"Well?" Connor clasped his hands together expectantly as Kevin entered the room.

"Well what?" Kevin dropped his stuff onto the bed.

Connor noticed how he seemed to have lost some weight.

"What do you want to do now that we have the room to ourselves?"

Kevin's face fell, "It's late Connor, and I'm exhausted."

"Oh," Connor figured he would be, but he couldn't help feeling disappointed.

"I'm sorry."

"No, no. It's fine," Connor tried to sound like he meant it.

Kevin gave him a small smile and extended an olive branch, "If you want, we could push the beds together?"

Connor brightened at the suggestion, "I'll do it! You stay put."

He moved the small table between the beds out of the way, and then dragged his bed over to the other one.

After brushing their teeth, the both of them climbed into their makeshift double bed. They lay facing each other, separated by the tiny rift in between the beds.

"Goodnight Kev," Connor planted a gentle kiss on Kevin's forehead.

Even in the dark, Connor could see Kevin's eyes flutter open, "Goodnight."

—

During the night, Connor had somehow managed to end up entirely on Kevin's side. When he woke up in the morning, he had his arms full of Kevin, and Kevin's head was on his chest.

Connor checked his watch, it was already nine in the morning. It had been so long since Connor slept for a full ten hours, so he had forgotten how good it felt like to be well-rested.

A laugh bubbled from his chest, he was just so happy.

"Is it time to wake up already?"

"No sleepyhead, it's Saturday, it's our day off," Connor tried to comb Kevin's hair to the left with his fingers.

"Then why'd you wake me up," Kevin muttered sleepily and tried to slap Connor's fingers away.

Connor tried to give Kevin a centre-part.

"Stoooop it," Kevin tilted his head and frowned at Connor.

"I think you'll look good with a center part," Connor teased.

"Nobody looks good with a center part."

They were both completely awake now, bathed in the golden sunlight which is shining through the windows.

Connor spotted the bandage still on Kevin's side, peeking out from the covers, "Does it still hurt?"

"What? Oh, that. Not too bad, it's getting better," Kevin shrugged, "Can I go back to sleep, please?"

"You want to sleep this beautiful morning away?"

"What do you want to do then?"

Connor hummed, "I was thinking maybe we could have a picnic by the lake. It can be our first official date."

"First date? I think we're way passed that."

"We are, huh? Well, it can just be a random romantic date then," Connor couldn't wait, "Let's go see what the others are doing today."

"What?! They're all coming along too?" Kevin's eyes widened.

"No silly, of course not. I just want to check in with everyone," Connor nudged Kevin's shoulder, "C'mon, get up so we can get going."

"Five more minutes?" Kevin bargained.

"No, Kevin. Get up!"

—

Kevin had to go back to his room to change, so Connor went ahead to breakfast. All of the Elders were already at the dining table by the time he got there.

They were in the midst of a heated discussion about their plans for their day off.

"All I'm saying is, if you guys really want to do it, we may have to stay there overnight," Elder Church said.

"But we don't have any camping equipment?" Elder Neely frowned.

"We don't have climbing equipment too."

"Are you sure we need to get up on the mountain at all?" Arnold looked sceptical, "I'm sure the sun will look exactly like how it does from the ground, right?"

"Elder McKinley! Morning!" Elder Davis greeted chirpily.

"Morning Elders," Connor smiled back at him, and took a seat beside Poptarts, "Hey, how did you sleep?"

Poptarts showed Connor his bowl of cereal soaked in black coffee, instead of milk.

"Oh gosh, gross!" Connor wrinkled his nose.

"He snores, Connor. So loudly," Poptarts shook his head dejectedly, "I have no idea how Elder Price sleeps through that."

"Yeah, I'm sorry you had to go through that. But all thanks to you, I had a great night's sleep," Connor beamed, "You're the best!"

"At least one of us got to sleep," Poptarts held up his hand, "And no. No amount of flattery is going to work. I'm never doing this again."

"What do you think, Elder McKinley?"

"Sorry, what?" Connor had no idea what they were talking about.

"We're thinking of visiting the Ik people on Mount Murongole, maybe catch the sunrise on the mountain," Elder Michaels explained, "What do you think?"

Elder Church rolled his eyes, "By 'we', he means himself, and he's dragging us all on this crazy trip with him."

"I don't know guys, it sounds pretty dangerous to be climbing a mountain without a guide," Connor didn't think it was a good idea at all, "Besides, we don't even speak their language."

