It was, by all asurable trics, a wonderful morning in Tropica. The sun was bright and warm, banishing the night’s chill. A soft breeze blew, giving the air a fresh quality. I just had so sort of awakening, and as a result, I was more aware than ever of the world around . I had just told the most beautiful woman I’d ever known that I loved her. She had said it back.
That said woman’s father was currently bobbing and weaving toward —hands raised and ready to hit with the old left-right-goodnight—really dampened the mood, though.
“I’m sorry,” I said, wincing at Maria. “I really ssed this mont up.”
“Get back!” Roger yelled, though if it was at or his daughter, I wasn’t sure.
“Roger, stop!” Sharon tried.
I help up my hands placatingly.
“Whoa, mate. We can talk about this. It’s a misunder—” I cut off as I ducked a jab. “Standing! It’s a misunderstanding!”
“I knew there was sothing off with you,” he growled, then spared a glance for Maria. “What are you doing? Run!”
He jabbed again. I dodged to the side, but there had been no need. Sharon caught his arm at the wrist. He glared at her and tried to yank his hand back, but it didn’t budge. What color remained in his face fled.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, dear,” she said, a mountain of regret in her eyes. “I was waiting for the right ti.”
“You…” he said, his voice flat.
Sharon’s eyes darted to Maria reflexively. She imdiately returned them to Roger, but it was too late—he’d seen it.
“Maria?” he asked, voice still lacking any inflection.
She grimaced, then hopped to the side. To , it was a casual movent. To Roger, she may as well have teleported.
“N-no,” he muttered, his legs wobbling.
Sharon caught him and lowered him to the step.
“It’s not what you think, dear. You’ll understand when I explain.”
His eyes went distant.
“How did this happen...? My family...”
She tapped him on the forehead hard enough to get his attention.
“Are still your family. Don’t go saying anything foolish you can’t take back.”
He rubbed the red mark forming above his eyes, his gaze clearing for just a mont. Sharon pounced.
“I can explain it all, Roger.” She grabbed his head, forcing his eyes to et hers. “Please. You’ll agree with my actions if you’ll just listen to what I have to say.”
I felt the need to jump in, to say sothing that would help, but what was there to say? It would eventually be revealed that I was the catalyst for all this change, and that would hardly make him inclined to trust . This was a job for Sharon.
“Let’s go for a walk, Maria.”
“No!” Roger yelled, coming back to himself and darting to his feet. “You can’t!”
“Dad…” She gave him a forced smile, and the look in her eye broke my heart. “I’m a cultivator too. If you’re terrified of Fischer, you may as well be terrified of .”
He opened his mouth to respond, looked to his wife for support, then seed to rember she was also awakened. His face fell, and Sharon pulled him into a hug.
“I know, dear. I’m so, so sorry.”
That was all I heard, because Maria had grabbed my hand. We walked away and around the corner of their ho. The mont we were between two tall rows of cane, she collapsed in the sand, all surety leaving her. I lay a hand on her shoulder.
“I’m… Damn. I don’t have the words. I’m sorry, Maria. That must have been hard.”
She let out a steadying breath.
“It’s okay. He reacted worse than I thought he would, but he’ll co around.”
I sat down beside her.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
She cocked her head to the side as she stared into the crops, then she spun on with a mischievous smile.
“You love .”
“I do,” I laughed, leaning over to kiss the top of her head. “And you love too, apparently. If you can be trusted, I an.”
I shot her a wink, and she smiled back at my attempted joke, but it was a fragile thing. She pulled away and picked up a stray leaf from the ground, then started winding it around a finger.
“Are you sure? That you love , I an.”
I didn’t need to think about it.
“I am.”
She focused on the leaf, unwinding it only to wrap it around her finger again. “Part of thought you weren’t interested anymore. I thought that maybe you just wanted to be friends.”
“I’m sorry.” I spun so I was facing her, but kept the gap between us, giving her the agency to close the distance if she wanted. “Are you in a place to hear about what was going through my mind, or do you want to leave it for another day?”
