The sea was restless tonight.

The tall waves crashed onto the jagged cliffs surrounding the beach like a warning, a wordless threat. Yes, the sea was restless tonight, and the distant rumbling of thunder and the black clouds hanging low under the moonless night said that a storm was brewing.

Viktor clung onto his lamp tightly in one hand, his cane in the other. At least the little cave you had set up as your midnight meeting place was still safe and warm, he thought to himself glumly. Now all he could do was wait, wait, wait for you to cross that narrow straight of water separating you.

The Hellespont was treacherous on a good day, but in this type of weather? It was downright deadly. You were a good swimmer, an amazing swimmer, really, but even you couldn't escape and taunt the fates for too long. One day, Poseidon would get sick of your games and send a wave that you couldn't avoid to bash you against the rocks. Maybe that's why Viktor had made a little shrine to his name in the back of your cave. To try and protect you. As another rumble of thunder sounded out, he shivered, grabbing a few seashells out of his pocket to place near the lit candle again, whispering prayers so you'd get to him safely.

He remembered the first time he had seen you, panting on the sand after you crossed the Hellespont for the first time. If anyone had told him that you, half-dead sea rat, would soon be his very reason of existence, he would have scoffed in their faces.

A flash of lightning suddenly illuminated the beach enough for Viktor to finally spot you, only a few moments away from the shoreline. His heart lept in his chest as you emerged almost gracefully onto the soft sand. There you were, water dripping from your body, panting, and beautifully, gloriously alive.

You met him halfway between the cave and the water, his body practically collapsing into your arms, not caring how wet you were and how wet you'd get his clothes. "N-never again, you hear me? By Zeus, I thought--no matter. You're here now."