She kissed his cheek and looked into his eyes.

What was that supposed to do?

"You're right" Atlas wiped a drop of water from her lips, "It does feel good" She leaned in.

Why is she coming closer?

"What are you doing?"

She paused "What do you think I'm doing?"

"I don't know, that's why I'm asking" He replied.

She pushed him over and he was unable to hear what she replied with. He stood up after a few seconds of floating underwater.

"Can you describe color like the Elders yet?" Asked Havana.

"Almost, they said I was getting very close" Replied Atlas.

"One of the Elders said you could describe pain" Said Havana.

"It was a mistake, I didn't know it would hurt them so much" Said Atlas.

"You must really know pain well" Said Havana.

"I can't say I do, but I did tear my essence from myself minutes after I was born. That was painful" Replied Atlas.

"It's really interesting how you can use Ark abilities without being bound to an Ark" Said Havana.

"My mom said it had to do with being human and being her child"

The lazy water was walking passed them as they talked. A bird landed on a branch near their clothing and Atlas looked over at it. It dashed over and lifted their clothing. He knew he would never be able to reach it in time. It was gone before Havana had time to turn.

"The bird took our clothing" Said Atlas.

He wanted his clothing back but knew it was better to let it go. He could hear Havana's teeth chatter.

"Are you cold?" Asked Atlas.

"Yeah, we get cold easily" Said Havana.

He knew the Noah were not good at taking cold things but he had no idea it was this bad.

"Let's get out before you freeze to death" Said Atlas.

He knew it would start raining within the next two hours. The wind was pulling the clouds in and had no intention of letting go. The sun never set it, only dimmed till it seemed to be night.

"I didn't know I was so cold" Said Havana.

Atlas held her and said "I'll keep you warm".

They held each other and before they knew it rain had began to fall. Atlas could feel the the rain was cold and pulled her beneath a tree.

"Just hold me close" Said Atlas.

She rested her head on his shoulder and said "I like you".

"As a friend?"

She was a inch from his lips and said "I mean like, like you like you".

"Like a best friend?"

"No, not like that I mean I really like you" Said Havana.

"Like a pet?"

"You're not going to get this unless I spell it out are you! I mean in a intimate way. I want to do things with you" Said Havana.

"What kind of things?" Asked Atlas with a half-hearted tone.

He had known Havana for years and she had never said anything like this before.

"Please don't hate me but it's indecent things like..." She took a moment to compose herself "hold hands and share drinks from the same cup!".

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Her face had a light shade of red. It was easy to tell even through her California gold skin. Atlas was having trouble understanding what was going on.

So like a sister? But since she's not related…

He thought through what he would say "So like a really great best friend?".

He believed it was the proper response. He had no idea what she meant.

"Can you just shut up and hold my hand already" Said Havana.

Atlas held her close and said "I have a question to ask you".

"Yeah?"

"What if I like someone other than Evelynn" Said Atlas as the rain began to thicken.

"Who is it?" Said Havana with a hint of envy in her red eyes. She knew it, he must like Tabitha. He had always seemed fond of her.

"That's not important but I wanted to ask you if you would help me" Said Atlas.

He saw a flash of light and soon after heard the boom of thunder. Havana squeeze him and pulled him into herself.

"You're scared of thunder aren't you?"

"Shut up, I'm not scared it's just a little loud" Said Havana shaking.

Atlas found the concept of fear strange. He had felt fear a few times in his life but not in the past few years. The only time he could truly say he was afraid was when he almost lost it beloved sister. They decided to wait until the rain stopped.

"Are you still cold?"

"Just a little" She replied holding herself.

Atlas continued to hold her until she stopped shaking.

"Why are you so warm" Said Havana.

"Because I'm human. You're pretty hot by the way" Said Atlas.

"Thanks" Said Havana with a smile.

"I'm going to start a fire" Said Atlas.

He let her go and got a fire stone from his small pouch. He set it down and ignited it with the heat from his body.

"Do you want some meat?" Asked Atlas.

"As long as you give it to me" Said Havana.

Atlas liked how all their names had an A, K or N sound. Only the Elders had a K sound. He loved eating but knew his body could only take specific foods. Any fatty foods were a danger to his well being. He cooked the beef and shared it with Havana.

"I think it's going to rain all night. We should just make a bed and sleep" Said Havana.

Atlas knew it would be best and started to make two beds.

"Why two?" Asked Havana.

Atlas knew she would like to have a bed to herself.

"Wouldn't it be faster if you made one bed for both of us" Said Havana in a shy tone.

"That is true but I know you would like a bed to yourself"

"I would but we should sleep together to conserve heat" Said Havana looking up at the clouds.

"The fire stone should be enough" Replied Atlas.

"I think we should to evenly distributed heat" Said Havana.

Atlas nodded "we should".

He finished making the beds and laid down. He had his back facing her and a small blanket was covering them both. He had slept the day before and would not need sleep for the next few days. Hours into the night Havana got up and crawled over him. She lay in front of him. She smelled in a strange way very appealing. She kissed his cheek and pulled him in. He allowed this thinking she was cold. The kiss was a custom of the Noah. At least among the young or so he was told.

She fell asleep soon after and he had an idea. Humans and Noah were the only kind that could dream. He had the idea of seeing what she was dreaming of. He would ask the next time she fell to sleep. The false stars in the sky reminded him this world was made. The thought that a world could be created at will with something his mother had created was humbling. He loved his mother just as much as he loved his sisters. He tried not to seem too fond of Levy. He knew he didn't deserve to know her and he knew he had ruined her life. He laid down and felt her teeth nip at his ear.

"Havana, you're biting me" Said Atlas.

She said nothing but continued to bite. Her hands began to drift. He was far weaker than her and knew it would be useless to fight back. It was just within reach but he knew it would be a rude awakening. He bit her ear and she woke up. She was looking right into his eyes. Her hands were in odd places and his lips were parted ever so slightly.

"You were biting me and fondling me" Said Atlas.

She shoved him off the bed and yelled "No I wasn't! I was just seeing what you would do and I was wondering what you would taste like!".

He thought those were perfectly valid reasons and had an idea of his own. He would practice asking Evelynn out on Havana. He would go so far as to practice flirting. If he was his father's son he should be able to as least flirt.

"That's too bad," Said Atlas standing up "I was hoping you were trying something".

She froze and was quite visibly blushing.

"Havana, mind if I ask you something?"

"What is it?" She said with an exuberant tone.

"I want you, I want to kiss you... I just wanted to see your reaction" Said Atlas in is flat tone.

She seemed shocked, angry, happy and interested.

"Are you joking?..." Asked Havana.

"Well yes, I did just want to see your reaction." Said Atlas.

She laid back down and slept till dawn. Atlas notice what she was shaking during the night and held her. When dawn came they began to walk.

"You don't have to hold my hand you know" Said Havana with a sour tone.

"I know, but I want to"

He only wanted to hold her hand so she would keep up with his pace. He was all too ready to learn what the Elders had been preparing for him. A total of fifty thousand Noah lived in his world. Their true home world contained over one hundred septillion of them. A number that far exceeded the about of humans that had ever lived.

"Atlas, what would you say if I asked you to be my boyfriend?" Said Havana.

"Why?"