The Breath of Water | Neteyam

81 • Comfort

Mature content ahead

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The village had now placed more people on watch duty than before ever since the rise in the burning of hutches by the RDA. And because Ronal and Tonowari were so busy lately, Aonung would now go around the pod more freely without worrying about someone seeing his face, he always closed the cover to the entrance, though. It still hurt him to walk, so he mostly stayed seated. Liyanin was still helping make food for the free-divers and warriors with Neteyam, even more so now that more people were assigned to each rotation.

Neteyam had tied his hair back so it wouldn't get in his way as he worked on making niktsyey. Liyanin was using her abilities to sort soups into bowls, a little smile on her face. It felt nice to not have to hide anymore.

"...Yawne, what did we say about cheating?" Neteyam said in the tone of a parent scolding a child. He was carefully folding the leaves over each other.

"I am not cheating, just speeding up the process." She quipped. There was a total of 35 bowls out, and she filled 15. She then lowered her hands, an idea crossing her mind. "...Nete, look."

He finished the niktsyey he was working on, then turned around to look at her. She stood in front of the big pot the soup was in, focusing her eyes on it. She looked hard at it, the surface of the soup moving around. Neteyam watched her for a while, then sighed with a chuckle, walking behind her.

"You do not have to push yourself," he said, hugging her from behind; he had placed a kiss on her shoulder, smirking. "...you are strong."

"I know I can do it, I did it that day." She pouted. She then stared again, the soup only managing to rise up then fall onto the floor. Suddenly her vision was blocked; Neteyam had covered her face with his hand, preventing her from seeing the soup.

"Stop...!" he said between laughs. He kept his hand over her eyes, holding her close to him. "...you said you did not want to faint again, and I also rather you would not."

"But just imagine, if I managed to master moving the water without using my hands—"

"—you would be amazing! But right now..." he now took his hand from her face, turning her around by her shoulders. She had a funny look on her face, which made him laugh even more. "...we cook."

She looked to the floor then at him, nodding. His hands rested on her shoulders, and his eyes ended up travelling down to her neck. His right hand slowly made its way to her neck, gently rubbing the now faded marks. His smile tightened, trying to stifle a frown. Liyanin could feel his anger for the event through his eyes, but he touched her so carefully. Her breath hitched upon feeling his fingers there, moving so slowly. His hand jerked back a little hearing her gasp, his face growing worried.

"I'm sorry, did that—"

She cut him off by grabbing his hand and placing it back where it was. His eyes looked down at her chest, his breathing getting heavy. His fingers rested on the base of her neck, caressing the area. He then grabbed her chin, pulling her in for a kiss. It lasted for a bit before he pulled away, rubbing her bottom lip with his thumb. She looked up at him with desire in her eyes.

"We have to cook." He said, smirking. She sighed, pouting a little, making him laugh out loud. He dipped his hands in some warm water before returning to the niktsyey.

A while later, they had finished the rations for that night, piling all the niktsyey into a basket and putting the bowls of soup into different trays. They gave some of the bowls of soup to other Na'vi to help them carry while they delivered the food to each of the feasting stations.