That night, once Grace was in bed and Brendon was left for another restless night on the couch, his mind goes on and on. This time, though, it isn't so bad. The thoughts don't consume him like the night sky, but instead a warm day in the South. They're good for him, they comfort him even, and he's not used to this.

Brendon never knew until now how much weight would get lifted off his chest from doing something as simple as confessing-- but that's the thing, it wasn't simple, and he's proud of himself for taking that step. It was needed, and as a result, he's allowed to breathe without fear around Carina. He no longer will worry about a slip up, because there's nothing to slip up with now, and that's what has been settling deeply.

He knows soon enough he won't be able to hide it from Luke anymore. But for now, he doesn't think about that.

Brendon turns to his side and brings his phone a closer to his face. It's later, and he knows Josh is probably home by now, so it should be okay to call him. He hopes it's okay.

If not, he'll call Tyler.

He just needs to talk to either of them. Badly.

Can I call you?

Brendon shifts and stirs, waiting for a response and watching whatever is on the television. It's mostly car commercials, which doesn't necessarily peak his interest as much as a text from Josh might.

After a few minutes, Josh does reply.

Video call?

Brendon bites his lip. He's never done a video call, but there's no reason why he shouldn't.

Okay.

He's in the dark and the only thing lighting up his face is the TV. He doesn't understand why Josh wants to video call, but he also doesn't mind, because seeing Josh-- and most likely Tyler-- is going to put him at ease. He just wished they would actually be here with him, though.

Or maybe he not; he doesn't want them to go through this, too.

It doesn't take long for Josh to call, Brendon's own face popping up on the screen. He purses his lips, pressing the answer button.

Then, his screen is full of Josh's face, and he really doesn't mind.

Josh smiles, so does Brendon. "Hi." He says.

Brendon hides behind his arm a little, he doesn't know why he's already blushing. Or maybe he does. Josh gives him butterflies in his stomach like a fucking teenage girl. It's embarrassing. "Hey," he mutters, blinking a few times.

Josh pulls the camera away from his face and instead places it somewhere else. He's in the computer room it seems, and Brendon can see Tyler in the background.

He watches them glance over to Josh. They must see Brendon on the call because they give an all-lip smile before turning back to the computer.

"So what's up?" Josh asks after a moment.

Brendon bites his lip although it's still sore, still punctured. He can't help it. "I did it," he mumbles. "I told Carina everything."

Maybe he's subliminally asking for the two of them to be proud of him, and maybe he's subliminally craving for their praise. Good job, Brendon. That's all he needed, especially coming from Tyler and Josh.

Josh's eyebrows lift, he takes a sip of what can only be coffee. "How'd it go?"

Brendon huffs, he knows it went a lot better than expected. "It went. . . It went really well, actually." He has to smile, he feels like he needs to. He should. "Josh, uh. I-I had to explain a lot to her and I realized there's still a lot I don't even know about. Is that bad? Because. . . Because I'm a part of this?" He hopes Tyler's listening too, he wants them to be in this conversation.

Josh pulls his hand away from the computer mouse, fully engaging with Brendon now.

He shakes his head. "That's okay, Brendon." He pops his knuckles. Hands tense, he supposed. "You can ask us anything, you know. Especially if there's things you don't understand. It's important."

Brendon does know, but fear will always get the best of him.

He nods anyways. "I just don't want to ask something that might be. . . Stupid. Or obvious. I don't know. I'm sorry."

He has no idea what he's apologizing for; it seems required.

Tyler's definitely listening though, he can tell. They're glancing over to Josh, and his phone, and they just all around look thoughtful. Tyler's a thinker, he knows this by now. He's learning slowly to be patient with their lack of words, because everything is mental for them.

"I promise nothing you ask is stupid. You have every right to be confused about stuff." Josh says, leaning on his hand.

Brendon nods, again. Maybe he's more of a thinker as well.

"I miss you guys." It falls from his mouth without much thought, but as soon as it slips past his lips, his heart beats rapidly. It was accidental, but now it's out in the open for the two of them to devour.

Josh smiles. "I miss you too." Brendon watches him look over to Tyler for their input, and still, they say nothing. He's caught on quickly to their fear of being vulnerable, and it's okay. He understands.

Brendon is content with just knowing how they feel, even if it's never said.

Josh turns back to look at Brendon. "We should go out for lunch again on Monday."

