Archive of Our Own

It’s one of those mornings that reminds Viktor of why he left his entire life behind for this job.

Snow falls slowly beyond the porch in little white clumps that stick to the frosted underbrush in the chill of the early December morning. Viktor leans against the old wooden railing, enjoying the smell of pine and the cold on his face as the snow covers the forest like a fairytale.

The heat of his coffee hits the winter air and creates clouds of visible steam off the surface from between his gloved hands. Each sip warms him from the inside, insulated by the many layers of thermal shirts and wrapped up in a big brown coat marked with the National Park Service logo.

With the help of generous scholarships and several biology and conservation degrees, he finally got out of the light-polluted, smog-smothered city and into the field. The real shit. Not just any patch of protected land, but a coveted position as a ranger in one of the country’s oldest and most iconic parks.

Now, he gets to start every day like this: sipping coffee on the back deck of the communal staff kitchen, looking up at a young mountain range, jagged and towering in undeniable majesty.

Viktor is used to waking up early, from his years barely sleeping in the thick of competitive academia, but also from needing the extra time to get around. He used to loathe his body’s inability to keep up with the bustling of his classmates, but now he welcomes the need for pause. What’s the point of living within one of the world's greatest feats of natural beauty if he can’t take it all in?

When his coffee mug is empty, and his nose is numb and rosy with the morning chill, Viktor ducks back inside. 

The kitchen is full of people from all walks of life, from teens fresh out of high school to older adults, greying and full of life. They’re all similarly dressed in the recognizable brown and green uniform of the park, preparing for a day of work, whether that be out in the field or in the shelter of the many visitor areas set up within the valley. The stomping of heavy-duty hiking boots and shuffle of rainproof coats fill the dining area.

Long tables and benches stretch across the room, and at the end, a converted commercial kitchen hosts a handful of people cooking actual breakfast on the stoves. A shorter woman in a baseball cap weaves past them to grab a carton of milk from the fridge excessively labeled in permanent marker. Excited chatter fills the air, mostly discussing the surprise change in weather.

They share this space, since most staff live on site. Viktor has a cabin nearby, a lucky handicap accommodation with his own room and the shortest walk to the “village” eastward. That’s where all of the tourist areas are located: shops, dining, the works.

“Hey, V! Where’s your other half?” A voice calls out behind him.

Viktor turns from dropping his mug off in the suds of the dirty dish sink and finds a huddle of his coworkers waving to him.

“Eh, early search and rescue call,” Viktor answers. “Left with the helitack crew hours ago.”

Friendships in the valley form fast. The nearest town is over an hour down the mountain road through the park, and even then, it’s a small community mostly fueled by the tourism passing through. That's why everyone who works here lives here too. The valley is its own isolated community.

It’s no surprise that Jayce, who lives in the neighboring cabin to Viktor, is practically attached to him at the hip when he’s not out on ranger duties. They’d normally be having their coffee and then walking to work together, but Jayce was on call last night. He knocked on Viktor’s door on his way out to the helipad while it was still dark to let him know.

Sorry to wake you, Jayce always says, but I don’t want you to worry when I don’t show for coffee.

Viktor would happily wake to Jayce’s face every morning, but he never says that part out loud.

Jayce's absence sparks excited conversation. The whole table begins talking over each other, mouths full of food, speculating what kind of dangerous and noble mission their friend could be off to.

“I bet it’s the falls. It’s fuckin’ icy up there right now.”

“Who’s going off trail at the falls? Bunch of idiots.”

“Nah, it’s gotta be some backcountry shit.”

Viktor just waves them off and continues past the tables as they speculate. It does him no good to worry about Jayce when he’s on call. Most of the search and rescue missions are just hikers who don’t stick to the trail and get stuck somewhere. With the heavy snowfall this morning, it would be easy to get lost or take a tumble. Jayce is not in any danger.

Still, Viktor does miss the company of his usual escort. If friendships here form fast, then crushes form faster. It feels silly, as a grown man, to admit such feelings, but Viktor has always been a bit of a hopeless romantic.

Jayce has all of the classic hero traits from Viktor’s favorite romance novels. He’s handsome, brave, kind, selfless, and always throws himself headfirst into danger when someone needs help. It was inevitable that Viktor would start to feel his chest tighten at a mere glance across the room, a warm smile amidst the snow-capped mountains that surround them in this pocket of nature’s cherished beauty.

Viktor shakes his head, cursing his inner thoughts and wrapping his scarf around tighter before stepping back out into the snow.

༄ ⋆⁺₊❅.

Work is a short walk from the staff cabins. The trail is beautiful, lined with towering pine trees catching the beginnings of the snowfall like a Christmas card. The end of his cane crunches in the icy gravel as he makes his way towards his post.

Even the old growth forest here is dwarfed by the sheer granite cliffs that surround the valley. Some of them cut into the clouds, so tall that the tops are masked in fog and thick, distant snowfall. There are hikers on their way there now, ascending to the iconic peaks in the early morning to make it back down in time before the weather worsens.

The Visitor's Center stands ahead when Viktor rounds the last bend, green-roofed and already bustling with travelers preparing for a wintery day in the mountains. It’s the largest building in the valley, a treasure trove of outdoor essentials, merchandise, and an entire museum exhibit on the park’s history and biodiversity. This month, it’s decorated in lights and garland for the holidays, lining the pointed overhang and wrapping the wooden posts of the structure.

When Viktor pushes through the glass doors, the information desk attendants greet him warmly and comment excitedly about the weather, as the guests chime in that they’ve come unprepared and need extra gear to accommodate the conditions.

Viktor was never a popular guy in school, but here, it’s so different. He is welcomed and appreciated. People notice when he’s out sick on a bad pain day, and they invite him to outings even if he can’t fully join in the outdoor activities (the rangers love rock climbing, which Viktor enjoys watching from a picnic spot below).

He shucks off his coat, wet with snow, and attaches a name badge to his uniform: Viktor Revek, Education Specialist. Underneath, he dons a pin that reads, “Ask me about our accessibility programming!” 

Luckily, his supervisor is relaxed when it comes to enforcing the dress code, so he doesn’t have to don the brimmed hat that flattens out his tufts of brown hair. Just a crisp grey button-down tucked into dark slacks. Professional and tidy, cinched at the waist.

The morning goes by quickly. Viktor patrols the exhibit walkways, watching guests read the informational panels and observe the displays of taxidermy animals and native plant life. Every hour, he ushers newcomers into the theatre for a film on the history of the park.

