Chapter Text
A conch sounded, Aonungs ears twitching at the abrasive sound that flowed over the water landscape of the Metkayina clan's land. He looked to a previously mucking around Rotxo and jerked his head, motioning to him that they should return to land.
He swerved through the reef on his ilu, the diamond blue water splashing around him as he surfaces, getting closer to the dock.
He leapt out of the water, wading his way through the crowd of his people, his people moving for him because he was the Olo'eyktan son, and took his place standing next to his father as he watched 4 ikran flying toward them
His eyebrows furrow with the thought of news of war being brought to them again, having heard many stories from the Metkayina elders about how the war between Na’vi tribes the sky people about 15 years ago, and the tragedies everyone suffered. He looked up at his father's stoic face, where he could notice a hidden sour expression as he watched the Ikran fly closer, muscles in his jaw tensing.
Turning back to the strangers, he watched on silently as the Ikrans landed and 5 Omaticaya Na’vi walked towards them, the only person he recognised was Toruk Makto, and seemingly many others did too. He hears small ripples of talk wash over the crowd of people that was forming around them, ‘Toruk makto?’, ‘it’s Toruk makto!’ but none dared to come closer, knowing to respect his father, the Olo'eyktan of the Metkayina clan.
Tonowari took a few steps forward, “Jake Sully, why have you come to us?” His father questioned after the men exchanged traditional greetings.
Jake looked back towards his mated Neytiri, his youngest child on his hip, “We have come to seek refuge” The deeper blue man spoke, the young girl that he was carrying, shielding her face from the glaring sun, but Aonung was barely paying attention as one of his sons caught his eye.
He tuned out the conversation his father was having as he moved forwards, tempted to reach out to the boy, moving even closer as he obviously gazed upon him paying little attention to his brother. He’d never seen this kind of Na’vi before, thin but lean arms, weak tails, slimmer waists and deep, rich blue skin.
He watched as the teens greeted him ‘I see you’, but didn’t return the gesture, still unsure and weary as to why they were here.
He was snapped out of his thoughts as his mother grabbed the younger brother's hand standing beside the boy he was interested in. His mother holding up his spread fingers, he gasped as he saw 5 fingers.
“These children have demon blood!” She proclaimed, dropping his hand harshly. His eyes snapped back to them and snarled at them along with many other members of his tribe, his father holding out a hand to silence his people before resuming to talk to Jake and Neytiri.
He continued to walk behind the older boy and grabbed his tail, twirling it around his forearm, feeling its soft sleek feel. The tail swung out of his grip all too soon as the boy eyed him, still not moving from where he stood,
Aonung laughed and backed off slightly, looking at Rotxo and his other friends.
“Their tails are weak, they will be useless here!” he laughed to them, a slight pang of guilt resounding through him as he saw the boy's eyes cast downwards and his lips pursed, unable to defend himself.
He saw his father eye him and he quickly walked back to his side, not wanting to disappoint him further, despite knowing his father was much less harsh than his mother.
He watched the two mothers hiss at each other angrily, backing off slightly just as his father and the other boys did. Finally, his father pulled his mother aside and they talked, Aonung and his sister watching the strangers.
Finally, his father turned around with his displeased-looking mother
“Toruk Makto is welcome here, as is his family. My people will show you our ways.” His father said, his deep voice resounding over the people.
He was quick to make a sound of protest but it was promptly cut off.
“It is decided”, his father said firmly, and he stood silently, knowing his father's word was final.
The people dissipated quickly to continue their chores and just before Aonung could storm off after his friends to complain, his father caught him by his forearm.
“You will treat the forest people with respect, you and Tsireya will personally show Toruk Makto’s children our ways.” His father says as Aonung huffs, looking at the Omaticaya people with resentment as they began to unload their possessions.
“If you are to be Olo'eyktan, you will simply do what I ask of you,” He said, obviously getting fed up with his son's behaviour.
Aonung held back a sigh and nodded, walking back towards his ilu as soon as his father released his grip on him.
He made the tsaheylu with his ilu and dove back into the water quickly, trying to find Rotxo and Tsireya as he swerved between corals and reefs, slowly finding peace in his paradise of the ocean.
Neteyam watched as Olo'eyktan’s son dove back into the water, sighing as his neat cornrows disappeared easily under the water's surface.
