Chapter Text
He’s at the pool again. They’re supposed to be going out tonight and getting drunk with all the other dropkicks from their estate, but instead he’s at the fucking pool looking for Vess. He knows he’ll be here, it’s either here or his dingy flat with the cracked front window and peeling wallpaper, and he’s already checked there. Wandering around like a dickhead with four beers stuffed into his jacket pockets and an eigth of grass in his shoe, looking for his best mate who spends his recreation time at the fucking community pool.
Granted he does work there, saving drowning 10 year olds even though they’re faking it half the time and yelling at people to not run on the wet tile. He does get a whistle though which has to count for something. II doesn’t have anything apart from a smoking habit, his beat up docs and if his counseler is to be believed, a bad fucking attitude. Plus his very tall, water obsessed best mate, who he’s only slightly in love with.
Approaching the graffitied glass doors of the pool he has to stub out his spliff on the bottom of his shoe, pocketing the end before wrenching them open. They swing with a screech, the smell of chlorine hitting his nose with the same force it always does. Makes the hairs in his nose burn and his dick kick in equal measure, just like always. The smell will remind him of Vess until the day he dies, the way it clings to his clothes and skin and hair hours after he’s left the humid space. The way II’s bed faintly smells like it after Vess has crashed between the sheets after one too many, the way II shoves his face into his spare pillow the next day to breathe deep, hand shamelessly drifting inside his underwear.
He shakes the feeling off, rolling his shoulders and then his eyes at Vessel's lack of self preservation. The door still being unlocked and the dank lobbies lights on at 9pm on a Saturday night when undoubtedly Vess is the only one still here is not smart in any neighbourhood but especially not theirs. He flicks the lock on the door with a sigh, switching off the lights and jumping the turnstiles with practiced ease. Used to be the main way they got into the pool as kids, dodging Janey who worked the lobby until she finally retired, by then Vess was already working here on weekends so no need to fare dodge anymore. He’d let II in through the staff entrance around the back whenever he swung by for a few hours. It couldn’t even be considered fare dodging by that point, II doesn’t swim- never learned how. He’s never seen an unknown body of water and thought to himself ‘well that's where I want to be’- unlike Vess who has his next big splash nudging the back of his mind at all times.
So he just sits with a ratty paperback in the lifeguard booth next to Vess as he watches over the swimmers. He’d managed to split his time pretty evenly between the words on whatever charity shop book he’d got and sneaking glances at Vess over the years, perfected it down to a science. They’d practically grown up between these walls, spending as much time here as their shitty estate, the same dank mold smell and cracking concrete in both. II hates them both equally but can't deny how both places have shaped them into the incorrigible degenerates they are today. Fucking pathetic.
He wanders through the dank hallways, sticks his head into the changing rooms to check for signs of Vess, coming up empty he walks through to the pool proper, the smell of chlorine so much stronger as he pushes through the cracked glass doors. The space has always creeped him out at night, the bays of high windows half crusted over with grime showing just the darkness of night through them, only the essential lights on inside creating pockets of light like they’re in an old time gangster flick, the water dark and murky- just waiting to swallow II alive.
He spots Vess down the back of the lanes, half hidden in the sunken floor, messing with the massive motor that pulls the lane ropes in and away, body bent in half, frown between his brows as he concentrates. He’s changed back into his street clothes, all soft in a way that II’s always loved, loose dark jeans and a maroon hoodie that's at least two sizes too big and his beat up high top cons that are definitely soaked through. He looks so fucking huggable, dark hair still slightly damp at his nape and falling into his eyes; II’s sure it still smells deliciously of chlorine. His fingers are itching to light up the rest of his spliff stashed in his pocket at the sight, deep sigh rumbling out of him as he cuts down the side of the pool, giving the dark water a wide berth.
He caves when Vess pushes his sleeves up to reveal his strong forearms, corded with prominent veins that he can't help imagining running his tongue along. Stuffs the spliff back into his mouth and cracks his lighter a few times to get the thing lit again.
This, apparently, is enough to get Vess’ attention, head snapping toward the sound and flash of light with a frown. “Dont do that in here.”
