Fic: Hearts in Seawater [Chapter Four]
Hearts in Seawater
Fandom: Glee AU
In this chapter:
Pairing: Dave/Kurt
Rating: T
Word Count: 3,254
Summary: David is a pirate and a lone shipwreck survivor, at the mercy of a mysterious, beautiful boy.
Notes: I had written half of this chapter and then got stuck, but after a bit of inspiration I managed to complete it. I hope you like it! Thank you for putting up with my shaky writing skills!
One | Two | Three | Four
Chapter Four: Lost
~~~
David spent the rest of the afternoon salvaging what was left of his ship from the shoreline of the island. It was an agonizingly slow task, his leg fully healed but his bruised chest and broken ribs making him breathless with pain. There was decent wood, rope and sailcloth to be taken. He laid his findings outside of his shelter, forming a plan as to what to do with it all.
Amongst the shattered remnants of the ship lay vestiges of life; some torn clothing here, a locket there, a shoe, a lantern, a water-logged book. David followed the beach farther than he had ever been before, sometimes forgetting the task at hand and wandering aimlessly through wet sand and surf, taking in the loneliness of the island and the vast, empty sea that met the horizon on all sides. He found only one corpse, bloated and foul and unrecognisable. He wrapped it in sailcloth and rolled it into a shallow grave made in the sand. He rinsed his hands and arms in the sea and splashed his face with the cold water before pressing on. He didn't grieve. There would be a time for that, another day. His mind was set resolutely on the prospect of escape.
A raft. That's how he'd do it. Planks of wood lashed together with rope, perhaps with a simple mast and sail. It would be relatively easy to make, thought David. The sun was beginning to set, his palms were full of splinters and his chest ached terribly. He would begin first thing tomorrow. But, for now, rest.
He had piled some dry driftwood in front of his shelter, surrounded by a neat ring of stones. He chipped some flint together until sparks flew and caught, blackened and burned. There was a slight chill in the air tonight. He noticed that the porcelain bowl of water and some morsels of food had been placed inside his shelter. He drank and ate ravenously, not realising how famished he was from his work. Kurt's footprints wound and doubled back in the sand, and there were deep dips and scuffs outside of his shelter, as if the boy had been pacing back and forth, perhaps waiting for David's return. David smiled. He lay down and watched the fire burn bright amber against the deep blue of encroaching night.
+++
The next morning, David set about making his raft. He laid out the planks side by side. The sun beat down relentlessly and he mopped at his brow with his filthy shirt sleeve, before finally giving in and tearing off his shirt altogether, flinging it away with a curse. It was time to get to work. He wound the rope between the planks, tugged hard until he was satisfied that it were secure, then knotted it. Suddenly, a shape out of the corner of his eye caught his attention. He looked up, and his heart leapt.
Kurt was regarding David from a distance, watching him curiously while playing with a large gull's feather that he might have found on one of his daily explorations of the beach.
He doesn't seem able to stay away from me for long, thought David amusedly. He straightened up, making a show of pulling the rope taut and drawing the planks together. Work-worn hands, strong arms, broad chest. He stopped to catch his breath and looked at Kurt, who showed no indication of being even remotely impressed by David's strength. The boy seemed more preoccupied with his feather. David shook his head and went back to what he was doing, although he couldn't help but observe Kurt at the edge of his vision. The boy's gaze wandered slyly from his feather over to David, a little smile playing at the corner of his mouth, something like fascination shining in his eyes. Distracted, David jerked harder than necessary on the rope and his ribs caught him with a sickly stab of pain. He gasped and swore and sat down slowly, breathing hard. He looked at Kurt again, who had now taken to lying on his back, trickling sand between his fingers.
'No, I don't need any help,' David muttered darkly, 'but thank you for your concern.'
He stroked his hand wearily over his chin and jaw, feeling the moderate cover of thick, straggly hair there. Sweet Anne Bonny, he was growing a beard. He must look ridiculous.
Seeing that David had given up on his raft-building for the moment, Kurt seemed to lose interest in him altogether and rose petulantly, walking towards the forest.
