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Night settled over the reef like a living blanket of stars, moonlight dance across the glowing waves. The air was warm, heavy with salt and blooming sea flowers. The only sound being the splashing of waves gently rocking the maruis and distant ilus calls across the water. It was the kind of silent night where every sound stands out.
then—
BANG!
A loud CRASH echoed across the village, unmistakably from the future Olo'eyktan's marui, followed by the sharp sound of glass shattering
"BABY NO NO NOT THAT VASE!"
"Teyam darling pleas - OUCH!"
—
"I said, Ao'nung, get, the, heck, out, before i smash every single fucking collection you have!"
Neteyam voice rang out, filled with anger. Without hesitation, he seize the nearest ornament—some delicately carved blue creature with sweeping curves and fragile fins—hurled it with all strength straight at his mate
"Ouch—no Mr.bubbles Mcfluff!"
"Here you go your damn Mr.Bubbles Mcfluff! Take his fucking wife too!"
SHATTER!
For a while, Ao'nung did nothing but dodge his mate's furious throws, refusing to say another word. He knew that even the smallest comment could push him further, could fuel the anger burning through him instead of calming it. So he stayed silent, watching and waiting until the storm of rage began to settle.
Ao'nung had absolutely no idea why his mate was so furious.
He had left before sunrise with the other hunters, making sure to press a soft kiss to Neteyam's forehead while his mate was still fast asleep. He could've woken him to say goodbye properly, but why would he? Neteyam looked too peaceful, and Ao'nung wasn't about to ruin that.
So why was he being greeted with a glare sharp enough to skin a skimwing alive instead of the warm smile and bone-crushing hug he usually came home to?
He retraced the day in his head. Did he forget something?
Their anniversary?
No. Its in 3 months
Did he say something stupid?
He didn't even get to speak to his lover all day!
Was it Lo'ak?
...No. That skxawng had been on the hunt with him.
Then what?
What in Eywa's name had he possibly done wrong?
Ao'nung's thoughts wandered as Neteyam continued hurling anything within reach across the marui.
Not that he minded the broken things. Most of them were carved by his own hands, and if Neteyam wanted to smash every last one of them, Ao'nung would simply make them all over again.
What worried him was Neteyam himself.
The force behind each throw was enough to make him wince. If his mate kept this up, he was going to hurt himself long before he ran out of things to break.
So, while Neteyam continued his rampage, Ao'nung quietly nudged the shattered pieces out of his mate's path with the side of his foot, pushing away anything sharp that might cut him.
The ornaments could be replaced.
His mate's feet could not.
His mind continued to race, turning over every possible mistake he could have made, but nothing came to him. The more he searched for an answer, the more confused he became.
Only when his mate had finally cooled down did the reef Na'vi speak again—though it was less an argument and more an attempt at negotiation. After all, no matter how stubborn he could be, Ao'nung had no desire to spend the night separated from his lover
Ao'nung gathered himself, pushing aside his own frustration and regaining the calm presence of a future chief. He straightened his posture and approached carefully, before finally asking, "Are you still angry?"
Neteyam lifted his gaze, locking eyes with his lover's infuriatingly calm expression. For a brief moment, the anger within him seemed to waver—only to flare right back up the instant he saw Ao'nung standing there so peacefully.
"No," he muttered, glaring at him. "I swear, just looking at you is making me even more mad."
The (silly) Metkayina nodded slowly, as if he had just come to a perfectly reasonable solution. "Okay. I'll go find something else for you to throw then. Maybe you'll feel better after getting some of your anger out."
He wasn't trying to provoke him—not even a little. That was simply Ao'nung being Ao'nung, somehow managing to say the most ridiculous thing with the seriousness of a soon-to-be-Olo'eyktan
Neteyam froze for a second, completely caught off guard by Ao'nung's words. Then his teeth clenched, his patience finally snapping as he stepped closer.
"Are you seriously that oblivious?" he said, glaring at his lover. "You actually think I'm this angry because of some random thing? That I just woke up and decided to throw things at you for no reason?"
Ao'nung stared at him in silence, his expression slowly shifting as he genuinely began to think. As if he was searching through his mind for the answer, completely unaware of what he had done wrong.
The sight alone made Neteyam's blood boil. How could the problem be so painfully obvious, yet his lover still looked so lost?
