Evergreen

They found themselves further away from the general public, standing on a great rock next to the sea, the waves were gently lapping against it’s surface at this hour, or that could have been because of the sudden mood Poseidon was feeling at the moment when he looked at the magnificent woman in front of him.

“I didn’t know if I had much time to check on them before we were found by someone, so I simply took them away in the tank as you’ve seen. But now that there’s no one in sight, I can check on them first before we accumulate them to the sea, seeing as it would be quite disastrous if I simply put them in the water.” Hariel explained while she tended to the aquatic creatures in the tank they were imprisoned in, but not for long, which they understood as well, by the words of gratitude Poseidon heard them say to her, when she filtered the water clean bit by bit and healed one creature of his domain after the other. They of course had recognised him, seeing as they know their Lord by his power alone. 

While Hariel was tending to the last Sea creature, which was a crab,  in the now broadened tank, where the others even with the much bigger space, still crowded closer to their savior, who they were still singing their praises to, even though she was unaware of it with the way she was fully focused in her task, which Poseidon smiled at, seeing as it was to be expected really. 

Hariel had that gift with everyone who had the honour of being in her presence, may it be human or animal or any other creature he was sure, they all would be completely in awe of her and her kindness.

And seeing this, made Poseidon even more enamoured by the mystery that is Hariel Carina-Lillian Potter-Black.

“So now that’s done with, let’s get you lot into the sea, “ Hariel then softly said to the sea creatures that were still staring at her, it was adorable how she spoke to them even though she could not understand them, Poseidon put it to it being simply a Hariel thing. 

“Do you need my help, Hariel?” He then spoke after a long time of simply watching her in silence until she had been done with tending to the Sea creatures. 

But Poseidon then saw that she once more raised the tank slowly towards the water beside them, the creatures then swam out of their prison for the first time in a long time, each still singing their gratefulness to the Lady Hariel before they disappeared into the Sea. They were then left with an empty tank, which Hariel once more let disappear with her wandless magic, which even now still filled him with wonder, especially at the feel of her magic. 

It felt warm, she felt warm.

“There!” She then proudly said with a smirk in triumph after she had vanished the tank, which Poseidon chuckled in mirth at, before he congratulated her on her great dead.

“Not many would have done such a selfless thing as you, Hariel. ” He warmly said, which Hariel turned her gaze to him in surprise at, which confused him then. Did he say something strange?

“Selfless?” She murmured in thought before she shook her head, 

“I didn’t do that much.” she then said, which made Poseidon then shake his head at her humility. 

“‘Tis not a mere thing you have done, Hariel. You saved them, when no one would have even batted an eye to their suffering.” He vehemently told her while his eyes bore into hers in seriousness, which she then froze under.

“Alright, you’re unfortunately right then…But Merlin, am I not going to eat any fish or such after this,  not at all. ” She then softly murmured to herself, before she turned to him with a smile, while she then nodded her head to the Sea next to them. 

“Now that’s behind us, why don’t we sit by the water,  and you tell me why you were also awake during this ungodly hour, Sei.” She cheerfully said, while she pulled her bare feet from her sandals to put them into the water, which had reached her shins then from where she was sat on the large rock. 

Poseidon was taken back by the sight she then made before the now rising morning sun in the background… she looked even more enchanting than even a nymph in that moment.

From the way the sun’s rays danced upon her skin, to the way she played in his domain’s water with her feet in such an innocent manner. 

But let’s not forget the most captivating sight yet: that of her eyes and the way they then shone at his in humour, while her exquisite natural cherry red lips were pulled into a rather lovely smile. 

He wishes he was a talented artist, seeing as he would have etched this moment on paper if he could. 

“Sei?” Hariel then asked in concern when he was taking too long to answer, which made him then embarrassed for being such a fool in front of her. But it could not be helped when it was her that had turned him into such a fool. 

I’d happily be her fool, if she wished it of me. He then thought, before he shook his head and turned to give her a smile of his own, while he walked towards where she was sat on the rock, where there was enough space for the both of them to sit on in a relaxed manner.

Doing that, and feeling the whole of his domain even more so from the moment he had put his own feet into his waters, he then turned to gaze down at her, which he quirked a grin at, at the still obvious height difference between the both of them, even while sitting down.

