In The Abyss

And after a long time she fell asleep.
His special 'signature' dearly worshipped within her mind.


Quick note to you commenters: I wrote these chapters MONTHS ago; I honestly don't remember every single thing - so please don't hate me if I can't change things like 'make it more girly' by now XD because currently chapter 22 is in development. I am very thankful for your reviews though!


At The Same Time That Very Night

Gods can't get tired.
Same counted for demigods. Or something along these lines.
If anything, the stubborn ancient creature admitted, he felt drained.
All on his own the shapeshifter had scanned the seabed for any remarkable objects such as bones or special rock formations or whatever could indicate a sunken ship. For HOURS. If the remains of the kid's father truly were somewhere around the reef he would have probably found them by now. The confidence which had lead him down into the depths of the ocean crumbled as each and every towering crag lead to nothing more than a million other ways to go. Even transformed into a shark Maui wasn't fast enough, considering the huge rugged area he had to search. Without a map or any clues or indications - this was a wicked quest.
"Something big! Look for something BIG!", Tamati had said and it oh so surprisingly turned out to be no help at all.
Have you ever seen a scowling shark? Well, me neither, but nonetheless our demigod was more than a little bit desperate for a wink of hope.
When another rocky formation protruded his vision [only to reveal itself as... well... another rock!?- UGH... - With time his concentration really had dwindled.],Maui caught himself wishing for Moana to be here. He was in the need of a bit motivation and the girl always did a great job at cheer-up-talks, that was for sure.
It reminded him of back then. - She was so kind... still is...-
How she had prevented him from giving up on himself. Encouraging and bolstering up a foreign man, who had left her trapped in a cave on a lonely island. Looking back he still felt bad for it.
Inevitably her voice, as clear as the ocean itself, so deeply and sincerely honest, popped into his mind. She trusted in him. (Maybe not when bickering and fooling around, but in general he was sure she did.) And he adored her for this by all means.
- UH!? Not adore - he didn't mean adore... um... more like... he 'cherished' her. [- Just as bad -] He mentally facepalmed.
N-Not that he wouldn't admire her for a lot of other things just as much, such as / -NO! CONCENTRATE! You HAVE to find the rotting corpse of his dad - otherwise you'll NEVER be able to sleep peacefully again - not sleep - Wayfinders don't sleep!? I mean, uuuuh
- DAMN, I'M TIRED!
/

At that exact moment something caught his attention: Far off in the distance, somewhere within the heart-wrecking blackness, there was a dull gleam. Excited his muscles stiffened and the shark stared into the direction of the ghostly glow. He hadn't seriously found what he was looking for due to grouching, had he!?
Wasting no time Maui shot off after the bluish glimmer with lightening speed. It was the first thing after miles that really seemed to be something that wasn't about to be another rock. And indeed it wasn't:

It was a manta ray.

Dumbfounded Maui took aback at the sight of the creature.
Hovering like a giant, gallant angel of the sea, it swam... towards him. No hurry, no distraction by the oversized shark - a potential threat - it simply went on it's way, getting closer.
It was an understatement to say he was disappointed. - UGH, of course not... -
If there would have been air filling his lungs instead of water his gills, a bitterly frustrated cry would have been heard from miles and miles away.
Yet somehow... the odd spectacle of the beautiful animal floating by calmed his temper a little.
A bluish glow coated the ray's body, making it appear like a magical, ghostly figure itself. Immemorial, mystical... and wise.
Actually he wasn't the type of guy to acknowledge the beauty of the things surrounding him (other than the hurricane of a girl that turned his life upside down ever since they met), but this time it was different. It was almost like... it told him to follow.

What were his alternatives, you ask? Swimming around with no idea of what to look for imprecisely for another seven hours
- or return to a heartbroken Tamati with empty hands, who would never want to see him again. - Again this was only half of the truth.
The third option would be one that could have saved him a lot of work and distress: He still had the chance to simply drop the child's tooth somewhere in the ocean. A random place, just somewhere and come back telling a made up story of how he found his father's lifeless body and placed the tooth safely in a skeleton hand. Yep. That would have been a good story to tell.
Probably the best.

But it would be a lie. A big. fat. LIE.

And even though he was a trickster, a belier and the master of purest untruth - Maui was not a liar. At least not by all means. He couldn't bring himself to lie to Tamati in such a horrible way. He just couldn't... And so he chose option number four: Follow the creepy glowing manta ray.
[[(A totally obvious choice, of course!? I mean who wouldn't - ah; lets drop this... !?)]]
At least it made sense to him.

With a bright flash of light Maui transformed into a clumsy-looking ray, not really being used to this kind of form. At first he had some difficulties following the creature, because you wouldn't believe how fast they actually are were when floating so peacefully, but after a while he got used to it.
It was kinda' relaxing, really.
After a long while of considering whether his decision had proven intelligence or quite the opposite, the glowing ray suddenly seemed to speed up. The man had no clue of what had gotten into the freaky thing, but for some questionable reason in darted off into the darkness and he had quite a hard time keeping track - he hastily made up his mind and changed back into a shark, but when his eyesight wasn't blinded anymore by the bright flash of his morphing - there no longer was an animal ahead of him. He had lost it. - Kae...-

And again he had to start at the scratch... or so he thought.
Slowly though, fairly slowly the man made out an object at the ground below. In the swallowing darkness it appeared greenish, probably corals or some other sea-flora, he thought. Maybe it was worth to take a look.
Not too hopeful he dove further down. As he neared, a huge formation of some old-grown reef came into view, with dozens and dozens of sea-creatures such as fish and crabs and even tiny sharks hurrying around. They also had a distinct glow to them, colorful, greenish bluish, ghostly. Reminding him more than a little bit of the realm of monsters. However, when Maui examined the underwater cliff a little closer, he gulped in surprise.
He had been mistaken about the reef or weird-shaped rocks.
What these plants and corals had settled on weren't bedrocks or sand at all...

