Start song Home by philip phillips?

*

Josh wakes up with sunlight irritating his eyes, he's warm, his duvet is throw on the floor and he's wrapped himself around one of his pillows. He pulls the pillow closer in comfort, Josh always wants comfort. He pulls it from everywhere. His toes curl and he lets out a loud breath.

His cats aren't on the edge of his bed, they aren't curled up by him. They usually sleep by him, warm and just there. His cats had always been there beside him while he slept and as he squirms in bed for comfort, fingers scratching at the sheets he realizes that they aren't there.

It doesn't take long for him to draw the conclusion that his cats had betrayed him and slept alongside Brendon on his too small couch. Josh had checked up on Brendon multiple times throughout the night and each time he felt creepier because Brendon had barely moved, his fingers were curled around the blanket Josh had thrown on top of him and his legs were pulled up close to his stomach. He was picturesque.

Josh doesn't move until he hears footsteps creaking around his house and tiny meows. Josh isn't even weirded out, having someone in the house doesn't weird him out. Even if this person is a stranger, a stranger who his cats like better than him. He doesn't move until he hears water running in the kitchen.

Having strangers over isn't weird, it's not unfamiliar to Josh and the biggest difference is that for once he didn't sleep with this stranger. Brendon's different he tells himself, over and over. Usually he'd be on his back, he'd be on top, he'd be panting and moaning, sometimes he'd be on his knees, he would beg and Josh would be needy the moment he's behind closed doors. Not always though. He prefers people coming to his place, theres a sense of security bringing them over, it's more comfortable for him although now having a stranger know his address. If they can't make it to his place, it's somewhere else. Somewhere where they shouldn't be fucking and Josh is fine with that too. By now Josh and Brendon would've fucked but for once Josh holds off on the offer he'd received and Brendon respects it and he stays and he sleeps with Josh's cats curled up on his chest.

There's more noise outside his room and he takes that as his final cue to get up, he's lazy, his hair is messy and in every direction and he doesn't even bother putting on clothes, which leaves him in spider man boxer briefs and a long shirt. His feet are cold and he crosses his arms to warm himself up when he reaches the kitchen.

Brendon's still on the couch, he's on his phone texting, legs hanging off the arms of the couch, head on the cushions. Oscar is on his stomach and Josh can't help but stare for a second.

He smiles.

Brendon looks over, he smiles too and puts down his phone, holding himself up by an elbow to see Josh better. "Morning." He says. He looks much more put together than Josh, his clothes from last night are still on, his skin is clear and he's clearly in a good mood.

"Hey." Josh is quiet, Brendon backs off immediately and makes no attempts at conversation, he diverts back to the two cats sitting on him.

Josh is glad. He's still only half awake as he takes slow attentive steps to the corner of his kitchen where his prized coffee maker stands.

He turns to Brendon with a raised eyebrow. "Coffee?" He asks tiredly, Keurig already heating up the water.

"Please."

Josh nods, Josh makes them coffee while Brendon plays with the two cats, they jump around him and rub against him and Oscar sits on one of his legs while Bear snuggles into his stomach causing Brendon to lay down. He pets them and the apartment is quiet other than Brendon whispering to the cats and Josh taking out mugs and creamer.

The living room is dark when he sits down, the TV is off and there's just a tiny bit of light poking in through his curtains. Brendon holds his mug, Bear in his lap and Josh curls up on the opposite side of the couch with the blanket Brendon had used wrapped around him.

Josh counts each sip of caffeine he takes, he watches Brendon for a few seconds before turning on the TV to avoid the void of silence that neither of them were attempting to fill.

His mug is warm between his fingers and when there's only half left he's done and full and he struggles to reach over and place it on his coffee table. Brendon watches and they make eye contact when Josh settles back into his spot. Neither look away, Brendon's fiddling with the embroidered pillow.

"Josh." His voice is soft, quiet like there were other people in the appartement. He's toned down in the mornings, Josh decides. He decides that Brendon is more reserved. Josh wants to know more, so much more.

Josh looks at him in expectancy, he scoots just a bit closer to him too. Brendon doesn't notice. He waits for him, Josh waits and Brendon's voice is somehow even softer, maybe just slightly nervous when he speaks.

