[Gift] SECRET TUNNEL SECRET TUNNEL

Celestite lives far away from the center of Burrowgatory entirely by choice. Out here, it’s quiet.The natural beauty of the crystal-studded caves outdoes the city lights and the congestion of nightlife streets any day or night. There’s a comfortable sort of predictability to the frigidness that coats the area no matter the time of year; no need to worry about keeping anything up rain or shine when you pretty much always have cool, still cave air or a bit of snow.

It might be a bit of a surprise itself then that Celestite doesn’t really dislike surprises.

Buns of all sorts will drop in on him for a visit, often without giving notice ahead of time. Often enough, they’re traveling out just on hearsay, or without realizing at all that someone lives in the area who would be willing to play guide for the right price. Visitors don’t come like clockwork, but there is still a sense of routine to be found in the irregularity. A little spice to Celestite’s schedule, and if it is an inconvenience, then it’s not particularly hard to brush them off with an excuse (or not; he plays by his own rules most of the time).

Today, he’s in a pleasant enough mood, and his visitor isn’t the disruptive sort, evidenced by Yuzu’s easy smile and the relaxed droop of his eyes. Even better is the six-pack of drinks in his hand, kept pleasantly cold by the weather; Celestite’s not familiar with every possible brand, by merit of staying out of the center of the city and thus not visiting the shops all too often, but he knows this is quality beer. A bribe on Yuzu’s part perhaps, but a little bribe never hurt anybody.

Yuzu certainly gives the impression of someone who knows what a good bribe looks like, in that he has the air of someone who lives well - eats well, sleeps well, probably fucks well. It’s an air of general contentment that people who are generally satisfied and comfortable give off. Celestite prefers that to the ones who come to him tightly-wound and tense, convinced that a hidden hot spring will finally be the thing to cure them of whatever keeps them up at night. Maybe it would, but there’s always a sense that something of their stress and lack of equilibrium will leach into the water and rock in turn if exposed to it too often.

The walk to the hot spring itself is quiet and uneventful; Celestite isn’t much inclined to start conversation, and Yuzu isn’t inclined to break the comfortable silence. Gradually, the air begins to warm, creating spots of mist which become condensation on the gems and stalactites. Both bundled against the cold as they are, the definite shift in temperature is all the more striking. Celestite notices Yuzu loosening the buttons of his coat already, and he casts an appreciative glance over the little patch of dusky skin and soft hair that is bared on Yuzu’s chest by the action.

When they reach the pool itself, Yuzu lets out a gusty exhale of pleasure and excitement, and he only pauses to set the six-pack of beer and his towel down before shedding the rest of the clothing. Celestite gets a front-row view of a 10/10 butt wiggle as Yuzu slips out of his pants and undergarments and then smoothly slides into the water just like he belongs there. From the blissful expression on his face, perhaps he does.

Celestite follows suit in undressing before grabbing two bottles of beer and popping the caps open on a nearby rock formation with practiced ease. He hands one to Yuzu upon joining him in the hot water and then takes a long moment to savor the first cold sip and its contrast with the surroundings.

“That is good,” he remarks, the first thing said between them besides perfunctory greetings when Yuzu first arrived.

“Nothing beats a cold drink in the bath, except for the cold drink right after,” Yuzu says, nodding wisely. They clink bottles in celebratory agreement.

The silence settles over them again, layering comfortably with the warmth. Celestite finishes his beer and then starts on another, while Yuzu finishes his own drink at a more leisurely pace and settles back with his arms outstretched along the edge of the pool in lieu of grabbing a second. There’s little way to tell how much time is passing, with nothing much limiting them besides their own tolerance of the water.

Celestite eventually takes it upon himself to break the silence again. “So, was a drink really all you wanted to share?” He asks a little coyly, stretching out in the water in an inviting way.

There is no immediate answer, which he would have allowed for the possibility that Yuzu was just checking him out, but when the lack of response stretches on for too long, he looks up with a frown. He is met with the sight of Yuzu’s head bowed towards his chest, clearly asleep.

“...Are you serious?” Celestite asks aloud, unsure whether to be amused or exasperated. He settles for a bit of both. Moment definitively killed for the time being, he grabs another beer.

Another fuzzy span of time later, Yuzu’s nap is interrupted by his glasses slipping off of his face and plopping into the water, startling him awake. “Good morning, sleeping beauty,” Celestite greets him dryly. “Have a good nap?”

Yuzu just grins at him sheepishly and retrieves his glasses, shaking the water off of them before setting them safely aside with his clothes and towel. “It was good,” he says, with just a touch of good-natured defiance. “I hope I didn’t fall asleep while you were saying something, though.”

“Weeell,” Celestite begins, toying with an idea for a moment before deciding to go for it. He’s good and tipsy at this point, in that pleasant way where he feels loosened up but not too impaired just yet. “I was wondering if you might be interested in a demonstration of how long I can hold my breath.”

“Oh?”

Celestite closes the distance between them, laying his hand meaningfully on Yuzu’s knee. Yuzu smiles and obligingly opens his legs for Celestite to settle between them. “Oh, be my guest.”

It is a very enlightening and successful demonstration, if Celestite did say so himself.