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A soft breeze brushes past Aonungs arms, fitting for the cool summers night, as he sits by himself a little outside his home. Having decided to take a small walk by himself out onto the grand beach in front of the village, Aonung stopped at one of the large tree trunk that have been swept up by the ocean onto the sand. And he finds himself enjoying the peacefulness of the night as he sat down onto the cool sand.
There is not a lot of wind rushing in so the waves that come in are soft, washing up the shore gently. And even tho it is a little chilly does Aonung not care much as he simply pulls his knees up to his chest. Resting his arms on top of them while he leans back against the tree behind him. Enjoying the quiet sea dancing softly in the moonlight as he stares out across it, a soft but sad smile playing on his lips as he blinks to keep the tears in check. Even if he is all alone does Aonung not allow himself to cry. Not over something so trivial anyway.
The cool breeze brushes past him, slightly pulling on his hair and Aonung sighs as he reaches up to open his bun up. The pull on his scalp suddenly quite irritating and Aonung gently runs his hands through his hair as he lets his locks fall. Gently massaging his head for a moment to release some of the tension before Aonung closes his eyes just let his body move on its own without thinking too much about anything. Trying to clear his head from all of the news today.
"Hey."
Jerking a bit at the sudden word spoken, Aonung looks up to the owner of the voice and sees a similarly shooked Neteyam stare back "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you." holding his hands up in a calming manner, an apologetic smile appearing on his face.
His friends eyes are red and his cheeks are a bit puffy Aonung doesn't even have to guess what Neteyam is doing out here alone as well.
"Your good. I just didn't expect anyone to come by." Aonung replies back and looks past Neteyam but not seeing anyone else "What are you doing here?"
"I came to look for you. You have been gone a while. I just wanted to make sure you were ok." Neteyam answers as he smiles at him and Aonung sighs softly at the question.
When he doesn't answer he hears his friend ask "Can I sit?" and Aonung gives him a nod back. Waiting while Neteyam gently steps over beside him and sits down. Their shoulders almost touching, Aonung feels the soft warmth radiating from Neteyam.
And for a moment the two just sit beside each other quietly, staring out over the waters together. Until Aonung hears Neteyam sniff before whispering a quiet "So... shitty day huh?"
Having to let out a chuckle Aonung sighs just the same as he replies back "Yeah..."
Seeing Neteyam turn his head to him, Aonung looks back into his friends glossy eyes and he hears Neteyam ask him again "You ok?"
Nodding softly, not wanting to burden Neteyam Aonung just continues kneading his hands.
He cannot even imagine how his friend must feel. Knowing the sky people are back looking for them. That they know they fled to the reefs and are now threatening the clans. Destroying them. No one had been killed today but everyone knows it is just a matter of time.
When Neteyam whispers on "Are you sure? You have been rather quiet today. Which isn't surprising with everything going on, but I just-"
"It's my birthday."
And Neteyam doesn't answer for a while. Only the waves can be heard in front of them and Aonung gently moves his toes through the cool sand as he refuses to meet his friends eyes, sensing that Neteyam is staring at him. When his friends finds his words again "Oh. Aonung I'm so sorry. Why didn't you say anything."
Sighing Aonung stares at his hands, fumbling with them "It doesn't matter. We have much bigger problems on our hands. What you are going through-"
A soft hand taking his interrupts him as Neteyam exclaims softly "No. No, Aonung you are allowed to be sad."
Sighing he looks up at Neteyam and whispers back "I just... I guess I hoped someone would at least remember. My parents at the very least, but..." swallowing to try and get the lump out of his throat Aonung whispers on "And I can't even be mad no one did, considering what is happening. Also, I don't want to be that guy, like, hey, I know we are a target now and under attack but lets focus on me."
"Really? You strike me as that kind of guy." looking at Neteyam shooked does he see the quirky smile which quickly fades off his friend face turning into a gnawing on his lower lip when he notices Aonungs gaze and Neteyam speaks "I'm sorry, shitty joke."
"Yeah."
A silence falls between them, as only the soft crashing of waves can be heard again.
"I really am sorry."
"For what?"
"Ruining your birthday."
"No, Teyam. It's not your fault or any."
"Without my family your people wouldn't have become a target."
