Heart of the Ocean

Chapter 2

On a small island, there is a beach largely concealed by volcanic rock, with large eroded holes that serve as skylights and lush vegetation, laden with myriads of edible fruits and nuts.

In the middle of the normally still water there is a disturbance; small ripples accompanied by bubbles. Moments later a blond head emerges, swiftly followed by the rest of the strong, lithe form carrying an unconscious young woman in his arms.

Steve moved towards the shore with inhuman speed and grace. He gently lay her down on the sand out of the way of the water gently lapping at the ground beneath. Pressing his fingers tenderly against her wrist, he could feel the weak pulse of blood moving through her veins. Relieved by this discovery, he slowly dragged himself up next to her. With a deep, steadying breath he placed his hands over her chest and pushed down firmly three times before pinching her nose and tipping her head back to blow air into her mouth.

As he pulls away, the girl convulses, water streaming from her nose and mouth. He swiftly turns her on her side so she would not choke on the liquid being expelled from her lungs. Before she can open her eyes, Steve slides back into the water and swims to a rock nearby that is just big enough to hide his body behind but still allow him to watch her.

He watched as her lashes fluttered open and she slowly sat up, taking in her surroundings with wide, doe-like eyes. As she craned her neck to survey what she could see her eyes landed on the blond selkie. She gave a startled "Oh!" of surprise.

She slowly moved closer to the waterline, stopping right where the ocean met the shore. There she sat down and crossed her legs beneath her with a shy smile. "Hello," she croaked out, her voice raspy from the saltwater she had inhaled. "My name is y/n, what's yours?" she asked softly.

Under normal circumstances, Steve might have hidden further behind the rock, but there was something different about this woman, something that made him trust her. "Steve," he replies, slowly inching out above the rock.

"It's nice to meet you, Steve. Are you the one who saved me? Brought me here?" she asks curiously.

Steve could feel heat flooding his cheeks and his lips pulling into a wide smile as he nodded his head vigorously. By now he was half-way unhidden, but if the woman noticed anything odd, she did not comment on it.

"Thank you," she says softly, her lips mirroring his smile.

"You're welcome," he replies. "What do you remember, y/n?" Steve asks, swimming steadily closer, almost as if his body had a mind of its own.

At this, the woman's face clouds over as she tries to stretch her memory. "I was on a boat..." she recalls slowly. "I was on my way home when a storm struck...the waves were rough...I lost my footing and fell into the water...I couldn't figure out which way was up...then there were faces in the water...I was hit over the head...and then everything went black..."

By now Steve was sitting next to her, his tail still in the water, but his torso was uncovered. He slowly reached out to touch her hand. When she did not flinch he gently entwined their fingers. 

"I'm so sorry..." Steve whispered.

Y/N merely nods, her eyes starting to slip closed from exhaustion and her head drooping. As her head lands on Steve's shoulder, a feral hiss echoes throughout the cavern, startling her wide awake. "What was that?" she asks Steve.

"That is Bucky, he's my mate," Steve says with a tone that's halfway between adoration and exasperated as he looks at the shadowy figure in the water swiftly moving towards them.

"Uh oh," she gulps, feeling complete as if she had just walked out of the frying pan and into the fire.