Rest.
[Neteyam x Na'vi reader]
Warnings: None. Fluff ₍₍⚞(˶˃ ꒳ ˂˶)⚟⁾⁾
Word Count: 600
Synposis: Too tired to hold your own head up, Neteyam is willing to do it for you.
The waves were slow tonight, the soft ‘sloshing’ sounds calming enough to lull anyone to silence. You hadn’t meant to fall asleep, not really.
But somewhere between the quiet hum of the ocean and the steady rise and fall of Neteyam’s breathing beside you, your eyes started to grow heavy. Your head tipped, just slightly, then fully, resting against his shoulder.
Once he felt your head hit his shoulder, he froze.
For a moment, he didn’t even breathe. He was still. He slowly looked down, ears twitching when he realized you’d fallen asleep. He didn’t dare move, seeing how peaceful you looked. He could feel the soft, warm breaths you took against his skin, sending goosebumps all over his body.
So, he stayed still.
Minutes stretched into hours. The sun set, while the moon rose higher. The night air cooled your bodies.
He couldn’t take his eyes off you as you slept. Your lips parted slightly, warm breaths escaping slowly. Your lashes fluttered every now and then, delicate and soft. Every small sound you made, every tiny movement. Neteyam realized, with all certainty, that he was in love.
Eventually, he realized your neck was bent at an uncomfortable angle. He pouted. He didn’t want you waking up sore.
So, slowly, very slowly, he adjusted you. One careful movement at a time, he eased you with gentle hands, shifting your head from his shoulder to rest against his thigh instead.
You stirred slightly, to which Neteyam quickly pulled his hands back. Letting out a soft sigh, you didn’t wake. Instead, you unconsciously curled closer, seeking more warmth.
He exhaled in relief.
His hands hovered for a moment, until they finally settled in your hair, as he absentmindely brushed through the soft strands as you slept.
You both stayed like that for a long time.
His leg went numb with time, sand was clinging to his skin, the cold air made him shiver. But none of it mattered, not when your comfort was worth every second of his suffering.
Then, a small wave crept farther than the rest, reaching your sleeping form.
Cold water brushed against your bare foot.
You flinched instantly, eyes blinking open in confusion before awareness slowly returned. You turned your head, only to realize where you were resting.
Neteyam tensed under you. “Sorry. Did I wake you?”
You glanced down at the water retreating from your toes, then back up at him. “No, it was the wave,” you paused before continuing, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to fall asleep on you,” you rasped, cheeks flushed with embarrassment. As you started to lift your head off his thigh, Neteyam’s hand moved instantly from your hair to your forehead, gently pushing you back down to rest on his leg.
“Stay,” he said, quietly. “You’re fine. Rest.”
You hesitated for a minute, before smiling and relaxing once again. Sleep still heavy in your body, you turned your face slightly, and pressed a brief kiss against his thigh: a quiet sign of your gratitude.
Then you stilled once more, your breath evening out again almost immediately.
Neteyam froze all over again, his breath caught in his throat.
The world felt impossibly small. Just the two of you, the ocean, and the steady rhythm of your breathing tickling his thigh.
So, he stayed.
As he always would.
