Bea sat beside the rock pool, her tablet in hand, utterly engrossed in her work. The recent ebb of the tide had left the pool teeming with marine life, captivating her attention and leaving her deeply engrossed in her work. This rock pool had become her daily destination, a place where she could witness and document the wonders of the underwater world.
As a shadow fell over her, she looked up, expecting one of the friendly locals who sometimes brought her warm cups of tea while she worked. But to her delight, it was Arthur standing there, his presence surprising and thrilling.
"Arthur! It's good to see you," she greeted him with a warm smile as he knelt down beside her looking into the water she was so keenly observing. Her heart fluttered slightly, she couldn't help the subtle blush that tinged her cheeks, a reaction to the recollection of her recent bouts of online "Aquaman" Googling, which had led too much teasing from Ben.
Curious about her work, Arthur gestured towards the rock pool and asked, "What are you doing?"
Bea's face lit up as she eagerly explained her enthusiasm contagious. "I visit this rock pool daily to document its marine life and collect water samples. It allows us to monitor the health of this particular area in comparison to other rock pools further up the coast, closer to Reykjavik."
"So you're documenting the ocean life in there? How do you make sure you capture everything?" Arthur asked.
Bea nodded thoughtfully, her excitement momentarily dampened "That's the tricky part, I can't be sure I am recording everything without disturbing the pool too much," she sighed wistfully.
Arthur leaned over, his face submerged in the pool as he communicated with the underwater inhabitants in their own mysterious language.
To Bea's amazement, dozens of little fish, snails, and other creatures gathered in the center of the rock pool, responding to Arthur's call. Her gasp of wonder filled the air, and she quickly grabbed her tablet, snapping photos of the magical scene unfolding before her eyes, her face alive with awe and cheeks flushed with excitement. Arthur couldn't help but smile at her unbridled joy; it was infectious to be with someone so passionate and he was pleased he was the one who had made her so obviously happy.
After a few minutes, the small creatures retreated back to their hiding spots, many of them too shy to remain in the open despite his gentle request. Bea turned to Arthur, her eyes shining with a childlike excitement. "You asked them to come out?" her voice filled with awe.
Arthur chuckled nodding his head towards the pool "Now you know exactly what animals are in there."
"Wow…I mean WOW, Can I keep you? Can you come back here every day? Do you have any idea how much more accurate it would make my research?" She laughed.
Arthur leaned in closer to Bea, his voice dripping with playful charm. "Oh, Bea, I'm not sure about keeping me, I'm far too big to fit in your pocket." Bea felt her face flush and her breath catch.
Arthur laughed and said "Seriously though, I will come whenever I can to assist you,"
Bea's returning smile was beaming "That really was the most amazing thing I have ever seen! I've never met a superhero before."
"I'm not that exciting and I definitely don't do capes. I am nothing like the rest of the Justice League," Arthur teased.
"No, but you're much more interesting," Bea said her admiration obvious.
He felt a warm swell in his chest at her words, happy he had managed to clear the day's schedule and getaway to visit not the town as he had convinced himself but her.
"What's next on today's agenda?" he asked, extending his hand to help her up.
"Lunch, and then I was thinking of taking the afternoon off," Bea replied, shy again in his presence "Would you like something to eat? I must warn you, there is a reason Ben does most of the cooking, it'll probably be something simple, like cheese on toast."
Arthur groaned with delight and started towards the cottage, turning back and smiling at her.
"Hurry up, Kānalu! I'm hungry! Cheese on toast was one of my favourites growing up and I have not had it for ages, bread tends to get soggy in Atlantis"
Bea playfully rolled her eyes, quickening her pace to catch up with him. "You might not be so excited when you taste my cooking."
As they reached the cottage, Bea gestured for Arthur to step inside. He stepped in, casting a glance around her and Ben's home
"Kānalu, this place suits you." His smile was genuine as his eyes traveled around the small cottage.
Bea smirked. "Is that Atlantean for 'It's smaller than I expected'?"
Arthur laughed. "No, it's Atlantean for I love it.'"
Bea chuckled "Alright, Aquaman, make yourself comfortable. While I work my culinary magic."
He followed her into the kitchen and the room suddenly felt smaller with Arthur's commanding presence filling the space. He hoisted himself up on the kitchen bench swinging his feet in a relaxed way, their proximity feeling unexpectedly intimate.