“Well hello to you too.” II retorts, breathing deep and exhaling smoke up into the rafters. Vess shakes his head and gets back to fiddling with the machinery in front of him. “Door was unlocked by the way. Again.”
“Yeah, how else would you get in?” Comes Vessel’s echoing reply, head beant into the sunken floor.
“Wouldn’t have to if you’d just met me at my place, instead I had to traipse halfway across town looking for your lanky arse.”
“Well you found it.” Vessel pops into a deep squat and II sees the flash of a wrench in his hand before the muscles in his forearm go taut as he does something fascinatingly handy to the motor. II has to look away, taking a long drag to not obsess about the frankly unfair scene in front of him, feeling the tightness in his ribs pinch as he does.
“Found Joe and his mates too.” II says bitterly, hand going to his ribs unbidden at the memory of one of Joe’s lackeys fists making contact, gaze floating over the dark water before landing back on Vessel. He’s stopped fiddling with the motor, face pained and eyes roving over II.
“You okay?”
II has to try hard to not squirm under Vessel’s dark, assessing gaze. “Yeah, fine. Light day.” What’s another few marks. He was just lucky Vess wasn't there too. Joe’s hatred for Vessel is no secret, the cause however is a little more secretive. And while Vess is definitely the more physically intimidating of the both of them, II does end up talking with his fists more often than not, usually so Vess doesn’t have to. Attitude problem and all that. Plus Vess is a lot prettier than him and he wants to keep it that way.
Vess’ eyes narrow across the expanse of space. “Do you need the first aid kit?”
“Nope.” II says, face tipped toward the ceiling, smoke curling upwards.
“Is this like the time you told me no but then turns out you had two broken fingers and a bruise on your hip the size of Derry?”
“Nope.” II pops the P loudly, sending a waft of smoke out over the water.
“Prat.” He hunches back over to tighten something in the motor before sighing so hard it echoes loudly towards II. The sound irks something in II’s gut, reminiscent of his dads own long suffering sighs, right before the next round of drinking started and the blank stare that would follow for days afterwards. He stretches his neck to dislodge the tension that’s crept in. This is Vess, his Vess. He’s not like that.
Taking a long drag he ambles a little closer. “Motor’s given up again?” II asks moving up behind him and peeking down into the guts of the engine room. He’s glad Vess never asks him to help with this shit, it looks like an unsalvageable mess of pipes and wires down there.
Vess sighs again, straightening and running a hand through his messy hair. “Seems like it, been fiddling with it for a few hours and I still can't get it to start.”
II scoffs, smoke blowing down into the engine room. “All unpaid time I’d assume.”
“Shut up, it’s important. They have seniors water aerobics on Sunday, you know that.” Vess is so earnestly serious when he straightens, II has to duck his head to hide the fond look that he can feel plastered all over his face. Vess smirks as he leans over to pluck the spliff from II’s fingers, his soft pads brushing II’s knuckle in the process and sending electricity sparking up II’s arm. He watches as Vess slots the rolled paper between his pillowy lips and drags the sweet smoke into his lungs, the end of the spliff glowing orange between them. He tries not to think about how this could almost count as a kiss, something his lips have touched now between Vessel’s, the thought sends a shiver down his spine like it always does when they share; spliffs, drinks, food.
II has to clear his voice of the rasp he can feel building, trying for teasing casual despite the track his mind is on. The track it’s always on when Vess is around. “Ah yes, the flabby grandmother brigade, how could I forget. I wonder if Martha’s still in love with you? You’d better make your move soon mate, she might not be around for much longer.”
“Fuck off. I like Martha. She brings me cakes sometimes.” Vess sends the smoke into II’s face, sweet and cloying, the hot air tickles his cheeks.
II clutches his bicep dramatically, cooing down at him. “Aww, it must be love.”
“Fuck. Off.” Vess shakes him off, hoisting himself out of the sunken floor and closing and latching the door to the machine room with a huff. “Are you gonna help or not? Sooner it’s done the sooner we can go get buzzed in a seedy park like proper degenerates.”
II grins. “Oh my favourite.”
