It was hot. Temperatures had soared throughout the day, and the council had declared a compensated work-free day in order to keep citizens healthy. Vega and Altair had joined much of the city in heading to the shores for sandy, beach-going fun. Pavo and Avi? They went to a river instead.
Pavonis smiles, watching Avior skipping stones on the river bank. One, two, three, splash! Another rock sinks below the surface of the shallows. He swims over to his partner, barely affected by the moderate current in the deeper end.
"Hey, 'Vi. Swim with me?"
Avi shakes his head, golden curls matted with sweat.
"I dunno, Pav. Seems kinda reckless to get in the river without gear."
"You know we can fight off nearly anything long enough to get back to our weapons."
It's silent for a moment as Avior considers this. Trees rustle and birds chirp in the foliage around the pair. Then, he stands, pulling off his shirt and gently placing his pistol on top of it. Pavonis grins as Avi wades into the water.
"This is really kinda cold, isn't it?" Avior makes a face as he reaches the deeper area of the river where Pavo treads water.
"Only if you think about it."
They splash around for a while after that, silent but for their laughter. As it turns out, the water really is cold when Pavonis looks at his hands and finds that his fingers have started to turn blue.
"Hey, 'Vi, any solutions timmy blue fingers aside from getting out?"
"I mean, we could hug? I don't really know if it's work as well in the water but--hey, easy on the shoulders there, I need those!"
Blue eyes flash with mirth as Pavonis clambers up Avior like a monkey, the latter complaining the whole time (a smile resided on his face throughout the venture).
Pavo ends up with his legs around Avi's waist, arms resting on his shoulders as the taller leans against a fallen tree spanning the river. After a couple minutes more of listening to the burbling water, Pavonis presses his lips to Avior's neck, then his ear, moving across the other's temples and cheeks.
Avi grins and presses their foreheads together.
"Thanks for those. Can I return one of them?"
After a nod and smile from Pavo, Avior leans his head forward, capturing the other's mouth with his own.
