#hiking in humidity is a bear

[mechadress]

Hong Kong

[raeathnos]

.

[mediumgayitalian]

It was a bad idea from the start, really.

Will is very smug about it.

"I'm not," he insists, lying. He adjusts Nico's arm over his shoulder, breathing heavier with every step up the rocky hillside. "I'm just pointing out that it's very lucky you love someone who is right so often. Else you'd be dead."

His barely hidden smirk makes it a whole lot easier for Nico to be guilt-free about his current incapacitation. In fact, he cuts any effort at all, going completely limp. Will stumbles, damn near dropping him and sending them both tumbling back down into the sea, but manages, at the last second, to find his balance.

He's smug about that, too.

"You have the kind of arrogance they talk about in the Bible," Nico points out, as Will slides his arm under his legs and lifts. "Just saying."

"Do I."

"Mhm. Unchecked. Your father's son, truly."

"Oh, get fucked."

He's laughing as he says it, and Nico smiles, victorious. He swings his legs idly as Will labors, enjoying the sweat beading on his top lip and the shift of his muscles under his wandering hands.

"You know, I landed us pretty good for being near-death."

"You landed us in an underwater cave eight feet from the surface," Will says drily. He pauses, flash of warmth blooming under his palms, then shakes his head in exasperation and keeps hiking. "And you're nowhere near death, you man-baby."

"I'm dying."

"You have a couple scrapes and hay fever."

"I can see the light!"

"Bold of you to assume you're making it to the pearly gates."

Nico pauses. "Okay, point to Will." Will grins. Nico pinches him to teach him humility. "Onwards, servant. And in silence as your panting and human distress bothers me."

Will rolls his eyes again, but he suffers from Finding Nico Funny Disorder and also kind of Enjoying Being Ordered Around Not That He'll Admit It Syndrome, so Nico suffers no consequences. Instead, he inspects the countryside, humming along to the beat of Will's elevated heart.

In terms of places Nico has been stranded, this place is pretty good.

It's warm, for starters. A balmy seventy-seven to eighty, if he had to hazard a guess. The sun is out but it's a little cloudy, so it's not too awful, and if Nico had to haul both another person and two backpacks worth of overpacking he's sure he would be much less pleased about the light humidity, but as it is he is not, and he doesn't mind. The wind from the ocean -- channel, rather -- undercuts it nicely, anyway, and it smells like saltwater and pine needles.

"Are we out west?" Will asks, puffing a little. Nico refrains from making a comment about keeping in shape but it is a close thing. "Don't see pines like these back home much."

Nico hums, looking up at the forest. It's true -- among the many indistinguishable conifers peppering the wet soil are strange, sparse pine trees with trunks that seem almost cartoonish, geometrical. Like an exaggerated idea of a pine tree rather than a real one.

"Hold on. Lemme down, I can check."

"Nah. Let's get somewhere level first, okay?" He squeezes, gently, pressing a kiss to Nico's temple. "You're still a little wheezy," he murmurs, which is rich coming from someone who has not caught his breath for the last twenty minutes at minimum. "You can frolic about like the little GPS you are when you've had a minute to get your bearings."

Nico scowls and refuses to acknowledge the care in the action. He is not a GPS and it is disrespectful to refer to him as such. It would be akin to him calling Will a glowstick.

"Which you do," drawls Will. "On the daily."

"Yeah, but you're cute when you're mad," Nico argues. The comment, predictably, has Will's freckles flashing, and Nico grins. "See?"

"You're intolerable."

"Hm. Four years and counting, though."

"Yeah, yeah."

The incline steepens and Will's breathing steepens with it. Nico can hear the extra effort in his chest, in his pounding heart, and squeezes his shoulders. He teases, but Will has hiked them both a mile at least -- on a steep incline, too, trying to navigate the shifting rock and soil. And he's tired, and he dragged them both up from the water, and there -- there's another couple hundred feet until the hill slopes off, at least. Will takes a moment to catch his breath and Nico brushes the hair off his sweaty forehead.

"Almost there," he says quietly. "Almost there, and we can rest for a bit."

Will nods, and pushes forward. There is that look in his eye, familiar; eyes clouded and distance and face wiped totally smooth. The same face he gets when the infirmary gets a touch too crowded and he reaches, on long-dead instinct, for the helping hand of a sibling that isn't there, and shuts down. The same face he gets when someone peels a boiled egg and the smell of sulfur drags him down, the same face he gets when he wakes himself up half past three in the morning and grits his teeth through the screaming so he doesn't wake anybody up. The same face he gets when he is hurting, when he is tired, but there are others hurting worse, and he forgets. And he forces it away.

Nico hates it. He always has.

But Will is his own person, and he is strong. And there are hardly fifty feet left until they can rest.

They crest the top of the hill -- cliffside, really -- and Will makes no grand heaving, does not drop him. He sets him, gently, on the yellowed grass, and sets his bags down next, arranging them carefully so they hold their own weight. He straightens slowly and holds himself stiffly.

"Will," Nico says softly. "Come sit."

Will works his jaw. "Gimme a minute."

Nico nods, and watches him. He can almost picture the chanting he is doing in his head, trying to release the tension manually, trying to coach himself through the haziness. Trying to bring himself back, like Mr. D. taught him. There is nothing Nico can do, to fish him out of his own head, to drag him out of the place he goes and sits when things are too hard. The place where he used to live, unbidden to everyone. Where he would lose time by the months and resurface with a plastic smile and a practiced laugh and hands clenched so tightly the tendons are worn like old guitar strings.

He sighs, and slumps forward. Nico watches him sway, carefully, hands poised to dart out. But he gathers himself, eyes gently shut, and makes his careful way to the ground next to Nico. Nico places a hand between his shoulder blades.

"You with me?"

He nods. "Yeah." He leans back into the cool relief of Nico's hand, knocking their knees together. "Yeah, I'm with you."

"Good."

It's beautiful, from this height.

However high up they are -- Nico doesn't bother estimating -- they can see out for miles, nothing but ocean and forest as far as the eye can glean. The water is peppered with dozens of other islands, some bigger than others, and the yellowed sun shines in gentle brushstrokes through the woolen clouds, tiny beams of light piercing their way through and onto spotted cliffsides. Chittering coastal birds chase crabs along the rocky beach, and farther in the waves, Nico can see the coasting fins of a group of orcas. He tilts his head, curious, and when he feels his lungs are full enough, and his eyesight is clear and steady, he exhales, long and slow, and rests his hands spread and flat on the soil, searching. He extends his feeling as far as it will go down and outward, feeling Will's life forcing flickering -- tired but strong -- to his right, and millions of other creatures in the ground beneath them. He lets their noise fade and swell and wash over him, like the blending conversations of a large crowd, and tries to follow the waves of seismic energy as they shift and ebb beneath him, rumbling a conversation with connected plates all throughout the Earth.

"BC," he murmurs, blinking his eyes open. Will watches him, head propped on his bent knee. "Canada. Uh, Haida Gwaii, I think."

Will blinks. "Really?"

Nico nods. "Pretty sure." He is not expecting the slow, teasing smile that spreads over Will's face, and he is suspicious of it. He narrows his eyes. "What."

"Oh, nothing."

"Do not lie to me, William Andrew."

"Nothing! I mean it." He pauses. "I was just wondering --"

"Oh, here we go."

"-- it must be the dyslexia, I guess --"

"-- do you ever stop talking --"

"I mean, BC, NY, practically the same thing --"

"I hope you get eaten by a bear. Genuinely."

"-- easy mistake." Will grins. Nico scowls. "Anyone would make it, I'm sure."

"I was drained, you irritating jackass."

"Of course, of course. That totally explains why you shadow travelled us four thousand miles in the wrong direction."

"It's not -- four thousand miles, you dickhead." Nico pauses. "Fuck, is it?"

Will shrugs. "More or less. We're on the literal opposite point of the continent."

"Well." Nico blinks, staring back out the coast. "Shit."

"S'okay." Will stands, brushing off his shorts. "Let's keep moving."

Nico bites his tongue-- Will knows himself. He pushes himself, too, but he's smarter than to leave them both incapacitated. He holds out a hand, and Nico takes it, pulling himself to his shaky feet. He holds up a hand when Will tries to lift him again, and Will sighs, but falls into step beside him, hovering.

The hike is a helluva lot easier when they are not travelling eighty degrees upright. Will leads them into the dense forest and Nico lets him, making a face at the mugginess and the mosquitoes he can already feel but trusting Will's judgement regardless. If he gets malaria, it will be Will's problem, anyway.

"You are such a goddamn drama queen."

"Your fault. I used to be cool and traumatized."

"It's really cute that you genuinely believe that."

"Shut the fuck up."

Will snickers, but does. Probably less because Nico told him to and more because his dumb ass was not looking where he was going and almost walked into a tree, but that's none of Nico's business. He'll just remember the moment for eternity and bring it up next time Will tells him he should spend more time calibrating himself with nature.

They walk for a long time. A couple hours, at least, but Will packed six different water bottles, something Nico did indeed mock him for when they left ("It's a two-day quest, Will, I promise there will be a fucking water bottle available for purchase in Delaware." "Sure, go ahead, trust Delaware and see where that gets you.") but now tastefully pretends is not the case. The granola bars he stuffed in there are the nutritionally bereft but delicious ones from Costco, and they are melted to shit and waterlogged, but they're good anyway. Will tries and fails to ration them. Nico is faster. Plus, they'll…hunt, or something. Probably.

"I have never hunted a single thing in my life and you haven't either, nature boy, but sure, whatever. Let's Bear Grylls this thing."

Nico primly ignores his gripes. Will gets grouchy when he gets anxious, it's fine. He also happens to be very attractive when he is grouchy and Nico happens to be very attracted to him, so these things have a way of working themselves out. Especially because Will has a very sensitive spot on the side of his neck that he isn't quite aware that he has, so as soon as Nico gets close enough to lovingly and perhaps a touch hungrily also bite him he will be fine. Well, he will be goo, but that works. Nico can handle him when he is goo.

"Stop looking at me like you're going to eat me. You know it freaks me out."

It doesn't freak him out. It makes his whole face very hot and his brain kind of non-functional. But Nico is loving and benevolent and refrains from pointing this out.

"We should stop and eat, then."

"You just had fourteen granola bars!"

"Yeah, like an hour ago."

Will reaches out and pretends to strangle him. Nico darts out and grabs one of his hands, pressing a kiss to his knuckles. Will melts at the speed of sound.

"What -- okay, whatever. What Ever, okay. Fine."

He tosses his backpacks -- actually tosses, Christ, someone get this boy a BFA -- and sits heavily on the forest floor, ears burning. Nico looks at the mud and pine needles, wrinkles his nose, and sits delicately on Will's lap. This does nothing for him in the embarrassment slash flusteredness slash superhots he has for Nico, but it does have the added benefit of immediate physical affection and a solid weight in his lap, so his breathing calms. He tilts his face forward until his head is tucked between the space of Nico's neck and his shoulder. Nico reaches up, sliding a hand through his damp curls.

"Check-in," he says quietly.

"Buzzy," Will admits. "Tired. But -- fine."

Nico nods. He cards his hand more regularly through his boyfriend's hair, shifting so Will is slumped against him, and both elbows rest on his broad shoulders; he spends extra time on all the knots, untangling them gently and flicking the shedding strands to the side. He pushes his fringe off his forehead and, when Will doesn't stop him, starts to weave the sections into braids, splitting his hair down the middle of his scalp. He ties both ends off with one of the several elastics on his wrist and grins at the dandelion-pouf of the short strands. He kisses the crown of his head.

"You're cute as hell, you know that?"

"Bleh."

"Don't bleh me. I am the Prince of Hell. I would know." "Whatever, nerd." Will straightens slightly, leaning back against a tree trunk and adjusting Nico's weight. "Your turn. You good?"

"A little wheezy," Nico tells him. "Not that you were right or anything but the quest could maybe have waited until I was not contagious."

"Yeah. Damn, I wish someone would have told you that."

"Oh, can it, Mr. I Can Still Run My Infirmary With A Broken Spine."

"I mean. I could. I did, actually, and it went pretty well."

"You literally almost permanently paralyzed yourself."

"But I didn't! So there." Nico kisses him quiet, because sometimes he actually wants to shake the hypocrisy out of him. The way Will grins, cheeky, into the kiss tells him that he is aware and this was the goal. Fucker.

"I think this is a good spot," Will murmurs, sighing into Nico's mouth. Nico occupies his lips for a little bit longer, kissing every time he opens them to speak -- there are many benefits to dating a virus-immune doctor -- but moves, eventually and mournfully, onto the corner of his mouth, his jaw. His neck. It is a little bit unfair in terms of letting him focus but Will smells like salt and lavender still, somehow, and he looks good surrounded in browns and greens. "For the night, I mean."

"It's maybe two in the afternoon, Solace."

"Well, you need a nap. And I don't want to set up camp twice."

Nico pulls off, shrugging. He has a feeling you need a nap is code for if I don't sleep in the next ten minutes I am going out pass out on the floor. It has been before.

"Works for me."

Together they unpack the entirety of Will's bags. There's a lot of shit in there -- more than Nico assumed could actually fit in any kind of logical space -- and chief among it two bedrolls, a couple blankets, a tarp, some rations (that are not candy-stick granola bars that Nico shoved in there last minute) and, even, some fishing hooks and line. And, of course, more medical supplies than what probably exists on the entire island.

"You can never be too prepared," Will says primly, when Nico bites the corner of his mouth.

"You have leukemia medication," Nico points out.

"Well. Who knows."

"…Right."

Patting his neurotic boyfriend lovingly yet condescendingly on the forehead, which is somewhat of a challenge since he is distantly related to the Yeti or perhaps Godzilla, Nico grabs the tarp and some paracord string and leaves in search of some good branches. Will sings, high and clear, and Nico uses it as his version of Ariadne's string -- he never goes far enough that he can't hear the words, or the pout in his voice when he misses a note. He sings something ridiculous about a small-town judge and a murder plot, twangy and over-the-top and old, no doubt, and Nico smiles, piling the branches in his hands.

Will is convinced he can't sing -- and maybe he can't. Maybe he doesn't see the world in quarter notes like his mother, or hear a jazz solo in a creaky door jamb like his prodigy brother. Maybe the birds don't stop when he hums and maybe his guitar is always a little flat. But his voice is rumbly, and curls in the air like camp smoke. And he knows more songs than any other soul living or dead, and when he hums something he made up about the sound of the wind against bending flower petals it warms you, from deep in your stomach. When he makes up a tune to put behind the most famous Italian sonnets or forgets the real tune of a rock song he heard in the back of a tour van ten years ago, Nico's breaths all taste a little sweeter. When his voice gets reedy and pleading and he pants next to Nico's ear, in warm, early mornings, he feels like he's drunk off sound alone.

He likes Will's voice.

He comes back with enough sturdy branches for a lean-to the Hunters would be jealous of, and Will smiles when he sees him. He doesn't stop singing, maybe because he's trying to keep himself awake, maybe because he knows Nico likes it, even though it turns up his vowels in a shy kind of way. Maybe both, or neither. Either way Nico joins him, humming a halfway decent harmony, and hands him the branches one by one, lingering whenever he can at the brush of their equally roughened fingers.

"'Kay," Will says, or sighs. "'S good as it's gonna get, I think."

It's a cute little tent, honestly. There's not a lot of space and once upon a time Nico would have chafed at the thought of it, whether he liked Will or not. A person needs their distance.

But he doesn't, really. Need distance from Will. Maybe he did, before they learned each other. Before they fell into depths unseen and struggled their way back up, before Will helped him angry and hurting, before Nico helped him quiet and blank. Before they learned each other's silences and sacrifices, before Nico knew what it meant to sit next to someone and exist on the same wavelength, in different spaces. Before he knew what it meant to share the same air.

They're codependant, a little.

Nico likes depending on him.

Will squeezes his hand. Nico squeezes back, and together they spread out their bedrolls, pushing them next to each other, and configure themselves around the balance of sticks and corded twine, of tired knees and aching backs. Nico fits his arms around Will's waist and his leg between his thighs, his forehead to the dip in his back and his breathing matching every inhale, every exhale. Will rests a too-warm palm on his wrist and sags into him, exhausted, and together they lay, still and sticky and warm, and it's a little uncomfortable. But it's good, too.

"It'll take you a couple days to get your strength back," Will says softly. "There are a lot of bears in BC."

"I have a sword," Nico points out.

"They're endangered."

"Hm."

"We have one drachma."

"Just the one?"

"Yeah."

"Shit."

Nico curls tighter into him. He can tell, without looking, that he has his eyes squeezed shut -- guilty. As if Nico remembered to pack any emergency drachmas or medical supplies or anything outside of granola bars that are 92% chocolate.

"You're not worried about bears."

"No."

"I don't think the eidola followed us from Delaware, sweetheart."

"…Me either." He swallows. "Lotta weird shit in a lotta weird places, though."

Nico hums. He's right. Of all their quests and visits to Will's mother and errands and dates, they've been left unbothered maybe seven total times. Nico doesn't have great luck, and Will is some kind of homing beacon. They never go long without some motherfucker ruining things.

…Nico has a feeling, though.

A good one. For the first time in a while.

"I think we'll be okay," he says, carefully. "I can't promise and I don't know for sure. But I'm not -- I'm a little weak, Will, but I'm not that sick. And you're tired, but you're capable." He punctuates the statement with a firm kiss on the back of Will's neck, anticipating his shaking head. "I think you're right to save it. But you can sleep, and we'll be fine."

There is a lot of shit coiled up in Will's head. Years worth of baggage Nico will never untangle in a day, in a month, in four years. It will take him a lifetime.

But he's gotten pretty good at helping Will wade through it, he thinks.

"Yeah," Will sighs, loosening. "Yeah. Yeah, you're right." He brings Nico's hand up to his mouth, pressing a warm, lingering kiss to his wrist. "We'll stay here for a bit. Three days, at least, it'll take you that long to come back to normal strength."

Protest stirs its way up Nico's chest, but he swallows it back. It won't kill him to wait it out. They have supplies. It will be nice, not to get back to camp exhausted.

Plus, he and Will…

Well, they could maybe use a break, in the wilderness, where no one can bother them.

"We'll IM if we get desperate. We're not too far from New Rome, anyway." Will yawns. Nico squeezes around his waist, and he leans back fondly. "Don't let me sleep longer than an hour, okay? I wanna scope out the place a little more before sundown."

Nico nods, and Will exhales, and in minutes he's out. Nico has always been jealous of his ability to just drop anywhere, in minutes; he could sleep standing up on one foot on the peak of Mount Everest. But now it only makes him smile, and he presses the curl of his lips to Will's warm skin, breathing in the smell of him. It's indistinguishable, almost, from the general outdoorsyness around them, and Nico takes the careful time to memorize it. To memorize it, and them, and the shape of Will in his arms.

He looks out over Will's shoulder and carefully counts the minutes.

-- -- --

next

[another-random-fanfic-blog]

My 8 Hybrids

Ch. 1

Next Chapter

Masterlist

Warnings: Blood, violence, abuse

You enjoyed hiking, it was an easy way to take your mind off things. Today was a beautiful day and would have been perfect for your hike, if the weatherman got the forecast right. Today was supposed to be 75 degrees Fahrenheit, slightly breezy, with a little cloud cover. The hike started wonderfully, but by the time you got to the top of the mountain, you if was hot, over 85, so humid you felt as though you were breathing through soup, and you could see lightning in the distance as storm clouds gathered. Today would have been ideal, but now you are stuck trying to get off the mountain before you get caught in the storm. While you love watching thunder and lightning storms, today, you do not feel like being soaked with the rain and driving an hour back home.

You had a choice of two paths down the mountain, one, was the most often used, but if rain did start, the edges of the path could easily wash away if it rained too hard, making it easy to go tumbling down the hills. The second path was less traveled and through the thick of the woods, more wildlife, but, would be safer in the rain, theoretically. You chose the path less traveled and began your journey. After walking for about 30 minutes, you saw something odd up ahead, animal’s maybe, or people. Slowing down, and cautiously approaching the unmoving figures, you realize they were hybrids, two hybrids chained to large trees.

There was what looked like a rabbit hybrid with each arm tied to a different branch, his toes barely touching the ground. His clothes were ripped and barely remaining on his body, his skin was red from the sun, dry and cracked. He was covered in scratches, bruises, dirt, and what looked like animals bites. His head was hung low and his breathing erratic.

The second hybrid had black ears on his head, but you couldn’t see what kind. He had a long black tail and was in similar condition as the rabbit, only instead of being strung from the tree, his leg was caught in a bear claw like trap that was chained to the base, while his upper torso chained him in a seated position against the tree. You could see scratches on his ankle from what you assumed were his own fingernails, as he tried to free himself. Looking closer at his hands, he had scratches and bites on them, some nails actually missing as well. He too was unconscious. You got closer to the hybrids when you noticed a sign tapped to the tree next to the rabbit “Do whatever you want to them! Have fun!”

Rage filled your body as you could only imagine what these poor hybrids went through. Carefully, you stood in front of the rabbit and reached out to feel his pulse, you knew he was alive by his labored breathing, but you needed to see how fast, or slow his heart was beating. As you counted out the beats, you heard something.

“What?” You asked, realizing the rabbit was trying to speak to you.

“s…h…s,” he struggled to say, you leaned your ear closer to his mouth, “hel…p…us.”

The rabbit started coughing and choking, you could have smacked yourself for not thinking about dehydration. Luckily, you expected to be out for a long time today and brought an extra-large camel pack with you.

“Here,” you say, holding the straw to the rabbits lips, “it’s water, drink some.”

The rabbit latched onto the straw and began sucking out the water as hard and fast as he could, gulping down whatever would come out without taking a breath.

“Careful,” you say pulling the straw away from his mouth, eliciting a weak whine from him, “I know, I know, you want to drink more, but if you do, you will start throwing up and it will cause more problems. Now, just hold tight while I get you down, ok.” You move to the chains keeping him tied in the air. “I’m going to lower you slowly, don’t try to stand or resist, just lay on the ground as you go down ok.”

You’ve never been more thankful for being curious about things than you are now, as you pull out a lock pick set and proceed to pick the lock on the chains holding the rabbit, glancing over, you notice the other hybrid has a similar lock and know you will deal with that next. Once the lock was off, you grab the chains and slowly lower the rabbit to the ground, watching as his body lays down like you told him, not that he would be able to keep himself up. When he is completely down, you let go of the chain and begin removing what was wound around his arms.

“Thir…sty,” the hybrid whispers again, you nod and give him a small sip of water before pulling it away again, earning another whine. “S…an.”

“San?” You ask, “Is that the other hybrid over there?” He nods slightly in response. “I’m going to check on him, don’t worry.”

You place your jacket under his head and a water soaked rag on his forehead, and then switch over to the other hybrid, which you are guessing is a cat, based on his ears. He doesn’t stir under your touch and you can feel that he has a fever, looking at his ankle, it isn’t hard to see why, it has to be infected from the trap digging into it. You take your shirt off, leaving your tank top on, and start to rip it into shreds. After pouring some cold water on the strips, you tie them loosely around his neck, elbows, knees, and then tuck a small piece in his groin and armpits, in an effort to lower his temperature. You unlock his chain and then pull out your tourniquet, tying his leg off, you remove the trap, pulling it out of his skin, then wrapping his ankle with a bandage. This screams against every instinct you have, but you cannot carry him, the rabbit, and a large hunk of metal down the trail, and 9-1-1 won’t send rescuers out to help hybrids.

“Ok, rabbit, I’m going to get us down this hill and to a clinic,” you begin to say, before the rabbit panics.

“No…no…clinic…please,” he tries to yell out, his wide eyes conveying the panic and fear that his voice cannot.

“I own the clinic, you will not be reported, and you will NOT go back to the people that did this,” you say, instantly making the choice that you will keep both of these hybrids and pamper them like they probably never experienced. “You’re going to be ok, but I have to carry your friend down this mountain, I cannot carry you, I need you to try to walk. You can lean on me, but I need you to try, ok?”

He nods slowly, watching you with apprehension, but also knowing you are their only hope. You roll the feline onto his back, then standing at his feet you grab his left leg, and quickly roll across his body, pulling it with you, until he is in a fireman’s carry across your shoulders. You walk over to the rabbit who struggled to sit up but managed to. Holding your hand out, he takes it and pulls himself up, leaning all his weight on you as he tries to get his legs to work, and you manage to brace yourself for this.

The rabbit nods, and you start the arduous journey down the mountain, practically carrying the rabbit as well as the feline, when the rabbit’s legs wouldn’t work anymore. By the time your car came into view, you were literally dragging the rabbit, his upper body leaning against you, and his legs dragging uselessly across the ground. It was already 50 minutes into the supposed 30-minute walk, and the skies had opened, luckily, just rain, no lighting yet. When you reach your car, you load the rabbit in the front seat and the feline in the back of your SUV before running around to the driver’s seat. Without any more delay, you speed out of the parking lot and to your clinic. 

“Ok,” you say, taking a deep breath and adjusting his arm around your shoulder, under San’s body, “we’re going to start walking, it’s about 30 minutes to the car, and we have to try to make it on foot.”

Next Chapter

[hayatheauthor]

Surviving the Wilderness: Writing Realistic 'Lost in the Woods' Scenarios

The wilderness, with its vastness and unpredictability, can turn from serene to menacing in an instant. For writers, depicting a character who is lost in the woods offers a rich tapestry of emotions, challenges, and survival instincts to explore. But to do so effectively requires a blend of authenticity, attention to detail, and understanding the real-world repercussions of such an event.