Bones.

Changing back into his human form, holding his breath with puffed cheeks, his fingers trailed along the ivory fracture. It was old. Very old.
Turning his head he spotted sharp tips standing out of huge plates, the whole structure was part of an armor that lay far beneath the life of the reef. This could impossibly be what he was searching for.
Fish swam by, not minding the strong floating immortal a single bit. In shoals they darted around the grass-covered remains of some ancient monster that had perished at the ground of the sea. Never to be seen again by any human's eyes. - No chance, I probably went nuts from exhaustion, - he told himself, while gripping onto his hook and transforming. With lightening speed the determined man rushed along the pied glowing reef, bearing so much life, when there actually was nothing but death underneath. Oblivious the sea-dwellers followed their daily routine.
- This can't be his father, impossible. A monster - or demon!? Not even the tiniest of these corals couldn't have been grown in only nine moths, nor in nine years!? -
But he had the nagging feeling that reality would prove him wrong.
Eager to find the end of the spiky ribcage, Maui was cringing at the irony of all this. It was weird.

Just then he found himself face to face with an enormous inhuman skull.

Shocked he jolted back.
It was probably the best to regard the terrifying creature from a safe distance: Sure, it was dead, but nonetheless the demigod had a lot respect of its overwhelming size. Out of empty sockets it seemed to stare him down, non-existing eyes following his every movement. But some crabs and even silvery coated fishes passed the grotesque creature, not caring about the monstrous shadow.
A jar so far spread it nearly reached from one sharp cheekbone to the other, there were rows upon rows of pointed fangs, razor-blades, grinning impressively. Dead or not - this giant critter was creepy as hell.
He had to admit that even if its height wasn't comparable to Te Kā, Maui would have had some difficulties in banishing this monster to the ground of the sea, if it had been at him to do so. At least he thought it was a monster, wasn't it? A creature, close to a demon, yet somehow... the nagging wouldn't stop. Then he spotted a single, empty space in his jawline, a tooth gap so small it was almost unremarkable. The demigod's eyes widened and he immediately flashed his hook, becoming human again and diving towards its skull. Cold shivers actually weren't a thing to roll down his neck, but due to the circumstances of a ghostly glowing considerable enemy, Maui was on high alert. Spitting out, the man's hand carefully enveloped a rather teeny milk tooth. [Just imagine what it would have been like if he had accidently swallowed it...] - I actually did it!? I think... -
Tamati's proud offering was so very small, he feared it would get lost within his brawny paw.
A yawning hole in the creatures halfway rotted jaw revealed a missing tooth, probably the tiniest of it's kind and Maui had no doubt, the kid was wearing that exact bone on the cord around his neck.
"Tāmā gave it to me!", replayed the words in his mind. Had he underestimated the powers of fate?
How could this giant possibly have been a father - a loving father?
His heart crumbled with guilt...
On top of it all... a loving father that he had taken away from them.
Undoubtedly this was his entire fault. Tamati had told him - had told him everything he new, how Penina had cried for months without end as her tribe was swallowed whole by a darkness, that had spread across the ocean, how they starved, became sick and rotted away, unable to flee from the horrors, inflicted by...

It was his fault. Tamati didn't knew yet - he hadn't heard about the legend of the thief that stole the heart of the goddess of live. But some day he would know. Know, who caused the death of his tribe - and it was even worse, that Penina probably knew it already.
And all at once he felt horrible for even daring to step a foot in their fale - for so much as looking at them.

The heart of Te Fiti. A blessing... but a curse within his hands. The wrong hands.
Nothing good would ever come from them, no matter how hard he tried.
Feeling miserable the demigod looked at the battered skull in shame.
Why was it that decisions always had to have consequences...
And why did he always had to make the wrong decisions...

Because of that - and even though he knew it wasn't within his strength to change the past
and oh, how often had he wished it was...
Maui carefully placed the son's petty tooth beside the father's huge, sharp fangs. A young boy's wish had been fulfilled. It was the least he could do... but it felt right.

- Fa'aleuō... -

Still and quiet the bony surface of Tamati's father lay in front of him. He didn't doubt it anymore.
And that was it.
No magical sparks erupting from the enormous skeleton,
it didn't suddenly awake from a deep slumber, being all up and alive again, singing a stupid song and dancing - it simply didn't. There was nothing out of this world happening and the man became even more bitter. Life wasn't always a wonderful and happy place, with sunshine in the sky and love and stuff... very often it was simply... hard and tormenting. Reality was a rough place to live in... and just for once Maui truly wished, there would have been a cheesy musical act instead of silence. The awful, unbearable silence of the depth.
He knew that some day his lifeless body would end up in a very dark and lonely place just like this, far away from humanity and the love he oh so desperately longed for. In fact he already was in such a place. This was unbearable.
Disillusioned he bowed in front of the long dead creature that was Salimalo Toutogo, though he would probably never come to hear this name, as very view ever had.

- Your son loves you... as does your wife.
Just thought you should know that. -

With a lowered head, Maui swung his hook...
Empty eye sockets looked after him, as he bolted straight up to the surface.
He didn't turn back.

Emerging from the darkness, finally getting to see sparkling dots from beyond the surface he was glad to leave the endless depths behind him. Transforming into his human form only seconds before his outstretched arms came to light, shortly followed by his head.
Damp, wet hair clung to his face as he breathed heavily, gripping firmly onto his hook.
That's when Maui suddenly paused...

