Maya sat in the small sitting room in the back of the bus, behind the sleeping compartments. It was late: she could see street lights flashing by outside. She wanted to cry, she felt so ashamed... but she choked it back. A wonderful man had been paying attention to her... and what did she do? Nearly popped his adam's apple, and scared him off. Oh, well done, Rumplestiltskin...
"Rumple?" AJ knocked lightly on the door frame. "You ok?"
"Fine. Go away." She sniffed.
"I don't want to, I want you to feel ok."
"My feelings are not your responsibility... go get some sleep, Sir."
AJ walked and and plopped down beside her on the couch, looking at her with concern. "You want to throw something at me?" he said.
Maya laughed a little.
"I'm sorry I didn't just shut up up there, Rumple, I guess you just scared me."
"I'm sorry, AJ." whispered Maya. "I hate scaring people, unless I want them scared, of course. It... the knowledge that I have from my years of study is a great responsibility, and scaring other people is not a part of the process. I am upset with myself."
"Hey, all you knew is, you woke up and some guy's arms were around you. You acted on instincts, I guess that's understandable..."
"No excuse. Well, don't worry, it won't happen again. I'll stay out of your way."
"I don't WANT you to stay out of my way, Rumple. I want you very much in my way."
Maya looked up at him, pain and confusion in her face. "AJ, look at me."
"Uh huh... I like to do that..."
Maya flung a pillow at him "NO! Look at me. I'm plain and ugly and squat. My eyes are mud brown and I have a fat nose and big hips and a huge chip on my shoulder. This is not a lady you want to be interested in."
"Oh, Rumple... that's not what I see at all." AJ walked back to the bathroom and came back with a mirror. He sat down so he was behind Maya. "Look, Rumple..." Maya shook her head vehemently. "Look." He put his arms around her and held up the mirror.
Maya looked up and saw her face, runny and pink and puffy from crying, and his fine beautiful face behind hers.
"Those eyes aren't mud colored... they're the color of the sunshine glowing through an old coke bottle. That nose is not fat, it's cute. Those lips are big and full and gorgeous, and I'm really having trouble staying away from them. Those ears are works of art... Rumple-oysters, remember?" Maya laughed a bit. "See? And look at that smile... and that laugh like a brook. Your body is warm and lush and soft and powerful at the same time. Rumple, what I see in the mirror is not ugly at all... in fact, what I see in the mirror is entirely beautiful." AJ put the mirror down and turned Maya toward him. "And what I really want to do, Rumple, is kiss you, because I can't stand to stay away from that mouth." And leaning forward, he kissed her so sweetly, wiping away her tears as he did.
Maya felt her heart splinter and melt as she felt his lips on her own. She moved in and put her arms around his neck. "AJ..." she whispered.
"How do you say beautiful in Korean?" said AJ, running his hand down her back.
"Arum da un"
"Arum da un. That's you, Maya, Arum da un."
Maya began to cry on his shoulder. "Naw... just Rumple is good." she sniffled.
"OK, Rumple. Hey, Rumple...."
"Hm?"
"Wanna fool around?"
"I thought you'd never ask, chal saeng-gin..."
"Chal..."
"It means handsome, now kiss me." And he did.
~~~~
Allona felt like her heart was going to pop right out of her chest. It all happened so fast, she didn't even have a chance think about what was really happening before she responded. She managed to hesitantly kiss him back, momentarily letting her senses slip and savoring the taste and feel of his lips. Just as she was starting to loosen up, it was over.
"Goodnight for real this time Cherry," he winked, climbing over her and letting the length of his body brush against hers, enjoying the obviously flustered state he was leaving her in as he disappeared into back into his bunk below.
"Men," Allona groaned quietly as he retreated.
"I heard that," she heard from below her. "I get an extra 10 minutes
tomorrow for that one," he laughed, hearing her frustrated groan in
response. He thought about what had transpired so far, and smiled smuggly to
himself. This was fun. He heard shuffling above him, followed shortly
afterwards by the sound of quiet, even breathing and he knew she was asleep.
Well then, tomorrow is another day, he thought to himself with a satisfied
smile as he rested his head against the pillow, drifting off into a
dream-filled sleep.
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