Five freaking days. No Maui. Stuck on a nameless island.
When he did show up, Moana was gonna punch him right in his stupid face. He definitely deserved it for ditching her right after she realized how much she'd missed him. So. Aggravating.
"I hope Tamatoa eats you." she mumbled, kicking a shell into the water. A glowing wave followed her progress as she tracked back and forth across the beach. Every now and then it would slide back to reveal a shell in her path that she might like. There was already a pile collected at the base of the favorite tree she sat under when her feet got tired out. You see, it had been hours since she started pacing. She had watched the sun at it's highest point until now as it was beginning to slink toward the horizon. It set fire dancing on the surface of the water and made the clouds a lively shade of pink and looked very warm.
The sight gave her a sudden pang of longing for Motunui. It was unexpected and fairly unwanted, for she was still thinking and those past five days had not brought any new solutions to her quandary. Her parents knew no way to help aside from giving her space (sometimes just avoiding her for that temper, which ran on a very short fuse these days). The rest of the village seemed to flipflop as much as she did, giving her space and then holding her tight enough to squeeze her eyeballs out, proud of her for going and then wanting desperately for her to stay.
What was a girl to do?
"AAAAAUUUGGGGHHHHHH!" she screamed into the void, fists clenched and knees bent. She sat down in a huff and a splash, waist deep in cool water, trying to soak up some peace.
"CHEEEEEEEEEEHOOOOOOOOOOO!"
She jumped to her feet and looked toward the horizon, her mouth wide open, eyebrows hitting the sky.
Finally! There he was in all his stupid glory. Not a whale, not a shark, not a hawk and definitely not a beetle- just the great (stupid) Demi-god Maui on a tiny canoe. His firm stance was a dark silhouette against the evening sun as he crossed over the battering waves of the reef, holding a taut rope in one hand and steering with the other. Amid the spray of the sea, he flashed her that cocky, self-assured grin that was pure Maui.
Wait… she squinted at the shape and thought she could make out a familiar tattoo on the sail. She beamed. It was her canoe- their canoe!
She let out a whoop and shot a triumphant fist into the air. She was thrilled out of her mind to see it again, the last member of their crew, missing for years moored in Motunui.
Unable to contain herself, she bounced forward and dove into the water, swimming out to meet him. Exactly one second later, she felt the friendly current yank her down and then shoot her ahead like a dart. It splashed her right onto the deck, laughing and sputtering all at once, her hair a tangled mess in her face. Maui's bouncing laugh was the most welcome sound she'd heard all week.
"What's up, buttercup?!" he called as huge hands closed over her shoulders and threw her into the air, finally catching her in a wet, crushing hug.
She hugged him back with all she had.
"Missed you, Mo." he said with great feeling.
"Missed you too, Maui." she answered with equal affection. Feeling a pinch near her shoulder, she pulled back and giggled at Mini Maui greeting her just as fervently.
Maui set her down and immediately that grin was back in place. He arched an eyebrow at her as he grabbed her shoulders again and spun her around before she could protest. He spun her so fast, her hair whipped around and smacked her in the face.
"Aw, the baby got her first tattoo?" he teased, "I need a better look at this."
She froze. Then she felt his hand on her back. Maui didn't make another sound.
He stretched his hand across her great hawk and gently traced his hook and its crack. Slowly. He slowly ran over the length of each wing that reached past her shoulders and over her arms, protecting her.
"…It's me." he said, amazed. Reverent.
She smiled in spite of the redness on her cheeks, "Don't let it go to your head."
He huffed and rolled his eyes while Mini-maui nodded his agreement. "Figures you'd take her side." he mumbled.
She turned on her heel to face him, "Do… ya like it?"
He stomped away, rocking the boat as he did, "Yeah, yeah.. it's ok." he waved her off with a half-smirk. Mini Maui wiped a tear from his eye, obviously moved. He jumped up to climb the mast but not fast enough for Moana to miss his ears going bright red. She tried her best to hide her giggle.
Meanwhile, the sun had finally slipped away and the first stars were blinking themselves awake. Twilight.
Maui jumped down, rocking the entire boat and sat without a word next to his hook. Moana had already begin to take charge without even realizing it. A tug here, a knot there and the canoe sailed across the bay with her steady hand at the helm and her smile facing the wind. By the time they ran aground, she was outshining the stars.
Her toes hit the sand and she ran a loving hand along the side of her surprise gift.
"Did you go all the way to Motunui for this?"
He jumped down and smirked, "Sure did. Thought the Demi-god of way-finding could use her canoe." The comment was obviously tailored to please but it made her pause. It sounded strange.
"Aw, c'mon, what's that face for?" He shoved her shoulder playfully. He never liked her troubled face.
She stood and turned away, rubbing her arm self consciously, "I'm still not sure how to feel…" (But really, she knew exactly how she felt.) (Terrified.) When she glanced over her shoulder to see his reaction, she didn't think being so frank had been the best choice. He had the strangest expression on his face. He looked wary and was that.. disappointment?
"What do you mean?" he asked, walking closer. She was reminded that when Maui got serious, he forgot what personal space was.
She leaned away from him, "Well… I'm not sure about this whole 'living forever' thing." she admitted. Moana turned to look up at the stars that were as old as she might be one day. The breeze Maui had harnessed thousands of years ago cooled her skin. She looked at him now, "I mean- how old are you?"
He followed her gaze skyward and shrugged, "I forgot. It's been… a while since I lost track."
"What's it been like?" she asked quietly.
"Lonely." he huffed, finally understanding. Mini Maui punched him in the shoulder. He chuckled, "Except for you little buddy."
Moana drooped. "Yeah, that's what I figured." she said, more to herself than to him.
They stood together in silence for a while, watching the glittering backdrop. Listening to the water. Neither knowing what to say.
And then Maui's stomach grumbled loud enough to shake the coconuts from the trees and she lost herself to helpless laughter.