She was precious, he then thought before he answered her.

“Well, like you, I could not sleep as well and had decided to take a strol this fine morning.” He told her before he then warmly smiled at her, 

“And I’m glad I did,” he then admitted.

Hariel then raised a brow at him with a smile,

“Oh, why is that?” she then asked of him. 

“Because it gave me the opportunity to see you once again, the fates have blessed me with this chance it seems.” He then softly murmured to her, which made colour rise from her cheeks at his confession and the way he was completely turned to her person. 

He could kiss her, especially when her lips looked oh so invitingly in this moment, he thought, seeing as it was such a short distance away from reaching her lips. He just needed to tip his head a bit closer to her now… But he then  stopped himself from acting on his impulses. 

Now wasn’t the time.

But Hariel was saved from answering his sudden confession, because of some guests that had reached them now, and his shirt was then suddenly wet because of their actions, which made Hariel then make a sound in surprise at it all. 

“Oh my!” He heard her say, while he looked at the now guilty, and fearful looking perpetrators with a blank gaze. The perpetrators were a seal, a shark , two dolphins turtles, one of which was a very familiar turtle, might he add.

Especially when the turtle continued to sing his praises to his saviour from before, still completely ignoring the presence of his Lord.

“The Lady Hariel! It seems fate has smiled upon me once more, for they have granted me the chance to see your radiance once more! Oh and I brought some friends with me, they are all very curious about you, my Lady. Can you believe this Shark had accused me of lying of your heroic actions, now see here, Naila, this is the Lady Hariel!” The turtle then exclaimed with much pride, while he made his way closer to Hariel, who seemed to recognise him as well.

“Oh! Aren’t you that turtle I saved from before?” She then softly questioned, while she patted the turtles snout, after it kept on butting her shins with his snout.

“And you’ve brought friends!” She then exclaimed when she turned to gaze at the assembled sea creatures before her, still not noticing the way the others stood frozen in their Lord’s presence, which the turtle still did not notice as well.   

“Oh yes, I did, fair Lady Hariel! Wait here, I shall introduce them to you, starting with my lovely wife, Rena of course! Dear, come here, this is the hero I have told you about!” The turtle shouted before he then turned towards them, and only now he had taken a glimpse of his enraged Lord.

“My-My Lord?” The turtle then stuttered while he stood frozen in front of Poseidon, who’s face still wore a blank look.

“Why is he looking at you like that, Sei? Is the turtle alright?” Hariel then worriedly asked, when she saw the way the turtle who had been so energetic from before, had then suddenly frozen at the sight of him. 

Poseidon then forced a smile, before he meaningfully nodded towards the turtle and his friends in front of them.

“I do not know, but don’t worry, I’ms sure he’s fine, I guess the turtle’s a bit shy in front of me, seeing as he seemed to recognise you?” He then told her, but also the others, to make them act normally. 

Hariel then accepted it before she then told him about how she had come to meet the turtle in front of them, furthermore, on how she had saved him. Which he knew of already, but still listened with a warm smile.

She was a marvel, Hariel. He thought, when he then saw her softly introduce herself to the other sea creatures, which made them turn to her in clear interest them, forgetting their fear in the presence of their Lord, just to bask in Hariel’s radiance.

The sight made Poseidon forget his ire from before, especially when she looked at him in excitement and wonder when they all started to ask her for pets, it was a surprise they weren’t fighting each other for it, from the way they were all shouting at one another to make Hariel give them affection first. 

She truly was marvelous.

“...Did that really just happen?” Hariel then asked in wonder when they watched the retreating forms of the Sea creatures in front of them. 

“It sure did.” He then answered with a smile towards her, which she then smiled to with a shine of happiness within her gaze, she still wore a look of wonder even now. 

“Teddy is going to be so jealous when he’ll hear this…Well everyone actually,” She then murmured in thought. 

“Oh, will they?” He then questioned, before he then nodded his head, seeing as he understood then, this must have been quite an interesting site for anyone else but the Lord of the Seas, who was used to seeing the faces of the many creatures of his domain. 

“I’m sure they’ll see such creatures in time soon, worry not.” He then said, in promise, for he would make certain of it, if it would make her happy.

