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"I don't know why, when I was near him, I became a bubbly shy girl"

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The water was warm with the sun beating down on it to provide such a beautiful shimmer for all Na'vi to swim in. In the distance not far was four darker blue children jumping into the water just in front of Tsireya. Practice must have already began.

I looked to Ao'nung who's expression was completely annoyed with his jaw clenching sharply and eyes hooded. He then turned to me signing.

~Stay here, I'll deal with them with my sister, Rotxo is joining us so when the times right I'll call you~ he motioned to the reefs small rock that was above water. I eyed him in disbelief.

He motioned again to go before he swam away to the five ahead of us. Sighing I turned around and lifted my body up out of the water to sit down on the sandy rock. Placing one leg in the water while the other was up, resting my chin on my knee. I just watched how Ao swam up to greet his sister with hand up and down from his face but ignored the 4 struggling to keep afloat.

Then Rotxo had came diving into the water gracefully, I rolled my eyes remembering what he did. "Oh just wait for the moment I enter in the water" speaking to myself I just observed how the siblings dived down below swimming deep into the water already.

My mind wondered back to earlier with Ao.
When we fell in the water, he held my body to keep me from hurting myself. We have always been so close. Especially when we were just small children, holding hands, hugging, playing being clingy with just doing what kids do, but I thought we grew out of that. Being a bit older we learn things like personal space and mannerism.

But...my heart it telling me something else..

I'm probably overthinking this

The poor girl was so lost in thought that she didn't see in her line of vision 3 heads popped out in front of her. Gasping for air heavily they were struggling, because they don't know how to use their lungs properly. "WOAH!" Y/n jumped slightly seeing the siblings there. The one with the sides of his head shaved turned to look at her, with widened yellow eyes he slapped his brothers arm to grab his attention. "S-Sorry for scaring you"

"No-it's okay.."

The one with the long hair gasps trying to calm his breathing, he looked to see what his brother was wanting. Till his eyes panned to Y/n. He was startled by her stunning appearance that he swallowed some water and began to cough up.

Drowning.

She grabbed ahold of his arm to bring him to the rock she was sitting on. Leaning in closer to get a look at his frantic face. He turned away right when she did holding his chest to cough once more.

"Hey now, The sea is for swimming not drinking" Laughing quietly hoping he didn't take offense to the joke. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, I'm fine- I just took in too much water" he looked at his brother who was holding in a laugh. "You just need to breathe slowly and ease your way through the water" Y/n slid her hand on his back to pat it gently to comfort his body which was still shaken up from almost drowning. The boy turned back to face her. "Thank you, I'll try to use your guidance when I'm swimming, it's difficult but I'll get the hang of it" Then he smiled brightly which startled Y/n, making her face heat up.

How strange...his smile so

Pretty

"My name is Neteyam." He extended his hand, and she looked down, suspicious. She was curious as to why he did this, but also wanted to know what it meant. She then took his hand in hers. "Neteyam, it's nice to meet you. I'm Y/n" The male nonchalantly tightened his grip on her hand, but it was very gentle. It didn't go unnoticed by the other two who were rolling their eyes.

"Uh guys their leaving without us!" The younger sister said as she dived down to catch up with Ao'nung, Rotxo and Tsireya. Lo'ak splashed Neteyam with a smirk "Come brother our teachers await us" He laughed out and followed Tuk. Neteyam growled in annoyance and let go of her hand quickly. "Excuse me, I have to-"

"No Go ahead I know they are waiting" The girl nodded giving him the okay, and seeing him dive back into the water.

She could still feel the warmth his hand gave to hers. Still lingering once he left.

What...is this?

Not even 5 minutes later the siblings came back up again. With breathing harshly to take in as much air as the can. Then 2 heads popped up. One being Tsireya and the other Rotxo.

"Your too fast, wait for us" The sister wined rubbing her left eye. Tsireya looked at each one of the siblings struggling "Just breathe. Breathe"

Ao'nung surfaced up with a small smirk on his face. "You are not good divers maybe good at swinging through trees-" His head snapped as a result of his sister hitting him. He hardened his gaze looking at her. Y/n sighed, realizing how hopeless he can be at times. Ao'nung noticed Y/n and stuck his tongue out. She returned the favor back at him.

