Work Text:
Hearing the words stung. Neteyam knew they weren't true, but it didn't stop the feeling any less. Maybe because on some level, they did hold validity. At least from an outside perspective.
Neteyam felt his tail twitching with less than pleasant emotion. The same kind that tried to make tears well up in his eyes. He refused to let it happen though. Instead he growled because a hiss would have forced him to lose the control he had over his facial muscles.
Aonung stared back at him with unimpressed eyes, completely unbothered by his display of irritation and hurt. As if he didn't even notice. It was possible that he recognized it, but just didn't care. Neteyam hung onto that one because it made the most sense out of everything the other man had been saying to him the last few minutes.
All he'd been doing was crouching near the water's edge, trying to ease the tension from his shoulders. Again, Lo'ak had done something stupid and again he'd gotten in trouble for it. It didn't matter he'd been the one shot months ago while saving him. Anything his brother did only infuriated their Dad on a whole new level than they'd ever seen now.
Dad had assured him, a lot, that the anger wasn't meant to be directed towards him. Sometimes in the heat of the moment though, he still felt his wrath and Neteyam still let the words get to him like they had now. He liked to think if they didn't live together, where he was right there for it to be taken out on him too, it would be different. Unfortunately he'd yet to move into his own maruis wanting to remain close to his sisters. Maybe he needed to reconsider that along with the idea of finding a mate amongst the Metkayina since they had no plans of leaving.
"They don't," Aonung said again, and Neteyam glared at him as he looked out across the dark water of the reef before meeting his eyes once more. "You can growl and hiss all you want. Glare at me like you want to spear me, but it doesn't change the facts. They don't care about you, Neteyam."
"You will watch yourself," he managed tightly, itching to reach out and shove Aonung but he was an adult not a child. "My family cares."
"Maybe," Aonung shrugged carelessly. "...but not enough."
Hissing, Neteyam stepped forward daring to be challenged. He didn't like to fight with people, but he wasn't going to allow anyone to speak poorly of his family. It'd never been allowed before and he wasn't going to allow it now. Son of the Olo'eyktan or not.
"I am sorry for this," Aonung said, his voice quieter and expression softer. "You don't deserve it."
"You are the one doing it!" he snapped, confused, because despite their struggles as a family things were getting better overall. "If you are sorry and I don't deserve this, then why are we still standing here? Why am I here listening to you attempting to shame my family? My sisters love me. Lo'ak, the little skxawng he is, loves me too. My Mom and Dad. My grandmother, though she is not here… We are a family and they care about me!"
Aonung shook his head, pinching the bridge of his nose. Neteyam was half tempted to swat his hand from in front of his face so he could get in it instead. He'd already closed most of the space between them anyways. If he was going to insult them the least he could do was not try to hide behind something.
"You do not know us," Neteyam said when Aonung did not speak and when the other Na'vi glanced up at him he couldn't help poking him in the chest. "I do not care how long we have been here. Do not claim to know my family more than me."
"It has been over a year," Aonung said. "I know enough Neteyam. I have seen enough. Yes, they may love you but they do not care."
Neteyam opened his mouth to hiss again, but controlled himself just in time. Instead he turned around to leave. Not sure what to do or where he was going to go, however he could not stand on the beach listening to Aonung anymore.
"You are not normally like this," Aonung claimed from behind them. "You want to hiss because it is you that are hurt and you do not want to hear the truth."
Suddenly Neteyam felt a large hand around his elbow, halting him and he dug his heels into the sand as he swiveled. Instantly Aonung raised his hands calmly, but he did not back away. Instead he held his ground, despite the way their chests bumped due to how close they were. If he was trying to provoke him into hitting him he was slowly accomplishing the tasks.
"I see you," Aonung said softly, and Neteyam was taken so off guard that he could only watch as the man slowly rested a hand on his chest. "I see you Neteyam and it is because of that I know they do not."
The defensive and fight drained from his muscles as Aonung spoke. Flattening his ears, he stubbornly refused to look at the his.. friend, so instead he focused on the hand against him. He lifted his own to remove it from his person, but upon touching him he couldn't find the energy in him to do anything else.
