I nod without thinking when he says he'll stay above water. That sounds smart. I think the breathing would be a little complicated right now. What with the look I'm getting about the arms, I'm thinking I'm not wrong about that. Thank goodness he followed my lead and hunkered down under the water to keep out of the cold too though. That makes me feel a little better about all of this.
"Just an example so your arm makes the right shape and you can pull yourself along better." I nod, and give him a sympathetic look realizing, okay, peanut butter does sound a little weird.
"Sure, no problem," half feeling bad that I didn't do it in the first place and half thinking that maybe he just wants to watch me make funny movements with my arms. "It's kind of a windmill type of movement." I tell him as my arms go around opposite to each other once I'm standing. I watch his face closely as he studies me.
"One other thing, if you're going to keep your head above water, you need to turn your head all the way to the side so that you're breathing into your shoulder, arm, whatever." I nod, glad I remembered to mention that otherwise he would probably have started swimming and gotten a mouth full of water. Don't need that.
"Oh. Right. Example." And don't I feel stupid now. Of course it was an example. I was never very good with the colorful metaphor type example things. I really have to stop taking every damn thing so literal at times. Angel didn't mean I actually had to go around scooping up peanut butter.
Another apologetic look gets send his way because he has to explain the whole thing all over again. Lacing my fingers together I bring my hands up to my mouth and start to blow warm air over them. It *is* getting rather cold. Though less now that most of me is below the water and used to the temperature of the water.
"Windmill, right," I nod, trying to picture a windmill this time. But don't they move...okay, not literal, Pryce. He doesn't mean literal. Frowning, I look at him making the same movements with his arms, only now above water. Windmill, hmmm. It does look a little like that. And now that I cast aside the literal thinking, it does look a little like scooping something up.
"Got it, I'll st-- what?" To the side? But then how do you know where you're going? "To the side?" I parrot after him, blurting it out as if that makes no sense to me. Which, well, to me it doesn't. I suppose there's not a whole lot that makes sense to me here.
"Why-why don't I try that above water first too?" I suggest, getting up from my crouch. I concentrate on the windmill and the scooping, picturing Angel doing it. Then I bring up my arms and try to copy those movement and realize that it's harder then it looks. Just like I thought.
"Like so?" I ask, feeling more like a little dog fell into the pool then one of those athletic swimmers like Angel. Good lord, and then you have to remember the legs and the head? This'll never work.
Yup, baffled by the head to the side. Just like I thought. "Well, if you do it holding you breath, you can look where you're going underwater, and then turn your head to the side as you come up to breath so it doesn't take as long and you keep moving forward," I tell him, trying to explain the whole head to the side thing, but I think I'm just confusing him more.
I watch as he tries the arm movement. For someone who is so skilled in some forms of combat, he is still so very awkward with his body in others. Nodding, I come around behind him. "Yeah, you've got it...just stretch your arms out a little more," I smooth my hands over his arms as he attempts the movement, smoothing out the kinks, and making the stroke go more...swimmingly.
Unfortunately this whole extending out of one's arms means he can't huddle up against the cold as well. Why does he have to be so stubborn? "That's good," I tell him as he does the arms one more time and I slide my hands away so he's doing it on his own.
Well, I did say this might take awhile. "You can try it with just the arms first once you're ready to get in the water. So you don't have to think about everything at once. You want me to swim a few strokes so you can see it all together? Then you can try it?"
"What?" I actually have to shake my head to clear my mind after that explanation. Holding my breath and the to the side? But hadn't we decided that I wasn't going to do the holding my breath thing just yet? I don't think I'm at all ready for the whole being underwater part of these lessons. Not sure if I ever will, since I'm not sure if there will ever be any other lessons after this one.
It's not like we have a pool at the Hyperion. Do we? Hmmm.
Let's get the whole arms thing right first. I watch Angel carefully, wanting to know if I'm even doing it remotely correct. It's a bit of a relief when he nods but then comes to stand behind me. Just a few corrections while I try the move again. This really looks so much easier when others are doing it. Why is that? It's completely unfair, I'll say that much.
"Alright," I nod when we've made the arm moves a few times. "I think I've got it." Now if only I understood the whole head to the side move. Maybe I can try it while Angel is holding me without actually having to try and move? I mean, swim. It's call swimming. Heh. I'm learning how to swim. About thirty years to late, but...
"Oh. Yes, please. I'm still a bit confused about the whole head thing," I say, leaning back and looking at him over my shoulder. It's this rare occasion that I really wished he would radiate some heat of his own. Not going to show him I'm freezing though, or he'll haul me out of the lake. I'm not going to get cold for crying out loud.