"Bro, we don't understand that hand thing you guys do, it's confusing to us," Neteyam said, turning his hand sideways.

"I can teach you, it's simple"

"Maybe they should try riding with an Ilu, maybe swimming isn't the best to start with" Y/n suggested only to have Ao'nung shaking his head.

"Where's Kiri?"

"Who?"

"Kiri, she was just here with us" Rotxo looked among the group not seeing the girl with them. "I saw her swimming and bonding with the aquatic life just down below the reefs." Y/n bent down to extend her hand out to Tuk to help her up and rest for a bit. "You did so well, I'm sure in no time you'll be an excellent diver" she patted the smaller girls head to acknowledge and  give her credit. Tuks eyes beamed brightly.

Neteyam took note of this and looked down to smile. "Look at you bro" Lo'ak splashed him again. "Smiling over a girl" Though this time Neteyam grabbed his brother to pull him down in the water.

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Ao'nung stood in the middle of the shallow water that was around his hip. He clicked his tongue multiple times and howled to call a group of Ilus. "Woo, Tuc, Woo, Tuc Tuc Tuc Tuc." The water rippled rapidly with large aquatic long creatures splashing up with long heads popping up chirping. "These are Ilus. If you want to live here, you have to ride" He turned with his hands gesturing to them.

Tsireya went on one side to lock eyes with Lo'ak walking through the water with him.

Y/n had seen this for a split second and raised her brow smugly looking at her friend. Tsireya smiled looking away from Lo'ak and to Y/n who and her arms crossed shaking her shoulders up and down taunting Tsireya to tease her. Her faced puffed up being slightly embarrassed and walked off into the water with Lo'ak following behind.

This made Y/n laugh out slapping her leg. "Oh this is gonna be very fun" she spoke to herself but wasn't expecting Neteyam to make a comment, he had been right beside her the whole time. "What's very fun?" She snapped her head to see him to her right "Oh...Training you guys with riding Ilu" placing her hands behind her she tilted her head to the side. Hoping he didn't catch what she meant.

Neteyam just eyed her suspiciously but shrugged it off "I wanted to thank you for saving my ass earlier, I could have drowned"
"Your welcome, as long as you don't drink the water again I'm sure you'll be fine" He laughed placing a hand on his hip.

"Come I'll show you how to bond with an Ilu." She spoke grabbing his arm but was stopped.

" 'llngo 'Evenge, Let me stop you right there, I'll do this one. This four fingered Na'vi will learn faster if I teach him" Ao'nung Said walking to Neteyams Ilu. "Excuse me? Learn faster??" She cocked her head with hands on her hips staring at him like he was stupid. Neteyam looked at Ao'nung and stepped forward. "How will I know you will teach faster when you did it terribly when we were swimming?" He gave him a raised brow with an innocent smile.

He didn't take Ao'Ao's smart remarks like the others did? Oh this will be double the fun!

I looked to Ao'Ao and covered my mouth to stifle a weak laugh. His crystal eyes shot to mine then back at Neteyams. "Just watch me." He turned around to go deeper into the water with a strut, which I knew was his sour head walk. "He normally doesn't like others commenting him back with his rude remarks, you have attitude, I like that" I slapped his arm playfully making him laugh quietly, His locks swayed slightly looking down at me. "I think I can handle him pretty well"

I was smaller then both the Olo'eyktan sons but taller then Tsireya, which made me to be 7'5 feet tall. So I had to look up to the yellowed eyed Na'vi, making my neck hurt. I already had to deal with other tall people.

Tuk was with Rotxo who helped her get on her smaller Ilu with ease. She turned to wave at Neteyam and I. "Get on, you won't learn by just standing there will you?" I pushed him gently into the water and turned around to leave, but was stopped when Neteyam grab ahold of my wrist. "Your not gonna stay?" Then we were the ones to lock eyes.

Eywa help me in this moment of vulnerability with this dark blue Tutean Na'vi...I can't help but feel drawn to his eyes. They a perfect yellow making me Lu—Wou. (Be amazed) instinctively I grew closer to him. My heart rate began to quicken. I don't know what was happening but it felt right.

