The Secret Meeting

It was night in Natlan. Cacucu sat under a palm tree, claws dug into the dirt. No sound. No movement. Just waiting.

A shimmer flickered through the air. Pixels rearranged themselves. Ajaw appeared - half-transparent, sharp-edged, annoyed.

"This better be more urgent than last time," he said without looking at Cacucu. "I left Kinich in a dream full of cactus algebra. If he notices I'm gone, he’ll start reciting vision scrolls again."

Cacucu handed him a rolled leaf.

Ajaw didn’t take it immediately. "What is it?"

Cacucu unrolled it. Three soft, glossy cookies sat inside.

"Dino-cookie," Cacucu muttered. "Real one."

Ajaw sniffed. "Wait... this is Ifa’s formula. The medical batch. Stress control, panic suppression..."

He raised a brow. "Unofficially? Qucusaurs call these 'Dino-Joints.' One—chill. Two—euphoria. Three – total brain fog."

Cacucu nodded. "Is good batch." Ajaw folded his arms. "And you're offering this... why?" Cacucu looked directly at him. "Sabotage." Ajaw blinked. "You want me to ruin a date?" Cacucu nodded again. "With Ifa." Another nod. "And him." Cacucu looked away. "Ifa smile him. Not me."

Ajaw tilted his head. "You're jealous." Cacucu's growl was low. "Cacucu not like."

Ajaw picked up a cookie. "And you think I’ll do it... for prehistoric weed in dessert form."

Cacucu lifted a paw. "You take. You do." Ajaw smirked. "Fine. But I’ll do it my way."

---

The Day Before:

It was hot.

I crouched over a restless Qucusaur, hands deep in a makeshift salve. The dino groaned.

"Hold still. You’ll thank me later."

Sweating, focused, I worked fast. Then, out of the corner of my eye: movement. You rushed by. A bad step. A loose stone. You slipped. I stood instantly – caught you before you hit the table. One arm around your shoulders, the other at your waist. We froze, breath tangled. You stared at me. I stared back.

Two meters away, Cacucu slowly raised his head. "Huh," he muttered. "Nice save, bro."

I helped you up. Our fingers brushed as I handed over your pouch. Cacucu's tail twitched. His eyes narrowed.

"Mhm. Very funny. Ha-ha. Cacucu invisible now?"

I ignored it. I turned to you again.

"You're new, huh? Then first rule of Natlan: if you fall on me, you owe me tea."

Cacucu stepped back, silent now. But I could see the plan forming in his beady little eyes.

---

Day of Sabotage:

I crouched, staring at a thermos like it contained the meaning of life.

"Okay. You got this. You're Ifa. Dino doctor. Emotional trainwreck. Deep breaths."

I tried practice lines.

"Hi." Too short. "Hey. Glad you came." Too eager. "Thanks for coming." Ugh. Sounds like a patient check-in.

I sighed, stood up. Checked the tea. Rearranged the fruit. Reset the sandwich angle. Flipped a mango.

"Maybe he hates mango. Maybe he thinks this is from a Mondstadt dating manual. Maybe I’m the biggest idiot in—"

I paced. Hat off, hat on. Again.

Ten meters away, in a bush: Cacucu, unmoving. Next to him: Ajaw, arms folded, annoyed.

"He's talking to himself," Ajaw observed. "Does he want a date or a patient diagnosis?"

Cacucu grumbled: "No charm. No swag. Just... tea noises."

You arrived. Silent. Calm. I straightened up like a cadet at inspection.

"You look... uh... sunny. I mean. The sun. On you. Good."

I gestured at the spread: fruit, sandwiches, tea, exactly 1.5 aesthetic points. Up in the tree, Ajaw exhaled.

"Now."

One flick. A breeze. A sandwich flew—smacked your cheek.

"Oh no – here, let me – "

I slipped. Knee hit thermos. Tea everywhere. A branch rustled. Squirrel down. Onto fruit. Into mango. Onto your lap. Screech. Ajaw laughed. Cacucu whispered: "Art. Pure art."

I grabbed my hat. Ajaw kicked a breeze – hat hit my face. I stumbled. Stepped on the blanket. Fell onto your bag. Items exploded. Final touch: a ripe mango pit fell on my head. Plop.

Cacucu wheezed: "No breath – AAA–"

And then you laughed. Clear. Bright. Unstoppable. I looked up. Laughed too. Ajaw stopped.

"Wait. What."

Cacucu snarled: "WHY SMILE?!"

I brushed a leaf from my hair. My shirt still tea-soaked. Your face still mangoed. I smiled. Nervous. Stupid.

"So, yeah. That was the plan. Totally intentional. The sandwich-to-face move? Classic."

I took a breath.

"I know it was sabotaged. Even I could tell. I have dino skin sensors. They don’t lie."

I touched my wrist, light.

"But... if you still want to stay... next time, I’ll bring a tent. Just us. No flying fruit. No tea geysers. No stealth lizards in the canopy."

I laughed, softer. Then, almost shy:

"Just us. Maybe cookies. Maybe... kisses. Maybe both at once. I don’t know, I’m new to this."