Work Text:
Kinich waits. He has been waiting infront of the commission board for who knows how long now. He's not even sure she will come, he just knows shes doing a commission. This is so stupid. Who would just stand infront of a commission board for someone? What was the point? Shes his bestfriend, he can just meet her some other time. But today... today it could just be them. Ajaw is who knows where but hes probably not going to return until tomorrow, Kachina and everybody else is busy with their own things. So is Mualani, but she will be free any moment now.
***
Almost another hour has passed now. He really has no reason to wait He just wants to. Like someone is going to reward him for this. Then, finally he heard her voice from afar. The same cheerful voice as always getting closer and closer.
"Kinich!!"
Before Kinich could even move his arm to wave, Mualani already had him in her embrace.
"What are you doing here?!! Were you waiting for me? Hehe i knew you were"
Kinich looked away and sighed
"No. I was just looking to see if there are any commissions"
For hours. Like someone checking the fridge every 5 minutes expecting new food to appear at some point? Yeah right.
"Well are you going to do any of these?"
Mualani walked over to the commission board and looked through it. "need 5 carrots", "need 2 flower seeds", "need 3 apples"... None of these seemed like a commission Kinich would take.
"...no."
Mualani turned around, excited.
"Hehe then that means you're free right?!"
"Yes." Stiff.
Mualani jumped like she just won a medal.
"Woo!! I have a really cool place to show you!!!"
"..."
"So..?"
"...yes"
Mualani immediately pointed towards east
"There! Last one there buys dinner tonight"
Kinich stared at Mualani's back which was already getting farther away. He ran towards her as she jumped down, she was fine, as always. But it still scared him. As he followed her he couldn't stop thinking about how awkward he was just now. Why does he always do this? Getting stiff whenever she looks at him, averting his gaze, trying to not sound too desperate. It's just Mualani! They're friends, its normal for her to want to show him a cool place she found! Who wouldn't want to show their friend a cool place they found! Right? This means nothing... and they almost always have dinner together! Though this is the first time it'd be just them. Hopefully. Wait what not hopefully, that sounds terrifying wait no why does that sound terrifying it isnt supposed to be they're just hanging out ah whatever! Focus on the path!
***
They were almost there. The entire time Kinich was worried Mualani might run straight into a tree or something with how fast and careless she is being. Ofcourse thats the only reason Kinich kept himself close to Mualani and took note of how her hair sways in the wind, her proud smile as she surfs across giant bodies of water, how pretty her eyes look under the light, how she looks at things she likes... and so much more.
"We're here!" Mualani exclaimed
They stopped infront of a cave. This was... so far away. It only took around 40 minutes because of their speed but this was a very far away place.
"I came across this cave while doing the commission. Don't worry i cleared all the monsters beforehand"
"..i see"
"Cmon lets go in!" Mualani ran inside
***
The cave is surprisingly big. Huge, even. Mualani showed Kinich atleast 6 places in this one cave so far that were all so different it felt like they were walking in and out of different worlds. It was beautiful. But apparently the last place was better than all of these? What could possibly top any of these. Well, it wouldn't matter if it wasnt better than any of these. Infact he'd be fine with it if the place suddenly disappeared as long as he could spend more time with Mualani trying to find it. He doesn't remember when he started liking her, he just knows he loves her now and she means a lot to him. Kinich still remembers the day they first met, instead of being scared of him or pitying him, she invited him over to try the hot springs and gave him a tour around the people of springs. Even though he didn't need the tour, even if he could've just said no, he didn't. This was the first time someone approached him like a friend than a commissioner. Is it a mistake to love her over something so small? Hes not sure.
He just knows shes closer to him compared to the others. In a beautiful place, alone with mualani, this would be an ideal time to confess to her. But he's scared. Just thinking about it makes him anxious.
"oh! I think i see it!" Mualani ran towards the small passage and waved at Kinich to come
"It's here!!"
Kinich caught a glimpse of what's on the other side, it's colorful. And there's... a sky?!
"Is that..?"
"I know right?! Its so cool! I don't really understand how a cave can have this kind of place but i was lucky enough to find it."
Kinich followed Mualani in. He couldn't believe his eyes. It was-
suddenly Mualani grabbed his hand, and dragged him to a nearby mountain
"Lets go on top of there! We can see the view better."
"Huh. Oh! Yeah!" Flustered.
As they climbed the mountain, Kinich kept thinking about it, about how this is a perfect chance to confess. But should he? When else will he get a chance to be alone with Mualani? What if Mualani rejects him? He should just wait instead. No, what if shes waiting for him too? Then what? Ah! Stop thinking about this. Focus on climbing... ah, he already got to the top. He looked down and saw Mualani still climbing. He used his skill to help Mualani up.
