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his breath halts, and his one wide eye stares at her, ensnared by fear and regret. i'm uh- he stammers, blinking rapidly as if that would undo what he had done. but before he could even blubber the words out, she bursts into laughter.

for a while, it is just her and her spritely laughter. akiak stares stupidly and shocked. and he waits, waits for when this laughter unveils anger and she lunges at him. but it never comes.
had he ever heard something so lovely?
hah. he tests. hah, hahah- hahahahh! but laughter spills and spills after a skip of the heart. and it was not his restrained chuckle like before. it fills out that stiff silence, that awkwardness between them if just for a moment. it is not her that he laughs at, but at his ridiculousness. their ridiculousness. while she had her face covered, he gave a glance at his reflection and this whole time he looked like an old geezer with his long white beard. it was if the ice cracked. it didn't break but that was fine.

i'm so sorry.. akiak musters anyways through his laughter. i, hah. i wasn't thinking. his voice weakens, and he looks back at the mountains around him. he thieves a quick glance at her before he turns back to the lake for his own catch.
she was beautiful. her smile would stop anyone with eyes in their tracks, and her voice anyone with ears.
but there's beauty in her anger too! even when he got the brunt of it. not that it made it any less lethal. but the fire in her eyes was just as charming and engulfing as the beauty in her smile — snort and all.

but even if he wanted her, loved her, he must never have her.
for he is son of cen.

with a lazy smile, ghelan returns to the bank. this time her wisdom in mind, and less pressure to provide for her. if he could not catch something, he would be fine skipping a meal.