Usually, Ao'nung's cluelessness was something Neteyam found oddly endearing—one of the many things that made him love him. But right now, in the middle of 'an argument' that actually mattered, it only made his frustration grow.
Ao'nung looked at him, genuinely confused. "Ma'teyam, I don't know... what did I do wrong?"
Neteyam stared at him in disbelief. For a moment, he couldn't even find the words.
This bitc—
"How dare you ask me that," he said, pointing at him. "You're really standing there asking me what you did wrong?"
"I gave you a goodbye kiss this morning! I didn't talk to any weird-looking strangers, I didn't smile at anyone. I didn't get into any trouble and I came straight home after the hunt... I even brought back your favourite fish!" (Neteyam strict program ayyyyy)
"Think harder." Neteyam said flatly, arms crossed as he waited for Ao'nung to connect the dots.
Ao'nung stiffened for a moment, then his eyes slowly lit up with a familiar glint—the exact look he wore whenever some questionable/evil idea began forming in his head. Normally, it was the kind of expression that immediately made Neteyam worry.
"..."
The Omaticaya watched him carefully, already knowing that whatever was going through his mate's mind was probably not going to end well.
A slow smirk tugged at his lips
"Wait baby...I think i know why you're mad"
Neteyam's eyes narrowed, already suspicious.
"You do?"
"Yes," Ao'nung said confidently, looking far too pleased with himself. "your mad cuz i fucked u five time in one night? Common baby is giving u great pleasure a mistake now?"
"oh my eywa Ao'nung you know its not that!!"
Neteyam groaned, his face heating up despite himself. He hated that Ao'nung's stupid comment had gotten a reaction out of him. He was supposed to be mad. He was mad.
With a frustrated huff, he turned away and walked back toward the bed, refusing to let the other male see the embarrassment creeping onto his face. He buried his face into the blankets and grumbled, his voice muffled.
"Cant believe im mated to that dumdum urghhh..."
Ao'nung watched him for a moment before quietly climbing onto the bed behind him. Despite Neteyam's obvious attempts to move away, he wrapped his arms around his mate's waist and pulled him close.
"Ao'nung, let go of me," Neteyam complained, trying to pry his arms away. "You don't even care enough to figure out why I'm mad!"
Ao'nung blinked, completely caught off guard by the accusation.
"Yes I do!" he argued, his brows furrowing. "I asked you like a billion times!"
"No you don't! And don't call me baby you lost that privilege!" Neteyam snapped, still refusing to look at him.
"No!" Ao'nung protested while Neteyam still refuse to look at his lover. The Metkayina male paused, thinking for a moment. Then, with complete honesty, he said, "Maybe I got distracted."
Neteyam finally turned his head slightly, suspicious. "Distracted by what?"
Ao'nung's lips curled into a small smirk.
"You."
"...What?"
"You looked so good being angry that I forgot what we were talking about for a moment."
Neteyam finally turned around to look at him in disbelief.
"I'm serious," Ao'nung said, tightening his arms around him. "It's difficult to focus when my mate is glaring at me like that."
The forest boy let out a long, weary sigh. He pried Ao'nung's arms from around his waist and sat up, running a hand down his face.
"No," he said firmly. "Don't try to act all lovey-dovey your way out of this." His expression softening for only a heartbeat before hardening again. "Ma'Nung... I'm being very, very serious right now."
The seriousness in his voice finally wiped the playful smile from Ao'nung's face.
Oh. Shit
That was the voice.
Not the angry voice that came with dramatic eye rolls and crossed arms. The real one.
Ao'nung tilted his head slightly, studying his mate with a growing suspicion that he might have actually missed something very important. He was usually good at knowing when Neteyam was upset, but apparently not good enough to figure out why.
His ears twitched as he replayed the day in his head one more time.
Nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
...Probably.
The teasing comment he had been about to make died before it reached his lips. He sat up beside his mate, deciding that maybe laughing was not the best choice right now.
Neteyam drew in a slow breath before pointing to the dark bruise blooming along Ao'nung's left ribs.
"Before we start," he said calmly—unnervingly too calm compared to the tense atmosphere in their marui, "tell me where this bruise came from, hmm?"
Neteyam noticed his mate's shoulders started to stiffen, ears dropped down like a sad little puppy. Ao'nung eyes immediately dropped to the floor, suddenly finding the colourful woven mats beneath them incredibly interesting.
"Uh..." he mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck. "I..."
He couldn't even bring himself to meet Neteyam's eyes.
