#seaward | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

afyrian · 1 month ago

Note

is… a seaward spark deleted? — @milkstore

yes… i am not super proud of it and therefore didn’t want it cluttering up my account with like twelve posts

but if you really want to read it, here’s all nearly 9000 words of it

deep blue memories

"today, we're separating into your usual groups and you'll take turns examining each of them. your goal is to figure out what's wrong with them and how you would solve the issue. there will be multiple answers for some of them, so don't be worried if there's disagreement within your groups," your professor stands in front of you, a thick notebook settling into your arm, a small mark forming on your forearm.

you've done this more than once before, but with it being your final year in the program, there's even more pressure to perform. you peek over at the turtle habitat, the beautiful colors on its shell catching your eye. the professor then steps off to the side, "group one, you're with the dolphin. group two, you're checking out the sea turtle. group three with the octopus and group four with the squids."

the number two always seemed to be your good luck number, because the sea turtle was ultimately what you wanted. you find your way through the group to your closest comrade, atsumu miya. knowing him through high school would have never made you think that he'd go into marine biology. his love for volleyball seemed as though it would last through college, but now he stands beside you, watching a turtle.

his enthusiasm, however, carried over and now it's all he can talk about. truthfully, you enjoy watching him smile as you compare homework answers. "so, initial thoughts?" you stare down at the turtle, watching as it turns around in the small enclosure.

brown and beige colors intertwine along the turtle's shell. the length appears a little over a meter long, the length and appearance of the shell leading you to believe it's a green sea turtle. "well, green sea turtle for starters-"

"yes... what else?"

"if you would so kindly let me finish, i was going to say, it looks like there's something on its fin," atsumu raises an eyebrow, leaning against the railing of the enclosure.

a couple of your other teammates mutter in agreement, one of them mentioning how it looks tumorous. your eyes narrow as you stare down the spot, fingers just barely dipping into the water. the cool temperature grasping at your fingers remind you of a simpler time. baby sea turtles struggling to make their way through the sand.

seagulls picking at them as they form lines in the sand, your fingers grappling at them to help them to the water. 'honey, you have to let them take the journey on their own. you can guide them, but you can't just drop them in the water,' your mom kneels beside you, lowering her sunglasses to meet your eyes.

she grabs a hold of your hand, leading you to swat away any birds that come close, waiting until they're just barely in the water. her hands moving yours into the cool ocean water, draping the baby turtles with a little freshness-

"you okay? you've been staring off into the distance as i monologued on how i would solve this mystery," he turns his body towards yours, watching as your fingers wade through the water, eyes focused on the growth.

you look back him, eyes flickering back to the turtle in front of you. there was always something interesting about the ocean, something that intrigued you about life within the water. "yeah, just cycling my mind through the different things that cause growths on green sea turtles. there's always fibropap... what is the full name of it?"

"oh what is that, fibropapilla?" atsumu narrows his eyes, pursing his lips as the gears turn.

"fibropapillomatosis... it's a tumor-causing disease," a voice pipes up, one that sounds unfamiliar to you.

everyone in your class has been going through the program for years together, making it hard to not know a member. especially when you look up and find that there's something truly unforgettable about the nearby individual. his dull blue eyes appears similar to that of the ocean as you venture deeper.

he stands a couple of feet behind you, his clothes matching that of an employee. "it can be found in all green sea turtle species. while there aren't currently treatments available for it, we can try to remove it in the hopes that it'll help," the mysterious man takes a step towards the tub, arms wrapped around a clipboard.

despite his apparent knowledge of the turtles, it's clear that he doesn't want to get close to the water, for unknown reasons. "right, you're totally right. we'd have to test and see, but yeah. uh, are you a new transfer student?" you furrow your eyebrows, clean hand scratching at your jaw line.

"no, just visiting," his gaze meets yours, and the longer you stare into his eyes, the longer you want to drown in them.

"well, thanks for the help, visitor," atsumu comments, hands resting on his hips, biceps just barely flexing as he stares down the mystery guest.

you look back at your closest confidant, eyebrows raised. while atsumu can be a little hostile around new people, you couldn't help but feel a little annoyed at how he immediately chooses passive aggressiveness. he looks back at you and shrugs, eyes flickering between you and the visitor.

the visitor swallows, clearly a little bit more nervous at atsumu's actions. before you can read the little name tag that is written on his lanyard, he's turning around, moving to the next group. he walks around a bit awkwardly. it appears as though he has a limp or something that affects his walking abilities.

you turn back to atsumu, pursing your lips. "i get you have that intuition thing going for you, but you just met the guy. come on," you lightly slap his upper arm, shoulders dropping.

"something just seems off about the guy, that's all."

"just be a bit nicer, especially if he is going to be here for a bit. for all we know he could be finding people for an internship or a job once we graduate. don't ruin your chances if that's the case," you push your finger into the upper part of his chest, bringing your hand back to cross your arms over your chest.

atsumu raises an eyebrow, shaking his head. "alright, just don't let his good looks blind you from your studies..."

