"Sleepy kitten." Archer sang into the open air, his high pitched voice skipping like the echo of a bell, all the way across the blue surface of the lake. "Close your eyes-" A burbling giggle interrupted the solemn tune of the song when a slender hand felt its way up to his lips, outlining the curve of them as Archer finished weakly, "Not another peep. Hush, and rest your head on my heart. Listen to the thump, thump, thump." He didnt know how it had happened, and he couldnt bring himself to care as he laid in a grassy field with Hunters head rocking on his chest. A pair of smiling, yellow eyes gazed dotingly up at him, as if Archer had just done the best thing for Hunter. It had all happened so quickly, feeling his body swing back and forth as Hunter tromped through the forest, Archer slung over his shoulder. He remembered hearing himself scream with a mixture of terror and thrill as Hunter hauled his helpless form off of him, swinging him in the direction of the water. With one slip of Hunters arms, Archer could have ended up crashing into the water, but, at the last second, Hunter whipped around, letting Archer instead collide with a cushiony pillow of flowers.

As Archer tried not to dunk under the swarming petals, Hunter had toppled over onto him, pulling him back up from the depths of the endless pinks and whites and greens. Both of them had chuckled uncontrollably, endlessly happy to be with the other. They had gone about preening each other, Archer wiping smudges of dirt off of Hunters jacket, while Hunter threaded his fingers through Archers tangles, stroking them back down. It might have been the warm hand that petted his scalp, or the way Hunters free hand slid down to his, clasping it between their pointy hips, or how Hunters glasses slipped off of his nose from the way his head was angled, revealing the gold of boiled honey. Archers entire world had slowed down when Hunter had opened his mouth over Archers, giving him a wet kiss that burnt the nerves on the tip of his tongue. After that, sweet nothings and flattering endearments were thought up by brains that were too clouded over to come up with anything of actual consequence.

When the fog had finally cleared, quiet secrets were whispered into ears that flushed when lips brushed against them. Part of Archer knew that it was wrong to give away the most meaningful parts of his life to this untamable and unpredictable man lying beside of him, but at the inquisitive brow and the concerned eyes that Hunter gave him after every hushed murmur that was shared, he knew that he had to be doing more good than he was bad. As Hunter nuzzled against him, eyes closed and lips slightly parted-a look of absolute relaxation-Archer had told him that when he was just a baby, he was adopted from his real parents by the ones that he had now. He told him that his parents had been loving and patient, and that the only thing that they had made Archer regret about his childhood was the way they kept him sealed from the world. Feeling Hunter trace the edge of his jaw with light pecks, hed admitted to him that hed been taking musical lessons since he could first read notes, and that he loved the effort his parents put into encouraging his talents, but that he wished that he could have had even one less lesson a day, that way he could have had time to go out to make some friends. But his daddy had too much of a careful eye on him to let him go out of his sight for more than a few minutes. Hed never told Archer what he was so afraid of. The thing that he was most reluctant to reveal, however, was his selfishness in sometimes wanting his parents to be normal people. He didnt want his père to have well-known feet in theatrics, and he didnt want his daddy to have a resounding voice in a powerful record producing company. Because he wasnt that good at dancing, anyway, he couldnt help but think that the colleges pining after him did so to get a good standing with his parents, or that his parents had done some weaseling to get him those scholarships. No matter how easy it would be to just take what he assumed was unrightfully given to him, Archer wanted to work for a career in dancing. His Hunter had failed to dance his way out of his real dads vice grip, so it was the only way that Archer felt just to honor him.

It was several minutes before either of them spoke, and just when Archer was completely convinced that Hunter must have fallen asleep to the rhythm of Archers nervously thudding heart-an assumption that he didnt know was for the better or worse yet-Hunter released a heavy breath that warmed the shell of Archers ear. Following this sigh was a low mumble, so shaky with shame and regret that Hunter could hardly be understood. Hed told Archer that, from a young age, at least in his very early teens, hed had to be the man of the house, a responsibility he wasnt quite ready to take on. He said that the mind of the man he lived with, Karofsky, had started deteriorating by his thirtieth birthday, a demise provoked both by large doses of alcohol and his grief that his life had come out to be nothing but worthless. When Hunter was twelve years old, hed walked into his house to find Karofsky sprawled on the floor, passed out and slobbering, as he usually was, but with clammy skin and a feverish forehead. Panicked, Hunter had done what hed been taught to do and had grabbed for the phone, pressing buttons until he managed to dial for the police, who pulled up moments later and wheeled Karofskys sagging body away.