It's probably the best thing he's heard all day. He asks, "With Tyler, right?"

Josh grins. "With Tyler."

Okay. Brendon lied before, now that's the best thing he's heard all day. He didn't know where this immense amount of gratitude for Tyler has come from, but he's not upset about it. So what if he just wanted them around? It isn't a bad thing. Their presence has become comfort.

"Good." Brendon declares.

He watches Tyler smile to themself, shaking their head and continuing to type with a big grin.

Brendon's heart swells. He can't help it.

"Where should we go?" Josh asks. It's directed to both of them, really.

Brendon's not good at making decisions, he lets Tyler take the lead in this.

They shrug. "Burgerhaus?" It's the first time Brendon has heard their voice all day, and he's hiding his smile just like he did his cheeks. Maybe he'll never get over the gravel of their voice or the lightness of it. Maybe he'll never get over Tyler.

"Is that alright, Bren?" Josh questions, the nickname leaving his mouth easily.

Brendon's said before how he hated being called that, but not when it's coming from the people he cares for most.

There he goes blushing again.

He'll never catch a break.

"Sounds good to me." It's meek. He's meek.

"Around the same time as before?" Brendon nods, he's always nodding. He's just quiet.

Eventually, he is about to say something, but as soon as he opens his mouth, the door to Grace's bedroom opens and she comes walking out with messy hair and tired eyes. Brendon feels his heart sink to his toes, he didn't want to deal with anything besides Tyler and Josh right now. He didn't want them to have to witness anything, either.

It's sad that he's ashamed of his own life.

Brendon puts his phone down. "Mom? What's wrong?" He asks, turning to look at her.

"I'm thirsty." She utters, rubbing sleep from her eyes.

Brendon sighs. He isn't comfortable on the couch, anyways. He leaves his phone and stands, going over to the kitchenette and pulling out a water bottle from the refrigerator.

He hands it to Grace, who takes it adamantly.

"Thank you." She mumbles, twisting off the cap after a moment and taking small sips.

"Don't drink too much, you should head back to bed." He knows she'd wake him up later to tell him she needed to use the restroom, and he'd much rather get as much sleep on her extremely uncomfortable couch as he could.

She nods, taking more sips for a little while. The two of them stand there, waiting, staring. It's weird, and he just wants to get back to Tyler and Josh already. He's begging her with only his eyes, although he knows she wouldn't get the signal.

Still, she says, "Okay." And hands the half empty bottle back to Brendon. "Goodnight."

It's a relief.

"Goodnight." He watches her walk back into her bedroom, and instantly, he goes back to the couch. He's almost suprised to see Josh still on call with him, he thought he might of left. Most people do. "Sorry."

Josh shakes his head, turning off his computer. "It's alright." Brendon sees him stand, and he gets a view under Josh's chin, which to some can be rather unattractive, but Josh still looks as good as ever. Maybe Brendon's just biased.

"We're about to head to bed, it's been a long fucking day." He grumbles, making his way up the stairs.

The news upsets Brendon a bit, but he needs sleep too.

"Tyler, take the phone real quick. I need to change." There's something inaudible, and some shuffling because of Josh giving the phone to them, but then it's Tyler's face who greets him. Eyes hooded, lips full, Adam's apple prominent as always.

They're staring at one another; Brendon doesn't know what to say, and Tyler really just never says much.

"How are you feeling?" They finally say, ask.

He knows they're not asking in general, but instead how he feels after the entire conversation with Carina. Brendon appreciates it, because it's something he doesn't want to brush off, it's something he wants praise for whether it's little or not. He just needs to know he did well, and maybe that's selfish of him to ask for, but he never feels validated anymore.

"I'm okay. It was a lot." He mumbles, feeling almost odd talking to Tyler personally about his own feelings. He's not sure why.

They seem to understand though, switching to lay on their side instead of back. They're in bed.

"But she took it well, right?"

Brendon hums. "Yeah. She just didn't understand a lot of it, but I tried to help as much as I could." He wants to tell Tyler they need to talk together, whether Josh is there or not, and make it all clear. Brendon wants to get this, Brendon needs to get this.

Tyler processes every word, just like they always do. "Did you tell her about everything?"

And they really are referring to everything. Not only Tyler, but who Tyler is.

"Yeah, I did." He utters.

