Breathing Underwater (Ch. 3: High Hopes)

The work life at the place called the Witches Corner, was an experience to say the very least.  After Vincent got laid off from his previous job, Amethyst's brother called him in, he was introduced to...a very unique manager, and well, a week later, he was doing business in the electronics department.  The interview was about the only time he didn't have headphones on at the job.  Everyone at work saw him with them on.  It wasn't that he didn't care (in fact he could still work, and hear with them on), but part of him worked much more comfortable around the presence of people who handled magic for a living.  The strange manager, his partner in electronics, and many others had tried to get him to part with them while at work...with no success (in fact he only seemed to have them off around Aestus).  He was one of the few, if not the only associate in this store who was not at all in touch with magic.  Well, not exactly.  Though he hated to admit it, he used something magic almost everyday now, as uncomfortable as it made him.

The store he worked in was unique in the area that this store required weekly traveling.  Traveling in the manner of the whole store.  He didn't know too much, but knew that it traveled with old magic and mechanics put in place by the store's original owner.  Or something along those lines.  Vincent really didn't care too much about that.  This resulted in Vincent's inevitable moving out of his old home, and into a housing unit where all associates lived, above the sales-floor.  This was one of the things Vincent wasn't so sure about when taking it.  A week into the job, he told Aestus he would try to see her more, though at the time they had not declared their feelings for one another.  Their feelings were starting to develop, no doubt, but they were still just...friends.  After the traveling from continent to continent, Vincent saved what little he earned to rent out vehicles or methods of transportation which could let him go see her, though a lot of the time he never got to see her because...well...she didn't have a way of communicating with him.  It's not like they had cellphones.  Seeing her this method only worked twice, and it almost ended their desire to see each other.

It wasn't until an associate Vincent worked with in electronics who was named Tracy noticed his liking to leave the store after his shifts, that she decided to give him a more reliable way of going where he wanted to go.  And of course...it involved magic.  Vincent wasn't sure how long they talked about it, and how many times Vincent said he didn't want to use magic to do anything.  But the facts that he was straining his finances, and not being able to stay where he wanted to go so long due to the nature of vehicles, was mentioned among other reasons more than once.  Tracy put up a good argument for a small use of magic in his life, which Vincent finally gave into.  Tracy didn't sit right with Vince.  She was a witch, and despite sharing a position with him in electronics, she was still a powerful wielder of magic.  And though she had nothing against Vince, he had made it unintentionally clear to a lot of people at work, how he felt about magic (again, hence his headphones).

She had made him a portal.  She had to ask some questions which Vince wasn't so sure he was comfortable answering completely.  Mainly the questions involved where he went on his off time.  She needed to know because she needed to give the portal a destination.  The beach was a simple destination, and though she asked about why he always went there, Vincent mentioned nothing of Aestus.  He had promised himself, since Merkuran were so very rarely seen, to keep the relationship he had with Aestus down low.  At least for now.  Whether or not, she or her sisters knew about this promise remained a mystery to Vince.  But when asked why he went here all the time, Vince just pulled a quick half-truth.  He claimed it helped him relax, and that he many times went there in his childhood.  In a matter of minutes, Tracy set up a small station in his room, which was almost like a small pool of water, but upon stepping into it, he would be transported to the beach.  Getting back from the beach was a similar process, but involved a ring he usually kept in his pocket which he wore for a few seconds before it transported him back to his room, standing in his small pool.  Vincent really wished his Jeep could just do the damn trick.  Though this use in magic was something he got used o, he still grew nervous around it.

Thankfully, whenever they were back in town, he'd usually end up just taking the jeep, which he had stored away.

