I don't own Until Dawn.
Okay so like to be completely honest I haven't even finished watching the game on YouTube, I'm about some place in chapter five soooo yeah. I tried, valiantly I might add, to resist the temptation of making this fic, I really did. Eventually though I just couldn't not do it. I had to. My thirst for these two is far too mighty.
Basically what I'm trying to say is I'm literal trash and I hope you enjoy this! Also, I posted this on AO3 as well under the same username, in case you want to read it there. I hadn't been planning on adding it to here because the last time I checked there wasn't a Until Dawn category on here haha.
(Title is a reference to the song Hummingbird by Tut Tut Child. In case you wanna take a listen: watch?v=a4-Tb4rHZt8)
"How do you think things are going back at the lodge?" Chris wondered aloud as they trekked through the snow, raising a gloved hand to swipe at the unrelenting snowflakes that were stubbornly sticking to his glasses. The giant cluster of trees on either sides of the path seemed almost tall enough to reach the heavens. The branches, devoid of any leaves, swayed and creaked in the crisp wintry wind.
Josh had dragged Chris along in heading further up the mountain to check on the guest cabin, and he had begrudgingly obliged. His enthusiastic other half had claimed that he wanted to make sure it was "still in good condition after all this time". Chris had been perfectly fine cozied up by the fireplace, but no. He made sure that he grumbled and complained about the cold as much as possible along the way.
Then Josh had turned to him, his smile coy as he mentioned that they might as well make sure everything was in working order, when they got there of course. Which included the fireplace, and the bed. The sofa. The shower. The floor, etc. And then he had grinned, letting out a genuine laugh as the younger man swallowed hard and picked up the pace.
His head felt the brunt force of the cold winds, his cheeks rosy with numbness and his nose runny. But he had been assured- multiple times he might add- that they were almost there. Beside him Josh shrugged.
"Hopefully good. Maybe Matt and Mike can get the two 'Housewives of Blackwood Pines' to calm their tits." He faltered slightly when he nearly lost his footing in the snow. Chris threw out a hand and gripped his arm to help him regain his balance. He giggled.
"Yeah. Maybe they're all huddled around the fireplace roasting marshmallows and singing 'Kumbaya-" he stopped dead, "do you hear that?"
The brunette came to a stop as well, and they held their breath, silent as they strained to hear something- anything. The sounds seemed to be coming from up ahead. The only way to describe that noise was animalistic shrieking. Accompanied with what sounded like something ripping and tearing. The two of them shared an uneasy look.
"D-do you think it's another deer?" Chris whispered. They had encountered several along the path on the way, but the sounds coming from the clearing up ahead didn't sound like anything a normal dear would make.
"Probably."
The brunette edged slowly towards the sound, and Chris grabbed his arm again.
"What if whatever hurt it is still there?" He hissed quietly.
"Then we run like hell to the cabin or something. I just wanna take a peak."
He sighed, relenting. Yep, this is how they would die. Together, in the middle of the mountains, because they were stupidly curious.
Ever cautious, they crept forwards, the snow crunching underneath their feet sounding extremely loud. The once serene forest suddenly felt ominous. Then, they saw it.
"Oh my God."
"Holy shit"
An injured deer laid against a fallen tree, bleeding heavily from a deep gash in it's neck. In fact, it was a marvel that the deer's head was still attached to it's body. The blood dripped down and fell into the snow, staining it a deep crimson.
Whatever had hurt it clearly wasn't there anymore. He could only hope that it moved on to greener pastures and wouldn't return. He shivered, and not from the cold, suddenly feeling as if they were being watched.
"What the hell happened to it?" He asked, more rhetorical than anything as they approached the wounded animal. He crouched down next to it, reaching out a tentative hand to pet it's shoulder, making sure to avoid it's bloody neck. The deer merely stared at them, making the occasional grunt or whine in pain.
"A bear, maybe?" Josh offered softly. He hovered next to him, unsure what to do. "Should we- like, put it out of it's misery or something?"
Chris let out a shaky sigh. "I dunno."
As it turned out they didn't, as soon the deer rested it's head against the tree, it's laboured breath slowing down, before stopping altogether. He patted it sadly one more time before standing up.
"I wonder why it didn't like, eat it," he said. Josh opened his mouth to say something, when suddenly the deer was yanked backwards into the trees by something unseen, a garbled sort of growl emanating from the shadows. They both screamed and took off running in the direction of the cabin.
