Kaimana Curry and Paradise Wayne-Isley
Location: The Courtyard & Gardens; The Academy.
Interacting With: Each other, and Arthur Curry.
Kaimana stared at the gates to the Academy, trying not to get his hopes up at maybe finding a way to help Paradise. He knew it was selfish to put her through it… but he didn’t want to let her go… But at the very least, she could have some comfort with the Academy, no doubt there healers he hoped might be able to help could ease any suffering she had, either way.
So studying the gates, he didn’t know if he’d come to hate them, or not. He certainly didn’t want his hopes to be crushed… to lose her. He tried to focus on other aspects, like just how large the gates were. Did they expect giants or something? Could they leave freely through them, or when they closed were they stuck each day? He shook his head, deciding that that was thoughts he’d probably never consider even if he did get an answer.
He looked to Paradise, smiling ”You ready?”
The sight of the iron gates looming over them… it was daunting, and made her heart shake lightly within the confines of her chest. Her hand slipping out, Paradise sought to take a gentle hold of his hand, entwining their fingers as she tightened her grip over the handle of the blue and white ukulele case she held by her side, the strap of her guitar case crossed firmly over her body, keeping it rested upon her back. This was it… they were finally here…
Nerves spreading throughout her body, she stepped close to him, the sound of a loud bang sounding out from somewhere beyond the gates causing her to flinch slightly, sending her heart soaring as barking filled the air around them. She wasn’t sure what to make of it… the academy had seemed like a good idea at the beginning; when she had first received the invitation- and from Bruce Wayne himself..! But now…
“..I-... I don’t know…”
Feeling her flinch, Kiamana turned towards her, automatically shifting what he carried to wrap his arms around her, holding her close. He wondered who had thought it was a good idea to unleash fireworks over the Academy while students were arriving with excitable creatures. ”Paras… it’s okay” he said softly, ”We can stay out here a bit if you want” He didn’t want to pressure her into doing anything she didn’t want to.
”We could try to find dad… he might let us inside” he suggested, thinking that might be a good idea until things calmed a bit. He pulled back slightly to meet her gaze and give her a smile.
Shifting her lithe figure slightly against his own muscular one, her eyes closing, Paradise took a moment to herself; doing her best to calm the feverish beating of her heart. Fireworks..? Why were there fireworks..? It was a school- it wasn’t as though she wasn’t a fan of fireworks. They were beautiful… romantic… Watching them from the comfort of Kaimana’s arms, surrounded by the tropical flora she loved more than anything was something she had always enjoyed doing. But this… she didn’t like this...
‘..i-it’s too… it’s too much…”
A warmth flushing across the center of her face, she broke her hand from his, lifting it up enough that she was able to press the tips of her fingers to the skin just above her upper lip. She could feel it… the familiar warmth; the familiar wetness of her blood slowly trickling down, “..K-Kai…”
Kaimana pulled back when her hand slipped from his, watching her with concern. He pulled back just enough to retrieve that packet of tissues he carried with him. He took one out, holding it out trying not to think beyond stopping the nose bleed. He couldn’t think why, or he wouldn’t be able to comfort her. ”Paras… Why don’t we find the gardens… you always like being near plants.” he suggested, thinking she’d be more comfortable away from the crowd, if only for a little bit.
Reaching out, taking the tissue he was offering out to her, Paradise lifted it to her nose, holding it there in an attempt to stop, or at least slow the blood that was trickling down over her fingers, lips and chin. It wasn’t the first time; and it wasn’t going to be the last either. It was just something that she had always had to live with in her life- an unfortunate symptom of her ever degrading health.
Nodding her head lightly, doing her best to be mindful of keeping the tissue held firmly against her nose, she let her gaze wander back through the gates, searching for any sign of the gardens that Kaimana was speaking of- the gardens that his father had told them about. It would be nice… to get away… to separate herself from the crowd, at least for a bit- at least until she had time to clean herself up… Turning her attention back over to him after a moment or two, her soft pink lips parted slightly behind the mess of red and white, she eventually went to answer, her head nodding lightly as she spoke, her voice soft.
“..p-please…”
”Alright!” Kaimana said, before realising that he didn’t actually know where the gardens were. He was sure he had seen a map somewhere of the grounds… but he couldn’t remember. Still… it couldn’t be that hard to find them? He looked towards the gates, wondering if they were a reflection of the school itself… was everything larger than life? The immense size of the school suddenly became apparent, as he looked back to Paradise. He couldn’t drag her all over the school and back searching for the gardens... He hovered in that uncertainty.
”Do… Do you remember where they are?”
“Remember where what are, Kaimana..?” The deep and familiar booming voice sounding from just behind the both of them, Arthur smiled at the sight of his son, and his son’s girlfriend, a slight flicker of hesitation making its way over his features as he caught sight of the bloodied tissue in her hand, though he brushed it aside, his feet carrying him quickly over to where they were standing, “..Paradise… how are you feeling..? I know it was a long trip; did you get enough rest..? Or did my son keep you up by showing off in the surf again..?”