"Maybe we can do sort of a test run l-later?" I ask, "Where you hold me and I t-try the movement without having to actually swim yet?"
He's shivering, he really is, but I know if I suggest going back to the blanket, I'm going to get the same pouting looks as before. Not worth it. I sigh softly to myself and come around from behind him to start demonstrating.
"Without swimming?" What? Like out of the water, or just...keeping him from moving? That just doesn't make any sense. "Uh, we'll see." I tell him with a bit of a confused look. "I can definitely hold onto you...but why don't you watch me first."
Walking out just a little further so I don't hit the ground with every stoke, I lean into the water and just go, gliding through, and feeling that delicious feeling of freedom that comes with swimming. It's like the water swims over me as I make long strokes and slow kicks, tilting my head up as if to breath every now and then.
Before I forget myself and swim the whole length of the lake, I stop and turn around, coming back right where Wes is standing and splash him as I toss the water out of my hair like a dog.
"So, test run?" I say from under my dripping hair, before flicking it back from my face. I'll, umm, I'll jut kneel down I guess and hold him around his stomach or something. Hmm. This could be tricky. "Okay...I guess we can do it like this." I hold out my arms at the water's surface. "You can lay across and try it? If you're ready?" I look at him a little uncertainly. I'm sure he can do this...I'm just wondering if he'll freeze to death before he actually...does it.
"Yes without the...uh...holding onto me. Uhm, why don't I watch first," I end sheepishly. I don't think he quite got that. But I've seen it at the pool at school when I'd snuck out of study time sometime - thank good no one ever found out - they were doing that. The pool master holding them up around the waist while the boys practiced their swimming.
I guess I don't make sense to him a lot of times.
Right, watching him. I'd crouch down again to keep a little bit warmer but then I wont be seeing Angel very well. And, I think as I watch him glide through the water, what a shame that would be. He's like some graceful water creature from a fairytale. The way he slides through the water as though there's nothing to it. Makes me wonder if he'd not rather go swimming on his own and not bother teaching me how to swim.
There's a grin on my face when he swims back, hands still close to my mouth as I blow hot air over it. Damn, it's really getting cold. I just need to get this swimming on my stomach right and then we can go back to the blanket.
"You make it look so easy," I murmur, blinking when he shakes his hair out. Now that's just cute. It really is. "Huh?" Oh, got a little distracted there. Oops? "Test run. Right, I think that's a good idea." I smile at him, my face though, feeling as if I've been out in the snow to long. Yes, I suppose returning to the blanket may be a smart idea.
"I'll just go...err...l-lay across your arms." And that sounds ridiculously double if I ever heard anything. I hesitate only slightly and then bend forward to lay over his arms, even more hesitantly pulling my legs up. And before I know it I'm on my stomach...which is far more frightening then on your back oddly enough.
"Don't let go," I whisper, wondering just how many damn times I've said that this evening. I start by moving my legs the way he's taught me. That's the same way as on your back anyway. Then I start with the arms, wondering if I'm actually doing it right. Doesn't feel right, I do feel like a dog who's fell into the pool. I'm not sure what to do with my head though, the moment I turn it around I feel as though I'm going to whack myself in the face!
"Like-like thi--" And talking while swimming like this? Bad idea as well, I realize when I swallow a mouthful of water. Coughing, I press my lips tightly shut and concentrate on the whole windmill swimming movement instead.
I'm about to wave a hand in front of his face, but Wes does eventually answer the question about a test run. I'm thinking the cold is getting to him. It is getting kind of chilly.
The test run is no easier than I thought it would be, but we work it out, and somehow he gets down there balanced on my arms. Hell if I know how to do this. His arms don't get a full range of movement though, I'm kind of in the way. "I've got you. Right here." Just a reminder, I guess...he's not really doubting that I would let him go, right?
"Legs are doing good," I tell him when I think he might be able to hear me. Oops, and there goes a mouth full of lake water. Fun. "Long strokes, remember," I remind him, getting several splashes of water to the face as he tries valiantly some more.
This is...certainly interesting.
"Wes," I lift him up out of the water a little after he has some more tries to practice. "Wes, it's getting pretty cold," and you're shivering being out of the water like this, "you about ready to try heading back? I can still keep a hand on you if you want to try it on your own?" I guess I'm hoping for super speedy learner here. He really hasn't had much time to catch onto this, but he's doing surprisingly well, especially with me forcing him to move a little faster than a regular swimming lesson...for his own health.
Long strokes? With the arms of the legs! I don't know! Okay, I'll do both, it can't hurt right? Long strokes, like a windmill scooping peanut butter. No, I mean, like scooping... I don't know what I mean. I'll just stick with the whole swimming. At least the not swallowing of the lake goes much better with my mouth closed. Why did no one ever tell me that one should breathe through the nose?