"Woo!" Mualani flew into the air and fell into Kinich's arms.
"Thanks dude!"
"Welcome." As calm as he sounds, hes shaking inside. He didn't mean to do that, he just wanted to pull her up.
Mualani got out of his arms and dashed towards the cliff. Kinich followed, as usual.
Mualani and Kinich stood side by side, looking over the view that shouldn't be possible, enjoying the wind from who knows where, listening to the sounds of animals never seen before. They should probably be cautious, but nothing seemed like it wanted to harm them.
They stood there for a bit more, Mualani started taking pictures and Kinich unknowingly became the kameraman at some point. In a way they basically did nothing but look at places, but this was probably the most fun Kinich ever had. In a place that only Mualani and He knew...
"We should invite the others later too!" Mualani said, while looking through the pictures they took.
"Huh? Oh. Yeah, we should." Kinich was a fool to think Mualani wouldn't tell the others. They're all friends, so is Kinich, He just happened to be the first person she found.
***
They walked, ran, surfed, and swung around the place for hours. it was never-ending, it seemed to actually be like an entirely different world.
Finally, returned back to the same cliff they were on before.
Once again, they stood side by side but Kinich was a step behind her. Kinich felt like he needed to tell her now. There's no way he will get another chance like this. But he didn't have the courage, he didn't know how to tell her. Just thinking about rejection scared him more than death ever did. He has been in wars and many other life or death situations but in the face of death it was like fear was never something he had in him. But loving someone, confessing, and them rejecting you, it scared him. Scared him so much he probably wouldn't know what to do with himself after, infact, he'd probably stay in his house for days hiding under his covers.
But he had to confess today. Its like this day was made for it.
"Mualani... i-"
"Hm?" Mualani, that seemed to be dazed just a moment ago faced kinich and tilted her head.
"I.."
"Yeah?"
He had to face it one day. He had to face this fear one day, he'll lose this opportunity without even trying. Even if he gets rejected now, he needs to atleast make eye contact. He slowly found the courage to turn his head towards her and looked directly in her eyes.
"I... love you"
"Love you too dude! Didn't know you'd like this place that much though."
"No. I- ah thats not what i mean."
He saw her smile fade, her eyes got wider. It felt like time got slower just now.
"Oh!"
"I'm- i always have."
"..."
He didn't know what else to say now, he did before, but now that he sees her reaction he already knows there's no point.
How long was she silent for? He can't tell. Why is he even waiting for an answer he already knows? He can just leave. Maybe he wants to be wrong.
"...I'm sorry." He wasn't wrong.
"I never really saw you in that way. You're a great guy don't get me wrong! It's just-"
"No, I'm sorry." His throat is starting to hurt. His vision might get blurry any second now. He has to leave, now. He just ruined everything.
"Wait!"
Now for the first time, Mualani stared at Kinich's back as it got further away. By the time she could process what actually happened he was already gone.
***
He's out of the cave. The only place he wants to go to right now is his home. His heart is beating faster than usual and hes not sure if he will make it back in time. He can still see fine. His vision isn't blurry, hes fine.
Why did he do that? Just because it seemed like a good time? He knew she never looked at him the same way she looked at the things she liked.
She looked at him how she looked at any other person, She treated him the same as any other person, they just happened to be together most of the time. He just ruined the first friendship he had. Just because of some stupid feelings? If he never said anything they would've still been friends by now. He's a fool, an idiot who doesn't deserve love anyway. All he did now was make things awkward between them. How is he ever going to face her now? Will she even want to see his face anymore? He's so pathetic. He didn't even listen to what she had to say before he left, he couldn't stay any longer. He just wants to go home. He's so childish. The only thing he had was hope, for what? Nothing she did hinted at anything. It was just him, they had known eachother for over a decade now and she never once treated him differently, wasn't it obvious from the beginning? What did he expect? Mualani surprisingly loving him back when nothing ever hinted at it? His vision is getting blurry, his house isnt far, only 10 minutes away.
***
He managed to get in his house, people waved at him and called him over along the way but he ignored them all, he doesn't want anyone to see him in this pathetic state, especially not when he's considered some kind of hero. He walked over to the door to his room, he doesn't have any energy left, he's tired, he'll just sleep it all away. He went inside his room and got into his bed. His stomach grumbled, if he didn't ruin it all, they could've atleast had dinner. He didn't eat the whole day, he forgot to. Or no, he didn't eat because he wanted to eat with Mualani. He finally hid under the covers. Nobody was there, He was hiding from no one. One foolish thing after another. Kinich finally gave in, he let his vision blur. When was the last time he did this? He doesn't remember. It doesn't matter anyway, nothing does anymore.