Chapter Text
All of his life, Lo’ak had been nothing short of an ordinary teenage disappointment. Fight after fight, bruised knuckles and broken noses–it all blends together. It’s always “you can’t live your life like this forever, Lo’ak.”, but what really was there for him to do? He wasn’t good-looking, or smart, or talented. Lo’ak wasn’t even strong, despite the amount of fights he got into.
His older sister, Kiri, was looking to major in agriculture, and Neteyam was obviously going to Law School after he graduated. Lo’ak, being younger than them, wouldn’t graduate alongside them this year, he would in two years, assuming he wouldn’t be held back.
Lo’ak te Suli Tsyeyk’itan was the second youngest of the Sully family, slightly shorter than average with tawny brown skin and long braids hanging near his waist. Compared to Neteyam–the pride and joy of the Sully family–he looked like a lobotomised possum. Not that he was complaining, he didn’t really like social interactions, so he didn’t need some ethereal facecard.
What he did need, though, was a family that could keep their voices down. He loved his younger sister Tuk dearly, but she wasn’t a fan of waking up early for school, and she made sure to vocalise that.
A muffled shout from downstairs broke Lo’ak out of his sleep, who immediately groaned and opted to bury his face into his pillow. Five more minutes, then he’ll wake up.
Two sharp knocks on the door were all he needed to know that he wasn’t getting those five minutes. Neteyam barged into his room, already ready for school with his backpack slung around one shoulder, looking suspiciously happy for someone who was up at seven in the morning.
“Lo’ak! Brother dearest, get up. We’ve got school!” Neteyam sang as he pushed Lo’ak’s curtains wide open, making the latter grunt in annoyance as the blinding light flooded his room.
“Get the hell out.”
Neteyam chuckled. “Yeah, yeah. Just get up before Mom kills you.” He said as he slipped out of Lo’ak’s room, gently shutting the door behind him.
School. Great.
Lo’ak contemplates jumping out his window for a second, before pushing himself off the mattress.
–
Lo’ak’s room is a simple thing. A few photos of him, Neteyam, and Kiri. Strips of film from a photobooth of him and Ao’nung hidden behind the trans flag hung up over his bed. His parents didn’t need to know about his summer “fling”.
The rest were posters from shows and bands, some of Tuk’s crayon drawings, a fake plant or two. Like he said–he wasn’t a person with a lot of skills or interests. Other than…
Lo’ak eyes his closed sketchbook hidden under a couple of books assigned for English class, and grabs it. Not bothering to flip through the pages, he shoves it into his backpack and moves on. He doesn’t have time to waste, because today’s a special day.
He takes out a few notebooks and books for classes that he doesn’t have today (or for the ones he’ll be skipping) and replaces them with a bundle. It’s a bunch of spray-paint cans wrapped up in one of his old sweaters, because he has a plan.
Sneaking out of school to vandalise the City Hall wall was something that surpassed anything he’s ever done before, but it was for a good cause! That wall was old and boring. And it was one that hundreds of people passed by on their way to work, and it was so…plain. Depressing, if you will. And he’s spent countless nights perfecting the design he wants there.
So it’s illegal, who cares? One tiny crime never hurt someone…probably.
As long as he wasn’t caught, he’d be fine.
–
Lo’ak dresses for the occasion. Nothing too out of the ordinary–he didn’t want his parents getting suspicious–but a little more effort than he usually put into his outfits. A shirt of his favourite band over a long-sleeved white shirt, his signature black sweatpants, with a black sweater tied around his waist. The black vibe was obviously to cover up so no one recognised him when he was doing his business, but no one had to know.
Satisfied, he puts a couple beads into one of his braids (light blue, pink, white, pink, light blue) and calls it a day. After all, he’s just a simple man.
–
Neteyam drives them to school. Their father, Jake, takes Tuk to her elementary before he goes to work, and his mom goes to work earlier than all of them, so it’s always like this.
