Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The flight from their home in the Hallelujah Mountains to the village of Awa’atlu was a long one, but to Neteyam, it was incredibly short. Probably because he spent the whole journey in a state of dissociation.

Neteyam had heard about the Recom Avatars from his father, but until a few days ago, he’d had yet to see them. He wished it had stayed that way. But as he was pressed into the ground under the heavy weight of one of them, gun pointed at his head, he had wished he was anywhere else. 

His eyes met his father’s, who Quaritch’s Recoms had on his knees. Jake met his son’s eyes, and Neteyam found comfort in the steady look Jake gave him. The command was silent, said through his gaze. “Stay calm.” But then one of the Recoms cocked their gun and aimed it at Jake’s head, and Neteyam couldn’t help himself. “Dad!” He cried out in fear. 

That, he would realize too late, was a big mistake. There were four Recoms holding them captive, and all eyes turned to Neteyam. “Did this little fucker just say dad?” One of them sneered with glee. Neteyam met Jake’s gaze again and his stomach rolled. His father was no longer stoic. He was afraid. 

“Lyle,” Jake snapped, but his voice trembled. Neteyam realized he was addressing the man on top of him. “Leave my kid out of this, man. Don’t fucking do this.” 

But Lyle wasn’t listening. He pulled Neteyam up onto his knees, holding him by his queue. Neteyam hissed. “Well doesn’t that make this so much better.” Lyle grabbed Neteyam’s face roughly, turning his head to observe his face. “You know, he looks just like his mother. So… pretty. He could almost be a woman, ” Lyle leered. 

Jake seemed to understand something before Neteyam did, because suddenly, he began to wildly struggle against the two Recoms holding him. One of them hit him across the face with his gun, and Jake slumped. “Tell us where your wife is, Sully,” the other Recom holding him demanded. “Never,” Jake spat. “Bold, considering we have your son.” “Yeah,” Lyle snickered. “In fact, he’s so pretty, I think I’ll make this fun.”

Lyle shoved Neteyam back into the ground face first. Then, Neteyam could hear him fumbling with his belt with one hand, the other still painfully gripping his queue and keeping his face in the dirt. Neteyam was confused, but by the look on his father’s face, he knew something very bad was about to happen to him. 

“NO, STOP!” Jake bellowed. But he was ignored, and Neteyam’s heart dropped when the Recom that had been standing guard sat on his back and pinned his arms down. Lyle was still sitting on his legs, messing with his pants. Then, to Neteyam’s horror, he felt Lyle’s hands move to his loincloth, and begin undoing it. “W-What are you doing!?” 

“You can make this stop, Jake,” one of the Recom’s holding his father said. “Just tell us where your wife is.” Jake looked torn, like he was seriously considering it. Neteyam shook his head vehemently, deciding that he would endure whatever was about to happen to him for the sake of his family. Jake’s lips pressed together. 

“Have it your way, Sully.” One of Lyle’s hands gripped Neteyam’s waist while the other gripped his tail, holding it up and tugging on it painfully. Lyle forced his legs apart, and stripped of his loincloth, Neteyam finally understood what was happening. “DAD!” Neteyam cried out in terror. 

“I’LL KILL YOU ALL!” Jake roared. But he could do nothing as Neteyam felt Lyle begin to penetrate him. It burned, and Neteyam screamed so hard his voice cracked. He felt something wet and warm trickle down his inner thigh. 

Lyle didn’t get all the way in before Jake had finally overpowered his captors. The Recom that was sitting on Neteyam’s back jumped off of him to fight Jake, and with his arms and upper body free, Neteyam threw an elbow back into Lyle, who yelped and pulled back. Neteyam squirmed out from under him, grabbed his knife from where it was strapped on his thigh, and released all his fury and fear into stabbing Lyle. 

Jake got a hold of his gun and shot the other three Recoms, but when he turned on Neteyam and Lyle, he only watched, letting Neteyam take his justice. 

“FUCK YOU, FUCK YOU, FUCK YOU!” Neteyam screamed with tears streaming down his face, stabbing Lyle over and over and over, even though Lyle was long dead. Finally, Jake’s voice broke through the ringing in his ears. “-teyam! Neteyam!” Neteyam came back to himself, finally stopping his assault on Lyle’s body, and dropped to his knees, suddenly very aware he was still exposed. 

Silently, Jake handed him his loincloth. Neteyam desperately redressed himself, cringing when he felt something sticky between his thighs. When he pulled his hand away, it was red, and Neteyam’s stomach rolled again with the realization that Lyle had made him bleed. Wordlessly, once his loincloth was back in place, he stood and made for the creek that he could hear nearby. Jake followed him silently. 

Neteyam removed his loincloth to wash himself off, grateful when Jake turned away to give him privacy. Once Neteyam felt he was clean enough, he climbed out of the water and re-tied his loincloth. His eyes met his father’s. Jake looked horrified. 

“Do not look at me like that,” Neteyam demanded, his voice cracking. “I do not ever want to talk about it.” “Son, I think we should-” “NO!” Neteyam yelled. Jake’s ears fell back, but he didn’t reprimand his son for raising his voice. Instead, he opened his arms. Neteyam rushed into them. Jake sighed in relief, holding his eldest child close. “We don’t have to talk about it until you’re ready, okay?” Neteyam nodded against his chest. “Come on, boy. Let’s go home.”

It was a mere three days later that they were leaving the only home they’d ever known, possibly for good. Neteyam didn’t know if it made his situation worse or not. On one hand, he was ripped from the comfort of the forest, his home, which he loved dearly. 

On the other hand, he was getting far, far away from the demons who had assaulted him and the place where it happened. 

Mostly, Neteyam felt guilt, because he saw how much it broke his siblings and mother’s hearts to have to leave their home. Neytiri knew what had happened to him. Neteyam knew Jake had told her by the way she looked at him. But he was grateful they didn’t tell his siblings anything, despite their endless, begging questions of why they had to leave their home.

Neteyam was so absorbed in his own head that he hardly paid any mind to the discomfort of the journey. Before he knew it, they’d arrived at the sunny village of Awa’atlu. They circled on their ikrans, his parents letting out yips and calls to convey their arrival was friendly. A lookout blew a conch. Finally, they landed in the soft sand, and the people were quick to gather.

The reef Na’vi were built differently than the forest Na’vi. That was the first thing Neteyam noticed. Their rib cages were wider, their forearms were wide with a fin, their tails were thick and fin-like as well. They were also teal, as opposed to the forest Na’vi’s dark blue. The older Na’vi had tattoos. 

Neteyam followed his father as they all walked away from their ikrans, stopping in the circle the Metkayina people had formed around them. Some looked curious; some looked weary. Neteyam waited. The crowd parted slightly to allow a tall male, his age, Neteyam guessed, to stride confidently to the front, followed by a shorter male Na’vi. Neteyam and Lo’ak both greeted them politely with an I see you gesture, but it went unreturned from the other two. 

The one that seemed to be Neteyam’s age stared Neteyam down, and Neteyam stared right back. The Metkayina circled around, stopping slightly behind Neteyam. His friend, the shorter one, slapped his arm lightly and pointed at Neteyam’s tail. “Look at that! What is that? Is that supposed to be a tail?” The taller one laughed. Neteyam’s ears fell back.

Then, a girl was slapping both of them on their arms. “Aonung! Rotxo! Be nice,” she hissed. She made eye contact with Lo’ak. “Hey,” Lo’ak greeted. The girl giggled. Neteyam rolled his eyes at his brother. Then the Olo’eyktan arrived. “Tonowari,” Jake greeted respectfully. As his parents and Tonowari greeted each other, Neteyam’s eyes drifted back to who the girl had addressed as Aonung. 

Neteyam quickly looked away when he found him still intensely staring. 

The Tsahik finally arrived, and Neteyam respectfully avoided eye contact as she scrutinized him and his family. Then she began disparaging his family, holding Kiri’s hands up on display and claiming them to have demon blood. Now Neteyam was on alert, his tail flicking agitatedly behind him, ears down as he glared at the Tsahik. Ronal, he’d vaguely heard his father call her. 

She held up Lo’ak’s hand next, continuing to berate them. Lo’ak yanked his hand away. When Ronal stepped back, Neteyam relaxed just slightly, and once again began to dissociate. Aonung, Rotxo, and the girl had moved to stand by Tonowari and Ronal. Aonung had finally torn his gaze away from Neteyam. Neteyam took a deep breath. 

He came back to the conversation when Tonowari announced uturu would be granted. Neteyam saw his father’s shoulders sink in relief. Tonowari commanded his people to show them their ways, so they would not suffer the shame of being useless. He said they would be like babies, and Neteyam frowned when his mother winced. He knew this was hurting her pride. He certainly had learned how that felt over the past few days.

“My son, Aonung, and our daughter, Tsireya, will show your children our ways,” Tonowari announced. “But father!” Aonung began to protest. It was the first time Neteyam heard him speak. Tonowari raised his hand. “It is decided.” Aonung looked angry, but didn’t argue further. Tsireya, the girl, however, looked thrilled. “Come,” she chirped. “I will show you our village.”

Neteyam helped his family gather their things from the ikrans before they all followed Tsireya through the village. She stopped at an empty marui. “This is yours,” she announced. Neteyam sighed internally. This was happening. This was home now.

Chapter Text

Neteyam followed his siblings out to a dock the next morning, where they met with Aonung, Tsireya, and Rotxo. Rotxo hadn’t been ordered to help them, as far as Neteyam knew, but when he saw how the boy was looking at Kiri, he understood why he was there.

Aonung, Tsireya, and Rotxo dove into the water gracefully. Neteyam and Lo’ak looked at one another before shrugging and leaping into the water much less gracefully. They heard the splashes of Kiri and Tuk following them. Neteyam marveled at his surroundings. It wasn’t as beautiful as his forest, but he’d be lying if he said the ocean wasn’t beautiful at all. His siblings seemed just as entranced. 

The Metkayina teenagers swam ahead of them, glancing back to gauge the reactions of the Omatikayas. Neteyam, Lo’ak, and Tuk swam after them, but Neteyam noticed Kiri swim off. He didn’t worry too much. She strayed away a lot, and she always came back.

Neteyam’s attention was drawn to Aonung as he swam, and he found himself mesmerized by his movements. His hips swayed as his tail swished back and forth, propelling him through the water. He didn’t notice Neteyam watching him, so Neteyam stared until he realized he needed to go up for air. He and Lo’ak broke the surface, taking deep gulps of air.

They put their faces back in the water once they were satiated, and saw Aonung, Tsireya, and Rotxo below them, looking up at them. Tsireya signed something with her fingers that they didn’t understand, and they made vague hand gestures to convey they did not know what she was saying. She simply smiled, and waved for them to follow. Rotxo did the same. 

So Neteyam, Lo’ak, and Tuk, who had resurfaced at some point, all dove back down and did their best to follow the Metkayina trio. They didn’t get very far before they were racing back up to the surface for air again.

Tsireya breached the surface shortly after them, followed by Rotxo. “Are you alright?” Tsireya asked sweetly. “You’re too fast, wait for us!” Tuk whined, rubbing her eye. “Just breathe,” Tsireya soothed. Aonung broke the surface between her and Rotxo. “Breathe.” “You are not good divers,” Aonung said. “Maybe good at swimming through trees but-” He was cut off by Tsireya slapping his head. He gave her an offended look while Rotxo laughed.

“Come on, bro,” Lo’ak frowned. “We don’t speak this… finger talk , guys, we don’t know what you’re saying,” Neteyam spoke up. He ignored Aonung’s stare, focusing on Tsireya as she dipped her head and promised, “I will teach you.”

“Where is Kiri?” Rotxo spoke suddenly. Neteyam became acutely aware that his sister was missing from the group. “Kiri?” Tuk said. “Who?” Aonung asked. Neteyam rolled his eyes. “Kiri. Where is Kiri?” Rotxo repeated, and everyone looked around. “Did you see her?” Tsireya asked. 

Once Kiri was located, the group convened in shallower waters, where everyone but Tuk could stand. Neteyam held her on his hip. Aonung called out, with some chirps and clicking sounds, and was quickly surrounded by the water creatures Neteyam had noticed many Metkayina riding. Aonung turned to the group. “These are ilu. If you want to live here, you have to ride.”

“Let us pair off,” Tsireya suggested. “Lo’ak, I will teach you.” Neteyam smirked at the look on his brother’s face. “I can teach Kiri!” Rotxo quickly volunteered. Neteyam glanced at Kiri, who shrugged. “I will take Tuk with us,” Kiri offered, and Neteyam handed his youngest sister over.

That left him with Aonung. “With me, forest boy,” Aonung smirked. Neteyam followed him away from Tsireya and Lo’ak. Aonung summoned an ilu over and showed Neteyam where to grab. “Hold here.” Neteyam made the bond with the creature before mounting it.

“No, no, you’re sitting wrong,” Aonung said. “You need to adjust your hips and lean forward.” Neteyam tried to follow his instructions, but knew he wasn’t doing well by the irritated clicking noise Aonung made with his tongue. Suddenly, Aonung grabbed Neteyam’s waist to adjust his position on the ilu.

Realistically, Neteyam knew that he was safe, far away from what had happened, and Aonung’s hands were not going to cause him harm, but he couldn’t help the flashbacks that came with his waist being touched. He reacted, hissing at Aonung and jerking away, falling off his ilu into the water. 