Hunter stood back, horrified, until a man had urged him up to the vehicle, letting him ride up front as, behind him, the only father figure he knew was stabilized enough to make it until they got to the hospital. Hed shrugged after that, sadly admitting that he didnt recall everything else that had happened, except that an overly kind man had spent the night sitting in the lobby with him, encouraging him to play with toys he wanted nothing to do with, or to color pictures just for something to take home with him from this awful night he didnt want anything to remember by. Karofsky came home during the middle of the next day, and Hunter later found out that hed nearly died at some point that night, news he took with clenched fists and gritted teeth. Since that day that Karofsky poisoned himself with alcohol, Hunter had figured out that he couldnt rely on him, so he took it upon himself to wash the dishes and cook the food, and work for any money they could scrape together. Hed never told him what job he had, but he did hesitantly cough out the fact that, if he was given a life in which he could afford the free time to work on the hobbies he had now, he would want to write and paint to make his living. This was news that Archer didnt take lightly, but it was also news that Hunter didnt allow comment on, before he returned to his first story, turning his guilt ridden face away as he grumbled that he wouldnt have cried had Karofsky died.

Now they were here, wound as tightly as springs around each other. Archer realized that it was probably a little ridiculous, and more than that, uncomfortable for Hunter with how firmly he had taken ahold of him, but he couldnt bring himself to release this strangely soothing stranger. Lazily rubbing his lips across the hollow of Hunters throat, Archer felt him swallow thickly, "Hunter? Do you know anything about your mom?"

Hunters face remained completely emotionless, which clued Archer in that he didnt care about her either way. Suddenly, he squinted up at the bright light that flashed down at them as the sun peered out from behind a tree, so Archer carefully lifted his head from his chest, grabbing for the glasses that were abandoned by their intertwined legs. After he restored them to Hunters hand, he pathetically watched him slide them back onto his face, covering the yellow that was more blinding than the sun. Hunter slowly raised up, a supportive arm hooking around Archers waist when he tipped back with nothing to hold him up but his fistfuls of Hunters wrinkled, stained shirt. "Um..." He scratched the top of his head, rumpling his spiky hair, "No. I never knew my mom. Karofsky says that she died when I was a baby. He doesnt think I spent any time with her."

Archer ruffled a brow, "But what about the voice that sang the lullaby to you? The beautiful voice you spoke about so highly?"

Hunters mouth pressed into a thin line, "That wasnt a womans voice." At the odd look that Archer gave him, he helplessly shrugged his shoulders. "I dont know who sang the lullaby to me. It certainly wasnt my mom. Karofsky said she was sick before I was born. And even if she had the energy, she wouldnt have wanted to put it into me. I believe Karofsky about few things, but this is one of them." Leaning back on his palms, Hunter turned his nose up to the sky, but he didnt seem to be looking at it. "That voice was one of my happiest memories... or maybe I just made it up in my head. It was the prettiest sound... like a bird singing... or a wind chime dinging." Archer stared at Hunter through narrowed eyes as he took a shaky breath, expressing his misery with his current living situations, so he started to reach over to touch the back of his hand, but a rumbling noise from his stomach made him withdraw, embarrassed. Hunters ears must have been very adept because he turned his head at the sound, his brows raised above the edges of his glasses. "Youre hungry... and probably a little tired. I should take you back to the group. Im sure theyll have prepared something you can eat."

Even though Archer longed to hear more about Hunters life, as he wasnt sure if this opportunity would ever present itself again, his stomach burbled again, asserting its need for food. "Um... Im sorry. I am really hungry. I havent eaten much today."