"oh you're ridiculous," you look back at where he stood; however, he seemingly disappeared from the other group.

for a second, a part of you longs to know where he's run off to. however, you quickly turn back to your own group and remember what you were doing in the first place. fibropapillomatosis... such an interesting term.

rain falling

"atsumu! you ready to head out?" you throw on your jacket, grabbing ahold of your umbrella.

"yeah yeah, i'm meet you down there, 'kay?" he pops his head out of the study room, his jacket still not on, his papers probably still awry.

you raise your eyebrows, shaking your head. the hallways are nearly empty of any students. a couple of the professors' lights are still on, papers scattered across their desks. your favorite professor catches you right as you're about to leave. he quickly throws on his glasses and grabs your assignment from the pile.

"l/n! quick comment about the assignment from yesterday!" you nearly pass by without noticing when you hear him, making you turn on your heel.

you raise your eyebrows, pulling your backpack straps a little tighter. "yes, professor takeda?"

"the fibropapillomatosis, how did you guys think of that? i know it was part of the curriculum a couple years ago, but it was only for a day or so," your professor sets down the paper, staring at you through his lenses.

you loosen up a little, realizing that he likely isn't going to say you fail or anything. "well atsumu- miya! miya spotted the tumor on its fin. it reminded me of something i learned when i was younger, my father was a marine biologist. I couldn't quite remember the name, but a worker there, or someone visiting, helped," you answer honestly, tapping your shoe against the carpeting.

"miya, yes, he's quite an observant student. well, thanks for letting me know, none of the other groups ended up figuring it out. so, good on you, i'm sure next week's work will be riveting for your group then, have a good weekend," professor takeda sighs, clearly sounding exasperated.

you nod, turning towards the elevator. riveting? the only thing you think he could mean is that it explores the disease... you quickly press the down button (maybe one too many times) with your finger's joint. when the doors open, there's someone standing on the other side. a smile props up on your face upon seeing that it's the same blue eyed boy from yesterday.

today he has a solemn expression, eyes glazed over like he's dreading something. you walk in beside him, crossing your arms over your chest, pursing your lips. a part of you wants to say something, thank him for his help with the assignment. instead, a nervous jumble of words leave your mouth, "uh, great to uh see you. what you did yesterday? that was... uh."

he turns to look at you eyebrows raised. "that was, uh thanks!" you pry your gaze from him, focusing on the door of the elevator.

"no problem," he turns to look at the door as well, pressing his mouth into a thin line.

your heart beats quickly at the sound of his voice. he speaks so effortlessly, almost like he's carrying a tune with every word. something about it makes you want to stay beside him. walk with him for miles just to know who he is and what he stands for. you were never one to become so enamored with a person, to stumble on your words.

but something about him sends a chill down your spine, warm blood circulating behind your cheeks. luckily for you, though, the elevator reaches the first floor. saving you from any further embarrassment you may endure at the hands of this... siren. the doors open and the pitter-patter of rain overtakes the first floor.

rain drops pelt the front windows and glass french doors, your shoulders dropping. you love rain, the way it can cool down any hot day and make a day in seem amazing. however, knowing you'll have to run through the rain to get to your apartment doesn't seem enjoyable. when you peek over at your elevator companion, it's clear he feels the same way. a scowl carries through his lips and his eyebrows furrow.

"i have an umbrella if you need help getting to your car or place... uh just so you know," you fully turn to look at him, grabbing the umbrella from your bag, "um my friend has another one so we can make it to our apartment."

and now you're offering your umbrella to a complete stranger, knowing that you'll probably never get it back. his gaze scurries between you and the rain, head shaking slightly, "no, no, i'm going to wait it out."

you blink rapidly, staring at the mysterious man in front of you. from what you remember, the weather forecast predicts that the rain will bleed into nearly midnight. "wait it out? you'll be sitting here til at least midnight, they probably lock the doors before then," you watch as he sits down on one of the chairs, setting his bag down on an end table.

"i'll be okay- don't worry, really. i like to walk at night," he shrugs his shoulders, your eyes widening as he insinuates that it'll be completely fine to wait until four in the morning to walk home.

"really? i mean if you think it'll be okay... don't say i didn't warn you though," you grab ahold of the umbrella, swaying on the ball of your feet.

the mystery man crosses his arms in front of his chest, smiling a little. he has a sweet smile, you think to yourself, quickly looking away so he wouldn't think you to be weird. "well if i see you again, i'll let you know if i should've listened to your unsolicited advice," he bites his lip, looking out at the rain pelting the windows.

despite the wording, the tone of his voice echoes through your ears. it's definitely playful, making you take in a deep breath. "i'm l/n y/n, by the way, just in case you're around for a bit longer," you mention, transferring the umbrella to your left hand so you can hold out your right one for a shake.

he looks back over at you, his stunning blue eyes matching that of night rain. you can't help but smile, watching as he holds out his hand to shake yours, "my name is akaashi keiji. it's a pleasure to formally meet you, l/n."

before you can say anything, your hand in his, atsumu comes running into the room, out of breath. he has his hands on his knees, breathing heavily from the long flight of stairs. when he finally looks up from his spot he sees the two of you. his eyebrows furrow at the sight of you, jaw clenched.

