Companion piece(s) for When the Roof Caved In. I had a professor who once said that the most exciting part of a kiss scene in film is the moments building up. So this is a set of near kisses.

Flowers

"Now you pull it through—no, pull it like that!"

Two young children sat in the midst of a field of flowers. The Underworld Army had been forced into retreat by an unknown force and peace settled back in Angel Land. Because of the peace, many young boys had been left restless. An old swordsman and blacksmith came and settled in the town, so all the boys threw themselves at him in hopes that the old man would teach them his secrets. However, he had a strange condition before he would even consider taking in apprentices. The boys had to prove they were capable of being gentle. Most of the boys quit outright, but Magnus had a secret advantage over them. The key to his future success lied with his best friend Gaol. While she was just as tough and boyish as he was, she was also careful, a trait all the boys in town lacked. Gaol, who was also interested in learning the way of the sword, agreed to help him. He liked that about her. She never left him behind.

"Stop, you're going to break it!"

Tiny hands slapped Magnus' but Gaol was too late. Magnus had ripped the two flowers he was trying to tie together.

"You're so stupid Magnus!"

"This is stupid! I should be learning how to use a sword, not how to do girly things!"

Gaol punched him in the arm.

"This is so the weird old man teaches us, stupid Magnus!"

"You're stupid!"

With that, the young girl tackled her friend and they began to wrestle, crushing many flowers in their wake. Magnus managed to use his greater strength to pin Gaol to the floor. The look on her face was so priceless!

"Umm… Magnus?"

He had been so absorbed in the fact that he actually won a scuffle against her that he hadn't noticed how close their faces had been. He could see all the black flecks that made a ring around her pupils. Her eyes were so enchanting…

"Earth to Magnus! Get off, you fatty!"

The insult snapped him out of his daze and he quickly scrambled off. He muttered an apology, confused by the uncomfortable feeling in the bottom of his stomach.

"Now." Gaol said, brushing the dirt and flower petals off her dress. "Let's get back to this so we get to beat each other up with real swords."

Song gave me this theme. I'm going to have trouble thinking up of different themes, so if you could leave me some, that would be lovely. (4/18/12)