Oh my god how do people edit stuff like this!!! Honestly half the time I was struggling with capcut to get a basic movement without having to use a premium feature omg
I also tried to install davinci resolve but it was too beefy for my already full laptop asdfjdhlk and clipchamp didnt work cuz uhhh yeah my onedrive is full whoops
point is navigating programs is probably my least favoured bit of editing lmao
Me having technical issues as per usual because I'm a DOOFUS
I didn't actually intend to animate this until I finished the two pieces and thought huh, this would do well in one animation
Just wanted to make some dreamy, fluffy, heart candy kinda art for my own satisfaction again heh
The following workweek after that night turns a little stiff and awkward, but the Z-Team (Prism mostly) helps things go a little faster between Herm and you. (NSFW)
Surprise! This is a sequel of my Over the Phone fic! (It still does good as a stand-alone fic, if you're okay with some implied stuff that happened off-cam hehe)
Also yes, this is heavily inspired by that TATBILB scene lol
Work resumes on Monday as usual. Waterboy silently slides a 10$ bill over to Coupé in the break room. She stops sipping her coffee and pockets it.
"I was only half-joking, Herman, but I appreciate it." She says with a smirk, and he sits on the chair beside her.
Invisigal goes in the break room followed by you, both of you exhausted after a particularly grueling call. Visi wipes her brow and you grab a glass of water. You turn around and see the pair at the table, and you nearly choke on your drink.
"You good?" Visi asks, rubbing your back. You hang your head low and sputter, not meeting Waterboy's eyes. He looks to the side, the color on his face rivaling his own hair. He stands up suddenly and runs out of the break room. Coupé and Visi share a curious look.
The workday continues, and you both try your best to avoid each other. The events of the weekend haven't been talked over, and the best you can do is strained small talk when you're unluckily assigned to a call together. This continues for the rest of the week, and the team notices.
"What the fuck is up with them?" Flambae asks, his tongue still ghosting over his missing tooth.
"Shit, who knows." Golem grumbles, shrugging.
"Probably the beach trip. We did tease him in the group chat with pics of her." Malevola yawns.
Prism whips her head up and a slow smile spreads on her face. The others look at her in concern.
"Time for another beach trip, bitches! This time, they both have to be there. I'm feeling matchmakey."
-----------------------------------------
The day has been hot and the team wanted to do some night swimming at the beach. You head back to the rental beach house a little earlier than the others, just so you can shower first without having anyone rush you. You share a room with the girls, while the guys share their own.
You pass by the jacuzzi, noticing that it's lit and running. Behind some plants sitting all by himself is Waterboy, spaced out gazing on the water bubbling around his chest.
"Hey, Herm, what are you doing here?" You ask, making him jump. You add a quick apology.
"Oh, n-nothing, really." He says, the water sloshing as he raises his hands and splays his palms open. He submerges his hands again.
"I thought you were still with the others." You say, wrapping your towel closer around yourself as you stand by the edge of the pool.
He finally looks up to meet your gaze, the aqua blue hue of the small pool reflecting off his face.
"N-No, I... Went b-back early. No one n-noticed."
"And you'd rather be here, all alone?" You ask, crouching down to be more at level with him.
"I... G-Guess." He answers sheepishly, eyes dropping again to stare at the water. Your eyes are fixed on his face for a few moments, then you sigh a little. You still haven't talked about what happened on that night.
"Want some company? You can say no, of course." You ask, moving closer to sit at the edge, dipping your feet in the pool.
"I... You're o-okay. Thanks." Herman says with a surprised expression, but he quickly looks away and leans back on the side of the jacuzzi.
As he's turned, you peel the towel off and set it beside his signature goggles, letting yourself slide gently into the warm water.
"Feels nice." You remark, eyes focusing on the bubbles on the water. You see him steal a glance from the corner of your eye.
You offer a small smile, and you're glad to see him smile back. Now that you're a little closer, you can see his bare shoulders more clearly. His skin is in a deep shade, freckles and moles more prominent from sun exposure.
"You're a little sunburned." You note. He merely shrugs and gives a little defeated noise, bringing his right hand to cup around the ball of his left shoulder. He's avoiding your eyes again, but he turns sharply when you move closer and peel his hand off gently, replacing it with yours.
"Let me." You say softly, feeling him shake under your palm. You rub slow arcs with your thumb, feeling if the skin's in danger of peeling. His skin is quite warm, a telltale sign that it has burned a bit.
"I have some aloe gel back in my bag, just dry off and wait here." You say as you pull back, but you feel a firm grip on your wrist.
You turn back to face him, his eyes reflecting the ripples under the water. He opens his mouth to speak, his voice only a few decibels higher compared to the bubbling water.
"Stay, please?"
You blink, then nod. You let him pull you closer again, his hand still not letting go. You move to the side to sit beside him, but he redirects you to be in front of him, a gentle hand on your waist. You feel your skin tingle underwater at his touch, your back stiff as you end up straddling him.
"Herm-" You plant your hands on his shoulders to try and maintain a respectful distance, earning a shiver from him.
"J-Just... Let me h-hold you for a s-sec." He says, lithe arms wrapping around your waist. Your torso finally relaxes, and you dip your head to place your cheek on his shoulder. His concerningly warm skin feels welcome on your face chilled by the night air.
"Okay." You say softly, your nose rubbing gently at the base of his neck, his Adam's apple bobbing.
"T-That tickles a b-bit..." He whispers, and you retrieve your head from resting on him, facing him fully. You hold each other's gazes for a while, either one not daring to speak in the charged air of the moment.
He shies away first, dropping his eyes and looking to the side. You raise your fingers to bring his cheek back gently, making him look at you again. You look down to stare at his lips, and he sucks in a small breath.
In a heartbeat, you both close your eyes and lean in for a kiss, his tense shoulders relaxing as he sighs in sweet surrender. The kiss feels stiff until it's not, and you both tilt your faces to either side to accommodate your noses.
"That n-night, the c-call..." He stammers as he pulls away suddenly. You shake your head and smile, shushing him with a finger to his soft lips.