"So, what's it like living here?" he stole a piece of the cheese she was slicing and popped it in his mouth "To me it seems like paradise,"
She grinned "Oh, I love it here the town, the people, Ben and our little cottage - it's peaceful. But I bet it's a far cry from Atlantis."
He nodded his eyes curious. "Your home is nothing like Atlantis, unless you have sea monsters in the backyard that I don't know about?"
Bea chuckled as she slipped the bread she had covered in cheese under the grill "No sea monsters, no hidden treasures, just the occasional seagull that steals my breakfast."
Arthur laughed heartily. "Seagulls can be quite formidable opponents. I've had my fair share of battles with them."
Their easy conversation flowed as Bea finished preparing their meal. She placed the plate of cheese on toast on the small dining table, and they sat down together to eat.
"This is epic, Thank you" He reached for a piece of toast and smiled at her, leaving her a little breathless. How was she meant to interact with this man, who left her dizzy from just a smile? She felt her eyes flit to his biceps where his shirt sleeve slid up a little and could not help admiring them.
"You're welcome ...Your tattoos, where did you get them? They are amazing" She hesitated a second and started to blush "Is that too personal of a question? God, I'm so sorry!"
Arthur chuckled "Not at all, I had them done in Tonga and other islands around that area. The people there are very in touch with the ocean, especially for landers and I spent a lot of time with them when I was younger," His explanation of his tattoos from the Polynesian region resonated with her. She was drawn to them and found herself playing with the thought of getting one to signify her own love of the sea but she tucked the thought away to mull over later.
"Not anymore?" She asked.
"I do, but I have more responsibilities now, and I spend most of what free time I have in Seyofjord. I am much more comfortable here than I am in the throne room of Atlantis," Arthur replied.
"What's Atlantis like?" Her words tumbled out, and she winced, feeling as though she were bombarding him with too many questions. She hadn't meant to come across as pushy or overly nosy, but now that she'd started, she struggled to rein in her curiosity.
"It's a beautiful place; the people are very different to landers. A lot of history and knowledge, much of which should be shared with humans in my opinion,"
"They are not big on the sharing?" Bea tilted her head, curious about the mysterious underwater city.
Arthur just laughed "Not so much as a grain of sand, but I hope to change that"
"Sorry, I shouldn't pry so much, this isn't an interview!" Bea apologised.
"I've never met anyone quite like you, Kānalu," Arthur said, his gaze soft and sincere. "You are….captivating, full of life and curiosity."
Bea blushed, feeling both flattered and bewildered at his words. "Thank you,"
She put their empty plates in the sink and took a few seconds alone to try and compose herself, taking deep breaths and fighting to get her heartbeat back under control. Her dating history was sparse and nothing in her life had prepared her for interacting with someone who was so devastatingly handsome and charismatic.
When she turned back around, he had left the dining table, drawn to the large bookcase that spanned almost the entire wall of the lounge room and was bursting with novels and textbooks. Arthur turned to face her; his face lit up with excitement.
"I adore books; they have their own kind of magic. Do you like to read?" She asked as she stood next to him, having to look up so she could meet his eyes as he towered above her.
"I do..." he said as he picked up a book, caressed its spine and inhaled its scent deeply "God I love that smell, books are a treasure we lack in Atlantis. It's one of the things I miss most about living above the sea,"
He gently returned the book to its place, he turned and noticed a controller on the coffee table.
"You have an Xbox!" He was like a child in a toy store, his excitement obvious.
His life in Atlantis must be vastly different from his upbringing on the land, and she wondered which life he truly preferred.
He grabbed the controller and flopped down onto the lounge his huge form almost overflowing the small two seater and leaving hardly any room for Bea. Happy to share another of her interests with him she made her way over to join him on the sofa, flicking on the television as she passed by. Their thighs pressed together and warmth radiated through her from the contact. Arthur was also keenly aware of how close they were and his hand twitched as he resisted brushing fingertips along her cheekbone, which had turned an almost irresistible shade of pink.
"Guess you don't have these in Atlantis either?"
"Nope! Don't get me wrong I love the ocean, it's part of me but I do miss a shit tonne of things from living up here!" Arthur responded with a grin.
They settled onto the couch together, the relaxed atmosphere allowing their conversation to flow seamlessly between serious and light-hearted topics. As they immersed themselves in Bea's favourite game, Halo, any lingering formality between them dissipated. Time slipped away, and Arthur found that he was enjoying himself more than he had in years.
