Neteyam pov
My heart was beating faster than it should just thinking about Aonung. The way he looked at me last night made butterflies bloom all over again. The feeling of his hand in mine, it was driving me crazy. I was so nervous to see him today but I was also excited I think.
I awoke earlier than the others and began to get ready for my lesson. I would no doubt be with Aonung. I braided my hair back so many times just to get it perfect. My fingers began to ache. I had to redo so many braids because they didn't look neat enough.
"Who are you trying to look good for?" Kiri asked leaning against the wall near where I was braiding my hair. Shit. She noticed.
"No one." I said finishing the braid I was doing. "Does it looks good?" I asked her.
"Yes, I think Aonung will like them quite a lot." She smirked as she said it. My face went pale. What did she know?
"Relax I am just teasing." She laughed as she turned to head to our lesson. She was infuriating.
I made my way down to the beach where the lessons would be taking place today. I played with my hair trying to be sure it looked alright. Everyone was gathered there when I arrived. Tsireya and Lo'ak were already moving off together.
"Shall we split same as yesterday?" Aonung asked looking towards Rotxo. He nodded and looked to Kiri to start lessons.
"No I want to go with you Neteyam!" Tuk protested.
"Sure you can come with u-" Aonung started before I cut him off.
"Uh no sorry Tuk but you can't come with us. We're doing grown up stuff, you're too little." I said to her. She pouted and stuck her tongue out at me before swimming after Kiri. Kiri turned to me wiggling her eyebrows. I shook my head at her and turned away following Aonung. She just laughed and swam after Tuk and Rotxo.
"Want me all to yourself or what?" Aonung said all smugly. Stupid fish boy and his stupid fish face.
"Don't flatter yourself fish boy." I said with a sudden burst of confidence. Even he looked taken aback.
"Don't call me fish boy, forest boy." He said frowning.
"What would you rather me call you?" I asked. I felt bad.
"Aonung. Call me Aonung." He said easing his expression a little.
"Ok Aonung. What are we doing today?" I asked trying to lighten the mood.
"What would you like to do?" He asked. I thought about this for a moment.
"Shall we dive?" I asked. He nodded and we both dove below the surface. I opened my eyes and gazed at all the beautiful fish and plant life. Everywhere I turned there was something incredible to look at. I wonder if Aonung still found it as beautiful as the first time he saw it. I looked over to him to see he was already looking at me. Had he been watching me? I felt myself blush slightly.
I swam up to the surface for air. Aonung followed me up. We swam for an hour or so more before going to rest on the beach. We lay side by side not daring to move too close to one another.
Aonung pov
I was so content to just lay here all day with him. I was watching him dive earlier, he looks so adorable when he's fascinated by things. The way his hair floats around him makes my heart sing.
"Aonung." Neteyam breaks my train of thought.
"Mm."
"About last night. I don't know what that was and I'm not sure if I liked it or not but I think it would be best if we just forgot about it maybe. I don't know I just don't want anyone finding out and assuming stuff." It came out as one big breath. It was as though he'd been nervous to say it.
"I understand. I will not tell anyone about what happened. But I will not be able to forget." The last part of that seemed to take Neteyam by surprise. It was true though, I did not know if I would ever be able to forget the way this boy made me feel.
"Thank you for understanding." The relief on his face was immediate. He still looked puzzled over the last part of my statement yet did not question it. We fell silent once again, enjoying each others company.
"Thank you for staying with me last night." I had been meaning to thank him since I saw him this morning but had not managed to. The words had felt stuck in his throat until now.
"I'm glad I was there."
"Me too."
Neteyam pov
I left Aonung to go find my father. I wanted to ask him something.
"Father?" I spoke as I approached him.
"Yes son?" He replied not turning from what he was doing.
"How did you know when you started falling for mum?" I asked shyly. He turned to face me, slightly surprised at what I had asked. He did not expect this sort of question from me.
"I believe I first noticed it when my heart would skip a beat every time she was near. Even hearing her name spoken was enough to get my heart pumping. She set off storms inside of me, made me feel emotions I had not known could exist. She showed me the light. She made me feel alive. She still does to this day. " He said sitting in front of me now. Mother walked up behind him laying a hand on his shoulder.
"Boring him with stories of love ma Jake?" She said smiling down at him.
"Never." My father said wrapping his arm around her waist. They were so in love. It was sweet yet sickening.
"Has a special someone caught your eye?" Mother asked sitting down beside father.
"No I um I just wanted to know what it felt like. That's all." I avoided their gaze. I knew that they could tell something was off but they would not pressure me into telling them.
I stood saying goodbye to my parents and wandering off down the path way.
I was sitting on the edge of the path with my feet dangling in the water when Kiri found me. She sat beside me and rested her head on my shoulder.
"Are you alright, Neteyam?" She asked not moving from my shoulder. She was always one to worry.
"Yes, just tired is all." I replied. We sat there for a while enjoying the silence before we got called in for dinner.
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Silence Between Words (Neteyam X Aonung)
FanficI knew I would love him until the end of my days, I would love him until my lungs ceased to draw breath, until the universe was no more, until he and I were just another star in the sky, until the very land on which we stood wilted away beneath us...