I'm still splashing away when I suddenly realize there's a lot less splashing going on. Huh? What...oh. Angel's lifted me up out of the water. Why? I don't think I quite have a tight grasp on the whole swimming on the stomach thing. I'm a whole hell of a lot warmer though, I'll admit that much. See? I knew once I'd get moving I'd get warm.
"What? What?" I blurt out, confused by suddenly being out of the water. Oh. I can still touch the ground, that's good. I must look like a fool anyway, laying there draped on Angel's arms and not moving. Must look even more stupid then when I was moving, at least then it made sense. The err...draping over his arms thing.
"Well, uhm, if you hold onto me i-its not really on-on my own is it?" I point out, giving him a small smile over my shoulder. Maybe I should stand up, but I'm afraid that if I do that, I'll never be able to get to my stomach again. Less chattering of the teeth would make Angel very happy to no doubt. Just keep my jaws clamped together when not talking.
"H-how about you hold on a little while and then l-let go? We can give it a try then, see how it goes. Just-Just stay close by? Please?" We can't have much more swimming lessons at any rate, my limbs may freeze. Heh, like with the snow. I liked the snow. Just like I will always hold this evening dear and never forget what Angel did for me.
I was hoping he'd stand up but there seems to be some insistance on staying lying down. Okay, I guess we can talk like this, too. It's not as if there's much to discuss. Much like with the rest of this afternoon- evening, whatever, Wes already has his heart set on things and doing what he's going to do no matter what. Compromise, right? That's what's supposed to make these things work. These...relationships.
"Okay. I'll be here." I don't know how many times I've reassured him of that today, but I imagine there will be more of that to come in this lifetime.
Or just today even.
"Right here," I murmur again as he sets out on my arms again. I'm assuming he'll tell me when to let go, right? It's not as though he can let go of me really. Well, he could, but it would probably end up disasterously somehow.
"I'll be right here," I continue to tell him as he keeps trying. I know the splashing and the water isn't really helping him hear anything, but I know some part of him knows what I'm telling him. Like those coma patients. They can hear you even if it doesn't register.
A smile gets tossed over my shoulder at him when he assure me that he'll be right there. As he has been patiently telling me all evening already. Once again I'm awed by the amount of patience he's showing. If the roles had been reversed I'm not sure if I would have been able to show the same amount of patience. He must get tired of my wanting to hear him say that he'll be there.
"Okay. Good. Thank you." Another mouthful of lake water gets down my lungs, followed by some coughing. Damn, that is annoying. Does this happen to everyone learning how to swim or just me? I don't recall any swimmers I've seen cough so much. Aside from myself that is, but one couldn't call what I've done until this evening swimming. Right. Swimming, lets get back to that.
"Lets try this." Again. Taking a deep breath, I worry for a moment about the head to the side breathing thing, but I'm sure it'll work out eventually. If not today, then...the next time Angel will pick up the lessons. It's a pity it wont be any time soon. I'm not sure if we'll go back to the lake this vacation and I'm pretty sure he wont be teaching me anything of the kind once we're back in Los Angeles. I mean, where would we go?
Right now? Forward. There's a small ball of nerves bundling up in my stomach as I stretch my arms out. My legs stretch out as well. I start to move them up and down first so I'll move forward. Angel's secure tight hold around under my stomach is more reassuring then he'll ever know. Then I get my arms into the swimming thing as well and I think...I think I'm moving!
"I'm moving!" I shout, swallowing another mouthful of lake. "Look!" Doesn't stop me from yelling at him with joy. But hey, I'm moving, in the water, on my stomach. I'm swimming! "I can do this! Look!" Oh, perhaps I should tell him he can let go now, or maybe he can read between the...overly exciting yelling.
Coughing, swimming, coughing, swimming, there's a little bit of both going on here. It could be a new Olympic sport maybe at this rate, I think with a bit of a smile. Wes doesn't seem to be bothered by it a bit though.
He gets his legs started one last time, really started, they're just kicking like crazy, and then he's got his arms going. They're well, they're working on it. Still a little bit of a doggy paddle, but it's a start.
He practically shoots out of my hands he's got so much momentum and determination. It's quite the sight to see. And he's telling me all about it, which I have to smile at.
That's my little fish. Minnow, goldfish, guppy. Yup, my little swimming guppy. Or not so little as I'm sure I would be reminded if he could hear those thoughts.
