#i. drew a low effort comic today that was meant to be low effort but i'm still nitpicking tiny bits of it

[moe-broey]

EMBARRASSED...

[undertalethingems]

Unexpected Guests Fic Extra: Feeling Spine

I finally have another fic extra to share! We’re long overdue for some blaster shenanigans, and this chapter focuses almost entirely on our favorite skeletal beasts! 1.8k and taking place between Chapter 5 and 6 of the comic, it’s something of a flashback to simpler times...

Sans’ blaster basks on a warm summer day, but the peace is soon disturbed... by a simple chunk of wood lodging itself in places it doesn’t belong.

It was a beautiful day outside.

Birds were singing...

Flowers were blooming...

A giant skeletal creature stretched, its bones scraping against one another as it shifted. It yawned widely, then flopped heavily on its side. Oh yeah. This was great. The sun was warm, the grass was cool... It drew a deep, contented sigh.

Everything was okay. There was no fear coming from its caster today, only a low current of fatigue and mild amusement. The casters and their human friend were away somewhere to have fun. They didn't need protecting right now.

Sans' blaster stretched again, talons stretching wide before it curled them up to its chest and wriggled in the overgrown grass, brushing it against its bones, scratching and scraping. With a huff, it rolled to its other side and wriggled again, uttering contented clucks as it kicked and writhed comically before flopping with limbs outstretched. It heaved another deep breath, and closed its eyes.

A twinge.

The blaster opened its eyes. Something wasn't right. The twinge came again--a prod in its spine. It lifted its head to inspect--no, there was nothing touching it. But it still felt... bad. The blaster grumbled, laying its head back down. But ignoring the sensation did nothing--it just kept pinging again and again. Unable to stand it any longer, the blaster rolled onto its belly and stood, then shook itself with an almighty clatter to dislodge whatever was causing the issue. Mid-shake, the blaster spasmed, then froze, uttering a distressed whine.

The feeling was worse.

A sharp pressure had wedged itself into the blaster's back. Panting, it tried to turn and arch its neck to see what was bothering it--but could only just make out something dark caught between its vertebrae. It strained to reach with its neck, then its hand, then scratching at it with a foot, all to no avail. It wasn't flexible enough. With a rasp, it flopped back to the ground, rolling and scratching to dislodge the debris caught in its back. It got up and tried to shake--only to shudder.

Its efforts hadn’t worked, and the thing was still there.

It uttered a frustrated groan, eyes darting as it thought. There! It shuffled to the nearest tree and rubbed against it, scraping and scratching and sending a hail of bark showering down. But the thing wouldn't budge. The blaster growled, and gingerly shook itself again before ambling off. It needed help.

Stumbling sideways, it made its way closer to the house and called. In an instant, Papyrus' blaster had come trotting, distracted from chewing apart one of the remaining spare tires it had been given to play with. It tilted its head and trilled curiously, and Sans' attack replied with a mournful hoot as it laid down. It tossed its head over its back and made small nibbling motions, showing where it wanted to be preened and made little whiny noises. Papyrus blaster looked it over, then ambled closer, sniffing and inspecting for what didn't belong. It found it--a small chunk of wood was jammed into it's sibling's spine. It clucked, and tried to pull the debris out with its teeth, but couldn't get a grip--the wood wedged too deeply, its teeth too imprecise. It huffed, and clumsily raised a claw to dig at the offending particle. Sans' blaster watched nervously, wincing occasionally as the other tried its best to remove what ailed it.

But no matter how much Papyrus' blaster poked and prodded, the scrap stayed. It gave Sans' attack an apologetic warble and laid down next to it, fussing. Sans' blaster sighed, trying to ignore the sensation for a while before getting up once more. It had to get rid of that thing.

It scraped up against more trees, rolled in the brush, shook and rattled its bones. But no matter what it did, the wood fragment remained, and it was now caked in torn grass and bark from the attempts to remove it. Nothing had worked.

Sans' attack threw its head to the sky and gave an anguished howl, then flopped to the ground. It had been defeated. There was nothing left to do but accept its miserable fate.

Papyrus' attack circled it nervously a few times, then searched around before finding a sizable stick to toss at it. But Sans' attack wasn't interested in fetch, only huffing a sigh as the stick clattered down in front of it. Papyrus' attack wouldn't be dissuaded so quickly--yipping, it bounced and danced comically, trying to catch the other blaster's attention and take its mind off its troubles.

But Sans' attack could only give it a sad look before closing its eyes. This was the end...

Papyrus' wouldn't stand for this! It nudged and bumped against its companion, to no avail. There had to be something it could do... Perhaps...

A hum rose, and Sans' attack snapped its eyes open. It sprung up, darting out of the way as a beam of light seared into the ground it had just been laying on. It gave a questioning look to Papyrus' as it huffed lingering steam from its jaws, and only got an annoyed rumble in reply. It stepped forward, and extended a talon to press it to the ground. The meaning was clear: hold still.

Papryus' blaster braced itself, and light gathered in its jaws again.

Sans' attack wasn't entirely sure blasting the debris was a good solution.

It rolled again, scrambling up to run. Every step sent a pang down the blaster's spine, but it was even less willing to find out what getting blasted felt like. Papyrus' attack coughed with surprise, its beam fizzling out as its concentration broke--but it quickly gave chase, determined to help.

Sans' blaster was good at moving quickly in short bursts. Papyrus' attack was far better at running long distances over open ground. And so, having laid in the middle of a large, open yard, Sans' attack soon found whatever lead it had vanished. Papyrus' attack had caught up and was galloping alongside it. Sans' attack managed to dodge a swipe meant to knock it over, but Papyrus' flapped, using the force to propel itself forward and tackle its target. They tumbled together with a yelp, only for Sans' attack to break free once more and lunge for the trees. Maybe it could hide and wallow in misery there.

But Papyrus' attack wasn't giving up and dove into the underbrush after it, even as it had to duck and weave through increasingly thick forest. Focused on the pursuit, it misjudged a leap and tripped over a fallen log--but, undaunted, it shook the debris off and vaulted skyward. Sans' looked back, and saw it was no longer being chased--

Only for the trees above it to explode as Papyrus' struck from above. It tumbled with a surprised yelp, only just managing to wriggle free and dart out of the other blaster's reach. Scrambling, it surged forward, breathing in ragged gasps. It couldn't run forever--it had to find a place to hide.

But the forest had other ideas. As the blaster ran, the ground fell away into a deep ravine, and it yelped as its footing vanished. It sailed, plunging down--and stopped with a thud. The blaster blinked. It hadn't hit the ground, which still lay in front of it. Its back spines had wedged into the close-growing fork of a tree, and it hung, suspended some ten feet high.

This was weird. It wasn't equipped to handle a situation like this.

The whipping of giant wings sounded overhead, and the canopy cracked again as Papyrus' blaster descended through it. It touched down, shook and folded its wings--then yelped when it noticed its companion's predicament. It circled, trying to understand the situation; apparently coming to a solution, it finally reared up and placed its forelimbs higher on the tree's main branches, pushing them apart. Sans' blaster tumbled free, landing unceremoniously with a giant thud. It twitched, then groaned, and made no further effort to move. Completely exhausted, it was done.

Papyrus' blaster tilted its head from side to side, then grasped the other by the nape and began the lengthy process of dragging it back home. When they finally broke from the trees, Papyrus was in the backyard looking for them. His blaster dropped Sans' and called, and he broke into a run to see what had happened.

"What in the name of bones have you two gotten into?!" he scolded as he reached them, and the blaster whined. It pawed at Sans', who still lay on the ground, half-dazed and tangled in a variety of plant debris. Papyrus shook his head. "And what's the matter with you? Too lazy to walk? Geez, you really are like Sans."

Sans' attack whined--but it was a small, sad sound unlike Papyrus had ever heard it utter before. He frowned, and looked up when his own blaster nudged him, worry in its eyes. It left his side to begin picking off some of the debris, then seemed to remember something and begin fussing and pulling at one particular spot on the other's spine. Papyrus felt his own back twinge in sympathy, and hurried closer. He shooed his blaster away and knelt to get a better look--and discovered the problem.

"That looks extraordinarily unpleasant, my big, bony companion! How did you manage that?"

It uttered a miserable groan.

"Well, no matter! Your ever-reliable and dexterous friend Papyrus is on the case!"

He tugged at the chunk of wood, but it was well and truly stuck, jammed in deep and caked with dirt and grass. He drew back to consider his options, tapping his chin with a finger--but after only a moment more of consideration, he summoned a pair of tiny bones on either end of the chunk and smashed them inward. The wood finally splintered and fell free, and the blaster visibly relaxed, sinking into the ground with a relieved sigh. Papyrus patted it and stood, pleased with himself.

"There you go! Perhaps I should go into chiropractory for dragons! My intimate knowledge of bones and personal, hands-on experience will surely be useful. It's foolproof!"

Sans' blaster rolled onto its belly stiffly, then got up just enough to push its skull into Papyrus' chest gratefully. He returned the gesture by hugging it, and brushed off some of the junk that still clung to its crests. Having given its thanks, the worn-out blaster flopped back down. Papyrus slipped out of the way, narrowly avoiding getting his feet trapped under the blaster's jaw.

"Oh, come now! You look like you need a full spa day--both of you! I don't think I can get limes big enough to cover your eyes... which is fine, because I guess it's not limes anyway. I wonder if they make giant cucumber slices... Well, I'll just use a lot of them! Nyeh heh! Let's go to the house so we can get started!"

His blaster picked Sans' up again, and Papyrus hurried off to gather his supplies. Finally free of the object that had tormented it, Sans' blaster merely went along with the activities. It dozed off as Papyrus scrubbed and soaked the grime it had collected away, and the sun warmed and dried its weary bones. Despite everything...

It was still a beautiful day.

[im-genie-for-your-wish]

“That’s my dragon.” [D.O.] (8/12)

Group: EXO Member: D.O Word Count: 1829 (chapter) / 13156 (total) Summary: Do Kyungsoo, stereotypical brooding genius who doesn't really play any role in your life... Until Dame Boah declares the two of you must take care of an dragon egg together to see who gets the chance to become a full-fledged Dragon Rider. With the stakes raised sky high, you struggle with your newfound archnemesis and your tumultuous relationship with him, learning a little (a lot?) about yourself along the way. Tags: Enemies to lovers

PART I  |  Part II  |  Part III  |  Part IV  |  Part V  |  Part VI  |  Part VII  |  Part VIII  |  Part IX  |  Part X  |  Part XI  |  Part XII  |  All

“Left.”

You launched your left fist forward, burying it deep into Minho’s padded hand. The trainer grunted once in approval.

“Right.”

Repeating the motion with your right fist, your mind wandered as muscle memory took over.

“Upper kick.”

You swiveled around, using one foot as a focal point as you extended your leg and smacked the strike pad straight off Minho’s hand. Your friend sighed. He tracked the trajectory of the runaway pad and turned to look at you.

“What’s up?”

You brushed a damp strand of hair away from your forehead. “Nothing.” Though the air was chilly with the upcoming hints of fall, you still sweat profusely during outdoor training sessions.

Minho looked in the direction of the pad and then back at you. You gave him your sweetest smile.

He crossed his arms. “I’m not getting that.”

“Ugh, fine. You’re such a…” You trailed off, grumbling all the while as you jogged over and picked up the offending item. You dropped it in front of Minho’s feet with a hmph. As if you were going to hand it to him. As Minho readjusted it on his hand, you summoned the courage to ask your burning question. “Minho, have you ever...you know...liked me?”

Minho whirled around. You blocked his punch with a swift arm movement, knocking his hand out of the way.

“Sorry,” he said with a cheeky smile, “just making sure you were still you.”

Understandable. You drummed your fingers on your knee. “It’s just—we've been friends for forever, and I’ve never liked you. Have you ever liked me?”

Minho threw another punch your way. “No, why are you asking though?” His eyes widened to comical proportions. “Do you like me?”

“I just said I didn’t like you!” you screeched, assaulting Minho with a barrage of punches.

“Good! Good!” he crowed. “You were holding back earlier. Usually you’d have kicked off both my mitts by now.”

You rolled your eyes and confirmed your question had been answered. People could just be friends without any weird feelings—unless of course you counted the feeling of pure unadulterated vexation as strange. While that answered one question, it raised another. What did you feel about Kyungsoo?

For the next month, you kept this question at the back of your mind. You enjoyed spending time with him sure, but did you really like him? He annoyed you to no end with his neat freak cleanliness levels, and you found some days you weren’t in the mood for his jokes. But other times you wanted nothing more than to poke his cheeks and hang out with him for the entirety of your day.

It was one of the latter days when Dame Boah called you and Kyungsoo out for a training session. You swung an arm around Kyungsoo’s shoulder. “Good luck out there today. You’ll need it.”

Kyungsoo laughed before slipping out from under your grasp and clambered up on Kel’s back. Kel, a pale yellow Asian Acidwing, was Kyungsoo’s choice of training steed. You, of course, stuck to your old buddy Bam.

“You’ll help me win, right?” you asked, stroking Bam’s snout. The black dragon huffed in agreement, and you climbed up the riggings of the saddle with ease. Having flown this course a million times before, you guaranteed victory.

“Don’t get cocky!” called Kyungsoo as he fastened his goggles. “Playing it safe will only result in your loss.”

