Work Text:
The chilled evening air was filled with the scent of apples and lingering strawberries mixed in. The sun was lower than when Malcolm had come out of cabin six to hang around. He set down his sketch book to the side and took his glasses off, placing them on the sketch book and next to his pencil. He closed his eyes, sighing and then inhaling the sweet scent of fall.
Malcolm opened his eyes a bit later to stare up at the fuzzy sky, the edge of the horizon speckled and blended with the twilight and dusky colours that seemed to be deepened in orange as the leaves fell. He blinked, staring at the visible stars and felt his lips upturned by the edges. Malcolm always adored the fall as it was adorned with jackets and leaves and the scents of apple cider, it radiated the cold warmth and end of overwhelming heat.
The blonde had always preferred the fall. It was quiet, it was calmer than the fast pace of summer months with all those campers. As a year round camper he could only decide to take advantage of it. Malcolm leaned against the tree more, the sky and his vision was hazy from the lack of his glasses. He closed his eyes again, listening to the chirps of the sparrows, and the songs of the crickets in the distance. Malcolm drifted in and out of consciousness, only hearing the sound of nature the first few times he became more conscious.
The air drifted the shedding leaves around the hill, a few landing in the blonde's hair. The air hummed with crickets, and birds, the fireflies scattering around the fields of camp. It was perfectly bitter sweet, the cold was not biting yet still made your face tingle and turn red.
Connor and Travis along with a few other kids were scattering around the grassy fields of camp with glass jars to capture the lightning bugs. Cecil smiled and scooped a few into his hands before clasping them tight and putting them in his jar, lifting the jar up to show Travis the tiny bugs.
The fireflies gleamed in the dusky twilight, glimmering with a light just as bright as the shine in the kids’ eyes. Travis, and Will were off scattering into the edge of the forest to gather hiding beetles and fireflies that may have gleamed even brighter. Laughter echoed through the fields.
Connor scooped a few fireflies into his jar screwing the lid on with a crack just enough. His smile gleamed and his eyes glittered with the shine of a child as if he had just now seen the bugs out of his entire life. He used to find fireflies with Travis and they would keep them and let them out when dawn broke. He smiled sweeter- realer as the fond memory echoed in his mind.
The brunette gazed around, staring at his siblings and the kids before his sight landed on the calmly asleep athena kid. Connors smile sharpened slightly as he jogged over to the bottom of the small hill and walked up, approaching Malcolm. He gazed at the blonde who had a slight sleepy smile on his face as he leaned his back against a tree, his head tilted downward. He sat on a plaid slightly fallish coloured blanket with his sketch book and glasses. Connor leaned down and set his jar of clamber fireflies down on the blanket.
Connor huffed a small laugh as he scooted over and sat on the blanket with Malcolm. He could tell the boy had fallen asleep gazing at the stars and sky, Connor had deducted the other boy’s interest for astronomy and fall.
Their arms were touching, they were side by side. The brunette brought his legs up to his chest, getting comfortable on the blanket without teying to mess it up.
Connor sighed content as he glanced over the blonde who had stirred slightly. The brunette raised an eyebrow and stared at him till Malcolm's eyes cracked open and he looked around before his gaze had settled on Connor. “Hey.” Connor whispered with a smile evident by his voice. It wasn't a cocky smile, it wasn't even a smirk, it was a genuine smile he had gathered while waiting for Malcolm to gain consciousness.
Malcolm's sleepy smile widened slightly before the blonde slowly changed position before settling his head on Connor's shoulder. The brunette’s head tilted and leaned on Malcolm's as he stared up, dazed at the stars and slow twinkling twilight while listening to his and Malcolm’s heartbeat. They both slowly drifted to sleep.
EXTRA
Travis and Will scampered out of the edge of the forest with their jars filled with fireflies. They walked a bit while Travis was talking before he spotted his brother and his boyfriend up on a near hill. He stopped and tapped Will's shoulder, pointing at them yet barely raising his arm. Will smiled and shook his head before starting walking again. Travis started talking about Katie and college as he and Will and the other few campers scampered back to the main part of camp, Travis asked Will to wake them up, he nodded before walking over.
Before they all entered the cabins they all released the fireflies, staring at the dance of the lightning bugs releasing into the sky, staring at them mix with the stares. Connor had handed Malcolm his jar and the blonde opened it, staring with the brunette as the fireflies dispersed.