A slow smile dragged the corners of Hunters lips up. He sat up from the bedding of grass, unfolding his arms from around Archer. "You dont have to apologize for being a human, Archer. Its one of my favorite things about you." He extended a hand toward Archer, who blinked at it before he placed his in the middle of it. "I should be sorry that I kept you away for so long. I dont want to be the reason you feel discomfort."

Archer let Hunter help him to his feet, and then he bent over to dust off his scuffed knees. "You dont have to be sorry." Lifting his blue gaze to Hunters lopsidedly smirking face, he giggled lightly, placing his hand in the crook of his arm. "Theres no other way I would have rather spent this day. You gave me just what I wanted when I came here!" He flung his other arm out to the side, turning his smiling face up to the white sky. "Freedom to say whatever I want... to be something other than just a dancer. I was just Archer today."

Hunter swung their hands between them, grinning ahead of them. The walk back to the campsite was quiet, filled only with the crackle of twigs and the rustling of leaves. After a few minutes, the smell of logs burning pointed out the correct path back to the group, and moments within that, Archer heard the cackling laughter and booming voices of their classmates. He sighed heavily, dropping his shoulders. His time alone with Hunter had come to an end.

Stepping out from behind a tree, Archer gasped when he was yanked back against Hunters chest. He grabbed onto his shoulders to keep himself from falling over, as his eyes widened to the size of saucers when Dillon, encased by fiery sparks, came darting by, whooping and shouting as he shook a flaming marshmallow at his screeching sister. Suddenly, he skidded to a stop at the sight of Archer and Hunter, who emerged from the woods, decorated just like the trees. As he looked at them, the smile on his lips withered away. "Hunter?" His eyes flickered between them, making Archer flush at the assuming expression on his face. "Where did you take my cousin? Youve been gone all day."

Hunters smile thinned, "Its a good thing you looked for us... or else we might have never come back." Placing his hand at Dillons back, he said with a voice as cold as the air in the middle of the night, "Archer needs to eat."

As Hunter drew him away from his slack jawed cousin, Archer twisted around, a panicked look on his face. "Dillon-" he pleaded, but if Dillon responded, the words fell on deaf ears because Hunter took him too far away. "Hunter, please... thats my cousin. Hes your best friend--"

"He hasnt been there for you, sweet." Hunter guided Archer over to the table that was stacked with plates and plastic silverware, and burgers that had gone cold. "He was the reason you came, but hes hardly spent a moment looking at you. I didnt know when you were coming... or else I would have been standing at the gate the moment you stepped off of the plane." He firmly took hold of Archers shoulders, sitting him down at the table. "Eat, kitten. My biggest concern right now is getting food into you."

Archer tried to speak up again, but he cut the words off before they reached his tongue. He hopelessly picked up a burger, gnawing on the soggy bun. "Arent you hungry?" He asked after he swallowed, furrowing his brows at the funny look on Hunters face.

"Since I was young, I found out that I couldnt survive humanness. Im fine." Hunter lowered onto the seat beside of Archer, who stared at him as if he was mad until Hunter lost interest in the conversation, reaching into his pocket for his pack of cigarettes.

Watching Hunter flip the switch on his lighter, Archer chewed another bite, his mouth numb to the bland taste of the burger. He lowered his brows, abruptly reaching over and stealing the cigarette from his lips. The filter warmed his fingers, making him hiss. "Wait... I want you to eat. I wont finish my food until you eat yours." Hunter made an exasperated sound, lazily holding his hand out for the cigarette, only for Archer to toss it to the ground and stomp his foot over it. "You dont need the damned cigarette. You need to eat something."

Nervously leaning away when, annoyed, Hunter bared his top teeth, Archer watched the look drop into an expression of something that Archer could nearly call remorse. Then he blew out heavily, a weary smile pulling at his lips. He reached behind him for one of the burgers, taking a bite out of it and making a face. "No one has ever used my words against me."

Archer hesitantly smiled at Hunter, still uncertain if he had crossed a boundary that he wasnt supposed to. "Hunter, you gave me the ability to be a human today. Through my entire life, all Ive felt like is a dancer. Can I not have you as Hunter... a human... a man?"

