Ato'k kept them still as they floated in the middle of the ocean. The stars above shone bright like silver torches, illuminating the water that sloshed against their thighs. Aonung had Neteyam practically in his lap as he pressed their faces together so hard it almost hurt.
"Again," the teal boy rasped out, pulling his head back only slightly.
"W-what?" Neteyam stuttered, still trying to process what was happening.
"Say it again, Neteyam. Please." The last word came out whispered and desperate and Neteyam realized just how much Aonung needed to hear it. How much he wanted Neteyam to return his feelings.
"I love you," he said.
The tulkun let out a happy-sounding hum and Aonung practically collapsed in his arms.
"I love you too," he replied finally, bringing up shaky hands to touch Neteyam's face like he couldn't believe he was really here. "Eywa, I love you more than you could ever imagine."
Neteyam just nodded as his heart felt like it might explode. Silent tears rolled down his cheeks and his lips trembled. He couldn't say anything else, only letting Aonung's hands stroke down his face gently. His heart was aching in relief and he felt it thrumming in his chest.
They sat there like that for a while, holding each other. Neteyam had his head tucked into Aonung's shoulder while the Metkayina softly touched his braids. The water that surrounded Awa'atlu was warm with crystal waves that sparkled in the sun. Yet here in the ocean, far past the reef, the dark sea rippled like the night sky, lapping softly at the edge of Ato'k's fin like a beautiful void.
The large tulkun let out a soft vocalization every once and a while, and the whooshing sound of his breath mixed in with the gentle sounds of the water surrounding them. Aonung was warm against his skin, murmuring soft words into Neteyam's hair as the Omaticaya tried to calm his racing chest.
"I love you," Aonung repeated, pressing his cheek to Neteyam's forehead. He sunk into the touch happily.
After a while Ato'k vocalized quietly, drawing Aonung's attention to his spirit brother. It sounded somewhat like a question. The Metkayina placed a kiss to Neteyam's temple before drawing his hands away to respond.
"Yes," he signed. "Take us back."
Ato'k clicked in response and bowed his head.
Slowly the massive creature began to turn around in the water. Neteyam watched in amazement as the stars rotated above them, gleaming down.
"What, can't see the stars in the jungle, forest boy?" Aonung teased, watching Neteyam's eyes widen as he took in the massive galaxy above them once more. There was no bite to his words, no cruelty. Not anymore.
Neteyam turned his face from the sky slightly embarrassed and bit back a laugh. "You can," he replied. "But it is nothing like this."
The water rushed past their thighs as they perched on one of Ato'k's fins, moving through the waves. Aonung wrapped his arm around Neteyam's waist and helped to take some of the pressure off his chest. He leaned into him gratefully and watched as the world passed them by.
Soon enough the reef came into view, swarming with bright colors under the light of Pandora's night sky. Just past it, the village of Awa'atlu rested amongst the roots of the gigantic mangrove tree.
Ato'k came to a stop outside of the waters and Aonung shifted and placed his hand along the side of his tulkun's jaw. Neteyam stood for a moment letting himself take it all in. The water, the tulkun, Aonung.
As if reading his thoughts, the chief's son signed something to Ato'k before turning around to meet Neteyam. His eyes were clear and bright, the familiar teal glowing underneath the stars.
Neteyam felt his cheeks heat up when he sensed the desire radiating off the other's face. He couldn't help but track his eyes all over his body, watching as the marble-like patterns traced over his skin like the waves around him. He could feel himself warming as he traced the glowing tanhì down from his face to the broad planes of his chest. From there they went down his stomach, disappearing beneath his…
Ato'k let out a low whistle as if reminding them that he was still here.
Neteyam shot his eyes back up with a flustered noise before hanging his head in shame.
"Sorry," he whispered, embarrassed.