"Was that the bear?!" He yelled, blindly running ahead with Josh hot on his heels.
"I have no fuckin clue!"
Whatever it was it had taken chase, and was gaining on them fast.
They came to a screeching halt suddenly, a fork in the road. They could either follow the path or risk a shortcut climbing up a rocky hill. They didn't have time- Chris lurched forwards towards the shortcut and began climbing, turning around to help boost Josh up. Together they made their way to the top.
The cabin was just up ahead now, they were nearly home free. Chris made it to the porch first, panting as he stumbled over to the door. Josh however was not so lucky and tripped over a loose board, slamming to the ground. They key to the cabin, which had been in his hand slid across the porch.
He didn't even think, he simply dove down to help his boyfriend stand back up. The shortcut they had taken had seemed to put a fraction of distance between them and it thankfully, and he bent down and snatched up the key. He struggled with the lock, Josh yelling in his ear for him to hurry up until finally, finally the door unlocked and they pushed their way inside. He slammed it closed behind them and locked it, turning around with a sigh. He sagged against the wood, sliding down onto the ground and gasping for breath. Josh walked over to the sofa and sprawled out on it face down as he panted.
"That...was...insane." He mumbled down into the sofa cushions. Chris made a noise of agreement, too winded to produce words. They sat there for a while, simply breathing and listening as the wind whistled outside.
"Do you think it's gone?" Chris finally asked. He stood up and peaked out the door's window. He could only see the flurry of snowflakes and the trees. No psychotic forest dwellers on the porch.
"I hope so. If-if not at least we have that." He directed his attention to where Josh, now in a sitting position, was pointing. A hunting rifle was perched in its holder by the door. He let out an uneasy laugh.
"Chris, c'mere." He patted an empty spot on the sofa. The younger man did as he was told and plopped down next to him. Josh didn't hesitate to pull him in for a kiss, leaning against him. The heat from their bodies was a welcoming change from the frigid temperatures around them. When they pulled away the blonde grinned.
"What was that for?" He asked, "not that I'm complaining, of course."
Josh chuckled, "for saving my ass back there, man." He placed a hand to his forehead dramatically. "My hero!" He cried with a high pitched voice, pretending to swoon. Chris laughed.
"Well, if that's the thanks that I get then I should save you and your ass more often." He initiated the kiss that time and pulled Josh closer. He tugged his gloves off his hands and dropped them somewhere, gripping the front of Josh's coat. His hands fumbled with the zipper until finally he yanked it down, untangling their arms for a second so he could push the article of clothing off his shoulders. Josh groaned softly as their tongues slid together and he reached forward to reciprocate the stripping. Chris snuck a hand under his shirt and slid it across his abdomen. The older man jolted when he felt cold fingers skating across his skin and he pulled away from the kiss reluctantly. His lips were wet and shiny with saliva.
"As much as I would love to continue where this is going, we can't really have sex if we're both slowly freezing to death."
"Well I mean, we could try. After all the best way to share body heat is being naked." He waggled his eyebrows exaggeratedly.
Josh snorted at that and shook his head, standing up.
"Whatever you say, Boy Scout. The sooner we get a fire started the sooner we can pick up where we left off." He wandered over to the small kitchen and started checking the drawers and cabinets, mumbling something about matches. Chris jumped to his feet and sent him a mock salute.
"Aye aye, Captain."
Moving behind the couch he glanced at his surroundings. It was a relatively small cabin, tremendously so when compared to the lodge, but it was nice, cozy even.
If I was a matchbox, where would I be-
"Aha!" He bent down and grabbed the box of matches from where it had fallen underneath the table. He shook the box towards the other man, grinning.
"Bingo."
"Nice." Josh walked towards the wall by the refrigerator and opened a panel to the power box. "Alright, let's get the lights going." He flicked down the switch and jumped back a few steps when the box sparked and zapped his hand. He waved the offended hand and cursed.
"You okay?" Chris asked.
"Yeah I'm good, surprised me more than anything." He sighed and smacked the door close once more. "Damn thing is fried. Guess we'll have to call an electrician later."
"So much for a steamy bath then." He couldn't help but sound slightly disappointed. Other than the obvious sexy reason, a warm bath sounded like heaven. Josh laughed.
"Don't worry, there's plenty of other places we could take advantage of." He paused for a minute, and then snapped his fingers. "As a matter of fact, why don't you start the fire? I'm gonna go grab some blankets from the bedroom or something."