"You're doing great, Wes," I call after him, taking a few steps to follow him and stay close in case anything drastic happens. Honestly, it doesn't take us long before his happy shouting has us back at the blanket. Good thing, too. This little bundle of excitement has an appointment with me and some dry towels.
"Hey, Fish boy, you made it. You can stop now." I call after him teasingly, waiting and holding out a hand to help him out of the water.
Oh! Oh! This is magnificent! This is even more liberating then the whole floating thing! My god, if I'd known I'd have... Probably drowned anyway, what with no one to teach me. Angel though, Angel gave me back a little bit of freedom, and that all by teaching me how to, well, keep my head above water. I doubt anyone would call this swimming.
Not that I care. I'm ecstatic about being able to keep my head above water!
I keep telling him how great this is until I swallow a tad to much lake. After that I just keep my mouth shut and keep going. It's not until I hear Angel or what I think is Angel behind me that I realize he's let go. Oh my bloody god, I'm moving and not sinking on my own! I keep scooping with my arms and paddling with my legs, moving and moving and... I think I'm nearly swimming!
It's not until the fact that I feel sand underneath my hands and knees signals me that I've moved into rather shallow water that I stop. Panting for air - quite the exercise this swimming thing - I let my knees sink to the ground and grin up at Angel.
Fish boy? I think my grin widens so much at that it threatens to split my face in two. Cold be damned, I moved through the water, on my *stomach*, on my bloody own! "I doubt fish are quite clumsy," I pant out, reaching up to take his hand.
I let him haul me up and then stomp his shoulder in my enthusiasm. "Did you see that, Angel?! I did that on my own, just like you said I could! It's wonderful, it's amazing, it's liberating!" I yell, holding my arms up into the air. "It's damn bloody magnificent! Why didn't anyone every tell me?"
Oops, I'm nearly bouncing again. Or that could be the shivering from the cold I'm doing. Nah, bouncing no doubt. Though, it's really getting cold. how long have we been at it? Good lord, I'm rather out of breath!
"Ladies and gentlemen the next Olympic swimming champion," I tease, pulling this pile of bouncy, happy, Wes to me, arm slung behind his waist to possibly manuever this ball of energy back to the blanket. And the dry towels.
"Come on, you can do your touchdown dance all you want once you're dry," I tell him with a smile, also thinking warm and back at the cabin along with that dry. He really does look like he's scored the win of his life out there.
His body is still humming (and shivering) and he's still babbling, but I am determined to get a towel around him, and the instant I do, I pull him close and smile. "Let me be the first to congratulate you," I murmur before taking a kiss I think I've been waiting far too long for this evening. You'd think there was a requirement on how long I could possibly go without kisses from Wes and I'd gone far over my time limit. I suppose it might help warm him up too.
"Don't be silly," I tell him with a light shove. Damn, I think I just giggled there too. Well, right now I don't really care about that. This may perhaps be a very normal and small thing for just about anyone else. For me though, for me this is a big step. I didn't quit, I hardly panicked, managed to move on my back *and* my stomach through the water. And most of all? id didn't drown.
Angel pulls me closer, his arm around my waist as he coaxes me out of the water. By now I'm actually freezing here, and since he's made it perfectly clear there will be no more swimming lessons after this attempt? I follow him gladly. The more we get out of the water the colder I get.
"T-touchdown dance?" I blink at him confused when he says that. My hand comes up to rub the water out of my eyes, followed by a shake of my head to clear my ears up. "There's a d-dance that comes w-with swimming? N-no one ever told me t-that." The things they keep hidden for me, really now.
We reach the blankets where Angel fishes a towel out of the...pile of whatever. I can't see very well with this blinking of my eyes. "Oh thank you...hmmmm..." Best congratulations I've ever had, I'll say. My arms snake around his waste as I tilt my head and deepen the kiss. My lips feel quite numb and tingly, but I'd like to think Angel always has that effect.
Pity I have to pull away a bit sooner then usual due to my still catching my breath from all that swimming. "I did it," I murmur, obviously still in awe. "You did it," I point out as well, cupping his face in my hand. "You did it. Thank you so much, love."
God, you'd think he was drunk. This Wes is definitely amusing, and a little intoxicating. I think he might be a little high on his own accomplishment. Which he deserves to be. Deserved to be a long time ago.
He really is shivering and I'm glad to have him that much closer to dry towels and that blanket. "Just teasing, Wes. Football reference," I tell him, smiling at his confusion.
His teeth are lightly chattering when we pull away, and it might be my overactive imagination but his lips are looking a little blue. Nice kiss though. Even when frozen, I'll say Wes can give a nice kiss.
