Day six of agepril, paint/piggyback rides, I chose piggyback rides!! @mitsukkii
The air outside was warm. You walked beside Ross along a quiet path, sunlight slipping through the trees in soft, shifting patches. Everything felt nice and easy, until you stopped.
He took a few more steps before noticing, then glanced back at you. “What?”
You didn’t answer, just held your arms out.
He looked at you for a second, already catching on. There was a small smile tugging at his face. “You’re not even gonna ask?”
You stayed right where you were.
He shook his head a little and huffed a laugh. “Alright, alright.”
Turning around, he crouched slightly. “C’mon.”
You climbed onto his back, arms wrapping around his shoulders, legs hooking around his waist. He adjusted his grip automatically, steadying you with ease.
“You good?” he asked.
You nodded against him.
“Okay.”
He started walking again, slow at first, footsteps steady along the path. The trees swayed lightly above you, shadows shifting with each step.
For a moment, it was quiet.
Then without warning, he picked up speed.
“Ross-!” you laughed, tightening your grip as he broke into a light jog.
“Too late,” he said, clearly amused.
The path curved ahead, and he followed it, steps quicker now but still careful, one hand keeping you secure while the other balanced his pace.
You started giggling, the kind of giggle that keeps spilling out no matter how hard you try to stop.
“That’s not fair,” he added, laughing under his breath. “You’re making this harder.”
He sped up just a little more anyway.
The world blurred a bit around you, sunlight flashing through the trees, the sound of his footsteps hitting the ground faster now, your laughter mixing with his.
“Hang on,” he said, but there was a grin in his voice.
You held on tighter, still laughing, your head tucked near his shoulder.
After a few seconds, he slowed down again, easing back into a walk.
“Okay okay,” he exhaled, catching his breath slightly. “I forgot you weigh, like… a ton.”
You huffed a laugh, nudging him lightly.
“Hey, I’m kidding,” he giggled, shifting you higher on his back so you wouldn’t slip. “You’re easy. I got you.”
He bounced you once, just enough to make you squeak.
You started laughing all over again.
“Alright, that one was on purpose,” he admitted.
He kept walking, but now there was a lighter energy to it. Every few steps, he’d pick up into a short jog again, just enough to get another reaction out of you before slowing back down.
Each time, your laughter came right back.
“Yeah, that’s what I thought,” he murmured, smiling a little to himself.
Eventually, he slowed for real this time, steps evening out as the path stretched ahead again.
You were still smiling, your grip relaxed but secure, resting comfortably against him.
Ross adjusted his hold one more time. “Okay,” he said, quieter now, but still warm. “No more running… probably.”
