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The tides whispered against the shore , the rhythm being slow and patient , creating a calm atmosphere around both neteyam and Ao’nung.
Moonlight spilled across the water , creating a silver path only broken when gentle waves kissed the sand. Bioluminescent algae glowed faintly beneath the surface , swirling around like fallen stars each time the ocean swayed.
Behind them , the festival breathed with life.
Drums pulsed in the distant , while laughter and songs drifted through the night air in warm , fading echoes. the light of countless torchers and woven lanterns flickered across the palms and huts , casting a soft golden glow , their colours blurring into a soft glow that never quite reached the shore.
However , here it was quieter. The air smelt of salt and damp earth, cool against Ao’nungs skin from where he sat. They both stood where land and sea met. Behind them, footprints slowly disappeared as the tide reclaimed them. Shadows stretched long around them. The world felt wide and hushed , as if the night carved out this small pocket just for them.
Ao’nung enjoyed moments like these. Quiet and soft. A sense of warmth ran through the air between them, Releasing a sense of comfort.
Their bond had grown into something much deeper then what they had when they had their first encounter with each other. Underneath all them playful and friendly exchange of teasing remarks was a feeling being built and growing stronger day by day. yet it felt familiar to them.
A bond formed the way water shapes stone, slowly and without demand. Built from moments that seemed to small to matter, Glances held a heartbeat to long , laughter that lingered after the sound faded , the quiet comfort of simply being near one another.
Neither of them named it. They didn’t need to. There was soemthing unfolding between them , gentle and inevitable, like a tide drawn by the moon. It was unknown in a sense that neither could see where it would lead to , yet known in the way a heart recognises truth before the mind catches up. Every shared breath , every time they brushed their hands together when walking past as if it was to say ‘I’m here’ , making their presence known to each other, felt both new and strangely familiar as if they were remembering something they had always carried within them.
But silently Ao’nung ached for more.
no matter where he was or what he was doing , his mind was never still. A name that kept echoing in every thought and in every heartbeat. Neteyam.
He haunted every inch of Ao’nung mind like sunlight through mist almost blinding and impossible to ignore. Every breath , every decision seemed tangled with the thought of him. His heart ached with it.
Yet he carried the longing like a quiet fire beneath his skin , a heat that never showed but never faded either. It burnt in the moments neteyam wasn’t with him and burned even brighter when he was.
Every shared look felt like standing to close to the sun, beautiful yet so dangerous, impossible to turn from.
The wanting was deep and steady , curling in his chest not loud but relentless, a pull that left him restless and undone. He knew that it had grown into something tender and fierce. Something that hurt because it mattered. Because loving neteyam felt like the truest thing he had ever known.
꧁꧂
Neteyams voice cut gently through Ao’nung’s stillness , warm and familiar, like sunlight breaking through the surface of deep water.
“You look like you’re trying to stare a hole through the ocean,” he said softly , a teasing lilt threading through his words. He stepped closer , shoulder brushing ao’nungs in an easy , unforced way. His eyes were bright with quiet amusement.
“Careful,” he added with a small ,soft smile on his face, “it might stare back.”
There was kindness in his tone , something grounding , meant to pull Ao’nung back into the moment.
The only thing Ao’nung could do was just stare back. Stare into his big golden eyes and pray to Eywa that he doesn’t look like a complete lovesick fool.
Neteyam nudged him lightly, playful yet affectionate, as if it was a way of saying I’m here , you don’t have to drift so far.
Ao’nung blinked, struck all over again by the way neteyams presence settled him, by the warmth of his voice and the ease of his smile. He answered with a quiet laugh, softer than his usual , and turned so he could fully face neteyam.
Without thinking his fingers brushed neteyams wirst, a lingering touch that spoke more than words ever could.
Ao’nung let out a small breath , the corner of his mouth lifting as he met neteyams eyes.
“Yeah,” he said quietly , his voice softer and delicate. The voice that’s only reserved for his pretty boy, “guess I got lost for a second.”
His thumb lingering where it rested against him.
“Hard not to, though” Ao’nung added with a faint teasing warmth.
Ao’nung let the words hang between them. Neteyam’s smile softens , his gaze steady and searching.
“You always get lost in your head.” Neteyam replied gently , voice low almost fond.
He leaned in just enough for their foreheads to touch, breath warm against Ao’nungs skin.
“But I don’t mind.” Neteyam added , quieter now, sincere.
The closeness erased the rest of the world.
Aonungs thumb shifted , tracing the edge of neteyams hand as if memorising it and when neteyam didn’t pull away Ao’nung stepped closer, their bodies brushed , close enough to feel each others warmth , heartbeat and scent.
Neteyams fingers slid up to rest at Ao’nung jaw.
The kiss came slowly , soft at first , testing , then turning deeper as the hesitation melted away.
Ao’nung hand ran up from neteyams waist to hips then stopping on his waist like it belonged there, gripping to keep him in place.
When they finally pulled apart, foreheads again resting together , neteyam brushed a gentle kiss on Ao’nung cheek and murmured , smiling, “see? Not so lost after all.”
Ao’nung lets out a breathy laugh , shaky, eyes sparkling as he nudged neteyam,
“Not lost huh? Guess il have to keep you on your toes.” He teased , voice low and mischievous.
Without another word , he scooped up a handful of water and flicked it at neteyam, the splash cold but thrilling. Neteyams laugh rang out as he retreated instantly, and within moments they were chasing each other along the shore , tossing water back and forth. Soak and laughing under the moonlight , the festival lights far behind them , leaving only their shared joy and the spray of the sea.