Deep in the Forest

Chapter 1

Dappled sunlight streamed through the dancing leaves, peppering the forest floor with the occasional glint of green. The grass was so soft that Jake could barely hear his and Ben's footsteps as they moved through the trees. There was a slight breeze; Jake watched, fascinated, as it tousled Ben's hair, forgetting to look where he was going.

The log was hard enough to notice without Ben as a distraction, so it was practically inevitable that he would trip over it. He stumbled over it, his momentum carrying him faster than his legs could and falling slightly into Ben, he slammed into his side. Ben managed to regain his balance and turned around in time enough to see Jake clutch his back and hiss in pain.

"Aw heck, you okay there?" Ben placed a hand on Jake's shoulder with a concerned look on his face. First glancing at Ben's hand on his shoulder, Jake managed to reply "I'm alright." He turned his head away for a moment and Ben could have sworn his cheeks were going slightly pink. He must have been pretty embarrassed.

Ben gave a weak amused smile. "C'mon," he said, holding out a hand to Jake. "Gotta be more careful." He looked back around to Ben and took his hand gratefully, standing up so that he loomed over Ben slightly and with a boyish grin stared into his azure eyes.

Neither one seemed to want to break the eye contact, so that stayed that way for a minute amid the leaves and birds and breeze. Just staring.

Eventually Ben rolled his eyes and gestured with his head. "We should get going."

He turned around again and started to walk. Adjusting his heavy rucksack, Jake went to follow but after a step he winced with the pain. "Ben," he said, trying to get his attention. Ben didn't respond so he called out again. "Ben." Still no response. "BEN!" he yelled.

Ben turned his head. Realising the situation he turned his whole body towards Jake and ambled back. "Your back?" he asked and Jake could have sworn that his voiced was laced with a hint of worry. Jake nodded and gingerly tried to move towards a nearby tree stump.

Ben leapt to Jake's side and supported his elbow and they both limped slowly. Jake sat down and averted his eyes from Ben's. "Sorry."

Ben gave him a surprised and questioning look as he began to gently lift the heavy bag he was carrying off of his shoulders. "Jake, you have absolutely nothing to be sorry about." He sat down nonchalantly on the floor cross-legged right in front of Jake and faced him, willing him to look at him again. "Seriously it's nothing, we can stay here for a while, okay?"

Jake made no reply.

Ben gently took Jake's chin and tilted it up so that he was making eye contact with him. "Okay?" he reiterated.

Jake bit his lip for a moment. He nodded slightly and with his left hand took Ben's hand from his chin and held it tight. "Thanks Ben."

Ben gave a weak chuckle. "Sure whatever. You gonna let go of my hand? That's so gay."

Jake eyes widened a little as he mumbled a frail "sorry" and pulled his hand away.

Ben coughed. "Although like if you are gay that's cool man."

Jake's head shot up. "What?"

Awkwardly pulling his hand through his hair, this time Ben was the one to avoid eye contact. "We've never really talked about it before... Sorry."

Ben studied the forest floor by his hand, not daring to look up. He could hear Jake breathing and the wind and the birds and he could feel the damp earth and the soil beneath his fingertips. He was trying hard to feel everything except this awkwardness consuming him. Then he felt Jake's hand on his chin, tilting it upwards oh-so softly until he was making eye contact with him.

Jake's eyes were studying his whole face. His cheeks, his eyes, his hair, his nose, his ears. His lips.

Jake opened his mouth to say something but closed it almost straight after. Ben swallowed and it felt loud enough for Jake to hear. The noise of the birds stopped. The wind too. Everything melted away until it was just the two of them, Jake's hand connecting them together in a world of silence and the sound of their hearts in their heads.

Jake cleared his throat softly and opened his mouth again. This time he spoke. "There's something I need to tell you Ben."

Ben bit his lip. His mind instantly flooded with possible things that Jake would want to say to him. It had to be important. He found himself thinking of one thing in particular and the more time passed, the more it pulsed in his head, never going away and never dulling.

"Yes Jake?" he said, trying as hard as possible to keep a neutral face. He continued to look into Jake's eyes but seeing no answer awaiting him there he looked at his face and tried to see any hint of what he was going to tell him.

Jake's jaw tensed. There was a pause before he spoke. He lowered his hand from Ben's chin. "Ben, this could be awkward."

Ben rolled his eyes. "Tell me."

Jake looked at his feet. "Your fly is undone."

Ben blinked. Then he looked down his pants and cursed. He stood up and turned away from Jake before yanking the zip up violently. His hand flew up with the effort, pulling the zip with it, breaking it in one motion. "Shit."

Ben stared forlornly at the useless zip in his left hand. "Shit!" he exclaimed, throwing it on the ground. He sighed, turned around and collapsed onto the ground taking care to cover it as much as possible with his shirt.

Jake was watching his with a half amused grin. "You broke it?"

Ben flushed a bright pink. "Shu'up," he mumbled, so quiet that Jake could barely hear it.

Jake snorted. "You complete noob."

Ben looked up, cheeks red with a flash of anger in his eyes. "Shut the hell up, you're not any better."

Jake's breathing picked up. "What the hell are you saying?" Indignant expression was written all over his face now.

Ben stood up yanking his shirt down. "You're the one who's got us into this position, okay? Don't go around pointing a finger at other people for being insufficient."

Jake narrowed his eyes. "What the fuck did you just fucking say about me, you little bitch? I'll have you know I graduated top of my class in the Navy Seals, and I've been involved in numerous secret raids o-"

Jake was silenced as Ben's lips slammed into his. Jake froze for a moment, unsure of what to do. After a moment he started to react, their mouths moving together. Ben got onto his knees, making them almost the same height with Jake still sitting down. Ben put a cold, soothing hand to Jake's face, pulling him closer as he placed the other on his thigh, pushing it further and further with every passionate moan that escaped from his lips.

Jake felt a rush a heat take over his face and realised he was smiling against Ben's kisses. He placed a hand on Ben's hip and leaned further in. After a moment he pulled back sharply and with his other hand, began to massage his back. Reacting to this, Ben pulled his arms back.

Seeing the pain in Jake's expression, Ben's face fell a little and whilst a little pink and completely out of breath, managed to ask "Are you okay?"

Jake looked up at hearing all the concern in his voice and put on a brave face. "Of course I am."

Ben relaxed his shoulders, only at that moment realising just how tense they were. He put his hand to his hair again. "That's good."

There was a moment of quiet again.

Ben bit back the urge to kiss Jake again. He really wanted to talk about what had just happened but he didn't know if Jake had really meant it. What if Jake wasn't ready to admit to the chemistry between them?