Eye Contact by Heron Djenne Canvasback

Chapter Five: Mating Season

(Team Corsair, courtyard at nighttime, week five)

"Hey, how's it going?" Selene is high.

"What are you doing out here alone?" Genesis sits beside her.

Selene: "I need to breathe."

Genesis: It's past bedtime."

"Does that apply for me," she kisses his cheeks.

"It applies for everyone," he shakes it off.

Selene: "Does Legacy or Levi know that you're out here?"

Genesis: "I snuck past them. Legacy is a heavy sleeper."

Selene: "Fallon in the bathroom and Agatha was somewhere else."

Genesis: "Do you like the ocean?"

Selene nods. "It's like the ocean is everywhere. You learn to live with it."

Genesis: "I've never cared for the smell."

Selene: "Do you get seasick?"

Genesis: "Sometimes, I do."

Selene: "Are scared of the ocean?"

Genesis: "I can't swim."

Selene: "Why didn't you ever learn?"

Genesis: "I avoid the ocean. I don't like sea creatures."

Selene: "Why not?"

Genesis: "It's another world. I only know this world."

Selene: "You could learn about the ocean, then you wouldn't be afraid of it. That's what I do whenever I'm afraid. Discover. Research. Uncover."

Genesis: "I'm not afraid of it."

Selene: "Are you afraid of drowning?"

Genesis: "Isn't everyone?

Selene laughs to break the tension. "I guess no skinny-dipping for you."

Genesis: "I've never seen the point of that."

Selene: "Did you sit in the Jacuzzi with your employees?"

Genesis: "That's as close to swimming as I've gotten."

Selene smiles. "I'm going to teach you before we leave."

Genesis: "What difference does it make?"

Selene hugs him. "I would have accomplished something in my life."

Genesis: "You've never done anything to be proud of?"

Selene: "Look, I'm proud of myself, but I can't brag to anyone about what I do."

Genesis strokes her cheek. "Do you like bragging?"

Selene: "It's boring if you don't have anything worth saying, but when you do, boasting is awesome."

Genesis: "How long have you been like this?"

Selene: "My pimp found me when I was ten."

Genesis puts an arm around her shoulders. "I don't know what to say."

"Don't say anything then." She kisses him.

Genesis kisses her too. "Why are you looking at me like I'm special?"

"You didn't try to take advantage of me," she undresses him.

He takes a condom out of his pocket.

***

(Team Armada courtyard, around the same time)

"I still have my trust fund when I turn twenty-five," Demesne readjusts her bra.