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Little human children giggled behind their hands at the sight before them, Gus couldn’t help but do the same.
They didn’t visit the public pool often. However, as witches crossed over more, Gus, as past captain of the HAS, wanted his friends to enjoy all aspects of human culture. Including the figurative and potentially literal cesspool of splashing toddlers and probably-pee infested water.
Plus, to Gus’ joy, one of those friends didn’t learn how to swim. And the beach, with its aggressive waves that even knocked Willow over, probably wouldn’t be the best place to learn. So he took it upon himself to teach Matt himself. He was so generous, really.
”Your parents really never took you to Lake Lacuna?” the question had been on the tip of his tongue when he first found out. But there was always a certain look when Matt got upset, genuinely upset. Faraway eyes and pinched upturned brows that made Gus feel something.
But just like he was with illusions, Matt was a quick learner, and Gus was a fabulous teacher if he did say so himself.
When they got the basics down, he retreated to sit on the edge, letting Matt practice with Vee.
Gus kicked his feet, watching the pool water ripple. It was such a bright blue. Did chlorine do that? What was chlorine anyway?
He looked up, biting back a laugh at Matt doggy paddling awkwardly under Vee’s guidance.
Anticipation simmered in his gut.
He looked at Matt, all toothy grins and bangs plastered to his forehead. He looked happy.
Gus wanted that look all to himself. And once Matt was skilled enough, he’d have it.
-
It was a pretty long ride to the beach in Conneticut, but Gus knew of another place. During their initial time on the human realm, on days he needed alone, he’d walk off.
After being gone for hours, Gus would return with a clearer head and a new secret destination all to himself. At least, until now.
Matt blinked slowly as sun hit him right in the eye. Gus brushed tree branches aside, revealing the edge of a cliff. He looked down with a grin.
“Woah,” Matt said faintly.
”I know, right? isn’t it cool?” The lake below them was a deep sea green, the sun making it sparkle in their eyes.
”It’s … okay.”
”Don’t lie.”
Gus dropped his bag, shoving it underneath a bush and kicking off his shoes, Matt followed. The two eased closer to the edge, Matt slowing a bit.
The cliff was pretty tall, but not enough that the fall hurt, the illusionist figured.
“This is safe, Augustus?” Matt’s voice voice was hesitant, however he was quick to deflect. “I don’t want you getting hurt, you’re so frail.”
”I’m bigger than you.”
”Taller,” Matt corrected, “whose job is literally construction ergo lifting heavy shit all the time?” he flexed his muscles for emphasis, and Gus had to feign disgust.
”You mainly draw the crap, and make Kikimora do all the work,” he snapped back, a light blush tinging his ears.
Matt grumbled a bit, crossing his arms as he looked over the edge.
“You swear it doesn’t boil?”
“I swear.”
“On King’s dad?”
“On King’s dad, dude.”
Gus grabbed Matt’s shoulders, hugging him loosely. Upon being drawn into the false sense of security, Matt begrudgingly nodded.
”You remember to hold your nose?”
”Yeah - but,” Gus cut him off quickly, dirt scuffled underneath their feet as Gus pushed - pushed -
A girlish shriek the constructionist would deny later.
“What the fuck!”
The two tumbled off the cliff in a gaggle of tangled limbs and held noses, the air ripping through them.
Matt yelled all the way down, clinging to him with wide, angry eyes.
Gus took back his previous assessment on it not hurting to hit the water. It was like a cold smack to the face. They detached as they sank, clawing to the surface. Gus gulped up air, skin prickly as goosebumps formed. The water was so much colder in the human realm …
”Matty?” he called as he breached the surface, eyes still shut tightly. At the lack of response, a bit of panic flared. “Matt?”
”Hold your nose.”
Gus gasped as he was pushed back under water, swallowing lake water as he sputtered for oxygen. After the blatant assassination attempt on Matt’s part, Gus had to enact revenge. They continued to splash and chase each other for almost an hour.
His legs shook from exertion as they swam for a nearby rock. He glared in envy as Matt hoisted himself on the boulder like it was nothing, like really, where was that twig packing the muscle?
Matt yanked Gus up by the back of his tank top so he could flop beside him on the rough surface, gasping.
”Weak, nerd.”
”Shut up.”
Matt looked around. The lake was encased in a woodlands, the land sloped upward to be a mountain. There were a couple lower ledges that Gus would originally jump into the lake from, as he worked his way up to the highest one.
“You didn’t even jump from that before making me do it? What if there was rocks or something?” Matt cried. “I could’ve died!”
”I’ve swam this lake plenty of times, there aren’t rocks.”
”We’re sitting on a rock, you dumb fuck.”
Gus promptly shoved the boy off the edge, taking great satisfaction in Matt’s flailing limbs.
As Matt drowned beside him, Gus tugged idly on his hair. It was a good thing wash day was coming up.
It was another hour before they made their way back up the mountain, which, in hindsight was a lot harder barefoot, but Gus still thought it was worth it.
Too tired to hold an argument, they murmured amongst each other quietly, bumping shoulders and brushing hands.
Gus shivered, only partially from the cold.
They arrived back at Camilla’s as the sun came down. Thankful that she allowed them to stay the night, they trekked to the basement.
Camilla came down to call them for dinner, only to find them tangled together still in their swim trunks.
She smiled, and flicked the light off before retreating back upstairs.
-
“Did you put on any sunscreen?” Camilla gasped in horror at the angry, red flaking skin of Matt’s shoulders.
”I did!” he shouted back, shoulder’s bunched up, “ .. Ms. Noceda,” he added hastily.
Matt hissed as Gus pumped aloe vera over the irritated skin, rubbing it in weakly. When Camilla excused herself to find more healing ointment, Gus smacked the skin lightly.
”Ow! Augustus!” Matt reached behind him blindly to hit Gus.
”Does it hurt?”
”What do you think, prodigy?”
Gus laughed quietly, muttering an apology as he massaged the aloe vera into Matt’s shoulder blades. On autopilot, he leaned forward, head darting down to press a brief kiss to his shoulder.
”I’m sorry, Matty.”
He peeked at Matt’s face hesitantly, silently hoping the red adorning his face wasn’t just because of the sunburn.