[Thanks Sora! I'm doing your 'Wally is hurt'idea next!]
Elliot Knight adored going swimming. He loved the cool gentleness as it flowed luxuriously around you and the enchantingly rhythmic ripples that wavered the clear, still surface of the voluminous water. He relished holding on tight onto Wally West's back as Kid Flash swam gracefully through the spacious pool. He revelled the peaceful demeanour of underwater, the completely different world to dreary above.
But that didn't mean he adored the sea.
It was much too rough, deceitful undercurrents that were swiftly followed by the attacking waves. Horribly slimy seaweed and hard shells would bombard you terribly and the painfully salty water would spray unrelentingly in your vulnerable eyes. It was unpredictable and fearsome, it's only insidious aim to heinously drag poor, helpless victims underneath and malevolently watch them drown painedly without a care in the world. The horrible water was murky and untrustable, a striking comparison to the trustworthy, clean water from the hygienic swimming pool. Therefore, Elliot may adore swimming pool water, but he was still frightened greatly by the vicious sea. Really, he technically still did have Thalassophobia.
So, now when Wally elatedly woke him up in the sunny morning, whilst holding a pair of floral swimming trunks, Elliot was just ever so slightly fearful. Wally grinned excitedly as Elliot yawned wearily, scarcely awake. Flash placed his hands on Elliot's shoulders energetically, practically jumping up and down.
"Wake up! Have a shower, get these on and tie up your hair! It's going to be epic!,"Wally exclaimed enthusiastically, shoving the flowery trunks in his pale face.
"Wally? Are we going swimming?,"Elliot enquired eagerly.
"Ummm, yeah! We want to be early, so don't be slow,"Wally said merrily, already keenly shoving a slightly doubtful Elliot off of the comfy sofa he'd slept on and to the hygienic bathroom.
Flash securely locked the plain door, beaming delightedly. He already had his expensive Calvin Klein swimming trunks on and just a thin, Nike t-shirt, and was actually visibly sweating so he rapidly ripped it off, rendering him shamelessly shirtless already. He eagerly heard the refreshing shower switch on and the noisy splatter of cool water from inside the occupied bathroom, hoping fervently for a swift preparation. Wally turned to look through the clear window, sighing contentedly at the pleasant, cool breeze and crystal clear sky. Flash relaxedly turned around and saw Jinx emerge from her gothic bedroom in a flowy, black summer dress that covered a plain, dark blue bikini underneath with some expensive River Island sandals. She smiled and stood next to him, before raising her eyebrows at his noticeable lack of clothing.
"Aren't you going to put on a shirt? And maybe some shoes?,"she enquired exasperatedly.
"Nope. Way too hot for that, Jinx. Anyways, I'll just slip on some flip flops on the way out,"he replied dismissively.
She rolled her pink eyes amusedly and looked around as the bathroom door slid open warily. Elliot Knight was still slightly damp and he was shirtless too, with only flamboyant swimming trunks, though noticeably more self-conscious and uncomfortable about it by far. His black, long hair was scraped neatly in a loose, low ponytail and his amber eyes were a little unfocused due to his rather abrupt awakening. His pointed ears were drooping with pure unease: he loathed being seen with only his vacuously flowery swimming trunks on, his pale skin exposed way too much. He wasn't overweight or underweight, but he was skinny, instead of muscular. His ghostly white complexion always made it appear like he'd never been out in bright daylight and he vehemently abhorred his overall peculiar appearance at all really. Elliot despondently wrapped his pale arms over his bare chest and bowed his head timidly. Jinx frowned sympathetically, unlike Wally who darted impossibly fast to his side and wrapped an arm around his skinny waist. Elliot looked up meekly, but soon smiled at the playful speedster's childish excitement.
"Don't worry, El. You look fine, great in fact! I don't care what you say, flowers suit you,"he exclaimed cheerfully, beaming triumphantly as the poor former villain allowed his pale arms to fall from anxiously obscuring his bare chest before.
"Hmm. Not really. But I'm going to get a shirt on and some shoes,"Elliot sighed self-consciously, peeling away from Kid Flash tentatively.
Flash smirked sneakily and decided that Elliot Knight required to immediately upgrade his much too low self esteem and failing confidence. Now Elliot couldn't teleport for five days or so, Wally could mischievously get away with more than ever. He grabbed Elliot's bare shoulder, feeling his pleasant coolness of his pale skin, and gently led him to the plain apartment door, Jinx trailing behind confusedly.
"What-?,"Elliot asked befuddledly.
