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Neteyam wiped his hands on his towel before turning to watch the brownies that were baking in the oven. It was a quiet Sunday morning and the house was mostly empty. Lo’ak went to soccer practice with Ao’nung and Rotxo and should be heading back soon. Footsteps bounded down the stairs, and Tuk flew into the kitchen.
“Neteyam! Good morning, what are you making?” She bounced on her toes looking around the counters.
Neteyam smiled and picked Tuk up. “Good morning Tuk, I am making brownies.” He brought her to the oven so she could peer through the glass.
Tuk, getting bored, wriggled her way out of Neteyams arms and ran back upstairs. Neteyam sighed and took his apron off, hanging it up and turning to clean up the counters. Baking became one of his hobbies during his junior year, and now as a senior he did it as often as possible to take his mind off of incoming college applications. Neteyam took a damp towel and set to work, braids dangling in his face very annoyingly. He let out a frustrated sigh before reaching to his wrist to find a hairband, which wasn’t there. Neteyam raised his eyes to the ceiling in exasperation.
After going to his room and putting his hair up, he went downstairs, finally able to finish cleaning. Neteyam looked at the clock. It was close to twelve, which meant Lo’ak was supposed to be home soon. Their parents were already at work, so Neteyam was in charge of breakfast and lunch. Kiri helped of course, but most of the time she was in her room creating songs or outside painting. The oven beeped, signaling that the brownies were done. As Neteyam carefully brought the tray over to the counter, shrieks of laughter and banging on the door startled him so much he almost dropped his batch.
He very gently set the tray down and then whirled around to the door, yanking it open only to be met with a face full of clothes. Silence. Neteyam pulled the stinky jersey off his face and glared at his brother, who was currently shirtless. Next to him was a sheepish Tsiyera and Roxto, as well as Ao’nung who was biting his lips to not laugh.
“Neteyam, bro, I’m so sorry that wasn’t my fault I swear-”
“Get inside for Eywa’s sake. You smell like pigs.” Neteyam opened the door wider and let them in, not before grabbing Lo’ak and wrapping his musty shirt around his face, pulling it tighter as Lo’ak struggled and let out muffled shrieks. Neteyam smiled at the unexpected guests and ushered them in.
“I just finished making brownies, help yourself to some!”
Ao’nung perked up at the mention of brownies and beelined to the kitchen. Tsireya rolled her eyes and followed him, not before thanking Neteyam. Rotxo stood awkwardly in the living room, shifting back and forth on his legs. Neteyam rolled his eyes.
“Kiri is in the backyard, go say hi before you keep making a fool of yourself.”
Rotxo flushed and went out the backyard, mumbling a quick thanks.
Neteyam made his way to the kitchen, where Ao’nung was running his mouth under cold water and Tsireya laughing so hard she was silent with tears streaming down her face.
“What the hell?”
“Ao’nung, he- he popped a brownie in his mouth so fast that he didn’t even register how hot they were before he burned his mouth!” Tsireya spoke through giggles.
Ao’nung glared at his sister from his position at the faucet. Neteyam stifled a laugh, the teen did look quite ridiculous.
“I literally just said that I had just finished baking them, how did that not register?”
If it was possible, Ao’nung glared even more, which did not have the desired effect due to his tongue hanging out and being run under water. Neteyam just snorted and went to get plates and forks for everyone. The faucet turned off and Ao’nung was wiping his face off with a paper towel.
“It wasn’t that funny.”
“It kinda was.”
“No, it literally wasn't.”
“Sure man, whatever you say.”
“Neteyam I swear to Eywa-”
“Boys seriously.” Tsireya interjected.
Ao’nung rolled his eyes, while Neteyam just smirked. When Ao’nung looked away though, Neteyam kept looking at him admiring the way his practice jersey clung to his skin and the small rivulets of sweat that went down his forehead and neck. Tsireya coughed, and Neteyam jerked his eyes to her, flushing as she raised a knowing eyebrow.
There was another cough. Tsireya furrowed her eyebrows and looked at Ao’nung, who was choking over the counter, with a quarter of a brownie left on his plate. Neteyam walked over concerned, ignoring the look Tsireya gave him.
“Hey, you okay dude?”
“Ye- yeah just, choked on a piece-” Ao’nung coughed violently again, and the reddening of his face did nothing to reassure Neteyam.
“I’m- I’m fine-”
Tsireya’s eyes widened, then she looked at Neteyam.
“Did the brownies have nuts?”
“Yes, but what-” Neteyam was cut off by a dry wheezing sound coming from Ao’nung, who was getting redder and redder.
“Holy shit he’s asphyxiating!”
“Ao’nung where’s your epi pen??”
Ao’nung pointed outside then made a house gesture with his hands, then pointed at himself.
“You left it at home???”
Neteyam was panicking, standing still and watching Ao’nung slowly die on his kitchen floor.