"No need to explain, Herm. All I know is that we... Found common ground that night." You say gently, him nodding quickly. He blinks, and his shoulders hike up again.
"Can we kiss again?" He asks quietly.
One hand creeps up the back of his neck, fingers raking through wet auburn hair. The other you keep on his chest, feeling his racing heartbeat. You close the distance, and he gasps so sweetly in your mouth, his own hands traveling up your back to pull you closer. He settles one on your neck just under your jaw, a slender thumb resting on your pulse.
Being human requires respiration, so you reluctantly pull back to pant in short breaths. You both look a little kiss-drunk, lips reddening from the friction. He raises a half-lidded gaze to you, pulling you in again, this time trailing kisses on your neck. His tongue swipes every so often, tasting the chlorine on your tingling skin.
One hand moves underwater to cup your behind, adjusting you in a way that you're fully mounted on him, and you feel something twitch in his swimming trunks to your inner thighs.
"God, Herm..." You manage breathlessly, leading his other hand to hover over one of your breasts. He shakily covers the flesh with his hand, a taut peak poking towards his palm under polyester.
"So good..." He praises as he leaves sloppy kisses, his stutter disappearing momentarily. His fingers dig under the skin-tight fabric, making you whimper as his fingertips brush against the sensitive bud.
Under you, his hips move in a lazy rhythm, making good use of the warmth emanating from your core. A string of soft gasps leaves his mouth.
"Is this okay?" He whispers, but he doesn't stop his movements.
"More than okay, hun." You whisper back, moving your hips down as he moves up. He whimpers from the pet name and the friction, and you start feeling a little light-headed.
You drop a hand to touch him where it aches, making him flinch and close his eyelids tight as he draws out a breathy moan.
"You've been waiting for me to come back first from the beach, haven't you? You knew I hated having to take rushed showers." You coo into his ear and he gasps softly, face reddening even more when the truth of his intentions are revealed. You only chuckle triumphantly against his cheek, planting quick kisses on it as you dig at his waistband and drag your fingertips past a trail of hair.
"Damn, Herm, you're... Oh, wow." You remark as you take hold of his length, and the corner of his mouth twitches into a smug smile. You start to move the hand wrapped around him, and the smirk quickly gets replaced by a half-open mouth letting go of some of the most delicious noises you've heard.
"I've... Wanted t-this for awhile- so long." He gasps, his hand moving from your waist to cup your mound, making you gasp and your thighs shake.
"Please, can I?" He asks pleadingly, fingertips at the edge of the leg holes of your swimsuit. You hum and nod, granting permission and feeling a little guilty that you didn't ask as politely as he did when you touched him.
"Thank you." He whispers, moving the fabric to the side to touch your hot core. Somehow, he could feel that you're soaked even when you're both submerged up to your chests in the pool. You drop your head back, pleasure flooding your mind as he drags his fingers languidly along your folds.
"You're... So w-warm..." He whispers, and you wrap your free arm around his shoulders, whining softly into his ear.
"Want, no, n-need to... T-Taste you. Please, oh, please let me..." He begs, and you quickly approve. How could you say no?
You yelp a little as he carries you out of the pool just to set you on the edge, his face at your knees. He plants a soft kiss on your kneecap, and he parts your thighs gently. You look down in anticipation, shivering a little as he pulls the crotch of your swimsuit aside, diving in with a hungry moan.
"Fuck, Herm..." Your hand immediately grabs a handful of wet hair, and he groans into your sex, the vibration making your nerves stand on end.
"You t-taste... So g-good..." He praises, a hand traveling up to fondle one breast as he reverently feasts on you. His other hand slings a thigh on his shoulder, and his tongue disappears into your slit.
You can't help but only moan and whimper to his ministrations, your hips grinding into his face for more friction. His nose bumps into your clit and it makes you tense up, your vision pulsing for a second. Attentive as ever, he notices how you freeze, so he moves his head side to side gently.
"Herm, that's...! You'll make me cum too quickly..." You gasp, but you feel him smile between your legs. He continues, and you let go of his hair to firmly support yourself with two hands.
It doesn't take long for you to start feeling tingly from your feet up. He looks up expectantly as he feels your thighs shake around him, the tip of his nose, mouth and chin glistening with your slick and his saliva.
"Are you c-close?" He asks, and you only nod impatiently, bottom lip bitten so hard it almost bleeds. He dives back down, so eager. The hand at your breast finds yours on the edge of the pool, and he interlaces his fingers with yours.
"Let go, p-please, I can t-take it all..." He whimpers. The way he's so vocal about wanting to please you makes the tingly feeling come back, and you shut your eyes tightly.
"Oh, god, Herm- fuck, fuck, I'm cumming..!" You gasp, stars exploding behind your eyelids. Your entire body convulses, and he keeps your thighs open with a strong grip, eating you out through the orgasm.
The climax dies down finally, and you pant as your vision readjusts. He raises himself to sit on the edge as well, bringing your head to the crook of his neck, his hand rubbing soothing circles on your back. He shushes you gently, peppering kisses on your hair and forehead.
"You o-okay?" He asks softly, brushing a lock of hair stuck wetly to your cheek. You only nod, your mouth dry from all the gasping.
He turns slightly as he gurgles, his cheeks swelling as he conjures water from his gut. He then takes your face into his hands and kisses you softly, transferring the water into your mouth. It's a strange feeling, as if you're a baby bird, but you drink anyway. You taste yourself on his lips, and the water he makes is a heady flavor of him.
"It's s-safe to drink, don't w-worry." He reassures you, and you just chuckle in reply. You both lean in for another kiss, and he gasps when you bite his lower lip gently.
"Not done with you yet." You say, sliding back down into the water, leaving him sitting on the edge of the jacuzzi. His eyes widen as he looks down on you, your hands taking fistfuls of his swimming trunks. You smile sweetly, licking your lips.
"My turn." You say, pulling on the fabric, making his length spring free. He turns away, his lip quivering with how much he wants you to take him.
"Look at me, Herm. Tell me you want this." You say, your face obstructed by the size of it. His pupils dilate at the sight, and he gulps.