While he stands by the theatre doors, a young boy approaches and tugs on his pant leg. 

“Excuse me, mister, are you old?”

Viktor chuckles, used to the strange nature of childhood curiosity, and leans forward slightly. “Why do you ask?”

The boy points at the cane in Viktor’s hand.

“Oh–” He smiles and shakes his head. “No, this helps me walk. My leg needs the extra help.”

“Cool!” The boy grins and runs off as quickly as he appeared, curiosity satiated.

Birdsong fills the hall as a teen presses buttons to hear the different calls of local wildlife. Viktor knows them all– birds the best. He might not be the best climber or hiker, but he does enjoy the power of observation out in nature. On his good days, he’s out on the flat valley trails, pointing out the birds for guests just based on their song alone.

Mountain Chickadee. Acorn Woodpecker. If he’s lucky, he can catch an American Dipper ducking under the cold stream, the only aquatic songbird on the continent.

Viktor is pulled from his ornithology daydreams when the walkie on his hip sparks to life.

“Field to Visitor’s Center, Field to Visitor's Center,” calls a familiar voice, flipping Viktor’s heart in his chest a few times over. 

He unclips the walkie and holds it up to his mouth to respond. “Go for Visitor’s Center, this is Viktor.”

“Viktor!” Jayce’s voice jumps up in recognition.

“Hello, Jayce.” Viktor smiles fondly, hoping his coworkers aren’t peering around the info desk at his expression. At this point, the whole building teases him for his crush, which he apparently is shit at hiding.

Jayce responds with a level of cheer that’s disproportionate to how long he’s been awake already. “Hey! How are you? I’m sorry we couldn’t walk together this m–”

“We are still on walkie, Jayce.”

“Right, uhh–” Viktor chuckles as the static sputters on his end. “Real icy up here on the falls, everyone’s okay, but it’s gonna get worse. From up here on the mountain, we can see a storm rolling in fast. Best to close the trail and let the info desk know.”

People are not going to like that. The upper falls trail is one of their most popular hikes, but poor conditions up there can have deadly consequences. It’s a good call from Jayce’s crew.

“You got it,” Viktor responds. “I’ll let the team here know.”

“Kay. Headed back now, I’ll swing by soon.”

Viktor blushes, knowing that practically the whole valley is listening.

“Thank you, Jayce. Over and out.”

The second he clips his walkie back to his belt, the woman at the info desk spins around with a gleeful expression under her wire-frame glasses.

“And he’s not your boyfriend yet?”

“Sky!”

She giggles, her puff of hair wobbling atop her head. “It’s so obvious he likes you. What’s it gonna take for one of you to finally make a move?”

Make a move. Viktor is inexperienced with that kind of social nuance. Jayce seems like the kind of guy who goes after what he wants, so Viktor always figured if someone would make a move, it would’ve happened a long time ago. Yawning to arm-over-shoulder style. Classic stuff.

“It is not like that.” He sighs, to Sky’s visual disappointment.

“Sure. Y’know, one of these days we’re gonna get you two in a room alone, and I won’t let you out until you actually tell him how you feel.”

Viktor tsks and waves his hands, brushing her off and going back to the safety of his exhibits, where scientific inquiries await.

༄ ⋆⁺₊❅.

The storm that Jayce warned them about arrives quickly, as predicted. The fairytale snowfall from earlier that morning morphs into wicked winds and blizzard conditions, piling on the walkways faster than the staff can clear them for foot traffic. 

The bustling of the opening hours wanes dramatically as trails in the park shut down one by one, and campers are encouraged to evacuate before the roads out of the valley become blocked. Even the staff in the Visitor’s Center dwindles to a couple of essential posts manning operations. Viktor’s supervisor encourages him to leave early, concerned about the ice under his already unstable gait, but he insists on staying in case anyone needs help.

Besides, Viktor likes his job. The historic wood floors and views of the cliffs towering above are a comfort to Viktor, even as the storm blows in with the force of nature’s indifferent brutality.

When the exhibits’ halls are empty for some time, Viktor replaces Sky at the info desk while she helps the gift shop staff get their closing chores done early.

On his bad pain days, he likes to sit at the front and give his body a break, and he doesn’t mind chatting to visitors about the park– especially when it comes to the area’s biodiversity or accessibility initiatives, many of them being passion projects of his own.

The bell above the door rings for the first time in over an hour, and when Viktor looks up from the info desk, he meets the eyes of none other than Jayce, ranger heartthrob, noble rescuer, looking like he’s stepped straight out of a Hallmark romance movie.

He pulls his brown beanie off his head and shakes the snowflakes from his hair, then waves at Viktor and crosses the room in long strides, boots stomping against the refurbished hardwood.

“Viktor!” He calls out, breathless and flushed from the cold.

“Hello, Jayce.”

Viktor’s lovestruck smile fades when Jayce comes closer, and it’s clear that he’s not just out of breath from the adrenaline of his helicopter ride; his eyes are wide with fear.

Jayce is prone to anxiety attacks; Viktor knows that by now. He’s spent enough evenings curled up on Viktor’s ergonomic desk chair, crying through the rush of panic with Viktor talking him through it. Now his wild, windswept hair frames a similar look of alarm.

“What happened?” Viktor asks softly.

Jayce glances around at the couple of employees left in the gift shop. “Wh-why are you still open? It’s getting so bad out there, it’s not safe, I saw it from the chopper–”

“Jayce,” Viktor interrupts his spiral, placing a calming hand over Jayce’s glove. “We are closing up soon, and we are fully prepared and trained to deal with winter storms.”

Sky shuffles up to them, not-so-subtly clearing her throat.

“Hi Jayce,” she smirks, like she’s barely holding back a juicy secret.

Viktor flashes her a stern warning look.

“I just came to tell Viktor I need to um…” she can’t contain her smile, “leave early. Before the storm. We’re closing the gift shop, and Viktor offered to cover the info desk sooo…”

“I got it,” Viktor sputters quickly, waving her along before she mortifies him further with her terrible poker face. “Go ahead. I’ll close up.”

Jayce blanches. “Shouldn’t we–”

“Perfect! I owe you!” she winks before she turns to leave and calls out, “Have fun!”

༄ ⋆⁺₊❅.

Another hour goes by, as Jayce insists on keeping Viktor company until they can walk home together. Viktor would normally be annoyed with the excessive chivalry— he doesn’t like being treated like some fragile thing— but in these conditions, he’d be stupid to walk back alone. A minor slip for him can cause major problems.

Besides, he’ll never complain about spending a little extra time with Jayce.