There in front of him lay the small island.
A dark, low mountain in contrast with the star-covered sky.
The white shore glistering in the moonlight, along with several shapes of palm trees.
But it wasn't at a random angle at all, - nor was it hard to decipher the meaning behind this very exact place the lifeless body of a loving father had sunken into the pitch black ocean.

Miles ahead there was the island
and right at the top, brightly illuminated by the moon and the stars, there was a clearing and on that very clearing - he knew - there stood an old, rundown fale. His heart lightened up a bit.
It wasn't pretty or memorable, broken and not very warm to say the least - but it meant a home to those, that cherished it. A home to return to - a home where beloved people had eagerly waited for his return, whenever Salimalo would come back from his voyages. Home.
Slowly... a content smile appeared on the young man's face.
The thought of Tamati, his mother and even Moana being peacefully asleep, made him wish to also finally be home somewhere. To have a home to share with the people he loved, even if he might didn't deserve it. Yeah. That would be wonderful.
But guilt tore at him, ripping appart the confidence and strength he had hoped, would shield him from the horrible side of this life. What did he do... bring doom and mischief about humanity, make little boys cry and even his best friend... best friend... he couldn't even bring her to tell him why she had cried. Someone who destroys the dreams of others, he though with an aching heart, has no right to dream himself. To wish. Or to hope.

Feeling the comforting hugs of two certain tattoos the painful lump in his throat grew stronger. Because after all the things he had done... he still wished. Wished things were different.
"Wouldn't that be nice?", he asked bitterly into the night. But nobody answered.
And Maui knew there wouldn't be an answer other than the one, he already knew.

[AUTHOR: "If you are slightly disappointed by how this turned out, which is what I intended on, I suggest you take a good look at the AUTHOR'S NOTE this time."]

"Back already?", a warm voice cut through the night. There was a slight hint of irony in it.

Maui looked up, surprised to see Moana waiting for him at the shore. His mind could barely process the whole scene for a moment. Stars reflecting in darkness smooth as glass, low waves. Moonlight. Moana. White glistering sand. Moana.
It truly took him a moment to realize this was a real thing happening.
Cross-legged she sat there, head propped up by her hands, a knowing smile playing on her lips. One could see at her halfway shut eyes, that she was clearly amused he hadn't spotted her earlier. Maui instantly regretted hanging his head like the depressed douche he felt like. Drowning in sorrow. Some impressive demigod he was...

"Sorry for keeping you waiting then, I guess", he replied jokingly, his pain easing at the sight of her. Her hair was tied in a bun, a few curls covering her temples.

He slowly set foot on the soft sand, feeling more than a little melodramatic as the water withdrew, running down his muscles while the ocean gently shoved him towards her. - Enough now with the lovey-dovey setting.- Wringing out his hair, hook pressed between upper arm and chest, the still dripping man walked over to the girl. And she was smiling when he joined her.
As the demigod slumped down she got a better look at his wet body, shimmering glossy in the moonshine.
- Why is she here? -
They were silent for a moment. Simply enjoying the slight breeze and calming sounds of small waves rolling against the shore.

"You couldn't just leave it alone and go to sleep, could ya'?", he asked with a crooked grin, leaving Moana relieved to see the magnificent dimples on his face.

"Nope. How should I when you're up all night, keeping secrets from me?", she returned the favor, even giving a quiet chuckle.

- Hey, it's not like you aren't keeping anything from me, right? -
"So the kid couldn't keep his mouth shut?", he concluded, successfully trying to avoid giving an answer. According to Mo's sneering, making a pinky-promise couldn't keep a tired kid from talking. "Nnnope!" ^^
He nudged her with his shoulder and she giggled. Had she even slept at all? Was she still sad?

She then regarded him for a long time. Moonlight playing around his strong silhouette.
"And? *tilts her head* Did you find, what you were looking for?"

His demeanor changed.
He didn't. Not really.
He might have found this monstrous dead giant, but it hadn't been, what he had wanted to find.

"I think I found his father, if that's what you mean, yeah", he said with a numbness, that made her wish, she hadn't asked.

"Did something happen?", she replied softly, hoping to catch a glimpse of his eyes as they often revealed the emotions, which lay hidden behind his massive ego. But he looked off to the horizon.

"Nothing, really."

More than a little gloominess clouded his mind and even though Moana was really tired, she couldn't leave him just like that. By now she knew him way too good to know, something was off.

"What is bothering you then?"

- What's bothering me? Ooh, curly, where should I begin... -

For a moment he really considered telling her.
Telling about what he had found beneath the surface and what made him sick. The light tone of her words lulling his heart into the desire to open up - but he was not willing to oblige. Not yet.
He glanced at her from the corner of his eye. Her lips were parted as she frowned, worried eyes seeking for his. Long eyelashes sparkling like silver strings against her rosy cheeks.
And who was he to deserve a friend like her...

"Isn't it weird," he said abruptly, leaning back, arms crossed behind his head, falling into the sand, "You think you've seen everything - done everything. But still life keeps on coming up with surprises." It seemed like he said it more to himself than to anybody, really. Moana tilted her head, looking at him, who's mind drifted in the sky high above. Something happened, she thought, but what!?
Carefully she also laid down, curly long hair coating her back. Honestly, it was a bit of a shame he wouldn't entrust her his thoughts after all they had been through. Was he afraid of her judging him? Abandoning him if he showed a weakness? She wasn't entirely sure of what was going on behind these chocolate-brown eyes. All she knew was, that there were memories playing inside his mind at that moment.

[...]

