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Tyler was laying sprawled out on the stage of the venue they were going to be playing at that night. The smooth floor felt cold against his back, through the thin fabric of his white T-shirt. Causing goosebumps to form along the length of his arms.
He lays with his legs dangling over the edge of the stage, the heels of his shoes occasionally hitting the short wall with a quiet thud. His microphone rests loosely in his right hand, as he breathes in a content sigh. The weight was familiar and comforting to him.
He listens with closed eyes as Josh practices his drumming several feet away. he could both hear and feel each beat that he hit with his drumsticks.
Every dull hammer of the kick drum, every crash of the symbols, reverberating through the floor. Thrumming through his body and sinking deep into his bones.
It was invigorating. It made him feel alive, and made his heart fill with emotion in a way he wasn't quite sure how to define.
Normally he would get bursts of energy just from watching his drummer behind the kit during shows. The way he bounced up and down in his seat, throwing his head back as he played. The way his arms moved at an almost imperceptible speed to hit every note, to match his rhythm with Tyler's voice. Giving him the energy to face the crowd and sing until his throat was sore and his lungs wanted to give out. It felt amazing.
But this was a whole different feeling in itself. This felt calming in a way, like a cool wave of water over burning skin. It felt like something resembling peace. So Tyler decides to take this time to just lay there and enjoy it for a while.
He doesn't move, even when Josh stops playing. He does however, open his eyes to watch Josh walk over to him wearing just his black jeans and a red backwards hat, his drumsticks both held in one hand. His body was slick with sweat, glistening under the florescent stage lights. His dark hair poking out from under his hat and curling around his ears and the base of his neck.
He plops down beside Tyler on the edge of the stage, and starts twirling his drumsticks around his fingers absentmindedly. Tyler sits up slowly and looks over at his drummer with a soft smile pulling at his lips.
Josh grins widely, his warm brown eyes creasing at the sides as he smiles. It made Tyler's heart nearly skip a beat.
Josh reaches an arm over to pull Tyler into a sweaty side hug, which he doesn't really mind. He was use to it after the countless embraces they've shared after shows, standing close, bodies pressed together with one arm around each other's shoulders as they bow to their audience.
Tyler leans into his friend's side, resting his head against his shoulder as they look out over the empty seats that, in just a few short hours , will be filled with a roaring crowd of thousands. Coming to see them, to hear their music. A thought that no matter how many shows they played, was both terrifying and immensely exciting.
Josh lays his cheek against the top of Tyler's head and squeezes his shoulders in silent reassurance that Tyler hadn't realized he needed until he was being enveloped in his friend's warmth. He lets his eyes fall shut and just focuses on the sound of Josh's soft breathing, and the feeling of his strong arm around him. He shifts even closer, and Josh holds onto him a little tighter in response brushing warm lips against Tyler's hairline. He opens his mouth to speak, but stops himself in fear of breaking the silence, that with anyone but Josh, would have been awkward. so instead, he sighs peacefully, feeling his heart swell at how soft and simple this moment between them was.
They both Knew that soon they would have to get up and finish practicing for the show. they would have to act more professional when the stage crew got there to help set up, and keep their relationship under wraps in front of the audience.
But for the time being, they were perfectly content sitting there a while longer.