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“Jimin-ah, why are you doing this to me?”
To be fair, Hoseok did look exhausted and miserable, but Jimin knew him too well. He knew his hyung was playing it up, and maybe some other time Jimin would have shown some mercy but as it was… he had a plan. And nothing short of grave injury was stopping him from bringing it to fruition!
“Come on hyung, it’s so beautiful out here!”
Hoseok didn’t look particularly convinced, swatting away an insect impatiently. “There’s so many mosquitos!”
“And we have bug spray.” He turned around, smiling sweetly. “Hyung, you promised you would let me organize this vacation.”
Hoseok stare was saying something completely different, but he forced himself to smile and said “But hiking? There’s probably bears around!”
“Not with all the fuss you’re making!” Jimin said cheerfully, and turned around to continue their trek up the mountain. He was sure that once they were at the top, sitting in their tent while a cozy fire was burning in front of them and all the stars were up in the sky, bundled up against the cold, just the two of them… Hoseok would forget all about his fears and enjoy the moment. Besides…
“I’m not going to let anything hurt you, hyung,” Jimin said over his shoulder, not quite able to make eye contact. Hoseok snorted, but at least he stopped his displeased grumbling and even caught up to Jimin so that they could walk next to each other. And if that wasn’t a success.
The hiking trail wasn’t too hard, just a steady incline on a more or less free path, and the longer they walked the more they fell into a companiable silence. It was calming, more than Jimin had expected, still nervous that he had thought of everything and that Hoseok would enjoy it despite his reservations. But the longer they walked, the more they fell into step with each other, the fresher the air got. The light crunching of their shoes on the path that turned more and more into a thin trail up the mountain, the sound of birds and insects and the occasional rustling in the undergrowth reminding them of the other occupants of this mountain. So when Hoseok started speaking, Jimin flinched, completely lost in thought.
“It’s beautiful here,” Hoseok said, and he gave Jimin a tiny smile as a little apology for his earlier fussing. “It’s gonna be fine up there, isn’t it?”
“It will,” Jimin just said, and it seemed to be enough to put Hoseok’s mind at ease. It had been a gamble, of course. Usually, his best friend organized their trips and the majority of them were city tours in the comfort of a hotel room. And even their occasional outings in the countryside never ended in a tent. But this time, this one time Jimin had wanted to take the reigns, he had considered doing something out of their comfort zone. He’d been interested in camping anyway, and it seemed like the perfect opportunity…
He bit his lip to stop smiling. He would see what the evening would bring. So instead he looked over to Hoseok who strutted along the path like a pro despite all the complaints and told his busy heart to calm down.
“This is so high up,” Hoseok said, slowly removing his sunglasses. “We… we are staying away from that edge, are we?”
Jimin ignored the light tinge of panic he heard in Hoseok’s voice because it made him uncomfortably aware that he, too, had misjudged how scary that edge would look.
“No, they said a bit to the right, there’s a good spot to stay. Come on.”
Hoseok gave the abyss another wary look before he followed Jimin, so close that he could almost feel Hoseok breathing down his neck. Which was… not the worst thing. And to much of their relief, the camping store down the mountain where they had borrowed the gear had been right. There was a small clearing, far enough away from the drop to feel secure but also close enough to enjoy the breathtaking view.
“So? What do you say, hyung?” Jimin turned around, and even though there was a tense line around Hoseok’s mouth he nodded and dropped his luggage.
“It’s really pretty, Jimin. Good job.” He rubbed over Jimin’s shoulder and hadn’t it all been worth it for this alone?
Putting up the tent was done pretty quickly, and it looked fine enough for both of them, when the first issue arrived.
“We need to collect some wood for the bonfire,” Jimin said, nudging his sleeping back fully inside the tent. “And I saw in a video that you can make a little table with a few pieces of wood, too!”
“Uh-huh,” Hoseok replied, his skeptical face making a return. “So, what’s the toilet situation?”
Jimin immediately lit up, so happy that he had thoroughly watched camping videos on Youtube to be prepared and fumbled around in his backpack for the shovel that he held up triumphantly. “Here you go! Please bury your waste.” He handed it over to Hoseok who took it with so much disdain that Jimin couldn’t help but giggle.
“You knew there weren’t going to be toilets up here, right?”
“I did, but I didn’t consider the alternatives…” With a sigh he took the shovel. “Alright, hope the bears don’t eat me! And wait with wood collecting until I’m back please?”