"I w-want it, so... bad, so fucking bad." He breathes out. You realize you don't hear him curse much, and hearing that only propels your desire.
You take him into your hand, marveling at the warmth it radiates. His tip is flushed and leaking, and he sucks in a breath to prepare himself. You give him one last look before you envelop it with your lips.
"Oh, god...!" He moans out, eyes already starting to glaze over. You take a deep breath and try to take him all in, but it only makes you gag. Tears prick at your eyes. He brings trembling fingers to your cheek, feeling his shaft making it bulge slightly.
Once the reflex dissipates, you start to move up and down, hollowing out your cheeks to suck when you get to the sensitive tip. You look up at him and revel at the sight: lovable, shy Herman reduced to a babbling, shaking mess under your lips.
"Y-Yes, oh, more, p-please..." He whines, his chest heaving. You tuck some hair behind your ear and do as he asks. You try laying your tongue flat as you lick a long stripe on the underside, and it makes him groan lowly and curl into himself. You smile, finding another way to make him fold.
A combination of sucking at his tip and that slow lick at his underside sends him trembling, hands flexing by your head. He wants to push you off because he's getting overstimulated but he also just loves the feeling of your mouth around him.
Without warning, he tenses up, planting his hands on the edge of the pool. He curses loudly, and you can only open your eyes before he fills your mouth with his release, hot, a little watery, and oh so much. You struggle a little with the volume, and it makes you tear up with effort to swallow the first mouthful.
"Oh n-no, I'm so s-sorry! I didn't m-mean to..." He gasps, stomach still caving with every rope he spurts into your mouth. He weakly tries to push you off, but you stand your ground. You quickly learn to swallow around him little by little as he cums, just to save yourself from choking. He finally comes down from the orgasm after a while, and you pull off with a lewd pop.
"I'm s-sorry, I couldn't... It was t-too good, I'm s-so sorry..." Herman apologizes, covering his face in his hands in embarrassment. He couldn't believe he just came like that. You come up to sit beside him again, pulling his swim trunks back up. You place a hand at his shoulder, shushing him softly.
"You almost drowned me, Herm." You chuckle half-jokingly. He takes his hands off his face and stares at you in horror and guilt, tears forming in his eyes. His face crumples, and you scramble to keep him from openly sobbing.
"Wait, no, it's okay, it's okay! I like that you lost control with me, and honestly, I like when guys cum a lot..." You reassure him, earning a sniff from him.
"You... D-Do?" He asks timidly, his hands dropping to his thighs. You clasp one and kiss his cheek.
"Of course, it was really hot. Just... Tell me when you're close next time, okay?" You say, settling your head on his shoulder. He shifts a little, and you hear him gulp.
"T-There's a next t-time?" He asks, eyes wide. You chuckle and bring his face closer for a kiss as confirmation. You lean in to whisper to his ear.
"You bet there is, and another time after that, and another time after that, too. Of course, if you'd want that, too." You say, smiling at him as you pull back after whispering. He only blinks and nods quickly. You laugh a little at his eagerness, and he pulls you in for another kiss.
This time, the kiss is softer and more deliberate, both of you basking in the afterglow. He brings a hand to rest at your waist, the other interlacing with your fingers on his thigh. You both pull away, a new, warm understanding between your held gaze. You reach out to caress his cheek, and he leans into your touch. Your fingers brush against a particularly sunburnt part on his cheekbone, and he wrinkles his nose, trying not to let the pain ruin the moment. You chuckle lightly, helping him to stand up.
"Alright, come on, let's get you that aloe gel. You'll need the whole bottle, if I'm being honest."
During one late-night shift, Herm knocks on your door asking for help.
A/N: My HC for Herm's grandma's last name is Wells!
You open your door, only to see a looming figure in the cool night.
"H-Hey, sorry to b-bother you this l-late... The figure stutters, and you recognize the voice. He promptly falls forward, and you manage to catch him.
"Herm!" You call out as you struggle with his tall frame, and he whimpers in pain. He's all beat up, the water pooling at his feet streaking with blood.
"What happened?!" You ask as he slowly peels himself off you, swaying lightly. You let him inside, making him sit by the doorway. You sit between his sprawled legs and take his face in your hands, wiping the blood on his eyes from a cut on his hairline.
"B-Bit more than I c-can swallow- no, c-chew." He answers weakly, breathing shallow. You clench your teeth at his reply.
He was on the night shift, and you had already tucked Mrs. Wells to bed and returned to your apartment next door. You rush to the kitchen to get some towels and a first aid kit.
You wipe a towel to clean his face, which was washed in red from that slash at his hairline. His lip is busted, his nose is broken, and purple bloomed on an eye swollen shut.
"What did they do to you?" You ask sadly.
"J-Just a beating..." He slurs as he leans on your door, his earpiece falling off. You hear someone talk faintly from it, and place it in your ear. You say hello.
"Hey, you uh, know Herman?" The voice crackles. Deep, but a little strained.
"I'm his neighbor, I help him take care of his grandma. What happened to him?"
"I'm his dispatcher, Robert. I sent him on a call, just to clear out some kids doing graffiti, but he got ambushed by some gang. He's lucky to not get captured. I told him to return to the office for medical attention, but he wanted to end his shift early and go home since he was nearby."
You chew on your lip, your brow furrowed. Herman pants softly from the pain, clutching his chest with a shaky gloved hand. He leans back, his head thudding on your door.
"He's in bad shape." You tell Robert, and he sighs on the other end, humming in agreement.
You move closer to catch the zipper of his wetsuit with your fingers, and he gasps. His good eye widens at you, stuttering about exposing himself. You shake your head.
"You're hurt, and we need to clean you up. Getting shy won't help." You tell him curtly, yanking the zipper down. You take his gloves off and open his suit wider, finding purple blotches forming on his pale skin.
"God, Herm, they really did a number on you." You mutter, slipping his suit off his shoulders and arms. It strangely feels like peeling a banana, and the wet fabric bunches on the floor. He instinctively brings his arms to the front albeit weakly, and you push them gently away. He only makes unintelligible words and sad noises as he tries to stay conscious.