"y/n, we should hurry before the rain picks up anymore," his gaze barely leaves yours, only peeking over at akaashi for a moment.

"right, it was a pleasure to meet you too, akaashi. i'm sure we'll see each other around at some point," you move your hand from his, your smile turning into a straight line.

we meet again

the water rises to your chin, your arms outstretched, laying above the water. it's calm, moving slowly as the sand wraps around your feet. seaweed wipes across your shins and sends goosebumps up your legs. you take in a deep breath, smelling the salty ocean air. this morning, it's perfect, the way the colors blend with the horizon.

even the beach is declutterred and free from people. you always enjoy a morning after a storm. precipitation still covers the boardwalks and restaurants are still closed until lunch. you have the silence that you so eagerly enjoy while being atsumu's roommate. you love how close you are, but sometimes he sets the music on high and enjoys watching a game of volleyball.

you take in one more deep breath before wading back towards the beach, dipping in once more to let it encompass your whole being. feeling it cool the back of your neck and wash away any worries you feel regarding school. it calms you down so much that you nearly forget about- akaashi. you notice him on the beach when you resurface, walking through the sand.

for a second, you want to say something, invite him over. he seemed friendly the night before, smiling with you, but now you can't quite tell. he could've just been friendly and not necessarily wanting any conversation further. "l/n, it seems we meet again," the warm voice pulls you from your thoughts, the black haired boy making his way towards your stuff.

you take in a deep breath through your nose, a soft smile stretching across your lips. "yes, people don't normally come out mornings after storms. it's my getaway of sorts," you hurry to exit the water, grabbing your towel to throw it around your shoulders.

"well, i can 'get away' if you need me to," akaashi murmurs, resting his hands on his waist, head tilting a little.

"oh no need, you can be the exception," you shrug, crossing your legs out of habit as you stand, eyes stuck on his like every time you catch a glimpse of him, "do- uh do you want to hang out? i did bring a couple snacks."

he nods, a curt smile stretching across his own lips. they appear soft, matching the rest of his clear skin and calm character. "sure, yeah, absolutely, i just have some things to attend to in not too long," akaashi finishes, hoping to get across the 'absolutely', not wanting to seem like he's unenthusiastic.

you sit down on one end of the blanket, pulling out the crackers and grapes you had saved. he sits across from you, legs sitting straight out, one hand resting against the blanket to hold him up. you look out at the sky once more before turning your attention to the handsome stranger in front of you.

"so, what brings you to the beach so early in the morning?" you question, popping a grape into your mouth, keeping the bag open so he can grab some as well.

"it's my favorite place. the water, the sand between my toes. plus the sun in the morning can't be beat," akaashi looks out at the sky, his eyes glimmering with the reflection.

"yes! thank you! none of my friends seem to ever enjoy the peace and quiet of a good morning on the beach. despite the fact that almost all of them are receiving degrees in marine biology..." you shake your head, removing the towel from your shoulders to wrap it around your torso.

he shakes his head as well, either with sympathy or an understanding of your situation. "so, what are you doing at the center? if you're not a student, are you working there now?" you tilt your head, resting your elbows on your knees.

akaashi sighs, looking out at the sun rising in the sky. there's something beautiful about the way it shines on his face, golden and bright. "right.. my uncle works there and because of my knowledge of sea life, he offered me a temporary job there. it's nothing like you guys are doing, but still a great experience," he turns his attention back to you, a smile on his face.

"you do seem like you have quite a knack for marine biology. that diagnosis really helped me with the assignment," you cross your arms over your chest, keeping both the towel up and your arms warm.

"you guys had it down, i just knew the full name," he laughs lightly, playing off the intelligence that he so clearly carries, "don't underestimate yourself, you seem quite at home with the water and the creatures it envelops."

a smile stretches across your lips, heat raising to your cheeks. you've received compliments before but none that ever appreciated your love for the ocean. for once, it feels as though you've met someone who understands you. "thank you, akaashi, that means quite a lot. now if this isn't too forward, could we maybe exchange phone numbers?"

"phone numbers?"