At work, Vincent usually kept to himself.  He had nothing to say to these magic users.  Tracy didn't understand him and how his mind worked, and that was just fine with Vincent.  Vincent didn't really share too many friendships with anyone in the store.  Too many personality clashes.  There were party-goers, people who seemed depressed they even worked here, and strange...yet unusually normal people.  In fact, there was only one person really in the store he could say he had a decent friendship with, and that was with an associate named Topaz Acadia.  The only thing he found weird about it was the fact that she was almost exactly ten years younger than him sitting at the age of 13.  Vincent didn't understand how she was so young and already working here, but he could not deny, that she was also...as some would call her, a girl-genius.  And she didn't use magic to his knowledge.  She was kinda in his area of things that were made by hands.  Technology.  Though where Vincent was into electronic technology, she was into mechanical technology.  A slight difference, but when she was around, he didn't mind engaging in small conversation with her.  But even she knew nothing of his love for the Merkuran.

The night they had honored Aestus' father, because they were in town, Vince had no need to use his portal, much to his comfort and relief.  That night, after a special time beneath the tides with his lover, they surfaced in the shallows.  They exchanged a few more words, and promises to see each other the very next day as always,   The same time, and same place.  With his guitar case in hand, as well as his clothes she had taken off, he walked his soaking body to the jeep.  After he casually dried himself off to the best of his ability, he got back in and drove off.  The store was about a thirty minute drive away, and upon reaching it, there wasn't many people around.  In case anyone was around however, he hid the necklace that Aestus had given him under his t-shirt which he now wore.  

When he was on the housing level, someone scolded him slightly because his tail still pretty wet, and it was dragging on the already cleaned floor.  Vincent didn't really care too much about it as he waved them off and entered his room, locking the door behind him.  In his room that night, he took the necklace off, which still glowed in the colors of his skin, the many shades of brown, and hung it next to the small portal Tracy had set up for him.  He took off his wet clothing, and sighed, and fell onto his bed.    He was still slightly wet.  That was one of the downsides to being Lontra.  He worked with a lot of people who did not have a fur coating like him.  If they got wet, normally, the air quickly dried them off.  His fur was waterlogged from all the time he had spent with Aestus underwater.  Lontra, though they grew up and lived around water, did not have fur that really agreed with it, and it saturated with water easily, and did not dry off fast.  But he didn't mind.  It felt nice.  

As his wet fur began to dry off, and make his bed damp, he just lay and stared at the ceiling.  He once again began to think about how lucky he was.  Lucky to have her.  He thought about her...he could still feel the water around him as they sank.  He could still feel the smooth texture of her tail against his furry legs.  He felt her chest against his.  A slight pressure as she embraced him.He still felt her short hair as his hands stroked and brushed through it, even if it wasn't much to go through.  He could still feel the sand bed, and how he was weighed down by her body.  How he rested his head on that sand bed, just staring into her beautiful eyes.  He could remember her face hovering over his face, and the water enter his nose in a way that wasn't very comfortable, but he got used to it by now.  And of course, he could always feel her muzzle brush his each time they kissed.  The senses of joy and euphoria for each time they kissed.  The movements they made not only with their faces, but with their bodies.  He could feel her tail, grip and wrap around one of his legs, or his own tail sometimes.  His legs would lock against her tail, and they would let the current, if there was one, take them where it wanted.

But all good things end.  Each kiss ended.  Each breath-hold ended.  Vincent sighed and closed his eyes as he was once again reminded of just how fragile a body he had underwater.  One single breath was danger.  In the four years they'd been together, each year, Vincent had almost drowned a total of...he had lost count.  He was surprised he still functioned properly.  Sure, most of the time it was usually he'd lose consciousness, and then Aestus would break the surface with him, and revive him rather quickly.  She was expert at it by now.  But Vince saw it.  With each experience they had to go through like that...Aestus was beginning to gain fear that soon, it wouldn't be enough.  And perhaps one day...it wouldn't be.  But not now.  Vince simply clenched a fist.  Not now...not ever.  He was almost ready to get a piece of equipment that would at least give him more time to be with her underwater.  It wasn't a permanent   solution at all, but...it was better than risks.

But...tonight had been risk free.  Nothing had gone wrong...and tomorrow was going to be even better.  Tomorrow...he had the day off from work.  That meant as soon as he was up, he would be out of this place and driving to the beach again.  And nothing would interrupt him, or keep him from spending that whole day with her.  Not work, not death...nothing.  He had taken the first part of today just to get everything ready!  He had to.  Tomorrow was the four year anniversary that their friendship was formed.  Which would eventually lead up to their love for one another.  Whether they had feelings they would love one another that night or not.  His bag was ready.  

