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 Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 4:40 pm
 Halili was feeling a little odd. It wasn't just that she was finally old enough to be on her own, or that her parents encouraged their children to remain in the family den until they were ready, or that she hadn't yet picked out a den among the low class. It was who she'd be living in that future den with. Right now it looked like nobody, but that wasn't what the lioness wanted. But she had no idea if the lion in mind would be interested. He'd been an adult since before she was born, and she was desperately afraid that, despite all the time they'd spent together, he'd see her as no more than the child he'd met initially.
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Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 10:07 pm
Since the awkward visit with his mother and the twins with Halili, Orion had been feeling even more self-conscious than normal. Considering he was already an insecure fellow, he seemed downright twitchy now, depending on the company. He managed to hide it best with Halili, surprisingly, but she was always so innocent and oblivious seeming.. and he was always so happy hanging out with her. And all of that, from his insecurity to her innocence, was his rationale for not telling her how he felt.
Ever.
He had decided not to participate in any hunts today, taking advantage of his class to spare himself any normal responsibilities. He just didn't feel like hunting but he was starting to feel guilty for getting out of it like that. His guilt prevented him from really going anywhere or doing anything, so he was hanging around his own den, wasting his day.
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Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 10:12 pm
Luck was with her since Orion was in his den. (And oh how grownup he was, with a den all to himself!) The lioness sternly told herself to calm down. It was the same old Orion that she hung out with almost every day. Nothing had changed. With him, at least.
The brown lioness frowned at herself, realizing that she was putting off going off to talk to him. Hmph. Pathetic! She could do this, and she would!
Swallowing hard, the young adult came up to the den's entrance.
"Orion?"
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Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 10:18 pm
Drawing idle lines in the dirt, nearly dozing off from the boredom but kept awake by his anxiety, he was glad when he heard someone call his name-- though as soon as he realized who it was, he was sure that had something to do with it. He was on his feet quickly, emerging from his den.
"Halili," he greeted her, "How are you doing today?"
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Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 10:22 pm
"I'm good, what about you?" Oh Great Lion was this starting out awkward already! They didn't normally do small talk between the two of them - they didn't usually say much even. But Halili was too nervous to do anything else.
She took a few steps closer to the den, coming nearly close enough to touch. The lioness wasn't sure how to handle the situation, what she should or shouldn't do...what to say. Or how to say it.
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Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 10:26 pm
Orion smiled. He didn't seem to mind the smalltalk or notice how odd it was, he could be good at it when he wanted to be. He tried not to react too much to the fact that she kept coming closer, though he hesitated a little too long before stepping back to give her more room.
"Same, I guess," he said, smiling sheepishly thinking about how he was skipping work to hang out and do nothing around the den but deciding it was best not to confess that straight off. The guilt was written all over his face, though.
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Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 10:29 pm
She stepped forward. He stepped back. Halili tried not to be too frustrated. It was something he'd done more and more as she grew from a juvenile to an adolescent and was now an adult. She hoped that didn't mean he didn't like her.
The lioness took another couple steps forward, entering the den. "Actually, to be honest, I could be better," she admitted sheepishly. Maybe if she came at this from an angle he'd be...less likely to shy off? Orion was a wonderful lion, but she'd noticed, or rather, come to understand, that he could be incredibly shy and awkward.
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Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 10:34 pm
It took him another couple steps back to realize she was backing him into the den, which confused him- but it didn't seem like she was keen on putting more distance between them, this was definitely less. A little closer than conversational distance.
Maybe he had fallen asleep.
"What's wrong?" he asked, suddenly perking up curiously.
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Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 10:40 pm
"Well, nothing's wrong," the lioness admitted, scrupulously honest. "Things could just be...better." Oh darn, how to say this properly? She'd managed to close the distance between them somewhat, but he looked as nervy as she felt.
"I'd like it a whole lot better if my best friend...was willing to be more than just my friend." Halili looked down nervously, pale fur clearly showing her blush. Had she been too forward? Or had she been unclear? Hopefully he wouldn't just reject her out of hand!
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Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 10:56 pm
OK, so she had him there. Nothing had to be wrong for there to be room for improvement .. he supposed, anyway. He was still recovering from the assumption when she moved swiftly on to her point and he almost missed it. For a second he looked confused and immediately after he was fighting back a stammer.
She had to be talking about him, why else would she be cornering him like this and looking so nervous and embarrassed? Wouldn't he know if there was someone else she considered a best friend? He was suddenly more confident he had fallen asleep, he had to be dreaming.
"W-what?" was all he could manage to spit out.
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Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 11:01 pm
Curses, she must not have been as straightforward as she'd hoped. Not if he was still confused as to what she meant. Or maybe...maybe he was playing dumb? Maybe he thought he was too old for her? It could never be true, but the lioness sincerely hoped that it was not the case.
"Orion...I...I love you. I think I always have," she went on, forcing the words out in a stream that rapidly became a river. "I mean, I can't think of any other reason why I would rather spend all of my time with you than anyone else in the whole pride. And you've always been so kind to me and I hoped that maybe you would feel the same, and we could find a nice den together and...and..." Halili trailed off, unable to think of anything else she could add. Lavender eyes gazed steadily at the black lion, though they were on the verge of tears.
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Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 11:09 pm
He felt strangely blindsided by her confession, it seemed so unlikely- wasn't that why he had kept his own feelings to himself? She had been so happily oblivious to why his mother looked at them strangely- perhaps even the strange looks entirely. She certainly didn't seem to pick up on any of his added awkwardness the older she got and the closer they became. Halili kept talking, confessing, and when she stopped so looked so shaken there was only one response Orion had.
He stepped closer to her this time, closing the gap between them and nuzzling against her in a much bolder move than he'd ever have imagined possible for him. She needed- and deserved- a hug.
"I love you, too," he said.
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Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 11:13 pm
There was a gap between when she stopped and he did anything. But then he came up and hugged her and told her he loved her.
That did it. The lioness cried freely, burying her face in the black lion's neck. "Thank you," she whispered. "Oh, thank you." And thank the Great Lion as well. There was still so much to determine now, but it would all be just fine because she'd have Orion by her side for it.
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