She chewed her cheek, still focused on the leaf.
“I want to know. It’ll be a good distraction.”
I nodded, and having already exposed my soul to Barry and Theo today, the words flowed freely. I told her everything. Of my fear of being hurt, of my desire to protect her, and of the revelation that it was mainly the forr giving pause. At so point during the retelling, her hand drifted over to mine. Her tiny fingers intertwined with mine, keeping the words rushing forth.
I spoke of the awakening I’d had, explaining that being true to myself and what truly motivated had been the catalyst for the transformation.
“You were the blast?” she asked, her voice more than a little amused. “I honestly should have known. Of course it was you.”
“Yeah, your dad was right. I’m a kinda dangerous guy to be around.” I wiggled my eyebrows. “So ladies are into that, you know.”
She scoffed and rolled her eyes.
“Maybe not ladies that you confess your feelings for, then pull away from for the next month.”
I pulled my hand back, and my face must have shown the impact her words had, because she winced.
“Sorry. That ca out worse than I ant.”
“You don’t have to apologize. You’re right.” I took a steadying breath, looking at the sky as a silence stretched between us. “I’d understand if you needed so ti to think about everything.”
Her face scrunched in thought, and she stared into the stalks of sugarcane before us. Her gaze drifted to mine.
“No, it’s fine.”
Her eyes betrayed her.
“You’re a terrible liar,” I said, giving her a sad smile.
She flushed and stared off into the crops again, and I swallowed.
“You can tell if you’re feeling up to it, or we can speak about it another ti. I don’t want half-truths and white lies to form the basis of... our relationship.”
Saying the last bit made butterflies take flight in my stomach. Maria’s face grew even redder, and I couldn’t miss the smile she was trying to keep from reaching her mouth. She bit her lip, schooling her expression.
“The way you were over the last few weeks... it was... confusing. I’ve never been a self-conscious person. Ever. But the way you were so loving and kind, then would just... back off, or misdirect my affection with a joke. It made feel crazy. It made so unsure of myself. Half the ti I told myself I was imagining it, and the other half I was convinced you just didn’t want anymore.”
The butterflies in my stomach died. I knew my actions would have been confusing, but to hear the impact it had on the woman I supposedly loved... it was like the ground fell out beneath , and more than anything, I wanted to make it all better. I felt the need to scoop her up, to tell her it was all going to be okay... but that was selfish. It was what I wanted, what would make feel better. So instead, I spoke.
“I’m sorry, Maria. I didn’t do it intentionally, and I wish I could take it all back. I didn’t have bad intentions...” I shook my head as I trailed off. “No. That’s a cop out. It doesn’t matter what I intended. I’m sorry, and I’ll do whatever I can to make it up to you.”
I fought the urge to reach over and take her hand. When hers ca over to intertwine with mine, my heart thumped.
“I won’t lie and say it didn’t hurt, Fischer, but you’re being too hard on yourself.” She turned, her jaw firm as she looked over. “I know how you can make it up to .”
“How?”
“Don’t do it again, you handso idiot.” She smiled, and this ti, it wasn’t forced. “Love .”
I laughed, and so did she. We both leaned forward, eting each other atop the sandy soil. Her arms went around my abdon, so I held tight to her upper back, one hand resting on her head and stroking her silken hair. Her floral scent drifted up to et , making my heart thunder even harder.
“You were up to the part where you detonated like a fernted cask left in the sun,” she said, still holding . “What happened next?”
Smiling at the lack of tension between us, I voiced the rest. I told her of waking up at the bottom of a churning pool. Of my definitely graceful and not at all embarrassing exit—in which I landed on my feet and looked super cool. And of my heightened awareness that ca as a result. All the while, I kept stroking her head, willing the grief I’d caused her to wash away.
When I told her about the transformation the crater had undergone, she pulled back, and her gaze shot up to et mine.
“You made another thing? And it was easier this ti?”
