A splash instantly drew Mattis's attention and he turned to find his docile pool disturbed. At its bottom swirled a cloud of white hair and colorfully-dyed cloth. Muscle overriding mind, he dove, long body arching over the pavement before slipping smoothly beneath the water. Chill calm flooded his thoughts, and he felt momentarily content to sink until his fingers brushed the smooth tiled floor. A few yards further, he recognized Miss Akari with a start. She sat perfectly still and seemingly unperturbed except for the slight reddening of her cheeks. Meeting her red eyes with his black ones, he blinked for a moment, trying to register that familiar, almost pleasurable sensation of drowning. Nothing, not yet. Shaking off his inaction, he lunged forward to scoop her into his arms. Though he couldn't be certain, he'd learned by trial and error (mostly error) that people didn't generally go for a swim fully clothed. From this he reasoned that Miss Akari's swim was accidental. So he would remedy it.

The pair broke the surface in moments as Mattis dragged them both skyward by way of the ladder, Miss Akari clutched against his shoulder. Water pouring off them both, he was suddenly aware of the weight of a sodden kimono. For a brief, perilous second he glanced back at the inviting depths and reconsidered his rescue. Imagined the last air forced from her lungs, the flavor of panic and cool silence of death. He shuddered and closed his eyes. No. Stop it.

"Are you okay, Miss Akari?"

Laying Miss Akari gently on the ground, noticing her breathing. If he remembered correctly, this was a Good Sign. Wiping water from his face, he hauled the long train of the kimono out of his pool and gently raised her head to rest in the crook of his arm. She felt so tiny resting there! He bit his lip briefly.

"Are you at all injured?" he asked in lilting Norwegian tones as he peered anxiously into her pale face. "I do hope not. If you are, I have good knowledge of First Aid!"