Chapter Text
Neteyam was so confused.
He was so absolutely confused. He literally had no idea what was happening right now.
" By Eywa." His mother whispered and he looked around the marui confused.
He was just sitting alone, weaving a necklace when his parents came in with Aonung's parents behind them. It was just the four of them, tip toeing around the entrance as if sneaking up on him.
When he caught their eyes they were already staring at him, their mothers standing proudly while their fathers looked awkward.
" So it's true." Ronal said quietly and Neteyam had a brief moment of panic.
What the fuck was going on.
" My son."
These words didn't come from his mother, no it came from Aonung's mother. Neteyam's eyes widened as Ronal smiled at him with such fondness he has never seen on her before.
Except when it's directed at her children.
" What?" He asks dumbly and Neytiri rolls her eyes.
" He is not your son yet." She quips and Ronal scoffs.
" My son will also be your son, let's not fight on such a joyous day."
This seems to work as Neytiri's ears fall back into normal position but she still had her arms crossed. His father shifted next to Tonowari, both of them sharing a look before they cleared their throats.
Neteyam almost backed away when Tonowari made his way to where he was sitting, taking a place at his side as Jake took the other.
" Uh..." Neteyam starts but his father raises a hand to silence him, gesturing to Tonowari who looks at a loss for words.
" We support you two. We want you to be happy so never feel like you must hide. I'm happy to welcome a warrior like you into my family." Tonowari pats his shoulder and Neteyam tenses.
He looks to his father for answers but he just nods along to what Tonowari says, not saying a word.
" Um. What...happened?" Neteyam asks because he truly doesn't know the words.
" Aonung told us he chose you as his mate. And you said yes, we came to make sure of it." Ronal says and Neteyam's eyes widen.
He looks around wildly, trying to see if Aonung was lurking by the entrance outside but no one was there.
" What?!" He yells and Neytiri waves her hands dismissively.
" It is fine Neteyamur. We were skeptical at first but once we saw you making that necklace...we knew it must be true."
Aonung asked him to make him a necklace today, seemingly out of no where. He asked it was in the traditional Omatikayan style and he confusedly said yes.
" What?!" He yells for what feels like the millionth time.
He sighs and runs his hands down his face, discarding the beads and strings in his lap to stand.
" Where are you going?" His father asks and he internally groans.
" To find Aonung."
He can hear snickers and soft whispers behind him as he leaves but all he can see is white. The sand is blinding in the sun as he storms to the marui.
" Aonung!" He yells as he makes his way to the entrance, startling Aonung in the process.
His voice booms loud enough that the people around them glace at his direction.
Aonung's face has this irritated look as he turns around, further angering Neteyam.
" What do you want-?"
" Why the fuck are you parents in my marui talking about us being mates?!" He shoves Aonung and he lands hard against the wall.
Aonung's hands fly up in defense as his eyes widen.
" Shit. I didn't know they'd go straight to your parents-"
" What the fuck did you do?!" Neteyam crowds him and Aonung gulps.
He looks around and hisses, rubbing the back of his neck.
" I uh. I wanted to move out."
" What the fuck does that have to do with me?!"
" They asked why and I said because I found a mate!" Aonung yells back and Neteyam squints his eyes.
" So?"
" So..." Aonung trails off.
Neteyam slaps his arm and Aonung winces, retracting it quickly.
" Fine they asked who and I said you. Ok?" Aonung looks panicked as Neteyam's eyes widen.
He scoffs in disbelief and turns, back towards Aonung. He rubs his forehead, hand on his hip as he clenches his eyes shut.
" Neteyam?"
" Why didn't you tell me?!" He asks and Aonung shrugs.
This fucking-
" I panicked. I was gonna tell them I lied when I moved out but then they looked so happy I didn't know what to do."
" Great mother give me strength." Neteyam sighs.
He slides down to the floor, head in his hands as he breathes in deep.
" You have to tell them."
" What?! Why?"
" What do you mean why?!" Neteyam yells and Aonung crouches down to him.
" Look just play along."
" What?!"
" Please. For me."
" What the fuck?! No!"
" Why not?"
" The fuck are you talking about?" Neteyam says sternly but quiet. This is the most he's ever cursed at someone, not even his brother.
" Just play along, they looked so happy. Were your parents not happy?" Aonung asks.
Neteyam scoffs and looks down. They were but Neteyam isn't giving that information to Aonung.
They're almost 20, pretty late in mating. Aonung has begun training to be the next Olo'eyktan so the pressure is on. He even has his tattoos already, he is a grown man after all.
But this? Forcing Neteyam's hand?
Is that how far he would go to please his parents?
" You are fucking stupid." He spits and Aonung winces again.
He falls to the floor in front of Neteyam, a dejected look on his face.
" Look if I don't have a mate by the time of my ceremony, they will choose one for me. I cant let that happen."
" Why?"
