Author's Notes: Hi, readers. Here's chapter forty-five of "Dark Desire." This chapter has Tommy/Kim. His teaching her how to live off the land continues in this one. I am really enjoying having him do that. They need things to do after all. This fic is nearing its end. Stay tuned for chapter forty-six.
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Chapter 45: Gone Fishing
A sea eagle glided above the beach in the early evening. It flapped its wings on occasion. It screeched loudly, scaring some wandering crabs. It went to a branch near the middle of a tree close to the rock path. It landed on the edge and looked toward Tommy and Kim, who were sitting on the rocks close to the water. She held a fishing pole made out of a stick and a line in her hands. It dangled in the water. A spike was next to him, as were a can of worms.
Tommy and Kim gazed at the eagle as it kept its eye on the water. They observed it opening its beak and flicking its tongue. They emitted soft snorts and returned to their attention to the line. It swayed from side to side somewhat. The eagle closed its beak before tilting its head a little bit. It blinked three times and moved its foot forward.
Suddenly, the eagle flew toward the water, striking the surface with its talons. Tommy and Kim watched it return to the branch. They saw a fish in them. It dug its beak through its kill, pulling out a strip of flesh and swallowing it in one gulp. They looked at each other, chuckling lightly. She moved her hands down the pole somewhat.
"I can't believe we just saw a sea eagle kill a fish," she exclaimed.
"Yeah. That's something you don't see every day," he agreed.
"I agree," Kim said and bit her lip. "At least that eagle didn't attack us. Jason and Billy were attacked by a pair of hawks when they ventured too close to their nest during a walk in Angel Grove Park!" She shuddered badly.
"I am sure they looked ridiculous with talon scratches all over their faces," Tommy suggested.
"Oh, they did. It wasn't their finest moment," Kim admitted with a shrug. "It did teach them one thing. You never get too close to an animal's offspring."
"That is right. They will come after you if they think you're threatening them," Tommy pointed out.
"Everyone knows the most dangerous animal in the world is a mother protecting her young. Bears will fight to the death to protect their cubs," Kim said.
"Elephants will form a circle around the calves to protect them from predators," Tommy added.
"Yeah," Kim said, blowing softly. "Many other mammals do the same, especially marine mammals."
"Sperm whales are very well known for this technique when orcas go after their offspring," Tommy whispered and smacked his lips.
She giggled. "Do you want me to split into several versions of myself, so we can form a circle around you?"
"You can on one condition," Tommy replied and cleared his throat.
"What's that?" Kim wondered.
"You have to let me split into several versions of myself, so we can form a circle around you," Tommy said, wiggling his eyebrows.
"Sure," Kim commented, nodding rapidly.
He kissed her cheek. "Thanks."
Tommy and Kim shifted their attention to the horizon. They could see the sun hanging not very far above it. They put their hands over their eyes. They couldn't help but smile warmly.
"I love how the sun looks like a giant ball of fire when it is setting," Kim said in much sweetness.
"Paddy told Richard and Emmeline the sun would hiss when it touched the water in The Blue Lagoon. Richard thought he heard it, but Emmeline didn't. Paddy said to listen harder and that water was likely boiling by then. Richard claimed he heard it. Emmeline believed she did. She realized she was hearing it," Tommy explained.
"Richard and Emmeline were just children when Paddy told them this. In real life, the water doesn't hiss when the sun 'touches' it. Nor does it boil," Kim said seriously. "They probably realized all that at some point."
"Mm-hmm," Tommy agreed. He tried to suppress a yawn, but he couldn't help himself. "If they had been rescued, it is likely it would've been hard for them to readjust to civilization at first."
"I can't argue with that," Kim said, sighing in a soft manner. "Adults would've been confused by their childish behavior. What do you expect from young people who lived on a deserted island since they were eight years old?" She blew a raspberry.
"Once Richard and Emmeline got used to civilization again, they would've done just fine. I believe they would've shown others their fishing and hunting skills," Tommy added.
"If we are ever found, I can see my parents and friends being shocked that you taught me how to hunt and fish," Kim whispered, looking a little uncertain. "I just know they won't accept us being together."
"I don't care," Tommy said, putting his arm around her shoulder. "I am not giving you up."
"I am not giving you up either," Kim responded as she looked up at him. "No way, no how."
She kissed his cheek. She felt the pole bend and turned her attention to it. She pulled back with a loud grunt. It almost flew out of her hands, but she regained control, taking hold of the line. He grabbed it, helping her pull it in. A medium-sized fish appeared as it struggled on the hook. She grabbed a hold of it, holding on tight as it tried to wiggle out of her hands. He laughed while patting her shoulder gingerly.
"Look at you. You just caught your first fish!" Tommy exclaimed, wrapping his arms around her to give her a big hug.
"I sure did!" Kim yelled, happiness radiating from her face.
"That is a nice-sized fish you have there," Tommy said, tickling her cheek.
"No denying that," Kim replied, laughing when the fish wiggled even more. "Wow. It's a feisty little thing."
"At least it didn't fly into our faces!" Tommy pointed out with a laugh.
"I better take this fish off the line," Kim commented while taking a deep breath. "Then you can put it on the spike."