He didn't know if tomorrow would be like it was four years ago.  Whether or not the meteor shower would happen.  But he had a picnic styled meal ready with all of Aestus' favorite "land-dweller" food that she had tasted and enjoyed.  Vince never took her to like some of the foods she tasted and loved.  Some of the meat he had introduced her to was a big one.  Ham, chicken, she had a rather strange love for it, but her main interest was in certain fruits and vegetables.  She also took a liking to certain cheeses...and of course, Grape Soda.  Vincent laughed heartily at that thought.  How she had first reacted to it, and how quickly she had gotten to like it.

Now Vincent wasn't the only one introducing her to new things.  He had had his fair share of "Sea-dweller" foods.  Well, as some of the food of the land did not sit well with Aestus, some of the food of the sea didn't exactly sit well with Vince.  Meat was one of Vincent's loves in food.  Anything meaty that Aestus gave to him was devoured in seconds almost.  But other things...raw kelp wrap, certain invertebrates served in the ways they were served, felt strange going down his throat, and a lot of the time he ended up gagging.  Aestus when she saw his reactions, would giggle.  Vincent was thankful they held each other in understanding as to what each other was used to in their life.  But he also knew...that either of them would have to get used to it if they ever did find a way to be together forever.  

Vincent held up his hand as he lay on the bed.  He shut his eyes and once again pictured himself laying on the sand bed of the sea.  Her floating over him...his palm just grazing her face...it was a wonderful thought to have before his mind began to relax, and he felt his hand drift down to the bed.  He was asleep before he knew it...

-----

Vincent loaded up the last bag into his Jeep and shut the door.  The jeep was parked outside the store, and Vince was about to open the drivers door when who would have arrived there, but Topaz?  The girl genius of the store.  "Where are you going, Vince?" she asked.

Vince just gave her a look and said, "It's my day off.  I'm going to enjoy myself."

"I know it's your day off...but you do tend to disappear quite a lot when you're not working.  Like...you never leave your room.  In fact, this is one of the few times I've seen you outside your room on your off time."

Vincent wasn't sure how to respond there.  The fact that Topaz took notice of this didn't exactly sit right with him.  If she noticed he wasn't exactly around, it was more than likely so did everyone else.  And no one else knew of Aestus.  For a reason.  Perhaps he'd need to be a bit more cautious when seeing Aestus.  Vincent just climbed into his jeep and said, "I'm just going to the beach for the day." And he left it at that.  Topaz may have been one of the few people he could really call a friend at work, but he trusted no one with the secret of his love life.  "I'll see you later tonight perhaps."

Topaz simply shrugged, and said, "Well, I guess I'll see you.  You should hang around more often.  I think you miss out on some fun here."

Vincent chuckled at that, and almost said, "I don't miss a thing," but simply said, "No promises."  And with that he started up his jeep and drove away.

The morning air was still cool to the fur, but would soon warm up drastically.  Today was one of those days where he was wishing he had the rebreather he was still saving up for.  But with or without it, he would make this day with Aestus a special one.  It wasn't so often that he was off and in town on the same day.  

Vincent, ever since sealing his feelings with Aestus, and forming their relationship, had started to think of a way to stay underwater with her more.  He had no leads as far as a full-time permanent solution for either of them, but the cheapest, and most accessible method, was simply saving up for a rebreather.  It was a small, but very expensive device that Layne had discovered a couple years back.  He knew of set-ups that let people work and breathe underwater, but a lot of them were very clunky and required extensive training.  The rebreather was more simple, and required no training.  It was small, fitted in the mouth, and though it was small, it could store enough oxygen to keep people underwater for quite a while.  It depended on the model, but some rebreathers could keep one underwater up to ten hours if needed.  Vincent wasn't aiming so high, especially since those models could cost more than just an arm and a leg, That was one of the downsides to a rebreather.  The cost.  That and, well, it came also at a price for being simple.

