Wu/Garmadon/Misako
In Misplaced Affections, I will be exploring various events that may have taken place in Wu's life. This is a therapy story but it should be uplifting rather than angsty. This one is about two teenaged boys trying to woo the girl of their fancy.
Wu snorted and shook his head with good humor at the old worn image in his mind of his big brother. There was not a time in the old man's life that he had not admired the older boy. Garmadon had always been so strong, so charismatic, if he had not been bitten at all then there would have been nothing left wanted in the man. Wu could never blame Misako for choosing his brother. There really was a lot in Garmadon that not many others were able to see.
Wu and Misako had always been able to see all the greatness in Garmadon. If Misako had not been able to see the good in the man then they would have never had such a great time competing for her favor. Misako had always been the loveliest young lady, especially surrounded by the pale pink of cherry blossoms. There was a time when they were young and she wore a light blue yukata with a mesmerizing mix of darker swirls spread all over it.
Neither Wu nor Garmadon could take their eyes off of her the whole day. She put all flowers to shame with her beauty. She was so coy just two months after the brothers had met her. At that time she would never do a thing Garmadon suggested. It was just too much for a little lady.
"No, I couldn't possibly- how about we sit, just there." A porcelain finger thrust out to identify a basic wooden bench on the bank of the lake settled peacefully beneath the spreading branches of an old oak tree. The smile she tilted towards the boys was a small one that bespoke bashfulness but only served to make both young men more excited to be sitting with her.
"Of course!" Wu practically jumped to hook his arm with the young woman's to escort her to her desired lounge.
Garmadon was not far behind in taking the girl's other hand. "Definitely." His dark eyes caught his brothers with a challenge spelled out within them.
They sat together with a brother glued to either side of Misako, both trying to look as though they belonged with her. She did not seem to notice this though as she settled her summery dress. "It is so nice to spend time with the both of you. It sure is a long way from the village. I'm not sure I could make it that far all by myself." She smoothed handfuls of long dark hair in front of her and stared intently at the locks as though she was worried to look at her new friends.
Garmadon smirked handsomely at her. "Oh I bet you could make it anywhere." He said grabbing one of her hands. He pushed the sleeve partway up her arm and made her mock flex. "Just look at all that hidden muscle Wu. Nothing like mine." Garmadon pulled up his dark sleeve and flexed his well worked muscles, grinning when she made a coo of astonishment at his build.
Wu crossed his arms with a sour expression but when Misako looked back at him, he gave her a terse smile that made Garmadon smirk at his victory. Thankfully, Misako never noticed their antics. She was much more interested in how different their lives were to her own at the time. "Tell me more about swimming. Have you ever done it in a place like this before?" Her glimmering fresh green eyes stared longingly at the pool of water surrounded by trees all in bloom and youthful spring grass. Wu had always marveled at the girl's spirit. She adored adventure but would never disobey her parents and step out of line. She was like him.
Garmadon was not like them however. He stood quickly and with purpose. "I told you, it's easy. If you'd just take off that dress we could show you." He implored earnestly with a welcoming hand outstretched to her making delicate young Misako blush.
"Garmadon." Wu warned.
The dark haired boy frowned, the gradually growing red starburst in his eyes turned to the lake longingly. They both always did love to swim. "How about- we tie the bottom of your skirts up?"
Misako gasped and Wu gave his brother a playful punch on the arm saying, "That would never work."
Garmadon looked up at the sky for a moment in thought. His pupils constricted allowing his younger brother to see all the red lines that were slowly taking over the sixteen year old's eyes. He turned back to their young lady friend with a genuine smile that made Wu forget all about the venom for the moment. "I'll give you my trousers. At least that way, you can get your feet wet." Wu's eye bulged at the audacity of the idea but Misako merely pursed her lips in thought. "We won't peek at you, I swear it. Just- trust me."
Misako turned to Wu looking distressed but gave a small sigh. "Alright. Since you swear not to peek."
Garmadon clapped his hands together with an edge of finality. "Great! You won't regret it Misako. Swimming is great."
Misako gave a start, in the process of standing with Wu. "Swimming? I thought I was only getting my feet wet." Her large eyes looked more or less panicked.
Wu and Garmadon began stripping their outer garments, preparing for the swim. "You are." The blond teen explained to calm her. "Garmadon can be over zealous at times."
