~11: Oel ngati kameie~

They're 17 btw.

After an accident warps Kailua's perspective on everything, she confesses her feelings to Lo'ak; to her greatest surprise, he reciprocates those feelings.

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Love you like the movies, Message in a bottle & We need some love

~

Kailua had yet to speak to her mother. Sure, Lo'ak bonding with the outcast wasn't her fault: in fact, it wasn't anywhere near her fault. Kailua wasn't even in the ocean when it happened; she was at home with her mother. And her mother knew this, there was no denying it. For Eywa's sake: Kailua was sat next to her while they topped up the medicines. Yet: Ronal still blamed her. Kailua hadn't actually returned to the hut in favour for sleeping in her moon pool.

Ever since Kailua hit her teenage years, her and her mother had only seemed to find resistance within their relationship. It usually revolved around her connection to the great mother and her little sister.

Tsireya was the daughter mom wanted: a normal Metkayina child. A talented swimmer, a patient teacher, a beautiful dancer, an intelligent hunter, and a natural healer. Because of those qualities, there was a slow wedge being driven in between the two sisters as time continued. When Kailua would eventually snap and let her frustrations out on her sister, who would usually give as good as she got, Ronal would intervene and snap at the girls. Tsireya would be tasked with scarping the medicinal leaves for four days and Kailua would be made to clear the barnacles off of six huts. On her own. For every day over four she took, another hut would be added to her punishment.

Kailua was hunted for her connection as well; most people within the clan only ever spoke to her or offered her kindness when they wanted to know something. Daisy anemone from the women if they wanted to know the gender of their baby or outcome of their hunter husband. A knife made from various bones of the sea from the men if they wanted to know how their mate was or the outcome of the next expedition.

Never just because they felt like it.

Kailua was taking a walk with the Sully siblings, minus Tuk, when it all went wrong. "So, you feel connected to the great mother as well?" She asked Kiri. The girl seemed to pull in on herself a little. "Yeah, I guess so. Why?" Kailua thought to her mother for a split second. Then she shrugged. "You guys are gonna find out anyway," She stopped by a puddle and grinned. "Watch this," She willed the water to levitate in the air and float into her palm.

It extended into a thin line, waving and dancing in the air. "Holy shit!" Kailua grinned as one of the brothers (that sounded suspiciously not Lo'ak) exclaimed. She twirled her finger around, smiling as the water curled around her wrist and arm. "How can you do that?" Kiri asked softly, reaching out to touch it. Kailua pointed to her shoulder and let the water curl from her wrist to Kiri's shoulder. "I dunno. I've always been able to do it," She let the water drop back to the ground with a sigh. "Ever since I was a baby."

She decided to not mention the visions. Because of her mom, she couldn't risk the Sully boys uncovering the memory. She'd already made friends with them. There was no way she'd risk losing that. Kiri chattered to her for a bit; both girls finding a small sense of comfort in each other. Lo'ak and Neteyam had long ran off, racing up some stray trees and leaping from branch to branch.

Kailua stood with Kiri at the edge of the cliff watching the eclipse light up the ocean a warm orange. "It is pretty here. We'd never get this much of a view back home," Kiri said softly. Kailua sat on the edge, letting her legs swim in the air freely. Kiri stayed standing with a soft smile. "It is nice. I often come here to clear my head." She leaned back against her arms. "It clams the waves of my mind,"

Kailua shut her eyes with a soft sigh, aware of the Sully brothers shouting and jeering at each other. Everything seemed so calm; the calmest it'd been in a good while.

Until the cliff side cracked ominously. Kailua sat up right with a gasp. "Kiri-" Too late had she warned. The cliff crumbled beneath her body, sending her careening for the ground.

She woke a few hours later angry. Her father immediately began chastising her about her recklessness while her mother pulled her around, fussing over her cuts and scrapes. Ao'nung made sly remarks in the corner while Tsireya fretted over her bruised form. The final blow that sent her storming out of the hut, still injured and scraped to the high heavens was: "And now they know about your abilities,"

She walked for ages on her crutch that Tsireya had chased after her for. "If you're going to storm away, at least use this. Please." Kailua groaned. "Reya, leave me alone," Tsireya thrust the crutch forward. "If you use this, I won't tell mama where you are,"

And that was that. She walked to the cliff side again. Stupid, maybe.... definitely.

But she needed the space; and with the cliff face having come down somewhat warded the clan members away. She desperately fought away the pain from her leg; she never bothered to ask what the outcome was. It probably wasn't broken; seeing as she could walk on it. Maybe sprained.

Kailua rolled her eyes when a twig crunched behind her. "Go away, Reya. You said you'd leave me alone if I took the damn crutch."

