"Ooo, looks like they got things figured out," Atlas whispered, lightly laughing into his hand to muffle the sound. "Should we wait 'til they're done, or should we barge in and embarrass them?" He asked with a silly smile.
Em laughed, turning away from the couple because even if he was happy for them, it was kind of gross to see the guy who was practically his brother kissing his close friend. "Oh my god, is that even a question? After all the UST they put us through?"
Atlas laughed with Emrys. "You're right, what kind of question is that?" He said with a big smile. He leaned up and kissed Em, smiling still. He grabbed his boyfriend's hand and started walking again, unable to stop himself from smiling.
Emrys laughed and kissed him on the cheek before he strolled in with a loud, enthusiastic "Hello boys!"
Cadmus looked up guiltily while Harley groaned, burying his face in Cadmus' neck. "H-hey!! Um… what're you guys doing here, I thought you went back up to the room?"
"Oh we did. We just came back since it's after 10:00 and the pool is offically open and I really wanted to swim. But I see you two have everything worked out." Atlas said, holding back another laugh. "That now makes two couples in this band. That's fun. If you feel the urge to tell someone from management, Hallie's basically one of the very few trustworthy people."
Cadmus blinked, absorbing, while Harley groaned and– judging from the way Cadmus squeaked– bit down on his neck. "Oh. I… yeah. I'm gonna be hanging out with Harley more, we're… dating?" He looked down at HArley to confirm and got an eyeroll in return.
"Yes, we're dating. You're ridiculous."
Em laughed, pulling Atlas inside the pool area and letting the gate clang sut behind them. "You're *both ridiculous, and we're gonna swim now because Atlas is getting whiney."
"Finally, I've been waiting since we got here! C'mon, you baby lovebirds, the pool awaits." Atlas said before jumping into the pool with a cannonball. He resurfaced, taking in a breath of air then going back under. He swam to the edge, waiting for everyone else.
Em slid into the pool slowly while Cadmus and Harley clambered up off the lounge chair they'd commandeered and hopped in. "Whaddya even wanna do anyway?" Cadmus asked, tossing his arms around Harley's waist to keep himself above water. "There's not enough of us to play anything fun."
Atlas slipped back underwater and swam over to Emrys, hugging him from behind. "I mean, I didn't really get that far, I just wanted to be in the water. But we were talking about it earlier and Em suggested that we could have a chicken fight."
Em squeaked and then set his hands on top of Atlas's, leaning back into his chest with a happy sigh. "Well I didn't really suggest as much as I–"
"– that sounds great!" Cadmus interrupted, hopping up onto Harley's back and locking his legs around his waist. "We definitely need to have a chicken fight!"
Atlas laughed, watching Cadmus and Harley situate themselves. "You should get on my shoulders." He whispered as he pecked Emrys' cheek and removed his arms from around him. He looked up at the sky for a second, noticing that is stopped raining and the sky was clearing up.
Em laughed and pecked him in return, gently detangling himself from Atlas' arms and wandering behind him. "Well, I need you to get under the water before I can get up on your shoulders, but I'd be very happy to get up there if you'll duck under the water."
Atlas smiled and without a moment more of hesitation, he took a big breath and ducked underwater. In high school, he was able to stay underwater for the longest, and that benefits him a lot in singing.
Emrys hopped up on his shoulders, locking his legs around Atlas' head and giggling as he was raised up. His hands tangled themselves in Atlas' hair, holding on tight to help him steady himself. "Alright! ow long d'you think you can carry me?"
"Hopefully for a while," Atlas said, holding onto Emrys' legs so he wouldn't fall. He was smiling and he looked up at Em then slowly started walking forward. "You good up there, love?" He asked, slowly stopping as he got closer to Cadmus and Harley.
Em squeaked and dug his hands into Atlas' hair a little harder than he had been, squeezing tight around Atlas. "Um…. yes?? I feel like I'm about to fall off your shoulders, but… you've got me right?"
"Yeah I got you, Em. No worries, let's win this, k?" Atlas said smiling up at Emrys. "You two ready?" He asked looking over at them. The water felt so nice, he had definitely missed it.
Em smiled and kissed his forehead, holding onto him as Harley settled Cadmus more securely on his shoulders.
"Oh hell yeah!" Cadmus yelled, urging Harley forward with a grin. "We're gonna destroy you, Em! You're both going down!"
"Whatever you have to tell yourself, Cadmus." Atlas chuckled, looking at them before smiling up to Emrys. "Remember, I got you, Em. You're safe." He whispered before walking forward, closer to Cadmus and Harley.
Emrys smiled and loosened his grip a little. "Yeah, I know. You've always got my back, why should this be any different?" He brushed a lock of hair off Atlas' face, about to say something more when Cadmus slammed into him at full speed.
"Hey, less talking more chicken fighting!! Shove me!"
Atlas grasped tighter onto Emrys' legs to make sure he wouldn't fall. He dug his feet into the bottom of the pool to hold his ground. He started laughing as they started fighting, possibly enjoying it more that he should.
Em shoved at Cadmus' shoulders with a snort and soon the two were actually going at it, splashing and shoving as Harley and Atlas circled and pushed forward from below. It was all over as soon as Cadmus gave Em a particularly hard push, one that left him a wide open for the retaliatory shove that sent him tumbling back into the pool with a surprised screech.
Atlas gasped as his grip on Emrys loosened and eventually let go. He plunged into the water, sinking to the bottom then pushing off and quickly resurfacing, taking in a big breath of air. He glanced around for Emrys to make sure he was okay.
Em was laughing and shoving the wet hair out of his eyes, watching cheerfully as Cadmus crawled back onto Harley's shoulders only to be tipped off a few seconds later when he was abruptly judged to be too heavy for another round. The two were arguing playfully, so fond it left a smile on Em's face even as he turned to wave at Atlas. "That was some spill, huh? I thought you said you wouldn't drop me."
"Ah I know, sorry, love. Cadmus really did a number on us though, I wasn't expecting it!" Atlas said swimming back to Emrys and wrapping him in his arms. "You okay?" He asked, just to make sure. Em did seem to be fine, as he was smiling and laughing, but he could never be too careful.
Em laughed softly, wrapping his arms around Atlas' neck and kissing him. "I know, I know, I was just joking." He rested his forehead against his lover's, swaying lightly from side to side with him in the water. "I'm perfectly fine, I just got a little water in my eyes."
Atlas smiled and kissed Emrys back. He tightened his grip around his boyfriend a bit more, looking into his eyes. "I'm glad you're all good. It was a pretty intense fall." He said softly, hearing Cadmus and Harley still playfully arguing in the background. "I think we should play Marco Polo next, what d'ya think?"
"I think Cadmus is going to flail around too much and break someone's nose." Em glanced back at him and then laughed when he realized Cadmus was giving him the finger.
"Alright asshole, why don't you be Marco then!?" Cadmus tossed his arm across Harley's shoulders, playfully annoyed. "I bet it'll take you an hour at least to catch anyone, and even then it'll only be because Atlas gives you a pity tag."
Atlas giggled at Emrys' comment then looked at Cadmus and Harley. "Well, then how about I be Marco then? Problem solved." He said, glancing between Cadmus and Emrys. He pecked Em's cheek then let go of him.
Em laughed and kissed him back before he swam over to Cadmus' side of the pool. "Yeah, Atlas can be Marco! Now everyone close your eyes, it's time for us to play! Atlas, count to… 20."