"Either you tell me the truth..." said the Omaticaya male with strict tone, "Or u take a blanket and sleep outside my marui tonight. We'll discuss the rest tomorrow morning." (Strict program again ayyyy)
Ao'nung's eyes widened
"Baby—"
"Im serious"
Silence settled between them.
Neteyam knew he didn't mean it—not really. The thought of sending Ao'nung away for the night made his chest ache.
But he also knew his mate better than anyone. Of all the punishments he could threaten, this was the only one Ao'nung genuinely feared.
"No baby, please," Ao'nung blurted out, panic flashing across his face. "I'll tell you. I promise."
Neteyam stayed silent, waiting.
Ao'nung swallowed hard, suddenly finding it much easier to fight Lo'ak than to explain himself to his mate. His eyes darted around the room, avoiding the Omaticaya's gaze.
The confident future Olo'eyktan who could face an entire clan without flinching was suddenly reduced to a stammering mess under one disappointed look from his mate.
"I had a small fight," Ao'nung said, waving it off. "It's no big deal."
"Really?"
The simple question made Ao'nung hesitate.
"...Yeah," he mumbled, the confidence in his voice dropping almost immediately.
He had a feeling that answer was not going to save him. Not even a tiny bit.
"I heard you leave the marui last night," Neteyam said quietly. "So I followed you."
Ao'nung froze.
"I saw everything."
An uneasy quiet fell over the room, the kind that made even the smallest movements feel too loud. The confidence he had been holding onto slowly slipped away as the realization sank in.
For the first time that day, he understood exactly why Neteyam was so angry.
"...The fight. You and Lo'ak. Every single bit of it."
For once, Ao'nung was speechless. No clever remark, no playful excuse, not even a half-decent explanation (hes scaredddd lol)
Neteyam watched him closely, waiting for an explanation, but the way his mate avoided his gaze already told him enough.
He let out a slow sigh, shaking his head. "You two really thought you could sneak out in the middle of the night, beat each other up, then walk back home like nothing happened?
And don't even get me started on how you came back and cuddled me like you didn't just spend the night fighting my brother."
Ao'nung opened his mouth.
"I—"
"No," Neteyam cut him off, pointing at him. "You are not charming your way out of this one."
Ao'nung, knowing he had been caught. Instead of defending himself, he slowly moved closer.
Neteyam immediately narrowed his eyes, already suspicious.
"Ao'nung..."
But before he could say anything else, Ao'nung leaned in and rested his cheek against his mate's shoulder, his arms carefully wrapping around him.
The sudden affection was so unexpected that Neteyam paused.
"Don't try that," he warned, though his voice had already lost some of its sharpness.
Ao'nung only nuzzled closer, his usual confidence replaced by a softer, almost sheepish expression.
"I'm not trying anything," he mumbled. "I'm explaining."
Neteyam stared at him. "You're literally hiding your face against me."
"Because you're mad at me," The reef Na'vi replied, as if that explained everything. "And I don't like when you're mad at me."
Neteyam tried to stay annoyed, he really did. But Ao'nung being all clingy and obviously trying to make peace was unfortunately one of his weaknesses.
"You're unbelievable," Neteyam muttered.
Ao'nung's cheek still pressed against Neteyam's shoulder. He knew he couldn't avoid it anymore, not when his mate had already seen everything.
"It wasn't supposed to become a big thing," he finally admitted.
Neteyam glanced down at him. "You and Lo'ak sneaking out to fight in the middle of the night isn't a big thing?"
Ao'nung winced slightly.
"Okay... when you say it like that, it sounds worse."
"Because it is worse."
Ao'nung sighed, rubbing his thumb gently against Neteyam's hand, hoping the small gesture would earn him even a little forgiveness. Unfortunately, his attempt at affection was rejected almost immediately when Neteyam slapped his hand away.
"Me and Lo'ak..." Ao'nung sighed, already knowing how bad it sounded. "We've been annoying each other for a while. Like... really annoying each other."
A pause.
"Well, to be fair, he was the one annoying me first," Ao'nung muttered. "But still, it's been going on for a while."
"I noticed."
Ao'nung's ears lowered slightly at the flat response, but he continued.
"But neither of us wanted to start something in front of everyone," he explained. "Especially not in front of you and Tsireya."
