I gasp as I fall. My whole body submerges under the water and I put my
hands down. Finding the bottom I push myself up and my head clears the
water. I gasp and cough up some water. Slowly I lever myself onto my
knees, but I'm already disorientated. I can't tell exactly where the bank
is. My breathing becomes shallower as I start to panic. The rocks are
slippery too and my knees slide on them. I'm kneeling on all four and
trying to shake the water out of my ears so I can hear.
I feel someone take my hand and help me up gently. I know that it is Trowa and I grab his arm tightly as he leads me onto the bank. Not many people even noticed my fall by the sound of it, they all continue laughing and playing.
"Come on." Trowa says gently to me. I let him lead my downstream slightly, away from where the noisy children are playing. "What happened?" He asks as I calm down and finally let go of his arm.
"I slipped." I say. "I panicked."
"Why?" He asks. "The water was barely knee deep. You wouldn't have drowned."
"It's not that." I hear myself saying. "The water scares me. I can't hear properly with water in my ears. I get all mixed-up and I fret because I can't tell where I am. I always used to be a bit scared of water too. I fell in a lake when I was three and all I remember is this pain across my chest as I went under. I nearly drowned."
"I'm sorry to hear that." Trowa says. "But you know, the water here is safe."
"I just can't get out of thinking that I'm in danger." I say.
"Maybe I can help." Trowa says. I realise that we have walked downstream and I can't hear the laughter of the children anymore. "Come on."
He leads me forward until the rushing of the river seems to cease. But I can still smell the water nearby. "Where are we?" I ask.
"We are standing by a pool of water." Trowa explains. "The river flows into this pool and then runs out slowly. It's a perfect place for you to learn to like the water."
"What?" I gasp. "But Trowa.I can't. I'll drown."
"No you won't." He says. "Because I will help you all the way." He lets go of my hand and I hear him take off his wet shirt and throw it one the ground. The sun is beating down on us. I begin to worry. Trowa isn't near to me any more and I feel alone.
"Trowa?" I ask. I hear him dive in nearby. I turn to go but he calls me back.
"Come on, the water is lovely." He says. "It starts off shallow, but it is deep in the middle."
"I don't want to." I say stubbornly.
"Yes you do." He entices me. "It's such a hot day. Feel the water cool your body." He splashes me and I yell in shock. The water is cooling but I'm still scared. "Walk towards me." He says. "Look, I promise that I won't let you down. I've saved you before, do you trust me?"
"Yes." I say. "But I'm scared." I admit.
"Don't be." Says Trowa, now closer to me. "I'm standing waist deep in water. Come here."
I take a deep breath and walk forwards. My foot sinks ankle deep into water and I jump back. "One more step." Trowa says. I put both feet in the water and begin to slowly walk forwards. I'm thigh deep and I start to panic slightly.
"Where are you?" I ask, holding my hands out. I feel him grasp my hands in his and instantly my heart stops beating so fiercely. I feel safer with him close by. He pulls me closer towards him until he puts his hands on my waist.
"Now, I've got you." He says calmingly. "Walk towards me." I walk forward, and get the impression that he is walking backwards. The water has passed my waist and it up to my chest. Now my shoulders. I start to tread water as Trowa supports me. He is taller than I am, so I suspect that his shoulders are still above the water whilst his feet are on the bottom.
"I'm doing it!" I say.
"You are!" Trowa cries in encouragement. He loosens his grip on my waist but I manage to keep my head above the water. He takes away his hands and instantly I sink under the water. My nightmare is being relived again. I struggle to reach the surface. Suddenly I feel Trowa's strong arms around me, pulling me to the surface. I gasp for air as my head breaks the surface.
Trowa is standing next to me. I put my arms around his neck and hold him close in relief. He keeps his arms around me and for a few seconds we stay locked together while I get my breath back. His skin is so warm and soft. Eventually he moves me into the shallower water and I put my feet back on the bottom. I let go of him and say thank you again.
"I think maybe you should learn to swim in the shallower water first." He says.
For what must have been two hours Trowa teaches me to swim in shallow water. He walks along beside me with his hands supporting me as I swim. Once I've got the principle of this he just walks next to me and doesn't support me physically, but mentally by talking to me. Then we go into deeper water and the whole business starts again. Then I realise that I'm swimming! I'm swimming and I'm not scared. I know which direction I'm heading in. I can tell where the bank is. I stop and start treading water.
"You did it!" Trowa says, appearing next to me. Even he is out of his depth. I can't talk because I'm concentrating so much. "Race you to the bank!" He says.
I start swimming in the direction I know the bank is. My swimming is jagged and not flowing, as Trowa's seems to be, but I'm doing it. I reach the bank a second before he does, although I have the suspicion that he let me win. I haul myself onto the soft ground, panting for breath. Trowa collapses next to me and for a second we don't speak. The sun is warm on our backs. After w while Trowa sits up and looks at me.
"You did it." He says fondly.
I sit up too. "Thanks to you." I say. I'm about to say something else but I stop and lower my head.
"What?" Trowa asks, anticipating that I want to ask him something.
