Dive Into Adventure
Title: Dive Into Adventure
Genre: Romance/Drama
Pairing(s): USUK
Word Count: 1,701
Rating/Warnings: 12, minor injury
Summary: Alfred and Arthur are on their honeymoon. The fact that it's an extended, adventure-filled, death-defying honeymoon is just icing on the cake. Human AU. Done for the 'Adventure is Out There' prompt on the Summer Camp.
"Mooooorning, Arthur." As much as Arthur loved waking up to his new husband every morning, loud singing in his ear was definitely not the way he would have chosen. He jolted awake and was suddenly very glad that he did not sleep in a bed, otherwise he would have fallen out of it.
"Alfred, why do you insist on waking me up so abruptly?" Arthur questioned as he wriggled his way out of his sleeping bag. Alfred had already got the fire going and was cooking something on it. It was burning whatever it was, probably due to the fact that Alfred engrossed in what he called their 'Adventure Book'. They had got some new pictures developed the last time they had stopped in a town and Alfred was sticking some of them in the book.
Alfred grinned and stuck another picture down. "But where's the fun in that?"
"I thought after the first two hundred times, it would stop being funny." Arthur dressed himself in the clothes he wore yesterday. He had tried washing his clothes regularly when they had first started this trip but he had fallen out of the habit and now he only washed them when the opportunity arose or there was a chance they would run into civilisation.
"Well, I love everything about you, so of course, I love your reactions as well." Alfred's tone was matter-of fact and Arthur felt himself turn red. When he had proposed marriage, Alfred had promised to let Arthur know frequently, in some way, that he loved him. Because of this similar statements from Alfred were common place but they always made Arthur blush.
When Alfred had first suggested this extended honeymoon, their adventure holiday turning into a new lifestyle, Arthur had thought they would eventually drive each other crazy but as always, Alfred surprised him. They still fought and needed time alone, but it wasn't quite as smothering as Arthur thought it would be.
"What pictures are you adding?" Arthur asked, changing the subject, although he sat down and leaned against Alfred. They both understood that Arthur was returning the words like this.
"The ones from the falls." Alfred carefully stuck a picture in the centre of the page, before attaching a small stone to the page. "And there's part of the waterfall." He looked proudly down at the book and Arthur scanned the page. Alfred's untidy writing labelled everything, Arthur would add his comments later.
"I liked the waterfall. It's called Paradise Falls according to the map." Arthur closed the book, running his hands over the leather cover. "I think we should go there again."
"Maybe. We've got to visit a volcano and a desert before that though." The smell of smoke interrupted their discussion and Alfred reached for the frying pan to lift it off the fire, forgetting to wear his glove to protect it from the hot metal handle. He swore in pain and Arthur, using the glove, lifted the pan off the fire before having a look at Alfred's hand.
"We'll have to put some aloe vera on it." The hand was red but not blistered and so Arthur wasn't too worried. "I can't believe the heroic adventurer got himself hurt while making breakfast."
Alfred pouted at Arthur's teasing even as Arthur rinsed his hand with some of their purified drinking water. "I was just trying to cook breakfast for you so you could have breakfast in bed! But then I got distracted by the book." He shrugged and Arthur smiled and ducked his head. Of course Alfred would be trying to do something stupidly sweet when he got himself hurt. Last time he had broken a leg trying to take a picture of a rare flower for Arthur. He had driven Arthur crazy in those eight weeks when they had to stay in town. "Besides, I knew if you cooked, there was a risk of burning down the whole forest." Alfred spoiling something sweet but saying something stupid was also not new for Arthur.
"You were doing so well," Arthur muttered as he served the burnt food. It was edible and they could not afford to waste food. "So, what do you have planned today?" They alternated between who chose their next adventure, but normally it was Alfred's choice more often than not, mostly because sometimes Arthur did not particularly care.
"Just going for a boat ride," Alfred replied innocently.
***
After knowing Alfred for nearly ten years and dating him for six, Arthur should have known not to trust Alfred's innocent face. Or his plans. His plan to make the boat trip a little more exciting had led to where they were now. Clinging to a rock in the middle of a fast-flowing river.
"We need a plan!" Alfred yelled, trying to be heard over the rush of water. Suddenly, he grabbed at the rock and Arthur felt his heart leap into throat at the possibility that Alfred could lose his grip on the rocks and be carried downstream.
