Lovely Heart

Weaving

Neteyam knew it wasn't true, 'I'm not going anywhere' he had said. Aonung had touched him feverishly and pressed his mouth into his neck- yet he grasped the thought of separation even tighter. His dreams were happening less frequently, he felt like he had lost something- something that was a part of him for so long. He dreamt of the forest, of taking Aonung to the tree of souls. They would part the beautiful tendrils to enter, and connect to the memories of their ancestors. He would take his queue, and they would form tsaheylu. And when he awoke he could feel a sob form, tears coming in softly. He put on a necklace, hiding the love bites.

Aonung and Neteyam's workload had been significantly less in recent days, or maybe Neteyam was just getting used to the tasks. After some diving and collecting materials, Tsireya was teaching Loak how to weave a basket in a pod. It was a common area, so other people were around chatting and doing chores. Loak was used to hunting and 'manly' things, he never used to spend time with the girls learning braiding and weaving. Neteyam was happy to be a mix of both- although his braids needed work. He blames his mother for always doing his.

Aonung and Neteyam head over with more weaving materials "here, i got the strong kind" Aonung handed them to Tsireya and she thanked him with a smile. Aonung sat down and signed to Tsireya in complex terms. Neteyam tried to catch what was being said but his hand movements were too erratic and fast. "Why is he always at your heels, is he a pet?" She frowned slightly and signed back "your one to talk" looking at Neteyam, he laughed. Loak and Neteyam looked at each other, wondering what just happened, Tsireya apologised and continued weaving "we will teach you the complex signs soon, for now, just practice what we've shown you" Loak huffed at their secrets, as if he hadn't done it to them with Neteyam before, with English. It was to be noted that sometimes the Metkayina dialect was different, which made Neteyam blush. The things he said and his accent, made him seem more, well, reef. Rather than the forest which he was so used to. He got so caught up in his thoughts, Tsireya had handed him some leaves and he was already a quarter into a basket. He wondered some more as his fingers delicately created a pattern. He missed the forest but every day he spent here, he started to love the reef.

Aonung shifted and lay his back against his back and shortly after, he could feel his breathing slow. He fell asleep as he weaved, he was the opposite, he needed to work on his weaving but when it came to hair he was second to none. Aonung was a warrior, so was Neteyam- but a true warrior masters all crafts. Aonung woke at midday, opening his eyes and jolting up. Tsireya and Loak had left them to go attend to other chores, Neteyam letting Aonung sleep. A couple people walking past laughed quietly at him, still sleepy.

A couple kids walked past, helping another who was younger to walk, steading the child's arms. Aonung smiled gently, he loved his people.. "Aonung, do the thing!" he shuffled beside Neteyam, "no way, go away you're annoying" Neteyam noticed the three kids and he was brought right back to when he would take care of his own siblings, even when he himself was too young. He felt that maybe all na'vi children were extremely resistant to harm. When they would trip, they would pick themselves back up and walk away giggling. "Come on Aonung! pleassee" the child tugged at his hair, the other flopping onto his lap. He pretended to be cross, hiding a smile that was creeping up on him. He was at every child's initiation and first connection to eywa. They used to bother him often, asking him to play- but when his attention shifted to the Omaticaya children, they got apprehensive. The children didn't understand why they were different, and heard the adults talking. However they wanted to see if they were nice for themselves.

The child on Aonung's lap stared shyly at Neteyam, and he smiled. With the constant begging, he stood up and grabbed them both effortlessly onto his shoulders. Neteyam stopped his weaving and let out a toothy grin as Aonung spun around and around- swinging the children every which way. Their giggles sounded through the open space, "more! More!" the older one asked, the younger just laughing along. Neteyam saw the youngest child struggling to keep standing up, he instinctively grabbed her into his lap. He smiled and looked up to Aonung, the children now pulling on his tail. He made warrior sounds, and they squealed. Neteyam stared down at the child, and the light green tone in her soft baby skin. Aonung sat down next to Neteyam with a huff. The kids hid behind him, "Stop being shy you big babies" he instructed. Neteyam looked over and they slowly crept up to him. He laughed as they grabbed at his hair and hands. Endlessly curious about how he was different. Without saying much they grabbed the little girl from him and waved goodbye, giggling amongst themselves all the way. "I didn't know you were so good with kids" Neteyam said, continuing the weaving slowly with a small smile. "I took care of Tsireya, but once she grew up it didn't stop. I couldn't escape the little things- they were always showing up" Neteyam laughed into his hand, and tried not to feel sad.

Aonung would make a great father, he would be strict yet gentle. Neteyam felt grief wash over him as he couldn't be the one to harbour his children. Aonung noticed his face slip into an uncomfortable expression, and ruffled his braids. "Come on baby tail, let's get out of here"

Without much of a struggle he stood and followed the taller boy, he would follow him wherever he went. He would always be loyal to him. He skipped over to the tree where they first kissed. It was afternoon and the sun was setting as they held each other. He listened to every subtle sound Neteyam made, and it made his own body react. They had been kissing for a long time, turning slow and speeding up at times, only for Aonung to take control and decide the pace no matter how hungry Neteyam was. Aonung holding back his wave of desire. He slid a hand to his nape, keeping his head from hitting the tree behind him. His nape was beautifully thin and delicate. He rubbed the love bites under the necklace he used to cover them. Their secret being held between the two as an invaluable treasure.

"Aonung" he moaned lightly, "I want to touch you" he said in a hurried tone, completely flushed from his hot kisses. He placed one last kiss on his lips slowly "I would be honoured" he whispered into his ear, earning him a shudder of satisfaction.

He took off his loincloth and slowly reached over, completely engulfed with lust. Starting off shy and unsure, until he felt Aonung's breath caught in his throat, and his face twisted in delight. He sped up, and Aonung finished with a huff into his hand.

They held each other for a second, before getting dressed and going for a swim secretly to clean up. "Oh Eywa, you're so perfect" he held Neteyams face, and they begrudgingly went their separate ways after Aonung walked him home. "Goodnight baby tail" he said, Loak laughed at his nickname and Kiri hit his shoulder ordering him to shut up. "Goodnight" he said and Kiri smiled at Neteyam, grabbing his hands as he walked in to eat. Neteyam quickly stole a glance as Aonung walked off. Satisfied with the day.