Summer Heat (Tetsutetsu x Reader)

Summer Heat Pt.3: The Cool Down

Waves upon waves of sand and sea stretched out before them, like the possibilities were immense and endless. _______ took her sandals off and pushed her toes into the warm sand, feeling the grains under the soles of her feet.

Tetsu wiped his forehead with the back of his hand; the humidity was thick and he couldn't wait until he was submerged in water. He knelt down to lay out the blanket on the ground for her to sunbathe on if she wanted to. He also bought the deck chairs Eijirou left at his house for safe-keeping.

_______ had told him as they were walking that she preferred to lay her back on the sand, so she could feel the warmth against her skin. Tetsu was grateful that he was able to learn more about her; he savoured every little detail he could remember of her. He felt if he didn't, he would lose the memory of her, and her presence in his life.

Tetsu's feelings began to deepen at some point, but the time blurred with the days that passed. In front of his eyes, was her smile. Eventually, every waking moment was drenched in her image.

On nights that were rife with restlessness, his thoughts drifted to her. He smiled, imagining the rest of his foreseeable life with her.

He was there, frozen in the moment, within the world he created in his mind.

Tetsu couldn't take the suffocation of his emotions, bombarding him with one, singular truth. He took a sprint towards the blue expanse and plunged himself in. I covered his body, embracing him. Tetsu's head felt a lot cooler, he felt more at peace with himself.

_______ wasn't sure how long Tetsu had spent in there but she spent the better part of her time watching him. Maybe it was the way his arms sliced through the water, creating big waves, or the way he seemed so frustrated, viciously propelling himself through the seemingly eternal sea. He was worried, and she always knew when he was worried.

She ran down towards the water, just as he stepped out, his body dripping with water. She put a towel on his head and went in to hug him.

"Tetsu, I was so worried! You looked so upset and distressed out there.."

Tetsu's body went into shock at the sudden embrace, but he eased and welcomed it.

"_______, hey, I'm sorry, I was just figuring things out."

Tetsu ruffled her hair, like he often did to cheer her up.

Her head rested against his form, ear pressed against the left side of his chest. She heard his heartbeat quickening; it was so deafening and loud. His heart was telling her something, narrating a story only hearts could. She hugged him tighter as if to answer 'yes'.

Tetsu didn't question her, he just let her be. Perhaps just being together was right, and okay.

Once she was done, she pulled away and just smiled at him. It was the same smile always, the one Tetsu had come to love. He took a risk then, unsure of the outcome.

"Um, can I like, hold your hand _______? We can grab some ice cream and then I have something important to tell you."

"I could use something cold actually.."

She held his hand without saying a word; Tetsu was beetroot again and nearly gawked at the utter softness of her hands. He instinctively started rubbing the area around her knuckles, feeling all the small nuances of her skin.

They both joined the line for ice cream, Tetsu awkwardly staring out to the volleyball area and _______ taking the opportunity to observe him. She liked the way his jaw was so pronounced and how all his features were so sharp. She often giggled at his voluminous eyelashes, but secretly gound them to be cute. She found it so interesting how someone so rough could be oozing with sweetness and kindness.

"Tetsu, you know there are plenty of pretty girls here at the beach. Now's your chance! Hey, I bet they think you're pretty smokin' eh?"

She nudged him jokingly.

"Didn't I tell you before? I'm fine with just you. Since you entered my life, there is no other before you or after you. It's just you now. I can't understand...anything else. I probably couldn't live without you. Wait, what am I saying...?"

Tetsu covered his mouth, his cheeks flush as _______ gently moved his hand away. Tetsu was tall so she had to drape her arms around his neck and pull herself up. Before he could register what was happening she pecked him softly on his lips.

"No need to say anything else Tetsu. I get it."

Tetsu was dumbstruck but decided to roll with it. He finally felt like the shackles were taken off his mind; the world of his mind was mapping out in front of his eyes. It was more real than anything he ever experienced.

_______ went ahead and got two large coconut ice cream scoops on wafer cones. She brought it over to him. As they ate, they took a walk.

"So..._______, can I take you on a date sometime? I don't know much about this romance stuff but I promise we'll have fun!"

_______ tiptoed and gave him a hard kiss on the cheek, leaving some ice cream on his cheek.

"Okay, as long as we can invite Eijirou!"