MCA #0, Tuesday morning

[grenadesandohana]

Most people would take one look at ashes falling from the sky and nope right back inside, forfeiting their normal morning workout, but those people would never become Navy SEALs. Steve had a routine: five miles in the water, five miles running around the island (the route was always much sweeter when he wasn't getting passed by Rogers, who was only around half the week), and maybe a rock climb if he still had some energy.

Today, with the feeling of dread still pressing down on him, he especially needed the clarity that came with it being just him and the water. He jogged from the apartment down to the beach, did a few stretches and then dove into the surf, moving through the water with strong, powerful strokes.

He'd grown up on a beach and had been taught since he was old enough to understand that he was never alone in the water. While the shores around Fandom were mostly full of fish, he'd swum in shark-infested waters more times than he was willing to admit to Danny and so he noticed the shadow of a tentacle almost immediately. "Don't mess with them and they won't mess with you," his father's voice said in his head as he changed direction and increased his pace.

And the tentacle...thing...changed direction and kept pace.

Steve didn't panic. The most important thing his training had hardwired into him was that panic in the water led to death in the water and this was his domain, too, dammit. He changed direction again, sprinting towards the shore, taking measured, careful breaths of air, and so he was as prepared as he could be when he was dragged under.

He went still, fighting his body's natural response to kick and flail, and tried to get a better picture of what had him caught. He only got an impression of huge and powerful before he saw another tentacle whipping towards his head. He reached down for the knife he kept strapped at his ankle (see? Not paranoid, prepared!) and stabbed as hard as he could when the tentacle got close enough. He slashed at the one keeping him captured around his waist, felt the suckers release from his skin (some in places he would not be talking about), and then broke for the surface as the creature reared back in pain. He swam as fast as he had since BUD/s training.

Steve got the shore with the tentacled thing still right behind him and while he'd normally care about an animal beaching itself, he was just not today. He sprinted through the lanai, into the apartment and slammed and locked the door behind him, then doubled over, gasping for breath.

Comments

[hatesparadise]

"Steve?" Look, he hadn't woken up early enough to keep Steve from going out in whatever the hell was going on. And now he could mother hen and yell and worry.

It was his thing.

[grenadesandohana]

Steve just needed to catch his breath for a second, but there was a really nice line of rapidly purpling sucker-shaped bruises along his legs and across his back to give a very smart detective a clue.

[hatesparadise]

"Jesus," Danny muttered, rushing forward to help him up and make sure nothing was too badly damaged. No need to mess up a kidney today.

[grenadesandohana]

Steve let out a low hiss when Danny touched him. "I'll be okay."

[hatesparadise]

"Oh, will you now?" Danny asked, gentling his touch further. "What happened?"

[grenadesandohana]

"Tentacle thing in the water," Steve said, shuddering. "I'd say kraken but that makes me sound nuts."

[hatesparadise]

"Well, here it's just crazy enough," he muttered, pulling Steve over to the couch at least. "Lay down."

[grenadesandohana]

"I'm all wet," Steve protested.

[hatesparadise]

"We'll deal with that in a minute," Danny replied, already going to grab the damn first-aid kit. And some towels.

And definitely some clothing for Steve. Did it feature a Newark PD hoodie? Yes.

[grenadesandohana]

Steve perched on the edge of the sofa and shook: he would blame the adrenaline wearing off.

[hatesparadise]

Danny put a towel around him as soon as he got back, adding another to his head to dry off Steve's hair like he was a kid or something. "Next time no wandering off when this place is going nuts, okay?"

[grenadesandohana]

Steve nodded once. "Well, not alone, anyway."

[hatesparadise]

"Not alone," Danny agreed, letting out a relieved sigh that Steve was here and safe. He set the clothing down next to him, turning to dig through the kit for something to help with the bruises.

[grenadesandohana]

"Should be some arnica balm in there," Steve said, breathing in through his nose and out through his mouth in an attempt to stop the overwhelming, crushing fear from winning.

[hatesparadise]

"Got it," Danny said, digging it out to set in easy reach. He knelt in front of Steve, checking on the marks on his legs and ankles to be sure nothing was damaged while Steve was still riding that adrenaline high.

[grenadesandohana]

"It got a little handsy," Steve said in what was supposed to be a joke but came out a lot shakier.

[hatesparadise]

"I can tell," Danny said, glancing up at him, warm hands on his ankle. "Prime piece of Naval training and all."

[grenadesandohana]

"Thank God for that," Steve muttered. "Not sure I would've made it out otherwise."

[hatesparadise]

Danny's mouth went tight at that. "Okay, let's get this ointment on you and then you can get dressed."

And Danny could shove food at him.

[grenadesandohana]

Steve nodded. "We need to get some signs up to keep people out of the water."

That was probably not why Danny wanted you dressed, Steven.

[hatesparadise]

"We can call Liam about that," Danny suggested, pushing himself up with an annoyed groan at his knee.

[grenadesandohana]

Steve made a face. "Maybe the mayor, too?"

[hatesparadise]

"The mayor too," he promised. "C'mon. Lay down on your stomach for a moment so I can get everything."

[grenadesandohana]

Steve laid down with poor grace, wishing the trembling would stop. Stupid terror adrenaline spikes.

[hatesparadise]

"Hey, it's okay," Danny said, grabbing for his hand before he could get started on the rest of it.