Hold on to the air... What else did he come up with?
Today, Pete, in black, with white stripes, sports breeches and a white T-shirt, behaves as quietly as possible at breakfast. However, as well as at last night's dinner. Vegas is wearing a tight bright green jumper that covers his hands to the wrists, and long black sweatpants.
Doesn't he want to scare others... or just me?
Pete suddenly feels uneasy. Whatever it was, but it saddens the omega to realize that even next to him, his husband, Vegas can't feel free, constantly hiding his mutilated body under layers of clothing. But Pete doesn't know what to do with his fears either.
"So where are we going?" the curious omega asks his husband.
Vegas puts one hand on the wheel and turns the engine on with the other:
"What an impatient kid you are."
P-f-f. Yep, sure. I can't even ask you.
Pete sulks and turns to the window:
"And where is your driver?"
"Ours," Vegas corrects him. "I want to drive you there on my own today."
Pete purses his lips, still sulking. On the other hand, those beta servants, with whom Vegas' estate is filled, make him feel sort of insecure. They are too unnaturally silent - for two days Pete has not heard a single word from them. And always looking "into the void". Where did he just pick up such ones? However, in order to calm himself down, Pete decides that all this is just his imagination. The stress of the last month and the life circumstances that have changed too dramatically are affecting.
They are travelling for about half an hour, Pete opens the window and just "chokes" on the freshness of the air:
"Where are we?.."
Out of the corner of his eye, the omega notices Vegas' lips stretching into a satisfied smile:
"There are a lot of pine trees growing at these heights. And you and I will soon get to a real pine forest."
"Hmm. And what are we going to do there? What does your 'learn to hold on to the air' have to do with it?"
"A little more patience, Pete."
The omega grunts again and sticks his slightly upturned nose out of the Jaguar window, inhaling incredibly fresh air much deeper.
It's soothing. That's what Pete needs right now.
"We're here," Pete hears the alpha's voice above his ear.
Uh... what?
Vegas quickly gets out first and gallantly opens the door for Pete. Embarrassed, the omega mutters:
"I'm not armless. Why these ceremonies..."
Vegas just gives him another condescending smile. Just an evanescent one. One that wouldn't have had time to scare Pete. And this makes the omega uneasy again. Vegas grabs a light sports jacket for him from the car:
"It can be chilly here sometimes. After all, we are high up in the north of the country. But first of all, you will definitely warm up well."
Pete is surprised they came here. For the first time he is in a pine forest, where rope tracks with various challenges are stretched between huge slender trees.
"Actually... it's weird. I doubt that I will manage to 'grab the air' in time."
"Don't worry. Belay device is provided in the equipment. Besides, you're a skateboarder, right? So you know how to keep your balance. And this is a big advantage."
"Uh, riding on a fairly wide board a few inches from the ground and moving along a thin rope at a height of fifteen meters is not the same thing," Pete smiles wryly.
Vegas squints, not without irony offering:
"If it's so scary - there is a '7+' rope track here - three meters above the ground. Well, or absolutely for kids '3+' - there is generally a height of one and a half meters and everything is fenced with a restrictive grid. Which one to pay for you?"
Pete frowns, looking like a real spitfire right now:
"No way. Once you have dragged me here, you will lead me along those ropes yourself."
"But I chose the most difficult track."
"I can handle it," the omega says stubbornly.
Vegas nods, secretly - as he thinks - smiling to the side.
They are given equipment - helmets and belay devices. Safety briefing and they are offered to start practicing with carabiners first on the ground. Vegas deftly wields large metal "hooks", and Pete, blushing and nervous, can't remember because of excitement which of the two carabiners needs to be rearranged first.
"Pete, move them away from you all the time. And do not remove the carabiner from the cable until another one is secured."
"Yeah."
Well, you're such a quick learner. And I'm being stupid in front of you and, it seems, I'm finally burying myself in your eyes.
Obviously, having seen enough of his husband's "torment", Vegas picks up his carabiners and shows how to thread the loops in the joints on the cable with them.
"Your turn."
Pete takes a deep breath and tries to do everything the way Vegas showed. Another minute, and the "intractable" belay finally gives in to him. Pete looks back at Vegas. The latter's dark eyes seem to be smiling. Pete winks at him: at least he did something.
And not without your help.
After making sure that they are ready, the instructor takes them to the entrance to the track. Vegas goes up first. The start is on a flat platform located around a pine trunk. Pete doesn't feel comfortable even looking at how his husband is somewhere out there, too high, completely calmly ready to start passing the first challenge.
"Go up, please," the instructor tells him.
"And is it possible for two to one challenge?"
"Go up to the start platform, Khun."
Okay.