I shake my head at his praise. "You did it. You kept pushing, kept at it. This is your victory," I tell him with a smile, mirroring his gesture and cupping his face in my hand. "You did beautifully, it would have made everybody back home proud to see it, too." Cordy would be giving him a bear hug, Gunn would be slapping him on the back and they would do their little handshake, Fred would bounce up and down and clap, and Lorne would be passing out cocktails, smiling knowingly.
"Now, can we shake a leg and get you warmed up?" I ask, rubbing his arms vigorously to get some warmth in him. As much as I wish we could stay and lounge on the lake, maybe go for another swim, the breeze really does seem to have picked up a little. It's too bad. I really liked it down here. I suppose that could be because it was my suggestion to go somewhere with a beach. Makes sense that I would like it next to the lake, I guess.
Pulling away, I reach down to hand him a robe, and get a towel for myself. Hopefully, we'll be back at the cabin soon and he won't be shivering quite like that.
"Everyone back home doesn't know I can't swim," I murmur, leaning into his touch. I'd like to keep it that way too. This can be Angel and mine's little secret. Our little secret and great accomplishment. It's his even more so then mine. If it weren't for his patience then I'd have never have made it this far. That much I know.
And okay, towel nice and warm, but now my toes are freezing off. Good lord, who knew it could get this cold without snow? Goodness. I'm sure they'll warm up in no time at all, just like they did when we went out in the snow. Soon they'll be warm and tingling and...
"Shake a leg?" Is this another football reference I should know about? Maybe Cordelia is right and I should familiarize myself with languages that are...erm...alive. "G-getting warmed up sounds like a-a good idea...oh, thank you."
Pity getting dry means no more Angel rubbing me warm. Taking the robe from him, I slip into it and then fumble around to get the wet swimming trunks out. They fall down around my ankles with a splash that makes me giggle.
"It's a good thing I thought to bring dry underwear," I mutter, rubbing my own arms through the thick cloth of the robe while I watch Angel drying himself. Hoping from one foot to the other seems to help warming them...a little.
"Just an example so your arm makes the right shape and you can pull yourself along better." I nod, and give him a sympathetic look realizing, okay, peanut butter does sound a little weird.
"Sure, no problem," half feeling bad that I didn't do it in the first place and half thinking that maybe he just wants to watch me make funny movements with my arms. "It's kind of a windmill type of movement." I tell him as my arms go around opposite to each other once I'm standing. I watch his face closely as he studies me.
"One other thing, if you're going to keep your head above water, you need to turn your head all the way to the side so that you're breathing into your shoulder, arm, whatever." I nod, glad I remembered to mention that otherwise he would probably have started swimming and gotten a mouth full of water. Don't need that.
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Another apologetic look gets send his way because he has to explain the whole thing all over again. Lacing my fingers together I bring my hands up to my mouth and start to blow warm air over them. It *is* getting rather cold. Though less now that most of me is below the water and used to the temperature of the water.
"Windmill, right," I nod, trying to picture a windmill this time. But don't they move...okay, not literal, Pryce. He doesn't mean literal. Frowning, I look at him making the same movements with his arms, only now above water. Windmill, hmmm. It does look a little like that. And now that I cast aside the literal thinking, it does look a little like scooping something up.
"Got it, I'll st-- what?" To the side? But then how do you know where you're going? "To the side?" I parrot after him, blurting it out as if that makes no sense to me. Which, well, to me it doesn't. I suppose there's not a whole lot that makes sense to me here.
"Why-why don't I try that above water first too?" I suggest, getting up from my crouch. I concentrate on the windmill and the scooping, picturing Angel doing it. Then I bring up my arms and try to copy those movement and realize that it's harder then it looks. Just like I thought.
"Like so?" I ask, feeling more like a little dog fell into the pool then one of those athletic swimmers like Angel. Good lord, and then you have to remember the legs and the head? This'll never work.
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I watch as he tries the arm movement. For someone who is so skilled in some forms of combat, he is still so very awkward with his body in others. Nodding, I come around behind him. "Yeah, you've got it...just stretch your arms out a little more," I smooth my hands over his arms as he attempts the movement, smoothing out the kinks, and making the stroke go more...swimmingly.
Unfortunately this whole extending out of one's arms means he can't huddle up against the cold as well. Why does he have to be so stubborn? "That's good," I tell him as he does the arms one more time and I slide my hands away so he's doing it on his own.
Well, I did say this might take awhile. "You can try it with just the arms first once you're ready to get in the water. So you don't have to think about everything at once. You want me to swim a few strokes so you can see it all together? Then you can try it?"
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It's not like we have a pool at the Hyperion. Do we? Hmmm.