Jayce excitedly recounts his morning. A group of hikers summited the falls at first light, but the snow iced over the trail back down at the cliff’s edge, and they needed an emergency airlift. They were smart to call in instead of attempting the crossing themselves, and Jayce made sure they got back to the valley swiftly in one piece and warmed up at medical.

The soft holiday music drones on from the speakers, while Viktor scratches away at a draft of one of his new junior ranger program proposals.

Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful…

It’s only in the silence that Jayce’s anxiety begins to show again, no longer quelled by the distractions of conversation. He wanders over to the glass front doors, looking out into the parking lot at the flurry of white masking the mountains in the distance.

“Viktor, we should go,” He says quietly, voice small in contrast to his typically boisterous personality.

“I said I would close up,” Viktor responds. “What if someone needs help?”

“That’s why we have a team for emergencies,” Jayce gestures to himself with a soft smile. The red cross on his jacket is displayed proudly, a universal sign of help. He’s off duty now, but he’s right– the others from his team have this handled.

A gust of wind whistles through the gap between the doors, and Jayce steps back, instinctively hugging his arms for warmth.

“Okay,” Viktor sighs and stands from the desk. “Let’s go home.”

He does one last walkthrough of the exhibits, flicking off the lights as he goes and admiring the shadows cast by the animal models. In the gift shop, he straightens piles of sweatshirts and picks up fallen magnets off of the floor until it’s relatively tidy. It doesn’t take much effort, since the number of visitors has dwindled with the storm, and Sky did most of the work closing up in a rush before she left.

Jayce is organizing the maps at the desk when Viktor returns. He can’t help but notice the man’s hands are shaking against the edges of the paper, stealing nervous looks over at the worsening storm outside.

“Ready!” Viktor announces.

“You sure? It’s gonna be a rough walk back,” Jayce warns.

“I thought you were eager to get out of here.”

“I am! It’s just uh, getting worse by the second.”

“Good thing I have a personal escort from Search & Rescue.” Viktor smirks.

Flirting. This is flirting, Viktor scolds himself.

Before Jayce can respond, Viktor’s walkie lights up on its charger back at the desk.

“Leader to Visitor’s Center, Leader to Visitor's Center, anyone still there?”

“Shit,” Viktor mutters. He scrambles to grab it and respond. “Go for Visitor’s Center, this is Viktor.”

This better be fucking good.

“Viktor, what are you still doing there? The whole park's closing because of this storm. It’s nasty out here. Is anyone else there?”

“I was just closing up, sir. Just me, I’ll be out of here soon.”

“No, no way. It’s dangerous in the valley right now; we’re already responding to some staff emergencies out in the field. If you’re indoors, stay indoors.”

Viktor’s eyes widen as he looks around the near-abandoned space. “In the Visitor's Center? For how long?”

“That’s one of the safest places you can be. Stay put, that’s an order.”

Viktor winces and hesitates, then looks up at Jayce. He nods in agreement.

Fuck.

“Yes, sir. I’ll keep the walkie charged for updates.”

“Over and out.”

“Over and out.” Viktor mumbles and jams the walkie back into the charger.

The two of them stand there in silence, contemplating the situation they’ve gotten themselves into.

“Well,” Viktor sighs, looking out at the storm that shows no sign of stopping anytime soon. “Best get cozy, then. It’s gonna be a long night.”

༄ ⋆⁺₊❅.

Luckily, the Visitor’s Center is stocked with everything they need. His boss was right; if they were going to get snowed-in anywhere in the valley, this was the best place to wait it out. Not only because it’s safe, but also because of its endless supply of food and camping gear.

Viktor puts Jayce in charge of finding something to eat, while he manages the sleeping arrangements. In the camping aisle, there are several options to choose from. Sleeping bags are great for insulating heat, but not-so-great when laid out on a hardwood floor. Instead, Viktor grabs an inflatable mattress pad, big enough for two, which will at least keep them off the ground.

The picture on the front of the box is a young couple laying beside each other, sharing a blanket and snuggled up under the stars. Viktor tries not to dwell on the fact that this will technically count as sleeping together. He’d had fantasies like this– he and Jayce, sharing a bed, just under very different circumstances.

“Hey, V! Catch!” Jayce calls out, a fair warning before a small bag soars over the aisles. Viktor is not gifted in hand-eye coordination on a good day, but with both hands full of camping gear, the side of his head is beamed with a packet of candy.

Jayce covers his mouth, which doesn’t do much to conceal his burst of laughter. “Shit– sorry!”

Viktor giggles and looks down at the bright pink bag of Nerds Gummy Clusters.

“Oh! My favorite!”

“I know,” Jayce responds, smiling over the aisle at him. Viktor ducks away to hide his blush.

When their scavenging is complete, they both return to the info desk to set up camp. It’s quickly agreed upon to sleep in the space behind the desk for privacy, a perfect fit for the mattress, and lots of outlets to plug in the portable heaters.

Jayce dumps a bag of snacks out onto the wide surface of the desk, colorful plastic tumbling out with delightful crinkling sounds. It’s all junk food- nothing that would make a proper dinner, but it’s only one night. Plus, Jayce looks delighted with his haul, watching for Viktor’s reaction excitedly.

Viktor snags a packet of chocolate-covered pretzels and rips it open.

“I knew you’d go for those,” Jayce smiles and grabs one for himself. “You’re a sucker for sweets.”

“My sugar addiction is very much fueled by your vending machine purchases,” Viktor says. “Always leaving chocolate on my desk after lunch break. Such a terrible influence.”

The pretzel is crunchy, with a satisfying salty-sweet taste that melds together perfectly as Viktor happily chews.

“Makes you smile though,” Jayce responds.

Viktor can’t hide the curl of his mouth at that, even when chewing.

A dinner of candy and trail mix is enjoyed, while setting up the bed and making a mess of wrappers and empty boxes of camping supplies in the front hall. The snow paints a white background to their antics, now forgotten about on the other side of the glass.

“Viktor, check this out–”

Jayce drapes one of the blankets over the desk, reminiscent of a childhood fort. Using heavy items to hold it up, it creates the perfect roof for their cozy nook. He beams proudly at his feat of engineering, waiting for Viktor’s seal of approval.

“Perfect, Jayce. Those backcountry survival skills are really coming in handy.”

“Ah, y’know, just doing my job.”

Jayce tests to make sure it’s all secure and then drops down to crawl inside. Viktor sets his cane against the wall and slowly lowers himself on his good leg to follow.