”Dad!” Kaimana said, somehow making it sound a little exasperated even as it was joyful. ”We were thinking of going to the gardens.” he said, realising his father could help them, ”Where it’s a little more peaceful!” He added, trying hard to keep the concern from his voice.
While he did his best to keep it out of his voice, it was clear in his eyes. The concern his son had for the young girl he was dating was overwhelming; and it was the reason that they were both there. Kaimana had followed Paradise across the country without so much as a second thought… someone needed to keep an eye on him to make sure he was going to be okay if things went-... if things went south…
“..I know where they are- follow me, I’ll show you…”
Nodding his head, giving his son the subtle sign that he understood what was going on, Arthur motioned for the both of them to follow after him as he headed forward, and through the gate, keeping his pace slow and steady so that they could both keep up without putting too much strain on the young girl, “So… how are you liking it so far..?”
Following after his father, making sure that Paradise was following as well, Kaimana looked about them as they walked. He couldn’t help but wonder just how the school had been built so fast and in such detail. Even with super abilities it didn’t seem possible. He shook his head, looking back to his father when he spoke. ”Its… very big. The gates are impressive.” He said, knowing that that was a bit lame. ”The cabin was nice though,” he said a bit more eagerly.
“..it was very beautiful…” Pausing a moment, removing the tissue from her nose enough so that she could see how bad the flow of blood was before returning it back to its place against her face, her beautiful gaze lifting as she looked towards the man who had welcomed her so willingly, and happily into the family from the very moment that she had first been introduced to them, “..we really didn’t want to leave…”
“I had a feeling you both might like it.” Chuckling at their responses, Arthur glanced at them both from over his shoulder, his eyes meeting that of his son’s for a moment before he turned away, leading them both past the ever growing crowd of students and towards the path that led towards the vast and lavish gardens.
”Maybe we could stay there, instead of in the dorms?” Kaimana asked, hesitating a moment as his father met his gaze a little unsure. Deciding to ask his father what that was about later, he continued to look about them, making sure that Paradise was okay every so often. He had to admit, he was looking forward to the peace of the gardens as the crowd continued to grow.
”Are you okay?” he asked Paradise, wanting to make sure, not wanting her to exhaust herself if it was too strenuous.
“..y-yeah… I’m fine…” Giving him a gentle smile, her features a little pale, Paradise nodded her head lightly in response, holding his gaze a few moments longer before she looked away once more, her attention drawing down to the path they were walking along, “..just a little tired… that’s all…”
Quirking his brow, his body turning so that he was looking at his son from over his shoulder, Arthur kept his pace, leading them down the path a little longer before eventually, the path was gone, replaced instead by the overgrowth of grass beneath their feet, and a large abundance of plant life surrounding them, “You want to stay there rather than at the dorms..? I mean… it might be doable… I would have to pull some strings with Bruce; but might be able to make it happen…”
Kaimana managed a smile, although he would be happier once they’d reach the gardens and she could rest. ”Just a little longer.” he encouraged her, smiling still although it faded as he considered his father’s words. ”If its too hard we can stay in the dorms.... It was just nice there together.” he said softly, not wanting to make things difficult.
He glanced about them as the scenery changed, the plant life rising around them. He was sure he hadn’t seen half of the plants here, if that. ”This is… it seems so exotic.”
Chuckling softly, a slight twinkle making its way into his weary and worried eyes, Arthur motioned towards the beautiful gardens that surrounded them, urging them to explore it at their own leisure; knowing for a fact that it was one thing that might help to make Paradise feel even the slightest bit better, “..the gardens were both designed and created by Pamela Isley… she, just like you Paradise, has a great love of mother nature; and has an affinity for plant life.”
Smiling softly, slowing to a stop once they drew into a clearing, he turned to look at them both, watching on as the young woman moved over to a large tree, the girl dropping down to sit in its shade, “..and I will talk to Bruce about whether or not you will be allowed to stay at the cabin; don’t think of it as a hassle. If it helps-... I’ll look into it for you.”
Watching Paradise, barely taking his gaze from her, Kaimana nodded gratefully at his father's words, ”Thank you dad… “ he said softly, his gaze never straying from Paradise. As if part of him was afraid that if he looked away too long, she’d be gone. He hesitated a moment, before tearing his gaze from Paradise, to look towards his father.
”But… staying here means there will be help if something happens… I don’t know what to do, dad” he admitted, keeping his voice soft.
Falling silent a moment, his gaze never once leaving his son’s figure standing before him, Arthur let a heavy sigh fall from between his lips. Kaimana had always been one to care with everything he had… it was only natural that his son would then care for Paradise in the exact same way. Kaimana loved her; he had made that fact perfectly clear when he had first introduced her to both his wife and himself...
