The following two days after Hlahlu's information delve were largely devoted to planning, a task that the Toa Metru were determined to handle themselves. This left the younger Toa, and Hlahlu, to their own devices, including keeping an eye on Jaller and Takua, the latter of whom proving to be an 'almost insufferably adventurous little speed demon', as Tahu so happily put it after one particularly tricky round of trying to locate the boy.
A contented sigh escaped Kopaka as he wandered aimlessly around the Great Temple, virtually reveling in the fact that his 'shift' of watching children was over. It wasn't that he disliked the boys – quite the opposite in fact - , or needing to help try keeping them out of inevitable trouble. He was just finding it more and more impossible to find a quiet little corner all for himself as time went on. Often he'd go into a presumably empty room, only to discover one of his Toa siblings was already there and resting, or trying to keep Jaller or Takua entertained and out of mischief. Sometimes he'd even find Hlahlu, sometimes at peace and sometimes rambling pessimistic nonsense about how everyone was going to die in the end. He wanted to tell her she was wrong whenever he found her in that grim state, but his first attempts always failed and he had eventually given up. Kopaka hadn't really been told what had caused her drastic – and in his opinion rather tiresome – mood swings, and while he knew Roodaka had been involved, he had never been able to figure out enough to have helpful commentary for.
There were only two people he didn't mind the company of these days; Pohatu, and Gali. However, Pohatu was taking a shift watching the children, and Gali was, to his knowledge, having a nap, which left him to his own devices for entertaining himself. A bit of a bother in its own way, but Kopaka wasn't going to make a bit deal of it. He excelled at amusing himself without anyone else around, and for several years had actively sought such practices.
Though... He had to admit he was starting to, just a little bit, enjoy having other people around. The apocalypse around him demanded more teamwork, and in turn made the quiet atmosphere of solitude discomforting, if not unnerving. It reminded him of his younger years, especially the nerve-wracking days before he had become a Toa. The haunting sensation of paranoia from seeing his sisters killed, and the sickening silence that hovered like a shroud shortly thereafter never left his mind, even after seven years it still attempted to plague him when he was on his own. Not all the time, luckily, but still it was enough to be a nuisance.
The fifteen year old paused, taking a moment to realize just where his thoughts were wandering before laughing – albeit quietly – to himself. Who was he kidding? He didn't need anyone to keep him company. He was a powerful Toa of Ice now, not a child. So what if silence sometimes unnerved him? He'd get past it. It would help him stay more alert to his surroundings too, which was safer for him in the long run.
But... what about when he had to stop and rest? He wouldn't have anyone to protect him if he was on his own and needed a break, and just staying awake as long as he possibly could before collapsing would be even more dangerous than stopping voluntarily. "Maybe... maybe having one or two people around would be a good idea..."
But who would he want to have around?
Kopaka scoffed quietly at the question. He knew who he'd want to be with, without a moment of hesitation. "Pohatu and Gali are nice to have around. Maybe they would want to stick around once it's all done and over."
The youth smiled to himself at his conclusion. When the issue with the Visorak was over, he would see if Gali and Pohatu wanted to go off on an adventure with him, or even just settle down somewhere and enjoy the peace they had justly earned. Then again, the idea of Pohatu trying to settle down anywhere seemed laughable; the only way that boy would stop being actively out and about would be if he broke his legs, and that would probably only happen because of some crazy stunt he tried to pull. But at least there was still Gali. She would probably settle down somewhere with him. Maybe they could even go back to the island Toa Lhikan took them to for training. It was nice and quiet, and had a beautiful beach. "Gali would like that, I think... she liked it last time we were there..."
It suddenly dawned on him just how funny his thought trail may have seemed, and his cheeks went pink. There he was, daydreaming about living with Gali on a secluded beach, with nobody else to try and disturb their hard-earned peace and happiness. The more he thought about it, the more embarrassing it was, and the darker his cheeks flushed. He could already imagine what Tahu might say if he knew, and he could guess with remarkable ease that Lewa would be beside himself with laughter. Onua wouldn't harass him much though, probably just smile in that calm and amused way he always did. Pohatu might heckle him a little, but that was to be expected and the Toa of Stone wasn't really the sort who would be intentionally mean about it. If anything, he'd probably just make one or two comments here and there and leave it at that.
