Chapter Text
Today was Josh’s 18th birthday; today not only marked the day Josh was born, but it was the day Josh would finally receive his soul mark.
He gets out of bed, excitement running through his veins. Josh runs down the stairs, tripping as he reaches the bottom one.
He hears his mother laugh lightly, “Excited much?” She questions smiling brightly at him.
“Very,” Josh replies back pulling himself up off of the ground. He kisses his mother on her cheek before speaking again, “I get my Soul Mark today, you know.”
Josh’s mother smiles softly this time, “I know Josh.” She turns back to what she was doing in the kitchen and Josh continues to speak,
“I don’t really mind who it is you know. Like, I wouldn’t care if it was a boy or girl, as long as I get to be with them.” Josh’s mother turns to him,
“That’s a good way to think Josh, most people prefer their Soul Mate to be of the opposite gender and when they find out they are the same gender, they reject them. I don’t want that to happen to you, or your Soul Mate.”
“It wont mom, I can feel it. I’m going to go out for a while today, probably go down to the record shop and buy a couple things. I’ll be back before dinner.”
Josh’s mom smiles and nods, “I’ll have dinner ready before you get home then.” Josh says goodbye to his mom, kissing her on the cheek again before grabbing his keys off of the table and walking out the door.
When Josh arrives at the record shop he notices something off from when he left his house. Josh lifts the hem of his shorts up and sees a name written in Comic Sans; on his knee was the name Tyler.
Josh was surprised at first, his mind racing at a mile a minute, a large smile spread across his face.
“Tyler” Josh whispers happily “Their name is Tyler.”
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Today started off just like any other day for Tyler. He woke up early, got ready for the day, and went downstairs for breakfast.
His mother was in the kitchen, cooking omelets in a red pan, a spatula pushing it around.
“Good morning, Mom.” Tyler gives her a kiss on her cheek, receiving one back. He walks over to the island in the middle of his kitchen,sitting at a stool placed in front of it.
“Mom.. I’ve been feeling strange this morning. My stomach has been turning and my chest feels constricted.” He looks up from his hands, seeing if his mother had heard him.
“You’re probably just getting the flu. Take some vitamins.” Tyler sighs slightly, looking down at his hands that were laced on the counter top.
“But mom, what if it’s about my Soul Mate? I mean, I’m not the dominant person, so I know that I won’t get my Soul Mate on my birthday, and I’ll get it whenever my Soul Mate does.” Tyler questions, his voice quiet.
“Honey, you’re just being paranoid. Don’t worry about it.” His mother sighs in exasperation, flinging his food onto his plate and handing it to him. “Eat. You have chores to do today.”
Tyler presses his fork into his food, bringing a small bite to his mouth, chewing gently.
“Mom, I wouldn’t care if my Soul Mate was a boy or a girl. I just want someone that will protect me and love me.” He looks up from his food staring his mother in the eyes. She glares at him, her eyes hard, and a scowl on her face.
“Absolutely not. Your Soul Mate will be a female, and if it’s not, you will not be allowed to be with them. Do you understand me?” Tyler stares at her with a horrified look, his eyes wide.
“Mom, that’s not fair! If they love me it shouldn’t matter what gender they are!” Tyler practically screams at her, tears prickling at the edges of his eyes.
“I will not have my son be Soul Mates with a male. It is not right, and it is a sin! That is the end of this discussion!” She turns away from him, throwing the pan into the sink and walking from the kitchen.
Tyler lets out a frustrated scream, sliding the stool out from under him and storming to his room.
He slams his door shut and walks to his bed, throwing himself on to his bed. He finally lets the tears fall from his eyes, landing on his pillow. He curls into a ball, shifting to his side and staring at his plain white wall. He stares blankly, the tears still dripping from his eyes.
After a few minutes he begins to feel a dull pain on his knee, heat beginning to flare up. Tyler looks up curiously, staring down at his legs.
He gets up from his bed and sheds his skinny jeans from his body, staring down at his left knee.
