Chapter Text
Josh smiles when he hears the roar of the crowd from behind the thick red curtain backstage. He and Tyler are about to take the stage and those last couple of minutes before they finally emerge are the most exciting ones. The fill the drummer with anticipation and a rush of adrenaline he can’t quite get from anything else. Tyler is standing right next to him, looking composed and focused , unlike Josh who can’t quite pull himself together and jumps from one foot to the other.
They get a signal to put on their masks and Josh pulls his own over his face with shaking fingers. They lock gazes for a second , sharing this very special moment before they’re being rushed beyond the curtain and onto the stage.
The beginning notes of Heavy dirty soul are playing and the crowd goes absolutely insane. Josh takes a moment to admire the view, to soak in the moment where the entre arena is full of people who use music the same way he and Tyler do. It’s an unforgettable moment. The next second Tyler takes the stage with a leap from his piano which officially starts their set.
The concert is amazing; the crowd is very involved and sings their lyrics back at them with a thundering sound. Josh hits his drums so hard, he feels as though his arms might fall off any moment by the time they get to Car radio. He puts his mask on while the lights are out and waits for Tyler to do the same. Before the singer does though, he grins at Josh and makes the drummer smile as well. Small moments like this one are precious to Josh, because it’s just between him and his best friend who he shares his dream with. When all of this is over, which will inevitably happen one day, Josh will keep these moments in his heart where all of the experiences with Tyler are held.
Car radio starts and the crowd loves it. It’s one of their favorite songs, despite it not being released as a single. People love it. So does Josh, who sings the lyrics to himself while Tyler pours his heart out to the crowd.
It’s the moment that Josh always dreads, when Tyler climbs up high above the crowd and barely supports himself with one arm. He’s standing on a platform, barely big enough for him to fit his feet, but he’s absolutely fearless. The lights are shining on him and Josh raises one hand, pointing at the singer with one of his drumsticks. The crowd’s attention turns to him and every single pair of eyes are looking up at the platform where Tyler stands with his arms spread out like a bird ready to fly.
In that exact moment , when Tyler takes his mask off and closes his eyes a loud bang splits the air , resembling a cannon going off. Josh has just taken his mask off too, expecting to see Tyler climbing down the ladder to make his way back to the stagе, but instead he hears a loud thump and people screaming.
The first thing that registers in Josh’s mind Is that he can’t see Tyler anywhere; he’s not climbing down the ladder or making his way through the crowd back to the stage or anywhere else. This makes him stand up from his drums and anxiously look around, hoping to see a sign of what might’ve happened. He then remembers the sick sounding thump that followed Tyler’s descending which throws him into panic. Did his friend fall ?
There’s commotion underneath the platform where Tyler has been standing a minute ago. Not waiting another second Josh jumps right over his drum set and lunches down the isle that leads to the platform. He pushes through the guards, through the people who block his way with only one thought in his mind. Tyler, let Tyler be alright.
The first thing he sees when he nears the spot where people are gathering is blood. That scene almost makes him pass out and he screams “ Let me through, let me through “ with a terribly shaking voice. People let him through and his vision blackens for a moment when he sees Tyler, sprawled out on the ground , covered with blood and choking on it.
" No, no, no no , Tyler no " the words tumble out of his mouth while his heart pounds so fast it could literally jump out of his mouth. There's so much blood and Josh is absolutely terrified that Tyler will die right there at his feet.
It’s difficult to tell what exactly happens next, but he knows that his feet carry him straight to his friend’s convulsing body and he raises Tyler up from the ground almost without thinking. Tyler doesn't stop shaking and coughing blood, staining the drummer's shirt with crimson red. Josh is so terrified he doesn't hear the roar of the crowd or the voices of the security guards yelling around him.
By that time security is already aware of what has happened and they are evacuating people and calling 911.
Josh runs with Tyler lifeless in his hands as fast as he can towards the backstage, where he knows their field doctor is. People are screaming around him, some of them are crying and others simply stare at the scene, unable to find their voice to either scream or cry. It’s absolute mayhem.
Some of their security guys are trying to help Josh carry the singer, but he absolutely refuses to let go. So many things cross his mind it almost makes him dizzy. Tyler’s body isn’t convulsing anymore which terrifies him. Is he alive ? God, please let him be alive.
Stumbling backstage, the doctor waist for them with his first aid kit in his hands. The ambulance will come in a couple of minutes, but these few minutes before it arrives could be the difference between life and death for Tyler
“Put him over here “says the doctor and points to the nearby table. Josh does, as carefully as possible , but letting go is almost unbearable. He doesn’t want to leave Tyler, he doesn’t want to let him go.
" H-he's bleeding " Josh mumbles and looks at his own bloodied hands. They are painted with red from where Tyler bled all over him. Everything smells like metal and blood and it makes Josh want to wake up from this nightmare, because there is no way all of this is real.
“Josh, I need to take care of his wounds, come on“ the doctor reassures the terrified drummer who lets go of Tyler’s bloody arms and takes a step back. God there’s so much blood. It’s all over Tyler’s hands, chest and throat, tickling down to the table and painting it red in matter of seconds. Josh is still lost of what happened, how did he end up so badly injured ? Why did he fall ?
The room soon fills with people – production managers, crew members and their supporting band, everyone looking just as terrified as Josh feels. Someone hugs Josh and he desperately hugs back, not caring who’s the one giving him comfort. The doctor is already working on Tyler, having his shirt cut off and that’s when Josh can see the wounds. There are two holes in Tyler’s chest – one near his right armpit and another one , right in the center of his chest. The realization of what just happened downs on Josh who has to hold on to whoever’s hugging him in order to stand on his feet as his knees go weak from terror. The weird sound of cannon going off, the bleeding holes in Tyler’s chest, they all click together. Tyler has been shot in the middle of their concert.