Aonung chuckled softly and stepped forward, tilting Neteyam's head up. "So beautiful," he murmured to the boy, before placing a searing kiss to the Omaticaya's lips. Neteyam felt his cheeks burn as Aonung stepped closer gripping his waist. Sooner than he would have liked, Aonung was pulling back, signaling for an ilu by letting out a low whooping sound.
A few moments passed and then the water mount appeared, gliding through the waves with ease. It stopped happily to chat with Ato'k, bobbing its head playfully as the tulkun whistled, diving around it in excited circles. It seemed the two knew each other.
Neteyam laughed softly at its antics while Aonung admired Neteyam, watching the blue stripes that patterned his arms.
Then the Metkayina helped him down from his tulkun's fin, taking care not to let the bandages get wet as he placed Neteyam onto the ilu's back. He quickly adjusted the saddle so that the Omaticaya could grip its reins.
Neteyam nodded thankfully and settled himself easily, shifting his hips forward to balance himself amongst the steadily rising waves. Aonung sat down on Ato'k's fin before sliding into the water as well. Neteyam watched as he ducked below the surface, saying his goodbyes to the creature.
Aonung swam forward and placed a hand to his spirit brother's massive jaw before touching it gently with the tip of his forehead. For a moment they stayed that way before Ato'k shook him off and submerged himself completely.
Aonung rose and made his way over to Neteyam, mounting the ilu from behind. The chief's son wrapped one arm around Neteyam's waist and brought the other back to grab his queue, easily making Tsaheylu with the water mount. Neteyam couldn't help but shiver as Aonung's warm wet body caged him in. He watched the tendrils of Aonung's braid wind forward, seeking connection before entangling with the ilu's kuru. They tightened and wove together until the bond was complete. For a moment, his mind was filled with the image of what it would be like to bond Aonung. To be connected to the other boy as he thrust up into him from behind…
The ilu huffed as the bond settled into place forcing Neteyam's attention. He felt himself becoming stiff and uncomfortable in Aonung's arms, desperately trying to will that image away before his heart keened. The Metkayina didn't seem to notice and kept Neteyam close as he eased the creature forward through the water.
The sea parted effortlessly under its fins and he couldn't help but look down as they passed over the reef. Nocturnal sea life glowed below him, no doubt echoing the tanhì on his own forehead, peacefully moving under the sea. Neteyam couldn't help but hold out his hand, letting it drift through the water as they passed.
Aonung was careful to keep them above the waves as they moved, ensuring the bandages wrapped around his torso did not get wet. Instead, the water passed smoothly around his waist as they approached the beach.
The ilu chirped a few times as Aonung broke tsaheylu and let himself down into the shallows. He guided them forward a little bit more until the water reached his waist. His loincloth floated haphazardly around his thighs and his curls were still dripping from when he had bid his farewells to Ato'k. He looked almost edible.
Neteyam was really struggling to keep his composure at this point, especially when Aonung helped him down from the creature with nothing but love and tenderness in his eyes. His heart felt ready to combust.
He was not at all prepared for the gentleness of the hand that took his and guided him back onto the sands of Awa'atlu. Aonung turned around once more to face Neteyam. The Omaticaya squeezed his hand and looked up, meeting the teal of Aonung's gaze.
"Thank you," he said softly.
The purest smile overtook the Metkayina's face. He scooped Neteyam up into his arms and spun them around with his face buried in the Na'vi's striped neck. Neteyam couldn't help but smile too, hugging Aonung tightly as they moved.
"I love you," Aonung finally said, letting Neteyam down. He stepped closer and tucked a braid behind Neteyam's ear. "So much."
The smile of his face faltered slightly at the touch. "Aonung, I- I want to be with you," he admitted. It was the first time he had allowed himself to want such a thing. "I want a life with you."
He never thought that was a possibility before, something he could have. A mate.
Aonung looked absolutely floored. "You want that?" he asked, stunned. "With me?"
Neteyam's throat was closing. How could he possibly want anything else?
"Yeah," was all he managed to croak out. But that didn't seem to matter to Aonung.