"Who would've thought a superhero would be so bad at a fighting game?" Bea playfully teased, giving him a good-natured nudge, much more comfortable in his presence after an afternoon together.
He stuck his tongue out at her, a playful gesture that was a common habit of his "I don't usually fight with a gun," he defended, and his laughter filled the room.
Bea grinned mischievously, "Ah, so you prefer to be more hands-on?" A blush tinted her cheeks as she realised the unintended double entendre in her words.
Arthur raised an eyebrow, his expression playful. "You could say that. My power comes from the ocean, and I tend to rely on that and my strength rather than guns and gadgets, unlike a certain Batman."
Bea nodded in understanding. "Fair enough," her lips curled into a fond smile. The easy banter between them felt incredibly natural as if they had known each other for much longer than just a few days.
"Hey Bea, are you in?" Ben's voice echoed through the cottage as he swung open the front door, his arms laden with bags of groceries for dinner.
"Yeah, we're here," she responded, her attention shifting from the game to the entrance as Ben stepped inside.
With his usual casual and friendly demeanour, Ben greeted Arthur, "Oh, hey Arthur. Did you want to join us for dinner?"
He carried on into the kitchen, apparently unfazed by the presence of the famous hero lounging next to Bea, engrossed in an Xbox game.
Bea jumped up and joined Ben in the kitchen, rolling up her sleeves to help unpack the groceries.
"We could all head down to the pub after and grab a drink?" Ben continued and Bea excited by the potential of such a pleasant evening said "Or we could have a drink here and play a board game?"
Arthur hesitated, torn between his desire to enjoy a meal with his friends and his obligations to Mera. As much as he relished the idea of what would undoubtedly be an enjoyable evening in Seyofjord, he couldn't ignore his commitments.
With his decision made, he reluctantly rose from his seat and placed the controller back on the coffee table. "I had better go, Mera, my fiancée, is expecting me to escort her to a royal function tonight," he announced, a trace of regret evident in his tone though he attempted to conceal it.
Bea's heart sank disappointment and envy washing over her. She scolded herself for entertaining the notion that Arthur might be interested in her.
Managing to maintain her composure, she forced a polite smile. "Of course, I'm sure a royal banquet will be more enjoyable than what we can offer you.
"Speak for yourself! Thousands across the world would kill for a taste of my cooking!" Ben interjected with playful teasing in his voice.
"I am sure they would, my friend," Arthur laughed, his amusement evident.
"I'll see you out," she managed to say, trying to hide her emotions as she walked him to the door.
As Arthur bid his farewell and made his way towards the beach, Bea's inner turmoil became too much to bear. Acting on a sudden impulse, she ran to the waist-high stone wall that surrounded the cottage; the front door swinging shut behind her. Leaning over it, she called out, "Arthur!" His name tore from her throat in an urgent almost panicked plea.
He turned back, concern etching his features as he jogged back towards her. "What's wrong?" he asked genuine concern evident on his face.
Tears welled up in Bea's eyes, and she wiped them away furiously, embarrassed by her vulnerability. She cursed herself for her inability to control her feelings. He was engaged, what the hell was she doing?
"Will I see you again?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
"Of course, Kānalu, we're friends, aren't we?" His words were meant to console, but they were unable to fully soothe the ache within her.
"Yes, of course we are," she managed to reply, her voice wavering slightly.
He leaned closer, pressing a gentle kiss to her cheek, and despite her inner turmoil, Bea's heart fluttered at his touch. His closeness sent shivers down her spine and desire pooling in her stomach.
Then, he touched his forehead to hers, their mouths only a few inches apart as he slowly and deliberately exhaled a long deep breath, tickling her lips and washing over her face. His breath was warm and pleasant on her skin, full of the scent of the saltwater tang unique to the ocean. His words were soft as he whispered, "We share breath now, the islanders call it Hongi. It means we are connected and will always come back to one another." The intimacy of the moment, coupled with his words, left Bea breathless, confused, and attracted to him in a way that left her reeling.
Bea nodded, "Was it Mera who I saw you with in Sydney?" She asked.
Arthur nodded "Yes,"
Her heart was torn in two with the knowledge that he was engaged and that even if she was the kind of person who would want to she was unlikely to be attractive or interesting enough to interfere in his relationship with someone as devastatingly beautiful as Mera.
