Coin Flip - Lo'ak

15:

His breaths got heavier by the second.

I didn't know what to expect, I mean his face was contorted into a look of disgust and rage and yet his hold on my wrists were anything but delicate. He was barely pinning me down, I could easily escape if I wanted to - but, did I want to?

His eyes were scanning my own, possibly trying to piece together his bustling mind.

Inattentively, my back rose slightly away from the ground, creating some space between myself and whatever I was laying on, resulting in our chests lightly pressing against one another - light like a feather landing from being dropped. Only when we breathed - our lungs filling with air - could we get a sense from the other's body heat, a reminder that we were close. Too close.

And while this was a weird predicament I was in - especially with Lo'ak - I couldn't help but feel something in the pit of my stomach. Something fluttering inside.

And no, this wasn't the bubbly feeling I had when with Neteyam, this was something more wild, something that I knew couldn't be kept tamed. It was a feeling that was barely there but if I focused on it, I could definitely feel it's presence.

Continually scanning his face, I wondered what made him so mad. It was quite funny seeing him so distraught with whatever thoughts were circling his mind. I couldn't help my slight smile at seeing him slightly frustrated.

Lo'ak hissed again, this time squeezing my wrists tightly, showing me this was no laughing matter. He wanted to be taken seriously.

"Alright, what's your problem," I stated having enough of his attitude. I just woke from unconsciousness and he already found something I did wrong.

"You're my problem!" He gritted through his teeth.

"And what did I do this time, please enlighten me." Rolling my eyes from him beating around the bush.

"What didn't you do is the question." He angrily spat again.

"Look, if you have something to say, just say it. Otherwise, just let me go and get off." I retorted back getting slightly annoyed myself.

With another huff, Lo'ak forcefully got off of me. This was new; no arguing, no bickering. He just... did what I asked him to do. He let go of me.

Though I couldn't help my curiosity. What had gotten him so riled up? And more importantly, why didn't he give me his two cents?

Getting up myself, I twisted my garments back into place as they were slightly askew and simply stated that "a thank you would be nice."

His hands turned into fists and as he turned back to face me, he couldn't keep in his scoff.

"Thank you? You want me to thank you?" He breathed out harshly.

Alright, what happened when I was knocked out? When we were fighting for our lives in the ocean, we seemed to have this mutual understanding towards one another, I help him and he helps me. Together we fought against the animal, not me fighting against him, fighting against the akula. So what made him switch?

"Yes, that would be quite nice considering I went out all this way just for you." I simply stated my obvious heroic act.

He came closer but kept a few steps between us for distance.

"I never asked you for help." He sliced his hand through the air when stating "never."

"I didn't ask you to come out here." He stepped forward. "I never asked you to come and save me." He took another step.

"You were the one who needed saving after all." He was close enough to push his pointer finger to my chest in accusation.

Swatting his finger away, my composure transitioned from lightheartedness to defensiveness.