'Where are you going?' called David before he could stop himself.
Kurt didn't look back, disappearing in amongst the wild green that skirted the beach. David wondered if he would be able to lead him to the source of food and water that seemed in abundance on the island. He would need to gather supplies for when the time came to set sail, David told himself, and rose as quickly as his aching body would allow him, intent on pursuit.
+++
Blackness.
Where am I?
David was lying on his side, body twisted awkwardly over a large tree root sprouting from the earth. It was dark, but no, it was not night-time... the air was hot and wet and stifling, solid in his throat and nostrils, making it difficult to breathe. Clouds of miniscule biting flies hovered lazily above his head, other unseen insects lazily traversing his exposed flesh. He shuddered with revulsion and retched slightly. Oh God, he was in so much pain, all over.
I'm in the forest. I came into the forest to find... to follow...
Why was he here? He craned his head groggily skywards, saw that the light of day was almost totally obscured by the thick, oppressive canopy of trees above him. Bushes bristling with thorns and vines heavy with poisoned leaves bore down on him from all sides. He couldn't move. It felt impossible. Once again, the realisation that he might die on this godforsaken island dawned on him. He groaned, a pitiful noise barely above a whisper, and his eyes slid shut. He let his head drop down into the sodden earth beneath him, the smell of it intensely rich. A slight breeze shook the canopy, causing it to sway. Dappled light swung to and fro across the forest floor before his eyes and an unseen bird cackled. He was so hungry, so thirsty.
Thirsty.
There was another sound. It trickled beneath the rustling of the canopy, babbled over the cacophony of forest animals. The sound of water.
David lifted himself onto his elbows with surprising speed, ignoring the painful protestations of his body. He held his breath, ears pricked. Yes, it was the sound of running water. It was unmistakable.
He dragged himself over the tree root he'd been lying on. His whole body felt astoundingly heavy. His legs were limp, trailing uselessly behind him. He took fistfuls of earth and weeds and creepers and hauled himself across the forest floor, the sound of the water growing tantalisingly closer with each minute that passed. With his last ounce of strength, he brought himself to the crest of a steep slope which disappeared down into a clump of thick undergrowth and mossy rocks. Unfortunately, he had overshot the lip of the small cliff by some distance, his upper body dangling helplessly over the edge. With almost comic slowness, he began to slide inexorably forward. He gave a panicked yell and grabbed desperately at the plants around him, but they tore off in big clumps in his fists. He fell, then tumbled and rolled, limbs flailing like a ragdoll. Stones and branches clattered around him during his descent, then pummelled him as he came to an abrupt halt against a large boulder, his fall somewhat cushioned by the untouched mounds of dead leaves that had settled at the bottom of the cliff. He moaned deep in his throat and slowly pushed himself upright into a sitting position. If he squinted, he could see through the gaps in the undergrowth before him to see what lay beyond. He gasped, all pain suddenly forgotten, and began to clamber through the thick tangle of branches. He was bloody and bruised and broken, but this paled into insignificance when he planted his dirty face straight into the chill water of the glorious pool before him. He drank and drank until his stomach ached, then rolled onto his back, gasping and spluttering.
The pool sat in a clearing, shafts of golden light flickering down onto the still water, water that was so clear that you could see straight to the very bottom. Slippery black rocks surrounded the pool on all sides, ascending sharply into a steep shadowy wall at the far end, a gentle cascade of water glittering down it in the half-light. Everything before his eyes was painted in startlingly bright greens and blues and yellows. It was beautiful. David sat up and took some of the water in his cupped hand, splashing his face and neck and his filthy limbs. It was peaceful here, entirely different from the hostile forest that encircled it. He rinsed his face once more and then stared across the clearing, blinking against the water that dripped into his eyes. He was no longer alone.
Kurt emerged from behind the rocks directly across from him, sure-footed despite the treacherous, slippery surface that he walked upon. David felt unsurprised that the boy had made an appearance, once again. Of course he would be here; his presence could be felt all over the island, the island he was an inseparable part of. David was becoming part of it now, too, and Kurt remained with him always, watchful and curious.