"Garmadon!" She shrieked at Wu before covering her reddening face with her hands. "You are both taking your clothes off!"
Garmadon gave a bark of a laugh. "Well we can't very well get into the water in our clothes can we? Besides-" he tossed his clothes to land on Misako's head, "you're wearing my clothes so you can get into the water, remember?"
Misako fumed at the older boy's goofy smile when she gathered the stray garments in her arms. Wu did not understand why she was so concerned. They were both still in their small clothes. She stomped her foot angrily. "Just turn around and no peeking!" The boys complied, looking instead to the beauty of the lake and after what felt like and excruciatingly long wait Misako beckoned them to look at her. "How is it?"
Wu turned back and drank in the new look with vigor. Misako's feminine curves did a lot of justice to the cotton robes the young men took to wearing in the summer. The black Garmadon had always favored made a lovely contrast to her creamy skin rather than the stark difference in how sickly Garmadon often appeared. The collar hung loosely on her dainty shoulders but she had Garmadon's belt firmly fastened high on her waist to keep the top decently secured to her slight framed.
"Woah." Wu was not sure which boy the sound came from. Maybe it was both of them. But he knew that if Garmadon had said it, he fully agreed with the assessment.
Misako frowned worriedly. "What's the matter? It looks silly, doesn't it?" She fussed, smoothing the material over her slim hips.
"No." Garmadon started. Wu picked up the explanation before his brother could muster control of his gaping mouth again. "You look as wonderful as always, Miss Misako." The younger brother assured her.
The young woman smiled shyly. "Oh, stop acting silly you two. Are you going to bring me into the water or not?" She asked expectantly.
Both boys jumped at that. "Of course!" Wu called out excitedly, taking her hand in his own and leading her to the water with his brother on her other side. When they got to the bank, the trio slowed their stride. "Be careful where you step. The ground is slick where it's wet." He explained readily.
Garmadon grabbed her other hand eagerly, declaring. "She isn't father's china Wu. She doesn't have to go that slowly." Her lead her with long strides into the cool water.
"Ooh!" She paused where her ankles were just submerged. Her dark eyes were wide as they stared down at the water in wonder. She pushed her long hair back behind her and merely stood, staring down into the pond.
"Misako?" Wu tried and she shushed him.
"There are fish near my toes!" She whispered excitedly. Her smile was captivating and held Wu absolutely still until she giggled and looked up at him. "I have never seen living fish like this before. They're so beautiful!"
Wu gave a start when his brother spoke, having forgotten he was there entirely. "They certainly do inspire beauty." He said getting another glorious smile from the beautiful young woman. "Come on," The older brother beckoned. "The fish get bigger the deeper the water is."
Misako held her hands to her chest and took a half step backwards. "Whaaa!" She screeched as she slipped and landed on her bottom in the shallow water with a loud splash.
"Misako!" Both boy's yelled, instantly drawn to the spluttering girl's side.
"Mhmhmhmhmhahahahaha!" Garmadon laughed. He had tried to stifle his laughter but Wu had to admit the girl's face was novel.
"Are you alright Misako?" Wu asked offering her his hand which she took gratefully and pulled- "Woah!" He landed face down next to her as she laughed along with his brother. Wu snarled and knocked Garmadon's feet from beneath him leaving all three teenagers sprawled out in the shallows of the pond.
"Don't see any fish now." Garmadon grumbled but began to laugh again as Misako snorted at his comment as she giggled. "What was that?" Garmadon splashed the girl playfully and began snorting like a pig making the two younger kids laugh even harder.
"Don't- don't tell my father!" Misako beseeched the two as she calmed herself finally.
"Never," Garmadon assured readily.
Wu helped the young woman stand and steady herself. "I suppose I may as well learn how to swim, now that I am all wet." She pointed out with a blush.
Garmadon put a hand on her small shoulder with a wide grin. "Don't worry, you have a great teacher. I taught Wu everything he knows about swimming and look at him- he hasn't drowned yet."
The girl laughed loudly again with her hands braced on Wu's shoulders for support and the young man could not stifle his smile. As beautiful as Misako was all dressed up normally, she was much much prettier all wet and snorting with laughter. He just knew she would be the woman he wed.