The boy pushed their lips together and kissed Neteyam heavily. "I want that too," he said, breaking away for only a moment before pressing their mouths back together. "I want that with you."
Neteyam's eyes widened but he immediately returned the motion, moving their lips. He could feel the heat practically radiating off Aonung as he lined their bodies up together, pressing his teal thigh in between Neteyam's legs.
The Omaticaya couldn't help but let out a soft whine at the feeling.
Aonung's hands sank into Neteyam's braids and before he knew it his head was being tilted to the side, offering his neck up to the onslaught of the Metkayina's searching lips. A tongue dragged lazily over his pulse point and a whimper escaped as Aonung began to suck over it.
The sound caused Aonung to groan a little. "My Neteyam," he murmured into the skin possessively.
All Neteyam could do was nod frantically and grip the other's back, trying to bring him closer.
"Yours," he agreed in a panting breath.
Before he knew it he was being walked backward, Aonung's hand still in his hair, the other trailing down to his waist. The press of cool stone hit his lower back as the Aonung settled him against an outcropping of rock.
Aonung returned to Neteyam's mouth and layered a multitude of kisses against his lips, rubbing his thumb across the stripes on his waist. Neteyam stuck his tongue out a little, gently rubbing it against Aonung's in response. That seemed to elicit an effect because hands immediately pinned him against the rock and soon his mouth was being worked open with vigor.
His chest was heaving up and down as Aonung's tongue invaded his mouth and he was sure the chief's son must be in the same place, but they didn't stop. And soon the hands on his waist were pulling at the strings that secured his loincloth to his tail. The moment it fell, Aonung took him in hand and began to stroke. A broken sound of pleasure escaped Neteyam's throat and his head fell back.
Aonung's finned hand worked up and down, granting him relief from the pressure that was rapidly building in his lower stomach. When a thumb brushed over the sensitive tip, Neteyam sucked in a breath and tensed at the feeling.
Aonung panted and repeated the motion until Neteyam was a quivering mess beneath him, leaking precome and whimpering about.
"Aonung," he gasped, reaching out for the ties to the other boy's loincloth. He needed to feel the other. To touch him. But Aonung was too quick for him. He gripped Neteyam tightly causing him to let out a whimper.
Lips traced his neck once more, trailing across the stripes. "Turn around, Neteyam."
Neteyam felt his hands begin to shake. He let Aonung maneuver him until he was facing away, stomach pressing against the stone.
"What are you doing-?" He started to ask, breath trembling but he was cut off when two hands encircled his waist. He let out an embarrassing noise as the fingers rubbed against where he was most sensitive.
Gently they worked down until Aonung was kneeling behind him. Oh. Before Neteyam could comprehend what exactly was about to happen, Aonung spread his thighs apart and licked.
Heat seared up Neteyam and he let out a sound of pure pleasure.
Aonung's tongue softly lapped over his entrance causing a gasp to fall from Neteyam's mouth. It felt intimate and invasive in a way that made his toes curl in pleasure. And when the slick muscle slowly began to work its way in, he stopped breathing entirely. Neteyam's hand clutched desperately to the rock, effortlessly trying to find purchase on something as liquid molten began to coil up in his stomach.
Aonung worked his tongue in and out of the boy until Neteyam was a moaning, shaking mess. He had never experienced something so soft before.
To his own embarrassment, his hips twitched back and forth relentlessly as he tried to escape the pleasure that was squirming through his abdomen, but it was no use. Aonung didn't stop prodding at him and the searing sensation only increased as he was continuously spread open on the other boy's tongue.
Neteyam was being loud now. He couldn't help it. He was panting needily as moans fell from his lips, shaky and cracked. Everything was starting to feel too much. The hands on his waist, the tongue in his ass, the feeling of Aonung kneeling behind him…
Neteyam reached behind him desperately, trying to pull at Aonung's hair as pleasure began to eat away at his stomach. "I'm going to- I'm-" he tried to gasp out, but Aonung only gripped his hips tighter and gently nibbled at his entrance before working his tongue back inside.