“As if I could lose,” you hollered back, strapping on your goggles as well. Leaning forward, you kept your ears primed for Dame Boah’s signal. The instant the shot rang through the air, you were off. Bam’s powerful wings created a vortex of wind, and you gripped onto the pommel of the saddle, white-knuckled and sweaty-palmed. The first part of the course was simple, testing the accuracy of a rider’s turn. You guided Bam through the twists and turns without knocking over a single stone. The second part of the course was the tricky section.

As Bam nosedived, you wracked your brain for the best way to make it through the dense forest without hurting you or your dragon. Beside you, you heard Kyungsoo’s exuberant whooping as he pulled ahead of you, urging Kel on even faster.

That’s fine, you thought. Slow and steady wins the race. “Keep your eyes open!” you yelled over the rushing wind. Bam snorted in reply, and you pressed your body down low to the dragon’s neck. Despite your flattened surface area, the spindly branches of the forest trees managed to nick your exposed skin. “Watch out for that hornet’s nest!” You cursed as Bam veered to avoid the tree. How was Kyungsoo going so fast?

Then, above the howling of the wind, you heard the high-pitched whining of a distressed dragon. Peeling your head up from Bam’s scales, you peered into the distance. Kel’s wings beat at an awkward angle, sending both dragon and rider hurtling off course. Kel’s thick body slammed into a tree, and the forest trembled. You took it all in as if watching a movie, frame by frame, as Kyungsoo’s rigging loosened and he tumbled out of the saddle.

You screamed, a curious high-pitch sound, as you rammed our heels into Bam’s side. The dragon gave a mighty roar and dove toward the other unfortunate pair. Chest heaving, you licked your dry lips and ignored the jackhammer beating of your heart. As you drew closer and closer to the lone figure, your palms grew clammy, and you fought to keep a tight grip on the saddle. All you could think about was Kyungsoo—his shy smiles, his round wide eyes, his mellifluous voice, his everything.

“Get underneath him,” you choked out. Bam obeyed your order, shooting forward. You careened toward the earth. Black spots danced across your vision, a product of the sudden change in altitude. “Tactical strategy forty-three A…” You sucked in a shallow ragged breath. “Now!”

Bam spread out his wings, stalling the two of you midair, as you smashed the emergency landing crystal. Glittering shards of graphite and pink quartz, infused with magic, formed a net that absorbed Kyungsoo’s kinetic energy as he slammed onto Bam’s back. You battled for consciousness as Bam landed with a massive thud that knocked you out of your harness. Gripping onto the pommel, you pressed two shaky fingers to Kyungsoo’s neck, verified that he was still very much alive, and succumbed to the blackness encroaching on your vision.

When you woke up, someone was saying your name. Correction. Someone was crying your name. Static filled your ears, and you shook your head, pushing away the shaky hand on your shoulder.

“Dame Boah, she’s awake.” Kyungsoo’s concerned face swam into your vision.

You took in your surroundings. This certainly wasn’t where you used to be. “Oh shit.” You dropped your head into the palm of your hand, screwing your eyes shut as heat rushed to your cheeks. “Did I faint?”

“Yes, you did.” The cool touch of Dame Boah’s hand soothed the fire underneath your skin. “Drink this.”

You pinched your nose and downed the noxious concoction. The ringing in your ears faded, and you opened your eyes. Somehow you had been transported back to your room.

Dame Boah smiled down at you. “Now rest, young one. I will evaluate the two of you another time.”

“Thank you, Dame Boah,” you murmured as she glided out of the room. Then you propped yourself up and glared at Kyungsoo. “What happened out there?”

Kyungsoo perched on the edge of your bed, scuffing his shoe against the ground. “Kel flew into a hornet’s nest.”

You growled. “You mean you flew into a hornet’s nest. It’s the rider’s job to look out for the small details.” Frustration, hot and heavy, bubbled up underneath your skin. How could Kyungsoo have been so stupid? It was the first lesson taught to riders. Dragon vision was meant for long range distances, so riders would have to be their eyes for nearby objects. “It was right in front of you. Only an idiot would’ve missed it.”

Your scathing words ignited Kyungsoo’s temper. The man stood up and paced around the room, feet thumping onto the floor so hard that you thought he might crack the tiles. “It’s the rider’s job to make sure that all rescue operations are safe. You endangered yourself by changing altitude that quickly.”

You stared at him. Why was he so upset? He should just own up to his mistake! “Are you pinning this on me then?” you all but snarled. “What was I supposed to do, leave you there to die? Maybe you really are the self-centered idiotic jerk I thought you were.” As soon as the words left your mouth, you deflated, shoulders slumping. “I’m sorry, Kyungsoo. I didn’t mean—”

But Kyungsoo had already leapt up from the bed and made his way to the hallway, slamming the door behind him.

“Fine, asshole,” you yelled, throwing your pillow at the door. “Watch me ever try to save your life again. To think I like—”

The door slammed open again, and Kyungsoo strode back in, back straight and eyes furious. “You don’t know.” He jabbed a finger in your direction and kicked your discarded pillow into the wall with a muffled thump. His usual pristine clothing was rumpled and dirty, and his hair flopped down over his eyes. “I worked damn hard to get to where I am, and I don’t need you or anyone else undermining my effort.”

“I worked hard too.” Your throat burned as you choked out the words. The familiar prickling behind your eyes warned you that you might cry. “I’m sorry that I’m not a prodigy like you. Do Kyungsoo, the prodigal son born with a golden spoon in his mouth because his father was already a famous rider.” The caustic words continued to spill from your lips. “Tell me exactly how hard you had to work to get into the academy.” The unspoken truth hung in the air.

Kyungsoo heaved a sigh. Without looking in your direction, he lobbed a package at you.

“What is this?” you questioned, but Kyungsoo was already gone. You unwrapped the package, ripping through the neat folds and cute patterned paper. Inside it was a book. Engraved in the leather cover were your initials along with a title: Caring For Your New Hatchling: A Beginner’s Guide. When you opened it to the first page, you choked. Kyungsoo’s neat handwriting filled each page along with exquisitely detailed diagrams of newborn dragons. As you flipped through the pages, a notecard fell out.

Sorry for missing your birthday, but we weren’t friends then. Hope this makes it up to you.

“I’m sorry,” you sniffled, closing the book and trying your best to wrap it back in its protective covering. However your sloppy unwrapping job made it impossible to put back together. You gave up, flinging the ruined wrapping paper onto the ground, and finally allowed yourself to cry.

[franeridart]

Wow Hi I can't spell for shit but I was wondering if you could draw some more KamiSero? Your art style is really beautiful and there are not much KamiSero art >•

Awww thank you!!! And in the future I might, yeah! Right now I’m a bit swamped by the zine things and using the time I take away from it to draw low effort stuff or my main ships so I can’t promise it’ll happen soon, but I still like the ship lots so !!! might happen!!

Anon said:Hey thanks for that last art I know you're probably just staying on model and it doesn't really mean anything but it felt really good to see a character with my body type for once so thank you

Anon the pleasure was all mine! Miruko’s body type is beautiful to look at and a pleasure to draw, and if my indulging myself could make you happy then that makes it even better spent time!!

Anon said:I love you. That is all. Carry on.

Thank you!! I love you too!!!!!

Anon said:that drawing of hawks blessed me and my children and the children of my children, i feel the salvation in my bones, i've been purified

I dunno which one specifically you’re talking about, but thank you!!!! ;^;

Anon said:I just wanna say I love Baku I’m goods! Peace

Hell yeah anon love that boy!! Smother him in love!!!! Give him all the affection his heart can take and then more!!!!!

Anon said:This is from the anon asking about todoraka and iideku fusions, I just got far enough to find them, sorry for bothering you earlier!

Not a bother at all, don’t worry about it!!! And thank you for liking my designs enough to ask about them!!!!

Anon said:Hey!! I love your art so so so much and i was wondering if you could get in some mina and bakugo friendship content bc they're just,,, so underrated as friends and I love them

Ahhhhhhh the Baku // Mina friendship debate, nice, hadn’t been around on this blog for a while - you know, the reason why there isn’t much content and their friendship is somewhat underrated (unless we’re talking about full squad content, there’s a lot of baku and mina there) is that, going only by canon, they... aren’t friends. Of course Mina’s part of the squad, but she is more in virtue of the fact that she’s besties with Kaminari and Sero and has her backstory relationship with Kirishima, than because she has had any significant interactions with Bakugou (a bit like Jirou’s a member of the squad through Sero and Kaminari and Bakugou even if she’s got no relationship with Kirishima at all, all in all) - I, personally, like to think they could be great friends, you know? But if we’re talking canon I can count the times they interacted on the fingers of one hand (the only serious one being during the sports fest, which Mina herself commented as Bakugou picking her only cause of her acid being a good strategy against Todoroki’s ice)

I know this is sort of a digression from your question, but, as you obviously noticed since you sent me this question, lately whenever I have focused on Bakugou’s friendships in my drawings Mina hasn’t been there, and people have been more or less aggressively pointing it out to me, like I was doing a disservice to a canon friendship by not portraying it - when in truth the relationship in question has nearly no canon basis at all. So I just wanna say, from the bottom of my heart and honestly, I’m sorry if my liking to delve into and focus on Bakugou’s canon friendships makes you sad, but if the focus of a drawing or a set of drawings is supposed to be Bakugou and the relationships Horikoshi gifted him, then Mina’s most probably not gonna be there (for now, I’m still hoping Hori will add her to his growing list of canon friends soon *crosses fingers*)

Either way this has nearly nothing to do with your question and it wasn’t even really directed at you specifically, I just used the chance to address something that was bothering me a bit - THAT SAID! I do have something I mean to draw that’s gonna be focused on Bakugou and include Mina! It might not be exactly what you’re looking for, but I hope you’ll like it anyway, at least a tiny little bit! ;^;

Anon said:I loved your Have a Nice day comic. It really gave me a nice day. It’s totally cute I can imagine them living together and sing this every morning Love your art xoxoxo

Ahhhh thank you so much!!!! I’m super glad you liked it!!!!!!!!!

Anon said:Bro I just wanted to thank you! Becuase of your amazing art on boku no hero academia. It got me intrested in checking it out. And let me tell you, I love this show sooo much,even if its getting really intense right now. So its all thanks to you that I even started watching it.Its even more amazing becuase I get to admire your stunning work base on it.Thank You!!!!! 💕💕💕💕

HECK I’m so glad you checked it out and ended up liking it!!!! I hope you’ll keep on enjoying it from now on too, anon!!!!!!!!

Anon said:Hey fran! I love your art style so much!! Will we ever see more of the Bakushima neighbor’s cat au?

I KEEP ON PROCRASTINATING ON THAT ONE!!! I DON’T EVEN KNOW WHY!!!! It’s in the projects but I never!!! sit down!!!! to draw it!!!!! So I wanna say yes, because that’s the plan! But when I’m being honest I’m not so sure anon orz

Anon said:Okay but like.... hawks is hot right?? Its not just me??

Given the reaction the whole fandom has had to him, I’m pretty sure it’s not just you anon hahaha

Anon said:AAAAAA I BOUGHT A STICKER FROM YOUR REDBUBBLE ACCOUNT AND IT ARRIVED TODAY AND I LOVE IT!!!!!!

I’M SUPER GLAD TO HEAR THAT!!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BUYING!!!!!!!

Anon said:Could you possibly draw more of the Deku + Kirishima fusion?

I... dunno? If I ever feel in the mood to play around with that AU again? But to be honest if I were to draw something that isn’t just a design for it it’s probably... not gonna be about kiri and deku of all people............ so I can’t promise anything, sorry!

Anon said:Hi! I know you haven’t really touched the fusions au in a while but please consider: miritama fusion

I have considered it! It’s the first one I’m gonna draw if I’ll ever feel like going back on the fusions!

Anon said:Let kirishima touch the butty

I’m 100% sure Bakugou lets him touch anything he wants, but if you want depictions of that this blog is not the right place to ask, anon hahaha

Anon said:First off, you draw the greatest art/headcanons for KiriBaku I've ever seen! Secondly, I found it funny since Bakugou is almost exactly like his mom, and since she got with Bakugou's dad by aggressively hitting on him, what if there was a scenario where Bakugou did that to Kirishima? Idk, I just thought it would be funny.

I actually have a couple of comics based on that concept!! Somewhere... in my bakushima tag............ I’ll def draw more on the same line in the future, tho!

Anon said:I know you posted your batteryacid (kamimina) picture a while ago but I just saw it and I'm sobbing I love it!

YO that makes me super happy, thank you!!!! I love that ship so much, it’s nice to know you liked the little thing I drew for it!!!!!!!!!!

Anon said:hi, i just binge watched bnha for the first time and now that i understand all your comics i fucking love them, i'm in love, i love bakugou, i love them all, i love your art

And I love YOU to be hecking honest!!!! Thank you for loving my boy, anon!!!!

Anon said:i just want kirishima to meet bakugou’s family one time in the show and his mother is probably gonna wanna make him her second son and bakugous LOSING IT

I DO hope that’s gonna happen in the manga canon sooner or later, but meanwhile Kirishima met Mitsuki in one of the novels! She’d been taken hostage by a villain, and Bakugou yelled at her for it, and she yelled right back at him like she wasn’t in the hands of a villain right then, and Kirishima said “as expected from Bakugou’s mom” and Bakugou said “don’t admire her!” or something on that line - I’d give you a link if I knew how I tagged it when I reblogged it, but I’m sure if you dig a bit around you can find it! Maybe on @aitaikimochi‘s blog, they translated a lot of kiribaku novel moments!