Whether your character is an experienced outdoorsman or a city dweller thrown into the wild, this guide will help you craft a realistic narrative that resonates with readers.

1. Setting Up the Scenario

A. Choosing the Right Wilderness Environment

The first step in creating a believable lost-in-the-woods scenario is choosing the appropriate setting. Different types of wilderness present different challenges, and the environment you choose will shape the narrative.

Type of Forest: Consider the differences between dense forests, temperate rainforests, boreal woods, and tropical jungles. A dense forest might offer limited visibility and a disorienting array of trees, while a tropical jungle could present humidity, dangerous wildlife, and thick undergrowth. Each environment comes with unique hazards and characteristics that will impact your character’s journey.

Seasonal Considerations: The time of year plays a significant role in the story. In winter, your character might face snow, freezing temperatures, and the challenge of finding food. In summer, they might struggle with dehydration, heat exhaustion, or the difficulty of navigating through thick foliage. The season will also affect the availability of resources, like water and shelter.

Location-Specific Details: Consider the unique features of the chosen location. Is it known for dangerous wildlife, such as bears or wolves? Does the terrain include steep cliffs, rivers, or swamps? Researching the specific area can add layers of realism to your story, providing challenges that are true to the environment.

B. Character Background

The character’s background is crucial in determining how they will respond to being lost. Their level of experience, purpose for being in the woods, and psychological state all influence their actions.

Experience Level: Are they an experienced hiker with survival skills, or are they a city dweller with little knowledge of the outdoors? An experienced character might know how to build a shelter and find water, while an inexperienced one might make dangerous mistakes. Balancing their skills with the challenges they face can create tension and interest.

Purpose of the Trip: Why is your character in the woods? Whether they’re on a leisurely hike, conducting research, or fleeing from danger, their purpose will affect their preparedness and mindset. A hiker might have a map and supplies, while someone fleeing might have nothing but the clothes on their back.

Psychological State: Consider the character’s mental condition before they get lost. Are they overconfident, stressed, or fearful? Their psychological state will influence their decisions—overconfidence might lead to risky choices, while fear could cause them to panic. Understanding their mindset will help you write a more nuanced and realistic portrayal.

C. The Catalyst: How They Get Lost

The moment when a character realizes they are lost is a critical point in the narrative. How this happens can be gradual or sudden, depending on the story you want to tell.

Common Triggers: Characters can become lost for various reasons, such as deviating from a marked trail, encountering sudden weather changes, sustaining an injury, or simply having poor navigation skills. Each trigger offers different narrative possibilities—an injury might limit their mobility, while poor navigation could lead them deeper into danger.

Pacing: Decide how quickly your character realizes they are lost. It could be a slow realization as they fail to find familiar landmarks, or it could be immediate, such as after an unexpected event like a storm or injury. The pacing of this moment will set the tone for the rest of the story.

2. Writing the Experience of Being Lost

A. The Initial Panic

When a character first realizes they are lost, their initial reactions are often driven by panic. This moment is crucial for establishing the tone of the story and the character’s mental state.

Physical Reactions: Describe the character’s immediate physical responses, such as an elevated heart rate, adrenaline rush, sweating, and shortness of breath. These physiological reactions are the body’s natural response to fear and uncertainty.

Mental Reactions: Mentally, the character might experience denial, anxiety, or confusion. They might try to convince themselves that they aren’t really lost or that they’ll find their way back soon. This denial can lead to irrational decisions, like wandering in circles or making impulsive choices.

Immediate Actions: The character’s first actions after realizing they’re lost are critical. They might attempt to retrace their steps, call for help if they have a phone signal, or check the time to gauge how long they’ve been lost. These actions are often driven by the hope of quickly resolving the situation.

B. The Descent into Survival Mode

Once the character accepts that they are truly lost, the story shifts from panic to survival. This is where the character’s skills, or lack thereof, come into play.

Acceptance of the Situation: The character moves from panic to a more rational state of mind. They begin to assess their situation and prioritize their needs. This shift marks the beginning of their survival journey.

Basic Needs: The character will need to address their most immediate survival needs: shelter, water, food, and fire. Describe their efforts to find or create shelter, locate water sources, forage for food, and start a fire. Each of these tasks presents its own challenges and dangers.

Navigational Challenges: As the character tries to find their way, they will face navigational challenges. Dense foliage, fog, and the lack of clear landmarks can make it difficult to maintain a sense of direction. The character might struggle with the disorientation that comes from being surrounded by identical trees or losing sight of the sun.

C. Emotional and Psychological Effects

The emotional and psychological toll of being lost is significant and should be explored in depth.

Isolation and Fear: The character’s sense of isolation can amplify their fear. The fear of predators, injuries, or never being found can become overwhelming. This fear might cause the character to make rash decisions, or it could paralyze them, preventing them from taking action.

Hope vs. Despair: The character’s emotional journey will likely fluctuate between moments of hope and despair. They might find something that gives them hope, such as a sign of civilization or a source of water, only to be crushed when they realize it was a false lead.

Hallucinations and Delusions: In extreme situations, such as severe dehydration or starvation, the character might experience hallucinations or delusions. These can add an element of psychological horror to the narrative and further illustrate the severity of their situation.

D. Interaction with Nature

The character’s interaction with the natural environment is a key aspect of their survival story.

Wildlife Encounters: Depending on the location, the character might encounter dangerous wildlife, such as bears, wolves, or snakes. Describe these encounters realistically, focusing on the character’s fear and the steps they take to avoid or confront these animals.

Environmental Hazards: The natural environment presents its own set of dangers, such as quicksand, poisonous plants, and unstable terrain. The character might have to navigate these hazards while dealing with their growing exhaustion and fear.

Natural Resources: The character can use nature to their advantage by finding water, edible plants, or materials for building a shelter. This not only adds realism to the story but also gives the character moments of small victories that can keep them going.

3. Survival Tactics: What Works and What Doesn't

A. Basic Survival Skills

Understanding and depicting basic survival skills is crucial for writing a realistic lost-in-the-woods scenario.

Finding Water: Water is the most critical resource for survival. Describe how the character identifies potential water sources, such as streams or dew on leaves, and how they purify water to make it safe to drink. If they can’t find water, their condition will deteriorate rapidly, leading to severe dehydration.

Building Shelter: The character needs shelter to protect themselves from the elements. Whether they find a natural shelter, like a cave, or build one from branches and leaves, this task is essential for their survival. The process of building shelter also gives the character a sense of purpose and control over their situation.

Starting a Fire: Fire is essential for warmth, cooking, and protection from predators. Describe the challenges of starting a fire in the wild, especially if the wood is wet or the character lacks the proper tools. The ability to start and maintain a fire can be a turning point in the character’s survival story.

Foraging for Food: Finding food in the wild is difficult and dangerous. The character might forage for berries, roots, or small animals. Describe the risks of eating unknown plants or the difficulty of catching and preparing small game.

B. Navigational Techniques

Navigation is a critical aspect of survival, and the character’s ability to orient themselves can mean the difference between life and death.

Reading the Environment: The character might use the sun, stars, or natural landmarks to navigate. Describe how they attempt to determine their direction, and the challenges they face if the sky is cloudy or if they’re in a dense forest where the canopy blocks out the sun. Their ability to read the environment will depend on their prior knowledge and experience.

Using Makeshift Tools: If the character has access to materials like sticks, rocks, or even a piece of reflective metal, they might create makeshift tools like a compass or use shadows to determine direction. These improvisational skills can add a layer of resourcefulness to the character’s survival tactics.

Trail Marking: If the character decides to explore the area in hopes of finding a way out, they might mark their trail to avoid walking in circles. They could use stones, branches, or even carve symbols into trees. This tactic not only helps with navigation but also adds to the tension if they realize they’ve returned to a previously marked spot, indicating they’ve been moving in circles.

C. Mistakes and Misconceptions

Realistic survival stories often include mistakes that characters make, especially if they are inexperienced.

Following Streams Incorrectly: A common misconception is that following a stream will always lead to civilization. While it can lead to water sources, it might also take the character deeper into the wilderness. Highlight the risks of relying on this tactic without proper knowledge.

Overestimating Stamina: Characters might push themselves too hard, assuming they can keep going without rest. Overestimating their stamina can lead to exhaustion, injuries, or even fatal mistakes. Describing the physical toll of these decisions can add realism and tension to the narrative.

Eating Dangerous Plants: Foraging for food can be deadly if the character lacks knowledge of the local flora. Describe how they might mistake poisonous plants for edible ones, leading to illness or hallucinations. This mistake can be a significant plot point, demonstrating the dangers of the wilderness.

4. Realistic Repercussions of Being Lost

A. Physical Consequences

Being lost in the wilderness for an extended period can have severe physical repercussions.

Dehydration and Starvation: The longer the character is lost, the more their body will deteriorate. Dehydration can set in within a few days, leading to confusion, dizziness, and eventually death. Starvation takes longer but will cause weakness, muscle loss, and an inability to think clearly.

Injuries: Describe any injuries the character sustains, such as sprains, cuts, or broken bones. These injuries will hinder their ability to move and survive. If left untreated, even minor injuries can become infected, leading to serious complications.

Exposure: Depending on the environment, the character might suffer from exposure to the elements. Hypothermia can occur in cold conditions, while heatstroke is a risk in hot climates. Both conditions are life-threatening and require immediate attention.

B. Psychological Consequences

The psychological toll of being lost is often as severe as the physical consequences.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Even after being rescued, the character might suffer from PTSD, experiencing flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety. Describe how their ordeal has changed them, affecting their ability to return to normal life.

Survivor’s Guilt: If the character was lost with others who didn’t survive, they might experience survivor’s guilt. This emotional burden can be overwhelming, leading to depression and difficulty coping with their survival.

Long-Term Anxiety: The fear of being lost again can cause long-term anxiety and phobias. The character might avoid certain environments or experience panic attacks in similar situations.

C. Legal Consequences

There are also legal and financial repercussions to consider, especially if the character’s actions led to their getting lost.

Search and Rescue Costs: In many places, the cost of search and rescue operations can be billed to the person who was lost, especially if they were negligent or broke the law. This can be a significant financial burden and add a layer of realism to your story.

Negligence and Liability: If the character’s actions endangered others, such as leaving a marked trail or ignoring warnings, they might face legal consequences for negligence. This could include fines, community service, or even jail time, depending on the severity of their actions.

Impact on Relationships: The ordeal of getting lost can strain relationships with family and friends. Describe how their loved ones react—do they blame the character, or are they just relieved they’re safe? The legal and financial consequences can also impact these relationships, leading to tension and conflict.

5. Writing Tips: Making It Believable

Crafting a realistic and compelling lost-in-the-woods narrative requires attention to detail and an understanding of the human experience in such extreme situations. Here are some tips to make your story believable:

A. Research and Authenticity

Understand the Terrain: Before writing, research the specific environment where your character will be lost. Whether it's a dense forest, a mountainous region, or a desert, understanding the flora, fauna, and climate will help you create an authentic setting. Pay attention to details like the types of trees, animals, weather patterns, and geographical features.

Learn Basic Survival Techniques: Familiarize yourself with basic survival skills, such as building a shelter, finding water, and starting a fire. Even if your character is inexperienced, knowing the correct methods will allow you to portray their struggles accurately.

Incorporate Local Myths and Folklore: If your story is set in a particular region, consider integrating local myths or folklore about the wilderness. This can add depth to the narrative and give the environment a more ominous or mystical feel.

B. Character Realism

Establish Their Skills Early: If your character has any survival skills, establish them early in the story. This could be through flashbacks, previous experiences, or hints in their background. This will make their actions in the woods more believable.

Show Their Vulnerability: Even the most prepared individuals can make mistakes. Show your character’s vulnerability by having them face setbacks, make poor decisions, or struggle with their emotions. This makes them more relatable and human.

Reflect Their Mental State: The character's psychological state should evolve throughout the story. Show how their thoughts shift from initial panic to determination, despair, and finally, either acceptance or a desperate push for survival. Use internal monologue, dreams, or hallucinations to illustrate their mental state.

C. Plot and Pacing

Balance Action with Reflection: While the physical actions of survival are crucial, so is the internal journey of the character. Balance scenes of intense activity, like building a shelter or escaping a predator, with quieter moments of reflection or memory.

Use Sensory Details: Engage the reader’s senses by describing the environment through sights, sounds, smells, and even touch. The rustling of leaves, the scent of pine, or the rough bark of a tree can immerse readers in the setting and heighten the tension.

Avoid Convenient Resolutions: Survival stories are often about struggle and perseverance. Avoid giving your character an easy way out, such as a sudden rescue or finding a cabin with supplies. Instead, focus on their gradual adaptation and the hard choices they have to make.

D. Dialogue and Interactions

Internal Dialogue: In situations where the character is alone, internal dialogue becomes crucial. Use it to explore their fears, hopes, and regrets. This can also be a way to explain their thought process and decision-making.

Flashbacks and Memories: If your character is alone, use flashbacks or memories to develop their backstory and explain their motivations. These can also serve as a contrast to their current situation, highlighting how far they’ve come or what they’ve lost.

Interactions with the Environment: Treat the wilderness as a character in itself. The environment should interact with the character, creating obstacles, providing resources, and affecting their mood and decisions.

Looking For More Writing Tips And Tricks? 

Are you an author looking for writing tips and tricks to better your manuscript? Or do you want to learn about how to get a literary agent, get published and properly market your book? Consider checking out the rest of Quillology with Haya Sameer; a blog dedicated to writing and publishing tips for authors! While you’re at it, don’t forget to head over to my TikTok and Instagram profiles @hayatheauthor to learn more about my WIP and writing journey!

[so-i-did-this-thing]

Has it been hard for you to adjust to winter in Connecticut?

I fucking love the winter here (this will be my second after 46 years in Florida). But I also am very tolerant of weather extremes.

That said, 27F on a dry day up here feels like 45F in humid Florida. It's wild how living down South prepared me more than I thought for the weather here.

Knowing how to dress well for the cold also helps. Layers of natural fibers that trap warm air are your friend. Too many people seem to only dress in polyester coats over t-shirts, and they look miserable. I go out all the time with my wool coat open over a wool sweater, feeling very toasty while other folks are shivering in their nylon puffer coats. It's very funny to me.

However, if you don't like the cold, you will probably never acclimate. There's plenty of locals who think I am crazy for leaving Florida and even crazier for going our on hikes when it is below freezing out. So, maybe I am a bit of a polar bear at heart. 🐻‍❄

[erwinsvow]

Ooooo!! Adding onto the Pope and ex-captive escape to the frigid North!

Babies in big puffy snow suits, and even ones that make them look like teddy bears

If Lena's with them, Pope getting to experience building snowman, sledding, and snow angels with her

Somehow Pope becomes that guy in the neighbor that nicely shovels all the sidewalks, and maybe a neighbor's driveway or two (cause maybe they're single parents, elderly, or EMT/firefighter). Much like taking the sledgehammer to things, shoveling helps tired his body out and calms his mind. So maybe he started with the sidewalks cause he needs to make sure Lena can get to the bus stop safely, then it's with a single parent neighbor cause he sees them struggling to wrangle their kiddo through the snow, then it spreads from there.

Pope loading the babies into hiking carriers and going on long hikes exploring nature. Again, calms the mind, tires the body

Being utterly baffled by how much he's melting in the heat and humidity considering where he lived before

this. is so cute. oh my god. pope carrying a baby in a carrier. pope zipping up the puffy snow suits so his babies can play in the snow because he does not know how to deal with snow and wants to protect them. pope shoveling the elderly neighbor's driveway while his babies make snowmen in the grass. holy shit you have given me a whole new species of brainworms

[the-possum-writes]

could you do a detailed smut/fluff with adult!Finn after reader has been away on an adventure?

Long time no see 🔞

❥Character: Finn Mertens

❥Tags: NS/FW, gender neutral reader, private parts aren't specified, Face sitting, Oral, Established Relationship, Fluff, Vanilla, No beta,

❥Synopsis: Coming back to Finn after spending months climbing through snow covered mountains. As much as you love traveling, you love him even more.

❥Wordcount: 2400

❥Taglist: @watchingfromthefloorboards @foxpearlwilder

With the treefrort being no taller than a sapling it made it harder to find Finn's mobile home with how much he loves to move around without telling you, but the again, you can't say no to a challenge. 

The air is humid, and the sky grows gloomier as clouds block off the day's final rays of sunlight. The trinkets on your backpack clink together as you hike uphill toward the parked metallic trailer, where the candy horses are already preparing for sleep; any doubts about no one being home are thrown out the window when orange light shines behind the solitary door. A single knock is made while speaking clearly. "Sir Mertens, we've come to discuss your expired warranty," you say as solemnly as you can.

Footsteps approach you as a muffled voice talks from inside the trailer. "A warranty? But I paid choose goose years ago." When the door finally opened, Finn was shocked to see you instead of some unscrupulous lawyer. Even in this temperature, he is dressed in just a pair of faded gray tank top and a pair of denim shorts. He is just as you remember, tall, chubby, but neither too skinny nor excessively jacked up, and his blond beard matches the blond hairs on his head that aren't covered by his customary bear hat. However, he appears to be immune to the autumn season since when he greeted you with a bear hug, you felt firsthand how naturally warm he truly is, with his body heat surrounding you even through the layer of clothes you dressed yourself for travels.

After a minute of hugging you, he laughs in your ear and releases you. "I should've known better; lawyers wouldn't bother trekking up this steep hill just to charge me with a stupid warrant."

"You obviously never met a lawyer then, they're more relentless than a honey badger with a grudge." you point out. This gained another laugh from Finn, "Come inside! you look like you've fought one yourself."

And he wasn't lying, expeditions didn't really leave you looking fresh like a cabbage.

As you step inside his cozy trailer you soon realize why Finn was dressed in light clothes, it's just as warm as he is with the orange lights coming from a heater in the corner of the main area that looks like a living room, a few more looks around the place hold the trademarks of a single occupant, empty pizza boxes stacked together in the trash bin, clean but unfolded laundry basket out in the open and countless trinkets, weapons and treasures mounted on every inch of the walls. You drop your backpack to the carpeted floor as you take in the details of the treasures, some look familiar to you while others are completely brand new. You make a mental note to ask about them later for now you only have one thing in mind as you remove your coat.

"I'mma hog the shower bit." you affirm, not really asking for permission but you do toss in a suggestion for good measure. "You could use one too, I may look the part but you smell more like a badger than me." 

Finn scoffs at your jab until he caught a whiff of himself and agreed non verbally. The last thing you saw before closing the door to the bathroom was Finn grabbing two towels from the cupboard but not a pair of new clothes considering the basket was right there, it sent a shiver down your spine and settled in your stomach, but you choose to ignore it for now as you get your priorities straight.

The sigh you release when the warm water crashed on your body could easily be confused for something pornographic, but considering the rough terrain you've traveled through and the rough weather outside it's no brainier you'd feel so satisfied with something as mundane as a hot shower. Your hands are combing through the knots in your hair when you heard Finn follow you into the shower, you step aside to allow him some room under the shower head as he shakes his head like a dog. "Can you pass me the shampoo? it's on the sink." he asks, eyes closed as he lavishes in the hot water just like you did earlier. You poke your head out of the shower curtain to retrieve the bottle on the ledge of the sink, almost laughing your ass off when you read it's one of those '13 in one for men' brand. "For real? why not have a shampoo and conditioner like Jake did?" you snort.

"Hey, I'm a busy guy. Why waste my time with a ton of bottles if one has it covered?" is his defense, but you comply nevertheless as you squeeze the shampoo over his open palm as he washes his rowdy blond locks with it, you can't help but feel a twinge of jealously, Finn could use car shampoo and his hair would still look majestic and soft. Good genes i suppose. Your eyes went to the single hand washing his hair with his other shoulder leading to a scarred stump you've seen replaced with a multitude of weapons and robotic prosthetics but now it's just as nude as the rest of him. He helps you out with your own hair, scrubbing your back and even cleaning behind your ears like a cat grooming it's partner, and yet you allow him, let him satiate his touch starved need with these caresses on your body that don't necessarily lead to anything promiscuous under the shower head but knowing the two of you it's just a matter of time. He's the first to walk out of the bathroom, handing you your towel as he dries out his long hair in his bedroom. While you follow behind his steps it's like walking in on an undisturbed nymph bathing in a pond during golden hour, with the orange light casting striking shadows and highlights over every noteworthy angle on his body, from his sturdy thighs to his firm shoulders and lastly his prominent ass, it's like you're hypnotized when you slowly walk up to him to wrap your arms around his midriff and press your exposed body to his. "So, what did you bring me from your trip?" Finn asks softly while lowering his hand to meet with yours, caressing your scarred knuckles with his large thumb.

"Since when am i obligated to bring you stuff from my trips? there's not exactly any souvenir shops on top of freezing mountains." you jest, resting the side of your head against his back as your other hand trails up and down his hairy navel, feeling his muscles tense down south.

"You always bring me something," he snorts, "Either way, I'm glad you came back safely."

Finn tosses the wet towel elsewhere as he turns around to face you, expediently but suddenly smashing his lips against yours with a fervor you've only witnessed when he's fighting monster taller than himself, he doesn't leave any spot of your mouth untouched with drooling dripping from the corner of your mouth as you caress his tongue with your own in a cacophony of grunts and gasps that escape past your hot breaths. Finn drops himself back into the edge of his bed and brings you along with him with the only thing keeping you above him being your knee in between his parted legs, if his body is naturally warm like a radiator then the growing length nestled in his loins is overbearingly hot, you raise your knee to tease more of him in an attempt to seek more of the noises that were getting caught in his throat. Seeking more from him, you quit the teasing and get down to your knees, kissing the interior of his firm thighs as you make way to the bulbous pink tip eagerly twitching in your direction. You place one smooch on Finn's tip, before placing another, and another until you take his entire gland past your chapped lips, humidifying them with the droplets of precum slipping through his head as you take more of him with a needy groan.

Finn fidgets a bit in his spot, you raising your view to see him lovingly staring back at you through his gorgeous blonde eyelashes, compelling you to take more of him as you keep eye contact so the memory of you stuffing your mouth with his cock becomes engraved in every cell in his brain. Finn's mouth opens up ever so slightly to expel sighs, grunts and whines every time you bob your head up and down, focusing on the way your tongue swirls around his tip like a lollipop. He's so painfully close it has you aching for him more than all those nights you spent alone on snowy terrain, so you removed yourself from his cock with a final slurp and an audible pop, leaving behind a mess of saliva dripping down your tongue. "...ah, ah, not yet." you insist, ignoring your pained knees as you stand up in front of Finn, softly pushing him on his back as you climb him like a tree.

Almost as if he read your mind, Finn grabbed hold of you with a single hand. "Come here," he pulls your hips to his face, stuffing his mouth with everything you could offer to him. You gasp in bewilderment as Finn takes in as much as he can in his own mouth, sucking, nibbling and letting his tongue run wild all over you as your body instinctively jerks back and forth while tugging on his blonde hair. The action has Finn growling from under you, with his own hips jutting forward even though there's nothing to rut against, Finn has learned to become a patient man when it comes to his urges but it's like the build up from months without any lewd contact finally went to his head and has him tapping into a lustful state. And boy, you're all in for it. You remove yourself from Finn's face, ushering the most basic english through needy pants. "Need you inside, now."

This has Finn tossing you to your side, keeping you in place as he dips his head in between the crook of your neck and shoulder to lick and bite to his pleasure. He guides his fingertips to the opening of your mouth, letting him wet his digits with the excessive saliva pooled in your tongue as you got his fingers nice and wet. It's in your best interest after all. "That's it babe, i need 'em nice and slick, I want you to take me... all of me..." he whispers in your shoulder. After he's satisfied with the copious amount of drool he guides them to your already wet opening (thanks to his own saliva from earlier) and slips in one finger after another, poking and prodding inside you as he stretches you out a bit. His touch has every nerve in your your legs twitching, growing accustomed to the isolation and lack of his touch after all this time has you whimpering like it's your first time with him, and Finn dwells in this. "Missed me after all huh? or did you miss my cock?" Finn replaces his fingers for his hot rob, rubbing the tip over your entrance in a teasing manner just like when you rubbed your knee against him.

"Everything. I missed everything about you Finn-" you confess absolutely breathless, taking his mouth for another kiss as his slips himself inside you, with both of your grunting in unison.

"I missed you to," is the last time you hear him speak in a soft tone. "...Won't keep you waiting." Finn's voice struggles to sound coherent as he secures his arm around your midriff as he drills into you from behind, already starting with a rough pace as he keep true to his word like the knight he is. Your cries of ecstasy combine with his own mix of grunts and growls, even biting into your shoulder to add more marks to the growing collection on your skin. Finn didn't stop his onslaught on your for a second, not when he switched your positions and laid you on your back as he raised your legs over his shoulder to fuck deeper into your wanton body, taking in all of his rough biting that you returned with long scratches on his already scarred back, the angle not only allow for deeper thrusts but it also gave you a beautiful view of his gorgeous body. Just like the treasure mounted on his wall, some of his scars were familiar while there were new ones to the collection, one of them being the unfinished tattoo decorated over his beefy hairy chest, you run your hands over his torso, feeling the muscle underneath flex with every movement Finn provides both for your pleasure and his love for you. It's these touches of yours that has Finn slow down from his heated session against your lower regions to dwell a bit in the feelings that have you two in this situation in the first place, his thrusts become slow and shallow, taking the time to release his hold on your thigh to grab your hand and kiss your knuckles which although were scarred and calloused they felt soft against Finn's lips.