The boy looked especially beautiful at this moment, and David looked on, fascinated, as the impossibly pale creature stepped from rock to rock with easy grace before crouching and slithering into the waiting pool, the water dark and deep and seeming to swallow him whole within moments. The water rippled minutely and then stilled. David watched with bated breath. He could see Kurt moving between the rocks and weeds beneath the surface, fractured light shimmering across his flawless skin. Something else glinted down there with him; one moment it looked like silver coins collected amongst the swaying green fronds, the next it was like a shivering, shining shoal of fish. David squinted and crawled forward, trying to decipher the strange image before him. The boy had disappeared again, perhaps flitting into some unseen cave beneath the water. Hadn't he run out of air yet? Concerned, David leaned further over the water, his haggard reflection greeting him as he peered downwards. Not for long, though; his mirror image suddenly dissipated into a million fragments and a new face emerged through it, shattering the stillness of the pool. Kurt had risen up unseen and had appeared before David, but now he was not just a fleeting glimpse from across the beach, or the tender caress of caring hands on the edge of sleep; he was right there, a mere fraction from David's face, his features now so very clear that David felt dizzy and overwhelmed with awe. He inhaled sharply, eyes blown wide, trying to comprehend the suddenness and the closeness of such wonderful and terrible beauty. Kurt gazed up at him with eyes so lovely and blue, drops of water clinging to his eyelashes and drawing paths down his nose and cheeks, collecting between his pale pink lips. David gaped silently in wonder, probably looking every bit as intoxicated as he felt.
'I must've... fainted in the forest. My ribs, I think. I got lost. I was looking for... I don't know,' he blithered, Kurt looking at him innocuously with his round eyes. 'I was looking for you,' he finished, defeated, slurring slightly as if in the grip of a drunken stupor.
To his surprise, Kurt seemed to have understood his words. A smile as bright and as pleasing as warm sunshine spread across the boy's face. Arms that were icy cold and dripping were circling David's neck like a horse harness, pulling him forward. Something unreadable burned in the boy's bright eyes, and David let himself be dragged downwards, feelings as if every bone in his body had suddenly been removed. Oh, and there were lips on his now, so very cold but filling David with a new and unquenchable thirst. Fingers raked up his bare back and tangled in the hair at the nape of his neck, and the ice was replaced with fire.
This is love, David's mind chanted over and over in ecstasy. Then the world tilted, water roared past his ears and up his nose and everything went dark and cool and silent. He opened his eyes, Kurt's mouth still pressed resolutely against his. They had sunk to the bottom of the pool, water weeds wafting upwards around them. Bubbles of spent air trailed from the corner of David's mouth. Kurt pulled back, his skin tinted green in the underwater light and his eyes wide and shining. His arms were still locked around David's neck. Something large was winding its way slowly around the pirate's legs, and he tore his gaze from those brilliant eyes and looked down. A cloud of bubbles burst forth from his mouth as he opened it wide in a silent yell of horror. Kurt no longer had legs. A tail -coated in clinking silver scales as big as Spanish dollars- was coiling tightly around him with the deadly vice-like grip of a snake. Kurt smiled, his white hands cupping David's face tenderly. David began to struggle, injuries be damned. He thrashed and struck out with his fists, and the boy let go in surprise, his tail loosening its' grip. David struck out against the water and propelled himself upwards, breaking through the surface of the pool, lungs burning. Spluttering, he heaved himself out of the water and clung gratefully to the mossy ground.
Kurt's head followed moments after, bobbing just above the water. He was looking at David ruefully, his lip turned down in a slight pout. David got the feeling that he hadn't meant any harm.
'I don't think that's a game we should play again,' he grumbled, exhausted. 'I'm not like you. I can't live underwater. I'm just a man.' He wriggled his legs to illustrate the point. Kurt swam up to the edge of the pool, arms outstretched.
'No,' David warned, shuffling nervously away from his grasp. 'No,' he reiterated, slowly and clearly, looking into Kurt's eyes seriously as if scolding a small child. 'You frightened me.'
