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"I will when you do, then. We can make it a deal." The embrace was a surprise, but one very welcome. Quenton flattened his long hand against the small of Alex's back, enjoying the feel of the cords of muscles on either side of the delicate spine. This was better than just serendipitous getting to grasp hand to hand to solve a puzzle.

Speaking of, "Well, there's still plenty more rope obstacles coming up for me to dumb us both off of. I'll feel more secure having you near, even if my balance doesn't improve likewise. "

Quenton reluctantly moved from the closeness to guide them both back onto the course, but he pet his hand down Alex's arm as he turned to try to finished the rope bridge. It actually proved a little easier- Alex's weight nearby pulled the rope under his own feet more taut as he stepped and didn't let it wobble so much from his own ankles. There was still plenty of course left for them around the corner from their next platform- a Double Beam, island hops, faith leap platforms (which weren't so different from hopping roofs and therefore infinitely easier), and lastly an Earthquake crossing. It looked like someone thought the idea of crossing a swing-set would be fun.

"Oh dear. Do we want to do this one at a time still...or would you be willing to try it side by side? Stepping together onto each? There's more than enough room. " The 'swings' wood planks had enough space for both their shoulders and hips and then some.

" I would argue less approval so much as ardent desire?"

Quenton mulled over the offer-c**-declaration about dinners with no reservations on smile it brought. Alexandre certainly had no reservations telling another exactly how something was going to be. It was a pleasant daydream, where that could lead between them.

"Do you cook often? It is an art I've not thrown much energy at, so I won't insult you with my attempts in the kitchen unless it is for your entertainment. "

With the agreement in plan, Quenton joined to Alex's side by putting an arm around his waist. The other he extended to the rope on his side to bring the first stepping swing near. It wouldn't be too different from a three legged race in a way- excepting being up in a canopy of trees instead of on the ground. "Ready when you are."

Quenton was pretty sure that while he himself also cooked all the time (though not learning from any source but home ec class and books), that he wouldn't serve it up to anyone with any high hopes. Plainly not how he intends it though. With how exacting Alex is in everything else, I'm more than certain his culinary skills are well up to proverbial and literal taste. But no baking?

It was curious how Alex's tastes ran- high precision in what he did choose, but not liking things that had high degrees of necessary precision as a requirement. He was certain the other youth would find success in a wider range of classical figural art throughout the development of his freshman year, and could probably bake with ease when required. Preferences were just ...preferences. They were pleasant differences and mysteries worth discovering.

Quenton started into the steps across, firming his grip on Alex's hip when their footing shifted like a swing instead of a floor. It drew a laugh from him, half way, how nervous, even with safety lines, he could be about spilling them to a deus ex machina float to the ground. He wanted to make it across, to make it together with Alex, and laugh the more about the few spills and the view. "I do. I'd like to get better and less like a marionette on strings. walking with confidence on the ground is one thing, but walking across ropes I feel like I have to relearn my body the way I did after my first growth spurt in junior high."

They'd reached the last of the platforms, no ranger yet in sight, but the sound of the SUV to take them back to the entrance was clear down the wooded road they could mark from their height. Quenton let go of the rope on his side and brushed the back of his roughed knuckles against Alex's porcelain jaw, "Especially in the same company."

"We'll be members of Cirque Du Soliel in no time," Or at least Alexandre might. But he had no complaints of doing this a second, third, or many times. Until they knew the course and could run it like pros- watching each other fly.

Their ride, however, had closed to the parking spot slotted to waiting for awaiting customers that was in view of the last platform. "I will leave dreams in these trees, but hope to carry them further through the days and weeks. "

"Would you be up to catching something to eat? My treat, though you'd have to do the driving, " He let his hand drop to Alex's, and gentle stepped along to the ladder down, letting show his hesitance for their close moment to end of discretion. There was an audience that may or may not even be watching, but it was an audience just the same.

On the list of pluses for a nineteen year old going down first, as he'd been the fall risk all the day, he was afforded a very lucky, and very appreciated excellent view if he looked up.