It’s not long before the two of them are settled into their makeshift fort, taking turns tossing peanuts and chocolate into each other's mouths. Jayce insists on surrounding their camping mat with electric heaters, now that the temperature outside has dropped dramatically with nightfall. It’s excessive, enough to stifle Viktor in his sweater until he sheds it, opting for a t-shirt advertising their “Parks After Dark” stargazing program, covered in little constellations and a silhouette of the mountains bracketing either side of the valley.

They also manage to find beer in the fridges at the back of the supply shop. Viktor normally is not much of a beer drinker, but when trapped in his workplace alone with his crush, he’s not going to be picky about the alcohol available.

“Okay so, you basically know everything about this place,” Jayce says. “Got any good campfire stories?”

Viktor nods. “Tons. I specialize in campfire stories.”

“I want something you’ve never told a visitor before. The off-limits behind-the-scenes shit.”

“Oh, easy,” Viktor grins and cracks open a can of beer with a loud hiss. “So in the 70’s, there was this plane crash in the park.” He takes a sip before he continues. “Not here in the valley– fuj, this is disgusting– out in the backcountry, where you do rescues.”

“You think they would ship good beer all the way out here?” Jayce smiles fondly. 

“An excellent point.”

“Anyways, continue. Plane crash.”

“Yes, it went right into a lake and froze over. Turns out it was a smuggler plane, so the crash went undocumented for a while, and even when it was found, the winter weather made it near-impossible to recover.” Viktor gestures to the storm outside.

“But,” he continues, “word got around that a plane full of high-quality marijuana was up in the mountains. It was the 70’s, so there was a big community of dirtbag climbers living here, even in the winter. They started making expeditions out to the crash site to recover the drugs themselves. People got crazy rich off of it.”

“No fucking way.”

“I’m serious! By the time spring came around and the rangers got up there, the local climbers had a whole makeshift camp set up by the lake. They took chainsaws to the ice and were diving in to recover it. Honestly, it’s amazing,” Viktor laughs, mostly at Jayce’s shocked expression.

“You’re telling me that this place was the center of an undercover drug operation run by a group of adrenaline-junkie hippies?”

“Exactly!”

“That’s crazy.”

“It’s true, though! There’s a documentary and everything. Trust me, I wish we could show it here; the guests would love it.” Viktor nods to the theatre doors down the hall.

Jayce laughs, a surprisingly high-pitched giggle as his face scrunches with amusement.

“I can’t imagine getting a call for something like that. I’ve seen some wacky stuff, but a plane full of drugs frozen in a lake would totally take the cake.”

“What kind of wacky stuff?” Viktor asks.

“I mean, this isn’t necessarily wacky, but the most memorable call was a kid who lost her stuffie at the falls. It fell down off the trail and was hanging on the branch of a tree on the side of the mountain.”

“Oh, poor thing. Did you get it?”

“Of course I did. Set up a rappel rig and everything for retrieval, just like we do with people.”

“Hm, I’m sure there are taxpayers who would not be pleased with that use of government funding, Jayce.”

“Well fuck them. They didn’t see the look on her face when we got it back to her.”

Viktor wonders what the look on his face is now. Does he hide his infatuation well? Can Jayce see what’s behind his eyes, and does he choose to ignore it and toe the line of their friendship out of fear? Or is he completely oblivious to the affection in Viktor’s gaze?

“I’m sure it was worth every cent.”

“You wanna know what the best part of the job is? Besides saving people?”

“Oh yeah, besides that boring heroic stuff,” Viktor snorts.

Jayce sips his beer and softens his expression to something fond and awe-stricken.

“Getting those night calls, like the one this morning,” he says. “When I’m up in the helicopter at night, it’s so dark on the mountains, you can’t even see them. It’s all protected land, so it’s kept completely natural with no infrastructure besides the trails. The only thing you can see is just the lights from here in the valley. But when you let your eyes adjust, there’s little motes of light on the cliffs. Climbers. They pitch their hammocks over thousand-foot drops, and you can see them all like little constellations in the wilderness.”

Viktor imagines Jayce, suited up in his medic gear with the wind whipping his hair, high above the peaks. He’s the closest thing to an angel of earth, a savior in the sky.

“That sounds beautiful. Jayce.”

“I wanna take you up there someday,” Jayce says wistfully.

“Me? In the chopper?”

“Yeah, why not?”

Sounds like a date.

“I guess that sounds…” Romantic. “Fun.”

Jayce beams. “You’ll love it.”

༄ ⋆⁺₊❅.

The storm rages on outside.

In the safety of the Visitor’s Center, it’s oddly peaceful to look out the windows and see the snow flying sideways and the wind bending the ancient trees. Being a history buff has its perks– Viktor knows that no storm in the valley has damaged this original building for over a century. It was built to withstand the brutality of mountain weather. They’ll be safe here overnight.

Snow piles up against the front doors, trapping them inside. They were staying by choice before, but now there’s no going back. Rangers will surely come at first light to dig a path out, once the storm settles. The portable heaters are doing their job, keeping their hideout warm for their overnight hibernation.

A particularly strong gust of wind slams against the windows behind them, rattling the glass and howling through the valley. Jayce flinches at the sound and curls his knees tighter against his chest. It’s an odd sight– Viktor is used to feeling small next to Jayce, who’s well over 6ft and made of bulky, well-sculpted muscle. Now, he feels like he could scoop the man up in his arms easily.

Viktor sighs and leans back against the wall, looking up into the rafters. He can’t ignore this anymore. Something has had Jayce on edge all day, and it’s only getting worse. In order to help him, Viktor needs to know what it is.

“Are you going to tell me?”

Jayce takes a deep breath before he replies. “Tell you what?”

“What you are so scared of.”

“Oh, uh, I have a thing. With snowstorms.”

Viktor nods, letting the silence speak for itself. He doesn’t want to interrogate or make Jayce feel embarrassed, but Jayce has been acting like a coiled spring, tightly wound. He needs to talk about this.

Jayce sighs and leans back next to Viktor, their shoulders almost touching. Viktor holds his breath, unable to ignore the closeness he craves. Luckily, Jayce continues, the door now open to share what’s clearly been on his mind.

“I was fine on the job this morning, when the snow got bad. I like helping people; it’s like– I can focus on them and not me. But when it was over, I–” He hugs his knees. “It brings back bad memories.”

Another ghostly howl fills the space as Jayce takes a hesitant pause.

“When I was little, there was a storm like this at home, a blizzard. Howling and whiteout windows. No power. The whole house was shaking; I was so scared. My mom just– she just held me. And we waited in the dark for my dad to come home.”

