Chapter Text
For some reason, the only thought Grace had while running towards the beach was that the sand was still warm even though it was already past darkness. A weird thought. Too simple. Like her mind was trying to distract itself from the bad feeling she'd had since the moment she'd run down the wooden stairs of the beach house.
Grace could see the ocean and the storm on the horizon, the moon was shining brightly tonight. She slowed down and tried to steady her breathing. She needed to be calm. She needed to pretend everything was alright. A few more steps, almost to the edge of the water.
“Apollo?”
He was standing ankle-deep in the waves, looking at the ocean, he couldn't see her coming, but he didn't flinch at her words, just turned his head slightly.
“I knew you'd find me here.”
Grace tried to smile. It almost worked.
“Well, yeah, I woke up, and you were gone. I figured...” she hesitated for a second. “I thought you had gone for a walk.”
Apollo chuckled and turned away, tucking his hands in his pockets. Like it was his safe space. But it was actually a sign he was shutting her out again.
“I guess you could say that,” he said quietly.
Grace glanced at the storm again, it was getting closer. And the waves clearly got bigger. No lightnings or thunder, though. Unusual.
“Not the best time to be out here. Let's go home.”
But Apollo didn't seem to hear. He was still looking at the ocean.
After a few moments he said almost inaudibly, “You know, when I went surfing that day, I really wanted it to be over.”
Grace froze. Apollo had never admitted it was that bad before. She suspected that was the case, but to hear him say it... it was too much. Too real.
Like that small world they'd been building started to fall apart.
She took a step forward, ignoring the cold water now washing over her feet.
“Come on, love, let’s go home.”
This time, Apollo flinched and looked back at her, there was a hint of hesitation in his eyes.
“The storm is coming, we really need to go," Grace took another step forward and held out her hand.
Apollo turned away, and his shoulders tensed. His head hung low.
“I really wanted it to be over,” his voice was strained. “I thought it was the only happy ending I deserved.”
"The only ending you deserved?" Grace felt a mix of anger and pain. "How can you even say that?"
Apollo didn't turn, just shook his head.
"You know what I've done."
"And you know what I think about it!" Grace waved her hands at him like he could actually see her.
"It doesn't matter. I really don't deserve you," Apollo rubbed his face and it looked like he was wiping away tears. Or water droplets.
The waves got even bigger, and Grace had to step back. The wind started howling, and she could barely hear her own voice.
“Apollo, you need to get out of the water!” she felt panic rising up inside. “Please, let's go home!”
He turned to her again, his lips moved like he wanted to say something, but the next moment a huge wave crashed on him, and he disappeared into the water.
Grace woke up with a silent “No!” stuck in her throat. She looked around and realized that she was still in bed. The room around her was dark and quiet. She rubbed her face with both hands, everything was too real, she couldn't believe it was just a nightmare. Another nightmare. Not the first. And certainly not the last.
Grace glanced to her right. She knew exactly what she would see, but her heart was still hammering in her ears.
Apollo was sleeping soundly on his side of the bed with his back to her. Alive. Safe.
Grace let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding. She lay down on her side and pressed her forehead against Apollo's back. He was warm, too warm for a normal person, but she was used to it. He was her personal radiator. It really helped in winters. Summers were tough, though. She smiled at the thought.
Grace used to think that Apollo was all-sad-no-fun type of guy. But it seemed he just needed someone like her in his life. She still had no idea how she managed to fell so hard for him. He wasn't even her type to begin with. But there she was, listening to his breathing and having stupid nightmares. Grace rubbed her forehead against Apollo's back and shut her eyes. She'd been trying to avoid the topic for too long and now it was haunting her.
Apollo stirred in his sleep, then suddenly rolled around and pulled Grace into a cuddle. She huffed, half-annoyed, half-relieved, freed her left arm, and hugged him back, trying to get comfortable. Their usual routine, it was nice, safe and grounding. She placed her head under his chin, feeling his beard scratch her forehead. His steady breathing calmed her down, and eventually she started drifting back to sleep. No more nightmares for now.