"His name was Salimalo", she explained after a while. Maui's ears perked up.
- Salimalo...- Both they gazed up to the stars. - 'The one to succeed' -
Moana then figured his quietness meant he was listening. "They were married and... Penina actually thought he had left her for another women. But from what I see *regards him with sorrow* it seems Tamati was right after all..."

The man gave her a confused look. "What do you mean?"
Moana sighed and only now herealized, her head rested against his side.
"He told me, that he had watched as his father drown that day. Tamati had been at the ocean, collecting shells, but Penina hadn't been with him and so didn't believe it, because Salimalo must have been a very good swimmer..."

"Heh, I bet he was", Maui smiled bitterly, making her wonder if he just maybe knew more, than he relinquished. - If that's what Penina told her, I bet she didn't say a word about him being some giant fish-man, heh, -
"Anyways,", she continued, every now and then yawning in between, "she didn't believe him and so lived with the conviction, Salimalo abandoned them - starting an new life somewhere else. *turns her head to glance up at him* But since the kid truly got you to search all night for his father - which is an incredibly stupid thing by the way, *smirk* for all you know the whole thing could have been a fishy hoax!? - But you found him after all... *proudly pats his belly, to which he smiles absentmindedly* though I guess that means he isn't alive anymore..."

"Yeah... he's long dead by now", Maui confirmed in a thoughtful tone. If he had realized she was almost nuzzling her head against his chest, he didn't say anything. He was more than okay with her being by his side. - Glad you're here just now... -

"They had a tough life since then, you know. Must have been about eight or nine months."
Her voice had dropped, being nothing more than a low whisper. Dozens and dozens of shining and glimmering dots covered the dark blue sky, yet the moon shone mystically in a distance, bringing light into the darkness. Fighting the shadows of worries and doubts, that grew into demons.
He was troubled by these things, she clearly sensed it. In his serious expression there was a lot of concern she couldn't place, which convinced her even more, that keeping the bitter fate of Penina's tribe to herself was probably the best thing to do. Maui already bore enough guilt in his heart. There was no need to make him feel any worse.
Little did she knew, what he had witnessed earlier...

"I think she will be glad to know, he didn't leave her. Well at least not the way she thought he did."

"Do you really think that?", he replied dryly, disturbing the quietness of the heaving waves. She held her breath for a moment. "Would you be happy to know, the man you loved was dead instead of being with somebody else, but alive?", he said with a sincere acrimony, which made her want to curl up into a ball. Death wasn't her favorite subject, nor was it his. And yet it seemed to haunt him, be of his every day's concern. What an irony.

"I don't think, you would be happy about something like this, Moana..."

She grew quiet.
~ Of course not... ~

"I believe", he said with a sigh, his body relaxing a bit in the cool sand," deep within she knew it already. So she made up that story to make his death less painful.
It's easier to deal with the loss of a beloved person, when you talk yourself into hating them."
His voice had dropped to a muttering, coming close to unintentionally voiced thoughts... but Moana had listened intently. Was he talking about himself there?
~ But... isn't that... a horrible thing to do? ~ Did he force himself to hate the ones he loved as they died to make the pain more bearable!? Were there any loved ones he missed? The strong urge to take his big hand and give it a squeeze became permanent in her head.

"All things must pass eventually. That's just the way it is", her voice dropped, seeing his face twist in disagreement, "It's the circle of life. Old things go - new things come. Tamati's father might have died, but at the same a new life has begun. Penina is pregnant, don't forget about that. *softly puts a hand on his arm* she will be having a baby soon. Doesn't this count, Maui?"

At her unexpected touch the demigod blinked bewildered. She was so kind, so gentle. He contemplated his rough behavior as he regarded the fragile, tiny hand that rested calmly on his bicep. Palms emitting a comforting warmth that would also be gone some day.

"I don't", he then said coldly, scowling at the girl's touch, not daring to look at her beautiful eyes. "Everybody dies, but I don't. I remain. Am I not a part of this life then? - *bitter* Guess that's why there's no family for me, when an 'amazing guy' like I can keep myself company for another millennium or so, huh ..."

~ AHA! ~ Instantly there was the rather unpleasant feeling of a light slap against his cheek - he gulped. "So that's what it is!", Moana made a face as if she just had an epiphany, grinning in her mind at his shocked expression, "I thought we solved that the last time, you giant softy!" ~ So he is thinking about having a family? - Wait -.- did he just talk himself into being unworthy again?! *sigh* I wonder how long it will take to prove him wrong on that... ~
Still feeling his cheek burn, Maui stared down at her wide eyed. A mix of wariness, confusion and anger fighting for the pose of his eyebrows. Taking her hand away from his face he murmured: "Demi - GOD, curly. Think you missed the title. More respect please! - Also, why a' you so touchy these days?!"

But the moment he had placed her arm back to her side, she smacked him once again, causing him to wince as she squeezed his cheek. "OUCH!" Sidetracking her wasn't a successful method to hide his feelings, not at all. She knew. And he wasn't sure if he should be lucky, that she interpreted his actions right, or terrified.

"Oh, shush! - Things would be much easier, if you straight-out told me you were depressed because of that!", she whined, squishing his cheeks like one would do with a little child. This time he didn't push her hand away, but his muscles remained tensed up.

"Not depressed - It's called 'thoughtful'."

The grip on his cheek slowly relaxed and her hand tenderly stroke his soft skin - now, Maui was more than glad it was night and the bright red blush on his face hidden in shadows. Giving in on her touch he closed his eyes for a moment. Having her beside him was more than he could ever wish for. Her affection, her care - commiseration, which he actually shouldn't have wanted, but desired nonetheless.
Surprised Moana's movements came to a hold as she hadn't expected any reaction coming close to this. Cracking open a daring eye more blood rushed into his head as he spotted the compassionate smile on her lips. A little panic struck him and his body stiffened immediately.
Girl definitely knew how to get his attention.

