“WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE FOOD?!”
The yell echoed throughout the cabin as Hunter craned his neck to glance at the small boy behind him.
Sam turned beet red as he buried his face in his hands. He panicked. The minute Hunter sat down on the edge of the bed, his hands gripping his shirt and raising it over his sculpted figure, Sam’s mind raced with thoughts.
‘Are we going to continue?’
‘Is he going to pretend nothing happened?’
‘Is it going to be awkward now?’
‘Should I say something?’
Sam glanced between his splayed fingers as he caught sight of the muscles contracting in Hunter’s back as he pulled off his shirt. His fingertips itched as he remembered the feeling of the hot skin under his grabbing hands. He gulped as he looked down and messed nervously with his fingers.
“Oranges.”
Sam looked up as a ‘huh?’ noise produced from his throat. Hunter turned himself half around, his toned torso flashing Sam as he looked at Sam through his jet-black locks hanging just over his jaded eyes. “My favourite food.” He replied before turning back around and untying his shoe laces. “Oranges.” Sam nodded slowly as he bit back a laugh. “Oranges? How random.” Sam shuffled closer towards Hunter as Hunter kicked off his boots. He hesitated for a moment but spoke up. “Hunter…outside. You said that you were afraid of water…were you telling the truth?”
Hunter stood up as he pulled back the covers. He frowned as he looked at Sam, his black brows drawing together. “Why would I lie?”
Sam blinked as he shuffled off the bed, so he wasn’t holding down the covers.
He too started to get undressed as Hunter folded his arms behind his head.
However, instead of closing his eyes like he normally did when sleeping in that position, Hunter turned his head and simply watched Sam.
“What. I’ve seen it all now.”
Sam turned red as he stuttered his mouth open. Hunter blinked at him.
Sam averted his eyes as he shyly looked away. “I know but—”
Hunter sighed as he turned his head back to the ceiling and closed his eyes. “You’ll be the death of me, Bambi.” He muttered but did as Sam wanted. Sam watched as he got dressed but Hunter kept his silent promise and never once peeked.
As Sam pulled on his pyjamas he climbed into the bed but stopped awkwardly as he bit his lip and stepped back. Feeling the air from the open cover, Hunter finally opened his eyes as he looked over at Sam. “What?”
“I don’t think we’re going to fit.” Sam hesitated as he tilted his head left and right to try and work it out. “Maybe if we top and tail we ca—”
Sam cried out as he was suddenly jerked forward. He landed on Hunter’s chest as Hunter reached his arm around Sam’s small frame and pulled him up, so he was lying on Hunter’s body. Sam choked out an awkward splutter of words as his entire body became a red mess. He could feel the heated skin of Hunter’s bare chest against him as his chest pressed into the crook of Hunter’s neck.
Glancing up carefully Sam saw the Hunter had closed his eyes again but instead of putting his arms behind his head like how he usually slept, Hunter wrapped one around the small of Sam’s back and the other around his waist, his hand dangerously close to his previously abused behind.
Sam just stared at the wall opposite as he wondered whether it would really be okay to sleep like this all night. Sam squirmed as he tried to close his eyes and pretend he couldn’t hear Hunter’s heartbeat thumping in his car. He squirmed as he tried not to feel the heat radiating from his bare skin.
“If you keep squirming I’m going to get hard.”
Sam’s eyes shot open as he hit Hunter’s arm. “Do you have to say it so, openly!”
Hunter patted the small of Sam’s back, his eyes still closed.
“Stop squirming then. If you’re uncomfortable I’ll lie on the floor.”
Sam sighed as he placed his head back on Hunter’s chest. “No… it’s okay.”
Half way as Sam was about to drift off he felt Hunter’s fingers draw a circle into his lower back. It was only a soft, feathered graze with the tip of his finger, but it still managed to send shivers up Sam’s spine as he closed his eyes and enjoyed it. Hunter’s hand seeped under Sam’s shirt but not in a sexual way, to just draw more patterns onto the small boys back.
Their legs intertwined as all their troubles for the moment seemed to just float away.
Hunter gently soothed his hand down the dip of Sam’s back, “I wasn’t lying to you, Bambi. I really am scared of water.”
Hunter’s voice was a mere whisper that had a familiar raspy tone to it. Sam glanced up at Hunter to see he had his eyes open and was looking at the ceiling with a troubled look. Bracing his arms against Hunter’s chest, Sam looked up at Hunter as Hunter looked down at him.
“I lost the person I loved the most because of water.”
Sam turned his head quickly towards Hunter, his doe eyes large and innocent as he blinked them rapidly. “Loved?”
His heart thumped as he selfishly hoped he was talking about a family member but then he realised that would mean Hunter lost someone from his family. He recalled Hunter saying he didn’t have any parents… perhaps this was the reason?
Hunter crossed his arms behind his head as he nodded. His hand fell down as he subconsciously grasped his necklace and rubbed his thumb over it. Sam turned on his side as he looked patiently at Hunter. Hunter craned his head with a small sigh before staring back up at the ceiling.
*Flashback*
“Come on it’s not too far this way.”
The bright box smiled aimed directly at Hunter soothed his sour mood as he quickly rushed his small legs towards his big brother. He reached up, clinging to the corner of his brother’s sleeve as he followed him along the rocky path.
“I don’t like dirt.” Hunter sated with a stuck-up nose. His voice was high and childish and in return Park only laughed. Park moved his hand out of the way, so Hunter was no more grasping at his sleeve. When Hunter looked up, slightly shocked and burt, Park smiled softly down at him before replacing his sleeve with his hand and gripping Hunter’s tightly.
