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Neteyam almost managed to silence his groan of pain as Ao’nung carefully helped him get on the ilu. He said almost, because what entered his mouth was a poorly hidden hiss that came out as an inarticulate noise.
It had been a bad decision and miscalculation on his part to go near the bases of some rocks that jutted out in various directions to hunt underwater. The sharp surface of it had hit Neteyam’s leg and ripped part of his right side as he jerked away from a creature that opened its huge jaws at him—then it swam away as if its goal had been simply that: to threaten him.
That was when Neteyam completely ignored the hunt and focused all his senses on the pain and the air escaping from his lungs. That was when Ao’nung saw him, called him skxawng, and helped him get on the ilu with a worried aura.
Neteyam truly felt like a skxawng the moment he took a deep breath as he came to the surface, the moment he sat down behind Ao’nung and they started the ride back to the village. And he still felt like one.
Not knowing exactly when it happened, Ao’nung had placed a hand on Neteyam’s left thigh to make sure he was securely held on to him, and despite the pain in his right leg, Neteyam felt a slight tingle at the touch he received more than welcome. It was a reassuring touch that Neteyam clung to so he would not have to think at all. A distraction from the itch.
Neteyam’s arms were around Ao’nung’s waist and he sighed, for the sunset and the breeze and the pain were making him sleepy, but the pressure of Ao’nung’s warm hand on his skin—his body so close to his, the movement of his thorax when breathing against his chest—managed to keep him awake and in all his senses.
Neteyam slightly moved away his head from Ao’nung’s back and began, like an impulse that was born bravely due to the tickling in his leg, to spread soft kisses on the nape of Ao’nung’s neck, again and again, with his eyes closed. Neteyam slid his lips, his breath, and his thanks slowly over that skin so different from his. He separated the braided queue of Ao’nung with his mouth to expose more of the area covered by his kisses and was caught up in the sensation.
He felt under his touch Ao’nung’s muscles tense slightly and Neteyam’s heart sped up on the spot, making him open his eyes. Ao’nung gave his thigh a squeeze in return, still resting his hand there.
“Stop doing that to the back of my neck, Forest boy.” Ao’nung said, turning his head towards him. There was no harsh tone in his voice, but a fondness that made Neteyam’s ear twitch with excitement as he heard it.
Neteyam couldn’t help but smile despite everything. Doing that. As if kissing what was precious was a sheepish action that overshadowed what was intimate.
Neteyam had always found it fun teasing Ao’nung and vice versa, but he couldn’t find the time to do it right now. He was tired and he wanted the itch not to cloud what he had in front of him.
“I appreciate you getting me out of there, really.” Neteyam murmured against his skin, exhaling through his nose. “I’m just taking in this moment. The ilu is too slow for my liking.”
Ao’nung exhaled in a little laugh, “I welcome every moment like this, but if we dive in, the speed of the ilu and the pressure of the water will cause you more pain.”
Neteyam had to agree with him.
He then untangled his arms from Ao’nung’s waist and Neteyam rested his forehead between his shoulder blades. Looking down, he slid his fingertips to the lower part of Ao’nung’s back and let them press gently there. The ilu’s slow movement on the surface made the water dance around their waists in a mesmerizing rhythm.
“I’m used to these wounds. Don’t worry.” Neteyam confessed, almost a whisper. He remembered the missions with his parents back then, the explosions, the hunts in the forest, all those experiences that he had brought home with new, fresh wounds.
Neteyam’s thumb caressed Ao’nung’s skin there as another distraction. He stared down, and stared and didn’t stop staring.
Neteyam didn’t quite understand why he couldn’t stop touching, caressing and kissing every part of Ao’nung. Touching, caressing and kissing all of him when his heart asked for it. The calm that always invaded him to do that at all times was inevitable and indescribable. They weren’t Lo’ak and Tsireya being totally lost in each other, they weren’t a Na’vi man and woman—but the eldest sons of their clan leaders. They were two warriors and two reflected souls.
He didn’t know what was between them, or if they would ever talk about it, but Neteyam wanted to stay in this precious thing they both had—support and affection for each other, pure and free.
The water stopped rippling around their waists and Neteyam looked up to see that they had already reached the village. Ao’nung moved his body away from his, much to Neteyam’s disillusionment, and nimbly got off the ilu. Neteyam was going to do the same, until he was met directly by Ao’nung’s scowl as he met his eyes. Ao’nung shook his head and quickly pressed a heavy hand to Neteyam’s shoulder, urging him to stay where he was.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Ao’nung inquired with a sigh, refusing to roll his eyes.
