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It was just supposed to be another peaceful day at camp. The sun was shining on the island as they had another morning of peace and everyone was thinking it would be a no challenge day already.
Bruno was humming as he took a walk down the familiar trail that was between the favorites camp and near the fans camp. He missed the Fans team even if Finn and Ara had been really mean. He tried not to mind even if it reminded him of his high school bullies.
"You're humming off-key a little, not a bad thing though," a familiar voice called from above. Bruno nearly tripped over his own feet, head practically snapping up toward the gnarled branches of the tall tree.
Ren perched there on a crooked branch like some mischievous forest spirit, one knee drawn up, his grin wide enough that it looked like a large white crack in his face. Bruno tried to push a sudden thought to the back of his mind before responding.
Bruno pressed a hand to his chest, willing his heartbeat to slow. "Jesus, Ren. Warn a guy next time." It came up in a slight mumble that was still audible. He tried not to blush at the sight of Ren. Not that it would make much of a difference, Bruno always looked like he was blushing. The main problem with those rosy cheeks of his. At least his mom and grandma always said he was adorable with them.
"Where's the fun in that?" Ren swung down with the easy grace of someone who'd spent too much time climbing things he probably shouldn't. Her heels hit the dirt with a soft thud, sending up a little puff of dust. She was close enough now that Bruno could see the small bandage across her nose a bit better and the way their crop top clung to their shoulders with a little bit of sweat. Or Ren just dunked his head in water earlier and that was residue from that.
Bruno wiped his palms on his pants. The trail between camps was usually quiet this time of morning, just him, the cicadas, and the occasional lizard darting across the path. Ren's sudden appearance felt like finding a stray cat on your chest when you woke up and your window was closed. Basically startling but not entirely unpleasant, in fact, this was far from it.
Bruno liked seeing him, maybe a little too much. But it wasn't like he could help it. Ren was a very attractive person. It was hard to not look at her occasionally. They didn't seem to mind the staring from him either. They actually liked it. A lot.
"You're up early," Bruno said, because it was easier than admitting he'd been thinking about Ren's big smile at him yesterday, or the way he'd always smile or make a funny face around Bruno. Bruno liked looking at his face even if he could exactly see Ren's eyes.
Ren leaned against the tree trunk, crossing his arms in a way that made his biceps flex. "Couldn't sleep," he admitted, scratching at his bandaged nose. "I Kept thinking about how you got stuck with Spencer and his complaining again yesterday. That was some bullshit." He said this casually as if he wasn't prompting Bruno to tell him anything involving whatever Spencer might have done.
Bruno shrugged, toeing at a loose rock in the dirt. "Spencer's always been like that. Pretty sure he's been like that for a while..." He meant it as a slight lighthearted joke, but it came out flatter than he'd intended. It reminded him of those bullies that pretended to be his friends back in High School. And Middle School. And just school in general.
Ren's grin softened into something quieter, more thoughtful. "Well, good thing you've got me now." He pushed off the tree branch and landed near and before he stepped closer, close enough that Bruno could smell the tree sap on his hands and the faint tang of sunscreen. "I don't let people hurt my friends."
Bruno's throat went dry, friends, right. That's all this was. That word for some reason still hurt even though he knew that. He swallowed hard and glanced down the trail like it might offer an escape. "Uh. Thanks?"
Ren laughed, bright and sudden, and Bruno's chest tightened at the sound. "God, you're cute when you're flustered." He reached out, fingers brushing Bruno's elbow, just a quick touch, before pulling back. "Bet you're even cuter when you're mad. Wonder what it'd take to get you riled up."
Bruno felt his ears heat up at Ren's words, the tips practically burning against his skin. He opened his mouth, to say what, he wasn't sure, but Ren just winked and stepped back, stretching his arms over his head with a satisfied groan. The movement made his crop top ride up just enough to reveal a sliver of tanned skin above his chest and Bruno quickly averted his gaze to a nearby fern like it was the most fascinating thing in the world.
"You're staring," Ren said in a singsong way, dropping his arms with a smirk. He knew what he was doing and liked the results. "I- what? No. It's just-" Bruno gestured vaguely at the fern. "This plant is... interesting."
Ren arched an eyebrow. "Uh-huh. You're a terrible liar." He nudged Bruno's shoulder with his own, knocking him off-balance just enough that Bruno had to grab a low-hanging branch to steady himself. Ren's grin widened. "Adorable and clumsy. The best combo."
Bruno huffed, but there was no real irritation behind it. If anything, the playful shove had loosened something tight in his chest. He swatted gently at Ren's arm, half-expecting him to dodge, but Ren let the small hit land, laughing when Bruno's fingers barely grazed him.
Ren didn't step back like Bruno expected. Instead, he leaned in closer, close enough that Bruno could see the faint freckles dusting the edges of his nose and his cheeks, the way his eyelashes caught the morning light. His breath ghosted warm against Bruno's cheek as he murmured, "You know, I've been thinking-"
Bruno's grip tightened on the branch behind him. "That um … uuh…kind of um… dangerous…uuh" he choked out, trying and failing to sound unaffected.
Ren's grin turned almost wolfish. "Yeah, but you make it worth the risk." They braced one hand against the tree trunk near Bruno's head, caging him in without actually touching. The scent of sun-warmed cotton and something earthy, like grass after rain; wrapped around Bruno, it was practically dizzying.
"See, here's the thing," Ren continued, their voice dropping to a whisper, "I keep noticing how you bite your bottom lip when you're concentrating. And how your ears go pink when I tease you. And-" their thumb brushed Bruno's elbow again, feather-light, "....how you pretend not to stare at me during challenges when we ran into each other."
