#and glowing Yllurian mushrooms from Stolen

[misereremei]

culmets + 14 from the cuddle prompts?

Yay, my first prompt ask ever! Thanks, @mutantmeme, this was really fun! I cheated a little and set it a few years pre-war. Also, couldn’t help but throw in a little New Year’s theme. I’ll put it up on AO3 too…

“You brought me here to see more mushrooms?”

Hugh surveyed his surroundings with exasperated amusement. Along hike on a cold Yllurian night with Paul and the rest of his astromycology lab had justconcluded atop some rolling green hills, which gave a clear vista to a hugemushroom forest in the valley below.

“Not just any mushrooms, dear doctor!”

“That’s what you always say,” Hugh mutters, not unkindly.

“Look around you! We’re not the only weirdos here this time.”

He was right. Crowds of locals and tourists were gathered, allfacing the valley.

“Well, if you’d only tell me what this is all about, maybeI’d be as excited as the rest of you.”

Paul was laying out a blanket. Others were too. Straal and thelab busied themselves with setting out their blankets, some chairs, a pile ofsnacks, and thermoses of warm drinks. Their lab manager Nikita was there too,warmly wrapped up in multiple scarves, setting up a few tricorder stations.

Paul seated Hugh on their blanket, fetched them mugs of hot cocoaand quickly settled in at his side. Shivering from the cold, he draped ablanket around their shoulders and pressed a quivering thigh to Hugh’s. Theyhuddled together in a bundle, sharing each others’ warmth, gratefully sipping drinksthat were just a little too hot. 

Straal started a countdown that others in the vicinitypicked up. Soon enough half of the hillside was chanting along: “3…2…”

Paul gripped Hugh’s hand.

“…1.”

The forest exploded into dazzling bio-luminescence. Not just thetypical glowing green one would usually expect, but blues, pinks, golds too, allcompeting for attention. People gasped, some even broke into spontaneous applausein appreciation of a stunning performance of nature.

It was breathtaking.

Paul nuzzled their heads close, and the hair of theirforeheads made that little intimate skritching sound as they rubbed themtogether. “It’s a totally unique biological phenomena,” he sighed. “It happensonce in the Yllurian solar cycle, right at the start of their new year.”

“How are the other colors happening?” Hugh murmured.

“It’s all in the composition of the soil. Here—“ and Paulheld out a tricorder he had thoughtfully made ready. Of course his love knewthat he’d want to read more. Smiling, Hugh set down his mug of cocoa and let goof Paul’s hand to accept the proffered scanner.

Some tourists were hitting up Straal and other members ofthe lab with questions, which they were happily fielding.

But Paul stayed put at his side and hooked his chin over hisshoulder so they could look at the readings together, and his arm wrappedaround Hugh’s back.

In a little burst of glee, Paul squeezed them together, slimbicep pushing into Hugh’s strong side. “Cool, right?”

Hugh finished scrolling through and looked at Paul. His dancingeyes were reflecting the array of colors from the forest.

“Very cool, my love.”

Something about the kiss that followed was so tender, almosttentative; it almost felt like the very first time their lips had ever touched.

Hugh was reluctant to pull back; their parted lips hoveredclose for an electrifying few moments, their warm breath mingling.

“Happy new year, dear doctor.”

Straal’s voice broke over their heads. “Alright you two.Keep it age-appropriate, there are families present.”

Paul groaned. “Go away,Straal.”

“Stamets, I don’t expect much sense out of you, but come on,Culber – you’re supposed to be the designated grown-up here.”

“Now wait a second,” Hugh protested. “Since when am I your lab’sden mother?”

Extra blankets rained down onto their laps. “We’re goingdown to get a closer look. See you guys later. Have fu-uun.”

Hugh watched in amusement as Paul, pink-cheeked, pitched headfirstinto the cozy pile.

“I hate you,” his muffled voice called to Straal’s back.

A pause as a quiet hush swept over the hill. Hugh’s fingers cameup to the blond head resting on his lap and scratched through prickly hair onthe nape of Paul’s neck. “This is nice.”

“Hmmm.”

The glow from the forest seemed to intensify, as if to catchthe attention of the canopy of stars above. The air grew colder; some of thecrowd started to thin out. But they remained, welcoming the Yllurian New Year nestledtogether in a fort of blankets.