And seeing her beam at him from happiness, which made him freeze at the spot from the force of it.

“Really?!” She then asked in excitement and happiness, all because of the chance that the rest of her family would see such a sight in the future as well. She was always thinking of others besides herself… She was truly lovely, he thought while he then smiled at her in a soft manner.

“Yes.” He answered, and she seemed to believe him fully then for she answered him with a smile of her own, one that was even sweeter looking than any she had graced him with, he thought, all too well mesmerised by the sight of it, but furthermore her as always.

Has she bewitched him? He questions himself, before he mentally shakes his head to the thought, no, she had not. 

For she need not to have him fall in her web, for he fell willingly.

“Oh, Sei, I forgot that you were still wet! Here let me-” She then hurriedly said, while she seemed to want to fuss over him, but held herself back from doing so until he would give his consent it seemed, which he quirked his lips at. She was truly endearing.

“No need.” He simply said while he pulled the water from his shirt, he normally takes precautions with his clothes if they weren’t already enchanted, but this time he had not done so and now he saw the usual result of it by the way the clothes material seemed to wear and tear a bit by his forceful showing of his power.

While he had been busy doing that, he did not notice the way he had been ogled at for a moment by Hariel, who as quickly shook her head at the action before she noticed the after effects of him using his elemental power to drain the water off by the way he had pulled it off the shirt and pushed it towards the sea.

“That isn’t good.” He then heard Hariel whisper, which he furrowed his brow at, before he raised his head towards her in question.

“What is not good?” 

She then came a bit closer to him and softly grabbed his shirt to explain and show him,

“You’ve worn the fabric by pulling the water out of the fabric with your power, that and its salt water, it’s no wonder it’s so worn now…an is that a tear?!” she then worriedly said when she examined the tear in question, which on one of his sleeves.

“...Is that a Trident tattoo?” She then curiously asked him, while her eyes where glued on the tattoo on his bicep, her gaze was filled with curiosity but also awe, which Poseidon unconsciously puffed his chest, but also flexed the bicep in question at in pride.

“Yes, it is. Do you like it?” He then asked her, while he continued to watch her watch his arm in curiosity with a grin now on his face. The state of his shirt seemed to be forgotten for now.

“It is.” She then honestly answered.

“I have more of them, .” He then ofhandedly told her, holding himself from saying if she wanted to see them. 

This of course made her finally pull her gaze from his arm to his amused eyes.

“That’s so cool, I always wanted a tattoo you know, or wel a couple of them.” Hariel then told him, which took him completely by surprise, but maybe he shouldn’t have been, seeing as he could see her having a tattoo. 

“Why haven’t you already had one then?” He then curiously asked her, which made her tilt her head in thought before she answered him after a moment with a bitter smile.

“My papa promised he would get one with me, but we didn’t get to do that, seeing as he had passed away, and it never came in mind to get one after that.” She explained, which made Poseidon want to kick himself over, seeing the way she had turned saddened by it all.

He should have known, seeing as it was Sirius Black she was speaking of. The one that had been lost to her…

“I’m sorry-” He then started to say to her before she shook her head at him.

“Don’t be, you had nothing to do with it, and its been some time now. I’m better.” She then told him with a quirk to her lips, which made him then softly smile at her.

“I’m glad, “ He said, before he then thoughtlessly opened his mouth next.

“Would you like to get one? Not now, of course, but in the future?” He then quickly rambled when his mind caught up to him, but he then stopped when he heard her softly chuckle at him.

“I would like to, yes.” She said, which made him smile at her then,  which she mirrored afterwards.

And then they simply stared at each other in silence with the soft sounds of the sea lapping against the rock they were sat on, with their feet still in the now more warm water, seeing as some time had passed by now, which Hariel seemed to realise by the way she then gazed around them with a smile.

“Do you gather that the normal folks will be awake by now?” She asked him, which made him chuckle then.

“Oh so we aren’t normal now, are we?” He then teasingly said, even though the both of them knew they were far from normal. Poseidon more so than the Lady in front of him, who was still unaware of his true identity. But that did not mean that he had been deceiving her, seeing as he had truly been open with her, but as Sei. 

“I know you know the answer to that already, Sei.” Hariel then chuckled, before she waved her hand up without saying anything, and there he could see the time and day of this part of the world.