“I know I can’t walk well, but I can limp.” Instead, Neteyam did roll his eyes, challenging Ao’nung’s weak glare. “It’s not the first time that I have bruises on my legs.”
The knowledge of that made Ao’nung wince, and he pressed his hand further down on Neteyam’s shoulder.
“No. Not this time.” Ao’nung pointed out firmly, causing Neteyam to snort softly, but not removing the hand that was forcing him to stay in place. “Let yourself be taken care of for once in your life. At least here and now, skxawng.”
And so Neteyam had to content himself with watching Ao’nung go, leaving a trail of footprints on the dark sand of the night. He spotted very few Metkayina on the shores, some returning to their homes with freshly caught fish, others playing with their relatives near the docks... Neteyam allowed his mind to wander to his own family. They were probably getting everything ready for dinner, if Neteyam wasn’t wrong he was going to have to leave soon to join them. Kiri and Tuk will tell him of their adventures with Metkayina’s wildlife, Lo’ak will avert his gaze and groan when Neteyam teases him about the time he had with Tsireya outside of his training, and his parents will pester him with questions about his injuries.
The latter one was going to be exhausting, but Neteyam would get through it.
He didn’t have to wait long for Ao’nung, as he returned shortly afterward with a bowl full of Ronal’s medicinal items. Ao’nung helped Neteyam up from the ilu and they both sat together on the sand not so far from the marui. They both realize that not only had Neteyam bruised his right leg, but he had two not-so-deep cuts with little blood there. Neteyam glared at his wound. He still wasn’t very good at hunting underwater. He wasn’t a free-diver like Ao’nung, but little by little he’ll get by. He always did.
Ao’nung cleaned his wounds at the hissing that Neteyam sometimes held back, and bandaged part of his side and leg with leaves that had substrates of algae and healing flora. As Ao’nung did that work, Neteyam’s tail wagged impatiently at the mix of emotions, hitting and sliding on the sand.
He saw Ao’nung give him an amused look for that. Neteyam was about to wipe that expression off his face with a flick of the tail that he found so funny. Let’s see who had the last laugh. Neteyam looked away, though.
“Tomorrow morning you will have it cured.” Ao’nung assured him when he finished, and Neteyam could feel his gaze on his profile.
“Thank you.” Neteyam looked at his bandaged side, letting his arm remain static in the air so as not to touch the area. Some of his braids slipped out of his ear and Neteyam brushed them back behind it in a slow movement.
“Neteyam.” Ao’nung called him. Neteyam could hear a smile in his voice without even turning around to see him, but he did.
Neteyam turned his head towards him in a quiet, distracted hum, just in time to feel a warm pressure on his forehead and Ao’nung’s leaning body closer than before. As soon as Ao’nung moved away and Neteyam saw his fond smirk, it took Neteyam’s brain a few seconds longer than necessary to register that Ao’nung had just kissed him on the forehead.
“Wha—” He reacted late.
Neteyam’s ears felt warm and he suddenly recalled a thought he had not long ago—as if kissing what was precious was a sheepish action that overshadowed what was intimate. Actually, it was. A bit. But if it brought happiness with it, then let that thought be carried away on the gentle breeze. May their pride be carried away by the calm tide, and may their hearts race as many times as necessary in their chests.
“I owed you that, Forest boy.” Ao’nung formed a smirk, raising an eyebrow. He grabbed Neteyam’s arm before he could even protest and put it around his shoulders, lifting Neteyam up. The other arm of Ao’nung wrapped Neteyam’s waist to pull him closer. “Now you need to rest. I’ll take you to your marui.”
Neteyam couldn’t hide his wide smile.
He didn’t quite understand why he couldn’t stop touching, caressing and kissing every part of Ao’nung. Touching, caressing and kissing all of him when his heart asked for it. The calm that always invaded him to do that at all times was inevitable and indescribable.
He didn’t know what was between them, or if they would ever talk about it, but Neteyam wanted to stay in this precious thing they both had—support and affection for each other, pure and free.
And if Neteyam leaned in and pressed his smiling lips to Ao’nung’s in a reciprocated feeling, he wanted to hold on to it and never let go.