"Obviously!" Arthur was angry, angrier than he could remember being ever, but he don't think he managed to convey this in his voice. Alfred was scanning the river banks for anything that could be useful - at least that was Arthur hoped he was doing. If it turned out he was just admiring the adventure they had managed to get themselves in, it would not be the river that killed him.
"I got it!" Alfred smiled widely and he looked so confident, his eyes so blue without his glasses in the way that made Arthur instantly want to agree to whatever plan he had. Long experience of knowing Alfred nudged Arthur and stopped him from agreeing to anything until he knew what the plan was. Confident that he had Arthur's full attention, Alfred continued, "We let go of the rock and push ourselves as near to the left hand bank as we can. Then we grab onto that low-lying branch further down and pull ourselves up. We get out of the river, set up camp and add this to the book!"
"Wait, what do you mean 'let go of the rock'?" Arthur asked, sure that he must have misheard. Alfred wanted to go down the river of death? Alfred stared at Arthur with one eyebrow raised (why Arthur had thought it was a good idea to teach him how to do that, he would never know) and Arthur sighed. He would follow Alfred in this but they would be having a serious talk later about the difference between making things exciting and making things too exciting.
"Okay, on 'go'!" Alfred yelled and they both grabbed hands, weakening their hold on the rock. "GO!" The next yell came and Arthur, used to Alfred's ways, let go instantly. The flow of the river immediately pulled them to the correct bank, but it also pulled them under the water as well.
Something struck Arthur in the shoulder and then the head and everything got very far away. It was like being in a dream and he felt a bit like he was floating. He wanted to just stop for a little while and lay down to sleep but he was being pulled somewhere and there was something very tight around him. Things looked blurred and he could not concentrate. Something pulled and he was no longer floating, but instead his shoulder felt like it was on fire and he was sure that he had something crack.
" -thur! Come on - " Alfred was talking, Arthur was sure he was, but it took great effort to listen and so Arthur felt himself drifting off a bit. It wasn't sleep but it was like when they used to sleep in a bed and were dozing on Sunday mornings. Now that he thought about it, he was tired though and settled down to sleep.
Although he was allowed to sleep, it seemed hardly worth it when he was being woken up frequently and having a light shone in his eyes and being forced to answer questions. Everything got a bit less foggy though as they continued and when Arthur woke up on his own, his mind was clear. His head was pounding and his shoulder ached but he rolled onto his good side, belatedly realising that he was in dry clothes in a sleeping bag and spotted Alfred by the fire. Alfred looked up as Arthur rolled over and it was obvious how surprised he was.
"Arthur! Can you tell me where we are?" Alfred asked, adding another log to the fire. Arthur wanted to give him a strange look but then remembered, vaguely, their trip in the river.
"The forest. And before that, we were in a river. Literally in a river, which I was not expecting as one of the 'adventures'." Alfred looked very relieved at his answer, even though Arthur knew that he had been unfairly cutting. Alfred moved around the fire and gave Arthur a kiss before drawing him into an embrace that was a little tighter than it normally was.
"I was worried," Alfred muttered quietly. Only the fact that it had been said right next to Arthur's ear meant that it was heard. Arthur returned the hug; he knew how Alfred felt, having been on his side often enough.
"I'm okay now." They sat like that, arms around each other, for a long time. The fire was starting to die again so Alfred had to let Arthur go so he could add some more logs. There was a comfortable silence between the two of them as Alfred started to cook some of their rations, he had obviously not set any traps or been hunting recently.
"So," Alfred said, turning his head towards Arthur. "What do you want to put in the book?" Arthur looked at him, slightly shocked before throwing one of his shoes at Alfred. Alfred dodged easily, laughing his head and soon getting Arthur to laugh along with him.
"I think that 'two idiots took an unexpected swim' should suffice," Arthur replied and they smiled at each other. The journey was sometimes dangerous but what would an adventure be without it?
So, yes, I'm back. From the pits of work and laziness combined. And working on the new Summer Camp! I was also thinking about a Masterlist for my fics on LJ. I think they would be easier to find and I can get rid of some of my tags then! What do you think?
Also, I based what Arthur's feeling here on my own experience. Tripped over a chain once and landed on my head and my shoulder - felt like everything was a dream and that the last two weeks were all a dream as well. It was weird. Anyway, enjoy!
