As Blaze's eyes blinked open, she was met with a wall of light pressure across her face was very familiar;she'd experienced it countless times, albeit not in this environment. Reaching up, she pulled an open book fromher faceonly to find that thick darkness persisted. It took a moment for her to realise just how foolish she was being.
The feline raised the shades from her eyes, blinking as her gaze adjusted to the now un-tinted dark of her spanned a beach, the tide flowing almost close enough to reach the legs of her folding lounge chair. Cool sea air was blustering in a manner that would surely be uncomfortable to any non-pyrokinetic, it was incredible how quickly the temperature could drop by the ocean's edge. As such however, it wasn't a surprise that the beach's population had dwindled... still,sinceshe hadn't been awoken, two individuals were surely lingering.
She glanced across the shorefront and quickly sighted one of them; a youngster sat atop a pile of wet towels, facing the ocean as if to display the angular pigtails on the back of her head, only a few steps away. Quickly putting two and two together, the cat turned her attention to the water. If she was looking in that direction, then he was surely still out there.
The sky was clear, the stars and moon were doing their best to provide some sort of visibility but their light scarcely reflected against the rolling waves. A different set of lights were shiningtoo however, bright enough to catch the feline's focus. Two cyan motes, occasionally vanishing beneath the waves... indicative of Silver's form paddling further out to sea. He was about to catch another wave, could he even see them coming?
Setting her book down, the guardian stretched as she rose to slip closer to the young raccoon. Fire danced across her fingers to light the way; revealing the sundress she'd donned after a long afternoon spent working on missives and giving presentations. For this outing, over the top of a one piece swimsuit, the guardian had opted to wear a white dress with a cut significant enough to maintain modesty while also not hampering her movements. She'd hoped the convenience of the outfit would prompt her to join her allies but, inevitably,along workday had stretched even longer. She'd taken her work to the shore- reading through a tome on the idiocracies of maritime law.
Meanwhile, Marine had decided to introduce her hedgehog companion to surfing. The pastime truthfully wasn't common on Southern Island- with the town being built around the palace, it tended to attract a stuffier breed with less interest in the extreme sports potential offered by the ocean. Silver was always so excited to try new things...
"He's still going..." Blaze murmured as she arrived to stand beside Marine, "How late is it?"
"Oh, you're back mate! How was the catnap?" The youth grinned, as if her joke was the funniest ever told, "No idea what time it is, most folks cleared off a little bit ago. He's barely stopped for a moment though!"
The tall curl of the wave seemed to catch him; both symbols were now well above the waterline. Cyan light began to glow brighter, reflecting enough against the wall of water to light him as a glowing silhouette riding the wave. Since his efforts earlier in the afternoon, his form had certainly improved; judging by his glow's positioning, he'd learned to control his balance and centre his position to control the board. Strangely though, his efforts now paled in comparison to all he had done earlier in the day.
With psychic might at his fingertips, Silver the hedgehog had revealed himself to be something of a natural when it came to surfing. While his physical dexterity wasn't the greatest of their friends, though certainly nothing to scoff at, his power's capacity to compensate had made him a natural prodigy. He was able to control every flip and turn he made in the air, account for every wayward shift in the water, and push himself to keep up with the closing grasp of the sea with no more than a gesture and a thought. In fact, prior to now, his body positioning atop the board had been far more casual. Against the night now, he could so easily cut through the sky like a shooting star...
Blaze's brow hardened, "Why isn't he using this powers?"
"Oh, um," The raccoon pressed the tips of her forefingers together, looking away, "Well, I sorta told him that using them was cheating?" That would explain a lot, "I mean, I'm right, it is cheating! It's not like most folks can manipulate the board with their mind when they're about to wipe out!"
"It's not as if he's entering a contest, he hardly needs to take that into consideration," The cat tutted, turning her attention back to the sea, "You know how he is. Once he's got his mind set on something, he won't give up..."
"Strewth, I get that, you don't have to tell me, it's right in front of me," She harrumphed, "Every time he wipes out he just gets right back up again and rushes on out there. It's no wonder he's got this good so fast."
