Scribble: I couldn't figure out what he's applying to do.

      Birdsong drifted above the glistening waters, tickling the swimmers' ears as they laid upon the warm sand. Quietly they listened, their bare skin waiting for the sunlight to sate its thirst, as a stray thought floated over to the pile of neatly-folded shirts and jeans nearby. Sharing a towel and a smile with his companion, the taller of the two remained propped on his elbow, as emerald orbs gazed into the azure waters hidden beneath the other swimmer's eyes.
      "You're doing it again," the shorter said with a half-chuckle, hands folded neatly upon his flat stomach.
      "Doing what, pray tell?" said the first, his innocent tone doing little to obscure the grin upon his face.
      With a sigh, the shorter sat-up, using a hand to brush away stray granules of sand in his blond hair. "Oh, nothing, Lev," came the exasperated, yet willingly so, reply, "just making it painfully obvious that you're waiting for me to say something." With another half-chuckle, he added, "ass."
      Falling onto his back, the taller heaved a sigh of his own, comically raising a wrist to his forehead. "Oh, how quickly he hath discovered my ruse," he said with mock despair, trying to keep his grin at bay. "And it only took him this long to put the pieces together! Such admirable detective skills haven't been seen since Ryan discovered someone's secret affections for him!"
      A playful laugh soon followed, only to be left alone to linger in the air. The clever grin falling from his face, Lev looked over at the slender swimmer beside him, only to find him turned toward the water.
      "I'm sorry," he said, placing a hand gently upon his companion's shoulder. "I forgot about . . . you know."
      With another heaving sigh, a smaller, slender hand fell atop Lev's own. "It's okay," he replied, turning to face his companion with a smile upon his face, "I mean, I know you didn't mean that, just . . . couldn't help thinking about it, is all."
      For a brief moment, not even birdsong could be heard, as the gentle lapping of the waves roared like thunder. Without a sound, a pair of strong, inviting arms wrapped around the sullen swimmer's body, as a chin tenderly fell upon his shoulder.
      "Next year," came a soothing whisper, "you'll try again, and you'll make it. And just to be sure, promise me one little thing, and I'll do everything in my power to help."
      "What's that?" Ryan asked, awkwardly leaning into his companion's embrace.
      "Take me with you," came the mischievous reply, the grin glowing so brightly upon Lev's face that even the sunlight felt threatened by it. "And don't you dare try to slip away, either. We both know who's the strongest!"
      Squeezing his smaller companion tightly, Lev let loose a pathetic roar, soon joined by Ryan's stifled laughter. "Damn you!" Ryan cried out, playfully struggling in his companion's embrace, before giving-in entirely, nuzzling into a heaving, almost purring chest.
      "Will you, though?" Lev asked, running a hand through sandy blond locks. "Take me with you, I mean..."
      Without a word, the smaller gave a tender smile, before gently pressing his lips to his lover's own. "Of course," Ryan whispered, gazing into verdant fields, "after all, I might need help in honing my detective skills . . . ass."