With a shy smile and a quick wave, she turned and hurried back inside, a mix of embarrassment and longing swirling within her.
When Bea stepped inside, Ben was still busy in the kitchen, but he sensed her return and turned to her with a concerned expression.
"Girl, you know I love you, and heaven knows that man is gorgeous as hell," Ben exclaimed, his words filled with both concern and humor. Bea raised her hand, attempting to stop him, but Ben continued, undeterred.
"You're going to get hurt! He's engaged to Mera. I've met her, she's almost enough to turn me straight!"
"We're just friends, Ben, but a heads-up on his engagement would have been nice," she replied, a touch of defensiveness in her tone.
"I'm sorry Bea, I thought you knew,"
"It is irrelevant, because as I said we are just friends," she insisted, a slight frown forming on her brow.
Wanting to lighten the mood, Ben switched to a playful tone. "Now tell me about your time with your sexy 'just friend'," he teased, and Bea smiled, eager to share the details of the enjoyable day she had spent with Arthur.
A few days later, Bea was, drawn from her dreams by a gentle tapping against her window. The Icelandic summer night illuminated her room, intrigued, she slid out of her bed and parted the curtains, revealing Arthur's smiling face framed by the window and he greeted her with a wave as she opened the window.
Yawning as she rubbed her eyes she asked sleepily "What's going on?"
"I've missed spending time with you, Kānalu. Get dressed, I want to show you something," he replied, as his eyes sparkled with anticipation.
"What time is it?" she asked, reaching for her phone.
"Just before midnight. Hurry up and get dressed," Arthur urged.
Bea nodded, a mix of curiosity and excitement filling her. She quickly pulled the curtains closed and dressed, eager to embark on this unexpected adventure with Arthur.
He helped steady her as she climbed out of the window, his large warm hands gripping her hips. Bea's heart raced as his touch sent a heat licking through her veins, feeling the sensation of his hands on her hips like a brand on her skin.
"Where are we going?" she asked as they headed out of the cottage's small garden, a little breathless with the effort of climbing out the window and her excitement.
Arthur smiled down at her "Now that would be telling,"
Guiding her, he led the way to the edge of a concealed rocky cliff that she had not known was there, revealing a breathtaking view of the expansive ocean. The scent of the sea enveloped them, and their eyes met the sight of waves crashing against the rugged coastline. The sky painted with red, yellow, orange and pink mirrored the ocean which seemed to be aflame with the reflection of the midnight sun.
"This is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen," Bea's voice was quiet as if she feared her words might shatter the moment.
Arthur turned to look at her, a soft smile playing on his lips. "It is amazing," he agreed, his gaze lingering on her for a moment before returning to the breathtaking view. "I've seen some incredible sights beneath the waves, but there's something magical about the midnight sun on the ocean."
Bea nodded, her eyes still fixed on the horizon. "I can imagine. The ocean holds so many amazing things, both above and below. It's like a different world altogether."
"Absolutely," Arthur chimed in, his tone relaxed. "I've always felt this strong connection to it."
"I feel the same way," Bea said softly. "Whenever I'm by the water, I am at peace; like I truly belong, it's where I feel most alive."
"Exactly," Arthur replied, a playful glint in his eyes. "But hey, I hope you're not just friends with me because I'm the king of Atlantis"
"Well it's certainly not for your Halo prowess" she laughed, enjoying the playful banter they always seemed to settle so easily into.
As they continued talking, the conversation flowed effortlessly and Bea learned more about Arthur's upbringing near the ocean and his connection with it. The more time they spent together, the more their friendship deepened.
As they descended the cliffs they decided to explore the coastline, stepping carefully over the rugged terrain. Bea was tired and not as steady on her feet as Arthur stumbled occasionally and they bumped into each other, laughing and playfully teasing one another.
As they reached a small sandy cove, Arthur couldn't resist the temptation "Race you to the water!" he called out, his eyes danced mischievously.
Bea's competitive spirit rose to the challenge, and she grinned, despite knowing she had no chance of beating him her voice was full of determination. "You're on!"
Their laughter echoed around them as they sprinted towards the water's edge. Their playful competition accompanied by the rhythmic melody of crashing waves. Arthur's long strides and metahuman speed gave him a clear advantage, and he reached the water first, the exuberant winner. As Bea closed in, ready to accept her defeat, her foot caught on a small rock, and she stumbled forward.