“Well look at that, it’s almost seven o’clock already,” She said, before she once more gazed at him, but now once more at his shirt which he quirked his brows at.

“Let’s go to a nearby boutique, or mall if they have it close-by.” She then murmured.

“Alright, but for whatever for? Do you want to go shopping? Now?” He asked in surprise, even though he would have been fine with it either way, if she truly wanted to visit one, even though it had been rather out of the hat of her to suddenly announce this. 

“We’re going shopping for you silly, so yes, now. It musn’t feel as comfy in that shirt now, is it?” She asked him, which made him them feel warm inside suddenly, at her obvious concern for him.

So he said nothing and simply followed her along, especially because she was holding his hand.

Poseidon stood behind Hariel in the boutique they had found, the boutique was for men only specifically, but that did not seem to faze the young woman in front of him, for she seemed to be entirely focused on her task before her. Which he watched with a mixture of admiration, but also sudden nervousness, seeing as this was an entirely new experience to him. Being in a boutique in the first place, and with Hariel choosing his clothes for him, yes clothes. She told him to let her do this for him seeing as he had paid her drink before, which did not equal in the slightest, which Poseidon wanted to say something to, but he was stopped at every opportunity, until he simply accepted, which had made Hariel very happy, which then made him happy as well for making her suddenly happy.

So here he was now, following her along like how a child would follow its mother…But he surprisingly didn’t mind it in the slightest, especially because of the way she would constantly ask him for his opinion on every item of clothing she had pulled forward to him, which he surprisingly all liked, especially because of how comfortable they were. It’s as though she knew what he liked it, there were even clothes he would never have looked at, not that he would have looked at any clothes were they not handpicked for him by his servants, or his favoured Hawaiian shirts that he mostly wore.

She then pulled a stylish and very soft and airy looking blue button up shirt in front of him with a ready smile on her lovely face.

“What do you think of this one? I think it would look great on you. “ 

Poseidon then blinked at the last part of what she had just said, or admitted to him. At her sudden attention to him, that sort of attention he means. 

Did she-

“Um- Yes, it does look nice.Thank you,” He then simply said, before he took the shirt and put it with the other clothes he was holding on his arm, which were quite a lot, Hariel now noticed in surprise, with embarrassment might he add, by the lovely colour her cheeks then turned, which he stood transfixed upon, before he turned back from his thoughts when Hariel had told him something. And seeing the question in his eyes, she then reiterated what she had said.

“I’m so sorry that you had to follow me along so much and carry so many clothes, I think it’s enough for now, so why don’t you try them in the changing room?” She told him with a smile, which he then simply nodded to with a smile.

“I will, but do not feel apologetic, seeing as you have nothing to be sorry for, this wasn’t a burden to me, and I liked it.” He then admitted at the end, which seemed to make Hariel very delighted.

“I’m glad, seeing as to be honest- this is something new for , and I don’t really like going shopping, and neither was I really sure about the choices I made-” She then explained, which he shook his head at, before he then smiled at her, to put her at ease.

“You are great, Hariel, I mean the clothes are great I’m sure. Not that you aren’t great as well, which you are- the fact of the matter is: I like the clothes you’ve chosen for me, and I didn’t mind it all, and never think differently about your choices, seeing as they are yours, and you know what really good, I for one have never even worn most of these clothes so a ‘fresh’ look as they say, might do me good, yes?” He then said after embarrassing himself in the beginning in front of her curious gaze.

But she did not seem to think that he embarrassed himself for she gave him a warm smile then,

“I’m glad then. And yes, they would definitely look good on you.” She then told him in honestely, which made Poseidon then freeze at the sight of her steadfast gaze, but also what she had said.

That he would look good. 

By the Seas- 

“Well I will go to the changing room as you have said, then?” He asked before he then nodded to her before she could say anything, and quickly hurried to said changing rooms, which were thankfully further away from her.

All the clothes, just  as he had thought, fit him perfectly, and furthermore, they were all comfortable, which he liked. Very much so.

Taking them once more in his arms, he then went out of the changing room and immediately found himself gazing at Hariel, well her back, seeing as it was a bit ways in front of him, and he noticed with a smile that she still continued to browse other clothes then.