At least he doesn't pout, she thought to herself and she also blushed.

"You are loved *grins at his deadpanned look* and who knows, maybe you would already have a family of your own, if you weren't scared of taking part in village life. "
Trying to ignore the wonderful first words she had shared, the demigod eyed her flatly, raising a bushy brow at the girl, who was really close by now. For the blink of an eye he considered to reach for her, pull her into a kiss, only letting go once she would have realized she also... was... loved - which heeee - he would never do of course!? - Damn it. -
Moana herself didn't realize at the time.

"I'm not scared of your crummy Hicksville!", he insisted, not putting too much effort into the very obvious lie. The teine, who was way too smart to be thrown off the hook by his stupid attempt to upset her, just continued in a more serious tone:

"My offer still stands, demigod."

Maui's provocative look faded as he remembered, what this meant. Though she hadn't mentioned it again after their adventure, the man knew it was like an unspoken choice the girl's eyes bestowed him with, every time he visited her. Often he sat there, staring quietly into the water and imagining what it would be like to live in Motunui. Together with other people keeping him company. Work and duties. Together with her.
But he would not tell her that - nor make her hope. This would be the worst he could do.

"An ordinary life doesn't suit me well, Moana. *grave* It wouldn't do any good."

A sigh interrupted his stubborn telling, to his dismay Moana now took her hand away from his face - instead she had fully turned towards him, head resting on her crossed arms as she lay on the cool sand. In her eyes this knowing sparkle, which told him she had caught the lie, though he wouldn't confess anyways.

"Keep on playing the fearless rogue, you're the only one standing in your way, really. *Yawn* I just wanted you to know, I'm always there for you, Maui. And if you should one day decide, out of the blue, that you want to stay, then I will be the first one volunteering to help building your fale!", she said pridefully with the typical 'I am Moana of Motunui'-voice, giving him a warm sleepy smile.

"Oh, what kind of ramshackle hut would that turn out to be ~ ", he joked, also rolling over to his side, one arm propping up his face as he watched Moana, looking cute and contend and very, very sleepy. He almost felt like a lovesick little boy as he laid there and watched.
Fighting the urge to rub her eyes, the girl's sight grew smaller and smaller, barely able to make out the grin on his face.

"You sure, you ain't tired, curly? It's way beyond your bedtime - ", he teased and her response was a satisfied smile, that warmed his chest. Shooing away all the demons, that limited his dreams and wishes. Because he also had some. Or at least this girl made him want to dream.

"It would be nice to have you around..."
Regarding him from beneath heavy lids, the young teine couldn't keep from yawning again. ~ Damn, I really am tired ~ He felt a little fatigue himself as he saw her fighting with sleep, only to lend him an ear. She had waited for him down here for god knows how long and he didn't do much more than avoid her questions. Admittedly, he felt a little bad for her - this time even without Mini-Maui dropping hints. So he decided to let her in on one more secret, that he really would never ever mention again after this. As she was seemingly in the middle of snoring off, he lifted a hand.

"It's just that... today I spent a lot time thinking, that it would be nice to have some kids of my own... some day", he admitted with a low voice, feeling a little ashamed - and honestly, he just hoped she hadn't heard it, "But giving the circumstances... I might not be made for parenthood."

For a moment he looked down at his hands, disgusted, then back at her and - HOLY SHIT the girl was wide awake now!?

"You would do MARVELOUS! - Well okay, not with responsibility, but that's more likely the mother's job anyways - Did you even recognize the look on Tamati's face?", she blurted out with a convincing, heartwarming tone, "He adores you! You might not notice this yourself, but some tend to like you for who you are and not for what you did in the past. *fist-bumps his shoulder* And I have no doubt there's a sweet lady out there, who will get to love a wonderful, charismatic - and sliiightly conceited - guy just like you!"

He... probably was more delighted than he should have been. But he was. He was really happy.

"Heh... I could get used to hear you bragging about me - *smug grin, motions with his hand* Keep on going!", he snorted at the sudden flood of compliments, though he truly intended to believe she meant what she said. And as she rolled her eyes at him, she was sure, what he actually meant to say was:

- Thank you very... very much, Moana... -

"Meh, I think I treated you nice enough today, or else your super ego might get a life of it's own," she giggled to herself, stretching her arms as she yawned, still feeling his eyes on her, "Think we better head back to the fale though. If they wake up and notice we're missing they might - *gapes at him, dumfounded* / What are you doing? Ó_Ö "

*Runs his fingers through silky raven hair, that had finally dried from the slight breeze*
"Um, brushing my hair?!"

"You!? ~ I can't believe it -.- ~ Are you serious?"

"Hey, these curls need some relaxation as well", he shrugged at her nonchalantly," - my hair isn't that silky for nothing, princess."

~ He - you!? This guy... first down to the darkest pit of sorrow, worrying me to death and then concerned about his 'look' ~ "Grrr, you're unbelievable..."

"Jealous?", he chimed with that awfully cocky grin, that made her want to squirm away. He truly gained on confidence pretty fast.