The moment is tender in it's own right, and yet it doesn't fail to have you craving for this silly man all over again. You nudge him with the sole of your foot, silently prompting him to continue.

Finn resumed his onslaught into your warm insides but with more adoring looks and complements that remind you that you're also worthy of his love and attention. "You're taking me so good... No one else can rile me up like this..." Finn calls out your name multiple times, feeling himself near the edge as his hips loose rhythm in favor of faster and harder pelvic thrusts that feel like he's straight up rearranging your guts.

"Finn, Finn please...please..." you find yourself begging, almost teary eyed.

Finn complies and smooches you one last time, driving you to that sweet sweet liberation that has you aching your back and wrapping your legs around Finn's waist, meanwhile he releases a combination of desperate whimpers and grunts as he empties a vast amount of pent up come inside your tight little hole that rushes out from around him and leaks into his bed sheets. The blow up has Finn crashing down on you, needing to tap him in the arm to remind him he's crushing you.

"My bad." he rolls sideways but not without pulling your against him, as he closes his eyes to take in the feeling of you body against his no matter how sweaty the two of you are.

You in return, appreciate his peaceful face from up close. To the scar on his cheek from the beard scattered over his lower jaw, he's marvelous, not to mention when he finally opens his eyes to look at you with those glistening pools of blue. "Like what you see?" he jokes, smiling at you despite the few missing teeth.

"Very much," you place a kiss on his nose, watching him scrunch it a bit.

"Well, if you stay for the weekend i can make it worth your time before you go back to mountain climbing." he states, which has you reconsidering.

"Hmm, actually i think I'll take an indefinite hiatus from traveling. Or atleast until i can get you something better than this dinosaur tooth i brought you." you accidentally slip up which has Finn sitting up with a knowing laugh of victory.

"Hah! I knew you brought me something!"

[kingofbodyrolls]

Friendcation (m) | myg | chapter 4

*this is a re-upload since I deleted my old account 🫣

It’s the last weeks of the vacation being just you and Yoongi, and you’re going to savor every last bit of it. You do some hiking, relaxing and discover new sides to yourself that you didn’t know existed. 

→ Pairing: Yoongi x reader (female) → AUs: camping!au, roadtrip!au, non idol!au, mechanic!yoongi → Genre(s): humor/comedy, slight angst, smut and fluff → Trope(s): friends to lovers → Rating: mature/explicit/R18 (this is mature/explicit content, so minors, please do not interact.)→ Word count: 17.7k → warnings + triggers: smut; exhibitionism, voyeurism, period sex (period blood, but not in too much detail), period cramps, protected sex, unprotected sex, oral (male receiving), handjob, nipple/breast play. → Author’s note: I’m sorry this took longer to post than the previous chapters 🙇 And I’m currently still outlining ch 5 🫥 Moving is harder than anticipated, but we are almost completely settled in, and I began writing again yesterday, so that’s good 🙂 → Read on AO3? [link]

navi: [s.masterlist] | [m.masterlist] | ← prev | next →

The calendar has ticked its way to the end of August, but Mother Nature seemed to be playing a capricious game with the weather. Just when you thought the days would be getting cooler, a sweltering heat wave envelopes the surroundings, and the sun bears down with relentless intensity. It was as though the weather had a mischievous mind of its own, teasingly extending the summer season.

The unforgiving heat was taking its toll on you. Your body, once energized by the adventures of summer, now ached from the relentless rays and the humidity that clung to your skin.

Agony surges through you, and an involuntary whimper escaping your lips, “Fuck it hurts!”

Clutching your stomach, you feel utterly helpless, as if the pain has taken control of your very being. Yoongi’s concerned gaze never left your face, and you can see the worry etched in his features. 

In that moment, his presence was a balm to your suffering. He leans in closer, his hand moving to stroke your hips in a soothing, rhythmic motion. His voice, a gentle murmur, reaching your ears like a lifeline in the darkness of your pain.

“Can I do anything to help?” 

He asked, his eyes searching yours, as if willing your agony to ebb away. It was a simple question, but in that moment, it held the power to offer you some respite from the torment.

Your frustration knew no bounds as you cursed your forgetfulness. It was a recurring issue, the way your period always seemed to sneak up on you when you least expected it, catching you off guard. The fact that you had irregular periods only added to the challenge, and this time, it had left you utterly unprepared. 

In the midst of your aggravation, you realize you have forgotten to pack any pads or even tampons. Panic starts to creep in as you consider the inconvenience of the situation. It’s a moment that made you wish you had been more vigilant and prepared for this inevitable occurrence.

Your voice, tinged with frustration, anger, and the ache of cramps, sounds like a desperate plea as you confess, “I forgot to pack pads and pain meds.” 

Your words hang heavily in the air, a stark reminder of your discomfort. In that moment, his eyes soften with genuine concern. He can see the pain etched across your face, and it pains him too, knowing he can’t bear the discomfort for you. 

“I can get those for you,” he offers earnestly, his desire to help you clear in his eyes. He can’t stand to see you in such distress; it tugs at his heartstrings.

“You don’t have to, Yoongi,” you insist, your voice trembling slightly as you inhale sharply, a fresh wave of cramps seizing your body. 

Despite your attempt to maintain your independence, you can’t hide the pain in your voice. It was clear that you were struggling, and he couldn’t stand by and do nothing while you suffered. Your words are laced with concern as Yoongi gazes at you, his eyes reflecting his genuine worry. Seeing you in such pain was breaking his heart, and he wanted nothing more than to alleviate your suffering.

“I know you can do it yourself,” he begins, his voice filled with tenderness, “but please, let me take care of you, babe. You shouldn’t have to go through this alone.” 

His genuine desire to help you was evident in his eyes and in the way his hand continued to gently stroke your hip in a soothing manner.

A soft smile tugs at the corners of your lips as you relent, feeling grateful for Yoongi’s caring nature. “Okay, thank you,” you whisper, realizing that sometimes, accepting help was a way to strengthen your friendship, and in this moment, it means the world to you.

With a tender nod, Yoongi steps out of the van. 

“Okay. I’ll be back in an hour or so,” he reassures you, genuine concern still etched across his features. “I hope the pain won’t get worse,” he adds softly before closing the door behind him, leaving you in the temporary solitude of Holly.

Yoongi walks to the nearest store, the warm sun beating down on him during the 20-minute stroll in the early afternoon. Upon entering, he makes a beeline for the section with sanitary products and picks up some pads. As he stands there, he wonders if you use tampons but decides against them.

Then, an idea crosses his mind. He grabs his phone and texts his sister, seeking advice on what other items would be helpful for a woman on her period.

Yoongi [15:35]: I need your help, big sis 🆘

Sis [15:37]: What do you need help with? 😏

Yoongi [15:40]: ___ is on her period, bad cramps. I’m buying her pads and meds. Should I get her something else? What do women want on their period? 🤷

Sis [15:44]: Omg. You are the sweetest! 🥹 Buy her some dark chocolate and chips, I’m sure she’ll appreciate that. I’ll swing by with dinner for you two later 😉

Yoongi swiftly collects the items his sister suggested and makes his way back to the van, a sense of urgency and care propelling his every step.

As Yoongi returns, your face lights up with a mixture of gratitude and relief as you take in the thoughtful array of items he’s brought. 

“Wow, you didn’t have to get all that, Yoongi. Thank you so much,” you exclaim with genuine appreciation, reaching eagerly for the chocolate he purchased.

Yoongi offers you the rest of the items he bought, mentioning his sister’s involvement. 

You raise an eyebrow in surprise and then burst into laughter at his confession. “You actually told her I was on my period?” you chuckle, finding the situation rather amusing. He nods, a bit apprehensive, and adds, “She’s coming by later with dinner for us.” 

You respond with a contented nod, “She’s a thoughtful sister; I wish I had one like her.” You reach for one of the packs of pads, appreciating both Yoongi’s and his sister’s considerate gestures.

You dig into one of your bags and retrieve a fresh pair of panties, relieved to replace the ones you’re currently wearing, which have become uncomfortably soaked — and definitely not with the kind of fluid you prefer.

As Yoongi’s sister arrives, the tantalizing aroma of the food nearly drives you to drool, and you can’t thank her enough for the comforting, warm meal. While you enjoy the delicious dishes in the comfort of your bed, Yoongi takes a seat outside on one of the stools.

“You know what can really help with those cramps?” Yoongi’s sister inquires, her eyes filled with genuine concern. Exhausted from the pain and with the medication not having taken effect yet, you simply shake your head without giving it much thought.

“Sex.” 

She smirks, deliberately saying it loud enough for Yoongi to overhear, then winks at you. Your face flushes crimson, because yes, you’ve considered that option. You’ve even attempted it before in your early twenties, and remember that it can get incredibly messy.

Yoongi, sitting just outside the van, lets out an audible groan. “Aish, don’t say that,” he grumbles, clearly uncomfortable with his sister’s candid remarks. Her teasing seems to have gotten under his skin.

“I’m serious. It helps!” she insists, her tone filled with confidence as she tries to emphasize her point.

“Omg, I don’t want to imagine that,” Yoongi groans again, feigning agony. “I think the pregnancy is making you... horny,” Yoongi adds with a chuckle. 

“True,” she breathes out, her chuckle playful. “But I’ve seen the way you two look at each other,” she continues, her gaze shifting from you to Yoongi. You blush and smile, while Yoongi just shrugs, a faint blush tingeing his cheeks.

“God! Something has already happened!” 

She shrieks with delight and jumps out of the van to playfully shove Yoongi on his shoulder. “Don’t mess it up, I like her,” she says with a teasing grin, her eyes warm with affection.

“I’ll leave you two alone then,” she smiles and winks at Yoongi. You catch a glimpse of him rolling his eyes at her, but it’s clear their sibling bond is filled with affectionate banter that warms your heart.

As you lie together, wrapped in his comforting embrace, his hand gently caressing your hair and resting on your tummy, your thoughts begin to race. The warmth of his body pressed against yours stirs desire within you, and your mind inevitably wanders to thoughts of intimacy with him.

With your bodies pressed closely together, you can’t help but let your desire take over. 

You subtly grind your hips against his, eliciting a low groan from him. His grip on your hip tightens as he buries his head in your neck, his warm breath sending shivers down your spine. You turn to face him, your eyes locking with his as you broach the topic of period sex.

“How do you feel about period sex, like your sister suggested?” 

You ask, searching his gaze for a sign of his willingness. He groans softly, his fingers tightening their hold on your hip. “Babe, please don’t mention my sister and sex in the same sentence,” he responds with a chuckle. “My boner will go away if you do that.”

As you press into him, you can feel his arousal growing against your back, and it sends a shiver of anticipation down your spine. 

You playfully tease him, asking for his thoughts on the matter, and he responds with affectionate reassurance. “If you think it’ll help with the pain, sure,” he murmurs, his lips brushing your neck with tenderness, “I’d never say no to you, sweetheart.”

With a mischievous smile, you express your eagerness, “It will definitely give me something else to focus on.” You continue to search his eyes, your own filled with desire, and then you turn your body fully around to face him, closing the distance between you.

Your kiss is filled with fervor, driven by the anticipation of his touch and the idea of him fucking you in a moment, despite the messiness that may follow. The intensity between you two deepens with each passing second, as you both succumb to your passionate desires.

Your fingers trace the outline of his already throbbing dick through the fabric of his sweatpants, coaxing a delicious, guttural moan to escape his lips. The sensation of his heat and hardness in your hand ignites a thrilling craving within you, intensifying the desire that courses through your veins.

With eager anticipation, you seize the waistband of his sweatpants, tugging them down along with his boxers, revealing his taut cock. It springs free, proudly standing at attention, and your eyes gleam with hunger as you wet your lips in anticipation. 

Casting his discarded garments to the floor, you then gracefully lower yourself to your knees, positioning yourself before him, ready to devour him.

His longing gaze locks onto yours, aflame with desire, and he leans in to capture your lips in a tender, yearning kiss. 

As your mouths meld together, your hand instinctively finds its way to his dick, your fingers enveloping it in a sensual caress. 

His moans of pleasure reverberate through your mouth, a symphony of desire that resonates deep within you. The intoxicating sounds he makes serve as a powerful aphrodisiac, stoking the flames of your desire.

With a few more tantalizing strokes, you draw your lips away from his, leaving a trail of burning kisses along his clothed chest and abdomen. 

Moving gracefully, you position yourself on all fours above his throbbing length, the air charged with anticipation. His eyes are locked on you, dark with desire, his breaths growing more ragged with each passing second.

You gaze up at him, your sultry eyes locking onto his, a mischievous glint dancing within them. 

“You know,” you purr, your voice dripping with desire, “you have a very beautiful dick.” 

You tease him, letting your tongue playfully out between your lips. Your warm, wet tongue glides sensually from the base of his pulsating cock to the very tip, capturing the glistening bead of precum that had formed there. 

The taste and sensation of your tongue against his sensitive flesh sends shivers of pleasure sourcing through his body, and a low, guttural moan escapes his lips. 

He inhales sharply, a hiss escaping his lips, as you continue to tease and tantalize his dick with your skilled tongue. 

His head falls back slightly, his eyes squeezed shut, and his grip on the bed sheets tightens. A deep, sultry moan reverberates through the van, filling the air with the heady scent of desire and lust. 

Your every movement sends waves of pleasure coursing through him, and he’s utterly captivated by the sensations you’re evoking.

You continue to work your magic, your mouth finally enveloping him with a voracious hunger that leaves him trembling. 

His fingers tangle in your hair, a mixture of gentle guidance and unbridled passion, as he can’t help but lose himself in the exquisite sensations coursing through him. Every wet, sultry suck sends waves of pleasure rippling down his spine, and he finds himself already teetering on the edge. 

His breath hitches, his hips instinctively shifting to meet your mouth, as he moans your name in a fervent plea for more.

As you maintain your relentless rhythm, the urgency in the van heightens. Your hand expertly complements the actions of your mouth, ensuring that no inch of his dick goes unattended. You can feel his breath hitching, his muscles tensing beneath your touch. 

The way his head falls back, exposing the long line of his throat, his half-lidded eyes, lost in a daze of pure pleasure, and the soft sinful sounds escaping his lips fuel your determination to bring him all the pleasure you can. 

It spurs you on, and you relax your throat, as you go all the way down, taking as much of him into your mouth as you can. Then you hold still and breathe in through your nose, as you hollow your cheeks. 

“Fuck,” Yoongi moans as he closes his eyes for a moment.

Once more, you go back up, and down again, your movement in rhythm with the slurping noises that fill the van. As the intoxicating sounds envelop you, you can feel a flood of arousal pooling between your legs, your initial cramps now a distant memory.

Saliva glistens at the corner of your mouth, tracing a sensual path down his shaft to his balls. Yoongi’s gentle hand cups your cheek, his voice a passionate whisper, “You’re doing perfectly, babe,” he confesses, his desire palpable. 

“But I’m close, I want to fuck you now.” His touch tenderly lifts your face to his, claiming your lips in a fervent kiss, the taste of himself evident.

With a smoldering intensity still in your eyes, you gasp for breath, your voice a sultry whisper, “Do you have any dark towels?” Yoongi nods, his understanding swift as he retrieves a stack of dark towels and a packet of condoms from one of the cabinets, anticipation lingering thick in the air. 

With a silent and fervent agreement, Yoongi gestures for you to shift, giving him space to prepare. He deftly lays one of the dark towels on the bed, his movements quick and precise, while he casually tosses the other one within arm’s reach.

“Come here,” his voice is a seductive murmur, and his lips capture yours once more. 

“Let me ease your pain.” 

His breathy words send shivers down your spine, igniting an irresistible craving that drowns out any trace of discomfort.

With every piece of clothing that falls to the floor, the anticipation in the van builds like a crescendo. He undresses you slowly, savoring the unveiling of your body, and his gaze, filled with raw desire, leaves no doubt about his intentions. 

As he sheds his own shirt and gently lowers you onto the towel, the air becomes electric with the promise of what’s to come.

With your legs gently parted, he admires the intimate canvas before him, his voice a sultry whisper as he caresses your quivering thighs. “You’re absolutely breathtaking,” he murmurs, his words igniting a fiery desire that courses through your veins, intensifying the anticipation of his touch.

He wraps his fingers around his cock, teasing it a few times before skillfully unrolling the condom onto it.  

As he prods at your entrance, a tantalizing mix of pleasure and pain courses through you, intensifying the sensation as he gradually inches deeper inside. 

Your slickness acts as a natural lubricant, allowing him to slip into you with an arousing ease that leaves you gasping for more. The stretching sensation, though initially intense, begins to meld into a delicious ache that only adds to the growing desire pulsating between you.

He finally reaches the hilt, and you can’t help but release a guttural moan. 

“Fuck,” you whimper, your voice a sultry mix of pleasure and vulnerability, “I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to your girth. You’re stretching me so good,” you admit, locking eyes with him and gripping his arms tightly, your nails digging into his skin as you savor the exquisite sensation of being completely filled by him.

“You’re taking me so damn well, babe,” he breathes, his voice thick with desire, as he starts to move inside you at an agonizingly slow pace. Every deliberate, languid thrust sends waves of pleasure coursing through your body, making you ache for more, even as you savor the intensity of the sensation.

He withdraws, the sensation of emptiness leaving you yearning for more, and then he pushes back in, each deliberate thrust sending ripples of pleasure coursing through your body. 

You can feel him everywhere - deep within your core and the firm grip of his hands on your hips, guiding every electrifying moment.

You find yourself in a blissful haze, caught between drowsiness and intoxication as he maintains the unhurried rhythm. Every movement is tender, every touch is deliberate, and he seems acutely attuned to the signals your body is sending. 

It doesn’t feel like just sex; it feels like a passionate declaration of love, an intimate connection that leaves you utterly enraptured.

“Does it feel good, babe?” 

He murmurs, his voice a sensual melody that resonates with your desires. As he pushes himself inside once more, he searches for that sweet spot, and when he finally finds it, he teases and tantalizes it with a rhythmic precision that sends electric waves of pleasure coursing through your body.

Each deliberate thrust is a symphony of ecstasy, and you can’t help but moan in response, your voice a harmonious duet with his.

“Yes.” 

You pant, your voice trembling with desire as you instinctively move your legs further up his body, resting them on his shoulders. 

With this new angle, he penetrates even deeper, hitting that perfect spot that sends bolts of pleasure racing through you like wildfire. Your arousal surges, a fierce and intoxication wave that threatens to drown you in the sea of ecstasy building within your core. 

As he continues to make love to you with a tender passion, a rush of emotions courses through you, overwhelming your senses. 

The way he moves within you, so gentle and caring, fills your heart with an intense and intoxicating love. It’s a feeling you’ve never experienced before, as if you’re floating on a cloud of affection and desire. 

In this moment you realize, no one has ever connected with you so deeply and lovingly before, and it leaves you feeling like you’re soaring, intoxicated not just by pleasure, but by the love you have for him.

As your body responds to his every touch and movement, Yoongi can feel your walls contracting around him, a sure sign that you’re getting closer to the edge. 

His experienced hands explore your body, finding one of your breasts and teasing your nipple until it hardens beneath his touch. Simultaneously, his other hand ventures lower, tracing a path to your core where he discovers your sensitive clit. 

With deliberate and sensual movements, he begins to rub it in slow, teasing circles, intensifying your pleasure and bringing you closer to the brink of ecstasy.

The moment Yoongi’s fingertips make contact with your sensitive area, it’s as if an electric current surges through your body, setting your nerve endings on fire. 

Your reaction is immediate and intense - your back arches instinctively, yearning for more of his electrifying touch. Each sensation he evokes heightens your desire, propelling you further down the path of unbridled pleasure.

As Yoongi continues to make love with deliberate slowness, his skillful touch ignites an intense longing within you. The combined sensations of his gentle thrusts, the delightful pinching of your nipple, and the rhythmic caresses of your clitoris send you hurtling towards an inevitable climax. 

Unable to contain yourself, you cry out his name, your voice filled with ecstasy as your orgasm consumes you. Your body quivers with pleasure, your inner walls contracting in waves, your abdomen tightening, and your vision briefly obscured by the brilliant burst of light that dances behind your closed eyelids.

As your orgasm washes over you, Yoongi can’t help but be captivated by your exquisite display of pleasure. 

He revels in the sight of your trembling lips, your flushed and contoured cheeks, and the mesmerizing motion of your breasts, which sway with each of his deliberate thrusts. While you ride out the waves of your orgasm, he continues to thrust into you, his own pleasure building as he relentlessly pursues his release, his eyes locked onto your euphoric expression.

He maintains his deliberate pace, keeping his thrusts slow and deep, savoring every moment. 

As you slowly descend from the euphoria of your orgasm, Yoongi leans down to capture your lips in a passionate and tender kiss. Your moans and pants mix with the soft sounds of your kisses as he continues to move inside you.

As your throbbing pussy continues to clench around him, Yoongi’s hips twitch involuntarily and he can’t hold back any longer. 

With one last, deep, and passionate thrust, he releases, filling the condom with his seed. His voice joins yours in a harmonious crescendo of pleasure as he moans your name, the intensity of the moment making it feel like time itself has come to a standstill.

As the waves of ecstasy subside, Yoongi’s ragged breaths gradually calm. 

He carefully withdraws from your pussy, tying off the used condom and discarding it in the sink. His eyes then trace the contours of your flushed, sated form, watching as your chest rises and falls with each recovering breath. 

Gently, he reaches out to stroke your cheek, the soft caress sending shivers down your spine. His fingers weave through your tousled hair, and he lowers his head to place tender, lingering kisses on your neck, leaving behind a few love marks as a reminder of your passionate love making.

“Yoongi, that was…” 

You exhale, struggling to find the right words to convey the intensity of the experience, “perfect,” you finally manage to sum up, your voice laced with contentment and admiration. His laughter dances in the air, a light, melodic sound that fills the space between you, and he places another soft, adoring kiss on your neck in response.

“Anything for you, babe.” 

He says with a warm smile, his eyes filled with affection as he reaches for the towel beside your head. Carefully, he begins to clean you up between your legs, his gentle touch offering both comfort and reassurance. 

You can feel the relief as he clears away the pooled fluids, easing the slight discomfort that lingered. Afterward, he tosses the used towel to the sink, intending to clean it later, and then he finds your panties, placing them back on you, making sure a fresh pad is in place. 

“Thank you, Yoon,” you murmur, your lips finding his in another passionate kiss. 

You draw him closer to you, your bodies molding together as you continue to exchange affectionate kisses. “I think it helped with the pain, it doesn’t feel so bad anymore,” you add, your voice laced with the drowsiness of contentment. 

As the soothing afterglow washes over you, fatigue begins to claim your senses. Yoongi hums in appreciation, his heart warmed by the knowledge that he could offer you some relief from the pain that had troubled you. 

Yoongi retrieves his boxers, slipping them on, and then gently spoons you from behind. His warm hand finds its place on your stomach, providing a sense of comfort and security. 

As he pulls the duvet over both of you, cocooning you in its warmth, you share an intimate moment of connection before succumbing to the embrace of sleep. The night’s passion has deepened your bond, and now, wrapped in each other’s arms, you drift off to dreamland, where your hearts continue to beat in perfect harmony.

The next day, a sense of relief washes over you as the cramps have eased up a bit. 

Still, Yoongi suggests a day of relaxation, cocooned in the comforting warmth of blankets and each other’s presence. You gladly accept his proposal, and the two of you settle into a cozy nook. 

The soft glow of the laptop screen casts a warm, intimate light across the room, painting everything in a gentle, cinematic hue. As you snuggle up to Yoongi, his arms wrapped around you, you can feel the steady rhythm of his heartbeat against your back. 

With each passing minute, the world outside fades away, leaving just the two of you in this tranquil bubble of shared solitude.

As you both nestle in the warmth of your shared bed, a sense of nostalgia washes over you, prompting a heartfelt conversation about the serendipitous moment that brought you together.

10 years ago

A decade ago, the tapestry of your life bore a different pattern. 

The memory takes you back to a moonlit night when you were navigating the winding roads into Seoul. Your car, a loyal companion until that point, suddenly rebelled with an ominous sound, convulsing like a wounded creature before coming to a lifeless halt. 

Panic surged through your veins as you clutched your phone, dialing the number of your best friend, Jimin, in desperate hope of salvation. 

In hindsight, the absence of roadside assistance on your insurance plan now seemed like a glaring oversight. Inexplicably, Jimin’s response to your predicament was a burst of laughter, an outpouring of mirth that mingled with your frustration and fury. 

He casually mentioned that he knew someone who could help—a mechanic and one of his closest friends. Before disconnecting to make the necessary arrangements, he offered a cryptic piece of advice: "Be nice to him when he arrives." 

Though you couldn’t see his face through the phone, you rolled your eyes instinctively, as if he could somehow perceive your exasperation.

After a seemingly interminable hour of waiting, your irritation had grown into a simmering fury, matched only by the biting cold that had begun to gnaw at you. 

When Yoongi finally arrived, his weary smile greeted you, but your impatience was palpable in your eyes and your curt greeting. You wasted no time in describing the odd sequence of events that had led to your car’s demise—the strange sounds, the unsettling shaking, and the ultimate breakdown. 

Arms crossed beneath your chest, you impatiently tapped your foot on the frozen ground. With a sly grin, Yoongi teasingly asked if you had an urgent appointment, to which you replied with a petulant shake of your head, your only desire being to swiftly resolve the situation and return home to warmth.