When he resurfaced, Aonung was staring at him with a concerned frown. Neteyam looked away in shame. “What was that?” Aonung asked. Neteyam shook his head. “Did I hurt you?” Aonung sounded uncharacteristically worried. “No,” Neteyam answered quickly. “I am sorry. I did not mean to hiss at you. Just… do not touch my waist.” Ao’nung clearly wanted to ask more questions, but to Neteyam’s utter relief, he only nodded. “Alright. Should we try again?”

Neteyam wanted to say yes, but found his body uncooperative. He was thankful they were in waters where they could stand, because his body locked up, and had he been swimming, he’d have sunk like a stone. There was a ringing in his ears, and his breathing was labored. He didn’t realize how erratic his breathing truly was until Aonung was suddenly in his face, demanding that he breathe. 

“Breathe, forest boy, damn it, what’s wrong with you!?” His hands hovered over Neteyam’s shoulders, like he was afraid touching him again would only worsen the situation. Neteyam tried desperately to pull himself together. “I’m sorry,” he gasped. “I must go.” He forced his body to move, albeit stiffly, away from Aonung and towards shore. 

He was infinitely grateful that Aonung didn’t follow him. He stumbled back to his marui, thankful to find his father there. “Neteyam.” Jake jumped to his feet at the sight of his eldest son. “Come here, boy, what’s wrong?” “Dad, I-I don’t know, I can’t breathe.” Jake urged him to sit. “Put your head between your knees,” he told him, and Neteyam obeyed. 

Jake talked his son through what he would explain to be a panic attack. Of course, he demanded to know what had happened. “Aonung was teaching me to ride an ilu. He grabbed my waist to adjust my position, and I just…” Neteyam trailed off. But Jake nodded in understanding. “Neteyam, you went through something incredibly traumatic. You probably have PTSD.” 

After a long talk about what PTSD was and what it entailed, Neteyam felt worse, despite being past his panic attack. He was a mighty warrior, he had a reputation to uphold, younger siblings to look out for, younger siblings who looked up to him. He faltered in front of Aonung today. He could not do so again.

For the next week, Neteyam did well. He quickly mastered riding an ilu once he got his positioning down. Even Aonung seemed vaguely impressed. He could hold his breath the second longest of his siblings; Kiri was a natural, she may as well have been born Metkayina. He kept his composure and grace when some boys his age tried to harass him. Didn’t start a fight, but didn’t let them disrespect him either.  Neteyam felt like he was back on track.

Aonung was his main teacher. He was cocky, and rude, and condescending. But he treated Neteyam better than he treated his siblings. He seemed impressed Neteyam had picked up their skills so quickly, and held respect for the fact Neteyam was already considered a man back home. It also probably helped that Neteyam appeared more Na’vi than Lo’ak or Kiri. What with his four fingers and hairless brow.

Aonung stared at Neteyam a lot. It had made Neteyam uncomfortable at first, especially after the incident during the first ilu riding lesson. He’d felt like Aonung could see right through him. But as the days passed, Neteyam settled under the blue gaze. So what, Aonung had a staring problem. Neteyam let it roll off his back. 

They’d been there for two weeks when Neteyam commented about it to Tsireya, while they lagged behind the group; minus Aonung, who was off doing whatever he did when he wasn’t teaching them. “Your brother stares a lot.” Tsireya giggled, hiding her mouth behind her hand. “Only at you,” she’d said cryptically, before bouncing ahead of him to strike up a conversation with Kiri. Neteyam had shrugged it off.

Late that afternoon, Neteyam was dutifully watching his siblings as they played in the shallows with Rotxo and Tsireya, who had taken to spending time with them outside of lessons. He was sitting on the beach when he heard soft footsteps in the sand behind him. 

“Forest boy,” a familiar voice greeted him. To Neteyam’s surprise, Aonung sank into the sand beside him. “Aonung,” Neteyam greeted politely. “Have your parents sent you to watch them or are you just being a dutiful big brother?” Aonung teased. “Whether my parents tell me to or not, it’s my job to watch them,” Neteyam replied, refusing to look away from his siblings, despite feeling Aonung’s gaze burning into the side of his face.

Aonung hummed. “Mm, yes, I am lucky Tsireya is so close to me in age. I have less to worry about. When my new sibling is born, I’m sure I’ll be as vigilant as you.”

Neteyam was taken aback. He wasn’t sure why exactly, Aonung hadn’t said anything crazy. But Aonung presented himself as smug and aloof, and treated Neteyam’s siblings with disdain, so hearing his sentiments about his own siblings, and the fact he was being even slightly emotionally open with Neteyam, was surprising. Neteyam finally looked at him.

Aonung was looking at Tsireya with something akin to fondness on his face. Neteyam took the moment to admire his side profile. Aonung was a very attractive Na'vi, if one could get past his personality. Neteyam pursed his lips. He had too many troubles to be considering another Na'vi’s attractiveness. 

Aonung felt his gaze on him and turned back to him. Their eyes locked, and Neteyam ignored how it made him feel. “Take a break from worrying about them. They’ll be fine without you for an hour, big brother. Come, let me show you something.” Aonung stood and waited expectantly for Neteyam to follow.

Neteyam considered it briefly before standing to follow the taller male. His father had told him to make friends after all. Aonung seemed pleased, leading them to a dock and calling for their ilus. They mounted, and Aonung led them out towards the edge of the reef. Neteyam got nervous. Aonung looked back at him and Neteyam’s feelings must have been written on his face because Aonung laughed. “Relax, forest boy. We are not going past the reef.” 

Neteyam smiled sheepishly. They reached the edge of the reef, where tide pools were sort of stacked. Neteyam had seen them initially when he and his family had flown in. Aonung stopped when they could go no further, and began to climb up the reef. Neteyam followed him easily. Climbing was a forte. 

Aonung led him to the highest tide pool and jumped in, wading to the edge closest to the open sea. He sank into the water and leaned on the edge, looking back at Neteyam and motioning for him to join. Neteyam did, and when he sank down next to Aonung in the tide pool, overlooking the vastness of the open ocean, his eyes widened.

It was a wonderful spot. The water was warm from being heated by the sun all day. The height gave them a great vantage point over the ocean and the horizon off in the distance. Eclipse was beginning, turning the sky into wonderful colors. 

“This is the best time to be here,” Aonung spoke. “I often come here when I need to be alone, to think. It is very relaxing, is it not? I thought you could use it.” Aonung was full of surprises today. Neteyam smiled at him, unaware that his smile being directed at Aonung would make Aonung’s whole week. 

“Thank you for showing me this.” “Of course. We should be friends.” Aonung stated it confidently, like there was no room for discussion, but Neteyam noticed he avoided eye contact. Neteyam smiled again. 

“That would be nice. Friends.”

Chapter Text

When Aonung first laid eyes on the Sully family, he was skeptical. Forest people did not come to the reefs. It was simply unheard of. As the son of the Olo’eyktan and Tsahik, he parted the crowd with ease to get a closer look, his best friend Rotxo on his heels. The family consisted of six, Toruk Makto, his mate, and their four children. 

Aonung briefly scanned them, one by one. There were two girls, one young, maybe seven or eight, and one who looked to be Tsireya’s age. Aonung frowned looking at her. She had hair on her brow and her nose was strange. The girl pulled a shawl tighter over her shoulders. 

Then there were two boys. The first one looked only slightly less strange than his sister. He looked to be the same age as her. His nose was more Na’vi, but he too had hair on his brow. But it was the eldest brother who had Aonung’s attention. His golden eyes locked onto Aonung’s as soon as his gaze landed on him, and he held Aonung’s intense stare. Aonung had never seen eyes of any colors but blue and green before.

The eldest had to be his age, but the cummerbund around his (incredibly slim) waist suggested that he was already considered a man by his clan’s standards. Aonung would be going through his own clan’s rites of passage to be recognized as an adult very soon, and felt a mix of jealousy and respect for the Omatikyan having done so before him.

Though he’d heard from his father that the Omatikaya had their rites of passage into adulthood at sixteen, as opposed to the Metkayina’s eighteen. He noticed, fleetingly, that despite that fact, the younger brother was not decorated as a man. Both brothers politely greeted him with an I see you gesture that Aonung did not return.

Really, it wasn’t the cummerbund that had Aonung’s rapt attention. It was the Na’vi himself. Aonung had only ever seen his kind of people, so seeing forest Na’vi was a completely foreign experience. They were built differently. Slimmer, with thin arms, thin waists, and thin tails. He circled around with Rotxo, getting a better look at their tails.

“Look at that! What is that? Is that supposed to be a tail?” Rotxo commented, and Aonung laughed. The eldest brother’s tail flicked rapidly behind him, and Aonung realized it was reacting out of agitation, if the look the eldest gave him and Rotxo was anything to go by. Aonung smirked.

Aonung hadn’t liked looking at the younger siblings, their alien features making him uncomfortable, despite looking mostly Na’vi. But the eldest, he looked like a true Na’vi, through and through. In fact, he looked just like his mother, Toruk Makto’s mate, Neytiri. Pretty.

His dark skin and bright golden eyes were exotic. His tail was useless as far as Aonung was concerned, but it was expressive and its movements were satisfying to watch. Despite his slim build, the eldest was all lithe muscle, and Aonung wanted to fight him and see who would win. His eyes slid back to the cummerbund around his waist and Eywa, his waist. Aonung was pretty confident he could wrap his large hands completely around it.

He barely noticed his sister scolding him and Rotxo. When their parents arrived, Aonung went to stand by his father. The family was asking for uturu, and Aonung wanted to laugh. Forest people, living with reef people? They would be useless.

His mother shared his sentiment, as well as his observation of two of the siblings’ alien features. She called them out for having demon blood, and Aonung glanced back at the eldest. He didn’t appear to have demon blood. Ronal seemed to agree, because she passed him without touching him. But as Ronal had held up his siblings’ hands, with five fingers, Aonung hadn’t noticed that at first, the eldest glared at Ronal. 

His tail was slashing through the air wildly, and his ears were flat back against his head. He looked like he wanted to fight, and Aonung, once again, was compelled to get in a fight with him to see who would win. 

The mother of the family, Neytiri, got agitated, and hissed at Ronal. Aonung’s mother hissed right back, and Toruk Makto, or Jake Sully, jumped in to calm them down. After a tense standoff, both women backed down. Neytiri closed her eyes and took a calming breath. “Uturu has been asked,” she said tensely. 

Aonung watched his parents as they had a conversation through eye contact alone. He’d always admired that, wondered if he would have that kind of connection with someone one day. But no one in his clan drew his attention. 

His parents came to an agreement, granting the Omatikaya family uturu. “My son, Aonung, and daughter, Tsireya, will show your children our ways,” Tonowari announced. Aonung snapped out of his train of thought. “But father!” Aonung protested. Tonowari raised his hand. “It is decided.”

So, Aonung’s fate was sealed, doomed to teaching these useless freaks the Metkayina way. But as his gaze wandered back to the eldest, he decided that maybe there were worse things.

His name was Neteyam, Aonung would come to learn. His brother was Lo’ak, his sister was Kiri, and the youngest was Tuk. They started with swimming. The Sully siblings were bad at it, just as Aonung had expected. They held their breath for a meager three minutes. 

When Aonung, Rotxo, and Tsireya realized the Omatikayans couldn’t swim fast, couldn’t hold their breath long, and couldn’t understand sign language, they decided to start with ilu riding. After locating the sister, Kiri, who Aonung had completely forgotten about. 

Tsireya claimed Lo’ak, and Aonung would definitely be giving her shit later for being so eager to claim the younger brother. Rotxo claimed Kiri, and by extension Tuk, leaving Neteyam for Aonung. Aonung certainly wasn’t complaining. 

Aonung really liked the name Neteyam, but he only addressed him as “forest boy”. He had a reputation to uphold, after all. “Hold here,” Aonung instructed him. Neteyam mounted the ilu and Aonung tried to explain how he should position himself, but Neteyam still wasn’t getting it right.

Mildly irritated, Aonung decided to adjust Neteyam himself, while simultaneously indulging in the urge to touch that tantalizing waist. Neteyam had removed his cummerbund, as it restricted his movement in the water. But as soon as Aonung’s hands circled Neteyam’s waist, Neteyam reacted violently. 

He hissed at Aonung and jerked away, falling off his ilu and into the water. Aonung was stunned. What the hell just happened? When Neteyam resurfaced, he looked ashamed. “What was that?” Aonung asked incredulously. Neteyam only shook his head. “Did I hurt you?” Aonung felt immensely guilty. He wasn’t sure how he might have hurt him, but why else would he react like that?

“No,” Neteyam assured him, finally looking at him. “I am sorry. I did not mean to hiss at you. Just… do not touch my waist.” Aonung wanted to ask so many more questions. Was it offensive? Was it sensitive? Was he hurt there? But the look on Neteyam’s face prevented Aonung from voicing any more questions.

Aonung gave him a tight nod. “Alright. Should we try again?” That’s when he noticed something was wrong. Neteyam’s eyes were glazed over and his breathing was erratic. “Hey, hey,” Aonung got in his face, trying to get his eyes to focus. “Breathe.” 

Neteyam wasn’t listening. “Breathe, forest boy, damn it, what’s wrong with you!?” He wanted to touch Neteyam but feared he would make things worse. He’d never seen this before, and he was growing slightly panicked, unsure of what was wrong and what to do.

Suddenly, Neteyam seemed to come back to himself. He looked at Aonung with wide eyes. “I’m sorry,” he gasped. “I must go.” Aonung watched him leave, itching to go after him, but he felt like he’d just witnessed something he shouldn’t have. Not to mention he and Neteyam were practically strangers. He didn’t want to overstep. Aonung replayed the event in his mind all night.

