WIP Wednesday - Lifeguard AU
I have been having so much fun with this premise and cannot wait for the whole @obikinlifeguardau collection. The possibilities are absolutely endless!
In my yet-to-be-named Lifeguard AU we have Lifeguard!Anakin attempting to teach a very frustrated Obi-Wan how to swim. This is a bit of a longer snippet but I couldn't help myself.
Enjoy!
🛟
"Oh, for fuck's sake!"
"Dude!" Anakin exclaims, smacking his palm down on the surface in a clearly practiced motion, hitting Obi-Wan dead on with a small startling spray, "Would you chill the fuck out!?"
Obi-Wan is so caught off guard the only thing he can think to say is, "Excuse me?"
"Do you want to learn to swim or not?"
His voice is serious and so is his expression and suddenly Obi-Wan remembers why they're here.
"Look, man, you're not completely hopeless, okay?" Anakin says, taking a step closer, small waves rippling the surface as he moves, running a rough hand through wet curls and tugging harshly at a stubborn snarl, "I get that you're not starting from scratch but you have to know you're not a strong swimmer, and if I had to guess, there's another reason you didn't jump into the deep end."
Obi-Wan's brow wrinkles at that.
"What do you mean?" he asks, crossing his arm over his chest defensively.
"Water scares you," Anakin replies like it's obvious and Obi-Wan feels his cheeks heat with a caustic cocktail of anger and embarrassment but before he can argue, the young man shrugs and adds, "It scares me too."
The laugh that escapes Obi-Wan’s lungs comes out like a bark, loud and harsh, but for the last half hour now he's been watching Anakin glide through the water like he's made for it — like he was never meant to be a creature of the land in the first place — so comfortable in his weightlessness, so confident, so in control.
"I'm serious," Anakin says, the hard look in his flat stare and the low timber in his voice reflecting his words, "Water is dangerous. It's the most destructive force on Earth. It will swallow you whole if you're not careful—"
"This is not exactly helping—"
"And that is why you need to stop fighting it."
It does feel like he's fighting it, Obi-Wan realizes.
Like he's fighting for his life.
It feels like he's trying to prove a point.
Like he's trying to grab hold of something that cannot be grasped and rein it in, bring it to heel.
Like he's in the throws of battle, grappling for his right to air.
It feels like war.
"I can teach you to move with the water instead of against it. I can teach you to harness it."
Anakin's voice is breathless and dripping in a burning passion that heats his cheeks and speeds Obi-Wan’s pulse when he suddenly realizes how close they're standing.
Close enough to see the aqua water reflecting in eyes like a summer sky.
Close enough to feel the waves from Anakin's movements lapping against his skin.
Close enough that Anakin barely needs to reach out to place a hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder.
"I can help you, Obi-Wan," he says, voice barely above a whisper and the older man can't stop himself from leaning in, "but you have to let me."
There's nothing he can say, the look of deep sincerity in those cerulean eyes stealing all words from Obi-Wan's throat before he can cough them up.
Obi-Wan nods.
Anakin smile.
"You also have to stop being such an asshole."
Suddenly, Obi-Wan has the near-irresistible desire to drown himself.
"Anakin," he says quickly, cringing slightly at just how fond the name sounds in his mouth, "I am so sorry, I didn't mean—"
"I'm just fucking with you," Anakin grins teasingly, squeezing Obi-Wan’s shoulder reassuringly, the young man's touch lingering on his naked skin for a few charged moments before he releases his grip, long fingers just barely tracing the swell of his bicep — an absent gesture that makes Obi-Wan feel a bit dizzy. "Relax," he insists, his smile so bright Obi-Wan has to blink, "You don't have to prove anything to me."
"Thank you," Obi-Wan breathes, clearing his throat when his voice comes out strangled, "I think I needed to hear that."
Anakin nods in acknowledgment, sinking back into the pool, submerging himself almost completely, his nose and eyes still peeking out of the water like he feels most comfortable beneath the rippling surface. For a few long moments, he stays just like that, his eyes never leaving Obi-Wan's face, his gaze so intense, the older man needs to look away.
"I think it's really cool," Anakin says quietly — shyly — his voice pulling Obi-Wan's attention back to the young man and his glistening pink lips hovering just above the water's surface, "that you want to learn, I mean."
"You do?" Obi-Wan can't help but ask in return, letting his body sink under the water as Anakin has hoping to calm the bashful blush heating his cheeks.
"Yeah," Anakin confirms with a shrug, everything about him shiny with youth, "Takes balls."
That makes Obi-Wan laugh.
"Because I'm old?"
"No."
The single word hangs in the air for several long moments — Anakin's answer so sincere it makes Obi-Wan shiver.
"Well then," he says when the silence becomes suffocating, "where do we start?"
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