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It's Christmas and Rikki is alone.
Well, technically, it's Christmas Eve and she's not alone, but she might as well be. The snores of her father drown out the back to back holiday specials, causing Rikki to roll her eyes at the blatant waste of power. She sighs and turns off the TV, setting down the remote soundlessly next to Terry.
Methodically Rikki taps her nails on the kitchen bench. She's agitated and frustrated; the sweltering December heat adding to her discomfort.
There's only one thing she wants to be doing.
Shutting the trailer door quietly, Rikki pulls out her phone and quickly scrolls until she finds what she's looking for.
"Can I borrow your boat for the night?" Rikki asks without preamble.
"Sure," Will answers immediately, just as Rikki knew he would. "And hello to you too."
Rikki rolls her eyes and bites down on her tounge. She has to forcefully restrain herself from saying anything that would have her boat privileges removed.
"Can I come grab it in an hour?" she asks.
There's noise in the background, indicating that Will's family has come home for the holidays. Rikki almost feels bad for calling.
Almost.
"Yeah, of course," he says. "Although, isn't it, um, Christmas?"
"Is that a question or a statement?"
Will lets out a small huff; not quite a laugh, but too light to be a sigh. "I just meant, don't you have plans for Christmas Eve?"
"Yes," Rikki says decisively. "I'm going to go to Mako and take a midnight swim, then I will get drunk while pensively looking at the moon pool and contemplating murder over whoever decided Christmas was a fucking family holiday."
There's a beat of silence before Will replies. "Want some company? You know what they say, never drunkenly contemplate things alone."
Rikki lets out a breath she didn't know she was holding. "Isn't the whole point of contemplating that you do it alone?"
Will laughs. "Yeah, I suppose that's true."
"And don't you have Christmas Eve plans?" she asks, leaning against the trailer in an attempt to move out of the sun.
Should have remembered sunscreen.
"We're Jewish," Will says. "Everybody's just back home to take advantage of the public holiday and boxing day sales."
"Huh," Rikki replies. "I didn't know you were Jewish."
"Probably because you never asked."
"I suppose that's true," Rikki repeats, causing Will to laugh. "You can come, on one condition."
"Ah yes, I lend you my boat out of the kindness of my heart but I'm the one who gets conditions? That makes total sense."
"Not my fault you lack negotiation skills," Rikki says simply. "You supply the food, I'll bring the grog."
"Sure," Will says. "Don't forget sunscreen this time."
Rikki hangs up without saying goodbye.
~~~
It's not like it's a thing between them.
Rikki doesn't have things with people. Well, except for Cleo and Emma and Bella - but they're the exception, not the rule.
"Please, for the love of God, Will," Cleo announces, grabbing her keys and Bella's hand. "Don't let Rikki out in the sun while we're gone. She's burnt enough as it is."
"I can see that," Will replies dryly.
"I don't need a babysitter," Rikki says. She wills herself not to feel self-conscious of her exposed back and barely covered chest. Instead she takes a sip of her coke in an attempt to stop her annoyance from bubbling over.
Cleo sends her a look. "Your skin begs to differ."
"Cleo's right," interjects Bella. "You look like a tomato."
Will scoffs, causing Rikki to reach out and kick his shin. The movement results in a sharp flash of pain as her burnt skin pulls taunt.
Rikki's discomfort doesn't go unnoticed.
"We'll be back with some Aloe Vera in ten," Cleo shouts as she makes her way out the door, Bella fumbling hastily to catch up with her pace.
"It's ironic," says Will once they're gone, causing Rikki to glare at him.
"What’s ironic?"
He smiles lazily and takes the soft drink can out of her hands, bringing it to his lips to take a swig.
"That you're the one that keeps getting sunburned while swimming, considering the fact that your power is basically just heat."
Rikki scowls up at him from her position on the kitchen island.
"That's not ironic," she says, feigning what she hopes to be a genuine tone. "What's ironic is the fact that we let you hang around, despite the fact that your only useful skill is one that we're better at."
Will moves around the bench, coming to a stop when he reaches her. Rikki doesn't turn around, but instead takes another sip of her drink.
"Touche."
"I can't help it," Rikki says, "you just provide me with so much ammunition to hurt you with."
"Glad to be of service," Will shoots back. He leans forward and presses his forefinger to a patch of unburnt skin on her neck - a spot protected from the sun by her bikini top both on land and in the water. Will's hands are surprisingly cold, considering the hot weather, and she instinctively leans into his touch. "Jesus Rikki, you can see imprints of your scales on your skin."
"How was I supposed to know the UV was going to be high yesterday? It wasn't even that sunny!" she interjects, determined to defend herself. "And I was only swimming for like an hour or two, tops. Everybody knows you don't get burnt until at least hour three."
The corners of Will's lips turn upwards. "Just read the weather like everybody else in the world."
"Checking the weather is for boring people," Rikki says indignantly.
Will hums in mock agreement and moves his finger, carefully tracing the thin line of pale skin that runs along her neck. The coolness of his hands is in stark contrast to the heat emanating from Rikki, so she closes her eyes and revels in the sensation.
Eventually, Will's movements stop and he leans forward, placing his hands on the kitchen bench in front of Rikki.
"Should have remembered sunscreen," he says, his voice low despite the fact that they're the only two present in the Sertori household.
Rikki faintly registers the unmistakable sound of a car pulling in the driveway, indicating that Cleo and Bella had returned. She shifts slightly, jostling Will in the process due to their proximity. Immediately he withdraws from her personal space and Rikki takes a deep breath.
Inhale, exhale.
"We're back!" Cleo calls, holding the Aloe Vera gel like it's a shiny gold trophy. "Hope your skin didn't peel off."
So no, her and Will don't have a thing.
Not at all.
~~~