𝐔𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 | Neteyam x Aonung

Twenty

"Ow!", Ao'nung flinched at the cold sensation of some sort of ointment touching his cheekbone. To avoid waking their families and other clan members, he and Neteyam sat on the footbridge a little further away.
"You're so sensitive...," the warrior muttered under his breath, visibly annoyed. The night sky continued to illuminate the sea, and the cool breeze tickled their noses.

Ao'nung carefully examined the other's face, his attention drawn primarily to Neteyam's narrowed eyes.
"Why did you two have to get into a fight...?" the younger one whispered; mostly to himself. His voice was filled with a lot of disappointment, and that's what really broke Ao'nung's heart. It was never his intention to let the situation spiral out of control, but Lo'ak's words instilled a lot of rage in him.
When Neteyam couldn't find any more bruises on his face, he set the ointment aside for the time being and tried to keep eye contact with the other. "So?" he asked again after receiving no verbal responses but rather incomprehensible mumbling.

Ao'nung just huffed before quickly grabbing the forest na'vi's hands and clutching them tightly in his own. "Please, Tey... what Lo'ak said isn't true," the words left the boy's mouth in a desperate manner, almost begging for Neteyam's trust. But instead of softening his expression, the warrior simply scoffed. "Oh, so he just made it all up? You kissing and ditching everyone?" he asked provocatively while trying to pull his hands away, but failing miserably.
"No, that's true... but listen to me!"

Neteyam broke the stare and looked to the side, at the wavy water glistening next to them. "I don't even know if I want to anymore..", he admitted quietly.

Ao'nung's heartbeat increased rapidly, and his tongue knotted as he struggled to find the right words to explain his actions. He knew what he did was wrong, and Neteyam had every right to be angry, but the Metkayina wouldn't let him go.
Not after what they've accomplished together.
"I can't fully express why, but it's different with you, Tey," he began, determined to remove the impediments to them developing a healthy relationship. Not missing the way Neteyam's ears twitched at the sound of his nickname.

"It never felt right with those other girls, and I never once considered one of them being able to become my future mate," Ao'nung exhaled while carefully cupping the other's face. "But with you, love, this is exactly my only wish".

Neteyam's ears perked up instantly, and his tail stopped moving for a split second, the opposite of his heavily pounding heart. "What...?" he muttered, his breathing becoming erratic.
"My 18th birthday is next week, and because I'm the chief's son, there'll be a slightly larger feast than usual," Ao'nung slowly added midway through the warrior still processing the other part. And, seeing Neteyam's confusion about where he was going with this conversation, the reef na'vi quickly continued. "In my clan it is expected to appear with a mate on your 18th, because then you've been an adult for one year already and should've chosen your mate".

Neteyam remained silent, lost in his thoughts, instead of responding to Ao'nung's sudden bomb of information. If he had to be honest, it was very strange. There were no such things as deadlines for your mate back in the forest. It wasn't even required to have one.
But now that he's a Metkayina, he has to adapt, live like them, and follow the rules.
He raised his eyes to the other boy once more. "And what happens if you don't have one until then?" he asked, intrigued.

"Don't get this wrong, Neteyam," Ao'nung said quickly, shaking his head. He realized he hadn't explained it thoroughly enough. "It's not something you necessarily have to do, but it conveys to the people that one bears responsibility. It's almost as if it's a sign of respect for the couple."

With everything getting a little too much for Neteyam, he just nodded, still less confused than before.
He knew what Ao'nung was hinting at, but the warrior preferred to hear it from the other's own lips. More importantly, from the bottom of his heart.

"And... who are you implying to?" he asked hesitantly, fidgeting with his fingers.

Ao'nung simply smiled, watching Neteyam's tail flick nervously while tucking some of the braids behind the other boy's ear. When their eyes met, everything around them seemed to come to a halt. Their presence was all that was required for the moment to feel complete.

"I know this is very sudden, and we haven't known each other for that long, but trust me, Neteyam, I've never been more sure about anything in my life," the older one said softly, admiring the other's beauty and inhaling his wonderful scent once more.

He thought about the question that Neteyam asked just now, returning to it. "I've already chosen," he breathed onto his lips.
Their hearts were racing, and their ears and tails were slightly twitching. It was incredible how one conversation could cause such a massive emotional explosion in someone's body.
And now the only thing that mattered was each other's presence.

Ao'nung's gaze darted from left to right, attempting to see through Neteyam's breaking barrier behind his own bright, sparkling ones.
"But this man must also choose me".

No hesitation, nor regret was visible in their expressions, and they knew, that this was the right thing to do.

"He already has".

-
Quick question: Smut, yes or no?
Kind of important for the story line, so I'm asking. They're both adults in Pandora with their current ages.