Anon said:im supposing that you do, but why do you think you like bakugou so much? personally i just like the angry scowl-y but fluffy characters haha and really hes so!! cute!!! and cool!!! really!!!!! hes so good at so many things but he sucks so badly ay feelings its so!! endearing!!!! apart from this i meant to praise you and your work but i ended up screaming about bakugou hahaha. i love him too muchasgshdjl

Oh heck anon, you really don’t wanna get into this, if I started talking about why I love Bakugou as much as I do I’d probably end up saying a 10k worth of words hah I love everything about him, everything he is and everything he has the potential to be, everything he’s changed about himself and every step he’s taken along the way to be who he is right now. I love his personality and I love how strong he is, I love how hard he works, I love how angry he is and how honest and direct and genuine in everything he does he is. I love the way he interacts with people, I love his expressions SO MUCH, I love his habit of speaking in hyperboles and I love how he’s a fast thinker and how he has to go back and walk through every step he skipped when he explains things to people. I love that he presents himself as a genius when actually he just pours everything he has in being the best at everything he tries doing, I love that he’s autocritical and that he cares and that he admits when he’s wrong and that he cries, I love the fact that he cries a lot. I love that he’s set on his path and that he takes everything life throws at him and keeps walking head up and square shoulders, and also I love his eyes and his hero costume and the fact that he wants to be intimidating and yells DIE at inanimate objects and enjoys hiking in his spare time and that he calls people nerd like he isn’t one himself I just. Love him. So damn much.

Anon said:Franeriiiiii~ I see that you're trying new techniques on your arts! Very nice, I enjoy watching you come up with new clothing and whatnot. I also see that the painting is a bit different, more detailed. Just dropping by to let you know I see your efforts ❤ keep on exploring! Maybe you'll discover that you can do what you couldn't in the past. As always, have a good day and much love \0/

SOB thank you SO MUCH, anon!!!!!

Anon said:Hey Fran, how are you? I was wondering if you have any tips on how to know where to place the shadows in a drawing? I'm still a beginner and this is the hardest part for me... And I love your art very much!! You're amazing, thank you for sharing your talent with us!

God, I would love to give you a hand there but to be fair I have zero clue what I’m doing when shading, anon ;-; I go a lot about it following more gut feeling and what looks right, than any actual tecnique (which probably shows to people who have a deeper understanding of it than I do orz) the best I can tell you to do is to try to draw from real life, but really this is such a hard question for me to answer when I myself need to work more on it ;^; I’m so sorry!

Anon said:Bakushima alternative ship name: POPROCKS

A GREAT NAME I’m nearly sure I read a fic called that once!

Anon said:I just wanted to thank you for sharing your amazing work for us. You literaly made my day

AHHHHHHH THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!

Anon said:I just finished going through your kiribaku tag and I honestly don't know if I'm feeling fulfilled for all of it or empty because I just saw all of it daNG YOUR STYLE JUST FUCKING FITs KIRIBAKU SO MUCH I REALLY LOVE YOUR KRBK CONTENT AND THE KIDS FUUUUUUUKCKCKCKK. I'm really, really looking forward for more of your art but for now I gotta go through all your other content as well. Ps. Have I mentioned that I fucking love how you draw feet?????

OH MAN that’s such a nice thing to hear, that my style fits them!!! My style changed so much since I started drawing them that they probably influenced it to begin with, but I’m happy you like how it looks on them nonetheless!!! thank you so so much for the kind words and for taking the time to go through the whole tag!!!

Anon said:Hi! I’m an artist and i’ve been trying to draw boy teens for a while now but i cant seem to make them have muscles without making them look like sorta adults. Any tips? I like how you draw them

I dunno how qualified I am to answer this question since I’m still playing around with my style trying to work that out, but most of what I keep an eye out for are proportions and also how round I make the traits, I guess? The rounder the younger, as far as my art style goes - I also make the eyes bigger the younger my character is supposed to be, but that probably only works if you don’t mind your style not being all that realistic hahaha

Anon said:I want to go through and the like every single one of your posts but I feel like that's a little bit excessive. Since I can't do that, I would like to tell you how amazing you are and how even when I'm having a bad day your art always makes me smile. I hope you're having a lovely day!

Thank you so so much for this ask, anon!!!!!! I hope you’re having a wonderful day/week/month too!!!

Anon said:New hawk boy lookin like a snack.

I would lie if I said the first thing I thought when I read this ask was “I guess we’re talking chicken wings”, tbh

Anon said:Fran, I love your sketch of Yuuto!! :3 Do you ship anyone from yowapeda?

Thank you!!! And I guess I ship more or less anything with a vague canon basis? Which is, like, a whole damn lot of things thank you Watanabe for your gay biking children - I’m not particularly invested into anything at the moment, tho!

Anon said:Whenever I'm having a shitty day, I come back to your blog and scroll through it, the way you draw krbk is really sweet and gives me the warmth I need when I feel down. Thank you for sharing your beautiful art, you're amazing.

Sob thank you so much, oh my god! This is such a nice ask to get, I’m glad I can help you feel a lil bit better, anon ;^;

Anon said:Fran your iida is real real cute and I'm love

THANK YOU! I think he’s way less square than he’s supposed to be... I’m working on that lol

Anon said:KIRI'S PINEAPPLE HAIR??? SAVED ME. MY HEART IS SAVED. SOUL?? SAVED. LIFE??? SAVED.

I’M SO HAPPY YOU LIKED THAT!!!!!

Anon said:that drawing of hawks ended my life oh my goddddd he's bEAUTIFUL

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anon said:Tbh I thought of Hawk teaching Tokoyami how to fly with his quirk like a bird would, but birds just fricken shove their kids out of the nest.

At this point I wouldn’t even put that past Hawks, t b h

Anon said:I love all your art and I only recently discovered all of your old kirikamibaku stuff and was wondering if you'd consider drawing it again?

YEP! Not in the near future tho, as explained in the answer to the first ask up here!

Anon said:For your fusion au do you have any of the dances figured out yet?

Only the KiriBaku one, which is just hand holding - the AU was never meant to be more than just the designs tho, so I can’t say I spent too long on this sorta things!

Anon said:Your art is so nice and beautiful that you could probably draw any two characters together and say it's a ship and I would just accept it without question like "You right omg how have I not noticed this befORE IT'S GENIUS" and it could literally even be two rocks. Not even characters. Just rocks. Bless you

THANK YOU this is!!!!!!!! such a cool feeling omg so much power to have.......... I’m gonna need to use it wisely (I say, but the first thing I thought when I read the two rocks thing was “I did draw Kiri and Tetsu in the past!” so I guess wise isn’t a thing I am at all lol)

Anon said:I’m sure you get asked this a lot but is it okay if I post some art of yours on amino? (With credits to you of course)

Nope, sorry! I don’t allow reposts with or without credit, please don’t repost my stuff - if you really wanna share you can just drop a link to the original post~

Anon said:Can I repost your art in my Instagram page with credit please ?

Anon said:Can i repost your art with credit ?

Again, sorry but I’d prefer it if you did not do that!

Anon said:Hello! Opinions on iida x deku x todoroki? I love ur art sm and ur latest thing(which inspired this ask haha) hope ur having a nice day!

Love it!!! It’s one of my main ot3s in bnha!!!! And thank you!!!!!!!!!

Anon said:Can you draw more Bakugo with glasses?? I love my goth/jock/nerd son. (I also love your art btw :'D💕)

Thank you!!! And I can! And most probably will!!! Can’t say how soon that’s gonna be, tho!

Anon said:was the art of bakugou doing kirishima's hand pose/stance based off of the official card game or was that a super happy coincidence? :'D

Seeing as I posted the comic weeks before the card came out, I’d say it was a coincidence haha that said! In the card Bakugou isn’t actually doing Kiri’s pose! He’s doing his own, which is adorably similar to Kirishima’s - one closed hand against an open palm as he lats out an explosion, you see him take the stance as he gets ready to fight now and again in the manga and anime! 

Anon said:Psst, you got that Bakukamikiri?

Sadly, not at the moment :( as I said, maybe in the future~

Anon said:I love your art more than anything and your Kiribaku keeps me alive, especially now it's finals week. Also your Kaminari is a beautiful boy who deserves all my love. I have to ask for more of him. I love you omg!!!! Please never stop drawing! ❤️❤️❤️❤️

More Kaminari is coming your way! Definitely! Since I draw him a lot all things considered and you therefor you don’t really need to ask to see more of him haha

[okaywhateverokayyes]

Refractory

Notes:

It became an accidental babysitting fic! It is not AU so it's very much to how the characters would behave. I wish they were good at taking care of kids but that is not the case.

This one-shot is more about anything than what I'd expected it to be because Adrian, Deran or the both of them together, should never have to watch over Lena without superivision. Just like all the Cody brothers, they are all just kids.

P.S: My old computer crashed, where I had a 6000+ chapter (which wasn’t even scratching the surface to the last chapter).. getting back into the flow is tough and feels forced so it’s going to take a while before I am able to finish ‘Limbo’.

Adrian sat on the sidewalk, his feet digging into the soles of his slippers. His skin continued to itch to the point where it felt as if he was incinerating from within. He’d glare at his flesh, watched as the crimson red spread from his wrists all the way to the seam of his shirt. He dug his nails into his nails so he could resist the need to itch.

It would only get worse, that he was sure of.

He didn’t have to be sitting outside, on the searing cement, bathed by the scorching sun but the alternative to that would have been to go inside-beyond those gates. And that was something that made his skin crawl.

He’d bear the brute end, even if it meant that his skin would blister and peel by the time he had gone back home.

Adrian shoved his hand into the sleeve of shorts, grabbing his phone, squinting as he glanced to see what time it was. There was a bar hovering at the top of the screen- ‘1 new message’

Mom.

His thumb ghostly hovered over the screen, a temptation to open the message had been invoked but he quickly shoved his phone back into the pocket. Adrian shifted a little further back, noticing the rays dissipating and creating a shady hue in it’s aftermath.

He felt the scorching dismantle slightly, his skin cooling. It’s not much but the urge to itch is slowly revoked.

He focused on the oasis that appeared beyond the gate, a mirage he was sure had been caused by the refraction. The road looks wet at a certain distance. Adrian knew his optics had been deceiving him but it does nothing when all he does see as he stared at the road ahead of him, a mirage that seemed as tangible as the fiery and sweltering pang that arose from his ram.

Adrian swiveled his head around as he heard the grate of the gates scratching the cement.

As the gate swerved to one side, he focused on the long legs that soon appeared.

He doesn’t have to surmise much to recognize who it was.

Cat grimaced as she tugged onto her shoulder bag, which was slipping from her grip under her pit. She jostled Lena in the other hand, wrapping her hand around her back as she arched her back to levy the straps back and around her shoulder.

Her feeble pace is exacerbated when she grazed the bottom of her shoes on a hoove that she doesn’t see. Adrian was quick to stand as he ran in her direction, holstering her elbow as she knelt down.

“Oh-!” Cat grimaced, the scowl void of any derision. She pursed her lips as she stretched her hand from around Lena to edge the straps under her pit.

Adrian aided her, fastening harness in an attempt to secure the grip.

“Thanks, Adrian.” Cat offered, a pleased and softened look appearing on her face.

Adrian returned the gesture.

“No problem,” He replied, “You need?” help. Someone. Help?

Cat shook her head, hoisting Lena until she’s pressed against her chest.

Lena hid her face under the crook of Cat’s neck, continued to squish her face in whatever space she felt she had, before settling in what Adrian assumed to be a, comforting position.

“Have you seen Baz?” She asked instead, “He said he’d be here…” she continued, a sense of unsureness seeping into her voice, “He needs to take care of her right now.” She was quiet as she finished. Her eyes are glossy but Adrian wasn’t sure whether that was a mirage as well.

He swiped his hand against his forehead, stepping back as Cat turned to face him.

Her hair had started to stick to her flesh, the sweat percolating from under her jaw. Strands of her sandy brown hair are etched on her forehead, some other strands jostling to the side as she swayed Lena in her arms.

“I guess we’re both going to have get used to this.”

Adrian blinked.

“Huh?”

Cat swerved her eyes in the direction of the familiar house.

“The Cody brothers. Can never find them. Will never tell you where they are.” Cat scowled, her nostrils whisking as she let out a low groan.

“Yeah, been waiting for Deran.” Adrian offered, settling beside her. Cat glanced up at him, a tired smile washed over her face. She nodded as if she understood, the implicit assumption being that one- they both knew who tended to always be late. And if they had been on time, they had probably been forced to be on time. Two- that they’d both would need to wait for longer than they had been and that they shouldn’t have expected any different. And lastly, three- that despite all of that, they had shown up early because inspite of who they were waiting for and their inability to be where they said he would be, punctuality wasn’t something they couldn’t adhere to.

He’d wait if he needed to.

He’d never wanted to be the one who someone else was waiting for.

“Why aren’t you waiting inside?”

Adrian rubbed at his elbow, swiping his tongue on his bottom lip to only bite down at the chapped skin that began to peel.

“Smurf’s not there, just so you know.” There’s an understanding that seemed to be implicit between them.

He gave her a nod in response.

Her eyes shimmered as she drew out a languid sigh.

“Forewarning you.” She joked, “There is a cauldron brewing. 2 salamanders. Three missing grey donkeys. A broomstick. The whole nine yards.” She whistled as she lowered Lena to place her on the ground.