"Definetly not", she deadpanned. ~ Okay. Now I really just want to go to sleep. ~

"Aw come on, I bet you want to touch it - just as you did when singing my song!" His grin grew even wider, cute dimples mocking her in a loving way. ~ Okay? What if he has wonderful hair? Duh!?~ Staring at him with a blank expression Moana's mouth quivered as she searched for the right words to rub his own cockiness into his face! His intense gaze however didn't leave hers and as nervousness rose within her the gravity of their situation truly sunk in: She was basically laying on the beach, side by side with a man, beneath the beautiful night sky, listening to the waves. And she quite literally couldn't imagine a scenery to be more romantic than that.
"You got a giga sunburn, that's what is!", she repelled dryly.
Moana didn't want to lose under his gaze - she didn't want to be the one blushing a crimson red, jumping to her feet and wandering off in awkward silence. Stubbornness kept her there, unrelenting and at the same time utterly defenselesssssssssssshe was sso... tired...

It was hard to keep her glaring composure - aaand she was out of it before his grin stretched even further, revealing glistering white teeth. He turned to rest his head on crossed brawny arms, closing his eyes. "I won't judge, if you do ~", he soothed, knowing exactly she wasn't a 'chicken'.
But in a funny way the audible SNORE, that now came from girl, deserved him just right. - !? - Puzzled he looked up to see Moana had dozed off midsentence, her forehead nudging against his skin with each calm breath she took. Girl must have been really tired, he laughed to himself.

- So cute an innocent. -
She really trusted him, didn't she?
Losing his heart more and more to the sleeping beauty he extended an arm, caressing her rosy-tinted cheek, careful not to wake her up. Her lips curled into a smile at the touch of his hand.
Butterflies seemed to twirl around his guts, not able to grasp that she had just fallen asleep right beside him.
He shifted to get a better look at her, tiredness slowly fading as he was overwhelmed with a secretly suppressed desire...
Something caught his attention: The assuring waving of his inky buddy, who had seriously dragged mini-moana with him onto his upper arm, showing him the dear embrace they voices ringing in his head, chiming something along the lines of:"GO FOR IT!"
"You two aren't helping", he growled, eyes drawn to sheer happiness, that glinted in the tattooed version of the girl. No he couldn't... - or could he?
With time however Maui felt his limbs going numb as he drowned in her scent. She smelled so wonderfully sweet, her chest heaving in small amplitudes as she nuzzled against him. - This... this really is torture... - Watching her intently he kept on telling himself, that he wouldn't take advantage of the situation. Her being in this vulnerable state. Not able to spat curses at him or smack him away. He wouldn't. But things weren't that easy...
He could not bring himself to pull his hand away, for it looked so perfectly fitting to cup her cheek, eyelids fluttering slightly at the sensation. She was so cute...

"You really are irresponsible..." he breathed, feeling the radiant heart beat in every fibre of his enamored body, "...to fall asleep in a man's arms like this..."

... and he leaned down...


The Next Morning

Moana had awoken back in the shabby hut that day. Confused and still a little sleepy.
Excited about the memories of a very wonderful dream she had.

"You've got everything? Oar, animals, demigod, all there? *says flat out* He looks different today?!", Penina had taken her aside, watching as Maui pushed the canoe back into the water, humming to himself, "He scars me when he's happy - Did something happen?"
Moana had noticed his exceedingly good mood as well, though one couldn't say he wasn't an over and over bubbly guy every day.
"Um, not that I knew?", the girl answered plainly, smiling as Tamati scrambled through her legs, hurrying after Pua. "I WILL CATCH YOU! XD ", he shouted after the pig, who happily squealed, circling the adults. They had accompanied them to the shore, with Maui more or less carrying the pregnant women down the mountainside. Even Penina had wanted to wave them goodbye properly. Grumbling to herself the young mother eyed the demigod in suspicion, curiosity getting the better of her. What was it she had missed!? She held up her bare hand, to shield her eyes from the blinding sun, ocean glistering in front of them.
The cool wet was happily playing around her feet, just then her eyes fell on the rooster, as it walked into the water - but was shoved back onto the shore with each upcoming wave.
"Say - something's wrong with that chicken... I just can't put my finger on it Ö-Ö", Penina deadpanned, one hand stemmed to her hips. Moana only laughed at that, when suddenly Maui announced they were ready. He had stored coconuts and breadfruits beside the (small amount of) dried fish they had left.
Jumping down from the deck he walked over to Tamati, who was rolling on the floor, scrambling after Pua; and the teine knew what this meant.
Maui had talked to the kid that morning. He had told him about what he had found in the depths of the sea and how he had brought Salimalo his tooth. How his father had been... surrounded by many friends to keep him company. And the boy had cried a little.
But to his relief Tamati hadn't doubted any of his words. No, seriously, the kid was fully integrated in the Maui-fanclub by all means. But now it was time to say goodbye.
"Tamati?", the man sad, bending down to the kid who had stopped playing at the nearing sight of him. Offering a thin smile the demigod held out his huge hand. "We'll meet again, right?"
But the boy didn't take his hand - instead he gave Maui a big hug. Well... as big as a five-year-old's hug could be, that is to say. "Mmhmmm! X( ", words caught in his throat he pressed his face against the man's soft skin. Tears running down his cheeks.
All the while Maui carefully patted the boy's back, Moana also bid farewell to Penina, who embraced her dearly. And the young chief-in-training was sure, there were tears glistering in the women's eyes as well.
"Are you sure you will be okay for another week!?", the girl asked, however, a loving mother wouldn't concern their children more than necessary.
"Sure, sure - stuck around for the last few months with little trouble - *gives her belly a light smack* guess it can wait for your return!", the women assured her with a wink, fishbone braid swinging in her fresh demeanor. The girl was glad she had agreed to come with them to Motunui to give birth to the baby. Once their journey would be over, so she convinced her, they would come and take them with them - neither Tui nor Sina would leave a young mother behind~

"... Maui?", a sad little voices muttered from his belly and the man looked down to see Tamati hardly trying to keep his composure - not crying (well okay, crying a little bit). Tiny fingers waving him closer, making the familiar motion for him to lean down. Through the small tooth gap of his front teeth the boy breathed: "(Can you transform into a hawk for me?)"
A little surprised the mean gave him a questioning look. "Now?"
Nodding violently Tamati's curls trashed around as he rubbed his eyes.

