High Tides ||Neteyam Sully||

11|| Peace

I had spent the night with my Mother, helping her recover her strength. I sat on the edge of the walkway, looking out at the illuminated reef. 

I heard steps behind me and looked over to see Neytiri, she was smiling at me.

"Thank you for taking care of Tuk today." 

"It's the least I can do. she is a child, innocence is important." 

She smiled and looked behind her as she heard steps, Neteyam was walking towards us.

"You two have something beautiful." She looked at me and then stood up to walk back.

Neteyam and her shared a few words before she kept walking. 

Neteyam smiled at me gently, his eyes were still slightly puffy but the worry spread across his face was gone. 

He sat next to me and placed his hand atop mine.

"Are you all okay?" 

He nodded and smiled at me, "Your Mother did amazing, kiri would still be unconscious without her."

I nodded and looked down at the reef again. 

"My siblings told my parents."

I nodded and looked at him, "Is that bad?"

He shook his head and leaned over to kiss me gently, his hand finding that familiar place on my cheek.

I smiled gently into the kiss and then pulled away, remembering where we were. 

I looked back at the Marui and sighed softly, "My parents won't react as well as yours when they find out."

I put my hands on my lap and fiddled with my fingers. 

Neteyam grabbed my hand, threading his fingers in mine, "I'll be here."

I looked at him and smiled gently.

He squeezed my hand before slipping off the walkway into the water, "You coming?" 

I nodded and followed after him, slipping into the cool water completely before getting back to the surface.

Neteyam reached for the shell holding my hair up and pulled, my hair dropped down and he grinned. 

"You look stunning with your hair down."

At his comment, I touched the braids that fell over my shoulder.  He followed suit and tucked a braid behind my ear, cupping my jaw and kissing me gently. 

I sank under the water pulling him with me gently as I kissed back. 

Before we got too deep he pulled away and broke the surface, looking down to sign at me, That was mean. 

At that, I stuck my tongue out at him before starting to swim out to the edge of the reef. 

He followed me, staying closer to the surface, keeping his eyes flicking between the ocean in front of him and me.

I started swimming looking up at him while smiling and letting some small bubbles out from my nose and up to him. 

As they hit him he flinched and lifted his head out of the water. 

I laughed before swimming up to him, breaking the surface and looking at him. He pulled me to him by the waist and kissed me gently.

"You're mean today."

I smiled feeling my braids being swept in directions by the currents.

We walked into the small soft sanded beach at the edge of the wall of rocks.

I lay on the sand and smiled at him.

He lay on the beach next to me, motioning for me to lift my head so we can lay together.

I lifted my head and moved closer to him, he wrapped his arm around my shoulders. 

I cuddled into his side and laid my head on his chest.

As he stroked my arm gently I let out a yawn.

He moved his hand up to my head and gently stroked my hair. 

At the gentle affection and the feeling of safety that enveloped me, I felt a wave of peace wash over me.

The rhythm of Neteyam's breathing and heartbeat caused me to fully relax into his chest. Peaceful. We were together and peaceful. 

Neteyam placed a gentle kiss on my head and looked at me. 

I looked back at him and started peppering kisses along his jaw. 

He looked at me and pressed his forehead against mine. 

"I see you." He whispered. 

I sat up and placed my hand on his chest before kissing him on the lips gently.

"Nateyam, I see you."

I watched him blush and a smile spread over my face. 

He pulled me to him and held me by the waist. 

I let myself fall onto his chest as he kept kissing me softly. His lips reminded me of the sweet fruit often found and brought to us by the hunters from far-off islands. I hadn't noticed how sweet they were the first time we had kissed.

he pulled me on top of him. I pulled away from the kiss at his sudden strength and gasped, "Tay..." 

He hugged my waist and buried his face into my shoulder, "Key."

He started gently kissing along my shoulder and neck. At his kisses, I tangled my hands into his hair. 

He pulled away from my skin and gasped softly. His face was flushed and yet mine was worse. 

"Call me that more." He hugged my waist tighter and rested his chin on my chest, his pupils had dilated larger than normal as we held eye contact. 

"Tay?" 

He smiled at the name and then bit his lip. He slid his hands from behind my back to rest on my hips, he pressed his hands into my hips as he kissed me gently again. I placed my arms over his shoulders and kissed him back. 

He pulled away and smiled softly before laying back down on the sand. 

I got off him and lay next to him, our fingers were interlaced between us in the sand. 

I kept my eyes up at the starry sky, and yet I felt Neteyam looking at me. 

I smiled and then looked at him, "Ever been told your staring gets a bit creepy?" 

He snickered at me and then looked up at the sky again. We sat together like that in silence.

I watched as the sky began slowly lighting up. I sighed and sat up, looking at Neteyam.

"Tay, we have to head back soon."

He nodded at my words and sat up with me. 

He leaned over and kissed me gently before standing up completely. 

He turned to me and reached his hand out for me to take. 

As I grabbed his hand he pulled me to my feet. 

I stood with him before starting to walk into the ocean, Tay followed.