Lena doesn’t put up a fight as Cat settled her beside her foot.

Adrian chuckled, watched as she nudged him jokingly with her elbow. Cat winked several times before she glanced down at her wrist watch, her face skewing in dismay.

“Adrian, are you busy?” Her voice piqued as she asked, glancing up at him.

Adrian makes a quick once-over of what he had planned to do during the day. Other than going out to surf and eventually going back to fix the drainage leak, he was sure that that was the extent to what he had to complete in the day. In perspective, it was a very unofficially relaxed day.

“Not necessarily.” He answered, crossing his hands across his chest, “Just waiting for … Deran.”

Cat offered a cautious smile, her lips perking upwards but a comforting look etched across her eyes. She reached forward to grip his hand, clasping onto his wrist and giving a tight squeeze.

He saw it the moment she retracted her hand. The intrepidness. The hurried rush to get things done. The panic at whatever she had to fret over. The glossiness that appeared just as fast as it had disappeared.

She extended her hand for Lena to reach back, only to have to grab Lena’s hands as Lena had shifted her focus to straps on her sandals. She knelt over, peeling the adhesive side of the strap, pressing it against the flat surface of the putty. She was distracted to the point that she’s alarmed when Cat warmly grabbed her wrist.

“I know it’s a lot to ask..” Cat was hesitant, every word etched in careful thought. She rubbed Lena’s head with her free hand, biting her bottom lip in uncertainty that seemed to stretch between them. Adrian pursed his lips as he gazed at the tiny human being hiding behind Cat’s food.

Lena wasn’t doing a good job of hiding but even Adrian knew that she wasn’t making an effort to.

She clasped onto Cat for comfort. Cat was familiar. Adrian wasn’t. There was something respectable about that. The fact that she was able to procure such a distinction with her behavior and posture.

Adrian sighed with a shrug, “Well…I can’t imagine saying no to you will be particularly fun.”

Cat widened her eyes, an ease settled on her shoulders as she broke out into an exasperating smile.

“Thank you.”

Cat bent down, wrapping her hand securely around Lena. She slipped a strand of hair behind Lena’s ear as she whispered within his earshot, “Could you stay with Adrian today?”

Lena’s eyes flickered to Adrian.

Adrian doesn’t know how to discern that particular look but it was something that induced a flutter against his chest. He could see the slight trepidation in her eyes and there was validity to that concern. He had never spent more time than he had with her-tops, six minutes. Even then, it was a simple ‘hello’ and ‘goodbye’ that wasn’t even directed towards her as it was for Cat.

He wondered if he needed to recant his agreement to her proposal-there was no reason for Lena to be uncomfortable by his presence. God forbid if he had to be left in a stranger’s company at her age. He would have probably raised hell before his mother even considered propositioning anyone for that job of taking care of him.

“Cat-“

Lena nimbly nodded, unclasping her hands from Cat’s in the process.

Adrian stifled an impressed chortle. He withdrew his hand, only to slide it behind his back as he clutched onto his wrist.

Well, shit. Adrian figured that her inclination to agree must have been cultivated by her mother’s predisposition rather than any other reason. Hurriedness emanated from every visceral look that Cat embellished in all her glares and seeped in every word.

Cat pressed her lips against Lena’s scalp, giving a tight squeeze before sliding the bag off of her shoulders.

Adrian blinked as he processed the strap that is soon slid into his curled fingers. He grabbed back so it doesn’t slip, holding the bag down beside his knees because no way was he going to wear it and by the sheer heaviness of it, he’s sure that he doesn’t need whatever was inside.

“Lena, Adrian.” Cat shifted from facing him and then back to Lena. “Adrian, Lena.” She continued, waving her hand in Adrian’s direction. It appeared comical the way she would flake her hands in the air, almost if she wanted to make Adrian appear appealing and friendly, more than anything, reliable.

He wasn’t sure if it worked but Lena breaks out into a smile that made Adrian unsure of what exactly he should base his assumptions on.

Adrian extended his hand out, for all his improper formalities, it somehow seemed like an extension of Cat’s exuberating pretense. As he flexed his palm towards her, as soon as it comes into her direct vision, he curled his three fingers, leaving the thumb and pinky faced outwards. He emulated a fluctuating fluid motion, directing it towards her face.

Unlike Deran, her smile is visible.

It was genuine.

“Thank you.” Cat repeated, clasping her hands together in an apologetic manner, “I owe you one.”

Adrian waved off her offer, “Don’t sweat it.”

Cat leaned over Lena to press her lips against Adrian’s cheeks, giving his shoulder a warm squeeze before she rushed in the direction of the car he had not recognized that had been pulled to the rear side.

Adrian moved to stand closer to Lena as he watched Cat disappear inside of her car before swerving off and into the distant. He tilted his head until her plates were nothing more than a distant view.

He was slightly perturbed when tiny hands clamped around his knee, with others reaching upwards to curl into his hand. He directed his gaze downwards as he reached to knead his fingers with hers, completely surprised by her immediate response.

Rather than being thankful for her lack of reluctance, he dwelled on how easy it was. Sure, there was nothing he would do that would be harmful towards her but if six minutes qualified for a stranger to transform into a reliable acquaintance, an inevitable conversation would be much needed with Cat.

Adrian knelt beside her, leveling with her height. He lifted his free hand and rested it on his knee as he gazed to look at Lena, who despite her tendency to be quiet and aloof, had given him the most eye-contact he had ever gotten from any individual.

It felt as if she not only was staring at him, but at something beyond.

It almost felt visceral.

He wasn’t sure of what to say. As he had said, six minutes does not qualify him in any remote way to be personable with a child. He was content with a ‘hello’ or a ‘goodbye’ and anything beyond seemed intangible and implausible.

He couldn’t formulate words. Sure, maybe he would have had an easier time interacting with Lena than he would have had with anyone, considering that the Cody brothers were nothing short of childish, responding to inapt remarks.

Yet, immaturity expected out of an adult was entirely different from naivety prevalent in children.

“Hi.” He settled for, satisfied but immediately stupefied by the ambiguity of it. He wasn’t sure if it conveyed his confusion as to how to proceed but he doesn’t wait to fret, as Lena withdrew her hand-gently as she possibly could-before settling down under the brief space of shade that had been yet a foot away.

Smart girl, he concluded.

He assessed it was too tiny for both of them to share, unless he held her up. He decided against it when it became a disconcerting qualm that something would come out of him deciding to invade her space.

He settled for the rays that bled into his flesh.

The stinging dissipiated but it always seemed as if every consecutive ray, is armed with a newer and novel way to protrude into his skin and have a tangible effect that is just as worse and just as painful.

Adrian slipped his hand back into his pocket to grab his cell only to pull his empty hand out when he watched as the familiar black colored jeep swerve into the driveway. The tires screeched a short distance away from him, a raucous sound emanating from the instant halt.

The door flipped open, Deran jabbing his head out briefly as he wavered him over, “Come on” which with the brazen audacity he had to even make it appear as if Adrian had been the one to hold him up, had irked Adrian.

He was still alarmed when soon petite hands tugged on his fingers.

Adrian wavered his eyes as he gazed down, dropping his hand lower so it was easier for Lena to grab back.

Which she does, momentarily.

“What are you doing?” There was a disbelieving accusatory tone that caused Adrian to grimace. He settled his eyes briefly on Lena before looking back up at Deran, who at this point, had stepped out from the jeep and shut the door behind him.

He continued to glare at him, momentarily at Lena before settling them on Adrian. If looks could slice through flesh, Adrian was sure that Deran could qualify for semi-finals with his.

“Cat couldn’t find Baz.” He offered.

Deran frowned. He protruded his slightly forward, a baffled look etched on his forehead.

“And?”

Adrian shrugged, “Cat’s busy.”

“Give her to Smurf.” He said offhandedly.

Adrian felt the grip only tighten in response.

He wavered his eyes to grab a look at Lena.

“She’s fine with me.” He replied as he watched where her fingers clutched onto his, turn into a pale hue.

“I’ll go find Smurf.” Deran continued, as if he hadn’t responded.

The grip got even more dense.

“Deran, I promised Cat I’d take care of her,” which was not necessarily the complete truth as he had agreed not under that pretense, “She’ll be fine with me.”

Deran glanced down, unimpressed with his answer, still made an attempt to push the buzzer to open the gates.

Adrian grabbed Lena’s hand as he walked in Deran’s direction, shoving himself in front of the gate and Deran’s stretched out hand, having it collide against his chest.

“I said-“

“I heard you.” He huffed, “So let’s just-“ He  said tightly, “-leave her with Sm-“ to which Adrian gritted his teeth, noticing by the way Deran thinned his lips as if the clamping sound had not been restricted to the confines of his mouth-“Craig.”

Adrian drew his brows in, “What part of she’s staying with me didn’t you get?”

He doesn’t miss a beat as he replied drily with, “That part.”

Adrian pushed past him, lowering down as he took a stride to grab Lena, lifting her up against his chest as he secured a hand around her back as she held onto him. She gravitated easily towards him, clutching onto the helm of his shirt as she wrapped her leg at the crane of his waist.

It’s so easy that Adrian pondered whether Lena was just an exception to the rule or he’d given himself less credit that he needed to. She’s easy. She doesn’t contest. She was currently holding onto him as if he provided her the necessary security she needed to trust him. Or maybe- considering her two options, he had the nicer face and she’d rather avoid having to be even in Deran’s vicinity.

That, he could understand. Kind of. Maybe more than he needed to.

He was more receptive to it even though the very thought of kid and him and just, it all, was unnerving. He didn’t necessarily hate kids but that didn’t mean he wanted them by volition.

This, he could do.

Albeit, briefly.

Adrian clutched onto the knob, went to unclasp only to have to nudge harder when the door doesn’t open. He switched his gaze at the lock and noticed that it had been shoved down.

“Deran.” Adrian said in a leveled tone, “What the fu-“

As the heaviness settled into flesh of his chest, he paused. Had he continued, as much as it became a disregarding thing to do-to say the word-he was sure that if any sensible person had been in the room, he would have been reminded to think twice before saying it.

She shifted around slightly, her ankle jabbing into his thigh but it was a dense load that was almost unrecognizable if it weren’t for the fact that she continued to toss her leg slightly in the air before resting it back on his leg.

Adrian hovered his hand over the window glass, flipped the switch upwards before going to unclasp the door once again. Deran was fuming as he crossed to stand beside him in four-maybe five, easy strides. It was fluid and quick, as if the ground had been less compact than he had remembered and there was a railing that helped facilitate that easy maneuver.

Adrian settled Lena on the seat, one hand on the brim of the door, while the other had still been draped behind her back in an effort to levy her up, as she knelt on her knees, looking between the two of them in a curious manner that didn’t quiet make it to her eyes.

“Dude,” Adrian started, turning to face him, “It’s hot.” He stated matter-of-factly, swiping his hand against his forehead for a much needed emphasis. Something Deran apparently needed if it weren’t overtly obvious that his skin was in the transition of turning into a crimson red that would inevitably peel.

There was something innately disturbing that despite the several instances he had found himself not SPF’ing, he managed to do that again. And again. As if it hadn’t mattered that the burning sensation was something he would have preferably liked to have avoided. But it had to say something about him that he needed to learn that lesson, for the eightieth time.

Deran nostrils flared as he gripped onto the door, his knuckles cracking. Adrian grimaced slightly, quickly erasing it to not show his discomfort. He gazed back at Deran’s pale knuckles, shifting his eyes to survey the time that read on the digital radio.

“Der-“

“Fuck you.”

Adrian glanced down at Lena, watched as she sat, no recollection of being petrubed by the mere words or the tone of his voice. She picked at the seam of her dress, coiling the thread around her index and thumb before releasing it. Only for her to do it again, and again.

Adrian placed his hand on the incinerating leather, watched as Lena tilted her head to take notice of that. She slid farther into the truck, leaving enough room for him as he lunged upwards, collapsing against the seat as he shut the door close.

He glared at the space left-just enough for Deran-

He peered out from the frame window, watching as Deran took three large strides before straddling onto the ledge of the door, lurching forward before sliding back until he collided with the cushion.

Adrian was despondent as he wrapped his hand behind Lena, consciously tugged her closer to his own side-nudged her in his direction. He held onto the seat belt strap, brought it up and over her head, hinging the clasp into its hold.

She instinctively moved her dress, as it fell upon the restraint, making way as Adrian slid the clip into it’s hook.

Adrian removed his hand from behind Lena but if he was being honest, his nerves fizzled as he settled his hand on his thigh and at any moment, it would stretch in an instant as a reflexive thought.

He disliked very few. Unreliable people. Mayo in his food. Wipeouts. Especially any incident that predisposed to him to the wraths of a razor sharp roof. He slit the sole of his foot, a thick gash that percolated with his blood. The gauze did nothing but seepen with crimson red and it took several stiches and layers of gauze before his seeping blood was masked by anything but.

He also disliked how his shirt stuck onto every drop of sweat that perforated from the follicles in his skin. His pores are blended into the color of his flesh but they had enlargened and the water that seeps from within is blinded by the blinding sun rays.

Adrian wiped his hands against his shorts, only to have to glance as the glossiness had not disappeared completely.

Adrian grabbed on the edge as the truck swerved from beside the driveway, before zolting into the street. He pressed his toes into the sole of his slippers, digging his nails into the rubber. He glanced briefly at Deran, shook his head quietly.

He peeked at the meter, watched as the shaft drifted upwards.