Let's get the whole arms thing right first. I watch Angel carefully, wanting to know if I'm even doing it remotely correct. It's a bit of a relief when he nods but then comes to stand behind me. Just a few corrections while I try the move again. This really looks so much easier when others are doing it. Why is that? It's completely unfair, I'll say that much.
"Alright," I nod when we've made the arm moves a few times. "I think I've got it." Now if only I understood the whole head to the side move. Maybe I can try it while Angel is holding me without actually having to try and move? I mean, swim. It's call swimming. Heh. I'm learning how to swim. About thirty years to late, but...
"Oh. Yes, please. I'm still a bit confused about the whole head thing," I say, leaning back and looking at him over my shoulder. It's this rare occasion that I really wished he would radiate some heat of his own. Not going to show him I'm freezing though, or he'll haul me out of the lake. I'm not going to get cold for crying out loud.
"Maybe we can do sort of a test run l-later?" I ask, "Where you hold me and I t-try the movement without having to actually swim yet?"
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"Without swimming?" What? Like out of the water, or just...keeping him from moving? That just doesn't make any sense. "Uh, we'll see." I tell him with a bit of a confused look. "I can definitely hold onto you...but why don't you watch me first."
Walking out just a little further so I don't hit the ground with every stoke, I lean into the water and just go, gliding through, and feeling that delicious feeling of freedom that comes with swimming. It's like the water swims over me as I make long strokes and slow kicks, tilting my head up as if to breath every now and then.
Before I forget myself and swim the whole length of the lake, I stop and turn around, coming back right where Wes is standing and splash him as I toss the water out of my hair like a dog.
"So, test run?" I say from under my dripping hair, before flicking it back from my face. I'll, umm, I'll jut kneel down I guess and hold him around his stomach or something. Hmm. This could be tricky. "Okay...I guess we can do it like this." I hold out my arms at the water's surface. "You can lay across and try it? If you're ready?" I look at him a little uncertainly. I'm sure he can do this...I'm just wondering if he'll freeze to death before he actually...does it.
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I guess I don't make sense to him a lot of times.
Right, watching him. I'd crouch down again to keep a little bit warmer but then I wont be seeing Angel very well. And, I think as I watch him glide through the water, what a shame that would be. He's like some graceful water creature from a fairytale. The way he slides through the water as though there's nothing to it. Makes me wonder if he'd not rather go swimming on his own and not bother teaching me how to swim.
There's a grin on my face when he swims back, hands still close to my mouth as I blow hot air over it. Damn, it's really getting cold. I just need to get this swimming on my stomach right and then we can go back to the blanket.
"You make it look so easy," I murmur, blinking when he shakes his hair out. Now that's just cute. It really is. "Huh?" Oh, got a little distracted there. Oops? "Test run. Right, I think that's a good idea." I smile at him, my face though, feeling as if I've been out in the snow to long. Yes, I suppose returning to the blanket may be a smart idea.
"I'll just go...err...l-lay across your arms." And that sounds ridiculously double if I ever heard anything. I hesitate only slightly and then bend forward to lay over his arms, even more hesitantly pulling my legs up. And before I know it I'm on my stomach...which is far more frightening then on your back oddly enough.
"Don't let go," I whisper, wondering just how many damn times I've said that this evening. I start by moving my legs the way he's taught me. That's the same way as on your back anyway. Then I start with the arms, wondering if I'm actually doing it right. Doesn't feel right, I do feel like a dog who's fell into the pool. I'm not sure what to do with my head though, the moment I turn it around I feel as though I'm going to whack myself in the face!
"Like-like thi--" And talking while swimming like this? Bad idea as well, I realize when I swallow a mouthful of water. Coughing, I press my lips tightly shut and concentrate on the whole windmill swimming movement instead.
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The test run is no easier than I thought it would be, but we work it out, and somehow he gets down there balanced on my arms. Hell if I know how to do this. His arms don't get a full range of movement though, I'm kind of in the way. "I've got you. Right here." Just a reminder, I guess...he's not really doubting that I would let him go, right?
"Legs are doing good," I tell him when I think he might be able to hear me. Oops, and there goes a mouth full of lake water. Fun. "Long strokes, remember," I remind him, getting several splashes of water to the face as he tries valiantly some more.
This is...certainly interesting.
"Wes," I lift him up out of the water a little after he has some more tries to practice. "Wes, it's getting pretty cold," and you're shivering being out of the water like this, "you about ready to try heading back? I can still keep a hand on you if you want to try it on your own?" I guess I'm hoping for super speedy learner here. He really hasn't had much time to catch onto this, but he's doing surprisingly well, especially with me forcing him to move a little faster than a regular swimming lesson...for his own health.
