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1.
They were alone in the booth, the hum of silence settling in as the sound tech left minutes ago. The faint echo of the closing door lingered in the air, but it wasn’t the sound Josh was paying attention to. No, it was Tyler. He could feel the shift the moment they were left alone.
Tyler was fidgeting, his fingers tapping the edge of the mic stand, stealing sidelong glances at Josh as if waiting for some unspoken permission. Josh wasn’t ready to give it yet—not right away. Instead, he stayed behind his drum set, letting the rhythm of his sticks carry on as though he hadn’t noticed. But the grin tugging at the corner of his lips betrayed him. He was playing a different game entirely.
The clock on the wall caught his eye. They had time. A few stolen minutes before the sound tech would return. They could afford this.
The beat faltered and died as Josh stopped drumming. He set his sticks down with deliberate care, relishing the way Tyler’s head snapped up in surprise.
“What?” Tyler asked, his voice sharp in contrast to the warm flush spreading across his face.
Josh leaned back on the stool, licking his lips as if savoring a secret. His grin widened. “Come here,” he said, his tone low, coaxing.
Tyler hesitated, brows furrowing, but he took a step forward anyway, drawn by the pull between them. “What?” he repeated, the word softer this time as he neared.
Josh tilted his head, his fingers curling around the edge of the stool. He let the moment stretch, drawing it out like the taut string of a bow. When Tyler was close enough, Josh reached out, taking his hand with a touch that was both tender and teasing. His thumb brushed idle patterns on the back of Tyler’s hand, a slow, deliberate caress.
“Kiss me,” Josh said, his voice a whisper that curled between them, softer than the velvet soundproofing around the booth.
Tyler’s eyebrows shot up, his expression caught between shock and amusement. “Right now?”
Josh’s grin softened into something more intimate. “Just a kiss, Ty. You’ve felt so far away all day.” His voice dipped, almost a whine, and he gave Tyler’s hand a gentle tug.
Tyler rolled his eyes, but the corners of his lips twitched as if resisting a smile. “We’ve been side by side all day.”
Josh stood then, the stool creaking under his movement as he rose to meet Tyler eye-to-eye. His grip on Tyler’s hand firmed. “Please,” he said, the word carrying the weight of unspoken emotions.
Tyler sighed, his resolve crumbling. “Okay,” he murmured, his free hand sliding into Josh’s curls, the movement hesitant but growing bolder.
Josh’s face lit up, and he leaned in, their breaths mingling in the space between. And then—
“Ready to record?”
The door creaked open, and the sound tech’s cheerful voice shattered the moment.
They broke apart in a clumsy scramble. Josh barely caught himself on the stool, and Tyler stumbled back, his hand brushing against the mic stand for balance.
The sound tech blinked at them, oblivious to what he’d just interrupted. “Everything good?”
“Yeah. Yep,” Tyler answered into the mic, his voice hoarse and just a little too quick.
Josh caught Tyler’s eye across the room. A smirk was tugging at Tyler’s lips, and Josh could feel the echo of his own grin in response.
Later, Josh thought, the promise of it curling warm and insistent in his chest.
Tyler was wound up so tight Josh could practically feel the tension radiating from him across the room. The relentless pace of the tour was taking its toll—venues, interviews, soundchecks, and an endless stream of people made it impossible for them to have a moment to themselves. Josh hated seeing Tyler like this. He knew how the pressure built up in him, how it made him snap at everyone around him. Not everyone understood it, but Josh did.
He was watching it unfold now: Tyler was chewing out a poor light tech, his voice sharp and biting. The guy stammered an apology before making a hasty retreat, his hurried footsteps echoing in the emptying venue. Josh sighed, weaving around scattered equipment to close the distance between them.
“You okay there?” he asked, keeping his voice low, careful.
Tyler turned on him, still bristling. “No, I’m not. Everything is… is not right,” he said, flinging his arms out in a wide, exasperated gesture.
Josh stepped closer, placing a steadying hand on Tyler’s arm. “Everything’s fine, Ty. You’re just a little stressed,” he said, squeezing lightly in an attempt to ground him. “The show’s gonna be great.”
