The Guardian of Alola

Chapter 14: To Protect Them

Lillie clasped her hands together, watching them tremble on her lap. Her heart thrummed painfully against her chest and she could no longer count how many times she has been told to take deep breaths. How she managed to get a few hours of sleep last night was beyond her. She appreciates her friends' effort to soothe her, but with every minute that ticked by, it felt like she was trudging back in the Ultra Deep Sea, approaching the hybrid monstrosity that was her mother. As its name suggests, it is supposed to be a sea, but the lack of water contradicts what knowledge she has on Earth's seas. There is no water, but she felt like she was drowning....

"Hey there, girlfriend." Lillie was jarred out of the memory and she looked up to see Hau smiling at her. The Champion sneaked out of the spectators' area and into the participants' lobby where Lillie was waiting for Sophocles and Mina's match to end. She was grateful that her opponent was not in the same room as her, but it did not calm her nerves as she hoped. She insisted the others to go watch the first match, not wanting to make Sophocles and Mina feel bad, even though they were pretty much against it. In the end, they relented at her request and promised to cheer their best for her later.

Hau sat down beside her on the bench and took her hand. Lillie watched him placed the treat he loved so much on her open palm. "Here," He said. "You should not go to battle hungry."

Lillie blinked at the malasada and slowly, a small smile broke out of her face. She cradled the food with both hands. "Thanks, Hau." She took a bite and let the sweet flavor of the malasada spread on her taste buds at the first bite. Slowly, the tension on her shoulders eased away and Hau joined her as he brought out the rest from the paper bag.

"You know?" Hau swallowed his food and wore the familiar grin that Lillie knows and loves of him. "I once brought Glads a bag of malasada. Did you know what he said?" He stood up and covered a part of his face with one hand in an effort to imitate the older Aether sibling. "'I don't like malasadas'. That's what he said! Can you believe it? He said that to me when I saw Moon bringing him some one time and he did not even share!"

"I'm pretty sure Big Brother has his reasons."

"Reasons, yeah!" He placed his hands on his hips. "I'm sure he just acting out of favoritism. Like, you know, he likes somebody. Really, really likes somebody! I bet he never said no to Moon...well, maybe he did but that was before he realized his own feelings. Point is, he's in denial! Like, really bad!"

Lillie giggled. "He is, isn't?" There was the sparkle in Lillie's eyes that Hau loves. "He often turns down desserts but if it was Moon's work, he would share to no one."

Hau nodded vigorously in agreement. "He should work out on being subtle about it." They shared a knowing look and broke out into laughter. Positive that he has accomplished his mission, he engulfed her in a bear hug. "There's my girl! See? Told you should not go to battle hungry. Or in fixing your brother's terrible love life!"

Lillie laughed and returned his hug, albeit weaker. She rested her head on his shoulder and whispered. "Thank you, Hau."

"Anything for my awesome girlfriend."

They stayed like that for a few moments, relishing the warmth of each other, before the double doors creaked open and a familiar voice spoke up. "I just left you for ten minutes and this is what I see when I get back."

The couple turned to see Gladion walking toward them with a scowl on his face. He was carrying three cans of Pinap juice he must have bought from a vending machine down the hallway. Hau greeted him with a cheerful, Hey, Glads!, which the older boy returned with a huff. Gladion handed one Pinap juice to Lillie who thanked him and tossed another to Hau. The Champion caught it with a loud WHOOP!.