David Kawena

28 years old ~ fire performer

[nyxisnottheenemy]

Open starter Location: Poor Unfortunate Soul

It felt like forever for Nyx for the third shift security guard to show up and replace her at work. She didn't hate her job. It gave her a sense of pride, duty, and purpose. That didn't mean she wanted to live there. Fast forward a few hours and she was tucked away at the corner of the bar, finishing the last bit of her drink. She flagged the bartender down for another just before someone sat beside her. She glanced over at them and then at the various other unoccupied barstools. Her drink was set in front of her and she didn't hesitate to grab the glass and take a sip. Nyx let a short time pass before she directly looked at the person next to her, whose presence was bothering her for no reason other than they could have sat anywhere that wasn't next to her. She was enjoying her solitude that night and the vibe they brought was really fucking it up. "Is there a reason you had to sit next to me when there are plenty of open seats elsewhere?" She rose a brow as she questioned them. "I mean, seriously, don't you think that's strange?"

[david-kawena]

When David saw Nyx sitting by herself, he decided to sit next to her despite knowing how prickly she can be. He couldn't help but think that she seemed to be particularly on edge that night and hoped that perhaps he could turn that around for her. Be the friend she needed. If she would let him of course. So he wasn't surprised at all when she finally snapped at him. In fact he didn't think she even glanced at him up until that moment, doing her best to ignore him until she couldn't stand it anymore. He really had to give her props. "You looked like you could use the company the most- unless I'm wrong and stole this seat from someone you're waiting on?"

[lcngstcryshcrt]

Nani's breath caught, her chest tightening with a myriad of emotions as David closed the distance between them.

The first brush was so sweet, so tender, Nani could have cried. Then she was kissing him back and God - it was better than she'd dreamed of, better than she'd hoped, and she moved closer to him, twining her arms around his neck, deepening the kiss with all the desperation and loneliness and joy of reuniting at long, long last.

When she at last pulled back, a shy smile on her face, she brushed his hair back behind his ear.

"I'm not an easy person to love," she murmured, eyes roving over David's face.

[david-kawena]

As soon as Nani kissed him back, it was as if all his senses heightened. He could feel every curve of her body pressed up against against him. Though he barely even registered his own arms moving on their own accord, snacking around her waist to hold her tight. How Many times had he pictured this moment? Dreamed of it? Longed for it? Too many times. All the time waiting and yearning suddenly worth it.

As she moved back he simply stilled, eyes focused on her face as he took in her expression. She seemed.... shy. Not a common expression he saw from Nani wo tried to appear confident at all times. It was cute.

"Loving you has been the easiest thing I've ever done." His browed furrowed, head shaking as he spoke. "Even just as your friend, it came naturally." David wasn't sure if she would take his words to mean he currently loved her, he certainly did but would wait to actually say it. Until he knew she was ready for that. He would never push more pressure on her than he was sure she was already feeling.

[lcngstcryshcrt]

Nani swallowed, throat closing with emotion as she let the words sink in. I'm proud of you.

A small smile bloomed across her face.

Then froze.

What were she and David? A series of almosts, of not-quites, of not-yets. A part of her had always hoped that one day, the stars would align for her and David. It had seemed, in the last few years before their disappearance to Evermore, that maybe it was beginning to happen.

Most of Nani's young-adulthood had been consumed with Lilo. The college classes, the job at the Chronicle, were the first genuinely selfish things Nani had done for herself since she was eighteen. Lilo was growing up, and she didn't need Nani as much as she used to. Was it finally time for Nani to let herself finally confront the feelings she'd harbored for years? Let herself have what she wanted? What did she want?

Her lips parted as the thoughts swirled through her head, a hand snaking out to grasp David's.

"I think we both know you've been more than just a friend, David." Nani's voice was thick with emotion, tears brimming in her eyes as she leaned into his space on the couch.

"Say what you want to say," she challenged him softly.

[david-kawena]

Before Nani and Lilo had disappeared, they had an actual date set up. What was supposed to be their first date. At least that was what he had been considering it. Since being separated for so long he wondered if she had thought of it that way too. Or was it simply just another 'hang out' of theirs? At times he'd thought he'd never get an answer to that question.

But not here she was in front of him again. Staring back at him. He wondered if she could hear his heart beating because it was so loud he could barely hear what she was saying. He could feel her though. Feel her hand grasp his. After a moment he he squeezed her hand softly, as if testing if it was truly there. So soft.

"Nani, I-" He started before his voice got caught in his throat. The sight of her tears that had not even fallen yet being too much for him. He'd seen her cry many times before but never over him. No, he'd always been careful enough to make sure that wouldn't happen.

