"Mk!" Atlas said as he closed his eyes, spun around, and started counting up to 20. He liked to spin really fast to make sure he had no idea what was where, it's a good thing he doesn't get dizzy easily. "19 and… 20! Marco!" He yelled, reaching his hands out in front of him.
Harley ducked underwater as soon as Atlas hit 19 to avoid having to call back while Em and Cadmus, who had both migrated to opposite sides of the pool, yelled back. Cadmus was the louder of the two, splashing off for Em's corner while Emrys slipped under the water and pushed off the wall, hoping to slip silently past Atlas while he headed for Cadmus.
Atlas immediately heard Cadmus' louder yell back, he started going towards where he thought he heard the sound from. It turned out to be very off, going the opposite way of Emrys and Cadmus, closer to Harley. Of course, he stopped, thinking he was at a wall when he was in fact still in the middle of the pool. He sighed, smiling. "Marco!" He yelled again.
Harley shuffled away, splashing as he scuttled closer to the other two. Em, safe on the opposite edge of the pool, watched with a playful smile as he grabbed Cadmus, shoving him directly into Atlas' path and then hurrying away as fast as he could with a hastily yelled "polo!!".
Cadmus yelped, scrambling away from Atlas. "Hey, no fair, go after Harley!! He tried to sacrifice me, that's cheating!"
Atlas splashed towards Cadmus, reaching his hands far in front of him. He lightly brushed, what he thought was Cadmus, but it was actually the edge of the pool. He was worse at Marco Polo than he remembered. Quickly, he turned around and crazily waved his hands around, hoping to tag someone out of luck.
Em grinned and, with a knowing look at Harvey, grabbed Cadmus and shoved him into Atlas' flailing hands, laughing as the two finally connected in a tangle of limbs and playful yelling. "You all suck! I'm gonna tag both of your sorry asses, then you'll see!"
Atlas quickly opened his eyes, laughing as Cadmus yelled at the others. He backed up from Cadmus and went over to Emrys. "Thanks, love… and Harley." He said, first looking at Em, then at Harley. He watched Cadmus, ready to hopefully not get tagged.
Cadmus counted to 10 and then he was off, swimming violently therough the water in the hopes of tagging someone. Harley and Emrys scattered, just barely managing to duck under the water before he yelled his first marco.
Atlas quietly yelled "polo" back as he silently slipped underwater, gliding to the opposite end of the pool, still able to hear Cadmus' thrashing underwater. He burst back to the surface taking a few breaths. He waited for Cadmus' next move, smiling as he saw Emrys.
Em gave him a playful wave before his soft panting attracted Cadmus' attention and he had to set off, cutting through the water just quickly enough to avoid beging tagged. Cadmus yelled out another Marco, now heading for where he'd last heard Cadmus.
Atlas yelled polo at the top of his lungs this time then very quickly went back underwater, opening his eyes to try to dodge Cadmus. He hugged the edge of the pool, watching Cadmus' every move.
Cadmus hurried towards the last polo he heard– Atlas'– flailing his arms wildly in an attempt to hit something. Luckily for him, Emrys happened to try to a lucky pass across the pool and got caught by one wildly swerving fingertip. He sighed playfully while Cadmus crowed in victory. "Hell yeah, one down one to go!"
Atlas burst out of the water, deeply taking in oxygen. He smiled at Emrys then went back to the far edge of the pool next to Cadmus. "So either we push Harley to Em, or we just do a really really good job of staying away from Em. What d'ya say?" He asked Cadmus in a whisper. Watching as Em spun around and counted.
Cadmus grinned, reaching over to give Atlas a hi-five. "Oh fuck that last idea, we're totally tossing Harley to the wolves this round. Or… to the Emrys. Who's kind of a wolf, if you think about it hard enough, but… I'm getting off track, we totally need to get my revenge."
"Definitely, I was hoping you'd say that," Atlas said, watching as Harley started coming over to them. He ducked underwater for a second then came up not much later, just to smooth back his hair. "You ready, Em?"
(Bump~)
(Sorry! Life's been really busy lately!)
Cadmus rolled his eyes and ruffled Atlas' hair, a wide grin on his face. "We're gonna kick his ass!"
On the other side of the pool, Emrys finished counting, reaching out blindly as he meandered forward. "Yeah, I'm coming for you! Marco?"
(Ah, it's totally okay, I understand!)
Atlas smiled at Cadmus, smoothing down his hair again. He giggled then yelled "Polo". Glancing at Cadmus, he then ducked underwater, avoiding Emrys. Resurfacing on the other side, he looked over at the opposite side of the pool.
Harley was hanging out in the corner near him, face just barely peeking out above the surface of the water so he cold duck under before Em yelled Marco. Cadmus was waiting a few feet behind Em so he could shout Polo at the top of his lungs and tear over to Harley's spot in the corner, smiling as he watched Em smack arounnd the other end of the pool.
Atlas was doing something similar to Harley, but out of getting a chill and not to duck underwater at the next Marco. He looked over at Cadmus, his eyes motioning to Harley, asking if he was ready to push Harley.
Cadmus gave him a big thumbs up and a bright smile, which had Harley turning around with a suspicious frown. Of course, right as he opened his mouth, Cadmus came shooting over, grabbing him around the waist and hefting him up just as Em yelled out the next Marco. "Polo, polo, big fat polo right here!!"
Atlas giggled and yelled out a polo as well, attracting Em to them since they were so obvious about it. He didn't know what to do since it seemed Cadmus was good by himself, but he did stay in place, glancing between Emrys, Cadmus, and Harley.
Emrys immediately darted over, much to Cadmus' amusement. He dropped Harley practically on top of Em, cackling as he got tagged by a flying elbow to the shoulder and went under, only to come up a few seconds later sputtering curses and heading for Cadmus.
Atlas giggled as he watched the whole thing unfold. "Hey hey, don't give Cadmus all the credit!" He yelled to Harley with a silly smile on his lips. He looked at Emrys, going up to him and wrapping the man in his arms from behind.
Harley tackled Cadmus, who went down in a fit of shrieking laughter and splashed water and came up with his lips firmly attached to Harley's.
Em turned away from them, nose wrinkled playfully, and pecked Cadmus on the cheek. "Mightly fine playing you did there, Atlas. What made you team up with Cads?"
"Ah, so Harley was the only one who hadn't been tagged so Cads was the only person that I could team up with." Atlas said, still giggling. He pressed a small kiss to the side of Emrys' neck, smiling while doing so. He buried his face in the crook of Em's neck and held him tighter in an attempt to warm himself since he was still a little chilly.
Em ran his hands up and down Atlas' arms, kissing him on the cheek. "We should probably head in soon, you feel freezing." He brushed his lips over Atlas' forehead, laughing quietly as the temperature registered. "Have you been this cold the whole time?"
"I mean, I don't think so. I just started feeling cold a few minutes ago." Atlas said against Emrys' skin. It wasn't a very warm day since it had rained earlier, so it did make sense that he was cold. "I think we should go inside though. Then we can head to the aquarium after we all warm up and shower and stuff."
Emrys nodded, holding Atlas close for a few more moments before he swam over to Cadmus and Harley, tapping them each on the shoulder. "Listen up love birds: Atlas and I are heading in for warm showers, and by the time we're ready to go to the aquarium you need to be waiting in the lobby."
Atlas smiled as Emrys swam over to the new couple. While Emrys was talking to Cadmus and Harley, he decided to climb out of the pool and find a towel. He wrapped himself in it like a blanket, waiting for Emrys.
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