Vess moves over to the metal wheel that will house all four lengths of the lane ropes and attaches the hand crank, oh joy! II begrudgingly shucks his jacket, the beers hidden in the pockets unnecessary weight for this task. This is one of II’s least favourite pool activities, it just requires him to be too close to the water for his liking, and they have unfortunately done this manually many times. The pool motor is an old piece of shit and constantly on the fritz. II knows he’s not getting Vess out of here without finishing up all his little jobs and it's easier, as well as quicker, to just help. Still, that doesn’t mean he enjoys this in the slightest, the inky water feels so sinister where he can't see the bottom at the deep end- which is unfortunately where he has to stand to help pull the lane ropes out and guide them onto the wheel as Vess cranks.
He knows he technically has the easier job, Vess’ back is gonna hurt later when they’re lying in the grass at their local park, on their way to being drunk. He’ll whine about it and II will have to resist offering to knead his fingers into the sore muscles.
“Ready?” Vessel’s voice sounds behind him and II raises a middle finger over his shoulder in answer, earning himself a soft huff. Vess starts cranking and the ropes with their coloured styrofoam rounds start to move toward him. He moves between the wet lines carefully, boots squeaking on the tiles as he adjusts the ropes as they emerge from the water, making sure there’s no tangles as they go up into the wheel.
They’re almost done when II starts hearing Vessel’s grunts of effort, knows from experience how heavy the wheel gets to turn with all the waterlogged rope on it. II did it himself once- his arms were burning for days after, and now gets this job on the times he volunteers his unpaid labour to the cause. II can’t help glancing back at Vessel when he lets out a particularly loud grunt, his mind swinging to imagining him grunting for other reasons without his say so. And looking up is a mistake for two reasons; one- Vessel is gorgeous, swimmers shoulders perfectly showcased, face contorted in concentration and pink tongue dipping out of his mouth to wet his lips as he works. Two- he’s too transfixed looking at Vessel to notice a tangle in the line in front of him, or that he’s about to step right into it. Boot squeaking off one of the styrofoam rings, he catches the flash of Vessel’s panicked expression before he’s falling back through the air. Gasping as he hits the icy water and it swallows him whole.
The shock of the cold knocks the air out of his lungs, water flooding into his throat as he stays suspended in darkness. His arms and legs flailing but not finding any purchase, he’s being pulled downwards, feet caught up in the heavy ropes as he slowly sinks. Up is down and down is up. He feels so heavy. His lungs are burning already, the need to gasp a breath weighing steadily against the certainty that he’ll be even more fucked if he actually does. His clothes are anchors, pulling him further below the surface, his stupid docs like weights on his feet and the chlorine is stinging his eyes as he desperately holds what little breath is still in his lungs. Shit. The panic is rising in his gut, gnawing at itself as he drifts downwards.
There’s a splash to his right that he registers vaguely, tugging on his feet before strong arms hook around his waist and start pulling him back towards the surface. The relief that bubbles through him as they break into the muggy air stops his panic for a second, coughing up water as he tries to gulp in air at the same time, not doing either very well.
“Shh, just breathe easy. You’re alright.” Vess’ deep voice in his ear, his strong arms locked around his middle, keeping them both from sinking again. II can feel his legs kicking beneath them, churning the dark water and fear ripples anew in his gut at the dark unknown below them.
“Get me out. I want to get out. Fucking hell.” II can barely understand his own ramblings, mind completely on the dark openness below him and all it would take is Vess losing his grip for him to sink below again. Vess tows him gently towards the wall, II’s fingers grasping the tile as soon as he’s close enough, nose pressed to the cold ceramic he tries to breathe deep- thankfully Vess brackets the wall around him, caging him in for support.
II tries to keep his voice calm but can hear he’s not succeeding at all. “You rescue people for a living, why the fuck did that take so long?” His whole body is trembling slightly, panic and adrenaline still banging around inside him like a wayward pinball.
“You were under for barely 30 seconds.” Vessel’s voice is annoyingly calm and soft, like he’s soothing a wild animal.
“Felt like 30 years, you prick.” II can barely muster any heat behind the words. Leaning his face away from the tile but keeping his death grip on the wall he bumps back into Vess’s chest.