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I'm still splashing away when I suddenly realize there's a lot less splashing going on. Huh? What...oh. Angel's lifted me up out of the water. Why? I don't think I quite have a tight grasp on the whole swimming on the stomach thing. I'm a whole hell of a lot warmer though, I'll admit that much. See? I knew once I'd get moving I'd get warm.
"What? What?" I blurt out, confused by suddenly being out of the water. Oh. I can still touch the ground, that's good. I must look like a fool anyway, laying there draped on Angel's arms and not moving. Must look even more stupid then when I was moving, at least then it made sense. The err...draping over his arms thing.
"Well, uhm, if you hold onto me i-its not really on-on my own is it?" I point out, giving him a small smile over my shoulder. Maybe I should stand up, but I'm afraid that if I do that, I'll never be able to get to my stomach again. Less chattering of the teeth would make Angel very happy to no doubt. Just keep my jaws clamped together when not talking.
"H-how about you hold on a little while and then l-let go? We can give it a try then, see how it goes. Just-Just stay close by? Please?" We can't have much more swimming lessons at any rate, my limbs may freeze. Heh, like with the snow. I liked the snow. Just like I will always hold this evening dear and never forget what Angel did for me.
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"Okay. I'll be here." I don't know how many times I've reassured him of that today, but I imagine there will be more of that to come in this lifetime.
Or just today even.
"Right here," I murmur again as he sets out on my arms again. I'm assuming he'll tell me when to let go, right? It's not as though he can let go of me really. Well, he could, but it would probably end up disasterously somehow.
"I'll be right here," I continue to tell him as he keeps trying. I know the splashing and the water isn't really helping him hear anything, but I know some part of him knows what I'm telling him. Like those coma patients. They can hear you even if it doesn't register.
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"Okay. Good. Thank you." Another mouthful of lake water gets down my lungs, followed by some coughing. Damn, that is annoying. Does this happen to everyone learning how to swim or just me? I don't recall any swimmers I've seen cough so much. Aside from myself that is, but one couldn't call what I've done until this evening swimming. Right. Swimming, lets get back to that.
"Lets try this." Again. Taking a deep breath, I worry for a moment about the head to the side breathing thing, but I'm sure it'll work out eventually. If not today, then...the next time Angel will pick up the lessons. It's a pity it wont be any time soon. I'm not sure if we'll go back to the lake this vacation and I'm pretty sure he wont be teaching me anything of the kind once we're back in Los Angeles. I mean, where would we go?
Right now? Forward. There's a small ball of nerves bundling up in my stomach as I stretch my arms out. My legs stretch out as well. I start to move them up and down first so I'll move forward. Angel's secure tight hold around under my stomach is more reassuring then he'll ever know. Then I get my arms into the swimming thing as well and I think...I think I'm moving!
"I'm moving!" I shout, swallowing another mouthful of lake. "Look!" Doesn't stop me from yelling at him with joy. But hey, I'm moving, in the water, on my stomach. I'm swimming! "I can do this! Look!" Oh, perhaps I should tell him he can let go now, or maybe he can read between the...overly exciting yelling.
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He gets his legs started one last time, really started, they're just kicking like crazy, and then he's got his arms going. They're well, they're working on it. Still a little bit of a doggy paddle, but it's a start.
He practically shoots out of my hands he's got so much momentum and determination. It's quite the sight to see. And he's telling me all about it, which I have to smile at.
That's my little fish. Minnow, goldfish, guppy. Yup, my little swimming guppy. Or not so little as I'm sure I would be reminded if he could hear those thoughts.
"You're doing great, Wes," I call after him, taking a few steps to follow him and stay close in case anything drastic happens. Honestly, it doesn't take us long before his happy shouting has us back at the blanket. Good thing, too. This little bundle of excitement has an appointment with me and some dry towels.
"Hey, Fish boy, you made it. You can stop now." I call after him teasingly, waiting and holding out a hand to help him out of the water.
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Not that I care. I'm ecstatic about being able to keep my head above water!
I keep telling him how great this is until I swallow a tad to much lake. After that I just keep my mouth shut and keep going. It's not until I hear Angel or what I think is Angel behind me that I realize he's let go. Oh my bloody god, I'm moving and not sinking on my own! I keep scooping with my arms and paddling with my legs, moving and moving and... I think I'm nearly swimming!
It's not until the fact that I feel sand underneath my hands and knees signals me that I've moved into rather shallow water that I stop. Panting for air - quite the exercise this swimming thing - I let my knees sink to the ground and grin up at Angel.
Fish boy? I think my grin widens so much at that it threatens to split my face in two. Cold be damned, I moved through the water, on my *stomach*, on my bloody own! "I doubt fish are quite clumsy," I pant out, reaching up to take his hand.
