dressed in his sleepwear for the night, he finds himself at aleki's door, an overnight bag slung across his shoulder. the shirt of his blue silk pajama set hangs open, exposing some of his chest as he leans against the doorway. knock knock.

pushing his feelings aside, his arrives at aleki's cabin with a small lunch box, a carefully crafted delicacy contained inside. with a soft hum, he knocks curtly at the door, carding a hand through his hair as he waits.

a  brilliant  ray  of  sun,  a  light  in  the  dark,  a  bulwark  from  the  madness  chipped  away  from  all  that  they  had  to  face.

but  now,  reid  returned  resolved  more  than  ever  with  his  typical  kindness  radiating  and  a  bag  of  tropical  fruits  and  some  new  zealand  pastries  from  one  of  their  favorite  bakeries  from  back  home.  “  you  home,  aleki?  ”  the  man  barged  in  without  shame  during  the  early  morning  light,  expecting  the  other  to  be  tossing  in  his  bed. [ @lavasick. ]

he was currently enjoying the sun, playing with kiko on the beach. the fox zooms excitedly back and forth, a beach ball bouncing back and forth between them. a thin layer of sweat drips down his bare torso, laughing softly as he crashes into the sand, trying to wrestle the ball from his companion's snout.

then, all at once, she stills, seating herself politely and staring off into the distance. he follows her gaze, falling upon a familiar face.

aleki.

"oh, hey."

"don't think you could handle me on my knees." a gentle grin plays at forest's lips, wiping at his brow. he glances up, raising a brow. "probably would make you cry, honestly."

the trek wasn't much farther now, it seemed, as they ascend the trail to a smaller, more intimate waterfall. perhaps it was connected to the staple falls, maybe it was its own enclosed paradise. either way, he had to admit that it was nice.

"cool spot." he hums, wiping his brow and setting down his backpack. "is this where you take all your dates?" teasing, a grin playing at his lips.