As he popped the hood open and began tinkering with the engine, you couldn’t help but steal glances at him. 

He sported army-green cargo pants paired with a once-white t-shirt, though now it bore the unmistakable signs of his labor—stains of grease and oil littering its surface. His short, bleached-blond hair framed a weary but softly attractive face, one that appeared as though it hadn’t experienced a good night’s sleep in ages. His brawny, well-defined biceps flexed with each maneuver, and you found yourself admiring his physique, secretly deeming him quite attractive. 

In another universe, where he didn’t exude indifference and annoyance, you might have mustered the courage to ask him out. 

Ultimately, while he couldn’t perform a miraculous on-the-spot repair, he assured you that a colleague from his garage could tow your car, offering to personally drive you back home. 

You hadn’t anticipated his offer but accepted it nonetheless. The ride back to your home was mostly shrouded in silence, save for the occasional question about how you knew Jimin. 

You explained that you had met Jimin in college, and then an uncomfortable silence settled in the car. The irritation seemed to hang in the air; you couldn’t quite pinpoint whether it was his demeanor that rubbed you the wrong way or if it was simply the cumulative frustration from the terrible day you had endured.

Laughter bubbles up between you as you fondly reminisce about that night. 

“You seemed so cold and like helping me was the last thing you wanted to do,” you recall with a grin, and Yoongi chuckles in agreement. 

“Well, you weren’t any better; you seemed so angry and stuck up,” he playfully teases, which only makes you laugh even harder. 

“My car had just died, and I was freezing!” you retort with a grin, both of you sharing in the joy of that humorous memory.

“Thankfully, you fixed my car a few days later,” you reflect, a warm smile on your face, “and we began to hang out with Jimin.” You find yourself lost in the memories of those early days, where you discovered that Yoongi was not just a skilled mechanic but also a sweet and caring man who deeply valued his friendships and the people around him.

You linger in Daegu for an extra day, savoring the moments, before embarking on a scenic drive to a remote campsite nestled near Juwangsan National Park.

As you cruise along, a faint, unfamiliar noise emanates from Holly’s depths, causing a hint of concern to creep into your mind. You decide to bring it up with Yoongi, but his ears don’t catch the same odd sound. 

He reassures you that everything is likely okay, promising to address any issues should they arise. With his calming words, you ease back into the journey, albeit with a lingering curiosity about Holly’s mysterious hum.

After hours of anticipation, you finally arrive at the tranquil campsite. 

The midday sun filters through the foliage as Yoongi deftly parks the Holly beside towering, lush trees. Together, you unfold the marquee, arranging it to create a cozy shelter from nature’s elements. 

With care, you set up the stools and arrange them around a makeshift table, making the campsite feel more like a home away from home. The aroma of the surrounding wilderness invigorates your senses, and you can’t help but smile as you reminisce about the delicious meal Yoongi had prepared the day before. 

With excitement, you retrieve some cold beers from the cooler, their refreshing chill a perfect contrast to the warm, sun-kissed air. Alongside the beverages, you bring out the leftover food, a testament to Yoongi’s culinary skills that continue to amaze you.

 The aroma of the meal wafts through the air, tantalizing your taste buds and setting the scene for a perfect day in the great outdoors.

As you sit down to savor your meal, the anticipation for the adventures awaiting you in the national park fills the air. Your conversation turns to the exciting possibilities, and you both discuss the sights and trails you hope to explore. 

“I think we’re going to be doing a lot of hiking these next days,” Yoongi’s laughter punctuates the conversation, a reflection of the carefree spirit that camping in the wilderness has brought out in both of you. 

Between bites of food and sips of beer, you share your aspirations for the upcoming days, fully aware that the rugged terrain and challenging hikes will be both physically demanding and incredibly rewarding. 

The midday sun casts a warm glow on your surroundings, making it feel like a special occasion as you enjoy a beer at this unconventional hour.

With a hint of amusement in your voice, you add, “Yeah, I think it’ll be good. We’ve been enjoying some downtime in bed for the past few days.” The memory of both your cramps and  intimate moments and shared pleasures flashes in your eyes as you exchange glances with Yoongi. 

“I didn’t think you’d be up for anything active with your cramps,” he pouted in mock defense, and you playfully shoved his shoulder. “It was good, Yoon. But staying active helps too, and thankfully, I think I’m on my last day,” you almost sing-song, frustration and relief mingling in your voice as you express your disdain for your period—both the flow and the cramps.

You lean into Yoongi’s shoulder, a soft smile on your face. 

“Thank you,” you nudge him playfully with your shoulder against his. “For taking care of me and doing all that. You’re sweet. And you’re spoiling me,” you giggle, your fingers caressing his arm fondly.

“Anything for you, babe,” he says, his voice filled with warmth, and then leans in to kiss you tenderly, sealing your gratitude with a loving embrace.

Before dinner, you decide to embark on a short hiking trail, driven by the curiosity of discovering a hidden gem like a serene river or a picturesque waterfall. You navigate the winding path for about an hour, your anticipation growing with each step. 

Finally, the sound of cascading water reaches your ears, and as you turn a bend, you’re greeted by the breathtaking sight of a small, pristine waterfall – a tranquil oasis amidst the wilderness that leaves you utterly captivated.

You and Yoongi stand there in awe, gazing at the waterfall in a moment of shared wonder. 

The rushing water sparkles in the dappled sunlight, its beauty almost otherworldly. You’re both so captivated by the scene that you decide to capture it in photographs, creating lasting memories of this enchanting moment. 

With your camera, you frame shots of the waterfall: some with both of you, others with just the magnificent natural wonder as the backdrop. 

And, unable to resist the romantic atmosphere, you steal a sweet kiss, freezing that affectionate moment in time through the lens.

Surrounded by a sea of tourists, you and Yoongi remain in your own world, oblivious to the curious onlookers. It’s as if time has slowed down, and nothing else matters except the beauty of the waterfall and the warmth of each other’s presence. You exchange loving glances and share soft laughter, creating a bubble of serenity in the midst of the bustling crowd. 

The world may be watching, but right now, all that truly exists is the magic between you two.

As the sun begins its descent and the sky transforms into a canvas of warm hues, you and Yoongi make your way back to the campsite. The crackling campfire comes to life under his skillful hands, casting a flickering glow over your evening. 

The tantalizing aroma of dinner cooking wafts through the air, making your stomach growl in anticipation. The two of you settle by the fire, and Yoongi takes charge of preparing a delicious meal.

While he tends to the food, you decide to share a glimpse of your day with your friends. 

Your fingers dance across your phone screen as you select the perfect photo of you and Yoongi beside the captivating waterfall (not the one with you kissing!). It’s a moment of pure joy captured in pixels, the smiles on your faces telling a story of love and adventure. 

With a tap, you send the photo to your group chat, allowing your friends to share in your happiness, even from afar.

Jungkook [18:05]: That’s a pretty waterfall! You’re pretty too ___ 😀

Yoongi [18:07]: What about me? 🤔 

Taehyung [18:10]: Nah, you look like something the cat dragged in 😂

Seokjin [18:11]: 🤣🤣🤣

Yoongi [18:13]: That was totally uncalled for…

Namjoon [18:13]: But you asked 😆

Jimin [18:14]: Is that a hickey on your neck, ___? 😚

Hoseok [18:15]: It totally is, I had to zoom in 🤣

Jungkook [18:18]: Maybe her sleep moaning finally got to be enough for hyung and they slept together!

Taehyung [18:19]: I think you’re onto something, Kookie! 🧐

You [18:21]: No! Nothing has happened! 🙄

Hoseok [18:21]: What is this about ___ sleep moaning??? 😳

You [18:22]: We’re not gonna talk about that! 😤

Jungkook [18:22]: Buy some earplugs, just saying 😇

You [18:22]: Kook! 👿

Jimin [18:26]: You can keep telling us nothing happened, but the hickey speaks for itself. 😇

Jimin [18:26]: Congratulations both 🎉 I’m glad you finally get some quality dick, ___. Hyung, be good to her 🙂

Jungkook [18:28]: I’m so happy that my part of the vacation is over, imagine sleeping in the top bunk of the van now 🫣💀

Yoongi [18:33]: We won’t do it with one of you sleeping right above us, relax 🙄

Jimin [18:34]: 👏👏👏

Jimin [18:34]: You know that Holly isn’t soundproof, right? I could still hear you from our tent 🙃

Yoongi [18:39]: Maybe it’s a good idea to buy earplugs then 😏

Namjoon [18:40]: 😳

With a chuckle and a shake of your head, you decide it’s time to give your phone a break. 

Your friends in the group chat have already bombarded you with teasing messages, and you can practically hear their laughter through the screen. 

You put down your phone, relishing the feeling of being unplugged from the virtual world and fully immersed in the real one – a cozy campfire, a delicious meal, and the warm company of Yoongi.

As you join Yoongi by the campfire, the aroma of the cooking dinner filling the air, you can’t help but grumble in frustration as your phone continues to buzz with messages from your friends. 

With a dramatic sigh, you pull out your phone, the group chat still alive and buzzing with cheeky comments. You glance at the screen, reading words like ‘earplugs,’ ‘moaning,’ ‘about time,’ and ‘dick,’ causing a mix of embarrassment and amusement to wash over you.

“Why did you have to tell them?” 

You groan, clearly flustered by their teasing. You look at Yoongi, hoping for some sympathy or perhaps an explanation for your current predicament.

“They were going to find out sooner or later anyway. And I think Jimin had a hunch,” he laughs, his shoulders shrugging nonchalantly. His laughter is infectious, and you can’t help but join in, realizing that there’s no escaping the playful banter of your friends.

You set your phone aside, deciding to embrace the teasing and enjoy the moment with Yoongi, who seems to take it all in stride. 

The campfire crackles, and the two of you share a knowing glance, finding comfort in each other’s company amidst the good-natured ribbing from your friends.

As you settle down on your stools and start to savor the meal Yoongi has prepared, the ambiance around the campfire becomes serene. The crackling of the fire provides a soothing background melody, and the surrounding forest exudes a sense of tranquility. 

The two of you share stories and anecdotes, your laughter filling the air as you recount the adventures you’ve had together. The flickering firelight casts playful shadows on your faces, accentuating the intimate atmosphere. 

As you take bites of the delicious meal, you exchange glances, each bite strengthening the bond between you. Underneath the starlit sky, you find yourselves lost in each other’s conversation and the warmth of the campfire, cherishing these moments of togetherness in the heart of nature.

The following morning, long before the sun had a chance to paint the sky with its golden hues, you were already a flurry of activity. 

The anticipation of witnessing the magic of a sunrise from atop the mountain has stirred something deep within you, an irresistible call to adventure that you can’t ignore. In the gentle pre-dawn light, you sit down with Yoongi to a humble breakfast of yesterday’s leftovers, savoring the flavors that still linger from your campfire-cooked dinner. 

Each bite is a reminder of the simple joys that nature and Yoongi’s company bestows upon you.

After nourishing your bodies, you donn your hiking gear. The familiar weight of your backpack, filled with essentials for the journey ahead, settling comfortably on your shoulders. The laces of your sturdy hiking boots are expertly tied, ready to carry you to new heights.

Outside, the air hangs heavy, draped in a delicate shroud of mist that clings to the trees like a whispering secret. It’s as though the forest has donned a mystical cloak, transforming the ordinary woods into an enchanted realm from a fairy tale. 

As you and Yoongi venture deeper into this ethereal landscape, the fog paints the world with an otherworldly charm. The trees, their gnarled branches reaching for the heavens, looms like ancient sentinels guarding the secrets of the woods. 

Each step you take stirs the damp earth beneath your boots, releasing the intoxicating aroma of dew-kissed leaves and rich, fertile soil.

Your journey commences with each step, retracing the familiar path that led past the captivating waterfall you had encountered the day before. The sound of rushing water serenades you, its glistening cascade illuminated by the subtle hues of twilight. It’s as if nature itself had prepared a prelude for the grand spectacle to come.

As you venture higher into the mountain’s embrace, a gentle ascent that mirrors your anticipation, the world around you begins to transform. 

The inky darkness of night slowly relinquishes its hold, granting way to the soft, ephemeral blush of dawn. The sky, painted in a canvas of purples and blues, seems to acknowledge the imminent arrival of the sun. In the east, a delicate orange ember emerges on the horizon, a harbinger of the magnificent sunrise that awaits you. 

The very fabric of the sky begins to shift, transforming from the tranquil coolness of night into the vibrant warmth of morning. It is a slow and deliberate metamorphosis, nature’s own symphony of colors and light, playing out just for you.

A serene clearing emerges beneath the canopy of the forest, a natural amphitheater carved by the hand of time itself. While it isn’t the highest point of your journey, it offers a vantage point that feels like an exclusive front-row seat to one the cosmos’ most exquisite performances. 

Here, you decide to pause, the world around you falling into hushed reverence for the celestial spectacle about to unfold. The very essence of the morning seems to gather around this sacred spot, as if nature had designed it solely for moments like these.

As you settle down amidst the tranquil embrace of the clearing, your senses seem to sharpen, attuned to the subtle symphony of nature. The forest around you was still, each leaf holding its breath in anticipation. The air carries the earthy scent of dew-kissed leaves, the morning’s first breath imbued with the promise of a new day.

The horizon is a canvas of vibrant hues, a masterpiece of oranges and pinks intermingling with the last vestiges of the night’s indigo. The sun, still an unassuming ember, hovers just below the edge of the world, poised to set the sky ablaze with its radiance.

The sun, casting its golden hues over the world, paints an ethereal dance on Yoongi’s skin. Each ray of sunlight, as if with intention, traces the contours of his face, highlighting the exquisite features that have captured your heart. His skin, kissed by the gentle warmth of the morning sun, seem to glow from within, emanating a natural radiance that defies explanation. The dappled shadows play along the edges of his features, accentuating the depth of his gaze, the curve of his lips, and the line of his jaw.

As you hold his hand, fingers entwine in a silent testament to your bond, you marvel at how he transforms in this soft morning light. His eyes, those windows to his soul, hold a quiet wisdom that transcends words. They cradle the promise of new beginnings, just like the rising sun.

You nestle your head against the crook of Yoongi’s neck, your cheek pressing tenderly against his skin, as if seeking refuge in the warmth of his embrace. A contented sigh escapes your lips, carrying with it the weight of your feelings, heavy with love and adoration.

Your voice, soft and intimate, is a gentle caress, lacing every word with the depth of your emotions. 

“This is nice,” you whisper, the words carrying the essence of the moment—a moment where time stands still, and all that matters is the two of you, entwined in the beauty of the sunrise. His response is a silent affirmation of your sentiment, “It really is.” 

Yoongi’s fingers interlock with yours again, a tangible link that mirrors the bond of your hearts. There’s no need for elaborate declarations or grand gestures; the simplicity of this experience is enough to convey the depth of your love.

You remain in that tranquil embrace for what feels like an eternity, though it is a mere thirty minutes that passes—the very same amount of time it takes for the sun to complete its mesmerizing ascent. As the golden orb inches higher into the sky, painting the world with hues of orange and pink, you’re enveloped by an overwhelming sense of contentment.

“Ah, sorry,” a soft, apologetic voice intrudes upon your reverie, drawing your attention away from the captivating sunrise. Startled by the interruption, you turn to find a passerby, their presence briefly disrupting the cocoon of intimacy you and Yoongi have created.

Breaking the spell, you rise from your serene perch, extending a hand towards Yoongi as you seek to regain the moment’s magic. He accepts your invitation with a nod, understanding your unspoken desire to continue your adventure. Together, hand in hand, you decide to venture further up the trail, in pursuit of new vistas.

In tandem you embark on your ascent up the mountain trail, the path gradually becoming steeper and more challenging. As the elevation increases, so do the physical demands of the hike, leaving you both breathless and perspiring. Each step is a testament to your determination and shared commitment to reaching new heights.

The mountain’s relentless climb seems to conspire against you, testing your endurance and resilience. The air grows thinner, and the weight of the ascent bares down on your chests, making each inhalation feel like a battle against gravity itself. Yet, you press on, fueled by the promise of a breathtaking view awaiting you at the peak.

“We should take a break,” Yoongi suggests, his voice tinged with a hint of laughter as he gently pulls you away from the challenging mountain trail and into the soothing embrace of the forest. 

Despite your determination, the physical strain of the ascent has left you panting and gasping for breath. “You’re a panting and groaning mess,” he says, as you follow him willingly, your face displaying a playful pout behind his back.

In the heart of the forest, surrounded by the tranquil sounds of nature, you find respite from the relentless climb. The cool shade of the trees provides a much-needed refuge from the sun’s unforgiving rays. As you settle down, you can't help but admire how Yoongi’s eyes sparkle with amusement, and you share a knowing smile, appreciating the momentary escape from the strenuous hike.

“And you’re turning me on.”

Yoongi confesses with a mischievous glint in his eyes, as he playfully pushes you up against a tree. 

You can’t help but burst into laughter, utterly bewildered by his comment. 

“How the heck can I be turning you on? We’re just walking!” you exclaim, your amusement clear, but you wince slightly as you rub your shoulder. The impact with the tree isn't entirely pleasant, but thankfully, your backpack absorbed most of the force.

A feral growl escapes from Yoongi’s lips as he closes the distance between you, his gaze intense and hungry. 

His tongue darts out to lick his lips, as if he’s ready to devour you whole. “First,” he huskily begins, his voice dripping with desire, “you’re panting and groaning, and it’s making me think of sex with you. Second,” he continues, his eyes never leaving yours, “your ass in those tights is nothing short of sinful.” 

He shamelessly runs his hand down your body, slowly sliding one of his legs between yours, igniting a fiery desire impossible to ignore.

Your senses are ablaze as desire courses through you, and you can’t help but wonder if he can feel the evidence of your arousal even through your tights. 

You gulp audibly, your heart racing at his word. “Babe, you’re already wet,” he says with a teasing chuckle, his voice carrying a hint of menace that sends shivers down your spine.

Before you can react, he dives in, capturing your lips with a passionate, forceful kiss. 

Your backpack straps fall to your sides, and the backpack thuds to the ground, forgotten. You moan into his mouth, your body trembling as his thigh rubs provocatively against your clothed core, stoking the flames of desire that burn within you, leaving you yearning for him in every possible way.

“Shit, Yoongi, I want you,” you confess, your voice laced with desire and urgency. But then doubt creeps in, and you hesitate, voicing your concern, “But what if someone sees us?” 

Your arousal is undeniable, but so is your fear of being caught doing something intimate in a public place.

“No one will see, and you’ll be quiet, yeah?” 

He insists, pressing his body firmly against yours, his breath hot against your ear. You gulp, your heart racing with anticipation, and nod in agreement. 

The thrill of the risk and the promise of passion in this secret nook overwhelm your senses, making it impossible to resist his advances.

“Turn around then,” he murmurs, delivering a playful slap to your ass as you obediently pivot, your front now pressed against the rough bark of the tree. 

Your breath catches in your throat as you feel the coolness of the tree against your heated skin, contrasting with the warmth building within you. 

Yoongi swiftly discards his backpack, the thug echoing through the serene forest as it hits the ground. His strong hands find your hips, fingers gripping firmly as he grinds his already hard dick against your ass. The sensation sends a shiver of desire coursing through your body, and you arch your back, craving more of his touch.

“Do you have a condom?” you ask him in between pants.

“No,” he breaths, “did you pack some by chance?” he asks you back, slightly frustrated.

“It’s not exactly standard hiking gear,” you quip between gasps and laughter, your excitement mingling with the absurdity of the situation.

Yoongi chuckles too, a mix of amusement and frustration. 

“Don’t men carry condoms in their wallets?” 

You joke, but it falls flat as Yoongi grunts, “Not everybody does,” he remarks, frustrated as he still feels so aroused and he just wants you now. He’s thinking about fucking you raw, and just the thought alone arouses him so damn much.

“Fuck,” he says as he runs a hand through his long black hair in frustration. “I’m clean, are you?” he asks with a strain to his voice, like it’s taking all of him to hold back.

“Yeah. So what are you waiting for?” 

Your words are laced with anticipation and desire as you surrender to the intensity of the moment, ready to give in to the forbidden thrill of your passionate rendezvous in the secluded forest.

Yoongi doesn’t have to be told twice and he immediately gets to work, tugging his pants and boxers down, freeing his cock. 

Then he pulls your leggings down with your panties, and as his hard dick meets your bare skin, the tension between you both becomes palpable. His impatient growl reverberates through the stillness of the forest, intensifying the sense of urgency and longing that courses through your bodies.

“I’m sorry it has to be quick and without prep,” in the hushed tones of the forest, his apology carries a weight of longing and frustration, but your reassuring words fill the air with understanding and acceptance. 

As your bodies align in the dimly lit woods, the anticipation heightens. Each touch and movement sends waves of desire coursing through your bodies, igniting a fire that threatens to consume every rational thought.

He reaches a hand down between your legs and feels your wetness there and he’s thankful for it, because that means he will most likely slide right in. The last thing he wants to do is hurt you.

“Spread your legs for me.” 

The sensation of his hand on your ass sends a shiver of anticipation down your spine. His commanding yet considerate touch ignites a spark of desire as you obediently spread your legs, inviting him into the heated embrace of your longing body. 

Each movement, every whispered command, intensifies the anticipation of what’s to come.

Your heart races as you brace against the tree, your body arching in an instinctive plea for more. 

The primal tension in the air is palpable as he spreads your aching pussy and ass wide, the anticipation building with every moment. As he guides himself into your quivering core, the sensation is a heady mix of pleasure and urgency, each inch of his cock claiming you with a possessive intensity that leaves you breathless.

You grit your teeth against the initial discomfort, your breath catching in your throat. 

“I’m sorry. I promise it’ll feel better soon,” his soothing words wash over you like a balm, and you nod, your trust in him unwavering. 

As you both hold still for a moment, you feel the tension slowly ebbing away. Each measured thrust sends waves of sensation rippling through your body, transforming the initial pain into a cascade of pleasure that threatens to consume you. 

“Fuck.” 

You cling to the tree, feeling the rugged bark against your palms, grounding you in the intensity of the moment, as he is fully sheathed inside you.

“Shhh, babe,” he hushes you, “you don’t want anybody to hear us.” 

His voice is a sultry whisper, a tantalizing secret shared only between you and the wilderness that surrounds you. 

Each thrust carries the promise of ecstasy, a stolen moment of passion amidst the serene backdrop of the forest. Your hushed moans blend with the sounds of nature, a symphony of desire that sings with each rhythmic plunge, creating a delicious tension that electrifies the air.

The primal intensity of him, bare and unrestrained, sends waves of pleasure coursing through your body. Every movement, every stroke, feels like a forbidden dance in the heart of the wild, where desire meets nature’s untamed beauty. 

You bite your lip, trying to suppress the mounting sensations, but it’s a futile effort as your body betrays you with involuntary quivers and moans, blending your cries of pleasure with the rustling leaves and whispering trees around you.

“Fuck you feel incredible without a condom on.” 

He whispers in your ear and your mind is a whirlwind of ecstasy as his words send shockwaves of desire through your body. 

The feeling of him, raw and unrestrained, makes you feel more connected to him than ever before. 

You can’t help but respond, you voice a breathy symphony of pleasure, “Yoongi, don’t stop,” you moan, your nails digging into the tree bark as he continues to drive you to the brink of ecstasy. 

His words send a jolt of desire through you, igniting a fiery connection between your bodies. Your inner muscles clench around him, a natural response to the overwhelming pleasure coursing through you. The sensation is electrifying, like a current of euphoria surging through your core. His hiss of pleasure only fuels you more.

With each powerful thrust, a symphony of sensation washes over you. His primal need for you drives him deeper, igniting a wild, intoxicating connection between your bodies. 

Your grip on the tree tightens in tandem with his unrelenting pace, fingers digging into the rough bark as if anchoring yourself to the moment. 

His head rests against your neck, warm breath brushing against your skin, while his teeth gently graze your shoulder, an instinctual response to stifle his moans.

As Yoongi continues his relentless pace, the boundaries between pleasure and the outside world blur into a tantalizing haze. 

Every thrust sends shivers of ecstasy through your body, and the sensations become your entire universe. 

The wild, unbridled connection between you and him transcends the awareness of the world around you. In the back of your mind, you vaguely notice the subtle symphony of nature surrounding you – the rustling leaves and twigs breaking getting closer.

Fuck. 

Your voice trembles as you speak, the urgency of the situation sinking in. 

“Yoongi, I think somebody’s coming,” you gasp, your words barely above a whisper, but laced with fear and desire. 

The possibility of being caught adds an electrifying edge to the added arousal you feel.

“It’s probably just a squirrel,” he reassures you, his voice strained with the effort to keep his own excitement at bay. 

His relentless thrusts continue, each one driving you both closer to the edge. But in the distance, the sound of footsteps grows louder and closer, a faint but undeniable presence that sends a shiver down your spine.

Frantically, he picks up his pace even more, his hips slamming into you with a fervor matched only by the urgency of the approaching footsteps. 

Your muffled moans mix with his heavy breathing as your bodies move in unison, chasing the euphoria that hovers just beyond your reach. The tension in the air is palpable, a heady mix of desire and the fear of discovery, pushing you both to the brink.

You’re startled by a man’s voice calling out, “Anybody here? Are you alright?” 

Panic surges through you as you realize you might be caught in the act, but strangely, the thrill of being watched intensifies the sensations coursing through you body. 

Your heart pounds, and you feel your orgasm approaching like a freight train, careening toward you with unstoppable force. 