"Whoa!" Arthur raced to catch her before she fell, his superhuman reflexes kicking in. But before he could reach her, Bea had already fallen and, ripped her trouser leg, a small cut on her knee. She winced, feeling the sting.
Arthur's playful competitiveness instantly shifted to worry as he hurried to her side. "Hey, are you okay?" he asked, his voice full of caring.
Bea's laughter was a mix of embarrassment and amusement. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little stumble."
He crouched down, concern evident in his eyes as he inspected the small cut on her knee, he pushed her hands out of the way "Kānalu, let me see," he said gently, his touch as delicate as it was reassuring. Bea felt herself flush as his fingers grazed her skin.
"It's really not that bad," she insisted, her cheeks flushed from the unexpected closeness and his gentle attention.
Arthur glanced up at her, a warm smile on his face. "Humor me, okay?" He tore a piece of cloth from his shirt and carefully dabbed at the cut to clean away the sand. His touch was tender, his focus solely on her well-being.
"You didn't have to do that," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the sound of the waves.
He looked up, his gaze meeting hers, and he smiled. "I know, but I want to. Friends take care of each other, right?"
The simplicity of his words touched her heart, and she nodded, as a grateful smile tugged at her lips. "Right."
After ensuring the cut was clean, Arthur gently tore off another piece of cloth and fashioned a makeshift bandage, expertly securing it in place. "There you go," he said, his voice warm and reassuring. "All patched up."
Bea looked down at her knee, then back at Arthur "Thank you, Arthur. You're surprisingly good at first aid."
He chuckled, a hint of playfulness returning to his eyes. "Well, I've been in a few fights in my time; I picked a couple of things up."
As the night crept towards day, he sat next to her on the sand and the conversation flowed effortlessly, weaving between light-hearted topics and deeper musings. Bea's laughter mingled with the sound of the ocean as she shared stories from her childhood – tales of family vacations, quirky school escapades, and her dreams for the future. She spoke animatedly, and her eyes sparkled as she painted vivid pictures with her words.
Arthur listened intently, a soft smile tugging at his lips. He found himself captivated by the way she spoke, her passion and enthusiasm as contagious as ever. Her dreams resonated with him, igniting a spark of familiarity in his own heart, a reminder of the aspirations he once held before the weight of his responsibilities settled upon his shoulders.
In turn, Arthur began to open up, peeling back layers of his life that he rarely shared. He spoke of his dual identity – the burden of being both the King of Atlantis and the legendary Aquaman. The weight of expectations, the intricate politics of his realm, and the constant struggle to balance his duty with his personal desires.
"I love Atlantis, and I take my role seriously," Arthur's voice carried a mixture of determination and weariness. "But sometimes, it's a heavy crown to bear. The sea has its mysteries, its wonders, but it also has its challenges and threats."
Bea looked at him, her eyes full of empathy. "It must be a lot to carry on your shoulders."
Arthur nodded, a wistful smile touching his lips. "It can be, but moments like these, talking with you remind me of the world beyond my responsibilities. It's a rare respite, and I find myself treasuring it."
He hesitated, the weight of an unspoken topic hanging between them like an invisible barrier. It was a subject they had purposefully avoided, one that held the potential to shift the dynamics of their budding connection. With a breath he hoped steadied his resolve, Arthur met her gaze, his voice a mixture of sincerity and regret.
"Kānalu, I should have told you about Mera, earlier," he admitted, his words carefully chosen.
Bea's expression remained composed, masking the surge of emotions beneath. She appreciated his honesty and offered him a small, understanding smile. "It's okay," she replied, her voice more steady than she felt.
"It might be selfish but, I enjoy the time we spend together too much to give it up, but I have to make it very clear you'll always just be a friend," The words were harder to say than he wanted them to be.
Arthur seemed wistful as he continued, his voice carrying the weight of unspoken emotions. "I didn't know I would meet someone like you," he admitted, regret lacing his words. "Mera and I… it's complicated."
She chose her words carefully, her gaze unwavering. "You don't owe me an explanation, Arthur. Your personal life is your own, and I respect that."
His gratitude was evident in his eyes, mixed with a trace of regret. "I appreciate your understanding, Kānalu."
