"Even between the best of friends, mistakes and understandings can happen"
-Avigdor Lieberman
It started off with an argument.
A stupid and pointless argument.
It began with words of annoyance; some were thrown here, some were thrown there. Then it transitioned to words of disagreement; a lot of them shooting out like fireworks in which apparently needed to be heard. Multiple words and phrases thrown right back at one another, volleying back and forth, one hoping that the other would eventually slip and let the ball fall and hit the ground. Turns out they were much better athletes than they thought that they were.
And then it turned into a fight.
A huge and massive fight.
Not only was it the amount of words that flew back and forth, but it was the bitterness with a mix of resentment that was behind them. Never were their fights ever physical. Just verbal; a curse word thrown there, a harsh word spiking back just as hard and landing square in the gut. Many times, their arguments were pointless. Sometimes, they would argue over the smallest things. And then eventually, those not-so-mini arguments often turned into something much more volatile.
So after engaging in yet another screaming match for what seemed like the umpteenth time, she would be the first one to take the step and leave. Not him, like how it always was. Now, it was her turn. And so she did.
She is running.
Faster than she thought possible, ignoring the searing pain in her legs that cried out to her in protest and exhaustion. She didn't have a set destination in mind, nor did she map out where her next stop would be. Her emotions were in charge, and they were the ones guiding her to where she needed to be. The wind nipped and bit at her cheeks, blowing off any traces of salty liquid that leaked down her cheeks from before. The blood pumping rapidly throughout her veins, wanting nothing more than to desperately escape from those gruesome feelings that deviously trailed close to her heels with each swift movement she took.
She couldn't stop.
She wasn't going to stop.
Not until she was far. So very far. Far away from everything. Far away from everyone. And most importantly, far away from him.
Especially him.
They never used to fight like they do. In fact, they never used to fight at all. Because the friendship that they shared had such a strong a bond between the two, they decided that something as massive as 'fighting' would be cut out of the picture. Fighting was not to be permitted into their relationship.
Ever.
At least, that was what Moana had thought.
She had been so naïve to believe that such a thing would exist.
Sadly, she had been wrong. Very wrong. So wrong.
They fought constantly. Too much. They never understood why that was. They never really stopped to fully analyze the reasoning behind their continuous battle. They fought more than your average couple. Married couples didn't even engage in verbal screaming matches with one another as much as they did. That right there was a big problem.
They were not a couple. They would never be a couple. They were friends. Best friends. Close friends.
And yet, for a friendship that was supposed to be as solid as theirs, it was on the verge of suffering a tremendous loss. And sadly, Moana was beginning to figure that out. She was prone to witnessing the signs that cruelly stuck out to her.
The hostility was written all over his face every time he raised his voice at her. The resentment bubbled in her gut and eventually poured out of her in one take each time she screamed back at him. And they would be at it again. Relentlessly at each other's throats. Spewing a set of rather appalling words to one end. Spitting more and more distressing phrases to the next end.
So she needed to escape.
Escape from all the hostility as fast as possible before it got its chance to catch up. Before it got its chance to bite her fully where it was most sensitive. And before it got its chance to leave a trail of even more emotional scarring inside her flesh and sinking to her bones.
It got too overwhelming to handle. A lot of their fights leading to angry outburst and unending tears. The tears that she sought comfort in. The tears that would blanket her at night, shielding her from the biting chill that always threatened to make its entrance. Those same tears that seemed to do a better job at keeping her company in her times of need.
And she hated it.
There was never a night where she wouldn't not cry herself to sleep. It seemed that her crying and her tears were the only two things that could get her through her days. It seemed that her vulnerability was her defense mechanism whenever she was in for yet another afflictive encounter when it came to dealing with Maui. The only armor that she could wear with confidence and reassurance that it would shield her from part-taking in another gruesome battle.
And a lot of the times, her make-shift shield ended up failing to keep her guarded. To keep her protected from Maui's cruel outbursts.
The worst feeling was that he could see that.
