Work Text:
“It’s a perfect morning for a walk, don’t you think?” Tarquin asked with a smile as Amanda promptly appeared in the doorway.
Amanda glanced off to the side somewhere beyond, then back into the house behind her. A sly smile began to emerge on her lips, and she nodded. Slipping out the door, she closed it behind her, motioning for Tarquin to follow as she took the lead. “My mother doesn’t need to know,” She insisted with a soft laugh. “I’ll be back soon enough.”
Tarquin chuckled, it was moments like these that reminded him just how perfect Amanda was for him. She didn’t mind bending the rules a bit every once in a while, willing to go out on adventures even in the earliest hours of the morning. Not to mention, she was more than willing to take the lead, and Tarquin was just as willing to follow. It didn’t really matter much this time, however, as he had a feeling they were both headed to the same place. Still, he strode up beside her regardless, letting her intertwine her arm with his own.
No words needed to be said as they went, their communication was a silent one through shared glances and memories. This was a path they followed often, whether with each other or on their own. The stony paths led down the streets all the way towards the docks where Tarquin’s ship was, floating on the water as always. Even without the light of the sun they were still easily able to find their way.
Taking a deep breath of air, Tarquin could tell they were close to the ocean now with the familiar scent of salt. They didn’t slow until the ground beneath their feet stopped being stone and was instead the wood of the docks. The sound of the waves were becoming clear now and Tarquin smiled as they finally slowed to a stop. Staring into the distance, Tarquin felt a strange sense of nostalgia. The sky was still dark, but there were hints of light at the base of the horizon as the world began to wake up.
“The sun will be rising soon,” Tarquin noted after another moment.
Amanda nodded beside him, following his gaze towards the horizon. “The sunrises are so nice by the ocean,”
Tarquin smiled. Perhaps the sense of nostalgia was seeping into his bones, however, as he soon sighed long and drawn out. “This… Is the last sunrise I’ll likely be able to see with you before I go back out to sea,”
Amanda glanced over at him, “What do you mean? I thought you weren’t leaving until tomorrow at noon,”
“Yeah,” Tarquin agreed hesitantly. “We’re actually going to leave early, before the sun rises in hopes of beating the storms that are supposed to come through tomorrow. Apparently it’s supposed to be nicer that morning. So, we’re leaving early, too. You’re still welcome to come watch the boat leave. I’d like that, actually. If you’re willing, of course.”
Amanda chuckled lightly, although there was a hint of sadness behind it. “I wouldn’t miss it for anything,”
“Good,”
The air was chilly as Tarquin stepped off of his ship and onto the docks. His body felt numb, a strange tingling sensation running through his whole body like tiny pins and needles. Just as painful, too. The breeze sent chills up his skin, but he ignored them as he continued forward, practically dragging his feet.
It was almost as if his body was moving before his mind was, finding himself stopped before he even realized how far he’d gone. Not too far, of course, but a decent way from the boat - still on the dock. It took him a long few moments to recognize it, but as his gaze finally lifted up from the old and worn wood and towards the horizon where he’d just come from, he realized he knew this spot. The same one he’d bring Amanda to all the time to watch the ocean and tell her stories about his travels, or until she convinced him to shut up and jump into the water instead. That had only happened a few times, but they were some of his favorite memories.
His lips pressed into a thin line, his already exhausted eyes beginning to sting as they threatened to shut and pull him into sleep instead. Somewhat against his own will, he refused, finding himself staring into the distance despite how much it hurt his eyes. The sun, bright as always, was beginning to dip under the sea, just a bit. The sky was a brilliant red like fire, lighting up the clouds in the most vibrant of reds and pinks. They were never Amanda’s favorites, but she always told him how much she liked how they looked against the blue of the sky. Blue and green, those were her favorites. But red was okay.
Funnily enough, blue and green were his favorites, too.
Finally pulling himself from his brief stupor, he pulled himself forward towards the edges of the dock. Slowly, he lowered himself down, letting his feet dangle off the sides as his toes touched against the surface of the water. The water was calm today, he noted. Almost unusually so. The chill of the water called to him.
Every once in a while, on his travels, he would swim. Not very often, of course, as it could be dangerous with no one else on board to keep watch for any dangers, but… Sometimes he just needed it. Some part of him was tempted to just jump into the water for the sake of it, but it wouldn’t be any fun without Amanda there to coax him to get in, or to try diving to touch the bottom of the water. There was no one to show the pretty rocks that he found, or the lost jewelry that Amanda would give him, or the one time they found a long lost bottle that had found its way back to shore, searching for someone that it would never quite find.
With a sigh he leaned backwards, feeling the way the wood pressed up against his back uncomfortably. It was strange, not having anything to do. No more responsibilities. He had no reason to go back out to sea anymore – not without someone to welcome him home – but he had no reason to be on shore, either. The city behind him felt dreadfully empty despite the numerous buildings that had begun to turn on their lights, windows becoming illuminated at the prospect of the setting sun.
Soon enough he’d be left in darkness, too. For some reason, it didn’t seem to bother him much.
If anything, the darkness was comforting.
The stars would emerge, the moon would follow… He was never particularly religious himself, but he knew Amanda was. Or, well, her mother was, which meant that she probably was as well. Regardless, he hoped that meant she was out there somewhere. Maybe watching over him.
The water began to lap at his ankles now, waves beginning to splash against the supports. It was almost like a light mist of rain.
He missed Amanda.
He pressed his hands against his face, breathing sharply.
God damn it all, he missed Amanda…