After Benedict's latest show has come to a close, his schedule has slowed down a bit. You find him to be a bit restless, but are extremely excited to have him to yourself more often. He hangs around your flat more, and usually joins you again right as you get off work. It seemed the only time he ever returned home to his own flat was to wash his clothes, which seemed less and less necessary as more and more items of his clothing integrated themselves into the bottom drawer of your dresser. With the relationship becoming more comfortable and routine, you find yourselves staying in most nights rather than going out, but neither of you really mind.
Because of the relaxed domestication that has recently taken over your relationship, Benedict's invitation on a late night hike comes as a bit of a surprise, but you immediately accept his offer. You've missed the opportunity to go and do something with him, and he always had the greatest places to take you when you opted in for adventures such as this one. Once the clock announced midnight, you packed up the car and headed towards the west end of London. At the trailhead, Benedict adorned you with a torch, and linked his hand in yours as you began your journey.
The hike was fairly simple, but had a few challenges along the way. Due to a heavy rain the day before, the trail had become a bit muddy, which made the occasional steep incline a bit more difficult to conquer, but Benedict was always there to help you. After journeying on for forty minutes or so, Benedict directs you off of the trail. You attempt to protest, but one flash of his mischievous grin and you were following close behind. The sound of rushing water grew louder, and the overgrown plant–life beneath your feet flattened out to a firm, pebbly sand.
In the dim, unfeigned moonlight, Benedict's face glowed with excitement as he removed the pack from his back and began to remove its contents. "This—this is beautiful, Benedict." He turned his head to flash an iridescent smile your way. "But are we allowed to be here? I thought the sign said—"
"You worry way too much, do you know that?" He laid a blanket down across the sand and gestures for you to sit by him.
"You're one to tell me about too much worrying," You sit yourself down next to him, "You worry far more than I do."
"That's rubbish; I only worry about the important things."
"And getting arrested for being here after hours isn't important?" You raise an eyebrow.
He chuckles and brushes the hair out of your face. "Not if I know there's nobody out here to catch us," the deep purr of his voice sends a warm tingle through you. You feel the blood rushing to your cheeks in response to his suggestive tone, and nervously bite your lip. His fingers slide from your cheek to your chin, tilting your lips up to meet his. He lingers for a moment, building the excitement stirring in your stomach. He finally touches his lips to yours in a gentle caress, and your fingers unconsciously entangle themselves in his unruly curls. He smiles against your lips, and the kiss intensifies. His lips coax yours to open and you grip his bottom lip tenderly between your teeth, provoking a throaty groan to escape from him. He pushes you back and onto the blanket, causing your head to hit the ground just a tad too roughly.
"Ow!" You grimace and push him off of you. "There was a rock there!" You sit up to face him, rubbing the back of your head. He bites his lip to avoid laughing at you, then gives in, snorting a laugh through his nose. You glare at him, hoping to be threatening, but give up when he mimics your face back to you.
"I guess that was my doing?" He still couldn't keep a straight face. "Here," he pulls you into his lap, "let me kiss it better." Your eyebrows rise in amusement to his mocking tone, and you scurry from his lap.
"So not going to happen!" He grabs you by the waist and pulls you over to his side, suddenly pinning you down and tickling you. You both laugh and wrestle until you're out of breath and fall back on the blanket. You roll over to face him, resting your head in the crook of his arm.
"I have some news to tell you." The change in his tone warns against something upsetting. Not knowing what is to expect, you prop your head up onto your hand to look at him. His eyes study your face, searching for the right words to piece his thoughts together. "I got another job. A film. They've asked me to be a lead role," his weighted half-smile just about breaks your heart in two.
"That's fantastic! But, what's wrong? This is just the kind of break you were looking for, wasn't it?"
"The production is going to take no less than nine months, and," he releases the breath he's been holding in a long-awaited sigh. "Filming will be in Hollywood. I'm going to be in the US that whole time." There was a prolonged silence between you. You cuddle in closer to him, and his arm tightens around you. A cold wind rippled the water and grazed your cheek, sending a chill up your spine.
"We can make it work. We have to." Every cell in your body was aching. You knew that this was an opportunity Benedict could not pass up, but with things becoming so comfortable with him, you couldn't begin to imagine having to go back to your mediocre life without Benedict by your side. "I can come and visit you, and there's always Skype and phone calls." You tried desperately to steady the nerves behind your shaky voice.
Benedict's body shifts beneath you as he turns to face you. His fingers lightly stroke your cheek, sending shivers down your entire being. "I can't expect you to come and visit me; that would be selfish. You have a job and responsibilities here that you need to keep up with."
"Screw my job and responsibilities," you entangle your fingers between his. "My relationship with you is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I'm not about to give that up, Benedict."
"I'm not asking you to give up our relationship," his eyes stare deep into your own; searching, pleading. "I want to move in together. I don't want to miss another moment with you before I leave. I'm tired of having to cart our belongings back and forth. I want us to be together in one home, with our things, and each other. So when I am able to come home, I can come home to you; to our home." A smile sneaks onto your lips, which reflects onto Benedict's face. You trace his smile with you thumb, amazed at his momentary vulnerability, and bring your face to his, kissing him sweetly.
"I couldn't have said it better myself." He wraps his arms around you and kisses your forehead as you entangle yourself in him, breathing him in. His soft musk, mixed with the endorphins seeping out of his every pore, envelops you in a state of euphoria.
"We should go," he whispers. You silently nod, and he steadies you on your feet. The journey back to the car is comfortably silent; neither one of you needing to speak. By the time you reach the car, the horizon glows with a hazy hint of daylight. Benedict opens the passenger side door for you, and within minutes you doze off, hand in hand with Benedict as you both journey home.