"And girl, *serious* remember what I warned you about", Penina said, her daunting grimace slowly turning into a grin, releasing Moana from her grasp," *wink* - but don't let him wait for too long either!^^" At this very comment Moana couldn't but press her lips tightly shut.
Suddenly their conversation was interrupted by a bluish flash of light - Puzzled they whipped their heads around to see a giant hawk fluffing its feathers and wings in front of the little kid - and for a moment the young mother nearly had a heart attack, before she realized it was Maui.
Tamati giggled, sniffing once more he waddled closer, burrowing his hands in the brownish plumage of the beautiful creature. "Hehe *pat-pat* so soft...", the boy giggled slightly, trying to swallow the lump in his throat. With pride the demigod regarded him, shielding from view with his enormous wings he let out a silent caw.
The women watched them contently.

+ That's for my collection! ^^ + === *pluck*

/ until there was a high-pitched screech, followed by just another /flash/ and confused faces, once the demigod cursed out: "HEY!? - WHY DID YOU DO THAT!?"
He sounded more plaintive than hurt, really, instantly rubbing his arm and jumping away from the laughing kid. - !? -
But Tamati had a laughing fit, stumbling backwards and dropping to his butt, watching the impulsive man scowling at him. In his small fiddly hands there was a huge brown patterned feather.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! XDDDDDDD *sniff* WAHAHAHAHAHAHA! - You're SO FUNNY! AHAHA! XD "

Maui glared at the kid for a moment - he hadn't actually dared to rip out a feather, had he!? He had... - his expression instantly softening at Tamati's face-splitting smile. Holding on to the plume, the boy sat there guffawing, just as another awfully annoying cackle joined in.
"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHA! xD", Penina snorted, pointing at the puzzled man," CHICKEN GETS PLUCKED!- *unattractive funny grunt* WAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHA! XD"
Okay this - this was unexpected. Ö.Ö
Giving her a deadpanned look, Maui blinked blankly at the snorting women. - Woah. -.- Now who's creepy here?! - A side-glance at Moana assured him the girl was just as amused, though she simply bit down hard on her index finger to keep herself from teasing him. ~ Pfffffft... CHICKEN... ~
"
Okay - got it. I'm off!", he blurted, annoyed, feeling provoked by Pua's curious stare. Moana shook her head, setting into motion to follow him as he jumped onto the deck. The kid scrambled to his feet, feather still grasped in his palm. Gently she ruffled though his curls.
"See ya', Tamati!", she said and his face fell again. +They are really leaving going... +
Realizing he was fighting with tears again, the girl knelt down in front of him. "We will be back soon - you take care of your mommy till then, yeah? *places a kiss on his forehead* She needs you, okay?"
The boy nodded, smearing snot and tears across his face as he tried to wipe them dry... ~ Ohh... ~
Giving his shoulder another light squeeze she stood her walk away was the worst feeling of ever. Having to watch as Maui offered her a hand to pull her on deck.
Sobbing bitterly the kid tumbled towards the canoe, hand grasping into nothingness, when his mother appeared beside him. Smiling kindly, Penina placed a warm hand on his shoulder, keeping him from following them any further. "Mommy?" Tamati swallowed hard.
All the while Maui stood on deck, firmly squeezing the sheet in his hands as sadness came over him. And guilt. Was it that what he had wanted?
"Pua!", Moana halfheartedly called, unable to break her gaze from the crying boy, who now sobbed even more as the cute piglet hung it's head, trotting in her direction.

~ He doesn't want to leave either... ~ Huge crocodile tears rolled down Tamati's cheeks as he saw his best playmate take the leave. Feather still in hands...

Guilt rose in the girl's guts and she winced when suddenly a warm hand struck her shoulder. Turning to see Maui, whose sad eyes also rested on the crying kid, an idea crossed her mind. The exact idea which he was about to voice.
"You know...", he mumbled, shrugging in the direction of a very depressed pig - and the roster, that still tried to 'walk' right into the ocean, "pork and drumstick aren't made for adventures, *pauses for a while as they watched their animal-sidekicks...* just might as well let them take a break on a calm island, I dunno', relaxing with a random little boy and his pregnant mom - *shrugs nonchalantly* just an idea of course..."

Moana beamed a wide smile at him, his heart instantly melting. "Wonderful idea!"
Jumping down from the waka the young teine propped up a demanding finger, having Penina's and Tamati's full attention - Pua also cocked his head around with a questioning squeak - all they were staring at the young chief's daughter. "Until we come back though,", Moana announced with a heaving chest, "I entrust you to take good care of my comrades! - *chuckles warmly* as pawn you could say."
- Pua, not realizing what exactly this meant, was flung to the ground by a little boy, who "Wait, WHA!? *frantically* Tamati?!" escaped his mother's arms. Laughing and hugging the fuzzy pig, he made sure not to crumble his wonderful feather. "PUAAAAAAA! XD"
Pua returned his enthusiasm with a tickle of its snout, grunting thankfully towards Moana.
"(And don't forget about Hei-hei!)", she whispered worriedly - not really wanting to interfere the wonderfully cute cuddle-scene. Penina sighed, cocking an eyebrow at the chicken. Nacreous earrings clattering as she waved at them. "Sure thing - but don't you dare leave me with these critters forever! ;) "

"We won't!", replied the demigod, answering for Moana, who was about to say just that.
Penina gave him an assuring nod - and yes - even a smile. A forgiving smile.
At this he felt a thousand tons lighter, better than the night before. - Eeh, well... -
He glanced at a happily waving Moana. [Last night hadn't been that bad after all, he grinned to himself.] "Well done, princess,", he mumbled with a wink and she simply chuckled. A bit sad to leave her animal-sidekicks behind for a while, though something told her they would be in the best hands.