Neteyam walked back to his ikran, picking up and carrying the few possessions he brought as his eyes set upon his clearly upset siblings. Stroking her broad neck a final time before making a clicking sound with his throat, telling her to fly into the Mangrove tree that housed the Metkayina clan.
He walked to his brother, “It will be okay bro” he reassures Lo’ak, pulling Kiri towards them as she holds her shawl over herself tighter. Neteyam was aware he was lucky to have 4 fingers and not be seen as a ‘demon’, but he was still deeply protective of his 5 fingered siblings.
He watched as their father walked over to them, Tuk still on his hip.
“You kids okay?” He asks softly, seeing the upset expressions on Lo’ak and Kiri’s faces.
“Yes sir” they all respond, and Jake nods tightly, walking as he carries bags of their things towards the pod the Olo'eyktan was leading them towards.
He lets go of Kiri and Lo’ak, shadowing his father as they follow Tonowari, his mother comforting his siblings behind him.
-Later-
Aonung returned to shore by himself, having spent some time alone and making peace with his situation. It was dark out as he jumped back onto the docks, the water droplets falling down his body immediately making him feel colder in the crisp night wind.
Everybody having returned to their pods he goes to do the same, preparing to be scolded for not telling his parents he would be out so late when he saw the outline of a Na'vi sitting on a distant beach's sand, their luminescent dots catching his eye amongst the darkness.
He began curiously walking towards the person, not yet being able to see their face. As he grew closer, he saw their skin was a deeper shade of blue, and he recognised the boy as Toruk Makto’s eldest son. It seemed as if the boy hadn’t noticed him yet, so he walked closer, his steps silent on the soft pale sand.
“It’s getting cold out here,” He says to him, accidentally startling him as the boy jerks in surprise and whipped his head around to Aonung, his braids whacking him in the face.
Aonung holds back a laugh, reminding himself to be nice. “Sorry… didn’t mean to startle you,” he says, walking closer to him now that his presence was known.
Neteyam watches as the other lighter-skinned Na’vi steps closer to him, nodding to acknowledge his apology. He continues watching the quiet waves wash against the shore, “it’s fine” he says quietly and peacefully, trying to return to his state of tranquillity.
Aonung watches him curiously, unsure why he's out so late but not wanting to ask…yet. He sits near him, but not too close, still weary of the stranger.
“My name's Aonung, what’s yours?” He asks, not knowing any of the strangers' names yet. He watches as the boy breathes steadily and messes with the sand in between his legs where he’s sitting.
“Neteyam” he responds, his expression unreadable.
Aonung nods and looks at the waves as well, smiling at the newfound information.
“That’s a nice name,” he says, smiling at Neteyam.
Neteyam looks at him, having a feeling he was joking but sees only genuineness in the other boy's eyes. He looks away back to the tide and as he feels the sand in his fingers, “thanks” he responds, the pair sitting in silence for a few moments.
“…Why are you here?” Neteyam asks Aonung cryptically, picking up sand and letting it slowly slip out of his hand like an hourglass.
“I could ask the same to you” Aonung responds, the meaning going deeper than just Neteyams presence on the beach, and the response coming out ruder than he intended. Neteyam sighs at the question but seemed prepared for the rudeness, but still glares at the taller boy.
Neteyam sighs again and shakes his head, getting up to leave when Aonung grabs his forearm.
“Where are you going?” He asks, not meaning to upset the other this much.
Neteyam rips his arm from the other's grasp. “…You don’t deserve to know what we’ve been through,” he says, taking a step backwards towards the village. “I know you just want to make fun of us,” he says, grabbing his own tail and holding it in front of him.
“Weak tails, you know? We’ll be useless here here” he says to Aonung, referencing to hours earlier on the docks, scoffing in frustration and slight disbelief.
“Wait, that’s not true!” Aonung responds, standing up and looking at Neteyam as he finds himself at a loss for words.
“Okay, well if that’s not true what is it? You’ve come to call my siblings ‘demons’?” He asks again, rolling his eyes as Aonung continues to just stare at him dumbly.
“Whatever,” Neteyam says, walking back towards his family’s pod, leaving Aonung standing by himself.
“Wait! Let me show you something Neteyam!” Aonung whisper-shouts to Neteyam, trying to be mindful of the sleeping Na’vi.
Neteyam looks back at Aonung, pushing down the thought of how much he liked the sound of his name on Aonung’s tongue, thinking for a moment… His father did want him to make friends here. He finally turns back around to him. “What?” He asks, readjusting the straps for his loincloth that was slung around his hips.
