Chapter Text
"Lo'ak, go back home, do not follow me." Neteyam demands while flying faster.
"I'm not here to stop you," Lo'ak says as he picks up speed enough to maintain a close distance to Neteyam's ikran. "But I do want you to come with me."
Now that does gather the older of the twos attention, he comes to slow down and glide next to his brother.
"Come with you where?" Neteyam questions with a tilt to his head, and then he's flooded with memories and recounts all those late nights where he vaguely remembers Lo'ak sneak out of their home numerous times to who knows where.
"Are you going to show me where you sneak away to baby bro?" He confesses with a smirk making its way to his lips. This was a secret Neteyam has kept to himself for some time. Even though he lost countless nights of sleep over this, from waking up to sudden movement to dealing with the stress when Lo'ak didn't return for days straight. He also had to come up with lies about his little brother's whereabouts to his parents and he was never a great liar either, but for a reason he himself couldn't quite understand he felt that he needed to and had to.
Yet this priceless stunned expression on Lo'ak's face seemed to make it all worth it. "You knew?!"
"Of course, I'm always listening, especially when my little baby bro makes so much noise before running off," Neteyam teased. "You should work on that more before mom and dad figure out what you're up to."
Lo'ak was quiet after that, only the flap of strong wings from their ikrans and the calm sound of the breeze along the trees filled the silence between them.
"If you knew why didn't you tell mom and dad." His brothers voice was laced with confusion, truly perplexed on his older brothers actions that it seemed strangely off of him to do so.
Neteyam looked at his brother for a second, holding the reigns of his ikran's saddle a bit tighter.
"Because I saw the change every time you returned. You looked so happy almost like a different person," Lo'ak held his brothers eyes with each spoken word. "I didn't want to ruin that."
There was a long pause after that as Lo'ak watched his older brother face contort into that of an irritated one while deep in thought and then Neteyam whipped his head back forward instantly.
"Is mom still trying?" Lo'ak asked cautiously knowing the topic was sensitive to his brother. From what they were told when they were little, before their mother met their father she was already promised a mate after her older sister tragically passed away. She didn't have a say when she was younger and she didn't want her children to be the same.
"I'm the older sibling, I should have a mate maybe even have kids of my own by now," He let out a dry chuckle while avoiding his brothers heavy gaze. "I'm grateful she is willing to help me, but everyone I have met wasn't the one." Neteyam sighed the exhaustion in his voice clearly evident.
Lo'ak listened carefully to his brother expressing his feelings for the first time to him. Neteyam was the golden child. He excelled at everything, he was a good warrior and very loyal to their parents, wanting to always please both of them. And there were times Lo'ak grew envy of him because he could never be the same like his older brother. Yet he wasn't conscious just how big the pressure Neteyam had on his shoulders was.
Lo'ak bit his cheek. It was now or never.
"Do you remember the Metkayina clan?"
..........
Neteyam had forgotten just how long the trek was to reach the reef village but Lo'ak navigated the tough winds brought by the harsh currents of the ocean effortless, like he had remembered the exact route their family had taken four years ago.
It made him question how long his little brother snuck away for him to memorize easily the nonexisting path across the vast ocean and just when it started.
For now Neteyam kept from interrogating further and trail behind his younger brother. But he was so ready to pull at his ear when they touch land.
As they grew closer he could see the familiar big seawall separating the ocean and Awa'atlu. When they first came here their father had lead them straight forward to the giant mangrove-like trees along the tranquil turquoise water where most if not all of the village were settled on marui hanging off the giant branch like trees. That Neteyam does recollect because it was his first look on a completely different world all consisting of water, so he was bewildered when Lo'ak took a sudden turn to another direction that led them away from the village.
"Lo'ak the village is that way." He said as he tilted his head back to where the village was.
Lo'ak glanced over and couldn't help but smirk at the hint of concern in his brother's voice. "Who said we were visiting the village big bro?"
Neteyam was now full on freaking out. His yellow eyes were the size of saucers at the realization. They had to make their presence known to the Metkayina people first or else they would be trespassing their territory and that was exactly what the two brothers were doing. To Lo'ak this was his field to cause trouble without ever thinking it through but to Neteyam he felt sick to his stomach going against the rules he knew plus it was common courtesy to do so.
As they flew more and Neteyam gave Lo'ak an ear full of going back, Neteyam hadn't paid attention to the change in their surroundings at all. Opposite to where the Metkayina lived, this part had the same big mangrove trees that wrapped beside the coastal shores, however luscious green plants were interwinined along the branches, it seemed like an area the Metkayina didn't visit at all.
They landed at last onto the warm crystal sand and hopped off their tired ikrans. Neteyam gave a gentle pat to the neck of his teal ikran and signal it to get some rest in the meantime. It gave an affirm shriek before flying off with Lo'ak's own.
Now he could deal with his rebellious younger brother.