" Because they'll choose Tanlu." Aonung says seriously and Neteyam's face softens for just a second.
Tanlu is Ronal's top student. Whether Aonung and her mate or not, she will become the next Tsahik. It's in their best interest for them that Olo'eyktan and Tsahik be a couple so the entire village has been pushing them towards each other lately.
Aonung hates it. Hates that he doesn't have a choice in who he mates. Hates that no matter how many times he gives the hint to Tanlu that he doesn't want her, she still tries.
She still brings his fruits and tries to help when he ties nets by the docks. It's suffocating.
Neteyam is the only person who knows that. A few days ago he found Aonung awkwardly accepting another gift from Tanlu, a tense smile on his face. He went to tease him about his girlfriend but Aonung had immediately sprung into a rant about the whole thing.
So Neteyam stayed and watched him pace as he talked, his mouth moving a mile a minute. It ended in both of them sitting in the sand looking at the ocean while the eclipse fell on the horizon.
Aonung's face still looked tense but his shoulders slumped and he sighed. They didn't say much that time, but Aonung did lean against Neteyam's shoulder because he was tired. And Neteyam had let him, even leaned his head against his because he too felt tired.
They took a nap on the sand until Tsireya found them, worried because Aonung hadn't been home.
And now he was here, supposedly the future Olo'eyktan's mate.
" I'm going to strangle you." He tell Aonung and the other just purses his lips.
" So is that a no?"
Strangely enough, it wasn't.
" Fine. I will play along, but only until you tell them."
" Of course. Thank you." He pats Neteyam's shoulders and sighs in relief, a laugh escaping.
" I really thought you were gonna kill me there."
" I thought about it." Neteyam's ears fall back and Aonung nods in recognition of the threat, taking his hands off Neteyam.
They both go to stand when they hear a soft gasp from the door. Neteyam spins around at the sound and sees their mothers standing there with wide smiles.
" Mama." Aonung sighs and massages his forehead.
" Sorry sorry. We wanted to tell you there will be a dinner tonight, with both families."
Neteyam looks at Aonung with wide eyes and he sees that Aonung has the same look on his face.
" Um that's not necessary-"
" Nonsense. You will come." Neytiri says firmly and it shuts Aonung right up.
He doesn't even try to argue and Neteyam wants to scold him for his idiocy.
" Ok then." Is all Neteyam can say because in truth, he is also terrified to go against his mother.
They smile at them softly then run off, suddenly tugging on each other and whispering soft things with a few chuckles here and there.
They've never seen them get along so well.
The remaining two just stand there, dumbfounded, at a loss for what to do.
Then Neteyam shifts.
" Lo'ak is gonna kill you." He says and Aonung sighs, head in his hands.
" I know."
———————————————————————————
Aonung is carrying a whole fruit platter as they make their way to his parents marui. They spent the whole day together trying to wrap their heads around his situation but it didn't really take.
" Here." Neteyam shoved something into Aonung's chest and he managed to catch it before it fell.
" What is this?"
" The necklace you asked for." Neteyam says and stands there, waiting for Aonung to put it on.
" How do I even wear this? Is this a collar?" He asks and Neteyam rolls his eyes.
He snatches the necklace out if his hands and gestures for Aonung to turn around which he does. To him it looks like a very simple necklace laced with shells and some kind of animal canines but to Aonung it is very complicated.
He normally just wears one fang laced through by a string but this was something else. It was a little red, made of thin tree bark that was woven into a thick band. He spread across his collarbone and sits heavy on his neck.
" I designed it after a necklace my father has. His clan brother Tsu'tey used to wear it."
" Used to?" Aonung asks and Neteyam turns him around.
" He died a long time ago."
" I see."
" He was a warrior. He was to be Olo'eyktan before my father came, he sacrificed himself so my father could lead the people. He flew with Toruk Makto and my father was his last shadow." He says softly.
His father told him about Tsu'tey many times. About how the friendship grew and eventually they became so close he was like a brother. How he believed in him even when he was a sky person. Even though it took a while and his father had to tame a damn leonopteryx to earn his respect, the fact he trusted him meant a lot.
Neteyam wishes he had met Tsu'tey.
" He sounds mighty." Aonung smiles and suddenly he has newfound pride for the necklace he wears.
" He was." Neteyam nods.
They stand there in silence for a bit, Aonung admiring the trinkets that are safely fastened into the necklace.
Then Neteyam tugs on his arm, leading them back to where they were going. Aonung feels a little panicked again but pushes it down.
He will have to face this, it's his own fault.
" Oh Neteyam is here." Kiri says and the laughing quiets as everyone sees them.
It feels awkward again, like everyone is on edge. Mostly it's their fathers and Lo'ak but Neteyam too. Aonung is even more tense as he follows him through the entrance and just stands there behind Neteyam, almost breathing down his neck.
" We brought fruit." Neteyam smiles and Aonung hands the fruit platter to his mother who puts it right in the middle.