"yeah- i mean it's okay if you don't want to, we barely know each other that would be strange," you close your eyes for a second, feeling a wave of embarrassment overtake you.

he shakes his head, "no, no, i just mean that i don't have a phone. i've been meaning to get one, but i've just never needed one where i'm from."

you hide back the want for laughter, eyebrows raised. of course, it's probably better that way, leaving him free of the brain rot that you've endured. however, he can tell by your expression that it's a surprise. a large smile forms on his face as he explains, "but i've been meaning to get one! i have!"

akaashi turns away from you, lightly laughing as you shake your head. "no, it's okay! i mean it'd be great to talk to you again, but phones can be pricey. if you do during your time here, feel free to share your phone number," you bite your lip to hide another fit of laughter, hand raising to cover your mouth as well.

he turns back to look at you, completely in the moment. the way he looks at you rivals that of anything you've ever seen. you can't help but admit to yourself that you've fallen for a practical stranger, and honestly, you've fallen quite hard.

internet searching

"stop hovering over my shoulder... shoulders! ugh i hate that there's two of you sometimes," you turn to look at atsumu and osamu who are standing right behind you.

atsumu just continues to look at the screen, the words 'akaashi keiji' written in the search bar. you purse your lips, finger hovering above the enter button. of course you want to find out what he's all about. his charm, his lack of local community, and the fact that he doesn't have a phone despite having a whether prosperous uncle...

you take in a deep breath, knowing that despite his blue eyes and suave words, atsumu's words creep into your brain relentlessly. "you don't have to do this you know?" osamu, the angel on your shoulder, sighs.

"i know.. it's just, while i think him not having a phone could be the most adorable, out of touch thing, it could also be totally untrue," you rest your cheek against your knuckles, taking in a deep breath and letting your finger push down on the button.

a few results end up, atsumu eagerly pointing each of them out. a facebook account and a couple instagram accounts show up, but all of them prove fruitless. none of them appear to be made by your akaashi. especially the facebook one which features an older gentleman with his wife. even a website that features 'owners' of phone numbers don't have anyone under thirty or over sixteen.

you finally let out a breath that you were still holding. heartbeat slowing down when you realize that atsumu's intuition could be wrong about the man you've grown an enormous crush on. "see, atsumu, gosh, you freaked me out for nothing," you cross your arms in front of your chest, eyebrows furrowing.

"i just don't think it's nothing, there's something off about him," atsumu sits forward in his chair, resting his hands on his knees.

osamu smacks his brother's shoulders. he gives him a look before looking up at you, a smile on his face. "ignore him, you're going to be fine. and if things don't work out, they don't. it's clear you like the guy-"

"but why? i don't even know him, and i mean i'd like to know him. but i know practically nothing about the guy and i'm falling to my feet at the sight of his gorgeous eyes," you lean forward, resting your face in your hands, letting out a solemn sigh.

"no one can answer that but you."

"but if you were asking me, i'd say it's because he's probably mastering the dark arts or something," both of you turn to look at atsumu as he smiles not-so-sheepishly.

study date <3

you lean your head back, listening to a playlist through your earbuds. the library is filled with an array of research and information regarding the nearby sea life. somehow, every tuesday, you get lost in this building. from the large paper mache whales hanging from the ceiling, to the light blue lighting across top of the bookshelves. honestly, it'd be easy to live there.

with a deep breath, you look down at the materials sitting on your desk. you flip to a new set of vocabulary, writing them down on notecards. you sketch little drawings onto each of them to match the words. the music fills your ears and your head bobs, enjoying every beat. for a second, there's a sense of peace within you. for once, during the busy school year, you finally feel relaxed. even if you are working on vocabulary cards.

the only thing that can pull you away from the oasis that you've built is the feeling of someone poking your shoulder. immediately you pull the earbud from your ear, turning around to see the one man you'd hope to see again. "akaashi! nice to see you!" you give him a wide smile, looking between him and your flash cards.

"oh, you're working, i will let you study," he puts his hands up, pursing his lips.

"no- no it's okay! maybe you could help me study, if you're up for that," you raise an eyebrow, crossing your arms in front of your chest.

akaashi takes in a deep sigh, crossing his own arms in front of his chest. "well, i would.. but i don't think you could handle just how good i am at this," he frees his hands and pulls out the chair next to you, sitting down and crossing his ankles by the ground.

"oh it's totally on," you shake your head, narrowing your eyes.

with your childhood knowledge of ocean life and your higher education, you hope that this should already be common knowledge. but with the final exams coming up for the season, and your quest for a summer internship, you want to be perfectly prepared. which means akaashi sitting across from you with flash cards in his hand.

his elbow rests on the table and his ankle rests on his other leg. as he peeks at you over the flash cards, it's hard to ignore the way he looks at you so effortlessly. his eyes dancing between your eyes and your smile. even when you're describing the difference between eukaryote microbes and bacterial microbes, he looks at you as if he you're the most beautiful thing in the world.

luckily for you, he can't notice the heat in your cheeks. most of your embarrassing feelings disappearing under the golden and blue lights. "so, how do you think i'm going to do?"

"i think you'll ace it," he nods, shrugging his shoulders like it's incredibly obvious, "and as a way to prove my support, here's.. my phone number."

he grabs a pen from your pile of writing materials, writing the number on a notecard that sits rather empty besides some doodles. truthfully you can't hide back the very childish crush you're feeling towards the man. even the way he looks up at you while writing it can send a shiver up your spine. "i got it after your suggestion, with lots of convincing to my uncle to let me be on his plan," akaashi slides the notecard towards you.

