Kazimir swept out of the water onto the shore just after sunrise, snatching up his clothes from the rocks and throwing them on, ringing the water from his hair and body and tossing it back into the sea, glancing up at the palace on the cliff top as he rolled up his shirtsleeves.

He could just barely spy movement in the windows, people were up and about – well it was late enough in the morning that people should be up but he could just about see the glitter of finery.

It was early for the courtiers.

Maybe because today was the day of the Lay Luna Waves. Could humans predict the day of the first wave so accurately? The first day changed each year. The sea itself warned merpeople about the approaching date but what about humans?

Watching the palace for a moment longer, he then turned and walked back to the sea, crouching and dipping his hand in the surf.

"Could I watch from here?" he asked, "My mother said it's quite the sight."

The sea accented to his request, mentioned that he should, when it was time, stand at the edge of the shore to see the true nature before it started to withdraw, slowly creeping away from land, revealing hidden rocks and shells and giving warning to any sea life still in the area that it was time to leave.

Kazimir, in turn, walked back up the beach to take a seat on a snow-capped rock, leant against the cliff face and settled down to watch and wait.

~~~

"I can't remember the last time I was here to witness The War Tides," Jazz said as he walked into one of the huge tower rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows that over-looked the churning seas below.

"Ten years at least, surely," Dalton said beside him as they watched the iron grey waves and matching sky.

The clouds were rolling overhead, the distant rumble of thunder a warning to all who were foolish enough to still be outside that it was time to lock doors and windows.

"That long? It's so vivid I thought it was more recent."

"You're hardly a frequent visitor."

"Touché."

"This will be the first time Cynthia has seen them," Dalton added, glancing over his shoulder to where Princess Cynthia was sat by another window with Aeralie, both of them observing the violent waves. "You're sure this won't scare her?"

Jazz snorted. "My wife doesn't scare easily," he assured. "The whole reason we delayed our trip inland to Cordan Court was because I wanted her to see at least one of the waves."

"So when will you leave? Tonight?"

"I suppose. But it will only be for a week." Jazz grimaced and lowered his voice so the courtiers around them – who were perfectly content to be chattering amongst themselves – couldn't hear. "If I'm honest, I don't really want to be here when your father returns."

"Fair enough," Dalton said with a shrug, "I wouldn't be here either if I had the choice."

"Sire, it's on the horizon!" someone cried and everyone in the room rushed towards the widows, squishing themselves against the glass to get the first look.

Dalton and Jazz walked towards Aeralie and Cynthia's window and looked over their heads.

Despite seeing it every year for two decades, the sight that greeted him stuttered Dalton's heart for a second.

On the horizon was a wall.

From such a distance, it didn't look high and yet to be visible from such a distance gave an idea to the sheer size of rolling water that was racing towards them, blown by wind and current and tide.

"Not long now," someone said excitedly.

The tower door opened behind them as people moved away from the windows to collect last drinks before the show and Dalton looked around to see Cole, looking haggard and tired.

"There you are, I've been looking for you," Cole said the second he saw Dalton.

Dalton opened his mouth to comment on his behaviour with Kazimir the night before, before catching himself – they weren't in private after all.

Instead he settled for, "Kazimir wasn't impressed, you realise?"

He expected some sort of reaction out of Cole – embarrassment or dismissal.

What he got was a look of distress.

"Have you seen Kazimir?" Cole asked, walking forwards, "I want to speak to him but I can't find him anywhere, I thought he'd be up here."

"No, haven't seen him since last night. He needed someone to rant at," Dalton said coolly and Cole visibly grimaced.

"Look, I don't know how much he told you—"

"Oh I could guess."

"But I had my reasons. It was why I was looking for you. We need to talk."

"Now?"

"Not here. Not in front of everyone."

"Then we'll have to wait until after The War Tide. Can it hold until then?"

Cole sighed. "Well it's waited all night," he muttered, looking away, only to notice Princess Aeralie looking at him, her sharp blue eyes examining him.

He winced under the clever gaze and looked away towards the window.

And spied something that stopped his heart cold.

Someone was down on the beach, stood at the shore, long black hair flaring around the head in the wind, hands in pockets, entirely unconcerned by the sight that was approaching.

They were so far up the figure was just shy of a blur.

And yet Cole recognised that relaxed gait and wild hair.

His breath failed him.

Blood drained out of his face and he felt physically ill – horror unlike anything he'd ever felt before squeezing his chest until it felt like his heart would never beat again.

"N.... Ka..."

Words failed him.

"Good God, are you alright?" Dalton asked, staring.

Ahead, the wave was growing closer and closer. It was beginning to take its true form.

