Chapter Text
“I´m ashamed to call you my son!”
These words kept replaying in Ao’nung's head. His father was ashamed of him, his father was mad at him. How could he disappoint his father, how could he act so recklessly?
His father was mad at him for starting a fight with the Sully brother and putting Lo’ak’s life in danger. He was angry at him for making him look bad in front of Jake. For embarrassing him in front of the whole village. The argument with his parents got so bad Ao’nung decided to run off, a cowardly move, but he hated being confronted by his parent, he hated when they yelled at him.
He had no idea where he was going, his goal was to just get as far away from them as possible. The bruises on his face ached, he kept cursing Lo’ak under his breath, and he blamed the new guy for causing him problems. If not for him, his father wouldn’t have yelled at him. If not for Lo’ak he wouldn’t be in trouble and he wouldn’t have this ugly bruise right under his eye.
He wanted to be alone, he wanted to collect his thoughts, to just disappear for a moment. Without him noticing his legs led him to the edge of the village where the houses ended and the forest met the beach. It was peaceful here, not a soul around, or so he thought until he noticed a silhouette in the distance, sitting by the water just gazing off into the distance. Ao’nung was about to turn around and leave but something inside made him do the opposite - approach the figure. Getting closer he realised it was someone he wasn’t so fond of seeing at this moment, but he couldn't stop himself. He walked up to the young man sitting on the sand and plopped down and sat next to him while hugging his knees. He stared at the horizon where the dark sea met the starry sky, mimicking his companion.
The boy next to him shifted his gaze from the view to look at the newcomer.
“What brings you here?” The boy next to him wondered.
“Could ask you the same thing,” Ao’nung said without moving his eyes from the view.
They sat in silence for a while, Ao’nung looking at the sky and the sea while the other had his eyes fixated on him.
“I’m here to think.” The boy next to him finally said.
Ao’nung turned his head and was met with a pair of golden eyes looking at him deeply. Those eyes were so beautiful Ao’nung could stare into them for hours on end without getting bored.
“I’m here for the same reason.” He finally managed to mumble as a reply.
The boy next to him just hummed not asking any more questions, but neither did he lift his gaze from Ao’nung. They sat there staring into each other’s souls, not saying a word. How could the brothers be so different Ao’nung wondered. Lo’ak was annoying, immature, arrogant, basically, any insult Ao’nung could think of. On the other hand, his brother was so much better. He was kind, friendly, smart, and beautiful. He was beautiful. The boy in front of him never failed at taking his breath away. He admired Neteyam. He was the perfect son, he stayed out of trouble, he was good at everything, he was flawless.
Getting lost in his own thoughts Ao’nung didn’t even notice how his eyes slowly wandered all over Neteyam’s face. His beautiful golden eyes, his white shiny freckles that glowed in the dark and were scattered all over his face, and his lips that were not forming a soft smile. That seemed to snap Ao’nung out of his little daydream. He was yet again met with Neteyam’s gaze. The boy in front of him seemed so carefree at this moment, it was a rare sight as even tho he was the perfect son Neteyam would always cover up for his siblings. He always looked a bit worried or stressed. Seeing him like this, smiling over nothing and not worrying over problems that weren’t even his made Ao’nung happy. This site was so precious, so innocent yet so intimate.
Ao’nung cleared his throat awkwardly as an excuse to break the intense eye contact that was making him nervous all of a sudden.
“Does it hurt?”
Ao’nung couldn’t even form a reply before a soft hand caressed his cheek, right where Lo’ak had punched him. Ao’nung flinched at the sudden physical contact but didn’t move away.
“Your brother packs a pretty good punch, I will give him that,” Ao’nung said without looking up at his companion.
“Next time you’ll know not to mess with him,” he heard a chuckle from the boy before him and shot him a hurt glare.
Neteyam was just looking at him with that same soft smile. He looked angelic at that moment.
“What were you thinking about? Must’ve been something serious that you’d come all the way here just to think.” Neteyam asked softly.
“My father.” what a lame answer, Ao’nung thought to himself. Neteyam must think he’s some kind of loser to come out all the way there just to think about his dad.
“What a coincidence, I’m here for the same reason. Thinking about my father.”
Why? Why would Neteyam be there thinking about his dad? He shouldn’t have any problems with his father. What could possibly make Neteyam want to isolate himself to think about something like this. As id reading Ao’nung’s thoughts Neteyam continued.
“My father, Toruk Makto, the leader of a clan, a mighty warrior. How could i possibly live up to him? No matter what i do I will never be as good as my father. He’s set the bar so high i can never reach it.” a faint note of sadness slipped into Neteyam’s tone as he said that.
Neteyam’s father, Jake Sully formerly Toruk Makto was indeed like a living legend. Everyone knew him. Ao’nung couldn’t even begin to imagine how hard it was to have him as a father. Next to what was expected from Neteyam Ao’nung’s problems seemed so minor and silly.