"that was sweet of you, i'll have to pick your brain about some more sea life while i'm at it," you take the paper, noticing the sort of sloppy handwriting.

it's not necessarily terrible, but it's clear he isn't excelling at calligraphy. however, it's another thing about him that is just oddly adorable. even now, you can't argue why you feel such an attraction to him, to his voice. for a second, you smile to yourself at the thought of him as a siren. pulling you into a trap with only his voice and seemingly sweet personality.

"go for it, i have some experience down there," akaashi nods, letting you stuff the number into your backpack for future use.

you furrow your eyebrows, confused, "really? i didn't know you spent a lot of time in the ocean. were you a diver or was it more educational?"

akaashi shrugs, "a little bit of both, my family is filled with people who love the ocean so i've just basically lived in it my whole life. i learned to swim before i learned to walk honestly..."

"that's so cool, i assume that's why you went into this field of work then? so do you plan on staying here for a while then, getting some experience and such?" you bring your legs up onto the chair, crossing them to resemble an odd pretzel, cheek resting on your knuckles.

asking him about his plans weren't your initial plans upon entering this conversation, especially being that forward. but the way he makes you feel is something you don't want to ignore, not again. it's easy to ignore advances or simply not take them yourself, but watching as he stammers over his words, it makes you want to know him even better.

"yeah- yeah, i just love nature so much! uh, i'm not really sure... i would love to, but my family is from here. here as in this area, this town. so i'd like to be near them," he bite his lips, nodding at his own answer, as if he was trying to convince not only you, but himself.

"right, well, thanks for the help, and i'll make sure to text you."

a home away from home

you get off of the train, pulling your backpack close to your shoulder. the sky is filled with clouds that droop with soon to come rain. "yeah, just got here. i just can't wait til the weekend ends," you hold your phone up to your ear, looking around the train station to see if you can see your mom.

"it's just a couple days, and you know you can call 'samu or i whenever," atsumu's voice echoes through your ear, the volume a little more gentle than you're typically accustomed to.

it had been awhile since you step foot in your hometown. everything overwhelms you with feelings of nostalgia. yet everything looks so unfamiliar. the newly planted trees have aged and sprouted into gorgeous flowers, the train station is painted over with a luscious green. and in the middle of it all is a red sudan.

it's chipped, dented a little in the back, and filled with so many good and bad memories. the wheels are covered in grime and the very person you fear to see once again, happens to be sitting in the front seat. she has on chunky earrings, a workout tank top showing off the australian sun she had encountered.

you want to wait a moment to see if she'll notice you. see if she'll coming running out of the car and urging you for a hug. however, she sits there, typing on her phone. you look back at the train, almost forgetting atsumu was on the other end of the phone, "i think i might just come home."

"y/n, we'll support you no matter what you do," he tries to sound soothing, yet his voice never seems to come across that way.

"thanks, if need be, i'll take the train home."

you take in a deep breath and cancel the call, shoving your phone into your back pocket. every step you take towards the muddied car is every butterfly in your stomach multiplying. blackness covers your peripheral vision and for a moment you wonder if you'll pass out. you stop for a second and take in a deep breath, knowing that you can step away whenever.

when you get meters away from the car, you can see she knows it's you. the way she lowers her phone and her sunglasses, eyes staring back at you with the intensity of ten suns. she lowers the window on the passenger smile and attempts to give you a warm smile. "thanks for coming this weekend, honey."

the way she says it brings you back to when you were younger. back to when your dad would usher the same word but make it sound oh so much better. he'd swing you around on the beach and teach you everything you wanted to learn. but when she says it, it leaves a bitter taste in your mouth. "yeah, it's been a while, so i thought it was time," you open the car door, sliding in next to her.

"well, akai is waiting for us, he's made some lunch. some of your favorite things. i wanna try for us and i'm thinking that he may be proposing soon..." she smiles towards you, reaching her hand out towards you.

you look over at her, swallowing the thick mucus coating your throat. you had met akai so many years ago, when the two of them were simply two people in recovery together. but now everything's changing, you can't even return to your hometown without everything flipping upside down on you, "okay."

she starts driving, trying to ignore the malice lacing your voice. however, you've always found that she likes to start and argument where one never existed, "why can't you just trust that i'm doing what's best?"

"because you haven't since dad died. and now you're dating someone who you used to binge drink with and expect me to think that you're what's best for each other?" you can't bear to look at her, staring ahead at the backroads that she starts driving down.

"that's not your decision to make. especially because you haven't seen either of us in years."

you shake your head, biting the inside of your cheek. "you're right! i wonder why that is.."

she takes a moment to take in a deep breath. you didn't want to fight with her this trip, especially when you only came to visit your dad. however, hearing her voice when it used to be such a soothing thing can send someone over the edge. now, all you can remember is the hatred and resentment that she expressed over and over again.

