Start song: passionfruit cover by paramore.

True to his word Tyler isn't at the bar that night.

Josh sighs and he watches another boy, the one with thick rimmed glasses instead. He's there when Tyler's not, he's there and he picks people up just as fast. Josh can't tell what does it, Josh wonders what he says to the strangers to get them into bed.

Josh watches him leave, they share eye contact again.

*

Rain splints against the windows of his apartment. He's only got three of them and the rain is so loud, it doesn't even feel like the morning anymore. The sky is unbelievably dark and Josh is curled up on his couch with Oscar and Bear snuggled against him. He picks at the threads of his knit blanket, rough under his finger nails. Thunder roars and both his cat's meow, Josh shakes his head and pulls them in.

He's tired, his under eyes are tinted purple and his skin is stupidly pale. His body is sore as he nudges his feet underneath him in comfort. His cats move with him, they're affectionate and just as scared of storms as Josh is. They don't like the noise or the darkness of the living room, the tv is on but the volume is muted and the sound of thunder protrudes over everything. Josh flinches every time there's noise outside, he sighs and he pets his cats in comfort. They've always been a safety blanket for Josh.

His curtains black out the room completely, he'd boughten them because watching movies during daylight sucked when there was a glare from outside. So he'd went out and boughten them. He was glad to have them now, no light leaked through even during the storm although Josh could hear water dripping through the cracks of the cills. He stares as it drops onto his floor beside his cat's scratch posts.

A puddle of water forms on his floor. He's not in the mood to move, he doesn't want to go anywhere and his battered leather couch is comfortable, he sinks into it, it's cushiony and just slightly hard to get up from. His cats like it though, Oscar always sleeps behind it or underneath it. He's just slightly smaller than Bear and Josh lets him be most of the time.

Thunder strikes again, Josh sighs, his head hits the back of the couch and he's uncomfortable with the sounds coming from outside his window. It's too loud and both of his cats are scared and curling against his torso for warmth and protection.

Josh pulls on a hoodie and loose sweatpants and he sniffles a little as he sees lighting strike. He hates storms.

His neighbours awake, he knows this. He scrambles out of his apartment, large blue slippers on his feet they make scratchy noises against the carpet as he crosses the hallway.

He knocks and shivers and he folds his arms. He hears shuffling on the other side of the door and then it swings open, Jon is in his pyjama's. He rubs at his eyes tiredly and yawns before noticing Josh.

"Woah Josh, you okay man?" Jon asks, he's concerned. His boston terrier runs up to Josh from the open door and circles his feet, He crouches down to pet her. Oreo, a name Josh had always laughed at lays on her back, pleading for belly rubs.

"C-can I just hang out here for a bit? The storm is freaking me the fuck out." He says quietly, his tone soft.

"Course man, i'll make you some tea." Jon says, whistling for Oreo to follow him inside. Josh follows, closing the door behind him.

"Is chai okay?" He's walking into the kitchen, its visible from the front door. Oreo stays with Josh as he trudges around slowly.

"Yeah. Thank you." He says.

"No problem, get on the couch. I'll be right over."

Josh nods and shuffles over to Jon's old couch, it's grey and there's barely any light in his apartment. Closed curtains, blackout ones because just as Josh, Jon isn't in the mood to have his eyes blinded or see lighting. Jon's appartement is a replica of Josh's, their living rooms both set up the exact same and Josh finds comfort in this as he curls up in the corner of Jon's couch and Oreo sits in his lap.

His mind is swarmed, he can still hear the storm. It's loud and he brings the dog closer as Jon waltz in and places a mug down on his coffee table. Josh trembles and Jon goes over to his record player and reads Josh's mind as he slips on a vinyl.

"Thanks."

"Storms are scary." Jon says, he sits down beside him and pushes the TV remote aside "I get it."

He gets it, Josh is glad. Storms are terrifying.

Jon gets it. He's a good friend.

*

It's wet when Josh walks to work. The storm had subsided but he still dresses in layers, leggings, a long sweater, a coat and in a separate bag he carries his cleaned work clothes with him. It chafes against his thigh.

