𝗠𝘆 𝗘𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗲 ⇉ 𝗝𝗝 𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗸

Don't Want Them

"DON'T TOUCH that!" Ari swats JJ's hand away from the intricate control panel with a force that echoed her urgency.

The panel, a web of buttons and dials, was the nerve center of their underwater drone, a piece of equipment far too delicate for JJ's impulsive touch.

Pope, eyes glued to the monitor, shot JJ a look of exasperation before refocusing on the screen.

The grainy feed shows John B and Kie clowning around in the murky depths, their figures distorted by the water's embrace.

"I'm trying to figure this out." He mumbles, fingers dancing across the keys.

JJ, unfazed by the rebuke, saunters to the edge of the weathered dock, the wood creaking softly under his weight. "God bless geeks, Pope. Seriously, man. What would we do without you to handle the drones?"

Ari playfully punches his arm, a gesture that was both affectionate and a subtle reminder of his recklessness.

"Technically, it's not a drone. It's an ROV—Remotely Operated Vehicle." Pope corrects, his voice tinged with a familiar blend of pride and pedantry.

"Shut up. Shut up. It's too early for that right now." JJ interrupts, waving a dismissive hand.

The morning sun was barely cresting the horizon, and his patience for technical jargon was wearing thin.

"Aw no, keep talking, Pope. I think it's cute." Ari interjects, flashing Pope a warm smile that made his cheeks flush.

He beams back, momentarily lost in her friendly and warm gaze.

Behind them, JJ rolls his eyes, a flicker of jealousy dancing in his expression.

"Hey, once we get footage of the wreck, we'll take it to a lawyer in town and file a formal claim." John B swam in lazy circles, his form barely visible in the gloom.

"It's such bullshit. Why do we have to do that?" JJ turns back to Pope and Ari, frustration etched on his face.

The prospect of dealing with lawyers and legal red tape was a bitter pill to swallow.

"Well, there's maritime salvage law." Pope points out, taking a step closer to Ari, who nods.

"You can't just go to the ocean floor and scoop a bunch of stuff up. You have to follow the rules sometimes."

"Yeah, I know. Lawyers aren't cheap." JJ mutters, shaking his head in resignation.

"As soon as they see the footage, they'll work for a cut." John B says confidently, his voice echoing from the depths. "Trust me, guys. This is gonna work."

"And how do you know all that?" Kie asks, turning to John B, her green eyes sparkling with a mix of curiosity and disbelief.

A gentle breeze tousles her sun-streaked hair as she waited for his answer, the salty air filling her lungs.

"Because my dad said it like, a million times." John B replies with a nonchalant shrug, his gaze fixed on the horizon.

"Yeah, that's fair." Kie says, tilting her head thoughtfully.

She glances back at Pope and Ari, a silent acknowledgment passing between them. The impending storm seemed to mirror the uncertainty in their hearts.

"This tether is really long. In crazy weather, it could get pushed around." Ari quips, her brow furrow with concern.

She steps closer to Kie, her voice carrying over the rising wind, addressing John B with a pointed look.

"Then we'll go at dead calm." John B states, his voice unwavering, not even glancing at Ari as thunder rumbles ominously in the distance.