The next day, Neteyam seemed perfectly fine. Over the next two weeks, he excelled at lessons, and didn’t have another incident. The more time Aonung spent with him, the more he wanted to know about him. But they weren’t friends; they were student and teacher. 

“You should really just befriend Neteyam,” Tsireya commented one night as they got ready for bed. “Instead of staring at him all the time.” Aonung scowled. “You’re one to talk, head over heels for that freak, Lo’ak.” Tsireya ignored him and continued. “He’s noticed. Said something about it today.” 

That got Aonung’s attention. “What? What did he say, exactly?” Tsireya giggled. “He said you stare a lot.” Aonung was silent, embarrassed to have been so obvious. “Just talk to him!” Tsireya encouraged. “I am quite sure you two have much in common.” 

So after careful consideration of how he wanted to do it, Aonung decided to take Neteyam out to the tide pools at the edge of the reef. Neteyam had smiled at him, genuinely, for the first time since his arrival. Aonung had wanted to be smoother with his extension of friendship, but as soon as Neteyam gave him that damn smile, he blurted out, “We should be friends.” He was thrilled when Neteyam accepted.

Over another two weeks, he and Neteyam spent a considerable amount of time together. Aonung continued his role as teacher, but he focused solely on Neteyam, ignoring his siblings. Tsireya and Rotxo took care of them anyway. He would commandeer Neteyam’s time outside of lessons too. 

He was learning things about Neteyam. Neteyam had indeed gone through his rites of passage into adulthood at sixteen. He was an incredibly skilled archer, showing off his skills with a bow to catch fish in the shallows one day. He tamed his ikran when he was merely ten, a feat much more impressive than taming an ilu, from how Neteyam described it.

Still, Aonung wanted to know more. It seemed like there was something more to Neteyam, like he was haunted in a way. Aonung wanted to know why. But his friends were beginning to give him shit. Not Rotxo, of course, Rotxo was a fucking saint, but Aonung’s other friends, Onvi, Nash’vi, and Koro, who had not taken kindly to the Sully siblings. 

Aonung had just said his goodbyes to Neteyam after their lessons for the day. He’d asked if Neteyam wanted to go for a ride on their ilus, but Neteyam had politely declined; he was on babysitting duty for Tuk today. Aonung was watching him walk away, when he was suddenly surrounded by Onvi, Nash’vi, and Koro. 

“Oi! So busy with the forest freaks these days, Aonung. We hardly see you,” Nash’vi teased. Aonung rolled his eyes. “Father’s orders.” “Oh really?” Koro chuckled. “Hanging out with Neteyam is your father’s order?” “I don’t mind Neteyam,” Onvi chimed in. “At least he is true Na’vi.” “No he isn’t!” Nash’vi argued. “He may look it, but he has demon blood like the rest of them.”

Uncomfortable with the conversation, Aonung held up his hand. “Enough. I am here now, am I not? Let us go diving.” The boys cheered, excited to have Aonung’s attention again. But on their way, they came across Kiri, who was in the shallows, face down in the water and staring at the sand.

Aonung held a lot less contempt for Neteyam’s siblings as he’d started getting to know Neteyam, but as his friends snickered and pointed, he decided he had a reputation to upkeep. They approached her. “What is she doing?” Nash’vi laughed. “I don’t know!” Onvi snickered. Aonung pointed. “She’s just looking at the sand!” They all laughed.

Kiri pulled her face out of the water, rising to her knees. “Huh? What’d you say?” “Are you some kind of… freak?” Aonung asked. “He asked if you are a freak!” Koro parroted him. Kiri rose to her feet. She sighed and shook her head, beginning to walk away. “No.”

“Are you sure?” Aonung taunted, circling behind her to block her into his circle of friends. “I mean you’re not even real Na’vi. Look at these hands.” He made a grab for her hands but she snatched them away. Aonung doubled down. “I mean, look at them!” He grabbed her hand this time. His friends snickered.

“HEY!” Aonung turned. Lo’ak was marching up to him. “Back off, fish lips.” “Ohh, another four fingered freak,” Aonung grinned, walking backwards a few steps before pushing Lo’ak back by the chest. “Look at this little baby tail!” Koro laughed, grabbing Lo’ak’s tail. Lo’ak spun around. “Don’t touch me!” He shoved Koro.

But all of Aonung’s friends were ganging up on him, chanting “baby tail” and pushing him around. “Leave us alone!” Kiri yelled. Suddenly, a hand roughly grabbed Aonung’s shoulder, spinning him around and pushing him back. Aonung’s smile dropped when he saw Neteyam.

Neteyam stared him down, furious. “You heard what she said. Leave them alone.” He poked his finger into Aonung’s chest. “Ahh, big brother coming to-” Nash’vi started from next to Aonung, but Aonung pushed his chest, silencing him, never breaking eye contact with Neteyam. “Back off,” Neteyam sneered, his finger in Aonung’s face. Then he pushed Aonung back with a single finger to the chest. “Now.”

Aonung kept his arm out, keeping Nash’vi from jumping in. He broke eye contact with Neteyam to glance at Lo’ak, before smirking and taking a step back, hands raised in surrender. “Smart choice,” Neteyam said. “And from now on,” he turned to address Aonung’s friends. “I need you to respect my sister.” He looked back at Aonung. Nash’vi hissed at him, and Aonung held out his arm again. Kiri stuck out her tongue.

“Let’s go.” Neteyam ushered his siblings away. “Bye-byeee,” Nash’vi mocked. To save face, Aonung lowered his voice and said to his friends, “Look at them. They’re all freaks. The whole family.” Lo’ak stopped walking and turned back to them. 

Aonung felt so stupid for falling for his “look what this hand can do” trick. Before he knew it, he’d been punched in the face three times, and knocked onto his back. “It’s called a punch, bitch! Never touch my sister again.” 

Aonung jumped up, crouched, hissed, then charged, tackling Lo’ak into the sand. A fight broke out, and at some point, Aonung noticed Neteyam had joined the fray. Now would be his chance to see which one of them was stronger, but he was too focused on getting back at Lo’ak, so he left poor Nash’vi at Neteyam’s mercy.

Some elders noticed what was happening and broke up the fight, scolding all of them and summoning their parents. As Jake led Neteyam and Lo’ak away, and Tonowari dragged Aonung away, Aonung made eye contact with Neteyam and his heart sank. He’d never seen Neteyam so angry, and knowing it was directed at him made Aonung feel extra shitty. 

He didn’t fear the consequences from his parents. He feared the consequences from Neteyam.

Chapter Text

Aonung was out later that day, at the edge of the reef with Nash’vi and Koro. His father and mother had let him go until they decided on a fitting punishment for his actions. He was enjoying his final few hours of freedom. 

He wanted to see Neteyam, but was sure that he and Lo’ak were busy getting chewed out by their father. He and his two friends were preparing for a hunt, when they were joined by the brother Aonung didn’t want to see. 

“What’s tree boy doing here?” Nash’vi said as Lo’ak’s ilu swam up to them. Lo’ak glanced at him and Koro before pulling up beside Aonung and addressing him. “I’m sorry I hit you. So many times.” Aonung felt a rush of anger at the subtly smug tone, but was careful not to convey it in his body language. 

Aonung looked at Nash’vi and Koro, who looked back at him expectantly. He knew they were waiting to see what he’d do in retaliation. Aonung knew he had to do something in retaliation, lest he appear weak. A devious plan formed in his mind. 

“Ah,” he said finally, looking up at Lo’ak. He extended his arm. “We should be friends.” Lo’ak hesitated for a minute before clasping Aonung’s forearm. “Come hunting with us,” Aonung offered casually. “Outside the reef. It’s where the men hunt.” Aonung knew that would sway the younger brother.

Lo’ak’s eyes darted away nervously for a moment. “No way, I’m not allowed,” he said. Aonung let go of his arm and threw his hand up, letting out a sharp exhale. He turned to his friends. “I must be asking the wrong brother.” Aonung knew that line would get to Lo’ak, and it did. “Let’s do it.” “Ahh,” Aonung grinned, grabbing a weapon and handing it to Lo’ak. He let out a call to the ilus, and they all took off. 

Aonung took them to Three Brothers Rocks, and made quick work of ditching Lo’ak underwater while he hunted a school of fish. While the Omaticaya’s back was turned, he motioned at his friends, and they all swam away. As they mounted their ilus to leave, Aonung felt uneasy with what he’d just done. Lo’ak had been so excited to join them. He shook the thought from his head and tried to choke down his guilt.

Aonung, Nash’vi, and Koro returned to the reef, and as soon as they got back, Aonung’s stomach absolutely dropped. He was immediately hit with a sense of panic and regret that he was not able to ignore. As they rode back to shore, Aonung split off from his friends with some half-assed excuse.

He had to go tell Neteyam what he had done. They could go back and get Lo’ak together, before the eclipse fully set in. Lo’ak would be fine. He searched the village swiftly, but with no luck. Then, sweeping the beach, Aonung found Tuk, playing with some Metkayina children her age in the shallows. “Tuk!” Aonung called.

She was too young to notice the tension between Aonung and her older siblings, so Tuk had nothing against the chief’s son. He also liked her the most out of Neteyam’s siblings, because Aonung had always had a soft spot for children.

“Hi!” Tuk beamed at her least favorite teacher. She didn’t mind Aonung, but he always taught Neteyam, so he only ever taught Tuk during group lessons. She didn’t know much about him. Still, she was childishly happy to see him. 

Aonung reached out and patted her head, once again feeling rather sick, reminded of what he’d just done to her older brother. He had to find Neteyam. “Tuk, have you seen Neteyam?” “He’s inland! In the trees!” Tuk answered. Vague, but enough. Aonung thanked her and made his way into the forest inland. 

Aonung never went into the forest. The shore provided everything they needed, and only foragers needed to go to the forest for certain fruits, nuts, and berries. Luckily, he didn’t have to go far before he found Neteyam.

He heard him before he saw him. Neteyam was talking, and there were sounds of objects hitting a target with extreme force. Aonung listened intently for another voice, wondering who Neteyam was talking so aggressively to. When Neteyam was in his line of sight, Aonung realized he was talking to himself.

Aonung observed Neteyam pull his bow back with precision, aiming his arrow at a target painted on a tree. The bullseye was already pierced by four arrows. Neteyam released the string of the bow and the fifth arrow sailed through the air, landing in the bullseye. 

Aonung stepped on a twig that snapped under his weight, and he watched Neteyam’s ears twitch towards the sound, his angry rambling immediately silenced. Aonung was glad Neteyam didn’t have an arrow at the ready when he spun around, immediately honing in on Aonung. 

Neteyam visibly relaxed when he realized it was just Aonung and not a threat, but he looked incredibly shaken. Aonung immediately wondered what else Neteyam had encountered in the forest to make him react to being snuck up on with so much primal fear. 

It distracted Aonung from why he’d come in the first place. Aonung watched as Neteyam’s eyes slowly melted from fear into anger. His tail’s movements corresponded to the change. Aonung was learning to read the forest Na’vi’s emotions through his tail. 

“Why are you here?” Neteyam asked, tense. Lo’ak completely slipped Aonung’s mind, replaced with the need to explain himself to Neteyam. “Neteyam, I-I wanted to apologize.” Neteyam gave him a skeptical look. “I am truly sorry for picking on Kiri and antagonizing Lo’ak. I admitted everything to my parents. They’re coming up with my punishment right now so I don’t have long, but…” 

Neteyam’s body language was much less tense as Aonung apologized. “I was trying to maintain a certain reputation with my friends. I do not think your family are freaks. I will apologize to Kiri as well.” 

Neteyam was watching him thoughtfully, tail swishing languidly behind him. Aonung had ducked his head while he apologized, and finally dared to look up and meet Neteyam’s eyes. Neteyam searched his face for any hint of insincerity. Finding none, he nodded. “Okay.”

Aonung dared to step closer. “What were you talking about? Before I came?” Neteyam looked embarrassed. “Nothing.” Aonung gave him a look. “I heard you talking to yourself.” “Yeah? Well, you shouldn’t have,” Neteyam snapped. Aonung nodded towards the tree with the target, changing the conversation easily. “You’re very skilled at that.” 

Neteyam straightened his back, proud. “I am the best hunter my age back home,” he bragged. Aonung came to stand in front of him, silently enjoying the few inches of a height advantage he had on Neteyam. “Can I see it? We have no such weapons here.” Neteyam shrugged and handed over his bow.

Aonung took the weapon with reverence, inspecting it with genuine interest. “Beautiful craftsmanship,” he commented. Again, Neteyam glowed with pride. “I made it myself. When I was fifteen. Before the Sky People…” Neteyam trailed off. “Before the Sky People returned?” Aonung asked quietly. Neteyam nodded. 

Aonung watched Neteyam closely, waiting for him to continue. Neteyam seemed to debate elaborating before he finally did. “When the Sky People returned, everything changed. Life was no longer the same. I was thrown from a life of peace to a life of war.” Neteyam shook his head. “I was no longer the eldest son, I was my father’s best soldier. Most men my age cannot say they’ve killed outside the necessity to eat.”

“How many Sky People have you killed?” Aonung asked, wondering if the question was overstepping. Neteyam sat down on the mossy ground, and Aonung nervously dared to sit beside him. “Many,” Neteyam answered. “I stopped keeping count after a while.”

Aonung absorbed that information. Neteyam was a killer. He was so pretty and graceful, it was almost hard to imagine. But Aonung knew Neteyam was much stronger than he appeared. Aonung’s friends were covered in bruises from their encounter with Neteyam in the fight; Neteyam had gotten away with a mere split lip. 

