The Salt In The Trees

The Dangers of being alone

A few months later 

Over the few months he's been back, our relationship has grown closer, we're more extremely close friends, both crushing on each other. I'm just waiting for him to ask, I don't mind if he doesn't, I'm not sure how it works in Atlantis. He keeps taking small trips , that gives me the opportunity to do my part , which was picking up his clothes from the beach and putting them on there radiator in my house. I'd only ever done this once but I put them back on the beach before he realised they were ever gone, I wasn't going to this time.

I fast walked down to the beach after he left for the sea, I watched him swim away and I picked up his jacket and shirt which both smelled deeply of salt and seaweed. I rushed back home and put them on the radiators, then sat down with a book, now I just had to play the waiting game but the best part of this except was the fact my house now smelled of salt and the sea was when he walks in shirtless and slightly mad, it would be good if he was in a better mood but otherwise he wouldn't come and I wouldn't see those tattoos.

An Hour or so later

Arthur's POV

I walked onto the shore to find my clothes gone, normally they'd be there when I got back, sometimes a little warmer than expected but this time, they weren't there at all, whole pile completely vanished. My first thought was the garbage collectors who clean the beach, but they normally leave them there, then it was clear. Tate must of taken them, she sometimes uses them as candles and warms them on the radiator. I walked to her place,it wasn't her mother's place anymore, she'd moved out and got her own place which I thought was adorable. I looked through the window to see her asleep on the sofa with a book on her chest, and behind her were my clothes yet again on the radiator.

I had a key but that was in my jacket, which was on the radiator, I really didn't want to wake her, she looked so sweet and innocent, then I remembered she kept a spare under the doormat which she must of taken from home because it sweetly but sadly read 'The Memingers'. I lifted it gently and pulled out the keys and then opened the door, then placed the keys where they're rightful place was, under the mat.  I forgot how homey her house felt, a warm fire burned in front of the couch. I got changed into my now warm clothes and picked Tate up off of the couch and carried her up to her bedroom then tucked her in. No matter what she did, she was always so beautiful, and strong, she was so strong at heart. She had bad experiences with the sea, we all did, but she's not convinced the sea is bad. She blames the men who enter it.

Tate's POV

I was awake when Arthur carried me upstairs but i didn't want to ruin the moment, I was surprised at how strong he was and how gentle he could be. I had a strange attraction to this man but I struggled to show it and get it out in the open.

The next day

I woke up and got dressed then headed to the bar, it was busy as always "Sweetheart, stop being so latur eins og alltaf and serve us (lazy like always)" I turned to go to warehouse but the man grabbed my arm "I said serve me tíkur (bitch)" I hit him and he let go but started to come after me. I got up and started to dash for the warehouse again " get the tíkur, we'll teach her a lesson like no other (bitch)" I ran inside the doors locking them behind me, for a while there was loud bangs against the door but then they were gone, I wasn't gonna risk it "are you ok?" I looked up to see Arthur stood near a bottle rack "just the usual Ar'thur" he pulled his sleeve and started to walk towards me "y'know, I do speak Icelandic, those weren't regulars" I looked away ashamed of thinking that I could lie to him in the first place "I can handle myself"  I didn't look at him, just leaned against my arms on the door "is that why you're hiding in a whiskey warehouse?" Suddenly I got the urge and courage to kiss the man and that urge took over, before I knew it, the gap had closed and our lips were connected.

I realised what I had done and pulled away " maybe we could be more than friends Tate?" I smiled sweetly "I'd like that"