50

                                    

                                          
● ● ● ● ● ●
"There was a stagger that shifted my hips, oh, how swiftly it shook the dew from my lips."
● ● ● ● ● ●
"Are you sure you'll be okay by yourself, baby?"
It had been four days since their weekend getaway, a much welcome reprieve from all that'd been going on. But ever since their return from Ukraine, Josh's job had wasted no time piling on the demands... and then some.
"I'm sure, J." Deep down, if Tyler had his way, he would refuse to let Josh go into the office and leave him alone all day. But he also knew his Protector was the sole provider... and pouting certainly wasn't going to pay the bills.
Still, Josh wasn't too convinced by the tone of Tyler's voice. "You know what, let me call Fynn and see if they can come over after Oliver's doctor appointment..."
Tyler shook his head. "No, you don't have to do that. Let them enjoy a day to themselves." He paused. "I'll be fine, J. Promise."
Josh hesitated for a moment, then sighed. "Okay, sweetness. Text or call if you need me, okay? I'll try to get as much done as I can this morning so I can leave early."
"You're so sweet." Tyler held his arms out, smiling when Josh hugged him. "Thank you for always taking care of me, Joshua. I know your anxiety gets bad when you have to go into the office, but you still do it, anyway. You make me so proud."
"Oh, jeez, don't make me cry right before work." Josh tightened his grip around Tyler, the biggest smile on his face. "Thank you for saying that, Ty. You just made my day."
"Just seeing you makes my day." Tyler giggled a little before kissing him on the lips. "I love you, Jish."
"I love you too, babe," Josh echoed before letting go of Tyler, even though he didn't want to at all. "Text me later, okay?"
Tyler handed Josh his thermos, a soft smile on his face. "Of course. Drive safe, love."
As soon as Tyler heard the front door shut, a faint sense of emptiness came over him. It wasn't an overwhelming feeling, yet it still held enough weight to make him wonder if he'd make it through the day without his Protector.
Even though this certainly hadn't been the first time Tyler had been alone, something refused to sit right inside his bones. But the more he tried to put his finger on it, the more confusing everything became...
Why was he so afraid of being alone?
Don't leave me alone...
● ● ● ● ● ●
Tyler hadn't been inside his childhood home in years. Everything -- the kitchen, the basement, the bedroom that he had shared with his older brother up until the day they sent him to Keeper Training School -- seemed so much more... confined.
"I still remember you. Do you remember me?"
His mother. How could he ever forget her?
"I remember the pain," he responded. "Four kids and I had to be the one with the mutated gene, right? You never stopped reminding me."
"I just wanted you to know you were different before someone else could point it out and hurt you."
"But you hurt me." Tyler swallowed hard, fighting back the painful emotions he had kept buried for years. "Why am I even here?"
"You tell me." His mother came closer. "Nico is still out there, you know."
"But they... they captured him."