Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Twilight or Aquaman. Those rights are reserved for Stephanie Myer, Warner Bros., and Geoff Johns. I do own the original characters made up for this storyline. Please support the official release. Thank you.
Writer's Notes: Welcome to Rising Tides!
Maybe it was his eyes. The way, that with just one look, he drew you in. The green sparkle to his spring filled eyes. Perhaps it was the way his nose crooked perfectly on his smooth pale, face. Or his Chestnut hair that was arranged in a delicate style on his head. What was it that made people so vulnerable? Or was it just me….
[Amnesty Bay, Maine]
The air was light, smelling of salt from the where the ocean met the bay. The small town of Amnesty Bay was alive with fisherman that came in from their long days spent out at sea to make a living. It was also home to one of the best Aquatic rehabilitation centers. They had a great crab shack that would make Gordon Ramsey drool, despite being small. The local population wasn't too high, they seemed to gather tourists because of the crab crawls they put on to raise money for the town.
Bella Swan, 25, was settled in, was working at Star Labs Aquatic Rehab & Research center. She was used to the coast and the rain that came with it, the snowy winters that made your bones ache. Amnesty Bay was her home now, for the past three months and she wanted to keep it that way. Her best friend Jake Black and his best friend Embry Call, both decided to follow Bella to Amnesty Bay. Jake enjoyed the weather, just like he had in Forks, but really after losing his father, he didn't have much to hold on to in Forks or La Push. He found himself wanting to adventure more and what was the best way to accomplish that goal?
There was a lot of history there in Forks and Bella escaped that history. Or at least she tried….
As the sun left the sky, it was time for Bella to get back home. Firstly, she stopped off at the bar and grille she frequented, The Sea Shanty.
"Hey Bella," Heather, the bartender called to her as Bella walked in. Heather was petite and reminded Bella of Alice with how bubbly she could be. The only thing that was opposite of Alice, was Heather's bleach blond hair and royal blue eyes.
"Hey Heather." Bella said as she took a seat at the bar. "What's good tonight?"
"Halibut." Heather said with a nod, before she placed a bourbon down in front of Bella.
"Then I'll take the halibut." Bella said with a smile. She shrugged off her light jacket she wore. It was October and October in Maine was a bit chilly at times. Halloween was just around the corner.
Heather smiled and put in Bella's food order before coming to lean on the bar. "So, is Jake coming by?" She hinted with a flirty interest.
Bella chuckled a little. "Actually, Jake and Embry are out of town at the moment. Something about a race? I'm not sure. Jake got into the marathon thing after he ran in that one, we had here."
"Of course. Always looking for adventure, right?"
"Yes, with poor Embry, being tangled up along for the ride." Bella added with a smile. She lifted her bourbon to her lips and took a drink. She welcomed the burn as it slid down her throat and warmed her belly.
Heather smiled and wiped down the bar then. "Well, when he gets back, let him know I want him to stop by." She said with a wink.
"Oh I don't think I need to tell him. He'll automatically come here to see you." Bella said with a small laugh, before she drunk more of the bourbon. She spent the next few minutes just chatting about random stuff with Heather before the door opened and in walked a man. He was tall, his shoulders wide. She could tell he was muscular from just looking at him. His hair was long, shaggy and ran past his shoulders. His eyes, a swirl of blue. He was exotic to look at and Bella thought that he looked sort of Hawaiian.
"Holy shit, Arthur fucking Curry." Heather said with a bright smile. "Thought you were lost at sea."
Arthur sat at the bar, his dark jacket he was wearing, stretched over his muscles but he kept it on. "Just out on the sea like normal." He said.
Bella was shocked to hear his voice. It was deep, hearty, a little gruff and somehow that made her shiver a little. She tried not to stare too much, but he looked over at her and she blushed immediately when their eyes met.
"Arthur Curry, you are?" Arthur introduced simply.
"Bella Swan." Bella said after clearing her throat.
Heather smiled and winked at Bella before she dashed away to grab Bella's food.
Arthur nodded. "You're a new face around here."
"I moved here a few months ago." Bella relayed, lifting her bourbon and taking another drink.
"Ah." Arthur said and then looked over at Heather when she returned with Bella's food. "Jack and coke Heather, when you get a chance. And what she's having." He said with a nod to Bella and her food.
Heather smiled. "Coming right up." She said, cheerful.
Bella smiled a little, then picked up her fork and stabbed the halibut before putting it in her mouth. The halibut was always good, but this just tasted even more amazing.