"Can I- do you have a piece of paper? and maybe a pen?" He says, he says it like it's a huge burden and yeah, Josh furrows his brows for a second but he's not about to decline. Brendon looks relieved when his expression goes back to normal.

"Uh, yeah. Yeah, I do." Josh says, he groans as he gets up, Brendon's smile is small. It takes him longer than he thought it would to find a pen, he pads around his apartment for a bit too long and his eyes narrow when he sees one stuck between strategically pins on the cork board above his dresser.

He's climbing back on the couch. He's closer to Brendon this time. Josh hands him the paper and Josh holds his chin on his knees, his toes close to Brendon's. He wiggles them.

Brendon thanks him quietly. He folds the paper three times and brings his knees up like Josh's, the pen rests behind his ear and he's slow, he's so slow and careful. Josh hasn't met anyone like him.

Brendon takes a deep breath and Josh watches with wide eyes. "Okay, this is going to sound weird but could I write about you?"

"Write about me?" Josh repeats.

"It's for work," He grins, he bites his tongue and then there's this little laugh that Josh wants to hear again. "well it's more for me."

Brendon shakes his head, and runs a hand through his hair. Josh blinks, he squints and he's not exactly sure what Brendon's talking about.

"I'm an author, it's good practice for characterization, descriptions and character development. basically i'm in a slump and you're interesting and i'd like to write about you. " Josh doesn't say anything so Brendon continues.

"It's the same for artists, like Tyler." Brendon says, Josh stills once again. TylerTylerTyler, even when he's not around Josh can't escape him. Brendon doesn't notice Josh go weak, he continues talking, his hands move with his voice and Josh can't look away and can't shake the nagging feeling that he's missing something. "He, he likes to sketch out people whenever he goes out, he draws people all the time. Strangers, especially when he doesn't know what to draw he just well, he does that."

"What I like to do is more I guess specific. It's based off of a lot of assumptions and things and mannerisms that you do just regularly." He glances around the house a bit. "Your house, your job, that kinda stuff." Brendon shrugs like it's nothing.

He tilts his head at Josh curiously, he's scratching at the paper now, his nails aren't long and his teeth grind. Josh isn't sure why Brendon's nervous. He's gorgeous though, the dim morning light of his appartement suits him. He looks good, he always seems to.

"It's like a character analysis from like a book or something but on an actual person. It's a bit hard to explain. I don't want to bore you." Brendon says and Josh isn't even close to bored, he thinks he gets it. He likes Brendon talking.

It sounds invasive, it sounds like he's about picked apart piece by piece and thrown onto paper. He's warm though, he's warm and Josh is always willing.

"So can I?" Brendon asks, and Josh knows he won't be asking again so he starts nodding, his neck tired and hair messy, he nods.

"Uh- yea.... sure." He's got nothing to lose, Brendon's a writer. He's interested, he wants to do this. Brendon is smiling now and Josh smiles too but he frowns for a second. He should know this. "How do you know Tyler?" He asks, he asks the question again as he wraps the Blanket further around him and he burrows. Brendon's grin doesn't fade, if anything it grows and Josh's eyes narrow.

"He's coming to pick me up later. I'll tell you later." Brendon's not waving him off. He's just got to wait and it seems like it's a secret. It shouldn't be one. Josh feels warm again, Brendon and Tyler in one room with him.

"Okay." Okay.

There are no questions for the next hour, Josh is on his phone, he's on tumblr, there's porn on his dashboard that he ignores and Brendon is writing. The sound of pen on paper is inhaling Josh's apartment and Brendon is situated on the floor now, his feet under his legs, his unfolded paper filled with words and Josh can't help hut shift focus to them every few minutes. Just because he wants to see, Josh wants to see so badly.

Brendon pushes up his glasses on a regular basis and Josh has been staring for far too long, rocking himself on his couch gently. His cats are gone, doing whatever they do and Josh refuses to move, he stays put sinking into the cushions of his couch. The Tv is gentle, Josh is bored. He doesn't have work for once, he'd tried to pickup the night shift but his boss said he deserved the night off. Josh worked too hard apparently. He knew his family wouldn't agree.

Whenever Josh shifts Brendon's eyes snap up and they look at each other for a few seconds and Josh takes a deep breath every time and lays on his back, Brendon's abandoned pillow under his head.

