Title: we're so miserable and stunning

Fandom: Bandom, Twenty One Pilots

Rating: General Audiences

Length: 473 words

Content notes: none

Author notes: rainbow made me think instantly of the SAI era, so here. also, title from Carpal Tunnel of Love by Fall Out Boy :)

Summary: Tyler's getting his makeup ready for the show.



The lights on the vanity are merciless in their brightness, spotlighting Tyler in an angelic, heavenly glow, rendering him blinding white. It's giving him a headache, as he surveys his reflection in the mirror, the pink of his hair an shockingly wild neon. He looks gorgeous, a glittering star. Tyler Joseph, everybody! Dema loves him. Dan and Sally, caked in gaudy, expensive makeup, wreath him in praise, putting him up as the cherubic angel atop the idyllic city. Rainbows follow wherever he goes, radiant blue-pink-yellow-white streaks behind him like a banner, and him trussed up like a limited edition doll. He's Dema's best performer, he's destined for stardom, they love him.

Josh is sitting on the dressing room sofa, settled and silent as Tyler scrutinises every flaw in his face, every blemish, and reaches for the tray of makeup. Dema can't have him looking anything but his best. otherwise Nico would make his displeasure known. As he fumbles with the makeup, and reminds himself to stave off the nervous urge to bite his lip (it would ruin his look, make him something less than perfect) and he notices that yes, the bags under his eyes are still too dark, too noticeable, he needs to hide those- Josh gets up (without a sound, Josh rarely seems to make any sound these days, to the point where sometimes Tyler wonders if he's really there) and slinks over to him. His hands are gentle, unassuming, light like feathers across his face, brushing a ticklish way at his cheekbones, and Tyler's nose does a tickled bunny-twitch. Josh thumbs his eyelids closed as he applies glittery eyeshadow (aubergine dreams, he thinks it's called), hushing him still when Tyler starts to fidget at the closeness he hasn't had in so long. Not since back at camp, in Trench, maybe.

Josh has been so distant, now, in Dema. Tyler has been, too, feeling brittle and glass-fragile in this new mould laid out for him, scared to take a step and reach out. With the bishops' claws in his skin, he hadn't touched Josh at all, even the barest graze. And Josh felt like a desert mirage; paradise in the horizon, but if he reached out he would disappear into mist.

Now, Josh is close enough that Tyler can feel his tepid breath on his skin, so gentle that Tyler still thinks he might be a dream to anchor him in this starless, rotting city. His fingers are a fairy's kiss against his face, and when they leave Tyler is left feeling chilled. He looks at them in the mirror: Bright and colourful and haloed in light, rainbows exploding in supernovas behind them. Tyler has never felt so empty.

Josh looks at him, and Tyler catches his gaze in their reflection. "it's showtime," he tells him, and Tyler can only nod.