"I..." He started slowly, knowing what he said could ruin everything. If he was reading all these signs wrong then he'd truly mess up everything. He reached his free hand up to caress her cheek as he leaned closer to her. "I don't just want t be your friend anymore." David whispered before closing the distance slowly, barely brushing his lips against hers just in case. Giving her a chance to run if she wanted to do so.

[lcngstcryshcrt]

"Oh, thanks! It was actually mostly furnished when we arrived. It's like... the town, whatever force brought us here, kind of set a small amount of history here for us," she explained, voice going soft unconsciously, as if Nani was worried someone or something would hear her.

"Everything else I've pretty much let Lilo go nuts with. You know how that kid loves to decorate," she chuckled, bumping David's shoulder with her own.

Close enough to touch, not nearly close enough at all.

"I did still have to find a job, though. It didn't get us quite that far. So I pulled double duty back as a waitress until I decided to try my hand at some classes at the university here and oicked up editing," she continued to explain, feeling a weight lift as she shared the story. Some of the people in her life here knew bits and pieces, but she'd never laid it out like this for anyone.

"Anita took a shot on me and then rest is basically history."

Nani leaned forward to pluck a few pieces of food from the tray.

"Look at you, the host with the most," she teased, trying to ease some of the awkwardness she worried she was putting off. When had being around David begun to feel so... tense?

[david-kawena]

David laughed along with her, staring at her from over his shoulder as she spoke. Trying to adjust to being around her before. Had they always been like this? It felt easier in the past. Though he'd always wanted more. Maybe they'd been separated for so long as some sort of warning to him. That he shouldn't of wanted so much. Should of just been happy with what he had. Even though he'd lived through all of Nani's hardships with her, they hadn't actually been his hardships. While he's always known that maybe he'd been pushing her to hard before. Gotten too comfortable.

"I'm still bouncing around from place to place here. Not many people need Fire Spinners here for more thana few nights at a time." He told her. "It's honestly amazing how much you've done since getting here! You've really done so much for yourself. I'm really proud of you."

Quiet for a moment. The awkwardness getting thicker.

"Not that I really have any right to be proud of you- I always knew you were capable of anything you put your mind too. Plus it's not like I have any claim to you- I'm just... a friend..." He teetered off, looking at her and hoping for... something. Maybe nothing? At least for her to save him from this whole he felt himself digging.

[lcngstcryshcrt]

@david-kawena

Nani kicked her feet up on David's coffee table, sinking back into his couch, nursing a glass of wine. She still got a little thrill every time she caught sight of him, shock and joy registering as chills all over her body.

Reorienting her world to recognize that he was here. In the flesh.

She darted her eyes across the room and blushed. Just the broad expanse of his back, still standing at the counter in the kitchen.

Since she was a teenager, David had always been there. The last year and a half in Evermore had been the first time she'd been without David. And it had been... hard. Really really hard.

He was her rock, her north star. He'd been there through the worst of the storm, right after losing her parents, learning how to be not only a big sister but a parent to Lilo.

He'd been there when Stitch had crash-landed, when Jumba and Pleakley had barreled into their lives, when she'd almost lost her baby sister.

And she loved him. So much.

"Cute place," she called to him, wiggling down into the cushion a little further.

[david-kawena]

David instinctively looked over towards Nani when she spoke. There had been many times over the last year and a half that David had thought he'd heard her voice. Looking through crowds of people for a glimpse of her. So perhaps he was still extra sensitive to her.

"Thanks, it mostly came in a set and anything else was suggested by the salesperson." He smiled, grabbing the tray of snacks he'd gotten for her. He didn't have many people over that often so felt awkward hosting.

"Your place was nice when I stopped by! Do you and Lilo pick stuff out together?" David asked, placing the tray on the coffee table and sitting on he couch next to her. Not close enough that they were touching but close enough that he could swear he felt her body heat.

[pudgefeeder]

It occurred to her that he may want to talk about her disappearance. Surely he knew about that, if he had spoke to Nani. Maybe she had even put him up to it. It was the last thing she wanted to talk about, she didn't even want to think about it, would rather pretend it just didn't happen despite how much it was weighing on her.

But she wasn't going to turn him away. "I have time," she nodded, stepping to the side to let him in. "I can make you a coffee. I'm good at that now." Sort of. It was her job.

[david-kawena]

He was glad that she let him into her home, taking those first few steps in before beginning to glance around the place. "Oh really? Well I'll definitely take a cup. Can you make other stuff now too? Like actual food?" He asked. David couldn't help but feel a little sad at the thought of Lilo making coffee and possibly even actually cooking. Things that had seemed too grown up for her to do before. She'd grown up so much during their time apart.

