Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Christmas time was right around the corner. The smell of cinnamon and pine trees filled everyone’s mind, while families gathered around to decorate indoor trees, and dust off old photo boxes, revisiting memories from past years.

Even though both Josh and Tyler lived alone, they had a tradition of spending each Christmas together, since the rest of their families lived out of Ohio. Every year, (since they knew each other) they’d go to either one’s house, open each other's presents, and of course, wear ugly Christmas sweaters together.

But this year, things were a little different. Fans had been obsessing over Joshler more than usual, especially because of a certain new fanart of them that got popular. Even though Josh and Tyler had gotten used to the Joshler popularity, as well as state that they were not dating multiple times, this year Josh had started to feel a bit different about Tyler. And.. possibly viewing him as more than just a friend. Because of this, he was worried that this Christmas together would be a bit more… awkward. Because obviously Tyler would never seriously like him back. Right?

As Josh was adjusting the “R” of a certain someone’s name on his shelf, he heard a knock at his front door. This year, Josh and Tyler were celebrating at his house.

“Hey dude! I’m here!” Josh heard as he walked over to the door.

“Hey.” replied Josh as he opened the door, seeing Tyler’s face.

“Yo dude! Where’s your sweater?” said Tyler.

Shit. Josh totally forgot to buy a new sweater this year. Probably because he’s been thinking too much about…Tyler.

“It’s been tradition for like- forever now!” says Tyler.

“I- I guess I forgot,” says Josh, slightly blushing.

“I’m so sorry! Here, lemme grab one of my old one’s from the attic.”

“Hah, it’s fine dude.” says Tyler.

Tyler takes off his snow boots, beanie, and walks on over to the couch, holding his present for Josh.

Before sitting down, he sets his present down by Josh’s Christmas tree, which looks to be more decorated than usual. Josh isn't normally the one to go crazy over Christmas, but Tyler starts to notice that his house seems especially festive this year.

“I haven't been to your house for a while man! It looks great!” Tyler says, a bit louder than usual so that Josh can hear him through the opened attic trapdoor near the living room.

“Oh! Uh- yeah, I moved some stuff around I guess!” says Josh.

“No dude, like the decorations! It almost looks like my mom’s house during Christmas time!” Tyler says while chuckling to himself.

“What got you in the decorative mood?”

The truth? Josh wanted to impress Tyler. He knows how much Tyler loves the holiday season. Even though most of his decorations were and looked pretty cheap. But that somehow added to the liveliness of it.

“Um.. this year felt special I guess!” says Josh.

“Well I'm digging it! It feels nice in here.” replies Tyler.

Josh climbs down the ladder, folding it up and closing the attic opening. He’s now holding what Tyler notices as the first ugly Christmas sweater Josh wore when they started the tradition.

“Haha, I love that one!” says Tyler.

The sweater was pretty horrific, with a prominent picture of Santa's face on it, as well as red, green, and even blue pom-poms glued to it.

“I thought it’d bring back old memories.” said Josh.

Tyler smiles at Josh. Both are expecting the other to say something, but neither do. They have a brief moment of eye contact until Josh awkwardly clears his throat and goes to grab his present for Tyler from his room, as well as change into his sweater.

After a brief moment, Josh walks out of his room and back into the living room, holding a messily wrapped Christmas present and wearing his sweater.

Since it was so old, the sweater fit Josh slightly tight. Tyler seemed to notice that it emphasized his biceps and chest. He found it weirdly attractive, wondering to himself why he was thinking this way about Josh, especially since he’s seen him shirtless countless times while touring, and didn't feel anything compared to now.

“I- I love it!” says Tyler.

“Thanks.” Josh says smiling, while sitting down next to Tyler on the couch and placing his gift on the coffee table.

“Well, do you wanna open my gift?” says Josh.

“Of course dude!” says Tyler.

Tyler picks up Josh’s gift, laughing to himself at the terrible wrapping job.

“Haha, well it is better than last year.” says Tyler.

“I tried my best!” Josh says while also chuckling to himself.

Tyler begins to upwrap the present, noticing a small black box inside the wrapping.

He pulls it out, slowly opening the box revealing a small item covered in black tissue paper.

He pulls out the item from the tissue parer, revealing it to be…

A custom ukulele pick. With their current Blurryface logo on it. It had a red and black tie-dye effect to it, and looked spectacular.

“Merry Christmas.” Josh says with a slight, heartwarming smile.