It was no few meters.

It was easily over a hundred feet high and growing still.

White horses roared at the edge, thundering towards the land, the misty manes flaring up into the steel sky as lightning split the clouds.

The beach. Cole had to get down to the beach.

No, he'd never make it down in time.

The window.

He needed to open the window.

"Cole?" Dalton said, his voice distant and muffled.

"Good Lord, is someone down there?" another, sharper, voice said and Cole lunged for the window latch, startling the ladies in front of him out of their chairs as he hurled the window open, the others in the room shrieking as wind roared through room before he leant out in the howling gale and screamed.

"ARE YOU MAD?!"

His voice was whipped away in an instant, stolen by the wind as he stared down onto the beach, his eyes so wide they ached.

Kazimir just stood there, facing the mammoth wave, no fear in his posture as his hair and clothes with whipped out around him.

It was like he stared down the wave, willing it to come crashing down on him, daring it to try and wash him away.

"The window!" someone cried behind him.

Cole's hand tightened on the latch.

"KAZIMIR!" he screamed, a cry he'd never heard before seeping into his voice as he tried to force the words down to the beach, battling through the wind.

Why?!

Why was he down there?

He wasn't mad! He wasn't suicidal!

Cole still had to apologise, still had to explain! He hadn't wanted to walk away last night but he needed to think!

He needed to apologise to Kazimir!

He needed Kazimir!

"Captain! The window!" someone shouted behind his next scream.

Cole bit his lip, a stinging came to his eyes as his heart thundered in his chest, ice in his veins, his body trembling.

He couldn't do anything.

He couldn't stop him!

He couldn't get down to the beach in time.

He would die down there.

Kazimir couldn't hear him!

He looked up and saw nothing but grey. The wave was upon them, as high as the tallest tower, a moving wall ready to destroy all in its path.

Kazimir was going to die.

Oh God!

Someone grabbed him from behind and wrenched him away from the window, slamming it closed.

The locks were swung into place, people had time to sit down and hold onto something for balance and the force hit.

The wave slammed down on the beach, the impact sending the water hurling up the face of the castle, shaking the foundation, washing all the way up to the turrets.

The building vibrated, metal and stone growled in response to the attack, holding strong.

Every room was thrown into darkness as the water blotted out the light and for an instant; the sea dominated the land and dragged all that was left loose up into a watery grave.

And then it was over.

The water settled.

The wave faded away.

The sea poured like a waterfall from the palace, down the cliff and onto the beach, fading back into the ocean.

The sea was calm again, rolling in its usual patterns in a storm.

Placated and satiated, it rested again to regain its energy for its next attack in the coming days.

As soon as he could, Cole scrambled from the arms that held him and hurled the window open, as if he expected some miracle.

The beach was empty.

Of course it was empty.

The sea had already retreated, like an animal that was semi-tamed, settling and rippling contentedly too itself.

And the beach was empty.

Kazimir was gone.

Cole sank to his knees, letting out a breath, swallowing at a lump that choked the air flow.

"Cole," Dalton said, staring at him.

Cole slowly looked up and his gaze found Aeralie.

She looked down at him, eyes calmed, one eyebrow raised, almost like she was amused.

Why didn't she care?

Hadn't she seen him?

Hadn't she heard him scream Kazimir's name?

Why didn't she care?!

Cole snapped his face away, screwing his eyes tight shut.

Why was he down there?!

He hadn't imagined it.

Why had he been down there?!

He heard the doors open as people started to leave.

"Ah, there you are, we knew you couldn't have been down on the beach," someone said.

"Me? On the beach? What madness, certainly not, I have no wish to die."

"Quite a sight, wouldn't you say?"

"Yes, quite the sight indeed, this castle is an impressive stronghold."

Cole's eyes opened, staring down at the beach, before he slowly looked over his shoulder.

There he was.

Kazimir.

Stood in the doorway, nodding goodbye to the courtiers passing him, expression calm and uninterested, same as always. Hair and clothes dry and smooth, nothing to suggest he had been down on the beach just moments before, facing a wave that could destroy entire buildings, let alone one small human.

"Kazimir, did you see it? We were wondering where you were," Jazz said as Cynthia stood up.

"I did, I stopped on a lower floor to watch, must have been quite something from this height," Kazimir said.

"It was amazing," Cynthia said, eyes sparkling with excitement.

Jazz snorted as her childish glee, holding the door for her as she swept out, the pair of them chatting about the natural phenomena that was only awe-inspiring because they were safe behind castle walls.

In no time at all, it was just Aeralie, Kazimir, Dalton and Cole left behind.

Aeralie and Dalton glanced between the remaining two, then Dalton turned to Aeralie.

"Shall we head down for some tea, Aeralie?" he asked, offering his hand.

Aeralie looked between Kazimir and Cole for a moment, then a slow, sly grin curled her pretty mouth and she graciously accepted Dalton's hand, the pair sweeping out, arm in arm, Dalton closing the door behind him.

