୨ৎ | Learn to accept, i accept you. || Neteyam

6

- VI

The awkwardness and tension from the past few days had finally passed after the confessions they had done that one night.

Maelie felt relieved, but she was still scared after all. She hadn't felt this way in a long time and to feel this way for neteyam? It was unexpected an occurrence she never knew she needed.

While neteyam felt happy, no one knew but; he had liked Maelie for as long as he can remember. That day he saw her behind Tsireya when they first arrived, that's when everything started. He never really did anything to pursue his newfound liking for Maelie at the time as he thought it wouldn't be any good for him or her. Well, until that night.

The two hung out more and more as days go by, they hadn't made anything official, they were young; merely 16, they made time for themselves before labeling anything. The two had complications with knowing truly if they were ready for each other.

It was early morning when Lo'ak woke up before everyone else. He walked out of the marui seemingly wanting to swim. Neteyam had woken up not long after him, lo'ak wasn't as quiet as he thought he was. Neteyam didn't seem to want to go after his brother, he just woke up? What do you expect from the boy?; Neteyam sat by the entrance of their marui, waking himself up. Tuk had woken up from her slumber as well.

"..Neteyam.." Tuk groaned as she rubbed her eyes and sat next to him. The older brother opened his left arm and wrapped it around her. "Good morning" He yawned.

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The afternoon came, some na'vi were eating; some are out in the ocean and the kids were splashing in the water near the beach. The sight of the island with the clan happily In it was a heartwarming experience. Maelie was braiding tuk's hair by the flat rocks not far from where Neytiri was mending spices. Tuk's hair had grown. She had grown. The girl had changed so much in such a short period of time. Kiri approached the two seemingly interested.

"Tuk stop moving" maelie complained as tuk laughed like she was doing it on purpose. "Give her a break tuktirey!" Neytiri's yell faintly heard from the marui.

"Neteyam's looking for you" Kiri stated. Her lips forging into a sly smirk. "Oh yeah? Tell him I'm braiding his little sister's hair" she rolled her eyes at kiri's demeanor. "I can finish it, plus, tuk wouldn't mind right?" Tuk nodded intensively as maelie lightly slapped her shoulder. "ow!" She laughed before running to kiri. "You can go to your date now."

She stuck her tongue out at the two and walked the center of the island. she hasn't spotted him yet he called out to her. "Maelie!" she looked behind her and there he was planning to sneak up on her. "Skxawng"

The two then found solace in each other over the remaining hours of the day. They rode their ilu's even neteyam trying to ride a skimwing to try and impress her, failing badly. After jake had sternly scolded the two of them for riding his skimwing, the two laugh it off by the beach.

"This beach has seen everything between us." Neteyam randomly said after sitting down. "I suppose. Every important thing." Maelie chuckled.

"Did you ever expect this? You know, between us?" Neteyam asked.

"That I'd randomly have some interest in you? Not a bit. I always thought I disliked you but really, it was just my fear of liking someone again."

"Why do you fear it?" Neteyam asked before immediately stating, "It's okay if you don't want to talk about this. I'm not forcing you. You can tell me when you trust me." He smiled warmly.

Neteyam knew about his intentions, he just wanted to know hers before he could make the move and be with Maelie. He didn't rush her, and that's something Maelie liked about him.