Beach Stuff [revised]
Was cleaning up and found my little beach drabble from about a year ago or so. Did some editing to smooth out the wrinkles. Hope it sounds better
it feels too short to post to ao3 so I'll keep it here. for anyone new its the revised version of this
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Dusting the sand from his backside, which only spread it further into his fur, Kurt was beginning to regret choosing the beach. He loved the ocean and all it had to reveal but the sand, he just couldn’t do it. Huffing, he kicks out a leg as the micro pieces of itchy hell scrape terribly between his legs- leaving a sand-rash sure to last. He normally loved the beach, when he was sitting in a chair preferably away from the sand in a temperature controlled environment with a sweet alcoholic beverage to enjoy.
Settling back into place he reranged his towel to hopefully give better protection from the harsh elements, which didn’t change his predicament in the slightest. Irritated and yearning to leave the wretched place he glanced outwards, towards the waves that lapped gently against the colorful shore. There, in the shallows he could see her. Haloed by blinding sunlight like some sort of sea nymph rising from the depths. For a moment he thinks of the birth of Venus and how fitting it is for her.
Kitty stomped around calf-deep in the clear water atop a sandbar, leaning down to examine a baby cuttlefish zooming by. Stepping around carefully to avoid cutting her foot open on some broken shells, Kitty crouches and dips a sun-screened hand into the water. Since coming here Kitty had found Krakoa’s beach to be full of rich ecosystems of all manner of sea life, it felt odd that one of the worst places could host such vibrant life. Looking back at the sandy shore she stifles a laugh, her blue lover wrestles with the towel below him in an attempt to keep the wind from blowing more sand onto his nearly beige fur. By the time they'd get home he'd be nothing more than a piece of human sandpaper. Her sight eventually drifted back to the shimmering ocean line. Kitty wondered where it ended, no other ocean in their hemisphere had such pure water with all the oil spills and general pollution. Giving Kurt a final glance she turns and wades deeper, letting the cool, strong current pull her away from the shore, away from everything.
As she dipped further out, waves lapping at her cheeks a line of thought she’d tried to avoid since her arrival surfaced, If she looked far enough below would she see herself? Would she be able to discern the burnt corpse her ‘friends’ had so lovingly discarded to the ocean rather then give her the proper funeral she deserved? Probably not. The idea of coming face to face without her previous body made her ill. Still the curiosity never wavered. What was she wearing when they shipped her off to sea? The boots her mother gifted her before the ultimate mass death-suicide ressurection? Maybe her old self was still wearing her grandmother's ring, she hadn’t been able to find it since awaking. Luckily, Kurt had saved her star of david. A small beam of light in her otherwise cloudy mindstorm. She’d made it a priority not to let herself sink back into the what-iffing, to not give into the existential dread. But something about the cool, empty ocean seemed to draw the memories right out of her head.
Letting another large wave sweep her under the deep blue she let her mind clear and sank. Her hands tense as she dove deeper, maybe she’d see herself down below? Maybe her ashes had spread into the never ending waves for all eternity, never given the respect or rest she’d thought she earned. It was probably stupid anyway, right? She came back in the end! But… still, looking into the empty sandbanks below she still felt the bitter ache deep in her gut, it wasn’t fair.
A sharp, jerky movement catches in her peripheral vision, kicking back up; she's greeted by a plume of violet smoke spread far and wide into the waves above. Painting the waves briefly deep indigo. Through the purple cloud a face peeks out, he sees her and smiles. Waving, Kitty kicks back to the surface. Breaking the water barrier and gasping for air she hadn’t noticed she needed. Kurt smiles as his wet curls fall into his eyes. Kitty laughs, reaching to push the black tendrils away.
Spitting out more water he shakes his head sheepishly, the same roguish grin held high and happily. From a distance Kitty could see the sun begin the set, the evening light disappearing beneath the now darkening tides. Tilting his head Kurt looks down at her, wrapping his arms around her to pull her close to him, somewhat easing that now enshrouded them. Kitty holds him close, fingers gripping handfuls of soaking fur in an effort to rest her sore arms and enjoy the sunset here, with him. Reaching forward he runs a wet, velvet-soft palm along her temple, then her cheek as his thumb pressed thoughtfully against her lips. His eyes brighten the dimness around the two, lighting for her. Pushing against the rough waves she closes the gap, pushing his hand down she kisses him. He kisses her back eagerly and doesn’t let go, he holds her close and he doesn’t let go. Her arms tense and tighten around his broad, sopping figure.
Sighing, she pulls back and lays her face onto his wet shoulder to stare off into the dark emptiness, a new feeling of contentment washing over her. His presence always seemed to fix away the darkness that crept in.
“Are you alright? ” Looking down at her with loving golden eyes.
“ I am now “ she mumbles tiredly. He holds her closer and laughs, using a free hand to push back wet strands of curled hair that had shaken loose from its bun.
“ Come then, let's go home “