The Breath of Water | Neteyam

37 • Cracking Those Boundaries

"The real lover is the man who can thrill you by kissing your forehead or smiling into your eyes or just staring into space."
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"Peya! Hey!" Aonung shouted, running towards her. She was lugging a big net of fish that was a little too heavy for her, so he helped her by picking it up.

"Thanks, Aonung...this is why I stick to my herbs..." she said, breathing kind of heavily.

"It is no big deal." he replied, happily carrying the fish. "...how is your father?"

"Hungry. He has been consuming almost all of the food we get."

"...I guess that attack drained him of a lot of energy, huh?" he asked, chuckling.

"I think it was more so the ritual—it was kind of a brutal process. The way the pxorna' reacted with his body was very intense." she explained. "...its fiery nature is astounding."

"...you really like your herbs, huh?" he joked.

"...I love studying ways I can help. I am no tsakarem, so I am foreign to the knowledge of rituals and like things, but medicinal herbs are my passion."

He mindlessly looked at her, his eyes like a puppy's, still carrying the fish. They finally reached her pod, and so he sat the net down next to the entrance. Tiluway was asleep, for he was stuffed from his previous meal, which was a hefty one. Kinat gave her daughter a hug as she entered, but when she saw Aonung, her eyes widened.

"Oh, my, Peya you made him carry all of this?" she asked, prompting a laugh out of him.

"No, Mama, he offered! You know I am not good with heavy things..." she explained, whisper-shouting.

"I apologize that my daughter is so weak." Kinat said, sighing.

"It was no problem, really." Aonung laughed.

"See, Mama? He said it was fine..." Peya groaned, dragging the fish more inside the pod.

"Well, I should probably get going now..." Aonung mentioned, turning to head out.

"Oh, why don't you stay for dinner? I am sure you and Peya have lots to talk about." Kinat suggested.

"What would we have to talk about?" Peya asked, genuinely confused.

"About how you two will be helping feed all the Na'vi during the festival. Or did you forget about that?"

"Ah," Aonung started. "....it is okay, Kinat, I do not want to intrude on your meal—"

"Oh, but who said you are intruding? You are merely enjoying a meal. Come now, sit."

She rushed Aonung to the cooking fire, sitting him down. Peya sighed as she sat as well, fanning the fire. After some time, she locked eyes with him, then they suddenly burst into laughter. Quietly, though; they didn't want to wake Tiluway. Kinat looked over at them, a small smirk forming its way upon her face.

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"Hey, Neteyam," Liyanin softly spoke, walking over to him as he sat on his snonivi (single-person hammock). He was the only one there, so she felt comfortable walking in. "...are you alright?"

His mood kind of lifted upon seeing the one he liked, but his guilt for ruining everyone's mood was stronger. "...hi, Liyanin." he replied, his smile, half-heartened. She took a seat next to him, fiddling with her fingers. She came in here, but didn't know what she could say to help him feel better.

"...how rude, I asked if you were alright, and you garner me no response?" she jokingly complained. She got a small laugh out of him, a little smile forming on her face.

"...they must all hate me...the teens, I mean." he stated.

"I do not see why they would...if they were the ones who got injured, they would want the phase to be postponed...they are all selfish...teylupil (vulgar word, close to Kiri's "penis face")."

Hearing her curse made his eyes widened, for she never really did.

"What? It is true..." she reiterated, her back straightened. Neteyam forced a laugh down, but couldn't keep it that way. He ended up bursting out in laughter, his shock of hearing such a word come out of Liyanin's mouth still not dissipating.

"The tsakarem spouting such words...what would your mother think?" he teased.

"Well, it is a good thing she is not here." she replied, smirking.

He seems better, she thought. She ran her hand over his back, seemingly searching for something. This action caught him by surprise, obviously; her touch being spontaneous.

"...wha...what are you doing...?" he asked, feeling his cheeks heat up.

"I am feeling for your beat." she replied.

"My what?"

"...I am trying to see if there is anything unstable within you," her hand now moved to the side of his neck. "...sometimes, after a hefty treatment like yours, some Na'vi feel light-headed or unwell. I am checking to see if that is the case with you."

"Oh..."

"...have you felt weird? At any time after the ritual?"

His face was so close to hers. Oh, goodness, his heart was going crazy.

"...no, just the usual soreness..." he said while clearing his throat. She finally stopped touching him, now realizing that she had her hands all over him. She really would get carried away sometimes when she was so close to him; they would hold each other's hand for a while, not even noticing until the other would let go.

She smiled lightly, mindlessly gazing at his chest, her eyes lingering all over him. He as well, was looking at her, admiring the sight.

And before he could realize what he was doing, his arm was already on her hair.

This caught her off guard, prompting her to look into his eyes. His sweet, golden, eyes. He caressed her hair, feeling its smooth texture. He then brought her face into his chest, his nose settling atop her head. Liyanin didn't say anything; she sat there, wanting to see how things would play out—for once, leaving it up to fate. No premonitions, no visions—just her and Neteyam.

"...Liyanin..." he spoke softly.

"...Neteyam," she began, closing her eyes. "...I..."

"...your hair is so soft..."

His fingers made their way deeper into her curly locks, feeling the smoothness of each strand. His eyes were closed while his nose and mouth were still buried in her hair. Liyanin's breathing became ragged, courtesy of her fluster from the situation. Her hands were now on his chest, wanting a pillar of support, to feel him.

Just kiss me, she thought. Please, just kiss me.

"...Liyanin, I have something to say to you." he said, his mouth still buried, so his voice was a little muffled.

"...what...is it?"

He now pulled his face away, looking intently into her eyes.

"...I will tell you," he grabbed her hand, fiddling with her fingers. "...after I win."

"After you win? Win what?" she asked, her eyes lost on his lips.

"The second phase," he planted those lips on the back of her palm. "...I will tell you after I win the second phase."

"...how are you...so sure you will win?"

"...because what I wish to tell you..." he kissed her palm now. "...is something I really wish to tell you. I am going to win, whatever it takes."

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