"Come on!" Tommy yelled, waving his hand toward himself. "We don't have all evening!"
"All right!" Kim responded in mock annoyance. "Here I go."
Kim slipped the hook out of the fish's mouth and gave it to Tommy, who put it on the spike. It stopped struggling almost immediately. He took the pole from and grabbed a worm. He slipped it on the hook. He threw it back, going forward. The line landed in the water, causing it lap.
"I love fishing. It's such a relaxing pastime," he commented and sighed in much content.
"I never went fishing in my life," she said, chuckling. "Now that I have done it, I find it as relaxing as you do."
"I could lay on the bank of a creek with my parents and fish for hours on end. Sometimes, we fell asleep," Tommy said.
"That's what Adam did whenever he went fishing in He-man and the Masters of the Universe. Cringer often went with him. He would fall asleep too," Kim pointed out matter-of-factly.
"Adam acted lazy on purpose to keep people from finding out he was He-man," Tommy said and made a funny noise. "He wasn't sure what they would think if they knew, especially Teela. He was also concerned Skeletor would use them again him if he found out about it." He gave a shrug.
She let out a small sigh. "I don't blame him for his pretending to be lazy to protect his loved ones. At the same time, it caused people to think badly of him. Sometimes, you need to step up and tell the truth."
"I believe Randor and Marlena would've been shocked to learn their son was He-man. The same went for Teela as she was his best friend. There is little doubt they would've been irritated at him for keeping such a secret. They would've accepted it once he explained his reasons," Tommy explained.
"I wouldn't be surprised if Teela sneaked up behind Adam and Cringer and scared them out of their wits while they were asleep," Kim commented.
"Some people enjoy scaring others when they aren't paying the least bit of attention," Tommy said and spoke gibberish. "I wonder if Adam and Cringer ever sneaked up behind Teela and scared her to show her how it would feel."
"I don't know if anyone could sneak up behind her," Kim said with a shake of his head. "She was known for be very attuned to her surroundings."
"Still, it wouldn't hurt anyone to try that," Tommy said honestly. "I bet Adam and Cringer wanted payback for all the times Teela scared them."
"It would've been funny to see her get freaked out by them," Kim yelled in much delight. "If she was near water, she would've fallen right in."
He smiled. "I have to admit you look cute when you're wet."
She blushed such a deep shade of red that she appeared to be a cherry. He laughed while shaking his head in disbelief.
"Kim, I didn't mean for you to blush," Tommy said, furrowing his brow.
"I can't help it when you say flattering stuff about me," Kim replied.
"You should be flattered," Tommy insisted with a sharp nod. "You are the nicest girl I have ever met."
"Thanks," Kim said, kissing his cheek as the redness left her face. "You are the nicest guy I have ever met, even if you are still under Rita's spell."
"Rita thought she could control me. I proved she couldn't," Tommy growled with determination. "In fact, I can feel the spell over me weakening a little bit."
"I have no doubt it is because you are treating me so well," Kim said truthfully.
"It might be weakening, but there is a chance it could come back strong and retake control of me," Tommy warned in a stern voice.
"I know," Kim murmured gently and ran her hand over his hair. "No matter what happens, I will always love you."
"I will always love you too," Tommy responded, pressing his lips together. "Always."
Suddenly, Tommy felt a tug on the line and pulled back on the pole, trying bring it in. He almost lost his grip on the pole, but he regained it and pulled even harder. A large fish leapt out of the water with the hook in its mouth, landing with a loud splash. He pulled even harder, bringing the rest of the line in. Kim helped him get the fish out of the water in which they struggled with it some. Her eyes went wide with surprise, as did his.
"I can't believe how big this fish is, Tommy!" Kim exclaimed and let out a loud laugh. "If only we had something to measure it."
"This is biggest fish I've ever caught," Tommy said and took a deep breath. He laughed when the fish wiggled in their grasp. "It's just as feisty as the other one was."
She cleared her throat. "Let's get it off the line."
Tommy and Kim removed the hook from the fish's mouth. He shoved it on the spike, feeling it become still. He grabbed another worm to put it on the hook. He moved the pole back, tossing it into the water.
"My first fishing trip has been successful so far," Kim said happily.
"Yep," Tommy agreed and sighed contently. "We should try catching a few more fish before we end it."
"It will be fun catching them with a net. That means getting a lot more in a short amount of time," Kim said in much eagerness.
Tommy smiled. "My parents taught me how to make a boat by tying vines and large pieces of wood together. I want us to do that."
"Sure," Kim replied, kissing his cheek twice. "I recall Richard and Lilli having such a boat in Return to the Blue Lagoon."
"There was a clip of them in their boat during the love montage following their wedding. They played around some," Tommy murmured.
Kim blew a little bit. "Having a boat would make fishing easier because we can put the pole on the edge of it."
"Don't let the pole fly away," Tommy quipped with a snicker.
"I won't if you don't," Kim said while flicking his chin.
"Of course not," Tommy commented and made a weird noise. "Then again, I could fly away."
She ruffled his hair. "Goofball."
Tommy and Kim glanced toward the horizon. They could see the sun had gotten a little closer to it. They watched another sea eagle fly by them. They listened to its screeches as it went into the rainforest.
