Next day

I burst through the cabin door only to find a quiet Adrian sprawled on the couch, nose-deep in his book, a picture of urban comfort amidst the rustic surroundings.

Grinning ear to ear, I toss a bundle of camouflage clothes onto his chest. It landed with a soft thud, almost making him jump out of his seat, startling him out of his own little world.

"It's time, Adrian.", I announce, and I find myself struggling to keep the excitement in my voice. " We're going hunting."

He raises a brow, and I can see a flicker of unease pass through his usually relaxed eyes. The city hadn't quite left him yet. Not fully. Hunting was still foreign territory. It's thrill something that he felt subconsciously, yet he hadn't experienced viscerally.

"I-Isn't it getting late?", his stutter undermined his anxiety.

"It's just dusk. Come on, I'll show you how to hold one properly", I held his hands and dragged him towards the showcase.

His eyes watched all the guns, touching the glass on a few of the cases.

"Like what you see, honeybee?", I giggle seeing his enthusiasm. "Don't worry, I'll let you have any one of th-"

"Nah, I think I've already made up my mind.", he cuts me off, his voice low.

"This one.", he states with a stern voice while pointing to the gun hung on the wall.

I smile knowingly. "Good ol' musket, hm?", I reply, gently picking it up.

"He must have been proud of you, Anita.", he murmured, gazing at the engraved initials.

"He was...", I nod."He'd be even happier you chose it. It's a good thing his prized possession is gonna be passed down to you.", I raise an eyebrow suggestively. "Guess it's gonna turn into an age-old tradition, hm? Ready to inherit the family heirloom, huh?", I nudge him with a smug grin and holding back a giggle.

Adrian swallowed hard, with the weight of the gun and my mischievous grin weighing down on him even more.

"Guess I'll have to live up to the family's expectations, then...", he mutters, with a slight blush.

-

"It's heavier than I imagined...", he whispers with a hint of respect.

"Respect its power.", I reply, taking the rifle in my hands and demonstrating the proper stance.

"It's not just a simple gun. It's an extension of your own self. You have to act accordingly and use your reflexes when hunting.", I bring a finger up and point it at him.

"Always. Remember. That."

Adrian watched attentively as I guided him through the basics. How to shoulder the rifle, how to breathe steadily, how to align the sights with the target. Each movement reminded me of my father, with his voice echoing from the depths of my memories while I taught my beloved.

"It's all about balance,", I explain while adjusting his posture. Hugging from behind him, I spoon my body against him while holding his hands with the gun. His back straightens out immediately, and his cute butt pouts out as I feel him up. I can feel him heating up and hiding a naughty smile. His hips are a little bent, while I whisper in his ears.

"Aim carefully. Consider the wind, the distance of the target. Your body and mind have to act in harmony, and only THEN,"

I stop to catch on my breath.

"Will you succeed in hunting."

-

"Why do I have to dress myself up as a green bush?!", Adrian grumbles while putting on his camo pants.

"So that prey doesn't catch sight of you. If they do, they'll just run away like the wind. Animals are pretty nimble, you know. Once they know they're in danger, they'll do anything to save their own life-", I go up to him, and zip up his jacket. Taking a few steps back, I see him in his full glory. But wait, no-

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

For a split-second there, he almost looked like Dad.

"Flight or Fight. Ever heard of that term?", I resume while clearing my throat. His black hair looks so fucking cute while it's all messy like that.

"I know, I know. I'll keep that in mind, I guess.", Adrian groans while fixing his hair looking at the reflection in his mirror.

He then turns to me and twirls around awkwardly, showing off his outfit.

"My cute little hunter. All mine.", I whisper with a dark tone.

A smile creeps upon my face, with Adrian completely oblivious to what I'm about to do to him tonight.

-

As we stepped out of the cabin and ventured into the dark, I knew this wasn't just a hunt. It's an adventure for both of us. This will surely bring us together, one way or another. And who knows, maybe he'll just surprise me.

The rustling of leaves under our feet and the fluttering noises of bats fill up the silence as Adrian follows me throughout the trail.

"So," Adrian whispers, "what are we exactly looking for here?"

I shush him while pointing towards the ground.

"Deer...tracks," he whispers after speculation. Their faint prints are like whispers on the forest floor.

We follow it with the air growing thicker with anticipation, only the moonlight shining on the night sky.

Suddenly, the sounds of leaves crunching behind me stop. I fling my head around to see a shocked Adrian, with his hands instinctively reaching for the musket.

"There," he whispers while pointing ahead. "Through the bush."

Following his gaze, I spot a calm deer almost 20 meters away from us sporting its head conveniently out of a bush, with its other half disappearing into the undergrowth. It's a deer, a young one, its eyes calm and innocent.

My heart starts to beat rapidly, with adrenaline kicking in. But I see hesitation in Adrian's eyes. A flicker of conflict between the thrill of hunting and the guilt of killing.

"It's okay," I whisper while placing a gentle hand behind his back.

"Breathe and shoot."

His brow furrows in concentration as he buries the gun deeper into his shoulders, finding a comfortable spot.

Time seemed to stretch, with the silence only broken by the beating of my heart. Then, taking a deep breath, Adrian fired.

The crack of the shot echoed through the stillness of the woods. My ears started to ring as I creaked open my eyes to find a headless deer.

It fell to its knees as red smithereens replaced its head. It stood still for a moment before violently spewing out red mist.

Looking over at him, I find him wheezing, with his adrenaline dialing in. Adrian has done it. He has felt the raw power of nature and the place of humans at the top of the food chain. His eyes start to turn glassy as if calling out to me.

I lunge at him, ruffling his soft hair and almost knocking his cap out.

"There, there. You did it!" I comfort him.

He's in a state of shock, seeing how he almost made no movements and was stuck in the same posture. I use my palm to lower down the gun before cooing in his ears.

"It's okay. You did an great job, honeybee. The deer's dead, and you killed it with a headshot. I'm proud of you.", I pepper him with kisses all over his face.

I hug him and stand there for a moment longer, while the deer runs out of blood. The silence settles in, with Adrian hugging me back, and his heartbeat starting to normalize now.

"Y...Yeah...that was..." Adrian whispers with a stammer.

"THAT WAS AMAZING!" he yells out loud while squeezing me tightly all of a sudden, making me squeal in surprise and joy.