"Trowa." I say. I'm almost embarrassed by this, but I have to say it. I need to do it. "I was just wondering. You know what I look like because you can see me, but I can't see you. Can I..?" I can't bring myself to finish the question. But Trowa knows what I mean. I feel him take my hand in his and guide it up to his face. He takes the other one and does the same. My hands are resting on his cheeks and he removes his hands.
Slowly I move my hands over his face. In my mind I'm beginning to form a picture of what he looks like. My hand runs down his smooth jaw line, taking in every detail. Every tiny impression is noted and helps to form a picture in my mind. Trowa closes his eyes as my finger explore near them. I work my hands up to his soft, wet hair and over the sides of his head, before returning to his face. My hands come to a rest as I view my picture of him in my mind.
"You're so handsome." I whisper, without realising it. I blush and remove my hands quickly, not believing that I just said that in front of him.
"Not really." He says modestly, but I can't shake away the picture of him in my mind. I shake my head to correct him.
"Can I return the favour?" He asks, but he doesn't wait for a reply. His hand is already on my face. I close my eyes as his warm fingers move down my cheek. He puts his fingers in my wet hair and uses the other hand to wipe some water from my cheek.
He is leaning closer now. I can sense him moving towards me. Leaning forwards. His breath makes my skin tingle. I keep my eyes closed even though it makes no difference to me whether they are opened or shut. Then Trowa's lips make contact with mine. Instantly my head begins to spin. My face feels warm and I feel like I'm about to float into the air. I put my hand in Trowa's wet hair and hold him closer. I don't want this to end. If only I could stay this way forever.
"Trowa!" I hear someone call. Trowa moves away a little and our lips break contact, but his cheek is against mine now. I sigh. "Trowa?" Someone calls again.
"Later." Trowa promises. He pulls away from me and stands up. I instantly feel alone and isolated.
"Trowa!" The voice calls again. I hear Trowa gasp as if he recognises the voice.
"Quatre?" He calls back. This Quatre must have come into sight because Trowa shouts, "Quatre!" He runs off and leaves me alone. Slowly I get up, wanting to savour the moment when he kissed me. I can hear people running towards each other, then slowing until no one is moving anymore. I have a feeling that Trowa is hugging the person who interrupted us, but I can't be sure. I find Trowa's discarded shirt and pick it up, holding it close to me.
I can hear them walking towards me, talking excitedly. "I can't believe you are back." Trowa is saying.
"You've changed so much." Quatre replies. "It's been so long though."
Waiting to be introduced I feel like a loner. I have no idea who this Quatre is, but I can tell that Trowa knows him well and likes him even better. What if they are both Gundam Pilots? They obviously will have a history and details of their lives to share. Whilst I am pushed into the background after I just realised how I feel for Trowa.
I feel someone take my hand and help me up gently. I know that it is Trowa and I grab his arm tightly as he leads me onto the bank. Not many people even noticed my fall by the sound of it, they all continue laughing and playing.
"Come on." Trowa says gently to me. I let him lead my downstream slightly, away from where the noisy children are playing. "What happened?" He asks as I calm down and finally let go of his arm.
"I slipped." I say. "I panicked."
"Why?" He asks. "The water was barely knee deep. You wouldn't have drowned."
"It's not that." I hear myself saying. "The water scares me. I can't hear properly with water in my ears. I get all mixed-up and I fret because I can't tell where I am. I always used to be a bit scared of water too. I fell in a lake when I was three and all I remember is this pain across my chest as I went under. I nearly drowned."
"I'm sorry to hear that." Trowa says. "But you know, the water here is safe."
"I just can't get out of thinking that I'm in danger." I say.
"Maybe I can help." Trowa says. I realise that we have walked downstream and I can't hear the laughter of the children anymore. "Come on."
He leads me forward until the rushing of the river seems to cease. But I can still smell the water nearby. "Where are we?" I ask.
"We are standing by a pool of water." Trowa explains. "The river flows into this pool and then runs out slowly. It's a perfect place for you to learn to like the water."
"What?" I gasp. "But Trowa.I can't. I'll drown."
"No you won't." He says. "Because I will help you all the way." He lets go of my hand and I hear him take off his wet shirt and throw it one the ground. The sun is beating down on us. I begin to worry. Trowa isn't near to me any more and I feel alone.
"Trowa?" I ask. I hear him dive in nearby. I turn to go but he calls me back.
"Come on, the water is lovely." He says. "It starts off shallow, but it is deep in the middle."
"I don't want to." I say stubbornly.
"Yes you do." He entices me. "It's such a hot day. Feel the water cool your body." He splashes me and I yell in shock. The water is cooling but I'm still scared. "Walk towards me." He says. "Look, I promise that I won't let you down. I've saved you before, do you trust me?"
"Yes." I say. "But I'm scared." I admit.
"Don't be." Says Trowa, now closer to me. "I'm standing waist deep in water. Come here."
I take a deep breath and walk forwards. My foot sinks ankle deep into water and I jump back. "One more step." Trowa says. I put both feet in the water and begin to slowly walk forwards. I'm thigh deep and I start to panic slightly.