Chapter Text

“Thank you! This is- amazing, how did you make this?” says Tyler.

“I got a buddy of mine to custom make it,” Josh says, still smiling.

“I knew you’d like it.”

Josh has always loved gift-giving. He’s also one of the best ones out there. No matter the person, he’ll be able to find the perfect gift. Gift-giving also made Josh feel more connected to the person he was giving it to, especially for Tyler.

“I do! It’s awesome.” Tyler says while still examining the present, showing his gratitude.

“Well cmon, I wanna open mine now!” says Josh.

“Oh yeah, of course! Lemme get it.“

“It‘s definitely not as good as your’s-” Tyler starts while walking over to the Christmas tree, reaching down to grab Josh’s present.

“-but I hope you like it!”

He sits back down, tossing Josh a wrapped up cube, with a red bow tied to the top of it.

“It’s pretty.” says Josh.

He begins to unravel the Christmas themed wrapping paper and pulls out a small cardboard box.

He opens it up, and pulls out a silver bracelet, which has a charm that reads out the initials “T.J“

Tyler Joseph, he thinks to himself.

“I- I know it’s kinda girly,“ Tyler starts, with some hesitation in his voice.

“But I- I got one for me too! With your initials.“

Tyler rolls up his sweater’s sleeve, revealing a bracelet with the initials “J.D“

Josh immediately blushes. He loves it, but.. isn’t this the type of present that couples give eachother?

“I- I love it.“ is all that can come out of Josh‘s mouth without him completely confessing his love for Tyler.

“Thanks.“ Tyler says with a smile.

The two smile at each other while Josh notices Tyler hesitating again.

“I- um..“ starts Tyler.

“Yeah?“

“I… I’m glad we celebrated at your house this year! It‘s a lot more cozy.“ Tyler says, nervously laughing, obviously expressing something he wasn't originally trying to say.

“Yeah.“ says Josh, slightly curious.

“Well I uh.. I guess I should probably get going haha.“ says Tyler, sounding even more nervous.

What? Why was Tyler wanting to leave so late?

“Oh. Uh.. sure. I mean- if you want.“ says Josh.

Tyler nervously gets up, with what seems like both embarrassment and assurance to himself.
“Walk me to the door?” he asks.

Josh being visibly confused, wondering why Tyler was acting so strange, he had to take a moment to process what the hell was happening.

“Um- sure?”

Josh gets up off the couch, and walks over to the front door with Tyler, still weirded out.

“Well I uh.. I guess I'll see you later.” says Josh, as soon as they get to the front door.

Tyler doesn't respond. Instead, Josh notices him glancing up at the top of the door frame.

It takes a couple seconds before Josh looks up as well, before he can notice…

Mistletoe?

Josh didn't remember putting mistletoe on his door frame. In fact, he probably hasn't seen any since he was little.

They both jolt their heads down, looking back at each other at the same time, while having a few more seconds of eye contact.

“I- uh..” begins Josh.

Before he can continue, he’s suddenly interrupted by the feeling of Tyler's lips touching his own.

W-wait a minute. Tyler is…

Kissing him?!

After a few seconds, both him and Tyler involuntarily lean into the kiss, embracing it.

After only what feels like a split second, Tyler pulls and turns away, looking back at Josh for the last time.

“See ya.” says Tyler, blushing, smiling, and quickly hurrying off back to his car.

Chapter Text

What… just happened.

Josh slowly backs away, one foot inside the house, the other still in front of the bottom of the door frame.

He grabs the mistletoe hanging from above, examining it.

Soon enough, he smells it.

It smells like…

Tyler’s cologne?

Josh inhales the sweet yet rich scent of cinnamon and amber, immediately recognizing it as Tyler’s cooler weather scent.

Tyler. He placed the mistletoe there.

Josh feels as if his brain is on autopilot. He has so many spiraling thoughts, but can't seem to contain them all just in his head. He walks back over to the couch, silent, beginning to understand Tyler’s sudden nervousness.

Does this mean… Tyler likes him back? I mean, obviously, he placed the mistletoe there for god’s sake!

Suddenly out of the corner of Josh’s eye, he sees a small white folded piece of paper wedged in between two of the couch cushions, obviously meant to be seen.

Did Tyler also put that there?

He pulls it out, carefully opens it up, and reads…

“Josh, Years past always seemed so much grader, this one needs to come through. With you.”

A small smile appears on Josh's face.

“Xoxo, Tyler.”