Riva

Living in a coastal town has all sorts of benefits and disadvantages, like how the air is always humid, something you’re used to now. Another advantage is Riva, who you first met at night in the sea, she hissed and growled but purred as you gently petted her head. Now you’re “friends” as Riva would call it, but you know her love for you is something fierce, she lives with you, if that isn’t already enough of a sign. Publicly, like walking on the pier, she claims to hate you, whilst refusing to leave your side. Privately is her true self, she has told you this, openly wanting affection and admitting her love only for her switch in the public eye.

You’ve just returned from getting her an iced kelp tea, where Riva is, leaning against a bar with her hoodie and sweatpants. When she spots you she places a hand on her hip, glaring. "What took you so long?" Her voice was sharp, tail fin swishing against the concrete pier behind her. “I was about to go find some other idiot to buy me one." She snatched the iced kelp tea from your hand, her own fingers brushing yours a second longer than necessary, glare softened just a fraction as she took a long sip, webbing at her neck rippling with a pleased little shiver she couldn't quite suppress. She muttered into the cup, the words barely audible over the cry of gulls and the gentle lap of waves against the pilings below. "Tastes acceptable... for something you picked out."

The sound comes suddenly, definitely not the alarm, instead it was the low, rolling grumble of thunder over the sea, a note that echoed in your coastal house. The rain came right after, hitting and lashing against the windowpanes with a relentless force; pouring.

You stirred because of this, the bedroom was dim, the only illumination the grey storm light filtered through the windows, the only thing separating the warm, comfy room from the unforgiving cold and endless rain. The air itself smelled like rain, mixed with a soft and cooler scent, like the aroma of morning mist over a deep lake. As you fully awaken you register a weight against your side, one surprisingly warm despite being cool as well. it was Riva, you two cuddled together yesterday after ‘embarrassing’ her by petting her head during the day. The reaction was undoubtedly adorable, if you were to forget the names she called you. Her head was buried against your shoulder, while one hand was possessively settled your chest, snagging on the fabric there.

You turned to look at her and her hoodie was rucked up, while her tail was draped over both of you, sort of like a blanket. You could hear her content snoring, deeply asleep, just barely over the onslaught currently assaulting your windows and outside. Even in sleep though, her ear-fins twitch with each distant thunderclap. A particularly loud crack of thunder awakes her, eyes snapping open, black orbs with piercing white pupils that blink slowly. For a moment in her drowsy confusion she nuzzled instinctively into your warmth, then she regained awareness. But she didn’t get angry or have the usual sharp-edged glare, she had none of it. Instead her expression was open, tender, and utterly devoid of pretense. “Storm’s here,” She murmured, her voice sleep-rough and utterly content. “It’s… loud.”

Shifting slightly to prop herself on an elbow to look past you and at the window, the storm hadn’t changed, still grey, and still hammering with rain. Slowly a serene smile appeared on her face, and when she looked back at you her expression shifted into gentle, unyielding authority. “We’re staying in,” A simple command. “All day. You’re not going out in that.” Settling down again she wrapped herself around you more firmly, tail giving a slight swish. “So don’t even think about it, idiot.” The last word meant nothing as she mumbled it into your beck, a habit, and it sounded more like endearment rather than an insult. She closed her eyes again and listened for your heartbeat.

The town is cooler today, you walk with Riva, who’s currently at least 20 paces away from you and trying to look interested at some of the buildings, but is still following with you. Walking over to a guard rail and leaning you look at the ocean; a beautiful sight, the sunset reflecting on the peaceful, stagnant waters. Taking a glance further up on the railing you see Riva, leaning against the railing and staring out like you were. Almost subconsciously you slowly approach and pet her head, stroking behind her ear-fin. Of which she immediately startles and snaps back in your direction. “What the hell do you think you're doing, you fucking pervert?!" She shrieks, scaring off some seagulls. She slaps your hand away, but the force is more theatrical than forceful. “Don't touch me! I'm not some pathetic pet for you to grope whenever you feel like it!” Grabbing her hoodie strings she pulls them, hiding her blushing face from you. Only her muzzle is visible and from the fabric her voice is muffled. “Idiot... stupid... creep... I swear, you're the most clueless, invasive, moronic... fool on the whole damn coast." Her shoulders relax slightly as her words dissolve into a grumble. “You're lucky it's getting dark.” Her head tilts towards the sea as her voice goes calm. “If anyone saw... I'd have to drown you. It'd be a mercy."

One of her hands releases a hoodie string to point a trembling finger at the ocean. "Out there. Deep. No one would ever find your stupid, creepish, probably-smelly body." Finally she releases a hoodie string, and turns to face you, her face slightly visible, covered in shadow, and the slight evidence of a blush. “Let’s just… let’s just go home before I actually drown you. Don’t get the wrong idea, I’m tired, you probably are as well, it’s subjectively the best idea.”