Lake Tahoe.

[dontchaserabbits]

The elevation in Lake Tahoe is something that requires getting used to. Raleigh's out of practice with altitude but settles in okay once once he downs the water bottle Tendo put in his rucksack like a doting mom. That man needs to get back with his kid, stop working so much.

"We're here," Mako's quiet voice announces, clear as a bell in Raleigh's ear.

"Mmm?"

"You fell asleep. Pay the nice driver so we can get out of the taxi?"

Comments

[co_pilot]

She ignores the shower altogether, lightly jogging around to the back of the house and down to the end of the dock.

It's quiet, peaceful, barely a ripple on the surface of the water, and she slowly toes off her shoes and socks -

- and then, with a quick glance over her shoulder, begins to peel out of the rest of her layers, leaving sweaty clothes behind in a pile before diving in.

[dontchaserabbits]

Raleigh is grabbing towels from the closet upstairs when he hangs a right at the landing, catching a view from the window facing the lake --

"Uh."

The shower seems slightly less important now since Raleigh has managed to catch a lovely view of Mako heading into the water.

[co_pilot]

The water is clear, clean. She hasn't yet realized that she's almost as visible submerged as she is on land.

But she resurfaces eventually, blinking water from her eyes, taking a breath and idly treading. It's a cold shock to the system after the run, but it soothes her muscles, and soon she's just drifting.

Only then does she realize she probably should've brought a towel.

[dontchaserabbits]

Raleigh takes the shortest shower of his life and throws clothes back on before going out to the lakeside.

When Mako feels like noticing, Raleigh is sitting cross-legged on the dock with an extra towel.

[co_pilot]

She notices his hair is still wet, and smiles.

"Thank you."

[dontchaserabbits]

"Of course. Seems only fair. I ... maybe saw you, from the house. I didn't realize you headed straight here."

[co_pilot]

If the water was not so cold, her blush might have been more noticeable.

As it stands, she slips to the edge of the dock, fingers curving around the wood as she uses it for further cover.

"A shower seemed - unnecessary."

[dontchaserabbits]

"I can see that.

"We also brought suits."

[co_pilot]

She shrugs, both shoulders rising into view before dropping out of sight again.

"Next time."

[dontchaserabbits]

She's so relaxed about it.

"You staying in there for a little while yet?"

[co_pilot]

On the surface, perhaps. Inside she's churning like a restless sea.

"Not much longer."

She's eyeing that towel in your hands, Mr. Becket.

[dontchaserabbits]

"Alrighty then."

He lays back onto the dock, staring upward - having two effects (hopefully).

1. Makes things a little less blatant for Mako.
2. Makes things a little less blatant for himself.

[co_pilot]

She uses the ladder at the side of the dock, slowly lifting herself out of the water, and secures the towel. It's big enough for her to wrap around her body.

She might not be able to resist flicking droplets of water in Raleigh's direction when her fingers are still dripping.

[dontchaserabbits]

There might be some useless hand-flailing in the direction the drops are coming from.

"I have a proposition."

[co_pilot]

"Oh?"

She discreetly crosses her arms over her chest.

[dontchaserabbits]

"Next time you go swimming, invite me along? I feel left out now."

[co_pilot]

She kneels next to him, drops hovering on the ends of her hair.

"There will be more swimming."

[dontchaserabbits]

"That sounds perfect."

But then it's just Raleigh staring up at a towel-draped Mako.

[co_pilot]

"Perhaps even tonight."

It will be nice, she thinks, when the sun is setting over the water.

"And again without the suit."

[dontchaserabbits]

"Nnng, Mako. Damn."

Now he's just grinning like an idiot.

"Please will you just kiss me at this point?"

[co_pilot]

When she leans down to kiss him, mouth softly seeking his, the wet ends of her hair graze his cheeks.

[dontchaserabbits]

"See? Perfect."

[co_pilot]

"Or maybe just better than worse," she murmurs, close against his lips.

[dontchaserabbits]

"See, if you keep messing with me, I may have to take that towel back."

[co_pilot]

"You wouldn't."