Yoongi doesn’t know if you should answer the man or not, who clearly thinks you’re in distress. He breaths against your ear all the same, “Answer him, babe. Maybe he’ll go away then.” 

His voice is laced with urgency, and he increases his pace, trying to push you both to the edge before the intruder gets any closer.

Does he really want you to speak to someone while he fucks you? You’re afraid that your unsteady voice will betray you, but you really want whoever is closing in on you to go away. So, you steady your voice and yell, “We’re fine,” in a tone that’s slightly higher than usual. The words come out rushed and strained, but you hope they’ll do the trick and make the stranger go away.

As Yoongi thrusts hard into you again, both of you teetering on the edge of climax, he whispers, “Good girl.” 

His voice is strained with desire and a hint of urgency, intensifying the sensation coursing through your body. 

The footsteps don’t retreat as you had hoped; instead, they draw even closer, sending a shiver of anxiety down your spine again. Fuck.

The fear of being discovered intensifies the sensations coursing through your body, pushing you relentlessly over the edge. Your walls tighten around Yoongi’s throbbing cock, and your vision blurs as a wave of pleasure crashes over you. 

Desperate to stifle your rising moans, you sink your teeth into your bottom lip. 

Yoongi’s release surges through him in powerful waves, and he can’t help but revel in the overwhelming pleasure. Yet, the urgency of the situation forces him to act quickly. 

He withdraws from your pulsating pussy, still throbbing with desire, and swiftly pulls up his boxers and pants. With equal haste, he helps you rearrange your clothing, his breath ragged and a mix of satisfaction and anxiety in his eyes.

“Hi, I heard weird noises,” a man stands before you, his eyes scanning your disheveled appearance and your flushed cheeks, a bead of sweat trickling down your temple. 

“I wanted to make sure that nobody was in distress,” he says with eyebrows raised in suspicion, appearing genuinely concerned. You and Yoongi exchange a brief, nervous glance, your breaths ragged and your heart races as the stranger’s piercing gaze lingers a moment too long.

The once quiet woods now hum with the echoes of your ragged breaths, a symphony of vulnerability and exhilaration. Yoongi stands beside you, attempting to regain his composure, his chest rising and falling with an uneven cadence. 

You, on the other hand, remain a quivering and panting mess, the aftermath of your orgasm still coursing through your veins. Your backpacks haphazardly discarded on the ground.

“We’re fine.” 

Yoongi eventually manages to say, his voice slightly hoarse from the unexpected interruption. The awkward silence that lingers during the stranger’s inquiries feels like an eternity, stretching time into an uncomfortable pause. As Yoongi speaks, he feels a mixture of embarrassment and relief washing over him. His earlier intense arousal begins to ebb away, replaced by a more composed state of mind.

“Are you sure?” 

The stranger directs his question to you, and your heart momentarily skips a beat. 

You hastily gather your wits, aware of the need for a convincing response. Taking a deep breath, you lock eyes with the concerned passerby. 

“Yes,” you assert, your voice trembling ever so slightly. You feel the weight of the lie as it leaves your lips, and you hope with all your might that it’s convincing enough. “This is my boyfriend – he was just pushing me too hard against the trail, and I’m in really bad shape. That’s why I’m out of breath.” 

You silently pray that your words paint a believable picture, all while Yoongi stands beside you, maintaining a façade of casual exhaustion, the intensity of the recent encounter still lingering in his eyes. The stakes are high, and the act must hold for just a little longer.

Yoongi looks at you with a mixture of astonishment and admiration, his eyes searching yours for any sign of hesitation. You can see the subtle curve of his lips, hinting at a proud and relieved smile that he tries to conceal. It’s as if he’s realizing just how quick-witted and resourceful you can be in a pinch.

To truly convince the stranger, you instinctively pull Yoongi into a tight embrace, as if seeking refuge in his arms. 

Your lips meet his in a hurried yet convincing kiss, one filled with genuine affection and a hint of urgency. As you pull away, you can’t help but feel the lingering warmth of his lips against yours, a stark contrast to the shivers coursing through your body. 

Beneath your hurried facade, you’re acutely aware of the discomfort caused by the sticky remnants of your passionate encounter. Your panties cling uncomfortably to your sensitive skin, and you can’t help but frown in concern. 

You can feel Yoongi’s cum starting to leak out of your pussy and deep down, you hope and pray that there are no visible signs of it.

The stranger regards both of you for a few more seconds, as if trying to read the truth in your eyes. 

You can feel your heart pounding in your chest, hoping that your hastily crafted lie has convinced him. Sweat beads form on your forehead, and you wonder if he can see through your facade. 

Then, with a subtle nod and a skeptical yet understanding expression, the stranger seems to accept your explanation. 

Relief washes over you, like a soothing balm to your frayed nerves. You share a glance with Yoongi, and there’s a silent exchange of gratitude and relief in your eyes.

As you and Yoongi hoist your backpacks onto your shoulders, you exchange one last polite nod with the stranger. His gaze follows you, a hint of lingering curiosity in his eyes, but he says nothing more.

With a renewed sense of urgency, you and Yoongi turn away from him, your footsteps falling in sync on the trail. The forest envelopes you once again, the trees whispering secrets and the leaves cushioning your every step.

Silence settles between you and Yoongi for a moment, but it’s a comfortable silence, laced with the knowledge of the thrilling encounter you just had. Your hearts still race, and every rustle of leaves makes you turn your head, half-expecting the stranger to reappear.

“Oh my god, that was my worst nightmare come true!” 

You exclaim, your voice hushed but filled with urgency, as you and Yoongi put some distance between yourselves and the stranger. Your heart still races, and your words tumble out in a breathless rush. 

“I can’t believe we got caught like that.” 

You glance at Yoongi, your eyes wide with a mix of embarrassment and excitement. The two of you share a quick, nervous laugh.

“Ouch, was I that bad?” Yoongi pouts in mock offense, his lips forming an adorable sulk as he glances at you. But before you can respond, he playfully nudges you with his shoulder, eliciting a soft giggle from you. His laughter mixes with yours, the tension of the moment dissipating like morning mist under the sun. 

You playfully slap him across his chest, a mischievous sparkle in your eyes. “No! You know what I mean,” you tease, your voice laced with affectionate sarcasm. “You were incredible,” you add, letting your fingers linger on his chest, tracing invisible patterns, a silent promise of more to come.

“That might have been your worst nightmare, but babe,” he says, a mischievous glint in his eyes, “I felt how your pussy clenched more as he got closer.” His teasing tone is met with a hint of a smirk as he leans in closer. Your cheeks flush even redder.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” 

You reply with a sly grin, your footsteps quickening as you lead the way up the trail. You look back over your shoulder, catching his eye with a playful glint. It’s a silent invitation for him to chase after you, a wordless promise of more adventures to come.

“Just admit you’re an exhibitionist at heart, babe.” 

He teases with a hearty laugh. You huff in response, but deep down, a rush of conflicting emotions surges through you. A mixture of embarrassment, excitement, and a newfound sense of liberation. It’s as though this unexpected encounter has unlocked a hidden facet of your desires, one you never knew existed.

“Also, can we talk about me being your boyfriend?” 

He asks, his gaze intense and searching, his eyes locking onto your blushing face. In the heat of the moment, you have forgotten your mishap when you spoke with the stranger, and now anxiety bubbles up within you. You stammer for words, your mind racing as you mumble incoherently, desperately hoping he won’t be upset.

He comes to a sudden halt, his fingers gently but firmly wrapping around your arms, and he fixes his gaze deep into your eyes. 

A hint of vulnerability shines through his expression as he says, “I liked it.” 

His voice is soft and sincere. A warm smile graces his lips, and you can sense the honesty behind those words, making your heart flutter with a mixture of relief and affection.

Your tense features immediately soften, and a wave of relief washes over you. You feel yourself melting in his embrace, his touch reassuring and warm. 

With wide eyes filled with wonder, you whisper, “You did?” 

The words hang in the air, heavy with emotion, as you search his eyes for confirmation.

“Yeah. In fact, I’ve been thinking about it for a few days,” he admits, scratching the back of his head, his vulnerability endearing. As you gaze into his deep brown eyes, you sense a whirlwind of emotions, but love shines through, swirling like a gentle current that binds your hearts together.

“I’ve been tormenting myself with this for the past few weeks,” you confess, the weight of your feelings finally spilling out. “I’ve been desperate to define what we are. And, honestly, it didn’t help when you introduced me as your ‘friend’ to your family.” The words hang in the air, charged with the uncertainty and longing that have been building within you for so long.

“If I had introduced you as my girlfriend,” he chuckles, “my mom would’ve started planning our wedding right then and there. And babies? Oh, she’d be all over that.” 

His laughter is infectious, and you can’t help but smile at his words, even if you’re still pouting playfully.

“But didn’t your sister do that anyway?” 

You playfully shove him, joining in on his laughter. “I swear, your family is all about weddings and baby plans.”

“That’s because she’s noisy and has a sixth sense,” he tells you with a playful grin, wrapping an arm around your waist as you both start walking again. “But hey, I promise not to pressure you for babies anytime soon.”

“You’re not pressuring me,” you say with a reassuring smile, looking into his eyes. “If anything, I’ll probably be the one pressuring you about that. I’m almost 30, and I’m not getting any younger. I’m not saying I want kids right now, but in the future, yes.”

He meets your gaze with a soft, heartfelt expression. “I do too,” he says, his voice filled with sincerity and a touch of vulnerability.

“So, do you want to date me, exclusively?” 

You ask, turning your head toward him, your smile radiating warmth. His eyes light up with excitement as he responds, “God, yes.” 

His hands find yours, and you intertwine your fingers, feeling a rush of emotions. In that moment, it feels like your heart might burst with love. He’s finally officially yours, and you are his. 

You turn around, catching his lips in a soft, tender kiss, sealing your newfound commitment with a sweet and heartfelt gesture.

You continue your hike hand in hand, reaching the summit of the mountain a few hours later. The view from the top is nothing short of breathtaking, with the sun casting a warm, golden hue over the landscape. The two of you stand there, silently taking in the beauty that surrounds you, feeling a deep connection between your intertwined fingers.

However, a persistent reminder of your passionate encounter still lingers – your damp panties, a consequence of both the intense hike and the thrilling escapade earlier. You can’t help but wish you had packed a spare pair, as you feel a mixture of sweat and his cum leaving you in a constant state of arousal.

The next day, you revel in the newfound bliss of having Yoongi officially as your boyfriend. 

Your morning is drenched in the soft, golden light filtering through the curtains, and you can’t resist the urge to express your love. With delicate kisses, you trace a path along his neck, leaving a trail of affectionate, crimson imprints in your wake, each mark a testament to your newfound love.

After another exhilarating hike, you stumble upon a magnificent waterfall, its cascading waters shimmering in the sunlight. The sheer force of nature’s beauty leaves you in awe. But as the day wears on, your fatigue catches up with you. 

Your feet ache from the miles you’ve trekked in the past few days. Each step back to Holly feels like a triumph over your body’s protests, a testament to the incredible adventures you’ve shared.

As the sun dips below the horizon, casting a warm orange glow inside the van, Yoongi suggests a mutual foot massage to ease the fatigue that has settled into your limbs. You eagerly agree, both wanting to give and receive comfort after a long day of hiking.

You settle into a cozy spot on the bed, your legs stretched out, and Yoongi’s foot cradled in your lap. 

His strong, nimble fingers start working their magic, tracing delicate patterns on your skin, expertly kneading away the day’s tension. It feels like heaven as he finds and releases every knot and kink in your tired feet, making you sigh in bliss. You can’t help but marvel at how skilled he is, not just with his hands but in everything he does.

You return the favor, your fingers replicating his motions on his own tired feet. The exchange of care and affection in this intimate moment strengthens the bond between you. 

As you both lose yourselves in the rhythmic dance of your fingers, you’re reminded that it’s not just about the massages; it’s about the love and closeness you share, making each touch all the more meaningful.

After leaving the previous campsite, you decide to explore further, heading north to Yeongdeok. 

There, you stumble upon a hidden gem—a quaint park tucked away amidst nature’s embrace. The park boasts a winding hiking trail, promising adventure and serenity in equal measure.

At the trailhead, you’re greeted by a lush canopy of trees that sway gently in the breeze, their leaves casting playful shadows on the ground. The earthy scent of the forest fills your nostrils as you begin your ascent. Birds sing melodious tunes, creating a harmonious backdrop to your journey.

As you reach the pinnacle of the trail, your efforts are rewarded with a breathtaking view that leaves you in awe. Before you, stretch the endless expanse of the sea, its azure waters stretch out as far as the eye can see. Below, mighty cliffs and jagged rocks rise from the depths, standing sentry against the relentless waves.

The sea’s rhythmic ballet is hypnotic, its waves crashing against the cliffs with both force and grace, as if engaged in an eternal dance. 

You and Yoongi stand in silence, absorbing the sheer majesty of this natural spectacle. It’s moments like these, when you’re surrounded by the untamed beauty of the world, that you feel the most alive, connected not just to nature but to each other.

“It’s really beautiful.” 

Inhaling deeply, you let the sheer beauty of the ocean and cliffs wash over you, filling your lungs with the crisp, salty air. Beside you, Yoongi, his eyes reflecting the same awe you feel, interlaces his fingers with yours, his silent affirmation of the breathtaking panorama before you.

After leaving the serene park, you and Yoongi embark on a short drive to a beach; a local secret with crystal-clear waters that rival even the most exotic of destinations. 

The moment your toes touch the powdery sand, a sense of tranquility washes over you. The sun kisses your skin, its warmth like a gentle embrace, and you slip into your bathing suit, feeling the soft fabric hug your body. Yoongi stands beside you, a grin of pure joy on his face, as you both take in the panorama before you.

The water stretches out, a palette of blues and greens merging in a harmonious blend, inviting you to explore its depths. 

Hand in hand, you and Yoongi walk along the shoreline, the cool, foamy waves lapping at your feet. It’s a sensory symphony—the sound of the waves crashing, the salty tang of the sea in the air, and the soft caress of the sand underfoot.

As you wade into the shallow water, you can’t help but steal glances at each other, laughter bubbling up as the gentle waves playfully tease you. The ocean’s embrace is both invigorating and soothing, a bittersweet reminder that your vacation days are numbered. You’re determined to savor every precious moment together, etching these memories into your hearts before the inevitable chill of autumn arrives.

Following a day of exploration and seaside delight, the two of you stumble upon a charming local restaurant, its rustic façade promising authentic flavors of the coastal town. 

With the scent of the sea still lingering in your hair, you step inside and are immediately greeted by the tantalizing aroma of freshly cooked snow crabs, a local delicacy that beckons to your taste buds. Seated at a quaint wooden table with a view of the bustling kitchen, you and Yoongi embark on a culinary adventure. 

The dishes arrive, each one a work of art on the plate. The first bite of succulent snow crab sends a burst of flavor that dances across your palate, a symphony of sweet and savory notes that leave you craving more.

As you savor each mouthful, you steal glances at Yoongi, his eyes reflecting the same appreciation for the exquisite meal. There’s a shared understanding between you, an unspoken bond that transcends words—a silent agreement that this moment, this meal, is something special. 

The dim, cozy ambiance of the restaurant only adds to the intimacy of the evening. The hours slip away as you indulge in the local cuisine, the flavors becoming more than just food—they’re an experience, a memory etched into your journey. With each bite, you feel closer to the heart of this coastal town and to each other. 

As the sun begins its gentle descent beyond the horizon, casting a warm, golden hue over the landscape, you and Yoongi make your way to a nearby campground. 

The day has been a tapestry of unforgettable experiences, from the rugged trails to the soothing embrace of the sea. Now, under the canvas of the night sky, you find solace in the simple yet comforting embrace of your campsite. 

With the rhythmic lullaby of crickets and the distant whispers of the breeze in the trees, you set up your cozy haven for the night. The soft glow of your campfire flickers in the darkness, casting dancing shadows that seem to mirror the playful dance of your hearts. The aroma of crackling wood mingles with the scent of the forest, creating an intoxicating blend that fills the air.

You and Yoongi retire to your snug sleeping quarters, cocooned in warmth and each other’s presence. The day’s adventures have left your bodies pleasantly fatigued, and as you lay beneath a blanket of stars, the world seems to fade away. 

The hushed conversations and gentle laughter between you are the only sounds in the stillness of the night.

As you continue your journey, the rhythmic hum of Holly’s engine is suddenly interrupted by an ominous noise again, but more prominent than before. At first, it’s a faint whisper, like a distant rumble, but it steadily grows louder and more disconcerting. The unease in the pit of your stomach mirrors the growing intensity of the sound.

Yoongi’s keen ears catch the disturbance too, and his brows furrow in concern. 

The two of you exchange worried glances, realizing that this is not a good sign. Holly, your trusted companion on this adventure, seems to be voicing its distress in the only way it knows how.

The noise reverberates through the van, making the situation impossible to ignore. It’s a reminder that even the best-laid plans can be derailed by unexpected challenges. The anticipation and uncertainty hang in the air, creating a sense of urgency as you approach Andong, hoping to find a solution to the growing problem.

With each passing mile, the noise becomes a relentless companion, a constant reminder of the unknown. Your hearts beat in tandem with Holly’s disconcerting rhythm, as you brace yourselves for whatever lies ahead in this unexpected twist of your journey.

In the heart of Andong, Yoongi’s determination leads you to a local garage that radiates a sense of authenticity and warmth. 

With a friendly smile and a humble request, he approaches the mechanics and inquires if they might have a hydraulic lift he can borrow for a moment.

The mechanics, deeply rooted in the spirit of their tight-knit community, are quick to oblige. Their willingness to help a stranger on the road is a testament to the hospitality and camaraderie of the place. They nod with understanding and offer Yoongi their trust, allowing him to work on the van in peace.

As Yoongi delves beneath the van’s chassis, the anticipation in the air is palpable. 

You watch him with admiration, the clinking of tools and the occasional muttered words of problem-solving creating a symphony of determination. As Yoongi dives into the task at hand, you find yourself drawn into the rhythm of his work. 

The garage’s dimly lit interior casts elongated shadows as he meticulously dissects Holly’s front wheel section. The metallic clinks of tools and the soft hum of the overhead lights fill the air, creating a symphony of purposeful activity.

With every piece he carefully removes, the mystery of Holly’s strange noise unravels. 

It’s as if he’s conducting a delicate orchestra of mechanics, and you’re an audience of one, enchanted by his expertise. 

His hands move with a graceful precision, each movement deliberate and calculated. In this moment, as the problem is revealed under the probing beam of his flashlight, a surge of relief washes over you. 

You realize how much you rely on him, not just as your partner in this journey, but as the unwavering troubleshooter who turns setbacks into triumphs. 

As the source of the strange noise is pinpointed, a triumphant smile spreads across Yoongi’s face. Holly, a silent witness to your adventures, almost seems to sigh in relief too.

As Yoongi kneels beside the van, his fingers deftly inspecting the worn-out drive shaft cuffs and tightening loose bolts, he begins to explain the intricacies of the van’s inner workings. 

Though the technical jargon might as well be a foreign language to you, you’re completely captivated by the way he lights up when he talks about it. 

His voice, a soothing blend of confidence and passion, weaves a story of mechanical marvels and engineering wizardry. Each word he utters carries the weight of expertise, and as you watch his hands move with the grace of a seasoned craftsman, you can’t help but admire his mastery of the subject. Even though the details might elude you, the admiration in your eyes speaks volumes. Listening to Yoongi, you realize how love can infuse even the most mundane topics with magic. 

The way he pours his heart into this moment, explaining the van’s ailments and the remedies required, makes you fall in love with him all even more.

In this garage, surrounded by the scent of grease and the echoes of tinkering tools, you find yourself not just appreciating his mechanical expertise but also marveling at the depth of your bond. 

As he wraps up his explanation, you can’t help but smile, grateful for the chance to witness his passion and to be a part of this adventure with him.

As Yoongi approaches the garage owners with a confident smile, you can’t help but admire his resourcefulness. It’s one of those moments that showcase his determination and practical problem-solving skills. 

The owners, a pair of weathered but friendly faces, nod in acknowledgment as Yoongi explains his needs. With a swift exchange of money, the spare parts are in his hands, and he’s back at work. 

The tools clink and clank, echoing in the garage like a symphony of repair. As he meticulously replaces the worn-out cuffs and tightens the loose screws, you stand by, a silent witness to his dedication. The rhythm of his movements, the focused look on his face, and the occasional muttering to himself all paint a portrait of a man wholly engrossed in his task.

“I’m done now, thank you for waiting.” 

Yoongi’s voice breaks through the ambient sounds of the garage, pulling you from your quiet contemplation. His beaming smile and the way he wipes his oiled hands on his pants are endearing, a testament to his pride in a job well done.

You rise from where you were leaning against a nearby shelf, your own smile mirroring his. With every step you take towards him, it’s not just Holly that’s been repaired; it’s your faith in each other and your ability to navigate life’s unexpected detours.

He pulls you into a warm, oil-scented embrace, his chest pressed against yours. His heartbeat, steady and reassuring, matches the rhythm of your own.

Unable to contain your admiration, you offer a compliment with a playful smile, “I enjoyed watching you work,” but your cheeks betray you with a blush that rises like a cresting wave, “you look hot.”

His fingers, stained with grease and oil, brush gently against your cheek as he tucks a stray strand of hair behind your ear. The sensation sends shivers down your spine, and you find yourself leaning into his touch, craving the warmth of his rough hands against your skin.

“My hands are dirty, babe.” 

He murmurs, his voice a low, husky timbre that sends a thrill through your entire body. He attempts to pull away, to spare you from the grime that clings to his skin.

But you can’t bring yourself to care about the dirt when his touch feels like an electric jolt of desire. With a fierce determination, you reach out and capture his hands, fingers entwining with his in a passionate embrace.

“I don’t care,” you declare, your voice breathless with longing. You pull him closer, your lips meet in a fiery kiss that speaks of desire and a bond too strong to be deterred by something as trivial as dirty hands.

His laughter dances against your lips, a carefree melody that sets your heart ablaze. 

You pull back slightly, your eyes meeting his with a mischievous spark. 

“Maybe we should take this show on the road,” he suggests, his voice a teasing whisper that sends a thrill through your body. His playful demeanor matches the twinkle in his eyes as he senses the curious gazes of onlookers.

With a soft chuckle, you lean back, breaking the passionate kiss but keeping your connection alive. You both share a knowing look, acknowledging the audience that has unintentionally gathered around. Some wear frowns, their disapproval thinly veiled, while others struggle to look away, curiosity getting the best of them.

After a heartfelt exchange of gratitude with the garage owners, you and Yoongi set out for a local campground nestled just beyond the town’s outskirts. 

Holly’s engine hums with a newfound vibrancy, the haunting clicks and pops replaced by a reassuring purr, a testament to Yoongi’s skillful repair work.

As you approach the campground, the world begins to transform. 

The air is infused with the earthy scent of the surrounding woods, and the fading sunlight casts a warm, golden hue over the landscape. Tall trees stand sentinel, their rustling leaves whispering secrets of countless stories shared beneath their branches.

Arriving at the campground, you find a secluded spot, the van settling into its new temporary home. 

As the sun dips below the horizon, painting the sky with hues of orange and pink, Yoongi takes charge of creating a campfire. With practiced ease, he gathers dry twigs and kindling, coaxing life into the flames until they crackle and dance in the gathering darkness. 

The firelight cast playful shadows, creating an intimate circle of warmth and light.

Together, you prepare a simple yet delicious dinner over the campfire. The scent of roasting marshmallows and the savory aroma of grilled vegetables fills the air, mingling with the smoky fragrance of the crackling wood. 

The orange glow of the flames paints your faces in a warm, flickering embrace as you share stories, laughter, and the occasional playful banter.

Despite your best intentions, your contributions to the culinary efforts may have been minimal, but the camaraderie of preparing a meal together adds a touch of charm to the evening. 

With satisfied appetites and hearts full of contentment, you both settle in for a restful night’s sleep. The soft rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze plays a soothing lullaby, accompanied by the distant murmur of a nearby stream. Wrapped in your cozy duvets, you drift into dreams beneath the vast, starlit canopy of the night sky.

The next day, you are eager to immerse yourselves in the rich traditions of Andong, a town steeped in history. 

As you step onto the cobblestone streets, a sense of timelessness washes over you. Andong has a unique charm, an old-world aura that whispers stories of centuries past. Wandering through the town, you discover quaint hanok houses with curved roofs, each adorned with intricate wooden carvings and papered windows. 

The streets are lined with vibrant flowers, their colors popping against the backdrop of ancient buildings. Occasionally, you encounter locals in traditional hanbok attire, a living connection to the town’s heritage.

Though the Mask Festival, a renowned celebration of culture and art, has yet to arrive, the beginning of it was already underway as it is just one week away. Small shops and stalls display intricate masks, some whimsical, others deeply solemn. You can’t resist the allure of these artistic creations and pick up a few as keepsakes.

As the first light of dawn gently kisses the horizon, you wake up to the promise of a new day’s adventure. 

The crisp morning air, tinged with the faint aroma of last night’s dinner, fills your senses. With the remnants of a hearty meal beckoning from the campfire’s embers, you decide to start your day with a taste of yesterday’s flavors. 

Sitting beside the smoldering fire, you savor the rich and comforting taste of the previous night’s meal. The warmth of the flames caress your skin, contrasting the cool mountain breeze that rustles through the surrounding trees. 

Each bite of food is a reminder of the shared moments around the campfire and the anticipation of the journey ahead.

With a satisfied belly, you eagerly prepare for the day’s hike. 

