Swimming Lessons

"Because it's fun!"

"This isn't fun this is torture, absolute torture!"

"You're being over dramatic."

Once-ler stood there besides the stream, arms folded over his chest, wearing swimming trunks. Across from him stood Norma Wiggins, wearing her white bathing suit that left absolutely nothing to the imagination.

He wondered how she'd gotten away with buying it at all.

"You need to learn how to swim, Oncie."

"No, no I don't." he said, shaking his head and huffing.

"You're just scared," she teased, "of getting a little wet"

"I'm not scared!" Once-ler squeaked in response.

"You're scared!" Norma said, walking up to him and poking him in the chest. "You, mister Once-ler, is one big scaredy cat!"

"Stop it!" he pulled away from her, face reddening.

"Prove me you're not then!" Norma grinned as she walked back towards the stream, looking over her shoulder at him. "Show me you're not a scardey cat!"

Once-ler huffed and contemplated just storming home. He didn't have to put up with being teased! Yet at the same time he didn't want to appear as a chicken to the woman either.

Grumbling he stormed after her, and watched as she stepped into the water. She gave a shiver. "Ooh, it's cold!" she squeaked

"It tends to be." he mumbled since he had rudely woken up in the same river months ago. That hadn't been fun at all.

She suddenly grabbed his hands and the next thing he knew he was in the water with her. Once-ler spluttered and coughed, his long limbs flailing in the water like a drowning spider as Norma laughed as she watched him. When he finally righted himself he glared at her.

"What was THAT for?!"

"To get you in the water!" Norma grinned before taking hold of his hands, making his face turn bright red on contact. "Now come on, let's get you swimming!"

Once-ler could only mumble and blush throughout the whole thing. Damn it, didn't Norma realize just what her bathing suit was doing to him? She probably did, the wicked little minx that she was... the way she swam around him, dipping beneath the water level, flicking her legs and arms the way she did.

She was showing off; he knew that she was.

...and he loved it.