would you?" you asked quietly.

Josh reached out and grabbed both of your hands, holding on to them tightly.

"Funny, a week ago I believe you weren't willing to trust me at all."

You shot him a look, bringing your elbow around to lightly bump him in the shoulder without releasing his hands.