Chapter Text
Josh quietly patched up his arm, blood splattered on the floor and the sink.
Nick would strangle him if he got home and saw the blood. Not even kidding.
He didnt want to even think of what Nick would do to him if he found him like this, cuts running up every inch of his skin on his left arm specifically. Josh's breathing came in short, desperate gasps. Everything was wrong, everything was falling apart, nothing was ever going to be okay again because Nick held him close and never let go and he was stuck, he was stuck and he would never fucking get out.
This was his punishment for being so damn fucking naive to everything around him, for being so peacefully oblivious and letting someone like this take over his life. It was his fault he was rooted in this place and he had to face the bull head on.
But maybe Tyler was the light of his life right now. Maybe the man could make him feel more than pain and regret for once, could make him feel something more than the porcelain happiness that came with loving Nick.
He held the end of the bandage with his teeth as he wrapped it around his wrist, dabbing up blood with a wet rag and covering all the evidence. He grabbed paint for good measure, something old lying on his shelves from when he'd tried art, and smeared it all over his arm. It was the colour of his skin, and it was a proper substitute until he could heal enough to remove them. Of course, it was still painfully obvious there were bandages there, a quick peep under his sweater sleeve would be shrugged off.
Josh grabbed his phone after he was finished, slumping onto his bed weakly and tossing the blades in between his mattress and his box-spring. Calling Tyler was probably the best idea now.
Soon enough, he picked up.
"Hello?" He answered, voice as smooth as honey.
"T-tyler! I-i'm, I miss you," was all he could manage. Tyler snickered behind the phone, but never hung up.
"Would you like to come over?"
"Yes, pl-please, god."
"You should stay, forever. Drop Nick. He's... he's really bad for you."
"N-nick loves me, Tyler. I'll be there in an hour."
Josh hung up.