Bren arched a brow at Gomez, who had insisted on running with them first thing this morning. Yesterday they had arrived and it was fucking weird. They were all calling him 'Cousin' and the freaky big guy that he could've sworn was some Doc Frankenstein creation had scooped up most of their shit in one fell swoop.

Sure, they had downsized when leaving their old rental, but it was still a decent amount of shit considering their ever-growing wardrobe. Honestly, they had a bit of a problem...not that they were going to do anything about it. They were an expert in thrift store shopping, after all, and it'd be a crime to let such talent go to waste.

That night after dinner-alligator, they had been informed after complimenting the old woman on the chicken-they had quickly retreated to their room. Shortly afterwards, one of the other tenants, a rather pretty little thing named April, had come by.

The giant, luxurious suite of a room was by no means the 'modest' accommodation they had been sold on.

It was fully furnished, as promised. With fancy furniture from the baroque Era or something. The giant bed held more pillows than they could imagine anyone ever using. A giant, old-school wardrobe stood tall, a whole dressing area near it in the space between it and the en-suite bathroom held a vanity and large, free-standing full length mirror. Walls adorned with paintings and tapestries and bookshelves along with a large, ornate writing desk that looked as if the Magna Carta could've been signed on it.

In short: A fucking giant room chock full of fancy shit they were afraid to break.

Things made much more sense after she explained a few things. Including her clarifying that she, also, was not actually the host family's cousin, but another renter.

At the same time, though, it also made so much less sense. Including her vauge warning about the running path she gave as she sat almost ramrod straight in one of the overstuffed, fancy chairs by the bookshelves.

"Gomez seemed rather...enthusiastic about it. He, Fester, and the kids have been working on it all week. Just be careful, okay?" She had warned, big green eyes looking up at them as she had gone on about some other odd instances that they hadn't really processed for trying to find constellations in the freckles littering her nose and cheeks. A few more distracting them on a lightly sun-brushed shoulder that peeked out from the dark purple sweater that slipped off to one side, as well.

Okay, maybe they had a thing for green eyes and freckles. Sue them. In fact, they were rapidly realizing that they apparently also had a thing going for soft, southern accents. Not that April's was strong. In fact, it was barely there in a way that seemed purposeful, though it occasionally appeared with a pleasant sweetness on certain words.

Now, though, Bren was wishing they had bothered to properly listen instead of admiring the view. Gomez, the odd one that he was, was far to excited about this to make them feel at ease.

"Ready old sport?" Bren nodded, prepared to settle in for more of a jog as the man led them through the path the first time.

"Yep."

"Wonderful!" With that, the lunatic took off like a rocket. Bren's eyes widened for a moment before they hurried to catch up, shocked at the older gentleman's speed as they raced along after him through a winding path amid the graveyard that seemed to surround the property.

"Hurdles ahead!"

"Hurdles? I'm a distance run-SHIT!" They barely leapt in time, struggling to even make it over the next two rows of rusted gates with pointed tops erected on the path between two mausoleums, forcing one to bypass them to continue. Heart pounding, they did their best to catch up to Gomez, though he stayed out of reach. Just about the time they settled back into their usual cadence, Gomez's cheery voice sounded out once more.

"Pit ahead!"

"Pit?!" Right about that time, their eyes widened at the gaping pit they were running right at, as well as the slight incline obviously meant for them to jump and latch onto from the dubious-looking knotted rope that waited over the chasm. Their upper arm strength sucked, they were a runner for a reason! There was no way-

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

"Fucking scorpions!!" They nearly shrieked, launching themself at the rope, swinging across and letting their frantic hands scrabble at the hand holds, dragging themselves up the incline. Panting, they stopped at the top to sit on their heels and catch their breath, still in wide-eyed shock.

"Brilliant form, Bren!" They found themselves hauled far to easily to their feet, stumbling forward with the force of the solid clap to the center of their back. "Onwards to victory my bo- Oh, yes, not boy. Or girl. Hm. We will work on that one. Anyways, onwards! We have another four miles to go!"

"Four?!"

"I forgot how invigorating these morning runs can be! You students keep me young!" Gomez had gushed with a manically wide smile before rushing off once more.