Josh is making eggs and bacon when Brendon gets up and stretches. Josh was hungry and he had guessed Brendon was too. He stills for a second and turns back, Brendon's folding the paper into his back pocket and Josh says nothing and continues cooking their late breakfast.

"That took a while." It's Brendon who's speaking, he's joining Josh in the kitchen. He's grown into the comfort of Josh's apartment. That much is clear. He leans on the counter, hands holding him up and Josh inhales and works on not burning the egg in the pan.

"Yeah, it did." He mumbles, he places the spatula and turns down the heat on the stove top. He's not in the mood to burn down his appartement.

Josh quirks an eyebrow and turns around, his back to the eggs. "You're not going to read it to me are you?"

"Ah." Brendon shakes his head and he tsks.

"That's the beauty of it. I'll show you one day." Brendon says and Josh internally grumbles.

"I haven't even showed Tyler his yet." It's for consolation he assumes but every time Brendon brings up Tyler he becomes more curious. He can't not.

Josh nods to let Brendon knows he's listening. He makes eye contact.

"I did the exact same thing when I met him."

"You know i've never heard Tyler talk about you."

"You've talked to him once." Brendon deadpans. He sits himself on top of Josh's counter, his legs swing. Josh doesn't bother commenting that he rather Brendon be standing. Brendon draws attention.

"He talks about me?" Josh puts the eggs aside, they're cooked. Scrambled almost perfectly.

Brendon ignores him and he continues what he'd been trying to say before. "The reason I wait to show people my analysations."

Josh cuts him off. "You're a scientist now?" He breaks into laughter and he can tell Brendon is holding back by the way he brings his hand to his mouth and tilts his head back before speaking.

"The reason I wait is because people can't face the truth and when they read it on paper it freaks them the fuck out." Brendon says. Josh thinks he gets it, things on paper are scarier sometimes. More real.

"You're acting like you're always right,"

"For the most part, I am. I'm observant, I understand people." And for some reason Josh thinks that's the most attractive thing.

"And now you sound cocky and arrogant." He's not facing Brendon anymore, he's pulling out plate from the cupboard beside him. He places them on the counter.

"But, you know i'm not." The oven beeps. His appartement smells of bacon at 12pm.

"I don't though, I don't know shit about you." Josh says, he can hear Brendon roll his eyes as he slips the bacon out of the oven. Green oven mitts on his hands. Smoke meets his face, there's a bit of a cough but he manages to set it to the side with ease before turning back to his guest.

"You do, you know things." Brendon smiles cheekily.

Brendon's right.

*

Tyler shows up at Josh's appartement in loose overalls with a Ohio hoodie underneath. He's got this wild smile, his eyes are bright and Josh is sure he's wearing dark blue eyeliner to match his toes. It's a little messy but it's cute. Everything is cute.

"Hey." Josh says. Tyler's smiling. Josh didn't think the next time he'd see Tyler would be at his own house.

"Hi."

Josh moves out of the doorway to let Tyler see.

On the couch Brendon lies, one foot on the floor, his other knee hiked up. He's sleeping and Josh looks at him and Tyler's head pokes beside Josh to see him.

"Was he a bother?" Tyler whispers, he bites the inside of his cheek.

Josh looks at him. He's just a little bit shorter. "Yeah, no he was good."

"You guys didn't fuck?" Josh shakes his head, cheeks red.

"No." And Tyler hums in approval.

Tyler follows Josh inside, they don't talk and Tyler goes straight over to Brendon, a warm hand on his cheek. He leans in, knees by the floor. Josh cleans up their remaining dishes, they make little noise in the sink and he looks over to see Tyler's fingers in Brendon's hair, he's waking him up, he's gentle.

Tyler strokes his hair and Brendon yawns as he sits up properly, pulling Tyler to sit beside him. Josh cleans the dishes and cleans up the kitchen.

Josh brings Oscar with him when he sits down as far away from Tyler and Brendon as possible. Oscar trots over to the them anyways and Josh pouts. Tyler reaches and Oscar goes straight into his lap.

"Fuck, I love cats." He scratches Oscar's head and turns to Brendon. "How could you not tell me he has cats." Brendon just shrugs and Tyler continues petting Oscar happily.