He looked away, a hint of embarrassment crossing his face. "Every time we argued, it just kept getting worse. Neither of us wanted to be the one to back down, so... it became our way of settling things."
Neteyam raised an eyebrow. "By punching each other?"
"...Yes."
"That is somehow the worst solution you could've picked."
"I know that now," Ao'nung mumbled.
He tightened his arms around Neteyam slightly, his voice becoming softer.
"But Lo'ak isn't someone I hate. He's just... annoying. Very very annoying."
While Ao'nung continued explaining, Neteyam's eyes drifted down.
The bruise along his ribs suddenly looked different.
It wasn't just a random injury from some careless accident.
His mind started replaying every time Ao'nung had come home with some new mark on him. One bruise. Then another. The split knuckles. The scrape across his shoulder. The dark marks that appeared every few weeks, each accompanied by a different story the Metkayina had delivered with the same sheepish grin.
slipped while picking fruit.
I hit a branch.
It's nothing baby
Neteyam looked back at him, blinking once as he processed what he had just remembered
Then, without a word, he reached over and covered his mate's mouth.
"Wait..."
Ao'nung stopped talking. Neteyam's eyes narrowed as the realization settled in.
"Is that where all your bruises came from?"
Aonung remained silent, unable to answer even if he wanted to.
"Ma'Nung"
"...Yes?"
"You mean to tell me I've been worrying about you this whole time, and you were out there fighting Lo'ak and then coming back to me pretending you just lost a fight with a damn fruit tree? Neteyam pushed his silly mate away from his shoulder "I was this close to banning you from picking fruit because I thought you were the clumsiest hunter in the entire clan!"
"This has been going on for what... months?" he asked, his voice rising slightly. "You're telling me this happened for that long, and every single time I asked about your bruises, you just made something up?"
He pointed at Ao'nung, disbelief written all over his face.
"You lied to me!"
"Because what was I supposed to say?" Ao'nung mumbled. " 'Sorry my love, I was outside at midnight fighting your brother again' "
He looked back at him, almost pleading.
" 'Hey, baby, just so you know, I went out last night and fought Lo'ak' "
Neteyam opened his mouth, but Ao'nung continued. "I didn't want you to worry."
He shrugged slightly, his expression turning sheepish.
"I knew you'd get upset. I knew you'd lecture me. And I knew you'd look at me like this."
"You deserved it," Neteyam immediately replied.
Ao'nung sighed. "I know."
"Then why—"
"Because I love you," Ao'nung interrupted softly. "And I didn't want you sitting there worrying about every bruise or wondering if something happened to me."
The Omaticaya rolled his eyes in annoyance
"Ao'nung, you do realize finding out months later makes me worry more, right?"
Neteyam was still very upset. As a 'lovely' partner he is, Ao'nung immediately abandoned whatever dignity he had left as a future Olo'eyktan.
He moved closer, practically folding himself into his mate's side, wrapping his arms around Neteyam's waist and resting his cheek against him.
"Baby..."
Neteyam looked down at him, already knowing exactly what he was doing.
"Don't start."
"I'm sorry," Ao'nung mumbled, completely ignoring the warning. "I'm really sorry."
He nuzzled closer, his voice becoming softer and more dramatic. Neteyam looked down at him, still unimpressed.
"I know I messed up. I know I should've told you," Ao'nung continued, holding onto him a little tighter. "I get it now."
He paused, then added quietly, "It's just... Lo'ak was being a jerk."
Neteyam immediately gave him a look.
"What?" Ao'nung defended himself, though his voice was already much softer. "He was."
"That does not make sneaking out to fight him okay."
"I know," Ao'nung mumbled. "I know, baby."
He nuzzled closer, completely shamelessly trying to get back into Neteyam's good graces.
"Ma'Teyam."
"No."
"Neteyam, my love..."
"No."
"My beautiful, amazing, wonderful mate..."
Neteyam sighed, trying desperately not to smile. Ao'nung looked up at him hopefully.
"So...you're not mad anymore?"
"I didn't say that."
"But you're less mad?"
Neteyam rolled his eyes. "Barely."
Ao'nung, sensing that Neteyam's anger had finally softened, slowly reached for him and gently pulled him back toward the blankets.
"Ma'Nung..." Neteyam warned, but there was no real bite left in his voice.
"Come on, baby," Ao'nung mumbled, already guiding him down. "You're still mad while standing up. That's uncomfortable."
"That is not how this works."
"It is for me."
