In the middle of writing a new mini series but this story idea popped into my head so I thought I'd get it out. Anytime the title is "just __ things" just know it's a quick, pretty short, one-shot.
Summary: Nick, Matt and Chris rent out the zoo in San Diego, including the over night Roar & Snore package. They stay in the premium tent, which has one queen size bed and two cots, Chris is not happy with being voted the one to sleep on the cot.
Video reference time stamp: 36:00 on the "We Brought a Zoo"
Words: 1657
♡ The air was chilled and the moon was providing limited lighting as the triplets made their way from their camp tent to the bathrooms. The grass was damp, wetting their shoes during their walk between locations. After brushing their teeth, and utilizing the bathroom facilities, they moved as a tight group across the field back to their camp. It wasn't logical, but there was a looming feeling that an animal could jump-scare them at any moment. Matt was the first to look up, signalling to the other two to look at the sky.
"Oh my god, look!" He pointed out.
Nick and Chris were equally impressed. The stars were covering the dark sky, trillions lit up the surface area as far as they could see. The three paused in the middle of their walk, just standing, staring at the peacefulness of the sky. Admiring the sheer amount of stars, unlike anything they were used to coming from the city.
Once back at the tent, Nick called shotgun of the bed, sighting he had back pain. In natural order, Matt was second to call out. Claiming since him and Nick called the bed first, Chris would, in turn, get the cot.
"That's not fair, I didn't know we were calling it right now," Chris whined.
"That's a weak excuse, you're just upset you didn't call it before I did," Matt laughed as he was getting his pyjamas on.
"Fine, but this is stupid," Chris huffed.
"For you maybe," Nick teased him, not helping the situation.
"Fuck off Nick," Chris retorted.
After a few more minutes of their typical bickering and a deep conversation of gratitude, the boys fell asleep. Sounds of snoring, crickets and faint animal calls filled the small tent.
+
A roar from an elephant woke Chris from his sleep in the early hours of the morning. He was barely sleeping, unable to calm his restlessness. The sound didn't seem to bother his brothers, Chris noticed he was the only one now fully awake.
It started to dawn on him were he was, in the middle of a zoo. He knew better than to theorize about the danger surrounding him, the logical side of his brain recognizing he was safe. But in his tired state, his mind wandered. What if today was the day one of the lions broke out of their enclosure. What if Elliot, the giraffe made his way towards their tent and stepped on him or Nick or Matt. What if Julius, the snake was slithering freely around the zoo looking for them. He suddenly felt hot, his skin was starting to itch and he became overly aware that he couldn't see well in the darkness of the tent. What if the snake was in here now, what if it was trying to crawl to him, sliding silently up his legs and body. He felt a lump rise in his throat. He tried to stay still, but a shudder ran through his whole body, leaving goosebumps on his skin. His imagination was out of control.
"Mmmm," he couldn't help but let out a scared whine.
His thoughts were racing, causing his body to respond. The tightness in his chest overpowered his breathing, making him fight for deep breaths. He could hear Matt's voice in his mind, remembering how his brother taught him to take deep inhales if he was feeling anxious. Chris tried, but what if the snake was on him, what if the lion was pacing outside about to jump on him any minute now. He clenched his fists, squeezing to distract himself. Matt would tell him to think of things he could feel, he thought to himself. He could feel the bedsheets on his skin, they were soft and made of a warm fleece material. Things you can see, Chris remembered as the next step Matt would give him. Okay, Chris was processing, he could see the lights peaking through the thin tent walls, maybe they were the pathway lights leading to the bathrooms he thought. He looked to his right and saw his brothers, although the room was dark he could see the outlines of their bodies.
Chris was slowly losing his battle in the fight against his anxious thoughts. He was trying incredibly hard to do it himself, not wanting to annoy Matt and Nick. They looked so peaceful in the bed. Nick was furtherest away from Chris' view, Matt was closest. Matt was rolled onto his side and facing Chris. The youngest wanted desperately to wake him up, he knew one of his brother's hugs would solve all of his problems in this moment.
