Empty Bottle

AURELIA

and my hands aren't clean
maybe they never will be

Aurelia eyed him, waist-deep {like a coward}, observing the way his face reddened and his jaw clenched from the chills that shuddered up his spine. But he was making his descent into the waves, slow as it was, and she could give him credit for that. The waves lulled against Aurelia's body, pushing, pulling, ebbing and flowing. Calming. As her feet swept out against the depths, supporting her, well past the drop-off of the coast, she could feel her body begin acclimating to the water. Somewhere in all of this, she'd lost her makeshift hair tie. So her hair streaked around her face and shoulders, weighed down by the water.

Milo's voice brought her gaze back up from the ocean around them, and she smiled at him. "Cold and awful? Tell me how you really feel, why don't'cha?" She feigned hurt feelings, pouting.

Then, she reached up and grabbed him by the arm, pulling him off of the edge of the shallows and into the depths with her. Her shirt, as it was white, was drenched and, therefore, entirely see-through. An overlooked detail, or maybe it was intentional. The waves pushed her forward again, and she let them, pressing her hardened breasts against him and placing a hand on his shoulder.

"I can warm you up," She murmured with a flirty grin, voice softer now that they were closer, just audible above the sounds of the beach around them. She placed her other hand on his other shoulder and proceeded, "It helps if you get your hair wet."

As if to make her point, she shifted her weight and dunked him under the surface.

but they can still carry you home
when you're ready to sleep

MILO

this is for the snakes and the people they bite
for the friends i've made, for the sleepless nights

He peers back at her, honeyed eyes bright and a bit mischievous as he watches her, a dark brow raising at her smile then sudden hurt, watching her lips as they form a pout. Still, he can’t help the huff of breathy laughter that leaves him, an exasperated roll of his eyes accentuated with the shiver that travels along his spine again, goosebumps rising in the wake of it all.

Still, he’s finally there with her – feet easily planted before the edge of the deep, peering at her as she grabs him and tugs him into the water with her. He’s helpless to stop it, falling into her, buoyed by the sea, arms scrabbling against the salty waves to wrap around her and press her into him more. Her body against his doesn’t go unnoticed, nor does the way her shirt clings to her, with the way her hair frames and clings to her face, her flirtation has him searching her face, looking for something within it.

It’s as good a distraction as any, entirely enraptured by her he doesn’t notice the way her hands shift, the way she moves to better situate herself. He absolutely doesn’t notice as soon as he’s going under, sputtering a bit at first. But Milo’s been raised near the water and practically within it, and his body tenses as he goes to lift himself out of the water, shaking his head out of the water to spray it back at her, huffing down a deep inhale of breath.

“Aye now, I think tha’ssa bit uncalled fer!” He rumbles, pouting as the water runs down his face, arms tightening around her to spin her until he’s dunking the both of them accurately prepared this time, pressing himself against her.

for the warning signs i've completely ignored
there's an amount to take, reasons to take more

AURELIA

and my hands aren't clean
maybe they never will be

She laughed, flinching slightly when he shook water onto her with a dog-like shake of his head. She might've had more of a retort for him but, it was quickly silenced when she realized he was going to actually retaliate. Her eyes widened and she pushed her hands against his chest, though the smile remained, "Nono- Milo!"

A sharp inhale through her nose was all she managed to do before he pulled her under with him this time. She opened her eyes beneath the water and she glared absolute daggers at him. The look dissolved quickly, though, because she knew she was asking for it. That smile came back, softer and tender and... bubbling, a bit, because she was running out of air. She kicked out her legs and parted from him, resurfacing with a gasp.

She paused, struck by the view as her eyes surveyed the open ocean beyond them. The way the sunrise had turned into a pastel red color, the gulls as they flew past the horizon; it all painted quite a beautiful picture.

Yet, she found that she couldn't waste much time dwelling on it. As much as it allured to her senses, she wanted nothing more than to dive in with Milo. She turned back to him with that characteristic glint in her eye. There was a little something more in her gaze this time, though. Something that you can't quite put your thumb on, but it's good all the same.

Aurelia could probably spend all day with him but, honestly, she was grateful for what she could get - and she'd make the absolute most of it. Her arms reached out to wrestle him back into the water, their laughter fading into the morning.

~fin.

but they can still carry you home
when you're ready to sleep