Third Person's POV.
The gentle, rhythmic sloshing of the sea against the hull was the first thing to pull Gemini from his deep sleep. He woke slowly, feeling impossibly rested. For a moment, he simply lay in the enormous, comfortable bed, savoring the feeling of the yacht swaying beneath him—a luxurious cradle in the middle of the ocean.
Sunlight, dazzling and bright, streamed in through the cabin's portholes, casting dancing reflections of the water on the ceiling. He stretched, the expensive sheets cool against his skin, and felt a quiet, hopeful energy he hadn't known existed. The tension from the previous day had truly washed away with the tide.
He looked over at the other side of the bed. It was empty, the sheets already neatly tucked. Percy was gone.
Gemini quickly dressed in a pair of clean shorts and a simple t-shirt. He made sure to fold his side of the bedding before quietly slipping out of the cabin.
The yacht was serene and quiet, the only sounds being the subtle hum of the engines and the cry of gulls overhead. He ascended the steps to the main deck. He found the others gathered around an outdoor table on the aft deck, where a lavish breakfast spread—fresh fruit, pastries, coffee, and what looked like a personal omelet station—had been laid out.
Penelope spotted him first. "Good morning, sleeping beauty! You slept like you were never going to wake up." She gestured toward the food. "Come join us. We saved you the best spot."
Cole, already mid-bite of a croissant, grinned. "Yeah, we figure you need the fuel. We're going to squeeze every last drop of fun out of this day."
Daphne gave him a relaxed nod as he slid into the chair Percy had left vacant—next to her. She looked refreshed and surprisingly subdued for a Sunday morning.
"It's our last day," she explained, picking at a strawberry. "We usually try to pack it in before we have to face Monday. We call it our 'Sunday Scramble.'"
Percy leaned back in his chair, a mug of coffee in his hand. "We have about six hours before we dock and head back. We can moor near a private cove and swim, or we can just enjoy the trip back." He looked directly at Gemini. "What sounds best to you? You're the guest of honor."
Gemini felt a pleasant warmth at being consulted. "I'd like to see the cove, it'll be a waste to miss it since we're already here." he admitted, his eyes lighting up at the thought of seeing open water up close.
"Cove it is!" Cole declared, already reaching for his phone to message the captain. "The water's crystal clear there. Prepare to be amazed, kid."
As the yacht slowly turned, heading toward their final destination, a sense of melancholy settled over Gemini. He knew this bubble of luxury and ease was temporary. He would be going back to the city, to his own quiet, difficult life. But this weekend—the unexpected kindness, the gentle rocking of the yacht, and the chance to be seen simply as Gemini and not an outsider—had given him something invaluable.
He was still an outsider, yes, but he realized the distance between their worlds wasn't as absolute as he once thought. They were just people, flawed and funny, with histories and dreams, and for a short time, their paths had intertwined.
A little over an hour later, the yacht had dropped anchor in a secluded, glittering cove. The water was a startling shade of turquoise, so clear that the sandy bottom was visible twenty feet below. The engines were silenced, and the only sounds were the gentle lapping of waves against the hull and the distant cry of a solitary bird.
Cole, naturally, was the first one off the platform, executing a flawless cannonball that soaked the entire aft deck. He surfaced, laughing, "Come on, slowpokes! The water is perfect!"
Penelope and Daphne gracefully followed, using the built-in ladder to slip into the water. They were instantly comfortable, floating easily and splashing each other, a picture of effortless aquatic grace.
Gemini stood on the edge of the platform in his swim trunks, clutching a large white towel. He watched them, a nervous, expectant energy radiating from him. He had never been swimming before. He didn't know how.
Percy stood beside him, noticing the hesitation and the tight grip on the towel. "It's incredible, right?"
"It is," Gemini whispered, gazing at the vibrant blue. "I just... I don't know how to swim."
Percy simply nodded, his expression completely calm without judgement. "No problem at all. We can stay here, or I can teach you how to swim. Whatever you want."
"I want to feel it," Gemini admitted, a genuine longing in his voice. "I don't want to just watch."
"Then let's go." Percy tossed his own towel onto a nearby chair. He stepped onto the top rung of the ladder and waited. "We'll just stay on the ladder. The first few steps are solid ground. You won't sink."
Gemini took a deep breath, his heart fluttering with a mix of fear and excitement. He moved tentatively to the edge of the platform and carefully placed his foot on the cold, metal ladder. He descended slowly, step by step, until the water reached his chest.
It was shockingly cold at first, but refreshing. He gripped the rails of the ladder tightly, his knuckles white.
Percy was right there, standing on a lower rung. He didn't hover or crowd, but his presence was a steady anchor.
"See? Solid ground," he said. He reached out and gently placed a hand on Gemini's back, a reassuring weight. "Just breathe. The water holds you up more than you think."
Gemini tried to loosen his grip, but couldn't. He was close enough now to feel the movement of the open water, the gentle drag and pull that felt unsettling and foreign.
"Now, the trick is to get comfortable with the surface," Percy murmured. He took Gemini's arm and guided it, slowly and carefully, until Gemini's hand was resting lightly on the surface of the water, palm down. "Feel the pressure. Push down gently. That's what pushes you back up."
Gemini focused, allowing the sensation to register. He let his legs drift up slightly, supported by the water, but kept one foot firmly on the ladder rung. He felt the vast, buoyant power of the ocean for the first time.
"Okay, wow." he said, the sound a mix of wonder and relief.
Penelope, who had paddled over, watched the quiet lesson with a softened gaze. She had spent a lifetime in these waters, but she'd never appreciated the simple physics of buoyancy until now, seeing it through Gemini's eyes. Cole and Daphne stayed a respectful distance away, paddling lazily and talking in low voices.
"Ready for the next step?" Percy asked. "Let's just take one full step off the ladder. I'll hold you."
Gemini nodded, swallowing hard. He lifted his foot off the rung. As the water momentarily lost its solid anchor, a rush of panic flared, but before he could tense up, Percy's arm slipped under his ribcage, a strong, secure support.
He was floating. For one terrifying, exhilarating second, he was completely suspended in the blue expanse, held up by the sea and by Percy's strength.
"You're fine," Percy said, his voice calm and close. "See? The water's a friend."
Gemini looked around. He could see the yacht above him, the white, sandy bottom below, and his new friends smiling from a distance. The fear receded, replaced by a surge of pure, unadulterated sensation. It felt light. He felt—free.
He stayed like that for several minutes, learning to move his legs and arms in tiny, slow experiments, always with Percy's arm there as a safety net.
"You're a fast learner," Percy complimented him, releasing the hold slightly so Gemini was supporting more of his own weight. "Just a few more trips and you'll be swimming on your own."
By the time they were called back to the yacht to dry off and get ready for the trip back to the dock, Gemini's towel felt heavier than he did. He climbed the ladder, his muscles tingling from the effort, a wide, genuine smile on his face. He has finally touched the freedom he had only dreamed while seeing others swim.