Project tiftanglen || Neteyam

12

Tarian woke up earlier than the rest, a habit he had picked up at the base and won't be getting rid of anytime soon, the sun was still relatively low and the sky was beautiful, the calm sloshing of the waves making him relax and slouch even further into his meditating position on the beach.

He had seen pictures of beaches, but seeing it live was another thing. Noone was awake, at least that's what he thought, the soothing crunch the sand exhaled as he sank his feet into it, relishing the chilly feeling. His arm was lazily put on, clinking when he walked, a groan coming from the metal as it had not been fully slotted into place, it hurt, but he didn't mind the pain. Today he would have to start over again, learn a different clans culture much like weeks before he had to learn the Omaticaya's. He sighed lightly, his eyes following the odd fin that would stick out of the water. Crunching sand brought him out of his trance.

A dark blue figure sat on the right.

"Hi"

Tarian smiled at the voice, recognizing it quickly.

"Hi, Teyam"

They both had gotten used to this way of life, Tarian would wake up and Neteyam would still by feeling the absence of Tarian left hand, which would be strewn near his, sometimes interlocking. They would sit whenever they wanted to, finding comfort in each other's presence, as both boys tried choking out quiet confessions, both so hardheaded they dont understand that they both would move seas for eachother.

"I wonder if they would they let me tame one of those things" He muttered, hanging the sentence high in the air with a breathy voice.

"What?" Neteyam chuckled.

"Those things that the chief arrived on, I want one."

"You seriously dont think they'll let you-"

"I tamed a furious ikran with my bare hands, i can take it" He said, a shit eating grin on his face, flexing his muscles

Neteyam paused and chuckled as he turned to Tarian, who was looking at him with soft eyes.

"Why? to stroke your ego?" The implication stung, Tarian wanted to prove himself, to everyone, but mainly to Neteyam, show him that he is a man worth liking, someone that Neteyam would love, he smiled even though he wanted to start rambling, sobbing into his comforting stature, his arms would be home for him, lover or not, even if unrequited, Tarian was convinced he would only love once and that it would be Neteyam, waves crashed in his head, a sudden race of confidence rung through his brain.

"Sure, but they also remind me of you" Tarian said, Neteyam cocked his head in confusion, mind racing and warmth gathering in his ears.

"Beautiful" Tarian quietly muttered, looking into Neteyams eyes. Neteyam smiled shyly at the smile on Tarians face, a beautiful sight, for his eyes looked like a starry night not yet light polluted and his smile looked like the very thing that raised the sun into the sky,  his eyes flicked down to his lips, quickly going back to his eyes.

No. He couldn't feel this way, they were boys, boys don't kiss boys. Neteyam had learned that from kiri's friends, who were conversing about crushes, talking fondly about a boy who Neteyam had also seen and looked at fondly, they looked at him weirdly, telling him the exact same thing that raced in his head as he looked at Tarian.

"Boys kiss girls, not other boys."

Tarian didn't want to kiss him, he wanted to kiss girls, seeing the way girls looked at him they did too. Tarian scootched closer, so close their knees connected and sparks ran through both boys' bodies. Tarians hands lifted up to Neteyams cheeks, getting so near to him their noses were almost touching. Tarian looked down at his lips, and said.