She was determined to cherish the deep and genuine friendship they had built, and try and let go of any desire for more she was holding on to. A mixture of emotions swirled inside her, she leaned her head on his shoulder, seeking comfort in his presence. He responded by tilting his head a little, pressing a gentle kiss to the crown of her head.
In that moment, a rush of longing coursed through him, a desire he knew was inappropriate and he struggled to contain it, relieved that she remained unaware of the turmoil he felt, understanding that maintaining their current dynamic was for the best, the last thing he wanted to do was hurt this woman who had offered him nothing but kindness and friendship.
"What we have is perfect," she whispered, her voice barely audible above the sound of the waves.
Arthur's heart skipped a beat at her words, but he also knew that she understood and respected the boundaries he was forced to set.
"The night will be over soon; I should get you back home," he rose from his seat and extended his hand to help her up.
She was unsteady on her feet, her knee stiffened and bruised from the fall. Leaning on him for support, they started to make their way back up to the cottage. Arthur deciding that Bea was wincing too much at the use of her leg over the sandy terrain grabbed her in his arms and started carrying her back to the cottage.
"Arthur!" Bea cried out losing her breath as she was suddenly swept off her feet. "I can walk!"
"I know you can, but as I said before friends look after each other," he smiled, enjoying the feel of her as she snuggled into him.
Upon reaching the door, Arthur set her down his touch lingering briefly. "Goodnight, Kānalu," he whispered.
Bea's heart stuttered at the affectionate nickname he had bestowed on her, and she chastised herself, reminding herself that minutes ago she had resolved to put these feelings aside and enjoy their friendship "Goodnight, Arthur," she replied softly.
He turned to leave, but before he could take more than a few steps, Bea called out, "Thank you for tonight and thank you for putting up with me, you're a good friend"
Arthur turned back to her, his eyes filled with fondness. "The pleasure is mine," he said, his voice warm and genuine.
With that, he gave her one last smile before disappearing into the night. Bea stood there for a moment, feeling a mixture of emotions, but above all, a sense of gratitude for the extraordinary friendship she had found in the most unexpected of places. As she closed the door behind her, the cottage felt warmer, filled with the memories of their time together. Bea knew that their bond was special, and while it might never lead to romance, she cherished the connection they shared.
As Bea hobbled into the kitchen with a slight limp. Ben, busy at the stove flipping pancakes, looked up with a raised eyebrow.
"Good morning, limping beauty," he greeted with a cheeky grin. "Rough night, huh?"
Bea blushed, playfully swatting at him. "Oh, stop it, Ben. You sound like an overprotective father."
"Well you're the one climbing out of windows in the middle of the night," he teased as he flipped a pancake expertly. "So, Aquaman swept you off your feet last night?"
Bea rolled her eyes, taking a seat at the table. "Oh, please, you know we're just friends – let's not forget his disturbingly beautiful fiancée, it was just a casual stroll on the beach."
Ben leaned against the counter, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "A casual stroll, huh? In the middle of the night that ended with you being carried in his strong, muscular arms?"
Bea groaned, her face turning even redder. "Piss off"
"I'm just living vicariously through my friend," Ben teased "So, spill the beans. What happened?"
Bea sighed, as she gave into his curiosity. "Alright, fine. We went down to the beach, talked about life, shared some stories, and just enjoyed the view."
Ben wiggled his eyebrows. "And by 'enjoyed the view,' you mean you were ogling Arthur's—"
"Ben!" Bea interrupted, her laughter filling the room. "I can't believe I'm having this conversation with you."
He shrugged, a grin still playing on his lips. "Hey, I'm just trying to understand what kind of rough night you have had, what have you been up to that has got you limping?" he wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.
Bea shook her head and hid her smile. "You're impossible, you know that?"
"But you love me," Ben quipped.
Bea chuckled. "Yeah, I do and for the record I fell over, now, enough about my 'rough night.' How's your pancake masterpiece coming along, me, myself and I – hungry!"
Ben beamed, proud of his cooking skills. "Oh, these babies are a work of art. Just like Arthur's abs."
Bea couldn't help but chuckle. "How about feeding me before I waste away?"
Ben laughed heartily "Your wish is my command, oh-hungry-one." He slid a plate full of pancakes towards her and they enjoyed their breakfast together as the playful banter continued.