His bare chest.
II’s head whips around, taking in Vess’ wet hair pushed back from his face, the freckles on his bare shoulders, the pale ridges of his stomach, down past his dark underwear and landing on his pale legs kicking beneath them. His desire mixes with rage. “You took the fucking time to get undressed?”
Vessel has the audacity to grin.“Well if you didn’t panic so hard you wouldn’t have sunk so fast.”
“Oh, I’ll remember than next time I’m fucking drowning, thank you!” II goes to shrug out of Vessel’s grip out of pure petulance, he’s glad when it doesn’t work and Vess cages him in tighter.
“There really shouldn’t be a next time.” He mutters against II’s neck.
“What?”
Vess’ eyes are bright when II turns to face him, voice excited. “Let me teach you.”
It’s not a question, more of an excited command. It’s not the first time Vessel has remarked on II’s inability to swim and offered to teach him. Those conversations usually happen as they’re crunching gravel beneath their shoes going between their concrete prisons, or on the couch as some shitty movie plays in the background and the haze of smoke is heavy in the air. They don't happen when II is sopping wet in a body of water he doesn’t want to be in with a very almost naked Vessel pressed up against him, gleam in his dark eyes.
“No thanks, just help me out and I’ll be on my way home thank you.” II tries for a tone of frustration, or bitterness, or flippant condescension that II’s counselor tells him doesn't endear him to other people. He doesn’t succeed, he’s somehow never managed to drive off Vess by being prickly and today is no exception.
“Look, it’s okay to be scared, but think about how less scared you’ll be if you know how.” Vessel says quietly behind him, their legs brushing as he kicks to stay afloat. “I won't have to watch you eye the water every time you come here like it owes you money. And you could help me do more stuff.” The excited quiver in Vessel’s voice gets stronger as he talks.
II scoffs. “Ah, the truth comes out, he just wants more unpaid labour.”
“I want you to not feel scared of the water. Anything else is just a bonus.” It’s practically whispered into his wet hair, Vessel’s hot breath hitting the shell of his ear as he moves to stay afloat. Hopes he doesn’t feel the shiver that passes quietly down II’s spine at the sensation.
“Fine.” He’s powerless to deny, wet, half naked Vessel anything, especially not when he’s whispering sweet things about making II feel safe in his ear. All hot breath and slick skin pressed up against him, he can’t be expected to make a clear headed decision. He feels the answering smile from Vess all the way to his toes.
“You got the wall?” Vess asks excitedly. II nods far less excitedly, confusion creeping in between his brows, as with a deep breath, Vessel disappears below the surface of the water. The panic II feels wash over him at seeing his best mate disappear below is completely unfounded, he’s the one that can swim for fucks sake, but it doesn’t stop the unease in his chest or the way his foot jerks as he feels Vessel’s long fingers grab his ankle underwater. There’s an answering smack to his calf and he stills, feels the boot slide off his foot a second later and then the other a beat after. He feels instantly lighter, like maybe if he let go of the wall he wouldn’t sink immediately, he’s not willing to test the theory of course, but it’s still comforting. Vessel breaks the surface next to him a second later, both water logged boots clutched by the laces in deft fingers. He empties the water back out into the pool before dumping them out onto the tile with a wet thud, the baggie of weed flopping out as they tumble.
“What are you-” He doesn’t get to finish before Vess’ head disappears below the surface again, a flash of his pale legs as he dives down into the darkness.
Then there are hands on the waistband of his pants, long fingers unbuttoning his jeans and II jerks his hips away on instinct, gaze snapping downward and catching on Vessel’s pale shoulders, glowing in the lowlight as he hovers right above II’s crotch. Massive hands grab his hips and forcibly drag him closer before II feels his zipper being lowered. Fucking hell.
Vessel taking off II’s pants has been a longtime fantasy, years in the making really, he was just hoping it would have happened for the first time with far less abject terror and for the sole purpose of dick sucking, not whatever is actually happening. Still, the feeling of Vessel’s fingers winding into the waistband of his jeans, the way the soft pads brush the bare skin of his hips, will be seared into his skin forever.