How a rebreather worked, was that it stored a certain amount of oxygen in a small pressurized container.  The average size of the container was about the size of a golf ball, but with the more expensive models, they could get slightly bigger.  The rebreather however, took what little oxygen there was in the water and made it breathable, so that not as much oxygen in the container was used.  But seeing as how there was not enough oxygen in water to make it breathable, the pressurized oxygen was a necessity.  But once it was gone, it took a while to get ready for another dive.  In fact, even the cheapest models took a few days or more to recharge all their air.  Some, even weeks.  But once Vincent got his model, whenever he could afford it, it would be well worth the wait.  The only thing he'd need to worry about was water pressure....and her.  The pressure would be dealt with soon enough when he had to worry about it.  And...when he was with her, he always worried about her pleasure and happiness.  Much more than his own.  

But for now, he continued driving the jeep.  It wasn't so often he drove anymore.  He was surprised the jeep still ran as well as it did actually.  Hitting the road, he turned on the road to his usual tunes.  Most of the time it was Rock of some sort.  Progressive, classic, hard, anything almost with a guitar.  He even dug a lot of folk and acoustic stuff, but for now, it was some classic progressive.  He smiled at the song he knew to be titled "Never Comes the Day".  Part of him resented the title, because in his search for some way to live with Aestus, it seemed like day after day, his search was getting nowhere.   Never came such a day.  Yet in the sadness, the song talks about how love prevailed.  "...you will love me tonight / we alone will be all right..."  And though there was more to the song than that, Vince paid no heed to it.  He was happy in the moment.  Vince smiled and continued to drive into the morning, hoping his lover wasn't waiting on him.  He never liked to keep her waiting.

It wasn't too long before the ocean came into his view from the road.  Vince drove along the road.  He still had a way to go.  Where he and Aestus met, was a more...private place.  Not easily disturbed by people from nearby towns.  Vince still found it ironic that it was close to where he and Aestus had first met, when he was in his drunken state.  Not many stragglers came through this area.  Vince wasn't exactly sure why.  Vince had been up and down the shore before where others were.  He could form a couple theories.  One, where they met, there wasn't too much beach when the tide was in.  When the tide went out, the beach was indeed exposed, but when it was in, the small beach and a rock wall was all that remained.  Another thing he noticed that in this area, the currents were unbelievably stronger.  Vincent didn't worry too much about that however.  He was a fairly strong swimmer, and...he had a Merkuran lover who could help him if he ever did get in some trouble.  And though sometimes the trouble gave them both a scare sometimes, and a forgettable experience, the trust between them in such situations just strengthened even more.  Why Vincent would think about anybody else he'd want to live with was beyond him.

Finally, the beach came into view.  The tide was out, but that meant he'd just be able to go a little farther with Aestus this morning.  He parked his jeep along the rock wall, where he knew the tide came close, but didn't reach.  He waited a brief moment, before he turned off his jeep.  He grabbed some of his stuff, leaving the food, and other stuff not needed for swimming, in the jeep for now.  He grabbed a beach towel, and got out.  He didn't bring much for now.  He was sure, that when Aestus came, they'd likely be entering the water for a while.  There were tidal pools everywhere, and the sand was damp to feel cool to the touch.  It wasn't damp enough to the point where it would soak into his towel, or his shirt once he took it off, but cool to the point where the sand would not at all burn his feet.  He continued to walk along the damp desert, humming a melody or two.  

His headphones were not with him, which was a first.  Sure, he never had them on around Aestus, because though he had trained himself to hear with them on, Aestus was supposed to be on his full attention.  Music could always wait.  And...well...after last night, who knew how much music he'd just be giving her?  

