Exercise of the day? Swimming. The lights were harsh and fluorescent in institutional white. Sounds of splashing water and the head instructor’s voice echoed through the entire pool. In a square formation, the students—in full gear—were struggling to tread water.

“Thirty more seconds!” The instructor barked. Holding a stopwatch in his hand, he paced the pool deck observing the new recruits. “Chin above the water!”

One is bound to fall by now, Roy thought. He waited by the edge of the deck, perching his elbow on top and resting his head in his hand.

He scanned the bobbing heads, mentally picking out which ones could hold up to the physical demands of being an EHI student.

The students’ arms flailed, some of the demi students were faring better than others. The humans were alright too, Roy supposed.

“Hey you!” The instructor snapped, his tone sharper than before.

Roy looked up, he’d worked with this particular instructor long enough to notice the hidden worry. It didn’t take long to find the one student struggling to stay above water.

Knew it.

A quick nod from the instructor and Roy pushed off the ledge, his shark tail making ripples in the water as he streamlined towards the struggling student.

He could see them flail, more body below the surface than the rest of the students. I hope they aren’t a squirmer. Roy remembered the times when students had tried to fight him off as he was saving them.

Just a natural reaction, but damn, some of them pack a punch.

Underwater, Roy grabbed onto the student’s waist, and with a forceful swish of his tail, pushed them above water.

“Alright, everyone move!” He bellowed. And just like magic, he watched the students swim out of the way.

Against the pool deck, Roy lifted the student onto the surface, rolling them onto their back in a mess of heavy limbs. Roy hoisted himself up to get closer for an inspection. And for the... possibility of mouth-to-mouth.

“Hey, hey, answer me.” He patted a webbed hand against their wet cheek.