The night sky was dark and foreboding, illuminated only by the occasional flash of lightning that
cut through the clouds like a scythe. The wind howled and the rain pounded down in sheets,
rattling the windows of the small cottage where Joe Hawley and Ross Federman had sought
shelter.
Joe, with his signature red tie, paced back and forth nervously, his mind racing. Ross, with his
gray tie, huddled in the corner, shivering from the cold and the fear that gripped him. They were
miles from civilization, stranded in this remote, lonely place, and the storm showed no signs of
letting up.
Suddenly, a massive bolt of lightning struck a tree just outside the cottage, the thunder booming
so loudly it seemed to shake the very foundations of the building. Ross let out a terrified yelp,
clutching at Joe's arm.
"Joe, what are we going to do?" he asked, his voice trembling. "I'm scared."
Joe's heart clenched at the sight of his friend so frightened. He knew he had to do something,
but what? The storm was getting worse, and the cottage was flimsy at best. One more strike
could bring the whole thing down around their ears.
And then, in a flash of insight, it came to him. There was one way he could keep Ross safe, one
way he could protect him from the storm's fury. It was risky, it was unorthodox, but he saw no
other choice.
"Ross," he said, his voice steady and calm. "I'm going to swallow you."
Ross's eyes widened in shock. "What? Are you crazy?"
"I know it sounds insane," Joe said, "but I'm the only one who can keep you safe right now. I'm
big enough to shield you from the storm. If I swallow you, you'll be protected until this blows
over."
Ross looked at him uncertainly. Part of him wanted to refuse, to find some other way to weather
the storm. But deep down, he knew Joe was right. They were out of options.
"Okay," he said finally, his voice small and quiet. "Do it."
Joe nodded, his mind made up. He knelt down in front of Ross, opening his mouth wide. Ross
hesitated for just a moment, then climbed onto Joe's tongue, the wet warmth enveloping him like
a cocoon.
As Ross slid down Joe's throat, he felt a rush of panic. The walls of Joe's esophagus pulsed
around him, squeezing him tightly as he was drawn deeper into the hot, humid darkness of
  Joe's stomach. It was like being swallowed by a giant snake, the immense pressure and heat
threatening to crush him at any moment.
But as he sank lower and lower, Ross began to feel a strange sense of safety, of security. Joe's
stomach was a protective shell around him, shielding him from the storm's ragged edge. The
heat was intense, but it was a comfortable heat, like being wrapped in a warm blanket.
Finally, he reached the bottom of Joe's stomach, settling into the acidic pool with a soft splash.
The walls of the stomach gurgled and groaned around him, working to digest whatever bits of
food were left over from Joe's last meal. But Ross was untouched, his body impervious to the
digestive juices.
As he lay there in the darkness, Ross felt a wave of gratitude wash over him. Joe had risked his
own safety to protect him, had taken him into his own body to keep him from harm. It was a
profound act of friendship, one that Ross knew he could never fully repay.
Outside, the storm raged on, the lightning and thunder tearing through the sky. But inside Joe's
body, all was quiet and still. Ross drifted off into a peaceful sleep, lulled by the gentle swish of
the stomach acids and the steady beat of Joe's heart.
Hours passed, and slowly the storm began to subside. The thunder grew less frequent, the
lightning less intense. Joe, who had been sitting quietly, waiting for the storm to pass, felt Ross
begin to stir inside him.
Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain in his stomach, and he gasped, doubling over. Ross was trying to
get out, his small fists and feet pounding against the walls of the stomach. Joe did his best to
relax, to let his body do what came naturally, but it was a strange and uncomfortable sensation.
With a sudden, violent heave, Ross was propelled out of Joe's mouth and onto the floor of the
cottage. He lay there, gasping and coughing, his skin slick with stomach acids. Joe hurried to
his side, helping him to sit up.
"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice tinged with worry.
Ross nodded, still trying to catch his breath. "Yeah," he said, his voice hoarse. "Thanks to you."
Joe smiled, feeling a rush of relief. "Anytime," he said. "I'd do anything to keep you safe."
Ross reached out, clasping Joe's hand in his own. "I know," he said, his eyes shining with
gratitude. "I know."
And in that moment, the bond between them deepened, forged in the fire of shared experience
and mutual trust. They had weathered the storm together, in the most intimate way possible,
and had emerged stronger and closer because of it.
  As the sun began to rise, casting a pale light through the windows of the cottage, Joe and Ross
sat together, basking in the warmth of their friendship. They knew that no matter what
challenges lay ahead, they would face them together, as one.