Tyler nods; he'd even say their Adam's apple bobs subconsciously. "What'd she say?"

Brendon doesn't know what's too much and what's too little for them. What is Tyler expecting to hear? What does Tyler want to hear? He should be honest, he knows, but he also feels like it could be nervewracking considering out of the three of them, he exposed Tyler the most. He's laid them out on a table, and allowed himself and Carina to dissect them for a better understanding.

Brendon grits his teeth.

"She said she's never heard of. . . Of being non-binary before." It's his first time saying the word in front of them, and again, this conversation feels weird.

"Most people don't." They state.

Brendon's aware.

"Yeah, but, uh, she-she said she's going to try her hardest to understand everything. She was using the right, y'know, pronouns and stuff once I explained it to her." He hopes that's what they wanted to hear, he's sure it is.

Brendon's awkward, his speech makes it clear enough.

Or maybe this conversation is just awkward.

He's not sure.

Though they don't make it obvious, Tyler seems heartwarmed by the information. Brendon's glad. They're hiding this certain smile, and he'd like to tell them they don't need to hide, but he knows he does the exact same thing.

"She sounds nice," they say.

There's no doubt in his mind.

"She really is." Brendon declares. "She said that-- um. She said she wants to meet you and Josh." It had been while they were sitting there in the gameroom, when the setting became more comfortable instead of tense. She told Brendon the next step would be for her to meet the two of them sometime, and although he's anxious at the thought, he knows it would be good for him and Carina. Maybe even Tyler and Josh, too. A closer look inside of his life.

Not that it's anything worthy of seeing.

"Definitely." Tyler whispers. "When?"

Brendon doesn't know. He wished never, and not because he doesn't want either of them to meet Carina, but his mother.

He wanted to dismiss the subject.

He can't this time.

It's then, though, when Josh comes back into view, falling right beside Tyler in bed and resting his head onto their chest, eyes squinted as he looks to the phone. "What are we talking about?" He mumbles out. You can hear the gruff in his voice.

Tyler pecks his forehead, running a hand through his hair. "Meeting his friend, Carina."

Josh hums, nodding, and easing into their husband's touch. His eyes close and his cheek is pushed by the weight of their chest, but it's alright. He seems more than content.

"Sounds like a plan." He mutters, tired. "I'm interested in meeting the people in your life, anyways."

Brendon picks at his lip. He shouldn't, no. But he does. "I could say the same."

Possibly, Brendon's just getting mixed signals, but he also observes for a living, it feels. Tyler doesn't want to go where this conversation is headed; their face doesn't move from the stone figure it sits in, but the color of it does. A subtle tide of warmth flushes their neck and cheeks, and they ask, "Should we meet her this next weekend, then?"

Now, Brendon's a bit flushed. "Uh, really? That-that. . . That soon?"

Tyler shrugs, they're getting their way. The conversation is shifting. "Would that be okay?"

Brendon wants to say no, but there's not one reason to besides the fact that he's ashamed, and it's sickening.

"I guess that'd be alright." He murmurs.

He doesn't have a choice. These things need to happen; what's the point of delaying them? Brendon will eventually, hopefully-- or maybe not so hopefully-- meet the people in Josh and Tyler's life. Their family, their friends. Everyone who's important to them.

"I have to work on the weekends, but I could stay for a few." Josh pipes up. "You go early in the morning on Saturday, right?"

Brendon lets out an, "Mhm."

He likes Josh's voice, and Tyler's too. It's like they're giving him another lullaby and he's reeling; ready for bed.

"We'd be going to the home your mom's at, right?" Tyler questions after a moment. He wished they wouldn't have brought it up. Not now. He wants to rest easy.

Brendon gulps, nodding. "Yeah."

Tyler and Josh see him faltering, so neither of them push any further. They seem to understand when things should be left alone. It's an internal battle only Brendon needs to go through to set everything straight. Josh and Tyler will meet his mother, and soon, no matter how much he'd like for it to never happen.

"We've gotta get to bed," Josh mumbles, trying to surpass the bit of tension Tyler always seems to build with Brendon unintentionally.

"I do too." He replies, rubbing his socked feet together nervously.

"See you Monday?" Josh smiles a little.

So does Brendon. "Yeah, I'll see you Monday."

