[LOOK AT ME] Nᴇᴛᴇʏᴀᴍ.S ˣ ᵐᵃˡᵉ ʳᵉᵃᵈᵉʳ

[I can't tell]

As you walk away, supported by your poor excuse of I'm busy and have things to do, the tightness in your chest doesn't let up.. You hate it and it's solely because you have no idea what it is or why it's so persistent. It's been like this ever since...you don't know when, unfamiliar and uncomfortable feelings. Whatever they were.

It was annoying. It's been annoying.

And the most annoying thing about it is that you know absolutely nothing about said feeling(s) and asking for advice just seems...wrong. Completely and utterly so. Though you have to admit, you don't hate Neteyam. Not at all actually, now that you think about it. If 'I don't hate him' is a way to deflect how you actual feel about him, then only you'd know. What's the use of coming to terms with it when it was going to do you absolutely no good? Yeah, doing that is pretty useless now.

It took you long enough to admit that little piece of information to yourself. It would probably take even longer to say it out in the open and you're ultimately fine with leaving it at that. You didn't need to explain yourself to anyone, didn't need to spill out your not so 'serious' thoughts and opinions. You're not really the shy type; you've always made sure to put your side of things out there (whether it was called for or not, you didn't care). Now, though? You'd make an enemy of the entire world before you open your big, unapologetic mouth. You'll keep it close until it drowns in your sea of thought, never to be heard of again and forgotten amongst more pressing matters than your sad little story.

You've got to get a grip.

*

And you've done it again. Neteyam thinks as he watches you get further and further away until you're out of sight. Not once did you turn back and Neteyam's not sure if he should feel sad or disappointed that he thought you would.

Ah, what was Neteyam thinking when he thought about being friends with such a grump?

Neteyam thought that you'd (at least) make sure he was actually going back to his family and not dejectedly staring at the empty spot by his side. He didn't get it. He didn't get it at all. One moment you're fine - then the next thing he knows, he's saying something wrong and you're going off on your own again.

Kiri started to give Neteyam a few wayward glances here and there ever since you began to regularly check up on her. Neteyam doesn't know why she felt the need to look at him as if Neteyam could help or knew the answers.

It...kinda felt nice. Like someone thought Neteyam had all the answers about this huge, unsolvable question. [_____].

Over time, Neteyam actually started wanting to have the answer. Neteyam thinks that once he has it, he'd have this urge to hold it close to his chest and never let it go.

And that was weird, right?. Yeah, definitely.

So, that's how it was. It was weird seeing you go and some part of Neteyam felt like he'd missed a large piece of a puzzle or came last in a game he didn't even know he was playing.

Damn, maybe he could talk to Kiri or Tsireya? Neteyam scratches the back of his neck as the possibilities quickly run through his mind. It's not all bad, honestly. It's just... awkward. Really awkward.

For some unknown reason, he doesn't want to talk about this with anyone else. Neteyam doesn't want to rely on others to figure out something that he's supposed to know. (Or, what he apparently feels like he's supposed to.)

Neteyam sighs. He'll go with-

"Finally. There you are." Kiri's voice breaks Neteyam out of his thoughts.

She looks exasperated, like searching for Neteyam had ruined her whole day and how dare he not let her know where he was at all times.

"Huh." Kiri stops dead in her tracks just a few steps away, "Lo'ak isn't with you?"

Neteyam spares a final glance in the direction you disappeared before responding to that surprising question.

"He's not with you? Tsireya?" To answer his returned question, the girl herself side-steps behind Kiri, placing herself in his view.

Oh. So not with Tsireya.

Kiri crosses her arms over her chest with an annoyed huff when she speaks again.

"He was acting all...angsty." She gives Neteyam a pointed look as she focuses on Tsireya, "More than usual." It's 'nice' that Kiri's trying to keep up Lo'ak's good image with Tsireya. (Even if she's using the most minimum effort known to man.)

Tsireya's frown deepens by a fraction and now she looks downright pouty in Neteyam's eyes.

"I was looking for my brother too, [_____]. I wanted to talk to him, but then he just left...In such a hurry too." Her voice goes quiet and Neteyam is relieved. Not because of her obvious growing worry, but -at least with this, he could lessen her troubles.

He knew exactly where you are. Or were in this case. You were right next to him a moment ago.

Neteyam scratches the back of his head sheepishly as he bears witness to Kiri's failed attempts to cheer their (sweetest) mutual friend up. Now's the perfect time to bring that information to light.

Tsireya's nearly heaving with joy when he tells her that, yes, he knows where her oldest brother is and just so happened to be the last person he talked to.

If he could only help others with their issues, then that was fine by him. At least he was helping someone.

Tsireya thanks Neteyam sincerely, with a promise of something. (She politely refused to answer what that 'something' was, with a little giggle when she saw his confused expression.)

"Uh- Actually, Tsireya? I was wondering if I could ask you something--" Neteyam asks before she gets too far away and she's kind enough to stop, like she was expecting this from the moment they met up. Kiri, however, doesn't stop even for a moment and with an annoyed groan, she walks off. She says something along the lines of 'I'll go look for that idiot myself' before she's off.

Neteyam both doesn't want and wants her to leave.

"Of course." Tsireya expectedly beams up at him, ready to answer whatever question he might have.

__________

[ Another chapter of 'we could've talked it out, but you wanted to be difficult'! I meant to publish this one a lot sooner.
On a side note, you can expect all these new chapters to be longer than the normal thousand word limit. ^^ Though this one is mainly a filler for the others.]