Later, April looked up from reading in the parlor as the front doors burst open to a beaming Gomez with his arm around a shell-shocked Bren. Both splattered liberally in mud, Bren's left foot missing a shoe.

"April! Oh you should have joined us! The run was wonderful! Does one good to get your blood pumping first thing in the morning. What a pair we were out there, eh, Bren?!" Gomez boasted, assuring Bren that he would join them tomorrow, as we'll, before he swaggered off to who knows where.

Placing her bookmark, April gave a soft, sympathetic smile as she set the book aside to approach Bren.

"I did warn you." She pointed out softly as she took their arm, leading them to the kitchen.

"Scorpions, April. There was a Scorpion pit!" They insisted as she sat them at the kitchen table before fetching a glass of water. Upon return, she set it down in front of them before settling in the chair next to them.

Bren gratefully downed it in one go, to shaken to think to thank her.

"If it makes you feel any better, I think they're Pugsley's pets and Wednesday helped train them, so they wouldn't have struck you." April offered. "Her spiders are very well trained. Oddly affectionate little critters." Even that little southern slip on the word 'critters' did little to soothe their frazzled nerves.

"Then literal wooden stakes in the ground! We went through a mausoleum with swinging hatchets! There was a tiny little rope bridge with alligators over a swamp and rocks you had to leap across- It was like if Ninja warrior got together with my nightmares to create a cross-country marathon of death!" They insisted as she patted the back of their hand.

"Was it a good run, though?"

"Was it a good-?! The fuck do you mean-!" seeing her flinch slightly at the outburst, Bren stopped, taking a deep breath before continuing, calmer, quieter, taking a moment to think. "I mean...yeah, actually, it kinda was." They admitted reluctantly. "Gomez kept ahead of me the whole time, somehow. Aside from the whole danger aspect, it was actually pretty exhilarating to have a challenge." That soft little smile lit April's features again as she got up to refill their water.

"Im sure none of it would have actually hurt you. Gomez wouldn't let it. I warned you that they were all eccentric, but, they're all rather sweet. Fiercely loyal, as well. They'd throw themselves in harm's way before letting it touch you."

Calmer, Bren thought for a moment, recalling how Gomez had always stopped to watch and help them at every obstacle. Encouraging them, even if Gomez had slipped and accidentally mis-gendered them on occasion. Always correcting himself afterwards, though.

"Yeah, I kinda get that feeling, too." They admitted, feeling odd about it as they accepted the cool glass once more. Their parents were...less than understanding of their gender identity. Which was why they almost instantly agreed to rent here after hearing the low rate. It was really all they could afford after living emancipated these last two years. It was a miracle they got a track scholarship.

"There you are!" Bren turned to see Morticia giving them a half-smile as she glided over. No other word for how the woman moved. "I wanted to thank you for entertaining Gomez this morning. He is absolutely invigorated from his run with you. I do hope you enjoy the course. It isn't much, but he and Fester had such fun constructing it with the children." She insisted sweetly, a hand gently resting on their shoulder.

"It was..." They gave a weary half-smile of their own at her. "It was great, better workout than the university's track. It was fun running with Gomez."

"Wonderful! I am so glad you two athletes get along so well." She hummed, that maternal tone so foreign to them, now. It was nice. "Now you two go off to get ready for the day while Grandmama and I fix breakfast." She insisted, giving their shoulder a gentle squeeze before letting go.

The two college students were quickly shooed out, finding themselves alone once more before April started walking away, snagging her book as she went.

"I'll be in the library." April called, with them hurrying to catch up with her swaying auburn braid. Barely resisting the sudden impulse to lightly tug it.

What were they, seven?

"I'll join you." Bren insisted, only to stumble slightly and almost melt as she glanced over her shoulder at them with a glint in those emerald eyes.

"Maybe after a shower? You're tracking dirt through the house and you're a touch...sweaty. I prefer clean library companions." Her teasing tone had them blushing from stem to stern as they nodded sheepishly.

"Right, o-of course! Shower, got it. Should've thought of...yeah. I'll, um, see you later, then." Rushing up the stairs, they barely closed the door to their room before turning and leaning against it as they struggled to steady their pounding heart. Catching sight of themself in the mirror, all they saw was a mud-splattered, red-faced wreck.

Maybe scorpions weren't the thing they needed to worry about giving them a heart attack.