“How long had you lived in war? Before coming here?” Aonung asked quietly. “A little over a year,” Neteyam replied. “Before we had to leave High Camp and come here.” Aonung was silent for another moment, trying to imagine a year of living in constant war.

“Why did you leave?” Aonung blurted out suddenly. He immediately regretted it, because Neteyam’s entire demeanor changed. He went from relaxed and contemplative to tense and on edge immediately. He hid it well; Aonung only knew because of his tail, which he was proudly getting good at reading. 

“Something happened… to me,” Neteyam answered curtly, gaze shifting. It was clear he didn’t want to get more specific than that. Aonung swallowed. He felt like he had to lighten the mood somehow, so he weakly joked, “That bad?” Neteyam stared ahead, unfocused, looking like he was very vividly reliving a terrible memory. His fingers twitched.

Aonung hesitated for only a moment before reaching out and placing his hand on Neteyam’s. He wanted to snap Neteyam out of it, he wanted to help somehow, but it was hard to help when he didn’t know what was going on.

Aonung was relieved when his touch seemed to successfully get through to Neteyam, who’s eyes focused on him and grew wide. “I am sorry I asked,” Aonung said softly. “I did not mean to upset you.” Eclipse was befalling them. Neteyam’s bioluminescent freckles began to glow. 

Aonung stared shamelessly, his hand still covering Neteyam’s while he waited for Neteyam to respond. Neteyam searched his face right back, expression unreadable, and to Aonung’s disappointment, he found he couldn’t read Neteyam’s tail this time. 

Finally, Neteyam smiled. Aonung began to smile back before he cursed, suddenly remembering Lo’ak. “Ah, this-this is really bad timing,” Aonung began to fumble, snatching his hand away from Neteyam’s guiltily. Neteyam looked concerned. “What are you talking about?” “I have to tell you something, Neteyam, fuck, I did something bad.” Neteyam had never heard Aonung cuss so harshly before.

Neteyam’s ears flattened against his head. “What did you do?” “I-I left Lo’ak out beyond the reef… like half an hour ago…” Neteyam blinked at him, processing what Aonung had just confessed. Aonung felt sick to his stomach again. Suddenly, Neteyam leapt to his feet. “You what?” He hissed at Aonung.

Aonung scrambled to stand. “I’m sorry, I was trying to get him back for punching me, I was going to go back for him with you-” Neteyam cut him off, grabbing him by the base of his queue at the back of his neck. “Shut up. Walk.” 

Aonung had no choice but to obey, and Neteyam gripped his queue aggressively, not letting go as he marched Aonung out of the forest and through the village, to his family’s marui. Aonung didn’t dare speak or defy Neteyam. Neteyam marched him up to Toruk Makto and Kiri, sitting side by side with their feet in the water outside the marui. 

Jake turned, frowning when he saw his son holding the chief’s son, anger and fear in Neteyam’s golden eyes. “Tell him what you told me,” Neteyam commanded Aonung, pointing a finger at his father. Aonung shrugged off Neteyam’s hold, which had loosened when they reached their destination. He looked up at Toruk Makto, who had stood, before quickly averting his gaze.

“Toruk Makto, sir,” Aonung began nervously. “I took your son Lo’ak out past the reef on a hunt. And… I left him there.” Jake took in a sharp breath, making Aonung wince. He waited to be reprimanded, maybe even slapped, but Jake just rushed out of the marui to alert the village. 

Aonung dared to look at Neteyam, who was glaring at him with anger, though his eyes shone with fear. “You better pray to Eywa that my brother comes home unharmed,” Neteyam hissed, before stalking off after his father. Aonung followed at a distance, knowing Jake would have told his parents by now and they would no doubt be searching for him. 

Luckily, it didn’t take the search party long to find Lo’ak. Aonung and his family were at the front of the crowd waiting for him when he dismounted a hunter’s skimwing, thanking him before his eyes found Aonung. Lo’ak stepped forward like he was going to jump at Aonung, but his father intercepted him. 

“Hey,” Jake stopped him. He hesitated for a moment before grabbing Lo’ak. “Let’s take a look at you.” Lo’ak didn’t break eye contact with Aonung, who lowered his head and ears in shame. “He’s fine, he’s fine,” Jake assured Aonung’s father. “Just a few scratches.”

“Lo’ak!” Neytiri broke through the crowd, Neteyam on her heels. She grabbed Lo’ak by the upper arms, eyes raking over his body for injuries. “I pray for the strength that I will not pluck the eyeballs out of my youngest son.” She hissed and made a grabbing motion near Lo’ak’s face.

Aonung's eyes slid over to Neteyam, who had crouched down a few feet away from him, watching his mother and brother. Neteyam didn’t even spare Aonung a glance. “No,” Tonowari’s voice brought Aonung’s attention back to the situation. “My son knows better than to take him outside the reef.” Tonowari placed a heavy hand on the back of Aonung’s neck and forced him to his knees. “The blame is his.”

Now, Aonung felt Neteyam’s gaze on him, and felt his face flush in embarrassment. He hung his head in shame. He didn’t dare look at Neteyam. He didn’t want to see the anger and hate that he knew he’d find on that pretty face. 

To everyone’s shock, Lo’ak came to Aonung’s defense, claiming that going beyond the reef had been his own idea and that Aonung had tried to talk him out of it. Tonowari pulled Aonung back to his feet. Aonung could tell his parents didn’t exactly believe Lo’ak, but it was enough to turn the heat down a bit. 

Still, as the Sully family left, his mother hissed at him, “Aonung, what were you thinking?” Their marui was tense when they returned. “I do not know why the boy spoke for you,” Ronal said. “But Jake Sully said you admitted to leaving him beyond the reef on purpose. You will be punished for this, Aonung.” “No swimming for three days,” Tonowari agreed. “And your spear will be confiscated for a week.” 

Two of the worst punishments they could have dished out to Aonung, but Aonung found himself more bothered by the fact Neteyam would probably no longer want to be his friend. “Go get your speargun from the beach. Return immediately, you’re going to bed,” Tonowari commanded. Aonung didn’t speak, just nodded and scurried off.

On his way, he saw Lo’ak, walking away from his marui, and hurried to catch up with him, falling into step beside him. “Why did you speak for me?” He had to know. “Because I know what it’s like, to be one big disappointment,” Lo’ak replied. Aonung was taken aback for a moment before letting out a lighthearted scoff.

He realized he’d truly misjudged Neteyam’s siblings, especially Lo’ak. Perhaps he and Lo’ak could have been good friends, had Aonung acted better. But it didn’t matter now. Neteyam hated him, and Aonung had no idea how to fix it. Befriending Lo’ak was probably a good first step though.

Aonung stopped walking. “Lo’ak,” he said seriously. Lo’ak stopped and turned to him. “I am sorry.” He extended his arm. “Friends? For real, this time.” Lo’ak studied him for a moment in a way that reminded Aonung of Neteyam, before smirking and grasping Aonung’s forearm as he had merely hours earlier.

“Friends.”

Chapter Text

Neteyam really didn’t want to admit it, but he was depressed. Like, the Sky People mental illness depressed. They’d been living in Awa’atlu for six weeks now, and it had been almost two weeks since Neteyam had begun avoiding Aonung after what he’d done to Lo’ak.

Neteyam stopped going to lessons, and his panic attacks began to increase both in volume and intensity. Jake and Neytiri kept him in their marui for the most part, and Neteyam wasn’t sure what they were telling Tonowari and Ronal as an excuse, but he wasn’t complaining. He didn’t have to see Aonung. He didn’t have to see anybody. 

They told Neteyam’s siblings he was sick. Neteyam could tell Kiri wasn’t buying it at all and Lo’ak was skeptical, but neither pushed the matter. Lo’ak told him that he and Aonung were friends now, and that Aonung was asking about him. Neteyam made Lo’ak swear to not tell Aonung anything about him.

Neteyam went out at night sometimes, to get out of the marui and simultaneously avoid people. Tonight was one of those nights. Neteyam was walking along the empty beach, his feet in the water, gazing up at the stars and reflecting on the past few weeks.

The initial fist fight between himself, Lo’ak, Aonung, and Aonung’s friends had made Neteyam angry at Aonung. Aonung couldn’t claim to be his friend while simultaneously disrespecting his siblings. But considering he and Lo’ak had clearly won that fight, Neteyam felt a little better.

That night he’d been practicing his shooting in the forest further inland. It wasn’t as beautiful as his home, by any means, but the trees were still a nice sense of familiarity. He was talking to himself, cursing the Recoms who had defiled him and forced them to leave their home. He often was hit with unwanted memories of the assault, and then would soothe himself by thinking of all the ways he could have tortured Lyle.

Neteyam wished he had tortured Lyle, but stabbing him to death would have to do.

Then, he was interrupted, by the sound of a twig snapping behind him. He’d spun around, images of the Recoms jumping him and his father racing through his mind. He relaxed when he realized it was just Aonung, and his fear was quickly replaced by anger.

But then Aonung had apologized, so sincerely, and had taken interest in Neteyam’s skill and bow, asked questions about his life during the war, questions Neteyam found himself answering as they sat on the mossy ground. Then Aonung asked what had happened to cause them to leave, and Neteyam found himself trapped in his mind again, reliving the horror.

A warm weight on his hand brought him back to reality. Neteyam glanced down to see Aonung had placed his hand on top of his. Neteyam’s eyes widened and shot up to Aonung. Aonung had looked at him so earnestly, apologizing for upsetting him. Neteyam had felt emotions he wasn’t familiar with. 

Then Aonung had to ruin everything, admitting what he’d done to Lo’ak. Neteyam was furious. Even after Lo’ak was returned unharmed, Neteyam couldn’t stand to look at Aonung. Until Aonung’s father forced him to his knees to accept the blame of what he’d done to Lo’ak. Neteyam felt his stomach roll uncomfortably at the sight of Aonung being forced to his knees.

He chalked it up to his own trauma, not letting the sight impact his decision to begin avoiding Aonung.

Neteyam had been successful. He hadn’t seen Aonung since the night he’d left Lo’ak at sea. Lo’ak said Aonung had been asking for him, and Kiri said he’d been looking for him, but Neteyam had spent the last two weeks holed up in his family’s marui. He knew it couldn’t be forever. He wouldn’t bring his family the shame of having a useless eldest son. But for now, he’d take the protection his parents were offering. 

Neteyam’s peace was ruined suddenly. He was approached by a group of three men his age, and he vaguely recognized them as the three who had tried harassing him when he first got here all those weeks ago. His stomach dropped. By their expressions and body language, they were here to fight.

“Hey, forest freak!” One of them barked. “We’ve been looking for you.” Neteyam didn’t even know their names. He glanced around. There was no one else to bear witness to what was about to happen. “Oh?” Neteyam asked nonchalantly. “Why would that be?”

Two of them were suddenly on either side of him, one kicking the back of his knee and causing his legs to buckle. The one who had kicked him down grabbed his queue harshly. They left Neteyam’s hands free, but the Na’vi on Neteyam’s other side brandished a knife next to Neteyam’s face; a warning to not try using his hands.

The leader of the little group bent down to get in Neteyam’s face. “You think you can beat up my little brother and get away with it?” Neteyam squinted. “Who is your brother?” The leader swung, landing a clean hit to Neteyam’s face. Neteyam’s head whipped to the side with the force of the impact. 

“Nash’vi,” the Na’vi hissed. “Sound familiar?” “Ah,” Neteyam replied, not letting the punch faze him. “One of Aonung’s pathetic little friends.” This enraged the other Na’vi, who hit him again. Neteyam spat out blood this time. He looked back at the one who was hitting him with a bored expression.

The leader hissed, grabbing Neteyam’s face in his hand. His anger morphed into a smug expression after a moment. “You know,” he said to his friends. “The rumors are true. He really is pretty.” Neteyam’s blood ran cold. His horror must have shown on his face, because the Na’vi gripping his face grinned.

His friends laughed, and Nash’vi’s brother continued. “You could bend him over and he’d look like a woman.” The friend holding Neteyam shoved him down into the sand face first, so his hips were up in the air, and grabbed Neteyam’s tail. Neteyam lost it.

With a scream that was equal parts rage and terror, he forgot about the threat of a knife, and threw his elbow back against the face of the Na’vi holding him, who had disadvantaged himself by leaning over Neteyam and into a position where Neteyam could hit him. Neteyam was released as the Na’vi cried out in pain, holding his nose.

Neteyam pounced on Nash’vi’s brother, who’s name he still didn’t know, and began throwing punches. He knocked him to the ground, and landed hit after hit on his face, turning it into a bloody mess, until he was yanked off by his friends. They threw him to the ground, kicking him to keep him down, but they were interrupted before they could do much more damage.

“HEY!” Someone yelled angrily. Neteyam was too panicked to recognize the voice, but the other three recognized it immediately, because their faces paled and they jumped away from Neteyam guiltily. Neteyam wasn’t thinking very clearly, and as soon as he was free, he attacked the one who had bent him over. 

The Na’vi cried out in surprise and pain as Neteyam landed a punch to his jaw so hard, he heard a crack. Neteyam was seeing red, and swung on him until someone trapped him from behind in a bear hug, pinning his arms to his sides.

Neteyam thrashed and screamed, but whoever was holding him didn’t budge, hauling him off of the other Na’vi. “Neteyam! Neteyam, stop!” The voice of the Na’vi holding him pleaded with Neteyam, but Neteyam continued to struggle blindly. The voice spoke again, directed at Neteyam’s attackers this time. “All of you, leave! Now! My father will hear of your transgressions! You will be lucky to not be banished!” 