The glint of cyan on the horizon now reflected on the other side of rushing water. Despite not using his powers, the hedgehog had still managed to enter the green room- the barrel generated by the tumbling and rising of waves, the sliver of a cylinder present before the collapse of the water back into frothy flatness. Blaze herself wasn't particularly familiar with what was regarded as skilful in the extreme sport, but she knew the balance and positioning required for that effort was highly sought.
If it weren't for the unique combination of the dark and his symbols, Blaze might have thought the waves had swallowed him. He looked truly otherworldly in that space; a figure shining aquamarine in the dark, a body highlighted by the reflecting of water. Being able to sight his distinctive quills, distorted by the crashing waves, made her wonder what other sights she might have missed this afternoon.
She crossed her arms, "Well, it does seem like he's-
Before the praise could leave the princess' lips, the glow of her psychic companion vanished as the wave's barrel the dark she watched as foamy waters rushed toward the shore, his colour had fully disappeared beneath the waves. Amber eyes began to scour, only to fall upon the arrival of the crude looking surfboard Marine had crafted him that very day... closely follower by flashes of cyan breaching the water. Was he not even using his powers to get back to shore?
He arrived at her feet, looking not unlike a crumpled ball of soggy paper. He was hacking, panting... and laughing. He flopped onto his back, eyes shut and grinning with his quills cascaded over his face. She could feel her lips quirking into a smile at his antics just as his eyes cracked open and locked with hers. Almost immediately he scrambled to rise to his feet.
"Oh, hey," His quills were directly over his eyes now, "D-Did you finish your book?"
"It grew tiresome," She parried his question, reaching out to clear his vision only to come to a sudden realisation,"Silver, you're freezing."
"I, um," He spat up some saltwater, "I'm a little cold, but that's what it takes to learn-
The chattering of his teeth betrayed his words as he gripped his elbows. Without a wetsuit, he had been fully exposed to the elements for much too long. Just how many times had he crashed into the shore only to rise again and rush out toward the water? Perhaps doing that was the only thing keeping his core temperature from truly plummeting- adrenaline was an incredible distractor.
"You have as much time as you want to learn, you didn't have to go this far in a single night," She grumbled, throwing an arm around his shoulder and pulling him in closer, "You're not fighting for the world here, you don't have to go all out over something like this."
As if on reflex, he pressed his frigid form against her, "I was just having fun..."
"Yeah mate, it was just a laugh," The raccoon piped up without hesitation, "Besides, I saw you staring out at him. I think you liked what you were seeing."
"Marine," She scowled down at the kid, "Run off to your hut and get some more towels."
"O-On it!" She yelped, turning to hurry and leaving behind the soggy pile she'd been sat upon.
She was only a few steps off by the time Silver piped up, "Couldn't you just have dried out her towels?" She caught the confusion in his eye, "A-And isn't yours still dry?"
The youngster's hut was one of the few light sources around, raised on stilts near the edge of the beach. It would take her a while to get there, longer still to find towels in the hoard of half made toys and machines that was her abode. Still, she wasn't at risk of getting lost and, to be honest, she should have long been in bed already. Ideally she'd give up and jump in her hammock...
"Perhaps I wanted to make up for some lost time," She slipped her grasp from his shoulder to his side, "I'm sorry about today, work bled too far out of hours. I would have liked to join you out there..."
"I'm sure you... y-you..." A sneeze rocked the hedgehog's whole form, his next words came in a nasally tone, "You would have done great.." He slumped his head back, taking a deep breath, "The stars are really pretty tonight..."
She couldn't help but glance up with him. As ever, he was a catalyst for nature's beauty. A million glinting gems hung above them, brightening the dark sky so far as to tint it darkest indigo and even purple in places. The sky truly was breathtaking by the waterfront. It was almost enough to distract her from the icy salt water, both lapping at her heels and dripping from him.
A foolish thought entered the feline's mind, one she had first conjured many months prior. Since he had first visited her world, the two had admittedly danced around the precise nature of their relationship. Platonic, romantic, something in between? Her lips had found his on a handful of occasions; but then, kisses had always seemed a juvenile step compared to all they'd been through together.