By now, Tyler has Josh practically cradled to their chest, still managing to hold the phone, but not as well. "Goodnight." The two of them say in sync. They both chuckle, and Brendon misses them. Definitely.

"Goodnight." He breathes, pressing the end call button afterwards.

Brendon drops his phone onto his chest, sighing deeply. We wants it to be Monday already.

***

The next day, Brendon tries to spend as much time with Carina as possible. He knows he's supposed to be here for his mother, but he also realizes that he very rarely gets to see his best friend. Now that she knows about Tyler, and about Brendon's entire relationship status in general, it feels more comfortable than it already was.

It's sometimes scary how much Brendon thinks about Josh and Tyler. Even as he and Carina are playing their tenth game of Egyptian Ratscrew, he's thinking of them. Even as he slaps the deck and calls out the name, he's thinking of them.

The thinks about them constantly; he thinks about Friday and how Tyler held him in their lap like they had done it with him a million times before, or how Josh had just ran a hand through his hair, weirdly knowing it would soothe him.

Tyler and Josh are both all-knowing.

"Can I. . . Can I talk about them?" He asks after a moment, looking up at Carina meekly.

She nods, then furrows her eyebrows. "Both of them, or Tyler?"

He understands the confusion. "Both of them."

She nods again. "Of course, Bren. You can tell me anything, okay? You don't have to ask." He knows, but still feels obligated to. It's all so new for him, and for her. He doesn't want to be overbearing.

Maybe he doesn't mind it sometimes, though, because he goes on and on about the night before when Josh had video called him, and how Tyler said that they would most likely be coming over to meet her this upcoming weekend.

Carina's ecstatic at the news. He's glad someone is.

***

By the time it is Monday, he's at the edge of his seat all morning. Luke notices, too. He looks over the cubicle wall and says, "Something's happening. . ."

Brendon pulls away from his keyboard. "What?"

"I said something's happening, isn't it? You can't hide anything from me." He laughs, but all Brendon can think is if only he knew. Brendon's entire story is a lie, really, but Luke trusts him.

His stomach flips.

"Uh, yeah." He purses his lips. "I'm going out to lunch again with--" Brendon has to remind himself Luke still doesn't know. Only Carina. Just Carina. "With Josh." Luke being unaware gives him a whole other reason to be at the edge of his seat.

The latter frowns. "You're abandoning me again?"

Brendon bites his cheek, he's been trying to avoid his lip. "I'm sorry."

Lukas shrugs though. "It's fine. Just have fun for me."

He'll try his best. Around everyone at a restaurant, it's hard. Around anyone in general. There's too many people, too many sounds, too many smells. Being out is overwhelming, and that's why Brendon supposed he never went out to eat much, or out at all. The grocery store and his job are necessities. That's all he's willing to do on his own.

Josh and Tyler push him, it's no secret. It not so bad either, because as long as they're there, it helps him as much as possible.

Lukas tends to his computer again, and so does Brendon.

It was going to be a long few hours.

***

The hours were long, but Brendon managed to push through.

He had asked Josh to send him the location of the restaurant just to make sure he went to the right place, because knowing Brendon, he'd most likely end up somewhere completely different. He hasn't been to Burgerhaus in years, he forgets where it even is.

As soon as he's parked and out of the car, his chest is stinging. All he had to do was glance at the place and his stomach is boiling something unpleasant.

The place is packed.

Okay, maybe not packed, but it's enough for Brendon to shrink into himself.

He'll have to wait for Tyler and Josh.

He pulls his phone out to text one of them, but as he does, Josh calls. Sometimes it feels like Josh has him on a loop; why does he know everything?

Once answering, he brings the phone up to his ear while his unaccompanied arm wrapped around his own waist protectively. He does that every now and then. If no one was here to keep him safe, he'll do it himself.

"Brendon, what are you doing just standing in the parking lot?" Josh chuckles a bit over the line.

Brendon starts looking around. "Are you. . . Are you and Tyler here?"

"We just passed you while we were trying to find a place to park." He replies, shutting the car door from what it sounds like. "We'll be right there though, okay?"

"Okay." Brendon mumbles, pulling his phone away and ending the call.

He waits impatiently for them, fiddling with the buttons on his cuffs and scrunching his toes inside the dress shoes he wears. He'd been waiting to see Tyler and Josh all of Sunday, and all of this morning. No, he'd been waiting to see Tyler and Josh as soon as they left his apartment on Friday.