You give him an up-down look, taking note of the damage. You sigh a little and get to work, thankful for your stocked first aid kit. You clean the blood off him and apply antiseptic on his wounds. He hisses a bit, his Adam's apple bobbing in his throat right after. You offer a quick apology, moving quickly to dress the wounds.
"Your legs, how are they?" You ask, placing your hands on his knees stretching on either side of you.
"They're o-okay... I t-think... Not b-broken, at l-least..." He manages. You trail your eyes over his still-clothed legs, checking for cuts. You run your palms on them, feeling for anything weird and listening if he reacts to pain. He gasps at the contact, and you whip your head back at him, your face asking if it hurts there.
"No, u-um, my l-legs are fine- okay... F-Feet too... I... You're..." He stutters, voice barely above a whisper.
"I still have to check." You tell him, but feel nothing of note. You move to sling one long arm over your shoulder, prompting him to stand. You help him to your worn couch, and he groans as he sits.
"Where does it hurt?" You ask, kneeling to take his shoes off.
"E-Everywhere... Even my s-socks..." He mutters.
You pull said socks off and stand to gather the fabric bunched at his hips. He looks up at you, pupil dilating. You just raise your eyebrows.
"Come on, Herm. We gotta get you out of this." You say, tugging at the wetsuit. He gulps audibly but complies, planting his palms on the couch to support himself as he lifts his hips up. You get the wetsuit off his legs and he brings his knees closer to himself, embarrassed about just having his underwear on. You turn around and get a fleece blanket from a hallway closet.
You come back and he extends a hand for the blanket, but you go the extra mile, unfurling it and putting it over him. You notice his flushed complexion, and you quickly bring a hand up to test his temperature.
"You burning up?" You ask, but he shakes his head no. You just nod and hear a crackle, realizing you still have his earpiece on.
"He doing alright?" Robert asks.
"Oh, um, I've done my best, Mr. Dispatcher. His wounds are dressed and I got a blanket on him."
Robert thanks you and promises to send a medic to check him properly in the morning. He also adds that Herman gets a day off tomorrow, to help him recuperate. You request that the medic comes over discreetly, and preferably before his grandma wakes up. Robert agrees. You thank him and the earpiece goes off. You take it out and place it on the coffee table.
"Your dispatcher's thoughtful." You say to Herman after relaying what Robert said.
"Yeah. R-Robert's really g-good... Kind, to m-me." He replies, voice a little steadier now.
You sit beside him, and he turns to you. He realizes he made a mess on you with his water and blood.
"Oh g-god, I'm s-sorry... You're all w-wet and b-bloody..." He stammers, but you shake your head.
"Hey, it's okay. It's nothing, really." You say, smiling at him. He smiles back with a bit of effort, and it makes a wrinkle appear on your brow. He blinks, his own brow raising in concern.
"Herm, listen, I... I worry. Your job... It gets you hurt, and... Mrs. Wells..." You start, not knowing how to approach what you mean.
"I h-have to, I'm... It's w-what... H-Heroes do..." He croaks.
"I know, but... You'll break her heart if she sees you like this, Herm. This... Or worse." You say with effort, and he looks at you with his good eye open wide. He understands what you mean, and he nods slowly.
"I know mine did." You breathe out, barely audible, but he catches it. He blinks, and you only press your lips in a tight line, not meeting his gaze.
"Y-You..." He starts, but his words fail him when you reach for his cheek. You finally look up at him, his lips parting when he sees tears forming, heavy and glistening. The adrenaline has worn off, and you take a shaky breath.
"You scared me." You say, choking on a sob. You lean your forehead on his shoulder, and you feel him wrap an arm around you, slender fingers shaking on your arm.
"I'm sorry." He whispers, his shoulders dropping. You pull back and straighten up, but his arm remains wrapped around your back.
"I know. I just..." You trail off, and you feel his fingers squeeze your arm gently. You turn back to face him, and you both hold a quiet look for a good minute.
His lashes flutter as his gaze drops to follow a fat tear streaking down your cheek. He brings a thumb to wipe it away, making a small shushing sound as he does. He pauses, then places his hand to your cheek, and you lean into it with a sigh. You hold his hand in place, turning your head to kiss his palm.
He freezes at the intimate gesture, but his thumb keeps wiping tears from your face. He turns his body to use both hands, his breath hitching when you also kiss the other palm.
"I don't know what I'll do if... If..." You trail off, but your throat tightens and fresh tears blur your vision.
"I know. I'll do my best to come home every night." He says, his stutter disappearing as he tells you something he's so sure about. He opens his mouth again to add to his statement.
"I promise. I'll come home. To grandma, and... To you."
i now have a proper gaming laptop, so now i have the sims 4 on it... safe to say i tried to make herm right away... and i got ww on it too nyehehe
suggestive image below the cut! (yes, this is just a crappy pic from my old ass phone's camera, i didn't even have the brainpower to take a proper screenshot bc i kinda zonked out seeing herm like this lmao)
A difficult decision. An assumed betrayal. Bitterness and resentment festering. Everything is laid out on the table when you meet Herman again, years after he disappeared.
This is my first fic exploring Villain!Waterboy and concepts of angst and comfort. I modeled my vision for V!WB after @cholvoq's V!WB fanart, in which they named him "Drench".
You take a shaky breath, the sound echoing in the empty warehouse. The moment Robert shot up from his chair and locked eyes with you, you knew what it meant.
A clear sighting of Drench.
Robert warned you that the warehouse had no working security cameras so he can monitor you, but you still insisted on checking it out. You perk your ears to listen to anything in your surroundings. Your earpiece starts to play static, so you take it out and pocket it. Now with both ears open, you hear a slow drip of water, probably from a leaky roof, or... him.
You take a step, puffing your chest for a deep breath. You face the dim interior, and speak into the void.
"I know you're in here."
Your heart pounds, almost drowning the sounds that reach your ears. Your eyes catch a flurry of movement from above, on the metal walkway. A silhouette forms, tall and menacing. The figure looks down upon you, but instead of warm recognition, you just get a cold stare.
