Chapter Text
“Neteyam.” Neteyam flinched at the sharp voice, already knowing who it was before he even turned around. He and Ao’nung had been lounging on the sand all day, and Neteyam honestly couldn’t think of anything his father could be mad at him for. Maybe Lo’ak had gotten himself into trouble again. “Is there something you two would like to tell us?” Now this, this Neteyam was not expecting. He had turned around to be met with not only one fuming father, but two. Both Jake and Tonowari were standing menacingly over their sons.
Neteyam honestly couldn’t believe this was happening, he felt flustered and very uncomfortable under not only his father's gaze but especially Tonowari’s. Neteyam glanced over to Ao’nung, they seemed to be thinking the same thing; oh shit.
“We- uh, we can explain.” Ao’nung said quickly, scrambling to find some sort of footing. Neteyam fumbled to do the same, only nearly face planting only once before he settled himself next to Ao’nung, making sure he wasn’t too close.
“You better,” Tonowari said gruffly, hands crossed in the same way Jake’s arms always were when he was extremely disappointed in Neteyam. “Follow.” Tonowari commanded deeply, before he turned and started walking. Jake followed after him, glancing back sternly at both the boys, making sure they were doing as they were told.
Ao’nung gave Neteyam a weary look, before hurrying off to follow their fathers.
“How much do you think they know?” Ao’nung muttered, inclining his head slightly towards Neteyam.
“No idea, don’t say anything more than you have to. I don’t want to inform them of anything they don’t need to know.” Neteyam warned. Ao’nung nodded seriously. “How do you think they know?” Neteyam asked, his voice a little higher than he would like to admit.
“I don’t even want to know.” Ao’nung whispered, looking defeated.
Suddenly their fathers stopped at the door of the Sully’s Marui, holding it open for both the boys to duck into. Neteyam stood awkwardly next to Ao’nung. He knew that no one would be at their house at the moment, it was a breezy blissful day, and he was sure his siblings would be out having the time of their lives. Neteyam envied them deeply.
Tonowari stepped in after Jake, they both sunk down into a squat. “Sit,” Tonowari said sharply, Neteyam felt like he was having daja-vu. “Now explain, please.” The please came out gruff and sharp, Neteyam averted his gaze, searching for a good way to explain.
“It’s not what you think father,” Ao’nung pleaded. “We aren’t doing anything bad, I promise. And nobody else knows, so- so…” Neteyam nodded fervently.
“I promise dad, we are good, we will be good! You don’t have anything to worry about.” Neteyam added. It was truly rare for Neteyam to get so flustered and worried about his dads reprimands anymore, but he couldn’t help feeling his heart beating wildly in his chest. He couldn’t help thinking not only about what punishments he might have to endure, but what his father thought, or felt about…
“Why are you sneaking off if I have nothing to worry about?” Jake asked, “You think I don’t hear you sneaking out of this Marui every night?”
“Same with you Ao’nung, I know everything that goes on in this village. Your personal life is no different.” Tonowari said stiffly.
“Neteyam, me and your mother need to know where you are, she worries, I worry.” Jake said, staring daggers into Neteyam, who found himself staring at the floor.
“I am not a baby,” Neteyam muttered under his breath. “I can hang out with whoever I want.”
“Not a baby?” Jake repeated, scoffing, “Well you sure are acting like one, I expect you to be more mature than this. Look, I get what it’s like to be a teenager, but you cannot do these things every night. Now tell me, what exactly have you both gotten up to?” Tonowari grunted in agreement. Neteyam wanted to be anywhere else.
“Only kissing, we’ve only kissed, I swear dad.” Neteyam didn’t dare look at his father.
“What?” Tonowari was the one to speak, and Neteyam was shocked to hear he didn’t sound furious anymore, only extremely confused.
Neteyam looked up to see not only Tonowari looking like someone had just punched him in the gut, but his own father looked to be in a similar state. A horrible feeling of understanding washed over Neteyam, who quickly looked to Ao’nung who looked similarly horrified.
“What do you mean by kissing?” Tonowari asked dumbfounded.
