HAY LOOK! RPAGE!
The isle was quiet today. Calm, peaceful...
...and boring.
"Hrid stella tarak neeeee!" a young 'Bini whined, bounding ahead of the older fiery female who followed her at a more regular pace. It wasn't long before the child was bounding back again though to whine more in her strange tongue.
"Leila...please, stop that. I'm sorry I'm boring and that there's no one else here your age to play with right now. There's not a lot I can do about that. If you'd like to suggest something though, I'd be happy to play with you." To be honest, she'd do about anything right now to calm the child down. The young one had been driving her crazy the past few days and Aolani would have given anything to come across some other children from Leila to play with. She wasn't sure how much more she could take. She knew she wasn't ready to raise a child on her own, but...what else could she have done?
As it was, she'd have to take things as they came. No other option. Pausing, Aolani rested her hand on the side of a tree, wondering idlly where all the other 'Bini could be. It'd been a while since she'd seen anyone other than Leila now that she thought about it. How odd...
Once again Arangia had manged to loose Midas in the thick forest. The winged one wasn't as quick as she was in the forest undergrowth as his feathers got in the way. Being small and fast the child easily manovered through the bushes and srubs. Midas was so boring lately, specaily after she and Leila made them kiss through their awesome plan of genious. The younge 'Bini could have sworen he had been advoiding the fire one since that time, which made him depressed...Which made him a bad full of no fun feathers. She needed some fun!
Arangia had been munching on some berries when she heard the colourful words of her own tonge from the voice of a child. "Japtro? Kanta hiko!" She called out to whoever it was...Arangia didn't care. She just needed someone to talk too!
Leila's eyes widened, recognizing both her native tongue and the voice of her co-conspirator and friend. With a wild grin and a happy squeal, the child was off, bounding lightly through the foliage towards the other child, leaving a puzzled fire type standing and staring in her wake.
"Leila? What...where are you...?" With little time to spare, Aolani went scrambling after the child, struggling to keep up with the child's headstart. She frowned, unsure what had caused the child to dart off like that...until she caught up with the young one. Her own eyes widened, recognizing the devious child as Leila began chattering rapidly with her friend. And if she was here...then wouldn't that mean that he would be nearby as well?
Suddenly, today's excursion didn't seem like such a good idea.
Arangia jumped to her feet and chattered happily to see her friend once again! It had been so long since they last saw eachother. It was so good to hear her language from another once again.
Not too far away Midas could be seen struggling with some loose branches that had caught his wings. Damn that child... After fighting free he continued his serach for the child. "Arangia? Where are you?" He called out.
Arangia's attention was drawn to the call of the winged golden boy. She looked back to Leila with a frown. "Tratkoy damjirets casadra." They had made them kiss last time..But nothing happened! If Midas and Aolani got together than she and Leila wouldn't have to part again...What could they do this time?
Leila frowned back. Their plans hadn't worked out exactly right last time, had they? Still, there was a chance; there was always a chance. They just couldn't give up, that was all. Muttering and musing aloud, she thought idlly how nice it was to have someone for once to understand the colorful words flowing from her lips as she thought aloud quietly. The first step was getting them together again, that would be difficult enough. Especially since they were acting so weird and seeming to avoid each other. They had to come up with something that would get the two together for a reason that wouldn't let them hesitate or think too much...
That's it! Grinning wildly, she took her friend's hands and shook them, then dashed off pulling Arangia behind her as she shot off into the brush. If the adults thought they were in trouble...
Aolani was hesitating, leaning towards the option of heading back the way she'd come to avoid the situation completely when she was startled, jumping a bit as Leila's scream split the peaceful tranquility of the forest. The scream was loud, blood curdling....and Aolani cringed a bit before making up her mind based purely on instinct. With no more worry of silly things like awkward social situations, she dashed off after the sound of the scream, thinking only of protecting her young charge.
