“Nope.” Danny said, shaking his head as they walked onto the beach.

“What do you mean nope?” Kai said.

“I don't like the ocean,” Danny said as he stopped walking. 

Kai stopped with him.

“I’ve watched the documentaries, okay?” Danny said, “I’ve seen the movies. I don't swim. Not in the ocean. Sure, maybe I’ll swim in Lake Michigan. Don’t have to worry about salt in my eyes, or sharks, or tsunamis, or jellyfish, or,” he moved his hands, pinching and poking the air, “the stuff that can kill you if you step on it. Nope. No. I don’t like the ocean.”

Kai stared at him, as if he couldn’t believe the words coming out of Danny’s mouth. 

“Danny,” Kai said slowly, “you are literally living on an island, which means the ocean is all around you.”

“Yes, thank you, I’m very well aware of that fun fact.”

Kai looked over at the rest of the counselors, standing a few yards down the beach. Gao, one of the full time staff, and Kai’s other best friend at camp, was already telling everyone what they would be doing, some counselors were already heading off to the changing rooms.

“You know,” Kai said as he looked back at Danny, “I’ve been tied up underneath water before. I’ve dealt with my fair share of salt water, taken in more of it than can possibly be healthy. I’ve had to tread water for what’s felt like hours, swim for miles. I’ve nearly drowned on more than one occasion.” He said it with a calm face, as if he was telling Danny what he had for breakfast.

Danny stared at Kai, wide eyed, mouth hanging open, “I-” 

“Part of Hell Week,” Kai explained, “BUDs training, to be a SEAL, and, some other stuff I went through during my service.”

Danny starred some more. “So... you must not like the ocean either then.” 

“Oh, no,” Kai grinned, waving off the silly notion. “I love the ocean,” he said matter of factly. 

Danny blinked. 

“It’s all about facing your fears Danno.” 

Danny blinked some more.

“My point is,” Kai said, placing a hand on Danny’s shoulder, “I can take care of you.”

“Oh,” Danny said, mouth agape for a moment before he managed to close it, “was that your point?” He nodded and shrugged, “I couldn't tell with all the torture and trauma backstory.”

Kai rolled his eyes, “you mean skill, strength, resilience and courage training,” he corrected. 

Danny nodded, not looking as convinced. “Sure, if that framing helps you sleep at night.” 

Kai’s jaw tensed for a moment, too quick for Danny to notice. He was more preoccupied with staring at the ocean with worried eyes. 

“I opt out,” Danny said, turning back to Kai, “I’m opting out. No thank you.” 

Kai nodded slowly, removing his hand from Danny’s shoulder. “Okay, we’re gonna work on that though.”

“No thank you, nothing to work on.” 

“A kid falls off their boat, doesn’t know how to swim, what are you going to do?”

“Well, first of all,” Danny said, face scrunched back in repulsion, “that kid should never have been allowed to do a water activity in the freakin ocean if they didn’t know how to swim!” 

Kai sighed and pinched his brow, “okay, you’re right. Let’s say they do know how to swim, but they’re visibly struggling, your the closest counselor, what would you do?”

“Well, I would have primitively canceled all water activities so a situation like that wouldn’t happen.”

“Danny.”

“Okay, I’d run in after them, obviously.”

“So, you do know how to swim?”

“Yes, and give me a first aid class or a lifeguard 101 class and I’ll do it, but I’m opting out of…” Danny looked over at the group, trying to decipher what they were all doing.

“SEE!”  Kai said, eyes wide, “You don’t even know what we’re doing today! You just saw the water and your brain automatically went nope!” 

“Okay, well,” Danny crossed his arms, “what are we doing today?” 

“We’re…” Kai grinned at Danny, “teaching everyone how to paddleboard!” He held out his arms and did jazz hands in surprise!

“Yeah, nope-”

“Danny, have you ever even paddle boarded before? You might really like it!”

“I thought you said we could opt out of things we didn’t want to do Kai?!”

Kai sighed, “Alright, well, it’s a thirty minute lesson.”

“Okay well, I guess I’ll just,” Danny spotted beach umbrellas and lounge chairs near them, “I’ll just wait here then,” he said, happy with his seating arrangement. 

“At least watch us, maybe you’ll learn a few things,” Kai said as they walked over to the lounge chairs.

“Oh, no, I’m definitely a hands on learner,” Danny said, shrugging as he held up his hands, “but I’ll be taking mental notes for sure, maybe the photographic memory I've always wanted will finally kick in.”

Kai rolled his eyes, but a little grin appeared on his face, which in turn made a little grin appear on Danny’s face. 

When they got to the chairs Danny placed a hand on the backrest, opening his mouth to gloat about how comfortable he’d be while Kai was suffering in the cold salty water. 

But he only managed to open his mouth when Kai crossed his arms and grabbed the hem of his shirt with his hands and, in one swift movement, pulled his shirt off.

Just like the last time Danny had seen Kai shirtless, he felt caught off guard.

"Watch, Danny." Kai said again as he tossed his shirt onto the lounge chair.

"I'm watching," Danny said, eyes falling down to Kai's chest.

He barely had time to re-register the tattoos there when Kai turned and headed to the group.

Danny nodded, watching Kai go.

“Well," he eventually said, grabbing Kai’s shirt off the chair so he could sit down, “he’s nice looking...” 

Danny had always felt... impressed by other men's bodies. He wasn’t sure how else to put it.

Cristie, his ex, had always chided him, telling him to stop comparing himself to other guys, but that wasn't it, not really. Sure Danny would get self-conscious sometimes, look at some dude’s muscles and feel bad about the lack of his. But more than that, he usually just felt impressed.

As much as he hated to exercise and eat healthily, he had worked really hard to be fit. So he felt that he was able to appreciate, and sometimes even marvel, at the work others had put into their own selves.

And boy has Kai put in the work, Danny thought as he sat down. 

Joey’s suggestive nudge and wink came to mind, but only for a split second. Kai calling his name brought him back to the moment.

“Watch us Danny!” he yelled from his place between the counselors— they were all getting ready to go in the water.

“I’m going to take a nap!” Danny yelled back, mischievous grin on his face, he pointed towards the sun, “it’s perfect napping weather!”

“Daannny!!” Kai called back. 

You’re so vain, Danny wanted to yell back, so insistent on me watching you. 

But he looked at the other counselors that were staring at them, looking back and forth between him and Kai as if they were having a volleyball match. 

So instead he just said, “Okay, if you insist,” giving Kai two thumb ups.

He watched as the counselors learned how to paddleboard and even though he wasn’t there with them he could tell what Kai had meant, he wasn't just good in the water, he was amazing. 

He pulled out his phone and sent Elena a quick text - Kai would definitely be in Posiden's cabin.

It almost impressed Danny how confident and happy Kai looked in the water. 

But, instead of yelling out a compliment, Danny cupped his hands to his mouth and yelled out, “Stop showing off Kai Kalani!!”

Kai stumbled on his paddleboard, and for a moment Danny was worried Kai might fall. 

But Kai quickly regained his balance, and even though Danny couldn’t even remotely see his face from so far away, he could picture the smug smile that was surely on Kai’s face.