The sheer force at the accelerated speed, tossed Adrian to crash his head against the backhold. He strained his neck as he tried to resist the impending collision. It’s not use as he felt the jab of the cool metal smear against his skin.

Adrian drew his hand out, stretched it across Lena before kneading his fingers into the fabric of the car seat.

Deran pushed on the accelerator once more.

He had one hand hovering over the glass pane, the side exposed to the air, his hair flailing in one direction. He gripped onto the steering wheel, pumping his closed fist in the air. To what-the radio had been mute.

The only sound that had richocheted off of his ear drums was the buzzing of the alarmingly fast winds that crashed into his face. The impact of that sheer force had been directed only to him and Deran, who was rather enjoying it as she shrilled his growls in exuberance.

Adrian tried not to focus on the fact that they had barely made it past a yellow light or out maneuvered a stop sign. When he didn’t have to focus on it, he was grateful that by the grace of something, nothing seemed to impede their flow. There were no close-calls or impending motor vehicles.

It was a rather alarming speed but they weren’t met with any counteracting semblance.

Soon, they’re at the pier.

Deran pulled the keys out of the ignition. He rammed the shaft upwards, removing his foot from the pedal. He doesn’t turn. Kept his one hand on the steering wheel, and the other one against the window frame. He pursed his lips as he retracted his leg back.

Adrian backed into the confines of his space, wretching out a shallow breath as the stagnation caught up to his speeding heart. He clamped down at his chest, kneading his fingers into this shirt to soften the sharp throbbing.

Adrian doesn’t have to turn to see Lena. He had felt her clamp her fingers around his wrist, her tiny fingers stuck to his flesh. She doesn’t show any indication of her disposition but he felt her fingers clamp down, harder with more force, anytime the speed had gotten any faster-the swerves have gotten any harsher-her fear emanating from the touch.

She didn’t have to say anything.

He heard her loud and clear.

“What are you gonna do with her?”

Adrian swiveled his head, drew his brows inwards. He wondered whether there had been three sorts of hell that he had been invited to because he was sure that a fourth had existed.

Right then and there, Adrian latched onto the knob, drifting his hand to unclasp it. He firmly planted both his feet on the ground, the gravel under his feet do nothing but assuage his rapid inhales. He brought his knee close to his chest, stretching his heel as he felt the nerves re-start.

As if they had shut down and stifled any motion, which for all intensive purposes, was how he had felt.

Numb.

Despondent.

He heard the click of the seatbelt being unclasped. As he turned on his heel, Lena stretched her tiny hand across the remote lock, shuffling in her spot before deciding it best to take the leap. It was maybe a couple of feet from the ground. Not too shabby.

He waited for her to ask.

Watched as she shrugged languidly to herself, as if she had convinced herself of her decision, before leaping. She lands aptly.

Lena lifted her head up, her eyes swimming with content with her feat. She softened the creases in her dress before stepping beside to stand next to him.

The air had become easier to breathe.

“Fucking Christ.”

Adrian’s ears perked as he tilted his head, slightly, just enough that he could see from the periphery of his eyes, as Deran drifted towards the back of his truck, to which Adrian presumed to be for his garb.

The weather is much cooler. As expected. The wind is harsh as it swiped across his face, grovels of sand frisking into his flesh. It’s not enough that he had to respond to it begrudgingly but it was apparent enough that he had shifted around to avoid any more drafts.

Deran appeared with a board under his pit, his suit hanging right beside. The color of the neoprene was another hue of black. It seemed new but Adrian wasn’t quick to make that assumption. He’d never really focused on that-had he not had focused on anything else.

It seemed minute but it bothered him that he couldn’t discern whether he had not made that distinction because he wasn’t aware-which would have been a farce in on it’s own as it was painfully obvious that he was tuned to everything-or if he had just mislapsed in his frets.

“I’m gonna go enjoy my fucking day,” Deran gritted, nostrils flared as he thinned his lips.

Adrian gripped his hand to his side as he watched Deran stride his way towards the waves.

Apart of him wanted to just try to resort to some sort of acquiescence towards Deran’s predispostions. As he stood there, Lena’s fingers kneaded through his, his skin sizzling but cooled drastically by the indundating winds, he had a hard time squeaking a word.

If it wasn’t this, it was always something else. He had to choose his battles and this was as futile as disputing that his feet currently weren’t being pressed into the gravel.

As Lena nudged her index finger into his palm, he looked down at her and raised his brows. She drew her brews inwards, sliding one leg over the other and dropped her head in slight bemusement.

Adrian shifted his train of thought to the stand beside the pier, closer to one side of the narrowing sill. It had been a standard  one, most likely had what anyone would need when they were short of necessities.

Adrian knelt, resting his free hand on his knee, eye-leveled with Lena.

“Hey Lena,” he said gently, trying to word in his mind how to ask without having it spill in a jumble. If she had said no, which her reticence would offer, they both would just end up walking the deck. Frankly, that thought was as unsettling as his skin peeling. The water would cool him and considering the fact that it was way over ninety, it would help them both.

If he was being completely honest, he looked forward to this.

Getting in the water, his paddle underneath his chest, his hands swooshing the waters underneath his fingers and behind him. He liked when he watched an offshore wave and had become familiar with the maneuvers of it that he had silently muttered the time it would take before he would need to lift himself up and brave the force.

“Did anyone ever teach you how to swim?”

She turned to her side, the gust of air unearthed her hair from behind her ears and swamped across her face. She dragged her free hand across her face, flipping the hair in the opposite direction.

Lena nodded casually, turning around to face him.

“Surf?” He pondered.

The creases in her forehead disappeared, to be soon filled with her perking brows.

Her lips swarmed upwards, the line etched wide across her mouth.

She shook her head vehemently.

Thank God.

Adrian levied his hand against his thigh before lifting himself up.

“Cool.” He smiled.

It doesn’t take him more than a couple of minutes to realize that he had in fact not been graced with an extra pair of trunks. His wetsuit, he checked in the trunk, had been tucked beside a cooler. His board was settled onto the side, a secure strap had mantled it.

He had just enough money to buy Lena a body glove-at her instance, blue. She had left his side and returned with her choice before he could even graze the aisle. He settled for a paddle board, the surf boards had seemed like a stretch. He estimated her grip and arm length just by sheer glance, decided against a larger board.

Paddle boards seemed like the most apt choice.

Soft boards were in the front glass but as he glanced at the price tag, he felt a hole burning in his shorts. Not that he had that kind of cash on him, either way. He took a once-over at the board he had held, noticed the sturdy rail. He gripped the fins, gave a rough tug before he slid his hands across the stringer. The nose had been angled more pinpointedly and the tail was a clean cut.

He decided against a noose around her ankle, deciding that he would direct them towards the chunks of whitewater, keep away from the offshore.

When he first started to learn surfing, he had watched as the other kids would first stretch themselves and practice in the sand. There was an outline of the surfboard etched into the thin grime; he had watched as they would lift their hands up and over their head, curling their hands just enough as to emulate the pushing of water from underneath their fingernails before fast pushing-up into a standing position.

Sometimes, it appeared as if the point of that exercise, rather than preparing them for the inevitable movements-which for all intensive purposes, was rather pointless as the sheer texture of water kneading through anyone’s fingers couldn’t be compounded with granules of dust-it was just for enjoyment.

He didn’t understand the latter.

But Lena wasn’t him.

He stopped a couple of yards away from the clammering water, stood in front of Lena as he knelt. He made some quick glances at the crashing water, that was as gentle as they possibly could get, dropped his index finger into the granules. He directed his finger around the board, got to the skeg and paused.

His instinct was to behave in a way that he usually wouldn’t.

This was definitely one of those moments.

“Okay, Lena,” he started, swiping his hands against his thighs, “Watch what I do, okay?” He settled his body over her paddle board, which had been overshadowed by his sheer size. He had left his own board back in the truck, decided that teaching her would take more than enough time and if he had decided to surf in that time frame, somehow stupidly assuming that she’d be able to land on her feet the first time-callousness had it’s limits and he wasn’t going to push it. He cursed under his breath and hoisted his head up as he glanced at Lena.

She didn’t seem to notice and even if she had, she didn’t seem to show it.

Adrian shifted into the sand, dragging his  hands in the familiar swift motions. He planted his toes firmly into the granules, extending his arms out before curving his fingers in tight contact, upending them before diving in. He curled his fingers to give some fluidity before he groveled the sand through his fingers-backwards, forwards, backwards once again.

He flipped to his back as he stopped.

“That’s what you’re gonna do with your hands,” he supplied, hefting himself up.

Lena dropped to her knees, grabbing the rails in her direction. Adrian extended his hand out and gave it a slight nudge, which was just enough force before the nose of the board collided with her thigh.

She was quick to settle her tiny frame on the deck.

“Alright Lena, before you do what I showed you,” Adrian stretched his hand out in front of him, palm facing outwards and fingers pointing up. She screwed her eyes in confusion as she flexed her hand out. He moved towards her to fix the posture, emulating instead a stop sign with his palm, which she responded to. He gently pulled his fingers towards him with his left hand, so that his right hand was bending back. He held down for a couple of seconds, counting more loudly so that Lena would hold the grip as well.

She started to count with him after four, waiting for him to start before she would repeat the number. They got to 18 before he dropped his hands to his side.

“It helps you improve your range of motion.” He offered.

He bit down on his tongue as the words ricocheted off of his eardrums.

Improve your range of motion?

To a kid.

“Sorry.” Adrian supplied, “It’s good to stretch.”

With both of his hands on the sand facsimile, Lena’s on the board deck, he lowered himself to imitate a push up. He did a couple more and only until his hands were at full extension, he pulled his knees towards his stomach and hopped to his feet.

“That’s a pop-up.” Adrian answered her implicit frame of thought, “So you can balance your position.”

Lena nodded.

She extended her hands out shoulder’s length apart, goes down to emulate a push up. He watched as she retracted her leg inwards, hopping up and flexing her hands out to catch her wavering posture. Adrian was quick as he grabbed her wrist, placating one hand firmly against her back to stop her from falling.

He chuckled, “I did that too. You know?” He pointed at his stomach as he continued, “We don’t go to our knees first. Because if you’re on your knees too long, you’ll have a harder time trying to balance on your board.”

Adrian went back to his previous posture, hands flexed and body lowering-he tugged his knees before he pulled them closer to his chest, just as Lena had, and struggled as he felt his level field tilt in a manner that had him scurrying his hands in a offhandish manner as he jolted forward.

He was quick to take another step to stop any impending fall.

“That’s why.”

They continued to maneuver the format. Adrian waited until her pop-up accrued to a transition from a smooth motion into a standing position. It takes her another twenty or so but he’s even surprised at the fastidiousness of her progress.

Soon, they were in the water.

Lena had already settled onto the deck, straddling the rails on both sides with her curled hands. Adrian had stood behind her, gripping onto the tail as the fluidity of the waves dragged them inwards, the buoyancy relieving the weight to a manageable one.

Adrian gripped onto her paddle board. He had one hand flattened and pressed under the surface, providing her balance. He gripped onto the frame as she began to swipe her hands in the water. He watched as she creased her forehead inwards, as if she was concentrating on what he had said earlier. He watched as she curled her hands and slowly drifted the water away from her-left hand- and then her right. She's slow but she started to emulate the way he had just taught her.

Her lips curved upwards into a smile, as if she had just realized that she had been doing exactly as Adrian had shown her. She picks up her pace, tilting to face him as she breaks out into a grin that just screamed 'look!'

Adrian nodded in response.

He directed her paddle against the offshore, towards the surface of the whitewater but further in that there was enough depth for more similar circumstances.

“Lena, move up to the nose.” He directed. She edged towards the sides, Adrian sliding his finger under her periphery vision to jab at the location of the ‘nose’.

She slid closer up the deck and stopped a couple of inches short of the stringer.

“Look at the horizon,” he pointed at the thin line that blended the surface of the water with the sky, “Remember how we learned how to stand up? Yeah? I need you to do that the next time you feel the push of the wave,” he brisked his free hand in the water to push the current in her direction, palming the water downwards to simulate the impact, “Like that. When you feel that, you stand up 3 seconds out.”

She stared at him squarely.

“Yeah? I’m right here.” He placed a small distance between the fin and himself but his hands were a second away from grabbing on just in case she were to fall, an unexpected tide were to swarm-anything.

He started to count as he noticed the graze that appeared softly in the nascent of the surface.

“One.”

“Two”

Lena had armed herself in a push up position, her knees had not yet caved in.

Good.

“Three!”

Lena drew her legs inwards before hopping up, extending out her arms and leveling her body as the tide glided under her paddle. She drifted slightly, only to catch herself as she flattened her palms, giving it more rigidness.

Adrian fisted his hand in the air, a sense of first-time adrenaline rush had ran through his veins. He swiftly uncurled his fist to flatten it out, high-fiving Lena’s flexed fingers as she, correctly, refused to remove herself from her fixed posture.

He patted the water, cracking through it’s tension and the droplets of water flying in the air. It’s a harsh slap that sends the globules of water to splash against his jaw. He shielded his eyes with his hand, spitting out any remnants that absolved into his mouth.

As he withdrew his hand, he caught Deran hanging out in the fringe. He had his hair slicked back into a loose ponytail that did nothing but curl is hair in a haphazard manner. He demonstrated stringent adherence to his posture that Adrian had to stifle a cheep.

Adrian wiped his hand across his face, observing the way in which Deran would glide his hand against the current, the cracks in the surface tension accrue to droplets that slip past his hands in a smooth swipe.

