A/N: I don't own anything.
"Take my hand!"
Severus grabbed the offered hand, letting someone stronger than himself pull him onto the small boat. The boat rocked as he lay there, having spent all his energy just getting out of the water, the water that had turned nearly violent.
"You alright?"
"Fine," Severus answered, sitting up and looking around. The sky was a dark green grey, not the bright blue it had been when he'd started out that morning, determined to collect some samples off the reefs below them.
"They didn't predict this," the man said, also looking at the sky as the boat motored over the waves, jumping slightly in the rocky water.
"No, they didn't," Severus agreed, trying not to stare at his rescuer, at his toned body, his long sun-bleached blond hair. It was then that Severus noticed his red swim trunks, the white cross at the bottom of the right leg. A lifeguard, possibly part of the harbor patrol? No wonder he'd had no problem dragging Severus to safety.
"I'm Lucius."
"Severus."
"Snape, right? The marine biologist?"
"You've heard of me?" Severus asked, blinking rapidly. Most people hadn't, he'd only had a few things published in tiny little niche science magazines that the general public didn't even know existed.
"Read everything you've written. Brilliant mind like yours, hard not to. That what you were out there doing today?"
"Yes, more research on the fish and the reef itself. Bleaching is becoming a major problem, could devastate the whole population," Severus said, his voice trailing off.
"I know. I've been watching it too, taking notes, or at least trying to. I am not as brilliant as yourself, but I want to help. I have the funds," Lucius stated.
"As a lifeguard?"
"No, as heir to the Malfoy family. I do the lifeguard thing to annoy my father, to be part of the working world. He'll never understand, gets me close to the water," Lucius replied. "We're almost to shore, where do you want me to drop you off?"
Severus thought about it, about Lucius seeing the tiny little shack he was staying in, the one that wasn't fit for anyone according to the condemned sign on the door. Severus found it safe enough. It was free, leaving him more of his pitiful paychecks to dedicate to his research. He could feel Lucius watching him, those grey eyes nearly piercing his soul.
"You said you had research on the reef?"
"I do, did you want to see it?"
"I would love to," Severus answered, realizing he meant it. If Lucius was telling the truth, his money could make a major dent in helping figure out how to reverse the damage being done to the reefs. A small thought popped into Severus' head, a small thought about how he'd be spending time with Lucius, with this angel looking man, a man who seemed to be very interested in him, and maybe not just only in a professional way.
"I'll be off duty by the time we get to shore, why don't I just drop you at the manor's private beach. Head up the main path, my butler, Dobby, will let you in. Probably make you some sausage rolls too," Lucius stated, guiding the boat through the waves, which Severus noticed were increasing in size. There was a storm coming, one that somehow the weather service had missed entirely. Finally Lucius pulled up to a large beach, slowed the motor as he beached the small boat.
"Main path," he reminded Severus, helping him off the boat, holding him until he got his legs beneath him. Severus watched Lucius walk back to the boat, noting his slight limp, something that wouldn't be noticeable in the water.
True to his word, Dobby greeted Severus, ushering him inside, offering him dry clothing, to clean his wet suit for him, and immediately starting a tray of sausage rolls that finished cooking as Lucius walked in the front door of the manor.
"Grab a plate, and we'll eat in my office. We've got a lot of work to do," Lucius said, giving Severus a smile, one that Severus returned slowly, glad that Lucius had rescued him, and that he now appeared to have a partner in saving the reef, and maybe saving the whole ocean.