Her being vulnerable in front of him. Her begging him to let her in.
And each time, it was like shooting an arrow to the gut, allowing the blood to pool around you while you were drowning in it, and your opponent standing over you in triumph. Relishing at the sight of watching you writhing in excruciating pain below them.
And then the battle was over. Just like that.
Your opponent turns his back, walks away and leaves you withering in the dust. And you just lay there, body still, unable to catch the last breath it desperately needs. Your soul slowly ripping out of you, and you'd rather be dead than have to endure any more pain than your entire being could handle.
To Moana, that's how it felt. It was always how she felt when squaring off against Maui – at least that's how she perceived it.
The burning sensation in her legs finally overpowered her being, and she found herself collapsing to the ground where her skin came in contact with the wet sand laid out underneath. She was panting and sobbing, unable to stop the waterfall of fat salty tears cascading down her face, her limbs shaking like string noodles, her jungle of curls curtaining her face.
She couldn't stop the continuous sobbing. She had tried, but failed miserably.
All that could be heard was her whimpering mixed with the roaring of the sea and the crashing of the waves meeting the shore. Her hands and knees came in contact with the cool water blanketing her fingertips, her legs and feet. The ocean attempting to gain her attention, desperate to provide her with comfort that she deeply craved.
Her vision contaminated with tears overflowing out of her body, her face flushed and her eyes puffy from her crying sessions.
She was angry at him.
Furious.
Livid.
She wanted to hate him. She really did. At least, one part of her did.
The other part of her still yearned for him. The other part of her was desperate for him to finally be able to open up his eyes clearly and realize what he's about to lose. The other part of her was begging that he would be weary of her absence.
She wanted him to care. She wanted him to prove it in his actions that he cared for her. That he valued their friendship. She wanted him to be like everybody else.
But that was the problem.
Maui wasn't everyone else.
He was Maui.
The Maui.
Shape shifter, demigod of the Wind and Sea, Hero to all.
He was a demigod.
Demigods had the ability to do whatever the heck they wanted. They lived by their own rules. They were the ones in charge. They were the ones with the immense power. They were the ones that held strength.
No one could change a demigod. One could never tell a demigod what they should and shouldn't do. Not even Moana could change one even if she wanted to. Which unfortunately, she had to find that out the hard way.
She hated him.
She slowly lifted her head once her breathing relaxed and her crying began to fade out. Her gaze finally meeting the polished ocean, which was gradually beginning to demolish as she eventually found the strength to crawl closer towards the edge of the water. The ocean was able to fully cloak her hands and dance amongst her flesh, filling her insides with warmth and security.
"I-I….I needed that." She whispered, dangerously on the verge of more waterworks. "I needed to get away from him."
The waves rippled, meandering into each other. Through her blurry vision, she gasped and her breath caught in her throat. Witnessing the make-shift image of what it was that the ocean was attempting to illustrate, the shape of a hook was painted on the surface of the water. Moana's gaze immediately darted to the misted sheet of black land that loomed over her. Maui's hook engraved amongst the glittering stars, and its reflection balancing on the edge of the water, winking at Moana.
She glared at the sketch. And then glared at the ocean through her dampened lashes.
"No! I don't want to see him!"
The ocean foamed back at her.
"I don't want to be around him! Don't you understand? He hurt me!"
Another froth in her direction from the ocean; far too smug in its own ocean of sass to really consider her words.
"Why?" Her brows dented. "Why should I be the one to go find him? He doesn't care!"
'He doesn't care'
The words stung, taunting. Leaving a sour taste dancing ruthlessly amongst her taste buds. Reverberating in her ears, the echo of her own voice refusing to subside.
"H-he….he doesn't care…."
As much as she hated to hear even the sound of her own voice confirming her suspicions, she was right. He didn't care. He didn't care about anyone. Not her people. Not Motuinui. And especially, he didn't care about her.
The only person, and the only living being on this earth that he did care about was himself. That was just how Maui was.
A self-absorbed, egotistical and obnoxious demigod who believed the world only revolved around him.
