Neteyams ears twitched at the call of his name, his sleeping state still slightly aware of his surroundings. Saiyas eyes slowly opened feelings her mates sudden change in breath.
"Neteyam!" She heard Lo'ak yell from outside of the cove, his voice getting closer.
"Net." She mumbled quickly sliding herself from out beneath him and pulling their Kurus gently apart. "Hm?" He asked in confusion as his body hit the ground and he felt himself disconnected from Saiya. "What is it?" He asked gently pulling her arm back as she tried to stand.
"Saiya!" They both heard, Tsireyas voice slightly worried.
"Guys! Let's go back, they will find their way back." Kiri pleaded not wanting to the group to find Saiya and Neteyam.
"It's nearly morning we have to make sure they're okay." Rotxo said his voice echoing through the cave as he poked his head through.
Saiya and Neteyam now had put their clothing items on, Neteyam helping Saiya fix her straps.
"It's okay?" She asked him spinning around for him to look at her, not wanting to the group to tease them for anything.
"More than okay." Neteyam smirked as he pulled her in for a deep kiss holding the sides of her face.
"Neteyam!" Lo'ak yelled as he ventured further into the cave, Tsireya clinging to his arm.
"Netey-" His voice died down as his eyes landed on his brother and one of his closest friends.
"Saiya! there you guys are." They smiled as they walked down the stone steps to reach them.
"Lo'ak! Hello!" Saiya smiled but praying inside they wouldn't tease them.
"Were you guys hiding from us?" Aounung scoffed faking his offence following Kiri down the steps.
"We should've been." Neteyam replied sarcastically.
Their friendship was mostly built off sarcastic comments, but it worked for the both of them.
"Ha Ha." Aounung deadpanned causing everyone to chuckle.
"We should head back then." Saiya huffed holding Neteyams bicep in her arms and walking forward.
"Yeah." Neteyam muttered under his breath, grateful Saiya was leading them away.
"Wait what were you guys doing?" Rotxo asked again.
Kiris eyes widened in annoyance as she discreetly pinched his forearms.
The group looked around at the cove noticing the disheveled pink flowers and lit lanterns that illuminated it beautifully. The idea came to mind as they all understood.
"Oohhhh!" Lo'ak said nodding his head. "Oh!" He cheered running up to his brother and Saiya engulfing them in a long hug. Tsireya followed squeaking her excitement for her best friend. Rotxo joined the hug spreading his arms out wide, Kiri chuckled noticing how big the hug was getting and decided to join herself.
"Won't you join Aounung?" Kiri asked, her voice clearly teasing.
"Never." He huffed crossing his arms and staring at the group, after a moment of silence he gave in.
"Fine." He mumbled joining in on the group hug.
As the hug disassembled they began to walk out of the cove, the sun teetering the horizon over pandora. They walked back to village quietly not wanting to wake any of the elders or children.
"We are very happy for you two." Kiri smiled, her eyes closing slowly.
"Thank you Kiri." Saiya thanked smiling. As awkward as it was for all of them to now know, it was sweet, they knew Neteyam was hers and she was his.
Tsireya smiled widely holding tight onto Lo'aks arms. They went their separate ways and planned to hang out later in the day.
As Saiya and Neteyam walked back into their home he pushed open the flap for her, she ducked her head slightly as she walked in and thanked him.
"Are you hungry?" She asked kneeling in front of a basket she was sure had something inside to eat.
"No." He huffed, his face clearly holding a smile.
Saiya turned her head in her low position, tail still in anticipation.
"What? What is it Net?" She asked, her ears turning upward to hear his response and eyes shifting to his still hand that hid behind his back.
Neteyam stood in awe, how her body reacted to his words, his movements, like she could read and see right through him.
"Come." He hummed cracking a small smile at her.
"What is it?" She asked walking over to him.
"Over the last 2 days i've been meeting with So'eli-"
"I'm aware." She interrupted.
Neteyam chuckled continuing his sentence.
"I've been meeting with her because she taught me something." He smirked walking behind her.
Saiya snapped her head back to look at him, "What did she teach you that i couldn't-" She claimed turning to face him.
"Saiya." Neteyam stopped her from talking and kneeled before her. She looked down at him with wide eyes. She'd only see a man kneel before a woman in the human videos they watched back in the forest in the lab.
Without another word Neteyam pulled Saiyas foot onto his extended knee and pulled out a beautiful ankle bracelet made with different tiny shells and stones.
The soft curves of the shells and stones brushed past her skin, tickling her slightly as he adjusted the strings to fit her. She watched as him gently tie the strings, she recognised each and every one, the first shell that landed in their mauri, the first purple stone they had found in the cove which was Saiyas favourite colour, a shell he gifted her on their first date and many more. The end of the bracelet was sealed with a round bead, the material too familiar, to home like for her to ignore, it was a bead from the home tree.
"Neteyam." Saiya muttered eyes scanning the bracelet 100 times.
"I collected them and created this for you, with a little help." He confessed hoping to Eywa she liked it.
"Neteyam." Her eyes watered slightly. She pulled him by his hands and rushed into hugging him before he could even stand straight. Neteyams tail stabilising then allowed the hug to deepen.
"Irayo Neteyam, Irayo." (Thank you, thank you)
Her soft tears fell in between the two of them landing on her chest. Neteyam could feel they were tears of happiness, of love, of thankfulness.
"Don't cry." He mumbled pulling back and wiping a tear off her face.
"I was scared, I was scared to come here Net." She whispered now looking down at her hands that had intertwined with his large ones.
Fiddling with his fingers she spoke;
"But now I wouldn't have changed it for anything, you are so special to me. You are everything to me. Neteyam, I see you." She smiled trying not to let anymore tears drop.
Neteyams ears lifted high at her words. His heart pumped rapidly, he thought it would rip from his chest. His breath became heavy and his eyes displayed nothing but endless love.
All his life Neteyam wanted to be seen, to be understood. Not just to look out for his siblings and stop their trouble but to be recognised. Saiya had done just that, from the day they had met, she saw Neteyam.
He pulled her close and gently brushed his lips onto hers. He pulled her back and looked into her deep yellow eyes, which he swore were brighter than the sun, yet so dark and tantalising you would mistake them for honey. "I see you Saiya. And I thank you." He whispered, kissing her as a smile formed her on her face.
Authors note: Sorry this was so short.
I just wanted to upload since i hadn't in 5 days and im back in school so I can literally only write before I go to sleep.
Hope you enjoyed reading x
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Absence
Roman d'amour"Your touch, your voice, your eyes, fuck Saiya your presence ignites something in me i didn't even know was there....." She could hear his voice from a mile away, no matter how loud it was, how far he was, she would hear him call and she would answe...
