Ansel sighed as Lucio came around him, placing himself between him and his inane task at cleaning and straightening up their little beach bed. He turned his head and looked out onto the water as it waved invitingly to him, sparkling in the bright morning sunlight. "I just think that if there's anyone you should be honest with, it's your brothers," he replied, turning his gaze back onto his striking lover and frowning. "Especially when it is just a matter of time until they learn the truth of the situation. Ian could be spilling all your little secrets right now." Ansel's words were flippant, but there was a bit of genuine concern about them that danced at the edge of the sharp syllables. "You say you want to tell them under more controlled circumstances, but what does that even mean? What more of a 'controlled circumstance' could you want? Griffith was right there, inviting you to answer him. No one else was around. It doesn't quite seem like you're being careful, just avoidant."<br/><br/>He brought up a hand and gently stroked the side of Lucio's smooth face, quietly admiring the boy's youthful, bright skin. "I'm not mad," Ansel said finally, pulling his hand away so that he could wrap his arms around Lucio's small waist. "I just don't want anything to get in between us. Our relationship is taboo, yes, but it's real, and I worry that if we try to tiptoe around everything it will send people the wrong impression. I understand the need to keep quiet while you're still in school. I don't wish to lose my job. But I want everyone to know how much I love you. And someday, when I ask you to marry me, I don't want people dying from shock." The professor chuckled and kissed Lucio's forehead, pulling away and turning so that he could begin to make his way to the water.<br/><br/>"Come along, darling. You wanted to get wet, so that's what we're going to do." The waves crawled up the sand and kissed at the man's ankles, whispering secrets and beseeching him to come closer. Ansel listened to the water and continued to move, but slowly, enjoying the way his body sunk into the wet earth beneath his feet. The cool water crept up his body, fondling the edges of his swim trunks and spreading up until Ansel was submerged to the waist. He turned back to look at his lover and waved him forward, a gentle and encouraging smile on his face.<br/><br/>"You're not going to leave me out here all alone, are you, sweetness?"