Despite his complaints, Neteyam let himself be pulled back down, settling beside him with a long sigh.
Ao'nung immediately relaxed, looking far too pleased with himself as he curled closer. The future chief who had faced fights without hesitation was now lying comfortably beside his mate, silently celebrating the fact that he was not spending the night outside. (wow congrats Ao'nung)
Neteyam noticed the satisfied expression on his face and narrowed his eyes.
"You're happy."
"No."
"Ma'Nung."
"...Maybe a little."
Neteyam sigh
“How childish are you two?” Neteyam muttered, absentmindedly running a hand through Aonung’s hair. He continued lecturing him, comparing the pair to children and wondering how two grown warriors could think sneaking out at night to fistfight was a good idea. Aonung didn’t say a word. He simply sat there, content to let Neteyam scold him for as long as he wanted, secretly pleased that his mate’s hand never left his hair.
Neteyam’s voice gradually trailed off, the lecture coming to a quiet end.
Just when Neteyam thought the conversation was finally over, Ao'nung spoke up in a small voice.
"...It was Lo'ak's idea." (yo snitch)
Neteyam blinked. "Huh?"
"It was Lo'ak's idea." Ao'nung repeated, sounding almost offended that this crucial detail had been overlooked. "He came to me."
Neteyam stared at him for a few seconds, trying to understand how his grown, future-chief mate had just thrown his brother under the bus so casually
"So..." He raised an eyebrow. "You're telling me this now because...?"
Ao'nung looked at him with complete sincerity.
"So you know the whole story."
"Mm." Neteyam nodded slowly. "And what exactly would you like me to do with that information?"
Ao'nung didn't hesitate. "Scold him."
Neteyam couldn't help but snicked
"...You want me to scold my little brother?"
"Yep."
"After I just spent the last half hour lecturing you?"
"Yepp."
There it was. The same Ao'nung who could be stubborn, competitive, and impossible to reason with was now lying comfortably in his arms, happily exposing his own partner-in-crime the second he got caught.
It was ridiculous.
And unfortunately, Neteyam found it a little adorable.
"Don't worry," he said, gently flicking Ao'nung's forehead. "Lo'ak isn't getting away with this either."
Ao'nung visibly relaxed.
"Good."
"But don't look so pleased." Neteyam continued. "You're both getting lectured tomorrow."
Ao'nung frowned.
"Can you lecture him a little longer than me? It'll be sooo unfair if u don't"
Neteyam looked at him with utter disbelief before reaching over and pinching his cheek.
"Fair?" he repeated. "You snuck out in the middle of the night, got into a fistfight with my brother, lied to me for months..." He gave Ao'nung's cheek another light squeeze. "...and now you're tattling on him?"
Ao'nung frowned, trying to pull away. "Ow, baby..."
"You're worse than Tuk."
"I am not."
"You are." Neteyam poked his forehead this time. "At least Tuk admits when she's wrong."
"I admitted it."
"After I threatened to kick you out."
Ao'nung puffed out his cheeks in protest, making Neteyam roll his eyes.
"Look at you," Neteyam muttered. "A future chief... behaving like an oversized child."
"Your oversized child," Ao'nung corrected with a grin.
"Don't push it."
"You still love me."
Neteyam tried to glare at his mate, but the corners of his mouth betrayed him.
"...Unfortunately."
Ao'nung's grin only widened. Before Neteyam could react, he lunged forward and buried his face against his neck.
"Ao'nung!"
"You smiled."
"I did not."
"You absolutely did."
"Get off me!—"
"Noo"
Neteyam huffed, giving Ao'nung a half-hearted shove that accomplished absolutely nothing. The two of them ended up wrestling across the sleeping mat, blankets tangling around their legs as Ao'nung stubbornly refused to let go.
Between muffled complaints, quiet laughter, and the occasional playful shove, the last of the tension gradually melted away.
By the time the marui had fallen silent again, Neteyam had somehow ended up tucked securely in Ao'nung's arms, his head resting against his mate's chest.
"Good night," Ao'nung whispered, pressing a gentle kiss to his forehead.
Neteyam let out one final, dramatic sigh.
"...I'm still lecturing both of you tomorrow. Both."
"I know."
"...And Lo'ak's getting an even longer one."
Ao'nung smiled into his hair.
"Perfect."
Within minutes, the two of them had drifted off to sleep, still tangled in each other's embrace.