Kiri and Neteyam are both seniors, so he won’t have any classes with them, nor the same lunch. He’s not complaining–makes his plan easier if he doesn’t have to avoid them.
He makes sure the two are both out of sight before he walks over to Ao’nung, because the rest of the Sully family hates the guy. Ao’nung used to bully him last year while they were both freshmen, but this year is different.
Not just because they did a lot of making out over the summer–they just hung out a lot. Ao’nung’s friends were chill, and he was kind of Lo’ak’s ride or die. Partner in crime.
Speaking of crimes…
“Lo’ak!” Ao’nung greets, slinging an arm around his shoulder. “You ready for today?”
They walk to their homeroom. “Yup. Right after third period?”
Ao’nung nods, releasing his hold on Lo’ak and shoving his hands into the pockets of his hoodie. Like Lo’ak, he was sporting mostly black, save for his white sneakers. “Unless you wanna do it before, yeah.”
Lo’ak would honestly love to, but he has a test second period, and he can’t miss it. And he has a small group project in third, but it’s a group project, they wouldn’t miss him, right?
“I mean, we could do it after second.” He suggests, and watches Ao’nung’s smirk widen. He claps Lo’ak on the back and starts rambling on how cool it would be, and Lo’ak can’t help but wonder how he landed such an extraordinary sort-of boyfriend.
–
The wall is a huge empty canvas in the two young men’s eyes, but it wouldn’t stay that way for long. A foldable stool holds Lo’ak’s sketchbook, open to the page where the design lies. Ao’nung turns on the small beatbox while Lo’ak picks up a can of spray paint, giving it a quick shake before popping off the cap and pressing down on the top, drawing the first line.
Graffiti is art, no matter the legality. It’s so satisfying, it feels so…right. Like he’s meant to do this. Ever since he shoplifted three cans of spray paint in eighth grade and made his very first piece of graffiti art on an old abandoned factory wall, he fell in love. This was his calling.
Lo’ak never told anyone (other than Ao’nung), but he wanted to go to art school when he graduated. He wanted to be a mural artist–but he couldn’t tell his parents that. His family, especially his father, had high expectations of the kids. Neteyam and Kiri would go on to take on respectable jobs for sure, but a mural artist? Jake would laugh at the suggestion. Plus, he kept his artistic abilities a secret from his family, because it was the one thing that was his. His way of escape, of expression. Something he didn’t need to share because Lo’ak owed the world nothing when it came to his art.
Lo’ak lets the music carry him as he and Ao’nung paint.
–
When it’s finished, the sky is slowly starting to turn pink and purple, so the two take turns on each other’s shoulders to see the full thing. Lo’ak takes a picture of it, before the two quickly scramble to gather their stuff and leave before they’re identified.
Lo’ak blushes when Ao’nung presses a quick kiss to his cheek before heading off home, and he takes a moment to process.
The design is simple: the Na’vi people. One thing that connects Lo’ak and Ao’nung is their family’s beliefs in an old folktale: one of the Na’vi people, living on a planet called Pandora. With blue skin and tails, they didn’t resemble humans much, but they were still beautiful.
The Sully family believed more in the forest Na’vi, whilst Ao’nung’s believed more in the water Na’vi. Either way, it connected the families–despite the tension between their sons. Neither family knew the two were anything more than enemies, and it would stay that way. For both of their sakes.
Lo’ak did most of the Na’vi, and Ao’nung focused more on the background. Out of the two of them, Lo’ak was the better artist, hence why Ao’nung asked him to lead this one.
It looked great. It was perfect.
In the midst of his admiration, he didn’t notice the slight tickle of a spider crawling up his hand. All of a sudden, he yelped as a sting assaulted his senses. Looking down at his wrist, he saw a fat ugly spider clinging onto his skin. He smacked a hand over it, before shaking off its now squished dead body.
Stupid spider. He groaned at the bite, slightly red and swelling. Lo’ak ran a thumb over it, wincing at the sting.
