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Teenage love.. so weird, right?
It's the same for Aonung and Neteyam, it started off with Neteyam hating the other teen for bickering with his siblings..but it unfolded into something else. Aonung wasn't so bad, he spent his time helping Neteyam understand his world, how to ride an ilu, where to hunt and how to love.
Aonung liked making sure everyone knew Neteyam was his, he kinda stopped annoying Kiri, but he still annoyed Lo'ak from time to time. He's just too easy not to annoy, you know?
- - - -
It's afternoon, Neteyam and Aonung are feeling extra lazy today so them and the others are just having a fun time in the water. Aonung and Neteyam are closer to the shore, sitting on the sand with the water reaching their waists. It's calm and peaceful, they are just chatting about random stuff.
"So.. Kiri is like adopted?.. damn.. even more of a freak.." That made Aonung receive a light punch from Neteyam.
"Don't say that about my sister! I'll beat you up, I'm serious you idiot.." He rolls his eyes and crosses his arms. Aonung just chuckles
"Right right..just admit you can't pass a second without having your hands off me." And that's another punch from Neteyam
"I hate you, I swear.." Aonung leans over and makes eye contact with Neteyam
"Do you now..? Not what you were saying yesterday by the way.."
"That doesn't count! I was just feeling vulnerable, that's all!" Aonung smirks at him like "Really?"
The next second Neteyam is throwing himself at Aonung, the water hitting Aonung in the face while Neteyam tries "Killing" him
"Augh, you are so annoying, I swear!" Aonung holds Neteyam's hand and manages to sit back up again, with that he steals a quick kiss from Neteyam, which immediately makes the boy stop
"Have I ever told you how cute you are when you're mad?" He smiles at the other boy
"Wanna leave the water and just lie down on the sand?" Aonung offers, already getting up, knowing that Neteyam will agree, he puts his hand out so his lover can grab it. When Neteyam gets up Aonung picks him up bridal style.
"Put me down, you brute!" Neteyam hits Aonung's chest, which only makes the boy chuckle again
"I love you Neteyam.." He stares at his mate, really stares, with those adoring eyes. He carries Neteyam to the sand and gently puts him down. They lie down together and stare at each other.
"I love you too.." He kinda looks to the side, but he does shuffle closer. Aonung gets on his side and puts an arm protectively over Neteyam.
"Hey can you guys just shove your love down everyone's throat!" Says Lo'ak, who has been splashing water on the others this whole time. Neteyam sits up abruptly
"Oh really? Think we haven't seen you and Tsireya?" Kiri and Rotxo just laugh at the scene unfolding. Lo'ak grumbles something before having an idea. He goes underwater and swims closer to the shore, where he's close enough, he goes up and splashes water on Neteyam and Aonung. This makes the other Metkayina boy also sit up abruptly, they look at each other before both getting up and running towards the water.
- - -
After some time, everyone gets out of the water. Aonung received a scolding from Neteyam for being too harsh with Lo'ak and saying he almost drowned him, but he also scolded Lo'ak for provoking Aonung and saying he couldn't drown him..
Everyone goes their separate ways, except for Aonung and Neteyam, who are now just holding each other in the water with the sunset in the background
"You know I meant it right?"
"What?"
"I really do love you Neteyam."
"You dork.. you caught me off guard with that.. you can't just say that to someone!"
"But..you aren't just someone.. you are my mate" Neteyam looks up at Aonung after he said that, he smiles gently.
"I know." He puts his hand on Aonung's cheek, the other nuzzles into it and gives it a light kiss.
- - -
There's chaos everywhere.
Shots being fired, Tsireya and Tuk got taken, spider too but that wasn't what Aonung cared about, what he did care about was when he saw Neteyam run off with Lo'ak to go save spider, he felt his heart drop to his stomach, he brought the girls to a safer place before starting to swim back.
"Please Neteyam..Please.. don't do this to me please."
He finally reaches the boat, he looks around the water first to see if the boys had fallen. Suddenly, there's a splash, he looks in the direction and sees Lo'ak and Spider. He sees the younger boys swim away, he approaches Neteyam and sees him struggling.
"Neteyam? Are you okay?"
"I'm shot."
"No..nonononono, don't say that Neteyam, it's not funny, please" He gets closer and starts seeing the blood in the water
"Please my love" He grabs onto Neteyam and starts dragging him to the nearest surface. He spots a rock and starts swimming towards it with Neteyam.
"We can do this, okay? You'll be ok, Neteyam, I promise" He says, panicking. Neteyam just groans and tries covering the bullet wound.
Another shot is heard.
They continue swimming towards the rock, but something is wrong. Aonung is getting weaker the farther they get
"You still with me?"
"Mhm.."
"Good, good, you are doing so good, my love"
They reach the rock, before Aonung gets Neteyam to lie down gently it's like his arms give up, making it too harsh, he lies down with him
"I'm sorry I..I don't know what happened"
"Aonung…" Neteyam's hand reaches out to Aonung's chest, blood coming out. Aonung follows his hand, his breath stops, noticing the damage on himself
"I'm sorry.. I failed us both, baby"
"No.. don't say that Ao..you tried… that's what matters, ok?" With the last bit of his strength, Aonung gets on his side, he protectively puts his arm over Neteyam and tries getting closer to him.
"I see you Neteyam." he smiles weakly
"I really do..I'm sorry for being a jerk.." He looks up at Neteyam
"Neteyam..?" No answer. He's gone.
"I'm sorry.." Aonung just cries, not believing his mate is gone and not believing he's gonna die too.
He really looks at Neteyam.
"We'll see each other again.." He feels himself losing consciousness, before that, he just kisses Neteyam's cheek. Finally taking in his last breath.