His shoes get soaked.

He passes by the corner he'd seen Tyler on last. The bricks are stained wet and the paintings are gone. Josh can't help but stare for a few seconds before he starts walking again.

His fingers curl and he pulls his beanie down further on his head to cover his hair.

It starts raining again.

*

At work, Josh is in a bad mood. It's 9 PM the bar is full and he hates it. He hates how loud everything is and how he can still hear lightning and thunder from inside the bar. The windows tint with rain, these ones are tiny and people block them. He wants to be drunk like everybody else, he wants boys buying him drinks from accros the bar, he's not in the mood to work right now.

Josh is going to the backroom to grab more vodka because they're out again.

He's not actually getting vodka, he lies.

He tells Ashley to hold the bar. She rolls her eyes, wipes her hands off on her apron and waves him off. Smoke break, he tells himself he deserves it. He'll get the vodka when gets back inside, it's a white lie.

He shuffles to the back of the bar into the storage room and finds his hoodie, its old and he's had it for years. He slips it on, material much looser than his button up and he fumbles his fingers around the pockets until they wrap around a pack of smokes.

Josh sneaks out the back door and trudges into the alleyway beside the bar. It's musky, there's a rusty green garbage bin, Josh likes it. He huffs and he can hear whatever's left from the storm patting against the pavement. It's still raining, he pulls up his hoodie.

He takes a deep sigh and pulls out his lighter, then takes out a cigarette and he sets it in his lips. He bites down just a bit, there's only one light in the alley right above the door and it's just bright enough so he can see what he's doing.

"Hey." A voice says. Josh hadn't heard anyone coming.

Josh drops his cigarette and looks up. He recognizes him, big glasses,  Josh flinches , he's not wearing Tyler's jacket though. This time he's in a suit.

"I'm Brendon." He introduces himself, Brendon introduces himself. He's not smiling, his suit is wet and he leans, leans, leans over beside Josh and rests himself against the bricks. Josh thinks he's weird.

"Josh." He mumbles, he's cautious. It's admirable.

"You follow me out here?" He glances at Brendon and flicks at his lighter until his new cigarette is flamed. Brendon's shadowed just a bit and Brendon smiles, he shakes his head, one of his fingers is adjusting his glasses. He's gorgeous in a different way than Tyler.

"It's plausible." He says, he scratches behind his ear and Josh watches. His attention is drawn and then he feels rain on his scalp, burning. He hates storms.

Josh nods, he raises an eyebrow and takes a long drag, blowing the smoke towards the trash can. "And how'd you know i'd be out here?" He's curious.

"Lets just call it" Brendon pauses, he smiles and Josh doesn't understand why. "instincts."

"If that's what you want to call it." Josh says.

There's more rain, it starts again. Josh shivers. He flicks the ash, his hand cups his cigarette and Brendon watches him. His eyes mischievous and big, his glasses seem to make no change to his facial expressions. Josh isn't sure how he feels. Rain patters just a bit more, the music inside gets louder and Ashley probably needs help now. Josh talks instead.

"You drunk?" He asks and Brendon turns to look at him, eyes drawn. He shakes his head and tilts it back against the wall.

"Very sober actually." He laughs.

"I've noticed." Josh says, it's more of a whisper and he takes another drag, smoke inflating his lungs. Brendon doesn't seem to mind the smoking, no looks of disgust about how nicotine is bad for you, in fact he seems more amused if anything.

"So you've seen me?" Brendon knows the answer already, Josh is just slightly embarrassed. He could say the same to Brendon but he holds off and raises an eyebrow.

"I've seen everyone." Josh says in his defence. Brendon sees straight through it but Josh doesn't notice, Josh smokes some more and flinches every time there's the sound of lightning in the distance. Concern flashes on Brendon's face for a moment, Josh collects himself. It's okay to be scared of storms he tells himself.

"But you remember me." Brendon's cocky, smug, he's unbuttoning his blazer, button by button. Josh doesn't ask why, he diverts his attention back up.