About ten feet away from the water, he spread the towel and set his bag down.  His bag didn't have much in it, but it was usually carried in case he had to carry something, which wasn't uncommon. Maybe he'd find something he'd take home, or sometimes he just used it to carry CDs around.  It served a purpose whenever he took it with him.  He looked around.  Not a soul in sight.  The tide was pretty low today, but that didn't matter.  He lay on his towel staring into the clear morning sky.  Today was going to be a very nice day.  There wasn't a cloud in sight.  That might mean hotter temperatures, but seeing as how he'd be underwater a lot...that didn't seem to worry him at all.  

He breathed.  It felt good to breathe.  Inhaling, he imagined himself right underneath her.  Them both underwater.  With absolutely no discomfort.  Imagined that he had finally found a way to be with her.  He lived with her.  What was it like?  Were fairy tales real?  DId the Merkuran live in cities?  Did they live in caves?  Both?  What was it like?  TO breathe the water?  Feel liquid flow through your lungs, with no discomfort in breathing at all...?  Vincent only imagined how she felt.  He smiled.  He'd find a way.  Whether he had to find a way to get a set of his own gills, or if he or she found a way for her to live with him on the land.  Vincent could picture that too.  Her own set of legs.  He'd show her every corner of the world.  The tallest mountains, to the grassiest plains.  The largest forests, to the calmest lakes.  They'd be together.  Either way.  And no matter which way it went, he would be happy.  With her.  And he would have it no other way.

He heard the splash in the water of someone surfacing.  His eyes opened, and he sat up fast.  He smiled.  There she was.  She wiped the short hair from her eyes, then met his eyes, and smiled.  Vincent didn't need to be told.  He took off his shirt, and sandals.  He didn't bother putting on his goggles quite yet as he dove into the water and swam toward her.  When he reached her, he didn't even say hi.  He just smiled, took a breath, and embraced her, submerging her and him.  The kiss came afterward.  The shallow water kept them relativly near the water's surface, which made it easy for Vince to get air should he have required it.  But after a long deep kiss, he simply nuzzled her head with his.  He also put his head against her chest, to feel her beating heart. He wished more than anything right there that he could talk with her as he was but simply shut his eyes relaxing.  For a few minutes he didn't bother moving as he felt her gently stroking his furry back, and the currents moving all around them.  

When he finally did get up and kick for the surface for a little air, she followed.  As her head broke the surface, she simply smiled at him.  "Not even a 'hello'.  You feeling okay?" she asked smiling.  

"I couldn't be better right now." Vincent said giving her a small kiss.  "I'm just really happy to know that I have the whole day with you.  It's not often we get such a luxury..."

"You're right...I'm glad you're here, Vincent.  Last night was wonderful."

"I was privileged to be there..." Vincent said.  He chuckled at that.  "Especially after the nature of my first visit."  

Aestus simply kissed his cheek and said, "Well you certainly weren't at all like that last night."  

"And I hope today is special for you...I want our friendship's fourth anniversary to be special." Vincent said, beginning to tread the water, as they began to drift toward deeper water.  

"Well..." Aestus said grabbing his hand, which made him fight a little harder to keep his head above the water, "How about some swimming to start the day off?"

Vince smiled and said, "You know I can't refuse that, love..."

And after a big breath, he felt the water submerge him as she drug him down..  He got in a little control, and grabbed both her shoulders, letting her body guide them.  He felt her tail kicking against his legs...felt the water rushing past his face...he could only imagine the day that would soon come....where he'd be like this...only she would be taking them both home...to stay...

-----

"I'm glad you liked it..." Vincent said to Aestus, as they had their dinner together.  Vincent did not know where the time went that day.  "I didn't know what else to play, I mean...I didn't want to play too sad a song, but didn't want to play too happy a song either?  I feel like 'We'll Meet Again' fit the criteria of the night.  After that, yeah...I think I just started playing songs."

"Yeah, you did." Aestus said.  They had been talking about last night, particularly the time they had had sang and played the music they all played.  Vincent normally did not play his guitar too much, but knew that four years of strumming did their work.  He just didn't realize he knew so many songs... "But it's okay,  because a lot of the songs we sing during this, are just songs that give us comfort or happiness.  They don't necessarily have a connection with our father all the time."