Slowly shaking his head, Hunter lowered it into Archers hands when they came to his cheeks. "What else could I be... besides your bird?"

For the rest of their meal, they ate in silence, munching on their burgers. When they finished chewing their last bites, Hunter pitched their plates into a trash bag, then he stretched from the table like a cat. Archer stood with Hunter, taking the hand that he offered him. Coming to Hunters side when he pulled on him, Archer regretfully watched the students gathered around the sizzling fire, his cousin, who was feeding his sister a toasted marshmallow, squatted among them. With one hand at his sisters mouth, he occupied his other by poking a charred log with a twig. Even though he knew he should have gone back to him so he could plead his case, he turned his back on him.

"Archer." Hunters deep voice lured him out of his trance, and he snapped his head back over to him, his chin immediately coming into contact with a cool hand. "Dont do what I think youre doing. Dillon isnt being fair to you. He was supposed to look after you... but he left you alone as soon as you got here. I had to be the one to come along and save you-"

Archer jerked his face away from Hunter, "Youre treating this like a duty you had to fulfill?" Feeling a wave of shock spread over his body, he reeled backwards when Hunter firmly grasped his shoulders. "You didnt have to be there, Hunter! I would have been fine on my own. And I could have made other friends. I just... havent yet-"

Hunters brows lowered, pointing down to the bridge of his nose. His nostrils flared and his lips peeled apart, but he didnt say anything, and instead made a wretched sound. Flinging his hands up, he caught Archer around his neck, a place he hadnt been expecting him to grab and didnt have time to block before those powerful hands had clasped around it, cutting off his air. "You annoying, little liar." Hunter stepped closer to him, and Archers eyes widened when his heels raised from the ground. He backed him into a hard tree that knocked him breathless. Choking for air, Archer threw his hands up to his shuddering throat as soon as Hunters hands lowered, clasping Archers waist. He slid his fingers through the belt loops. "You know that youre not a duty. My only duty is to take care of Karofsky. It was my choice to approach you after dinner... I did it because you were driving me crazy. I have nothing to fulfill with you..." Ignoring the way that Archer quietly scoffed, still pushing to distance himself, Hunter buried his face in his neck, nosing through his thick curls. Archer tried to shove his head away, but a sharp nip to the skin under his earlobe made him cry out, his fingers unwillingly digging into Hunters scalp. "I didnt have to do anything with you, you nuisance." He breathed, a hot gust of air rushing at Archers pink cheeks. "I approached you because youre quickly becoming an obsession of mine. In that way, I am human... a man with a pair of lungs. I dont have to breathe... but I want to... so desperately, because I know that I could die if I dont."

Fanning his cheeks with his half lowered lids that batted up and down, Archer slid his hands down to Hunters neck, fingertips tickled by the light hairs at his nape. He helplessly tilted his head back as Hunter smeared hot, open kisses over his pale skin, sucking and licking, then retracing the dots of saliva with the tip of his tongue. Hunter raised his head from under Archers jaw, placing his lips on Archers bottom one and sucking it between them. Suddenly, a supportive arm hooked under his bottom, lifting the trembling lower half of his body from the ground. Archer wrapped his legs around his waist, his back hitting the tree with a thud. "I hate how beautiful you are." Hunter heaved in between kisses, the raspy words drawing a whimper from Archers moist, bruised lips. "Damn you, Archer. You make me question everything about myself. I dont even know what Im questioning... Maybe it has to do with my past. Or the way you make my heart beat out of my chest. Or how much I want to kiss every freckle on your skin, and connect them with strands of saliva-"

Archer hushed Hunter by accidentally digging his heels into his ass cheeks, making him groan lowly. "Please." He didnt know what he wanted from Hunter, or why any of this seemed to make sense to him, even though his parents had never spoken to him about what he should think, do, or say if a man pinned him down and smothered him in a pair of damp lips and the sweetest endearments.

Hunter was everywhere, the bittersweet taste of him sticking to his taste buds, the smoky scent of him wafting up his nostrils, and the searing look of his shadowy eyes, masked partially by the tinted shades of his glasses, paralyzing his entire body against his.