And Moana scolded herself mentally.
She hated him.
She hated herself. She despised the fact that she had wasted her time to go and find him just so he could restore the heart of Te Fiti. She hated that she had let him in. She hated that she put all of her energy and trust into building a better friendship with him. She hated that she had allowed him to come back to her island and offer him a place to stay on Motuinui.
All of those things wouldn't make a difference. Maui was much too selfish to see that there are people out there who care about him. There are people out there who adore him.
Moana was one of those people.
The thought pained her to believe that Maui simply couldn't see that all she wanted to do was to cherish him. Make him feel like he belonged somewhere. That he was important.
He failed to show her his appreciation. Just like that, a slap in the face.
"He just doesn't care….." Her voice a hushed whisper, voice wavering. "He….never cared…"
The only thing Moana could do was to curl up in a tight ball and allow the sobbing to resurface once again. The feel of the cold water cloaking her form. Eyelids drooping, and her vision tainted as she allowed her tears take over and spill down her cheeks.
It was a stupid argument.
Then it turned into a stupid fight.
A massive, stupid fight.
He exploded. And then it was her turn to blow up.
Stupid.
It was massive and stupid fight that had been blown out of proportion.
Stupid. Stupid.
A massive and stupid fight that was taken much farther than it should've gone.
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
A massive and stupid fight where the most vicious word choices were hurled back at one another. A stupid fight where voices were raised way above two octaves until throats went dry and horse, and many, many tears had made their grand entrance.
Stupid.
Stupid.
STUPID!
That word echoed in his ears. Leaving its trail amongst his skull.
He was stupid.
Stupid for pushing away the one thing that means the most to him. Stupid for continuously shutting her out whenever she begged to be let in. Stupid for painting her profile with so much hurt and pain instead of being the protector she needed him to be.
Stupid.
The moon was up and about, sculpting the landscape of the island into rather jumbo looking curls, the blackness coating the trees and the path he slogged along. Hook dragging behind him, and all Maui could do was to rely on his feet feeling the stones of the path climbing all the way up to the top of the mountain. The night air became more frigid as he settled his weight onto the lush grass that was cloaked with nightfall, nipping and biting at his flesh as he overlooked the entire village of Motuinui. Every villager safe and sound in their fales and wharepunis and abiding peacefully in their slumbers, eager to start fresh and begin a brand new day that patiently waited just around the corner for them.
Except for one person.
Maui was fully aware of who that one person was.
The one person whom he continuously chases away.
If anyone deserved to start to have the opportunity to look forward to another day, it was Moana. She should be the one who was safe and sound in the comfort of her fale with her family. She should be the one not having to worry about any unexpected conflict that would threaten to attack her without further warning.
She deserved to go to sleep with a smile on her face. She deserved to look forward to another day of many adventures and wayfinding. She deserved to go to sleep feeling safe, secure and content.
She didn't deserve to be out by herself at night roaming the earth by her lonesome. Nor did she deserve to go to sleep with more tears. Nor did she deserve to go to sleep feeling as if she was useless.
And Maui knew that.
Part of him was desperate to go and find her and safely return her back to where she belonged. Part of him wanted to hold her in his arms, protecting her from harm's way while he begged for her forgiveness.
Only he couldn't.
He let out a wheezy sigh, chewing on his bottom lip. He knew he couldn't face her after all of those horrible things that he spat at her. He couldn't bring himself to face her knowing that he was responsible for causing those tears to resurface. For the past few weeks that he's been here, he's caused her nothing but grief and pain. He couldn't face her knowing that he would wreak havoc once again.
And that's why he needed to be away from her.
Maybe then she could find the happiness and peace that she desperately needed.
She was better off without him.
And the mere thought of him separating himself from her permanently destroyed him.
He knew it would the best decision, and he hated it.
Yes, she needed him. But the truth was, he needed her just as much as she did him. And the thought scared him.
He was Maui after all.
Maui. Shapeshifter. Demigod of the Wind and Sea. Hero to all.