A small smile crosses his face as he sees a single, four letter name scrawled out in messy handwriting.
He runs his finger over it gently. “Josh.” His voice comes out in a whisper, his eyes sparkling. Tyler jumps onto his bed, sitting cross legged so he could still see the name. He runs his fingers over it again and again, repeating the name like a mantra.
Tyler smiles bigger as he thinks about the day that he will finally meet Josh.
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Josh runs into his house that evening yelling Tyler’s name; his mom comes out of the kitchen to see the commotion.
“Their name is Tyler” Josh says out of breath, “My Soul Mate’s name is Tyler.”
Josh’s mom stares at him in awe; her eyes start to water and her mouth drops. She puts a hand over her mouth letting out a choked sob, “My baby got his Soul Mark.” She says. Josh’s father had come down the stairs at that moment with a questioning look on his face. “My baby got his Soul Mark,” she says louder this time.
Josh’s father turns to him and smiles. “Congratulations”.
Josh thanks him before turning to his mom, “I gotta tell Brendon mom, I’ll be right back.” Josh waves to his mom before running across the street to Brendon’s house yelling the same thing.
When Josh get’s to Brendon’s door he bangs on it loudly, yelling ‘THEIR NAME IS TYLER.’
Brendon opens the front door within seconds, a shocked expression on his face, “Tyler? Dude. Could it be Tyler Joseph, the one from Worthington Christian High School?”
Josh shrugs, “I have no clue, but Brendon their name is Tyler. I know their name, I can find them now.”
Brendon stops Josh, putting a hand over his mouth, “I know you’re excited and I’m excited too, but we need to find out if it really is that Tyler. I’ll call Pete and get him to bring the kid over here, then we can really find out.”
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Tyler stayed in his room the entire day, ignoring his mother as she pounded on his door.
He sat with his back against the wall, his knees drawn to his chest, and his fingers tracing the four letters.
Sometime during the day he had turned on his music, Celine Dion blaring through his speakers. He hears a bang on his door, his father’s voice booming over the music.
“Tyler, someone is at the door for you.” He hears his dad walk away and he immediately turns the music down. His heart beats loud in his ear, his breath growing heavy.
What if it was his Soul Mate? He’d finally be able to meet him. He had yet to tell his parents that he had received his Mark, but he knows they would just be mad, especially since it was most likely a man.
Tyler immediately pulls his black skinny jeans up over his legs, buttoning them once he had finally managed to wiggle them on. He runs to his door and unlocks it, throwing it open.
Tyler runs down the stairs, almost tripping and falling several times. Once he made it down the stairs he runs to the door, grabbing the handle and throwing the door open. Much to his disappointment, standing before him was his friend, well more acquaintance, Pete.
“Oh, hey, Tyler!” Pete grins, his eyes squinting just a bit.
“Um hey, Pete. What’re you doing here?” Tyler scratches the back of his neck, looking down at their feet.
“Oh! I came to ask if you wanted to hang out with me and a couple friends. We were just going to sit around, talk a little bit, maybe play some games or do music.”
Pete gives me another smile, rocking back and forth on his heels.
“Oh, why would you want to hang out with me?” Tyler looks up, a confused expression on his face.
“Oh come on Tyler. You’re a pretty cool dude! And my friends want to get to know you too.” Tyler looks behind him, seeing if his parents were watching. He turns back around a looks at Pete, a frown on his face.
“You know what, I’ll go. Let me get my phone and a hoodie. I’ll be right back.” Tyler runs back to his room, slipping on a black hoodie, a red beanie, and sliding his phone as best as he could into the front pocket of his jeans. He runs back down the stairs and out of the door, closing it gently behind him.
“‘Kay, let’s go.” He starts walking side by side with Pete, following wherever they were going.
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Josh sits in Brendon’s living room, bouncing his leg nervously.
“Dude, calm down,” Brendon says from the couch across from him. Josh nods, leg still bouncing.