"There you are. SDN Torrance's poster child after Blonde Blazer." He says coolly, his voice raising goosebumps on your neck. He crosses his arms, putting his weight on one foot.
"Miss me?"
You blink and he's gone. Your instincts take over, senses on autopilot. You hear a minute sound and wheel around as fast as you can, only to see him looming over you with all 6'6" of his height. His hair is now slicked back, his friendly cyan and yellow wetsuit replaced by black and light blue neoprene. A lazy smile spreads across his thin face.
"Hello, Waterboy." You say, almost hissing. To this, his eyes flash and his smile fades.
"Drench." He corrects you, circling you with long strides. His posture has improved, his stutter is gone, but his eyes are dull.
"Dare I ask about what happened?" You ask. He shrugs.
"Ah, well, I shed off that good boy image. After you left me for dead." He says, moving closer to whisper at your ear. You flinch and back away immediately.
"There were civilians at risk. You knew the protocol. I did go back for you, but you were gone." You answer him, your voice ringing out.
He straightens up, sighing. You stare up at him, trying to find any semblance of the teammate and partner you had years ago.
"What, you here to arrest me for my crimes?" He asks, arms open wide.
"If you could just come with me, I won't need to act with force." You say, straightening your back. He only laughs mockingly, a low rumble in his throat.
"Did Blazer teach you that? God, you really are her little apprentice." He sneers. You clench your jaw, not wanting to get provoked, even with the drastic personality change. You sigh to calm yourself and suck your teeth impatiently.
"I'm not asking again, Herm."
His eyes flash dangerously, and in a blink, he's up against you, breathing heavily into your face.
"Don't call me that."
Water starts to swirl around his feet, tendrils looking like tentacles of a kraken, ready and waiting to take you into a watery grave. You harden your gaze on him, your fists balling.
"Will you really hurt me?" You dare to ask, and he scoffs.
"Yes."
"Then you leave me with no choice."
You make the first move, attacking him head on. He moves like the water he makes from his body, impossibly graceful compared to the clumsy version of himself before the incident. He retaliates, shooting a powerful jet of water from his fingers. You dodge just in time, the water boring a hole on a steel beam behind you. You make another attack towards him, but he merely does a simple counterattack.
"Predictable. Your fighting style never changed all these years." He taunts, a lopsided smile showing off sharp canine teeth.
"It kinda makes me a little nostalgic." He adds, and it makes your knuckles go white.
"Fuck off." You snarl, and it makes him laugh without humor.
"Language." He tuts, conjuring a big volume of water overhead, ready to throw it to you. You can only look up and hold your breath, as hundreds of gallons slam onto you. You sputter as the water dissipates, but before you could even open your eyes, another wave comes crashing down on you. You feel your ribs break from the sheer impact and air gets knocked out of your lungs underwater. You end up lying in a heap when the water disperses. You still manage to get up, an arm wrapped around your torso. You feel a clammy hand wrap around your throat from behind.
"Got you now."
Desperate, you manage to do an underhanded trick and end up injuring him, a slash blooming red at his cheek. He laughs again, tongue swiping at the blood dripping to the corner of his mouth.
"Good effort, but still useless." He says, the wound healing in real-time. Your eyes widen at the sight.
"Oh yeah, you missed a couple things." He says, wiping the blood and touching the fresh scar.
He moves to face you, pushing you up a wall. You gasp and claw at his hand, to no avail. Time is working against you, the pain in your chest making your pupils dilate.
"Let go." You manage, fingers weakly trying to pry his own around your throat. He only tilts his head curiously, as if he just caught a rodent in his kitchen. Your vision is starting to cloud with dark blotches.
"Please, Herm."
Something flashes across his features when he sees big tears form in your eyes. Images of a past life play in his mind, his heart rate spiking when he comes across a memory of you crying on the first time you failed to save a victim. He remembers how you shook as he comforted you, your tears streaming down the front of his wetsuit. He shakes his head, breathing getting more audible as he tightens his grip.
"No, please." You start to break into soft sobs, hot tears streaming on your face. When they reach his hand, his jaw clenches at the temperature. He still keeps his grip, but his hand starts to shake.
Suddenly, he releases you, catching you when your legs give out. You cough wetly, pushing him away weakly as you crumple to the floor. He kneels beside you, silently watching you struggle to breathe. He reaches for your chin but you turn away, looking up at him with a fearful expression.
His eyelids flutter to look at your neck, bruises starting to form. You're still hacking, a trembling hand at your chest. He frowns, not seeming to bask in the glory of beating you in combat. You turn and hurl, the sound making him grimace. He reaches for your arm, but you turn quickly and hold your hands out defensively. He shakes his head grimly.
"Stop." He says lowly, palms at your shoulders. You try to shrug him off and stand up to put some distance between the two of you. You take a step, but you slip in your own vomit, hitting your head on the concrete floor.
The last thing you see is a vision of the Waterboy you knew rushing to cradle your face before you black out.
You wake up in a daze, a headache throbbing so painfully you wince and curl up. You look around and see yourself in a room, dilapidated but strangely familiar. You see movement in the corner of your eye, and you turn to look. Drench looks around the room like you did, running a hand through peeling wallpaper. Something clicks in your pain-addled mind. This was his room, his old apartment. He sees the recognition in your eyes and he sighs.
"How long was I out?" You manage to ask.
"Couple hours." He replies shortly, not meeting your eyes.
"Why did you take me here, to hold me hostage?"
"Something like that."
"Why won't you just end me already? I'm incapacitated." You say.
"You're not worth the mess." He answers gruffly.
"Whatever will you gain by keeping me here? The others will find me, find us."
"No, they won't. Not until I'm done with you."
"What use am I to you, huh? Just fucking kill me already, so you can terrorize Torrance all you want." Your voice starts to raise, cracking from the nearly-crushed windpipe.
"Shut up, you're being fucking annoying." He mutters, starting to pace.
"Just do it already! Go on, kill me! What the fuck are you even waiting for?!" You shout.
He lunges at you on the bed, pinning you down with long legs at your sides. His face is close to yours, and you could feel his warm breath ghosting your lips.