Bruno's breath hitched. "I don't-...that's not-" "Liar," Ren breathed, laughing softly. He tilted his head, gaze flicking down to Bruno's mouth and back up. "Bet I could make you blush even harder. You look so adorable like this."
Bruno's blush deepened to an alarming shade of crimson as Ren's thumb traced idle circles against his elbow. The touch was barely there, just the ghost of pressure through his sleeve. But it sent electric jolts up his arm anyway. "You're-" Bruno swallowed, his throat clicking audibly. "You're making that up about the staring…."
Ren's grin widened. "Oh yeah?" Their free hand came up, fingertips brushing the shell of Bruno's ear, which mortifyingly only burned hotter. "Then why's your pulse going crazy right here?" Her touch drifted lower, skimming the line of Bruno's jaw. "And why won't you look at me now? I like seeing your eyes."
Bruno's gaze flicked up despite himself, locking onto Ren's. That was a big mistake. Ren had adjusted her bangs. Her eyes were amazingly bright, the morning sun catching flecks of gold in the brown. There was a soft challenge there, playful but gentle, and Bruno's stomach swooped like he'd missed a step on stairs.
Ren's fingers curled gently under Bruno's chin, tilting his face up just a fraction. "There you go," she murmured, thumb stroking the hinge of Bruno's jaw. "See? Not so hard." The words came out soft, almost teasing, but the way Ren's breath hitched betrayed her.
Bruno's fingers basically spasmed around the branch behind him. Every nerve ending felt hyperaware, the rough bark against his palm, the warmth of Ren's body just inches away, the stupidly perfect way their lashes fanned against her cheeks when he glanced down at Bruno's mouth again.
Ren leaned in, slowly and deliberately, giving Bruno every chance to pull away, before pressing their lips together in a kiss so soft it barely qualified as one. Just a brush of warmth, the barest hint of pressure, gone before Bruno could even process what was happening. Ren pulled back with a quiet giggle, the sound muffled against Bruno's mouth, his breath sweet with stolen sweet coffee.
Bruno froze, fingers digging into the bark behind him. His brain short-circuited, stuck somewhere between ‘did that just happen?’ and ‘oh god do it again!’. Ren's eyelashes fluttered when he laughed, casting shadows across his cheeks, and Bruno's chest ached with how badly he wanted to reach out and trace them with his thumb.
"See?" Ren murmured, lips still close enough to graze Bruno's when he spoke. "Not so scary." His thumb lingered on Bruno's jawline, stroking absent-minded circles that sent shivers down his spine.
Bruno swallowed hard, his voice coming out embarrassingly hoarse. "You-" He cleared his throat. "You do that often? Just ambush people in trees and…." He gestured vaguely between them, acutely aware of how flushed his face felt.
Ren's grin turned almost impish. "Only the cute or handsome ones." He tilted his head, studying Bruno's expression with clear delight. "And only when they're staring at me like that." Bruno was almost completely flushed red and felt ready to pass out from all of this flustering. Ren couldn't help but smiled softly at this reaction as he leaned close again. She was teasing him again, probably. But then she suddenly closed the distance again.
The second kiss wasn’t as soft, It wasn’t testy or at all like the last one. It was Ren pressing forward with a quiet, desperate way, fingers curling into the front of Bruno’s shirt like she was afraid he might vanish. Bruno gasped against his mouth, startled, but not unwilling. In fact. He was very very willing. Then Ren’s tongue brushed his lower lip, and Bruno’s brain short-circuited all over again. Ren's hands moved up to Bruno’s face to cup his cheeks.
Now Bruno could taste Ren's mouth as Ren kissed him deeply. His hands were warm where they cradled Bruno’s face, thumbs brushing his cheeks. Bruno made a sound he’d never admit to, half-muffled against Ren’s mouth, and then Ren was laughing again, breathless and bright, pulling back just far enough to murmur, “You’re thinking too hard.”
Bruno blinked, dazed from the intense kiss that Ren just gave him. “I- what?”
Ren’s grin was crooked now, his lips pink and slightly swollen. “You’re all tense.” He nudged Bruno’s shoulder with his nose, an oddly affectionate gesture. “Relax. I’m not gonna bite.” A pause. “Unless you want me to.”
Bruno’s face burned harder now. “Sh-Shut up.” Ren smirked again, still holding on to the small man. “You don't want me to. I know so. If you did you'd make me."
And he was right, Bruno didn't want him to shut up, ever. He loved Ren's voice and touch and just everything about Ren. Ren was nice. And hot. He was going to say something else but then
"Ren? What are you doing to Bruno?” It was Sam, who was smirking with his arms crossed and had a raised eyebrow. He clearly knew what this scene was. Bruno’s face went redder now. Ren just smirked back at Sam. He knew Sam wouldn't say anything to the others given it would possibly mess up whatever he had planned.
"Oh you know. Just checking in on him." “Hm. Okay then. Just be careful." Sam gestured at Bruno’s whole flustered self. Bruno’s eyes flickered between them, he looked very confused.
“What do you mean??" Bruno asked, but Sam had already turned and was grinning as he walked away. Bruno was watching him leave from around Ren's shoulder. “S- Sam?? What do you mean??"
Ren just nuzzled Bruno’s neck while smirking, they would tell him soon but for now they just wanted to hold the cute man close. First though, more flustering. Ren knew he'll get the hint eventually.