Elder Michaels remained unperturbed, "It's not exactly mountaineering, we just have to hike up the mountain. It's only a five-mile climb."

Arnold choked on his drink, "Only?!"

"I guess it does sound doable," Elder Neely and Elder Davis looked at each other and shrugged.

Kevin finally appeared in the kitchen. Connor pulled out the chair beside himself and handed him his cup of coffee.

"Kevin, bud! Save me! Michaels wants me to climb five miles up a mountain, a freaking mountain, to see icky people," Arnold groaned.

"What are you talking about?" Kevin looked amused.

"It's going to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, guys. Elder Price, I'm sure you'll be interested to join us, right? You must have heard of the Ik people," Elder Michaels said.

"The Ik people?" That caught Kevin's interest, "The tribe who got evicted from their farmland by the British colony? Yeah, I'd be down for that, it sounds really educational. How steep is the hike?" Kevin looked over at Connor for his opinion.

Connor shook his head, "Way steeper than what you can manage right now. Have you forgotten what the doctor said? No sports for two weeks."

"Walking is not a sport," Kevin argued, "I've read about the Ik people, and they have a really interesting history. How cool would it be to be able to see for ourselves?"

Elder Church scoffed, "Nerd."

Kevin's enthusiasm was endearing, but Connor had a bad feeling about this. He had planned for them to be relaxing by the lake, safe and sound, instead of attempting to scale a mountain without any prior planning and safety precautions. What if someone got hurt? What if Kevin got hurt?

"Let's go meet the Ik people!" Elder Michaels shouted excitedly at his mission companion.

Elder Church sighed, "Oh my gosh, fine. Let's go climb this damn mountain."

Connor pinched the bridge of his nose. He had to stop this, "No, Elders. We're not doing this."

Arnold raised his hand, "I second what Elder McKinley said!"

"But, Connor!" Kevin looked thoroughly disappointed.

"Please, Elder Mckinley? I've always wanted to go," Elder Michaels begged, "I think we can learn a lot from this trip."

"Enough. I said, we're not going," Connor's tone was final. It was the correct decision to make, even though it may be an unpopular one.

Elder Church shrugged, "What brilliant plan do you have for us then, oh fearful leader?"

—

"Wow," Kevin deadpanned, "This is so romantic."

The two of them were lounging at their usual spot by the lake, watching all the Elders splash around in the cool, pristine waters.

"I'm sorry," Connor sighed, "I had to make sure that they don't run off to climb the stupid mountain on their own."

Connor didn't think they would disobey him anyway, but it was always best to be safe than sorry.

"It's not a stupid mountain, Connor," Kevin proceeded to recount the story of the Ik people, how they were mistreated and neglected by the government, and forced to change their lifestyle in order to adapt to their new settlement in the mountains.

Connor must admit that the tribe did sound like it was worth a visit. Maybe they could go there someday, but that day was not today.

"You don't really think you could hike up a mountain right now, do you?" Connor raised an eyebrow. Connor only pretended to not notice the small winces Kevin makes when he moves wrong. He was clearly not a hundred percent yet.

"No, but I could try."

"You don't have to prove anything, you know? Sometimes, it's like you have a death wish or something."

"Maybe I do," Kevin muttered under his breath.

"What?!" Connor must have heard him wrongly.

"What? Nothing," Kevin's head snapped up, "Gosh, what wouldn't I give to have a swim right now."

What did Kevin mean by that? Did he have something to prove, or did he have a death wish?

Connor stared at his boyfriend worriedly, "Yeah, just- I don't want to see you land yourself in the hospital again, alright? You're like the most reckless person I've ever known."

Kevin pouted, "It wasn't my fault the last two times."

"I know, I know. Just take better care of yourself, will you?"

"I'm not swimming in the lake right now, am I? Even though I really really really want to. I'm adventurous, not stupid."

Connor laughed at Kevin's choice of word. Adventurous, right.

"Besides," Kevin closed the distance between them, "You'll take care of me."

"Mmm hmm," Connor hummed as they kissed, "You bet I will."

"Elder McKinley?"

Connor turned around to see a horrified Elder Davis, who was staring at them like they had grown an extra head, "What are you doing?"

"Oh, hey Elder Davis," Connor forgot all about him wanting to talk to Elder Davis and Neely.

Elder Davis pivoted on his heel at once, and strode away from them.

"Elder Davis!" Connor sprung to his feet.

The Elder threw Connor a glance over his shoulder for a second, and continued marching away.

"What was that?" Kevin asked.

"I don't know."