Work Text:
“Ever been fishing, my dear?”
“Never even seen water that colour, much less with things living in it.”
Vi looked over the edge of the dock with curiosity, the blue-green water so clear she could see the rocks and logs and algae plants that decorated the bottom. Small minnows darted around, tadpoles bunched together around some pond scum, a couple larger fish swam lazily past, and even a turtle darted out from under the dock to swim hastily to the reeds at the edge of the lake.
Beside her Caitlyn’s dad, Tobias, she reminded herself he preferred she call him, was standing holding two rods and an oar. When she glanced back to look at him he smiled and nodded his head over to the small boat that sat at the edge of the dock, rocking gently in the water.
“You’re in luck then. No better way to waste an afternoon.”
Vi could think of a lot of different ways that would probably be better, but since half of them concerned the daughter of the man holding what was essentially a giant bludgeoning weapon, right beside a giant lake, she kept her mouth shut and just faked looking thoughtful and interested.
Tobias smiled. “Come along then.”
He tossed the oar into the boat, laid the rods down a bit more gently, and beckoned for Vi to get in first with a hand outstretched. She delicately took it and her first step, instantly hating how the boat swayed as soon as she set weight on it.
Trying not to look like she hated it as much as she felt, Vi gingerly went into a half-crouch crawl into the boat and sat down, looking over the edge just as a giant leech the size of her fucking wrist wriggled merrily through the water right alongside the hull and Vi’s stomach dropped.
Tobias climbed into the boat with ease and pushed off the dock, sending the boat drifting out into the water and Vi suddenly realized that she was now stuck out here, on this little creaky boat, trapped in the middle of deep, wide, monster-filled lake and if she tried to back out she would hurt both her pride and Tobias’ feelings and right now she didn’t know which would be worse.
The sound of the oar dipping in and through the water was the only noise for a good minute, other than Tobias humming something too quietly for Vi to really catch.
“Good looking spot over there.” He said, pointing with a jut of his chin. Vi twisted to look, too quickly and the boat rocked. She grabbed onto the side in panic and Tobias let out a laugh. “Careful now!”
Vi just nodded, face green.
The boat pulled up to the spot Tobias had settled on, a slightly shaded little area with lollipops and cattails and a fallen tree sticking halfway out of the water. Vi could hear crickets, birds in the trees, a couple of frogs croaking, the hum of dragonflies wizzing around to eat the little clouds of small black flies buzzing around the surface of the water.
Okay, she could admit it was pretty nice.
“Tell me, Vi,” Her enjoyment of nature was interrupted by Tobias opening the tackle box and inspecting the lures. “How confident are we feeling?”
“What do you mean?” Vi asked, watching him shift through shiny gold and feathery blue options.
“Well,” he hummed, finally selecting one and holding it up. “I wouldn’t want to lure you into a false sense of security. This can be a reel challenge for beginners. It might take a while for you to catch on.”
Vi stared.
“Now I don’t want to cast any doubt, we’re all angling for a good time. We need to a-perch-iate the day.”
Oh.
The grin on Tobias’ face was completely without shame.
“Boat, I shouldn’t drag this out. Which one has you feeling lure-cky?” He reached down and brought up his hands to hold two lures, dangling and shining in the sun.
Oh no.
Vi stared, slightly slack jawed, at the shiny metal lures Tobias was holding, brain processing. She looked between the two hanging tackle and over at the man who held them with a delightful gleam in his eyes.
”Uh, that one?” She asked, pointing at the blue lure in his left hand.
His smile only widened, wrinkling the corners of his eyes in a way so similar to Caitlyn’s smile. “Ah, of course. A blue-tiful choice.”
He handed the lure over and Vi held onto it dimly while she watched Tobias take his own line and demonstrate how to attach the lure. He tugged at the line firmly and nodded at it, looking over at Vi expectantly.
Vi grinned weakly and stared down at the lure in her hand.
“Don’t fret dear, fishing is a wonderful activity.” Tobias patted her knee kindly. “You’ll be hooked in no time.”
“Did you have a nice time, love?” Caitlyn asked much later that afternoon when Vi walked into the kitchen of the cottage, tossing her bucket hat onto the counter and ignoring the little pert frown Caitlyn made at that.
“Yeah, uh, it was… we caught some stuff.”
“Some stuff?” Caitlyn repeated, holding out her arms for a hug. Vi walked directly into it, slumping her head down onto Caitlyn’s shoulder as she sank against the warm body. Caitlyn let out a light chuckle. “Were any of them fish?”
Vi nodded. “Yeah, some big ones, I can’t remember what your dad said they were called. He’s cleaning them outside right now.”
Running her finger lightly up and down Vi’s back, Caitlyn hummed in response. As Vi stayed in the slumped hug Caitlyn gave her a light squeeze, looking down at her best she could. “Are you alright? Did you get too much sun?”
Vi shook her head, groaning into Cait’s warm embrace.
“Your dad told so many puns.”
Caitlyn laughed, a bright noise that echoed in the room, stroking Vi’s hair down the her head to the nap of her neck and giving her a light kiss on the top of her head. “That just means he likes you.” She said, resting her hand lightly on Vi’s back.
Vi sighed into the hug and stepped back, though Caitlyn’s hand stayed on her back, thumb still rubbing affectionately. “Yeah?”
“Of course,” Caitlyn smiled fondly. “It means he thinks you’re pun-derful.”
Vi made a face as Caitlyn laughed again, bringing her in for another quick kiss. “I’m happy he’s taken to you so well. We’ll let the cooks handle the meal, but I can’t wait to see what you caught.”
“Oh, you wanna go find a mirror then?” Vi teased. ”Because I think you’re a reel catch.” Caitlyn scoffed, though she was smiling, and nudged at Vi with her hip and an exaggerated roll of her eyes.
“And that is exactly why I knew you two would get along.”