Deran angled his posture slightly back which changed the trajectory of the paddle to counteract. He balanced in a very rhythmic pace that was knifelike by the sheer contrast of the blue hues of the waves that he had ridden.

He’s alarmed when the rubber paddle slipped from his fingers.

He swerved around to notice that Lena had been pushed by the rip-semblance current in the opposite direction.

He lunged forward, kicking his feet in the water behind him as he paddled his hands fluidly to counteract the current.

The heaviness from the heavy breaking wave dragged his impending hand motion. Adrian surfaced his face on one side to take a breath as he continued his strokes. He relaxed his fingers as they curled into the water and drifted the water away from him.

Panic started to unsettle him everytime he hoisted his head for air, that he would notice that the distance grew-and grew-

His calves burned, dulled by the briskiness of the water.

Adrian’s eyes were obscured by the water splashing into his eyes, and even as he blinked, he had a hard time discerning what he had been looking ahead at. His arms ached as he pushed through, deciding to drop his strokes for a second as the current carried him. It relieved some of the force before he resumed his brushes.

Adrian kicked his feet until his lower half of his legs felt as if they were incineration. He reduced the amount of times he would hoist his head for a breath of air, instead of focusing on how much longer he could conserve it. Every single time he had to tilt to his side, he had to readjust to his flow of motion. He thought it would be better if he just practiced deep breathing, which tended to aid in this process.

He doesn’t make it far before he noticed a fin of her familiar paddle obscured by the light rays that bent his sense of perception.

Adrian surfaced, dragging his feet in swivels to stay afloat.

Deran was gripping onto the paddle, Lena saddled against his chest.

Adrian took three strokes before he was floating on the opposite side of the board.

“What the fuck, man?” Deran hissed.

Adrian parsed his lips, his panic dissipating to be usurped by an impasse drag that settled in his chest. It continued to ache as he shifted his gaze to settle it upon Lena, who had wrapped her hands around Deran’s elbows for balance.

“I’m sorr-“ he swallowed the salty water that had seeped through his nostrils, “I’m sorry.” He panicked as he settled his hands on the deck, crossing them over each other to stare at Lena, “I’m sorry,” he directed it towards her, “I’m sorry.”

Lena whisked her lips into a gloom, curling in on herself that made her appear smaller than she already had. It does nothing but exacerbate the despondency he felt towards himself at that moment.

“Le-“

Deran pushed forward, which alarmed Lena as she turned to look up at him. She retracted her hands in a swift motion and just as she was about to go curl them around Deran’s arms, he swam towards the tail.

He rose his hands out in front of him, waving his palms towards him and then letting them face Lena.

“Come on, let’s try.”

Lena shook her head furiously.

Deran paused.

He waited until she stopped before he unparsed his lips.

“Shit like that happens randomly,” he pointed at the direction in which she had come from, “Just like how it rains sometimes. Or how-“ he creased his forehead, “You know Cat gets angry. It doesn’t happen alot, huh?” Deran questioned.

Lena was stagnant as she stared at him.

“No, right?” Deran answered himself, “So we’re not gonna be scared by this, L.”

The nickname for her appeared beguiling.

Adrian’s parched lips divert his attention.

He dragged his curled hand in the water before splashing them against his face.

“Come on.” He tried again.

Lena is stuck to her spot as Deran nudged the tail. It’s not a rough tug, not enough that she would be displaced by her position. He continued to do so for several times before Lena implanted her tiny frame against the paddle in the familiar position.

Adrian watched as he swiftly pushed her paddle board in the direction of the beach; Deran doesn’t let go once as Lena dragged her hands in the water. She settled into the familiar strokes and soon, her forehead creased inwards in that commonplace curiosity.

“Sorry.” Adrian offered, once more. Apologetically remorseful would have been an understatement.

Deran caught his eyes as he tilted his head. Adrian stifled a gasp as his familiar hues of his pupils are dilated by the light rays that emanate from the sky upon them. His skin glossed by the sheer wetness and it was a gloss that left a veneered finish to his usually less toned skin.

The look is full of conundrums that Adrian had a hard time discerning which one to focus on.

Disappointment mixed with, ironically, respite.

Glare mellowed by his nonchalance.

Friskiness softened by his quietness.

“Right.”

Adrian recognized why those conundrums usually conflicted him-

It was because he never knew which one to ascribe to Deran.

Making him completely unpredictable.

And completely elusive for Adrian to want to discern.

"Right."

[okaywhateverokayyes]

One Shot: Refractory

Prompt: Adrian, Deran, Lena and a fast car. Go!

Which ended up becoming an accidental babysitting fic!

Adrian sat on the sidewalk, his feet digging into the soles of his slippers. His skin continued to itch to the point where it felt as if he was incinerating from within. He’d glare at his flesh, watched as the crimson red spread from his wrists all the way to the seam of his shirt. He dug his nails into his nails so he could resist the need to itch.

It would only get worse, that he was sure of.

He didn’t have to be sitting outside, on the searing cement, bathed by the scorching sun but the alternative to that would have been to go inside-beyond those gates. And that was something that made his skin crawl.

He’d bear the brute end, even if it meant that his skin would blister and peel by the time he had gone back home.

Adrian shoved his hand into the sleeve of shorts, grabbing his phone, squinting as he glanced to see what time it was. There was a bar hovering at the top of the screen- ‘1 new message’

Mom.

His thumb ghostly hovered over the screen, a temptation to open the message had been invoked but he quickly shoved his phone back into the pocket. Adrian shifted a little further back, noticing the rays dissipating and creating a shady hue in it’s aftermath.

He felt the scorching dismantle slightly, his skin cooling. It’s not much but the urge to itch is slowly revoked.

He focused on the oasis that appeared beyond the gate, a mirage he was sure had been caused by the refraction. The road looks wet at a certain distance. Adrian knew his optics had been deceiving him but it does nothing when all he does see as he stared at the road ahead of him, a mirage that seemed as tangible as the fiery and sweltering pang that arose from his ram.

Adrian swiveled his head around as he heard the grate of the gates scratching the cement.

As the gate swerved to one side, he focused on the long legs that soon appeared.

He doesn’t have to surmise much to recognize who it was.

Cat grimaced as she tugged onto her shoulder bag, which was slipping from her grip under her pit. She jostled Lena in the other hand, wrapping her hand around her back as she arched her back to levy the straps back and around her shoulder.

Her feeble pace is exacerbated when she grazed the bottom of her shoes on a hoove that she doesn’t see. Adrian was quick to stand as he ran in her direction, holstering her elbow as she knelt down.

“Oh-!” Cat grimaced, the scowl void of any derision. She pursed her lips as she stretched her hand from around Lena to edge the straps under her pit.

Adrian aided her, fastening harness in an attempt to secure the grip.

“Thanks, Adrian.” Cat offered, a pleased and softened look appearing on her face.

Adrian returned the gesture.

“No problem,” He replied, “You need?” help. Someone. Help?

Cat shook her head, hoisting Lena until she’s pressed against her chest.

Lena hid her face under the crook of Cat’s neck, continued to squish her face in whatever space she felt she had, before settling in what Adrian assumed to be a, comforting position.

“Have you seen Baz?” She asked instead, “He said he’d be here…” she continued, a sense of unsureness seeping into her voice, “He needs to take care of her right now.” She was quiet as she finished. Her eyes are glossy but Adrian wasn’t sure whether that was a mirage as well.

He swiped his hand against his forehead, stepping back as Cat turned to face him.

Her hair had started to stick to her flesh, the sweat percolating from under her jaw. Strands of her sandy brown hair are etched on her forehead, some other strands jostling to the side as she swayed Lena in her arms.

“I guess we’re both going to have get used to this.”

Adrian blinked.

“Huh?”

Cat swerved her eyes in the direction of the familiar house.

“The Cody brothers. Can never find them. Will never tell you where they are.” Cat scowled, her nostrils whisking as she let out a low groan.

“Yeah, been waiting for Deran.” Adrian offered, settling beside her. Cat glanced up at him, a tired smile washed over her face. She nodded as if she understood, the implicit assumption being that one- they both knew who tended to always be late. And if they had been on time, they had probably been forced to be on time. Two- that they’d both would need to wait for longer than they had been and that they shouldn’t have expected any different. And lastly, three- that despite all of that, they had shown up early because inspite of who they were waiting for and their inability to be where they said he would be, punctuality wasn’t something they couldn’t adhere to.

He’d wait if he needed to.

He’d never wanted to be the one who someone else was waiting for.

“Why aren’t you waiting inside?”

Adrian rubbed at his elbow, swiping his tongue on his bottom lip to only bite down at the chapped skin that began to peel.

“Smurf’s not there, just so you know.” There’s an understanding that seemed to be implicit between them.

He gave her a nod in response.

Her eyes shimmered as she drew out a languid sigh.

“Forewarning you.” She joked, “There is a cauldron brewing. 2 salamanders. Three missing grey donkeys. A broomstick. The whole nine yards.” She whistled as she lowered Lena to place her on the ground.

Lena doesn’t put up a fight as Cat settled her beside her foot.

Adrian chuckled, watched as she nudged him jokingly with her elbow. Cat winked several times before she glanced down at her wrist watch, her face skewing in dismay.

“Adrian, are you busy?” Her voice piqued as she asked, glancing up at him.

Adrian makes a quick once-over of what he had planned to do during the day. Other than going out to surf and eventually going back to fix the drainage leak, he was sure that that was the extent to what he had to complete in the day. In perspective, it was a very unofficially relaxed day.

“Not necessarily.” He answered, crossing his hands across his chest, “Just waiting for … Deran.”

Cat offered a cautious smile, her lips perking upwards but a comforting look etched across her eyes. She reached forward to grip his hand, clasping onto his wrist and giving a tight squeeze.

He saw it the moment she retracted her hand. The intrepidness. The hurried rush to get things done. The panic at whatever she had to fret over. The glossiness that appeared just as fast as it had disappeared.

She extended her hand for Lena to reach back, only to have to grab Lena’s hands as Lena had shifted her focus to straps on her sandals. She knelt over, peeling the adhesive side of the strap, pressing it against the flat surface of the putty. She was distracted to the point that she’s alarmed when Cat warmly grabbed her wrist.

“I know it’s a lot to ask..” Cat was hesitant, every word etched in careful thought. She rubbed Lena’s head with her free hand, biting her bottom lip in uncertainty that seemed to stretch between them. Adrian pursed his lips as he gazed at the tiny human being hiding behind Cat’s food.

Lena wasn’t doing a good job of hiding but even Adrian knew that she wasn’t making an effort to.

She clasped onto Cat for comfort. Cat was familiar. Adrian wasn’t. There was something respectable about that. The fact that she was able to procure such a distinction with her behavior and posture.

Adrian sighed with a shrug, “Well…I can’t imagine saying no to you will be particularly fun.”

Cat widened her eyes, an ease settled on her shoulders as she broke out into an exasperating smile.

“Thank you.”

Cat bent down, wrapping her hand securely around Lena. She slipped a strand of hair behind Lena’s ear as she whispered within his earshot, “Could you stay with Adrian today?”

Lena’s eyes flickered to Adrian.

Adrian doesn’t know how to discern that particular look but it was something that induced a flutter against his chest. He could see the slight trepidation in her eyes and there was validity to that concern. He had never spent more time than he had with her-tops, six minutes. Even then, it was a simple ‘hello’ and ‘goodbye’ that wasn’t even directed towards her as it was for Cat.

He wondered if he needed to recant his agreement to her proposal-there was no reason for Lena to be uncomfortable by his presence. God forbid if he had to be left in a stranger’s company at her age. He would have probably raised hell before his mother even considered propositioning anyone for that job of taking care of him.

“Cat-“

Lena nimbly nodded, unclasping her hands from Cat’s in the process.

Adrian stifled an impressed chortle. He withdrew his hand, only to slide it behind his back as he clutched onto his wrist.

Well, shit. Adrian figured that her inclination to agree must have been cultivated by her mother’s predisposition rather than any other reason. Hurriedness emanated from every visceral look that Cat embellished in all her glares and seeped in every word.

Cat pressed her lips against Lena’s scalp, giving a tight squeeze before sliding the bag off of her shoulders.

Adrian blinked as he processed the strap that is soon slid into his curled fingers. He grabbed back so it doesn’t slip, holding the bag down beside his knees because no way was he going to wear it and by the sheer heaviness of it, he’s sure that he doesn’t need whatever was inside.

“Lena, Adrian.” Cat shifted from facing him and then back to Lena. “Adrian, Lena.” She continued, waving her hand in Adrian’s direction. It appeared comical the way she would flake her hands in the air, almost if she wanted to make Adrian appear appealing and friendly, more than anything, reliable.

He wasn’t sure if it worked but Lena breaks out into a smile that made Adrian unsure of what exactly he should base his assumptions on.

Adrian extended his hand out, for all his improper formalities, it somehow seemed like an extension of Cat’s exuberating pretense. As he flexed his palm towards her, as soon as it comes into her direct vision, he curled his three fingers, leaving the thumb and pinky faced outwards. He emulated a fluctuating fluid motion, directing it towards her face.

Unlike Deran, her smile is visible.

It was genuine.

“Thank you.” Cat repeated, clasping her hands together in an apologetic manner, “I owe you one.”

Adrian waved off her offer, “Don’t sweat it.”