Your hiking gear, meticulously chosen for comfort and practicality, awaits its next adventure. As you lace up your sturdy boots, the promise of rugged trails and breathtaking vistas fills your thoughts, igniting a spark of excitement. Your backpack, loaded with essentials, feels like a trusty companion ready to accompany you on this mountain odyssey.

You have heard whispers of the legendary Byongdae cliff and the enchanting Pine Tree Forest that graces these mystical mountains. The tales have woven a tapestry of intrigue in your mind, and now, standing on the precipice of reality, you feel an irresistible pull to explore these fabled wonders.

Your journey begins amidst the towering giants of the Pine Tree Forest, a cathedral of nature’s grandeur. As you step into this tranquil grove, the air is saturated with the earthy scent of pine needles, a fragrant welcome that envelops your senses.

The sun filters through the dense canopy above, casting dappled shadows that dance at your feet. 

Each step you take feels like a pilgrimage through a sacred woodland, the ancient trees bearing witness to the passage of time itself. You crane your neck to look up, their lofty branches reaching for the heavens, as if sharing secrets with the sky. 

Birds serenade you with their melodic tunes, their songs echoing through the forest like a chorus of hidden muses. With each inhalation, you taste the purity of the forest air, a crisp elixir that invigorates your spirit.

As you wander deeper into this verdant sanctuary, you find yourself in the company of nature’s most exquisite creations. The pine trees stand sentinel, their trunks adorned with mossy tapestries, and their branches, adorned with tufts of emerald needles, sway in a gentle, rhythmic ballet.

Emerging from the woodland, you find yourself at the water’s edge, where the tranquil surface mirrors the cerulean sky above. 

Here, a quaint wooden ferry awaits, bobbing gently on the crystal-clear waters. 

With each paddle stroke, the boat glides effortlessly, carrying you and Yoongi closer to your next adventure.

The cliff looms ahead, a majestic sentinel of nature’s artistry. Its rugged facade rises from the water like a monolithic masterpiece, adorned with mosses and lichens, a testament to the passage of time. The boat docks at its base, and your anticipation grows. 

The ascent up the cliff is a thrilling endeavor, each step revealing a new facet of the picturesque village below. The air is invigorating, infused with the scent of salt and pine, while the distant sounds of village life, like the cheerful chatter of locals and the distant bleating of sheep, waft up to greet you. 

With every upward stride, the panorama unfolds, transforming the village into a living, breathing diorama beneath the vast expanse of the cerulean sky.

As you finally conquer the summit, a triumphant sense of achievement washes over you. 

The world unfolds before your eyes in a breathtaking panorama, a tapestry of nature’s artistry and the village’s quaint charm. 

You find a quiet spot to rest, nestled among the craggy rocks, where the gentle breeze carries with it the scent of adventure and the distant laughter of villagers below. Sitting there, you let the serenity of the moment seep into your bones. The sun bathes you in its golden warmth, the crisp mountain air fills your lungs, and the distant chirping of birds adds a harmonious touch to the symphony of nature. 

You close your eyes for a moment, feeling the earth beneath you, grounding yourself in this tranquil haven.

As you gaze from the rugged precipice, your voice slips into a soft, almost reverent whisper, “I’ll miss this so much when our vacation ends,” your eyes tracing the contours of the village sprawled far below.

“Weekend camping trips are always an option.” 

Yoongi suggests, his gaze lingering on the delicate contours of your face, taking in your beauty.

You turn to face Yoongi, your eyes sparkling with stars, and a surge of wonder and excitement infusing your voice, “Really?”

“Yeah.” 

He nods, his hand reaching out to caress your cheek, his finger lightly tracing over your soft lips, leaving a tantalizing sensation in its wake.

Reluctantly, you begin your descent, your steps lighter now, the memories of the panoramic view etched into your heart. The wooden ferry awaits, its creaking timbers echoing with tales of countless journeys. 

As you board, the gentle sway of the boat on the water lulls you into a peaceful reverie. You watch as the cliff recedes into the distance, still an indomitable sentinel against the azure sky.

Returning to the village, you carry with you the sense of wonder and accomplishment that only a day spent among nature’s wonders can bring, a memory that will forever remain etched in your mind.

Your exploration also takes you to a serene temple nestled in the hills. The scent of incense hangs in the air as you marvel at the intricate architecture and the palpable sense of tranquility. Yoongi, always with an appreciation for the cultural significance of such places, captures the moment with his camera, preserving the beauty for eternity.

Fatigued from your adventurous day, you and Yoongi decide it’s time to savor the local flavors of Andong. 

A quaint restaurant beckons with the promise of culinary delights. The warm, inviting aroma of simmering spices and savory sauces wafts through the air as you step inside.

Seated at a wooden table, you peruse the menu with eager anticipation. Your eyes fall upon the legendary Andong Soju, its allure heightened by its formidable 40% alcohol content. With a knowing glance exchanged between you and Yoongi, you agree to indulge in moderation, not wanting to let the potent elixir spoil your evening.

As you sip the clear, fiery liquid from small glasses, you can feel the warmth spreading through your veins. The Soju carries the essence of Andong, a taste that hints at the town’s history and traditions, and it adds an extra layer of authenticity to your dining experience. 

For dinner, you decide to follow the advice of the locals and order the Jjimdak, a delectable dish that embodies the heart of Korean cuisine. Braised chicken and an array of vibrant vegetables, lovingly marinated in rich Korean soy sauce, arrive at your table. The dish is a burst of colors and textures, a tantalizing blend of sweet and savory flavors that dance on your taste buds.

As you dine, you can’t help but admire the cozy ambiance of the restaurant, filled with the cheerful chatter of fellow diners and the soothing melodies of traditional Korean music playing softly in the background. 

The flickering candlelight adds a touch of romance to the atmosphere.

Under the dimly lit Andong streets, you and Yoongi stroll hand in hand, feeling the subtle sway of the evening. 

The Andong Soju, though sipped cautiously, has lent a gentle, tipsy euphoria to your steps. The world takes on a dreamlike quality as you navigate the winding paths and narrow alleys. As you walk, the night envelops you in a comforting embrace. The soft glow of streetlights casts warm, golden pools on the cobblestone streets, guiding your way. 

The air is alive with the distant murmur of laughter and the melodious hum of crickets, serenading your tipsy journey. You steal glances at Yoongi, his features illuminated by the soft city lights. His eyes sparkle with a shared secret, and his smile, slightly crooked from the Soju’s influence, is irresistibly endearing. 

Every touch of his hand in yours sends delightful shivers through your tipsy senses.

As you approach Holly, it stands as a steadfast companion, a haven of familiarity in the midst of the Andong night. You pause for a moment, swaying gently together, and share a soft, lingering kiss beneath the moonlight. 

The taste of Yoongi and Soju lingers on your lips.

With your hearts light and spirits high, you finally settle into Holly, ready for a restful night’s sleep. The world outside may spin with a tipsy enchantment, but in each other’s arms, you find balance and serenity, cherishing the memories created in the charming town of Andong.

A few days before your planned rendezvous with Joonie, Jinie, and Hobi in Daejeon, you embark on a detour to Gumi, a place of natural beauty and tranquility. 

Your destination is the enchanting Geumosan Reservoir, a serene oasis nestled amidst rolling hills and lush forests. As you approach the reservoir, the scent of pine and earth fills the air, awakening your senses to the wilderness that lies ahead. 

The anticipation builds in your chest, knowing that an adventure awaits you amidst the pristine landscape.

Upon arrival, you’re greeted by the shimmering waters of the reservoir, reflecting the azure sky like a flawless mirror. The surrounding hills are cloaked in vibrant shades of green, and the soft rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze becomes your symphony.

You and Yoongi don your hiking gear, ready to explore the intricate network of trails that wind through this natural wonder. 

The first step onto the trail sends a jolt of excitement through you as the earth crunches beneath your boots, and you feel the rhythm of nature beneath your feet. The hike takes you along paths that meander through dense woods, opening up to breathtaking vistas that steal your breath away. 

The cool breeze carries the sweet aroma of wildflowers, and the distant call of birds adds a melodic soundtrack to your journey.

Yoongi’s hand in yours provides a reassuring anchor as you both marvel at the splendor of nature. 

Each step forward feels like an adventure, a shared exploration of the world’s wonders.

After a day of hiking, you find a serene spot near the reservoir’s edge to rest. You sit side by side, feet dangling above the crystal-clear water, and share a quiet moment of awe. The world seems to fade away, leaving only the two of you and the beauty that surrounds you.

“I just love nature,” Yoongi murmurs, leaning gently against your shoulder, his words carrying a sense of serenity, “the tranquility, the freedom to wander and reflect on life.”

You exhale audibly, your voice brimming with happiness, “I completely understand,” you say, your hand finding its way to his thigh, “This getaway is exactly what I needed to escape from the stresses of work,” you add, resting your head against his shoulder and savoring the moment.

He hums in contentment, “Indeed, it sounded like you were in desperate need of a break,” he says, his voice soft and reassuring.

“Yeah, you know I genuinely love my job, but recently the stress has really taken its toll.” 

You say, your voice tinged with a hint of disappointment. You can’t help but feel conflicted about your career, torn between your passion for it and the overwhelming stress it sometimes brings.

“I’m grateful this trip has been a relief,” he says, pressing a gentle kiss to your cheek. His words carry a warmth that reassures you, making you appreciate the escape from your daily pressures even more.

You exhale softly, your fingers finding comfort in his, and ask, “What’s your next destination in mind?” 

Your eyes meet his, filled with anticipation for the adventures yet to come.

He starts rambling with an endearing enthusiasm, his eyes sparkling with excitement. “I heard about a science center nearby. I know neither of us is a science geek, but I thought it might still be a lot of fun,” he says, his smile revealing those charming gums of his. You can’t help but find it absolutely adorable.

“I’m up for it. Honestly, everything with you is a blast, so I’m all in,” you reply, your voice filled with enthusiasm. You turn your head and punctuate your agreement with a passionate kiss, locking lips with his soft, inviting ones.

Although science has never been your forte, you decide to pay a visit to the local Science Center in Gumi. 

As you step into this world of discovery and innovation, you’re pleasantly surprised by the sense of wonder that envelops you. Together with Yoongi, you explore the center’s myriad exhibits, each one a gateway to the extraordinary. 

The museum’s interactive displays and hands-on activities offer a chance to hold hands with your boyfriend while delving into the mysteries of the universe.

One exhibit captures your attention—a dazzling planetarium show that transports you to distant galaxies. With the domed ceiling overhead, you and Yoongi recline in cushioned seats, your fingers intertwined, and watch as stars and constellations come to life, painting the cosmos with their celestial beauty.

The immersive experience ignites a newfound curiosity within you, as you realize that science has the power to evoke awe and inspire even to those who never thought they’d be interested.

Leaving the Science Center, you walk hand in hand, the spark of connection between you and Yoongi shining brighter than ever.

As the day unfolds, you and Yoongi decide to hit the bowling alley. 

You both step into those classic rented shoes, each pair slightly too large, and claim your own lane, creating a private haven for laughter and competition. The joy of the game isn’t just in the strikes and spares but in the shared experience. 

Yoongi, with his effortless bowling prowess, takes the lead. He patiently guides you, showing you how to hold the ball and improve your stance. Despite his best efforts, your balls still veer off course, but it hardly matters. What truly matters is the closeness you share. With each instruction he gives, his hands gently brush against yours, fingers lingering just a moment longer. 

You cherish these stolen moments of connection, realizing that it’s not about perfect strikes but the perfect touch and laughter that make this game unforgettable. As the pins clatter and balls roll, you’re grateful for the opportunity to have fun together, even if it means embracing your ineptitude at bowling. 

As your journey alone with Yoongi approaches its final destination, you find yourself in Yeongdong, a place where nature’s grandeur unfolds in breathtaking ways. Your destination? 

The enchanting Wolrybong peak, a majestic mountain that seems to touch the sky itself.

The ascent is filled with moments of awe as you navigate through winding trails, surrounded by lush, verdant forests. The air is crisp, carrying the scent of pine and earth, invigorating your senses with each breath. The trail occasionally opens up, revealing glimpses of the surrounding cliffs and pristine waters below, a mesmerizing sight that leaves you spellbound.

Upon reaching the summit, you find yourself standing on the edge of the world, overlooking a vast expanse of untouched beauty. 

Cliffs stand tall and proud, their rugged faces meeting the azure waters that stretch as far as the eye can see. It’s a scene that defies description, and for a moment, you feel like you’re part of a painting, a tiny speck in the grand canvas of nature.

In those tranquil moments, the world fades away, leaving you and Yoongi with nothing but the majesty of nature surrounding you. You take it all in, cherishing this time together.

As the sun sets behind the peaks, casting a warm, golden hue over the landscape, you can’t help but feel grateful for the opportunity to witness such beauty and to share it with the one you love. 

As the days wind down to the end of your adventurous journey, you decide to indulge in a well-deserved period of relaxation. Nestled in the cozy confines of Holly, you and Yoongi find solace in quiet moments together. The gentle hum of nature outside, the soft rustling of leaves, and the distant chirping of birds create a soothing symphony.

Wrapped in each other’s warmth, you savor the simple pleasure of just being together. The world outside may be bustling with activity, but within your private haven, time slows down, allowing you to bask in the tranquility that surrounds you.

There’s a contented sigh as you lean into Yoongi’s comforting embrace, the soft rhythm of his heartbeat echoing in sync with yours. 

Holly’s interior becomes your sanctuary, a place where laughter, stories, and stolen kisses create an intimate bond that feels like a haven of love.

As the time comes to drive to Daejeon to reunite with your friends, you do so with hearts full of cherished memories and a renewed sense of connection. 

The journey continues, but now it’s not just about the places you visit; it’s about the love and experiences you carry with you, making every mile of the road a testament to your new official relationship.

→ Permanent taglist: @nora12379 @jeonsbabygirlsworld @fancypeacepersona @ktownshizzle @pjmxxjm @ajoonniice @kookiewithluv @mikrokookiex @rapmonjoon94 @parkitrighthere

→ Series taglist: @idkjustlovingbts @constancelayon @wobblewobble822 @ktownshizzle @moonchild1 @ultimatefangirl0 @baechugff @jimintaemin @parapiop7 @fckkntired @iluvfndms @citypop-princess @tarahardcore @bergandysam @massivelyfullenthusiast @tatyhend @gimeow

© @/kingofbodyrolls 2023 // Please don’t copy or repost! You are more than welcome to reblog it, leave a comment or ask me anything about the story 🥰

[zelphin124]

Beyond The Bound Pages: Homer

Chapter 1: What it Means to be Abandoned

This is a new series I am writing about an isekai going into Homer's works. Featuring Saga: a gal who somehow has to survive in the Greek world on Odysseus ship. This will be fun. But first... we got to get there. Masterpost [Start] -> Chapter 2

~o0o~

The sweet smell of addicting, artificial strawberries filled the air, correlating with the dust of the paved road. The remnants of dust from graffiti spray paint lingered in the air, forcing a cough from those nearby. It smelled better than the taste it left in the air, and this particular paint stuck to the skin when sprayed. It didn’t help when it mixed with the humidity of the area. 

The woman holding the can took a step back on the two stairs she was standing on, looking at the edge of the wall. To her right, the stairs escalated to another dirt road above. A building arch overlaid most of the stairway. The walls were jagged and uneven on the sides, leading to perfect spots to leave a short message, which was her intention. Behind her was a caged door in a tan brick building, which one of her companions was trying to open. A cobbled pathway was carefully crafted and abandoned to her left, stretching in like a narrow balcony that overlooked the undertones of the abandoned city. The only thing preventing an immediate dropoff was a round, stone wall half a human’s size. It was uneven in its coverage and had breaks in its stretch when it met stairs leading down to the city's lower levels, but it could keep anyone from falling off accidentally. 

Random wires and pipes were strung up and across the buildings. It didn’t help that they had rusted over time from the prevalent rainfall. The sky was clear and bright, with only a few clouds to account for the mass water amid the air. The view from this specific road overlooked the rest of the city, showcasing its deep, interwoven roads and vertical levels. Whoever built the city was skilled in using the hills to their advantage, having crooked windows within the houses peek over the rest of the roofs. It wasn’t a largely abandoned town; one could see the desert hilltops on the edge of the city, showing off its cliffs and small, green bushes that were uncommon enough to be considered a rarity. There was a clear distinction in the various houses: who was rich and who was poor. The rich lived on the upper levels, and the poor lived on the bottom areas of the city, having laundry lines stretched out from roof to roof in the compacted area, versus the rich obtaining extra coverage and safety from potential break-ins. 

However, no one lived in the city anymore. It didn’t matter to the woman why everyone had left, it only mattered that it was a great place to send a message and collect forgotten loot.

Another woman sat on the round barrier near the cobbled road. She swung her feet back and forth, not paying attention to her untied shoelaces that wrapped around her ankles. Her dry, blonde hair was pinned back into a beanie. “Any luck, Zack?” She stuck her tongue out, tracing the dirt on her face. She was good at playing the act of a gang leader with the way she dressed. Her black leather jacket and brown shirt were torn and tattered, along with her ripped loose jeans. She wore bike gloves that did not go with her outfit well, but she always argued it was cool. Scars crossed her face and arms like she was attacked by a bear, but her story of how she got the scars changed every time someone asked her about it. 

The man behind the woman with the spray bottle turned around, adjusting his sunglasses. “I don’t think there’s going to be anything inside here, Isabella.” Zack dusted off his own gloves before he did the same to his white T-shirt. His curly brown hair always got in the way of his eyesight, forcing him to pin it up above his head. He was encouraged to get a haircut but insisted he wanted to create braids with his hair once it grew to the correct length. The hiking boots he wore were tight around his ankles, forcing him to make large steps with each foot movement. He had trouble walking anyway with how unnaturally tall he was. Long, baggy black pants hung from his waist covering his ankles. His voice was harsh and raspy as if he just inhaled the dust of a dirt road. “The people of Craco made sure to take their valuables.” 

Isabella leaned back on the balcony barrier, grunting with dissatisfaction, she was short, but that didn’t make her presence any more comforting. She had a motto of sticking together like a family, but her hypocrisy was exhibited through her actions. “Saga,” she turned to the woman with the spray paint. “You’ve been staring at that wall for too long. Make yourself useful!” 

The woman turned, her long, strawberry-blonde hair curled gently out of her large bun. It would fall to her knees if she let it loose. She was new to the gang, so her hair wasn’t as tattered and dry as the rest of them. It was silky and well-taken care of. Her hazel eyes reflected the setting sun, and she had yet to receive the tattoo on her left cheek of the gang’s symbol. If it were up to her, she would’ve worn a white blouse with a forest green skirt that stretched to her knees, but the uniform of the gang consisted of white and brown T-shirts with leather jackets, tattered work pants, and laced shoes. She was covered in dirt and spray paint, but couldn’t care enough to tidy herself up. Her chest was rather flat, and her body figure was rather square. She gave off tomboy vibes, and her fists were wrapped in bandages from the fights she got in. She cleared her voice, trying to sound tougher than she was. “I’d have to break up the message.” 

Isabella whipped her head around to the south, narrowing her eyes as she heard distant footsteps. “We need to hurry up and catch up with the others. The city is abandoned, but the police will look for people like us here.” Her feet slammed onto the cobblestone as she wiped her face. The scars wrinkled with her disgusted stare. “Zack, forget the door. We will get the loot some other time. Help Saga with the message.” 

“Bellosi mafia di Isabella o,” Zack dropped his tools and walked across the stairs. He leaned his hand on the wall close to where Saga was staring at, towering over her. He was at least a foot taller than her, but he didn’t carry himself with the confidence his height should have brought him. His breath was sour like rotten eggs as he spoke. “Need help spelling that, champ?” 

“No.” Saga turned to face him, not flinching out of his intimidation. She bit her tongue in an attempt to not smell his breath. “We aren’t a mafia. It’s not proper Italian.” 

“Doesn’t have to be,” Isabella kicked a rock down one of the stairpaths, chipping the stones of the road. “It’s a slogan, one that will establish us as a soon-to-be mafia. Remember, act the part until it becomes reality, right?”

Saga flattened her lips and nodded. 

“You don’t even know Italian, so it would be best if you kept your mouth shut and followed blindly,” the gang leader continued. “Write the phrase, then let’s ditch.” 

“You said we were family,” Saga argued. “Family should hear each other out.” 

A hoarse laugh echoed throughout the city as it fled from Zack’s lips. He bent over, resting his back on the wall as he wheezed. His eyes almost bulged out of his skull as if what Saga had said was the most ridiculous thing he had ever heard. 

Isabella did not have the same reaction. She took off her beanie and ran her hand through her hair. “I meant we were a family as in we would stick together,” she tilted her head sideways, chewing on something: weed, if Saga had to guess. “You have to trust me on this, I don’t have time to explain. We don’t ditch each other, but that doesn’t mean I take care of you to think, understood?” 

Saga grunted and shook the can in her hand with aggression. She double-checked its inky black color before writing the message on the wall. She sprayed it enough to release its stench in the air, forcing Zack to retreat from the wall as he snuffled a few coughs. 

He left Saga’s peripheral vision and rummaged through his duffle bag, clanging the tools together as if they were trash. Saga could tell he was clumsy with them because of the various scraping noises she heard, rather than the usual shuffling pitches. 

Saga heard a door unlatch behind her. “Really, Zack?” Isabella snapped. “Even Omar could’ve done a better job than this.” 

“I loosened it for you,” Zack argued. He cursed under his breath as he followed Isabella into the small room, grabbing a few nails and other supplies they could find in the forsaken metropolis of Italy. 

Saga made haste with painting the message on the wall, covering her face with her arm from the smell and smoke the spray paint let off. The cloud it produced stuck to her skin, and every few seconds she paused to itch the crusted dust off her body. The sun's rays only made the paint on her skin burn. She was expected to endure it, for as Isabella said: “The consequences of breaking the law would be much worse than simple burns on the skin.” 

Saga let out a disgruntled cough as she finished the graffiti, waving her hand in front of her face to get rid of the remaining dust. The humidity only got more intense the more the setting sun beat on Saga’s skin. She took a step back, careful to not trip on the uneven carved stones on the stairs. To her, the message made no sense, and it was hard to decipher. Telling herself repeatedly it was for a purpose she didn’t understand yet felt folly. Her gaze traversed to the gray door next to the wall she mutilated. It appeared slammed shut, but perhaps it had better loot hiding behind it. 

The gang had been searching for scraps all day, and their group in particular had collected nothing. The one sapphire necklace they did find was dropped by Zack through an unreachable crack in the sewage system. Saga wasn’t informed of what the gang was specifically seeking in these ruins, but she assumed it was the leftover valuables left by the former inhabitants. They wanted to claim their share of the treasure within the rubble before the government stole it from the people; at least, that was Zack’s explanation of the situation. 

The woman’s hands ruffled through Zack’s bag, pulling out a tool she knew not the name of. She observed the carvings and markings on it before the structure itself. It had a flat edge that could fit under a small opening and a stronger, round base to push an opposing force open like a lever. She watched Zack use it on a few other doors throughout the city, mostly accounting for his failure to open them. Despite being built like a giant, he seemed to have trouble with the nitty gritty tasks, which Isabella foolishly assigned him to. Omar advised them to switch roles, but Isabella refused to do the work herself. 

Fortunately, Saga had a way of being crafty and self-sufficient even before she joined the group. She carefully slid the flat part of the tool under the solid gray door, ignoring the murmuring of her compatriots behind the chained door. She spanned her gaze across the door hinges; it was the perfect design to lift the door and let it fall forward. Resting her foot and hands on the tool, she inhaled sharply before using precise force to press down. 

The door was promptly lifted off its hinges, its weight carrying itself to the floor. It slammed on the bricks, sending a rustled echo through the newly revealed room. The sound bounced across the walls and roads, causing Saga to wince as it slowly died out. 

The room itself had no light. There was a ladder to the right to get on top of the tiled roof. The house was small and square, with a hard floor and a table at the edge of its wall. There was one thing on the table: a book. 

Saga discarded the tool to the side before bending over to step into the cube. She searched the floor for anything to salvage but came out empty-handed. The door had landed on most of the floor; perhaps it squished whatever was left in the house. She straightened her back and stumbled over to the table. She first eyed the silver in the nails and started to peel them out. They could be smelted for cash. However, as she disassembled the table for its valuable components, her curiosity grew about the book on top of it. 

She paused her theft and stared at the book. Saga was not one to talk to herself in her own head and her thoughts were very few, just as Isabella had instructed her. However, her mind raced when she gave in to the temptation and picked up the book, blowing and wiping the dust off its cover. 

Homer, the title read. Iliad and Odyssey. It detailed it was a special edition with various events between the two books, and its size attested to the claim. The ridges of the book were ancient, and the spine presented the book’s contents dated back to well over two thousand years. 

Saga held the book in one hand, flipping it back and forth in her hands. She knew a studio that would pay good money for something old like it. Her face grimaced at the thought and memory that accompanied the studio. Her fists clenched. 

They were the reason she was here.

“What part about sticking together do you not understand?” Zack’s rustic voice filled her ears as the chained door slammed behind him. “That sound was too loud, it could’ve given away our position.” A rough grip tightened on Saga’s shoulder. 

Saga jumped back, snuffing a surprised scream. She readied her left fist into a punching position whilst her right held the book close to her chest. She grunted and sighed when her heart rate slowed down and her brain registered it was just Zack. Roughly, she forced his hand off of her shoulder. 