"Shut the fuck up!" He yells, his hands wrapping around your throat again. You know you're too weak to fight back in this state, so you just close your eyes tightly. He sees you surrender and he lets go as if burned, eyes shot wide and panting slightly. You open your eyes again.
"Can't even finish me off, huh?"
He grabs at his hair, a sound of pure frustration coming out of him.
"You don't fucking get it! I... I can't!"
"Why not?!"
"I can't do it! I won't do it!"
"I'm nobody to you now! Just kill me and be done with it!"
His expression falls before rage masks his face again. You saw the brief flash of devastation, and he turns away, his wrinkled nose twitching. You pant softly, your chest still hurting with broken ribs.
"Herman." Your voice squeaks out, surprising both of you.
His lower lip quivers, his eyes darting around wildly. He looks away, the muscle in his jaw tensing.
"You can't kill me because you still..." You start, your eyes widening in realization.
He freezes, still on top of you. He meets your gaze, and he looks terrified.
"Finish that sentence and I will really kill you." He growls.
You hold his confused gaze, your hand moving on its own to touch his jaw. He flinches hard at the contact. His mouth opens to speak, but nothing comes out. His eyes dart between your eyes and the gentle hand at his cheek.
"Don't."
"Herm."
His entire facade melts away when he hears you say his name again, making a broken sob escape from his throat. He lowers himself to bury his face above your shoulder on the old mattress, his breath ragged.
"I hate you. I fucking hate you." He chokes out.
You blink and scoff, your head clearing a little. You bring a hand to rub his back.
"Oh, my hermit crab."
His whole body stiffens at the nickname. At the hand on his back. At your soft voice that doesn't match the situation. For a long moment, he stays completely still. Then, his shoulders start to tremble. He's crying. He's fucking crying.
"Stop calling me that." He sobs. You sigh, tears filling your eyes again, but for a more welcome reason. You bring your hand up to stroke his hair, which has grown unkempt and tangled. He shudders. His hands ball into fists, trying so hard to keep it together, but he's falling apart. He's shaking, his body wracked with violent sobs he's been suppressing for so long. He hates you. He loves you.
"Come back, Herm."
Your plea shatters him, sending him wailing into the crook of your neck as he gently snakes his arms under your waist. He clings to you like you're the only solid thing in the world.
"I can't." He sniffles loudly.
"Then let me go. Either I go back with you or you kill me and escape the law for another day." You say softly. He pulls back to look into your eyes, his face a mess of tears and snot. He looks like a lost, scared boy, not the villain he's known as for a good while now.
"My ribs are broken and I'm concussed. You won't end me, but I won't last long either." You add.
His breath hitches at your words, and he finally realizes the damage he's done. He looks at you with horror and guilt, his stomach turning at what he has inflicted on the person he's loved for so long. That same person who is comforting him right now.
"If you just let me go, I'll still be alive. But that means I'll keep hunting you until you're captured. If you keep me here, I'll succumb to my injuries." You say, bringing a hand to his cheek again. He leans into it eagerly, despite the furrow in his brow as he thinks it over.
"Come back with me. I'll help you explain to Robert and Blazer. You might be jailed for a while, but there's a good chance you'll be rehabilitated. Same way our old teammates were, before they joined the Phoenix program." You offer.
"You'll... stay by me?" He asks timidly, broken hope bringing a little light to his eyes once again.
"Of course, well, after I heal up from all this, obviously." You reply with a nod. He looks at you, desperately wanting this fairytale of him being a good person again. Then, guilt takes over his features.
"But I... I did this to you. I hurt you. How can you even start to forgive me?" He asks, fresh tears streaming down his face.
"It's what heroes do, right?" You say with a smile, mirroring what he said to you all those years ago when you fussed over him for getting injured after saving a civilian.
His eyes widen in shock as the memory hits him, his own words thrown back at him. He remembers that day, he was smiling as you nursed a nasty cut on his forehead and a bleeding nose. You just smile at him as he slowly crawls off of you, wiping his face. You sit up with effort, biting your lip in pain as he helps you. He then sits beside you, sniffling.
"Did you hide my earpiece?" You ask him gently. He looks at you, surprised that you knew he did.
"Can I have it? I'll tell Robert of our agreement." You say slowly, not wanting to spook him and risk him shutting himself up again. He procures the earpiece from his pocket, pressing it on your open palm. He curls your fingers around it, bringing the closed fist to his cheek.
"Thank you, Herm." You move to kiss his cheek. His eyelids flutter closed, savoring the touch like a starved man.
You put the earpiece on and turn it on, hoping for a signal. You hear Robert choking on something, his coffee, probably.
"Jesus Christ, are you okay? You've been out for a while, what happened?" He asks quickly, and you hear him clicking and typing away at his keyboard.
"Turn my tracker off, Robert." You say, and he scoffs.
"What? No, I'm sending Flambae to your location to help you-"
"Please, Robert, I'll be back soon, but you have to trust me. Don't send anyone for me."
Robert sighs heavily after a pause, typing a command. You hear a small chime in your earpiece.
"Thank you, Robert. I promise I'll explain everything. I'll see you soon." You say, and you take the earpiece out again, placing it on the rickety nightstand.
"Now no one can surprise us and misunderstand everything." You say to Herman, and he nods. He's fidgeting with his fingers, something he used to do a lot when he doesn't know what else to say.
"Can we rest for a bit before we go back? I'm still beat." You ask. He nods quickly, standing up.
"I'll get you some water and a towel to clean yourself up." He says, guilt eating him alive. He goes out of the room and he returns with a water bottle and a towel, almost tripping on his own feet in his haste to make amends.
"Thanks, Herm." You say as you accept the water and towel. Your hands give out suddenly, most likely from exhaustion, making you drop the opened water bottle and towel. You mutter a quick apology.
"Don't apologize, I should have done it for you." He says, picking up the towel and just putting the spilled water bottle aside. He sits beside you, taking your face in his hand, wiping your face gently. You just smile and close your eyes, eyelids feeling droopy from relief. He chokes back a sob to see you like this by his own doing, but you shush him gently.