"Not that I'm gonna make you cook a whole meal for me! Just wondering."

[pudgefeeder]

It would be easy to be upset. Lilo could blame him for what she knew wasn't his fault, let the resentment bubble below the surface and fester. She could give him the cold shoulder, shut him out, refuse to speak to him because it wasn't as hard of an emotion to deal with. It wouldn't be unlike her. But after everything that had happened lately, she was just grateful to see him.

"You're here now," she stated, pulling away from the hug to look at him. He looked like the same David she'd always known. Then, because she couldn't help herself, even though deep down she knew he didn't have the option just like the rest of them: "You're not gonna leave, right?"

[david-kawena]

When she pulled away David was able to get his first good look at her. In an instant he could see how much she'd grown since they'd been gone. He could feel the emotions well up in his chest a bit, seeing how he'd known her since she was a baby but he did his best to hold it together. He did his best not to blame himself for missing so much time and focus on their time together going forward.

"Of course not!" David was quick to reassure her. "Can I actually come inside and we can talk a bit if you have time?"

[lcngstcryshcrt]

It was such a relief to hear his desire to shoulder the search for Jumba and Pleakly. Nani had her hands full with Lilo and Stitch and her job, much less trying to find their erstwhile friends.

She melted slightly into the rubs, finally feeling at ease for the first time in months. She'd missed the casual intimacy they'd shared, just two young adults against the world.

"That'd be perfect," Nani breathed, digging around for her phone. "Here, put your number in my phone. Then I can text you my address."

[david-kawena]

"Yeah, that'd be great!" He grinned, finally taking a step away from her so he could grab the phone once it was offered to him. "Maybe I could stop by sometime when Lilo's home? It'd be great to see her- even if she's mad at me for taking so long to find you guys." David chuckled. He could never accurately predict Lilo's reactions. Which honestly made interacting with the girl even more fun.

Once he put his number in the phone and gave it back to her, he knew it was time for them to separate. He really didn't want to but he couldn't keep her from her job. Not more than he's already done, surely she was already late at this point. Still, he took an extra second to give her a quick hug.

"I'll see you again soon." He said before they parted.

[thesweetestspot]

David better wife up Nani QUICK or I'm coming to get her 🗣

na na na naaani , na na na naaani , hey hey hey , , , ( say ) goodbye ( to david ) !!

nani , are you for the girls orrrrr ?? because , personally , i second this anon .

i can treat you better . well , maybe better isn't the word for it but , y'know ; )

[david-kawena]

Who: David & Lilo @pudgefeeder Where: Her home

David had asked Nani if it was alright for him to stop by sometime when just Lilo was home for their reunion. While it wasn't really that big of a deal, he wanted to give the girl privacy and also just check in on how she was doing. Plus Lilo might be able to tell him how Nani's been doing as well. He knew that Nani tended to put on a strong front, so hopefully if there was anything going on, Lilo would be able to tell him. Like if Nani had anyone new in her life. Important stuff.

He knocked on the door, shoving his hands in his pockets as he waited.

[pudgefeeder]

Lilo wasn't good at letting go of people. Even Mertle, after all of these years, meant something to her. One of the worst parts of being in Evermore was being away from David; it was strange to be without someone who had been there since she was a little girl, looking out for her. He was like the older brother she never had, and she couldn't help but wonder if he looked for them when they went missing, if he missed them too... and if he was okay.

She never expected to see him standing on the doorstep. Nani had told her she'd ran into him in town, but it seemed too good to be true, so Lilo brushed it off, didn't allow herself to accept it until he was standing right in front of her. Her lips parted to greet him, but what could you even say to someone you hadn't seen in so long?

After a moment of staring unblinking, she stepped forward, throwing her arms around his stomach. She wasn't a hugger, not much on physical affection, but nothing else seemed to say I missed you more than burying her face in his shirt and squeezing the life out of him.

[david-kawena]

David waited for her to make the first move. He worried that she might shut the door in his face, angry at him for not finding them sooner. He wouldn’t have blamed her of course. Not when he was angry at himself for the very same thing. He didn’t even realize that he’d been holding his breath until she hugged him, finally relieving him of the tension he’d been holding. “Sorry it took so long.” He told her, squeezing her back. David could probably count on one hand the number of times Lilo had actually hugged him over the years, especially as she got older. So he knew to savor this moment while it lasted. But he also felt like she especially deserved an apology. She’d lost so much when she was so young and probably thought that she had lost him too.