She had to work in the morning, the hour was surely late... but the cat supposed she had already slept. The beach was vacant, not a soul in sight. It wasn't as if what she had in mind was all that uncouth... even if it was more than she would usually dare to do in public. It certainly felt like something the nation's princess shouldn't be sighted doing in public...
"Use your powers to dig a pool and fill it with water," She instructed him, tugging the hedgehog away from theseaand not letting herself think her way out of her scheme, "Not too close to the sea."
"Okay?" He was still shivering, "If you want to paddle, we can just do that in the shallows though..."
"No, you're not going back in the freezing cold," Blaze informed the hedgehog, "The pool doesn't have to be especially deep, we're not going to be swimming in it."
His hand was shaking as he held it out, manifesting his will. Psychic light spread across a patch on the ground, creating a roughly circular shape. He brought his hand down and the earth shifted; pressing in and mounting on the edges.
"Is that big enough?" He asked, starting to steady, "It's only abitover half a metre deep but-
"That should be more than enough," It was more than big enough for the two of them, "Add the water."
He turned to the waves, reaching out his other hand and curling his fingers. A tube of psychic energy stretched from the ocean, bringing the icy water with it. In a matter of moments Blaze could see the water's surfaceat the pool's lip, that barrier having been slightly raised by his pushing method of creating the pit.
"Alright, thank you," She halted him.
"What is it we're actually doing?" He asked as she left his side.
The feline hesitated between her partner and the water. Her fingers hitched against the fabric of her dress. Was she sure about this?
She decided not to answer him, "Turn around. I'll call you when I'm ready."
Blaze heard him shift but didn't turn to confirmtheaction. Instead, in a single quick and fluid motion, she pulledhersundress over her shoulders and from her frame. She bundled the garb, folding it, but couldn't help holding it in crossed arms against her navel. The cat wasn't comfortable going without long sleeves, let alone fully exposing her dark singlet of a swimsuit. She could still put the dress back on and simply sit by the waterside, there was-
His voice interrupted her thoughts, "Is everything going al-
"Don't turn around!" She hissed, throwing down the dress, "I'm still... busy!"
There was no time to debate with herself; she wouldn't think herself out of this! Blaze lowered herself into the pool, not so much as flinching in the frigid saltwater's grasp. She crouched low in the water, extending her hands at her side and shutting her eyes. The feline felt heat roll from her exposed shoulders, almost balling as it spread down her fingers. When she reopened her eyes motes of flame were spreading from the tips of her digits; orange and yellow lights were dancing across the sandy basin of the pool. She willedherpower to create a rim around thehollow'sedges, burning despite being underwater. It took no more than another thought to begin raising the temperature. Steam quickly began to rise...
She turned to the hedgehog, stood shivering in the dark, his back to her. For just a moment longer the guardian stared at him, this was one last chance to avoid the embarrassment, to just look a little foolish rather than a complete fool. There was-
"Silver," She'd been too quiet, "Silver, it's ready!"
The psychic turned, stumbling at her shout. He rushed over to the water's edge;it'd already heatedfrom icy cold to warmdue to her underwater flames. Steam was starting to fog into the air, she could already see his hanging quills starting to frizz. Yes, she had been right to do this... but did he have to stare at her, rather than the water?
"You made a hot spring?" He recognised aloud.
"It's more like a hot tub..." Blaze corrected, "I've had this idea for a while."
"It's incredible!" He was already sat down, pulling his feet from his drenched boots.
"It might be a little too hotfor you," She warned, trying to quickly will her underwater flames smaller, "If you're still freezing it-
He plummeted in the moment his shoes were off, not so much as testing the water. Before panic could fan her flames hotter, the hedgehog had lowered his face into the tub. The wave from him whipping his head back, quills partially soaked, rewetted sections of her fur that had been dried by herowntorrid output. Despite that, the sight of him, only sinking deeper into the water, granted her the relaxation the hedgehog was plainly succumbing to.
"Keep away from the edge," The cat commanded, "Thoseare flames under the water."
"I will," He'd lowered himself so thoroughly that only his muzzle, a few damp quills, and his eyes were exposed, "Thank you..."
