Dirty Laundry (joshler || book 1)) (COMPLETED)

Nightmare

*tw/cw: strangulation

Peeling his heavy eyelids open, Tyler rubs them for a moment before glancing over to Josh's side of the bed only to see it empty. What time is it? What woke him up? With a yawn, he looks around the almost pitch-black bedroom, the moonlight giving just enough light to prevent tripping in the middle of the night.

"You killed them."

Tyler jumps and snaps his head to his side of the bed. "Josh?" he says softly, sitting up in confusion. "Baby, what are you doing?"

"They're dead and it's all your fault!"

"Josh!" Tyler exclaims, attempting to jump back as Josh lunges at him. Landing on his side, he lets out a pained whimper as Josh sits on top of him and fights him onto his back. "Josh, stop! You're hurting me!"

"Piece of shit," Josh mutters, his hands wrapping around his boyfriend's throat.

"Josh!" Tyler cries, oxygen gradually slipping away from his lungs. His mind begins to panic as he stares up at the stronger man. Wiggling aggressively in a failed attempt to escape, he realizes the man is sleeping. He's only ever known one person to sleepwalk, but it wasn't ever like this. The most he'd have to do is guide them back to bed. He knows the dangers of waking a sleepwalker, but how the hell do you calm one down enough to prevent them from killing you? Whatever the fuck Josh is dreaming about it, it doesn't seem like he wants to show any mercy.

"Josh, wake up," Tyler states calmly. Touching a hand to the man's cheek, he continues to say the elder's name louder and louder with each attempt, panic making his brain fuzzy the more he gasps. He stares into his partner's eyes, horrified. Josh looks absolutely livid. As if he's about to murder Tyler. And honestly, if Tyler can't get him to wake up, he thinks that might actually happen.

"Josh, it's me, it's Tyler," Tyler rambles lightly, petrified tears streaming down the sides of his face. "You're dreaming, baby, it's just a dream. Dammit, Josh, wake the fuck up."

The brunette's heart sinks in heavy relief when Josh blinks, his angered face slowly falling.

"It's not real," Tyler whispers, slowly grabbing the man's hands glued to his neck.

Yanking his hands away, Josh watches in horrified tears as Tyler gasps and sputters. He coughs as he rolls onto his hands and knees, taking a moment to breathe.

"I'm so sorry," Josh whispers before sobbing. "Tyler, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry."

Rubbing his neck, Tyler sits on his knees trying to process everything. It happened so quickly, yet it felt like an eternity. He has a headache. Rubbing his eyes, he dries his face on the blanket and slowly turns his head to look at his boyfriend. Shifting to sit on his butt, he hugs his knees to his chest and stares mutely into the darkness, his chest aching as he listens to Josh cry. He wants to comfort him, tell him it's okay, he knows he didn't mean for it to happen. But he can't. He can barely move.

It's not Josh's fault. Tyler knows that. But it was terrifying, regardless. Tyler has never felt so much fear in such a short amount of time. He's scared to even look at him right now. He hears Josh cough through his tears letting out a deep breath.

"Baby," the man whimpers, placing a hesitant hand on Tyler's shoulder.

The brunette flinches away from the feeling, squeezing his eyes shut in immediate regret of the involuntary motion. Josh pulls his hand away again, staying silent. Tyler opens his eyes when the bed shakes slightly as Josh climbs off.

Watching the man get dressed, Tyler gulps, cringing at the soreness in his throat. "Where are you going?" He squeaks.

"I...I-I don't know," Josh stutters, his hand gripping anxiously at his hair. He shakes his head, "I don't know. Where-w-where can I go?"