Work Text:
“I’ve been this way,
I want to-“
Josh pounded the final notes of Drum Show into the skin of his drums. Wiping the sweat from his forehead with the back of his arm, he placed his sticks carefully on the edge of his snare and took a deep breath.
He paced breathlessly over towards Tyler, who was pulling his bass guitar strap off over his head. Mark called from behind the camera, “I think that one was the one, guys! You guys looked great, I mean really.”
Tyler smiled bashfully at Mark’s compliment, but more so at the fact that the song he wrote for Josh was one step closer to its debut! He was ecstatic; Josh has never sung on a recorded studio album before, and Tyler never thought it would be on a ballad he wrote for him. Each verse was oozing with compassion and pure admiration, and thinking about it made Josh’s head rush.
Josh met Tyler’s gaze and grinned from ear to ear before the two shared a high five.
“You always kill it on the drums,” Tyler purred.
The tips of Josh’s ears turned red, “You’re not so bad yourself,” he chuckled.
The pair headed over to Mark to rewatch the footage and begin packing away their instruments and props. Upon watching the videos they had just finished filming, Josh couldn’t help but be reminded of simpler times — the time when he had just recently joined the band, when he and Tyler would travel around in the back of a van, and the whole world felt like it belonged to them alone. Butterflies fluttered in his stomach as he recalled how close he had gotten to Tyler during those precious months in 2011. For the first time, it had felt like he had found a home in someone else’s company, which was a feeling he kept close to him even now.
Tyler beamed after watching the final piece of footage. “That’s awesome, Mark,” he giggled cheerfully, before turning back to face Josh. Tyler’s cheeks were flushed, both from exhaustion and giddiness, and the rosy color on his face flustered Josh more than it should’ve.
“You look so cool on the drums, dude. I’m so proud of you,” Tyler gushed, putting his arm around him. “And it really looked like you were driving that van! You could be an actor if this band thing doesn’t work out,” he joked, which coaxed a hearty laugh from Josh.
But really, this “band thing” had worked out — after all, they were shooting a video for the final album of their decade-long story about DEMA, Clancy, and the Banditos; a story that meant the world to Tyler. And hearing him express his pride in Josh meant more than anything.
Mark closed the viewfinder on the side of the film camera and began packing it away, followed by Josh and Tyler tearing down their equipment to pack as well.
“You guys can just put that stuff in my car, I want to have your instruments re-tuned and detailed before we shoot our next music video so I’m gonna swing by the shop on my way home,” Mark announced. The duo agreed, and began stuffing their instrument cases carefully into the back of Mark’s SUV. They closed the trunk with a satisfying thud, and said their goodbyes as Mark climbed into the driver’s side.
“We’ll see you later then,” Tyler called as the SUV headed down towards the first level of the parking garage.
Josh felt a bit anxious now that it was just he and Tyler alone. Nervous for the world to hear him sing, and nervous in the presence of the lead singer who gave him the confidence to try in the first place.
Josh bit his lip slightly, “You know I haven’t heard you scream like that in a long time, not since we were recording Regional At Best,” he chirped, failing to hide his amazement. Tyler cringed slightly, “Ugh, don’t mention that piece of work. This is gonna sound so much cooler, I think,” he contended.
Josh scratched the back of his neck, taking a seat on the mattress in the back of the empty van they had just finished filming with. His face was illuminated in red by the hanging fairy lights trimming the interior of the van.
“Oh shit, we forgot to take down the lights to give to Mark,” Tyler cursed, noticing the soft crimson glow outlining Josh’s figure.
Josh grinned a little, “I think it’s fine. They look kinda pretty,” he replied. He shifted his eyes back onto Tyler, the scream from the song still rattling around in his brain. Josh swung his feet back and forth as Tyler approached and sat next to him on the old mattress.
“I’ve always admired your vocal ability, Ty,” Josh began meekly. Tyler smiled and returned Josh’s gaze, noticing the reflection of the lights glowing in his deep brown eyes.
Josh continued, fidgeting with his pant leg, “And, you know, I-I was thinking…” He gulped, unsure if Tyler would humor his sentiment.
“Well, I was just thinking, what if you taught me how to scream like that?”
Tyler couldn’t stifle his excitement. Something about the way Josh looked — brown curls, sweat dripping through his yellow V-neck shirt, grinning innocently in the back of a messy van — stirred up long forgotten memories. Maybe he was right, this whole music video concept had twinges of Regional At Best sprinkled throughout without him even realizing. Tyler blushed as he recalled all the nights the two had spent mindlessly making out in the back of their tour van during the summer they started recording that album.
Remembering they had the entire parking garage to themselves, he started hatching an idea for how to conduct Josh’s screaming lesson.
Josh was startled when Tyler suddenly leaned over and pushed him down against the mattress, sliding his hands up Josh’s arms and interlocking their fingers. His eyes were full of desire and animalistic intent as he spread Josh’s legs to crawl between. Wasting no time, Tyler’s lips collided with the side of Josh’s neck, leaving tender kisses and slightly nibbling at his skin.
Josh melted into his touch, like candle wax cascading over the edge. “Ah, Tyler,” he sighed longingly into his ear, making the hairs on Tyler’s neck stand on end. Taking this as a sign to pursue, Tyler unclasped one hand and slid it up Josh’s shirt, feeling, squeezing the curves of his hips and waist. The feeling of Tyler reconnecting with his body after so long made Josh’s skin feel incredibly hot as he struggled to bite back a yelp.