"You okay?" Matt's voice broke the silence in the room. Chris was thinking his brother had a sixth sense.
"Nooo," Chris spoke honestly.
"What's wrong?" Matt's voice was raspy. He grabbed for his phone on the nightstand to provide a bit of light.
"I just-I" Chris didn't know how to explain himself, "I guess I just got freaked out like of the animals," Chris felt a wave of embarrassment hit him after he admitted his fears out loud.
"Why don't you come in the bed with Nick, I'll sleep there okay?" Matt was quick with his problem solving.
Chris' chest tightened, this time out of appreciation and the realization of how much his brother truly cared about him. A simple act, but Matt had no hesitation swapping his brother for the less desirable sleeping condition. Chris could've cried thinking about it. His exhaustion mixed with his natural intensity of emotions had him slightly tearing up.
"C'mere," Matt took the covers off of himself and placed his feet on the ground.
The older, reached out his hand for Chris to grab. Matt helped Chris out of the cot and pulled him in for a hug. He enclosed his brother in his arms. Running a comforting hand up and down Chris' back.
"You're really okay?" Matt asked sincerely.
Chris just nodded, his head rested in the crook of Matt's neck. The older swayed them both, giving Chris a moment to relax. Matt pulled away gently, he placed his hands on either side of Chris' cheeks, making eye contact with his matching blue eyes.
"You're alright, go lay with Nick get some sleep okay everything is fine," The confidence in Matt's tone was enough to cure Chris' worry.
Matt pulled back the blankets on the bed and allowed Chris to climb in. The dip in the mattress caused Nick to stir, he turned over to face the commotion.
"What's going on?" Nick mumbled, barely awake.
"Nothing, Chris couldn't sleep, he's okay now," Matt spoke for his brother.
Nick reached over to the night stand and turned on the light, illuminating the tent.
"Did you have a nightmare?" Nick asked his brother, Chris was now laying down in the bed.
"No, well kinda, I just was anxious about outside but I tried to calm down how Matt taught me to," Chris' words were fast and slurred, the over tiredness hitting him.
"I'm sorry sweetheart, why don't you and Matt take the bed, I want to cut this bracelet off anyway and go to the bathroom, so you guys can have the bed and I'll take the cot," Nick explained.
"You sure?" Matt asked him, "I don't mind,"
"Yeah, yeah, it's alright, there's only a few hours left anyway and I'm going to head to the bathroom so you're okay here," Nick's voice was soft.
"Thank you, I'm sorry," Chris felt bad he was causing such an upset.
"Chris," Nick leaned over to his brother, stroking his cheek with his finger, "it's really okay, I wouldn't do it if it wasn't and you know that," Nick smiled.
Chris let out a small laughed at the comment, "okay Nicky,"
"Okay, now get some sleep." Nick left the bed in search of something to cut off his bracelet with. He quickly settled on just ripping it off of his wrist before making his way out of the tent to the bathrooms.
Matt pushed Chris over onto where Nick had been sleeping, so he himself could crawl into the bed. Chris was met with warmth underneath him, feeling the body heat Nick had left behind. He took comfort in the faint smell of Nick's cologne on the pillow. He closed his eyes, there was a stingy sensation, a direct result of how tired he was. He squeezed his eyes to get rid of the feeling and a few tears made trails down his cheeks. He felt arms pull him, his head gently placed on Matt's chest. The older had moved Chris so he was cuddled up to him. Chris could feel Matt's hands run through his hair, fingertips glided around his scalp. The sound of Matt's heartbeat grounded him to the present, reminding him he was safe in trusted arms.
He forced himself to stay awake until he hear Nick return to the tent. Once he did Chris let himself be lulled to sleep by Matt's comfort, staying asleep until he heard a megaphone make an announcement outside about breakfast being ready. He reluctantly removed himself from Matt's embrace and started his morning routine. He got dressed as he watch Nick start to vlog their morning.
I hope y'all enjoyed this short little story <33 And I hope everyone in having a great weekend xx