With fear and shame written all over their bruised and bloodied faces, Neteyam’s attackers quickly fled the scene, leaving Neteyam with… Aonung. Neteyam had recognized his voice as he’d been hissing at his attackers, and suddenly the fear on the other Na’vi’s faces made much more sense. Aonung was the chief’s son, future Olo’eyktan. They knew they were in trouble.

Left alone with Aonung, Neteyam finally stopped struggling, slumping in Aonung’s arms. He screamed again, the sound coming out almost strangled. He vaguely realized that he was shaking violently, tears pouring down his cheeks. His mind was a jumbled mess of panic and flashbacks. 

Neteyam went limp in Aonung’s hold, but instead of letting him go, Aonung sank to the ground with Neteyam. “Neteyam, Neteyam, calm down, what did they do? What did they do to you? Where are you hurt? Let me see you.” Aonung sounded panicked, releasing Neteyam to quickly examine him for injuries. Neteyam just sobbed.

Aonung couldn’t find any major injuries on him. He took Neteyam’s face in his hands, and Neteyam could barely see him through his tears. “Neteyam, you must tell me what they did to you,” Aonung pleaded. “Whatever they did, it will be dealt with. They will be punished.” Neteyam just shook his head. How could he explain?

His screams had alerted the occupants of maruis nearby, specifically his own family. He hadn’t walked very far from his marui when he’d been attacked. His father came sprinting across the beach, his mother on his heels, desperately calling his name.

His parents dropped down at his side, looking to Aonung for an explanation. Aonung let Jake pull Neteyam away from him, into his arms. Neteyam clung to his dad the way he did when he was six and fell out of a tree. 

“Toruk Makto, Neytiri,” Aonung addressed his parents respectfully. “I heard Neteyam scream, and I found him being attacked by three members of our clan. I do not know anything else. I know who they were and I will be reporting to my father.” “Thank you, Aonung,” Jake said. “We’ll take care of it from here.”

Aonung didn’t want to leave Neteyam, but his dismissal was clear. He grimaced, before bidding them a goodnight and taking his leave.

“Neteyam, baby, what happened?” Neytiri whispered. “Mom,” Neteyam whimpered. Jake held him tighter, and Neytiri took his hand. “Deep breaths, son,” Jake soothed. “Tell us what happened.”

Neteyam finally calmed down enough to explain what had happened to his parents. They were enraged, but Neteyam could tell they were trying to stay calm for his sake. “They’re not gonna get away with this, you hear me?” Jake said angrily. “They’re not.”

Neteyam’s breathing was still irregular, and he was still shaking, but he was out of tears. Jake stood, lifting Neteyam up in his arms. Neteyam would normally be embarrassed about being carried by his dad at his grown age, but no one was around to witness it, so he didn’t protest. He let himself be carried back to their marui, where Lo’ak and Kiri were awake and waiting anxiously.

Neytiri kept them back as Jake carried Neteyam over to the sleeping mat he and Neytiri shared, laying him down in the middle. “Is he okay?” Neteyam could hear Kiri asking. “What happened?” Lo’ak demanded to know. Their mother shushed them. “Neteyam will be fine. Go to sleep.” Kiri and Lo’ak protested, but Neteyam tuned them out.

Finally, Neytiri managed to convince them to get in their own sleeping mats and worry about it in the morning. Then she joined Jake and Neteyam. Neteyam lay sandwiched between his parents, and finally felt safe enough to fall asleep.

Chapter Text

Neteyam awoke the next morning still snuggled securely between his parents. They awoke shortly after him, and rose to make breakfast. Neteyam went back to his own sleeping mat and curled up, not sleeping, but lacking the energy to do anything or talk to anyone. He could feel Kiri and Lo’ak’s eyes on him when they woke up. Sweet little Tuk had no idea anything was wrong, babbling excitedly about her plans for the day. 

When breakfast was ready, Neytiri called Neteyam over, but Neteyam excused that he wasn’t hungry. Neytiri and Jake let him be. Neteyam lay with his back to his family while they ate. “So what happened to Neteyam last night?” Lo’ak asked. Neteyam sighed internally. His younger siblings were relentless. He had to get better soon, so they would stop asking questions, because Neteyam would never let them know what had happened to him. 

“Lo’ak,” Neytiri said warningly. “What?” Lo’ak snapped. “You told us to worry about it in the morning. Well, it’s morning.” “We told you,” Jake said. “Neteyam is sick.” “Bullshit!” Lo’ak exclaimed. “Watch your tongue, boy,” Jake hissed. Neteyam rolled over. “Will you all stop talking like I am not right here?”

Everyone looked at him with varying degrees of concern. Neteyam hated it. “I am fine, Lo’ak. I’m just sick,” Neteyam assured his younger brother. He gave his parents a look before rolling over again, once again facing away from everyone.

His family dropped the issue, and the conversation changed, but Neteyam didn’t listen to it. He was busy thinking about how Aonung had come to his defense last night. If Neteyam hadn’t wanted to see Aonung before, he sure as hell didn’t want to now. How was he supposed to face Aonung after being seen in such a vulnerable, pathetic state?

His siblings left for their daily lessons with the Metkayina trio, although Lo’ak had mentioned Aonung didn’t come to lessons every day anymore. Shortly after his siblings were gone, Neytiri and Jake sat down next to Neteyam.

“We’re going to talk to Tonowari and Ronal. About what happened last night,” Jake said softly. “Dad, no-” Neteyam immediately protested, sitting up. “Neteyam,” his mother soothed. He looked at her. She tucked a stray braid behind his ear. “My love, what they did cannot go unpunished. And you cannot hide here forever.”

Neteyam hung his head. He knew she was right, but he was still filled with shame. Jake put a hand on the back of his neck. “It will be okay, son. I promise. You’re gonna get through this. What happened to you doesn’t define you. You just have to heal.” 

With those affirming words, Neteyam’s parents left to go have council with the Olo’eyktan and Tsahik. Neteyam was grateful to have the marui to himself for a while. At least, that’s what he thought, until Kiri and Lo’ak came barging in. They’d only been gone thirty minutes.

“What are you two doing?” Neteyam groaned. “Shouldn’t you be at lessons?” “I don’t want to hear it, bro, you haven’t been at lessons in two weeks,” Lo’ak rolled his eyes. Neteyam scowled. “I’m sick, skxawng.” “Come on, big brother,” Kiri spoke. “We know that is not true. What illness lasts two weeks, and makes you act so strange?”

Neteyam really didn’t want to deal with this right now, but Lo’ak and Kiri sat down in front of him. “Just talk to us, bro,” Lo’ak encouraged. “We used to tell each other everything.” “We are worried, Neteyam,” Kiri added. 

“Aonung told us you got in a fight last night,” Lo’ak said tentatively. Neteyam’s head snapped up. “What?” He hissed. What was Aonung doing, discussing his business with his siblings? “He was quite worried about you,” Kiri frowned. “Said he’d never seen anyone in such a state. He was asking if we knew what was wrong.” 

Neteyam was angry that Aonung had told his siblings about the fight, but his cheeks warmed slightly at hearing that Aonung was worried for him. “Plus, come on, bro. You have a split lip and like six new bruises,” Lo’ak pointed out. Neteyam had to concede that was a fair point. He’d forgotten about his injuries. “You’ve been off since right before we left home,” Lo’ak continued. “You think we didn’t notice, but we did.”

“What exactly did Aonung tell you? What did he say?” Neteyam convinced himself that the reason he was focused on that was simply to dispute whatever Aonung had said. Not that he actually cared to hear.

“He came up to us at lessons today, which was strange because he hasn’t been there in days. He asked if you were okay. We played stupid and asked why you wouldn’t be, and he told us you were in a fight last night. He said when he found you, you were in a state he’d never seen before. Inconsolable, he said. That’s all he’d tell us,” Kiri explained.

Neteyam absorbed this information quietly. “Please, big brother,” Kiri pleaded suddenly. “Tell us what is wrong.” Neteyam looked at his sister wearily. He’d always had a hard time saying no to her. As close as she was in age to him, she’d always be his baby sister. Quietly, Neteyam debated how much he could tell them while still avoiding the truth.

“Fine,” he sighed after a while. “I will tell you. A few days before we left, Dad and I were captured by the Recombinants.” Kiri and Lo’ak’s faces fell. “You never told us that,” Kiri said softly. “For good reason,” Neteyam snapped. “I will not tell you what happened, but all you need to know is that Dad said it gave me PTSD.” Kiri looked distraught; Lo’ak looked confused.

“PTSD?” Lo’ak asked. “Ugh,” Kiri rolled her eyes. “It stands for post-traumatic stress disorder. Many soldiers like Dad have it.” Her face softened as she looked back at Neteyam. “Oh, big brother. I am so sorry.” Lo’ak was frowning at the floor. 

Neteyam kicked his foot. “Fix your face, baby brother.” Lo’ak swallowed. “What happened was so bad that you got PTSD?” When Kiri explained what it stood for, Lo’ak recalled vague memories of his father explaining what it was when the war started. 

Neteyam took a deep breath. “Yes. And I will never speak of it to you. It is my wish that you do not go digging to try and find out either.” Kiri nodded gravely. “Of course not,” she agreed, before nudging Lo’ak. Lo’ak coughed. “Yeah, I won’t pry, big bro. Promise.” 

“But really, guys, I’m fine,” Neteyam assured them. “Plenty of Sky People live with PTSD. I just need to learn how to deal with it.” Kiri reached out and took his hand. “And we are here for you, every step of the way.” Neteyam smiled at her. “I know. Now get back to lessons, you skxawngs. Making poor Tsireya and Rotxo wait.” 

Neteyam could tell Lo’ak was still troubled, but Kiri pulled him to his feet. “See you at dinner, Neteyam,” she said, dragging Lo’ak out of the marui. “We love you!” “Yeah, yeah,” Neteyam waved them off with a smile. “Love you too.”

Neteyam sighed when they were gone. He hoped that would be the end of their line of questioning. Kiri respected the situation, but he could tell Lo’ak didn’t fully grasp it. Maybe he’d ask his dad to have a sit down with Lo’ak on PTSD. He decided he’d only do that if Lo’ak continued to ask him questions.

Neteyam laid on his back, staring at the ceiling for a while, before his peace was once again interrupted. Footsteps sounded at the entryway, but whoever was there didn’t announce themselves or greet Neteyam. Confused, Neteyam sat up to look at his new company.

To his surprise, it was Aonung. Aonung stared at him, and Neteyam stared back. Then, Neteyam’s heart dropped. Aonung was looking at him the same way his father looked at him after the Recom defiled him. The same way his mother looked at him when his father told her what happened. Neteyam quickly came to a startling realization.

Aonung knew.

Chapter Text

Aonung had been in a foul mood for two weeks. Even Tsireya had started avoiding him. Nash’vi, Onvi, and Koro had stopped trying after the first week, when Aonung had finally snapped at them to leave him alone. He was a nightmare to be around, and no one but Tsireya knew why.

Neteyam had stopped coming to lessons. In fact, it seemed Neteyam had stopped going outside all together, because Aonung couldn’t find him anywhere. He didn’t dare go straight to the Sully’s marui. He couldn’t face their terrifying parents before he was on good terms with all the children. He, Lo’ak, Kiri, and Tuk were all good, but he and Neteyam were not, and Aonung wasn’t sure how he was supposed to fix that if he couldn’t see Neteyam.

Lo’ak and Kiri weren’t helpful. Aonung would show up to lessons on occasion, mainly just to ask Lo’ak about Neteyam. But Lo’ak would shrug and say he didn’t know anything. Kiri looked like she wanted to tell Aonung something, but her loyalty to her brother kept her quiet. 

Still, for two weeks, Aonung would ask about and search for Neteyam, never with any luck. Tsireya, bless her heart, asked Lo’ak about Neteyam in private to gather information for Aonung. All Lo’ak would tell her was that Neteyam hadn’t left their marui, and that something was clearly wrong with him, but their parents would only say that he was sick. This information only served to further stress Aonung out. 

Even his parents knew something was wrong. “Aonung,” his mother snapped at him during dinner one night. “You have been moping and angry. People say you’ve been rude, irritable! What is wrong with you?” Aonung avoided eye contact with a scowl. “It is nothing.” Ronal and Tonowari tried for the rest of dinner to get it out of him, but Aonung wouldn’t explain himself, only growing more agitated. 

Finally, later that night, when most families were preparing to sleep, Aonung had enough. Tsireya had suggested he talk to his parents about his feelings, and for some reason it had just been Aonung’s last straw. “I’m going for a walk,” he growled, and stalked out of their marui.

He was walking down the beach, towards the Sully’s marui, almost instinctively, when he heard a commotion. He squinted in the dark, and saw three clan members his age, surrounding and kicking a dark blue Na’vi, curled up on the ground. From his distance, Aonung wasn’t sure if it was Neteyam or Lo’ak, but it didn’t matter anymore.

“HEY!” Aonung barked out aggressively, and the three Na’vi attacking the Omaticayan quickly jumped away from him, guiltily. One of them, Aonung barely recognized as Nash’vi’s brother, due to the blood covering his face.

As soon as the Na’vi on the ground realized his attackers’ attention was elsewhere, he leapt to his feet, and Aonung immediately registered that it was Neteyam. To his surprise, Neteyam paid him no mind, and attacked one of Nash’vi’s brother’s friends. Aonung ran the rest of the distance to the group, and with him watching, the other two Na’vi didn’t dare pull Neteyam off their friend.