Genre: Romance/Drama
Pairing(s): USUK
Word Count: 1,701
Rating/Warnings: 12, minor injury
Summary: Alfred and Arthur are on their honeymoon. The fact that it's an extended, adventure-filled, death-defying honeymoon is just icing on the cake. Human AU. Done for the 'Adventure is Out There' prompt on the Summer Camp.
"Mooooorning, Arthur." As much as Arthur loved waking up to his new husband every morning, loud singing in his ear was definitely not the way he would have chosen. He jolted awake and was suddenly very glad that he did not sleep in a bed, otherwise he would have fallen out of it.
"Alfred, why do you insist on waking me up so abruptly?" Arthur questioned as he wriggled his way out of his sleeping bag. Alfred had already got the fire going and was cooking something on it. It was burning whatever it was, probably due to the fact that Alfred engrossed in what he called their 'Adventure Book'. They had got some new pictures developed the last time they had stopped in a town and Alfred was sticking some of them in the book.
Alfred grinned and stuck another picture down. "But where's the fun in that?"
"I thought after the first two hundred times, it would stop being funny." Arthur dressed himself in the clothes he wore yesterday. He had tried washing his clothes regularly when they had first started this trip but he had fallen out of the habit and now he only washed them when the opportunity arose or there was a chance they would run into civilisation.
"Well, I love everything about you, so of course, I love your reactions as well." Alfred's tone was matter-of fact and Arthur felt himself turn red. When he had proposed marriage, Alfred had promised to let Arthur know frequently, in some way, that he loved him. Because of this similar statements from Alfred were common place but they always made Arthur blush.
When Alfred had first suggested this extended honeymoon, their adventure holiday turning into a new lifestyle, Arthur had thought they would eventually drive each other crazy but as always, Alfred surprised him. They still fought and needed time alone, but it wasn't quite as smothering as Arthur thought it would be.
"What pictures are you adding?" Arthur asked, changing the subject, although he sat down and leaned against Alfred. They both understood that Arthur was returning the words like this.
"The ones from the falls." Alfred carefully stuck a picture in the centre of the page, before attaching a small stone to the page. "And there's part of the waterfall." He looked proudly down at the book and Arthur scanned the page. Alfred's untidy writing labelled everything, Arthur would add his comments later.
"I liked the waterfall. It's called Paradise Falls according to the map." Arthur closed the book, running his hands over the leather cover. "I think we should go there again."
"Maybe. We've got to visit a volcano and a desert before that though." The smell of smoke interrupted their discussion and Alfred reached for the frying pan to lift it off the fire, forgetting to wear his glove to protect it from the hot metal handle. He swore in pain and Arthur, using the glove, lifted the pan off the fire before having a look at Alfred's hand.
"We'll have to put some aloe vera on it." The hand was red but not blistered and so Arthur wasn't too worried. "I can't believe the heroic adventurer got himself hurt while making breakfast."
Alfred pouted at Arthur's teasing even as Arthur rinsed his hand with some of their purified drinking water. "I was just trying to cook breakfast for you so you could have breakfast in bed! But then I got distracted by the book." He shrugged and Arthur smiled and ducked his head. Of course Alfred would be trying to do something stupidly sweet when he got himself hurt. Last time he had broken a leg trying to take a picture of a rare flower for Arthur. He had driven Arthur crazy in those eight weeks when they had to stay in town. "Besides, I knew if you cooked, there was a risk of burning down the whole forest." Alfred spoiling something sweet but saying something stupid was also not new for Arthur.
"You were doing so well," Arthur muttered as he served the burnt food. It was edible and they could not afford to waste food. "So, what do you have planned today?" They alternated between who chose their next adventure, but normally it was Alfred's choice more often than not, mostly because sometimes Arthur did not particularly care.
"Just going for a boat ride," Alfred replied innocently.
***
After knowing Alfred for nearly ten years and dating him for six, Arthur should have known not to trust Alfred's innocent face. Or his plans. His plan to make the boat trip a little more exciting had led to where they were now. Clinging to a rock in the middle of a fast-flowing river.
"We need a plan!" Alfred yelled, trying to be heard over the rush of water. Suddenly, he grabbed at the rock and Arthur felt his heart leap into throat at the possibility that Alfred could lose his grip on the rocks and be carried downstream.