Josh’s curls were plastered against his forehead with sweat. Tyler brushed them out of the way with his free hand, slightly staining his scalp with the black paint leftover from the music video. The sight of Josh, breathless and sweating beneath him, awoke an insatiable hunger deep within Tyler. The red light shining on his skin and reflecting in his nose piercings made Josh appear almost ethereal.
Tyler pressed his lips ravenously against Josh’s, parting them just enough to feel his tongue sliding against his own and letting out a soft groan. Hearing the low growl in his throat sent shocks through Josh’s veins, making his blood pressure spike. Josh bucked his hips upward, signaling Tyler to start grinding into him, eager to feel more.
Tyler impatiently wove his hands beneath Josh’s shirt and pulled it over his head, careful not to stain it with the black paint, before removing his own top and pressing his bare chest against Josh’s on the mattress. Josh could feel the warmth emanating from Tyler’s skin and soaked up every bit of it. Suddenly their pants felt like an obstacle.
Noticing the curious look in Josh’s eye, Tyler began trailing down his torso with light kisses and bites while fidgeting with Josh’s belt buckle. Josh moaned softly at each nibble; Tyler’s biting was such a turn on.
Tyler paused after undoing Josh’s belt and pants zipper, positioning himself to look Josh in the eyes. Delicately but still firmly, Tyler cupped the back of Josh’s head and brought his lips to his earlobes, leaving a few light kisses and bites on his ear and neck before whispering:
“It’s time for your first lesson.”
Tyler ran his hand down Josh’s chest and stomach, reaching two fingers beneath the waistband on his boxers just to tease him. His lips remained on his neck, sucking and biting at the sensitive spot behind his ear as his fingers traced the outline of Josh’s length beneath his boxers.
Josh’s breathing quickened, interlaced with wispy moans and gasps. He felt Tyler’s fingers tracing the slit of his tip, making him whimper noisily as he became unable to contain the pleasure coursing through him.
“You call that a scream?” Tyler taunted, begging him to let himself go.
Licking his thumb, Tyler’s hand found its way fully beneath Josh’s boxers, rubbing and circling the slit of his tip with his saliva-slicked thumb.
“Oh, ah, fuck Tyler,” Josh heaved between ragged breaths. The sound of Josh’s groans was like music to Tyler’s ears. With almost no warning, Tyler lifted Josh’s hips and slid his pants and boxers down, pulling them haphazardly around his ankles and throwing them to the floor of the parking garage.
Just as quickly, Josh felt the softness of Tyler’s lips kissing and licking down the length of his shaft, giving special attention to the spot where his tip connected. Josh squealed out in ecstasy as Tyler took the entirety of him into his mouth, bobbing his head in rhythm with the motion of his tongue against the tip.
“God, Tyler, you’re so good at that,” Josh yelped shamelessly.
His knuckles were almost white from how hard he was gripping at the mattress, but Tyler’s tongue was unrelenting. Tyler groaned impatiently, doubling down on his mouthwork to try and muster a scream from his partner. Josh’s moans grew exponentially louder in response; the sound was rich and dripping with gratification as he drew closer and closer to the edge..
But before he could release, Tyler stopped, teasing it one last time with his thumb. He pushed himself up, stood outside the van doors and removed his own pants and underwear, not worried about being seen 8 floors above the ground of Columbus. Tyler returned to the van, guiding Josh further up the mattress with gentle hands so he could close the doors behind them.
The interior of the van was entirely colored in the red glow of the decorative lights now, and Tyler basked in the reflection of them dancing in Josh’s dark eyes. Josh watched as Tyler smirked standing over him, the anticipation clawing away at him.
“I need you, Tyler,” Josh pleaded with puppy-dog eyes.
Happy to oblige, Tyler gripped his waist and flipped him over so that his face was buried into the mattress. Without so much as a moment to think, Josh felt the warmth of Tyler pushing deep into him. Tyler let out a deep grunt of pleasure as he slid himself inside.
Josh was gripping the mattress even harder than before, and much to Tyler’s delight, he felt the urge to scream building deep in his chest. Tyler knew he was close to giving him what he wanted, so he laced his fingers into Josh’s damp curls and forced his head down into the mattress.
That was all it took for Josh to start wailing, shouting, howling in rapture.
“Oh, god!” he cried out, noticing Tyler’s other hand wrapping around his length without faltering in speed.
Tyler thrusted faster while simultaneously stroking his shaft, desperate to hear Josh beg for more.
“I know you can be louder than that, Josh,” he teased between gasps.
Josh’s insides felt white and hot, like the heat of a star collapsing, like he couldn’t hold on much longer.
“Oh fuck, oh fuck! God, yes, fuck Tyler! Oh my god!” he squealed.
Tyler was close as well; hearing Josh screaming his name felt like a prayer, and in this case, he was the altar.
“Fuck, fuck!” Josh screamed at the top of his lungs, letting himself release as Tyler had his way with him.
“Oh yeah, fuck!” Tyler moaned as he finished inside of Josh, before quickly pulling out.
Josh turned on his side on the mattress and Tyler collapsed next to him, both of them panting and dizzy with delight.
“Even now, even now” — the lyrics echoed in Josh’s mind as he tried desperately to catch his breath.
“Well Josh,” Tyler began, half-chuckling as he brushed his hair back with his hand, “you did fantastic for your first screaming lesson.”
Josh laughed loudly in response; in that moment, he felt like he was on top of the world.
“Maybe it’s because you’re a damn good teacher.”
Tyler planted a gentle kiss on the center of his nose, “I’d love to teach you again sometime.”
Josh was over the moon. He nodded, smiling.
“I’d like that.”