Vess swims down lower to grab II’s thin ankles in his massive hands and help drag his soaked jeans down his legs, II almost loses his grip on the wall from the force. His consolation is that Vess has to take a massive gulp of air when he surfaces, pushing his hair back out of his eyes as he flops the wet fabric over the wall next to II’s shoes.
“What the fuck are you doing? Buy a guy dinner first.” He grumbles at Vess, facing back to the wall to hide the heat creeping onto his face.
Vessel scoffs, grabbing the wall again. “Please, I doubt it would take that much, couple of pints and a spliff and you’d be all in.” He winks salaciously and II feels his stomach swoop dangerously, has to look away to keep too many feelings from showing on his face.
“Well you’re in luck my friend I have all that with me. Let's get out and partake, shall we?”
“Stop. You’re learning to swim or at least not sink, and that's final.”
II grumbles, eyes narrowing at Vessel. “You’re such a fucking prat.”
“Yep.” Vess pops the P. “Now the heavy clothes weighing you down are gone, you should be able to float. Floating’s easy, and I know how much you love easy things, remember Mel?
“I told you, I never fucked her!” II grits out, this old conversation rearing its ugly head for the millionth time.
“Whatever you say.” Vessel interns with a smirk. “I can't take off your shirt without you letting go of the wall though, and if your death grip is anything to go by that isn’t happening.” Mirth dances in Vessel’s eyes as they dart over to II’s fingertips going white against the tile. “So I’m gonna tow you over to the shallow end and you can take it off yourself but you cannot get out of the pool.”
“You, sir, are a certified prat.”
“Shut up.” Vess winds a strong arm back around II’s middle, the heat of him pressed up against II’s back is overwhelming and distracting enough for Vess to pull him off the wall with very little resistance.
His stomach is in knots now he doesn’t have anything to hold onto anymore, eyes glued to the dark water below them as Vessel swims them smoothly out into the middle of the pool. He’s sure Vess would never just let him go and swim away while he sinks but being so far away from any solid surface to grab onto makes his stomach swoop uncomfortably. His fingers wrap around Vessel’s arm tightly, the skin warm beneath his palms, sturdy and there. He knows he wouldn’t let go.
Vess’ arm tightens around his waist.“You’re alright. I’ve got you.” Comes Vessel’s deep voice up above him. Embarrassment has his fingers uncurling slightly, sees the half moon marks his nails have left on Vessel’s arm, pads of his fingers trailing over them absentmindedly in hopes to soothe.
Vess stops when they’ve reached the shallows, his other hand coming to II’s hip to help set him down on his feet. “I can fucking stand on my own.” II tries for surly but it comes out more petulant as his teeth have started to chatter from the cold of the water. Vess grins as he stands beside him, chest fully out of the water and glistening. II has to look away. He’s usually much farther away when Vess is all slick and shiny like this, doesn’t have to worry about the way his face is arranged from the booth, or where his eyes naturally fall to. They feel glued to the wet strip of hair travelling from Vessel’s stomach and diving into the waistband of his underwear.
“Stop whining, you big baby.”
II’s incredulous in a second, the strip of hair forgotten. “You forget the part where I almost drowned 5 minutes ago?”
With an eye roll he moves towards the edge of the pool. “You were fine, I was coming for you.” II lets himself have a moment to relish the warm feeling spreading in his chest, despite the cold of the water, at the easy way Vessel throws out the statement.
I was coming for you.
So simple, but still such a foreign feeling. Since his mum died the list of people II knew would come for him- to his rescue, to pick him up from school, to rub his back when he made himself sick with sobs- was very short. Basically just consisted of Vess these days- his dad is tanked more often than not and when he isn’t II wishes he was just to drown out the fucking noise of his every inadequacy that spews from his dads mouth. Two people is a short list, especially if you hate one of them.
“Um, what? I’m not allowed to get out but you are? This is discrimination.”
