We meet at the sea

Riding waves.

The sun crept upon the horizon, Cruz's room was dim.
Aaliyah woke up warmer than usual, that had everything to do with Cruz lying beside her.

The surfer's face was free from expression as she slept peacefully. Aaliyah hesitated as she reached out to glide her fingertips down Cruz's back.

She pulled herself closer to the woman whose body heat radiated from under her skin. Aaliyah had disturbed Cruz enough that she awoke half asleep with a grunt.

"C'mere." Cruz mumbled as she rolled over, pulling Aaliyah onto her chest with a sigh.

Aaliyah settled down and laid her arm around Cruz's bear waist. Her mind was loud and unsettled, the complete opposite to Cruz who seemed to have fallen asleep again.

Aaliyah knew that Cruz's ragged roots were already buried deep. They had pierced her skin, woven down into her chest and around her heart.

She released a deep breath she had been holding in while her thoughts raced. Her brain felt out of breath after last night's events and everything that had led up to this point.

Aaliyah traced her index finger tip along a scar on Cruz's shoulder. She felt Cruz place a kiss to the top of her head.

"You can't fall back asleep?" Cruz wondered as rubbed Aaliyah's side comfortingly.

"Just wondering about all of these scars." Aaliyah softly kissed Cruz's chest.

"Well most of the ones not on my upper body are from the shrapnel that hit me in that ambush I told you about. My Kevlar protected the vital parts." Cruz hummed.

"The other scars are mostly from my ex. Cigarette burns and whipped by extension cords" Cruz sighed.

Aaliyah felt her heart stall, she looked up to Cruz to make sure she was okay. She searched the surfer's eyes and only found pain.

"It was a long time ago. He, you know, put me in my place any chance he got." Cruz looked towards the ceiling, away from Aaliyah's gaze. Aaliyah didn't know what else to do but kiss the closest scar to her.

Aaliyah was now curious, how long ago had this all happened?

"Ask it, Aaliyah. I can hear you thinking thoughts." Cruz lightly chuckled.

"How long ago?" Aaliyah asked as she eyed Cruz.

"When I was eighteen." Cruz mumbled.

Aaliyah was trying to analyse Cruz but the ex marine had a talent of hiding her emotions well. Aaliyah didn't miss the way she had spoken though, it gave Cruz away.

"Eighteen." Aaliyah whispered in disbelief. She propped herself up onto her elbow, her eyes scanned over Cruz's face.

Aaliyah reached up, tucking a loose strand of hair behind Cruz's ear then gently laid her palm against Cruz's cheek.

"I will never hurt you, Cruz." Aaliyah felt like she had to say it. It was more of a promise than a statement to Cruz.

Aaliyah felt Cruz lean into her touch as her eyes fluttered closed. She turned further to kiss Aaliyah's palm then took her hand in hers.

"I've never felt more safe with anyone else." Cruz spoke openly with a smile, showing her dimple.

Aaliyah flooded Cruz's face with multiple kisses until the surfer giggled and wrapped her arms around her, pulling Aaliyah tight against her chest with a content sigh.

Aaliyah joined in, their laughs a melody echoing in the room unlike the feelings they couldn't hear that were sung in between their rib cages with thudding hearts.