"you don't know what it's like to lose the love of your life-"

"and you think losing a dad isn't just as hard? and then losing your mom all in the same day? let me out of the car," you finally turn to look at her, clenching your jaw upon realizing that you can't stay with her.

she peeks over at you, biting her lip. "i can't just let you out on the side of the road, why don't we talk about it? you can see akai again and really get to know him!" she begs, staring out at the upcoming beach and the greenery, unable to meet your eyes now.

"no! let out me out! i have finals coming up, i don't wanna deal with this right now! just- just let me out of the car!" you finally reach the point of practically yelling, your heart racing, hands shaking.

finally, she slows to a stop, free leg bouncing nervously. she turns to look at you, finally realizing that no matter what she does, there's been too much pain. and that pain has unfortunately overpowered whatever happy memories the two of you went through together. that you're your own person, an adult, a professional.

she watches as you open the car door, exiting with the little duffel bag you brought along. you can take in a deep breath and turn to look back at her, "bye, m- uh goodbye."

the word 'mom' couldn't exit your mouth, your lips seal shut before you could utter it. you can tell that she notices it, she notices the change in demeanor, the way you shut the door. she can tell that truly, nothing's changed, that the little girl that used to play in the sand with her doesn't exist anymore. she drives off without much of a fight, leaving you standing on the beach, tears already falling.

and at the seemingly worst time, your phone starts ringing, akaashi's name written across your screen. you bring your hand up, wiping away the tears that rest on your cheek, "hi, akaashi."

"l/n, sorry to call- are you okay?"

"yeah, yeah. i forgot to tell you but i took the train to my hometown. but i'm probably taking the next train back home," you shake your head, hoping it'll keep the tears from falling more.

he waits a moment before trying to say something to easy your pain. "well, are you by any chance by the ocean? because i've always found the ocean air to be quite relaxing!" akaashi starts, you can almost see the small smile on his face, "it's always been my home- second home. the calls of the birds and the waves hitting the rocks, like just sit there for a moment and it can help anything."

you smile to yourself, hearing the sound of the joy in his voice. no matter how nonchalant he can seem, it's clear that the ocean is his passion. "i'll have to give it a try, i grew up practically on the water so i do understand the benefits," you laugh, genuinely, as you think about how much you enjoy talking to akaashi.

"well i'm always up for just chatting, if you ever need it."

"thank you, i really appreciate it."

the underwater savior

you secure goggles around your nose and eyes, setting the snorkel in your mouth and dunking your head under the water. it feels refreshing as the water surrounds you. covering you from head to toe, and giving you a view that so many could only wish to see.

seaweed covers the sandy floor, a patch of coral a few meters down from you. you let out a breath as you look at the fish swimming around the reef. some are an orange, some blue, but all eye catching.

like instinct, you grab the disposable, waterproof camera from your wrist. you start to take some photos of the sea life, hoping you could even catch sight of a sea turtle. the camera in your hands just bring you back to when you used to do so with your dad. him having bought your first camera, first snorkeling set. he was part of a lot of your firsts on your journey to become a marine biologist.

even if you can't smile with the mouthpiece in, you can't help but love the time you spent together. so much so that you didn't even notice how far out you had swam. the coral reefs are larger and from afar you can see a whitetip reef shark. it's relatively small right now, likely young and in search of some food. it seems so peaceful right now, you staring out as you hope to calm yourself down a little.

even if you are a bit farther out, you know that anything at this level is something you've seen. if it's a shark, you know that your likelihood of being attacked is rather fairly low. and the rest of the fish in your area are rather sweet towards you every time you go snorkeling. with these reminders, your heartbeat slowing as you begin to swim back towards the shallower parts.

however, you don't get very far before feeling a sharp sting along your leg, pain shooting from your ankle to your knee. as an instinct, you let out a scream, forgetting about the snorkel that is in your mouth. water sucks into your mouth as the snorkel is sucked into the waves. you try to paddle out of the water, the extreme pain in your leg causing your swimming to become erratic.

your able to bring your head up out of the water, "help!"

the thrashing only seems to attract the sea life as your body weight seemingly doubles under the pain of the sting. and for moment, your eyes open under the water, a large fish tail seemingly swimming around you. it's swift, moving around you quickly. however, it doesn't take you long to close your eyes, the water's composition burning your eyes.

you don't remember passing out, losing sight of whatever is around you. but you certainly do remember waking up to someone kneeling over you. his eyes are focused on yours and his face is fairly close. you remember coughing up what can only be described as a burning sensation. your ears fill like they're still filled and your nose is filled with water.

"you're gonna be okay, really, you're gonna be okay," he says over and over, grappling his phone as he calls for the emergency services.

"you just gotta wait, they'll be here any time," you can finally tell who's standing over you, akaashi.

his hair is only slightly damp, still looking as it normally does. the light runs around his head like an angelic halo that only makes you think of the light at the end of the tunnel. truthfully, it would be nice to see his face before dying. "akaashi.."