"Well I'm not Reya, so I made no such promises,"

Kailua turned with a gasp. Her crutch slipped on the damp ground. She cried out, grabbing at anything she could. Somebody grabbed her shoulder, stopping her second decent to the ground that day. "You should really be more careful," Lo'ak commented lightly. Kailua huffed as she steadied herself. "Here," Lo'ak bent down to grab her crutch and held it for her. She refused to meet his eyes as she balanced her weight on the crutch. "Thanks," She mumbled instead.

When he said nothing further, Kailua turned away. She began to hobble along the cliff side. "Why are you here, Lo'ak? Because I don't wanna hear it if Reya sent you," She hissed through her teeth as he leg hummed painfully. "First of all, I'm my own person. I can decide for myself where I go and when," He stepped into stride to match her. "Second, Tsireya didn't send me. I saw you running...well... hobbling away looking pretty upset." He snorted. "I figured you'd want somebody to rant to,"

Kailua scoffed quietly. "What, and lament over how much my life sucks because I fell off a cliff and hurt my leg?" She bit. Lo'ak looked away, the playful smile fading. Kailua sighed quietly. "Sorry," She mumbled. They continued walking, albeit in silence.

It was nice. Just having somebody nearby; not speaking or touching her, just being there. Nothing could sour her mood. Until she did with: "I like you, Lo'ak,"

Wow. Well done Kailua.

Well done.

"A lot, actually." She continued. "And- and I know you like Tsireya, so I will only tell you this once." She continued. "If you want her, take her. I will stay away and be the dutiful sister," She turned away, desperately trying to hide her tears. "But I have to know if you feel the same or not." She glared at the sun. "If you want Tsireya, stay silent. I will leave and won't bother you, or her, again," Her chin wobbled. "But if you want me, if you like me... please say something,"

When he sighed softly, Kailua took that as indecision. "I know you like her, and I get it. She's prettier, she's kinder, she's smarter, she's better. I'm just me. Sure, I can hunt. But I can't heal. The children of the clan don't like me, the parent's of the clan don't like me, Eywa, your parents don't like me. All they see is a freak, somebody who shouldn't exist," She rambled. "Tsireya is the perfect mate. She's kind, she's caring, she can cook, she can clean, she can heal, she can hunt, she wants children, she's going to be Tsahik." Kailua rubbed her eyes. "I don't even know if I want children yet. I can't heal, I can barely cook. My section is always a mess, I get into fights, and I just," She sighed heavily.

"I understand if you want her," She finally finished.

Lo'ak was silent for a little too long; he'd chosen. She nodded and shut her eyes to trap the tears that wanted to flood out of her like a dam. "Ok," She whispered. Kailua pushed away with her makeshift support (a crutch, Neteyam had said) when a hand grabbed her shoulder. A five fingered, dark blue hand. She turned, shock enveloping her every vein. "You have chosen. Why are you stopping me?" She asked softly. "I haven't chosen, Lua. I just-" Lo'ak puffed angrily. "Why would you tell me this? All these words?"

Great. She'd upset him.

"I just..." She gestured to the crutch. "I thought I was going to die. When I fell," She searched his eyes for anything other than guarded amber. "I was lucky to come out with a broken leg. I'd said my goodbyes as I fell." She gestured to the water. "If not for the shear panic of dying, that amount of water would have killed me. It would have shattered my bones. Even with my abilities,"

She looked up once more. "And I regretted not telling you how I felt. So: I have." She turned to leave, but his hand kept her firm. "That didn't answer my question," He whispered. Kailua swallowed thickly. "Tsireya gets everything she wants. She has no mental boundaries stopping her from saying such things. No doubt she's already told you how she feels," Lo'ak frowned. "All she has told me is what I asked. In fact," He shifted from his left foot to his right foot. "She told me what you said. How you liked me, and how if I wanted you, I could have you,"

Kailua felt her eyes widen.

"But I want neither of you."

She blinked, unable to do anything but. "I do not want to pick my mate like this. I want my mate to choose me, and me to choose her. She is not a necklace or a knife to be picked." Kailua sniffed and rubbed her nose. "Fine. I want you. I do not want you to want Tsireya: I want you. I choose you," She met his eyes, holding his stare. "Does that make it better?" She whispered. Lo'ak gazed down into her eyes, being a few inches taller. He swallowed thickly. His eyes darted around her face from her eyes to her nose to her lips.

"It does," He whispered, placing a finger under her chin. "It really does," He pressed his lips to hers, making his decision loud and clear.

Kailua's heart flew high as she melted into the kiss.

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