Tyler yanked his arm back, running both hands through his hair in a gesture of pure frustration. The stage looked fine to Josh—sure, there were a few cables and unfinished setups, but it was still hours before the doors opened.
Josh softened his tone, lowering it just for Tyler. “We both know what this is really about.”
Tyler’s head snapped toward him, his eyes narrowing into a glare sharp enough to cut through the haze of tension. Okay, not Josh’s smartest move. He bit his lip, scrambling to figure out a way to defuse the situation before Tyler could explode.
But Tyler didn’t explode. Instead, he grabbed Josh’s hand and yanked him forward without a word.
“Uh, what—Tyler, what are you doing?” Josh asked as they maneuvered through the backstage maze of roadies, equipment cases, and loops of cables.
Tyler didn’t answer, his grip iron-tight on Josh’s hand. A few tech crew glanced their way, eyebrows raised, and Josh could only imagine what they thought: Josh being dragged like a scolded kid in the middle of his best friend’s meltdown.
“Tyler,” Josh tried again, his voice firmer this time, tugging back slightly, but Tyler didn’t stop.
They rounded a corner into a quieter part of the venue. Tyler yanked open the door to a supply cupboard and shoved Josh inside.
“Wh—whoa! Ty—what the—?!” Josh stumbled over the threshold, his back hitting something vaguely cylindrical (a mop? A vacuum?). Before he could get his bearings, Tyler followed him in and closed the door with a thud, plunging them into near darkness.
Tyler’s hands found Josh’s chest, palms pressed flat against him. “I’m not going another seventy-eight hours without some alone time,” he said, his voice low and fierce.
Josh blinked, stunned for a moment. Then he grinned. “No argument here.”
Before either of them could act on it, a crackle came over the venue’s intercom: “TYLER AND JOSH FOR SOUNDCHECK.”
The two of them jolted apart, Josh bumping into the mop he’d barely registered earlier. Tyler groaned, the sound guttural and loud in the tiny space.
With a muttered curse, Tyler yanked the door open, daylight flooding in. “Let’s go, then,” he gritted out, his voice taut with frustration. He stomped away, leaving Josh to untangle himself from the confines of the cramped cupboard.
Josh adjusted his shirt collar and ran a hand through his hair, smirking to himself. “Guess we’ll have to wait seventy-eight hours,” he muttered under his breath, hurrying after Tyler.
3.
Josh stumbled into the tour bus, every ounce of energy drained from his body. The day had been relentless, and all he wanted was to collapse into his bunk and sleep for ten solid, uninterrupted hours.
The bus was quiet, and for a moment, he thought he was alone. But then he saw him.
Tyler was sprawled on the couch, a can of Red Bull tipped over next to an unopened bag of chips, his phone still clutched loosely in one hand. He was asleep, his face soft and serene, the faintest trace of black paint smudged on his neck like a whisper of the stage left behind.
Josh paused in the doorway, leaning against the frame. He let his gaze linger, taking in the peaceful rise and fall of Tyler’s chest, the way his features were unguarded in sleep. There was something so achingly vulnerable about it that Josh found himself biting his lip.
He wanted to kiss him. Something ridiculously romantic and cliché, like a scene out of a fairytale. Prince Charming waking his prince. God, he was getting mushy. It was embarrassing.
Josh shook his head, forcing the thought away. He should just climb into his bunk, fall asleep, and let Tyler have his moment of rest. But then he noticed the angle of Tyler’s neck, bent awkwardly against the armrest of the couch. That would hurt in the morning. Josh couldn’t leave him like that.
Moving quietly, he approached. His steps were careful, his breathing slow, like he was navigating a minefield. He slid one hand under Tyler’s knees and the other around his back, lifting him as gently as he could. Tyler stirred slightly, murmuring something incoherent, but didn’t wake.
Josh carried him to the bunk area, each step deliberate to avoid jostling him. The dim light cast soft shadows across Tyler’s face, and for a brief moment, Josh felt his heart swell. He was ridiculous.
When he reached Tyler’s bunk, he lowered him onto the mattress with painstaking care. As soon as Tyler’s body met the sheets, he shifted, his eyes fluttering open. Their gazes locked in the soft light, and before Josh could move away, Tyler’s arms looped around his neck, tugging him down.
