A History Of Violence - Violentine AU

Chapter Nine: Picture Perfect

"God, how nice is it out here?" Brody said, turning on her heel as she walked along the forest path.
"Oh yeah, all the dirt and bugs and shit are great." Mitch chuckled sarcastically.
Brady turned around and frowned, shaking her head at him.
"Come on Mitch."
"Yeah, come on Mitch. Don't be a cynical asshole." Violet teased.
"Violet, you're the expert at being a cynical asshole. Where do you think I learned to hone my craft?"
"Damn right I'm the expert, but even I like the outdoors."
The woods gradually opened out into a large clearing. The river cut through the centre of the area, leading up to the falls from which it flowed. Water cascaded down from the top of the cliff, erupting in a cloud of white mist.
The group came up to the riverbank, Brody stepped up onto one of the large rocks that sat in the water. She closed her eyes and smiled, letting mist from the falls gently spray her.
Violet looked over at Clementine with a half smile, raising her eyebrows and gesturing her head in the direction of Brody.
Clem nodded and took Violet's hand, wandering over and joining the pale, auburn haired girl on the rocks.
Violet blushed, keeping her face towards the river and away from her friends, who would almost certainly poke fun at her for her red face. Well, Louis probably would.
She planted her feet on the large rock and stepped up in tandem with Clementine. Violet looked over to the adjacent boulder at Brody, who still had her eyes closed. She shrugged and did the same, gently shutting her eyes and turning her face to the falls.
She stood, listening to the sound of the water crashing into the river. The droplets cooled her skin with their touch, drawing her further into a state of calm.
Violet could still feel Clementine's soft hand in her own and a smile slowly spread across her face. She wobbled slightly, her balance impeded by her closed eyes. She held tightly onto Clementine and Clementine held tightly onto her, each of them keeping the other upright.
"Sorry to interrupt, but are you guys coming up to the top with us?" Marlon said, raising his voice to be heard over the rumble of the waterfall.
Violet opened her eyes and Clementine did the same, their concentration broken by Marlon's question. Clem looked at her questioningly.
"We should definitely go up there, the view is insane." Violet assured.
"Then go we shall." Clem chuckled, stepping down from the rock, leading Violet by the hand.
"I think I'm gonna stay down here." Ruby said, eyeing the cliff face.
"Yeah, me too." Asim nodded.
"Really? You always go to the top with us." Marlon said, furrowing his brow in confusion.
Louis stood with his arms crossed, a smirk on his face.
"Hey man, obviously there's more interesting sights for Asim down here." He teased.
Asim glared at him, his look communicating something to the effect of 'shut the fuck up'.
"Hey now, leave him alone. If he wants to stay, he can." Brody said with a smile.
Those of them who were going to the top approached the cliff. It wasn't smooth, and it wasn't completely vertical either. All along the cliff face were small holes, walkways, rocks, handholds and other things that could assist with climbing. After years of their camps, Violet knew the easiest route to the top.
Clementine gazed up at the rock wall, frowning.
"That's high, like really high." She breathed.
"It's not so bad, once you get up there it's all worth it. Trust me."
"I mean, I don't even know how to start climbing that."
Violet took her hand and looked the brunette in the eyes.
"Follow me, I'll get you up there."
Clem bit her lip and nodded.
"Okay, I trust you." 
Violet stepped up to the monolithic wall, searching for the first foothold. She found it next to a clump of moss and slotted her boot into the hole, raising herself up and down on her leg, testing the stability of the hole. When she was satisfied, she reached up and took hold of the split in the cliff face with both hands. Violet motioned for Clementine to follow her, watching the brunette and guiding her to the correct path.
Her friends were already making their way up, each of them had their own preferred route up the wall. For once, she didn't mind letting them beat her to the top, as long as she could get Clementine up there with her.
"You got it, just hold onto that crack." Violet encouraged.
Clem was slowly but surely working her way up the wall, her upper body strength was no issue. Violet guessed that if she wanted, Clementine could hang from the crack for hours. Violet hoisted herself up onto the tiny cave in the wall, just barely big enough for two people to sit in. She lowered her hand to Clementine and grabbed her wrist, giving the brunette leverage to climb up.
She leaned against the wall of the cave, shaking her head.
"God, I probably look ridiculous right now." She chuckled.
"You're doing something new, who doesn't?"
Clem smiled at the blonde and leaned forward, planting a kiss on her lips.
"Come on, let's get our asses up there." Clem said with a smile.