He didnt know that Hunter moved until his body lurched, startling him into popping open his eyes as he was deposited on a rocky pile of dirt. "Be still, my kitten." Hunter whispered, holding his hand out as if to comfort Archer as his head turned from side to side. Archer blinked at his surroundings, shuffling closer to Hunter when he realized that they had been swallowed up by the blackness that the towering trees cast down on them. "Its alright, sweetest. I thought I heard footsteps. I didnt want you to be caught like this. Id ruin you, button."

When Hunter stopped cocking his head to the side, he reached back for Archer, returning him to his side. "Do you see the cabins up ahead, my petal? My vision is worse at night." Archer nodded his head, closing his fingers around Hunters wrist as he followed him to the darkened cabins. Abandoned in this eerie place with this unpredictably terrifying man, Archer felt his heart start to tremor faster. He had never felt such pain, every nerve quivering and hot, every hair turning cold from the breeze that combed through them. His stomach ached, a glowing fire simmering in his abdomen. Archer moaned so lowly that it sounded like a breath escaping him. He pushed on his boiling stomach, which caught the attention of Hunter, who raised a single brow.

Because no one had been to the cabins, they got the first pick of the cabin farthest to the right, trapped between two tall trees that stared down at it as if to make sure nothing about it would change. Hunter jiggled the squeaky doorknob, coughing at the wall of dust that splattered his face when he shoved into the room. Archers stomach cramped up tighter at the sight of the black room, highlighted only by the white light that streamed through the brown windows. On the creaky floor was a single dresser, scarred and weathered, that was beside of two beds, which had twenty feet of distance between them.

Archer swallowed, his back crawling at the light touch that scraped over it. "Im going to get our luggage. You look exhausted. I think some comfortable clothes will help you fall asleep."
Even though Archers body was stinging from the scratches of branches and his clothes were musty from the mist that hung in the forest, the last thing Archer wanted Hunter to do was leave to get him fresh clothes. Shaking his head, Archer turned on his heel, the front of his body bumping Hunters. Hunter stood as high as a wall, with the strength of one to match, so Archer had to stretch on his toes to wind his arms around his neck. "No." He muttered, raising his chin as he dragged Hunter down to him. The tips of their noses smashed into each other. "You. I want you."

Archer didnt know how Hunter moved so quickly to swing him into his arms, and then carry him over to the bed, his strides too long to be graceful. Landing on the squeaky mattress, Archer opened his arms, a screechy giggle bursting out of him when Hunter tumbled on top of him, nearly making both of them bounce off the bed. Until hours of the night that Archer had stayed up until only for Hunter, just to think of him in memory, he now held him in his arms, exchanging soft kisses and quiet whispers and hushed laughs. Eventually, weariness overcame them and Hunter dropped his head to the pillow, pulling Archer onto his chest, where he was held tight, fingers slipping under the hood of his sweatshirt to rub cool skin until it smarted at the touch, and lips peppering kisses through his messy curls. Even after Hunter floated off to the world that contained his greatest dreams, he was still there, for Archer to stroke and touch and smile at. The last time his Hunter had gone away, Archer had been left with nothing, not even a hand to kiss.

Before his Hunters death, he hadnt realized that something as simple as taking someones hand could be so important. Squeezing Hunters tanned hand between his pudgy fingers, Archer bent over it and kissed it, a soft pop resounding as he pulled his lips up. He left a wet, reflective stain behind. "Its okay. I wont lose sight of you again." He whispered in Hunters ear, feeling his skin twitch under his warm lips. "The game of hide and seek is over. You can come out of hiding now." Hunter shifted at those words, as if he was somehow listening to his weak voice, and then he turned his head into Archers shaking hand. A tear slipped from the corner of Archers swollen eye, splashing onto Hunters brown skin. He furrowed his brows when the wet spot discolored, the salty water collecting a brownish dirt that it peeled off of Hunters skin, as if he was wearing a mask. Underneath the splotchy patch was skin the color of sand, the kind that the sun reflected off of, that he loved sinking his toes into because it was so warm. It was the color of sand that was about to be washed off by the rising, blue water.