But... what would Gali think if she knew?
Kopaka's heart sank as his gaze fixed on the floor, doubt filling his mind as he walked. "She'd probably laugh too..."
"Who would laugh at what?"
The pale youth froze, eyes widening in alarm, and mild horror, as he realized who was speaking to him. Of all the people to end up coming across, of every single person who could have heard him, it had to be Gali. Why did it have to be Gali? It could have been Onua, or even Tahu. Why couldn't it have been Tahu? At least Kopaka wouldn't feel guilty about telling him to go away. "J-just contemplating a possible joke." He blithered, blatantly lying in spite of a weak attempt to seem honest. "I thought Toa Nokama might laugh a little."
He knew he 'done goofed' – a phrase Pohatu was rather fond of – when Gali frowned and crossed her arms. "Okay," she remarked almost tersely. "now that you have that out of your system, are you going to tell me the truth?"
Kopaka spluttered a moment before sighing, knowing he was busted. "It... It was nothing, Gali. I was letting my mind wander off and thought of something you might laugh at me for." He decided not to give her a chance to ask what it was though, and quickly added. "Uhm, have a nice nap earlier?"
She seemed okay with the change of topic, for the time being at least. "Well enough I guess. Had a little trouble falling asleep, but it was okay aside from that." A small smile tugged at her lips. "Thanks for asking. Have you been taking time to rest too? You look exhausted..." She paused, suddenly very concerned. "You aren't getting sick are you? Your face is rather pink."
So much for playing off the problem; Kopaka's face flushed even darker as he shook his head. "I'm fine, honest." He mumbled. "Nothing to worry about."
Gali studied him closely, her sunset eyes examining every facial feature that his eyepiece couldn't conceal. "Kopaka..." She asked after a moment's pause. "Are you blushing?"
If he wasn't before, he certainly was now. "No! ... Maybe? Why?"
Gali giggled at him. "Why are you blushing? Me being fussy isn't new."
"I know, I-I just..."
"Just what?"
Now Kopaka was stuck. What was he going to tell her? What could he tell her? Would she even believe him if he did? What if she didn't? Or worse, what if she did and laughed at him? What if she told the others, and they all laughed at him too? Could he bear that kind of mockery?
Apparently his worrying was obvious, because Gali began to look highly concerned again. "Kopaka? Are you alright?"
"I like you, okay?!"
Well, that was graceful. There he stood, his statement more of a panicked blither than anything of confidence, with one of his innermost thoughts splayed out like the world's clumsiest peacock. And on top of it all, Gali – the very topic of his thought – was the one to hear it. If ever there was a time that Kopaka wanted to not be himself, this was definitely it.
"You... do?"
Kopaka fidgeted uncomfortably, looking anywhere but at Gali while she watched him squirm. How was he going to redeem himself now? With no great ideas coming to mind, the fifteen year-old turned to try and leave... only to cease all movement as he felt a warm and gentle hand catch hold of his own.
"I... I like you too, Kopaka."
The pale one's breath caught in his throat when he heard those words. Slowly he turned to look at her again, taking note of her small, sheepish looking smile, and her reddening cheeks. "... what?"
Gali giggled at him, still holding onto his hand as she shuffled just a tiny bit closer. "Do I have to say it again? Really? We're both blushing, you're blatantly out of your element, and Lewa is, as far as we know, roaming the halls looking for mischief." She smiled a bit more as she let go of his hand. "Come on, let's find somewhere less spy-able to talk, okay? Just you and me, nobody else."
Kopaka felt like his heart was going to pound right out of his chest as he nodded and started walking down the hall, Gali following along beside him. Gali liked him! She actually liked him, over everyone else on the team! A light spring found its way into his footfalls as he walked, smiling happily as relief swept through him. Who cared about Tahu's opinion now? He wasn't the one Gali liked. No siree, Tahu had nothing.
"Uh, Kopaka?"
"Yeah Gali?"
"You're giggling."
"Oh."
Maybe he'd revel about it later.
