The ocean stretched in endless expanse, its brine-heavy breath rising and falling in rhythmic sighs. Beyond the distant horizon, great whales breached the surface like living myths, their colossal forms vanishing once more beneath the rolling blue. The only true sound was the ceaseless collision of waves—an ancient, unbroken hymn.

To others, it might have seemed like a painted illusion, a scene crafted for brochures and shallow admiration. But to him, this was sanctuary. Here, far from the suffocating presence of Homelander and the ever-tightening coil of his tyranny, Kevin found something close to peace. The sea did not demand obedience. It did not watch him with veiled threats or sharpened expectations. It simply existed—and allowed him to do the same.

And lately, that escape had become less of a luxury and more of a necessity. Homelander’s patience was eroding, worn thin by his relentless fixation on Butcher. The tension bled into everything, infecting even the quietest moments. So Kevin had answered the silent call for retreat, seeking refuge upon a nameless island tucked far from prying eyes. Or so he believed. It was as he lingered near the shoreline, letting the tide curl around him, that something fractured the illusion of solitude.

A figure.

Not far from the jagged cliffs, perched upon a broad, wave-worn boulder, stood someone who did not belong. At first glance, it was easy to assume misfortune—a castaway dragged ashore by cruel waters, clinging to stone for safety. But there was something… off. They were waving.

Not in distress, nor in desperation—but toward the sea itself. Curiosity stirred, threading through Kevin’s thoughts. Without hesitation, he stepped into the water, the cold embracing him like an old companion. Each movement carried him closer, silent and deliberate, until he paused just behind the stranger.

And then he saw. Gills.

They moved with each breath, delicate slits along your neck, opening and closing in quiet harmony. Not like his—no, yours were different, more refined, more… natural. And before you, a dolphin lingered, responding as though it understood every word you spoke. For a moment, Kevin could only stare. Bafflement failed to capture the weight of it—the shock of seeing something so impossibly familiar yet entirely foreign.

“Excuse me?” His voice broke the fragile moment. The dolphin slipped away into deeper waters, its sleek form vanishing into shadow as you turned. And just like that, thought abandoned him. You were radiant. Droplets of seawater clung to your skin, catching the light like scattered jewels. Shells—both delicate and ornate—adorned your form, woven into strands of hair that somehow remained untouched by the damp. And your eyes… there was warmth there, a quiet glow that rivaled even the island’s sunlit shores.

Kevin faltered, words tangling before they could fully form. “Uh—wow. I mean… do I—can I help you?”