I have been avoiding Neteyam for the last few days, especially after that night.
I didn't want to let my feelings get ahold of me.
I have my own responsibilities, a crush would be too much.
Especially one who would never return his feelings to me.
I was working with the kids again. Some of them finally making bonds with their Ilus.
I felt great, my old life was back.
But I felt emptiness. I don't know why, I have friends around, animals and everything I've wanted, but something was missing..
Or rather someone.
As I was watching the children play with their Ilus, I felt something tug on my {bottoms of choice}
I looked down and saw little Tuk, feeling all better.
"Tuk! You look great!" I said patting her head and she hugged me around my waist.
"I feel good as new! And look at me, I don't have any stains from the berries!" She said standing straight, with confidence.
I smiled at her, feeling my heart melt..
I work with children, yea, but I'm not a fan of them.. But this kid, she's just adorable.
From the corner of my eye, I saw someone approach us. Of course, his dark blue skin, with those wet braids and tall body cought my attention.
Neteyam.
I didn't even turn to look at him at first before he put his hand against my shoulder, getting my attention. I looked at him rather confused, and he was smiling at me.
I looked over at Tuk, who was playing with the other kids and sighed turning back to face Neteyam.
"What is it?" I asked and he started nervously scratching the back of his neck.
"I wanted to ask you it Tuk can join your class. She seems to really like you, and you're a great teacher-" Before he could finish I cut him off.
"Yeah, sure. She starts tommorow morning. If that's all, I'd like to go back to work." I said turning away and started petting an Ilu who passed by me.
"Actually, I wanted to ask something else.. Why have you been.. Avoiding me lately?" When he asked that, I tried showing no reaction, but my ear twitch exposed my nervousness. It's uncontrollable at this point.
"I.. I just thought that was the right thing to do, since I'm assuming you found yourself a girlfriend." I said still not looking at him.
"What makes you think I found a girlfriend?" I moved my gaze to him before frowning.
"Well you asked me how to sign 'you're beautiful' and how to confess to someone, so I'm assuming you used it on someone by now" I said that and then turned to walk away but he grabbed my wrist pulling me down in the water.
When he did that, I turned around in the water, looking at him in confusion.
'What was that for?' I signed and he smiled a bit, clearly wanting to sign something, but not being sure.
He then suddenly put his hands against his eyes, swaying them away from his face, as he looked at me in the eyes.
He signed to me that I'm beautiful..
I looked at him for a moment before swimming back up. I drained the water out of my hair as he got back up too.
"Yea, that's how you sign it if you wanted to show me how fast of a learner you are, great job" I said in an annoyed tone rolling my eyes.
"Y/N, you are beautiful.."
After a moment of realization what just happened I turned to look at him with a pink tint on my cheeks.
We held eye contact for a few seconds before I decited to break it. "You're.. Not so bad yourself, Neteyam."
I smiled a bit before going back to the kids.
I smiled to myself, but it faded once I heard Ao'nung.
"Are you some kind of.. freak?"
I turned as I heard him from a distance. When I looked he was trying to make fun of Kiri.
I groaned and went torwards them. When I made it there, he was bickering with Loak a bit.
"Look at his baby tail!"
"Ooo, baby taill~"
I put my hand on his arm.
"Ao'nung. Dude, that's enough." I said but he acted as if he didnt hear me, gently putting me to the side.
They continued, before Neteyam came pushing Ao'nung away from Loak.
"Leave them alone."
He said in a tone, making me get shivers down my spine. I walked over to Kiri crossing my arms.
"Oh big brother coming to-" One of Ao'nungs friends tried to jump Neteyam, but got stopped by Ao'nung.
"Back, off. Now."
I couldn't help but smirk. His tone was so attractive right now.
Ao'nung put his hands up in defeat, walking away.
"And from now on, I need you to respect my sister." Neteyam said, making Kiri stick her tongue out at them.
As the Sully's left, I decited to go over to Ao'nung.
"Hey, what was that?" I asked and Ao'nung chuckled.
"Come on Y/N, they're not even real Na'vi!"
After he said that, I tried to argue but Loak approached us.
"Yea, you're right. I'm not a real na'vi. Look, demon blood. But I can do something real cool with my 5 fingers. " Loak said making Ao'nung look at him interested.
"Oh shit." I said before Loak threw a punch at him.
They started fighting, having Neteyam join them.
Kiri and I tried stopping them but it was no use.
"MY EAR!"
"OW MY TAIL!"
"MY EAR! HE GOT MY EAR!"
Kiri and I couldn't help but laugh at their childish behavior.
"You guys look so dumb right now.." She said making me laugh even more.
"Literal fools.."
-Time skip after getting scolded by their parents.-
"Ow!"
Neteyam winces as I patched up his wounds after the fight.
"So stupid.. " I said as I prepared bandages, harshly putting them on the small cuts on his arms.
"I couldn't just stand by and watch my little brother get dragged.." He said making me sigh.
"Neteyam, don't get me wrong but.. Our people.. They already dislike you enough.. Finding out you beat the crap out of the clan leaders son will be their last straw.."
He sighed, putting hid hand over mine, which was cleaning his wound. He put my hand down interlocking our fingers. "I'm sorry I'm putting you through so much trouble.. That's the last thing I want right now.."
I grab his hand back, smiling a bis as I look at him. "Neteyam.." He looked at me, making eye contact.
"I see you."
His eyes widened a bit, holding eye contact. He moved his gaze to my lips.
"I see you too, Y/N."
I nod my head looking away, a tint of pink showing on my cheeks.
We ended up talking the night away, as I healed his wounds.
I guess we finally got back to our old selves, and I didn't mind.
The emptiness I felt these past weeks, it disappeared the moment we started talking that night.
A little crush won't hurt much, I suppose.