Chapter Text
A bit later, Cassian was waiting for Nesta on the boat, trying to catch a bit of Z’s while the ladies did whatever they needed to her. He pried his eyes open when he heard familiar raging steps coming from the docks. As expected, Nesta was just making her way back to the boat and she didn't look that happy. The big guy assumed something got to her and just sighed. “All right.” He got up from his napping spot and revved up the boat’s engine. While Nesta made her way down to the boat, Cassian finished up with the ropes “This is untied. Hop on in.” He said, still a bit tired as he went to secure everything when the boat suddenly rushed off and away from the docks. He almost fell overboard by this and turned to see that Nesta was driving. “HEY!” He got up, holding onto the seats to keep his balance. “Hey, hey, hey! WHOA! What... Mind telling me what the hell's wrong?!” He asked rather bewildered.
Nesta looked distraught as she said. “I needed to get away from everybody!”
“What's wrong?!” Cassian asked again, managing to take a seat before Nesta could make another wild move.
“Nothing! Just stop talking, please!” Nesta snapped as she drove the boat as far from the docks and basically in the middle of the lake. She had no intention of stopping.
Cassian, still confused on why she’s doing this, asked again. “Would you mind telling me
what's happening now?!” He looked at her while making sure she didn't crash them into a buoy or something. When she didn't respond he called her name. “Nesta?!” He said but when she still refused to answer, he called again. “Nesta!!!”
Nesta then broke her walls. “I FORGOT, OK?!”
“You forgot what?!” Cassian asked, still holding on for dear life.
Nesta’s grip on the wheel tightened. “I forgot what it was like to have a family!” She said, still distraught. “I've been on my own since I was 16!” She continued. “... And I forgot what it felt like to have people love you and make you breakfast, and say, "Hey! We'd love to come down for the holidays!" And I say, "Well, why don't we come up and see you instead?" She said while Cassien focused on her and forward as she spoke all of this. “... And give you necklaces! And you have all that here, and you have Tania, and I'm just screwing it up!” She screamed a little before Cassian retaliated.
“Hey, you're not screwing it up! I agreed to this! You were there, remember?!” He said, reminding her that they were in this whole ass mess together.
Nesta shook her head a little. “Your family loves you! Do you know that?!” She asked. Not only because she wanted him to know that, but because she was dragging him and his family deeper into things that aren't even true or legal.
“I know that! Yes!” Cassian nods at her question.
Nesta finally got to fully look at him. “You're willing to put them through this?!”
“They're not gonna find out!” Cassian glared at her as if the question itself was ridiculous.
“How do you know?!” Nesta asked again, still looking at him.
“Because you said so yourself!!!” He argued.
“But what if Mor-” Nesta then realized, making her let go of the wheel. “Oh, my God- If Mor found out!”
“WHOA! NESTA! WHAT THE HELL!” Cassian got a hold of the wheel as they exchanged seats and made the boat wobble a bit through this ordeal.
Nesta continued. “Oh, my God! What if Rhys finds out?!”
“The boat is moving! You can’t just-” Cassian tried to get her to her senses but she just kept at it.
“Cass, if Rhys finds out, he's gonna have a heart attack!” Nesta said, now taking notice of the extent of their problems.
“It's gonna be fine!” Cassien tried to reassure her.
“He's gonna have a heart attack!” Nesta repeated
“We’re gonna be fine-” Cassian said but noticed the buoy in front of them. “Hold on!” He turned the boat in time, but in doing so, Nesta fell off into the water. “Listen, I don't think that hijacking a boat is a proper way to express your frustration!” Cassian said, still not taking notice of Nesta’s fall. “Now... Oh, great. Now you decide to shut up!” He turned to see her gone and literally struggling to stay afloat. “Nesta?!”
“C-Cassian!” Nesta called to him, nearly going under.
Cassian cursed seeing this. “Nesta?!”
Nesta coughed hard, still trying to stay afloat “Cassian!
“Nesta!” Cassian turned the boat as fast as he could and made his way towards her.
Nesta was in trouble. She can’t do long distances, even less staying afloat when frustrated and probably disoriented. “I can't stay up much longer!”
“Nesta! To the buoy!” Cassian waved his hand to the side a little.
Nesta couldn't hear him within her struggles and the water in her ears. “What?!”
“To the buoy!!” He screamed a little louder.
Nesta looked behind her and saw the red old buoy. “O-OK!” She coughed as she managed to swim her way and grab onto the bars.
Cassian slowed down as saw her heaving and coughing, holding onto the buoy for dear life. He set the boat next to her and reached out his hand for her. “All right, come on! Give me your hand!” He said but Nesta wouldn’t budge. He then said more sternly. “Hey! Give me your hand!” She snapped a little out of her scare but still wouldn't move much. “Nesta!” Cassian tried again with his stern tone. Nesta tried to reach for his hand. “Give me-” Cassian tried to grab her but she missed, still not sure if she would get pulled out of the water or go under. “Come on, give me your hand!” He said as she finally got hold of his hand, giving him the chance to pull her back onto the boat. “Come on, come on. I got you. I got you.” He carried her and sat her down. He searched the boat and got an emergency blanket, just in case something like this happened. “I got you.” He reassured her, wrapping the blanket around her. Nesta was shivering violently. “Come on. God, what the hell were you thinking?” Cassian asked, still stern but it was more softer this time. “You could've gotten yourself killed.”
Nesta stammered on her words and failed to keep her tone sharp. “Y-You turned the boat… a-and made me fall in, y-you jackass..”
“You let go of the steering wheel, Nes..” He said, sitting next to her and pulling her into his embrace.
Nesta sobbed a little. “I'm sorry.. I'm sorry.”
“It’s all right, come here.” Cassian didn’t say anything else as he just rubbed her arm to keep her warm while whispering. “You've got to get warm. Come on..” She sobbed again, clinging onto him. “Come on. It's ok… That's ok, it's ok…” He kept her close, letting her calm down from this harsh experience. He himself started to reconsider their choices in the matter but then again… seeing her so vulnerable before and after this accident… it was hard to back down… he would do anything for her, not because she was his boss.. but because he had hopelessly fallen hard for her. He stared into the vastness of the lake, feeling her calm down but still shivering. He didn’t let go… He never wanted to let go.