Warmth had already flushed his cheeks; his blush was obvious even in the lowlight and through the stream. To see him at peace was wonderful in itself, but knowing she had caused his comfort made her pulse pound. Blaze couldn't help but sink lower at the feeling of his gaze upon her, attempting to submerge as best as she could. Eventually, she ended up sat on the bottom; her knees to her chest and arms wrapped around them.
His gaze broke from her before hers did from him, drifting to the sky above them. She followed that act; only to find the view above them was even more amazing than before. Starlight refracted off of the steam, creating clouds the glimmered like diamond dust in the sky. The shining colours of each star seemed so much more bold...
"I'm sorry if I overdid it today, Marine really riled me up," He professed, a glance proved he was still looking to thestars.
"As long as you enjoyed yourself, there's nothing to worry about," She responded, following his gaze, "I'm sorry I was so tired, things have been really busy lately..."
Of course the moment she looked away was when he drew closer, the lapping of waves over her shoulders made that obvious if his following touch hadn't. His shoulder touched hers, he had drawn so close. She justified that he still felt a little cold, trying to ignore the fluttering in her chest.
"We'll make this work, somehow," He insisted, "There'll come a time when you're not exhausted and I'm not hurting, I just know it…"
"For now, let's just enjoy what we have," Just as he did so often, the cat usedher ownwords to bolster herself.
Blaze released her huddling and let her legs fold, feeling her knee brush against his. Before the panic from that touch could overwhelm her, the princess snuck an arm behind her companion and around his waist. She felt him react but didn't dare look, lest their eyes collided again. Fresh panic did flare however as his cheek found her shoulder.
He was so much more comfortable in his skin than she was, so quick to touch and hold. If she wasn't comfortable being on an empty beach in a swimsuit, how could he so casually stride around as he did? Why was she, the on raised in this world, so socially stunted?
Her own words about enjoying what they had replayed in her mind. She scanned their surroundings one last time. They were the only ones out here...
"Turn around," The cat commanded him, before her mind could betray her.
"Again?" Despite his questioning, he did as she said, "What are you going to do-
As her hands found his back his voice quieted. She didn't have the fortitude to start gentle; the cat pressed into the hedgehog's shoulders. The reality was that the cat didn't know anything about massage, she barely knew how to relax, but she had to do something with their time. If she couldn't stand him looking at her then he'd just have to share affection from behind.
She traced his shoulder blades, plying through wet fluff to reach the muscle beneath. The steam thickened enough to be blinding, with her own embarrassment came increased heat to the point she was worried for her companion... which only prompted the water to grow hotter. It took a while, a lot of shoulder rubbing and random pushing, to get into some sort of consistent pattern. Blaze began to feel his body's history, the grisly scars that carved to create large partings in his fur and gave obvious sites for her to sooth warmth into.
Growing more confident, she dared to lean closer to glance over his shoulder. His face was a dark shade of red; the hedgehog had gone from shaking like a wind-battered flag to slumping like one free from the breeze. His shoulders were slack, his quills were now flopped backwards rather than forwards, and his eyes were so blissfully closed. As he should have been whenever he visited her dimension, Silver was plainly at peace.
"Comfortable?" She asked, despite that understanding.
The only response she received was an affirmative hum, he was positively melting into the water... and, as a result, putting more of his weight against her. She felt her grasp push deeper, slipping beneath the water to rub his lower back. Feeling around his spine, steam clouds still somewhat limiting her gaze, the cat worked her way around his spines. Just as he was leaning into her, Blaze finally dared to lean forward herself. Chest to back, she brought her arms around him.
"Now you're warm," The cat murmured.
"Thank you," He hummed in response, but she felt him shift from her hold, "It's your turn now, right?"
The cat blinked, "What?"
Surrounded by steam, the psychic was stood tall before her. His wet fur was sagging and yet it was almost as if he was blurring into the mist. Even through the clouds though, she could see the shine of his yellow eyes. He really wanted to do this. Blaze felt her arms instinctively cross in front of her lithe frame.