“Yeah... why?”
“Can we go?”
“To see it?” I asked, entranced by the sparkle in her eyes.
“Yeah!”
“It would be my pleasure.”
We untangled our limbs, and I stood and offered my hand. She grasped it, and as I pulled her to her feet, she kept coming. She wrapped her arms around my neck as mine went around her waist. Standing on her tiptoes, her lips t mine. They were warm and soft—gods, they were soft—and as so often happened when it ca to Maria, I got completely lost in the mont, intoxicated by her.
“Fischer!” a voice bood, entirely too loud to co from a non-cultivator.
“Keep your voice down!” Another hissed, barely audible over the wind rustling sugarcane leaves.
I tsked.
“Damn. He found .”
Maria pulled back, cocking her head to the side.
“Is that who I think it is?”
“Afraid so.” I raised my chest and cupped a hand to my mouth. “Over here, Ellis.”
If a regular human had been present, they would have seen a crazed, muscular man appear from nowhere, a swath of sugarcane obliterated in his wake. Plant fibers and sugary liquid sprayed and Maria. I wiped my eyes, giving Ellis a flat stare.
“You right, mate?”
“Tell ,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “Before the mory fades.” He leaned in, his entire body shaking as he reached for his notepad. “I must know—“
He cut off as Maria grabbed his ear and reefed it to the side.
“What do you think you’re doing, Ellis?” Maria demanded, glaring at him like he was a petulant child.
I raised an eyebrow but kept my mouth shut—there was no way I was going to intervene.
“I... I did not…“ he stamred, blinking at her expression. “I am... sorry?”
“You’re damned right you’re sorry.” She let go of his ear and flicked his between the eyes, the blow making his head dart backward. “You just obliterated a quarter of one of our crops, you goose. This is a farming village, Ellis. Show more care with your body.”
I leaned to the side, locking eyes with Barry as he strode through the corridor Ellis had made. He gave an oh, shit, look, and I nodded, trying to hide my smirk.
“I’m—er—I am truly sorry, Maria. It was just... Fischer, he...” He looked to for help, and I just shook my head. “S-sothing happened, you see, and I wanted to get a recounting from Fischer while he was still...”
“Still what, Ellis? Fischer is a cultivator.” She gestured at emphatically. “He’s been a cultivator longer than any of us, and I can’t forget things even if I try. Can you?”
“Well, no, but -”
“No buts, mister!”
“Yeah, Ellis—no butts.”
I grinned, but swiftly raised a hand and examined the plant fiber there when Maria’s head spun to look at .
“And,” Maria continued, “you absolutely covered us in sugarcane. Look at us!”
She spread her arms, and Ellis noticed our appearance for the first ti. He looked genuinely remorseful.
“I apologize.”
She patted him on the shoulder.
“Good. Now, Fischer and I are going to look at the pool.” She glanced down at herself. “And probably go for a swim to wash this off.” Ellis opened his mouth, probably to apologize again, but she cut him off. “You’re welco to ask him questions as we travel, but after we get there, he’s mine for the rest of the day. Do you understand?”
She glanced at too, daring to say otherwise. I held up my hands in defeat.
“Yes, Maria,” Ellis said, lowering his head. “Sorry again.”
Maria checked on her parents as she retrieved a pair of swimrs.
“He’s still in shock, but he’ll be fine,” she said when she rejoined us outside.
I answered every question Ellis had as we walked, doing my best to communicate that which was impossible to convey with words. When we reached the pool, the sight filled with joy. Half of the church’s mbers were swimming in it, and Paul’s shrill laughter was an absolute delight as he sat atop Duncan’s shoulders in the shallows. Helen was on Barry’s shoulders, and Paul was doing his best to push his mother over. When Helen threw herself backward, giving her son the win, Paul threw a fist high.
“Yes!” he roared.
“Whoa, Paul!” I called. “You’re even stronger than the last ti I saw you!”