Kurt folded his arm across a rock and nestled his head into the crook of his elbow, his gaze lowered, looking sweetly remorseful.
'I'm not falling for that,' sighed David, sitting up and running a hand through his wet hair. He didn't believe his own words for a minute, but he valued his life over a pretty face any day. Well, probably. 'I don't really feel like being drowned, thank you very much. I think it'd best if I go back to the shelter and rest for a while. I'm sure I'll see you... around. Make the most of it, I'll be leaving soon.'
David struggled to his knees, his breeches sodden and unpleasant against his thighs. He half-heartedly squeezed the water out of them by wringing the bottom of each leg and then clambered to his feet, still in considerable pain and feeling utterly miserable. He looked up at the steep slope that he had fallen down earlier, trying to think of a way to get back up it without breaking his neck. There was a gnarled tree that grew from beside the pool and up towards the top of the cliff that looked sturdy enough to climb. He had a foot steady on one of its bottom branches, when a small voice said:
'Don't go.'
David looked over his shoulder. Kurt was standing behind him, having resumed his human shape and looking as pale and deceptively lovely as ever. He was toying with his necklace, the pearly shells making pretty noises against one another. He gazed at David imploringly.
'You can talk?' David said uncertainly, wondering if he had merely imagined the voice.
'A small... a little bit,' Kurt answered, saying each word with care. His voice was high and soft, every bit as melodic as when he sang his strange, enchanting songs.
'Why didn't you speak to me before?' asked David, stepping down from the tree to face the boy. He felt that the imminent threat of being drowned was over, but kept his hand on an impromptu blade he'd made from a piece of flint that was tucked into his belt, just in case.
'Scared. I was... scared.'
'Of me?'
Kurt nodded earnestly. 'But I see you, umm... you are good?'
'Oh,' said David. He suddenly became aware of how hard his heart was beating in his chest, his pulse drumming a furious tattoo in his ears. He took a step forward and then hesitated. 'You know I won't hurt you?' he said, softly.
'Yes,' said the boy, but David only saw his lips move, his voice so quiet it was lost beneath the rustling of the breeze in the trees around them.
David moved closer still. He expected Kurt to dart off at any moment, but no, not this time. When there was only a small amount of space left between them, David stopped. They looked at each other wordlessly, an intense energy sparking back and forth within the silence. David brought his hands up to rest on Kurt's shoulders. How does this boy - a merman, no less - know how to speak, living on an island so isolated it has probably yet to exist on any maps? With Kurt's eyes wide and expectant and his lips lightly parted in anticipation, David found these thoughts quickly trickling out of his mind like dry sand. He wrapped his arms around Kurt and drew him close, held him tightly, protectively.
'Do you love me?' he asked suddenly, the words tumbling from his mouth before he had the chance to think them through. Any feelings of sheepishness were swiftly banished when Kurt crowed 'yes!' and surged upwards to reward him with an enthusiastic kiss.
Love, yes. They held one another and kissed one another beneath the failing orange light of evening, and David wouldn't have cared if this was his first or fourth hundredth evening on the island as long as they all ended with the tender chorus of Kurt's happy sighs and those soft, soft lips beneath his own.
'Love you,' Kurt breathed, his hands on the back of David's neck.
'Mmm,' David mumbled dazedly in response.
Kurt laid kisses as light as the touch of bird wings on water over David's cheeks, on his eyelids, his throat.
'Love...'
'Mmhmm...'
'Te amo...'
David's eyes flicked open.
'Si... oh, je t'aime...'
He pulled back slightly and regarded Kurt, brow furrowed in confusion.
'What did you say?'
Kurt gasped, obviously just as surprised as David was at his lapse into various European languages during lovemaking.
'Scusa... oh, sorry. Sometimes... I forget myself. There have been so many.'
So many? So many what?
But then Kurt was kissing him again regardless, and David found himself being urged to lie down in the soft leafy earth beneath their feet.
Never mind, he thought dreamily. Anything and everything... the whole world can wait 'til the morning.