“Hey,” Josh whispered, his voice barely audible.
“Hello, handsome,” Tyler murmured, his voice thick with sleep.
Josh swallowed hard. “Hi,” he managed, entirely mesmerized by the way Tyler was looking at him.
Before he could say anything else, a voice cut through the quiet: “Are you guys still awake?”
Josh jerked back so fast he slammed his head against the top bunk. He stumbled awkwardly, and Tyler fell fully onto the mattress with a muffled “Ouch.”
The roadie rounded the corner, stopping short at the sight of Josh, who was now scrambling to his feet, trying to look as nonchalant as humanly possible. He threw an arm up, shielding Tyler from view.
“Huh—uh, just me!” Josh blurted, his voice cracking. “Tyler’s sleeping.” He cleared his throat, praying the blush creeping up his neck wasn’t too obvious.
The roadie lowered his voice. “Oh, right. Got it.” He hesitated. “We’re heading out for drinks. You wanna come?”
Josh blinked, his mind racing. He didn’t want to go, not really. But if he stayed, he knew Tyler wouldn’t get any sleep—not with him hovering nearby.
“Yeah,” he said finally, grabbing his jacket. “Let’s go.”
As he followed the roadie off the bus, he glanced back once, just to make sure Tyler was okay. The sight of him lying there, eyes closed, his chest rising and falling softly, stayed with him all the way to the bar.
The airport was a symphony of chaos: endless announcements, rolling suitcases clattering on tiled floors, and the hum of too many conversations happening all at once. Josh sat slumped in his chair, feeling the weight of it all pressing down on him. He couldn’t remember the last time it had been just him and Tyler.
Not the band, not the crew—just them. When was the last time they’d kissed? Or even hugged, really hugged? Something that wasn’t a quick side embrace, a fleeting gesture tucked away in public spaces? God, he missed it. Sitting this close to his “secret” boyfriend without being able to touch him, hold his hand, or let him rest his head on his shoulder was borderline torture.
Josh’s leg bounced anxiously, his knee jiggling with pent-up frustration. The noise, the crowds, the sheer impossibility of being alone together—it was wearing him thin.
A warm hand suddenly pressed down on his knee, stopping the nervous movement. Tyler leaned in, his voice low and conspiratorial. “I’m going to the bathroom. Wanna come?”
Josh raised an eyebrow at him, amused despite himself. Tyler rolled his eyes. “Come on. Ten minutes. No one will notice.”
The crew around them were too busy scrolling on their phones or chatting to even glance their way. Tyler stood, and Josh followed without hesitation, his pulse quickening.
They slipped into the bathroom, checking each stall like kids sneaking out of class. When the last door swung open to reveal an empty stall, Josh leaned against the wall, laughing quietly.
“We look like teenagers,” he said, shaking his head.
Tyler smirked, his brows quirking as he leaned against the sink. “Yeah, well, it’s not like we can make out in the middle of the airport without it turning into a headline.”
Josh’s gaze softened as he looked at Tyler, his boyfriend’s lips quirking in that crooked grin, his eyes sparkling even under the harsh fluorescent lights. God, he was so stupidly in love with him. Josh stepped closer, sliding a hand around Tyler’s lower back, pulling him just a little closer.
“I don’t mind sneaking out like teenagers,” he said, his voice low, teasing.
Tyler’s smirk softened into something warmer as Josh leaned in. Their breaths mingled, the noise of the airport dimming in the bubble of their shared space. Finally.
And then, a piercing scream shattered the moment.
They sprang apart instinctively, rushing out of the bathroom just in time to see a woman gripping a column with one hand and her pregnant belly with the other.
“Oh my god, my water just broke! Oh my god!” she shouted, panic etched into every syllable.
Josh and Tyler froze, eyes wide like deer caught in headlights. For a long moment, neither of them moved.
“Call someone!” the woman shouted again, her gaze snapping to them.
“Right! Yes! Someone!” Josh blurted, scrambling for the nearest security guard. Tyler bolted in the opposite direction, yelling for help as if the airport itself were on fire.
As they darted around in their separate quests for assistance, Josh thought to himself: Next time. Next time will be the right one.