It's a feast. There's so much food Neteyam isn't even sure it everyone can finish it. There's 10 of them but even this is too much.
" Sit." Neytiri says and Neteyam nods, taking a seat next to Lo'ak who is giving him the evil eye.
" What?" He asks and he faintly feels Aonung take a seat next to him.
" I can't believe you." Lo'ak says but it's directed at Aonung, not him.
" What did i do?" Aonung asks and Lo'ak smacks his back.
" Don't act all innocent. You asked my brother to be your mate?" He whispers loudly as to not disturb their parent's talk.
" It's not a big deal. You're overreacting." Aonung hisses back.
" I don't want you as a brother."
" Well it was going to happen either way. If you wish to ask my sister's hand then we will have become brothers."
" Yes but now i'm going to be asking my brother's sister in law and now it's all weird." Lo'ak says the last bit a little more aggressively and Neteyam puts a hand on his little brother's chest to lean him back.
" Alright shut up." He says at both of them and they comply, both murmuring about something.
The dinner itself actually went well. Eventually their fathers relaxed and started telling stories, laughing and occasionally complimenting each other on whatever there is to compliment. On a particularly funny story Tonowari had pat Jake's back so hard it sent him flying forward with his juice in hand.
It caused another uproar of laughter as Jake accidentally snorted his drink and it seemed like their families were getting along. Halfway through, Lo'ak moved to sit next to Tsireya and Kiri who was braiding Aonung's baby sister's hair.
Neteyam has never seen Ronal and his mother get along so well, quietly giggling to themselves. Neytiri even had a hand on Ronal's forearm to ground herself in the midst of her laughter.
A slow smile spread on Neteyam's face, watching the scene before him. He turns to Aonung who is slowly picking apart the bones of a fish. He cuts out the clean parts and puts it on Neteyam's plate before going back to work.
" Are you cleaning it for me?" Neteyam asks and Aonung hums.
" You always complain it has too many bones. Eywa knows you can't clean it right."
Neteyam scoffs and nudges him with his shoulder which Aonung smiles at. He sways slightly before returning to his position, suddenly closer to Neteyam now.
Neteyam can't help but stare at his hands work, carefully picking apart the thin shard like bones. He rests his chin against Aonung's shoulder as he watches him put another piece on his plate.
" Are you gonna eat? I'm working for nothing if you don't." Aonung turns his head and Neteyam rolls his eyes.
" Yes dear." He says sarcastically and takes a small piece of fish.
He pours some juice into a cup and hands it to Aonung who takes it gladly, wiping his hands first.
" I like that necklace on you." Neteyam says softly and Aonung looks down at it instinctively.
" Yeah?"
" Mhm. I have amazing craftsmanship."
Aonung laughs and elbows Neteyam.
" You're just fishing for a compliment."
" I said you look nice. Is that a crime?"
Aonung shakes his head, the now completely clean fish on a plate between both of them to share.
" Thank you. For making it."
" Of course."
Neteyam doesn't see it but from across the room they have an audience. As the two laugh at each other's banter and slowly get closer and closer the marui grows warmer.
The atmosphere is perfect, everyone has a story to tell and a person to listen to. Kiri eyes them silently before nudging her mom to look. Neytiri smiles at the two, then nudges her husband.
" Neteyam is a good warrior. He'll make a fine son in law." Tonowari says once he sees the pair and Jake feels pride at that.
" I know. I raised him." He says, chest puffed and receives a slap in the back from Neytiri.
" Don't take all the credit."
Jake laughs and plants a kiss on her temple, apologizing.
The dinner is almost three hours long, the night is far too late for any of them to stay anymore and they slowly begin to leave.
Jake leaves with a promise from Tonowari that he shows him his knife collection, all hand crafted. Neytiri leaves with leftovers and the children follow them out.
Tsireya bids Lo'ak goodbye with a kiss to the cheek and Neteyam snickers at his brother's bright red complexion.
" I think we'll leave too." Aonung says and slowly stands, Neteyam following him.
Ronal takes a break from cleaning to kiss her son goodbye, also giving Neteyam a tight hug as they say depart.
Tsireya has this soft smile on her face, like she's happy her brother has finally found someone.
It hurts Neteyam to know it's all fake, that it's a ruse. But it must be done.
" Where are you going?" Aonung asks as Neteyam turns the other way to his family's marui.
" Home?"
" Won't your parents be suspicious if you go back to them and not me?"
Neteyam's heart skips a beat when he says that, he doesn't understand why but it does.
" Right."
" Come on, let's go." Aonung gestures for him to take his hand and for some reason Neteyam does.
They walk back to Aonung's marui, still talking about how well that dinner went.
They fall asleep on different mats after talking for hours. They're facing each other as they lay and Neteyam drifts off first.
He faintly remembers a hand draping itself over his torso as he sleeps but he thinks he's imagining it.
At least that's what it felt like was happening.