[david-kawena]

Who: David & Lilo @pudgefeeder Where: Her home

David had asked Nani if it was alright for him to stop by sometime when just Lilo was home for their reunion. While it wasn't really that big of a deal, he wanted to give the girl privacy and also just check in on how she was doing. Plus Lilo might be able to tell him how Nani's been doing as well. He knew that Nani tended to put on a strong front, so hopefully if there was anything going on, Lilo would be able to tell him. Like if Nani had anyone new in her life. Important stuff.

He knocked on the door, shoving his hands in his pockets as he waited.

[lcngstcryshcrt]

Now they were back in familiar territory, talking about their family. Safe topics.

"Stitch, yes. We have an apartment all together. Jumba and Pleakley, no. I'm worried about them."

Nani drew in a breath, then slid her arms around David once again, burying her face in his chest as she breathed in his scent, both familiar and different all at once.

"David..." she murmured. "I really have to get to work but I don't want to let you out of my sight."

She felt her face burn at the vulnerable statement, the intimacy of holding him like this, something she'd never allowed herself to consider before.

[david-kawena]

He nodded, relieved that at least Stitch was with them. That was better than nothing. Plus now he was back with them. No longer on his own. "That's good! About Stitch I mean- not Jumba and Pleakley. I'll keep looking into them." David told her, trying his best to sound reliable. Though how reliable could he really be when it had taken him this long just to find her.

It took David a second to realize he'd started lightly rubbing her back after she'd wrapped her arms back around him. He hoped that she didn't mind. The motion had been so natural for him, as if he'd done it a thousand times before. He hadn't of course, though he did hope to have more chances.

"Maybe I could see you when you're done? As long as you don't have any other plans! I could come over and see your place." He suggested, a small smile of his face as he attempted to get a glimpse at hers.

[lcngstcryshcrt]

How different would the months have been if she'd had him with her? She didn't want to open that box and look into it, feel the way her life had been dashed against the pavement like a glass the moment Lilo disappeared, the way that David would have held her together all those long days and nights.

"You're here now," she murmured, swallowing hard to staunch the flow of tears. She rubbed her face, dashing the tears away and trying not to get snot all over his shirt. Nani didn't dare look into his face, hearing his voice breaking, because if she saw him crying, she'd lose it for real, and that would just be way too embarrassing right here on the sidewalk.

"And she's home and safe. I don't know if I can say she's doing good, but we can tackle that together. I know she'll be so excited to see you," Nani said, grabbing his hands with hers and squeezing.

[david-kawena]

David started to pull himself back together. Using his free hand to wipe his eyes, not particularly feeling like crying in the middle of the sidewalk in front of a bunch of strangers who were definitely staring at their reunion. Though honestly he didn't care too much about them. Instead he cared only cared about the girl in front of him. Mostly at the fact that she was holding his hand. Something he couldn't remember doing with her since they were young children.

He could feel his face heating up, suddenly hoping that his tan was dark enough at the moment to mostly hide it. Though considering the lack of sun in the town, probably not. "Uh- right! Right, I can't wait to see her. Is Stitch with you guys as well? What about Jumba and Pleakley?"

[lcngstcryshcrt]

She froze to her spot on the sidewalk, heart throbbing in her throat as she watched David come toward her. She had to be dreaming, hadn't actually gotten out of bed this morning.

But when his arms went around her and she heard his voice, she finally unstuck and her arms went around him in return. She sucked in a shaky breath, burying her face in his shoulder as tears welled in her eyes.

"When- How-" she stuttered against his shirt, voice thick with emotion. Nani's battered heart constricted, then eased at last, familiar scent and voice and face all washing over her in a wave of comfort, of knowing that a piece of her was finally home.

She tilted her head back, hands coming around to touch his cheeks, run her fingers through his hair. She would never have dared touch him like this back home, but everything in the last months had brought into stark reality just what exactly she wanted and how much she was avoiding living her life.

"I can't believe you're here," Nani finally broke, the sentence coming out more as a sob as the tears began rolling down her cheeks.

[david-kawena]

David was holding her close, staring at her face as seemed to be looking him over. She was still just as beautiful as the last time he saw her. It had been just a few years but they'd both aged in that time. A grey hair here, an extra line on her face that he didn't think was there before. But still so beautiful.

When she started crying, that was when the tears finally welled in his eyes. He didn't want to cry in front of her, he was an ugly crier. "No I'm- I'm so sorry it took so long. I tried so hard..." His voice broke.

How did he explain how he was in the same town and couldn't find them? It was like some force had been keeping them apart until now. "When I saw Lilo's name in the paper- I'm so sorry I couldn't be with you through that."