Cat leaned over Lena to press her lips against Adrian’s cheeks, giving his shoulder a warm squeeze before she rushed in the direction of the car he had not recognized that had been pulled to the rear side.

Adrian moved to stand closer to Lena as he watched Cat disappear inside of her car before swerving off and into the distant. He tilted his head until her plates were nothing more than a distant view.

He was slightly perturbed when tiny hands clamped around his knee, with others reaching upwards to curl into his hand. He directed his gaze downwards as he reached to knead his fingers with hers, completely surprised by her immediate response.

Rather than being thankful for her lack of reluctance, he dwelled on how easy it was. Sure, there was nothing he would do that would be harmful towards her but if six minutes qualified for a stranger to transform into a reliable acquaintance, an inevitable conversation would be much needed with Cat.

Adrian knelt beside her, leveling with her height. He lifted his free hand and rested it on his knee as he gazed to look at Lena, who despite her tendency to be quiet and aloof, had given him the most eye-contact he had ever gotten from any individual.

It felt as if she not only was staring at him, but at something beyond.

It almost felt visceral.

He wasn’t sure of what to say. As he had said, six minutes does not qualify him in any remote way to be personable with a child. He was content with a ‘hello’ or a ‘goodbye’ and anything beyond seemed intangible and implausible.

He couldn’t formulate words. Sure, maybe he would have had an easier time interacting with Lena than he would have had with anyone, considering that the Cody brothers were nothing short of childish, responding to inapt remarks.

Yet, immaturity expected out of an adult was entirely different from naivety prevalent in children.

“Hi.” He settled for, satisfied but immediately stupefied by the ambiguity of it. He wasn’t sure if it conveyed his confusion as to how to proceed but he doesn’t wait to fret, as Lena withdrew her hand-gently as she possibly could-before settling down under the brief space of shade that had been yet a foot away.

Smart girl, he concluded.

He assessed it was too tiny for both of them to share, unless he held her up. He decided against it when it became a disconcerting qualm that something would come out of him deciding to invade her space.

He settled for the rays that bled into his flesh.

The stinging dissipiated but it always seemed as if every consecutive ray, is armed with a newer and novel way to protrude into his skin and have a tangible effect that is just as worse and just as painful.

Adrian slipped his hand back into his pocket to grab his cell only to pull his empty hand out when he watched as the familiar black colored jeep swerve into the driveway. The tires screeched a short distance away from him, a raucous sound emanating from the instant halt.

The door flipped open, Deran jabbing his head out briefly as he wavered him over, “Come on” which with the brazen audacity he had to even make it appear as if Adrian had been the one to hold him up, had irked Adrian.

He was still alarmed when soon petite hands tugged on his fingers.

Adrian wavered his eyes as he gazed down, dropping his hand lower so it was easier for Lena to grab back.

Which she does, momentarily.

“What are you doing?” There was a disbelieving accusatory tone that caused Adrian to grimace. He settled his eyes briefly on Lena before looking back up at Deran, who at this point, had stepped out from the jeep and shut the door behind him.

He continued to glare at him, momentarily at Lena before settling them on Adrian. If looks could slice through flesh, Adrian was sure that Deran could qualify for semi-finals with his.

“Cat couldn’t find Baz.” He offered.

Deran frowned. He protruded his slightly forward, a baffled look etched on his forehead.

“And?”

Adrian shrugged, “Cat’s busy.”

“Give her to Smurf.” He said offhandedly.

Adrian felt the grip only tighten in response.

He wavered his eyes to grab a look at Lena.

“She’s fine with me.” He replied as he watched where her fingers clutched onto his, turn into a pale hue.

“I’ll go find Smurf.” Deran continued, as if he hadn’t responded.

The grip got even more dense.

“Deran, I promised Cat I’d take care of her,” which was not necessarily the complete truth as he had agreed not under that pretense, “She’ll be fine with me.”

Deran glanced down, unimpressed with his answer, still made an attempt to push the buzzer to open the gates.

Adrian grabbed Lena’s hand as he walked in Deran’s direction, shoving himself in front of the gate and Deran’s stretched out hand, having it collide against his chest.

“I said-“

“I heard you.” He huffed, “So let’s just-“ He said tightly, “-leave her with Sm-“ to which Adrian gritted his teeth, noticing by the way Deran thinned his lips as if the clamping sound had not been restricted to the confines of his mouth-“Craig.”

Adrian drew his brows in, “What part of she’s staying with me didn’t you get?”

He doesn’t miss a beat as he replied drily with, “That part.”

Adrian pushed past him, lowering down as he took a stride to grab Lena, lifting her up against his chest as he secured a hand around her back as she held onto him. She gravitated easily towards him, clutching onto the helm of his shirt as she wrapped her leg at the crane of his waist.

It’s so easy that Adrian pondered whether Lena was just an exception to the rule or he’d given himself less credit that he needed to. She’s easy. She doesn’t contest. She was currently holding onto him as if he provided her the necessary security she needed to trust him. Or maybe- considering her two options, he had the nicer face and she’d rather avoid having to be even in Deran’s vicinity.

That, he could understand. Kind of. Maybe more than he needed to.

He was more receptive to it even though the very thought of kid and him and just, it all, was unnerving. He didn’t necessarily hate kids but that didn’t mean he wanted them by volition.

This, he could do.

Albeit, briefly.

Adrian clutched onto the knob, went to unclasp only to have to nudge harder when the door doesn’t open. He switched his gaze at the lock and noticed that it had been shoved down.

“Deran.” Adrian said in a leveled tone, “What the fu-“

As the heaviness settled into flesh of his chest, he paused. Had he continued, as much as it became a disregarding thing to do-to say the word-he was sure that if any sensible person had been in the room, he would have been reminded to think twice before saying it.

She shifted around slightly, her ankle jabbing into his thigh but it was a dense load that was almost unrecognizable if it weren’t for the fact that she continued to toss her leg slightly in the air before resting it back on his leg.

Adrian hovered his hand over the window glass, flipped the switch upwards before going to unclasp the door once again. Deran was fuming as he crossed to stand beside him in four-maybe five, easy strides. It was fluid and quick, as if the ground had been less compact than he had remembered and there was a railing that helped facilitate that easy maneuver.

Adrian settled Lena on the seat, one hand on the brim of the door, while the other had still been draped behind her back in an effort to levy her up, as she knelt on her knees, looking between the two of them in a curious manner that didn’t quiet make it to her eyes.

“Dude,” Adrian started, turning to face him, “It’s hot.” He stated matter-of-factly, swiping his hand against his forehead for a much needed emphasis. Something Deran apparently needed if it weren’t overtly obvious that his skin was in the transition of turning into a crimson red that would inevitably peel.

There was something innately disturbing that despite the several instances he had found himself not SPF’ing, he managed to do that again. And again. As if it hadn’t mattered that the burning sensation was something he would have preferably liked to have avoided. But it had to say something about him that he needed to learn that lesson, for the eightieth time.

Deran nostrils flared as he gripped onto the door, his knuckles cracking. Adrian grimaced slightly, quickly erasing it to not show his discomfort. He gazed back at Deran’s pale knuckles, shifting his eyes to survey the time that read on the digital radio.

“Der-“

“Fuck you.”

Adrian glanced down at Lena, watched as she sat, no recollection of being petrubed by the mere words or the tone of his voice. She picked at the seam of her dress, coiling the thread around her index and thumb before releasing it. Only for her to do it again, and again.

Adrian placed his hand on the incinerating leather, watched as Lena tilted her head to take notice of that. She slid farther into the truck, leaving enough room for him as he lunged upwards, collapsing against the seat as he shut the door close.

He glared at the space left-just enough for Deran-

He peered out from the frame window, watching as Deran took three large strides before straddling onto the ledge of the door, lurching forward before sliding back until he collided with the cushion.

Adrian was despondent as he wrapped his hand behind Lena, consciously tugged her closer to his own side-nudged her in his direction. He held onto the seat belt strap, brought it up and over her head, hinging the clasp into its hold.

She instinctively moved her dress, as it fell upon the restraint, making way as Adrian slid the clip into it’s hook.

Adrian removed his hand from behind Lena but if he was being honest, his nerves fizzled as he settled his hand on his thigh and at any moment, it would stretch in an instant as a reflexive thought.

He disliked very few. Unreliable people. Mayo in his food. Wipeouts. Especially any incident that predisposed to him to the wraths of a razor sharp roof. He slit the sole of his foot, a thick gash that percolated with his blood. The gauze did nothing but seepen with crimson red and it took several stiches and layers of gauze before his seeping blood was masked by anything but.

He also disliked how his shirt stuck onto every drop of sweat that perforated from the follicles in his skin. His pores are blended into the color of his flesh but they had enlargened and the water that seeps from within is blinded by the blinding sun rays.

Adrian wiped his hands against his shorts, only to have to glance as the glossiness had not disappeared completely.

Adrian grabbed on the edge as the truck swerved from beside the driveway, before zolting into the street. He pressed his toes into the sole of his slippers, digging his nails into the rubber. He glanced briefly at Deran, shook his head quietly.

He peeked at the meter, watched as the shaft drifted upwards.

The sheer force at the accelerated speed, tossed Adrian to crash his head against the backhold. He strained his neck as he tried to resist the impending collision. It’s not use as he felt the jab of the cool metal smear against his skin.

Adrian drew his hand out, stretched it across Lena before kneading his fingers into the fabric of the car seat.

Deran pushed on the accelerator once more.

He had one hand hovering over the glass pane, the side exposed to the air, his hair flailing in one direction. He gripped onto the steering wheel, pumping his closed fist in the air. To what-the radio had been mute.

The only sound that had richocheted off of his ear drums was the buzzing of the alarmingly fast winds that crashed into his face. The impact of that sheer force had been directed only to him and Deran, who was rather enjoying it as she shrilled his growls in exuberance.

Adrian tried not to focus on the fact that they had barely made it past a yellow light or out maneuvered a stop sign. When he didn’t have to focus on it, he was grateful that by the grace of something, nothing seemed to impede their flow. There were no close-calls or impending motor vehicles.

It was a rather alarming speed but they weren’t met with any counteracting semblance.

Soon, they’re at the pier.

Deran pulled the keys out of the ignition. He rammed the shaft upwards, removing his foot from the pedal. He doesn’t turn. Kept his one hand on the steering wheel, and the other one against the window frame. He pursed his lips as he retracted his leg back.

Adrian backed into the confines of his space, wretching out a shallow breath as the stagnation caught up to his speeding heart. He clamped down at his chest, kneading his fingers into this shirt to soften the sharp throbbing.

Adrian doesn’t have to turn to see Lena. He had felt her clamp her fingers around his wrist, her tiny fingers stuck to his flesh. She doesn’t show any indication of her disposition but he felt her fingers clamp down, harder with more force, anytime the speed had gotten any faster-the swerves have gotten any harsher-her fear emanating from the touch.

She didn’t have to say anything.

He heard her loud and clear.

“What are you gonna do with her?”

Adrian swiveled his head, drew his brows inwards. He wondered whether there had been three sorts of hell that he had been invited to because he was sure that a fourth had existed.

Right then and there, Adrian latched onto the knob, drifting his hand to unclasp it. He firmly planted both his feet on the ground, the gravel under his feet do nothing but assuage his rapid inhales. He brought his knee close to his chest, stretching his heel as he felt the nerves re-start.

As if they had shut down and stifled any motion, which for all intensive purposes, was how he had felt.

Numb.

Despondent.

He heard the click of the seatbelt being unclasped. As he turned on his heel, Lena stretched her tiny hand across the remote lock, shuffling in her spot before deciding it best to take the leap. It was maybe a couple of feet from the ground. Not too shabby.

He waited for her to ask.

Watched as she shrugged languidly to herself, as if she had convinced herself of her decision, before leaping. She lands aptly.

Lena lifted her head up, her eyes swimming with content with her feat. She softened the creases in her dress before stepping beside to stand next to him.

The air had become easier to breathe.

“Fucking Christ.”

Adrian’s ears perked as he tilted his head, slightly, just enough that he could see from the periphery of his eyes, as Deran drifted towards the back of his truck, to which Adrian presumed to be for his garb.

The weather is much cooler. As expected. The wind is harsh as it swiped across his face, grovels of sand frisking into his flesh. It’s not enough that he had to respond to it begrudgingly but it was apparent enough that he had shifted around to avoid any more drafts.

Deran appeared with a board under his pit, his suit hanging right beside. The color of the neoprene was another hue of black. It seemed new but Adrian wasn’t quick to make that assumption. He’d never really focused on that-had he not had focused on anything else.

It seemed minute but it bothered him that he couldn’t discern whether he had not made that distinction because he wasn’t aware-which would have been a farce in on it’s own as it was painfully obvious that he was tuned to everything-or if he had just mislapsed in his frets.

“I’m gonna go enjoy my fucking day,” Deran gritted, nostrils flared as he thinned his lips.

Adrian gripped his hand to his side as he watched Deran stride his way towards the waves.

Apart of him wanted to just try to resort to some sort of acquiescence towards Deran’s predispostions. As he stood there, Lena’s fingers kneaded through his, his skin sizzling but cooled drastically by the indundating winds, he had a hard time squeaking a word.

If it wasn’t this, it was always something else. He had to choose his battles and this was as futile as disputing that his feet currently weren’t being pressed into the gravel.

As Lena nudged her index finger into his palm, he looked down at her and raised his brows. She drew her brews inwards, sliding one leg over the other and dropped her head in slight bemusement.