"I do," Aonung said and warped with emotion he didn't know he tightened his hand around the other man's as he inhaled sharply.
"What?" Neteyam asked, registering the way his tail wrapped around his leg with insecurity.
"Do not make me say it…" Aonung muttered and when Neteyam looked at him his eyes were averted away again.
"If I knew what you meant I would not have to make you say it," Neteyam said simply.
"You are smart," Aonung said.
"I don't know about that," Neteyam huffed.
"Don't do that," Aonung scolded him and Neteyam tilted his head. "If anyone hates themselves here, it is me. I see you Neteyam and I am tired of seeing you this way. You deserve someone to care about you and I…"
Neteyam felt his heartbeat suddenly. It was dominating and loud in his ears. Aonung was implying a lot without saying it now that he was piecing it together. He was a bit overwhelmed with the realization, making him want to run away to process the moment. Unfortunately he couldn't really move.
"I don't… I don't know about the Metkayina ways, but…" Neteyam trailed off, knowing little of Aonungs traditions but everything about his own. "You might just as well ask to court me. Whoever you have chosen at your iknimaya will not like that I am sure."
Neteyam smiled, exhaling with relief that he'd broken the seriousness he felt inside. It allowed him to move finally and he encouraged Aonung to take his hand off him. He did, but it was with a torn expression that made him frown again.
No different than the Omatikaya, the Metkayina got to choose their mates if they wanted after their Rite of Passage. No doubt as the Olo'eyktan's son, there were many females.waiting to be claimed.
"I have chosen," Aonung nodded. "...but they have yet to choose me."
The tightness in his chest instantly returned and Neteyam grabbed at it with one hand, wishing something was there to ground him again. Of course he thought of Aonungs hand, but it felt inappropriate considering what he was starting to feel. Just as inappropriate as the son of an Olo'eyktan choosing a male mate. Something he knew because it was why he had yet to choose one.
It felt like the moment when choosing his ikran all over again. Time stood still and he could feel them in his heart. Eywa, narrowing his vision until all he could see was them. Only, in this case it was Aonung.
"I see you," Neteyam found himself whispering, eyes finally blinking when he noticed Aonungs ears perking up at his words. "Oh my…"
Neteyam wanted to laugh at the hope that took over Aonung's face under the brightness of the stars, but was having trouble breathing. It caused him to roughly pant as he developed a smile. The life of Sully's never ceased to be crazy.
"Shh," Aonung soothed him, cupping the sides of his face with both hands as if sensing his impending panic that he could feel churning low in his stomach. "I have never cared for so much in my life. Please do not distress yourself over my foolishness. I only wish…"
"Foolishness?" Neteyam repeated. "I… what? You are defensive on my behalf? You say you see me and you care for me? You… you have chosen me and I have chosen you! I feel it. I feel it here."
Uncaring and with no shame, Neteyam removed Aonung's hands from his face. He didn't push him away though, he merely guided them down onto his chest in shock and awe. It was rising rapidly with emotion as his tail tried to keep up with the excitement. The result of which had it smacking the other male in the thigh causing him to smirk at him. Neteyam didn't even care because it made him want to do it again.
"I have chosen you Neteyam," Aonung confirmed. "I have chosen you for many months now and I will protect you. I will care for you like no other. I see you Ma Neteyam."
Neteyam felt like the entirety of his world was upturned hearing Aonung's words. Feeling his hands upon him as the man's lips gently pressed against his, everything around him finally seemed right. It allowed him to breathe again, despite the way his hands slightly shook.
Having only kissed a handful of people, Neteyam had to assume this was what being chosen was like. He quickly understood his parents' decision to mate without approval. The urge was there as dominantly as Aonungs hands sliding down his stomach until he eventually slipped his thumbs under the strings of his loincloth. However he would resist despite the growing need in his heart and between his legs because he was not his Dad.
Neteyam had never thought to call Aonung a friend. He realized they were though, and he'd just never given himself time to enjoy such a simplicity outside of the times they came across each other on the beach at night. Both of them, seeking peace from a stressful life. Maybe what they'd really been searching for though, was each other. Eywa, leading the way so that one day they would find true solace together.