He was the protector. He was the provider. He was the one whom people loved, adored and feared. He could battle monsters and demons no problem. He could lasso the sun and sprout islands no problem.
And yet, being in company with a mortal scared him. It really scared him. Maui never knew why that was. It was something that he never got around to discovering. It was something that he never took the time to uncover what it was on the inside that was scaring him so much about craving the warmth from a mortal. Especially a mortal who was only seventeen years old.
The wind picked up, blanketing his skin with goose flesh. If he had the power to take back every horrible word he said, he would gladly have done so in a heartbeat. Only he couldn't. And the thought caused his heart to ache. Maui would be lying if he said he could care less having to see her cry. He'd be lying if he said that every time he saw those lips tremble and those fat salty tears flowing down her cheeks, that it didn't faze him one bit.
He knew he was lying.
'I said back off!'
'I don't understand why you just won't-'
'Moana just leave me alone!'
He hadn't meant to scream. His booming voice caused the ground to rumble underneath, and Moana had to fight the tears that already escaped. She chewed on her bottom lip, wiping the liquid from her face.
'Why do you always have to act this way, Maui?'
He didn't answer. The frown on his facial features merging to a glare. His back facing her, mindful at the way how her voice shook with each syllable, the pain behind those words. The vulnerability evident in her tone.
'Why can't you just talk to me!"
He stayed quiet. Silently begging her to just turn back around and leave things be, his grip tightened around his hook, on the verge of his breaking point.
'Talk to me Maui!'
'BACK OFF!'
The rest was a blur. A loud, booming blur. All he remembered was that his choice in words were not the greatest. And so, she had run off. He didn't blame her, though. Frankly, he would've done the same. After all, no human being could take in as much hurt and rejection in one day. It was emotionally draining, and there was too much heart ache involved.
Maui could never understand how she managed to put up with this kind of behavior from him for so long. But then again, it was Moana, and Moana could handle anything.
But having to handle too much of this, was just too much.
He suddenly flinched at the thought, recalling every terrible thing that had slipped out of his mouth. And he couldn't stop it. None of it. It was like he had been continuously vomiting up every single harsh and bitter word he could think of. And he wished he could take it all back.
But he couldn't.
The thought of him unable to take those words back haunted him. And for that, that's when he realized. He needed to leave. He couldn't bear to face her again after everything that went down.
He knew that after those unfortunate events occurred, that she wouldn't even want to see him again. For fear that he would blow up at her for no reason. And the thought of that only caused more heart ache. And for once in his life, he couldn't bring himself to deal with that.
To hurt her.
To see that emotional pain he was causing her.
To see the pain he marked across her face.
He couldn't do it.
And with that, without even taking the moment to think more about his decision, he numbly stood from his seated position. Grabbing his hook and chancing a solemn look at the portrait of the glossy waters, he silently bid a prayer to the Gods. A prayer that they would protect Moana from any harm that threatened to come her way.
And he prayed to the Gods that she would find herself tucked securely in the comfort of her fale safe and sound.
Despite the tears that are brushing his eyelashes, he raises his hook and transforms himself into the giant hawk and lifts his wings to soar into the sky.
He flew.
He flew away.
He flew as far as his wings could carry him.
And he didn't dare look back.
Two weeks had gone by.
It had been two weeks since the last time she saw Maui. It had been two weeks since the big fight they had.
Two weeks later and not a single word from him. Or any sort of sign that may have given him away.
No sign of the familiar giant hawk soaring through the sky like she had grown used to seeing on a regular basis. No sign of a beetle that would flit its way around the island.
Nothing.
If you asked her now, Moana would be lying if she said that she didn't miss Maui. And that was what was killing her the most.
She missed him.
She missed him terribly.
The fact that it had already been two weeks, the thought of Maui possibly never returning only caused an ache in her heart to throb. It was a matter of the fact that a person like Maui….maybe she had been right about her suspicions all along. Maybe he just did not care.
Maybe he never cared at all.
