Chapter Text
Green trees and seaside plants surrounded an enclosed beach; blue waves crashed against a yellow sand, churning up seashells and rocks to the shore. Children played in the summer sun, building their sandcastles and wading around in the ocean as parents watched from under the shade of large umbrellas. Couples giggled together, enjoying their talks as they walked hand in hand along the surf. Girls in bikinis and boys in trunks scattered the scene, but the blonde lifeguard had his gaze only focused on one person for the first time since he got the job: a muscular brunette man carrying a surfboard. As embarrassing as it was for him to admit, ever since the brunette arrived, he had been his sole focus- the blonde had nearly even gotten in trouble for it a few times. His last encounter with his boss had been a chilling experience- even through her Chanel sunglasses, he could feel her looking down on him, scrutinizing his every movement. Caesar Anthonio Zeppeli was not going to allow some random surfer to show up and ruin his only job. It didn't matter that said surfer had beautiful washboard abs and legs that went on for miles. It didn't matter that the surfer's smile was as radiant as the sun itself or that his chocolate hair was constantly cutely tousled and looked perfect for running his fingers through. It didn't matter, because Caesar Zeppeli was a lifeguard. He guards lives from the watery death that may await them. Granted he's never had to do much besides save a few kids from drowning in knee deep water and tell people how to treat jellyfish stings. Either way, this was his beach, this was his domain, and this annoyingly handsome surfer was not going to waltz in here with his tight wetsuit that clung to each individual muscle. And his butt. His ass looked godly in it. Caesar wondered how it'd look without that wetsuit and perched nicely in his lap. And goddammit why is this guy here, distracting Caesar like this as if it was his job. What an annoying son of a bitch.
"Mr. Lifeguard, can we have some bubbles, please?" A small voice asked, snapping the blonde out of his thoughts. He looked down from his chair to see two kids staring up at him expectantly. Over the few months he worked as a lifeguard, he'd gotten into the habit of bringing bubbles for the children to play with, making him practically notorious to the families and kids of the neighborhoods closeby. After all, it was a good distraction for himself on the job anyways.
He reached into the bag tied to his chair and gently tossed some bubbles down to both of the kids, "Go nuts." he said, smiling.
"Thank you!!" The children yelled as they ran off giggling about their new acquisition. It didn't take long for Caesar to start seeing the rainbow coloured bubbles drift slowly back to him, popping right before his eyes. He turned to where he last saw the surfer and saw the brunette was long gone. Maybe he finally realized that this area of the beach wasn’t that good for waves? Hopefully, it would’ve taken him long enough. Nonetheless, Caesar couldn’t help but feel a bit disappointed.
Why is that guy coming to the beach if he doesn’t even surf? Maybe the surfboard is just for show? Is he overcompensating for something? Why is he here and why does he have to look like that? Maybe he just comes to the beach to watch over a little brother or sister? But then why does he have the surfboard and wetsuit?
These are the questions that plague Caesar at night.
Have I even seen him wet or in the water before? Mamma mia, if he’s just got all that for show, he must be a total asshole.
A petite blonde girl in a red swimsuit and hair bandana sat atop the lifeguard’s chair. Her bright red nails tapped out harsh rhythms against the peeling white paint of the armrest as she jiggled her leg up and down impatiently. “Oh!! Caesar, you’re finally here!!” Suzie exclaimed, her already bright face lighting up even more, “C’mon, c’mon, let’s hurry up and switch out, I bought tickets to that new movie, and it’s gonna start in like, an hour? Maybe? It’s starting soon, that’s all that matters.” The other lifeguard practically jumped down from the chair and hurriedly tossed the whistle at the blonde man before he could even get out a hello. “Oh!! By the way, the bubbles you kept at the chair might’ve been stolen, so-”
“What? How?”
“You know, the golden trio’s up at it again.” Suzie said nonchalantly as she slipped on her flip flops.
“Golden? Trio?”
“The kids with the weird hair? Pompadour, donuts, and dumplings? Yeah, it was them I’m pretty sure. I mean, I didn’t see, because otherwise I would’ve saved your precious bubbles, but they’re the only ones that’d do that sorta thing after all, y’know?” Suzie checked the watch on her wrist,”Eek!! Caesar, you held me up!!”
“But I didn’t do anything?”
“Caesar, I can’t believe you’d do this, I’m gonna be late now!! I’ve gotta go like right now, so bye!! See you tomorrow!!” Suzie said before running off as quickly as she could in the sand. Caesar stared after the energetic girl, before climbing up to the chair himself.
