Mune Olo'eyktan [Neteyam x Aonung]

Part 141

The marine boy thinks for a moment, then grabs his hand and locks their fingers while wearing a small smile. Neteyam smiles back at him, knowing he never likes to state their relationship with words.

He scoots closer to lie his head on his shoulder, the way he used to do often.

Neteyam- Aonung, do me a favor.

Aonung- What is it?

Neteyam- Don't ever dump me again, or I might accidentally kill your ass.

He starts laughing, but Neteyam is dead serious, he isn't sure he could control himself if he ever had to go through that again.

Aonung- As long as you do me a favor and talk to your brother.

Neteyam- And if I don't?

Aonung- Neteyam.

Neteyam- Fine, I'll do it, later though.

He snuggles Aonung with a smile, already seeing their familiar dynamic returning. It puts him in the most pleasant mood.

Aonung- Have you ever had recurring dreams?

His pleasant mood is interrupted with worry, and he leans up to look at Aonung's face. Tsireya has mentioned the many times Aonung woke from what seemed to be a nightmare, but also mentioned that he would never elaborate on it.

Neteyam- No, but Tsireya mentioned your nightmares.

Aonung- They weren't particularly scary, but it's the same one, every time.

Neteyam- What are they about?

Aonung- White. Everything around me was white, I couldn't see any scenery.

Neteyam- Could you hear anything?

Aonung- Nothing but the wind and sea. I was alone.

Neteyam- Any idea what it could mean?

Aonung- No. I've been trying to make sense of it, but I can't. First time I had it, all it made me think of was the empty spaces left in my memory.

Neteyam- Maybe stop thinking about it for a while, and the lost memories as well. Stressing over that can't be good for you. Honestly, as dumb as this is about to sound, maybe you should think less altogether.

Aonung- That sounds dangerous.

Neteyam- (laughs) I'm serious. I think you'd do well to run on instinct for a while, and give your brain a break. Let me do the thinking for you.

Aonung- Is this your way of keeping me in line?

Neteyam- It wasn't, but that isn't a bad idea. In all seriousness though, just do as I ask.

Aonung- Okay. You know me better than I do at this point anyway, so why not.

Neteyam doesn't miss the slight disappointment in the undertone of Aonung's voice, but he decides not to dwell on it. He's trying to get him to stop thinking, not start focusing on even more. He doesn't know if simply asking him to do this will actually help or not, but it's worth a shot at least.

The one thing he isn't sure he can help with, however, is the now obvious identity crisis the boy seems to be having. Though, he does feel like fighting against his own natural feelings was probably making it worse, and now that he's accepted them things should improve, but Neteyam doesn't know that for sure.

Wanting to dismiss that lost feeling, even if just temporarily, from Aonung's mind, he gives a surprisingly gentle kiss. Showing his support without words.

Not too far away, the bright eyed Paltu boy has just watched their entire scene unfold. From its subtle start, to its heated climax, and now to its sweet end.

He's been going about this the wrong way. Aonung is known for never prioritizing himself, so going after him personally was never going to work.

He sees now, if he wants to mess with Aonung, he'll have to go after the one thing that battles his responsibilities for priority. He sighs for a moment, feeling that it's a shame he'll have to resort to targeting someone he's become pretty fond of.

But his brother is more important than someone he's only known for months. They have a lifelong bond, and he isn't about to let it go.

All he has to do now is wait for an opportunity, and take it.