“Do you think that it’s him?” Josh asks. “Its possible.” Brendon replies. Brendon and Josh sit there in silence for a while longer before there’s a knock on the door. Josh shoots up out of his seat and Brendon gets up walking to the door. When he opens it Pete is standing there with a boy behind him.
“Hey Pete,” Brendon greets; he ushers Pete and the boy in, before closing the door. “Josh you know Pete.” Josh smiles at Pete, his eyes constantly on the boy behind him. “Hey Pete,” Josh says. Josh smiles at the boy too, reaching his hand out,
“Hey I’m Josh”
Tyler hearts stops in his chest as he hears the boy’s name. He had immediately looked at him once he walked in, admiring how beautiful his face was, and the structure and build of his body.
Tyler had to admit, he was fit, like really fit. But the moment he said his name Tyler’s whole world lit up.
It had to be him, it just had to be. Tyler stares at Josh for a long while, not even realizing that Josh had outstretched his hand for him to shake. He eventually shakes his head to snap out of his trance, extending his hand gently and shaking Josh’s.
“Hey, I’m Tyler.” Tyler’s voice comes out slightly hoarse and high pitched, causing him to cough slightly to clear it throat.
“So you guys actually wanted to hang out with me, or is there a different reason as of why Pete dragged me here?” Tyler rubs the back of his neck, but his eyes never leave Josh.
Josh’s heart stops, stuck at the sound of Tyler’s voice, Josh let’s his eyes wander over him taking in everything about him.
“Can I see your knee” Josh blurts out, a embarrassed blush spreading across his face. “I’m sorry I didn’t mean to say that, it just sort of came out” Josh gives a weak smile before making his way back over to the couch.
Tyler cocks an eyebrow, following Josh over to the couch.
”I’d show you my knees, but that’d require taking my pants off.” Tyler giggles, sitting down on one end of the couch. “But really, is there any reason I’m here? I’m not special, so I don’t see why any of you would want to hang out with me. I’m really just a plain, boring dude.” Tyler shrugs his shoulders gently, looking down at his folded hands.
He looks over at Josh, catching him staring at him. “Why do you want to see my knee? Is that the only reason why I’m here?” Tyler directs his question at Josh, his deep brown eyes never once leaving Josh.
Josh nervously grabs the edge of his shorts, lifting them up enough for his knee to be uncovered. “My Soul Mate’s name is Tyler. Brendon thought it might be you and decided we’d get Pete to bring you over here. I’m not sure if your mine or not and that’s why I wanted to see your knee.” Josh drops the hem of his shorts, allowing the name to be covered up again.
He stares into Tyler’s eyes, then after a moment he speaks again, “So will you show me your knee now?”
Tyler turns and looks at Pete and Brendon, his face flushing slightly. “I-I don’t want to take my pants off in front of them,” Tyler whispers, looking down at his hands, twiddling in his lap. “If you make them leave I will show you.”
“This isn’t really my house so I can’t make them leave, but I mean, my house is across the street. We could go there.” Josh stands up, putting his hand out for Tyler to take.
Tyler timidly takes Josh’s hand, letting himself be led to the house across the street. Josh opens the door and starts heading towards the stairs, dragging Tyler up them and to his room.
He closes the door gently before letting go of Tyler’s hand and sitting on his bed. Tyler looks down gently, rubbing his arm with his hand.
“I’m sorry I’m so awkward. I just… I’ve never taken my pants off in front of basically a stranger, but I feel like I can trust you.” Tyler moves his hands to the button of his jeans, popping it open and then unzipping them.
He slides them down, bending down so he could remove them all the way. He stands up straight, crossing one arm over his chest to grab at his other arm. He looks down at the ground, his cheeks burning and his breathing heavy.
Josh stares at Tyler’s face before looking down at Tyler’s knee, he gently reaches out touching it. “joSH, that’s definitely my writing.” He laughs out “I didn’t mean to really do that, I was nervous and it just sort of happened.” Josh looks up and smiles at Tyler.
Tyler lifts his gaze, staring into Josh’s eyes.