"It's only right that I return the favour, right?" He asked, "Unless you don't want-
"No, it's fine!" She struggled for a way to make this more comfortable, "Just..." Realisation struck and she shifted, "Keep your hands above the water, please."
The cat raised herself as she turned away from him, putting more of her back above the waterline. Now the warm waves lapped around the middle of her ribs- she couldn't find the will to rise any further. Almost immediately, she felt him shift to match. Then his legs were on both sides of her thighs, was he going to start that close?!
His hands grasped her shoulders, landing atop the straps of her swimsuit. She felt her tail shoot straight as her temperature spiked. If she burned up for much longer, there wouldn't be any water left to hide beneath!
"You feel so tense," He sounded surprised.
She dryly swallowed the want to snap at him, "It's been a long day..."
The psychic's touch was strong, his fingertips bore into her wet fur without hesitation. Without the thickness of her long coat to act as a barrier, she could feel the rough callouses that littered his hands. The hedgehog had always been heavy-handed when it came to affection, hugging and grasping with a bluntness she could rarely muster. He was clearly as confused for what to do as she had been, prodding and plying as he worked above the waterline, but the feeling of him so close was helping to put her at ease.
Was this what he had felt when she had been pawing at his back?! Blaze felt her temperature surge again, steam began to billow around. How could she have been so oblivious, his want to return the favour must-
"If all we can have are nights like this, with you being tired after I've done something stupid," She overheard him ruminate over the water's splashing, "I think I'd be okay with that."
In the wake of those words, calm did reclaim the cat- accompanied by a feeling of foolishness. None of this was some attempt to be smooth or romantic, just Silver being Silver. Regardless, she had started this, he had asked for permission. The cat had control of the narrative... what did she want to do with it?
How comfortable was she, in body and mind? How far was she willing to push this evening? The night was still young, they were all alone out here. If there was ever an opportunity to push things further, to make up for what time they'd lost between his surfing and her sleeping, this was it...
She allowed herself to slip just a little higher above the water, feeling the surface against her lower back. The hedgehog seemed to pause for a moment, his grasp still at her nape. He gently lowered his hands, as if taking her movement as a hint to her want. Thumbs rubbed at either side of her spine, fingers wrapped around the small of her back.
Another foolish thought entered Blaze's mind, one that had bubbled to the surface far more often than the creation of a hot tub. She felt her toes curl and teeth clench, they were endlessly busy and exhausted. Beneath a sky like this, positioned as they were, when would an opportunity like this arise again?
Blaze found the strength of will to push through his touch and turn to the hedgehog, "You didn't do anything stupid, just naive," She rose from the water further, standing taller than him now, "Do you want to do something truly stupid?"
"Like what?" He blinked up at her.
"I have another idea," She gently took hold of his chin, "But you don't need to turn around this-
A giggling whoop stole Blaze's attention, followed much too quickly by a cacophonous splash. A wave, far larger than it felt like the small pool should be able to muster, splashed over the cat's head. She knew the originator of the intrusion, and for that very reason stumbled back from her psychic's partner.
"Mates, you made a hot tub without me?" A familiar raccoon bleated, now paddling in the water, "That's so rude!"
"Marine," The cat grumbled, "What happened to the towels?"
"Oh," The towels she'd gathered were now floating on the surface of the water, she'd jumped in with them, "Well it serves you two right for having fun without me!"
Lest the flames grow wilder, with a clench of her fist, Blaze snuffed the underwater heaters she had manifested. Her other hand found her foreheadas she felt her brows knit hadbuiltup so much willpower, taking steps not just to use her power in a unique way but shedding her sundress and drawing so close to him. All that only to be forced back to square one by-
"Blaze," Silver had returned to her side, leaning in close, "What was your idea?"
She turned from him back to the raccoon child, plainly enjoying herself in the water more blatantly than she'd managed. The moment had past, but he was still here. It was late, the mood was ruined, and they were both soaking wet... but he was still here."It can wait," She sighed, lowering herself back into the water, "Let's just enjoy what we have now."
Other opportunities would surely arise. Hopefully, next time, she'd be headstrong enough to claim what she wanted before Marine could interrupt...