And just like that - after waving for a very, very long time, Tamati and his mother were only two dark dots at a white beach far away. The island getting smaller and smaller behind them.

[Sequel]

"What do you think?", Moana said in a calm voice, still facing the green spot at the horizon,
"when will we be back?"

Maui looked at her for a while. A content smile playing on his lips. "Two or three days, I guess. Why?", he leaned down, cocking these remarkably dark brows at her questioning expression, "Want more alone-time with your personal super hero?"

~ Ha! - That's what YOU wish for -v- ~

"Nope. Just thought we might run out of food again, *smacks his belly* cause you'll surely eat the entire load we got stored all on your own, Mr. personal super hero", Moana replied, smacking his belly with a wink.
Instead of grumbling however, the teine was taking aback as he leaned in on her, face coming so very close she could feel his breath on her skin. His lips being only inches apart from hers, long silky curls brushing against her cheek. She froze. ~ What-whaaaat is he doing!? ~
Panic rose within her as his lips parted.

"Is that so?", he asked in a very low voice, that made her body tense up. So deep. - Pressing her eyes shut she feared for the worst!
He smirked: At the sudden strong pull on the rope the canoe whipped around and she lost balance - /SPLASHHHHHH/

"Aaaaaaaah, *pleased* I missed that.^^"

Little did they know, their adventure had only just begun...


AUTHOR'S NOTES:

Since I am sure some things didn't catch your attention, because it was written between the lines, here some things to think about:
"Penina" means pearl in samoan, so she wore nacreous-ear-rings, as well as clothes that seemed to have been noble ones some time ago. Her ego is the one of a stressed out mother, sometimes hinting her life had been a lot easier once, a reference to her royal childhood.
Salimalo was a man unknown to legends and myths and though he was not immortal his powers seemed to run in his family; being a creature that came from the sea but able to transform to a human form, he fell in love with a young teine, that obviously wasn't meant to marry a monster - which is why they had to escape and start a rough life on their own; with her being spoiled as she was and him seeking for romance and adventure they had quite some differences at first - but after a while they had managed to build up their own home and she got pregnant with her first child, Tamati. Since the island they had settled on didn't provide much for living and never was far away from home - a tribe, which by now had been long wiped out by the darkness that had spread across the ocean - Salimalo often sailed there to leave messages for the deadly worried parents behind, as well as presents from his voyages (such as a certain bracelet, the second of two while the other one belonged to Tamati and Penina, so they would always be connected in some way) and to snatch things they needed, such as food supplies and other stuff.
One day the island of his dear wife's tribe became sick from the darkness, the entire population got wiped out and when he witnessed sorrow and death at it's ultimatum, Salimalo also broke - both physically and mentally. Feeling the time slip through his hands he rushed home, to warn his wife and now four year old boy from the danger - transforming to his true form as a creature of the depths of the ocean he took the route he always took, the fastest way, so their wonderful island with their house on the hill was the first and last thing he saw.
Floating on the surface he died far away from shore, not able to say goodbye to his beloved family. But it came that Tamati passed by the beach that exact fateful day to collect shells and he saw the massive creature far out on the sea - waved at him, before his father sunk down to where Maui had found his carcass. Ever since then a horrible time awaited the young women, that by now didn't knew her second child was on its way and since she never saw her beloved husband again, to her it seemed he had left her to rot together with their poor son. (Which is why she was close to tears when she saw Maui, because as the strong man he was, he had reminded her of her very man - and it would've been just too good to be true.)
The upcoming months were hard for Tamati, because his mother suffered from extreme depressions, which sadly drew him more and more away from her and instead towards the ocean, where he still believed his father would be.

Now. Of course it was impossible for a coral reef and that much sea-flora to cover a huge skeleton within only nine months, yet the beautiful ghostly glim around Salimalo's ivory armor seemed to implicate a lot of life. And love.
The souls of the loved ones and our ancestors are always with us, always watching over us and as such he protected their small island from the darkness which had also found its way to them...
He had never left his family.
When a long while after the heart of Te Fiti was returned and plants began to grow, life spread again, where death had been - Te Fiti's blessing also reached the depths of the ocean, creating wildlife and corals and welcoming comrades such as dozens of sea-creatures accompanying his lifeless body.
And due to a ghostly assistant, which of course was no other than Moana's grandma Tala, who always kept an eye out for her granddaughter and the ones close to her, the manta ray had lead Maui right to Salimalo to complete his final quest. Changes aren't always visible.
Often they happen quietly and without anyone noticing, such as the demigod's personality would be shaped further by the ones he adored. So while Maui was downcast as nothing special happened when he basically reunited father and son,
he had given Salimalo his freedom. He now was in peace.
And Maui's sins were long-forgiven, even if he didn't knew about it and would never know.

He hadn't told Penina though, not wanting to destroy the imagination within her heart, fearing she would have an even harder time on it. - Instead Penina even grew to like Maui, whom she knew was the cause of the death of her family long ago. She knew. But she could smile at the man - and so forgave him.

For a picture of Salimalo go here: art/Moana-x-Maui-XI-663714720


Kae - Shit
Fa'aleuō... - In the name of a friend...
waka -canoe