A swimming lesson on Isla Holbox goes awry... or does it?

𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹

"No, Zane. I'm not gonna do it," Brooks said stubbornly, glaring at the tall boy in front of the sparkling Caribbean ocean.

"Come on, Brooks. You know you're going to hav to learn how to swim," Zane said. "Unless you want me to make another deal with the god of death and destruction to save your life after you almost drown."

"Don't remind me," she grumbled. "I still hate you for doing that."

"I saved the day anyway," Zane said with a smirk. "So, win-win."

"Right. Other than you almost dying and going to Ixtab."

"I really wish you would get over that. It was a minor hiccup."

Brooks rolled her eyes and socked him in the arm. "It was not and you know it well, Zane Obispo."

"You sound like my mom," Zane said under his breath.

"What was that?"

"Nothing."

"You know I have the ears of a hawk."

"Then why'd you ask?"

"To see if you would fess up."

"Whatever. You still have to learn to swim."

"No! Not today!" Brooks panicked.

"Why not? The weather's great and there's barely anybody here. Plus, I'm getting tired of dragging you through the water on quests."

"You- you didn't tell me to bring a bathing suit," she said, grasping at straws now.

"You don't even own a bathing suit. What you're wearing now is fine," Zane said.

"Next week," she said desperately. "You can teach me then."

He rolled his eyes and grabbed her hand, dragging her towards the gently crashing waves. She struggled but couldn't escape. "Zane! Let me go!"

"You never know when we'll be sent off on another quest to save the world. Better you learn now, while we have time."

"Better than what?" Brooks demanded.

"Better than you getting thrown into the ocean and drowning because you wouldn't listen to me."

"I'll learn then!"

"What's the difference between learning then and now that makes that better?" Zane asked.

"'Cause I'll have proper motivation then!"

"You learn now, you don't have to panic when you're floundering in the middle of the ocean. Isn't that motivation enough?"

"No!"

"Plus, it's fun," Zane said.

"No, it's not," Brooks said, but allowed Zane to pull her into the sea after she kicked off her sandals and put them on the fishing docks. The water wasn't too cold, but enough to make her shiver. The sea spray from the waves lapping up against them showered her face in droplets.

They waded out into the sea, far enough for the water to be at Brooks's neck. She clutched onto Zane's arm tightly and sent him a frantic telepathic message.

"Don't let go, don't let go, don't you dare let go-"

"Relax," he said, the water only coming up to the bottom of his shoulders. "You can't swim while freaking out."

"I'm in the ocean, Zane! I can't not freak out!"

"Just jump off the sand and kick your legs back and forth. You don't have to worry about fighting a current. Move your arms in circles, or paddle. Don't try to swim with your body perfectly vertical. Level out, Brooks."

Brooks scowled but did as he said, managing to keep herself afloat. Zane let go of her arm, at which point she panicked and started to sink. Zane grabbed hold of her again, and she splashed him in the face.

"I told you not to let go!"

Zane wipes some salt water out of his eyes. "Sorry, sorry. But you were doing fine on your own!"

"No, I wasn't."

"You were staying afloat, at least."

"I want to go back," she said firmly.

"Alright, fine," he said. "But first, I'm going to let go and you're going to tread as best you can."

"Tread?"

"Just kick your feet and move your arms in circles. It's how you stay afloat without going anywhere."

Brooks thought about it. "Fine."

"Seriously, Brooksy, it's not quantum physics."

"Brooksy?" She spluttered indignantly.

Zane grinned at her stupidly, and before she could punch him, he let go of her arm and dove underwater. Brooks panicked and started sinking, but then she remembered what he had said. Just kick your feet and move your arms in circles. Relax. You can't swim while freaking out.

So she did, and her head stopped going under. Brooks turned in a circle. Zane hadn't come up for air, and at this point she was getting worried for the godborn.

"Zane?" She called out. "Zane! Zane Obispo! Where in Xib'alb'a are you?"

At this point, she didn't even care that she was swimming, all by herself. Her hawk eyes were furiously scanning the reflective sea, searching for Zane.