The tide had come in, and Aestus and Vince were sitting on a part of beach, on a blanket for an evening beach picnic dinner.  The day had been spent swimming a lot, a little guitar playing again, Vince even managed to create a melody of his own while Aestus sang a song of her childhood.  Vincent was just...he was lost for words on his love for her.  He couldn't stop thinking about how beautiful she sang, looked, swam...

Aestus saw him just looking at her, with the smile on his face.  She smiled back, "What?"

"Nothing, love..." he said.  "I'm just thinking about how wonderful you are..."

She giggled, and said, "Stop it..."

"I can't." Vincent said.  The highlight of my day is seeing you.  It's not really a peak to wake up everyday, knowing you're working with people who dedicate their lives to a thing you're uncomfortable around."

Aestus sipped some grape soda, and said, "You know, Vince, not all magic should be feared.  You use some everyday, you know."

Vince nodded.  "I know, but that's...kinda different.  You know, I mean...some things just don't sit right with me I guess..."

Aestus smiled and said, "Well...one day you never know...you may need it."

Vincent said nothing, but simply said, "I hope today for you was as special as it was for me..."

"Oh Vince...spending a day with you...without the hassling of my sisters, without you needing to leave...today was wonderful..."

Vince scooted himself closer to her, and kissed her.  "You mean it?"

She simply kissed him, and he embraced her, and leaned against her damp body, and she lay back against the sand, careful not to introduce sand to her gills, to cause any discomfort.  Vince lay over her, kissing her.  Lost in a lost world.  A world the only contained two living souls.  Her and him.  He didn't know if the environment was water, land or sky...but whatever it was, it was livable for them both...and it was only their world.  Their own rules.  Their own home.  Only their love.  They could fly, sink, float, walk....they could-

A crash of glass was heard, and it shocked Vincent so much that it shocked him from his fantasy and out of his kiss with her.  Aestus heard it to.  "Vince what was that?" she asked.

The night air made it kinda difficult to see, but the sky was still red from the setting sun.  Vince got up and looked around swiftly.  If there was someone, he had to get Aestus back to the water, and fast.  "I...I don't...."  He heard the sound of...breathless laughter almost.  Uncontrolable, and hysterical.

His eyes fell to his jeep.  There were two people there.  He didn't know what race they were, but...it was obvious...by the way they were acting, they were drunk.  "How ironic..." Vince muttered in annoyance.  He looked to Aestus.  "Tsuna...I'll be right back...we got some company...but it shouldn't be a problem...hopefully."

He then went to his jeep where these two people sat uncontrollably laughing.  Vincent was far from amused.  In fact as he got closer, to see that the passenger side window was completely smashed in, and that one of them had a rather bloody hand from it, his anger rose even more.  "What the hell do you think you're doing?" he asked angered.

One of them looked up and tried to stand up, and got up, only to need support from the hood of the jeep to stand up.  He had a hand in front of him as if to say "It's cool", but Vince was far from agreeing.  "It-...it's...look, we're-really......sorry..." he said slurred.  

Vincent wasn't convinced.  He simply thought that if this was how he acted and looked the night he had rudely interrupted four years ago, he was glad he had never taken a drink since then.  Not if it made him look this dumb.  This powerless.  This pathetic... He simply nodded, and said "Mhmm...", arms crossed.  "Look, I don't particularly mind that you've trashed yourselves for whatever reason...you've certainly got every right to do whatever the hell you want to your own body...but you are interrupting something.  So I ask you to walk on, leave my things alone...and not come back this-"

"Vince!" he heard her yell.

Vincent immediately turned toward her, and ran to see what was wrong.  Upon reaching her, he swore.  He had been so focused on the slurred talking drunk, that he had completely forgotten about the other one!  He was approaching slowly toward her, muttering the words of "You're quite the catch...and look so inviting just laying the-"

Vincent didn't give him a chance to finish.  In a yell of fury, he punched the guy to the sand as Aestus backed away.  Vince had seen her in action before.  She certainly knew how to take care of herself...in water.  On land, it was a different story.  Vincent was cursing himself for the bad decision of waiting to take her to the water.  This was what they didn't want to happen!  Others seeing Aestus.  