Zack hung his tongue out from his mouth like a dog. “Cat got your tongue, champ?” 

“She is a woman of few words, Zack.” Isabella came from behind Zack, shoving a large, marble tabletop into his chest. There was no sign of care from her as Zack barely caught the object and stumbled out of the room. She approached gracefully and shot a disapproving glare at Saga. “Or, you are now. Did you find anything?”

Saga adjusted her stance, leaning on her hip as she carelessly handed the old book to her leader, her eyes slanted and locked on the door now on the floor. Adjusting the bandages on her wrists, Saga took steps to leave the room.

She was stopped. “Nah, nah, nah,” Isabella stuck out her arm to block her path, not taking her eyes off the book. “You just found this here, lying around in the open?” 

Saga flattened her face and nodded, gesturing to the broken table. 

Isabella’s eyes shined like she was looking in her own reflection. A crooked smirk captured her lips. “Nice work, champ, this will make us a great buck. Perhaps this will pay for my–” 

“Our.” Saga’s words were harsh and curt. “I found it.” 

There was a pause as Isabella looked up to meet Saga’s gaze. She chuckled nervously. “Relax, champ,” her tone was gleeful and fibberful. “Of course it’s ours, the money goes to the family, no? The beautiful mafia of Isabella,” she tucked the book under her arm and gestured to the exit. “This will get us on the right track to that glorious vision.” 

Isabella had a whole lot of vision but little action to achieve it from Saga’s point of view. Usually, Saga would endure the blissful, nihilistic aura she emitted, but it was extra sour when put in the mix with Zack’s cocky stupidity. She once had that same mindset, but it was something that long escaped her. If she still had that outlook on life, she wouldn’t be trussing a to-be mafia gang. 

Saga scrambled out of the room and assisted Zack in picking up his tools, eyeing the sunset that besmeared the sky a glorious haze of orange and pink. Perhaps luck was on their side after all; they had gathered valuables all at the last minute. 

“I see why this was left behind,” Saga glanced to see Isabella speaking as she flipped through the pages of Homer. “Imagine reading this textbook, it’s one of those where you have to know background knowledge to understand it.” 

“Someone is insane enough to like it,” Zack hoisted the bag of tools and bag of stolen goods up both his shoulders. “It’ll sell just like the rest of these. I bet I’ll get a sweet gun out of this marbled top–” 

“We start small, remember to meet up on the outside of the city,” Isabella pointed to the hill in view. “You remember the path, Zack, right?” 

“Please, you think I would get lost in a simple maze like this?” Zack smirked wildly and turned south on the cobbled road. He stumbled before he caught himself, reminding himself to take big steps. “We head down.” 

Saga rested her back on the wall she graffitied, her feet pressing against the irregular curves in the steps. Her arms were crossed around her chest before she moved them to adjust her bun. She’d have to cut her hair soon as it was getting difficult to pin it up. 

The gang shuffled to make a move on before Zack stopped in the middle of the path, blocking Isabella’s way. “The hell are you–” 

“Mani in alto dove posso vederli.” 

Zack’s hands went up slowly, resting on his head as his shoulders drooped. Isabella also stopped in her tracks as she backed up, slowly making her way to Saga. 

“Ehi! Non muoverti, o spareremo! Sei in arresto!” 

“Merda,” Isabella hissed, turning to face Saga. “It’s the police.” 

Saga’s eyes widened. She put her hands up as Zack clumsily backed up the alleyway toward the stairs. Once he was out of the way, four policemen came into view. They had their guns drawn as they blocked the road exit. They muttered a few things in Italian that Saga couldn’t understand before gesturing to Zack to get on his knees and release the bags from his possession. 

Saga glanced at Isabella in the corner of her eye. She saw her leader’s eyes plotting, and it never ended well for anyone else when she did so. She bent over as if she was about to get on her knees as well, but her eyes steadily remained on the enforcer’s hands. 

Saga’s heart dropped, and she found it difficult to breathe. She stared at the cop approaching her, unsure what to do but to follow suit. Immediate regret overflowed in her heart; this wasn’t what she thought would happen.

THUNK!

Zack waited for the police to put his gun down and pull out his cuffs before socking him in the throat. He crushed the other gun in the second police’s hands before landing a punch across his face. He ditched his tool bag, grabbed the stolen goods duffle bag, and jumped off of the balcony into a nearby stairway, leading into the maze of the abandoned city below. 

The other cops turned their attention to the noise, giving enough time for Isabella to shove the book into Saga’s hands before taking off up the stairs. She hid behind the wall as one of the cops shot at her, causing a few of the old stones to fall off the arch. It wouldn’t be long before the building collapsed, blocking the path. 

A split second passed as Saga processed her comrades, who were ditching her. It was followed by another awkward second of eye contact with the four police, eyeing the book in her hand. Instinct grabbed her by the throat and forced her into action. She flung her fists into the closest cop’s stomach, shoving him into the balcony barrier before dashing north down the cobbled road. Her heart raced as she ran for her life, diving behind another wall as shots were fired. 

“Torna qui!” The police hollered, two of them pursuing Saga as they fired more rounds of their revolvers in her direction. They sprinted after her on foot, following the cobbled path. 

Saga bolted from behind the wall and further down the path, the rugged walls and landscape of the city blurring as she focused on her exit. Long shadows were cast by the setting sun, showing the city’s weathering facades. It would be difficult to find sturdy things to climb on with the city in its rusted, crumbling state. She shoved the book down her shirt, hoping it would stay as she used her arms to run. She figured the cobbled path would end soon, forcing her to use an alternate route of escape. 

By the time the police also reached the end of the path, they had run out of bullets. They searched around frantically before spotting their target climbing up the pipes and uneven walls. One of them admitted he was too fat to climb after before resulting in chopping at the pipe. The other proceeded to climb up after Saga, slowly gaining on her. 

Saga felt the pipe become more unstable by the minute. Her heart raced as adrenaline kicked in. She spanned her gaze around the area frantically, spotting a roof close by. She grabbed the edge of the window above her before jumping to the tiled roof, breaking into a run once more. 

The other police were not far behind her. He shouted at her as he gained on her, jumping from roof to roof as she followed. His steps were a lot more clangorous than Saga’s, provoking the ruins to collapse after he flew across them. Wherever Saga slid and crumpled tiles under her feet, the police crushed with his, leaving nothing but dust. 

Under different circumstances, Saga would’ve sat to enjoy the sunset from the height she was at, taking in the beautiful scenery of the abandoned city. Saga used her ears to try and see if her comrades were nearby, but there were no signs of them anywhere. She jumped from roof to roof, occasionally attempting her luck at bouncing off different walls, hoping to get an advantage on her pursuers. She dared fate and looked behind her. 

One of the cops was following their path on the ground, panting heavily as he took turns down alleyways and ran up and down various stairs. The leaner cop was right on her tail, catching up with great speed as if he had experience running across rooftops. 

The cop on the roof was close enough to grab her jacket. He reached for her, stumbling over his feet as he lunged for her. Saga had little time to think as she dodged his grasp, sliding down another tiled roof before leaping to another. 

She fell short. Saga gripped onto the edge of the tower, spotting a rusted bell at the top of the observatory. Her hands ached with pain as they dug into the sandstone. She moved her hands up quickly, grabbed onto the ledge, and barely managed to pull herself onto the floor below the bell. She gasped for breath, coughing out the dust that entered her lungs. 

The police stopped on the previous roof, looking up at the tower. His eyes were wide as if he was astonished she made it. He muttered something into his communication device, a phrase in Italian Saga couldn’t understand. 

Saga stood, pain ceasing everything in her body. She crumpled on her hip before straightening her back again, flipping off the cop with both fingers as she caught her breath. Her bun was undone, which let her long hair fall to her sides beautifully. 

The sight of the sunset gleaming on Saga standing in the tower with her long hair out and two middle fingers up didn’t last long. There was an eerie creak before a loud crack. Saga felt the floor give way, sending her down the tower. She let out a pitiful scream, crashing into the ladder and stairs, tumbling over and over again as everything scratched and bruised her face. Her attempts at grabbing onto anything were futile, and it wasn’t long until she hit the base of the tower at the lowest level. Hitting her head, everything went black.

[anavatazes]

Learn to be a Texas Southern, From Austin.

Ok. First of all, I love you all. I truly do. I adore my fan fic writers, especially if you write my Joel crack... um, stories. *cough* The man keeps me in a bear hug and refuses to let go. Not that I am complaining ;).

BUT, for the LOVE of all that is holy and good and Joel, STOP using any American TV show or movie for reference to how things are in Texas as far as the food, the way they talk, the way the weather is, how and what a BBQ is, and I swear if I see another one with snow...

Like I said, I love you all. Yes, fan fiction is fantasy. You can write what you want. How you want. That's what is so great and wonderful about it. Get creative, get wild. Go crazy! But don't sit there and act like you do your research and are an accurate little miss that can do no wrong. Nuh-uh. I will find a slew of little old ladies that will Bless Your Hearts from here to Oblivion if you call Ribs with BBQ sauce proper BBQ in Texas. Believe you me. Every State in the Union has their own form of BBQ, and in the Southern States, it's a fucking religion akin to College Football and Jesus.

American TV and movies are pretty generic when it comes to the accuracy of our own culture and will take great liberties when trying to pass off one area for another. This includes accents, ways people speak, and how the areas they are in truly are. I touched on this briefly when I went over the whole Bless Your Heart phrase and how it does not mean what you think it means and it can get pretty offensive quick. American TV likes to go for the shock value, and the drama more than it likes to go for the accuracy and really doesn't care who it offends in the process. And older shows, like Dallas, Southerners don't talk like that anymore. Except maybe a few left in Kentucky... Maybe. Watch play-throughs of the games if you want a feel for how Joel speaks. Especially the first one. Stay away from the second one if you are trying to avoid season 2 spoilers for the show.

No Outbreak!/Pre-Outbreak!Joel will spend Saturday mornings with Sarah hiking. And there are next to no hills (unless man-made) in Austin. It's all flatland. No mountains. A few rivers, and Lake Travis isn't far away. A lot of trails all around Austin from 1999 to 2013, depending on when you wanted to have Outbreak Day if you wanted it at all. They'd probably go to one of a trillion restaurants in Austin for lunch, depending on their taste. It is canon that Joel can't cook. Tommy, Ellie, AND Sarah all bring it up in Pt. 1 and Pt. 2, if you know where to look. I would say one of their favorite places would be Home Slice for some great pizza. Or maybe even Torchies for a wide variety of tasty Tex-Mex food. Maybe even pick up some Brisket (Texas BBQ) to take home to get ready for an afternoon spent watching the University of Texas football game on the TV, if we're in August to January. Honestly, May through the beginning of October, they probably aren't doing too much hiking. The temperature of 100° plus (in Fahrenheit) is all the rage at this time. And you might have high humidity one day, with non-stop thunderstorms that might seem like a hurricane, and can spawn a tornado, but really isn't a hurricane. Then the next day, be the dryest heat that you've ever experienced in your life. Though, from what I've heard, the latter rarely happens now. More humid days are common now.

Texas BBQ.

If you are ever in the Southern United States, do yourself a favor, and just do not call anything related to the grill BBQ, ok. You will be better off and have a nicer visit, and life overall. If you like to live dangerously, go ahead and call the grill a BBQ. Call a cookout a BBQ. Go ahead. I'll wait. I'll have the tissues ready and waiting for the passive-aggressive politeness from the ladies and the open hostility from the not-so-gentlemen. You have a Cookout, or you Grill out. A BBQ is a way of life and means something different in each state (and will start a war in North Carolina because they are so special, they have two kinds of BBQ). Most everyone in (at least the South) can agree that BBQ food is some sort of slow cooked meat. In Texas, almost 99% of the population agrees it's Brisket, and the rest are wrong. (That's another Southern thing, they are right, and everyone else is just wrong. Drives me nuts when they use it in an argument). Now, they will have different ways of preparing it, and they will have fights over it (have witnessed several), but they all agree on Brisket.

Being close to the Mexican border and Texas' history as a part of Mexico once upon a time means that there is a heavy Mexican influence in Austin. As much as Texas likes to claim to be white bread, it really isn't. From the food to the people to the names of streets, cities, etc, there is a heavy Mexican influence. The idea that, somewhere, that Joel and Tommy have Latino blood is not far-fetched. Especially on the show. At the very least they would have a basic understanding of Spanish. That is being from Austin, regardless if they share any Mexican heritage or not.

Politeness and the True Southern Gentlemen.

I hate to break it to you, but there is no such thing as the great Southern Politeness and Hospitality. In fact, if a guy comes up to me and says he's a True Southern Gentleman, I'm running the other way. That "Gentleman" is 9/10 times a walking sexual assault case. This is not to say there are no nic+e and polite people in the South, but it is no different from any other place in the US. But, I will tell you, from the upper middle class on up, they can be some of the most passive-aggressive mother fuckers you will ever meet. From the Mid-Middle Class on down, the more hospitable they will be, and they fit the stereotype the upper class has somehow gotten. It's a mess.

Religion

Not everyone in the South is Christian, or devout, but will say a phrase that will make you think they are. I touched on this in my Bless Your Heart post. As God as my Witness, Good Lord Willin', Christ Almighty, and others are common phrases you will hear in the South. It DOES NOT mean the speaker is religious by any means. Trust me.

That's all I have for now. I could go on, as there is more. And please remember, fan fiction is fantasy, it's creative. Write what you want. This is just to help out those who are looking for more accuracy. And as it has been a while since Austin for me, and you are from Texas, and more specifically Austin, and you wish to add more info, and/or correct anything, feel free, please. There are a lot of differences among the Southern States, and it can be a pain to keep it all straight. So I have no problem in receiving help to keep in all in line :).

[4ttack-ur-heart]

rec:

connie x y/n date at the zoom🦙

Lions & Polar Bears

Pairing: connie x gn! reader

Summary: You and Connie go on a cute date to the zoo.

Genre: Fluffy af

Warnings: none

authors note: glad I am finally posting this. It's been in my drafts for months and wanted to send it out earlier, but writer's block and a bit of seasonal depression hit and I wanted to end it good.

okay and ngl, towards the end it’s really fluffy and totally cringe and cliche so I’m excited. also i'm pretty sure I used only gender neutral terms in regards to the reader, but if you catch something I missed just lmk :)

——— he's literally adorable-

“Babe, look at the wolves!” Connie gushes out to you and grabs your hand.

He’s been dying to go to the zoo lately, so he was ecstatic when you bought the tickets online to surprise him. Apparently it was the best gift you could’ve gotten him, as Connie turned into a kid going to Disneyland for the first time.

“I see, baby.” You smile at him and link your arms with him. A few people surrounded you, but thankfully you took a day off of work so it wouldn’t be as crowded as it would on a weekend. “What do you wanna go see see next?”

He hovers over your shoulder, glancing between the park map and the wolf enclosure. “The elephants are near by. Can we go see them?”

“Of course.”

Your local zoo was a popular tourist spot since it was also a rescue center for the animals, thankfully not just some poor creatures behind a steel fence.

It was pretty humid unfortunately, but you and Connie prepared. Both of you were twinning with a couple anime t-shirts and shorts with a pair of sunglasses.

He dragged you through the park, hand desperately clutching onto to yours in hope you’ll match his speed. “C’mon, slowpoke. Don’t make me carry you.”

“If you do in front of all these people, you can sleep with the polar bears tonight.”

“What’s the difference?”

He earned himself a light smack to the back of his buzzed head.

————

It was around noonish by the time your stomach started growling. Between the sun, the humidity, and walking, plus the water bottles you stored in your little backpack were rapidly declining.

“Baby, we should find somewhere to eat real quick.” You tell him as the smell from the food stands started to waft in your nose.

“Weak.” He replied.

“Oh, I’m sorry. Most people don’t survive off of Oreos and a redbull.”

“Ugh, fine- whatever Mom.”

Connie laughed at the glare you sent his way. He wasn’t wrong though. He sure acted like a kid rather than an adult, but his goofy personality was what you liked about him. “Okay, okay, what do you want to eat?”

After various glances between the different food stands, you both decided on getting burgers, which made your stomach growl even more.

Connie came up behind you and placed a hand tenderly on your stomach, “Hey quiet that thing down, it’s gonna attract the animals.”

“Sorry, my handler hasn’t fed me yet.” You let out a giggle as Connie places a small kiss on your cheek.

“Let’s go, babe.”

————

After a good meal of overpriced food, the hiking up the many hills of the zoo were no match for you two.

“You liked the elephants?” You asked and swung your clasped hand with his. He’s been in a great mood all day and you couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride in yourself that you made the right choice in buying the tickets.

“Yes, you’re the best,” He gave you a kiss. “What do you wanna see?”

A confused look took over your face and your eyebrows raised from behind the lenses of your sunglasses.

“Uhh, it’s only like 2:00 pm…” You tell him. “Why do you think I spent the night at your place? I made sure I was going to wake your ass up early, babe. We’re gonna see everything.”

Connies brain felt like it was short-circuiting.

“You okay? You look liked you’re about to faint.”

His hand squeezed yours in response and he nods, a small tint of pink staining his cheeks. “Yeah.” He let out a small chuckle as you started dragging him toward the lion exhibit. “Never been better, actually.”

“C’mon! They have a show soon, let’s go watch.”

———

“This is Mila,” The zookeeper’s voice rang through the small headset from atop a podium. “She’s a lioness who was rescued from poachers about five years ago. We got a call from a rescue organization out there and we managed to send a team out to safely get her and her cubs out.”

The lioness sat comfortable on top of the large rock platform. Her eyes scanned the crowd of guests before sharply shifting her gaze to her cubs. The two smaller lions started nipping at each other playfully, definitely putting on a show for the crowd.

“They’ve grown a lot since they’ve been rescued, but a mother never stops being a mother.” The keeper laughs as Mila starts to trek towards them. The two quickly separated, their manes bustling with movement.

A deep and almost guttural noise echoed through the enclosure. Mila and the zookeepers attention shifted to the noise.

“How exciting, it looked like our male lion, Apollo, has woken up from his afternoon nap.”

“That’s something you two have in common.” You playfully elbow Connie in the ribs.

“Ha, you think you won, but I don’t see how being compared to a lion is bad.”

The crowd let out sounds of wonder as Apollo made his appearance. The lion stood strong with his large and dark mane.

“Apollo was transferred from another zoo due to issues with mating with another lioness. We were a bit nervous when he was relocated here, since we didn’t know how he would react to Mila and her cubs.”

While Connie pretty much had a front row seat, a few people started to trickle in closer and obstruct your vision, but you didn’t mind. He looked back towards you and pulled your arm to make you move closer as the crowd started to ‘aw’ at the lions. He pushed you in front of him so you could see what was going on.

A cub slowly emerged from under Apollo’s legs. The little cub seemed skittish from all the attention, but a slight bump from Mila encouraged her to move out from Apollo.

“As you can see, the two have bonded very well and had Serene. Normally, male lions won’t really take part in raising cubs, only seeing it as a the lionesses job. They mostly add protection and watch over the pride while the mothers go out to hunt. After Serene was born, he immediately showed signs of care, which surprised us, and he always has her in his sights. Talk about daddy’s little girl.”

“Dude, that’s so cute.” Connie wrapped his arms around your front and rested his chin on the top of your head.

As the show continued, the zookeeper gave out other information about the lions and Mila’s family.

“Hey, I think it’s ending soon.” Connie’s voice whispered in your ear. “Wanna beat the crowd and go check out the llamas?”

“Whatever you want to do, Connie.”

And with that, you both snuck out and headed for the llamas.

“Holy shit, they’re fluffy.” He gaped at the animals.

“Connie, there’s kids here.” You whispered as a few parents glanced in your direction at his profanity.

“So? Take them to Disneyland then. The animals won’t censor their lives, why should I?”

You shrugged off the glares, he did have a point. The pack of llamas and alpacas were sifting past each other behind the fence. The smell was… tolerable- kinda and globs of spit dribbled down some of their mouths. You decided it was safe to keep your distance.

“Would you like to pet him?” One of the handlers asked.

“Wait- yes, can I?” Connie asked.

You quickly take out your phone and snap a few pictures of Connie with the llama. His hand gently rubbed the furry muzzle and the llama bleated a bit at the touch. It was going great, until a large thick glob of spit trailed down Connie’s wrist and down his elbow.

“Careful-! Sorry, he’s drools a lot. Here’s a tissue.”

———

After many more hours of seeing the animal habitats, the sun started to set. The warm summer atmosphere started to glow dim with dark colors painting the sky. Torches and lamps illuminated the walk ways and guests were busy trying to catch the last shows and exhibits before closing.

“Babe, let’s go to the gift shop.” Connie drags you towards the small shop, like a little kid in a toy store… literally.

The shop was filled with souvenirs ranging from magnets, water bottles, and plushies. The cute jungle theme was spread throughout the store with bamboo flooring and vines hanging from the ceiling.

It’s only been a few months of you two dating, but you’ve both have been inseparable. There was never a dull moment with Connie. Weekends could either be going to a dive bar or watching Netflix with takeout, which both of you never minded. He was also treated you like royalty too, always opening the doors, complimenting you when you’re feeling down, fuck- even tying your shoes.

Your thoughts were interrupted when Connie shoved a monkey plushie in your face. Blinking your eyes to focus, you took in it’s abnormal appearance: wide body, small head, scrawny legs.

“Look how ugly this thing is!” He laughed and tossed it back in the basket with the others.

You chuckled at him and glanced at the other plushies. An adorable lion caught your eyes and you picked it up. The soft fuzz from the mane tickled your fingers. “You’re coming home with me.”

Connie bumped into you and you both made eye contact, a light blush heating up your faces. He cradled a polar bear plushie in his hands.

“That’s the one?” You asked, your gaze fixed on the stuffed animal.

His eyes never left you. “Y-yeah.”

After paying for both the plushies, it was finally time to go home. The plushies rested under your arm as the two of you walked back to Connie’s car hand in hand.

The other families were trailing slowly to the exit with exhausted kids sleeping in their parents arms and strollers.

“Thank you for today.” He said once you two reached the parking lot.

“Of course, baby.” You squeezed his hand tighter. “I’m glad you had fun.

“Nah, like…” Connie trailed off for a moment, biting his lip. “You don’t understand.”

Your head creaked to the side in confusion. “Understand what?”

“Fuck, like other people I’ve dated in the past never really enjoyed doing stuff like this.”

He walked you to the passenger door of his car.

"The zoo? Who doesn't like the-"

“Nah, they’ve always wanted to go clubbing every night or go to five star restaurants- and like don’t get me wrong, I like to go out and get fancy once in a while too.”

“But it’s draining. Overall it wasn't what you wanted to do, was it? Plus we’re young and broke, who can afford it in this economy?” You finished for him with a giggle.

A sigh of relief escaped him. “You get it.”

Your hand reached up and swiped through his hair. “I do. Wanna get Taco Bell on the way home?”

“Dammit, how are you-”

"So perfect for me," he wanted to say. “Fuck it, Y/n, I love you.”

Your breath hitched in your throat and Connie looked like he was about to pass out- again. A warmth flooded through your body and you couldn’t help the smile forming.

“I love you too.”

He was wide-eyed. “R-really? You aren’t just saying that cause I did? It’s okay if you don’t yet- or if you never do- wait…”

A loud laugh escaped you as he continued to ramble. “Connie, I love you too.”

Connie let out a heavy sigh. “That’s a relief, the drive home would’ve just been...” He whistled lowly.

You leaned up to kiss him. “Get in the car, I’m hungry again.”

————

Connie finally pulled into the parking lot of his apartment complex. The music was playing lowly in the background and his hand never left your thigh the entire drive. Taco wrappers and hot sauce packets littered the floor by your feet and both plushies resided with you under your seatbelt so they could be safe.

“Y/n, babe, wake up. We’re home.” He gently shook your sleeping form.

A grumbled left your lips, but you didn’t stir. Connie grabbed the trash and threw it out in a nearby bin then opened your door. He reached over and unbuckled your seatbelt. The two plushies found their way into your tiny backpack which Connie reluctantly put on.

“Come on, my little polar bear.” He laced your arms around his neck and edged you off the seat. Your legs wrapped around his torso and his arm secured itself under your butt to support you. You hummed into his neck, ever so grateful he was carrying you.

“Fuck, maybe I should’ve called you a koala instead.”

-----

Taglist: @cullenswife @sad-darksoul @laylasbunbunny @kokosmiles

(Lmk if you would like to be added or removed)

[theodorka]

Chapter 32: Bargain of Flesh, Blood & Bone

AO3: These Gilded Memories of Mine by Theodorka

Words: 6.6k | Pairing: Severus Snape x OC | Rating: Explicit

Excerpt:

Severus Snape had officially lost his mind.

Term was over, the horrible children sent back whence they came, and now Severus was tromping through the fucking wilderness at Fiona Weasley’s heels.

“Severus, are you sure you don’t want to change into something more…appropriate for hiking?”

“I’m fine, woman!” Severus snapped, smacking his chin to murder yet another mosquito. Merlin knew wearing less would just expose more of his flesh to the bloodsucking pests. The moment they made camp, Severus was going to brew enough insect repellent to drown a toddler.

Fiona crouched ahead, examining some dirt again. She insisted they were tracks. They did not look like tracks. Severus stared upwards at the wide, blue sky above. The land here was extraordinarily flat.

“Where did you say we were again?” Severus knew they were somewhere in America, roughly in the middleish bit of it. That said, America was ruddy massive so the middleish bit was larger than bloody Scotland.

“Illinois.”

