The Shattered Moon and the Shallow Sea
AN: Well that was an interesting hiatus. Not really a hiatus because I was still posting chapters of other stuff but you know what I mean. By the way, bloody hell Just Act Casually went well. I just wanted it to be an entertaining novelty to pad out my creativity for this arc. It ended up being my most monstrously successful story to date. There's a lesson there somewhere.
Chapter 53: Beach Party
Topaz glided across the water. She used her semblance to propel herself across the water. Now this, was her kind of vacation. Termina Bay used to be quite the tourist destination. On the southern edge of Sanus, it was covered in white sands with a consistent tropical temperature. But the Great War ravaged the town that was built on the bay.
Now it just served as a top vacation spot for huntsmen. There have been petitions to rebuild the town but it just wasn't worth it. Other than the beautiful coastline, there wasn't much in terms of resources. At least, not the kinds of resources necessary to sustain a town. So, groups of huntsmen would come down here and enjoy the beach free from the hustle and bustle of other tourist traps. And it gave them opportunity to simulate a community.
As Topaz twirled through the air and water like some hopped up water spirit, her friends were all on the beach or wallowing in the shallows. Ruby and Jaune were chaperoning the group. Ruby sat on top of a tower while Jaune played in the sand with Gelb beneath her. Eiess, Citrine and Prim were all bathing in the sun. Prim was writing something in her notepad. Eiess was relaxing beneath a parasol and drinking lemonade. Citrine was between them seriating them with her guitar.
Nephrite was drifting on an inflatable raft, soaking in the salt water. Glade was swimming around nearby with a pair of goggles on. Johnny, Nova and Ariadne were all swimming and talking. Scott sat in the old concession stand the gang had stored all their provisions. He volunteered to run the provisions, as swimming wasn't exactly something he wanted to do.
"Incoming." Topaz said as she flaunted her powers. She made a tidal wave that slammed into Nephrite and Glade, washing all three of them on shore in a tangle.
"I think you over did it." Nephrite said flatly. Topaz untangled herself from the pair.
"Gah." Glade gasped. His head had been caught between Nephrite's thigh and the sand. "A little more of a warning next time." He brushed the sand of his trunks which were green with a red flame pattern.
"Oops." Was all Topaz could say as she readjusted herself. Her baby blue bikini had nearly come off from all the activity. Luckily it was form fitting enough to stay on. Otherwise that would have probably given the poor teenager a nose bleed.
"It's fine." Nephrite smiled. "No one was hurt." Nephrite wore a jade-green bikini with pink lotus flowers scattered on it.
"Yeah, you're right." Glade's face was still red but he was calm.
"Topaz!" Ruby called. "I don't mind you training but please be careful."
"I know Mrs. Ruby!" Topaz waved at her.
"Ahh." Glade collapsed into the sand. Nephrite took a seat next to him. "This has been an amazing vacation.
"It's nice getting out of the house for a while." Nephrite said.
"When we go back, you'll have to go back to Beacon." Glade said solemnly.
"Don't remind me." Topaz groaned. "Second year things get serious. Granted we haven't had a real fight since we went up against the Chaos Syndicate."
"Hm." Nephrite crossed her legs. "There's still stuff that bothers me about all that."
"Like what?" Glade asked.
"It's…nothing probably. Just, all that talk about Cipher and yet…it's like they don't exist. It's like after they attacked Eiess' house they just up and left. And now it seems they were the ones behind that train attack, not the Chaos Syndicate. I just don't like not knowing."
"Hey, let my mom handle it. We're all just kids."
"Yeah, speak for yourself. I'm eighteen now and so is your sister." Topaz pointed to Glade. "This time next year you and Prim and Chénzi will be taking the entrance exams for Beacon. Time likes to fly that way."
"Still." Glade sat up. "I'm sure there'll be plenty of problems we'll have to solve. But my mom was quite adamant about leaving Cipher to her. You saw what she did to Nova's mom when she found out she was going after them."
"Your mom is just really protective." Nephrite stated. "She's also the strongest huntress alive. It's why the world works the way it does, so differently than how things were for our parents' time."
"So, what do you think Neph?" Glade asked. "You're turning eighteen pretty soon."
"I don't know." Nephrite said. "Take it for what it is. We're in a dangerous line of work. If we see something going down, take action. But with the Chaos Syndicate locked up there's no need to search for trouble."
"Never know when trouble is going to come up and slap you right in your face." Topaz said.
"Yep, so take action and enjoy the little things." Nephrite said. "That's what my parents keep saying." Topaz nodded.
"I'm going to head over to the concessions." She said. "Want anything?"
"I'm good." Nephrite asked.
Topaz took her leave and headed up the beach. Johnny had left the water and was now starring out into the sea. Nova was swimming back and forth. Ariadne sat in the shallows, playing with a large crab. Citrine and Eiess were leaning into each other, on the verge of making out.