Aonung trapped Neteyam in a bear hug from behind, pinning his arms to his sides. Neteyam thrashed and screamed, and Aonung begged him to calm down. “Neteyam! Neteyam, stop!” He turned his attention to the Metkayinas. “All of you, leave! Now! My father will hear of your transgressions! You will be lucky to not be banished!” They fled.

Neteyam stopped struggling and let out a strangled scream. It was so full of fear, anger, and despair, that it made Aonung’s heart clench. Neteyam went limp, and Aonung sank to the ground with him, not letting him go. 

“Neteyam, Neteyam, calm down, what did they do? What did they do to you? Where are you hurt? Let me see you.” Aonung panicked over him. He let him go to look him over for injuries. Finding nothing major, Aonung gently took Neteyam’s face in his hands. “Neteyam, you must tell me what they did to you.” Neteyam couldn’t seem to answer him. “Whatever they did, it will be dealt with. They will be punished.”

Aonung wondered what the hell Nash’vi’s brother and friends had done or said to cause such a reaction from Neteyam. Neteyam was a mighty warrior, seasoned by war. What could reduce him to this?

Neteyam’s parents arrived and Aonung did his best to explain, despite not knowing much. He allowed Toruk Makto to pull Neteyam from his arms, despite the slight panic it caused him. Jake Sully dismissed him politely after Aonung explained what he knew. Aonung didn’t want to leave Neteyam’s side, but knew he had no right to stay. So he took his leave.

Aonung didn’t sleep that night. The next morning, he followed Tsireya to lessons with the Omaticayas. “Fish lips!” Lo’ak greeted him. “Are you finally joining us?” Aonung shook his head, running a hand over the braids against his scalp. “Is Neteyam alright?” 

Lo’ak and Kiri shared a look. “Why would he not be?” Kiri asked. “He got in a fight last night,” Aonung told them. “I found him in such a state… I’d never seen it before. He was inconsolable.” Kiri and Lo’ak shared another look. Then Lo’ak’s eyes drifted past his sister and Aonung, and his face lit up with an idea. 

“Look, Mom and Dad are leaving,” he told Kiri. “Now’s our chance to talk to Neteyam.” He ran towards his marui, ignoring Tsireya and Rotxo’s questioning calls. Kiri apologized to them and promised they’d be back, giving Aonung a meaningful look before bounding off after Lo’ak.

Aonung, however, decided to follow Neteyam’s parents. He trailed behind them to his own family’s marui, where his father and mother greeted Neteyam’s at the entryway. Aonung watched them usher Neteyam’s parents inside. He circled around, to a spot outside the marui where he and Tsireya would often hide and eavesdrop on their parents when they were children.

Aonung felt a little immature, but he had to know. 

“Toruk Makto, Neytiri, I am sorry we are meeting under such circumstances,” Aonung heard Tonowari apologize. But Ronal, as she always did, cut right to the chase. “Your boy, Neteyam. He has been gone for two weeks. When he is finally seen again, he is in a fight. Aonung told us our people are to blame for it.”

“There is… something we must tell you about Neteyam,” Jake said solemnly. “To give you context, when we tell you what your boys did to my son,” Neytiri hissed. Aonung couldn’t see the parents, but he could practically feel the tension between Neytiri and Ronal. “Ronal,” Jake cut in. “This is a very serious, very private matter. I would be doing my son a disservice if I did not stress that what we are about to share can never leave this marui.”

“You have our discretion,” Tonowari promised. There was a beat of silence; Aonung figured Neteyam’s parents were considering who would talk. Eventually, Jake spoke. “The reason we left our home is because Neteyam and I were ambushed by Recombinants.” Another pause, and then Jake briefly clarified, “Avatars.”

Aonung could hear him take a deep breath. “One of them… violated Neteyam.” “What does this mean?” Ronal asked. “Violated how?” “Sexually,” Jake answered, his voice heavy. Aonung froze. There was a tense silence in the marui. “They assaulted your boy in such a way?” Tonowari finally asked in disbelief. “Yes,” Jake confirmed.

Aonung felt nauseous. Everything was beginning to make sense. The way Neteyam reacted when his waist was touched. The fear in his eyes when Aonung snuck up on him. The way he shutdown when Aonung asked what had happened to make them leave the forest.

“Your clan members, they attacked my son on the beach,” Neytiri sneered angrily. “They called him pretty, said he looked like a woman if they bent him over, and then they proceeded to do so. I am sure you understand now, why my son would react so violently.” 

Aonung squeezed his eyes shut. Eywa, no wonder Neteyam had been in such a state.

There was a tense silence. Aonung knew his parents were trying to be very careful with how they responded. Finally, it was Ronal who spoke. “It is understood. Aonung told us who the attackers were. They will be properly dealt with. I am truly sorry for what happened to Neteyam, back at your home, and last night.” 

“We do not want Neteyam to feel unsafe here,” Tonowari added. “We will make an example of the boys who harassed him. And I… understand now why Neteyam has not been at lessons, or doing chores. He can take all the time he needs. If there is anything we can do to help him, please, let us know.”

Aonung had heard enough. He ran from his marui, straight towards Neteyam’s. He didn’t have any idea what he was supposed to say to Neteyam after the information he’d just learned, all he knew was that he had to see him. He also had to cut off Nash’vi. He couldn’t justify being his friend after what his brother had done.

Neteyam was curled up on his sleeping mat when Aonung arrived, his ears twitching towards Aonung before he sat up to see who was there. Neteyam stared at him blankly; Aonung stared back. Then, Neteyam’s eyes widened and his face dropped. He jumped to his feet, and pointed at Aonung. “Why are you looking at me like that?” His voice shook.

“Neteyam,” Aonung began softly. “No, no, why are you looking at me like that?” Neteyam demanded to know, as his breathing became labored. “Like what?” Aonung asked dumbly. “Like you know!” Neteyam hissed. Aonung looked away in shame.

Neteyam stumbled back. “Fuck. Fuck, you do know. How do you know!?” Aonung raised his hands and hung his head. “I eavesdropped on our parents. Your father didn’t go into detail, he just said… that you were… sexually violated.” Aonung said the words like they pained him. Neteyam looked pained hearing them.

“Oh fuck!” Neteyam cried. He ran his fingers through his braids, beginning to pace. “Neteyam,” Aonung tried to reason with him. “It’s okay, just breathe-” But Neteyam was panicking. Aonung walked up to him and grabbed his shoulders to stop him. Neteyam’s eyes focused on him, and Aonung watched as tears threatened to spill over. 

His touch seemed to sort of ground Neteyam. He slid his hands up to Neteyam’s face, holding it gently. “Hey, breathe, forest boy.” Neteyam breathed heavily, but his eyes remained focused on Aonung, and his ears twitched, indicating he was listening. “I hope you know I would never tell anyone. And I need you to know I don’t think of you any differently. You are still Neteyam te Suli, a mighty warrior, son of Toruk Makto.”

Neteyam’s face relaxed, just slightly, and his tail slowed its rapid movements. “You… do not think less of me?” Aonung frowned. “Neteyam, don’t be a skxawng. I would never think less of you, especially over something like this.” “But you pity me,” Neteyam said miserably, looking away. Aonung let go of his face, but didn’t step away from where he was practically chest to chest with the Omaticayan. 

“I do not pity you. I hurt for you. It hurts to think that something so terrible was done to someone as good as you. But I do not pity you. You are too strong to be pitied.” Neteyam stared up him with wide eyes, before his face scrunched up and he threw himself into Aonung’s arms. 

Aonung caught him, only stumbling back a step. He was surprised by the action, but didn’t hesitate to wrap his arms around Neteyam and hold him tightly. Neteyam was trembling as he clung to Aonung. “Thank you,” he whispered into his neck. Aonung had one arm locked around Neteyam’s waist, while his free hand came up to cradle the back of Neteyam’s head. 

“Do not thank me,” Aonung said after a moment of stunned silence. “All I have done since you arrived is mistreat your siblings.” “At first,” Neteyam murmured. “And I was truly intending on never speaking to you again after what you did to Lo’ak. But you have repented and made peace with my siblings, and you have been nothing but supportive of me. I cannot find it in myself to be mad at you if my siblings are not.”

Aonung felt tears prick his own eyes. He hadn’t come here for Neteyam’s forgiveness, but Eywa , did it feel good to receive it. Finally, Neteyam stepped back from the embrace. “Come to lessons tomorrow,” Aonung found himself begging. “These last two weeks without you have been miserable.”

Neteyam smiled teasingly. “Aw, Aonung, do I mean that much to you?”

Aonung’s eyes met Neteyam’s. “Yes,” he answered. Neteyam looked taken aback, and Aonung coughed awkwardly. “My friends, Nash’vi, Koro, Onvi, they are skxawngs. They do not mean much to me these days.”

“You have Rotxo,” Neteyam pointed out. “Yes,” Aonung agreed. “And he is my best friend. But he is not you.” Neteyam kept a carefully neutral face. “I will return to lessons tomorrow.” Aonung nodded. “Good. I will see you tomorrow, forest boy.”

He turned to go, and missed the small smile on Neteyam's face. “I will see you tomorrow.”

Chapter Text

Aonung didn’t sleep well that night, as his mind was bombarded with images of Neteyam getting assaulted in all different scenarios, since his father hadn’t specified how it happened. His tossing and turning kept Tsireya up, who’s sleeping mat was right next to his. 

Despite his lack of sleep, Aonung was up bright and early the next morning for lessons, to Tsireya’s surprise. “Brother, you are joining us today?” She asked quietly, so their parents wouldn’t hear. They didn’t know that Aonung had been skipping his teaching duties. Aonung popped a chunk of the fish his mother had cooked for breakfast into his mouth, nodding.

They met Rotxo on the beach when they were finished eating. Rotxo was surprised to see Aonung. “Hey, man! Glad to see you!” “Ahh, Rotxo,” Aonung greeted his best friend. He slapped his back. “How are things going with Kiri?” Aonung teased. Rotxo’s face flushed and he sputtered. “What? I don’t, uh, what are you talking about?” Aonung just laughed.

“Good morning!” Tsireya called out, waving to someone. Aonung and Rotxo turned to see the Sully siblings making their way to the beach. Lo’ak eagerly waved back at her. Neteyam trailed behind Lo’ak and Kiri as he always did, so he could keep an eye on them, Tuk balanced on his hip. 

Lessons these days were not extensive. The family had been there long enough now that they knew most things. It was more just practice to keep their skills sharp than it was actual lessons. Aonung was disappointed to find they were working as one big group today, but he was just happy to see Neteyam participating. He’d get alone time with Neteyam later in the day. 

Neteyam would glance at him occasionally, and Aonung would grin at him. Neteyam would roll his eyes with a small smile.

After lessons, Aonung approached Neteyam. “Forest boy, come fishing with me.” Neteyam picked up Tuk, who was jumping at his feet. “I’m sorry. I promised my parents I would watch Tuk for the next two hours. But… later?” Neteyam offered. Aonung smiled. “I will find you.”

Aonung hung out with Tsireya and Rotxo for a while, before he spotted Nash’vi, Koro, and Onvi further down the beach. He excused himself from his sister and best friend, who didn’t pay it much mind, and made his way over to the group.

“Aonung!” Onvi exclaimed. The other two boys turned to him, Nash’vi looking nervous. Aonung zeroed in on him. He pushed his finger into Nash’vi’s chest, the same way Neteyam had done to him weeks ago. “You sent your brother to attack Neteyam?” Aonung hissed.

Koro and Onvi looked at one another in surprise. Sensing a possible fight, they backed up. 

Nash’vi steeled his face defiantly. “Yeah, I did. That freak deserved it. Careful, Aonung, it looks like you like him,” Nash’vi sneered. Aonung snarled, and Nash’vi lost some of his confidence. “We are done, Nash’vi. We are no longer friends. I will not tolerate the way you speak of him anymore, nor will I tolerate you allowing your brother and his friends to attack him.”

Nash’vi’s jaw dropped. “Are you seriously cutting me off for him?” “Yes,” Aonung said firmly. “But he’s a freak! Not to mention pathetic. Hasn’t he been in hiding for the last two weeks?” Aonung shoved Nash’vi to the ground. “Call him pathetic again, I dare you.” Nash’vi hissed at him. Aonung smirked. “Besides, despite being three against one, your brother and his friends still got their asses kicked. I’d have more respect if I were you.” 

“Are you in love with him or something?” Nash’vi sneered, not daring to move from the ground. Aonung hissed. “All you need to know is that Neteyam is mine.” He looked at Koro and Onvi, making sure they understood the message too. “To disrespect him, or his family, is to go directly against me. Is that understood?” 

Onvi and Koro nodded vigorously. Aonung glared at Nash’vi. “Is that understood?” Nash’vi glared back but faltered, finally ducking his head in submission. “Yeah. Understood.” Aonung stood imposingly over Nash’vi for another moment before he was satisfied his point had been made and stalked away.

“Hey!” Aonung heard someone call from behind him once he was a little ways away from his old friends. “Fish lips!” Aonung rolled his eyes before turning around to face Lo’ak. “What do you want?” Aonung groaned, continuing to walk as Lo’ak fell into step with him.

He and Lo’ak were friends, but they bickered and insulted each other quite often. Lo’ak had once referred to them as frenemies, a Sky People term that meant someone was both friend and foe, as he’d explained it to Aonung. Aonung had to admit it was a good label for their relationship.

Lo’ak clicked his tongue and lightly smacked Aonung’s arm. “Don’t pretend you aren’t happy to see me.” “Get to the point, Lo’ak,” Aonung hummed. Lo’ak suddenly became very serious. “I, uh, I heard what happened back there. Between you and your friends.” “If you heard, you would know Nash’vi is no longer my friend,” Aonung said grumpily. 