"Well. I know you get self-conscious so I want you to just go out like this. Get some confidence,"Flash cajoled hopefully, already shoving a mortified Elliot down towards the countless stairs.
"No, no, no! I don't want to go out like this, Wally!,"he cried anguishedly, anxiously hiding his exposed skin again.
Jinx patted his shoulder comfortingly and assured consolingly,"Wally has got a point. You should try and accept yourself. This might help you. And you do you look nice."
"Ellie, we are only trying to help. So please for me,"Wally pleaded hopefully, gently pulling him into a deceitful embrace, knowing exactly the immense effect it had on the poor boy. Elliot Knight really was powerless against him. With his pale face pressed against Wally's warm, bare chest, Elliot sighed defeatedly and admittedly amusedly heard Kid Flash chuckle affectionately, yet also victoriously.
Soon, the three roommates were walking through the bustling streets of Jump City, revelling the glorious warmth and sunshine. Wally West was practically skipping, shamelessly shirtless with some expensive, designer flip flops that finished the look well. He seemed completely oblivious to the attracted stares countless people were giving him and that Elliot had protectively edged closer, glaring hostilely at anyone he caught gawking lovestrickenly. Jinx was keeping up, merely ignoring her many admirers too, smirking amusedly at the hissing former villain. At least he was distracted by Flash's unnervingly vast admirers to notice the other insolent, unkind stares he was receiving for himself. After all, it's not every day you see a short boy with a loose ponytail of soft, black hair, that also has frighteningly ghostly pale white skin with literally just only floral swimming trunks and some black, generic sandals. And as well as that, amber eyes; strange, elvish ears; continually protective hissing. Jinx confidently walked up to Elliot Knight and smiled amusedly.
"You know. I don't think you need to worry about him replacing you. And I see you're now good with just the trunks. But hey, it's good. The beach will be good too,"she said brightly.
He froze horrifiedly and spluttered fearfully,"Wait, what? The-the beach?"
"Yeah why?,"Jinx enquired concernedly.
"I thought we were swimming in a safe swimming pool!,"he uttered mortifiedly, before leaping besides Wally and yanking him by the arm into a more secluded corner in the vastly busy streets.
Flash frowned worriedly at his dear friend's clearly frightened distress and placed his two hands on his pale, cool shoulder, rubbing with his thumbs. Elliot roughly jerked his arms away and shoved him brusquely (though not very hard) into the biting, brick wall with a terrified scowl. Flash could easily see him struggle to uphold such a brutish, villainous demeanour.
"Wally! You said we were going swimming but we're going to the sea! The sea, Wally!,"he hissed frightenedly.
"Woah there, El. I'll go in with you. No need to stress,"Wally consoled affectionately, wrapping a hand around his skinny waist again as he gently guided them out into the agog public.
Jinx sighed relievedly as she saw them again and fled to them, observantly noticing how Elliot unconsciously leaned closer and that Wally was continuing to tow him tenderly by the waist, ignoring the jealous glares from the seduced gawkers before. She smirked amusedly, yet also slightly bitter as she trailed awkwardly behind them both. Wally turned around and beckoned her forwards with them, which made her smile broadly and stand besides an increasingly anxious Elliot Knight. She patted his bare back reassuringly, evidently pitying his immense fear of the unpredictable sea. Of course she knew: at the HIVE Academy, he'd always cower in vast fear at the stormiest of nights and how he'd always furtively retreat to Jinx's bedroom to sleep underneath her comfortable single bed if there was a frighteningly noisy, splashy storm at the insidious school in the wild sea. She'd always wondered where his intense phobia had originated but hadn't dared, and still didn't, to ask aloud. It had to be closely related to his strangely feline purrings and hissings.
They soon were nearing the busy beach. The vast stretch of golden sand was littered with relaxed civilians in fashionable swimming attire, many children excitedly moulding and digging the soft sand and also sunbathing adults. The wavering sea was melting into the voluminous dunes of luxurious sand like a golden to blue gradient and with the continual lines of white foam only adding to the pleasing array of natural colours. The broad daylight complimented the pleasant beach well and the luscious breeze delicately brushed the irregular surroundings. Jinx smiled delightedly and sprinted onto the massaging sand, feeling it slip pleasingly in between her toes. Wally dragged Elliot onto the vast stretch of golden sand as well, beaming elatedly at the unsure look on his pale face. Elliot cautiously allowed the soft sand to trickle over his feet, stopping still so that in the end, Flash gently tugged him down the vast beach. Jinx sprinted besides them, smirking amusedly at Wally West. She elbowed the greatly spooked villain playfully, in a hopeful attempt to enlighten the fearful mood.