He seems to miss them even while they're there. He misses their smiles and laughs, and the small gestures of affection they always seem to give. He misses Josh's constant pestering, and Tyler's eye rolls. He even missed--

Jim.

Brendon's eyebrows furrow as Tyler, Josh, and Jim walk towards him.

There's a tie-dye bandana around his neck, and his tongue hangs out from his mouth. Josh is holding the leash, guiding him easily over to Brendon.

"Jim?" Is all he can get out.

Josh shrugs. "I'm off today and he needs to get out anyways."

Brendon simply nods, pleased with the outcome, but mostly overwhelmed with happiness at just the sight of the three of them. He doesn't hesitate to hug Josh, it's becoming casual and it's good. This is good. He hugs him back with so much certainty that Brendon would be lying if he said he wasn't nearly swooning.

He pulls away and hugs Tyler instead, at a rather awkward place, too. He's standing straight but is just under their chin.

He still holds onto them. "Why are you so much taller than you already are today?" He whispers against their chest, cheek to shirt. Cheek to turtleneck.

It's Tyler who pulls away this time, they say nothing but look down. Brendon follows, seeing them model off their platform shoes that add quite a few inches to them. He isn't a short person, but being around Tyler always makes him feel short. This only enhances that feeling.

"They're nice," Brendon murmurs.

Tyler looks back at him, down at him. "Thank you."

Their platform shoes are black, just like their turtle neck and even their cat eye sunglasses. Their pants, though, are black and white. Plaid, too. They're double-sided, so one color is in front while the other is on the back. Brendon will never be able to fully grasp their sense of style, but it's also growing on him.

It's definitely growing on him.

"Ready to eat?" Josh questions.

Brendon nods. He's as ready as he can be.

Tyler seems to notice his apprehension still, and instead of asking why, they simply link hands with him. Neither of them say anything, Brendon is just feeling it all.

Their hands fit together well, but he's worried that his hands might be sweating, or that everyone in the restaurant will stare. He doesn't want them to stare. They can't stare.

Tyler only squeezes his hand, running their thumb over his harrassed knuckles. He hopes they wouldn't notice the pink tone they're consistently tainted in.

By the time the three of them-- well, he supposed four-- make it into the restaurant and to the front, Josh is asking for a table outside. The waitress sees Jim and understands, grabbing menus and guiding them to seats where the sun shines and the breeze flows.

The hand holding ends there.

Once again, Josh and Tyler both sit in front of Brendon. It reminds him of their first dinner together, but it's not nearly as menacing as before.

"Jim, sit." Josh orders in a soft tone.

Jim does sit.

Brendon, though, slouches into his chair. He knows is impolite, but so is the amount of anxiety running through him. The waitress is going around the table asking each of them what they'd like to drink, which Josh and Tyler surprisingly order something besides coffee, and Brendon doesn't know what he'd like by the time she's asking him.

The woman stares, and he hates it.

"And you'd like. . .?" It's the second time she's asked. He's embarrassed.

Brendon, still, doesn't say anything though. Now he knows what he wants, but with the way his throat is closing in, he doesn't want to say.

His eyes shift over to Tyler and Josh, and they're both-- he'd assume Tyler is at least, he can't really see their eyes through the sunglasses-- looking at him. Not in the way the waitress is though (irritated and downright bothered) but with some concern. They're watching his problem happen right before them.

Tyler crosses their arms, leaning over the table and closer to Brendon. "What do you want?" They ask him, quietly. Carefully.

Brendon looks down at his hands. "Pepsi," he croaks out, just loud enough for them to hear.

Tyler nods, pulling away and turning the waitress. "Pepsi."

The waitress writes it down in a rush. Afterwards, mumbling that she'll be back in a minute with drinks before her and the heels of her shoes click away loudly. Obnoxiously.

Once she's out of sight, Tyler grumbles, opening their menu. "Fucking cunt." They mutter beneath their breath.

Brendon frowns. "Sorry."

Tyler shakes their head. "It's not your fault. She needs to be patient. She's a god damn waitress, after all, why was that so hard for her." They're still shaking their head, disappointed.

"No. I. . . I just mean I haven't had to do that in a long time. . ." It's pitiful that he's falling back into old habits, really. He thought he'd overcome this by now but he supposed he hasn't, and it's horrible, because Tyler and Josh don't need to treat him like he's a toddler. He's a grown man. "I don't really go out, so I'm never having to, uh, talk with other people."

