Three weeks after they first met, Tyler grasps Josh's hand.

This day in particular is a weekday, and Tyler's battery is at nearly five percent when Josh plugs the charger into his wrist. Tyler gasps as the energy flows into him, and he grabs Josh's hand tightly. The veins bulge out on his arms, and the tiny hairs dotted across them all stand up at once.

"Jesus, Tyler." Josh's hand hurts from being squeezed so tightly; he's never seen someone without a charger with such a low battery, much less a reaction like this to being plugged in. "Are you okay?"

Tyler is panting, but his eyes are back to their usual chocolate brown. "Yeah, yeah I'm okay." He loosens his grip on Josh's hand, but he doesn't let go.

Josh glances down at their hands, fingers intertwined just slightly, and lets Tyler catch his breath. He could pull his hand away...but why would he? He kind of likes this. It's nice. Intimate, in a way, but innocent at the same time. Tyler's hand is small, and a little cold, since his battery is so low, but it starts to slowly warm up as the battery life increases.

"Thank you," Tyler says. He always says this after Josh lets him plug in, even though the other boy insists there's no need.

"Of course."

Then they talk, like they usually do. Tyler doesn't let go of Josh's hand, and Josh doesn't let go of Tyler's.

Until Tyler is charged, at least. Then he lets go to unplug.

"See you tomorrow, Josh," Tyler says, as he picks up his groceries. It's the first time he's audibly confirmed he'll be coming back, and something akin to relief washes over Josh.

"See you tomorrow."