“I’m turning the lights and the heater on for you, asshole. So I can think clearly without your teeth chattering.” Vess hoists his massive body out of the pool, water streaming in rivets down his back and arse, droplets hitting the floor like indoor rain as he pads over to the switchplate by the door and flicks two switches. II watches, because of course he does. This has been his life since he turned 14 and discovered he really liked boys, one specifically, his voyeuristic tendencies skyrocketed overnight. Of course fucking Vessel isn’t cold, bloody half fish.
The lights flick on around II, beams illuminating the water around him, feels like the 2am lights in a club suddenly switching on. All his debauched thoughts on full display for all to see. He ducks down into the water of all places for safety, letting the cold liquid cover up to his chin. His feet already feel a bit warmer against the tile of the floor, the heating cranked up to full.
He watches without watching as Vess pads back to the edge of the pool and slips back in with barely a splash. Long legs disappearing as he swims smoothly back over to II, smile playing on his lips. “It’s fucking colder out there than it is in here, you should be grateful. Say ‘thank you Vess’ like a good boy.”
His dick does an uncomfortable kick in his underwear and his stomach swoops, he ducks down further in shame. II’s teeth have already stopped chattering though. “Fuck you very much, Vessel. I’ll be grateful when I can get out of this wet cesspit of piss and suffocation.”
“You really have to cool it with the water hate. It’s so magical under there, everything's so quiet, nothing can touch you.”
Eyes roving over Vessel’s face hungrily, he secretly loves when he gets like this. Usually it takes a few pints in his living room or down at the pub for him to get all wistful about how much he loves the water and what a hard-on he has for it. He’d never tell him that of course. You’re not supposed to find your best mate craving massive bodies of water attractive. It’s not supposed to make your throat close up thinking about it.
He clears the lump in his throat, tone teasing. “Not everyone is part fish like you.”
“You could be too.” He says softly, face open and hopeful. Maybe II had just never noticed how much this meant to Vess or he’d chosen to ignore it. His stupid excited face is making II’s chest hurt uncomfortably.
II can hear the plea in his own voice. “Come on, we could be slightly buzzed in the park by now, fucking around on the swings until you throw up in the bushes like a girl. We could be having actual fun.”
“This is actual fun.” Vess splashes II in the face, grinning when II levels him an unimpressed look, eyes stinging as he swipes the water out of them.
“Only for you. Water junkie.”
He rolls his eyes at the insult, flicking water off his fingers into II’s face.“Besides, you hate when I ‘throw up like a girl,’ you have to rub my back and let me lean on you on the way home. Never hear the end of it.”
“Still better than freezing my ass off in a massive body of water in my underwear.” More secrets to keep, he actually loves getting to rub Vess’ back and holding his heavy body up on the way home- all long limbs draped over him, massive smile plastered to his lips and eyes half closed. The closest thing he’s imagined to Vessel’s cum face, and he’s imagined it a lot.
“The water’s getting warmer.” A pause as he studies II’s face. “Do you really not want to?” Vess’ face shutters slightly and II feels like a world class prick. He’s so fucking far gone for this kid that he’d do anything to make him happy, which now includes facing his fear of water apparently.
“No. It’s fine, let's just get this over with.” He lifts his water logged shirt up and off, whipping it onto the tile at the edge of the pool, it hits with a satisfying slap. Vess follows the shirt's trajectory, smiling. It dies on his face as he takes in II’s torso, wide, dark eyes snapping up to connect with II’s.
“I thought you said it was a light day.” Vess almost whispers, the water rippling outwards as he reaches a hand out to ghost his fingers over the bruises darkening on II’s ribs. Fingers gentle, barely there pressure.
Shit.
II sighs. “Fuck, I didn’t expect for you to see.” He tries to duck down again to cover the mottled purple splotching over his ribs but the damage is done.
Vessel’s face twists, fingers disappearing from II’s skin. “So that makes it okay to lie to me?”
“No, I-”
“Cus I would have helped. You could have called me and I would have come down, I would have run or something…” He trails off, frown forming between his brows. He looks so fucking sad, face downturned toward the water, II’s fingers itch to wrap around his jaw and wipe the look off his face.
Voice much gentler, II tries to get Vessel’s dark eyes back on his face. “I know you would’ve. Look, it’s just better if it’s me instead of you.”