You feel him finish wiping your face, and he leans in for a nervous yet thankful kiss. Your eyes shoot open at the warmth on your lips, and he pulls away as quick as he closed the distance.
"Herm..."
"Just... just rest, okay?"
You blink, but pull him in again for another kiss. His breath catches in his throat as you pull him closer. This time, the kiss is slower, deeper. Needy and tender all at once. He cups your face carefully, taking care to avoid the bruises just under your jaw. When you both pull away, his eyes glisten with tears again.
"I'm sorry." He whispers against your lips.
"I know, I'm sorry too." You whisper back.
He moves to kiss your wounds and bruises, his healing saliva doing work.
"I forgot about your holy water spit." You say with a chuckle, wincing right after from the pain in your chest.
"Your ribs, fuck, I... I did that." He says shakily, undoing your top. He doesn't even notice the heat appearing in your face as he starts to kiss at the bruises. Your bare chest on display for him doesn't faze him, as he intently watches the purple marks fading slightly.
"Just... Let me fix this. Please." He says gently, looking up at you. You just hum and stroke his hair. The kisses aren't helping much with internal injuries, but it's soothing nonetheless.
He continues kissing every wound and bruise he can find, each touch a silent apology, a desperate attempt to undo the harm he's caused. He readjusts your top and helps you lie down, sleep starting to fog your mind. He watches you drift off, and he moves your hand on his hair so he can intertwine his fingers with yours. He lies down beside you, bringing your clasped hands to his lips and kissing your raw knuckles. He moves closer to whisper to your ear.
Herm finally gets to relax, looking into his phone for messages he might've missed throughout the day. (NSFW)
Surprise! I made a sequel to this fic! :3c
Waterboy sighs as he lies on his bed, the plastic crinkling with his every move. It's the weekend, and he's off duty today. He just got back to his room from a full day: doing some house chores as soon as he woke up, a grocery run with his grandma, even having to go on overtime hero mode when their neighbor had a kitchen fire next door. He pats his pockets, fishing out his phone, which is in a small zip lock bag. The light from the phone illuminates his face in his dark room.
He notices messages he's missed in the work group chat. He blinks, remembering that a few of them mentioned going to the beach. He closes his eyes for a second, finding himself hoping for something. He opens the chat with a shaky finger, quickly scrolling up to see the unread messages in order.
[ Prism | 10:16am ] Driving to the beach with these hot bitchezzz 👯♀️💅🔥 (IMG_9281.jpg)
A photo is attached to her text, and it loads for a few seconds, making Herm chew on his bottom lip and wondering whether to upgrade their internet plan at home. The photo finally loads and it's a selfie of the girls in a car, with Coupé driving, her eyes fixed on the road. How they convinced her to come to the beach, much less drive for them, is unknown. In the passenger seat was Prism, sporting new sunglasses. In the back seat was Invisigal, looking out of the window. Herman's shoulders loosen when he sees the person next to her, smiling and showing off a big slice of watermelon with bites taken from it.
He scrolls down, finding more pictures of the beach trip. Malevola appears in the following pictures of them setting up beach towels and umbrellas on the sand, no doubt just using a portal to teleport instead of carpooling with the rest. The girls' pictures are carefree and candid, and they garner reactions from the rest of the team.
[ Flambae | 10:27am ] Not as hot as me tho 🔥💯🗣️ #facts
[ Robert | 10:32am ] Nice day out. Enjoy 👍
[ Blonde Blazer | 10:39am ] Aww, wish I could join, but duty calls. Have fun!
[ Sonar | 10:45am ] Someone @ me if Mal's in a bikini
[ Invisigal | 11:02am ] @Sonar she posed like this specifically for you (IMG_0021.jpg)
[ Sonar | 11:02am ] Fuuuuuck 👅👅
[ Flambae | 11:05am ] Meh i can pull off something skimpier
[ Prism | 11:30am ] Everyone shut the fuck up and say something nice to this cutie (IMG_9295.jpg)
Herm's jaw tightens right away, his finger hovering over the buffering photo. He taps the attachment for it to open, his heart racing a little. On the photo is the girl he'd been liking since she joined the team, his affection only half-hidden.
You're posing next to a "No Lifeguard on Duty" sign. Your skin glistens from the saltwater and sun as you grin at the camera. Biting into the inside of his cheek, he zooms in and his eyes slowly roam for details, pupils slightly dilating when he catches that indent in the flesh your swimsuit makes at your hip. He releases a shaky breath, his finger moving to the corner to download it.
[ Malevola | 11:34am ] - Absolute babe! @Waterboy i bet you're saving that
[ Flambae | 11:39am ] - Waterbitch is probably making a mess in his pants right now, much more than usual ofc
Herman groans, a nervous, damp hand covering his eyes as his teammates already knew how he'd react. He scrolls down some more, the pictures slowly turning more chaotic as the day drags out. Royd and Punch-up got there late, bringing coolers of spiked punch and beer.
[ Coupé | 4:26pm ] @Waterboy you can thank me this coming Monday, preferably in cash? (IMG_0026.jpg)
He taps the photo attachment to view it, and his breath hitches. The sun starting to dip in the background, you raising a bottle of beer for a sip, eyes looking to the side at the camera as your legs are folded under yourself on the beach towel you're sitting on. Water droplets adorn your shoulders and arms, tan lines from your swimsuit already visible. The small bead on the necklace you always wear sparkles at the dip between your collarbones, and Herm feels his throat get dry, his heart rate also picking up exponentially.
He quickly turns his phone off, tossing it away as he curls up to his side. He wills himself to sleep, eyelids glued shut to try and stay calm. His attempt is futile, as water starts to seep into his sleeping clothes, pooling onto the plastic sheet over his bed. He sighs and quickly stands up to place thick towels over the plastic. He grabs his waterproof earphones on the nightstand and opens his phone again only to play music to drown out his thoughts. He curls up on the bed again with a huff, fighting himself to fall asleep.
The darkness behind his eyelids slowly change into a slideshow of small details he just saw: your skin glowing in the sun, the curve connecting your torso to your thighs, the line in your chest that peeks over the front of your swimsuit—
"N-No, please, I can't, I s-shouldn't..." Herman whispers into his pillow, water streaming from his hair.