Aonung felt his mouth go dry as he watched Neteyam adjust his clothing, but snapped himself out of it, motioning for Neteyam to join him at the water's edge.
The rich blue-skinned boy stood across from him, their feet just close enough to the water to get splashed by the tide. “Deep calm breaths, slow your heartbeat.” He tells Neteyam, holding his hand to his own chest. Neteyam follows Aonung’s breathing pattern reluctantly, closing his eyes to try to be calmer.
Aonung watches as he closes his eyes smiling, giving him a few moments to breathe deeply as he watches him. “Look at me,” he tells Neteyam, and the boy obliges, his wide eyes opening and staring back at Aonung’s. Aonung reaches his hands out, placing one on Neteyam’s chest, and the other on his stomach, feeling his heart rate and breathing rhythm.
Neteyam’s heart strangely skips a beat as he feels Aonung’s warm fingers land on his chest, trying to keep his breathing steady. Why was he feeling like this? The taller boy was making fun of them just a few hours ago!
“Good,” Aonung says, taking his hands off the other teen and wading his way into the water, looking back to Neteyam once he was about hip-deep. “You coming?” He asks with a cheeky smile on his face.
Neteyam was watching Aonung walk into the water, his amphibious tail gliding through the water mesmerizingly, then his eyes drifted a little higher to his waist and chest, absorbed in the beautiful patterns adorning his body, admiring his muscular form as well.
He was snapped out of his thoughts as Aonung spoke, he lifted his eyes to the other’s face and saw the shit-eating grin, rolling his eyes as he tried to play off how he was obviously checking Aonung out. God, why was he acting like this?
“Yeah, yeah,” he says, walking into the water and diving in after Aonung, trying to keep up with him. Aonung saw Neteyam falling behind due to his terrible swimming technique and shook his head, swimming back up to the surface where Neteyam was gasping for air.
“Breathe steady and scoop the water behind yourself,” he tells Neteyam, reminding him of the breathing pattern before they dove in. Finally, Neteyam nodded when he was ready to go back under. They resubmerged and Aonung swam a little slower to ensure Neteyam was okay, trying to not get fed up with how slow he was, reminding himself that this was all new to the forest boy.
They finally reached an underwater canyon, to which Aonung pointed down at, motioning to Neteyam to follow him down into it. Neteyam’s eyes widened and he shook his head, knowing that was too dangerous for him. Aonung swam in to show Neteyam it was safe and made a pleading motion with his hands. Neteyam looked around the reef and tried to reassure himself that Aonung wouldn’t harm him… probably. He reluctantly followed Aonung down into the canyon, the walls lighting up as they swam past.
Finally, Aonung stopped and gently lifted a strange glowing fish from the side of the canyon and placed it on Neteyam’s back, motioning for him to breathe. Neteyam let out a small breath and realised it was much easier to hold his breath, smiling in delight at Aonung at how it worked, his golden eyes bright.
Aonung smiled back, starstruck as he realised the other boy looked like an angel, the glow from the creature luminating Neteyam’s features beautifully.
Ignoring the urge to reach out to the other, Aonung dove deeper, leading Neteyam to a small opening, once he was through he realised Neteyam hadn’t followed. Poking his head out the opening, he saw Neteyam waiting outside, seemingly afraid.
Aonung started to sign but remembered Neteyam hadn’t learnt yet, instead mouthing to him ‘trust me?’ and gently took his hand. When Neteyam didn’t pull away from his touch he took his other hand and led him through the sharp opening into the pitch-black cave and swam up. Neteyam followed and saw an air bubble at the top, swimming up faster and taking a deep breath as he poked his head into a dry cave that was out of the water.
He watched Aonung get out of the water and step onto a rocky platform, covered by a mat, similar to the ones at the tribe, touching the mossy walls with care, causing them to glow in pretty bioluminescent colours.
“I come here to think,” he tells Neteyam softly, heading back to the water edge as he dips his legs back into it. Neteyam hoisted himself out of the water and onto the ledge too, watching the beautiful soft glowing colours in awe.
Aonung reached to Neteyam’s back and Neteyam’s breath hitched, wondering what he was doing, almost disappointed when he realised Aonung was just taking off the ‘breathing fish’, however the fact Aonungs hands lingered on his back for a few seconds longer than needed did not escape Neteyam.