Sparks flew past his eyes and pleasure coursed its way through his body until Neteyam burst. His insides felt as though they were made of lava as he whimpered out a final warning before painting the rock in front of him with his release. Aonung gripped him tightly, working Neteyam through it until the boy was gasping. Only then did he stop, gently running his hands up and down the Omaticaya's striped thighs as he removed his tongue.
Neteyam stayed there suspended for a moment before collapsing down into the sand. His body felt completely boneless and Aonung was quick to pull him back into his arms and kiss his forehead. Neteyam leaned up and they rubbed their noses together for a moment before he pulled away, still trying to find his breath.
Aonung simply ran his hands over his arms, calming him down as they breathed.
Finally he turned around, cheeks flushed and hair certainly a mess. Aonung just pulled him in for another kiss. This one, soft and gentle, tracing over his lips in near reverence.
His own hands sank into the boy's black curls and he nuzzled into his neck happily. As he shifted, he realized just the predicament Aonung was in. The boy had shifted trying to hide his obvious desire from brushing against Neteyam. But he wanted that. He wanted to make Aonung feel good too.
So with shaky hands, he pushed the boy back slowly, a little unsure of how to go about this. Aonung looked up at him quizzically but when Neteyam began to lean down, the chief's son sucked in a sharp breath.
"Neteyam…" he started, eyes wide. "You do not have to."
But Neteyam shook his head in determination. He looked up through his lashes and met the other's gaze. "I know. But I want to," he whispered back, still a bit anxious.
A curse pasted Aonung's lips before he slowly nodded, reclining under Neteyam's touch. "Okay."
Neteyam nodded and slowly pulled the strings loose from his hips before sliding Aonung out of the garment. His breath caught in his throat when he came to eye level with what was before him. Nervously, he stuck out his tongue and licked the tip hesitantly. From above, Aonung groaned a little and dropped his head back into the sand.
Now with shaky confidence, Neteyam leaned down and took the head of Aonung's cock in his mouth slowly. It wasn't really salty, perhaps bitter was the right word, but Neteyam found he didn't mind at all. Instead he moaned softly and sunk his mouth down further.
Aonung made fists in the sand and a throaty sound of desire emanated from his chest as Neteyam's tongue flattened over his length. Trying to mimic what Aonung had done to him the night of the tulkun's return, he pulled back and dragged his lips from the base of his shaft to the tip before encircling him once more. He brought his own hands to rest on Aonung's waist as he traced his tongue further down.
As if trying to hold himself steady, Aonung brought his hands up and gathered his braids behind his head, easing Neteyam down once more. He hummed at the gentle pressure and sunk lower, causing Aonung to let out a genuine whine.
Neteyam's stomach clenched at the sound and he found himself rubbing his thighs together needily. Aonung saw it and moaned, realizing just how much the Omaticaya was enjoying this. He wasn't going to last long.
Again and again, Neteyam bobbed his head up and down. The hands that had been holding up his hair, were now tangled in the braids desperately as he tried to stop from thrusting up into the wetness of Neteyam's mouth. He could feel the Metkayina twitching below him, which only urged him on.
Aonung was saying his name now, breathing it over and over again in between moans as Neteyam sucked him off. He felt his own hands running over the patterns on Aonung's hips trying to surround himself with as much of the boy as he possibly could.
But it was only when Neteyam's nose tapped Aonung's pelvis did the reef Na'vi lose all sense of self. With a surprised moan, Aonung buried himself deep and abruptly came in Neteyam's mouth, desperately trying not to buck up into him. Neteyam coughed slightly, trying to swallow the fluid that suddenly was filling his senses. He only managed to pull back slightly, breathing uneasily.
Aonung looked horrified.