Josh touches his knee under the table in a terse manner. Brendon needs to focus on him. "If you can't do it, don't. We can order for you, it's okay."

Jim is snuggling his nose into Brendon's leg, it's helping in an odd way.

Josh sits back a bit. "Besides, Tyler's right." He states. "She was disrespectful."

Brendon shrugs. He feels as though he doesn't have a say.

"Would you want us to order for you?" Tyler asks, sunglasses pushed down the bridge of their nose and he can see their eyes for the first time today.

Brendon would like to decline the offer because he almost feels belittled, but he also remembers that it's okay to get help sometimes. That's what his old therapist always used to say, at least. Brendon was never the type to express how he'd really been feeling, and would often fall into a pace too fast for him. It's one of his bad habits, something he does subconsciously.

Tyler and Josh are here to help though, it's fine.

"Okay." He whispers.

"Okay." Tyler replies, concentrating on the menu again.

Brendon pets Jim underneath the table, heart beating loudly as he looks through his own menu.

"All I want is sweet potato fries," it's a joke, but they do sound especially good right now.

Josh chuckles. Maybe Tyler too, he's not sure. "You need to eat more than just that, come on." He's smiling, shaking his head and connecting hands with Tyler without a word. Effortlessly. Naturally. They rest atop the table, Josh's wedding ring gleaming in the sun.

"A hamburger too." He mutters, knowing he definitely wouldn't be able to finish it here, but he'd like to take it home as leftovers for later.

Josh nods.

After a moment, he looks back to Brendon. "You should tell us more about Carina."

He bites his lip at the thought, then winces a bit because his lip is still not fully healed. He needs to stop digging his teeth into it.

He won't.

"Well, um. . ." Brendon's not sure what to say. She's probably the best person he knows. "I mean, she's really nice. I've known her for a few years now, she uh, she helps me out a lot. She knows what to do for everything."

Josh and Tyler both seem pleased with this. Pleased that someone is there to take care of Brendon when they're not, he supposed.

"I told her you guys were coming this weekend. She's excited." He's dreading it.

"You don't seem to feel the same way." Tyler mumbles. It's not harsh, they never are no matter how condescending their tone might be; they're just stating the obvious, and Brendon knows.

He only pets Jim more. "I'm just nervous. It's a lot."

"I'm sure it will be okay. Carina seems really nice." They try.

Brendon shakes his head, though. "No. I mean about. . . My mom." That's all he's worried about. "I know things with Carina will be okay. I just-- you know, my mom is a lot to handle sometimes and I don't want either of you to be, like. . . Uncomfortable or something."

He worries to much, he remembers.

It's hard not to when he's built so much insecurity around his mother.

"Brendon, if you're not ready for us to come over, we won't yet." Josh says, fingers becoming a bit tighter around Tyler's hand. "It's a lot to meet the family, we know. Just take your time with this."

Brendon sighs. "No, I want you to meet her. You need to."

Whoever was about to speak next is cut off by the waitress who's back to tending their table. She passes out drinks, and tosses a few straws onto the table before pulling her notebook out again. "Ready to order?" She questions, dead in the face. Much, much worse than Tyler.

They put the straw into their drink and take a long sip, sunglasses still at the bringe of their nose which only makes them look even more sly. Not in a good way, either.

If looks could kill, she'd be six feet under.

"Are you ready to take it?" Tyler mutters.

The waitress says nothing, only clearing her throat and looking to Josh, who seems overly distraught from the comment their husband just made. Still, he orders, but Brendon shrinks even further into his seat. He'll be down on the ground with Jim soon at this rate.

Afterwards, Tyler says their order and Brendon's with an itch of irritability at the back of their throat.

He wasn't sure why they were so upset with the woman. Brendon is used to this. He deals with this constantly-- impatient people. He needs time that they aren't willing to give, and Tyler isn't willing to accept that.

In a way, it's charming, and in another way, he feels like his old self once again.

People feeling the constant urge to protect him is only comforting for so long, until it's overbearing. Until Brendon has no more control over himself, and he falls into a place where he feels like he'll never be able to do anything for himself again because it has all been given to him.

He wants to work for it. He needs to work for it.