Adrian shifted his train of thought to the stand beside the pier, closer to one side of the narrowing sill. It had been a standard  one, most likely had what anyone would need when they were short of necessities.

Adrian knelt, resting his free hand on his knee, eye-leveled with Lena.

“Hey Lena,” he said gently, trying to word in his mind how to ask without having it spill in a jumble. If she had said no, which her reticence would offer, they both would just end up walking the deck. Frankly, that thought was as unsettling as his skin peeling. The water would cool him and considering the fact that it was way over ninety, it would help them both.

If he was being completely honest, he looked forward to this.

Getting in the water, his paddle underneath his chest, his hands swooshing the waters underneath his fingers and behind him. He liked when he watched an offshore wave and had become familiar with the maneuvers of it that he had silently muttered the time it would take before he would need to lift himself up and brave the force.

“Did anyone ever teach you how to swim?”

She turned to her side, the gust of air unearthed her hair from behind her ears and swamped across her face. She dragged her free hand across her face, flipping the hair in the opposite direction.

Lena nodded casually, turning around to face him.

“Surf?” He pondered.

The creases in her forehead disappeared, to be soon filled with her perking brows.

Her lips swarmed upwards, the line etched wide across her mouth.

She shook her head vehemently.

Thank God.

Adrian levied his hand against his thigh before lifting himself up.

“Cool.” He smiled.

It doesn’t take him more than a couple of minutes to realize that he had in fact not been graced with an extra pair of trunks. His wetsuit, he checked in the trunk, had been tucked beside a cooler. His board was settled onto the side, a secure strap had mantled it.

He had just enough money to buy Lena a body glove-at her instance, blue. She had left his side and returned with her choice before he could even graze the aisle. He settled for a paddle board, the surf boards had seemed like a stretch. He estimated her grip and arm length just by sheer glance, decided against a larger board.

Paddle boards seemed like the most apt choice.

Soft boards were in the front glass but as he glanced at the price tag, he felt a hole burning in his shorts. Not that he had that kind of cash on him, either way. He took a once-over at the board he had held, noticed the sturdy rail. He gripped the fins, gave a rough tug before he slid his hands across the stringer. The nose had been angled more pinpointedly and the tail was a clean cut.

He decided against a noose around her ankle, deciding that he would direct them towards the chunks of whitewater, keep away from the offshore.

When he first started to learn surfing, he had watched as the other kids would first stretch themselves and practice in the sand. There was an outline of the surfboard etched into the thin grime; he had watched as they would lift their hands up and over their head, curling their hands just enough as to emulate the pushing of water from underneath their fingernails before fast pushing-up into a standing position.

Sometimes, it appeared as if the point of that exercise, rather than preparing them for the inevitable movements-which for all intensive purposes, was rather pointless as the sheer texture of water kneading through anyone’s fingers couldn’t be compounded with granules of dust-it was just for enjoyment.

He didn’t understand the latter.

But Lena wasn’t him.

He stopped a couple of yards away from the clammering water, stood in front of Lena as he knelt. He made some quick glances at the crashing water, that was as gentle as they possibly could get, dropped his index finger into the granules. He directed his finger around the board, got to the skeg and paused.

His instinct was to behave in a way that he usually wouldn’t.

This was definitely one of those moments.

“Okay, Lena,” he started, swiping his hands against his thighs, “Watch what I do, okay?” He settled his body over her paddle board, which had been overshadowed by his sheer size. He had left his own board back in the truck, decided that teaching her would take more than enough time and if he had decided to surf in that time frame, somehow stupidly assuming that she’d be able to land on her feet the first time-callousness had it’s limits and he wasn’t going to push it. He cursed under his breath and hoisted his head up as he glanced at Lena.

She didn’t seem to notice and even if she had, she didn’t seem to show it.

Adrian shifted into the sand, dragging his  hands in the familiar swift motions. He planted his toes firmly into the granules, extending his arms out before curving his fingers in tight contact, upending them before diving in. He curled his fingers to give some fluidity before he groveled the sand through his fingers-backwards, forwards, backwards once again.

He flipped to his back as he stopped.

“That’s what you’re gonna do with your hands,” he supplied, hefting himself up.

Lena dropped to her knees, grabbing the rails in her direction. Adrian extended his hand out and gave it a slight nudge, which was just enough force before the nose of the board collided with her thigh.

She was quick to settle her tiny frame on the deck.

“Alright Lena, before you do what I showed you,” Adrian stretched his hand out in front of him, palm facing outwards and fingers pointing up. She screwed her eyes in confusion as she flexed her hand out. He moved towards her to fix the posture, emulating instead a stop sign with his palm, which she responded to. He gently pulled his fingers towards him with his left hand, so that his right hand was bending back. He held down for a couple of seconds, counting more loudly so that Lena would hold the grip as well.

She started to count with him after four, waiting for him to start before she would repeat the number. They got to 18 before he dropped his hands to his side.

“It helps you improve your range of motion.” He offered.

He bit down on his tongue as the words ricocheted off of his eardrums.

Improve your range of motion?

To a kid.

“Sorry.” Adrian supplied, “It’s good to stretch.”

With both of his hands on the sand facsimile, Lena’s on the board deck, he lowered himself to imitate a push up. He did a couple more and only until his hands were at full extension, he pulled his knees towards his stomach and hopped to his feet.

“That’s a pop-up.” Adrian answered her implicit frame of thought, “So you can balance your position.”

Lena nodded.

She extended her hands out shoulder’s length apart, goes down to emulate a push up. He watched as she retracted her leg inwards, hopping up and flexing her hands out to catch her wavering posture. Adrian was quick as he grabbed her wrist, placating one hand firmly against her back to stop her from falling.

He chuckled, “I did that too. You know?” He pointed at his stomach as he continued, “We don’t go to our knees first. Because if you’re on your knees too long, you’ll have a harder time trying to balance on your board.”

Adrian went back to his previous posture, hands flexed and body lowering-he tugged his knees before he pulled them closer to his chest, just as Lena had, and struggled as he felt his level field tilt in a manner that had him scurrying his hands in a offhandish manner as he jolted forward.

He was quick to take another step to stop any impending fall.

“That’s why.”

They continued to maneuver the format. Adrian waited until her pop-up accrued to a transition from a smooth motion into a standing position. It takes her another twenty or so but he’s even surprised at the fastidiousness of her progress.

Soon, they were in the water.

Lena had already settled onto the deck, straddling the rails on both sides with her curled hands. Adrian had stood behind her, gripping onto the tail as the fluidity of the waves dragged them inwards, the buoyancy relieving the weight to a manageable one.

Adrian gripped onto her paddle board. He had one hand flattened and pressed under the surface, providing her balance. He gripped onto the frame as she began to swipe her hands in the water. He watched as she creased her forehead inwards, as if she was concentrating on what he had said earlier. He watched as she curled her hands and slowly drifted the water away from her-left hand- and then her right. She's slow but she started to emulate the way he had just taught her.

 Her lips curved upwards into a smile, as if she had just realized that she had been doing exactly as Adrian had shown her. She picks up her pace, tilting to face him as she breaks out into a grin that just screamed 'look!'

Adrian nodded in response.

He directed her paddle against the offshore, towards the surface of the whitewater but further in that there was enough depth for more similar circumstances.

“Lena, move up to the nose.” He directed. She edged towards the sides, Adrian sliding his finger under her periphery vision to jab at the location of the ‘nose’.

She slid closer up the deck and stopped a couple of inches short of the stringer.

“Look at the horizon, L,” he pointed at the thin line that blended the surface of the water with the sky, “Remember how we learned how to stand up? Yeah? I need you to do that the next time you feel the push of the wave,” he brisked his free hand in the water to push the current in her direction, palming the water downwards to simulate the impact, “Like that. When you feel that, you stand up 3 seconds out.”

She stared at him squarely.

“Yeah? I’m right here.” He placed a small distance between the fin and himself but his hands were a second away from grabbing on just in case she were to fall, an unexpected tide were to swarm-anything.

He started to count as he noticed the graze that appeared softly in the nascent of the surface.

“One.”

“Two”

Lena had armed herself in a push up position, her knees had not yet caved in.

Good.

“Three!”

Lena drew her legs inwards before hopping up, extending out her arms and leveling her body as the tide glided under her paddle. She drifted slightly, only to catch herself as she flattened her palms, giving it more rigidness.

Adrian fisted his hand in the air, a sense of first-time adrenaline rush had ran through his veins. He swiftly uncurled his fist to flatten it out, high-fiving Lena’s flexed fingers as she, correctly, refused to remove herself from her fixed posture.

He patted the water, cracking through it’s tension and the droplets of water flying in the air. It’s a harsh slap that sends the globules of water to splash against his jaw. He shielded his eyes with his hand, spitting out any remnants that absolved into his mouth.

As he withdrew his hand, he caught Deran hanging out in the fringe. He had his hair slicked back into a loose ponytail that did nothing but curl is hair in a haphazard manner. He demonstrated stringent adherence to his posture that Adrian had to stifle a cheep.

Adrian wiped his hand across his face, observing the way in which Deran would glide his hand against the current, the cracks in the surface tension accrue to droplets that slip past his hands in a smooth swipe.

Deran angled his posture slightly back which changed the trajectory of the paddle to counteract. He balanced in a very rhythmic pace that was knifelike by the sheer contrast of the blue hues of the waves that he had ridden.

He’s alarmed when the rubber paddle slipped from his fingers.

He swerved around to notice that Lena had been pushed by the rip-semblance current in the opposite direction.

He lunged forward, kicking his feet in the water behind him as he paddled his hands fluidly to counteract the current.

The heaviness from the heavy breaking wave dragged his impending hand motion. Adrian surfaced his face on one side to take a breath as he continued his strokes. He relaxed his fingers as they curled into the water and drifted the water away from him.

Panic started to unsettle him everytime he hoisted his head for air, that he would notice that the distance grew-and grew-

His calves burned, dulled by the briskiness of the water.

Adrian’s eyes were obscured by the water splashing into his eyes, and even as he blinked, he had a hard time discerning what he had been looking ahead at. His arms ached as he pushed through, deciding to drop his strokes for a second as the current carried him. It relieved some of the force before he resumed his brushes.

Adrian kicked his feet until his lower half of his legs felt as if they were incineration. He reduced the amount of times he would hoist his head for a breath of air, instead of focusing on how much longer he could conserve it. Every single time he had to tilt to his side, he had to readjust to his flow of motion. He thought it would be better if he just practiced deep breathing, which tended to aid in this process.

He doesn’t make it far before he noticed a fin of her familiar paddle obscured by the light rays that bent his sense of perception.

Adrian surfaced, dragging his feet in swivels to stay afloat.

Deran was gripping onto the paddle, Lena saddled against his chest.

Adrian took three strokes before he was floating on the opposite side of the board.

“What the fuck, man?” Deran hissed.

Adrian parsed his lips, his panic dissipating to be usurped by an impasse drag that settled in his chest. It continued to ache as he shifted his gaze to settle it upon Lena, who had wrapped her hands around Deran’s elbows for balance.

“I’m sorr-“ he swallowed the salty water that had seeped through his nostrils, “I’m sorry.” He panicked as he settled his hands on the deck, crossing them over each other to stare at Lena, “I’m sorry,” he directed it towards her, “I’m sorry.”

Lena whisked her lips into a gloom, curling in on herself that made her appear smaller than she already had. It does nothing but exacerbate the despondency he felt towards himself at that moment.

“Le-“

Deran pushed forward, which alarmed Lena as she turned to look up at him. She retracted her hands in a swift motion and just as she was about to go curl them around Deran’s arms, he swam towards the tail.

He rose his hands out in front of him, waving his palms towards him and then letting them face Lena.

“Come on, let’s try.”

Lena shook her head furiously.

Deran paused.

He waited until she stopped before he unparsed his lips.

“Shit like that happens randomly,” he pointed at the direction in which she had come from, “Just like how it rains sometimes. Or how-“ he creased his forehead, “You know Cat gets angry. It doesn’t happen often, huh?” Deran questioned.

Lena was stagnant as she stared at him.

“No, right?” Deran answered himself, “So we’re not gonna be scared by this, L.”

The nickname for her appeared beguiling.

Adrian’s parched lips divert his attention.

He dragged his curled hand in the water before splashing them against his face.

“Come on.” He tried again.

Lena is stuck to her spot as Deran nudged the tail. It’s not a rough tug, not enough that she would be displaced by her position. He continued to do so for several times before Lena implanted her tiny frame against the paddle in the familiar position.

Adrian watched as he swiftly pushed her paddle board in the direction of the beach; Deran doesn’t let go once as Lena dragged her hands in the water. She settled into the familiar strokes and soon, her forehead creased inwards in that commonplace curiosity.

“Sorry.” Adrian offered, once more. Apologetically remorseful would have been an understatement.

Deran caught his eyes as he tilted his head. Adrian stifled a gasp as his familiar hues of his pupils are dilated by the light rays that emanate from the sky upon them. His skin glossed by the sheer wetness and it was a gloss that left a veneered finish to his usually less toned skin.

The look is full of conundrums that Adrian had a hard time discerning which one to focus on.

Disappointment mixed with, ironically, respite.

Glare mellowed by his nonchalance.

Friskiness softened by his quietness.

“Right.”

Adrian recognized why those conundrums usually conflicted him-

It was because he never knew which one to ascribe to Deran.

Making him completely unpredictable.

And completely elusive for Adrian to want to discern.