"I'm on it." Chris said as he watched him walk down the hall and then disappear into the bedroom. He crossed the room and stopped in front of the furnace, crouching down.
He opened the grate and grabbed a few logs from the pile next to it. Humming a nameless tune he threw the logs in. Then he grabbed one of the matches and struck it against the strike paper on the side of the box. Once lit he tossed it into the pile.
It was slow goings at first, as he prodded the logs with a tiny stick from the pile, trying to push some of the dry leaves and remnants of the last fire into the small flame. Eventually the fire grew until it started to spread and enveloped the logs. The room was alight with a soft glow, the flames casting shadows that danced and flickered around the room. It's warmth felt almost like instant relief and Chris brought his hands up to warm them in front of the fire before he closed the grate.
He stood up, grinning with triumph as he pumped his fists.
"Man make fire!"
Silence. He furrowed his brow. He had expected to hear some sort of quip or sarcastic reply from his boyfriend by now. He had been far too quiet than usual. He moved towards the kitchen and glanced down the hallway that led to the bedroom. Josh stood at the end of the hall with his back to him, silent.
"Josh, everything okay man?" He approached the brunette and came to a stop beside him. He felt his heart constrict in his chest when he realized what he was so fixated on. A picture of Hannah sat on the end table. She smiled brightly back at them, dressed in her tennis gear, racket in hand. He stared down at it, expression distant.
Chris cleared his throat to announced his presence, and to make sure he didn't startle him as he tentatively placed a hand on his forearm.
"Babe?"
He seemed to snap back to reality at that and turned his head to look at him.
"C'mon, I got the fire going." Josh remained silent, but allowed himself to be tugged gently back towards the living room. Chris sent one last fleeting glance at the picture.
I'm so sorry, Hannah.
He had only fond memories of her, and Beth too. Often times when he hung out at Josh's house the twins were there. They both had treated him like part of their family. Beth always teased Chris about his obvious infatuation with her brother and had declared herself his wing-woman. Her plans usually involved dragging her sister away, claiming they had "an errand to run" and leaving the two men alone to watch the movie they had rented. He wondered briefly if Josh had ever caught on.
Shaking the thoughts from his head he took the blanket that Josh had draped over his arm and knelt down to spread it across the floor in front of the furnace. He plopped down onto it and got comfortable, slipping his boots off. His boyfriend followed suit and he drew his legs in, linking his arms around them. He looked vulnerable, lost even.
They sat in silence for a while, Josh staring down at the burning embers. Again, Chris' chest ached, and he wanted nothing more than to pull him into an embrace and somehow make the pain go away. He watched him. It was so unusual to see him so stoic and vacant looking. He wondered how much he hid from them. He almost wanted to ask if he was making sure he took his medication, but he didn't want to anger him. He was so worried that Josh was going to shut down, or shut him away.
"I really miss them." He whispered suddenly, as if it was a secret confession. Chris shifted on the blanket and moved closer, but still apart in case he wanted his space.
"I know, I know. I do too." He replied softly.
"I- I feel like I could have done more, you know?"
At the time the two of them had been passed out in the kitchen, and the others had sought them out not long after Beth and Hannah had disappeared into the snow storm. It had taken a while for them to shake the two awake. The alcohol was still somewhat in their system, and Josh was blissfully ignorant to the situation as he giggled and all but draped himself over the kitchen counter. Sam, ever the mother of the group, shook her head and went to fetch them both a cup of water.
"Dad's gonna be like, so pissed if we don't clean the place up when we're done." On the other side of the counter, Chris groaned and rubbed a hand down his face, his head throbbing. Sam passed him the water and some aspirin. It was then Josh seemed to notice the absence of his two siblings.
"Beth an Hannah?" He was slurring, but the others got the gist of what he was asking. Multiple people started talking at once. Mike, Emily, and Jess all still insisting that it had been just a prank, and that she was being too sensitive. At least Ashley and Matt had the decency to look ashamed with themselves. Of course what stuck out to Josh most was "Beth and Hannah", "ran outside", and "they haven't come back" and he tried to stumble to the door, ready to run outside in the freezing weather without a coat and shoes. Matt and Mike were able to stop him before he got too far, even with him trying to shove them off.
"I'm sure they'll be back any minute, Hannah's most likely still embarrassed." Sam said, ever rational and then she glared at Mike. He looked away.
