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It had been a year after the events of Disventure Camp, and things for Tom couldn’t be better. He’s lived a comfortable life with an incredible partner at his side. Love at first sight was a foreign concept to him, but that day he met Jake all those years ago - it clicked. On that grimly old bus he recalled the very brief eye contact he shared with him.
Tom had chosen the back most seat, and it allowed him the opportunity to examine every contestant from afar. Something felt different when Jake stepped onto the bus. While it was his job at the time to create a mental note of every single contestant; there was something strange with Jake. The dilation of the eye, the slowed breathing, and the increased heartrate. Was he a danger?
The reality of it all was completely lost to him then, and in present day, hindsight offers a funny glass to see through. Too focused on a job to realize what was truly happening that day. At least it all worked out for him in the end. Now, he had the man of his dreams and they were prepping for a short camping trip. A means to reminisce over their first meeting.
“Are you almost ready?” Jake asked from the other room.
”Yep!” Tom shouts back while he finishes zipping up a suitcase. Once done, he collects the bag of luggage and hauls it out of the room with relative ease. He maneuvers out towards the main entrance where Jake was already awaiting him. Tom gave the other man a gentle smile and the other returned it with a swift kiss on the lips. Jake opened the door and the two made their way out to the car.
Setting their bags into the back trunk, Tom makes a final check of their belongings. They had enough extra clothing, the camping gear, and food to last their short trip. He dusts his hands off then shuts the trunk with a heavy slam. Jake settles into the passenger seat while Tom jumps into the drivers’. Within a short moment they are on the road heading towards their destination.
Jake wore a gleeful expression on his features, and seeing him with such excitement brought a smile to Tom. He’s so cute when he’s excited. Driving through to the highway, there was nothing much of note. As they pulled onto the large road, Jake looked through the passenger window and appeared to have his focus on something in the distance.
”Hey, look Tom.” Jake nudged Tom’s shoulder.
Tom glanced over frequently, glancing back to the road ahead. It took him a little longer to see what Jake was pointing at, but then he saw a large billboard. The text was clear, and vibrant: Disventure Camp Season 4!
”Oh yeah! That starts soon, doesn’t it?” Tom returned his focus to the road.
”Mm-hmm. Feels like our season was just yesterday.” Jake chuckled.
”Our season or All Stars?” Tom replies, his tone coy and playful.
”God, both? Somehow? All Stars was a wild ride though.”
Tom tried to stifle a laugh, but failed miserably. The two of them fell into harmonious laughter together while they thought on the events of Season 3. Lots of ups and downs, but they were ridiculous.
”Remember your fake boyfriend?”
”Oh god. Don’t remind me.” There’s a brief pause. “Remember when you were jealous of Aiden?”
”Oh fuck you.”
“You have.”
Another bout of laughter between the two. Once more, hindsight allowed a more humorous look back on things that were previously the source of anxiety and stress. Even still, there were some situations from back then that still sting. Mainly regarding other contestants and some of their… choices.
Jake had made his peace with others — apologies were exchanged, and most were able to move on. Some few still held their grudges, but those who did weren’t exactly worth their time or effort. Riya, for example still has yet to talk to anyone from the competition. She remains in her ivory tower — isolated from everything around her. Even her social media remains barren these days.
As their journey continued it remained relatively uneventful with small talk here and there, and the silence being filled with music. Road trips for the two of them always felt relaxing. Hours passed then the two had come to arrive at the campsite. It was a popular destination for those wanting to get away from the big city lights and experience nature.
Tom parked and the two of them gathered their things. Now, it was a small hike to the designated camping site. Compared to some of the others - they traveled far lighter. Disventure Camp definitely taught them a few things about survival skills, for better or worse. Strutting along the path, they kept their eye out for anything of interest along the way.
They then arrive at a crossroads — the sign points to the right for the designated campgrounds, but Jake was more interested in the left path. Tom’s brow quirked.
”What’re you thinking, Jake?”
”Everyone’s going to be over at the normal campgrounds, right?”
”Yeah? I mean, that’s the point.”
Jake rolled his eyes. “What if we go find our own spot? It’d be kind of like when we were in the show.”
”Well we did have maps, and designated spots still.”
Jake placed a hand on his hip and waved his other hand about as he continued speaking. “Still, it was isolated enough that it was like we chose our own spots. Come on!”
Tom rubbed a hand at his chin while he contemplated the idea. The parking lot was decently full. Plus, it could even be like those days in— God, what am I thinking? Tom’s mind had begun to wander. Shaking the thought away, he then agreed with Jake’s plan to his delight.
The blue-haired man smiled, and led the way for Tom to follow. They pressed further into the woods and scoped out for any signs of a good camping spot. Most areas were dense - too dense with the plant life for any suitable camping spot. Little by little they grew pressed for a spot to rest. Jake had started to doubt his idea, but he made his best attempt at hiding his emotion from Tom. It’s supposed to be a good day, after all.
”We could try over here?” Jake followed another turn in the path, leading Tom through some thick brush.
“Babe, this might not be such a great idea after all.” Tom was more worried for Jake getting hurt than anything.
”Don’t worry! I’m sure we’ll find something.”
The two of them pressed further on. Dodging thorny vines, and some mysterious looking shadows. Eventually, Tom and Jake would come to an opening. Both are met with the breathtaking sight of a spacious cliffside overlooking the rest of the forest. A gentle waterfall flowed down into a small spring beneath them. The treetops spread high, but there was an opening just large enough to see the sky.
“Oh. This is perfect!” Jake exclaimed.