The implication hits Viktor in the gut, realizing the ending before Jayce says it out loud. Jayce only ever talks to his mom when he calls home. Viktor has never heard any mention of a father figure.

“And he didn’t. So.” Jayce swallows hard. “When it storms I– I freak out a little. That’s all.”

“Jayce–”

“It’s not– I know it seems like a lot but I swear, I’ve done the therapy thing and like, the grieving thing. My friends back home make dead dad jokes all the time. It’s a thing. I’m like, okay with it.” He chuckles. “But after all these years, this…”

He gestures out to the glass doors where the snow rushes past and clings to the frozen surroundings.

“It brings me right back. Undoes all the work I’ve done to move on. I hate it.”

Suddenly, it makes sense. Jayce is passionate about Search & Rescue because he lost someone. It’s why he’s so damn good at it.

“You did a good thing today,” Viktor says, “I think you’re allowed to have this tonight. A human moment.”

“Yeah. I think it’s just– I’ve spent so long fixing myself, and this one thing happens and reminds me that I’m broken.”

“You’re not broken, Jayce. You lost someone. Grief is a bitch.”

“Ha. You’ve got that right.”

Viktor’s heart twinges. Jayce is so beautiful, even when he forces that watery smile with pain behind his eyes. He’s framed from behind by the light from outside– moonlight reflected off of the glittering snowy surface amidst the storm. His profile is alight at the edges, and Viktor traces the outline of it in his mind to commit the shape to memory.

“And come on, no well-adjusted person just picks up their whole life to move to an isolated community in the mountains. It’s a crazy thing to do. We’re all running from something.”

“Is that true?” Jayce raises his eyebrows, as if to say, your turn.

Viktor sighs. He’s avoided this subject long enough, and it’s only fair to offer up his own vulnerability in exchange for Jayce’s emotional confession.

“Yes. I was sick as a child. It would not be an exaggeration to say I was, eh, dying? That sounds dramatic, I–”

He watches Jayce’s face fall.

“Obviously, I am okay. Now. I recovered better than anyone expected. My disability limits my mobility and comes with a lot of chronic pain, but I am on track to live a very long life, all things considered. A medical miracle, I am.”

Viktor smiles, coaxing Jayce’s spirits back up. He doesn’t want to dwell on his childhood spent in hospital beds, with tubes down his throat and the persistent hiss of oxygen barely giving relief to his tired lungs. His breath comes easy and full now. Every gulp of mountain air here is a gracious reminder of how far he has come.

“I was able to get a great education back home, with all of the scholarships thrown my way. I studied wildlife, conservation, everything I could get my hands on. All of the stuff that was out in the world for me to see with my new lease on life. The outdoors fascinated me, since I spent so much of my life cooped up,” Viktor recounts. “But no matter how much I tried to separate myself from my past, it still had its way of haunting me. Everyone still treated me like I was going to take another turn for the worse at any moment. I survived, but there was a part of me that felt like a ghost long after treatment was over.”

It’s why he hasn’t told anyone here the story yet. They treat him like everybody else, not like a fragile thing waiting to break. But Jayce– Jayce is special. Jayce treats him like something to be revered, respected. Always listening with interest and hanging on every word.

It’s the closest thing Viktor’s ever felt to love.

“So when this opportunity came up, I didn’t think twice. It’s freeing to leave that life behind and be someone new here. Be a brand new person. See the things I thought I would never see. Meet people from all over. I love it.”

Jayce is watching him with a fond smile as Viktor realizes he’s been rambling.

“I’m sorry, I know that’s heavy, that’s why I usually don’t–”

“You’re amazing,” Jayce says, unexpectedly.

Viktor’s eyes widen in surprise, and all he can think to say in response is a quiet “Oh.”

There’s a twisting feeling where his heart is in his chest. The muscles contract like they’re urging him to act on the high emotions of this moment. He knows this feeling– the pounding, adrenaline-filled moment of compilation before he leans in for the first kiss.

This is it, he thinks, terror and thrill bubbling up inside of him.

Jayce looks up, and their eyes lock. Viktor admires the unique color of them– shades of green, flecks of copper– and is stunned into silence. 

He feels pinned down by the gaze, unable to take the jump into uncharted waters. Mentally, he urges his body to move, but it does not obey. His mouth goes dry and his skin sears hot with nerves.

As the moment passes, Jayce’s eyes flick down to Viktor’s lips, then back to his own lap, where his hands stay busy picking at the dirt under his nails. A nervous habit.

Fuck, Viktor reels, why can’t I just kiss him?

It’s too late though, as Jayce shifts in his seat and clears his throat awkwardly.

“I know I’ve been jumpy, but it does feel safer. Having you around. Is that weird?” Jayce asks.

Viktor finally exhales the breath he’d been holding in, doing his best to hide his disappointment. “No, not at all. I am glad to be here with you. Even if we are… snowed in, as you say.”

It’s true. Viktor has always known that this crush probably wouldn’t turn into anything more, but the friendship he’s found in Jayce has more value. There’s nobody else he would be so comfortable cooped up with while a blizzard tears through their little mountain village.

“We should probably try to sleep. Just a little,” Jayce suggests.

“Eh, I doubt we’ll be getting any.” Viktor snorts.

He notices a vivid blush set into the apples of Jayce’s cheeks and realizes the implication too late.

“I mean!” He coughs, laughing through the awkwardness. “The storm, Jayce!”

“Right!” Jayce shakes his head and avoids eye contact, also forcing a laugh. “The storm, right…”

Viktor throws a rolled-up blanket at Jayce playfully and then tucks his own under his head to use as a pillow. It’s not that comfortable, but the mattress pad adds some needed back support for sleeping on the floor. With all the blankets piled on them, it could even be considered cozy.

Jayce curls on his side, facing Viktor. The man does not know the meaning of privacy, or the unspoken social graces of sleeping alongside another man that happens to be your friendly coworker and not a romantic partner by any means. A man who almost kissed him barely a moment ago.

One of the heaters right beside him blares hot against the back of his neck, and Viktor can feel sweat beading there. 

“Don’t be shy, V, it’s cold. Get over here,” Jayce beacons.

What.

“Oh, eh…” Viktor stares wide-eyed at Jayce’s broad build, already so close that his ears burn with wanting. It is, in fact, not cold at all in their makeshift bed. Between the layers of wool socks, fleece blankets, and the excessive heaters, going out in the storm actually sounds fucking refreshing right now.