"Skxawng, you are in so much trouble," He said catching up after the other who didn't even wait for him. "If I knew you were trespassing all this time I wouldn't have made up lies to mom and dad, imagine what they would say to you." Neteyam expressed beyond irritated at his brother's antics, even at his 18 years of age.
The younger na'vi let out a hiss as Neteyam grips the back of Lo'ak's neck and queue. His grip never tighten but it was an uncomfortable feeling that he hoped would make his brother give him answers.
Lo'ak tried shaking off his brother's hand and when he was unsuccessful he decided to reach over and grip Neteyam's in retaliation, earning Lo'ak a loud hiss from Neteyam.
"Let go Skxawng!" Neteyam demanded as his hold tighten little by little as a warning.
"I'll let go when you let go—"
"Lo'ak?"
Like an instant switch, Lo'ak's hold vanished and he completely dismissed Neteyam to gather all his focus on the figure walking out from within the deep green vegetation.
Tsireya, the daughter of the Metkayina chief, that Neteyam did remember. She grew a couple of feet but still remained shorter than the two Omatikayans. After the four years that passed, her youthful glow and beauty still remained unmatched and as Neteyam slowly recovered he touched his fingers to his forehead with Tsireya mimicking the same motion back but her light blue eyes swiftly went back to his younger brother.
"Lo'ak you brought your brother?" Her soft voice filled their ears, blue eyes locked on Lo'ak with slight worry in them.
Lo'ak took ahold of Tsireya's turquoise hands in his tenderly and close the distance between them, his brother's height towering over her easily.
"He followed after me I had no choice—" An immediate yank to his queue had Lo'ak hiss in pain. "Fine! He found out I was sneaking away, I had to drag him with me." His brothers yellow eyes shooting daggers at him to release him once more.
"He offered to show me actually," Neteyam said as a matter of fact and dropped his hand. "As much as I'm pleased to see you again Tsireya, my baby bro is in so much trouble when we go back right now." He declared.
As if Neteyam didn't find this whole situation already dire enough, the words that burst from Lo'aks lips definitely triple it.
"We are mated before Eywa, Neteyam."
..........
Neteyam couldn't believe what he was hearing and as he continued to stare at Lo'ak to finish it off as a joke, the realization slowly sunk in when it was evident in Lo'ak calm and silent demeanor. His yellow eyes bounced off from his younger brother to Tsireya taking note how close they were holding each other together.
"Tsireya, is this true?"
Contray to how livid Neteyam was inside, he enunciated his words slowly to her. Tsireya's small ears flinched back in being put on the spot and her big blue eyes looked at Neteyam in panic.
"We are mated before Eywa." She reconfirms to him.
Lo'ak was so dead and Neteyam was also so dead too.
"Do you realize what you did Lo'ak? Mother will definitely scratch your eyes out this time." Neteyam fumed out as he paced back and forth to remain calm. This was not what Neteyam was expecting Lo'ak would be doing, trespassing into another entirely different clan and then mating with the Olo'eyktan's daughter. It was a recipe for disaster and it was making the older's heart race with pure terror. They were beyond doomed.
"Tsireya!" A booming voice broke through from a distance that made everyone whip their heads at the source.
A skimwing was already intimating let alone when there's a fast approaching one heading toward you and perched on top was another Metkayina na'vi.
"It's Ao'nung." Tsireya announced sounding even more distressed.
Neteyam watched as the figure, now known as Ao'nung, Tsireya's older brother, dismounted the skimwing with ease and made his way toward them on land. Comparing the change between the two siblings since the four years, Ao'nung was the most drastic. If Tsireya hadn't pointed out that it was her older brother Neteyam wouldn't have known. Ao'nung took after his father the chief's tall height and muscular build. He still wore the same high neat bun but with shoulder length loose curly locks. His toned arms were decorated with black ink, from wrists all the way to the sides of his neck. However, his aquamarine eyes still held the same judgemental gaze.
"Outsiders are not allowed here especially trespassers." Ao'nung stated not being subtle with his criticizing stare.
"I allowed them access, brother," She stepped forward to put Lo'ak behind her. "It's Neteyam and Lo'ak, our friends remember?"
Ao'nung's aqua eyes shifted from Lo'ak and Neteyam in an analyzing way, reminiscent to how he did years ago when their family first arrived. Neteyam did notice Ao'nung's eyes linger on him more than what he found comfortable.
"All the more reason why they shouldn't be here." He clarified yet again, his piercing lighter eyes switching to look at her sister in discontent.
From the corner of Neteyam's eye he spotted the moment Lo'ak took ahold of Tsireya's own small hand behind her back, away from her brother's eyes. "They are only visiting for a while, plus I want to show Lo'ak around the village so we're leaving now!" She said while already walking toward the ocean with Lo'ak in hand.
They must of planned this if this situation where to happen because as soon as they got on her awaiting ilu she made a certain clicking noise directed to the waters below and then they dove down in a hurry. Unbeknownst to Neteyam, that certain clicking was a command to Ao'nung's skimwing to swim away and while the darker na'vi was still processing how their younger siblings were able to flee without a fight, Ao'nung was a second to late from giving Tsireya an earful lecture as they disappeared into the water.