"They both seem to like you guys more than me." Josh says, Brendon throws an arm around Tyler and rests his chin on his shoulder. His hands go around his waist.

Brendon shakes his head. "Not true, they were meowing at your door last night."

"So they settled for you because you decided to be selfish and not open Josh's door when they wanted their father." Tyler says, he looks at Brendon only having to turn his head a bit.

"I needed heat and it's not like Josh was gonna cuddle me." Brendon says, he sounds whiny and he pouts. Tyler blows a raspberry and Josh tilts his head back in laughter.

"S'okay, maybe I would've let you in my bed." 

"See Josh would've cuddled you." Tyler says, he kisses Brendon's cheek and Josh feels himself wanting the same treatment.

Josh puts fight club on when Tyler's too focused on Oscar and Brendon is dozing off, his legs hiked over Tyler's lap. He feels comfortable with the two, they're still nearly strangers but he figures it isn't a big deal. He turns up the volume just enough and it's goes quiet again. It was weird seeing them like this, in such a calm state. They weren't at a bar, there was nothing lewd about it. The three were just on the couch, barely speaking.

"So you gonna tell me who Brendon is to you?" Josh whispers to Tyler. Brendon's still asleep again. Josh hoped he wasnt this tired because the couch was uncomfortable. He felt bad.

"Boyfriend." Tyler hums gently not looking at Josh. Josh nods and smiles, he pulls a blanket off the floor and brings it back up onto his lap. Tyler watches him and he tugs for his own piece. Josh's appartement is still cold, the draft he'd gotten used to most shivering in the living room.

"You're together?"  Josh asks, he scoots closer and he pets Oscar who's resting on Tyler's leg. Tyler just hums in agreement and pet's Oscar along side Josh. His fingers between her ears.

"We're together."

Tyler shrugs happily, his eyes flutter shut a few times. It's not even late into the afternoon. He rolls up his sweater's sleeves, shades of purple paint coat his arms. It's thick, the streaks are large and Josh can't help but stare.

"Do you mix paint on your arms?" He asks, his fingers grazing over Tyler's arms. He should've asked but Tyler didn't mind, he scooted even closer to Josh, Oscar jumps out of his lap.

Tyler shakes his head. "I used to, I still do sometimes but I just got this fucking huge palette and I refuse to use anything else." Brendon lets out a snore, Tyler looks at him for a second before looking back at Josh.

"I clean off my brushes on my arms though." He presents them to Josh again. "I'm too lazy to dry them off in between."

"You paint everyday?"

"Mostly yeah, it's not always people."

"I only paint the ones you saw the other day when I can get our hookups to stay still long enough for a painting. Honestly it's a mess but it's fun to do." Tyler says easily, his eyes gleam.

Josh is gentle, his finger tips are on Tyler's arms. Tyler doesn't seem to mind.

"When you pick people up from bars... do you and..." Josh starts asking a question, he pulls away from Tyler.

Tyler's grin widens and he pulls down his sleeves, blue nails digging into them. "Me and Brendon and them."

"Threesomes?"

"Usually yeah. The most people i've slept with all together was." He's counting his fingers, Brendon's snoring and Oscar's purring. "Six, 2 girls, 3 guys and this one person who identifies as non-binary." He smiles again and Josh is surprised, he doesn't even know what to say.

"Strap-ons count yeah?" Tyler's asks, amused. He pulls the blanket completely off the floor, making sure it covers everyone. He spreads it up over Brendon's chest, all the way to Josh's lap. Josh nods and curls his fingers around it.

"Yeah." He adjusts himself.

"Ever used sex toys Josh? since we're talking about em." Josh goes red but he nods. The last drawer of his dresser is where he keeps them. He hadn't got many. It's rare that he even uses them.

"I have." He whispers.

"Alone?" And Josh knows what Tyler wants him to answer.

"Mostly, i'm pretty lonely I guess." Josh takes a deep breath and Tyler leans forward and Brendon groans in protest as Tyler gets further away from him and closer to Josh.

"Join us sometime, not even for sex. Just come over to our place, you can meet Cody."

"Who's Cody?" Josh asks.

"You have to come over to find out."

"Is that an invite?"

"Do you want it to be?" Tyler asks.

Josh flushes, a hand to his cheek. "Maybe."