Jayce gingerly takes Viktor’s hands between his own and rubs them together. “Your hands are freezing.” –goddamn poor circulation– “C’mon, I’ve been told I’m like a furnace.”

He must take Viktor’s lack of response as an acceptance of the offer, because before Viktor can think properly, he’s being pulled in so that he’s pressed up against Jayce.

There are still several layers of clothing between them, but Jayce was right, his body radiates heat. Viktor is engulfed by the warmth and the strong smell of musk– masculine and rich. It doesn’t leave much to the imagination; in fact, this is far better than Viktor could ever conjure up in a wet dream. Jayce’s shoulders fully eclipse his own, accentuating their contrasting sizes.

Viktor would be lying if he said the size comparison didn’t live up to his most indulgent fantasies.

“There you go,” Jayce murmurs in his ear, oh god, way too seductively. Maybe he’s imagining it. Maybe this much contact with a man he’s been pining after far too long has gone straight to his head.

Viktor tries to respond with a scoff, making light of their position, but it comes out like a sigh, bordering on a moan of pleasure. Dear god, get it together.

Jayce shifts under the blankets, getting comfortable now with Viktor cuddled up next to him. A subtle nudge of his leg brings his thigh in between Viktor’s. The slightest parting of his legs makes him gasp involuntarily.

“You okay, V?”

“Yes,” Viktor squeaks out.

His cunt throbs, spread and exposed, but trapped in his thick flannel pajama pants. When he shifts his hips forward under the guise of cuddling closer, he’s able to steal a hint of the contact he craves. The pressure against Jayce’s thigh is delicious, and even better, he doesn’t even react to Viktor’s movement.

It’s wrong, it’s so wrong, but there’s sweat soaking through Viktor’s shirt and he feels like he might die if he ignores the building tension and need for more friction.

He shifts forward again, slowly, letting his cock rub upwards against the solid muscle of Jayce’s thigh. It’s not direct contact, but Viktor savors it, salivating and already feeling the greedy urge for more. A deep breath, and another slow rub, biting back the noise of pleasure clogging his throat.

Jayce shifts too, bending his leg and pushing upwards between Viktor’s when he bucks his hips again, finally providing the pressure he really craves.

“Fuck,” Viktor whispers on his exhale, unable to hold it back.

“Shh,” Jayce tightens his arm around Viktor’s waist. “Don’t stop.”

Viktor gasps and whips his head up, greeted with a smirk from Jayce.

He feels his ears burn with white-hot shame, caught in the act of pleasuring himself against his closest friend, hoping it would go unnoticed. The humiliation of the moment sends blood rushing south, his heart a pathetic thing rattling in his chest.

“I– I’m sorry, I–”

Jayce pushes his leg up again, letting Viktor grind into it. It’s enough to quiet his apologetic babbling, but not his desperate whimpering as he gives into the sensation. Jayce isn’t pulling away– he looks pleased.

“There you go, just like that,” Jayce praises softly. His fingers thread through the sweaty fringe over Viktor’s forehead and anchor themselves into a fistful on the crown of Viktor’s head. The hold traps him close, breathing against the crook of Jayce’s neck, nose brushing the soft skin there.

No longer trying to mask his movements, Viktor humps Jayce’s leg fully, clinging to the material of Jayce’s shirt that’s beginning to dampen with sweat. He can smell the thick musk of their combined overheating, bodies grinding together under the pile of blankets. The pleasure is addictive, yet still not enough– he needs more, he needs to be touched.

Viktor’s breath comes short and labored. A bead of sweat drips from his hairline down the side of his face, tracing his jaw. Jayce leans in and drags his hot tongue across Viktor’s face, lapping it up and eliciting a whine from high in Viktor’s throat.

“Jayce,” he gasps, tilting his head up to stare wide-eyed at Jayce’s smug expression, panting inches away from each other.

There’s no need for confession, or for words at all. He knows Jayce better than anybody; they have a closer bond from living here for a few months than Viktor ever had with anyone from his youth in the city. They have a natural chemistry, a way of communicating just by a look. 

When Jayce’s gaze drops to the part of Viktor’s lips, they both surge forward to close the distance.

Kissing Jayce is unreal. It’s not the gentle peck under the mistletoe that Viktor practiced in his head. Their teeth clack together with their attempt to devour each other whole, open-mouthed and wet.

Jayce uses the fistful of Viktor’s hair to maneuver him, and Viktor goes willingly. He pulls, tilting Viktor’s head back to lick deeper into his mouth. Viktor chokes on a moan, and his hips buck forward to grind harder, seeking more, more, more.

“Don’t wear yourself out, baby,” Jayce coos, “I’m gonna take care of you. Would you like that?”

Viktor nods, hair still caught in Jayce’s unrelenting grip.

“Thought so. You’re so desperate. Look at you–” Jayce tilts Viktor’s head to the side with reverence and traces his jaw with his free hand. “Little slut.”

Viktor can hardly believe the filth coming from Jayce. He’s always admired Jayce for his sweetness, his gentle nature and goofy smile. This new gruff, condescending side of him is something Viktor didn’t expect. It feels dirty, being manhandled and talked down to, and Viktor has never wanted anything more.

Jayce gives Viktor’s hair one more aggressive tug before releasing it, the sting lingering pleasurably. Viktor wonders how it would feel to get slapped, if it would sting more. If Jayce would spank him raw.

“Off,” Jayce tugs at the hem of Viktor’s shirt, and then sits up to remove his own.

Viktor scrambles to pull the cotton over his head, replacing the starry pattern on the shirt with his equally speckled skin. He can see the sheen of sweat he’s worked up against the pale, freckled surface of his bare chest.

Jayce tosses his own sweatshirt and quickly ducks down again, wasting no time kissing and licking every inch of skin until Viktor is squirming with impatience. Without even lifting his head, Jayce stills him with a strong hand pressing him down into the mat by the side of his hip.

He takes his time to map out Viktor’s body, leaving no area untouched. Viktor gasps in surprise when Jayce noses up into each armpit, huffing the smell and wetting the thick hair there with his mouth. When Viktor tries to clamp his arms down reflexively, Jayce just repositions to hold both of his wrists above his head for easy access.

“Smell so fucking good, V,” he groans, laving down from pit to nipple and sucking on the little nub there.

“Ah– oh, fuck–”

“Sensitive? God, I love you like this.”

Viktor's brain just repeats I love you, I love you, I love you, in Jayce’s voice over and over like a broken record.

Then, Jayce sucks his nipple hard until Viktor is arching up off the mat and making a high-pitched noise he’s never even heard from his own throat before.

