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.”