"an ambulance is on its way, you're going to be okay l/n. trust me, it's going to be okay. you took on a lot of water, and your leg will need to be checked out. but you'll be okay," your mind clears up as he explains the situation, his eyes the only thing you can focus on.

you lean up, feeling more water and whatever was in your lunch expelling into the sand. you hunch over the sand and let yourself cough up any other nasty stuff that you hope to no longer have within. "thank.." you try to thank akaashi, but the words are hoarse and it just leads to more coughing.

"it's okay, i'm just happy i was here to help," he goes to soothe you by rubbing your back, but notices the precipitation on your back and instead looks in the direction of the paramedics, "they're here, i can come with if you want me to."

you nod quickly, knowing that you want someone familiar with you. someone who you now know will save your life if they can. "she was drowning after being stung, so i was able to resuscitate, but it's still affecting her," akaashi tries to explain to the paramedics, watching as they carry you onto a stretcher.

as they start carrying you towards the ambulance, you reach your hand out and grab akaashi's. only barely noticing the dryness of his clothing. not a drop of water seems to be on the item of clothing, your eyes squinting quickly from heavy migraine.

"thank you," you try to get out once more, only stopping when the paramedics set an oxygen mask on you.

merman fascinations

the night air is thick, your head harboring a heavy migraine. you stare out at the stars above, thinking back to the set of events you went through. the water sucking into your throat; your hands clinging for some kind of life. you look down at the ocean, only barely seeing it over the many buildings.

it's such a mysterious sight, hiding a multitude of creatures that could take you down once more. the darkness of the depths makes you turn back into the apartment, anxiety still running high. "thanks for getting me at the hospital," you look into the kitchen, noticing atsumu making some ramen.

"you should be laying down, sitting down at the very least," he looks up at you, shaking his head in your general direction.

you purse your lips, rolling your eyes while heading to the counter to sit at a stool. your leg still throbs in pain, the medication wearing off. even your throat still feels raw. between the saltwater and the screaming, something warm and soft will be the perfect thing to help you relax.

"but really, i'm happy you're my emergency contact. i was tempted to pick osamu but i figured he'd be pretty busy with the whole chef thing," you shrug, giving him a sly smile when he looks back at you with a frown.

"wow, a guy grabs you from the hospital, makes food for you, and gets your medication ready for you and that's all you have to say to him," atsumu rolls his eyes, "but i'm sure akaashi will get lots of thanks when you see him again."

the sound in his voice is clearly sarcastic, but you can tell that he's thankful. akaashi saved his closest and longest friend (besides his twin brother), and that's one of the nicest things he can do. "well yeah, i mean it was actually crazy. everything was happening so fast and he just pulled me up from the water."

you don't remember much of what happened, you remember seeing the sea life under the water. you do remember the large tail swimming by you. it was a bright color, looking different from how most fish appear. however, you don't feel very inclined to figure out the type of fish.

it's also easy to remember seeing akaashi above you, trying to make sure you made it until the ambulance got there. you remember his hair slightly damp, the smile on his face once the paramedics got there to get you. the only odd thing being his shirt while carried little to no water on it. from what you can remember, he didn't have enough time to change his shirt-

"y/n? you good there?"

"uh yeah, just remembering something odd about when he saved me," you lean against the counter, watching as he pours it into a bowl, adding an egg and few other ingredients to the dish, "his shirt was dry... like weirdly dry."

atsumu cocks an eyebrow, looking between the bowls and you. "dry? well maybe he changed into it, or only got into the water up to his waist?" he takes his chopsticks, stuffing some of the food into his mouth.

"no, he definitely didn't have the time to. and i was too far out for him to be able to do it. i don't know, it was just weird... maybe after i passed out or something," you eat some of your food as well, mind searching for an answer.

of course there's always an explanation for everything, even if that explanation isn't so clear at first. and even if you should be focusing on your health and thanking akaashi profusely, you can't help but wonder about life's mysteries. the odd fish in the water and his oddly dry appearance draws you and atsumu to the very same thought.

"mermaid.. merman," atsumu mentions after taking another bite, "the whole h2o mermaid show thing where they get dry after losing their tails."

you laugh a little, nearly choking on the noodles you had in your mouth. you thought of it, but knew that the whole mermaid thing isn't real. sailors never saw mermaids, merely seeing belugas, "right, cause mermaids totally exist and the show got their lore just right. c'mon tsumu, you're going to be a marine biologist, you can't seriously be suggesting that mermaids are real."

"i'm not, i'm just saying that it would explain everything. maybe not the damp hair, but that's besides the point," he leans against the counter, smiling at his deductions.

"yeah sure, akaashi the merman," you laugh to yourself, shaking your head slightly, ignoring the curious side of yourself.

thank you's

[you] sorry it's late, but would you mind coming over tomorrow?? i'll make dinner

[akaashi] if the doctors cleared it, then yes!

you add slices of onion and peppers to the wok, pushing them around with a spatula. your hands shake slightly as you wait for a knock at the door or a text on your phone. just as you're about to add some more ingredients, you head that knock on the door. it's rhythmic, a few taps before awaiting your appearance.

letting your anxious smile rise, you head for the front door, opening it slowly. there stands akaashi with a couple flowers in his hands. the wet stems are protected by a cellophane wrapping, not a drop on his hands. you internally cringe at the thought of your conversation with atsumu. how for a second, you pondered if it were actually true.