Arangia looked confused as her friend pulled her away. What did....She covered her ears as Leila screamed."TAMALE SHATA METATO!!!" Arangia yelled at Leila. That hurt her ears!
Midas's heart dropped as he heard the scream of the child. Without a second thought he dashed throw the forest, not really carring that he might rip out some of his feathers on snags.
Leila rolled her eyes, cutting her scream short just long enough to snap back at her friend. "Fnar ack rudaka!" Just keep up the screaming and the two adults would come running. That's all they had to do. With a nod, she picked up the screaming again, ears twitching at the sound of someone approaching...
Aolani was panting hard, eyes darting as she stumbled into the small clearing. Immediately, her eyes shot to the two children and narrowed, seeing no signs of danger or injury from what she could tell. Suspicions growing, she paused and crossed her arms, surveying the pair. "Alright...you two don't seem to be in any sort of trouble, so if you'd like to stay that way, I'd suggest explaining what's going on here."
It was at this moment that Midas got his foot stuck in a root and fell flat on his face into the area with the two children and Aolani. He looked up trying to take in what has going on. "What happened? Who was screaming?" His eyes finally focused. "Aolani?"
Arangia stammered a giggle and looked at Leila. They were together atleast...For now. The next question was what to do now. "Clarto ni juyron?"
"Hrai nagata sri..." Not getting in trouble came first, of course. Didn't mean the plan couldn't keep going at the same time.
Aolani frowned and crossed her arms, none too pleased about being scared to death and running through the forest in a panic. "It seems the kids were feeling 'playful,'" she muttered with a glare at the girls. "That, or they're up to something. Either way, they're in serious trouble for this..."
Well, that was a good enough signal as any. Leila scrambled over and latched onto Aolani's legs, babbling frantically to cover how she was discretely pushing the adult towards the winged male on the ground.
Arangia joined her friend in babbling about nothing and discretely trying to push her.
Midas blew a piece of his hair out of his face as he tried to calm himself down. "Up to something? Their kids...They probably just bored and trying to cause trouble." As far as Midas cared about, they had already caused enough trouble today.
Aolani sighed, sadly not paying attention to how she was being pushed...or perhaps just not caring anymore. "True, but there's not much difference between the two now, is there?" She shot a glare at the two girls once more, then waved her hands to shoo them away from her. "Alright, alright, enough. Stop that, both of you or I'll tan your hides! You got that? I ought to anyway, considering your behavior today." Sighing, she pushed aside awkward feelings for now and moved towards Midas, offering a hand. "Need some help?"
Leila did all in her power to keep from squealing happily, winking at Arangia discretely. They'd succeeded in getting them together again! Even if it was in agreement that the girls were pests...but at least they were getting along! Sort of.
"I doubt they even understand us...All they know is there language...Sure." He kicked his foot free of the root and took Aolani's hand. He felt his heart start to raise but he just tried to dismiss it. She was just just a friend...Just a friend...
Araniga nodded but watched the two adult carefully. Maybe they should give them some...Alone time. "Yhagi kha?"
Another sigh. "Sometimes I wonder, I really do..." Bracing herself, she helped pull Midas to his feet, oblivious to the other's train of thought.
Good idea. Giggling again, Leila took Arangia's hand and nodded towards the woods so they could slip off for a while. They'd keep themselves busy in the meantime with a game or something. Something other than pushing Aolani and Midas together, of course.
Aolani started, eyes darting towards the retreating children. "Hey! You two! You'd better not go far! You get in trouble for real, don't think I'm going to come running to save you again!" She shouted, shaking her free hand in the air as a fist...meaning little of what she actually said. Yeah, she was irritated, as well as irked at being left alone with Midas...but she wouldn't abandon mere children...even pesky ones.
Midas watched as the two girls left. "Let them go...They'll be able to take care of each other better than we could." He said before an eerie silence fell. He hadn't seen her much since he confessed his feelings for her....Damn kids why'd they have to leave.