Jimin saluted before he laughed heartily and shooed Hoseok away. There was enough to do in the meantime anyway, unpacking and organizing it for easy reach. Just when Jimin had figured out how the foldable chair worked, he heard a piercing scream and everything else was forgotten. He jumped up, running into the direction the scream had come from. The people from the camp shop had promised there were no bears but just the thought alone made him run faster, trying not to think about the worst-
Hoseok jumped out of the bushes, pants haphazardly pulled up and the moment he saw Jimin he stared screaming again. ”There’s a bear, a BEAR!” He ran over to hide behind Jimin who was on the lookout for any movement, barely noticing the sweat dropping down his face when suddenly - a dear poked its head out between the leaves. Looking at them with mild interest before it turned around and hopped away.
“Oh my fucking god,” Jimin said, exhaling for a long time. “It was a deer.”
“I just heard something move and ran,” Hoseok said, still clinging to Jimin. “I don’t think I’m made for this.”
With that, Jimin turned around and grabbed Hoseok’s shoulders, showing his sternest face. “Everyone is made for this, hyung! So go back and do your business and don’t walk that far from the camp next time, okay?”
Hoseok nodded, still a bit white, the shovel grabbed for dear life. “I… I should… do you think…?”
“Yes, go! No bears!”
Hoseok closed his eyes and took a deep breath, but when he opened them again he looked somewhat composed. “I can do that. Our ancestors pooped in the woods all the time.”
“That’s the spirit,” Jimin said, patting his shoulders before he unceremoniously shoved him towards the bushes again.
It’s not as if Jimin was overly excited about that part of their trip, but he had to lead with a brave example.
At least it went smoothly after that. They collected some wood, build the small table Jimin had seen online, and the moment they finally sat down and watched the bonfire, it… had all been worth it. Hoseok leaned back in his seat, sighing so long and with so much exhaustion it made Jimin giggle again.
“What?”
“Never thought I’d ever stay at a mountain over night.” He looked over to Jimin, the wind slightly tousling his hair and he looked so peaceful and… beautiful in the late afternoon sun that Jimin had to look away, afraid his face would betray everything his words couldn’t say. He coughed, grabbing the stick to poke at the fire.
“Yeah, me neither. But it’s fun, isn’t it?”
“Hmmm, it is. Thank you, Jimin-ah.” And he smiled and Jimin felt a bit of his soul leave his body. It was getting ridiculous and he poked the fire even harder.
“So what about those sweet potatoes? I think we can put them in the fire.”
And with that the spell was broken, and they instead hustled to prepare their food, a small meal roasted over the fire which was probably the best he ever had.
It was getting dark and a bit chilly, the first stars appearing on the sky. They had taken a walk after dinner, enjoying the crisp air and unique quietness so far up, before they ended back in their chairs, jackets on, fire barely still burning, with a beer to round out the evening. Maybe… maybe this was already it, this feeling of happiness. But when he looked over at Hoseok, the sting in his heart told him a different story.
It was a start, though, and Jimin wasn’t done yet. There was still the night they would spend in the tiny tent, together. And tiny it was, the moment they snuggled into their sleeping bags and closed the flap. Still not close enough, and Jimin was a bit disappointed that his ploy to confess to his best friend didn’t magically work without him saying anything. It had taken enough time for him to come to terms with his changed feelings for Hoseok, when he noticed every little movement of his face, every small mannerism, every tilt of his head and giggle from his pretty mouth and realized that staying friends forever because it wouldn’t ruin everything was just not an option anymore.
But damn was it hard to actually commit to it. The fear of changing everything between them for the worst was still looming over him. It didn’t help that Hoseok had been a dream for the whole trip, once he had calmed down. Just the two of them at the top of the world, eating snacks at a romantic fire… Hoseok was already starting to breathe deeper and all Jimin wanted to do was pull him close, hug him, maybe… even kiss him.
With a tiny groan he buried his face into the pillow, lamenting that he would probably not be able to sleep when his heart was so full! And just when he accepted his fate, thunder crashed loudly outside, followed by lightning so bright it illuminated the whole tent. In a second, Hoseok was up, looking around with wide eyes.
“What was that?”
“I think a storm,” Jimin said, his voice tiny. He wanted to be brave for Hoseok, but… random deer watching you poop were one thing, thunderstorms quite something else. “I think it’s going to be fine?”
“Are you sure?” Hoseok’s voice was shrill, and before Jimin could try to lie better, another loud wave of thunder roared outside.