Fandom: Glee AU
In this chapter:
Pairing: Dave/Kurt
Rating: T
Word Count: 3,254
Summary: David is a pirate and a lone shipwreck survivor, at the mercy of a mysterious, beautiful boy.
Notes: I had written half of this chapter and then got stuck, but after a bit of inspiration I managed to complete it. I hope you like it! Thank you for putting up with my shaky writing skills!
One | Two | Three | Four
Chapter Four: Lost
~~~
David spent the rest of the afternoon salvaging what was left of his ship from the shoreline of the island. It was an agonizingly slow task, his leg fully healed but his bruised chest and broken ribs making him breathless with pain. There was decent wood, rope and sailcloth to be taken. He laid his findings outside of his shelter, forming a plan as to what to do with it all.
Amongst the shattered remnants of the ship lay vestiges of life; some torn clothing here, a locket there, a shoe, a lantern, a water-logged book. David followed the beach farther than he had ever been before, sometimes forgetting the task at hand and wandering aimlessly through wet sand and surf, taking in the loneliness of the island and the vast, empty sea that met the horizon on all sides. He found only one corpse, bloated and foul and unrecognisable. He wrapped it in sailcloth and rolled it into a shallow grave made in the sand. He rinsed his hands and arms in the sea and splashed his face with the cold water before pressing on. He didn't grieve. There would be a time for that, another day. His mind was set resolutely on the prospect of escape.
A raft. That's how he'd do it. Planks of wood lashed together with rope, perhaps with a simple mast and sail. It would be relatively easy to make, thought David. The sun was beginning to set, his palms were full of splinters and his chest ached terribly. He would begin first thing tomorrow. But, for now, rest.
He had piled some dry driftwood in front of his shelter, surrounded by a neat ring of stones. He chipped some flint together until sparks flew and caught, blackened and burned. There was a slight chill in the air tonight. He noticed that the porcelain bowl of water and some morsels of food had been placed inside his shelter. He drank and ate ravenously, not realising how famished he was from his work. Kurt's footprints wound and doubled back in the sand, and there were deep dips and scuffs outside of his shelter, as if the boy had been pacing back and forth, perhaps waiting for David's return. David smiled. He lay down and watched the fire burn bright amber against the deep blue of encroaching night.
+++
The next morning, David set about making his raft. He laid out the planks side by side. The sun beat down relentlessly and he mopped at his brow with his filthy shirt sleeve, before finally giving in and tearing off his shirt altogether, flinging it away with a curse. It was time to get to work. He wound the rope between the planks, tugged hard until he was satisfied that it were secure, then knotted it. Suddenly, a shape out of the corner of his eye caught his attention. He looked up, and his heart leapt.
Kurt was regarding David from a distance, watching him curiously while playing with a large gull's feather that he might have found on one of his daily explorations of the beach.
He doesn't seem able to stay away from me for long, thought David amusedly. He straightened up, making a show of pulling the rope taut and drawing the planks together. Work-worn hands, strong arms, broad chest. He stopped to catch his breath and looked at Kurt, who showed no indication of being even remotely impressed by David's strength. The boy seemed more preoccupied with his feather. David shook his head and went back to what he was doing, although he couldn't help but observe Kurt at the edge of his vision. The boy's gaze wandered slyly from his feather over to David, a little smile playing at the corner of his mouth, something like fascination shining in his eyes. Distracted, David jerked harder than necessary on the rope and his ribs caught him with a sickly stab of pain. He gasped and swore and sat down slowly, breathing hard. He looked at Kurt again, who had now taken to lying on his back, trickling sand between his fingers.
'No, I don't need any help,' David muttered darkly, 'but thank you for your concern.'
He stroked his hand wearily over his chin and jaw, feeling the moderate cover of thick, straggly hair there. Sweet Anne Bonny, he was growing a beard. He must look ridiculous.
Seeing that David had given up on his raft-building for the moment, Kurt seemed to lose interest in him altogether and rose petulantly, walking towards the forest.