“I can taste your sweat,” Jayce pants.

“It’s all the damn heaters.”

Jayce laughs, a breathy sound, and gives another kitten-lick to Viktor’s nipple. “Tastes good.”

Viktor fists the blankets as Jayce’s mouth travels down, leaving kisses on every mole, until he reaches the trail of dark hair at his waistband and groans.

“What?” Viktor whispers.

“I’m just obsessed with you,” Jayce says before he licks a stripe up Viktor’s abdomen and shoves his pants and underwear down in one pull.

The hair between his legs is wild, curly and thick over his cunt and down the insides of his thighs. Viktor never shaves, he’s always preferred the natural look of it, and after his shots it just grew more uncontrollably. Jayce’s glazed-over look sharpens to feral hunger when it’s revealed, immediately taking a deep sniff and burying his face in the wiry patch.

Viktor gasps in surprise, hand flying down to grab at Jayce’s hair. Whatever Jayce is doing doesn’t feel like being eaten out– he’s using his mouth, not to pleasure Viktor but to taste where the hair is gathered. He sucks it into his mouth and licks at the curls around Viktor’s core like he’s enjoying the taste of them.

“My god,” Viktor’s eyes roll back when Jayce travels over to one of his thighs and sucks hard enough to bruise.

When all of Viktor’s pubic hair is sopping from the attention from Jayce’s mouth, he finally surfaces, chin shining with spit under his grin.

“Can I fuck you now?”

Jayce’s fingers slide down between his folds and prod at his cunt.

“No, wait— ngh,” Viktor gasps out.

“No?” Jayce’s hand freezes.

Viktor’s voice comes out far more hoarse than he expects. “I like, eh…”

Usually the conversation about sexual preferences happens before things get this far, and Viktor feels far more embarrassed admitting his proclivities to his best friend. He’s not opposed to using the orifice meant for fucking, especially when it’s drooling so thoroughly at the prospect of being breeched by Jayce’s fingers, but he’s far too greedy now to settle.

What he needs is the sweet burn of Jayce carving a place into his body where he’s not meant to be. Forcing him to open up, prodding at his insides, slicking them up to take what he’s given. Viktor’s just not sure if he’s ready to admit his desire for an old-fashioned ass-fucking out loud.

Luckily, Jayce’s expression curls into a smug grin, as if he can read Viktor’s shame like a book.

“Oh,” he nods, and his fingers slide further down to nudge between Viktor’s asscheeks. “You like it here, don’t you?”

Blood rushes to the surface of Viktor’s face, burning hot. The blunt tip of Jayce’s index finger pets at the puckered opening where he’s most sensitive, eliciting a pathetic whine from Viktor’s throat.

“You want me to fuck your tight little asshole, V?”

Viktor can only squirm against Jayce’s strong hold.

“Should’ve known. Dirty man. You act so smart and put together, but all you want is for someone to fuck you stupid. Isn’t that right?”

Viktor shakes his head.

“No?” Jayce frowns.

“You,” Viktor corrects, “want you to eh, fuck me stupid.”

Jayce grins, that bashful side blooming through again. “You have no idea how long I’ve dreamed you would say that.”

Romance is a strange component to mix with such a heavy dosage of unfiltered lust. The sweetness of it cloys inside him, a raw emotion coming to the surface and prickling at Viktor’s eyes.

He’s jolted back into lucidity when Jayce pins Viktor to the mat with one hand on his chest, the size of it obscene between Viktor’s pert nipples. Even with just one arm holding him down, Viktor can’t move– squirming only results in the flexing of his core and scrambling on his arms trying to find something to push against. The display of strength has Viktor’s cunt clenching with arousal. He feels like a bug, neatly pinned on display– or maybe one caught in the amplified sunbeam of a magnifying glass, with the sweat he’s working up. If Jayce’s eyes dragging down his body could burn him with the intensity of their desire, Viktor would be happily fried to a crisp.

He watches as Jayce works up his spit in his mouth before pushing it out with his tongue, a long glob of it hitting his pussy and slowly dripping down to his hole. Jayce uses his fingers to rub it in, teasing at his rim while he slicks him for highly-anticipated penetration.

It’s slow work, fucking torturous, and Viktor can no longer control the whiny noises escaping him. Jayce continues to spit, seemingly enjoying watching it drip through the folds and wet the hair between his legs. When it meets his fingers, he pushes it in to coat Viktor’s insides as he works to stretch him out. It’s a tight fit, but eventually Viktor takes two fingers with relative ease after enough prep and spit.

“Want three?”

Viktor shakes his head quickly.

“No?” Jayce chuckles, enjoying this far too much.

“Want you to–” Viktor coughs in surprise at how low his voice is now, dropped tenfold with lust. “Ha– want you to eh, stretch me out. With your cock.”

Jayce pretends to consider this request. “Only if you ask nicely.”

“Jayce, please.”

“Your voice is so sexy right now.” Jayce mumbles, curling his fingers inside deliciously. Viktor moans again as Jayce pumps them in and out, slower now, dragging it out purposefully.

“I can take it.”

“Can you?”

“Yes, please.”

“I like when you beg.”

“Jayce Talis, you better fuck me right now.”

“Oh, demanding.”

“Jayce,” Viktor whines, tears pooling in his eyes.

“Gonna cry about it?”

Viktor swallows hard and tries to blink them back, but they spill over his lashes and wet his cheeks. Crying over cock. God, he is a slut.

“Aw, baby, you want it so bad. It’s okay, I’ll fuck you so good. Promise. You’re fucking gorgeous like this, Viktor.”

Jayce’s rambling just bounces in his brain like a DVD screensaver. Viktor’s convinced he’s finally lost it, driven mad by isolation in the storm. Maybe he’s been stuck here for days. Maybe the only way he can cope is by slipping into some hot fantasy about his stupid crush.

Do not save me, Viktor mentally begs some higher power, if this is how I must go, do not fucking save me.

But no– the head of Jayce’s cock finally pressing at the tight pucker of his hole, that’s fucking real.

“Oh god…” Viktor whispers.

“Shh, I know it’s big. You’re still so tight, I–”

Jayce breath catches when he pushes in. His big hands curl into a bruising grip of self-restraint, one on Viktor’s hip and the other pushing Viktor’s good leg up towards his chest. Viktor clenches at the intrusion, earning a hiss from Jayce.

“Oh, fuck, Viktor.”