Many times, Moana would try to convince herself that she didn't need him. That she was better off without him. And that he was just a means of distraction, and a means of a burden. And she tried. She really did try.
Keeping herself busy with her chiefly duties, making sure that her people were safe and secure from any danger that would come their way. That they were fed and well taken care of. She even decided to take on the role of being a teacher to help some of the other kids (including teenagers and young adults) the art of way finding. It was for a change, being out on the ocean that was. She remembered that she hadn't really been out on the ocean for a bit, or even touched a canoe. And that was ever since her fall out with Maui.
Every single opportunity she got to mask her pain, and her anger, she would take it. Most of her people bought it. Her parents on the other hand, they had their suspicions. But every time they attempted to pry out their daughter's true feelings, for she indeed had been doing her job, but remained unenthusiastic about it. And her answer was always the same ("I've just been extremely busy with my duties, that's all")
Always the same thing. Though they were never convinced, they left it alone. And Moana was grateful for that.
Sure, she would often find things to do to keep her mind preoccupied, but who was she really fooling? She couldn't even fool her own parents. And the worst thing was, she definitely could not fool herself.
She couldn't fool herself any longer. No matter how hard she tried to.
She missed Maui. That was all that mattered.
She wanted him back.
Even if his presence would sometimes cause the emotional scars to possibly resurface for a tenth time, she would give anything to have him back. He was her best friend. The big brother that she's never had. And truth be told, as angry as she was with him, she was determined not to let some stupid argument break apart their friendship.
So that night after a long day's work as she entered into her fale, she couldn't bring herself to stay composed any longer. So that night as she closed the mats as her door shut, when she was certain she was alone and had the privacy she needed, all she could do was to lay on her mat, bring thin mat as a her make shift blanket over her body, curl up in a ball, and let the tears from her eyes fall.
Crying herself to sleep.
Moana couldn't stay abided in her sleep the next night. There was a reason for that.
It was as if the Gods had heard her tears of distress and abandonment. One minute she had part taken in another crying session and had forced herself to land in her slumber. And then the next, she was woken up by the feeling of someone's fingers stroking her hair and a thumb stroking away her tears.
At first, she didn't bother to wake up. Thinking that it may have been her mother that snuck in in the middle of the night and had found her daughter crying in her sleep.
"I-I'm….fine….mom…" She whimpered, squeezing her eye shut to prevent any more tears from falling. "I'm….fine…"
"Moana….." That voice was definitely not one that belonged to her mother. "I-it's…..me…."
And her eyes snapped open. Gasping at the sound of the voice that was so familiar. Too familiar. Bolting up from her sleep sack, her vision blurred by the tears, as she recognized that same hulking figure looming over her. The thick fingers that were amongst her hair and face not too long ago also familiar. The last person whom she ever expected to see again.
There he was.
Sitting with his legs crossed. A solemn look masking his features. The two gazing at each other for what seemed like eternity. He was here. In her fale.
He came back.
The numerous emotions she was feeling bubble and twirl in her body left her feeling overwhelmed. She wasn't exactly sure how she was supposed to react. She wasn't sure if she was supposed to just throw herself in his arms and cry into his shoulder. Or if she should slap him across the cheek and yell at him for being so selfish. Or if she should just not say anything and just go back to sleep.
She didn't know.
All she could really do now was blink rapidly, rub what was left of her tears off her face, and say, "Y-you…..you came back…." Her voice was a whisper.
And all he could do was nod gently. "I did."
She blinks again. "But….you left."
"I know."
"And…you didn't…." She lets the words falter, chewing on her quivering lip. "…come back."
"Moana….I-"
"You hurt me." He winces at the glare that's now dented on her brow. "You hurt me….and then you left!"
He stares at her. Remorse masking his features. He gulps, and nods. "I….I know….."
There was silence that followed afterwards. Pressing amongst them, lingering much longer than anticipated. Much too long for Maui's comfort. Every word that came out of her mouth, he knew was the truth. And for once in his life if he was being honest with himself, he couldn't waltz his way out of this one.
