As someone from Colorado who misses the mountains terribly, this one was nice to write. And holy shit can I just date modern Neji, please? That'd be great kthanxbye

Enjoy! :) and leave a comment if you drop in! I love to hear how I'm doing and if I can change anything!

Day Eighty-Nine – 20 November 2017

Prompt – Through the Fire

Summary – Nejiten + Camping = Wholesome goodness

Notes – Modern AU, apparently Neji drives a Subaru. And wears glasses.

Word Count – 978

Through the Fire

"Tent's set up, Tenten," Neji poked his out from around the flap, hair hanging haphazardly in his face, smiling like he'd just done something incredibly important.

"Thanks, hun," Tenten gave him a quick kiss. "The foil packets are almost done and the fire's going. We'll be squared away for tonight."

Neji stepped outside and put his beanie back on, pulling it down over his ears against the cold. Even in the summertime the Rockies were always bitterly cold at night, and since dusk was approaching the temperature had rapidly dropped. Out across the alpine lake, everything was calm. There were a few croaks from bullfrogs in the marshy parts and some hoots and calls of night birds, but there was no wind and no clouds to obscure their view.

They'd hiked up onto a hidden plateau earlier that day, away from the main thoroughfare and large campgrounds, trading convenience for peace and quiet. Camping was much more enjoyable when there weren't screaming kids running about when you were trying to enjoy the scenery.

As colors of the sky turned from red to purple to deep blue, they tended the fire and their dinners which warmed on the grate above the flames. Their careful watch let the fire grow to a decent size and its warmth was more than welcomed as the night air began to bite.

"They should be ready now," Tenten said, sliding the foil packs onto a plate and cutting them open. The smell of potatoes, onions, sausage, and eggs mingled with the scent of woodsmoke.

"Oops," Neji said sheepishly. "I guess I set the breakfast ones on the fire."

Tenten giggled and kissed him again. "I think breakfast for dinner sounds lovely."

They sat next to each other and draped the heavy quilt they'd packed in Neji's Impreza and hauled all the way up here around their shoulders, leaning on each other as they ate their dinners with plastic forks. The cresent moon had just begun to rise, and the rugged, snow-capped peaks ahead were bathed in a faint silver halo. A strip of light reflected off the water.

"This is great," he breathed. "I don't need anything more than this."

"I hear you," Tenten said as she shuffled to sit in front of him, draping his arms around her as she had the blanket. "Nothing beats being out here with a tremendous view and good company."

The fire crackled softly amidst the singing of crickets, and all was calm.

The world grew darker and darker, and the first few pinpoints of light shone through the fabric of the sky. More and more stars emerged through the night, until the entirety of the heavens seemed to be littered with millions of stars, shining clear and bright over their heads.

Tenten leaned her head back into the crook of his neck, rough wool hat slipping down over her eyes. Neji chuckled softly, and said, "let me help you with that." As he pushed the fabric back to where it belonged, he leaned into kiss her cheek, and she gasped as his nose poked her temple.

"Your nose is cold!" She said, and he kissed her again and again, spurring her into a fit of laughter at the sensation of his cold skin pressing into hers.

"It's cold outside, Tenten," he said finally, pushing his glasses back up onto the bridge of his nose; they'd become unseated during his attack. "Obviously my nose is going to be cold."

"Rude," she mock pouted.

"Put that lip back in your mouth before I do something with it," he warned playfully, even as she shoved him back onto the ground and leaned over his chest. "Okay, you got me beat."

"That's what I thought," she said, and curled against him as they both stared skyward at the stars, pulling the blanket over their bodies. The fire continued crackling, casting shadows over their skin and flushing them with waves of warmth. An owl hooted nearby. They listened and watched and said nothing. A moment like this did not need words, and a profound sense of peace overcame them.

This is why they wanted to come out here. Somehow, they always found themselves and each other when they were away from their normal, hectic lives.

"It's so surreal, it makes you feel so small," Neji whispered.

"I know," she replied just as quietly. "I just can't describe it, but being surrounded by a place like this is just so comforting."

"It's like the feeling you get when you meditate, but it's even more concentrated." He took a deep breath, holding the scent of smoke and grass and pine in his lungs before releasing it. "Even the air is sobering."

She nodded, but didn't need to reply. She knew what he meant because she felt it too. It was something you just couldn't put into words. It just felt right.

Through the warmth of the fire they watched the stars spin and dance and counted how many shooting stars they counted in the sky. After some time they entwined their fingers together and moved closer, sharing body heat as well as each other's company.

Late into the night (there was no telling what the actual time was since they'd left their clocks and watches in the car) when the fire had burned down to coals and Tenten had dozed off, Neji began to feel the pull of sleep. So he sat up and nudged her awake, urging her quietly into the tent, and as he pulled the blanket in after them and zipped them into their bed for the night, he stole one last glimpse at the mountains and the water, then looked down on his fiancé and the way she'd curled up on the mattress, and he smiled, knowing that there was nothing more that he could want for in the world.

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