I let him haul me up and then stomp his shoulder in my enthusiasm. "Did you see that, Angel?! I did that on my own, just like you said I could! It's wonderful, it's amazing, it's liberating!" I yell, holding my arms up into the air. "It's damn bloody magnificent! Why didn't anyone every tell me?"
Oops, I'm nearly bouncing again. Or that could be the shivering from the cold I'm doing. Nah, bouncing no doubt. Though, it's really getting cold. how long have we been at it? Good lord, I'm rather out of breath!
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I think Wesley Wyndam-Pryce just hit me.
I don't think he's ever done that before.
It makes me grin and laugh with his enthusiasm.
"Ladies and gentlemen the next Olympic swimming champion," I tease, pulling this pile of bouncy, happy, Wes to me, arm slung behind his waist to possibly manuever this ball of energy back to the blanket. And the dry towels.
"Come on, you can do your touchdown dance all you want once you're dry," I tell him with a smile, also thinking warm and back at the cabin along with that dry. He really does look like he's scored the win of his life out there.
His body is still humming (and shivering) and he's still babbling, but I am determined to get a towel around him, and the instant I do, I pull him close and smile. "Let me be the first to congratulate you," I murmur before taking a kiss I think I've been waiting far too long for this evening. You'd think there was a requirement on how long I could possibly go without kisses from Wes and I'd gone far over my time limit. I suppose it might help warm him up too.
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Angel pulls me closer, his arm around my waist as he coaxes me out of the water. By now I'm actually freezing here, and since he's made it perfectly clear there will be no more swimming lessons after this attempt? I follow him gladly. The more we get out of the water the colder I get.
"T-touchdown dance?" I blink at him confused when he says that. My hand comes up to rub the water out of my eyes, followed by a shake of my head to clear my ears up. "There's a d-dance that comes w-with swimming? N-no one ever told me t-that." The things they keep hidden for me, really now.
We reach the blankets where Angel fishes a towel out of the...pile of whatever. I can't see very well with this blinking of my eyes. "Oh thank you...hmmmm..." Best congratulations I've ever had, I'll say. My arms snake around his waste as I tilt my head and deepen the kiss. My lips feel quite numb and tingly, but I'd like to think Angel always has that effect.
Pity I have to pull away a bit sooner then usual due to my still catching my breath from all that swimming. "I did it," I murmur, obviously still in awe. "You did it," I point out as well, cupping his face in my hand. "You did it. Thank you so much, love."
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He really is shivering and I'm glad to have him that much closer to dry towels and that blanket. "Just teasing, Wes. Football reference," I tell him, smiling at his confusion.
His teeth are lightly chattering when we pull away, and it might be my overactive imagination but his lips are looking a little blue. Nice kiss though. Even when frozen, I'll say Wes can give a nice kiss.
I shake my head at his praise. "You did it. You kept pushing, kept at it. This is your victory," I tell him with a smile, mirroring his gesture and cupping his face in my hand. "You did beautifully, it would have made everybody back home proud to see it, too." Cordy would be giving him a bear hug, Gunn would be slapping him on the back and they would do their little handshake, Fred would bounce up and down and clap, and Lorne would be passing out cocktails, smiling knowingly.
"Now, can we shake a leg and get you warmed up?" I ask, rubbing his arms vigorously to get some warmth in him. As much as I wish we could stay and lounge on the lake, maybe go for another swim, the breeze really does seem to have picked up a little. It's too bad. I really liked it down here. I suppose that could be because it was my suggestion to go somewhere with a beach. Makes sense that I would like it next to the lake, I guess.
Pulling away, I reach down to hand him a robe, and get a towel for myself. Hopefully, we'll be back at the cabin soon and he won't be shivering quite like that.
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And okay, towel nice and warm, but now my toes are freezing off. Good lord, who knew it could get this cold without snow? Goodness. I'm sure they'll warm up in no time at all, just like they did when we went out in the snow. Soon they'll be warm and tingling and...
"Shake a leg?" Is this another football reference I should know about? Maybe Cordelia is right and I should familiarize myself with languages that are...erm...alive. "G-getting warmed up sounds like a-a good idea...oh, thank you."
Pity getting dry means no more Angel rubbing me warm. Taking the robe from him, I slip into it and then fumble around to get the wet swimming trunks out. They fall down around my ankles with a splash that makes me giggle.
"It's a good thing I thought to bring dry underwear," I mutter, rubbing my own arms through the thick cloth of the robe while I watch Angel drying himself. Hoping from one foot to the other seems to help warming them...a little.
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