"I do."

"Who else have you noticed?" He raises an eyebrow, arms crossed, still leaning against the side of the bar. Josh isn't sure why it matters, he knows his answer though and by the look on Brendon's face he knows it too.

Josh furrows his brows, he flinches when a drop of water lands on his forehead. He flicks his cigarette. "People." He says.

"Tyler?"

"Sure." Josh is a bit taken aback for a moment, then he's not, he's merely unsurprised. Tyler seems to get around and so does Brendon. Crossing paths isn't unlikely. Brendon is smug, he tugs his suit jacket.

"You know him?" Josh asks.

"You could say that." Brendon shrugs, head resting against the bricks.

"You've slept with him?" Josh suggests, his hand raising slightly as he speaks.

"You can say that too." He lets out a slight laugh, it's cute and maybe a little mocking but Josh isn't aware of it.

Josh shrugs, shoulders going up just a bit. "Huh."

A girl and an older man stumble into the alley, Brendon and Josh both turn and glance over. She gets shoved against the wall, man attacking her neck. Josh is only slightly uncomfortable and he furrows his brows when Brendon laughs. The girls legs are wrapped around this guy's waist and Josh can't look away, Brendon stares and glances at Josh carefully.

"Find somewhere else to fuck." He yells, hands cupping his mouth. Josh grins. The two don't stop though and Brendon laughs and leans back against the wall. They can barely hear the two anyways, there's rain, there's traffic on the road and music is pulsing. Josh smokes some more and ignores the urge to peek past the garbage and watch.

The silence breaks, the storm doesn't.

"Come home with me?" Brendon asks, he taps on his chin. Josh flushes, shakes his head and glances to his side. Josh isn't sure if it's hopeful or not.

"You can walk me home." He drops his cigarette, smoke billowing as it falls into a puddle of murky water, there's a coke can too. It's crushed.

Brendon leans in, hand on Josh's shoulder, lips by his ear. "So you don't want me to fuck you?" He says and Josh shivers, he considers it and leans back against the door, he can feel and hear everything going on inside. He's been outside too long.

"Maybe some other time."

"Do you want Tyler to fuck you?" Brendon asks carefully and Josh thumbs with his fingers.

Josh is taken aback for a second, not exactly sure how Tyler is relevant.

He avoids the question. "You've got a way with words." Brendon looks smug, he's holding back laughter. His smile is bright and he removes his blazer and lays it over his shoulder like a rag. He bites the inside of his cheek and tilts his head.

"I'd hope so, i'm a writer."

Josh nods his head. "Don't seem like the type." It's not awkward he tells himself.

"I've heard that before." And Brendon's laughs heartily, it's pretty.

Josh rests against the door a while longer before rain starts pouring down harder and he doesn't want to be outside anymore. He flinches when lighting strikes.

"Nice meeting you but i'm going inside. Ash can't handle the bar without me."

"i'll be walking you home at the end of your shift." Brendon confirms. Josh isn't against it, if the guy wants to wait he can wait.

"That's in five hours." Josh says.

"s'fine." Brendon says easily. A flirt. He's a flirt and Josh is only slightly confused about the Tyler thing. He moves away from the door and fumbles with his pockets for the keys. Brendon is still there, he stares at Josh and Josh laughs nervously as he rushes inside.

shit.

*

Brendon walks him home and street lamps flicker and there's a lot less rain, his cigarette is laced with weed, he'd pulled it out of his pocket and stuck it between his lips the moment they'd gotten outside. Josh had pulled out his own.

It's quiet, headlights from passing cars are their light source. Josh glances nervously at Brendon every few seconds. It's rare that a boy goes home with him with no intention of sleeping with him, rare that anyone walks him home and he's not sure what Brendon's intentions are but he know they aren't bad.
He knows they aren't bad when they start crossing the street and Brendon's fingers turn in his jacket and pull him back because there's a black car speeding by ready to hit them.

"Careful." Brendon says. Josh chuckles and falls back beside the crosswalk.