Aolani sighed, eyes following after the girls even after they'd disappeared into the foliage. She was leaning back against a tree trunk, hands behind her. The silence was so thick, it'd take a sword to hack through it. Her eyes finally trailed down to the ground, tail swishing slightly behind her, before glancing up again.
"So...this is awkward."
"Just a bit." He mumbled as he leaned against his own tree, tail flicking from side to side. What could he say? He had told her how he felt and she...Didn't say anything. Close enough to a no to him. Everything that he had to say had already been said.
Or had it?
Eyes downcast, Aolani sighed and started to speak again. "Look...about what happened before. I...I'm sorry I just left without saying anything." Her tail was twitching slightly in anxiety. She shouldn't be the one upset...it wasn't her fault, right?!?
But reacting the way she did...that was her fault. No argument. She wanted to straighten things out. Clear the air, so to speak. It was only fair.
"I just...wasn't really sure what to say. You sorta' took me by surprise, you know," she chuckled a bit, a half-smirk momentarily crossing her face.
Midas rubbed the back of his head. "Not much has been normal lately." He'd be lieing if he'd said he didn't miss his home but...Could he go back? After all this he didn't know anymore...He ruffled his wings slightly and looked over to her. "Yea." He stopped and waited to hear if she had more to say.
He wasn't making this very easy...but Aolani was determined to get this over with.
"I'm not saying that this is a 'yes' or anything," she shook her head, eyes downcast. She looked up quickly, however, to cut off any possible interruption. She wasn't done yet. "I'm not saying it's a 'no' either. Let's just say...I'm open to the idea...with time, okay?" She smiled hesitantly, hoping her explanation would be understood and accepted.
Midas's gaze fell to the ground. Sure, it wasn't a no...But he had thrown himself out to her and now he just felt like a fool for doing that now. He didn't know what to say or if he hand anything to say.
Aolani's look hardened, a frown crossing her face. "I see how it is. Now it's my turn, right? ...well, I suppose that's fair after how I acted," she trailed off, hand on the other arm as she turned her eyes away. Of course he had nothing to say to her. She'd been a jerk.
But did that mean that he had to be one now?
...it was fitting.
She couldn't help that she wasn't willing to just...fling her heart out there for just anyone to possibly stomp on. Aolani sank to the ground, clutching her knees to her chest and resting her chin on them. So she needed time...was that really such a crime? Her tail curled around her feet, and she dropped her head to hide her face.
"I just don't know what to say Aolani....I told you so long ago and I've been left hanging until now. You left me to break ever day since then...I just...Feel numb now..." He tried to explain what he had been though but he knew he was failing at it...Royally.
Aolani couldn't even speak for some time. She was wrestling with her own feelings at the moment and was afraid she'd slip if she tried to speak immediately. Especially with her initial response to what Midas said. She was upset, yes...but she was also growing increasingly angry. Finally, she couldn't hold it anymore. Her head shot up, angry tears in her eyes hopefully hidden by her irritated counter.
"I left you?!? You disappeared! You've been nowhere to be found, at least until today, and now here you are accusing me of leaving you hanging? What about me? I was thinking that you were avoiding me on purpose! I'd finally decided that you wanted nothing more to do with me for some reason! I'd just started to come to terms with that...and now, all this! All this time, I've had no one else but Leila to talk to...and there's not a lot of great communication going on there, let me tell you."
The fire elemental was shaking now, consumed by a mixture of emotional release and fury. She was about to cry, but wasn't about to let herself do so in front of Midas. On top of things...it was starting to rain.
With a sharp curse, the fire elemental curled closer to the tree as the rain began pouring down through the forest canopy, desperately seeking shelter from the water. Yes, she couldn't swim, so that explained her fear of the water on the trip to the island. But rain...she just wasn't fond of. It made her feel cold, freezing her straight to the bone, no matter how warm it was outside at the time.