After hours of absolutely nothing (and disappointed hoards of kids), the sun began to set, tinting the sky shades of orange and pink, striking hard against dark grey waves. Silence settled in as families packed up umbrellas and brought their protesting children home, leaving only the sounds of seagulls, waves, and the distant murmurs of conversations that existed in their own world. Caesar would have to say this was certainly his favourite part of the day. Sure, he enjoyed watching the chaos of a crowded beach - hell, he'd say he'd even say he reveled in it, what with his excitable younger siblings (and one older) at home, but the way everything settled peacefully by the end of the it all was something else entirely. Once the sun set in a few minutes or so, he'd finally be able to leave, and those moments would be spent in peace and quiet.
Or so Caesar thought.
"Hey, blondie number two, even if you're wearing sunglasses, it's bad for your eyes to stare into the sun like that." An unfamiliar voice called from below him. Caesar looked down, "Or at least, I think so? I mean it still leaves those weird dots in your eyes after all. Unless my sunglasses are just cheap." The surfer took off his own pair, inspecting them closely.
Holy shit. Oh my god. Oh my god, it’s him. Crap, he's even cuter up close. How is looking like that legal. How is he talking to me. Is he even talking to me or am I just imagining this whole thing?
"You're not that talkative, are ya, huh?"
Mamma mia, so he is talking to me. I spent too long thinking to actually have a good conversation. Shit. Shit shit shit.
"Earth to blondie number two, come in blondie number two. Blondie number two, do you copy? Over and out."
"Hmm? Sorry, just trying to tune out your jabbering." Fucking perfect. "Is there something you need or not? The sun's about to set and I'm about to leave, so out with it."
The surfer pouted at him, "Sheesh, no need for the attitude, blondie number two. Do you always greet handsome guys like that?"
"Well, usually they're are the ones introducing themselves to me first. Do you usually greet people with 'blondie number two'?"
"Nah, I was kinda hoping you were the other blonde lifeguard girl. She's blondie number one, the original blondie. By the way, is she around anywhere?"
Oh. Caesar scoffed, "We both have names other than blondie one and two, you know. And, no, she's not around, she left when I showed up. You know. For my job. There's this thing called shifts. Sitting on your ass for a whole day would kinda suck, but I get the feeling you're used to that."
"Well, as long as you look good up there. And I'll tell you, blondie number one looks damn good up there. You? Not so much."
"Excuse me?" Caesar retorted. He climbed down the chair and stood against the other man. It was only now Caesar realized how tall the surfer really was, he only ever saw him from a distance, but never up close. The man had a good three inches or so over him. Nonetheless, Caesar's glare worked just as well to intimidate the surfer, he seemed to have backed away a little bit.
"Yeesh, fine, fine. Here.” The surfer cleared his throat, “You're sooooooo attractive, blondie number two!!" he mock swooned and threw himself onto a now shocked Caesar, "God, just take me now, how about you demonstrate CPR on me? And I bet you have like, the biggest dick in the world, it'd make sense since you have the personality of one too!!" With that he tried to shove Caesar away roughly, but Caesar grabbed on to the collar of the surfer's wetsuit, bringing them both falling down into the sand. Caesar reacted quickly, pushed the surfer off him, and pinned him down instead.
"I swear to god, if you ever talk to me again, I am going to rip your tongue out." Caesar growled.
The surfer squinted at him, "Fine. Fine!! God, see if I give a shit. You're the one that's been ogling me ever since I showed up here." Caesar jolted up and gasped, and the surfer took his chance to sit up again, "You seriously didn't think I'd notice? It's painfully obvious. You're so thirsty, even people lost in a desert for days would need less water than you!!"
Before he even knew what he was doing, Caesar slapped the surfer hard in the face. The scruffy haired brunette fell back into the sand, groaning and holding on to his cheek, now blossoming with a pink handprint. Caesar stood up and, once again, grabbed hold of the surfer's collar and brusquely lifted him up before shoving him staggering towards the exit of the beach. "Vaffanculo di cazzo!! Stronzo!!"
"Jokes on you!! I don't even know what any of the shit you're saying means, dickwad!!" The surfer yelled back as he stomped away, still nursing his cheek with one hand and flipping off Caesar with the other.
"Chi se ne frega!!" Caesar stood in the sand, still watching the entrance even after the surfer had left.
Mamma mia. And we could've just talked about sunglasses.
He only just now realized it had turned dark long ago, the sky was now a deep, dark blue and the faint rolling of thunder could be heard in the distance. Caesar made his way towards the exit, but slipped on something and fell face first to the ground. After rubbing sand off his face, he realized the man's board had been left behind in the fight; the whole thing was nearly buried under the sand the two managed to kick around. Caesar picked the board up and leaned it gently against the side of the chair to find that sand did actually stick to it. Guess it isn't just for show then? He hurriedly wiped off the sand and left the empty beach.