The waitress, who none of them bother to learn the name of, finishes writing their orders and collects the menus. "Need refills before I go?"

"No, thanks." Tyler utters.

She stands there for a moment, blinking, once, twice, before walking away.

Josh watches her, and once she's far enough he immediately turns to Tyler. Jaw clenched, eyes wide. "Do you want her to spit in our food? Stop."

"I don't like her." They respond, taking another sip of their soda.

Josh rolls his eyes. "Really? I couldn't tell."

Tyler says nothing. They pull their hand away from his and begin readjusting their turtleneck, face dull. "Going back to what we were talking about before, Josh and I have been meaning to ask you something."

Josh looks at them once more. "Now?"

They shrug.

Brendon gulps, because really, with the two of them, it could mean anything. He swears that every single possibility runs though his head in just a matter of seconds, and still with the worries, he replies, "Yeah?"

Tyler throws one leg over the other, leaning onto their elbows, eyes boring into Brendon's.

They're too good at intimidation, and he despises it.

"Well, my brother's wedding is coming up at the end of the month." They start, biting their lip for a moment. "But there's just no way we're going to be able to bring Jim, and we're going to be gone for a few days, so I guess what we're trying to ask is if you might be able to look after him while we're gone."

It's not what Brendon's expecting. "I-- well, I-I don't mind but, uh, I can't have him in my apartment. . ."

Tyler nods. "Yeah, I know. We talked about it, and we were saying how you can just stay at our house for the time being."

Then, Brendon's eyes go wide. He hasn't even been there enough to know where everything is. He isn't sure, either, if he'd be okay staying at their house with them away; it's their home and who is he to just stay there-- live there for a few days?

But then it also dawns on him that out of everyone they know, they're asking him. They trust him with something that big.

Past the nerves, it's able to warm his heart.

"Really?" He asks.

Tyler's shoulders lift. "Yeah. I know it's huge responsibility to put on you, but it would mean a lot to us."

Brendon shakes his head, he understands. "No, it's okay."

Josh chimes in this time. "You can do anything you want, we just need to make sure Jim is taken care of while we're away." He states, scratching behind the dog's ear. "We'll show you where the food and stuff is, too. And you can sleep in our bed if you want, it would be kind of shitty to have you on an airmatress for more than a night."

Brendon appreciates the offer, but he thinks he'd much rather prefer a blow-up mattress to a bed with countless stories.

He's not ready.

Brendon nods slowly, processing everything. "When, uh, when would you guys be leaving?"

"We're leaving a day before, so the twenty-sixth." Tyler says. "And we probably won't be back until the twenty-eighth or so."

It's a lot to take in. He knows they're relying on him, really, and that's giving him an endless amount of worry. He doesn't want to mess up. He wants to be everything they need; he just hopes he could fulfill that.

He looks down to Jim, who's as happy as ever. This is for him.

"Yeah. That'd be okay." Brendon says, looking back up at the two of them.

They both smile.

"Awesome." Josh mutters. "Thank you."

Brendon shakes his head, it's the least he could do. They've already done so, so much for him without realizing it.

"We'll go over everything before we leave." Tyler tells him, running a hand over their head. It's grown out a lot since Brendon first met them; there's even enough to run their fingers through now. He wonders if they're going to shave it again but he isn't bothered enough to ask. "Imagine all the TV and Netflix you can catch up on." They add, smiling a little.

Brendon's would be lying if he said that wasn't exciting. No more Family Feud and Cash Cab for a while.

"The twenty-sixth should come sooner." He jokes, cheeks lifted in content.

Josh and Tyler both chuckle, and Brendon would like to hear it on repeat.

After a moment, though, Josh starts to stand, he says, "I'll be right back, I need to use the bathroom." He hands Jim's leash to Tyler, and the dog whimpers as he watches him walk away and back into the restaurant, out of sight.

Jim lays down, tucking his snout between his paws, and his big brown eyes look up at Brendon with a plea that's unclear. The latter frowns, leaning down to pet him, reassuring him Josh will be back soon.

"Yeah, we definitely chose the right person to take care of him." Tyler mutters.

Brendon looks over to them, lips upturned. "I'm going to go back to work with so much dog hair all over me."

Tyler shakes their head. "I have a lint roller in the car if you want to use it before we leave." Instead of drinking their own soda, they drink Josh's. Brendon won't say anything. He'll keep it between them.

