The Far Away Bear (mxm)

chapter 6 - Barely touched

POV: Jaden

"That should be about enough." Arlow said as he finished pouring the last big bucket of water into the large tub, setting it down next to the wall.

I blushed looking down at the warm sunken bath, excited.

When was the last time I had a bath!?

I'd taken plenty of showers in public swimming pools, plenty of freezing washes in rivers and lakes...

But a warm bath in a home, now that was luxury.

"Are you sure this is okay?" I couldn't help asking. My fingers gripped around the large blanket I was wrapped in, looking up at Arlow as he gave me a look that said 'seriously?'

"Jaden, I told you. This is your place too, this is the bathroom, you're free to take a bath any time you want." He wiped his hands off on his pants and jostled my hair "don't be silly, if something as small as a bath can tick us off we'd each have our own one" he joked and patted my shoulder passing me and heading for the door.

I let the blanket I'd been given slip from my shoulders, letting it hang around my upper back as I looked down at the freshly drawn bath just for me. I'd undressed while he'd filled the tub for me, and I may have been over excited to get in.

I turned my head to look at Arlow who seemed to be in another world staring off into space at the doorway "Thank you Arlow... Arlow?"

His eyes darted up to mine as he came back to earth, his face heating up rapidly "huh, what? Oh! Oh, yeah, no problem!" He laughed awkwardly and  cleared his throat "I'll just be out here if you need anything." Before I could say anything else, He'd closed the door with a small click sound and left me to myself.

Huh, he'd probably gone all red with the heat in here, it was pretty warm with steam after all.

I let the blanket drop to my feet and stood naked in the room, the small candle light flickering on the beams by the wall across from me. The room was comforting and cozy with the hot air around me, and I dipped my foot into the bath first to see what it was like.

Sinking down into the tub I felt pure bliss encompass me. I was floating on a cloud, hovering in a heated heaven. My god, nothing could be better than this!

I slipped in underneath until the water was up to my chin and then over my mouth, my eyes closed and soaked in the sensation, the dripping sounds of the faucet. All of the panic and stress seemed to just melt off, and I finally had time to think.

Images of the last several days floated by, the warm smiles Arlow would send me, Peat and his idiot jokes, Peaches and his deadpan stares. I went further back in my mind, remembering my fall from the tree, the terrifying bear that chased me up it in the first place.

Opening my eyes I blinked away the thought of the bear and the water droplets away on my lashes, watching the steam rise and my knees poke out from underneath. Dunking my head back I set my hair into the water and stared up at the wooden beams on the ceiling, hoping there were no spiders.

As time ticked on i started to drift off, the warm water lulling me into almost sleep. With my ears under water I heard the quiet rumbling of people talking in the other room. My brows furrowed trying to understand but I couldn't make the words out.

I sunk down into the depth of the bath and held my breath, letting it swallow me up.

I'd stayed in for so long my fingers were starting to wrinkle and goosebumps were forming on my arms with the chill. Standing up the water dropped off and I reached for my towel to dry.

When I opened the bathroom door, bundled in my white towel I could still hear them. They were talking lowly in whispers, but the closer I got to the kitchen the more I could make out.

"...-tell him soon-...-needs to know-..."

I shivered, a lump in my throat at what I'd caught.

Are they talking about me?

What did I need to know?

Misstepping on the one creaky board this floor seemed to have, totally  silenced the conversation, and I walked into the kitchen, bundled in my towel like nothing had happened.

"Hey"

I smiled nonchalantly, the two looking at me with obvious concern quickly masked with ease, content with thinking I'd not over heard the conversation.
Arlow smiled warmly, the first to respond.

"Hey, how was your bath?"

I shrugged but couldn't help the beaming smile I had on my face "unbelievable, I haven't had a bath in years" I sighed happily, scrunching my towel to my body shyly.

"Years!? How can that be true!?" Peat seemed to drop his composure from earlier, clearly astonished I'd not had one in so long.

"Just showers and river bathing" I muttered somewhat embarrassed. Not everyone has a bath in their home, but I had other reasons. Arlow cut off whatever Peat was about to say next, his hand extending to wrap around my shoulder and guide me from the kitchen.

"Come on, let's get you to the fire before you get too cold. I put some clothes hanging up there for you to wear when you got out, they should be warm by now."

The heat flooded up to my ears and I nodded, trying to keep my heart from going too crazy, afraid they'd hear it somehow.

"Thanks, that's really nice of you." I mumbled, huddled up in the towel around my body, cuddling into the fabric as I stepped into the living room and stood next to the warm glow.

At first I began to panic about drying and changing in front of them, but Arlow and Peat left to go outside in order to give me some privacy to dress by the fire, which was beyond a decent thing to do.

I let out a breath I'd been holding in and relaxed, dabbing off the water and carefully gliding the damp towel into my hair to get the rest. The crackle of the fire was snapping into the cozy and comfortable silence, and I stretched my arms up to crack my back, forgetting about my healing injuries. I winced at the sudden sharp pain in my chest and buckled over, gritting my teeth "okay, ow..won't be doing that again for a while"

Changing into the baggy clothes left by the fire to warm I realised the size wasn't quite my own. Lifting the edge of the shirt I sniffed curiously, it smelt familiar. My mind flooded with Arlow, and I couldn't help but feel a little flattered he'd lent me his clothes. All of mine were washed and drying outside I supposed, he probably felt he had no choice.

But still.

Something about being wrapped up in Arlow's oversized clothes that barely fit me and hung loosely around my smaller frame gave me all over goosebumps I couldn't quite describe, in a good kind of way.

A hint of a smile floated up onto my face, and I couldn't help but tuck my chin down in hopes of hiding it in the soft fabric.
The door opened a crack making me jump, and I spun my head to look, but nobody came in. Instead Arlow's voice cane from around the other side    "are you good?" His shoulder appearing in the narrow space.

I found it cute the way his head was turned away, exposing the side of his neck, making it obvious he was definitely not peeking in.

The man seemed to be nothing more than a gentleman.

"I'm decent." I half whispered out, my hair still damp and dripping in parts as I scrunched it with my towel.

Arlow cleared his throat and stepped into the cabin, Peat shoved by him easily and heading for the kitchen "I'm starving, who wants beans and toast?" He stomped off and clattered with the items in the shelves, setting a pot down.

Arlow shook his head and glanced at me, giving me a gentle smile. Was I wrong or did he just double take?

Nah, probably my imagination.

"It's been a while since we've had beans and you're gonna cook them all now?" He asked, walking by to follow after Peat. As Arlow passed me his hand gently patted my shoulder, it was a small and unexpected gesture that sent blush right to my face.

"It's not a waste to eat what's good while it's good!" Peat huffed in the kitchen, Arlow's laugh rang in my ears like bells, and as I sat up on my knees from the floor by the fire, I wondered had life always been so sweet.