#Parallel julius afraid of water/drowning - subaru good at swimming (and he already in canon somehow dragged out of water Two people-).

[mysticalbirdkoala]

~~~

It's not a smart decision. Quite the opposite of that, actually, bad, horrible decision – the one that is kind of terrifying for Julius. "Do you know how to swim?" and he doesn't know why his first instinct is to lie, but he shakes his head. I suppose you can't hold your breath either then?" there's a slight crack in Subaru's voice, and he has this grin that he always has when he comes up with another… special plan. Unfortunately, no, I can't. "Shit, okay," he walks in circles, and flinches when he hears the scream of cultists, searching for them, "okay, this is a bad idea, but I don't have another plan, and last time I somehow did so" he looks at Julius and this time he looks almost apologetic - "First of, hold your nose. And hold into me, and probably close your eyes too? We gonna jump." This is a bad, horrible idea because Julius can't swim, and honestly speaking is terrified of deep water, but he's not definitely not going to tell that to Subaru – well, not that he needs to, because Subaru somehow immediately understands that. "Listen, sorry, we just kinda don't have alternatives, and they gonna find us if we stay here, so" he starts babbling, as he often does when he's nervous, but unfortunately he's also right. "Fine" he's trying not sounds nervous himself, and he'd better reassure Subaru, but he just signs and grabs Subaru's waist (as careful as he can, but Subaru still mumbles something), and pinches his nose. "Ready?" He nods when he's obviously not, but they jump. Of course, when they hit cold and moving, very quickly moving water, Julius goes completely still. They’re underwater, and he closes his eyes, grimacing when he feels water in his ears. He can feel that he is holding Subaru too tight, and tries to at least help by trying to somehow use his legs, but they only tangle with Subaru’s, so he goes slack, still holding him. Finally, Subaru pushes them to the surface, and Julius finally, finally can breathe, but not for so long. Because the next moment they get pushed into some rock, and it hits Julius, hard. He accidentally lets go of Subaru, and the stream of water pushes him even farther and of course, he's panicking immediately. He's trying to move and stay on the surface but it's more useless kicking than swimming, and when he swallows water panic completely overtakes him, his moves go erratic, and… he is drowning. Again. He thinks how he hopes that Subaru is okay and safe before he loses consciousness.

Julius wakes up because of the burning feeling in his lungs. And his throat. And his ears. And his nose. He coughs and coughs, and spits so much water when he hears distant curses and feels that someone is holding him. Subaru. Who also alternates between pats and light slaps on his back, trying to help him get out all this water. Julius finally hears what's he saying, still a little distantly. "I told you to hold onto me, do you know how hard it was to find you in this water and fucking drag you out of it," he's even doesn't sound irritated as he's always trying to be, just tired and worried. "And, Jesus Christ, why are you so heavy? I'm glad you don't have your stupid cloaks with you this time at least." "It only one cloak, and I have an average weight" is the first thing that comes from Julius’s mouth when he understands that it rather should be thankful words and apologies. He still doesn’t understand how Subaru is doing this to him. "Yeah, yeah, I can see that you're perfectly fine now, you asshole." He still helps him sit somehow straight, and Julius tries not to think about how contrastingly gentle and careful Subaru touches him. So he's trying to fix his mistake. "Subaru… I'm very thankful for you saving me" again, he doesn't say, "and I'm sorry for not listening, as you can… clearly see, I'm not that good with water. Unlike you," he adds because Julius found another admiring thing about Subaru. He says that and coughs again, and his throat still hurts pretty badly, and honestly – he really feels a little bit pathetic. "Hey, easier, it's okay," Subaru’s hand again on him, stabilizing him. He looks at him, squinting, and again looks worried. "Actually, can you pull off your shirt? Or unbutton it… or whatever, I don't know how your stupid clothes work." "I find it concerning that you don't know how knights’ uniform ‘works’, considering that it's your uniform too…" "Yeah, how absolutely unforgiving, you can arrest me or something after I look at you" Subaru rolls his eyes at him and reaches to Julius’s shirt himself, so he listens to him, not even asking why. He can understand what Subaru wanted because he can feel bearable but still strong pain in his side, where the ribs are – Subaru wants to check if they are broken. So, he unbuttons his shirt and tries to check himself, hearing Subaru mumbling again. Where his ribs are on the right, there's a pretty big bruise, and it hurts when he touches it, but he doesn't feel any broken bones, and his throat still hurts, he can breathe (and apparently talk. And argue) normally. Which is very reassuring. What's not reassuring is Subaru’s looks that he throws at him, because worry fades into something unreadable to Julius, who can suddenly feel that he's starting to blush, which is still embarrassing even when he sees that Subaru’s face is also red. Who's also, unfortunately never known how to be silent, and also noticed that he’s blushing. "So ‘perfect knight’ also can be embarrassed about something? I don't know how with a body like this it's possible though," he says, and even when he suddenly stops talking and becomes even redder, it's still not helping.

~~~