Kazimir glared at the closed door.

Cole looked at him from across the room.

Finally Kazimir turned his sharp gaze on Cole, blue eyes flashing viciously... what was wrong with his eyes?

"You look unwell," Kazimir said bluntly, slipping his hands into his pockets and tilting his head to the side.

"You're alright," Cole muttered, slowly standing up, turning to him.

"Should I be otherwise?" Kazimir asked.

Cole stared at him, and something flickered in his eyes and Cole eyes widened.

Kazimir knew what had him so scared. Somehow Kazimir knew and it... it amused him? Confused him?

Or worse – it didn't bother him?

Slowly, Cole walked towards him.

"You were down on the beach," he whispered, unable to raise his voice properly.

"Was I?" Kazimir asked, raising an eyebrow. "And yet here I am dry and alive, how clever of me."

"You were on the beach... you could have died," Cole said, reaching him, his hands lifting, trembling, taking hold of Kazimir's arms, his grip too tight, making him grimace.

"And yet here I am," Kazimir repeated, trying to pull out of his grip.

"What if you had died?" Cole said.

"Then I would have died," he said simply, managing to yank one arm free and turning away, "Such a silly question."

Anger and fear made the hand that still held him tighten.

"Let go," Kazimir ordered, looking back, just before Cole wrenched him forwards, his free hand locking into his hair as his mouth came down against Kazimir's, so hard and fast their teeth collided, Kazimir's teeth scraping Cole's tongue as he forced it into Kazimir's mouth, keeping a firm grip on his hair as he locked his other arm around Kazimir's body, trapping him against his chest.

Kazimir's entire body went rigid, stilling against the kiss – so different from the night before, more aggressive and desperate, completely out of character with Cole.

So undesirable!

Kazimir's arm wriggled free, shot up, locked in Cole's hair and wrenched.

Cole's head was snapped back, throat completely exposed as Kazimir pulled. His arms loosened, Kazimir let go of his hair and, as Cole swung his head back down, Kazimir slapped him.

Hard.

Far harder than he should have.

Far harder than a human male of his build should have.

Cole slammed to the ground almost on the other side of the room, his jaw bruised and aching as he lay there, stunned and silent.

"You had your chance for that disgusting nonsense last night," Kazimir said, his voice as cold as ice, bitter and hurt and hateful as he flexed his fingers that strung under the numbness of his palm. "You walked away."

"I'm sorry," Cole muttered.

Blood dropped from his lip, the inside of his cheek was torn.

He wiped his mouth on his sleeve, not wanting to stain the expensive carpets.

"Sorry," Kazimir sneered before laughing, "Alright, you're sorry."

Cole heard the door opening.

"Fine, you're forgiven – if forgiveness means anything to a pirate," Kazimir said, turning away.

He pulled the door wide and the next second a hand slammed against the wood and the door was wrenched out of his grip and hurled closed again.

"What do you—?" Kazimir started, spinning around and Cole wrapped his other arm around him, one hand still flat against the door as he pulled Kazimir close then moved him back so they leant against the door, leaning their weight into the structure as Cole pressed his face into the curve of Kazimir's neck and shoulder.

"I am sorry," Cole said and Kazimir turned his head away, not wanting to hear the honesty in that deep voice.

"I said you're forgiven," Kazimir growled, debating on striking him again... but he wouldn't.

And how he hated to admit to himself that he wouldn't because he didn't want to see Cole hurt like that again.

"I don't want forgiveness," Cole said against him, "This isn't about that. I... I needed to think."

"About a basic human act?" Kazimir said, incredulously, his tone bland, "Sure. Fine. You thought. You spooked. You walked. I still don't care."

"No!" Cole snapped, straightening and looking at him, his eyes pleading for Kazimir to shut up and listen.

Kazimir thought about it for a second, then – against his better judgment – decided to shut up and listen. So he folded his arms, adjusted his lean against the door – like he was choosing to lounge there rather than being pinning there by Cole's hips and looked expectantly at him.

"You think I had to think twice about that?" Cole said as if Kazimir was stupid. "God no!"

"I'm flattered," Kazimir said, rolling his eyes. "So what? The location a little chilly for you?"

"It was this," Cole snapped, prodding Kazimir in the chest, making him jolt in surprise as he struck right against his hidden Heart.

He looked down, confused, then looked up at Cole.

"The H... scars?" he said, frowning, "What about them? Surely you've seen worse."

"Not worse... the same."

Kazimir was quiet for a moment, then slowly straightened up, pushing Cole back to arm's length, staring at him, eyes narrowing as his heart began to pound.

"The same?" he said, his voice thin.

"Dalton," Cole pressed, catching his hand, "Dalton has scars just like that."

~~~~

Next Up: Monday

Art by: http://gaudibuendia.deviantart.com/

Remember, the Rewrites of Steel Roses (Beauty and The Beast) will be coming down at the end of the month.

If you still interested in reading/commenting, now's the time. 

Rewrites can be located at the end of Steel Roses~