“Do you want to be like your father?” was the only thing Ao’nung could think of to keep the conversation going.
“I’m expected to” Neteyam’s sentence was cut short when he was met with a sharp look from Ao’nung.
“That wasn’t what I asked from you. I asked if you want to be like him and if you want to follow in his footsteps. Or if you want to be your own person, not your father’s shadow.” that brought some clarity to the dark blue-skinned boy. For the first time, he looked away, eyeing the calm dark water.
“I don’t know..” was the answer that followed.
They sat there in the dark for some time before Neteyam continued: “I’ve never thought of what I want for myself, it’s always been about my father and how I am compared to him.”
“I don’t want to follow in my father’s footsteps. I think he’s too softhearted when it comes to strangers, yet too harsh to the people closest to him. I hate that about him.” said Ao’nung. Frustration was heard in his voice.
“I think he’s just trying to look out for you. You’re his first and only son, he has to be more harsh with you.” Neteyam said reassuringly.
Ao’nung just scoffed. He was fed up with his father who was way too hard on him, with his mother and sister who nagged him not to get into trouble and with Lo’ak for being so annoying and starting trouble. He wished he could leave his life and responsibilities behind and just live like he wanted.
Night time was the only time where he could be himself and not playing some sort of character to fit his social status, he guessed it was the same for Neteyam.
“You’re the only one I can share my worries to. You’re the only one who’d understand.” Neteyam looked at Ao’nung with that gentle smile that Ao’nung was growing to love.
“Why me? Don’t you think I’d use it against you?” Ao’nung made a smug remark.
“No. You’re not that kind of guy. You try to look tough and mean, but deep down you’re the same as me. A hopeless boy trying to live up to his father’s image.” Neteyam was right.
“Guess we have something in common after all.” Ao’nung chuckled, and so did his companion.
It was quiet for a while, they just sat there enjoying the chilly night breeze.
“Let’s go swimming!” Ao’nung was speechless hearing that request.
Swimming? Now? With Neteyam? Was the guy out of his mind? To his own surprise, Ao’nung agreed to the foolish idea.
Hearing a positive answer Neteyam jumped to his feet and dragged Ao’nung with him. Reaching the knee-high water, Neteyam released Ao’nung arm which he was dragging, making the other boy lose his balance and fall into the shallow water. The quiet night was interrupted by laughter. Ao’nung wasn’t going to let that slide, so with a quick motion of his tail underwater, he managed to hit Neteyam’s legs right behind the knee making him lose balance as well and fall into the dark sea. Emerging from the water running down his face and braids, Neteyam's face was painted with a devilish smirk. He
pushed Ao’nung down by his shoulders under the water, but Ao’nung wasn’t about to go down on his own so he grabbed Neteyam by his upper arms and dragged him into the water. Neteyam’s freckles lit up the dark water, he looked angelic. Then a bunch of air bubbles hit Ao’nung’s face. Neteyam had blown the air out of his lungs into his face. What a cheap move. Neteyam tried to use said situation to rise out of the water for air, but Ao’nung’s grip on his arms was way too strong to break out of. This was Ao’nung’s chance to give Neteyam a taste of his own medicine. He pulled Neteyam as close to his face as possible making their noses and foreheads touch and blew out all the air he had in his lungs with as much force as he could. Not being able to hold in his laughter Ao’nung dragged them both to the surface.
A big mistake on his part. As soon as the boys surfaced Ao’nung was smashed on the head with something moist and muddy. Not believing what had just happened he looked over at the one in front of him. Neteyam was giggling, his palms covered with wet sand that he had grabbed two handfuls of just before they came up. Ao’nung was speechless as a wet drop of sand rolled down his forehead. Neteyam was now uncontrollably laughing but his fun was cut short when Ao’nung grabbed him by the two braids he had framing his face and pulled his head underwater again.
Their play fighting continued on for quite a while but after all the sand throwing and tail pulling they were exhausted. They both crawled out of the water and lay on the sand, their feet still occasionally touched by the coming waves. Catching their breath while laying on their backs they couldn’t stop giggling. There wasn’t even anything to giggle about yet they couldn’t stop themselves.
Ao’nung finally turned his head to face the boy next to him. Neteyam was looking up at the sky, a beautiful smile decorating his face. Ao’nung rose from his lying position supporting himself with his elbows and now slightly hovering over Neteyam. Ao’nung was yet again mesmerised by Neteyam’s beauty, something just pulled him in, something told him to get closer. Without even noticing it Ao’nung had lowered his head now only a few centimetres away from Neteyam’s face. The dark blue skinned boy had closed his eyes as if awaiting something that was bound to happen. Ao’nung leaned in and when his and Neteyam’s lips were almost brushing against each other he took a deep breath and blew it right in Neteyam’s face. Before the boy could even react to what had just happened Ao’nung had taken off running towards the village, giggling like a schoolgirl. Neteyam just sat up from his previous position and chuckled as he watched the other escape. He had a lot of work ahead of him.