"Why do you just have a lint roller. . . In your car. . ."

Tyler looks down at themself, and Brendon looks too. "Have you seen what I'm wearing?" Oh, has he. "Jim's notorious for getting hair all over my clothes. Especially black ones."

Brendon then looks down at his slacks and nearly winces. "Yeah, I'll definitely need that lint roller."

He sits back upright, and Jim doesn't do anything this time.

He'll be okay.

Josh's camera is sitting on the table, it had been hanging around his neck for a while but Brendon never really paid mind to it until now. He almost forgets what Josh does for a living, and honestly, he's curious.

"You've never seen any of his work, have you?" Tyler asks. They notice everything.

Brendon shakes his head.

"He doesn't just do family photos. Other people pay him for his work, to take pictures of them for social media and things like that." They tell him, rubbing their shoulder. "Models, influencers. He's worked with a lot of really cool people. He gets so happy about it, too. He'll come home and show me the photoshoots he did that day, and he's always so proud of them."

Brendon likes when the two of them talk about each other. He gets to see them in a different light. "Do you think he'll show me soon?"

Tyler's features lift a bit. "I'm kind of surprised he hasn't yet. Or taken any of you. He does it all the time."

Brendon doesn't understand why he'd take any of him.

"Does he take pictures of you?" If so, he wants to see them. Maybe Josh has captured something he can't see in person.

Tyler rolls their eyes, trying to bite the smile off their face. "All the time. He has a folder on his computer full of the pictures he's taken of me." They chuckle, cheeks tinted in just the smallest bit of pink. "And one of Jim, too. Josh is such a dork."

"I'm a what now?" Josh is back at the table, sitting down with his eyebrows furrowed.

Tyler stares lazily into his eyes, still leaning on their hand. "A dork."

He hums. "But you love it."

Tyler smiles fully this time. "Definitely."

They're leaning forward and before Brendon knows it, they're kissing. It doesn't last very long, but it's still enough for his heart to pump faster. Tyler rests their head on Josh's shoulder, and instead of holding hands again, they latch pinkies beneath the table. It's subtle, but loving. An act to keep them both grounded.

Tyler's sunglasses cover their eyes again, yet Brendon would say they're looking at him. "Do you think I'd be able to stay with you at your Mom's this weekend? I don't have much to do and I'd rather be with you than at home not doing anything." They're definitely looking at him.

Brendon's stomach churns. He didn't know if he could even handle the two of them visiting for a few hours, but for Tyler to stay with him the entire weekend?

Fuck, is all he can process.

His Adam's apple bobs. "Are you. . . Are you sure?"

"If it's alright with you." They say.

It's not about him, it's about his mom. She could be very overwhelming sometimes; he didn't want Tyler to have to witness that, because surely they will if they're there a full weekend.

"I just don't want you to have to see everything that happens." Brendon whispers, fiddling with the napkin in front of him.

Tyler reaches for his hand with their unaccompanied one, holding onto it with a steady grip. Brendon's nearly heaving.

"I know it's a lot, but it could be really good for us." Their touch is tender. "Do you trust me?"

Brendon chest rises and falls sharply, stomach aching. He still nods. "Yes."

"Then you know that I'll be there for you, and I'm not going to judge whatever happens." They speak calmly, but it's not the same reaction his entire body is getting. His cheeks and ears both burn. "You're a really good person, and going with you this weekend isn't going to change my mind. It might just make me feel that way even more."

Brendon can see why Josh is in love with Tyler.

It also makes him realize the amount of moral support he's lacking at the retirement home. Yes, Carina is there, but only when his mother is willing to leave her room.

Tyler would be there the entire time, and it's terrifying, but also reassuring.

Brendon looks down at their hands. "Please, come with me."

Tyler rubs their thumb across his knuckles, he's postive they're noticing the color of them, now. "Okay."

From there, it's settled.

They pull their hands apart once the waitress come back with food, and the three of them fall into a steady rhythm as they converse. It's never been easy for Brendon, so knowing the simplicity of every word warms his heart to no extent. It's becoming comfortable without force, it's becoming solace. It's what he needs, what he craves, what he desires, and he's living in it.

Jim whines at their feet every now and then, and every now and then, Brendon's sneaking him food under the table.

Casualty is becoming clear, and to Brendon, that's an achievement.