Arthur studied her a moment, before he picked up his drink that Heather poured for him. He took a large drink, missing the taste as it hit his tongue. "So, Bella, what do you do around here?"
"I am a research assistant at Star Labs Aquatic Rehab & Research Center." Bella relayed. "You're a fisherman I assume?"
Arthur shook his head. "I'm a lifeguard during the warm months. Other months, I'm a dive instructor. My dad is the fishermen. I was helping for a bit, before I decided to come more inland and into town."
Bella found that surprising that he was a dive instructor. Though, you should never judge a book by it's cover. She supposed it anyone judged her by looking at her, they would think that she's not in the field she's in. She had a couple more years to go on her Doctorate in Marine Biology. Plus, being a research assistant wasn't too bad. "That's pretty amazing."
Arthur made a grunting sound. "Not as glamourous as research."
"No, I have respect for the people that teach the people like me, to dive in these waters."
"You can't dive?"
"Oh, I can. I'm an expert diver, but I wasn't always an expert." Bella said, cracking a smile.
Arthur found her interesting from the start. Something about her, drew him in, he was sure it was her shiny, long dark hair and her amber eyes. She was also new to town and knew nothing about him or… of him for that matter.
Bella smiled as she finished her food. She lifted her bourbon and finished it off before she pulled her wallet out and placed money on the bar. "Thanks Heather and it was nice meeting you Arthur." She said politely before she grabbed her jacket and got up to leave.
Arthur studied her as she stood. She wasn't terribly short, but she wasn't tall either. She was really thin, perhaps too thin, but he just nodded. "See you around sometime." He said and watched her leave.
Heather arched a brow as she took the money off the bar. "You're back in town all of ten minutes and you're thinking really hard about Bella Swan."
"She's interesting."
"You just met her." Heather pointed out.
"So. Just because you're my half-sister, doesn't mean you should poke fun at me."
Heather smiled, and leaned on the bar. "Hmm. Well, yes, me being your sister, does mean I can poke fun at you. Bella is sweet. Has had it rough. She's running from a boyfriend."
"Boyfriend?"
Heather nodded. "Mhm. The, beats on women kind of boyfriend. And before you go all prince of Atlantis on me." She said, dropping her voice so he could hear. "She's doing okay. She's here, living life. You should have seen her when she first got here. Poor thing was jittery. Men scared her period. Now, look at her. She's evolving. It only took her getting out of the situation for her to be the way she is now."
Arthur frowned. He didn't like people that beat on other people. That made them a sorry excuse for a human being if they did so. "So, she's here alone?"
"No, she has two giant bodyguards that followed her here. Jake and Embry. They're from a reservation back in her home state. They wanted adventure and well, they got it." Heather said, leaning up. "She is different. Something about her makes you care a lot." She admitted.
Arthur felt that from Bella. "She's unique. Her smile…"
"Mhm. Already hooked. You talked to her for like ten minutes bro." Heather said, smacking his arm playfully.
"I am not." Arthur grumbled. "She comes in here often?"
"Every night after work." Heather relayed. "Don't push. Stay out of it. Who knows when the sea will call you back."
"I'm done with it."
Heather raised a brow, looking at him. "Mhm. Sure you are."
"I'm being serious." Arthur said, lifting his drink.
"I am too. Arthur, you are important to the sea. You have responsibilities to the ocean, to… it's people"
"No, I don't. Orm is in charge, I left him in charge. I'm never going back. I did my part. I gave him the trident and-"
"Are you an idiot?" Heather scowled.
Arthur sighed. "It's only fair. Orm is the rightful heir, I left it to him. I want nothing to do with it or the witch of the sea. I've moved on. Dad needs me here on land anyways."
"You're going to miss it."
"I won't." Arthur said and finished off his drink after finishing his food.
Heather sighed. "Tread carefully, Arthur. I'm being serious about Bella. Don't scare her off. I really like her and think that Amnesty Bay is good for her."
"Why would I scare her off?"
"Oh, I don't know. Maybe because you're super- "
"Don't." Arthur said in a hushed tone. "I'm not going back to that life, so I'm not that anymore."
"You can't change what you are Arthur." Heather said. "But I get it." She said, dropping the subject now. "Tell dad I said hi, I'll see him Saturday."
Arthur nodded. "I will." He said and got up. He looked down at his sister. Heather was his little sister. His father tried to love again after his mom, but it ended badly, when Heather's mom died during childbirth. Thomas raised two kids on his own. Arthur commended his father for his strength and hoped to have that sort of strength one day. He left the bar and headed back to the lighthouse to see his dad, before he settled into his own place there in town.