'Where are you going?' called David before he could stop himself.
Kurt didn't look back, disappearing in amongst the wild green that skirted the beach. David wondered if he would be able to lead him to the source of food and water that seemed in abundance on the island. He would need to gather supplies for when the time came to set sail, David told himself, and rose as quickly as his aching body would allow him, intent on pursuit.
+++
Blackness.
Where am I?
David was lying on his side, body twisted awkwardly over a large tree root sprouting from the earth. It was dark, but no, it was not night-time... the air was hot and wet and stifling, solid in his throat and nostrils, making it difficult to breathe. Clouds of miniscule biting flies hovered lazily above his head, other unseen insects lazily traversing his exposed flesh. He shuddered with revulsion and retched slightly. Oh God, he was in so much pain, all over.
I'm in the forest. I came into the forest to find... to follow...
Why was he here? He craned his head groggily skywards, saw that the light of day was almost totally obscured by the thick, oppressive canopy of trees above him. Bushes bristling with thorns and vines heavy with poisoned leaves bore down on him from all sides. He couldn't move. It felt impossible. Once again, the realisation that he might die on this godforsaken island dawned on him. He groaned, a pitiful noise barely above a whisper, and his eyes slid shut. He let his head drop down into the sodden earth beneath him, the smell of it intensely rich. A slight breeze shook the canopy, causing it to sway. Dappled light swung to and fro across the forest floor before his eyes and an unseen bird cackled. He was so hungry, so thirsty.
Thirsty.
There was another sound. It trickled beneath the rustling of the canopy, babbled over the cacophony of forest animals. The sound of water.
David lifted himself onto his elbows with surprising speed, ignoring the painful protestations of his body. He held his breath, ears pricked. Yes, it was the sound of running water. It was unmistakable.
He dragged himself over the tree root he'd been lying on. His whole body felt astoundingly heavy. His legs were limp, trailing uselessly behind him. He took fistfuls of earth and weeds and creepers and hauled himself across the forest floor, the sound of the water growing tantalisingly closer with each minute that passed. With his last ounce of strength, he brought himself to the crest of a steep slope which disappeared down into a clump of thick undergrowth and mossy rocks. Unfortunately, he had overshot the lip of the small cliff by some distance, his upper body dangling helplessly over the edge. With almost comic slowness, he began to slide inexorably forward. He gave a panicked yell and grabbed desperately at the plants around him, but they tore off in big clumps in his fists. He fell, then tumbled and rolled, limbs flailing like a ragdoll. Stones and branches clattered around him during his descent, then pummelled him as he came to an abrupt halt against a large boulder, his fall somewhat cushioned by the untouched mounds of dead leaves that had settled at the bottom of the cliff. He moaned deep in his throat and slowly pushed himself upright into a sitting position. If he squinted, he could see through the gaps in the undergrowth before him to see what lay beyond. He gasped, all pain suddenly forgotten, and began to clamber through the thick tangle of branches. He was bloody and bruised and broken, but this paled into insignificance when he planted his dirty face straight into the chill water of the glorious pool before him. He drank and drank until his stomach ached, then rolled onto his back, gasping and spluttering.
The pool sat in a clearing, shafts of golden light flickering down onto the still water, water that was so clear that you could see straight to the very bottom. Slippery black rocks surrounded the pool on all sides, ascending sharply into a steep shadowy wall at the far end, a gentle cascade of water glittering down it in the half-light. Everything before his eyes was painted in startlingly bright greens and blues and yellows. It was beautiful. David sat up and took some of the water in his cupped hand, splashing his face and neck and his filthy limbs. It was peaceful here, entirely different from the hostile forest that encircled it. He rinsed his face once more and then stared across the clearing, blinking against the water that dripped into his eyes. He was no longer alone.
Kurt emerged from behind the rocks directly across from him, sure-footed despite the treacherous, slippery surface that he walked upon. David felt unsurprised that the boy had made an appearance, once again. Of course he would be here; his presence could be felt all over the island, the island he was an inseparable part of. David was becoming part of it now, too, and Kurt remained with him always, watchful and curious.