Slowly, hours ticked by. The alcoholic haze subsided. Josh started pacing by the door, cell phone in hand as he texted and called the two repeatedly without break. The temperature continued to drop outside, the winds fierce. Sam tried her best to continue being positive, but she didn't sound particularly confident. Josh refused to move from his spot despite Chris trying to get him to lay down to rest for a while. He stood there, phone clutched in his hand, and hoped and prayed that any moment and the two would come crashing through the door happy and smiling. Beth would grin at him and tease him.
"Aww, was wittle Joshy worried about us?" And everything would be okay.
They didn't.
It wasn't.
"I should've.." He trailed off, breath hitching. When he looked back at Chris his eyes were glistening with unshed tears.
"Josh, if you would have went out there to look for them you most likely would have gotten lost, too." He reached forward and pulled him into an embrace. Josh went willingly and wrapped his arms around him, tightly grasping onto the back of his shirt as if he was his life preserve. His anchor. He buried his face into the crook of the blonde's neck and sniffed.
"You did all that you could. It isn't good to dwell on it."
"I'm their brother, I'm supposed to look after them." He mumbled, voice wavering. Chris shushed him gently and held him while he shook and sobbed. He was great at hiding his feelings, and it made him wonder when was the last time he had opened up to someone like this.
The wind had died down, along with the snow. It looked tranquil and picturesque, as if straight out of a Christmas card. Eventually his tears slowed to a stop and they sat in silence, holding each other.
"Thanks for putting up with me." He said. Chris frowned.
"Stop that. I'm not in a relationship because I "put up with you". I'm in a relationship with you because I love you. More than anything." He broke away from the embrace so he could look at him. He grabbed one of Josh's hands, linking their fingers. He stroked his skin with his thumb absentmindedly. "And I'll always be here for you, no matter what."
He started to belt out the lyrics to I'll be around by the Spinners, horrendously off key, until Josh laughed and pushed him playfully.
"Alright, alright I get it."
"Feel better?"
"Yeah, thanks. For everything."
Chris smiled and leaned in, cupping his cheeks. The kiss felt different than the other previous ones. More meaningful, and full of unspoken promises between them. They laid down and curled up together, Josh resting his head on Chris' chest, an arm thrown over his stomach. Chris kissed the top of his head and inhaled the scent of his shampoo.
Josh broke the silence a while later by sighing.
"Sorry about, you know, running all the fun."
Chris scoffed.
"Ruin the fun? Naw, you didn't ruin anything. In fact-" He untangled himself from his lover's grasp and jumped to his feet.
"Right! This is a strict fun only trip. We're having fun!" He began looking around again, and Josh watched, an eyebrow arched.
"What are you looking for, exactly?"
"For fun things! Ya'know: checkers, Jenga, hell Monopoly, even." His search came up empty of course. If only he had brought along his backpack.
"Well I don't know about games, but I did find some reading material in the bedroom."
"Like what?" The blonde asked, and he turned to look back at him. Josh held the aforementioned book in his hand and he flashed him the cover, his expression sly. Chris squinted. In the dim light he could vaguely make out the words Kama Sutra.
Oh.
Oh.
He wondered if his boyfriend could see the flush in his cheeks from there.
"Really now." He said, faintly aware that his voice had gone up about 4 octaves as he said it.
"Yes really." And with that he shrugged out of his grey and white plaid shirt.
"We don't have to, if-if you don't wanna." Chris said. He sure as hell would be down for it, but he'd also be content with simply cuddling. He didn't know if Josh was actually in the mood for it, and he hoped he wasn't pushing him to do it as an apology or to make him feel good or anything. The older man chuckled.
"Oh I definitely wanna." Chris stared, utterly transfixed as he pulled his shirt up and over his head, exposing dark skin. He swallowed, mouth suddenly dry. Josh threw the shirt onto the couch before gazing up at him.
"Are you just gonna stand there and make me do all the work by myself or are you gonna get over here and strip?" He asked, grinning as he made a "come hither" gesture.
Chris was more than happy to oblige.
*whispering* they went to the bone zone. Several times, in several places. And no one got dragged out of the cabin. and then they went back to the lodge and everyone bonded and they left feeling closer to each other and no one was harmed. *distant sobbing*
Aaaaah! So I hope you liked the fic. I worked hard on it, and I'm actually pretty proud of it for a change. :) So yeah! Ya'll can come talk to me at my tumblr if you want, and in case you didn't get to this fic from said blog you can find it here: .com.