Midas quickly shut his mouth and looked to the ground as Aolani scolded him with a shape tongue. Sure, he could have counter argued that she didn't go look for him...But he was guilty of not looking for her. Maybe she was just like him...She was afraid of something like this happening.
He looked back up to her as the ran started to fall and even though this wasn't like the raft, her hate for the water was still visible. She seemed so mad that she could set him on fire if she wished....But he couldn't hide the fact that he cared for her...A lot...He silently walked over to her and raised a wing over her so that the water to hit him and not her.
Aolani looked up in surprise as the rain stopped hitting her, shocked doubly by the fact that Midas would want to be anywhere near her right now. And yet, on top of everything else that had happened and all the angry words that had been exchanged, this one touching gesture was enough to break the fragile grip Aolani had on her emotions.
Didn't mean that she wanted to cause a scene. Not any more than she already had at least.
She dropped her head to her knees, shaking as she cried silently. It was an emotional outpouring that she needed and she gave so much to it, that it lasted only briefly, though it was intense. She was wiping her eyes only minutes later, still silent. Her tail was curled tightly around her, warmth radiating from the tip as if offering comfort. Or maybe she was only embarrassed.
Either way, swallowing hard, she reached out and, almost hesitantly, touched Midas' leg to get his attention. "Midas? T...t-thank you..."
Midas looked down to Aolani with a small smile and slid down the tree so he could sit beside her while keeping his wing over her. "I'm sorry..." He said looking to the ground, his wet hair stuck to his face. "...For being a jerk..." Midas curled his tail around his feet.
"And...I'm sorry too. For not being much better," she muttered back, hiding a smile. Aolani, despite earlier protests, was honestly happy that Midas was here with her right now. She was feeling weak and vulnerable, granted partially because of him, but also because of the rain...and he was helping now, or trying at least. That counted for something, right?
It did with her.
Under the pretense of hiding from the pouring rain, Aolani shifted, curling more into Midas' side and stifling a shiver. Muttering something about the cold, she moved her tail to share the warmth with Midas. Hopefully this shower wouldn't last too long.
Midas was soaked at this point be he didn't seem all that cold. When he flew high up the temperature was much colder then the rain. He wounder if the two kids had found shelter for a moment before Aolani curled into his side and snapped his attention back to her. He made sure his wing was over her so she'd wouldn't get as wet as he was. He smiled slightly to her before looking up into the sky, wondering when it was going to stop, if it was going to stop.
Aolani's mind had wandered down a similar path only a moment ago and she raised her voice to speak her thoughts aloud. "Midas? ...you think the kids are alright? I mean...they're smart kids. They probably found shelter somewhere to ride out the rain...right?" Personally, she was hoping that the rain would hurry up and stop.
Though...it wasn't entirely all bad sitting here with Midas...
"I'm sure they're fine. There very resourceful...And I tend to wonder how smart they really are sometimes." He said, thinking back to the blackened island on which they were found on. They had survived that somehow...He was sure that they could find some shelter for rain.
Aolani nodded slowly, sighing and leaning back further against Midas without thinking. "You're right. It's not like a little rain would hurt either of them anyway," she trailed off.
Not that it technically 'hurt' her either...but it bothered her on some deep level she didn't quite understand. It wasn't exactly fear, per say...but it was close. Part of it probably stemmed from her fear of deep water and inability to swim. The other part was simply how the rain felt. No matter what the temperature was outside, the rain always felt absolutely freezing to her.
"Midas?" She glanced up, speaking again with a frown. "About earlier...I'm sorry again. For yelling...and what I said. It's just, I've been alone now for so long. Well, not exactly 'alone,' since I've had Leila, but I'm sure you know what I mean. It's just not the same. And, it's been hard..." She trailed off again, unsure of where she'd even been heading with that.
"Shhhhh." The male wrapped his arm around Aolani's and rubbed her shoulder lightly to calm her. He knew what she ment...He did feel the same too. He did have Arangia but it wasn't the same...And really it had been difficult. He couldn't understand a word that child said. He liked her company but he couldn't talk back.
