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“You should use that thing instead of carrying it everywhere.”
“Use it how?”
“Ride the waves! It's easy all you have to do is . . .”
It was kinda disgusting how quickly Dante picked things up when they were explained to him. It made Eiden kinda hate him for it but not this time around, not when it was his idea to get Dante out on the water in the first place. To see his strong figure riding the swelling waves, his hair rippling behind him in the wind.
Dante was gorgeous.
“So cool!” Garu bounced at his side ears and tail out, the latter wagging a mile a minute. “Master can I try next?”
“Sure sure!” He ruffled Garu’s hair, and rubbed a bit harder when he pressed up under his hand. “As soon as Dante comes back to shore.” Eiden glanced over his shoulder. “How about it Quincy? You wanna give it a shot?” “No.”
(So fast! I barely finished speaking.) He wasn’t surprised by the response though. There was no point in asking again, so he left Quincy to his nap.
“Ah! Sun Lord Dante fell.”
“Oh?” Eiden looked forward. Yep he sure did, he could see his red head bobbing in the water. “Looks like it’s about to be your turn, Garu.”
“I can’t wait!” His tail whacked his leg with how hard it was swinging as he quivered in place. Eiden grinned, feeling excitement beginning to make him shake as well. Garu’s energy did that to you. Not to mention he wanted a turn too. Dante’s board was big, maybe Garu and he could ride together. As soon as Dante got out the water. What was taking him so long?
Eiden squinted at the rolling sea. He could still see Dante but . . .
Were his eyes playing tricks on him? Why did it look like he was going backwards rather than forwards?
Garu’s tail slowed to a stop, he was growing tense under his hand. “Master, why is Sun Lord Dante taking so long?”
“I dunno . . .” Unease was prickling along his skin.
Dante did know how to swim right? Eiden had asked him before he went out into the water and-
Wait now that he thinks about it he really didn’t get a proper answer.
(Goddamnit! Dante please. That overconfidence had to be more than just for show right?)
Eiden hadn’t blinked for a whole minute staring at the crown of Dante’s head. He wasn’t getting any closer to the shore. A wave washed over his head, Dante disappeared under the blue water.
Eiden was moving before he even realized it. Horror seizing his heart, adrenaline making him speed across the sand.
“Master!”
Eiden didn’t slow down, even as he waded knee-deep into the water and dived forward under an oncoming wave.
Never had he been so glad he was predisposed to take any and all jobs that crossed his eyes. That stint as a volunteer-lifeguard was actually about to be useful. A flash of red caught his eye. Dante was above the water, his arms working furiously to keep him afloat as he drifted away. Eiden wondered what the problem was and abruptly became aware he was moving suddenly a lot faster than how he was swimming. Like something seemed to have grabbed him by the wrists and rapidly propelled him forward.
(Shit a rip current!) He'd never swam in one but the head lifeguard that taught the volunteers at the beach had described what they were and felt like. No wonder Dante was struggling. Rip currents were short but stupid strong.
He almost almost started flailing himself before he remembered.
“Fighting a rip current is setting yourself up for death. Go with its flow until it stops pulling you. Or if you can manage it, swim off to the side of it.”
(I gotta reach Dante.)There was no way he would stop fighting the current. His essence surged beneath his skin and he jetted through the water. It was a good thing rip currents flowed one-way, he reached Dante quickly. His wide mixed eyes caught his as he came up. Eiden wrapped his arms around his waist and was clung to in return in a tight grip that nearly made him lose his breath.
“Stay still!”
“What?! Have you lost leave of your senses?!” Dante barked and sputtered as a splash of water entered his mouth. His skin was paler than caramel.
“No seriously, just chill!” Eiden gave a reassuring squeeze. “I know it sounds crazy but trying to swim into it won’t help.”
“And being pushed out to sea will?!”
“Keep struggling and we will end up there.”
Dante froze, falling silent staring at him. Eiden flashed a smile, thankful his moments calmed, and twisted in the water. “This way,” He unlatched one of his arms to point. “You can’t swim against the current, you gotta go parallel away from it until you can’t feel it anymore.” He began kicking hard, feeling the current trying to drag him off course. A second later Dante started kicking too.
It took several minutes to free themselves from the current. Once Eiden no longer felt tugging at his body he angled for the beach shore. (Just a little further.) He could see Quincy standing at the edge. Garu and Sooley were pacing up and down infront of him through the sand. Dante was quiet the entire time even when their knees met the sand in the shallow portion and they stood walking the rest of the way onto land. Garu lunging for Eiden nearly sent them back into the water.
“Master you’re okay!” His head butted under Eiden's chin as he nuzzled him.
Eiden slid his arm from around Dante. Dante did the same, his arm dropping from his body as he stepped away to sink to his knees to pet a growling Sooley, to hug him back. “Yep just fine! Sorry if I worried you by running off like that.”
“It’s okay you saved Sun Lord Dante.” Garu’s eyes shined with admiration, tail swishing with happiness. He wiggled out the loose embrace to throw his arms around Dante causing him to reel startled. “I’m so so glad you’re okay Sun Lord Dante!”
“Ah I appreciate your concern.” Dante said slowly blinking at the head lolling on his shoulder.