The sun was relentless, beating down from a cloudless sky. The air was dry, sticking to Josh’s skin like a second layer. It was the kind of heat that made you want to melt into the ground and stay there. They’d escaped to a park nearby, a rare slice of peace amidst the chaos of the tour.
Fifteen minutes. That’s all they had before soundcheck, but Josh had no intention of heading back early. He lounged on top of a picnic table, his shirt discarded somewhere nearby, sunglasses sliding down his nose. The heat pressed against him like a heavy blanket, but he didn’t mind. For once, he felt relaxed.
Tyler had wandered off a few minutes ago, muttering something about ice cream. Josh had barely registered it. He was too focused on soaking up the sun, letting the rare silence wash over him.
He heard Tyler return before he saw him, the soft crunch of shoes on dry grass and then the creak of the bench as he sat down. Josh cracked one eye open, lifting his sunglasses to see Tyler perched across from him, holding a dripping cone of mint chocolate chip ice cream. Tyler licked at it with a satisfied hum.
“You look hot,” Josh said, tilting his head with a smirk.
Tyler choked on his ice cream, coughing as his cheeks flushed. “Dude!”
“Don’t call me dude.”
“Babe?” Tyler shot back, a mischievous glint in his eye.
Josh’s breath hitched, the word settling into him like a warm breeze. “…That’s better.”
Tyler laughed, and Josh couldn’t help but grin. He loved this—just the two of them, soaking in the summer heat, stealing moments of normalcy between the chaos of tour life. They’d be exhausted later, he knew that, but right now, this was enough.
Josh sat up, leveling his head with Tyler’s. The grin slipped from Tyler’s face, his eyes darting down to Josh’s lips. For a moment, time seemed to pause, the world shrinking down to just the two of them.
And then Josh leaned forward and—took a bite out of Tyler’s ice cream.
“Dude!” Tyler squawked, pulling the cone back.
“Don’t call me dude,” Josh said through a mouthful of mint chocolate chip, his smirk widening.
Tyler stood abruptly, grabbing Josh by the collar and yanking him close. The sudden movement stole the air from Josh’s lungs, and the laugh died on his lips. All that was left was the heat—not from the sun, but from the intensity in Tyler’s gaze.
Josh swallowed hard, heart pounding. This was it. A kiss. Finally.
“Is that Twenty One Pilots?!”
The high-pitched squeal broke through the moment like a fire alarm, and Tyler’s grip loosened in surprise. Too loose.
Josh barely registered the push before he was falling backward off the picnic table, his arms flailing wildly. He landed with a thud, his limbs tangling awkwardly as the world tilted around him.
“Hey!” Tyler’s voice was cheerful now, all traces of heat and tension gone as he turned to greet the fans.
Josh groaned from the ground, staring up at the blazing sun. Tyler was already chatting animatedly, like he hadn’t just shoved his boyfriend off a table seconds ago.
Pushing himself upright, Josh emerged from behind the table, brushing dirt from his shorts. The fans greeted him too, though their expressions carried a hint of suspicion as they glanced between the two men.
Josh shot Tyler a warning glare. Tyler at least had the decency to look sheepish, though his smirk betrayed him.
Josh sighed. “Guess the kiss isn’t happening today either,” he muttered under his breath, adjusting his sunglasses as he forced a smile for the fans.
+1
Josh had been planning this for days. The tour was unrelenting—show after show, interview after interview, with barely a moment to breathe. And when they did have a second alone, it was never long enough. Sleep was the only priority. But not tonight. Tonight, Josh was determined to hit pause on the chaos and steal a few precious hours just for them.
He found the perfect spot: a small, secluded cabin near a lake. Quiet, cozy, and far enough from everything that no one would barge in asking questions or snapping photos. It wasn’t extravagant, but it was theirs, at least for one night.
Josh leaned against the doorframe of Tyler’s hotel room, watching as the sun dipped low, casting the room in a soft, golden glow. Tyler was sitting cross-legged on the bed, scrolling through his phone, his brown eyes reflecting the warm light.
“Pack your bag,” Josh said, his voice soft but purposeful.
Tyler blinked up at him, frowning. “What?”
“PJs, toothbrush, change of clothes,” Josh clarified as he stepped into the room.