“It’s okay, I think it adds character. It makes it original.” Tyler smiles gently.
“I can’t believe I got you as my Soul Mate. I don’t deserve someone as beautiful as you.” Tyler mumbles the last sentence, staring down at his feet once again.
“You’re beautiful too, Baby Boy.” Josh lifts Tyler’s face up “God you’re really pretty.”
Josh stares at Tyler, moving forward he gently touches Tyler's face before leaning forward and pressing his lips against Tyler’s.
Tyler leans into the kiss, his heart fluttering in his chest. His hands move in between them, gripping tightly at Josh’s t-shirt.
His eyelids fall shut, letting Josh lead the kiss. Tyler feels like he’s on a cloud.
Josh pulls away far too soon than Tyler would have liked, causing him to let out a small whine. Josh chuckles at him, grabbing his hand delicately and pulls him onto the bed.Tyler lands next to him, a small giggle escaping his mouth. Tyler smiles shyly, sitting on the bed next to Josh. He looks down at his hands, a small blush littering his face.
“Josh.. I need to tell you something. My mom...S-she doesn’t support this. She told me that if my Soul Mate wasn’t a girl that I wasn’t allowed to be with them.” Tyler sniffles slightly, wiping a tear from his face. He looks anywhere but Josh, trying to breathe slowly.
“I don’t want to listen to her, because I feel complete when I’m with you, and I don’t want to live the rest of my life alone. I d-don’t know what to do.” A sob racks Tyler’s body, his knees coming up to his chest.
He shoves his face into his knees, a full blown panic attack taking over his body.
“Run away,” Josh says. “Come live with me and parents; if you don’t want to do that then I’ll get an apartment and you can live there with me. We’ll elope, with Brendon and Pete as our witnesses.” Josh pulls Tyler into him, holding his sobbing figure “You’re not gonna be alone, ever. If we have to, we’ll lie and say we’re friends, you met me at a game that had both our school teams against each other, we’ll come up with something I promise.”
Tyler breathes harshly through his sobs, wiping at his eyes roughly.
He looks up from his lap, his dark eyes puffy and bloodshot. He hiccups slightly through his crying, his chest moving up and down quickly.
“I-I don’t want to be at my house anymore. I’ve never like it there. My parents force me to do things that I don’t want to. They are never happy with what I do. I-I can’t go back there. I don’t want to go back there. Josh, I don’t know what to do.”
Tyler clamps his mouth shut, breathing heavily through his nose as the tears continued to pour down his cheeks. “I don’t want to drag you down with my mental issues, or my fucked up life. You shouldn’t have gotten me as your Soul Mate. I’m not worth your time.” Tyler throws his head back down into his lap, rocking back and forth gently.
Josh shakes his head. “You won't go back, Baby Boy, and you’re worth every ounce of my time. You know that right.” Josh thinks for a moment, holding onto Tyler “Come on, get up”
Tyler lifts his head, his body shaking as he sniffles slightly. He looks into Josh’s eyes, a small frown on his face. His breathing gets heavy again as thoughts of Josh kicking him out for being so pathetic cross his mind, regardless of what Josh had just told him.
“J-Josh. I-I’m so sorry. I should leave. I-I don’t even know what I’m doing here. I’m so pathetic.” He gets up from the bed, stumbling slightly as he moves towards the door. He grabs his jeans and pulls them up his legs with great difficulty, almost falling on his face. He grabs the door handle and throws it open, about to take a step from Josh's room.
Josh jumps up to go after Tyler “You’re here because I brought you here. I want to take you to your house so you can gather your things. We’re going to leave. You don’t like living where you are, so we’ll get your stuff and leave.”
Tyler looks into Josh’s eyes, his breath hitching in his throat as he saw the sincerity on Josh’s face.
He simply nods his head, walking forward and wrapping his arms around Josh’s neck before leaning forward and giving Josh a small but passionate kiss on his lips. He pulls away with a small smile on his face, his eyes still puffy and sad.
“Okay. Let’s go.”