breathless. I knew he was beautiful, but in the past few weeks I'd made myself forget just how much. Now as I saw him again, the same old feelings of desire took hold. But it wasn't lust I felt. It was love. As he looked up at me, I saw the kindness and warmth in Varun's eyes – as calm and cool as the placid lakes of my old hometown. He was looking at me with pure adoration. He raised an eyebrow in surprise as I approached – after all, hadn't I been avoiding him for weeks? - but looked happy to see me, his lips spreading across his face into a gentle smile.
“Long time no see, stranger,” he said. He took a step towards me and for a moment I thought he wanted to hug me, but Varun held back. I could see his muscles tensing from the effort. Instead, he softly brushed a single strand of hair out of my face, pushing it back against my forehead. I looked up at Varun, stunned. I had forgotten how sweet he could be, how gentle and unexpected. It was the first reassuring touch I had received since my mother had gotten sick. My breath seemed to stop in my chest.
“Varun,” I whispered, “I have to ask you something.”
“Anything, Mac. Just ask.”
“It's about my mother...” I could feel my lips trembling; I ached from the struggle not to cry. “She's sick, Varun.”
“I know.” His voice was soft as he stroked my hair. “I heard. Mac, I'm so sorry.” He gathered me to his chest at last, holding me so tight that I felt as if I would burst. His fingers caressed my chin; he pressed his lips against my forehead in a chaste, kind kiss. “She'll be okay, Mac, I know it. She's a strong lady.” I let my head rest against his chest. I wanted to believe his words. I wanted to believe his firm, strong voice that made me feel so safe.
“I missed this,” sighed Varun.
“Missed what?” I looked up into his blazing blue eyes.
“Being here. With you. Just holding you like this. No pressure. Just...together.”
“Varun...” I tried to steer the conversation in another direction, but I couldn't. Feeling Varun against me was like feeling warm waves wash over me – calm, reassuring, beautiful. He made me feel so safe, so soothed. If Chance's touch set me on fire, then Varun's calmed me down again. I couldn't resist it. All my fears and worries seemed to wash away with the tide. I trusted him. I trusted him to do the right thing.
“Varun,” I continued. “I need your help. The second stone. The sapphire. It heals, doesn't it?”
Varun nodded his head. “That's what they say.”
“I need to get it. For my mother.”
He looked grave. “I'll do whatever it takes,” he said. “I'll do what I can to help you.”
“But I know what Chance said – about going into water. About letting Water take hold of me. How dangerous it is. Can you help me without my having to take on those qualities?”
Varun almost looked hurt – he frowned. “I can try,” he said at last. “You don't have to be afraid of your destiny, Mac, whatever it is. Fire or water. But this stone, it's in the deepest, darkest reaches of the ocean, and unless you can survive in water – unless you have water qualities – you'll never get to it. Only the strongest water creatures can get down there; I can't get you there safely unless you use the abilities that I know are there inside. Water abilities.” He sighed. “You can trust me, Mac. I said I wanted to prove my love to you and I will. You don't have anything to fear from me, Mac. You can trust me, one hundred percent.”
“Varun,” I started, “I have to find those stones – one way or the other. You're the Water God. Can't you figure out a way to get me down there without my changing?”
“I have – and if you knew what the other option was, you'd rather get water qualities.”
“What are you talking about?” I looked up at him, perplexed.
“We'd have to become one,” Varun said quickly, his ears turning pink as he looked down.
“We'd have to what?”
“Become one. Fuse together – my powers covering you like a second skin. A sort of temporary way of getting you water powers – but not permanently. But it's intense, Mac. And...more than a little...physical.”
I didn't have time to