Someone grabbed ahold of her shoulders from behind. "Boo!"

Brooks shrieked- something she never did- and an unabashed Zane bust out laughing. She turned and shoved him away, sending water flying into his face.

"Zane Obispo!" She hissed in rage. "Don't you ever do that again!"

"Do what?" He asked innocently.

She waved her arms angrily. "You know- disappear underwater! And scare me!"

"Okay, sorry," his tone didn't make it seem like he was sorry.

"Back to shore," she ordered. "Now."

"Fine, stop being so pushy," he said. "I don't have to carry you there, do I?"

A wicked plot formed in Brooks's head. She made sure not to touch Zane so he wouldn't hear it. "No, I can swim for myself."

"So my tactic worked," he said smugly.

Oh, just you wait, hotshot.

Zane turned and started swimming back to shore. Brooks followed for a bit, then yelled, "Holy K!" and dove underwater after taking the biggest breath of air she could manage.

She swam away from Zane, hoping he wouldn't see her. She panicked a little, being so unaccustomed to being underwater that she nearly bolted back to the surface. Nevertheless, she managed to get out of Zane's sight and swam in short awkward strokes back to the shore while the son of Hurakan had his back turned, searching desperately for the half-Nawal.

Brooks climbed out and wrung our her hair, then sat on the docks, her legs dangling into the water with her sandals sitting next to her. She saw Zane go underwater and laughed wickedly. As his head popped back above the water, she called, "Hey! Zane!"

He whirled around in the water, his face flushing angrily as he realized what she'd done. He quickly swam towards the docks. "Brooks! You scared me!"

She smirked. "Payback."

He glared at her. "You little-"

Before he finished his curse, his countenance softened, and he held out a hand. "Help me out?" He asked, giving her the begging puppy dog eyes he'd learned from Rosie.

Brooks stood and held out her hand, clasping Zane's.

"Payback for your payback," his voice said in her mind, registering a second before he yanked on her hand, trying to pull her back in. Luckily, Brooks's reactions were fast, so she let go of Zane's hand, succeeding in not falling.

"Dammit," Zane muttered.

"Nice try, Obispo," she said. "But the hawk wins."

He seemed to take that as a challenge. "Or does she?" He asked cryptically, pulling himself up onto the docks. Brooks ran from him back onto the beach, leaving her sandals behind.

No one really cared about the sandals though, as Zane chased the half-Nawal over the sand. He almost fell a few times, not having Fuego in hand. He tapped the jaguar tattoo on his hand, and the silver cane/spear shot out. Instead of using it to help him run, he poured on the speed until he was right behind Brooks, than flicked out the tip and tripped her, sending her tumbling into the soft sand. She landed on her back as Fuego turned back into a tattoo. Unfortunately, that meant Zane also tripped and fell on top of Brooks, barely avoiding crushing her.

Brooks's face flamed at their close proximity. Zane just grinned. "I believe I won that time."

"Oh, shut up," she said. "It wasn't even a contest."

"I do believe it was," he said, still smiling idiotically.

"Get off me before I throw sand in your face," she said.

Zane smirked. "Okay," he said.

But instead of getting off her, he leaned closer and cupped her cheek with his hand before kissing her gently. After a moment of registering what was happening, Brooks returned the kiss, her hand pressed on the back of his neck. Zane pulled away from need of air and rolled off her, lying by her side, and grabbed her hand. Both of their faces were a matching crimson.

Brooks shook it off first. "What was that?" She asked telepathically.

"Sorry, I just-" Zane struggled for an answer, before turning to see a wry smile on Brooks's face. "You liked it."

"I..." now it was Brooks's turn to be at a loss for words. "Maybe."

Zane wrapped an arm around her, pulling her closer so her head rested beneath his chin. "Brooks... this is going to sound really cliche, but will you be my girlfriend?"

She looked up at him before leaning up and pressing her lips against his again. "Does that answer your question?"

"Well enough," Zane smiled and held her closer as the sun went down.

"Wait, Zane," she said out loud, pulling away.

"What?" He asked.

"We forgot my sandals."