Maybe, just maybe, Alfred should have stayed on the path. He thought he saw something shiny on his way to his grandfather's house and now he's horribly lost in the middle of this huge forest his dad always always always warned him never to wander off into. Yeah. He messed up. His stomach growls in protest having not eaten in a few hours. Great, now he's hungry too. He groans and runs his hands through his hair. He takes a quick peek down at the basket balanced on his arm. Shaking his head violently he marches on in the direction he thinks is the right way. He can't eat all of their grandfather's snacks. That would be so rude.
It only takes a few more minutes of walking in circles for Alfred to start panicking. He tries his best to keep his frustrated tears from falling but honestly, he's exhausted., He should have been to his destination an hour ago and everything looks the same and his stomach hurts. Everything just seems to be going wrong. He curls down at the base of a big tree. He places his basket next to him and brings his knees up to hide his face in them. Maybe in a few moments he can find the energy to keep going but right now, he just needs the moment to pout and be miserable.
The moment doesn't last long as he hears footsteps that stop right in front of him. His head snaps up to locks eyes with a wolf. Oh his father warned him about wolves. Oh this is bad. Alfred gulps as the wolf tilts his head back and forth, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes, and his rusted red hair twitching around his pointed ears. The wolf kneels down to be eye to eye with him. A smirk is on his face and all Alfred can think is crap, I'm dead.
"Where you headed gorgeous?" The wolf coos and Alfred's mind stops all thought. The wolf isn't looking at him like a next meal. The wolf chuckles at his dumbfounded face.
"I can you show you the way through the forest," The wolf winks at him and finally Alfred's mind is back to reality. He can feel his cheeks flush up at the words. This makes the wolf laugh again, standing and holding a hand down for Alfred to take.
"I'm Al," The wolf says. Alfred stares at the hand extended to him. The wolf is trying to help him.
"I ain't gunna bite you sugar." Out of all the thing to say, that is by far the weirdest. Alfred takes the hand but lets go as soon as he is stable on his own two feet. The wolf circles him and Alfred has never felt so judged in his life. He bends down quickly to scoop his basket into his arms.
"Why are you helping me?" Alfred mumbles out once the wolf is leading him back towards the path. This 'Al' peeks over his shoulder, a smirk still on his face.
"I got a little sad seeing you so bummed out," He snickers. Alfred scrunches up his eyebrows, looking at the wolf. Al noticed and winks at him again.
"I was watching you wander about," he says simply. Alfred puffs up in another blush. The wolf had been watching him make a fool of himself? He glares at the ground, not sure how to respond to that. He's supposed to be strong and brave and not leave the trail.
"I'm Alfred," He says. If he's in this much trouble he might as well get in some more. The wolf perks up at this, his ears twitching and tail flicking back in forth. He smiles at Alfred and gestures to the line of cream colored rocks designating the safe path through the woods. Alfred smiles brightly at the wolf, not without noticing the way his tail flicks back at forth at the positive response.
"Thank you," Alfred tells him gratefully. Even though it probably had been a very bad idea, the wolf did help him out. Al chuckles and grabs Alfred's hand gently in his own. Alfred gulps feeling the wolf's claws on his skin. His cheeks puff up more so when the wolf leans down and places a sweet kiss on his hand, smirking up at him with his tail flicking back and forth behind him.
"See you later sweetcheeks~" the wolf coos and walks back into the trees. Alfred is frozen in the spot, clutching his basket and staring after the wolf. He hides his face in his hands and walks along the path. He can't help but turnaround every few steps to see if he can spot the hint of rusted red of the wolf's fur. He bites his lip and digs through the basket. He pulls out an apple, one of the smaller ones. He really would like to eat it for himself but..
Just before he places it on the ground, he kisses it after much internal debate. He places the apple on the ground and back away from it slowly. Do wolves like apples? He sighs and focuses on walking along the path. He keeps his eyes glued in front of him, trying his hardest to not turn around. It doesn't work. He peeks over his shoulder to see the apple gone. He hides his face back into his basket. A soft smile on his face. He knows he shouldn't be making friends with the wolf, but he really hadn't been that bad. His thoughts become muddled, placing the back of his hand to his cheek like a love sick child. Oh this is bad.
Alfred gulps as he faces the woods. He managed to get far along the path, maybe halfway between his home and the turn towards his grandfather's house. He scans the tree line, searching for any hint of red. He drops down and buries his head in his hands. This is just a dumb idea. The people in his town say all the time to never interact with a wolf. They'll eat you and use your bones for making houses. Alfred isn't too sure about the bone houses, but the eating part sounds pretty logical.
He had told his brother about his encounter with the wolf. Matthew promised to keep the secret and even helped him sneak a few bits of dinner to put in the basket for Alfred' secret rendezvous the next day. He snuck his basket out the door and said boredom got to him so he would go for a walk. Their father encouraged the exercise. Now Alfred stands at the edge of the path and the trees, feeling utterly stupid.