“Neteyam!”
“Wha- yes!?”
“Do you have an epi pen?”
“We have one for my father, hold on-” Neteyam yelled for Lo’ak.
Steps bounded down the stairway, Lo’ak bursting into the kitchen with only pants on, eyes wide as he took in the scene.
“What the fuck is happening??”
“Where's dad’s epi pen??”
“Dude how the fuck would I know??”
Neteyam let out a frustrated sound that sounded strangled.
“Shit, okay, call dad, I’m gonna go outside to ask Kiri to help me look.”
Neteyam ran outside, calling for Kiri.
“What’s wrong Neteyam?”
“I need your help to find dad’s epi pen!”
Neteyam ran back inside, a bewildered Kiri and concerned Rotxo following him. They went inside to the kitchen, where Lo’ak was on his phone and Tsireya trying to open Ao’nung’s airways and give CPR.
“Okay dad thanks- Neteyam, in his office in the fourth drawer!”
Neteyam sprinted upstairs, heart pounding as he yanked his fathers drawer open and sorted through the contents haphazardly, finally finding it and almost flying down the stairs. He pushed the epi pen to Tsireya who quickly administered the medicine to her brother, who was not breathing at all anymore. Lo’ak paced the kitchen and Kiri stared at the scene in horror, not knowing what to do to help. Neteyam looked at his hands which hadn’t stopped shaking.
“Do we need to call an ambulance?” Asked Lo’ak, who was staring at Ao’nungs chest, which began to go up and down again, but barely.
Tsireya nodded, eyes wide. Neteyam blanched as he heard the dial on the phone, followed by the standard ‘911 how can we help you?’.
The ambulance got there quickly, but for Neteyam it felt like hours, hours in which Ao’nung could die. Because of him. His breathing quickened, and his vision got blurry. Ao’nung could die because of you, you didn’t have to put nuts in the brownies, you should have known, should’ve acted sooner, should have, should have-
“Neteyam, snap out of it.”
Neteyam jerked his head up, eyes meeting Tsireya’s steady gaze.
“I should have-”
“Nothing. You didn’t know and my idiot brother didn’t think to ask.” Her eyes got watery. “I didn’t think to ask.”
“Tsireya it’s not your fault, I should have known he was allergic.”
“No, that’s not-”
“Both of you shut up.” said Lo’ak. “This is all just an unfortunate accident, Ao’nung will be fine.”
Everyone was silent as they listened to the sound of cars on the highway and sirens, and the sound of Lo’ak’s cheesy CD playlist in his car. The hospital was bright and smelled like the inside of a bleach bottle. Nurses were walking hurriedly everywhere, and Neteyam winced at the sight of all the waiting families. A nurse walked up to them and brought them outside Ao’nungs room.
“He’s doing fine, we’re just taking some labs and giving him some more medicine.”
Neteyam sighed and slumped into the metal bench near a window in the hallway, trying to keep from spiraling. He glanced to his right where he could see his family and Tonowari and Ronal running towards them.
“What happened to my son?” Ronal barked out.
“Neteyam stood quickly. “Sorry ma’am, he ate one of the brownies I made and they had nuts in them.”
“So it’s your fault?”
“Mother!”
Neteyam hung his head and stared at his shoes.
“How is it my son's fault? Your son showed up at my house unexpectedly!”
Tonowari stepped between the women. “It is no one’s fault, Neteyam didn’t know Ao’nung was allergic, so let’s all relax and let the nurse come back, hm?”
Everyone sighed and fell silent.
“Here for Ao’nung?” a nurse stepped up in front of them.
Everyone stood and waited to hear the news.
“He is stable and awake, he’s asking for his friends. I would assume that’s you guys?” she inquired, looking at Neteyam, Tsireya, Lo’ak, Kiri, and Rotxo.
They followed her into the room, where Ao’nung was lying down with an IV connected to his arm.
“Hey guys.” rasped out Ao’nung.
Neteyam winced at the dry sound of his voice.
“Ao’nung, I’m so sorry, if I had know you were allergic-”
“Hey it’s fine, it was just a stupid mistake on my part. This happens more often than you think, it’s like an occasional vibe check from God.” said Ao’nung with a roll of his eyes.
Neteyam punched the side of Ao’nung’s shoulder. “Don’t joke about this idiot! I was actually worried.
Ao’nung’s gaze softened as he looked at Neteyam and how stressed he was, before realising that there were other people in the room. The rest of his friends were watching like it was a soap drama, Kiri was even recording.
“Next time, make me some without nuts. I need to see if they taste good enough for almost dying from it.”
“Ao’nung!”
“Bro”
“Oh my god”
“Is this his version of flirting?”
Neteyam flushed bright red, before smacking Ao’nung again.
“Take me on a date instead and I might make you some at the end of it.”
“Holy shit”
The nurse had to rush in because Ao’nung’s heart rate increased rapidly.