In the following months, Arthur's visits became a regular occurrence, a comforting presence that gradually wove itself into the fabric of Bea's daily life. Their connection deepened, evolving into a special bond and they slipped into an easy rhythm of companionship. Despite the unspoken presence of Mera hovering in the background, their conversations rarely touched upon her, allowing them to bask in the cocoon of their own world. It was almost as if their friendship existed in a bubble, shielding them from the realities that lay outside of it. There was a knock at the door and Bea bounded down the hallway, assuming it was Arthur paying a visit, a little confused as to why he had just not let himself in as was his habit nowadays.
She swung open the door, a welcoming smile already in place; her eyes alight with the prospect of their usual banter. To her surprise, instead of Arthur's familiar presence, she was met with the gaze of a stranger. He was tall with red hair and a thick beard, her expression shifted from bright anticipation to polite curiosity, though her friendly demeanour remained intact.
"Hello," she greeted, her tone warm yet inquisitive. "Can I help you with something?"
"I'm Angus..." he trailed off after seeing no recognition on her face he sighed "Ben didn't tell you I was coming, did he?" Bea shook her head and stepped back letting Angus into the hall with his bags.
"That doesn't surprise me at all," she commented with a wry smile, as she shut the door behind him and reached out her hand to shake his, but he ignored it surprising her by pulling her into a friendly one-armed hug, "I'm Bea," she introduced herself, finding that she instantly liked this friendly good looking stranger.
"Ben has told me much about you, that I feel we are already friends," He let Bea go and she replied "Afraid I can't say the same,"
Ben came hurrying into the lounge from the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist.
"Angus!" Ben exclaimed, pulling him into a warm hug.
"Put some clothes on, man!" Angus chimed in with a playful tone, shooing Ben away, Ben laughed as he hurried to his room to dress.
Amused, Bea looked at Angus and shrugged. "He's utterly hopeless."
"Completely," Angus agreed with a chuckle.
"I've come to stay with you for a little while. I'm a nature photographer," he explained.
"Will you be bunking in with Ben, or should I show you to the spare room?" she asked.
Angus laughed. "I love the guy, but he's definitely not my type."
Bea nodded, leading Angus down the hall to the small spare room, giving him a tour of the cottage along the way.
"Welcome to your temporary abode," she said, gesturing to the room, her smile turned mischievous "I'll let you get settled while I throttle Ben,".
"You'll try," Ben had appeared behind her and tugged on her braided hair playfully.
Angus dumped his belongings on the bed and started digging through his camera bag.
"Can we go straight up to the nesting area of the Haematopus ostralegus?"
"Don't you want to rest?" Ben asked, surprised.
"I've flown in from Scotland, not the moon; I want to see these Oyster catchers!"
Bea left the room and quickly slipped on her boots, her ears catching snippets of conversation between Ben and Angus as they chatted. With her boots secured, they all headed out and made their way towards the shore.
"So Ben, care to explain to me how we ended up with a new housemate?" Bea asked teasing him as they walked along.
"I went to University with Angus; he's working on documenting ocean birds. I mentioned that we had some interesting species here, and he sort of invited himself," Ben explained with a grin.
Angus interjected jovially, "Steady on, mate. I might have invited myself, but you gave the green light. You said you'd talk to Bea about it.
Ben's mischievous grin widened. "Ah, right, I must have forgotten that part."
Bea rolled her eyes at Ben's antics and linked her arm with his, giving it a fond squeeze.
"No worries, I don't mind at all," she assured Angus, who returned her smile with an appreciative grin.
Bea couldn't help but notice Angus's undeniable attractiveness – fair skin, vibrant green eyes, and a sturdy yet welcoming physique, so different from Arthur's overt masculine sexuality, yet still appealing. She felt a slight blush creep onto her cheeks as her thoughts wandered, Ben, always playful and teasing, chimed in, "Yeah, quite the looker isn't he, Darling?"
Bea playfully swatted at Ben, her cheeks turning the shade of a ripe tomato "BEN!" she squealed and he took off at a run to avoid further blows.
Without a second thought, she took off in a chase after him, fuelled by a mixture of mock annoyance and genuine laughter. Ben's own laughter filled the air as he darted ahead, clearly enjoying the light-hearted pursuit.
Angus chuckled to himself, thoroughly amused by the dynamic between the two friends. He could already sense that his time here was going to be filled with both laughter and adventure. Jogging to catch up with Bea and Ben, who were now a short distance ahead.