Courting

Chapter 6

Neteyam didn't realise how heavily the other was breathing, and his hand felt cold against the burning skin of Ao'nung's shoulder. Praying that Ao'nung would turn around, and cursing himself for being so forward again.

"Hey, wait. I still want to talk, no more fighting." Neteyam said, trying to work some of the sincerity he felt into his voice. Sighing in relief when he felt the tense shoulder stop, and turn. Dropping his arm, Neteyam looked at Ao'nung, appreciating the warm, morning feel the glinting blue eyes gave him. 

"What could you want? I told you I can't be friends with you. I am trying to be fair to myself." Ao'nung told Neteyam, in the same low, growling tone he had used to get himself out from under Neteyam. 

"If being fair to yourself means ignoring me, and looking at me like... that, I don't want fair." Neteyam told him, his eyes revealing a hurt look as he described the way Ao'nung looked at him after any interaction they had. Neteyam was barely breathing heavy from their tussle. His forehead tilted towards Aonung's, eyes pointing upwards at the taller boy. 

"You do not get to choose for me, you are better off making friends with my sister and Rotxo, or any other of the kids around. You don't need me, catching you every time you so much as trip, and I don't-" Ao'nung continued, trying to convince Neteyam of all the reasons they were better off this way. 

"I didn't think I would have to choose for you, smitten with me as you are," Neteyam responded, trying in vain to make light of the conversation, and frowning immediately when it only caused darker shadows to creep over Ao'nung's face. "I mean. I am capable of making my own choices. What if-" but this time it was Ao'nung's turn to cut him off. 

"No. No 'what if's'. I cannot handle tarnishing your reputation with my childish infatuation. We have not even known each other for a month, and I constantly find myself staring at you. Every time I hear you joke or talk to me, all I can think about is how it represents us being nothing more than friends." Ao'nung was breathing even heavier now. Neteyam was now smiling, shaking his head slightly. "What are you-" Ao'nung began again, but was once more cut off. 

"You didn't let me finish. What if," he paused, looking at Ao'nung hard, through his golden eyes "I wanted you to catch me?" Neteyam asked, the grin in his voice faltering as his eyes dropped lower on Ao'nung's face. 

"What if... you-" Ao'nung tried, but was only cut off again as Neteyam raised himself on his toes, closing the already infinitesimal gap between their lips. Neteyam had always expected kissing someone for the first time to be full of worry, a dreadful but compulsory event for everyone. However, the second their lips met, all Neteyam thought about was how soft Ao'nung's were. A shock of terror ran through him when Ao'nung initially jerked away, but was calmed when he lowered his head, better to have more contact with Neteyam. Although he wasn't sure when his arms rose to rest around Ao'nung's neck and along his shoulders, Neteyam was pleased to feel the tense muscle relax as he lent into him. Pulling apart a few moments later, feeling as if a whole lifetime had passed, they studied each others faces. The grin was back on his face, his eyes squinting in joy as Neteyam continued to look over the striking features of the other. 

(I'm not good with the pov thing so it might fluctuate) 

Ao'nung POV

Staring at the face mere inches from his, Ao'nung could not help himself from studying the curved lips he had just felt. The offending lips were bent in a smile, pointing towards those eyes. The eyes that Ao'nung could study as intently as he liked, and would still cause him to find himself lost in seconds. The tension he had been carrying every since he had unintentionally confessed to Neteyam was gone, relaxing under the weight of the arms resting around his shoulders. Being taller, Ao'nung had leant down slightly, his own arms now wrapped around Neteyam's slimmer waist. Despite the lithe frame, Ao'nung could feel the hard-earned, lean muscle below the deep blue skin. The fingers at the back of his neck were dancing delicately through the curly mess than was a tight bun previous to their tussle on the sand. Moving his eyes back - from where they were examining every bead braided Neteyam's hair - to the eyes crinkled in a laugh, looking back at him. 

"I would catch you." Ao'nung breathed, his emotions welling up and overflowing into his words. 

"Maybe I'll slip more often then." Neteyam grinned, back to that familiar, adorably insufferable smirk. "I'll see you tomorrow Ao." he whispered, removing his arms from Ao'nung's neck, and slowly making his way back to the marui so close to Ao'nung's own. Frozen for some time, he watched Neteyam walk across the sand, moving without leaving anything but faint indents in his wake. His tail was the only thing giving away his excitement. While the rest of his body was calm, his arms swinging casually, his tail was practically whipping side to side, while his ears were flicking in every direction as if to pick up any footsteps should Ao'nung pursue him. Not completely opposed to the idea now of another wrestle, if only to let Neteyam let him win again, Ao'nung considered it. He might have run after the boy, had he not been frozen in place, the breeze very cold against his burning skin.