“Why? Where are we going?” Tyler asked suspiciously, though he was already moving around, tossing clothes into a bag.
“You’ll see,” Josh replied with a small laugh, relishing the glint of curiosity in Tyler’s eyes.
Tyler shot him a playful, wide-eyed grin as he zipped up his bag. “Are you kidnapping me?”
Josh shrugged. “You’ll have to wait and see. Come on.”
Tyler handed his bag to Josh and extended a hand, which Josh took without hesitation. The warmth of Tyler’s palm in his own made Josh’s chest tighten, and he had to remind himself to stay focused.
The hallway was quiet as they exited the room. Josh glanced over his shoulder a few times, his heart pounding in his chest. It wasn’t like they were doing anything wrong, but slipping away like this felt a little illicit.
“Is this even allowed?” Tyler whispered, shooting Josh a curious glance.
Josh grinned, pulling a “Do Not Disturb” sign out of his back pocket and hanging it on Tyler’s door. “They’ll think we’re both in here resting. No one will even notice we’re gone.”
The elevator ride down to the lobby was tense in the best way. Tyler leaned into Josh, his shoulder brushing against him, and Josh’s pulse thrummed in his ears. By the time they reached the parking lot, his heart felt like it was about to burst.
Josh led Tyler to one of the crew cars he’d managed to borrow without anyone noticing. Tyler slid into the passenger seat, beaming like a kid on Christmas morning.
“Okay, where are we going?” Tyler asked, practically vibrating with excitement.
Josh smirked as he started the car. “First? Taco Bell.”
Tyler’s laugh filled the small space, light and easy. “You know the way to my heart, babe.”
At the drive-thru, Josh rattled off their order effortlessly, including Tyler’s favorite, which made Tyler look at him with a mix of awe and affection. Josh could feel his boyfriend’s gaze on him the entire time, and it was almost too much.
The food sat in the backseat, the smell filling the car as they drove into the night. Tyler pressed him for answers, but Josh held firm, teasing him with cryptic responses until Tyler finally gave up and leaned back in his seat, eyes growing heavy.
“Go ahead and sleep,” Josh murmured. “We’ve got about half an hour.”
Tyler didn’t need to be told twice. By the time they arrived at the cabin, he was softly snoring, his head lolling against the window.
Josh parked and gently nudged him awake. “Hey, we’re here.”
Tyler blinked, disoriented, but as he looked out at the cabin, his expression shifted to pure wonder. The moonlight reflected off the nearby lake, and the soft rustle of the trees added to the serene atmosphere.
“What is this place?” Tyler asked, stepping out of the car.
“It’s ours for tonight,” Josh said, watching Tyler take it all in. “Come on.”
Tyler practically bounded to the door, retrieving the key from under the mat with a triumphant grin. When they stepped inside, the warmth of the cabin greeted them—a fire crackled in the hearth, and soft, mismatched blankets covered a large, inviting couch.
Tyler turned to Josh, his face half-lit by the glow of the fire. “You planned this?”
Josh nodded, his throat tight. “We deserved it.”
Tyler’s smile softened, and he crossed the room to stand in front of Josh. “Thank you,” he whispered.
Josh felt his heart stutter. Tyler was looking at him like he was the most important thing in the world, and for a moment, the weight of it all nearly overwhelmed him.
He lifted a hand, cupping Tyler’s face, his thumb brushing against his cheekbone.
“We have all night,” Josh said quietly, his voice trembling just slightly.
Tyler leaned into his touch, his eyes fluttering shut. Josh let his thumb trace the line of Tyler’s jaw, his fingers sliding into his hair as he tilted his head up. Their lips met slowly, tentatively, like they were rediscovering each other after years apart.
But then Tyler’s hands found their way into Josh’s curls, pulling him closer, and the kiss deepened. It was messy and urgent and perfect.
When they finally pulled away, their foreheads resting together, Tyler chuckled breathlessly. “God, I needed this. We both did.”
Josh chuckled, his thumb tracing lazy circles on Tyler’s cheek. “Finally.”
The next morning, they woke up tangled in each other and the mountain of blankets on the couch. Their phones buzzed incessantly with messages asking where they were, but neither cared. For once, they had all the time in the world.