The boy looked especially beautiful at this moment, and David looked on, fascinated, as the impossibly pale creature stepped from rock to rock with easy grace before crouching and slithering into the waiting pool, the water dark and deep and seeming to swallow him whole within moments. The water rippled minutely and then stilled. David watched with bated breath. He could see Kurt moving between the rocks and weeds beneath the surface, fractured light shimmering across his flawless skin. Something else glinted down there with him; one moment it looked like silver coins collected amongst the swaying green fronds, the next it was like a shivering, shining shoal of fish. David squinted and crawled forward, trying to decipher the strange image before him. The boy had disappeared again, perhaps flitting into some unseen cave beneath the water. Hadn't he run out of air yet? Concerned, David leaned further over the water, his haggard reflection greeting him as he peered downwards. Not for long, though; his mirror image suddenly dissipated into a million fragments and a new face emerged through it, shattering the stillness of the pool. Kurt had risen up unseen and had appeared before David, but now he was not just a fleeting glimpse from across the beach, or the tender caress of caring hands on the edge of sleep; he was right there, a mere fraction from David's face, his features now so very clear that David felt dizzy and overwhelmed with awe. He inhaled sharply, eyes blown wide, trying to comprehend the suddenness and the closeness of such wonderful and terrible beauty. Kurt gazed up at him with eyes so lovely and blue, drops of water clinging to his eyelashes and drawing paths down his nose and cheeks, collecting between his pale pink lips. David gaped silently in wonder, probably looking every bit as intoxicated as he felt.
'I must've... fainted in the forest. My ribs, I think. I got lost. I was looking for... I don't know,' he blithered, Kurt looking at him innocuously with his round eyes. 'I was looking for you,' he finished, defeated, slurring slightly as if in the grip of a drunken stupor.
To his surprise, Kurt seemed to have understood his words. A smile as bright and as pleasing as warm sunshine spread across the boy's face. Arms that were icy cold and dripping were circling David's neck like a horse harness, pulling him forward. Something unreadable burned in the boy's bright eyes, and David let himself be dragged downwards, feelings as if every bone in his body had suddenly been removed. Oh, and there were lips on his now, so very cold but filling David with a new and unquenchable thirst. Fingers raked up his bare back and tangled in the hair at the nape of his neck, and the ice was replaced with fire.
This is love, David's mind chanted over and over in ecstasy. Then the world tilted, water roared past his ears and up his nose and everything went dark and cool and silent. He opened his eyes, Kurt's mouth still pressed resolutely against his. They had sunk to the bottom of the pool, water weeds wafting upwards around them. Bubbles of spent air trailed from the corner of David's mouth. Kurt pulled back, his skin tinted green in the underwater light and his eyes wide and shining. His arms were still locked around David's neck. Something large was winding its way slowly around the pirate's legs, and he tore his gaze from those brilliant eyes and looked down. A cloud of bubbles burst forth from his mouth as he opened it wide in a silent yell of horror. Kurt no longer had legs. A tail -coated in clinking silver scales as big as Spanish dollars- was coiling tightly around him with the deadly vice-like grip of a snake. Kurt smiled, his white hands cupping David's face tenderly. David began to struggle, injuries be damned. He thrashed and struck out with his fists, and the boy let go in surprise, his tail loosening its' grip. David struck out against the water and propelled himself upwards, breaking through the surface of the pool, lungs burning. Spluttering, he heaved himself out of the water and clung gratefully to the mossy ground.
Kurt's head followed moments after, bobbing just above the water. He was looking at David ruefully, his lip turned down in a slight pout. David got the feeling that he hadn't meant any harm.
'I don't think that's a game we should play again,' he grumbled, exhausted. 'I'm not like you. I can't live underwater. I'm just a man.' He wriggled his legs to illustrate the point. Kurt swam up to the edge of the pool, arms outstretched.
'No,' David warned, shuffling nervously away from his grasp. 'No,' he reiterated, slowly and clearly, looking into Kurt's eyes seriously as if scolding a small child. 'You frightened me.'
