For the ask meme: “Alex craned his neck, looking over his shoulder, barely breathing hard despite the steep angle of their hiking path: “You know, love, if you make me carry you down off this mountain, I’m telling my PT on you.’”
[untitled, established relationship but still new reunion, fluff, 760 words ]
Alex craned his neck, looking over his shoulder, barely breathing hard despite the steep angle of their hiking path, “You know, love, if you make me carry you down off this mountain, I’m telling my PT on you.’”
“Are you talking to me, or your dog?” Michael panted, between steps as he kept a keen eye on both Alex and the excited tail of Alex’s German Shepherd, Bear. Though it was apparent it was only Michael struggling, while Bear was infused with the same boundless energy as Alex, trotting on the leash happily during their hike.
“Both,” Alex smirked confidently from the side of the trail. The sun was brighter now, the thick tree line had retreated as they climbed higher in elevation, and caught the red-brown highlights in Alex’s hair. With his pant legs rolled up over his hiking boots, a flannel blatantly stolen from Michael’s wardrobe, and a healthy flush of exertion on his cheeks, Alex was the best thing Michael had ever seen. Damn him for not breathing hard though, after basically climbing a mountain with one less leg than Michael. “You know this was your idea, right?”
It was true. Michael had signed on to all of this torture when he mentioned to Alex that it was important that they go dates outdoors, with no possibility of falling into bed with each other, for at least two months. Hiking was the least sexy activity that Michael could think of that also coincidently Alex enjoyed doing.
“I’m a dumbass, you know that. I’ve never had a good idea in my life,” Michael joked before holding on to Alex’s hand to balance as they made it up the last few steps of the rocky ridge to step out onto the clearing.
Alex made a loud buzzing sound in disagreement, “Nope, no talking down about my favorite person. Rule number 3, remember.”
If rule number 1 was dating openly and getting to know each other out of bed first, then rule number three was eliminating any sign of negative self-talk for them both. That had become clear within the first day of deciding to try one last time (or for the first time) to be a couple, that they were both primed to blame themselves for the past stumbles and hurt. Sandwiched between the agreements was rule number 2, love. A ready and often declaration of love between them, in the present tense, every night, even if they fought.
Michael removed his black cowboy hat to wipe the sweat from his face, before leaning in to brush a light kiss on Alex’s lips. “You’re right. Rule 3.”
“It was also a good idea,” Alex replied in turn, accepting the kiss easily. Though the mountain wasn’t empty of fellow hikers, his eyes stayed on Michael’s with a steady, self-assured peace. “This is a good reminder for us to do this.”
“How so?”
“From now on, the obstacles in front of us are only physical, and we can climb them together.”
The vista of the valley stretched out all around them, a beauty that was ageless but also unforgiving to the foolhardy. It was the harsh cut of the sun that had Michael’s eyes tearing up, he decided, as he slipped his arm around Alex to take in the view. He felt the heavy weight of Alex’s head lean against the top of his shoulder, then the tickle of breath on his skin as Alex inhaled deep into the hollow of his throat. “I love you.”
He could feel the pull and lift of Alex’s smile without seeing it, “I love you too, baby.”
Bear suddenly nosed between their legs, stretching upward for a yearning pat from Michael. Michael giggled, feeling the fatigue melt away in the moment, “Okay, I didn’t forget you, we love you too, Bear. You’re a good boy.”
The soft baby-talk to his dog from Michael had Alex smiling wider even wider at him, clearly amused at how besotted they both were with each other. Bear was still technically Alex’s dog. Transitive property kicked in there, Alex had argued to him once, that because he was Michael’s, then therefore Bear was Michael’s.
“Michael will even carry you home, right, love?”
“Okay I never said-”
“I think it was implied in rule number 4, remember?”
“‘I will always have your back in whatever you do in life’ now that’s really being pedantic, Alex-”
Bear yipped in response to their playful bickering, and then yipped louder as Alex tipped Michael’s chin down to kiss him into agreement.