Wrong thing to say, Vessel’s eyes are back on his face but they’re full of hot anger. “What? Because bruises don't matter if they’re on your skin but they do if they’re on mine? Fuck that, thats your fucking dad talking, not you.”
The words land square in his chest. II lets his eyes fall shut, deep breath exhaled through his nose. This isn’t how this is supposed to be going, he’s got Vessel practically naked in a body of water, alone and offering to be close to him and this is what they’re talking about. II’s complicated relationship with the last parental figure he’s got left and his self worth issues. Fucking stupid.
“Look, I’m sorry I tried to hide it from you, okay?” Breathing deep as the frustration bubbles up his throat just like his counselor suggests almost every session, fucking hates that it’s working as his body unclenches. “I’m fine though, really. Can we please just get back to your obsession with water and showing me how to conquer my fears, yeah? You get to be a hero. You love that shit.”
“Fuck you.” There’s no heat behind it but no cheeky glint in Vessel’s eye either. His eyes keep getting caught on the dark patches of II’s skin, lingering on the mottled yellow of old marks on his shoulders.
II tries to lighten the mood, hates the haze of anguish that’s settled over the set of Vess’ shoulders. “Do I need to pretend to be drowning for you to leap into action?”
“Don't patronise me, you're the one in trouble.”
II just shrugs and throws himself backwards, feet slipping off the shallow end ledge as he sinks into nothingness, pinching his nose as the water washes over his head- his heart beating wildly at the sensation.
A beat of weightlessness follows, keeping the panic at bay. His eyes closed to the stinging chlorine, and the movement of the water echoing in his head, he’d never admit it to Vess but it is kind of peaceful. Strong hands are grabbing at his legs and hips, turning him sideways underwater before Vessel’s truly massive hands splay out on his back and thighs and he’s rising up through the water to break the surface with a gasp.
II meets Vessel’s dark gaze as he stands above him, face flat. Fucker is so tall he’s still standing, water comfortably up to his chest as he stands in the deeper tile well. “You are such a dick.” Vessel grits out.
“I knew you’d save me.” II grins at Vess with a wink. Earns himself a scoff for the trouble, hot breath hitting his face as Vessel’s hands disappear from his back and legs and he instantly panics as he starts to sink. He’s grabbing wildly at Vess’ arms and chest, water splashing around them both before Vessel’s hands come up underneath him again.
Vessel is grinning like a cheshire cat when II surfaces, spluttering and wiping the water out of his eyes. Smug prick.
II coughs some gross water out of his mouth. “I have some constructive feedback on your techniques. Is there going to be a questionnaire at the end?” He lets his voice slip into saccharine condescension once again, hoping to get another snort or eye roll out of the man looming above him.
It doesn’t really work, Vess looking down at him with annoyingly steady and patient eyes.“Yep. And I’d better get all 5’s for my service to society.”
“Unlikely.”
“Can you please stop being snarky for five minutes while I actually try and teach you? Or better yet be silent.”
II bats his eyes up at Vess. “Think about how bored you’ll be without my winning personality! I-” Vessel’s massive hand smacks down on his mouth, cutting him off quite effectively. He gets to relish the feeling of being so encompassed by Vess, all dark eyes full of mirth gazing down at him, soft palm against his sensitive lips for just a moment before his head starts sinking. He rips the hand away and Vess replaces it back underneath his back with a chuckle II feels all the way to his toes.
II keeps his mouth firmly shut under Vessel’s warning stare, loosening a deep breath through his nose that seems to please Vessel.
“Good. Your first lesson is floating.”
“I’m doing that now.” That earns II another warning look.
“Without me helping keep you up, smartarse.” The corner of Vessel’s mouth tips up in an exasperated smile. “Breathe deep and fill up your lungs so you stay up.”
II’s never been so aware of his breathing in his life, eyes flicking up to Vess’ face and snagging on his lips as his pink tongue pokes out to lick them. He lets his eyes drop, fully aware of his fast shallow breaths- eyes falling to Vessel’s bare chest and tracking the dusting of dark wet hairs there- which isn’t helping at all. He has to squeeze his eyes shut lest they travel somewhere else they shouldn’t, his mind going to places it definitely shouldn’t.