“…How did you find this place?” Neteyam asked Aonung, watching as Aonung released the fish back into the water, mesmerised by small glowing dots in the cave and the luminescent glowing walls.
“I found it when I was young… I was venturing out alone and swam into that opening” he said, pointing to the barely visible opening that they had just gone through that led them to the cave.
“… I often need this space, it means a lot to me,” He said, lying back onto a hand-woven mat that covered the entire platform to protect them from jagged rocks and barnacles.
“Do many people come here?” Neteyam asked inquisitively, gliding his hand through the water, inviting the strange new sensations he was meeting in the reef.
“…None” Aonung responded, his eyes closing.
Neteyam’s head snapped to him and looked at him with wide eyes, the beads in his braids clacking against one another. “Why? Is it off-limits? Am I allowed to be here?” He asked quickly, worried he had already broken rules on his first day.
“No, no!” Aonung responded reassuringly, trying to calm Neteyam down, sitting up. “No one else knows of this place except me,” he tells Neteyam, a light blush covering his face.
Neteyam’s eyes widened further with surprise and blushed too, averting his eyes back to the water “oh…”
Aonung watches as the deeper blue hand glides through the water. “I dunno, I thought you could use this too… I would appreciate it if you didn’t tell anyone though” he says, realising he probably made a mistake bringing a stranger into a very secretive and special place to him.
Neteyam’s golden eyes meet Aonung’s blue as he smiles, removing his hand from the water to place it on Aonungs “Thank you” he says. Aonung looked back at him in surprise but smiled too, them just watching each other in their own little bubble. Eventually, they both went back to watching the water, Aonung ignoring that Neteyam’s tail was swinging behind them excitedly. They only broke the peaceful silence to exchange questions and answers.
“We should probably head back now,” Aonung says, remembering how late it’s gotten and the fact that his parents were probably waiting for him, diving back into the water to retrieve the breathing fish.
“Oh shit! Yeah,” Neteyam says, diving in after him and watched Aonung reach for the glowing fish gently, turning around so he could place it on his back, holding back a shiver as he felt Aonung’s hand caress his upper back, smoothing down the fish.
They shared one last smile together and Neteyam followed Aonung out of the Canyon, trying to get in front of him every now and then, which was when Aonung slapped him playfully with his tail and they both laughed, Neteyam choked on the water a few times which made Aonung laugh even harder.
When they finally made it back to shore they were both laughing, shoving each other playfully before they heard shouts of clan members, Aonung immediately recognising his father's booming voice.
“Fuck-“ he said, leaving Neteyam’s side as he watched his people come closer to him, recognising Neteyam’s family amongst them.
His father had a look of worry and anger in his eyes as they set upon Aonung. “Where have you been?!” He questions them, grabbing his son by the arms roughly.
Aonung looked over to Neteyam where Neytiri had pulled him away, speaking aggressively in a dialect he couldn’t understand as his siblings ran to him, hugging him tightly. His father, Jake Sully, watching on gratefully.
He looked back to his own father where his mother now stood beside him. Shit, she was gonna be pissed. Ronal pushed her husband away, smacking Aonung across the face. “Where were you, stupid boy?!” She asks aggressively, Aonung unable to respond as he holds the reddening side of his face, noticing his heart dropping as he feels tears well up in his eyes. He didn’t want to cry in front of all his people! Especially not in front of Neteyam…
Neteyam watched as Aonung’s mother slapped him and gasped, wriggling free of his sibling's grip on him, running over to where Aonung was, ignoring his mother's furious shouting after him.
“It was me! I made him take me out” Neteyam said, watching as a tear fell from one of Aonung’s eyes, making the lighter blue boy scowl and look away, ashamed.
“Is this true Aonung?” Aonung’s father asked him, a guilty expression playing on his face when he sees the 4 fingered red hand mark on his son's face. Aonung remained silent, not wanting to show his face to anyone, his sister Tsireya quickly came over to comfort him, crouching down beside him.
Jake stepped forward and pulled his son back, coming face to face with Tonowari “We are deeply sorry for this, please forgive my son’s mistake, we will punish him” Jake promises, and Tonowari nods in agreement taking a deep breath and holding his wife beside him.
“Everyone return to their pods!” he ordered, wishing Jake and Neytiri a good night before heading back to his pod.