"Obviously!" Arthur was angry, angrier than he could remember being ever, but he don't think he managed to convey this in his voice. Alfred was scanning the river banks for anything that could be useful - at least that was Arthur hoped he was doing. If it turned out he was just admiring the adventure they had managed to get themselves in, it would not be the river that killed him.
"I got it!" Alfred smiled widely and he looked so confident, his eyes so blue without his glasses in the way that made Arthur instantly want to agree to whatever plan he had. Long experience of knowing Alfred nudged Arthur and stopped him from agreeing to anything until he knew what the plan was. Confident that he had Arthur's full attention, Alfred continued, "We let go of the rock and push ourselves as near to the left hand bank as we can. Then we grab onto that low-lying branch further down and pull ourselves up. We get out of the river, set up camp and add this to the book!"
"Wait, what do you mean 'let go of the rock'?" Arthur asked, sure that he must have misheard. Alfred wanted to go down the river of death? Alfred stared at Arthur with one eyebrow raised (why Arthur had thought it was a good idea to teach him how to do that, he would never know) and Arthur sighed. He would follow Alfred in this but they would be having a serious talk later about the difference between making things exciting and making things too exciting.
"Okay, on 'go'!" Alfred yelled and they both grabbed hands, weakening their hold on the rock. "GO!" The next yell came and Arthur, used to Alfred's ways, let go instantly. The flow of the river immediately pulled them to the correct bank, but it also pulled them under the water as well.
Something struck Arthur in the shoulder and then the head and everything got very far away. It was like being in a dream and he felt a bit like he was floating. He wanted to just stop for a little while and lay down to sleep but he was being pulled somewhere and there was something very tight around him. Things looked blurred and he could not concentrate. Something pulled and he was no longer floating, but instead his shoulder felt like it was on fire and he was sure that he had something crack.
" -thur! Come on - " Alfred was talking, Arthur was sure he was, but it took great effort to listen and so Arthur felt himself drifting off a bit. It wasn't sleep but it was like when they used to sleep in a bed and were dozing on Sunday mornings. Now that he thought about it, he was tired though and settled down to sleep.
Although he was allowed to sleep, it seemed hardly worth it when he was being woken up frequently and having a light shone in his eyes and being forced to answer questions. Everything got a bit less foggy though as they continued and when Arthur woke up on his own, his mind was clear. His head was pounding and his shoulder ached but he rolled onto his good side, belatedly realising that he was in dry clothes in a sleeping bag and spotted Alfred by the fire. Alfred looked up as Arthur rolled over and it was obvious how surprised he was.
"Arthur! Can you tell me where we are?" Alfred asked, adding another log to the fire. Arthur wanted to give him a strange look but then remembered, vaguely, their trip in the river.
"The forest. And before that, we were in a river. Literally in a river, which I was not expecting as one of the 'adventures'." Alfred looked very relieved at his answer, even though Arthur knew that he had been unfairly cutting. Alfred moved around the fire and gave Arthur a kiss before drawing him into an embrace that was a little tighter than it normally was.
"I was worried," Alfred muttered quietly. Only the fact that it had been said right next to Arthur's ear meant that it was heard. Arthur returned the hug; he knew how Alfred felt, having been on his side often enough.
"I'm okay now." They sat like that, arms around each other, for a long time. The fire was starting to die again so Alfred had to let Arthur go so he could add some more logs. There was a comfortable silence between the two of them as Alfred started to cook some of their rations, he had obviously not set any traps or been hunting recently.
"So," Alfred said, turning his head towards Arthur. "What do you want to put in the book?" Arthur looked at him, slightly shocked before throwing one of his shoes at Alfred. Alfred dodged easily, laughing his head and soon getting Arthur to laugh along with him.
"I think that 'two idiots took an unexpected swim' should suffice," Arthur replied and they smiled at each other. The journey was sometimes dangerous but what would an adventure be without it?
So, yes, I'm back. From the pits of work and laziness combined. And working on the new Summer Camp! I was also thinking about a Masterlist for my fics on LJ. I think they would be easier to find and I can get rid of some of my tags then! What do you think?
Also, I based what Arthur's feeling here on my own experience. Tripped over a chain once and landed on my head and my shoulder - felt like everything was a dream and that the last two weeks were all a dream as well. It was weird. Anyway, enjoy!