Pete gets up, feeling his knees tremble - and he's just walking up the stairs. The familiar chill bites the spine, radiating to the limbs.
Please... not now.
Pete tries to breathe through his nose and think about something good. And don't forget to look at his feet. When he steps onto the platform, he hears the husband's soft voice:
"Everything will be great. Don't look down and don't forget what you've learned. Half an hour, and you will not notice how you will hold on to the air."
Pete stares at him and nods. And Vegas adds:
"And remember: I will always be waiting for you on the other side. Don't be afraid of anything. Just keep going to me."
Pete nods again. Why did I agree to this?
The first challenge is passed by Vegas in a couple of minutes. Pete, on the other hand - although this is still only a rope bridge - tightly clutches the belay rope from the side with his hands and messes there three times longer than his husband. He exhales only when he gets to the platform, where the omega's foot slips awkwardly, but Vegas manages to catch him, wrapping his arms around Pete.
"What's wrong, huh? Does it really feel bad?" the alpha worries, not letting him out of his arms.
Pete freezes. He is very familiar with the feeling of too cold hands:
"Let me go... please."
Vegas nods and removes his hands:
"If it's really hard, let's finish? I thought you..."
"No," Pete raises his chin, "it's okay. I can handle it."
How long can I be afraid of everything in the world? I don't want to fall anymore.
"Moving steps" are not easy for him as well, but Pete gathers all his will into a fist and passes the obstacle to the end, where Vegas is waiting for him again on the "safety spot". Pete doesn't know how it works, but Vegas standing firmly there gives him strength and self-confidence. Then there are huge inverted hammers, bungee jumping, on which Pete cannot do without screeching. There's a lot more. And finally, the last obstacle: moving suspension stirrups. Pete watches Vegas go through the challenge surprisingly slowly. But in the middle - Pete gasps - the alpha stops only from the back remaining attached with carabiners to the upper cable. Having caught his balance, Vegas spreads his arms wide and, still balancing, moves his legs between the metal stirrups. A little more, and he reaches the finish, shouting to Pete:
"Come on!"
Pete swallows: no, no, you definitely won't get such tricks from me.
The omega bites his lip. He closes his eyes. Counts to five and takes the first step. Of course, he does not expect to repeat after Vegas, but after walking more than half at a snail's pace, he misses the stirrup with his foot and almost hangs on the belay device, and, spreading his arms, keeps his balance, managing to put the foot in the right place. He stands like this for a while. He can't reach the side cable, so he really seems to "hold on to the air" until he pushes off with his other foot to stand higher.
Just before the finish, the blood is boiling in the young body. Pete hasn't felt so inspired since he managed to make that kickflip on a skateboard, so desired by Arm. Vegas did not deceive him: he really held on to the air for a while and thanks to this he managed to go all the way to the end. Maybe he didn't learn how to do it perfectly. But he felt for himself what it is.
With his first sincere smile and shining eyes, Pete exclaims:
"This is absolutely incredible!.."
"Did you really like it?"
"No doubt!"
After that, they are sitting at a table in a forest cafe. Vegas took a large piece of cheesecake and hot chocolate for him, and green tea for himself. And also "forced" Pete to put on a jacket.
"Mmm. How did you guess that I adore hot chocolate?" Pete continues to glow with joy.
"I told you I know a lot about you."
Pete snorts, enjoying his favorite drink through a straw:
"If I ask, how, of course you won't answer?"
Vegas shrugs his shoulders.
"Okay. I won't bother you with questions today. But watch out. I like to get to the truth."
Vegas's hitherto soft gaze becomes stern, Pete sees the deep waters of the ocean in it again:
"I know that."
On the way back, the omega often yawns and, without noticing it, falls asleep. He dreams of the snake from his childhood. But today it is not leading him to a pit with the "relatives". It crawls along the dark turns of the corridor, and Pete, as if hypnotized, follows the creepy creature. The snake stops in front of a high door. He hears a familiar voice calling his name. But he doesn't understand from where - from behind his back or from behind the door? Pete reaches for the last one, immediately pulls his hand away - the door burns with ice.
Pete opens his eyes: he's still in the car. Covered with a thin duvet. The engine is off. And Vegas is sitting and staring at him.
"Oh," the omega looks out the window - they are at the gate of their mansion, "why didn't you wake me up?"
Vegas turns his gaze to the windshield:
"You were sleeping so well. It was a shame to wake you up."
Pete, frowning, pulls the handle, but either Vegas has not unlocked it or it is stuck... The alpha leaves the car and opens the ill-fated door in front of him again.
"I have already told you that I can do it myself..."
Without answering anything to this, Vegas walks silently to the house.
And Pete follows him, thinking: I don't know what kind of life awaits me in this house, but definitely... not boring.