Too cute for my toes

That the stranger was creeping closer was completely lost on Aku. He was too busy trying to explain himself; too earnest in his desire to be understood. Why exactly was hard to say. While her pointed words hadn't angered him they had stoked a need to defend himself. That was just how he dealt with conflict. In his opinion there was no need to mount a harsh verbal defense. Doing so only invited further escalation and round and round the wolves would go until finally it came to blows. Over insults? That was absurd. He could be calm and passionate, and in doing so in the face of insult and abuse show, in his opinion, greater strength than the man who countered with insult.

So needless to say he was prepping for whatever insult she winged at him next and thus caught completely off guard by her change in tactics. Aku was still processing what Lorikeet had said when she leaned in for a kiss. He froze, a mix of mortification and alarm gluing him to the stone. This was this, he had been caught. For a second he stood still and waited to feel different. Possessed, maybe. Definitely unlike himself in some way. But he felt fine?

Aku let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding and looked down, unsure of what to say or do. He cleared his throat and felt, finally, warmth blossoming in his cheeks. The knowledge that he had just been kissed finally hit him. "Well.." He still wasn't sure what to say. Arguing was easier. "If it is a sacred tradition...I suppose I should offer you the same courtesy I wish for mine." Now completely out of his element Aku bit his lip. This was not going at all according to plan and he wasn't sure if he should still be alarmed or accept that Boreas was truly a different animal and allow himself to consider just how nice her touch had been.