It’s a slow intrusion, toe-curling and pleasure-laced as Viktor savors the feeling of being split by Jayce’s cock. His body makes room, organs shoved aside, muscles quivering as they try to accommodate what’s happening. It’s so fucking hot that he can feel his cunt dripping down to where they’re connected, desperately trying to ease the way.

Viktor whimpers, he fucking whimpers, because Jayce feels way better than the purple dildo shoved in the depths of his bedside drawer. Not only is it bigger, but the skin is warm and drags against his insides raw, heightening the erotism of being connected so intimately.

He’s inside me, oh, he’s inside me, in my fucking guts.

Jayce begins the gradual in-and-out motion, watching Viktor carefully, so attuned to his reactions. Every time he rolls his hips, the muscles in his abdomen flex and shine with sweat.

“Doing so good, Viktor, taking me so fucking well,” Jayce murmurs. “How long have you wanted this?”

Viktor blushes, not expecting to make that confession while speared on his cock.

Jayce only seems to be spurred on by Viktor’s embarrassment. “Don’t be shy, not when I have you like this. Tell me.”

“A while,” Viktor croaks.

“C’mon, I need more than that.”

“Months.”

“Since the beginning?”

Viktor cannot answer that.

“Aw, V. Me too. Saw your little waist in that uniform and wanted you so bad. And your voice.”

His cock twitches where it’s hidden beneath the nest of spit-slick hair. He reaches down to rub at it, but Jayce stops him abruptly with a hand to his wrist.

“No, no, flip over. Now.”

Viktor nods and repositions, mourning the momentary loss of Jayce’s cock filling him but gasping in surprise when Jayce lifts his hips to place a pillow underneath. It’s firm, enough to rub off on at this angle. He could cum with Jayce fucking him like this.

“Better?”

“Fuck, yes,” Viktor nods and rolls his hips against the pillow, moaning at the welcome friction.

“Good. Wanna feel you squeeze me when you cum.”

He feels Jayce spread his cheeks with his thumbs and hears him spit before it hits him. Jayce rubs the saliva over his hole with the head of his cock before fucking it into him, earning a deep moan from Viktor’s throat.

Viktor alternates between arching back into it and grinding forward into the pillow. It’s unreal. It’s bliss. He’s making noises he swears he’s never made before and he’s sweating so much it’s actually dripping from the fringe hanging over his forehead.

Jayce speeds up, no longer exercising the restraint from before, slapping his hips against Viktor’s ass with each stroke.

“Viktor, fuck, you were made for this. Made to take my cock.”

Viktor just nods along, mouth hanging open.

His orgasm approaches rapidly, and it takes all his focus to edge himself and keep it at bay. It simmers at the forefront of his awareness, taking over his senses until he’s floating in sweet anticipation. Jayce continues to rail him, hands slick and sweaty on his body and grunting like a fucking animal.

“J-Jayce–”

“Baby, you’re shaking, it’s okay, you can let go. I’m here, I wanna feel it.”

That’s all he needs.

It’s like his body hears Jayce before his mind does. The words send him hurdling over the paper-thin edge, sending jolts of pleasure through his body until his toes and fingertips tingle. His cunt clenches around nothing, and a warm sensation spread from between his legs. Maybe he pissed himself. He doesn’t fucking care.

Jayce makes a high, choked-off sound when Viktor’s asshole flutters around his cock involuntarily. He didn’t think he could blush anymore, with how hot he feels, but the pride blooms over his face anyways at the realization that he made Jayce make that sound.

Everything is floaty for a while, until Jayce’s movements slow and he gently withdraws from Viktor, leaving something wet and sticky in its wake, dribbling out and making a mess of the blankets.

“Holy shit–”

“I’m sorry, I should’ve asked I just– it took me by surprise and–”

Viktor laughs, voice still low and rough from the intensity of the encounter. “It’s hot, Jayce.”

“Oh. Yeah, good. It’s uhh…”

“Oh, now you’re shy?” Viktor turns over his shoulder and sees Jayce sitting back on his knees, hair wet and stuck to his face, chest heaving with the effort it’s taking to catch his breath.

Jayce offers a sheepish grin, in total contrast to the pornographic sight of him. “You just make me nervous.”

“That was nervous?”

“Was it too much?”

Viktor sits up and dives forward to kiss him. He kisses his lips, his cheeks, his forehead, his lips again. Jayce’s giggles morph into a moan when Viktor kisses down his neck and licks a salty stripe of sweat from the dip of his collarbone.

“We should probably clean up.”

“No, no. No cleaning.”

“No?”

“I waited way too long to have you like this to only have you once.”

“You want to go again?”

“Yes, Jayce. I want the whole valley to know your name by the time you’re done with me.”

༄ ⋆⁺₊❅.

Snow blankets the earth. The paths are tamped down by the heavy traffic of hiking boots, and the sun glitters against the icy untouched patches beneath the trees. Frost creeps along the glass windows at the edges, crystallized in pretty patterns.

The coffee machine dings, and Viktor scoops up his mug to warm his hands.

“Hey, V! Where’s your other half?” A voice calls out behind him.

“Sleeping in, probably. He was out late on a helitack call,” Viktor answers, cradling his mug to protect it from being bumped in the bustle of the communal kitchen. It’s another early morning in the valley, and now that the snow has been cleared from the visitor areas, they’re all excited to get back to work.

“I’m here!”

Half of the room turns to the front doors when Jayce bursts in, snow flying from his beanie when he shakes his head. He bounds over to Viktor with a bright smile on his face, nose and cheeks rosy from the cold.

“Did you sleep at all?” Viktor asks, brushing more snow from his jacket in amusement.

“A little,” Jayce shrugs. “But I wanted to walk you to work.”

“Such a gentleman.”

“Besides, I’m taking you on our first date later, so I’ve gotta start the day out right.”

Viktor chuckles. “The first date wasn’t getting snowed in and camping overnight behind the info desk?”

Jayce blushes and looks around nervously, clearly recalling the activities of their coupling only a few nights ago. The ranger that dug them out, Dmitri, already teased them relentlessly when they explained that they had to take all the blankets back to the laundry cabin to be thoroughly washed before their next use.

“Jayce, I’m sure it will be great,” Viktor assures him, and then leans forward on his cane to give him a kiss against his winter-chapped lips.

Somewhere nearby, a small group of their friends whistle and cheer. They’re officially making a scene.

Jayce doesn’t seem to mind though, because he grabs Viktor’s waist and kisses him deeper.

“Finally!” Sky calls out behind them.

“Finally,” Viktor whispers against Jayce’s lips.