"So. Are you going to enjoy the sea or not?,"she teased pleasantly.
Elliot gulped frightenedly and shook his head vigorously, halting fearfully to an abrupt stop as he whimpered anxiously,"I-no-maybe this isn't such a good idea- can we-please-"
Flash suddenly interrupted him by brusquely swinging him onto his back, watching amusedly as Elliot startledly tightened his spooked hold on Wally's vulnerable throat with his pale arms and around his fit waist with his ghostly pale legs. Kid Flash smirked and laughed elatedly along with a joyful Jinx. They began wading through the foaming, rhythmically wavering sea, Jinx splashing some of the salty water on Wally, who was snickering excitedly. Kid Flash also began chucking some fresh water at her too enthusiastically and soon they were in a flat out water fight. The two Titans were exhilarated to say the least.
However, while the two giggled at the gentle breeze and cool, pleasing water, Elliot Knight hissed fearfully, burying his pale face in the back of Flash's freckled neck. He was desperately trying to steady his breathing and sedate his frantic heartbeat at the overwhelming fright he was unfortunately experiencing. He could feel the cool salt water splashing continually on his bare feet and hear the serene waves faltering down enchantingly to the broad coastline but it was no tranquil comfort to him. He had always loathed the unpredictable sea. It was a valuable necessity that human beings vehemently required to live, yet it also mercilessly drowned innocent people. It was horrible, yet it was critical. A burden yet also a gift. Still, he never knew why he so fervently feared the vicious sea. Maybe it was his feline altercations. Perhaps he'd inherited it from either of his missed parents that he'd never really understood. Anyway, it always scared him ever so much and he was struggling to hold on to the gamesome speedster even sufficiently due to his growing shaking. He was so distracted by his immense reverie he hadn't noticed that Wally West and Jinx were watching him concernedly.
"Hey, Ellie. Are you good?,"he asked gently.
With a shaky shake of Elliot's head, Jinx added tenderly,"Look. The best way to stop a fear is to face it. So, why not just stand in the water? Wally will pick you up again if you don't like it."
"Yeah. El, take my hand. C'mon,"Wally assured consolingly, extending a comforting hand behind him.
Elliot closed his amber eyes fearfully and took a deep breath as he shakily lay his pale hand in Wally's. Jinx gave the playful Titan a firm nod and he gently swung the poor former villain off his bare back and into the salty water. Elliot froze at the soft touch of the foamy waves, gulping anxiously and fearfully clamping his amber eyes together. Jinx lay her hand on his shoulder, massaging it, while Wally stood with his own bare chest pressed into Elliot Knight's back as he held Elliot's pale hand comfortingly, affectionately rubbing it. In fact, they were beginning to wonder if he could really handle it as he hyperventilated frightenedly.
Alas, with a stabling gasp of breath, he scarcely mustered the brief courage to open his amber eyes and instantly gasped. The bright sun was reflected waveringly upon the flowing water with it's gentle surges of small waves. The vast sea had crept tenderly to his knees and he could actually see through the surprisingly reassuringly clear water. Actually...this wasn't too bad. Jinx giggled amusedly at Elliot's dazed expression, unlike Flash, who merely chuckled softly and beamed affectionately.
"I thought it'd be more...scary,"Elliot stammered dazedly.
"Nah. Now, fancy a water fight?,"Wally offered playfully.
Finally, Elliot Knight cracked into a dazzlingly beautiful smile and breathtakingly enchanting laughter. He agreed fervently.
Jinx was right. The best way to stop a fear is to face it.
The three roommates had an elating time. It turns out the unpredictable sea was fairly enjoyable as Elliot himself had experienced today. They had splashed each other unrelentingly, until each were soaked immensely and their once dry hair were bedraggled by the thick, continual downpour of salt water and both eyes stinging slightly. The former villain had soon been confident enough to wade warily without someone holding his hand comfortingly, though not yet to go more than five minutes without his precious reassurance. After a great hour or so, they had fled back to the golden stretch of soft sand- Jinx sunbathing relaxedly; Wally determinedly announcing he was too build a vast tunnel and literally digging with a practically useless, tiny spoon; Elliot laughing at his dear best friend's vacuous, yet also hilarious antics. They had of course consumed many refreshing ice lollies and delicious ice cream too. Overall, their sunny morning had been an impressive success.
Jinx was delighted to have spent time with the two boys. Kid Flash was just his usual energetic, optimistic self, but absolutely exhilarated Elliot had relished it as much as he had in the end. And Elliot Knight...well, let's just say goodbye Thalassophobia!