"thanks for coming akaashi, i needed some way to apologize, and easy dinner is my favorite way," you grab them from his hand, feeling his fingers graze against yours.

the floral smell is almost sickening against your mental block on the situation. you adore the way he stands there with a smile, but you can't help but wonder if you'll throw up on his shoes. "i mean, seriously, akaahi. i owe you my life, i wouldn't be here if it weren't for you," you shut the door behind him, trying to give him a smile.

"you would've done it for me. thanks is not owed by any means," he shrugs, twiddling with his thumbs, wondering if he should've said more, "uh but i'm happy to try your cooking."

you turn to put the flowers in an old vase, the ceramic build causing for quite a beautiful look. it's almost like akaashi in your eyes. the deep blues matching him, nearly perfectly in a serendipitous way. "thank you, for the flowers, and just as another thank you. but my cooking isn't the best, so bear with me."

akaashi smiles, looking at the bouquet that he brought, gaze traveling back to you, "i bet it'll be delicious whether you believe it or not."

"yeah, sure, it'll be like michelin star dining," you joke, taking the food off the burner and adding the rest of your ingredients that you had already heated up, sneaking peeks at him intermittently.

for a moment, it's like the world has stood still, like on the beach. it's just the two of you and the way he stands there, it's like your the only two in the world, and it's oh so quiet. "i need you to know how grateful i am, akaashi. truthfully i have never encountered a jellyfish like that. and for you to be there so quickly, it was like supernatural-"

"call me keiji, please," he watches as your spatula of food falls onto a plate, knowing that you should, that it makes sense.

you couldn't even tell the switch in conversation, the fluttering of your breath as you look at him. there was always something about him that took your breath away, especially when he stands there so kindly. acting as if saving your life didn't alter the trajectory of everything, "okay, but only if you'll call me y/n. and i'd like to get to know you better over dinner."

"considering it's free dinner, i am all for it, y/n."

the end with him

the sun's reflection shines brightly down on the beach, your hands stretched upwards. taking in the sweet feeling of freedom, you take in a deep breath. you stare out at the ocean and the reflecting light of the sunrise. it's all so peaceful, like nothing could truly tear down the relaxation you've created for yourself.

setting down your goggles, you step into the ocean, letting the water soak your feat. slowly you start to sink in some, the moving sand and waves raising in increments. you start to move farther into the water when you notice something by a nearby rock. a large tail that sticks out like a sore thumb. it looks like nothing you've seen before.

the build of it, the length, it doesn't look like any species you've heard of. you furrow your eyebrows, not wanting to get close if it's some prehistoric creature finally coming up from the depths of the ocean. clearing your throat, you take a few more steps into the water, listening as a quiet hum sounds through the air.

"hello?" your voice comes out quieter than you thought, hands reaching out in front of you.

immediately it swings around, a mop of hair coming into view as what seems like a person looks back, startled. the second you lock eyes with the creature, you remember the deep blue color that's become so integral to your life. your lips part in a moment of surprise, "keiji?"

he looks back at you and tries to make his way towards you, your feet only able to move back in surprise. sure you've joked about it, thinking about what could've been if he were a mermaid. but that's all they were, your imagination. but now? it's real and he's right in front of you.

"y/n! please! let's talk about this!"

you grab your towel, holding it close to you as you stand on the dry sand, feet away from him. "y/n, you don't- no one understands. no one will understand, please i can't have everything taken from me again. i can't lose you," he remembers all the moments you had together, how your time together was short, but more meaningful than any other you've experienced.

"but- well- i don't even know what to say," your lip trembles as you he sits down in the dry sand, letting his body naturally dry in the sun.

"i know, and you don't have to, not now. honestly, not ever. but i want to continue what we have, i want to get to know you more, beyond the gills," akaashi sits there, eyes closing as his hands, shaking, wipe down his face.

you stand there awkwardly, wondering if your intuition is correct in believing him. in wanting him to know just how much you care and appreciate him. that that could surpass any situation that you never would've conceived just a few weeks ago. "... i want to get to know you too, keiji."

"well, then how about we get started, i'm a merman and i'll in love with you," he looks up at you, unable to pull his attention from you.

"well- i can tell, and does this show how i feel about you?" you fall to your knees in the sand and bring your hands up to his cheeks, pulling him in for a sweet and tender kiss.

this moment never would've been how you figured you'd tell him. you constantly imagined telling him of your crush over a dinner or when studying again. but to tell him on the beach, your main habitat, and to learn something so personal to him. it's the best way you could've imagined it happening...

#a seaward spark #☆ fics

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