The sun rose once again on the searching planes of rural Uganda, illuminating the mounting piles of bodies- both human and otherwise- as well as the stunted buildings that were splattered about. People were already pacing the streets, struggling to find enough work to earn the shillings needed to feed their families mouths.

Among the derelict streets stood a building that, although still as disheveled as the rest, rose above the rest like the God that had once been worshipped there. The sign that once bore the phrase 'The church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints' had now been crudely redone to remind the village of the changes that Arnold Cunningham had brought upon them.

Kevin Price sat underneath the largest tree he could find, hoping that the shade would offer some sort of respite from the unrelenting heat. 6 months in Uganda and he still wasnt used to the climate change. Orlando wouldn't be this warm- he shook his head. This was where he was meant to be.

He cradled the red fronted book that had taken so long to come back from the printers. The Book of Arnold was a completely uninspired name choice by his beloved travel companion but he couldn't blame him- he'd changed the minds and hearts of so many people with these farfetched stories.

"You look really concentrated buddy, what's got you down?" Arnold grinned, leaning over into Kevin's personal space to look into his companion's eyes.

Kevin scoffed and shoved Arnold's shoulder, shooting him into Nabulungi who gasped in shock as she caught her boyfriend in an embrace. Kevin averted his eyes, jealousy piercing his chest. Naba and Arnold had been together nearly two months now and Kevin hadn't even found anyone here who he was attracted to or who seemed interested in him. For heavenly father's sake, look at him! He was pretty perfect, even if he said so, so this was irking him to no end.

"Hey buddy!" A chirpy voice followed by a shock of water to his face stunned him out of his self absorbed mental rant.

Kevin spluttered unceremoniously, swiping angrily to clear his eyes before glaring up at his hydro-assaulter. His eyes were met with the sight of Elder Mckinley grinning boyishly down at him clutching a dirty and battered plastic cup that no doubt had been full up until a few seconds ago.

"Good one Elder M!" Arnold jumped up and gestured for them to high five which was willingly obliged by both of them.

"Elders seriously?! Some of us are actually working!"

"Kevin I wrote the book you are studying! For once, I'm the awesomest"

"Arnold, awesomest is not a word"

"Yes it so is. I might even rewrite The Book of Arnold just to add it in" Arnold pouted, sticking his tongue out childishly at Kevin.

"You can't! We've handed out so many already and it took forever to get the copies back from the US"

"I can do what I want, I'm the best"

"I think that's-"

Their elevating love filled bickering was reaching a new high, even to Arnold's ever loving girlfriend but even she didn't welcome the forthcoming interruption. A shadow cast down on the group, causing all four to turn to look towards the source. Elder Butt Fucking Naked, or Ben as they had more than happily renamed him when he was baptised into the church, stood just off to the side of them.

His rifle, which he had insisted that he be allowed to keep after adhering to the rules of disbanding his terror group, was slung haphazardly across his shoulder. Of course Arnold had told him time and time again that there was no need to keep it considering he was the only terror they had needed protection from.

"Do we not have somewhere to be getting to, Elder Cunningham and Sister Nabulungi?"

The couple shot slightly reluctant looks to the remainder of their happy group before standing up and moving towards the intimidating Elder. It had seemed that the Elder had taken to The Book of Arnold more than everyone else, putting more effort and an excess of surprise into the work. Apparently once he was passionate for one thing, he poured his heart into his work. The dedication, although Arnold was glad he wasn't killing anyone, was just as scary as his former line of work.

"I-I'm sorry Elder Price. I didn't know it would upset you that much"

Kevin looked once again towards the mission leader, taking the sight of him in. Poor Elder was scrawny and a bit sickly considering how long he had spent in Uganda- you'd think the poor kid would have been able to retain some sort of tan by now. He wasn't going to get any woman with that look. Maybe Kevin could help him sort his appeal out a bit. In the time that he'd known him the only interaction of a female kind had been with Nabulungi but that couldn't be counted. She only had eyes for one guy.

"Elder Mckinley whilst it was uncalled for, I'm grateful. This heat and white shirts don't really seem to work well together" Elder Price chuckled, pulling at his shirt in an attempt to lift the shirt from his slick skin.

Connor's eyes drifted down almost unconsciously, mentally taking in the sight of Kevin's shirt stuck to him in all of the right places. Thank god for Ugandan heat. No. Turn it off. His head snapped up to meet the taller Elder's eyes and he cemented on his typical facade.

"Oh don't worry about that Elder! I'm sure you won't get many complaints!" Connor smiled before mentally hitting himself. Connor that is not off! As long as he was noticing how gloriously muscled the Elder was, even if it was passing it off as a stupid compliment, it was definitely not off.

"Yes of course Elder! I shouldn't have to deprive the Ugandans from looking at me" Kevin realised combing his fingers through his hair unconsciously. It was getting a bit too long now but barbers weren't really a necessary commodity in the middle of nowhere.

"Now Elder, it's getting near to lunch so would you like to join the rest of us? I will be cooking so I can assure it definitely won't be poptarts" Connor smiled warmly, hoping to project an air of friendship to the other. The conversation up until this point had been stilted and awkward.

As if on cue Kevin's stomach rumbled loudly, reminding him that he had skipped breakfast in an attempt to get both some quiet and space to study. He blushed lightly, rose tinting the tops of his cheeks as he laughed.

"I'm glad you mentioned something Elder. I think I would've starved to death otherwise"

Connor blushed as well, mimicking his counterpart but for entirely different reasons. How he'd love for him to- No turn it off! He swallowed but met Elder Price's eyes once again.

"Elder Price please- We've known each other long enough now I believe. I would really appreciate it if you would call me Connor?"

Kevin looked a little taken aback as he replayed the sentence in his mind but unfortunately to Connor's untrained eyes what he saw was disgust and rejection. Stupid, stupid turn it off off off!

"I-I mean... I- Elder Price, it's disrespectful I'm sorry-"

"I've never heard your name before Eld- Connor. Connor, please offer me the same." Kevin laughed lightly "Sorry, it's like hearing your teacher's name for the first time"

Connor let out a shuddering breath, the relief coursing through his veins that thrummed to life. Being near any attractive guy seemed to give him this effect but it was so, so much worse around Kevin.

"Kevin" The Elder grinned, sticking his hand out towards the starstruck elder who shook it after a second.

Connor repeated the name softly to himself, rolling it around his tongue quietly. It worked perfectly for him. Handsome by name after all...

Kevin laid a hand onto Connor's shoulder, offering him a heart melting smile whilst he did. "Let's get back to the others before they send out a search party for their leader"

Connor practically died in that exact moment. If nothing else happened in his life he would be the happiest he had been in years in those 30 seconds. These thoughts were so wrong but so sinfully right. Even if he had messed everything else up in his life, he had this new mission and his new friends.

Friends.