Moana sat in one of the few open walls of the fala, staring out into the darkness of night, through the gray sleeting rain, to the violent rolling of the sea. She was emotionally, and physically drained, the adrenaline rush had finally passed and every movement was heavy but she could not shut her eyes. The bodily noises of all twelve families combined was enough to keep her awake but the fact that she was laying so near Maui?
Turning to look over her shoulder she saw him lying there using his arm as a pillow and holding his hook in the other hand. Maui seemed to look at peace, and Moana wondered if he really was sleeping or not, do demigods need to sleep?
She smiled and looked back out to the ocean, her feet dangling over the raised floor to just barely touch the wet grass underneath. Part of her was so happy he was actually here, that she could see him, touch him, smell him even. Though most of the time that smell wasn't always pleasant, Maui had a wild earthy smell to him that was intoxicating to her, like wet dirt. Moana took a deep breath and shut her eyes.
"Why are you awake?"
Moana jumped, and looked up to see Maui standing over her with a look of concern on his face.
"How did you move so quietly?" She shuffled over as he knelt down with such smooth motions he didn't make a sound.
Maui laughed as he leaned back on his hands and tossed his black curls and smiled at Moana, "Don't let this massive body fool you, I can do some pretty amazing things."
Tilting her chin up, Moana faked a nod as she looked away and licked the inside of her lip. Clearing her throat, she adjust herself to sit cross legged and leaned forward placing elbows on her knees. She had seen him do amazing things, but the only thoughts that came to her mind at the moment were how the humidity made his sweat bead and roll down his muscle lines, how he whispered causing the lower tones of his voice to rasp slightly. Looking back at him, Maui had his head tilted in her direction, resting his cheek bone on his shoulder. Moana furrowed her brow, and looked at him seriously, "What."
"Did you really agree to that?"
"What?"
"You know what," Maui sat up and propped an arm on his bent knee, giving Moana a sarcastic smile, "That little boy, he's naked basically."
Moana knew that he was making a comment about his lack of tattoos, but that was besides the point. Was he really taking a jab at her now about who was courting her? She turned to look at him, her hair whipping her face and she stared. Maui sat up straighter from the look, and his eyes went wide. Setting her jaw, Moana grabbed Maui by the ear and with all of her strength drug him out in the pouring rain, drenched in seconds, not trusting herself to keep from yelling.
"Ow! Ow, ow ow oww!" Maui stumbled behind Moana before she felt that they were far enough away without being heard. The wind had died down so there was no threat of anything falling on them, but the rain almost hurt as it pelted her. Staring at the ocean, she clenched her hands and turned quickly to look at Maui.
"And what gives you any right to tell me who I choose to court me or not?!" Moana stabbed a finger at his face, causing Maui to flinch back and stare. Little Maui ran in circles and then voluntarily jumped to vacant back tattoo. "You. Who have been gone for years. Who has not had the single ounce of decency to come and say hello!"
"Moana," Maui interjected trying to calm her down but the force that was coming out of her was not to be stopped.
"Do you know how long I looked for you?! How often? And where?!" Moana's voice was starting to pitch as her mouth contorted to form words through her tears. She hated crying in front of him, but the emotions that were rolling and spinning inside of her couldn't be stopped, especially now that the person who had caused her this much pain was right in front of her.
"I wanted you to come up from the ocean every day, Maui, off of your canoe to take me away! To take me on adventures, to see amazing things. But you didn't, and you know what you did instead?"
"Leave because I saw the type of woman you were becoming and I was worried that you wouldn't want anything to do with me anymore," Maui said to her softly, taking a few steps towards her. Moana took one step back before he quickly reached out and grabbed her by the waist.
"No! You stopped showing up because you don't care! If it isn't in your benefit it doesn't matter!" Moana slammed her hands into his chest, and when his muscles proved just enough resistance, she punched him again, and again, but Maui kept a hold of her and finally cocooned around her.
Together they stood in the rain, water gently streamed off of Maui's nose and lips onto Moana's forehead where she stood in his strong hold. She listened to the hard beat of his heart, felt her body rise and fall with his breathing, then when Maui began to spoke, she let the vibrating hum of his words in his chest shake her ears.
"You were sailing to your third island, one of the first islands I had ever pulled out of the sea," Maui ran his hand over her hair, his fingers getting tangled, "You were standing on the prow of your canoe and I saw how amazing you looked in the sunlight. Moana, you blinded me then," he paused, and Moana felt his hand under chin. When she opened her eyes she was staring directly into his, and she pursed her lips to keep them from shaking.
"You became so strong. Your people love you and its obvious they will follow you wherever you go. I couldn't take you away from them," Maui sighed and shrugged, letting go of her before continuing, "I didn't leave because I wanted to," He turned and stared at her, "I left because I felt I had to in order for you to be able to go as far as you wanted to. I didn't want to hold you back."
Here she had Maui, this demigod who every part of her wanted so badly, her mind, soul, and even her body. Who wanted to give her her freedom to go wherever she wanted, to rule her people however she wanted. And then she had Kekoa, who she knew would always be by her side, who would wait for her when she would leave, but would he go with her like Maui would?
"Maui," Moana said softly, "All I ever wanted was to be on your adventures," She paused her chest full with the breath of her next words, "with you."
Staring at each other, they both had their hands clenched, both defeatedly staring at each other, waiting for someone to move.
"I don't want to get in the way, Moana." Maui spoke finally, and closed the distance between them, "But I know I don't want to lose you to some naked fishing boy who thinks he can handle a hook." Maui smiled at Moana, joking like the soul wrenching conversation wasn't still hanging in the air.
Running his hands down her arms, he was close enough for their breath to mingle, and Moana fed off of his energy. Her skin prickled at the touch, never having felt this kind of electricity with someone else, she shivered with goosebumps. Maui smiled slightly and flipped his hair, "It's the bod isn't it?" Maui laughed, looking away before she looked back at him, and gasped as he placed his forehead to hers, and rubbed his nose gently against Moana's.
She shut her eyes, and let out a sigh, melting into his hold, resting her hands on his biceps, smiling through her tears mixed with rain.
I always thought Maui would be kind of a softie on the inside, so please enjoy!