Lo’ak laughed quietly. “Yeah, I heard that. But I also heard you defend Neteyam. And my whole family.” Aonung side-eyed him, wondering where he was going with this. “Yeah. So what?” Lo’ak gave him a look. “I may be a skxawng sometimes, but I’m not completely stupid. You like my brother, the same way I like your sister.”

Aonung stopped walking. “I- no. Neteyam is a good friend.” “ All you need to know is that Neteyam is mine,” Lo’ak mocked, doing a poor imitation of Aonung’s voice. “Yeah, that’s real platonic, cuz.” Aonung felt his face flush and looked away to hide it.

“Honestly, I’m just mad cause I totally lost a bet with Kiri now,” Lo’ak shrugged. “Kiri knows?” Aonung groaned. “Yeah,” Lo’ak snickered. “Kiri knows everything, bro. Anyway, listen. I think my brother can do better than you. But I’ve also seen how you treat him, and how you defended him today. So honestly, I don’t think you’d be terrible for him.”

“Is that your dumb way of giving me your blessing?” Aonung snorted. Lo’ak scoffed. “As if I’d ever give you my blessing to mate my big brother.” Aonung smirked. Lo’ak became serious once again. “Aonung, Neteyam has been through some shit. He has bigger problems than your little crush on him. Just don’t be pushy.”

Aonung scowled, wanting to argue with Lo’ak, but he bit his tongue. Lo’ak slapped his back. “Good talk, fish lips. Later!” Aonung rolled his eyes, watching the younger Sully brother go.

For the next few hours, Aonung busied himself with his chores. As he helped his mother weave nets, he could feel her gaze on him. “Aonung,” Ronal spoke. Aonung looked up from his handiwork. “You are happier than you have been,” Ronal said. “But you also seem troubled.” Aonung looked back down at the net.

Ronal had stopped working and was staring at her son expectantly. “Aonung, what is going on with you? There is something happening in your life that you will not tell me about. It has been like this since the Sully family arrived. Do they have to do with this change in you?”

Aonung resisted the urge to groan. “Mother, please.” “You used to tell me everything, my sweet boy. It hurts to see you troubled by something and not be able to help, not even knowing what it is that bothers you.” Aonung relaxed at his mother’s affectionate words. “Mother,” he sighed. “It is complicated, and I am a man now. I must deal with these things alone.”

Ronal reached out and grabbed his hand. “Man or not, you are still my son. You never need to go through anything alone.” Aonung was quiet. “Why does Eywa tell me it has something to do with Neteyam?” Ronal hummed at Aonung’s silence. Aonung blanched. How did his mother know everything? 

“Ah,” Ronal said with a small smile. “So I am right.” “Mother,” Aonung whined. “Do not whine at me. Tell me what is bothering you.” Aonung debated for a few moments before taking a deep breath. “Mother, I- I have feelings for Neteyam.” Ronal didn’t look the slightest bit surprised by this information. She just nodded at him to continue.

“I just want to be with him, all of the time. I admire him, and respect him, and oh, Mother, he is so beautiful.” Ronal smiled. “I want to protect him, but… but terrible things have happened to him already. I want to make him feel better, I want to help him, but I- I don’t know how.” 

Ronal frowned. “What terrible things?” Aonung hated lying to his mother, but she would skin him if she knew he had eavesdropped on such a serious conversation. “I’m not sure exactly,” he shrugged, looking away. “But he lived in war before coming here, and I can see how it affects him.”

Ronal nodded. “Yes, the family has experienced tragedies we could not even begin to imagine. Especially Neteyam.” Aonung made eye contact with her and swallowed. She was giving him a sad, knowing look. “You know what happened to him before he came here, don’t you? That is why you are so troubled.”

Aonung looked away, his ears flattening against his head. Ronal didn’t ask how he knew, and didn’t have an accusatory edge to her tone, so Aonung found himself nodding. Ronal squeezed his hand. “I only just found out,” Aonung admitted. “I was in a mood while he was in his marui for two weeks because I was worried and I missed him. I finally got a chance to talk to him yesterday, and he returned to lessons today, so I am in better spirits but…”

Ronal hummed. “It is a difficult situation indeed.” “I want nothing more than to pursue my feelings for him, but I feel as though, considering everything, it would be selfish to do so,” Aonung admitted.

Ronal shifted closer to Aonung and took his face in her hands. “Oh, my son. You are a good boy. And so is Neteyam. The advice I would offer you is to simply be there for him right now. Eywa will bring you together when the time is right.”

Aonung nodded. “Thank you, Mother.” Ronal smiled again. “How about you go find him? He’s been out around the village today. Go spend time with him.” Aonung brought a hand up to cover his mother’s, which was still on his face. “Thank you, Mama.”

Aonung didn’t find Neteyam in the village or on the beaches, which left him to check the Sully’s marui. He took a deep breath and steeled himself to face Neteyam’s parents. He hadn’t interacted with them much, so he had no idea where he currently stood with them, especially after leaving their youngest son at sea.

His urge to see Neteyam outweighed his nerves, and he approached the marui. In the entryway, he announced himself politely, greeting Jake and Neytiri with an I see you motion when they turned to him. He felt himself beginning to sweat under their stares, even as they returned his greeting.

“Toruk Makto, Neytiri, I am here for Neteyam,” Aonung said, allowing his eyes to slide over to their eldest son, who was sitting in the corner sharpening his knife. Blue eyes met gold. Addressing Neteyam, Aonung said, “I was hoping you would join me for a walk.” Turning his gaze back to Neteyam’s parents, Aonung dipped his head. “If that is alright with you both.”

“Yeah, sure,” Jake said. “Neteyam doesn’t need our permission.” Neytiri watched Aonung carefully. “It was respectful of you to ask,” she conceded, nodding at him. “We do not mind. It would be good for Neteyam to get out and spend time with a friend.”

Neteyam stood, sheathing his knife. “I’ll be back later, Mom, Dad,” he nodded at his parents, bidding them a goodbye, before following Aonung out of the marui. “I thought we could walk to the forest,” Aonung said once they were outside. Neteyam nodded.

They walked in silence through the village, closer than they needed to be. Their arms kept brushing together. “How was your day?” Aonung finally asked. Neteyam shrugged. “It was alright.” Neteyam wasn’t much of a conversationalist today. Between not talking to each other for two weeks and Aonung finding out his greatest shame, things were… awkward, to say the least.

As they approached the edge of the forest, Aonung dared to point it out. “Are things going to be weird between us now?” Neteyam looked at him, surprised. He opened his mouth to protest before thinking. He didn’t speak until they were about two minutes into the trees. 

They came across a small clearing, and Neteyam sat down on a log. Aonung sat next to him, closer than he needed to be, but Neteyam didn’t move away. “I am sorry," Neteyam sighed. "I am still… coming to terms with the fact that you know.” 

Aonung nodded. “I’m sorry.” Neteyam shook his head. “No, no need to apologize. It’s just that… only my parents know. Not even Lo’ak or Kiri know. I was planning on keeping it that way. But, if someone else had to know… I am glad it’s you.”

Aonung’s heart soared. “I just wish I could make you feel better,” he sighed. Neteyam turned to him. “You… actually do,” Neteyam admitted. Aonung looked at him with wide eyes. “I do?” Neteyam flushed. “When you touch me, it grounds me. You’re the only one who’s been able to bring me down from an… episode.” 

Aonung remembered how Neteyam had calmed when Aonung had grabbed his shoulders and held his face in his marui. 

“I feel safe with you,” Neteyam said quietly. “You’re a good friend. I’m glad we’re talking again.” Aonung placed his hand over Neteyam’s hand, and to his absolute delight, Neteyam flipped his hand up to lace their fingers together. Friends.

Aonung couldn’t speak, but Neteyam continued to talk. “You know, my Dad was there when it happened. It happened right in front of him.” Aonung realized Neteyam was opening up about his assault. He squeezed Neteyam’s hand.

“They had him at gunpoint. He couldn’t do anything. There were four Avatars, two holding Dad and two holding me. One sat on my back and held my arms down, while the other, Lyle,” Neteyam spat the name like poison, “-removed my loincloth, grabbed my waist and tail, and then he… you know.” Neteyam couldn’t bring himself to say it.

Aonung’s stomach dropped. So that’s why Neteyam had reacted so intensely when Aonung had grabbed his waist. “He didn’t, uh, get all the way in,” Neteyam winced, avoiding eye contact. “Before my Dad broke free. But he made me bleed.” Aonung couldn’t help the pained noise that escaped him.

Neteyam grimaced. “I’ve never talked about it before. Not even my mother knows how it happened.” 

“I am honored you feel safe enough to talk about it with me,” Aonung whispered. “Neteyam, I am so sorry you went through that. I will never understand why Eywa would let something so terrible happen to a man as good as you. I respect and admire you like no other.” 

Neteyam finally looked at him, golden eyes wide and shining with an emotion Aonung couldn’t place. He squeezed Aonung’s hand. “Thank you, Aonung.” “I see you, Neteyam.” Neteyam’s breath audibly hitched, brow lifting in surprise. 

“I see you.”

Chapter Text

Neteyam felt better than he had in the last two months since coming to Awa’atlu. His whole family had noticed and commented on the difference in his demeanor. Neteyam didn’t really know how to explain it, so he just told them he was finally feeling better.

Really, it was Aonung’s little touches that made Neteyam feel better, but that wasn’t anyone’s business but his. Whenever Aonung and Neteyam hung out with their siblings and Rotxo, Aonung always made sure to sit or stand next to Neteyam. He would throw his arm around his shoulders, brush their hands together, tangle their tails.

When Aonung would see Neteyam in passing he would go out of his way to gather Neteyam in a quick hug, paired with a kiss to the temple and an “I’ll see you later!” 

Aonung had been growing bolder in his touches as the weeks had gone by. They were all sitting on the beach one evening, minus Tuk. Aonung was stretched out in the sand with his head in Neteyam’s lap, dozing while the group of six chatted. 

“You two are disgusting,” Lo’ak gagged suddenly, eyeing Aonung and Neteyam. Aonung’s eyes snapped open and he sat up to scowl at Lo’ak. “Shut up, skxawng,” Aonung hissed. “You are much more disgusting when you are with my sister.” 

“Leave them alone, Lo’ak,” Tsireya scolded. “They are adorable.” “Very cute,” Kiri agreed, snickering. Neteyam frowned at the girls. “We are not cute.” Aonung fell back into Neteyam’s lap. “Yes we are, Teyam. We are cuter than our siblings. Right, Rotxo?” Rotxo nodded in support of his best friend. Neteyam felt his face flush and quickly turned his head to hide behind his braids. 

It was at a communal dinner a few nights later when Neteyam’s parents commented on it. The Sully family sat with Tonowari’s family. Aonung and Neteyam sat side by side, their shoulders touching. Neytiri noticed Aonung was deboning a fish and putting the best chunks of meat on Neteyam’s plate. 

“Aonung, you do not need to prepare my meal for me.” “I debone it how you like it. When you do it you always complain of missing bones,” Aonung replied. “Hush and eat.” Neytiri watched a dopey smile bless her son’s face. Once Aonung had finally started eating his own food, his tail curled around Neteyam. 

Jake eyed his and Tonowari’s eldest sons as they ate, pressed shoulder to shoulder. Aonung’s tail slapped the ground right next to Neteyam’s leg. Aonung kept leaning in to whisper to Neteyam and Neteyam would whisper back with a little smile. Jake made eye contact with Neytiri and pointed at the pair with his eyes. She followed his gaze before looking back at him with a small grin and a shake of her head.

Jake and Neytiri didn’t say anything about their observations to Neteyam. They’d already heard him deny any type of romantic feelings for Aonung to his siblings. 

The next day, Neteyam was out by himself, wading through the shallows to cool off from the day’s heat. He was enjoying the solitude, thoughts of Aonung continuously crossing his mind when suddenly, he was approached by two of Aonung’s old friends, whose names he could not recall.

“Neteyam,” one of them greeted him, and both made an “I see you” gesture. Neteyam returned it. “You are Aonung’s friends, yes?” “Yes, I am Koro, and this is Onvi,” Koro introduced himself and Onvi. Neteyam hummed. “Can I help you?”

Koro and Onvi looked nervous. “We, ah, we just wanted to say sorry,” Onvi finally blurted out. Koro nodded vigorously. “For how we treated you and your family.” “Aonung made us see that our behavior was unacceptable,” Koro chimed in.

“Aonung?” Neteyam’s interest immediately peaked. “What did Aonung have to do with this?” “Well, we know you two are courting–” “Courting?” Neteyam immediately interrupted. His surprise seemed to surprise Koro and Onvi, who looked at one another and back at Neteyam. “Oh, I am sorry…” Koro said, flustered suddenly. “I did not realize you two had–” he lowered his voice, “-mated already.”

“MATED?” Neteyam nearly shrieked the word in surprise. Koro and Onvi now looked truly confused. “Are you and Aonung not… together?” Onvi asked. Neteyam felt his face heat up as he sputtered for a moment. “I, uh, what- no, we… what? No?” Onvi and Koro’s eyes widened as they stared at a very flustered Neteyam.

“Oh…” There was a beat of silence. “What, uh, what made you think Aonung and I are together?” Neteyam asked once he came back to himself. Koro and Onvi looked at one another, and seemed to have a silent debate amongst themselves. “Well he- he said you were his,” Onvi told Neteyam.