"Where are you?" I ask, holding my hands out. I feel him grasp my hands in his and instantly my heart stops beating so fiercely. I feel safer with him close by. He pulls me closer towards him until he puts his hands on my waist.
"Now, I've got you." He says calmingly. "Walk towards me." I walk forward, and get the impression that he is walking backwards. The water has passed my waist and it up to my chest. Now my shoulders. I start to tread water as Trowa supports me. He is taller than I am, so I suspect that his shoulders are still above the water whilst his feet are on the bottom.
"I'm doing it!" I say.
"You are!" Trowa cries in encouragement. He loosens his grip on my waist but I manage to keep my head above the water. He takes away his hands and instantly I sink under the water. My nightmare is being relived again. I struggle to reach the surface. Suddenly I feel Trowa's strong arms around me, pulling me to the surface. I gasp for air as my head breaks the surface.
Trowa is standing next to me. I put my arms around his neck and hold him close in relief. He keeps his arms around me and for a few seconds we stay locked together while I get my breath back. His skin is so warm and soft. Eventually he moves me into the shallower water and I put my feet back on the bottom. I let go of him and say thank you again.
"I think maybe you should learn to swim in the shallower water first." He says.
For what must have been two hours Trowa teaches me to swim in shallow water. He walks along beside me with his hands supporting me as I swim. Once I've got the principle of this he just walks next to me and doesn't support me physically, but mentally by talking to me. Then we go into deeper water and the whole business starts again. Then I realise that I'm swimming! I'm swimming and I'm not scared. I know which direction I'm heading in. I can tell where the bank is. I stop and start treading water.
"You did it!" Trowa says, appearing next to me. Even he is out of his depth. I can't talk because I'm concentrating so much. "Race you to the bank!" He says.
I start swimming in the direction I know the bank is. My swimming is jagged and not flowing, as Trowa's seems to be, but I'm doing it. I reach the bank a second before he does, although I have the suspicion that he let me win. I haul myself onto the soft ground, panting for breath. Trowa collapses next to me and for a second we don't speak. The sun is warm on our backs. After w while Trowa sits up and looks at me.
"You did it." He says fondly.
I sit up too. "Thanks to you." I say. I'm about to say something else but I stop and lower my head.
"What?" Trowa asks, anticipating that I want to ask him something.
"Trowa." I say. I'm almost embarrassed by this, but I have to say it. I need to do it. "I was just wondering. You know what I look like because you can see me, but I can't see you. Can I..?" I can't bring myself to finish the question. But Trowa knows what I mean. I feel him take my hand in his and guide it up to his face. He takes the other one and does the same. My hands are resting on his cheeks and he removes his hands.
Slowly I move my hands over his face. In my mind I'm beginning to form a picture of what he looks like. My hand runs down his smooth jaw line, taking in every detail. Every tiny impression is noted and helps to form a picture in my mind. Trowa closes his eyes as my finger explore near them. I work my hands up to his soft, wet hair and over the sides of his head, before returning to his face. My hands come to a rest as I view my picture of him in my mind.
"You're so handsome." I whisper, without realising it. I blush and remove my hands quickly, not believing that I just said that in front of him.
"Not really." He says modestly, but I can't shake away the picture of him in my mind. I shake my head to correct him.
"Can I return the favour?" He asks, but he doesn't wait for a reply. His hand is already on my face. I close my eyes as his warm fingers move down my cheek. He puts his fingers in my wet hair and uses the other hand to wipe some water from my cheek.
He is leaning closer now. I can sense him moving towards me. Leaning forwards. His breath makes my skin tingle. I keep my eyes closed even though it makes no difference to me whether they are opened or shut. Then Trowa's lips make contact with mine. Instantly my head begins to spin. My face feels warm and I feel like I'm about to float into the air. I put my hand in Trowa's wet hair and hold him closer. I don't want this to end. If only I could stay this way forever.
"Trowa!" I hear someone call. Trowa moves away a little and our lips break contact, but his cheek is against mine now. I sigh. "Trowa?" Someone calls again.
"Later." Trowa promises. He pulls away from me and stands up. I instantly feel alone and isolated.
"Trowa!" The voice calls again. I hear Trowa gasp as if he recognises the voice.
"Quatre?" He calls back. This Quatre must have come into sight because Trowa shouts, "Quatre!" He runs off and leaves me alone. Slowly I get up, wanting to savour the moment when he kissed me. I can hear people running towards each other, then slowing until no one is moving anymore. I have a feeling that Trowa is hugging the person who interrupted us, but I can't be sure. I find Trowa's discarded shirt and pick it up, holding it close to me.
I can hear them walking towards me, talking excitedly. "I can't believe you are back." Trowa is saying.
"You've changed so much." Quatre replies. "It's been so long though."
Waiting to be introduced I feel like a loner. I have no idea who this Quatre is, but I can tell that Trowa knows him well and likes him even better. What if they are both Gundam Pilots? They obviously will have a history and details of their lives to share. Whilst I am pushed into the background after I just realised how I feel for Trowa.