"How are you this good at this!" Dick yelled, running after me.

We were having a simple race on the beach, one in which I had instantly gained the lead in. Whereas Wally and Dick found their feet slipping in the loose sand, I shifted my weight perfectly with each step. There were perks to being a demigod after all. We might not like how or why we have some of the skills we do, but we still have them. 

My feet hit the water and I turned, only to see Kaldur placing second. His swim shirt from earlier in the week was gone, discarded off to the side, thanks in part to the secluded nature of this beach. I couldn't help but let my eyes wander before I tore them away. I can't.

"This is quite entertaining," Kaldur said. A gentle smile was on his face as he watched Wally and Connor slip and fall.

"How many times do you think they'll fall?"

"Wally does this often, so I would say a lot."

Megan and Dick soon joined us, followed by Artemis as Connor walked over, dragging one Wallace West across the sand. I snickered, imagining how much fun Wally's going to have later. Sand sand everywhere, and not a way to get rid of it.  

Soon, we moved to other activities, ones that would hopefully be less embarrassing for Wally and Connor. Skipping rocks on the oddly calm water, they're welcome for that, swimming, jumping waves on the definitely not calm water, and currently, watching the boys put up a volleyball net. 

By boys I meant Connor and Wally, seeing as they lost at pretty much everything. 

"How can someone be that bad at skipping rocks?" I asked, digging my feet into the sun-warmed sand. "I mean, you'd think he'd never tried it before."

"That is because he has not. Connor-" Kaldur paused. "-did not have the most conventional upbringing."

"I feel that." I sighed. "Nothing like your dad skipping out on you to make your life weirder." Nothing like your dad being an immortal sea god either, but I feel like telling that to an Atlantean would end up with quite a few problems. Not- Not for him. For me. I'm pretty sure I'd murder him if he started calling me by my title, though murdering him would, in fact, make that a problem for him. 

Artemis groaned. "Please don't start a pun war with Wally, he'll never stop."

"Okay, I won't. That would be awful shellfish of me."

And that is how I ended up buried up to my neck in the sand. 

I sighed and stared out over the waves, resting my head back agains the massive pile of sand. The sun had sunken below the horizon a long time ago, not that I could see it, but if it was still in the sky at midnight in the continental forty-eight we'd be having issues much more important than everyone forgetting about me.

Sand crunched behind me and I tried to turn, tried to go to for Riptide, but being buried in the sand wasn't exactly helping matters. My mind flicked towards the water, only for me to loosen my hold on it the moment the source of the noise entered into my field of vision.

"Apologies, we should not have forgotten you," Kaldur said. "I cannot excuse this, but we are not used to having someone else with us." 

"To be fair, I didn't exactly realize you guys had left. Kinda nodded off for a bit." I chuckled and wiggled around a little bit. "I'd probably have yelled for you guys if this wasn't a regular occurrence for me. You have no idea how many times I've woken up only to be buried like this."

Kaldur looked around the area. "Hold on a moment." He slid something silver out of a pocket and a light glow appeared from under his jacket. water, glowing light blue, was pulled from the ocean. The water constructs made easy work of the sand around me and Kaldur offered me his free hand to pull me up. Electricity zapped me, eliciting an apology from him, but I waved it off.

Soon the hole was filled in, and there was no reason for me to stand here. Nor was there any reason for Kaldur to still be here. He'd done what he came to do. So why? Why was he still here? Why was my heart pounding and for gods' sake why can't I get a hold on my emotions? I know the consequences of someone getting close to me. And why shouldn't I? It happens time and time again, with someone I care about dead. Hades, sometimes it's not even someone I'm close to. I barely knew Bianca and Zoë yet they still ended up dying. So many people around me die, why should-

"-ercy?"  A sharp yelp left my lips and I threw myself backwards. The loose sand under my feet sent me falling. Kaldur's arm wrapped around my waist, catching me before I hit the ground. "Apologies, I did not mean to startle you."

I waved my hand. "It's fine. I shouldn't have freaked out." We stood there, at least until Kaldur realized he was still holding onto me. He pulled his hands away, but not the concerned stare that was still fixed on me.

"There tend to be reasons why people react like that."

"And it this case it's because I startle easily."

"For some reason, I truly doubt that." He sighed. "I will not pry into your past, I have no right to do so, but-" He drew a piece of paper from his pocket. "-you are welcome to text me."

"Thanks," I said. I stood there before wrapping him in a quick hug. "Stay safe, and make sure Dick doesn't do anything stupid."

He returned the hug. His skin was cool, whether as a result of my own body temperature being fairly warm or as his being cooler, I had no idea. "I will try my best."

Oooo, is this a new chapter? It is

as in this wasn't in the original

Have fun, im gonna get something to drink, grab my cat, and type some more

See yah