[lcngstcryshcrt]

@david-kawena

It was just a regular Thursday morning.

Nani was just walking to the office, swinging her briefcase with a lightness in her heart that she hadn't felt in a few months, the cool air sneaking down her collar to kiss her collarbones and send shivers racing up the back of her neck as the wind plucked her hair, shoving it back over her shoulders.

It was nothing like the brisk wind off the ocean, tinged with salt, but it still felt good to turn her face into the breeze, breathing deep and feel like it was cleansing her heavy soul.

Nani's eyes opened and landed on a familiar figure coming up the sidewalk toward her. She froze in place, lips parting in surprise and for a moment, thought she might have to pinch herself.

Because there was no way that this was her David walking toward her, face so familiar that her heart twisted as though it was trying to flee her chest.

All the air left her lungs in a whoosh, then pulled back in sharply as she gasped,

"David?!"

[david-kawena]

David had gone out earlier than usual that day for a meeting, successfully securing a new spot for his fire show for the next few months. So there he was, on a street he usually never walked down at a time he wouldn't normally be there at. That was when he finally saw her.

At first he thought he'd imagine her. Possibly a little delusional from the lack of sleep he'd gotten the night before. Hell it wouldn't of been the first, or even the third time he'd thought someone was her since she'd disappeared from his life. But there she still stood, staring back at him.

Hearing his name from her lips was all the confirmation he needed. He hurried forward, nearly knocking people over as he closed the distance between them. David had thought about their reunion many times, what he would say and do when it happened. All of those plans were gone now, his mind blank.

Wrapping his arms around her, squeezing as if to make sure she wasn't about to disappear. "Finally found you."

[evermorehqs]

CATCHING MY BREATH, STARING OUT AN OPEN WINDOW

David Kawena is based on David from Lilo & Stitch. He is a 28 year old human, fire performer, and uses he/him pronouns. He has no powers. David is portrayed by Keahu Kahuanui and he is taken.

CATCHING MY DEATH, AND I COULDN’T BE SURE

Ever since David could remember, he’d been hopelessly crushing on Nani Pelekai. She was a few grades ahead of him in school, but the two of them became friends through their families, and he thought she was the prettiest, coolest person he’d ever met… and that never changed. He was trying to convince her to go out with him when tragedy struck, and wooing her was put on the backburner for awhile. He knew that she wasn’t in the place for a relationship, and even if she never was or she fell for someone else, he wouldn’t regret being there for her. As her best friend for years, it was his job. Not only did she suddenly have the stress of providing for a child right after high school, she was also dealing with the grief of losing her parents and letting go of her lifelong dream. He had loved her family too, her parents had always been kind to him, and he’d seen Lilo as a little sister since she was born. He tried to help Nani find better jobs, take the two of them out surfing on bad days, and even hide money in the couch cushions because he knew Nani was too stubborn to ask for help. Sure, life got a little stranger when they had aliens living with him, but David wasn’t going anywhere. David wasn’t going anywhere… but they did. Overnight. After a few days of not being able to get in touch with them, panic started to set in. He knew that Nani wouldn’t leave without warning, she couldn’t even afford a flight if she wanted to, but the entire family had seemingly vanished. He talked to everyone that knew them, co-workers and school bullies, he scoured the internet, he searched the house for anything out of the ordinary, and all he found were dead ends. They were just… gone. After roughly half a year of long nights desperately trying to come up with any sort of explanation that wasn’t alien abduction, he woke up in a random town with scattered memories. David wondered if that was what had happened to them, as he had no way to contact his own family and let them know he was okay, but he wouldn’t know how to begin to find the girls… especially now, being trapped himself. His experience landed him a quick job and he started trying to settle into a town without an ocean for the first time in nearly three decades, just hoping that wherever Nani and Lilo were, and Stitch too — even Jumba and Pleakley — they were okay.

I HAD A FEELING SO PECULIAR

❀ James ‘Jim’ Hawkins: He stumbled upon the guy sleeping in the park one day, and they immediately hit it off. David doesn’t have many friends in Evermore, so almost anytime he goes out, he’s hitting Jim up to see if he’s busy. ❀ Vanellope Von Schweetz: He can’t help but want to protect the kid, though she seems plenty capable of holding her own. She’s a little out there, in the best kind of way, and talking to her just makes him miss Lilo even more. ❀ Nyx Imelda: Talk about a tough cookie. David isn’t sure what it will take to make her crack a smile, but he’s prepared to find out… even if it means making a fool of himself to get there.

THAT THIS PAIN WOULD BE FOR EVERMORE

[boysappetit]

Keahu Kahuanui