The night was quiet, a soft glow of moonlight illuminating the water. Maui and Moana had agreed to take turns keeping watch in case Tamatoa tried anything while they were sleeping. Maui was sleeping soundly after his shift, and Moana lingered near the water's edge, watching the water while casting occasional glances Tamatoa's way.
The crustacean lay quietly, feigning sleep as he eyed Moana from the safety of his shell. Every night since their last encounter in Lalotai he had fantasized about all the ways he wanted to make these two suffer for what they had done. All that humiliation and anger festering over time, forming an unquenchable thirst for revenge, and yet… here they were. They came back to him. Appeared to be "helping" him for reasons still unknown.
Moana glanced over at Tamatoa and Maui, and after assuming the crab was still sleeping, returned her attention to the water.
Tamatoa looked to Maui, who had fallen asleep probably closer than he had intended to the crab.
It would be so easy. All he needed to do was snap the demigod's neck while she wasn't looking; then she would be easy pickings. Yet he hesitated. He wasn't sure why. Maybe he felt unprepared to make such a sudden decision right now, or he feared he might be underestimating the human again… who knows. He'd figure it out eventually.
Tamatoa's eyes scanned Maui's tattoos with intrigue. He hadn't had the chance to view his old friend's skin tapestry for a while. Even though they despised each other nowadays, he still couldn't help but admire the artwork adorning Maui's body. He wondered if there were any new tattoos.
Ever so lightly, he brushed a claw over the demigod's chest, moving his necklace away in a surprisingly gentle manner for such large pincers. He didn't want to wake Maui up, after all, but he seemed to spot an unfamiliar pattern covered by the necklace's teeth that he wanted to get a better look at; upon closer examination, Tamatoa could make out a tattoo of Moana on a sailboat. Odd, he thought to himself. They must have done something extraordinary together if it warranted a new tattoo.
Almost forgetting to glimpse at Moana every once in a while, he looked over to see her staring back at him, seeming to be tense from how close the crustacean was to her friend. She had a tight grip on her javelin, and the ocean looked ready to pounce at the crab in an instant.
Good, Tamatoa thought to himself. An expression other than sickening sweetness. He shifted away from Maui, turning his back to Moana and laying down again to actually sleep.
Revenge wasn't worth the trouble.
For now.