Kurt folded his arm across a rock and nestled his head into the crook of his elbow, his gaze lowered, looking sweetly remorseful.
'I'm not falling for that,' sighed David, sitting up and running a hand through his wet hair. He didn't believe his own words for a minute, but he valued his life over a pretty face any day. Well, probably. 'I don't really feel like being drowned, thank you very much. I think it'd best if I go back to the shelter and rest for a while. I'm sure I'll see you... around. Make the most of it, I'll be leaving soon.'
David struggled to his knees, his breeches sodden and unpleasant against his thighs. He half-heartedly squeezed the water out of them by wringing the bottom of each leg and then clambered to his feet, still in considerable pain and feeling utterly miserable. He looked up at the steep slope that he had fallen down earlier, trying to think of a way to get back up it without breaking his neck. There was a gnarled tree that grew from beside the pool and up towards the top of the cliff that looked sturdy enough to climb. He had a foot steady on one of its bottom branches, when a small voice said:
'Don't go.'
David looked over his shoulder. Kurt was standing behind him, having resumed his human shape and looking as pale and deceptively lovely as ever. He was toying with his necklace, the pearly shells making pretty noises against one another. He gazed at David imploringly.
'You can talk?' David said uncertainly, wondering if he had merely imagined the voice.
'A small... a little bit,' Kurt answered, saying each word with care. His voice was high and soft, every bit as melodic as when he sang his strange, enchanting songs.
'Why didn't you speak to me before?' asked David, stepping down from the tree to face the boy. He felt that the imminent threat of being drowned was over, but kept his hand on an impromptu blade he'd made from a piece of flint that was tucked into his belt, just in case.
'Scared. I was... scared.'
'Of me?'
Kurt nodded earnestly. 'But I see you, umm... you are good?'
'Oh,' said David. He suddenly became aware of how hard his heart was beating in his chest, his pulse drumming a furious tattoo in his ears. He took a step forward and then hesitated. 'You know I won't hurt you?' he said, softly.
'Yes,' said the boy, but David only saw his lips move, his voice so quiet it was lost beneath the rustling of the breeze in the trees around them.
David moved closer still. He expected Kurt to dart off at any moment, but no, not this time. When there was only a small amount of space left between them, David stopped. They looked at each other wordlessly, an intense energy sparking back and forth within the silence. David brought his hands up to rest on Kurt's shoulders. How does this boy - a merman, no less - know how to speak, living on an island so isolated it has probably yet to exist on any maps? With Kurt's eyes wide and expectant and his lips lightly parted in anticipation, David found these thoughts quickly trickling out of his mind like dry sand. He wrapped his arms around Kurt and drew him close, held him tightly, protectively.
'Do you love me?' he asked suddenly, the words tumbling from his mouth before he had the chance to think them through. Any feelings of sheepishness were swiftly banished when Kurt crowed 'yes!' and surged upwards to reward him with an enthusiastic kiss.
Love, yes. They held one another and kissed one another beneath the failing orange light of evening, and David wouldn't have cared if this was his first or fourth hundredth evening on the island as long as they all ended with the tender chorus of Kurt's happy sighs and those soft, soft lips beneath his own.
'Love you,' Kurt breathed, his hands on the back of David's neck.
'Mmm,' David mumbled dazedly in response.
Kurt laid kisses as light as the touch of bird wings on water over David's cheeks, on his eyelids, his throat.
'Love...'
'Mmhmm...'
'Te amo...'
David's eyes flicked open.
'Si... oh, je t'aime...'
He pulled back slightly and regarded Kurt, brow furrowed in confusion.
'What did you say?'
Kurt gasped, obviously just as surprised as David was at his lapse into various European languages during lovemaking.
'Scusa... oh, sorry. Sometimes... I forget myself. There have been so many.'
So many? So many what?
But then Kurt was kissing him again regardless, and David found himself being urged to lie down in the soft leafy earth beneath their feet.
Never mind, he thought dreamily. Anything and everything... the whole world can wait 'til the morning.