They can barely see, they walk in silence and Brendon passes his cigarette to Josh every few minutes. It's just slightly cold, Josh is back in his leggings and sweater, they're damp against his skin.

The laced weed isn't getting Josh too high, he's not taking big hits but he feels himself drifting.

Brendon follows Josh's lead, they turn down another street, an apartment building comes into view. It starts raining hard again, Josh isn't a fan but Brendon is grinning and he twirls as he walks beside Josh. His hair wet against his forehead.

"You like the rain?" Josh asks, quietly. He steps in a puddle and water creaks between his toes. His shoe has one hole in it, right in the sole.

Brendon ruffles his damp hair, flicking water at Josh. "You don't?"

he kicks water, it sprays the hem of his leggings. "Freaks me out." He says, he thinks of Jon and he tells himself he hates storms once again as they walk down the street. Cars pass, their headlights bright. Water under the rubber of the tires, it splashes everywhere and luckily not Josh or Brendon.

"Tyler's the same." Brendon says casually and he lets out a giggle like he's keeping a secret and Josh knows he is. Brendon knows Tyler, Tyler knows Brendon and they both share that damn wrecked jean jacket. Josh knows this.

He knows this and he stills ponders a question. "W-wait, how do you know him?"

Brendon shakes his head. "I'll tell you later." Brendon doesn't miss a beat with his reply, he already knew Josh was gonna ask.

"Later?" Josh furrows his brows, and stops beside a mail box and pulls his sweater closer, it clings to him, his hood is wet. Brendon sighs and turns towards him, he raises an eyebrow.

"You are inviting me inside right?"

"I don't usually take guys home. at all." It's a lie. Josh leans.

"Not for sex." Brendon says like it's supposed to reassure Josh. It does but it doesn't. "it's late and I live far." Brendon is soft and quiet as he speaks, his voice overlaying over the rain that hadn't calmed all day. Josh leans on the mailbox, one hand on the wet metal the other on his chin.

"So you want to sleepover?" Brendon nods, he's not forceful but at the same time he is. He's charming, Josh will give him that.

"You're a stranger." Josh reminds him, he gets closer to him and pulls his hood up more when his red locks are damp with stray rain drops. Rain wets his fingers and he just wants to get home.

"Let me sleepover." Brendon says.

Brendon sleeps over.

*

Josh is conscious as Brendon follows him into his apartment. The hallway outside is empty and barren and the lights flicker just a bit, just one of them. Brendon's on his phone typing away and Josh feels his nerves ease, and he grabs Brendon when he almost walks into the wall, he tsks and Brendon grins at him always, in a good mood.

Oscar and Bear greet Brendon at the door and Josh hadn't seen anyone get so excited about cats. He was automatically sitting on the floor, both animals purring and rubbing against him. They both ignore Josh and he's not surprised.

"Water?" He asks. Josh is good with house guests. He streaks off his hoodie and throws it on the floor on the way to the kitchen.

"Please." Brendon says, Oscar's in his lap and Brendon is smiling so wide. Josh feels warm.

He grabs a glass and runs it under the water tap and Brendon's still on the floor with his two cats, Josh rolls his eyes.

"You can uh-have the couch, ill grab you a pillow and blanket." He says and Brendon nods.

Josh isn't uncomfortable, he's had people stay over before but Brendon was different. He grabs him a thick wool blanket, his apartment has a constant draft. He tucks it into the couch right beside Brendon, he looks tired. His cheekbones hollow and under eyes purple. Josh doesn't know why he'd walk him home if he was this exhausted. The lighting of his appartement makes everything clearer.

Brendon's texting when Josh cones back in with a pillow. "Here." It's an embroidered one with a blue pillow case shoved over top. He passes it over.

"Thanks, a lot Josh."

Josh nods. "No problem. If you pull anything i'll call the police though." He says honestly, lips pursed, he bites them. Brendon only giggles and clutches the blanket Josh had brought out.

"Don't worry. I'm a nice guy, I won't do shit."

*