“I am not, no!” He grabbed Hoseok, not even hiding his panic, and Hoseok immediately hung on to him as well.
“It’s going to be fine, we are in a tent! We are save in here!”
Hoseok nodded frantically, just whining a bit when the next lighting bolt lit up their little space.
“Come on, let’s lie down,” Jimin finally said. “We can… we can zip our sleeping bags together and wait out until it passes.”
“Hiding under the blanket?” Hoseok managed to smile, even though it was faint on his scared face. “Sounds like a plan!”
They missed a few times, their fingers trembling too badly, but the moment they had the zipper up and clung together in their warm cocoon… it was better. They still flinched when the next thunder boomed, and they definitely flinched when the downpour started, but when the lightning strikes paced out… it was almost nice, the raindrops on the tent.
Jimin felt himself relax a bit, his aching fingers letting go of Hoseok, who likewise seemed to deflate.
“Fuck, I didn’t think it would rain,” Jimin whispered. “I think the worst passed.”
“Scary,” Hoseok whispered back. “You were scared, too!” He giggled, pulling Jimin against his chest, his cheek nuzzled into Jimin’s hair and his heart was beating loudly for totally different reasons.
“Thunderstorms are scary, hyung!”
“Oh, I know,” Hoseok said, but didn’t let go, and Jimin… who was he to complain. They were smelling like smoke and pine trees and petrichor and suddenly… everything else was completely irrelevant.
They woke up tangled together, a soft rain still falling on their tent. Somehow, the moment they blearily sat up, their hair a mess and still so soft and warm from their cocoon, it was… fine. Jimin smiled at Hoseok, stretching as well as he could, while Hoseok opened up the flap and they both were greeted with a breathtaking sight.
The whole mountain range was hidden behind a thick layer of fog, the rain drizzling down on all of it, with just a few glimmers of early morning sun poking through it. It smelled so fresh that Jimin immediately wanted to bury back into their nest, with a good book and a cup of coffee.
“Coffee!” He looked at Hoseok who was ripped out of their quiet contemplation.
“Uhm, we can’t make any fire like this.”
That was true, but Jimin wasn’t deterred. Cold coffee was better than nothing. He fumbled in his backpack until he found the instant coffee, some pastry for breakfast, and their cups. A true hiker’s breakfast if he’s ever seen one!
And with that they sat down just inside the tent, the occasional raindrop falling on their knees, and he wondered if he had ever been happier.
“You know what, I think I get this whole hiking thing.” Hoseok put his cup away, rubbing his hands over his knees. He still looked so cozy, barely awake, and Jimin couldn’t hide his blush, just hope Hoseok didn’t notice.
“Or maybe… it was only fun because I did it with you.”
Hoseok leaned back on his hands, so casually handsome, and that was the moment it hit Jimin. It was now or never!
“I… I definitely enjoyed it more with you here, hyung.” He moved a bit to the side, leaning closer, and Hoseok was watching him curiously. No longer scared or annoyed or worried, just open and honest, and his eyes were following every single movement Jimin made, until he stopped short in front of him, barely holding his weight up on his hand.
“Hyung,” Jimin whispered, leaning just a fraction closer. “Hyung, I never want to go hiking with anyone but you.”
He saw the tiny frown appear on Hoseok’s face, about to ask Jimin something, but he moved in and- kissed him.
It was barely more than a peck, but he felt his heart leap into his throat and when he leaned back, touching his lips softly, he couldn’t make eye contact. It was too much.
“Jimin-ah,” Hoseok said, touching Jimin’s arm. “Hey, look at me. Are you… do you mean it?”
When Jimin looked up, he felt the tears stinging in his eyes, and he couldn’t do more than nod. “Yes. I do.” His voice was starting to break just when Hoseok moved in, kissing him so desperately they both fell back into their sleeping bags, clinging on to each other as if letting go meant never being close again.
“Oh you fucking planned this, didn’t you?” Hoseok giggled in between kisses, not able to let go for more than a second. “Romantic fire and rain and all that…” he mumbled, rubbing over Jimin’s cheeks who couldn’t stop laughing until he buried his face into Hoseok’s chest.
“It did sound good in my head,” Jimin mumbled against Hoseok’s shirt, and he felt the vibrations all through his body when Hoseok said “Yeah you weren’t wrong. Now come back up here.”
And maybe they didn’t even notice when the rain stopped because they were so busy… with each other.