“I don’t think we were talking about the same thing.” Neteyam quietly observed.
“Well… surpries… Neteyam and I are together. And… we kiss!” Ao’nung said, laughing humorlessly.
“It’s true, we are together and… well we really like each other, well, I really like him. So, I am very… serious about him.” Neteyam looked over to Ao’nung for a moment, meeting his eye carefully. “We didn’t tell you because… he didn’t, well I didn’t know how you would react, and I know that it is not…” Neteyam took a deep steadying breath. “Typical.”
“I can’t say I was expecting that…” Jake said, Neteyam held his breath waiting for the worst of it to come. “But I could never love you any less, if you think he is right for you, I am more than okay with it.” Neteyam let out a shuddering breath, Ao’nung’s hand coming up to rest on his back, waiting anxiously for his father’s opinion.
“Ao’nung, I am… so proud of who you’ve become.” Tonowari said, reaching out to grab his son’s arm. It seemed almost like a wave of fresh air had filled the room, much of the tension in Neteyam’s form melted out of him.
“However, this doesn’t mean that you two can be sneaking off all the time.” Tonowari said Neteyam bowed his head respectfully, but he could sense Ao’nung’s indignation.
“But father-” Ao’nung quickly started to protest, but his father raised his hand to stop him.
“I have said what I said.” Tonowari said, “I also hope you both realise I still expect you to follow the courting traditions, there are no excuses to be made. If you are truly serious about one another, then you must do as all couples do.”
Neteyam and Ao’nung both nodded in agreement, Neteyam honestly didn’t mind this at all. He had already been assuming they would, once they had spoken to their parents. Although, he had honestly hoped they’d have more time before their parents had found out. It had only been two months of their relationship, and while that was a fairly good amount of time, Neteyam still wanted to have Ao’nung all to himself for a little longer.
“And ‘Teyam, you need to talk to your mother about this.” Jake added, Neteyam sighed woefully. He was not looking forward to it. “I am sure it will be okay, she will be okay.” Neteyam hoped this was true, he knew that his mother loved him no matter what, but he also knew about her passionate dislike for the Tsaka’u family. Or at least her rivalry with Ao’nung’s mother, Ronal.
“Same with you,” Tonowari said, addressing his son.
“Any questions?” Neteyam knew that this was most likely his fathers way of dismissing them politely, and he found himself to be very anxious to leave.
“Actually, yes.” Ao’nung said quickly, Neteyam glanced at him confusedly. “What did you think me and Neteyam were doing?”
Their dads shifted uncomfortably, looking at the floor. Neteyam almost wanted to laugh, he thought suddenly that this must be what he looked like when his father was trying to get something out of him. “Well, you see…” Jake said, quietly.
“We didn’t have a clear idea or suspicion,” Tonowari admitted gruffly, “But we knew that you two were sneaking out at the same time every night. I had assumed you were getting drunk or being influenced by your idiotic friends.”
“Yep, me too. I just couldn’t help feeling worried about you ‘Teyam, then when Tonowari here said he was having a similar problem, I’ll admit I was a little mad at you.” Jake admitted, rubbing the back of his head guiltily. Neteyam rolled his eyes. He almost wanted to say something like don’t let it happen again, or I expected you to be better than this, boy, but he thought that his dad might not take kindly to that. “But don’t make that let you think you're getting out of this easy.” Jake said suddenly, straightening up.
“But I’ve already got to tell mom, that seems like punishment enough!” Neteyam pointed out.
“No, both of you will be picking up extra chores this week, and maybe the next, if I see fit.” Tonowari said, glaring mostly at Ao’nung who looked like he was barely holding himself back from protesting. Jake nodded along with Tonowari.
“All right, now really, get out of here you two.” Jake said standing up and waving them off like he was an old man.
Both Neteyam and Ao’nung quickly scrambled to their feet, getting out of the Marui as quickly as they could. Neteyam honestly felt pretty good about what had just happened, even if he would have to do extra chores, and his midnight excursions with Ao’nung were not allowed anymore, his dad had been okay with it, and that, that meant the world to Neteyam.