Hey!" Vincent heard the other say as he charged...sloppily toward Vincent, after he saw him punch his friend.  Vincent was no fighter, but these guys made it look easy.  They had trashed themselves to the point where whether or not they were experienced fighters...anyone could overpower their slow judgement in moves and sloppy charges.  Vince dodges a sloppy punch and kneed him in the stomach, before bringing both of his fists down near the base of his neck, and shoved him to the sand.

He once again turned to Aestus, who was backing away....or trying to, fast to get away from the drunk...who was still crawling toward her in a drunken lust.  Vincent was enraged.  He ran over to pull him away from her, but not before he got close enough to not only mess up the tunic cloth she wore over her breast.  He managed to rip it and expose it slightly.  Vincent seeing this, shouted in a rage he had not felt before.  And he punched the drunk in the face, and threw him against the rock wall.  The drunk didn't get up after his head met one of the rocks.  He wasn't dead...but he'd have one hell of a headache when he woke.  And Vincent would make sure that he woke up in a jail cell.

He breathed some more, before he heard a small sob from Aestus.  Upon hearing that, all rage left him and he knelt to her.  "Oh Aestus...I'm so sorry...I..." Aestus wasn't looking at him.  She was staring at the ground, covering herself, and holding the cloth up to the best of her ability.  Vincent, seeing her pain, simply, tried to force back his own tears, but punched the sand.  "Why was I so stupid?!  I should have helped you back to the water...I was...How could I be so stupid?!"

Aestus finally looked to him and hugged him, and simply said, "No...Vince....it's okay..."

"It's not..." Vince said still fighting back tears of anger.  "I wasn't there.  I didn't see that....that...pathetic drunk leave.  You were vulnerable!  I need to be stronger...if he....if he had..."

Aestus turned his head to look into her eyes.  Her calm soothing eyes.  "Vince..." she said calmly.  "You made sure he didn't hurt me...we make mistakes...but this could have played out worse...you were there to make sure that didn't happen...please...don't put so much blame on yourself..."

Vincent buried his face into her shoulder.  "Aestus...please forgive me...I will be stronger..."

"You don't need to be, Vince." She said smiling at him.  "I love you just as you are.  There's nothing to forgive..."

Vincent looked into her eyes.  Her loving eyes.  "I can't believe how wonderful you are...and just how much you continue to surprise me..." he said.  She was amazing.  She deserved much better he thought...but...

He began to lean in for another kiss when he heard the other drunk, who had not gotten up, just mutter in drunken joy, "I got a lovely pack of Chuma on the wall, small pints, big flasks, all on the wall..."

Vince sighed.  "I guess, I should take these guys....home."  And by home, he meant the nearest police station.  They were already on the verge of blacking out.  

Aestus smiled and kissed him on the cheek.  "You're so polite to do so...help me to the water?"

Vincent didn't need to be told twice.  He stood up and picked her up under the tail, as she hung around his neck.  He walked to the water's edge, and into the shallows.  About three or four feet in, he stopped.  They looked into each others eyes.  "Tsuna...I'm sorry again..."  She was still exposed, though Vincent, tried not to look.  

She probably saw this and said, "Vince...you can look...we're a couple, you know."

"I'll look on a happier occasion...and when you're ready..."  He then kissed her and knelt to set her in the water.  The shared the kiss for a few more seconds before she swam off.  Vince watched her swim off.  Off in the sky he could see a couple meteors falling.  "Just like the night..." he said in a bit of sadness.  

He returned to the shore, packed up what little there was, and set both unconscious drunks in the back of his jeep.  His anger to them still in the air.  Before he started the jeep, as he saw a couple more meteors fly in the sky, he said, "I will be smarter...I will be stronger..." He looked to the two drunks in the back and said, "And I won't let punks like you ever near her again..."

He turned on the jeep and sped away.  The day had been good...and he really wished these two didn't run into it as they did...karma worked in strange ways...at least....well...at least he'd see her again tomorrow...