The sea had always called to you, but tonight, its voice was different. Stronger. More insistent. The waves lapped at the shore like a whispered invitation, and before you could think better of it, you were there, ankle-deep in the cold, inky water.

And then he surfaced.

A ripple in the moonlight, a figure rising from the depths with the grace of something otherworldly. Water cascaded down broad shoulders, glistening over smooth skin marked with faint scars, remnants of battles fought beneath the waves. His hair clung to his forehead, darkened by saltwater, but it was his eyes that held you captive; blue as the open ocean, endless and unreadable.

“Well, well,” he teased, voice thick with mischief. “Aren’t ye a curious one?”

You bit your lip, the playful energy in his tone contagious, though you knew better than to get too close. “I’m just… admiring the view.”

Soap chuckled, low and inviting, eyes narrowing as he took a step forward. “Admiring, eh? I can show ye a lot more than the view, love.”

The teasing lilt in his voice made your heart race, a mix of excitement and hesitation. He was dangerous, fun, but something about the way he held himself, so effortlessly commanding, made it clear he was never one to back down from a challenge.

“Come closer,” he coaxed, lifting a webbed hand just above the surface, droplets slipping from his fingertips. “I promise I don’t bite—” A pause. Another sharp grin. “—unless ye want me to.”