Summary: The amigos take a trip to the beach, and Gabe and Elena have some fun playing in the water. Prompt: cooling off. Set early in the series.
A trip to the beach had been exactly what Elena needed. The sand was soft and warm between her toes, and the gentle breeze rustling through the palms granted a reprieve from the otherwise stagnant, humid heat of the Avaloran midsummer. And the water—the water was perfect, just cool enough to be refreshing without being cold, and Elena sighed happily as she waded out further into the surf. All in all, it was a perfect break from the responsibilities of ruling, and she could feel her stress floating away.
Her friends seemed to be enjoying the change of pace as well. Isa had enlisted Mateo and Naomi's help in building a sandcastle, which had quickly turned into Naomi systematically burying Mateo in sand while Isa added meticulously crafted sand parapets along his sides. Gabe, meanwhile, had elected to join Elena in her walk along the shoreline. He paced just beside her, nodding along as she chatted idly about how her first few months as Crown Princess had been going. Though Elena had needed a break from the hubbub of palace life, she didn't exactly do too well with total solitude, which made Gabe's reliable company a welcome constant.
There was only one issue.
"I still can't believe you wore your uniform to the beach," Elena remarked, poking Gabe in the shoulder.
Gabe puffed out his chest and straightened up, a proud smile on his face. "As your personal guard, it's my duty to be at my best on your behalf, whenever and wherever the need may arise. You never know when an enemy of the Kingdom might strike."
"I don't think we really need to be worried about any villainous seagulls," Elena joked. "Come on, we're on vacation! You can relax a little!" Feeling playful, she grabbed a hold of his hand and tugged him forward, giggling at the surprised look on his face as his boots sank beneath the seafoam. "You could at least take your boots off," she added, nodding down toward them.
Gabe spluttered, trying to regain his air of composed formality. "A Royal Guard has to always be prepared," he insisted.
Elena grinned, something mischievous bubbling up in her chest. "Oh yeah?" She crept a few steps closer. "Well, are you prepared for this?" And without further warning, she dragged her hands through the water and sent it splashing up toward his face.
Bewildered, Gabe stumbled backwards a step, coughing, and he fixed Elena with an almost betrayed look that softened as soon as he saw her laughing. He shook his head with a quiet chuckle, saying, "All right, if that's how it's going to be," and with his own devious grin, he surged forward with a retaliation splash.
Letting out a delighted squeal, Elena led Gabe deeper into the waves in an impromptu round of tag, swatting water back toward him and feeling her heart race, thrilled for reasons she knew only partially stemmed from the joy of the game. They continued to play, dodging around each other and darting back and forth through the shallows, until the drag of the water began to wear on them. Breathless and beaming, Elena gradually slowed to a stop, laughing as Gabe got her with one last splash, and she held still to listen to the crashing waves, the distant commotion of Isa chiding Mateo for moving too much, and the heavy rush of her and Gabe's breath.
"I think we'll call this one a draw," she finally said.
Gabe started to chuckle again, but suddenly cut off with a gasp, and he rushed closer with a cry of, "Princess Elena, look out!"
Alarmed, Elena turned to see a shadowy wave rearing up over their heads. Well, that probably wasn't good. Reacting quickly, she took a deep breath and dropped, sliding cleanly beneath the water as the wave passed harmlessly overhead. It barely even jostled her as it went by, and she smiled at the gentle motion, watching the filtered sunlight rippling serenely on the ocean floor. Still peaceful, despite the disruption. Yeah, she'd really needed this break. When she popped back up, though, she was puzzled to find herself suddenly alone, and she turned in place to spot where Gabe had gotten to.
Where he'd gotten to, in fact, was back at the shoreline, where the wave had apparently carried him after missing her. He was sitting up in the sand, looking soggy and confused, and Elena stifled another giggle as she took in the sight of him blinking away the seawater, a piece of seaweed still clinging to the side of his head. She sauntered over, taking some amused satisfaction in the way that she towered over him for once.
"My hero," she teased, earning her a flustered pout, but Gabe accepted her offered hand all the same. She pulled him back to his feet and reached up to delicately pull the stray seaweed away, tossing it back into the ocean.
"There," she said, patting his cheek. "Maybe now you'll consider some swimwear?"
Looking down at himself and raising his eyebrows, Gabe considered his dripping clothes. "I think now this is swimwear."
Elena laughed. "Well, then there's no reason to not get back in the water!" And with that, she tightened her grip on his hand and led him back to the waves.
Ok but seriously, Gabe, you're gonna want to change.
Based (very) loosely off a dream I had once where the amigos went to the beach and Gabe was, in fact, the only one that wasn't in swimwear. Apparently, even in my dreams the poor guy can't get any new clothes.