"I won't go anywhere unless you tell me too."
Without quite understanding why, Aolani practically melted into Midas' side at the reassuring half-hug. All she knew was how nice it felt to have someone else to talk to that could talk back. Someone that understood what she'd been going through. Someone who cared.
"I made a mistake," she muttered softly, referring to the time she'd pushed Midas away so long ago when he'd admitted his feelings for her. She should have given him a chance...except, she'd been so afraid of being hurt, that she didn't consider that she'd be doing just the same to him. Or that she'd only hurt herself by pushing him away.
"I'm sorry. But...do you mean it? That you won't leave...?" She glanced up at the golden male's face, eyes searching for...something. She wanted to give him a chance...to give them a chance. That fear though was still there in the back of her mind, the fear of being hurt.
However, she was starting to think that being alone hurt worse. Maybe the risk was worth it.
"We learn from our mistakes...It only makes us stronger." He repeated the worst that he was taught has a child to her. "What has happened, happened. We shouldn't keep dwelling on it. There is still a future to be writen." He smiled to her as she looked up to him. "Of course I ment what I said. If you'd wish it, I will stay with you."
Aolani nodded slightly, taking the advice to heart. "Yeah...I know...I just...wanted to make sure you knew that I was wrong. I should have given you a chance." She looked up again, meeting his eyes. "I want to give us a chance now."
To make her meaning clear, the fire elemental shifted, wrapping her arms around Midas and resting her head on his chest. The slightest hint of a smile crossed her face as, for the first time, she felt she was somewhere she belonged.
Even while hiding here from the rain.
Midas brought his other arm around Aolani and embraced the female, resting his chin on her head. "I'd like to give us a chance too." He spoke softly and happily. Everything seemed...Perfect. He was holding the one he loved and adored...The girls were hopefully out of trouble for now...Even the rain seemed to add something, though he couldn't put his finger on it.
Midas didn't want the moment to end.
Aolani snuggled closer, allowing herself a smile at last. "This feels...so right..." she murmured softly, eyes closed.
After shutting herself off for so long, the rush of emotions she was experiencing was both wonderful...and nearly overwhelming. She wasn't sure how to cope...she wasn't even sure if she felt like herself anymore. She felt like a completely different Bini; separated from herself and watching from afar.
Tangling her fingers in his fur, she leaned back reluctantly. She only pulled away long enough though to lean up and brush her lips against Midas' cheek.
Midas couldn't help but shiver as Aolani's lips brushed his cheek. It wasn't a bad shiver, just an expected one. Midas's eyes met Aolani's as he lent forward and kissed the top of her forhead.
Aolani giggled, blushing slightly as she sought to hide her face against Midas' neck. Nuzzling lightly, she took a moment to reflect on how giddy she felt. She was never one for much silly acting or foolishness, especially with having to take on caring for a little one so early on after finding Leila. And yet, she could find no other way to describe how she felt right now.
Who knew feeling light-headed and giddy could feel so good?
And yet, she'd regretted not taking chances before. She wasn't going to do that anymore. From now on, she'd take chances...go with her gut feeling...and deal with the consequences from there. No more wondering what might have been.
She leaned back again, smiling at the winged male and looking much calmer. There was another look in her eyes as well...something...mischievous.
"You know, Midas...we seem to be dancing around the matter. That or our aim needs work. Let's try this again, shall we?"
With that, she leaned up swiftly, but gently, pressing her lips to his, eyes closed to savor the moment.
Neither of them seemed to have noticed that the rain had already stopped...
Midas closed his own eyes and wrapped his other arm around Aolani to pull her in closer, closing his own eyes to enjoy the kiss. He felt his own heart raise. He couldn't have been happier. She was everything he'd ever need. He pulled back after a moment and looked to her, his eyes full of love. "Aolani, what I said so long ago...It still ture...I do love you."
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