“She’s lovely,” An elderly woman then said beside him suddenly, and looking down at her in surprise, at being found- which he shook his head to, seeing as he was being an idiot. But well, the woman was an employee by the vest she was wearing, which had had her name proudly pinned against her chest: Amerie.

He then simply nodded to the woman in politeness, before his gaze once more traveled to Hariel.

“She is.”  

“It’s so nice to see young love, my dear, so better cherish her.  And do put a ring on her finger, lest someone else swoops her off her feet, and takes the opportunity to do so!”  The old woman, Amerie, then said in a serious tone.

Poseidon, while he was quite flabbergasted by this sudden turn of conversation-especially at the part where the woman thought that he and Hariel were lovers- but well his jaw then tightened in fury at the thought of another man stealing her away.

But he then took a hold of himself and managed to nod to the elderly woman in response.

“I will remember that, madam.” He then answered.

A moment later, 

Poseidon then found himself at the register with a beaming Hariel next to him, who was thanking the older woman after she paid with a gleaming black card (which she had quickly done before he could even open his mouth to say anything against it), Amerie the woman’s name was (was she the only employee here?).

But well when it was over and done with and he was already wearing his new clothes, which consisted of the blue button shirt and some loose and airy pants, and his usual sandals, with the other new clothes in the bags (with a separate bag for his ruined Hawaiian shirt, and speaking of the shirt, Hariel had managed to find such other shirts for him as well when he had spotted her browsing for other clothes, which he had smiled in fondness at.), and when he had nodded at the older woman, she had winked at him and nodded her head towards an oblivious Hariel, all the while she mouthed the word ‘ring’ to him, which he simply nodded to.

They then found themselves at a lovely little café, where Poseidon promised to pay for their food, which he this once, would not accept a no for.

Which Hariel had thankfully accepted.

“I presume you will go back to your family after this then.” He then said after they were done with their meal, which Hariel nodded to with a frown.

“Indeed.” She then simply said, and when she would not say anything else, Poseidon then asked her the next question hurriedly, but also in worry. For what?

That she would not want to continue seeing him?

“Will I see you again?”He asked, which she blinked her eyes at, before she took a moment to answer him.

“Of course you will, why wouldn’t I see you again? We’re friends right?” She then asked him with such wide eyes, he wonders if her godson had learned that look from her…before the last part had come to his head.

Friends.

Yes, they were friends. Even though he obviously wanted to be more than friends, but he knew what it would entail before he would eventually get there, if there was a chance that she was interested in him of course. 

So he simply nodded to her with a smile, which she mirrored with a soft smile of her own, before then stood up from her chair, which he started to do as well, before he was then surprised by a soft weight against his cheek, and a lovely scent as well.

Wide eyed he then looked up and saw an equally wide-eyed gaze of Hariel then, who was now wearing a blush on her lovely visage.

“I-I’m sorry! It’s just that I’m used to greeting my friends like that, that I forgot, I did it on reflex-” She then started to stammer, before he then smiled and chuckled at her.

“It’s alright, Hariel. And I do not mind it, not in the least.” And with that he then came closer to her, his eyes intent on her still widened ones.

“It’s only fair that I return the favour then, can I-” 

Kiss you. He wanted to say, but seeing her nod, he then came closer to her until he stopped in front of her lips for a moment, before he swerved to softly give her a kiss on her cheek, and he couldn’t help but smell her from this close then.

She smelled lovely, and also intriguing.

He had never smelled anything like her unique scent before.

She smelt of some flower, and something else- something powerful and warm. 

So warm, and so lovely.

And before it would be deemed inappropriate, he had then quickly (and unwillingly) pulled himself back from her.

He then brought his gaze once more to hers and found that she was blushing extremely now, and her eyes were shining at him then, and Poseidon found himself entranced at the sight of her.

He wishes he could kiss her once more then, but this time on her lovely cherry red lips, he wonders if they would taste the same were he to taste them. 

No, they would taste even sweeter, he imagines.

“I’ll see you later then?” He then  murmured to her, all the while he continued to gaze into her lovely eyes.

She simply nodded to him then, before he then pulled back and watched her leave the café afterwards. 

He feels bereft, and he knows it is because of her leaving. 

But he knows he will see her soon.