Hunter trailed along behind his big brother as his cheeks reddened. “I love nature.” Park smiled serenely as he closed his eyes and breathed in the fresh air. Hunter watched Park the whole time with large eyes as he quickly jumped up and down.
“Me too! I like nature too.” Hunter cheered as he almost dropped the hero figure in his right hand. Clasping it tighter he looked back at his brother when he heard the musical chuckle of Park.
“I thought you didn’t like it?” Park teased as they finally found their way back to the camp. Hunter noticed how Park had gotten them back with ease even after he had got himself lost and Park had to come and find him. Park always found him and was this his new superpower? He was always able to navigate his ebay through anywhere but to Hunter it was all just the same, borning tree.
Hunter shook his head with a sour growl. “Did not!”
Park threw back his head, his black locks sprawling about as he laughed. His jaded green eyes glistened as Hunter stared up with an awe filled expression. Park ruffled Hunter’s locks softly before he sat down in front of the fire and started to open some cans of beans. Hunter sat beside Park as he played with his hero figure.
A serene silence fell upon them as nothing could be heard but the crackling of fire and the noises of Hunter’s hero figure being moved about. Park sat with his elbows on his knees as he poked a sausage onto a stick and held it gently over the fire. He glanced out of the corner of his eye, chuckling when he saw Hunter making ‘pew’ noises as he made the hero figure fly.
“Hunter.” Park called as Hunter quickly looked over. “Come eat.”
Hunter never did let go of his hero figure as he shuffled over towards Park and munched greedily on the food. Looking over, Hunter noticed that Park didn’t seem to be eating as much.
“Huh? Why have I got more than you?” Hunter blinked before scowling again. “I want the same as you!”
Park chuckled as he reached over and wrapped his arm around Hunter’s shoulder, pulling him into his side as he patted his head. “Well you want to be a hero, don’t you? Hero’s need to fill up their stomachs.” Park smiled. He didn’t tell Hunter it was because their food supply was slightly low. This was not a problem, they could go out and get some more tomorrow but he was not oblivious to Hunter idolising him and so he knew if Hunter found out Park was eating less because he wanted Hunter to have the most, then Hunter would refuse to eat.
Hunter’s eyes widened like an excited child being handed a cookie.
“I AM! I’M GOING TO BE THE BEST HERO!”
Park laughed throatily before biting into the sausage. “What superpower are you going to have?” he grinned.
Hunter tapped his lip as he hummed before dashing up and spreading out his arms. “I’m gonna have super strength so I can beat up the baddies!”
Park closed his eyes, exhaling peacefully out his nose before opening them. “You know, Super strength isn’t just used to defeat the baddies. You can use it to help as well, Hunter!”
“Heroes help those in need.”
Hunter frowned as he shook his ruffled locks that desperately needed cutting. “That’s boring.”
Park laughed before he chucked the stick away. The fire crackled, the light glistening over his slick jawline as he licked his fingertips, licking away the grease.
Getting up Park moved some things around whilst still conversing with Hunter who was now fully excited and hyper, bouncing around like he was full of sugar. “You want to be a hero to beat up baddies?” Park laughed.
“I want to be a hero so no one else leaves me.”
Park stopped haltering his movements as his kind smile wiped off his face and he turned around to face the small boy. Hunter stared up at him with the same, round jaded eyes and a look of hope shining on his face as he clutched the figure in his palm.
Park averted his gaze for a second before he ran his fingers through his black locks. Sitting down he called Hunter over who quickly scrambled to crawl into Park’s lap. He turned himself around, so he could stare up at Park who gently placed his hands-on Hunter’s small back.
“Hunter. You know mom and dad didn’t leave you. They’re always in here.” Park said softly as he pointed to the tiny, thumping heart inside of Hunter’s chest. Park ran his slender fingers through Hunter’s hair as Hunter closed his eyes and nodded.
“But I don’t want them there…”
“I want them here.” Hunter frowned. His bottom lip had began to trembled as Park inhaled quickly scrambled to crawl into Park’s lap. He turned himself around, so he could stare up at Park who gently placed his hands-on Hunter’s small back.
“I want them here.” Hunter frowned. His bottom lip had began to trembled as Park inhaled quietly, his eyes slightly wide. The tears melted down his cheeks like an overflowing river, but Park caught each one as he wiped them away with his fingertip.
“Hey, now. No tears. You’re a super strong hero remember!” Park cheered as Hunter’s green eyes snapped open all watery and wide. He pumped his fist in the air as Park laughed.
“I AM!” Hunter roared. A flock of birds not far away all fluttered off as Hunter jumped off Park’s lap and continued his game with his hero figure.
Park stood up and although he was smiling on the outside, on the inside he was unsure and worried. Ever since their parents died in a car crash he had been caring for Hunter. Taking care of a 7-year-old was hard when you were only 18 yourself. Park declined his university offer and got a job in a nearby bakery, so he could afford for them to live.
The two brothers bad no other family and so when Hunter clutched onto Park, crying his shiny tears and begging not to be separated, Park just didn’t have the heart to continue pursuing his life and let Hunter be taken away. Instead he dropped everything and made room for only his little brother.
Park knew Hunter adored him. He saw how Hunter was always booked onto his words and always wanted to do everything he did. And so, Park had to be strong.
Hunter was hard to deal with bad it been someone who didn’t understand him. There was a little fighter inside of him and even since he had been young he was always strong willed and determined. He often frowned and scowled a lot, but his laugh was the cutest thing anyone could have ever heard.
Park didn’t know that many years to come Hunter would be stripped of his emotions and left as a hollow, angry shell who only ever got rage filled and cold. He didn’t know that his death would be the trigger that finally made the already breaking boy, completely snap.
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