A vision of you appears in his mind's eye, with outstretched arms and sweet whispers.
"Come closer, Herm. Don't be shy."
He makes a choked sob, breathing ragged from the conflict between his mind and his body. He tosses and turns, and in the back of his mind he worries that his grandma might hear all the frantic rustling. It doesn't help that the music he's listening to fits so well with his inner turmoil, so he takes a shaky breath and closes his eyes again, listening.
She sent me something and I can't think about anything else...
Guess it could wait 'til a later date...
Now I'm picturing you...
And you're touching yourself...
"F-Fuck..." Herm hisses, biting on his wet pillowcase. His mind is going on a thousand miles per hour now, thinking about how your fingers might look like if they're trailing your lips, down to your chest and stomach, and see them disappear into your bikini bottoms to finally reach the heat between your legs—
"P-Please..." He whines, his mind going fuzzy. His stomach caves slightly as he feels a clammy hand travel down his own torso, going under his soaked shirt and hiking it up, then heading to the waistband of his boxers.
Picture your face...
I wanna touch you but you're too far away...
The more he squeezes his eyelids shut, the more he imagines you in a certain way. He visualizes your eyes, the ones he loves to look into, roll into the back of your head as your teeth catch onto your bottom lip. His eyebrows knit together as his fantasies unlock another sense: hearing.
He already knows the way you'd thank him for a small gift after a shift, whether it be a bottle of water or a piece of candy. But in his dreams, your lips form a perfect "O" as you make these delicious noises, all for him. You toss your head back, your necklace glinting. He wonders how the metal bead would taste like if it was juxtaposed with the skin it's sitting on.
"Oh, g-god..." Herman gasps, his hand finally reaching the fuzz hiding under the fabric of his boxers, bringing the other hand to help free himself from his underwear.
"I-I'm so... So s-sorry..." He whines, wrapping his wet fingers around himself, making him slick. His other hand flies up to cover his mouth, muffling his cries. He can't stop, he's now thinking of both your hands getting busy: one between your legs and the other kneading at the soft flesh of your chest. Water keeps streaming from every pore of his body, his skin flushed from the stimulation and his imagination.
As his earphones have fallen off from his water and the way he's squirming, he doesn't even notice his phone vibrating for a call, your contact details on the screen. Herm tosses slightly on his bed, his damp elbow touching the screen and unknowingly answering your call.
"Hello, Herman? You up?"
No response, until you hear some rustling and his familiar voice— in a soft moan. You clamp your mouth shut with a shaky hand, pulling the phone away from your ear. Your thumb hovers over the end call button, but you hesitate. Slowly, you bring the phone back to your ear, face hot with shame but you listen in anyway, nibbling on your bottom lip.
And when you call me, I'm all over the place now...
On the other end of the line, Herm's hips buck up into his hand, muttering apologies as he can't control his thoughts going haywire. As his hand strokes upward, he gives a tight squeeze around the swollen tip, making him think about how your walls would clench around your fingers. The synced imagery and sensation makes him moan out loud as he feels himself leak, and he prays that his grandma has already taken out her hearing aids for the night and is sound asleep. Little did he know someone else is hearing him.
Know I shouldn't need it but I want affection...
Know I shouldn't want it but I need attention...
"P-Please, fuuuck..." He gasps, chest heaving in his need. He keeps doing the motion, his hand sliding down then up, squeezing the tip for long enough to make him squirm, then repeat.
On the phone, your heart races as you hear his moans get shallower, the wet sound of his self-pleasure ringing out distinctly. You feel a weight settle in your belly.
Know I shouldn't say it but I had to mention...
It makes me wanna die every time I have to...
Herman tenses slightly, choking on a breath. He sputters a little, repeating a mantra you loved to listen to, despite the heat in your face.
"I'm gonna, oh god, I'm gonna— Fuck! Gonna, gonna c-cum...!" He draws out, his words slurring. A vein on his hand pulses as he strokes himself wildly to climax. He cries out in a broken sob, your name following it in a whimper. His back arches off his bed, his release shooting into the air and splattering back onto his stomach.
He pants, groaning at the mess on his torso, tears forming in his eyes.
"I'm so s-sorry... Oh, god, w-what have I d-done..." He whines, standing up weakly and digging into his laundry for a worn shirt to wipe himself with. He promptly buries it under other shirts in the basket, sighing deeply as he makes a mental note to do the laundry first thing tomorrow.
Herm looks back at a small light from his bed, eyes widening to see an ongoing call on his phone. His heart drops to his stomach as he sees the contact name. He grabs his phone, almost dropping it in his rush. He panics, muttering curses as he almost slips on a puddle he already made on the floor. Taking a deep breath, he presses his eyelids shut and brings the phone to his ear.
"H-Hello?"
No response, but he knows you're still there.
His brow twitches, piecing together an apology and explanation in his head. His bottom lip quivers in embarrassment, but his mind blanks out when he hears you over the phone.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
hey y’all, i’ll be posting new chapters for my fic over on ao3! i won’t guarantee a regular update schedule, but i’ll try my best to write something every now and then! i like short n sweet chapters fhdjsfhdjsf
chapter 4 is already out btw!
gotta give credit where it’s due: wave’s powers are heavily inspired by @keiosity’s (sorry for the tag!) Flow fic (from an anon ask)! go read her stuff, they’re great!
thinking about how maybe one of the z-teamers knows about your crush on herm, so they decide to talk about an "emo barista" as a placeholder for him. they also know herm has a thing for you, i mean, poor guy struggles to hide his affection, he's so obvious but in his head he's playing it cool.
he overhears them teasing you about this nonexistent person and feels a little jealous. he decides to let his alt side show more at work as a way to impress you and hopefully get you to realize you don't need someone from some random café, that there's also an alt guy at your workplace.
he finally gets piercings, you find out he has black nail polish on when he takes his gloves off deliberately around you, he hums his favorite songs to see if you'd recognize and mention them.
herm would definitely pull those "oh no i dropped my feminist literature and my wired earphones oh nooo 👀" moves around you lmao