Neteyam was certain the blush on his face would never die down. “When did he say this?” “When he was defending you from Nash’vi,” Koro cut in. “Aonung was angry at Nash’vi for letting his brother lead that attack on you. He told all three of us in no unclear terms that you are his, and to go against you or your family is to go directly against him.”

Neteyam didn’t respond as he processed that information. “We probably shouldn’t have told you that…” Onvi and Koro began to back away. “We will see you around, Neteyam! We apologize again!” Koro called as they ran off. Neteyam watched them go, then shook his head, a smile slowly stretching across his face.

He decided to go find Aonung. He didn’t really have a plan outside of that, he didn’t know what he was going to say to Aonung, all Neteyam knew was that he needed to find him. 

Neteyam did find him, out near a cove. Neteyam could see him through the trees and was about to call out to him when he realized it looked like Aonung was talking to someone. Neteyam silently moved closer through the trees to get a better look. 

He stopped in his tracks when he saw who Aonung was talking to. It was a young Metkayina girl around their age, but Neteyam didn’t know her name or anything about her. He’d seen her around a few times, and had to admit she was truly beautiful. What was her relation to Aonung?

Neteyam felt a sort of unease creep into his bones, but decided to stay hidden and quiet and simply observe. Aonung looked at ease with the girl, so Neteyam could only assume they were fairly familiar with one another. 

The girl was clearly very comfortable in Aonung’s presence, laughing at whatever he was saying and placing a hand on his arm. Aonung was laughing and not moving away from the girl’s touch, and Neteyam’s heart clenched painfully.

That was when Neteyam came to a startling conclusion: his feelings for Aonung were more than platonic. It was the only explanation for the way he was feeling, watching Aonung and the girl interact. Jealousy was an emotion Neteyam was familiar with, and he quickly realized it wasn’t Aonung he was jealous of in this situation, it was the girl.

Unable to watch any longer, Neteyam stepped out of the trees. Aonung noticed him before he even called out to make himself known. “Neteyam!” Aonung called, raising a hand in greeting. The girl frowned at Aonung’s displaced attention. “Hey…” Neteyam approached the two, eyeing the girl with mild disdain. She eyed him right back. 

“I will see you around,” Aonung addressed her, and her frown deepened as she looked at him then back to Neteyam. “Oh. Alright. Goodbye, Aonung.” Aonung waved her off before turning to give Neteyam his full attention. 

“Who was that?” Neteyam couldn’t help but ask. “Oh, that was just Niyara,” Aonung answered casually. “You seem close,” Neteyam commented slyly. Aonung rolled his eyes. “She has been trying to court me since we were young. I have constantly rejected her advances. I am polite because her mother and mine are friends, but Eywa, she gets on my nerves.”

Neteyam laughed, but it wasn’t so much in humor as it was relief. “Ah, Aonung, mighty warrior and ladies’ man,” Neteyam teased. Aonung hissed in a joking matter, swatting at Neteyam’s head. “Shut up, skxawng! Come, let us go for a ride around the reef.”

Chapter Text

“I wish I’d been there,” Kiri said in awe, a smile on her face. “The ocean blessed you with a gift, brother.” The group was huddled together as Lo’ak told the story of his encounter with a rogue Tulkun who had saved his life. Lo’ak and Tsireya crouched next to one another, Neteyam crouched on Lo’ak’s other side. Aonung stood next to Neteyam, leaning against a tree. Next to him was Kiri, crouching next to Rotxo. Tuk sat on a rock between Tsireya and Rotxo.

“The Tulkun have not returned yet,” Aonung said, and Neteyam turned to look at him as he spoke. “And anyway, no Tulkun is ever alone.” Neteyam looked away from Aonung as Aonung bent forward, worried his newfound feelings would somehow be written all over his face if he stared at Aonung too long.

“This one was,” Lo’ak replied. “He had a, uh, a missing fin. Like a stump, on the left side.” “Poor Tulkun,” Tuk chimed in. But Tsireya’s eyes darted from Aonung to Lo’ak in distress before she uttered, “Payakan… it’s Payakan,” she looked at Rotxo. “Who’s Payakan?” Kiri asked.

“A young bull who went rogue,” Rotxo answered. “He’s outcast. Alone. And he has a missing fin.” “They say he is a killer,” Tsireya said to Lo’ak solemnly, a hint of fear in her voice. “No, no,” Lo’ak immediately protested, but Aonung cut in. “He killed Na’vi and other Tulkun.” Neteyam watched Aonung’s side profile as he spoke, aware that he should be taking Aonung’s words seriously, but it was so distracting to look at him now that Neteyam knew his feelings were more than platonic.

“Not here,” Aonung continued. “But far to the south.” “No, he’s no killer,” Lo’ak continued to protest. “Lo’ak,” Tsireya hissed. “You are lucky to be alive.” “I’m telling you guys,” Lo’ak raised his voice. “He saved my life.” Neteyam noticed Lo’ak and Tsireya holding one another’s arms. “He’s my friend.”

Neteyam stood and tried to diffuse the obviously growing tension. “My baby bro,” he announced gleefully. “The Mighty Warrior,” he placed his hands on Lo’ak’s shoulders. “Who faced the killer Tulkun, and lived to tell about it, huh?” Lo’ak shrugged him off aggressively with a grunt, rising to his feet. “You guys aren’t listening.” He began to storm off.

“Lo’ak, I’m listening!” Tuk called after him. “Lo’ak, come back,” Kiri tried too, but Lo’ak’s ears didn’t even twitch in their direction. “You skxawngs,” Kiri chided. Rotxo, Kiri, Tsireya, and Tuk all stood and began to walk away together. Neteyam was about to follow them when…

“Neteyam,” Aonung called as Neteyam was turning to leave. Neteyam turned to Aonung with a smile. “Yes?” Aonung looked nervous, shifting his weight from foot to foot and hiding his hands behind his back. Neteyam frowned slightly. “Are you alright?”

Wordlessly, Aonung brought his hands forward, revealing what he was carrying. It was an armband, much like the one he always wore on his right bicep, but this one was even nicer. It was a beautiful Metkayina design, but with hints of Omatikayan craftsmanship. In the center of the piece sat a beautiful blue pearl. 

Neteyam’s mouth opened slightly in surprise. Aonung looked embarrassed as he held the jewelry out towards Neteyam. “I made this for you.” “For me?” Neteyam gasped quietly, taking the armband with reverence. His fingers brushed Aonung’s. 

“Yes, I made it for you. I consulted your sister and mother for the Omatikayan details,” Aonung told him. “Aonung, it is beautiful!” Neteyam exclaimed. “I cannot possibly accept this… I haven’t gotten you anything.” “It is not a transactional gift,” Aonung assured him, placing his hands over Neteyam’s before gently taking the armband back. “Let me put it on you.”

Now it was Neteyam’s turn to be flustered. “Alright.” He held out his right arm, and Aonung fastened the band around his bicep, in the same spot Aonung wore his own. Neteyam tried to keep his breathing steady as Aonung adjusted the armband on him. 

“There.” Aonung stepped back. “It looks good on you.” Neteyam smiled brightly at Aonung, unaware of the way Aonung’s heart stuttered. “I cannot thank you enough, it is beautiful, Aonung, I can truly see how much effort you put into it.” Aonung looked away, trying to hide the way his cheeks darkened in a blush.

Aonung shrugged off Neteyam’s praise and pulled him in for a quick hug goodbye before they parted ways. 

As Neteyam went about his day, he noticed the members of the tribe were looking at him much more than usual. Being stared at by the Metkayina was something Neteyam was no stranger to; for as long as his family had been in Awa’atlu, they would always stand out, with their dark skin and slim figures.

But the staring was much more incessant today. Neteyam wondered why, until two Metkayina women around his age stopped him and congratulated him. “It is a beautiful courting gift, Neteyam!” One of the girls exclaimed, gesturing to the armband. Neteyam didn’t know either of their names, but wasn’t entirely surprised they knew his. He was rather popular with the female Metakyina of his age.

“Thank you, but… what do you mean by a courting gift?” Neteyam asked stupidly. The girls giggled. “Your armband! Whoever gave it to you intends to court you, and by wearing it you have accepted! It is Metkayina tradition to present your intended mate with a piece of jewelry with a pearl as the centerpiece.” “Oh, you must tell us what lucky Metkayina you are courting!” 

Neteyam’s jaw dropped, but he quickly fixed his face into a neutral expression. “I am sorry, I must go!” He not so gracefully extracted himself from the situation, running away from the confused women. Immediately, he went to find Tsireya, surely she could tell him what the armband truly meant.

He found her on the beach with Tuk, and was grateful that it was just the two of them. “Tsireya!” Neteyam called, and she turned to face him, her eyes immediately zeroing in on the armband Aonung had gifted him. Her teal eyes widened in shock. “Neteyam!” Tsireya exclaimed. “Oh my Eywa! I knew you would accept Aonung’s gift! He put so much time into it, you know, he wanted it to be absolutely perfect.”

Again, Neteyam was stunned into silence for a moment. “I… yes, ah… Tsireya, some women said that it is a courting gift. What does that mean? Why did Aonung make this for me?” Tsireya’s face dropped in confusion before a look of irritation overtook it and she rolled her eyes. “Eywa… what did that skxawng say when he gave it to you?” Neteyam fiddled with the armband, considering taking it off before deciding against it. “Just that it was not a transactional gift…” 

Tsireya clicked her tongue, annoyed. “Of course he would be too cowardly to explain it to you. When the Metkayina intend to make one their mate, they create a piece of jewelry that is supposed to represent both themself and their desired mate together, and the centerpiece is always a pearl. When the gift is presented, it is asking for courtship, meaning that if the Na’vi who is presented the gift accepts it, they wish to take the gift-giver as their future mate.”

Neteyam could feel the blood rushing to his face, and apparently the blush was quite obvious, because Tsireya giggled behind her hand before returning serious. “It was not right for my brother to not explain the significance of your acceptance to you. Here, I can take it off for you-” “No,” Neteyam answered a little too quickly. “That’s alright… I mean, I know now.” 

Tsireya smiled knowingly. “I should go talk to Aonung,” Neteyam said, turning to go before Tsireya caught his wrist. “Before you do, come with us. Rotxo and I are taking Kiri and Tuk to our Spirit Tree.”

Neteyam was going to find Aonung after his little adventure with Rotxo, Tsireya, and his sisters, but the trip ended with Kiri having a seizure underwater, and as he hauled her onto his ilu and performed the Sky People act of CPR as his father had taught him, Aonung was, for once, the last thing on his mind.

Poor Rotxo, the simp, was quite possibly more distraught about Kiri’s state than Neteyam himself, asking if she was breathing repeatedly as he held her head up for Neteyam. Neteyam rushed her back to the village as soon as he got her breathing, and from there, things were a rushed blur.

Jake called for Norm and Max to come via aircraft all the way from the forest to check over Kiri, who had been unconscious since her seizure. Neteyam kept the people back as the aircraft landed on a strip of beach, Jake and Norm greeting each other with a handshake and hug while Neteyam helped Max pull supplies.

Things calmed down as Norm and Max examined Kiri, with nothing left for Neteyam to do but wait outside the marui with Rotxo, Aonung, and Lo’ak, Tuk being the only sibling in the marui. He could feel Aonung’s concerned gaze on him, but kept his eyes focused on watching what was happening inside.

Ronal approached then, followed by Tsireya, who held her supplies. Neytiri kicked Max, Norm, and Jake out to let Ronal work. After a half an hour, Kiri woke up under Ronal’s ministrations. Neteyam felt a massive weight lift off his shoulders, and watched Rotxo visibly sag in relief. “Come,” Aonung told Neteyam and Rotxo. “We have been here for hours. She is alright now. Let us get your minds off things.”

It was a sweet gesture. “You two go ahead,” Rotxo said, staring at Kiri from the entryway. “I am going to stay here.” “Come on, you lovesick skxawng,” Aonung chided. “They will not let you talk to her until tomorrow.” “I don’t care,” Rotxo snapped. “Go. I will stay.”

Aonung shrugged before turning his gaze onto Neteyam and holding out his hand expectantly. Neteyam didn’t want to leave Kiri, but Aonung was right, she was okay now, and Neteyam needed to decompress after such a scare. So he took Aonung’s hand.

The taller Na’vi led him through the village silently, his grip on Neteyam’s hand grounding. Aonung ended up taking Neteyam to the tide pools where they had hung out for the very first time. As they sunk into the warm water, Neteyam decided it was the perfect time to talk to Aonung about his gift.

“Aonung,” Neteyam broke the comfortable silence, slinking closer to Aonung. “I have to ask you something.” Aonung hummed, looking at Neteyam expectantly. “This armband…” Neteyam began, and Aonung suddenly looked nervous. “Was giving me this armband you asking me to be your future mate?”

“Ah,” Aonung said, color rushing to his face. “Someone told you.” “It should have been you,” Neteyam said with a small smile. Aonung looked embarrassed. “Yes… it should have been. I got nervous.” “Well, I knew something was going on when people were staring at it all day. Then some girls let slip what it was, and Tsireya explained it to me in full.”

Aonung was silent for a moment, averting his gaze until his eyes drifted to the armband. “But… you are still wearing it.” “I am,” Neteyam answered, standing to his full height so the water came up to his waist. Aonung stood up as well, and Neteyam was very aware of how close they were standing. The air between them was charged with tension that wasn’t unpleasant. Aonung swallowed audibly before breaking the stretch of silence. 

“Can I kiss you?” 

Neteyam’s tail swished back and forth.

“Yes.”