Work Text:
"It's just up ahead, only a little more to go!" calls Parker from atop the hill. Emma trudges after her, scrambling over the rocks and tree roots in her way. This is the first time she's gone this far off trail in Pennsylvania, though she used to do it all the time at home. She's very familiar with the trails in her new home, but she hadn't really done much exploration yet. She's glad Parker knows where to go though, and she's excited to try outdoor climbing. They've been climbing in gyms before, but this is her first time climbing actual rocks.
Emma catches up to Parker and slides her hand into the other woman's. Ahead, she can see what must be the climbing area. There's a bunch of people already there, some climbing the rocks and others just milling around at the bottom. A shiver goes up her spine. She squeezes Parker's hand.
"You ready to meet some climbers?" Parker asks with a grin.
"I think so," Emma says. "No time like the present at least."
"You nervous?"
"I just want them to like me, that's all. And I'm not very good at climbing so I'm not going to impress them or anything," Emma sighs.
Parker squeezes her in a side hug. "It'll be fine. They're a pretty friendly bunch, I promise." Emma just nods. They scramble down the hill to meet everyone. Everyone there seems to know Parker and greets her enthusiastically.
"You're Emma, right?" asks one of the women in the group. Emma nods. "Thought so!" the woman says with a grin. "You must be something special to have gotten Parker interested. I'm Lucy," she says, sticking out her hand.
Emma shakes it. "Hi Lucy. It's my first time out here so I'm still getting my bearings."
"You'll get used it to soon enough. Even if you don't climb, the scenery is pretty."
Emma winces. "That obvious?"
Lucy laughs at that. "Just a bit! Don't worry, you've got a great teacher in Parker. But you don't have to climb at all if you don't want to!"
Emma smiles at her. "Thanks, that means a lot. I should try though, I know it makes Parker happy when I do, even if I don't do very well."
"Emma!" calls Parker. "Come over here! I want to introduce you to some people!" Emma waves to Lucy before walking over to Parker, who then introduces her to so many people she already knows she won't be able to keep them straight. It's nice though. Everyone is friendly and enthusiastic. She can see why Parker likes this crew.
"You gonna climb?" asks one of the men.
"I was going to try," Emma replies.
"Top rope or bouldering?"
"Bouldering," interjects Parker quickly. "We didn't bring top rope equipment." She turns to Emma. "Top rope is where you're attached to a rope and someone is holding at the bottom as you climb. Bouldering is no rope, but you don't go very high. We'll just do that today, like we have at the gym." She grimaces. "I may be a climber but I'm still a doctor and outdoor top rope can be very dangerous. I don't mess around with it."
"You're no fun, Parker," teases one of the other women
Parker rolls her eyes. "Don't come crying to me when you crack your skull open!" Everyone laughs at that.
Pretty quickly, Emma finds herself clinging to the side of the cliff face on a route someone called a "V0" she thinks. She swallows hard. It feels very different doing it outdoors compared to in the gym. She carefully stretches her right arm out and grips the protruding part of the rock face. Encouraged, she moves her right foot over to a little shelf she sees, then moves her left hand and foot to where the right ones were. Slowly but surely, she makes her way across the base of the cliff. She can hear whoops and cheers behind her, but she focuses on the rocks and on Parker's voice, telling her what to do when she gets stuck, before she panics.
"I did it!" Emma exclaims as she jumps off the cliff.
"You did!" Parker sweeps her into a hug that lifts her off the ground. Emma ignores the fluttering in her stomach that her girlfriend can do that. This is not the time to go down that route.
Emma pecks a kiss onto Parker's lips instead. "Thank you for being right there for me."
"Always," murmurs Parker.
"Want to do another, Lovebird?" asks Lucy.
"Oh no," replies Emma, "I think I'm done for the day, thanks." The other two laugh at that and Lucy turns to Parker.
"What about you?"
"Yeah I'll do a couple. You got a V3 you can suggest?" Parker jumps on the one Lucy points out and now Emma can really admire her girlfriend's beauty and strength. Parker climbing is truly in her element. Emma's lips curl into a smile as she watches. It's not just the way Parker's back muscles ripple, although that certainly doesn't hurt, it's about how graceful and strong and confident she looks clinging to the same rock face that Emma was terrified on. It's hot!
When they finally scramble back over the hill and hike back out to civilization, Emma feels full and content, even though she's starving. She slips her hand into Parker's non-driving hand, who smiles over at her.
"Thanks for coming. I hope you had fun."
"Oh! Loads. I'd be more than happy to do it again, even."
Parker picks her hand up to give it a quick kiss. "I'll hold you to that! But for our next date, we can do something you want to share with me, maybe."
Emma nods. "I'll think of something!"