𝐒𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐓 | 𝗇𝖾𝗍𝖾𝗒𝖺𝗆 𝗌𝗎𝗅𝗅𝗒.

𝘴𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘯 | 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘵

THESE THREE WORDS were all Tuseÿa had been longing for.

"I see you."

To be seen was simply all she wished for. Someone to hold her and tell her that everything will be fine.

That had been something she never had. She had always felt guilty for feeling certain ways.

"Crying is for the weak." Her fathers words replayed in her head. But somehow that didn't bother her anymore. When she was in Neteyam's arms, crying felt right.

Neteyam didn't make her feel weak but strong for letting it all out.

Tuseÿa looked at Neteyam with different eyes this time, eyes that weren't ice cold and rejecting, but soft and full of hope.

Hope that included them might actually having a chance. She just needed to let her guards down and it was possible, but she was still hesitant and scared of what could happen if she were to do that.

Neteyam made her feel as if  she could be herself without having to fulfill any duties. She could make stupid mistakes and he wouldn't completely despise her for it. He understood her even though everything she did was questionable and confusing.

Her parents made her feel like she always owed something to someone. But Tuseÿa didn't owe Neteyam anything yet she felt like she did.

She opened her mouth for a second but closed it immediately as she noticed that she didn't even know what to say.

Neteyam laughed at her little gesture, "It's okay, you don't have to say anything. You not letting me go is saying more than any of the words in this world could do." He gently brushed his fingers against her cheek, wiping away the few tears that hadn't dried up yet.

Tuseÿa managed to say a little "thank you" but that was it.

This time Tuseÿa was the one taking her time to admire the boy. Beautiful yellow eyes, perfectly shaped lips that felt like a gift from Eywa on her own, and the beads in his hair that always made  aggressive sounds when he moved.

Tuseÿa didn't care that she was staring, if Neteyam could do it, she could do it too, she thought. "Seriously thank you." She thanked him again which he answered to with a smile.

"Also about my brother.. I hope you know that he really didn't mean to-"

The girl immediately cut Neteyam off, embarrassed and disgusted by the way she had acted earlier, "My reaction was completely out of place, I'll apologize to him as soon as I get the chance."

A bright smile entered the Sully boys face again, but it faded immediately when he realized that his brother was gone, somewhere and he didn't know where.

Fast steps were coming towards the two, it sounded like the person had been running.

"What are you guys doing here, let's go find Tsireya!"

Both of their heads turned as they heard the voice of the person. It was Kiri. Tuseÿa's heart stung a bit, she had been completely avoiding her too after the bonfire.

She hadn't found the time to approach her again, since Kiri was always gone and nowhere to be found. This was her time to talk to her again.

"Kiri, I-"

Kiri shushed her with a forced smile on her face, "We'll talk about that later, okay? Right now we need to find your sister."

Neteyam looked at the girls with raised eyebrows, he was wondering what they were talking about, but he knew better and didn't ask.