“GRROAR.”
Garu’s ears perked forward. “Oh! Sorry Sooley, I’ll move now.” He promptly pressed himself back into Eiden’s arms so Sooley could rub and chuff Dante. “Master why did Sun Lord Dante have so much trouble? When you got out there you both came back so easily.”
“It was a rip current.” Garu gave him a confused look. “It’s like a fast flow of water in a part of the ocean uh like river rapids but in the ocean. I knew what to do thanks to someone that taught me how to deal with one when I learned how to swim.” Eiden had been idly toying with the collar of Garu’s shirt with his fingers but stopped as he said the last few words.
He had been feeling quite proud of his rescue of Dante but it suddenly hit him, like a wave of nausea, that Dante could have died.
As strong as he was, with his abundant amount of essence, blessed by the spirits of his territory, it didn’t matter in the face of a forceful flow of water.
The thought left him chilled to his core, renewed horror clawing at his insides.
And then just as fast he was mad.
“Dante . . . you stupid fucking dumbass.”
Dante shot to his feet, offense screaming off his body. “What did you-” The rest of his words died in his throat. Eiden pinned him with a furious glare that struck him speechless.
“You should have told me you didn’t know how to swim.” Eiden hissed in a tight voice, shaking from how pissed he was. The last time he’d felt this angry was when they first met years ago.
Dante scoffed, the briefly stunned expression melting into a scowl, sweeping his dripping hair out his face over his shoulder. “Of course, I tell you about my lack of skill in that department and then endure your unwanted vainglorious talk.”
Eiden bristled; because okay, he has developed a terrible habit of teasing Dante being incapable of doing some normal silly things. But there was a huge difference between being able to tie a knot in a cherry stem with your tongue and being able to swim to keep from drowning.
“I wouldn't lord something like that over you.” He said through grit teeth, the hurt in his voice visible. It was the only way he could keep himself from yelling. He would not shout, not with Garu leaning against him sensitive ears pressed flat to his hair, his wide eyes darting back and forth between Dante and hin. “I asked because sending you out into deep water without knowing is practically murder. You could have died.” Just saying it had him shuddering.
Dante’s expression twisted and he looked away before Eiden could properly see what it was. “I would have figured it out eventually.”
(Eventually?! You'd been at the bottom of the ocean with the way you were struggling!) Eiden twitched, frustration making him huff and he switched his glare off the side as well.
“Look, all I'm saying is, if you need to know something please just ask.” With those murmured words, Eiden walked off pulling Garu with him.
“Do you feel better, Master?”
“Yeah . . .” Well he felt better in the sense he wasn't about to explode from extreme annoyance. Irritation was still bubbling under his skin but Garu’s constant pats on his head was soothing it away. His fingers slowed, ears perking and twitching angled to the side. A second later Eiden heard footsteps. He peeked around Garu’s head spying Dante walking towards them with Sooley by his side.
“Might I speak to Eiden alone?” Garu peered at Dante before nodding and giving Eiden one more pat sliding out his arm to his feet. He scampered away out of earshot and with a gesture Sooley bounded after him.
Dante sat on the sand besides Eiden, silent for a full minute. “I owe you an apology.”
An apology from Dante was super rare. Eiden tipped his head to stare into his face, taking in the utterly serious expression he wore, and how he stubbornly looked forward. He sighed shifting onto his knees and crawled into his lap.
Dante jerked, cheeks turning red. “What what do you think you're doing?!”
“I'll accept your apology, only if you hug me.”
Dante stared down at him in disbelief. He met the gaze with a deadly serious look in return. “You such childishness.” Dante huffed under his breath exasperated but his arms were winding around Eiden regardless.
Eiden happily hugged him back leaning into the embrace breathing in the scent of the sea mixed with Dante's usual smell.
“I am sorry,” Dante spoke slowly, the smallest bit of regret in his voice. “For harming you with my words.”
“Apology accepted,” Eiden squeezed him tighter. “And I’m sorry too. I shouldn’t have called you a dumbass. I was just worried, scared really. I thought I was gonna have a heart-attack.”
“He said that too, that you worry constantly.”
“Quincy?” Dante nodded chin brushing his shoulder. “Well he’s right. I do worry alot. I mean, I know I shouldn’t because you’re so strong, you could take on forty bandits with your arms tied behind your back and blindfolded.” Dante pulled back to give him an unimpressed look. He grinned back, “Even knowing that I’d still worry about you.”
Dante scoffed, “Ridiculous.” But there was a certain shine in his eyes that made them look soft. He cleared his throat. “I owe you my thanks for saving me.”
“I'll take a kiss too, when you thank me.”
“Shameless.” Was the immediate response coupled with a blush. Regardless he cupped his face and pressed their lips together.
Eiden made a noise of surprise and melted into the kiss. (This guy . . . He's becoming a kissing fiend just like Quincy.)
Dante pulled drew back meeting his eyes. “Thank you.” The sincerity had him feeling warm all over.
“You're welcome. If you do go back out into the water please be careful.”
“I'll endeavor to do so.”
Eiden twisted in his lap so his back was against his chest and was pleased Dante arms came around his middle. He leaned back watching Garu and Sooley run chasing each other across the sand.