"Why did you come back?"
The question caught him off guard. It was the most sinister question that left an aching feeling lingering in the pit of his stomach. The words somehow making a home against his rib cage, plunging through the throng of blood and tissue. He would be lying if he said that her words didn't cause the pain in his own heart to ebb even more than it already was.
"You…." She takes in a shaky breath. "…you don't care!"
And when he looks at her, he sees it. He sees the one thing sticking to her face that he never in his life ever wanted to see again. The hurt. The pain. The sadness. The betrayal.
Especially the betrayal.
His blinking is rapid. "Moana…..I-"
"Why did you come back?" She hadn't realized that she was yelling. "Why did you come back when you know that…..that you don't care!"
"That's not…." His voice is shaky. "…that's not true."
"Yes it is!" She's shouting. "You don't care, Maui! You never did!"
"Moana, that's not true."
"Yes it is!"
"Moana, if you would just listen-"
"I don't want to listen to you anymore!" She's sobbing now, and she yanks herself out of the grips of her blanket and stands. "You don't care! Okay? You don't!"
Maui would be lying at this point if he said that her words didn't affect him. And the truth was, every word that slipped out of her mouth did affect him indeed. He presses his lips into a thin line. His brows furrowed, and he blinks his own tears that were mere seconds from escaping.
"I do care, Moana." He says. "I do-"
"No!" She's back to shouting and shaking her head. "You don't!"
"Moana…." His voice goes dangerously low. "Listen-"
"Why should I listen to what you have to say!"
"Because, I'm not going to sit here and let you tell me that I don't care." He's frowning. "I-"
"You don't care!"
"I care Moana!" He's standing, his own raised and his figure is looming overs. "I care! If I didn't care, do you think I'd be standing here right now!"
His face flies to the right. The sting making its appearance, making its way to the surface of his tender cheek. His hand goes to touch his cheek. The cheek that her hand flew over. The cheek that the meat of her palm had just striked. She's glaring at him through her tears, and he doesn't blame her for slapping him.
He deserved that. He knew he did.
"You never cared about me, Maui." She grinds through grit teeth. "You never did."
He puts his hand down to his side, and straightens his stance. "That is not true, Moana."
"Stop lying!"
"I'm not lying!"
"Yes you are!"
"No I'm not!"
"Yes you are!"
"No I'm not!"
"YES YOU ARE!" Her fist meets the beef of his chest, though he couldn't really feel the impact. "You know you are!"
"Moana, stop-"
And she punches him again. "Just admit it! You don't care about, Maui!"
"That's not-"
"YOU DON'T CARE!" She punches him again. And then another. Pretty soon, he becomes her punching bag, her fists bouncing off his chest. "YOU DON'T CARE!"
"I DO CARE, MOANA!"
He grabs her arms and yanks her off the ground and shakes her. Holding her so that her face is exactly measure with his. She freezes. Terror now filling her eyes, her breathing increased, fear masked on her features as she braces herself for what terrible thing he would do next to her. And Maui can't help but soften his gaze, noting the fear in her eyes as his breathing gradually begins to slow down.
She gasps, feeling her feet gently meeting the ground beneath. His hands still braced around her.
"I care about you." He says, voice soft. "I care about you so much."
She's quiet.
"I know that I…." He pauses, looking into her eyes. "….that I hurt you."
She blinks back the tears.
"I hurt you, Moana." His voice wavers in pitch. "And…I'm sorry…." His voice is barely above a whisper. "I'm sorry….I'm so sorry…..that I keep hurting you…."
"M-Maui-"
He pulls her into a tight hug. And she has no choice but to cling onto him. Arms going to wrap around his neck, she buries her face in the crook of his neck. His large arms wrapping around her tiny waist. His face buried into her shoulder, and she was certain she could feel the hot tears sticking to her own skin.
"I'm sorry…." He murmurs into her hair. "I'm so sorry, Moana…."