At the same time, he heard distant sirens. Whether or not it was for him, it spiked a sense of fear into him.
Lo’ak grabbed his backpack and ran.
–
Okay.
It was stupid of them to think that it wasn’t obvious what families took part in the art, because not a lot of people in Brooklyn were believers in the Na’vi. So when Tonowari, the chief of police and Ao’nung’s father, found out the City Hall was vandalised, it was very obvious who was at fault.
Ao’nung had texted him in a hurry saying that he took the full blame for it, but his dad didn’t quite believe him, and warned Lo’ak to deny in case anything happened.
But Lo’ak took part in it, and Ao’nung didn’t deserve all the blame. So he texted him back saying just that, before heading over to his house to confess.
And that’s how the two teenage boys ended up here, sitting side by side in the police station. Tonowari, the chief, had brought them in, and Jake, the deputy chief, had taken their statements.
In short, the two men were not happy. Tonowari had gone on and on about how the two could’ve spent a week in jail if the City Hall didn’t end up liking the design, and told him that they weren’t pressing any charges.
What they did get was a warning, a lecture, and a lot of angry looks.
The two boys stayed there waiting for their dads to get off their shifts and go home, and they were the opposite of someone who just got in trouble for a crime. Laughing, imitating Jake’s stern look, snagging donuts from the break room.
The peace wore off when it was time to part, around eight. Ao’nung promised to text him if he didn’t get his phone taken away, and Tonowari had escorted him out. Lo’ak’s demise was shortly after, when Jake dragged him to his truck.
The first few minutes of the ride was deathly silent, before Lo’ak decided to speak.
“So…” He started, trying to find the words, but his father cut him off.
“Vandalising the City Hall, skipping school, getting suspended for three days?” Jake’s words came out in a low growl. “What the fuck is wrong with you, Lo’ak? You’re better than this.”
Lo’ak stayed silent, suddenly wishing he didn’t open his big mouth. Jake took this as a sign to keep going. “And hanging with that Ao’nung boy? Didn’t he pick on you last year? What were you doing with him?”
“That was last year, we’re cool now–”
“He’s a bad influence.” Jake snapped, grip on the steering wheel tightening. “And you’re plotting shit with him behind my back? What happened to the sensible boy I thought I raised?”
Lo’ak gritted his teeth. “Ao’nung’s not a bad influence, dad.”
Jake let out a humorless laugh. “Yeah? Not a bad influence? He made you commit a crime with him, that’s not bad?”
“It was my idea.” Lo’ak blurted out before he could think. The car went silent again.
“...you’re grounded. For a week.” Jake finally said, and Lo’ak groaned.
Great. Just great.
–
Lo’ak hadn’t thought of the spider bite since it happened, because why would he? It was a small thing. He’d run it under cool water, and it didn’t hurt since then.
And he didn’t think much of it. It was nature, shit like that happened all the time.
But honestly? Maybe he should’ve been more careful.
Even if it happened a week ago.
–
Lo’ak wakes up for school all by himself.
It’s Monday, and he’s not suspended anymore, which means today he’ll have to catch up on everything he missed those three days. Tsireya was kind enough to come over Friday to drop off the homework packets for Lo’ak, but he’d barely even touched those.
He brushed his teeth, packed his bag, got changed, even took the time to do his hair properly, relishing in the peaceful silence of morning. It was sort of strange, his family was never this quiet, but he wasn’t complaining.
More strange things. He grew…taller? And for some reason, his thoughts were louder. His vision was most definitely the most different thing. Usually, he wore contacts, but today? He swore he saw the air particles.
Lo’ak should get more sleep, truly.
Getting downstairs, he finally realised why it was so quiet.
It was five. Five in the fucking morning–he didn’t have school until eight.
More weird things. Tissues stuck to his hands, and would stay there until he silently willed them to unstick. It was like…he had superpowers, or whatever.
…Yeah, he really needed to get more sleep. Superpowers weren’t real.
Right?