..he only hoped that she wouldn’t end up being his downfall…
“..we’ll work it out, Kai… you have my word…” Giving his son a small smile, he turned his gaze back over to the young woman sat in front of the tree, watching her for a moment before he made to move, giving Kaimana a comforting pat on the back before he headed back the way he had come, “..I’ll go see if I can have a word with Bruce now… keep faith; she’ll be alright…”
Kaimana nodded, returning his gaze to Paradise once more, ”Okay dad… thanks” he said softly, knowing that his father was right, He watched Paradise a moment longer before he went over to her, giving her a smile ”What do you think?”
“..i-it’s like nothing I’ve ever seen before…” Her voice soft, her attention lingering on a rather beautiful flower blooming beside her, Paradise lowered the bloodied tissue down to her lap, her hand reaching out so that she could run the tips of her fingers gently over the petals, her very touch seeming to cause the color to grow just that little bit brighter, “..but-... but i-it’s so much…”
”There’s a lot.” Kaimana agreed, settling himself beside her, ”The whole school seems… larger than life… there’s so much here.” He watched her interacting with the plants, ”They look so different from the ones back home.”
“..that’s because they are…”
Lifting her beautiful gaze, the tissue now lain forgotten in her lap, and the blood that remained now dried and staining her lips a slight crimson, Paradise smiled softly, her skin paled though it was clear that she felt more relaxed surrounded by the thriving plant life making its home within the gardens. It was so peaceful… just like the beach cabin had been; and yet, it was completely different…
Reaching out, she hesitated, her head tilting lightly to the side before she reached out, the tips of her fingers gently brushing over the petals of one of the roses that grew beside her, “..these plants; they aren’t native to our home, not that it means they can’t be grown… it just means that you need to be extra careful, and be sure to give them plenty of love when you do. Like this rose… it’s so pretty… I’ve only really ever seen them before in the flower stores. Yet it’s so different to the hibiscus flowers you see growing all over the islands… Both are so beautiful- share a lot of things in common with one another, and even then…”
Pausing a moment, her gaze falling to a bare patch of grass beside the roses, Paradise let her fingers fall to the ground, the young woman seeming to concentrate a moment before suddenly, a tiny patch of the dirt began to rise, causing the blades of grass to part from one another as a large and colorful hibiscus grew right before their very eyes, “..they are so vastly different. I guess that’s what happens when we grow up where we have… surrounded by so many tropical flora…”
Glad to see that Paradise seemed even a little bit better, watching her as she gently touched the plants and listening as she spoke. He always enjoyed it when she spoke about plants, things she so dearly loved. As she grew a hibiscus, Kaimana couldn’t help but smile. She was so gifted, so talented… She was perfect. And he would do anything for her. ”They’re beautiful… I still like the flowers back home better. Maybe that’s the familiarity of them… but they remind me of you.” he said softly, reaching out to gently brush the back of his fingers along her cheek.
”Colourful and bright, strong and warm… “ He continued softly, keeping his gaze on her ”And beautiful.”
Turning her head, her gaze lifting to meet with his as she felt his gentle and loving touch brushing against her cheek, Paradise couldn’t help the soft and tiniest amount of color that flushed over her features. He thought so highly at her… Lifting her hand from the flower, she reached across her body, her palm resting delicately over his own for a moment before she dropped it down, lightly patting at the patch of grass beside her, urging him to join her in the shade of the tree.
“..you really think I’m beautiful..?”
Kaimana settled himself beside her, nodding. ”Of course… You are truly beautiful… “ he said softly, reaching out to gently take her in his arms, ”I only wish you could see that, but I guess I’ll just have to keep on reminding you.” He said with a smile.
Kaimana… he was just so sweet… so caring… so considerate... Closing her eyes, her body falling against his as she felt his arms wrap around her, Paradise curled gently against his chest, her hand lifting to rest over his collarbone as her head found its natural place nestled lovingly within the crook of his neck, her voice soft as she spoke out loud to him, her warm breath flowing out over his flesh, “..I love you, Kai…”
Holding her close, Kaimana was more than happy to stay were they were. A little bit of peace, before things would get a little hectic. He thought for a moment or two, before saying with a small chuckle ”Think anyone would notice we weren’t there if we stayed here all day?”
“..only your dad…” A small smile working its way onto her lips, her body curling in closer against his, she let out a soft giggle, the sound soon fading away into nothing as she once more spoke, her fingers curling gently over the front of his chest, “..though… I can’t see him dobbing us in… I really don’t think he would mind… not now that we’re here…”
Kaimana smiled, having to admit that she was probably right about that. ”Then lets stay, at least for a little bit.” he said, shifting slightly to kiss her softly.