“Ill-i-nois.” Severus let the syllables fall off his tongue. They were in some kind of flat, marshy wetland encapsulated by woodlands, looking for some sort of bird monster.

“I think it went…west…ish.”

Severus scowled, following Fiona westish, wishing he hadn’t agreed to tag along on this quest of hers.

While, he was interested in seeing how she trained, he had not realized Fiona also needed to track down the bloody beasts to begin with. She was dressed in flexible, form-fitting Muggle clothing, like she might start running a marathon at any moment. The sole joy to be had in this Illinois was that Severus was following Fiona through it and he could admire her figure much better for it.

It was somewhat undercut by the fact it was disgustingly humid in this Illinois and Severus was miserable even with cooling charms. Every strand of his dark hair was curling and, defeated, Severus tied it back, feeling the faintest, whisper of a breeze cool his neck. He wasn’t certain he didn’t hallucinate it.

They came to a river, or rather, a very long, stagnant body of water that might once have moved, but wasn’t right now.

“Sev, look!” Fiona pointed up the body of water at a big pile of sticks, where a few large rodents were beating the sticks down with large, flat tails. “Beavers!”

Severus nodded toward the aforementioned beavers in acknowledgment. This was, he had learned, something Fiona enjoyed doing: identifying wildlife. Thus far, Severus had been made to acknowledge cows, Canadian geese, badgers, river otters, a raccoon and a massive bloody black bear. Strangely, Fiona had grabbed him by the wrist and fled from the geese, but when the black bear unexpectedly crossed their path, she loudly shooed it away like it an unwelcome solicitor and instead of mauling them to death as Severus anticipated, it politely complied.

America was a strange place.

This practice of hers also applied to Muggles, as she’d pointed out several from afar and mused aloud about what they might be doing out here (duck hunting was the prevailing hypothesis), like she was at a zoo. They’d yet to find anything magical, except for what Fiona claimed to be tracks of what she claimed belonged to a bird monster.

Glancing back at Fiona, he found her blinking at him…no, she was blinking ever so slightly above him.

“…Yes?” Severus said, turning around, wondering what woodland-swamp-marsh creature had caught her eye now.

“N-nothing.” Fiona stuttered. “C’mon, I think I see a damaged nest over there.”

---------------

Rated E for Explicit Sex. Porn with Plot. Like so much plot. 196k words of plot. Well, like 50k is the porn. Probably. I didn't count. But it's a lot. You can start here:

https://archiveofourown.org/works/62937544/chapters/161168239

[cheswirls]

cannot find anything for ytas even tho i swore i posted a pv at some point over here so instead of ss part of the opening scene like i want (lime green text my beloved) i'm just gonna copy/paste below bc i am in SUCH a daiya pkmn mood rn and i still like where this was going :)

-

Ever Grande is hot and humid, and much less like he remembers from business visits when he was younger. For starters, everything in the League building is normal sized instead of towering over him, and it sucks all the charm out of this place that remained in his memories. It’s less like a magical wonderland and more of a standard office-building-slash-grand-hotel combo. 

Also, again, the weather.

Kazuya tugs on the front of his tee and flaps it to generate some airflow. He thinks not for the first time about removing the compression shirt he has on underneath, but since he knows it’s the only article of clothing he has on wicking his sweat and preventing his shirt from sticking to his skin, he discards the idea once more and absolves himself to grin and bear it.

He’s outside, moving around aimlessly in the courtyard. Seeing as he’d been kicked from the premises, he has little other choice but to wait until he’s called back inside by the man of the hour himself.

He uses the edge of his shirt to clear condensation from his lenses, silently cursing the rising humidity. He’d give anything to be far inland right about now. Kazuya really wasn’t made to endure weather like this, despite having grown up in the region.

He’d left for a reason. (Even if, he knows, the reason had not been related to that.)

Glasses cleaned, Kazuya lets the world slip back into sharp focus. He’s wandered near a small cluster of bright paperflowers, a more common sight on the island than anywhere else in Hoenn. He thinks his mother used to enjoy them, though he couldn’t imagine them surviving out in her hometown, what with all the wind. The hibiscus that grew wild near Ever Grande’s steep cliffs were probably Hoenn’s primary flora, being a staple in most seaside towns while still managing to dot the landscape in the mainland’s interior. 

Shouting draws his attention away from the flowers. Kazuya moves from his easy crouch, hands stuffed lazily in the pockets of his sweatpants. Not much else to do. Might as well investigate.

There are three heavyset men crowding the checkpoint steps that lead to the main doors of the Pokemon League. Trainers, Kazuya hazards a guess, based on their attire and full set of pokeballs brandished at their sides. They take turns shouting at the guard manning the checkpoint, and at this point Kazuya backs off in his approach to circle around the side of the building.

He’s not sure he’ll be recognized in the panic, more likely to be mistaken as another trainer venturing out of Victory Road. So instead, he hikes up the sides until he’s high enough to pass as having come out of the League, then circles back to the front and slowly treks down to the commotion.

“What’s the problem?” he calls down from several steps above. He addresses the guard but garners the attention of all four people present. 

“Miyuki-san!” The guard half-bows in recognition (and probably apology, at not having taken care of this before it garnered notice) and pointedly side-eyes the three trainers when straightening back up. 

Kazuya wonders, then, why he had even been concerned over not getting recognized. Of course that wouldn’t happen. He’s something like a celebrity here in Hoenn, unfortunately.

(He resists a tch on the edge of his lips at being addressed by his surname.)

“These men wanted to enter without all the badges required to challenge the League,” Kazuya is told, and he has to raise his brows at this. “I told them no, of course, but they’re insistent.”

Well. It appears he’s just found the perfect afternoon activity to keep him busy.

His gaze sweeps over the three trainers and he quickly identifies the ringleader. His feet open up until they’re shoulder-length apart, and he sags back into the new position, looking down at them from up high above. “You really think you can challenge Chris without all eight badges?”

His tone is just enough on the edge of mocking and disbelief that it can’t be taken as a genuine question. It does its job, too, riling them all up. They scoff at Kazuya, obviously ruffled, and ignore the guard entirely to focus all their annoyance at him.

“When you’re as good as us, you don’t need proof of a gym circuit challenge! It’s a waste of time when we’re ready for the bigshots as we are now.” The one in the middle speaks, both hands on his hips to show the girth of his arms. The two on either side of him nod in agreement.

“Who even are you, anyway?” one of them calls up to Kazuya. “The gatekeeper?”

“Sure!” He keeps himself playful, posture open. Pitching his voice so his answer implies more let’s go with that instead of you guessed correctly. It makes a vein bulge on the guy’s forehead, and Kazuya works his lips into a wide grin to keep it there. He raises one hand, pokeball held between three fingers, and makes quick work in clicking it to full size. “Come on, then. Let’s see what you got.”

He smirks, letting it stretch all the way to the ends of his cheeks. He hadn’t called out any one of them specifically, but they all brandish pokeballs of their own in quick succession. Perfect. He’ll take them on all at once or knock them down one after the other. A perfect challenge to get his blood pumping, and an even more perfect distraction to the mess that waits just inside the grand building he’s chosen to guard.

He tilts the pokeball backwards and lets it fall open. It releases his Corviknight behind his right shoulder, looming even taller than usual with its position higher up the staircase. “Beat Chris? Hah! I bet you can’t even beat me!”

[graysmiles-world]

1800s Steddie Vampire AU

The moon was high when Steve entered the cemetery, as it was most nights. It led him down the path, past the already dug up and reburied graves of many who had already passed. Despite the fact that he did not believe in the resurrection from those beyond the grave, a job was a job. And this was a job that paid particularly well. No one wants to come and speak to the dead, much less to exhume their bones and check for any fresh blood in their veins.

He picked up the shovel when he passed it on his hike. It always moved locations, night after night. Sometimes by the pine on the hill, others near the back of the cemetery with its handle stuck through the fence. And once, propped up so nicely, waiting for him, at the iron gate. 

Yet Steve ignored these peculiar things. Just as he ignored the way that he felt cold hands trailing across his shoulders, and tiny hands tugging at his coat. If one were to stop and think of everything strange that occurred in the cemetery in the moonlight, they would stand there until they themselves were just another one of the bodies buried beneath the living.

The dirt was dry and  crackled underneath his boots as Steve walked, matching the dead leaves upon the branches above him. The land had suffered drought in the many previous months, not helping the already awful curse that had struck the town and many more like it.

But the night was humid, and Steve could smell the petrichor as he moved about to his assignment. There was a storm brewing in the distance, making the already terrible gooseflesh rise even more along the back of his arms and neck.

Finally, he reached the grave of the man he was to dig up. Edison Munson, Steve was told earlier that day by his supervisor. The first to die in his apartment building of consumption, over a year before. His uncle had followed, and so had numerous others. And now little Maxine was sick, so her mother pled for help - and the doctor had sent Steve. Luckily, Edison’s uncle was a soft man, and he placed a marker next to the mound of dirt with the initials EM and 20. 

Steve heaved one great breath of fresh air before pulling up the cloth around his mouth and nose. He had learned that the stench of the dead was highly muffled by the dirt. And once that was gone, it felt like the curse itself was reaching inside one’s lungs and squeezing it to its death.

Steve set down the lantern he’d been carrying all this way next to the marker. He placed the tip of his shovel into the dirt and leaned down, bearing all his weight onto it. The sweat gathered on his brow and dropped onto the dry earth, leaving a darkened spot behind. 

He worked for over two candle marks, jumping at the clang of the metal against the bottom of the lantern. Thankfully, the light had not gone out yet. Multiple times, when Steve had been in the middle of digging - his lantern had gone out and would not be able to be relit. If the moon was bright enough he would continue by its light, but if not - he would be forced to return on the next evening to resume his work - praying that the cemetery would allow him to finish his job.

Robin wouldn’t be able to last a minute in here, he knew. She had tried once, months ago when Steve first started. She was able to make it twenty paces in before something tickled the back of her neck and she was racing out of there. Steve, who had already grown used to the strangeness of the area, only looked at her with confusion. But ever since then, she had refused to come back: claiming that she was only to return in a coffin herself. 

Instead, she found work as a laundress, marking the end of two years of them working only together. Steve would have been happy to quit himself, but the job made too much and Robin made too little to be able to support both of them in their one-room apartment.

She was deathly afraid of dying of consumption, and living on the street would only exhaust that risk: so here Steve was. Digging up dead people to check if they were the carriers of this malediction. He hummed as he worked, a jaunty little tune he’d heard in a tavern a few nights previous. It wasn’t Steve’s usual preference, but the song was catchy and he felt it was great to entertain himself while working. 

Steve finally finished, setting his shovel aside and moving to get a better view of the plain wooden coffin. This was usual for many who died in the past few years, except if they were extremely wealthy. What was not usual, however, was the way that the edges of the top curved up, and the lightened scratches among the wood. 

Steve lowered himself to his knees beside the coffin and checked his mask before wiggling his dirtied and cracked fingers between the top and the bottom of the coffin and yanking up. The nails came out much easier than expected and experienced, but Steve was too busy looking at the body within it to particularly care.

Steve has had this job for a while now. He’s seen bodies new and old, crumbling and still rotting. But never in his life had he seen a body that looked like this.

It was the most beautiful person Steve had ever seen. More beautiful than Nancy, his ex-fiancee, and more gorgeous than any other woman he’s courted or any girls working the street.

His skin was pale, glowing in the moonlight. His hair was dark, darker than Steve’s, and curled - reaching his shoulders. His fingers, long and thimble, crossed over his chest. Steve wished he had seen this man alive if only to catch sight of his eyes and to feel his gaze upon him. 

But this was impossible, Steve knew. A body that was dead for this long would be only bones. No soft tissue left. 

Hell, even recently deceased persons were not as otherworldly as this man. Steve had attended Nancy’s funeral and he could still remember how gaunt her cheeks were, how flat and limp her hair was. He remembered the rest of her family’s funerals as well, the thinness of Micheal’s hands, the way baby Holly’s chest seemed to cave into itself. 

Steve looked around him, not knowing if what he was seeing was real or not. Perhaps he was only dreamin, or had been so sleep-deprived that his mind made up this man because he was so touch-starved for affection. Or maybe he was now cursed, and hallucinations were the first stage.

But whatever it was, it was still there when he looked back at Edison. Steve’s shoulders slumped, and his head went foggy.

It was like when he and Robin were prescribed some strange medications for a fever a while back. It made everything so loopy and he felt like he was about to float up into the air and far, far, away.

This was similar, but instead of feeling like he was floating off into the atmosphere, Steve felt as if something was tugging him down to Earth. Deep into Earth. To Edison.

There was a pulling sensation at the center of his chest, at his beating heart. Like a string was wrapped around it and yanking out from behind his ribs and out of his chest. His body was a sacrifice, made and grown to be consumed by Edison. Steve reached out a shaking hand and placed it atop Edison’s. It was ice cold, freezing the blood in his veins and traveling up his arms. There was no way that Edison’s heart still beat. Yet, still, Steve’s own heart was pulling him closer and closer. He slowly reached up to remove the cloth covering his nose and mouth, leaving it dangling around his neck. 

Steve leaned up and over the side of the coffin, closer to Edison. He was a ballon, being tethered to place. His head bounced all over the place but was still steadily moving towards the corpse.

Something in Steve knew he should be freaking out. Thoughts screaming for him to get out of there, to run, overturned by the pressing thought of closer. Steve needed to get closer. 

All anxieties were out of view. Being disowned and left by his parents, not being able to find someone to love, the fact that he was a grave digger, and that his eyes dragged towards boys as often as girls. 

Nothing mattered except Edison. 

Steve was close enough to Edison’s face that if he were breathing, Steve would be able to feel his warm breath on his cheek. A stone dropped in his chest when he realized he couldn’t. His lips we magnets, moving towards Edison’s until they were pressed together.

Cold and chapped, and Steve just breathed out into Edison’s mouth once before the trance broke. 

Steve lunged back from the coffin. He whipped his head around wildly, searching to see if someone, anyone, had seen the sin he’d just committed. He didn’t know what he wanted the answer to be, and so his breathing settled when he realized he was still alone. His lantern had long since gone out, and he looked around himself with only the moonlight. 

Nothing had changed. The Earth had not shaken from his actions, and his heart, and lungs had not leaped from his chest. 

He laid back in the dried grass and dirt, uncaring of how dirty his hair was becoming and how annoying it would be to try and wash it with the water from the basin. 

Steve just worked on just breathing. In, out. In, out.

After a few moments, he felt alright enough to raise himself onto his hands, looking back at the coffin and how it lay so unassuming in the dirt. 

He sat up completely and moved to his feet, creeping unsteadily towards the wooden coffin. I’m just going crazy, Steve told himself. There will just be a body there, and then you can do your job. 

Steve looked over the edge of the coffin, convincing himself that Edison would still be there: dead as a doornail. 

There was nothing there. Not a scratch, not a tuff of fabric or hair to show that the coffin had been used in the first place. 

Steve felt like his throat was seizing up, and he stumbled back, trying to get away as fast as possible. He just needed to get out of there, and then he could flag down a carriage and get to his apartment. He’ll wake Robin and tell her what happened and in the morning they’ll go out looking for new work. 

But his plans were foiled when he rammed into something solid frigid. 

“Well,” warm breath ghosted against his bare neck. The cloth around it felt more like a noose than protection now. “I never expected to wake up to someone so pretty.”

Steve turned around as quickly as possible. He’s heard and felt lots of things in this cemetery, but this was the most real by far. It seemed the dead didn’t want to stay buried when a living, breathing, person was there. 

“Edison,” Steve breathed, eyes darting around the corpse that was just lying in the coffin minutes ago. They stood toe to toe, Edison moving forward with every step back Steve took. Edison was the same height as Steve, so his eyes stared directly into his own.

They were dark, glinting like stars in the moonlight and Steve was enamored. 

“I go by Eddie, actually,” Edison - no Eddie smirked, one corner of his mouth tugged up and revealing some rather sharp teeth. Steve couldn’t help the stuttering breath he let out at that, heat tugging in his gut. “And what do they call you big boy?” 

Steve gulped. “Steve. Steve Harrington” He doesn’t know why he introduced himself with his first and last name. A last name that isn’t even his anymore. 

“Well Steve,” Eddie slid his tongue between his teeth on the word, dragging it out. Steve felt rooted to the spot, unable to move from such an intense gaze. Suddenly, Eddie sprung back, his movements gay and flowing like a marionette on strings. 

“It’s such a pleasure to meet you,” he bowed, a deep bow with the tips of his hair touching the dirt. Steve burrowed his brows and opened his mouth to say something but Eddie had already sprung back up and around before he could make a sound. 

He whooped and wiggled, screeched and screamed, and looked out to the world with such mischief in his eyes. And Steve knew, whatever he was - he wasn’t human.

While Eddie was seemingly enjoying himself a few paces before him, Steve crouched down to grab his shovel, standing back up slowly. He wasn’t quite sure what he’d do with it, maybe hit Eddie over the head and run for the exit. 

Before a plan could be formed fully in his mind, Eddie turned and spotted the shovel and the white-knuckled Steve had on it. In a moment, Steve’s back was against the trunk of a tree with Eddie holding a broken bottle to his neck. He wasn’t sure where he’d gotten it. Maybe it was in his jacket, or maybe he’d picked it up from the ground while slamming Steve against this tree.

“Don’t even try it, honey,” Eddie whispered to Steve. His eyes held no amusement, and seemed to reach deep into his soul and down to his stomach. It clenched and rolled with fear, and Steve decided to focus on that instead of the toiling heat gathering in his chest. “I’ll suck you dry and leave you in the coffin instead. No one would ever know where you’ve gone.”

Eddie moved forward until they were pressed together, head to toe. Eddie’s thigh was wrenched in between Steve’s, and his mouth was now placed around his Adam’s apple. Now Steve was able to feel the sharpened teeth against his skin and shivered. Just a little pressure, one wrong move, and Steve was bleeding out - dead in seconds. It shouldn’t have given him the reaction that it did, with Steve trying to resist writhing against Eddie’s thigh and pressing his throat harder against his fangs.

Steve felt Eddie laugh against his skin, dampening the area with heat and moisture. He leaned back, so there was just enough space to breath and speak. He ignored Steve’s whine at the lost. “Awh, you poor baby,” Eddie grabbed Steve’s cheeks and squished his cheeks together. He was still able to feel the press of the grass against his side. “Digging up bodies in the middle of the night, just trying to find someone to take care of you - is that it?”

Steve didn’t know how to answer, how Eddie wanted him to answer, so he just whined again. Eddie’s nails, which felt a little more like claws, dug into his cheeks. “Say you’re sorry, and I’ll take care of you.” 

Steve whined again, and then tried to speak through his squished cheeks. “‘M s’r’y,” he slurred. Eddie tilted his head, amusement filling his eyes and curving his lips. 

“I didn’t hear that, can you repeat it, sweetheart?” 

“I’’ so’ry,” Steve cried, feeling the hot rush of tears filling his eyes. He was so frustrated, but he didn’t know by what. The weapon against his side, Eddie at his front, the tree at his back. The toiling heat in his chest or the fear creeping up his throat. 

Eddie groaned and pressed his face against Steve’s cheek. “Now drop it.” 

Steve, who hadn’t even realized he was still holding the shovel immediately dropped it. Blood rushed back into his palms and it tingled down his arm. Pins and needles slid into his skin. 

Eddie groaned again, deeper, louder. He pressed his thigh higher up against Steve, up against his groin - where it was heavy and wanting.

“Good boy,” he panted against Steve’s cheek. Steve preened from the praise, breathing in stuttering gasps. He tilted his head back against the tree, giving more of his throat for Eddie to do with as he wished. 

“Eddie,” he gasped, “please.”

Suddenly, the heat was gone. Without anything to hold Steve up, he slid to the ground, ass on the dirt. Eddie was a few feet before him, eyes dark as he stared at him.

Steve just panted, gasping for breath. He didn’t know what to say. 

Eddie gulped, “You’re crazy, Steve Harrington.” 

With that, Eddie disappeared into the night.

Everything was quiet. For once, Steve wasn’t surrounded by the ghosts of the past waiting to take a bite, to pull and poke and prod. He was completely alone. 

[prosebyday]

Glacier National Park

Grazia Curcuru

7/8/23

Grinnell Glacier, Many Glacier, Glacier National Park

I felt unstoppable today hiking the iconic Grinnell Glacier hike, my watch recorded 40k steps and Gaia recorded 13.6 miles, it was supposed to be 10.6 miles but I chose to hike down to Lake Grinnell at the bottom after hiking up to Upper Grinnell , because the lake looked so beautiful. I didn’t get any blisters but my toes were sore and as soon as we got to the lake I dipped my toes in the water. I felt amazing for hours after. A few hours later I felt the stiffness set in, I had to get ice out of the cooler for my knees because I couldn’t really move. 

7/9/23

Lake MacDonald, West Glacier, Glacier National Park 

We rested our legs and rented kayaks on Lake MacDonald in West Glacier after an early morning drive along Going to the Sun Road. It felt amazing to still explore while resting my sore muscles. I got to exercise my muscles that don’t get used on a hike. We walked the tourist trap shops, lined with Huckleberry jams, syrups, flavored coffees, all claiming to be “fought from the claws of grizzly bears.” They even sold scented tshirts, which did not seem very bear safe in an environment where we needed scent-proof bear bags for our food, lipbalm, sunscreen, a bear lock on our bear proof cooler, and bear spray on us at all times. I bought a Glacier National Park patch, like I do at every national park I’ve done a “deserving” hike at, because it makes me feel like a Girl Scout. I plan to sew them on a denim jacket. I picked the prettiest patch, with mountain goats, lakes, meadows, wildflowers – even though it had mountain goats – one of the few animals I hadn’t seen here yet. The lady at the register told me I can’t wear the patch until I see a mountain goat. I had one day left and knew I had to find one. 

It was brutally hot and sunny, so we went back to Lake MacDonald. There were children paddleboarding, insisting they’d “found a barrel” and they “think it’s full of oil.” The beach wasn’t sandy, it was formed with smooth small rocks. The water was crystal clear and warmed by the afternoon sun. The view of the mountains we kayaked towards hours earlier was directly in front of us as we swam and enjoyed the water, sharing giggles, a child laid face down on the hot rocky beach to “work on his tan.” 

7/10/23

Pitamaken Pass, Two Medicine, Glacier National Park

Pitamaken Pass was the most intensely grueling, gorgeous, and insane hike I’ve ever been on. There was so much exposure on the edge of the mountains, with a narrow trail and talus (loose rock), that tumbles under your feet down the side of the mountain. But it was a TRAIL, so it was still one of the least dangerous mountain hikes I’ve been on, because it’s maintained. There were gorgeous wildflower meadows and these funny white “bear paws” everywhere, they look like giant q-tips and only bloom every 5 years.

The trail changed so much over the 18 miles we hiked, from dense forest, muggy, humid and lush with brush; to trickling rivers with meadows, juniper, bushes, butterflies and red rocks; to walking along the rich blue of Old Man Lake. Then the slog of climbing up 1,000ft over a mile and 3,200 ft of elevation gain total (with a lot of up and down, which makes it feel like you’re never making progress). My brain was throbbing in my skull, rapid pulse, and swaying balance. I thought it must be dehydration or electrolytes, I told Adam I thought I was going to be sick, it was over an hour before I realized we had maxed out our altitude for this trip so far ~8,000ft, after only sleeping at ~5,000ft. So I carried on, tossed some Propel electrolyte mix in my Nalgene and took my shirt off to cool down, all in measures not to pass out, but also kept moving because the sun was beating down. There was no breeze or shade, but I hoped there would be both on the other side of the Pass. It didn’t come as quickly as I needed it, but as a breeze picked up once we got to the top – so did my dizzying headache. Once we got to the Pitamaken overlook on the continental divide, I sat on a slab of marble and ate some trail mix in the shade.

The next 3 miles of the trail looked like a post-apocalyptic wasteland. Our footsteps clashed like we were breaking tiles on the shrapnel of sedimentary rock. The rocks above and around us were flaky and layered like good pastry, but horrifying to walk on as they crumble around you. Beneath us was a steep drop down to the vibrant greens of pine forests, cool alpine lakes and trickling rivers, juxtaposing the crumbling gray and brown rocks we balanced and wobbled on. As I rounded the corner, I saw a scruffy white goat in the distance on top of the pass with mountains behind it. It didn’t look anything like the long-haired, fluffy rocky mountain goat you see in all the Glacier National Park merch, but July is shedding season. I took a picture and 4 more goats appeared and started grazing… on what, I don’t know, since I can’t recall anything growing at that altitude. I finally saw my mountain goat, 5 mountain goats. 

Storm clouds rolled in and it’s dangerous to be above the treeline in a storm. I picked up the pace, but the descent proved to be steeper and looser – it’s tricky to get traction on loose sand. The next few miles were a blur, a race against a storm. Eventually, I saw juniper next to my boots and looked up - I made it to a meadow, where things can grow! And I saw trees nearby. As I entered dense brush again, it was hot and humid, I was overheating and stripping layers. The dark clouds brought us some cooling shade and a light sprinkle, but it didn’t last long before the sun, heat and humidity were back and worse than ever. I was so hungry and sore and tired but I just wanted to get out so I kept my pace. 

Once we started bumping into older adults with trekking poles and no water or backpacks, I knew we were close because we parked near a campground. I took off my boots and socks, stood in a cold river to ice my swollen toes and watched a wedding party take pictures with the mountains while I ate trailmix, dirty and sweaty.