"You don't know that. You said yourself the sky people are like a virus, spreading out over the planet, killing everything they touch. That were your words if I remember correctly." and Aonung watches as Neteyam presses his lips together as he nods just slightly, remembering his own words it seems. And Aonung continues "So you don't know anything for sure, I wouldn't be surprised to see that the sky people already were spreading through the water either way."
Letting himself fall back against the tree trunk Aonung looks back out over the ocean and sighs again. Unsure how to handle the chaotic feeling in his chest, the anger, the sadness, the frustration, the hurt. The way he feels like a little child that his parents forgot his birthday.
When Aonung notices Neteyam scoot a little bit closer to him and his friend moves his hand underneath Aonungs. Waiting patiently as Neteyam gently interlaces their fingers, Aonung smiles at his friends attempt to comfort him. Feeling how Neteyam leans his head onto his shoulder too his friend lets out a soft breath but stays quiet.
Just sitting there together, giving the other a little comfort by their mere presence as they enjoy the quietness of the night.
The soft moonshine that lights up the waters from which the colourful corals glow right back up illuminating the underwater with a play of colour. Letting the dark night not seem as lonely, Aonung has to admit it feels rather nice to spend the time with someone and he lets his head sink down onto Neteyams to just be. Lifting their interlocked hands up into his lap, Aonung gently places his other one around them, squeezing Neteyams before keeping them close to himself.
Listening to the waves washing up onto the beach, Aonung stares up at the dark night sky, the millions of little stars twinkling above them, making him feel small in comparison. But even though the night slowly diminishes the warmth of the day does Aonung feel comfortable sitting there, in the little bubble he and Neteyam have created. Almost as if it is just the two of them here, in their own little world. Without anyone threatening them, without anyone disturbing their peace.
The peace Aonung had taken for granted before today.
But Neteyam somehow makes it seem as if it was still there and Aonung bathes in the feeling, his friends leg falling against his as Neteyam leans his entire body against him. And Aonung lets him. His gaze staring ahead, it stops almost directly before his unfocused eyes as Aonung can only concentrate on the boy next to him.
How his rough hand has taken ahold of his arm and Neteyam thumb slowly strokes across.
The hand Aonung is still holding in his is gently squeezing his own.
Neteyams shoulder is moving against his with every breath his friend takes.
His leg flexing slightly whenever Neteyam moves his feet against the cold sand.
But most of all does Aonung breath the earthy smell of Neteyams, smelling of fresh rainfall on the muddy forest floor. Surrounding him, almost suffocating if he wouldn't find it so incredibly comforting by now. How many hours the two have spend together, training, talking. How many times Aonung had held the boy in his arms in that time. Keeeping him afloat after they went diving, holding him steady on his first attempts on the ilus, fixing his posture when they trained to hunt with a spear. Every time did Neteyams scent surround him and Aonung slowly came to like it.
When all of a sudden he hears Neteyam sigh and Aonung carefully moves his head to give his friend space to move. And he feels how Neteyam gently squeezes him as he lifts his head, before pulling away from him.
Leaving Aonung to the cold night air.
Turning his head to him Aonung sees how Neteyam is gazing back, a soft smile surrounding his lips. When Neteyam reaches over to him and carefully cups his face into his hands, making Aonung look properly at him.
Whispering a soft "Happy birthday." Neteyam leans forward and places his lips onto Aonungs. And Aonung doesn't move away.
No, he just lets his eyes close while being gently kissed by Neteyam as they sit there, just the two of them in their own little world. The chilly breeze swirling around them not being the main cause for the goosebumps spreading over Aonungs arms anymore. Melting bit by bit into Neteyams soft lips, Aonung finds his friend to pull back all too quickly.
And he can just stare at Neteyam who smiles back and strokes his thumb over Aonungs cheeks. Before speaking softly "Good night Aonung." as Neteyam stands up, dragging his fingers underneath Aonungs chin, who stares after him, watching Neteyam pull his overlay a bit tighter in this cool summer night as he walks away. His mouth agape Aonung stares until Neteyam vanishes from his view and he just lifts his hand, gently touching his tingling lips, still able to taste Neteyams sweet kiss on them.
"Happy birthday..." Aonung mumbles to himself then as a soft happy smile spreads over his face and he leans back against the drift wood to listen to the quiet waves a moment longer.