She snapped out of her deep thinking. "I need to call my Ilu...in order to join you guys in the water" She pulled away feeling a familiar hard stare from the same person who always watching her. Ao'nung had his arms crossed just watching the two interact. Y/n swallowed the lump in her throat.

What in the Txintseng (Hell) is wrong with me?!

Neteyam let go slowly, realizing what he was doing and thinking how rash he was. "Ah- right...sorry," he rubbed his neck before climbing up onto the Ilu. Ao'nung now had the opportunity to assist. He didn't want to do it in the first place; he just wanted to get the two away from each other.

"WooOoo, Tuc, OooWoo Tuc Tuc"Her calling was noticeably different from Ao'nung's. Peli, with her bright green and light purple skin, appeared instantly. Her fins flapped joyfully as she approached. Peli did a small twirl to recite the same step that Y/n did earlier in her performance. "Lor Pelili, you are very beautiful," she says, gliding her hand over her Ilus head, her body trembling. Peli was a vivacious creature. Her smooth skin was vibrantly adorned with black lines.

She was now riding Peli and observed everyone. A couple of other Ao'nungs friends from the village came by in the water to watch how the strange demons were doing. Amongst them Ao'nung stood in the middle watching intently how Lo'ak was riding. Unfortunately he failed miserably, making all of them have a good laugh.

Now with Neteyam he struggled a bit trying to keep calm with swimming with his Ilu. Ao'nung just wasn't the best at teaching. Yet he's the next leader of the clan?

"It seems Ao'Ao has failed you" she rolled his nickname off her tongue in a funky tone to tease him. "I..I'm not very good at this" The male spoke looking at his hands "Swimming is much harder then flying, it's so different..."

"Well that's just how it is, all this tribe knows is to swim, your learning and nothing's wrong with that. Ignore Aos comments." She heard a hiss from behind.

Wonder who that was.

"Take it easy, think of it like flying but in water, what do you feel when flying?" She slides her finger to outline the Ilus markings. Neteyam watched her "It feels like I'm free, like nothing can stop me"

She tilted her head back up to face him "That is what swimming is like, think of what it feels like to be free and being unstoppable when riding this creature here, it's the same as tsaheylu. I believe you can do it" He felt the connection of the Ilu. Though he doesn't understand the connection of the water. Yet that won't stop I'm from overcoming this small obstacle. "Your very encouraging, I like that"

Neteyam clicked his tongue smirking down at the girl who furrows her brows as she watch's him leave.

Did he just say—

She took a step back, her hand over her mouth, and looked down at the water. Ao'nung had glared at Neteyam and walked up behind her, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. He leaned his head down close to her ear and whispered "Paysyul" which was a name he gave her when they were children but now it was embarrassing for him to say now that they were older.

Y/n's right ear folded downwards followed by her pushing him away. "Stop that! I hate it when you do that!" Her tail whipped back and forth showing she was irritated. "And stop calling me that name!" The aqua colored male found her reactions so amusing, Even if she was being dramatic about it.

"Paysyul~" He said once more in a teasing tone. This time she pounded on him. Pushing him down in the water to wrangle him up. Pulling his ears, pinching his cheeks, his hair.

Rotxo saw the two and ran to them to grab ahold of her body and pull it up off his best friend. "No! I'm not done with him yet!" Ao'nung stood back up with his face redden from the pulling and pinching. "Easy easy Y/n! What did he even do?" She stopped to take a breather from frantically moving. "He didn't do something...it's more of what you did to us!" She turned around to now pushing him down and repeat the same actions she did Ao.

"No wait!! I didn't do anything!" Rotxo begged but she didn't listen.

It's what he gets for what he did earlier.

The older male just started laughing at the two.

Even though that was just him a second ago.

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Hello Lovely's~ Keen here,

I just wanted to thank you all for reading my story so far, I'm finding myself enjoying it a lot to create it for you guys!

One quick thing that I need to say, am I the only one that found it so attractive when Ao'nung called the Ilus?

How he did it so casually with no effort? Him being unaware of how good he looked?

Just me...?

Let me convince you.

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRbLpvHU/

Her edit is amazing, go show her love

^ _^

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