CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT: ADMITTANCE
"Kopaka?" asked Gali as they sat around the HeatStone. Night had fallen faster than they had expected, and they had decided not to brave the rock face in the dark. The white Toa looked up from the golden crystal, looking into eyes of the same color. "Hm?"
"I have one question for you, if I may…" she looked into his one visible blue eye.
"Shoot."
"Back on Mata-Nui, Tahu said you… err… loved me…"
Kopaka looked away, "I know what he said, Gali."
"…and then you took off on us like a scared Ussal."
Kopaka gave her his signature death glare, but it was lost on her. "Continue – I'd like to know the question, not just a statement."
She looked quickly into the deepest depths of the HeatStone, "Do you… really love me?"
Kopaka stood up, walked around the HeatStone and squatted down next to her. "Gali?"
She looked up, surprised to find an actual emotion in his eye: longing.
"Gali, listen to me," he said, his voice somber, "I love you more than I love myself. Hell, I love you more than I love all of Mata-Nui, do you understand?"
She looked at him in mild shock, "I…"
He silenced her with a single finger pressed across her lips, "Gali, no matter what, I will love you. I know that Tahu is probably more of a suitable match than I, but that doesn't matter to me. I can't help who I fall in love with."
Gali looked at him in confusion, "Tahu? But…"
Kopaka shook his head sadly, "He's a social butterfly, Gali," he stated simply, "What am I? The antisocial moth… he's far better suited for someone of your caliber."
"Caliber…?"
Kopaka nodded, "You have the most beauty, grace and intellect I have ever seen, Gali. While I hate Tahu, I want what is best for you. Being around someone who can become a demon is not a wise choice."
Gali decided now was as good a time as ever. "Kopaka, shut up."
He stopped talking, stunned. Rather than say a word she reached up and kissed him. Kopaka let out a muffled sound and collapsed backward onto the ground, wiping his mouth. "What the hell are you doing? Didn't you just listen to me?"
She looked at him in mild amusement. Kopaka, in the meantime, had stood up and was rattling off a list of reasons why Tahu was a better choice than he was.
"So," she said at length, "Don't you want me around?"
Kopaka let out a strangled cry and thudded his head against the cliff he was to climb in the morning.
"Gali… you occupy every part of my mind…" he admitted, "…but it's no good. I can't do this…"
She stood up and walked over to him, "What can't you do?"
He looked over at her, and she saw indecision scrawled in his visible eye. "I can't be someone I'm not – I want to be with you, but you'll get hurt."
He waved his arm in an arc, "Look around you. You almost got sliced by Malak because you came here with me! Do you not see the dangers?"
Gali kissed him again, effectively shutting him up. She smiled at him as she drew away, her golden eyes watching his face. "Do I look like I care?"
Kopaka looked at her strangely, "No… no you don't… which is what I don't understand."
The two Toa fell asleep shortly after. Gali curled up next to the HeatStone, while Kopaka sat against the cliff, torn between joy that she had kissed him and fear for her safety.