“Deeper. And let your legs go slack.” Vessel’s low voice above him again, and doesn’t that sound like something straight out of a porno, especially with II’s eyes closed. He can imagine it so clearly- Vess above him, all long limbs and soft lines, murmuring into his ear as he pushes in.
Fuck. Not the thing to be thinking about at this very minute, II swallows thickly, trying desperately to shift his mind to other things. The flabby grannies in their swim caps, his dad cracking his fifth beer, the pain in his ribs as he breathes too hard. He slows his breathing a little, feels Vessel’s eyes on his face as his hands slowly pull away beneath him. He manages it for a beat, floating suspended with the sound of the water loud in his ears. He risks popping his eyes open, finds Vessel’s eyes no longer on his face but looking downward- pink tinging his cheeks.
He follows his line of sight and finds his very obvious half hard dick bulging the front of his underwear just above the waterline.
“Fuck!”
He gasps in panic, dropping his hips below the surface and instantly sinking downwards. This time he hopes Vessel doesn’t pull him back up, he could just stay down here in the warm semi-darkness until his air runs out. He’d never have to face trying to explain why his dick is chubbing up during a fucking swim lesson with his practically naked best mate.
His lungs are starting to burn when he sees Vess’s hands cut through the water towards him, his hips shifting enough into the light for II to make out the very prominent and kinda obvious semi he’s also sporting in his dark underwear. All his remaining air escapes his lungs in surprise as he’s dragged upwards. Vess’ hands are like vices on his biceps, keeping him close but not too close as he coughs up water into his chest. Wide blue eyes dragging up to meet Vessel’s honey dark gaze that settles on his face.
“Fuck, just relax. Like I’ve never seen you pop a stiffy before.”
II tries to school his face into an acceptable expression- but fuck, what’s acceptable in this situation? Embarrassment? Surprise? Sure, they’ve definitely both gotten hard in front of each other over the years, impossible not to as awkward adolescents and as teenagers. But this feels like the first time it’s ever happened at the same time since they were in their teens, and with no reason II can think of to explain Vessel’s. There’s no bikini clad girls about, or sex scenes playing loudly in some B rated flick. Hell, not even the flabby grannies are here.
His eyes are still searching Vess’ face desperately. Looking for the answer that obviously must be there, the reason why Vessel’s on his way to being fully hard when the only thing he has to look at is half naked II.
He can't spot it though. It’s just Vessel’s normal face looking back at him, same brows pulled together into a slight frown, same bright eyes glistening down at him, same mouth slightly upturned, like there’s some private joke being shared that only he and II are in on. Still, maybe there is something off, some tightness around his eyes II hadn’t noticed before.
It makes him feel brave in a way he never has before.
His fingers move unbidden to trace Vessel’s jawline, the pads smoothing over the slight stubble, eyes glued to his mouth and catching the way Vessel’s lips part on a small intake of breath. Eyes flicking up to meet his steady gaze again, they’re both breathing hard- hurried pants mixing between them. II’s heart has never beaten this fast before, he’s sure of it. He feels like his whole body is vibrating with the rapidness of his pulse.
He lets his thumb drag up to Vessel’s pillowy bottom lip, nail dragging over the soft skin as he traces the outline on Vessel’s soft gasp. Vessel's hands tighten on his arms, fingertips digging into the old bruises, but he doesn’t feel it. Couldn’t feel anything right now apart from Vessel so close and letting II touch him like this. Not just letting but maybe enjoying it. If the heat in his eyes is anything to go by and the rapid pace of his own shallow breathing.
II lets his eyes drop down to his mouth again, thumb pressing harder, his gaze flicking back up to Vessel’s eyes at his sharp intake of breath. Their eyes snap together like a rubber band after it’s been pulled taut. The moment hangs, like a breath waiting to be exhaled, the boom of fireworks that hits your chest before the night sky lights up in colour.
“Finally.” Vessel breathes, pulling II’s whole body towards him and into a bone crushing kiss.