"Get a room!" Prim said as she kicked Citrine. Citrine just laughed her little sister off. She stood up and stretched and headed for the water. Eiess followed behind her with a smile on her face. Prim got up and went for the concession stand too.
"Getting annoyed with your sister?" Topaz asked.
"God, she's like a dog in heat I swear." Prim said.
"You'll understand when you have a boyfriend." Topaz said. "Or girlfriend."
"Yeah, I'm not gay." Prim said.
"What can I get for you ladies?" Scott asked with his usual charm.
"Water please." Prim said. "And put it in a spray bottle so I can douse Eiess and Citrine."
"That bad huh?" Topaz laughed. Scott shook his head and ducked down into the icebox. "I'll have some lemonade." Topaz said.
"I freaking caught them making out in Citrine's room the other day."
"Oh, they're just enjoying themselves." Topaz said.
"Yeah, I get it. The difference is that when mom busts me making out with my boyfriend I get grounded. When Citrine does it, it's cute. I thought Argent and Gelb were supposed to be the babies of the family." She gestured to her two younger brothers. Argent was making a design in the sand and Gelb was crawling through it.
"Here you go." Scott said as he passed them their drinks.
"Wait, you have a boyfriend?"
"Had, a few." Prim said.
"But you're so…you."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"I don't know, I just assumed all of you were super sheltered and groomed to be warriors or something." Topaz ranted.
"You can't be sheltered and groomed that way. My dad might be overprotective and my mom has a super childish view on romance but you forget who my aunts are. All eight of my aunts are very hip to the way kids are, or at least were like, twenty years ago."
"That makes sense but…Glade?"
"Glade what?" Prim said facetiously.
"He's got it so bad for Nephrite." Topaz said.
"Oh, you noticed." Prim quipped. Topaz let out a held breath.
"For a second there I thought you didn't know."
"Please, we're twins. We can read each other's mind. Right now, he's thinking how he can get Nephrite to notice him." Topaz looked back and saw Glade attempting small talk with Nephrite.
"I…don't think you need mind powers to see that. So, why doesn't he just ask her out?"
"Because he's scared." Prim said. "I don't really get it either. I've never had someone I've crushed on my whole life. We all grew up together. The children of Team JNPR, that is. Or maybe the temporary Team RNJR is much more fitting. He doesn't want to do anything that compromises what he thinks is this lifelong bond they share."
"It doesn't help that Nephrite has the romantic repertoire of an amoeba." Topaz noted.
"That's why it'll never happen. They just don't…go, together. Glade thinks he knows what he wants but even if he gets it, it won't be how he wants. Eiess took the same gamble with my sister and got lucky. Even so, I know Citrine still has attraction to guys as well. Can't blame her though. Now that she's with Eiess I'm thinking of taking a swing at Johnny myself."
"Alright, keep that to yourself." Topaz said as she grabbed her lemonade. "Nice talking to you Prim. Have fun doing, whatever it is you do."
"You too." Prim responded. She skipped on over to her little brothers and started fixing the doodles Argent was making. Her left hand moved in conjunction with Argent's left hand, only to have the infant Gelb roll around in it.
"Topaz." Scott said.
"Yes?"
"Well, I couldn't help over hearing what you were saying to Prim."
"Look if you're going to try to ask me out…"
"It's not that." Scott waved her off. "Offers on the table but I'm not as chivalrous as some of the people around here."
"Yeah, I think that's one thing I do like about you. You're a realist who won't stand out in the rain waiting on something that'll never come."
"I was thinking about setting something up. Just to see what Nephrite actually thinks. Give the poor kid a chance to express himself directly to her."
"One, why? Two, how? Three, you've peaked my interest."
"Well Prim and Glade write comics together and…even though Prim does most of the writing and Glade does the illustrations you can definitely see what's going on in his head through the writing. I mean, if Nephrite were to read some of this stuff she'd probably feel guilty."
"That just raises the question on how you know this."
"Prim was sharing them with me earlier." Scott noted. "So, you know how Nephrite always babysits her siblings. What if…she wasn't the only one? Then, what if, some handsome devil decided to take them off her hands and leave her and Glade alone for a while?"
"This plan sounds stupid. It might actually work. But who's the handsome devil? I doubt Johnny would be on board with something like this."
"Come on, I'm right here." Scott pouted.
"I'm just playing." Topaz said. "We should make sure we have a game plan and let Glade know. That way, he doesn't screw it all up."
"Alright, it's settled." Scott said. "So, this stays between me, you, Glade, and might as well bring Prim into this."
"Sounds fair to me."
"Alright that's all I wanted to say. Enjoy your day." Scott waved.
"Enjoy your day too."
AN: And we're back. Feels pretty good. The reason for all this is because Nephrite is going to get a lot more development in this arc than she has before. Actually, most of these characters are finally getting moments to shine.