The wolf he met could be faking his niceness, luring Alfred deeper into his tricky trap. Why would the wolf even be there again. It had just been pure coincidence the wolf saw him last time right? Now he's hauling around food in a forest he doesn't know how to travel through. Brilliant idea.
He sighs and stands, holding his basket tight to his chest. He peeks back up into the trees and his breathing catches. He honestly didn't expect to see the wolf leaning against a tree far back in the woods. Still from his spot, Alfred could see his tail flicking back and forth and the smirk on his face. He gulps as the wolf pushes off his perch and steps forward. The wolf, Al, stops right at the tree lines before the path edge starts.
"Hello gorgeous," He greets with a teasing tone. Alfred pouts at him. He forgot how much the wolf had teased him the other day.
"Hello," He says finding his voice. He musters up a shy smile, noticing the way the wolf's ear twitch. Al glances along the path.
"What are you doing all the way out here lambchop?" The wolf turns his focus back to him. Alfred looks down to the basket in his arms.
"I wanted to say thank you, for the other day," he says, his smile brightening. The wolf raises an eyebrow. When he doesn't say anything Alfred continues.
"I uh, I made lunch," he says hopefully, showing off his basket just a little more. The wolf snickers and leans back towards the trees.
"Come on sunspot let me show you a good place to sit," he jerks his head into the trees and begins to walk away from the path. Alfred's smile falls. He scuffs his feet on the cream colored rocks detailing the edge of the path. He peeks up to see the wolf, waiting for him. Al holds out a hand invitingly. Alfred has to take a few deep breathes before he feels brave enough. He reaches out a hand and the wolf takes it, far more gently than Alfred thought possible and guides him through the trees. His thoughts are racing, hoping he doesn't become the next meal for this wolf.
Al leads him to a mossy area of soft grass. The wolf lounges on his stomach while Alfred sits next to him. He pulls items from the basket, laying them out on the grass to showcase.
"I didn't know what you liked to eat," He says shyly, pulling out a few wrapped pieces of meat. To his surprise the wolf sneers at it and goes straight for a bright red apple.
"Fruit mostly, it's hard to find out here. Your apple yesterday was much a treat," Al winks at the blondie. Alfred hides his face behind his sandwich.
"I'm flattered you came looking for me~" Al coos at the him. Alfred glares a little over his food.
"I just wanted to say thank you," He mumbles taking a bite to busy himself. The wolf chuckles, rolling onto his back.
"Why did you help me?" Alfred asks after a moment or two of silence. The wolf pauses in his own bite to sit up and look him in the eye. Alfred tries to hide his apparent loss of breath at the sudden stare down. Al's eyes are a deep red like his hair. It's just enough to be overwhelming.
"I've been watching you ever since you made your first trip to your grandfather's." Al tells him, a sly smirk on his face. It takes a moment to realize that the wolf has been continuously watching him. Alfred can feel his face puff up and turn red. The wolf snickers at the reaction and scootches closer to the human.
"You were so cute back then and now you're just beautiful," The wolf inches closer again and Alfred starts to move away. He's sure wolves are supposed to predatory creatures and now he's finally seeing that side of this wolf. Oh, maybe he will be eaten. Al stops once he sees the panicked look on Alfred's face. He chuckles to himself mostly.
"Calm down lambchop I ain't gunna hurt you," He teases. Alfred hides his face in his hands, not knowing how else to respond. He freaked out a little, but rightfully so. It's not everyday someone has a picnic with a wolf. After getting over his embarrassment, Alfred warms up to Al, talking quietly and looking up into the trees at rustling leaves. He's practically frozen in his spot when Al leans in quickly to peck his cheek with a kiss.
Alfred places a hand over his red tinted cheeks and stares at the wolf. Al is smirking at him, enjoyment clear on his features. He laughs loudly and stands. They have eaten all the food. He holds out a hand for Alfred to take, and this time, with little hesitation does Alfred take it. Al leads him back to the path, right where he left.
"I want to see you again," Al says simply, not letting go of Alfred's hand. They are standing on their own sides, Alfred on the path and Al in the trees. Alfred squishes his basket to his chest and nods his head. He rather likes his wolf friend, even if he is a bit weird. He smiles at Al happily.
"Me too," He says honestly. Al's tail flicks back and forth, a wide smirk on his face. Alfred takes a step back to the same time Al pulls his hand forward. Alfred is caught off balance, letting out a squeak when he lands safely in Al's arms. The human barely has time to get a word out when Al kisses him quickly. He's stunned when the wolf pulls back.
"See you later gorgeous," The wolf says, releasing Alfred from his arms and turning back into the trees. Alfred watches him leave and disappear. He hides his face in his basket. He planned to tell his brother about his picnic, but he may have to leave out a few details.
AN: Veggie Burgers, what a fun name for a pairing.