“Fischer! Do you want to wrestle...” he trailed off, squinting at . “Why are you and Maria green?”
I glanced down at the plant matter covering both of us. We looked ridiculous.
“Had a bit of a mishap, but it’s nothing a little ocean pool can’t wash away!” I turned to Ellis. “Sorry, mate. I’ll co find you tomorrow and answer any other questions you have, yeah?”
He nodded, clearly unhappy but not willing to go against Maria’s orders. I took my shirt off and held a hand out to Maria, who was already dressed in her swimrs and ready to go.
“Shall we?”
She squeezed my hand, then pushed my chest with all the strength she had.
“W-whoa!” I hadn’t been expecting it, and I fell down to the sand.
The smile on her face as she sprinted for the pool’s edge was brighter than the sun, and she disappeared from sight. I chased after her, leaping high into the air.
“Cannonball!” The last thing I saw before descending into the pool was the look of shock on Paul’s face as he fell backward, losing his balance in an attempt to escape the water I was about to spray everywhere.
We spent much of the morning swimming and playing. At Paul’s behest, we engaged in a shoulder wars tournant. Given the strength our bodies held, it was more akin to scripted wrestling than an actual tournant, but we all did our best to perform for Paul. He and Duncan were the official winners, but I like to think that Maria and I ‘lost’ with the most spectacular moves. My animal pals remained hidden, but I caught glimpses of them in the deep end when I went underwater. Corporal Claws ca in a few tis to tickle , too, but after the third ti, I’d caught her and tickled her with a vengeance. She hadn’t tried again.
When the sun started to reach its zenith in the sky, everyone got out and headed to their respective hos for lunch. Maria and I smiled at each other as we headed to my house.
“Duncan is really good with kids,” she said, squeezing water from her hair. “I can’t believe how much Paul latched onto him.”
“I was thinking the sa thing. I guess it makes sense, though. He’s a bit of a goof—in a good way.”
“I haven’t really seen that side of him before. I always just saw him as the quiet apprentice.”
“Quiet?” I laughed. “I think that’s the last word I’d use to describe him.”
We slipped into a comfortable silence, and when we reached the house, I opened the door for Maria.
“I’ll go get us so towels—I hung them out to dry.”
“Okay! I’ll be here.”
I made my way around the side, heading for the clothesline I’d strung up on the back patio. My body felt light, and my heart raced as the mory of Maria kissing earlier ca to mind. I hadn’t truly acknowledged how much the tension between us had been weighing down. Now that it was gone, I felt light. Like I could breathe properly for the first ti in weeks. The contented smile never left my face as I grabbed two towels and headed back inside.
I could hear the shower running, so I made my way to the guest bathroom, but stopped short. The sound was coming from my room. I swallowed, walking on numb legs as I followed the sound. The door to the ensuite was left cracked open, and steam flowed from the gap. With great effort, I averted my eyes, watching the door as I strode around my bed. When I reached it, I extended a hand, then paused. Did she want to co in...? Was the open door an invitation? I rubbed my face, trying to clear my thoughts.
The door flew open, and I looked up, seeing only a wall of steam. It slowly dissipated, and all I could make out through the steam was Maria’s face. She was blushing furiously and looking down as she swept a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
I swallowed. “Did you want to… oh...”
The steam cleared, and all I could do was stare as she reached up to her shoulder. Her fingers carefully plucked at a strap, sliding it down her arm. She reached up to the other side, and when the strap there was free of her shoulder, her garnt fell to the floor. The sight that greeted hit my reset button.
“You... wow.” I shook my head, my brain still recovering. “... Wow.”
Her eyes rose to et mine, and I tore my gaze from her body.
“What are you waiting for?” she asked, her face red and lips parted as she lifted her chin.
For three thunderous beats of my heart, I stood completely still. Then, I stepped inside. The steam engulfed , warming my skin and hitting the back of my throat with each heaving breath I took. When our bodies t, it was like two stars colliding. The impact swept every other thought away, leaving only her.
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