Tom examined the area a bit more closely, and ultimately agreed with his partner. A cozy spot away from the rest of the campers, and a spot they can sprawl out and watch the stars together. Hopefully the park rangers don’t find them up here. Tom set his stuff down on the ground, and both quickly got to work in setting up their campsite.
Tom focused on setting up the tent, while Jake managed organizing their food and gathering some wood for a fire. Within a short span of time the two had put together a quaint campsite for themselves. Jake took the time to relax and sit by the edge of the cliffside, and just looked out towards the rest of the woods. Tom approached and sat close by, grasping one of his hands as he did.
”Really takes you back, huh?” Jake sighed in his nostalgia.
”It does. We were… different people then.”
Jake squeezed Tom’s hand, and Tom gave a squeeze of his own.
“…Yeah.” Jake’s eyes drift towards his legs, his head dropping a few inches.
”You alright babe?” Tom moved his other hand to place it atop Jake’s, hoping to comfort him.
”Don’t worry. I’m fine.” Jake smiles softly, lifting his gaze to meet Tom’s.
The other’s lips curl into a gentle smile. Tom lifts his hand from Jake’s to gently place it against his cheek. Leaning forward, their lips met and became locked in a loving kiss. A shiver ran through Jake when their lips finally parted, and he pressed up against his partner. He rest his head against his right shoulder and the two sat in a long silence while taking in the sight.
Tom wanted nothing more than for Jake to be happy. His love for this man was undeniable, and even being in his presence brought unimaginable joy to himself. God, how lucky am I? Tom wanted to preserve this feeling until his dying breath. One lifetime wasn’t enough to be with him, and even now he still feels a level of guilt in denying the two of them this happiness for two long years.
Jake’s long-since forgave him for that, but Tom has never been able to shake the feeling of self-loathing that came with it. He hurt Jake and abandoned him for two long years. Two years he could’ve spent loving him as he does now. Two years they could’ve been happy together. Two years they’ll never be able to get back. Tom blames himself for it, and he does his utmost best not to show it for Jake.
Jake worries too much about Tom’s wellbeing. Just like Tom, Jake will do anything to preserve his lover’s happiness. A delicate act of balancing between the two of them. Nothing can compare to the genuine radiance of their joy, and love. Ah, the sun had begun setting and there was only a limited amount of daylight left.
“You got the wood for a fire, right?”
”Who do you take me for? I’m good at getting wood.” Jake smirked.
”Trust me—I know you are.” Both shared another laugh. Another kiss, brief, but enough for them to move on to their next project.
Jake piled his collected wood together around a circle of assorted rocks. The ground below had been dug just enough for a proper fire to be started without blazing out of control. Jake piled the wood inside and Tom started beating two rocks together to attempt to get a spark.
After a few tries; a spark flung from the rock onto the wood below and smoke started to form. Tom was reminded of their first day together — they gathered wood and made a fire together. Just like that time, Jake leaned forward to blow gently on the ignited wood to help spread the fire. Tom remembered in that moment exactly what he had said.
”Come on Jake, blow!” He repeats, trying not to laugh in the process.
Jake, however, couldn’t resist laughing. “Oh god. I remember when you said that.”
”I didn’t mean it in a weird way!”
“Sure you didn’t.”
”Hey, you were down bad for me from day one, Jake!”
”Oh I was the only one?”
They bickered and bantered between each other a few times, and their campfire began to blaze. The wood crackled with their light source now in safe hands. Tom gave Jake a thumbs up, and they continued setting up a few last things. As they did - daylight finally dissipated and they were left with the night sky above them. Jake and Tom had made a quick dinner from some canned goods. Full and hearty, they sprawled out beneath the opening of the trees to let it settle.
Jake stared longingly into the sky. Without any light pollution, you could see far more than a couple of stars. Hell, you could even see the gasses in space and the dust that flowed. This sight is something that many don’t get to experience. It was something Jake always loved about their nights at Disventure Camp — this breathtaking view.
”The stars are beautiful, aren’t they?” Jake asks.
”They are.” Tom answers softly.
Tom’s attention wasn’t on the stars, but rather on Jake instead. His emerald eyes stared intently at Jake’s irises. Their onyx color reflected the sky above like a mirror. The glimmering stars, the vibrant colors, the entire scope of the universe — he could see it in Jake’s eyes. Tom felt his heart beat faster, his breath growing heavier. The universe is in his eyes. Something he saw every single day, but never like this.
Breathtaking; it was the only way to describe what he could see. A man most beautiful, and the only man he has ever loved with such glimmering colors in his eyes. Perhaps, Jake does not even realize his own radiance. What is a god without a worshiper? A long, heavy breath exhales from his nostrils. Jake finally turned his attention from the stars to look at Tom.
The corner of his eye still held that vibrant reflection, but he saw something else in it now. Tom saw himself. Amidst the flicker of the starlight — he saw him.
“What? Something on my face?” Jake snickered.
”Something like that.”
Tom scoots closer and places a hand on Jake’s cheek.
“I love you Jake. More than anything in the world. I love you.”
He didn’t allow Jake the opportunity to respond. He pressed his lips against Jake’s and once more became locked in an exchange of love and passion. Unlike before; this one lasted far longer. Neither one of them wanted to be the first to break away. Jake’s hand slowly maneuvered to rest on Tom’s chest. Both men breathless as their mouths danced alongside one another.
As it came to its conclusion, they pulled away with a single thread of saliva connecting them. The duo exchanged heavy breaths while they attempted to regain their oxygen. Their eyes not once drifting off one another.
”I love you too, Tom.” Jake finally answers back. “In this universe, and every other.”