"Shit, Neteyam I am so sorry," he gasped, pushing himself up and helping Neteyam move back and wipe his mouth. The Metkayina was breathing hard still trying to get a grasp on himself. "I didn't mean t-" he tried, seeming at a loss for words.
The flummoxed expression across his face caused Neteyam to let out a surprised laugh. Aonung's eyes widened and Neteyam only laughed harder.
Drawing himself back into Aonung's grasp he laid them both down in the sand, careful to avoid his spent member. "It's okay," he said softly.
Aonung groaned. "No it's not," he said, finally facing Neteyam. "I should have warned yo-"
Neteyam kissed him quickly, stopping what he was trying to say. Nervously, he buried his head into Aonung's neck, hiding his face away. "I liked it, okay?" he mumbled, shamefully.
Aonung's breath caught in his throat, only causing Neteyam to burrow away further.
"Oh great mother," Aonung whispered, dropping his head in the sand and holding Neteyam tighter.
That earned a slight laugh and Neteyam untucked his head from Aonung's shoulder. He settled it gently on the Metkayina's chest and finally gazed up at him. Aonung was looking up at the sky, eyes slightly dazed. That only made Neteyam laugh harder.
At the sound Aonung flipped them over, hovering above the boy and nosing his cheek playfully. Neteyam copied the motion, smiling until the chief's son pulled him closer and settled them back down in the sand.
"Do your parents know you are missing?" Aonung asked him eventually, rubbing his hand up and down Neteyam's back as he rested his chin on the crown of the Omaticaya's braids.
He sighed and leaned back. "No," he admitted. "I left after they all fell asleep."
"We should go back," Aonung said reluctantly, finally lifting his chin to look down at their entangled hands. "The sand will not be good for your wounds."
He was right. His side was beginning to ache and all the strain on it this evening had only made things worse. Aonung watched his expression and then helped him up. The two searched around for Neteyam's loincloth before he reattached the strings to the base of his tail.
Aonung simply adjusted his own back around his hips. As he fixed them, his eyes drifted back up to the pearls that adorned Neteyam's bicep with a look of contentment.
The waves crashed behind them slowly creeping their way back up the shore. Neteyam couldn't help but take Aonung's hand again. But the other boy seemed more than happy to comply and wrapped his entire arm around Neteyam's shoulder.
"Come on," he said softly. "I will take you back."
The Metkayina helped him up onto the walkways once they left the beach before they made their way through the village. By the time they reached outside his family's pod Aonung let go of his hand.
He was about to say something when Aonung leaned forward and kissed him, tilting his chin up and capturing his lips underneath the glow of the stars.
"Do you want to come with me and Tsireya tomorrow to gather weaving materials?" he asked, after they parted, rubbing his thumb along the back of Neteyam's hand. "I know your brother is bringing Tuk along."
Neteyam smiled and agreed, he was getting tired of spending his days in the marui. Pressing their lips together once more before they bid each other goodnight, Neteyam wrapped his arms around Aonung. The two hugged for a moment longer before parting ways.
Slowly and quietly, Neteyam snuck his way back into the marui, hoping not to wake anyone up. He was about to sink into his bed when he realized there was a pair of eyes on him. He jolted back in shock, surprised to see his mother was still up, waiting for him.
"Mom-" he started, trying to think of some kind of excuse. "I just went out to-" But she quietly made his way over to him and held up her hand.
"It is fine Neteyamur. I know you were with him."
Neteyam didn't need to ask to know who she was talking about. But rather than berate him for staying out late, she just cupped his face.
"I just got you back my son," she said, looking out at the dark sky beyond the circular doorway. "Just be careful, I do not wish to lose you again."
Neteyam nodded and smiled gratefully at her. "Thanks mom," he whispered.
Neytrir patted his cheek once more before returning to her own bedroll and falling back into an unconscious Jake's arms.
He sunk down into his own bed and slid his necklace off before turning to his side. As he fell asleep he thought of how beautiful Aonung had looked under the stars.