And she has no choice to but grant all of her pent up emotions the opportunity to pour out of her. So she does. Crying into his shoulder, clinging onto him for dear life, not daring to let him go. His tears mat her curly hair, and he tightens his hold on her. Refusing to part from her any time soon. Or ever.
And that's how the stayed for the rest of night.
Crying into each other's shoulders. Murmuring words of apology.
And they did not dare part ways.
"I don't want to keep fighting with you anymore, Maui."
He sucks in a deep breath, before he speaks. "Neither do I, Curly."
Moana blinks. She chews on her lower lip. "Then…." She takes a deep breath, "….why do we keep fighting?"
If Maui had the answer to that question, he would've gladly had answered that in a heat beat. But the truth was, he couldn't. Most of the times, he wonder that himself. After all, they're friends. Best friends. Best friends weren't supposed to fight this much with each other.
Were they?
"It's not like…..we're…married….or anything…." She sighs, letting the warm night air blanket her flesh as she stares out into the glossy ocean that's embraced by the dark sheet of night. "We shouldn't be fighting this much."
Maui ponders over her words for a minute. He blinks. "Maybe…that's the problem."
She turns to look at him. "What do you mean?"
"We're two different people, Moana." He keeps his gaze on the view on the glittering stars above. "We're going to have our differences and matter of opinion."
"But….that's what married couples do." She furrows her brow. "Don't they?"
"Of course." He says. "Married couples are two different people." He explains. "Just like how brothers and sisters are as well."
She stares him. Brown eyes curious.
"It's even the same….." He pauses. "….with best friends."
"But I always thought that…..when you're best friends with someone, that they wouldn't fight as much."
"I know." He turns to look at her. "But just because you're best friends with someone, doesn't change the fact that you're both two different people."
"Oh…."
"Married couples fight." He explains. "Brothers and sisters fight. Even best friends fight too."
She chews on her bottom lip, and turns to gaze at the ocean.
"Sometimes, it's healthy for two people to have their disagreements." His voice is calm. "Married or not, we're all different, Moana."
She's quiet. She brings her knees to her chest and rests her chin on her knees.
"Even best friends can have their disagreements sometimes." He stares at her. "But….just because we fight, that doesn't mean that the love and admiration that we have for each other…..will ever falter."
Her fingers go to play with the sand. "Does that mean that…..you and I….." She pauses. "…what you and I have…..will that ever falter?"
He sighs. A sad sigh. "Not if we both want to continue to maintain our friendship."
She stops tracing her fingers in the sand. She could feel the tears pricking her eyelashes. She sniffles, and she turns to look at him. "Do you ever feel like….." She wipes her tears. "…..us meeting…was a mistake?"
His only response was to blink rapidly. Her words catching him off guard. Immediately, he felt a pang of guilt swirling about in the contents of his stomach. And he if he was being honest with himself, he didn't like that feeling. As a matter of fact, he hated it.
He reaches his hand to wipe away her tears. Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, he leans down and places a soft kiss on her forehead. "Of course not." He says. "Moana, I want you to know something."
She's listening.
"Just because we fight, that doesn't change what I feel for you." His thumb strokes the fat blob from her face. "You're my best friend. And I wouldn't change that for the world."
"Really?"
"Really."
She gives him a small smile, though it's laced with the continuous tears. And she notices the tears that are forming in his own eyes. She buries herself against his chest, and he responds by wrapping his large arm around her form, holding her close toward him. Enjoying the feel of his heart beat pulsing through her eardrum, a soft melody filling her insides.
She looks up at him, reaches up and places a small kiss amongst his cheek. And she's back to snuggling against his chest.
"I don't regret you either, Maui."
In return, a soft smile finds its way on Maui's face. He places another soft kiss amongst the crown of her head.
It was all just a stupid mistake.
But if Maui was certain, he never regretted the runt of a mortal he called his best friend.
So...I couldn't help myself! I love fluff okay?! Give me a break!:-P
Anyway, suggestions are more than welcome and greatly appreciated! More to come very soon!:-)