Now the two eldest remained with the soft waves rolling into land and the deafening silence.
Neteyam could sense Ao'nung's heavy stare set on him from the side. It made his skin crawl in discomfort so Neteyam's golden eyes glance to confront the taller na'vi.
"Your brother," Ao'nung started with an accusing finger pointed at him. "Trouble always follows your brother and I dislike that Tsireya is following right behind him putting her in danger."
The awareness that Tsireya's brother was too being completely blindsided all these years by their siblings antics just like he was, made Neteyam suddenly let out a quiet half-suppressed chuckle.
"You mean you don't know?" He asked, hands on his hips.
Ao'nung's vexed expression slowly turned into a puzzled one as he continued to stare down Neteyam in search of answers.
"Our little siblings have been seeing each other frequently, so much that they.." Neteyam's voice trailed off, his anger from earlier returning once more. He released a sigh along with the rest of his words. "Have mated before Eywa."
It all happened with a blink of an eye, one second Neteyam was standing and the next his back was met with the warm sand and a furious Ao'nung on top of him pinning his wrist down and screaming at his face.
"You Sully's bring nothing but trouble, always!" The Metkayina boy shouted at him. Neteyam grunted while he struggled against the heavier body on top of him. He produced an irritated hiss in retaliation at the other when he saw it was hopeless to escape.
"And you aren't any better!" He exclaimed. Ao'nung's lowly snarled down at the darker na'vi and tighten his grip on Neteyam's seemingly thin wrist. The new added pressure that Ao'nung's was putting on his wrist was starting to become painful but Neteyam was certainly not going to show it, especially to Ao'nung of all na'vi.
With all the hissing and yelling, none of them realized just how close their faces had gotten. So close that Neteyam could easily count the number of freckles adorning throughout his lighter face. Ao'nung in the other hand become strangely quiet, his anger simmered til it vanished as he studied Neteyam's big yellow eyes. His deep staring led to his own discovery. Neteyam's striking golden eyes had hints of greens within them, just like the jungles he called home. A profound discovery that could only be made if you were to get face to face. It was a contrast to the piercing yellow and Ao'nung wanted to find out just how many shades of green he could make out alone. He didn't know that he had just voiced out his new findings to Neteyam.
The Omatikayan simply was at a loss of words. They were in the brink of a fight because of their younger siblings, and now Ao'nung had just asked about the color green in his eyes. Truly bizarre behavior he thought.
"Focus on the situation please," He reasoned out finally pushing the other away and putting a couple of distance between them. His patience was running short.
"It was not solely my idiot of a brother to mate but your sister too, they've been tricking everyone for a long time. I've only just found out today, believe me." He said to Ao'nung, who decided to sit on the sand instead.
"What do you propose we do then? Both of our parents will eat them alive if we go tell them now." The aqua na'vi expressed, eyes zoned in at the horizon and not at Neteyam.
"In the meantime let's wait, Lo'ak has to come back for his ikran, and when they do we'll interrogate them more." Neteyam sighed already feeling the exhaustion on his body so he settled down a couple feet from Ao'nung. The sand felt nice and warm against his skin and it made it harder to fight back the tiredness behind his eyes. After all, the last time he was able to rest well was when he was back home. Ao'nung took note of this when Neteyam's head started to hang low, allowing his long neatly braided hair to cascade down along his shoulders to the front of his face.
"When was the last time you slept, forest boy?"
The Metkayina boy saw the instant his ears twitched and perked up at the mention of the infamous nickname. Neteyam directed a scowl toward him and flinged some sand at his feet.
"Did you not grow up these pass years?" He questioned. Although Ao'nung didn't use that nickname on Neteyam that much during their stay, his siblings, especially Lo'ak did come underfire from it more. It was almost a second name to the Sully children to Ao'nung.
Ao'nung instead smirked at the dark na'vi and eyed Neteyam's slimmer form in a mocking way.
"I did, more than what you've grown," Neteyam's quick and irritated hiss only fueled Ao'nung to tease him even more. "Since you're the eldest, I almost thought Lo'ak was you, seeing how big he is compared to you."
The reef boy could feel the anger radiating off the other and he was expecting Neteyam to fight back however, he got up to his feet and stormed off to the green vegetation ahead without a single word. Ao'nung watched the way his braided hair swayed as he walked.
Ao'nung bit his tongue, he may of crossed the line with Neteyam but he wanted those stunning yellow eyes to glare him down. When he first arrived he had felt a flick of a spark deep down by being completely captured and caught off guard all in one from the eldest growth and beauty. It was obvious he had taken after his mother, he already resembled her in some ways but now after many years he grew to be more breathtakingly beautiful if it were anymore possible. Ao'nung was never one to take likings to any na'vi, so why was he consumed with instant regret the moment he saw the swift shift of dejection in those golden eyes.