Chapter Text
The car rolled on the smooth asphalt as the lights of the night illuminated the city infront of them. Inside the car was dark, only lit up with purple leds placed under the doors. Music was playing from the radio connected to Ao'nung's phone.
Their shared playlist was mostly existing from songs added by Neteyam, since he had a hatred towards Ao'nung's music taste. And while the reef boy called him boring for his liking for oldies, he had caught him several times humming along to them, just like how he did now.
"So close to me"
"In the dark of night"
"Those small hours"
"I drift away"
"When I'm with you"
"(In the dark of night)"
"By my side"
"(In the dark of night)"
"By my side"
"I wish you were"
"I wish you were"
The tunes from the song wasn't too loud, just enough that both of the boys enjoyed it. The forest boy sitting on the passenger side sang along to the lyrics softly. He was only murmuring them out, instead of making his own voice obvious.
It was a regular and peaceful ride for the two of them. Without having the company of their siblings and friends once in a while. It was to have a two people hang out, something that basically turned into a tradition by now.
They were best friends, even each other's halves in some way. The truth was that Ao'nung had many friends but apart from Rotxo, who he saw as a brother, Neteyam was the only person outside his family that he trusted without a single worry.
Although if anyone was to call them life long friends, it would technically be wrong. Since when they met was only a couple of years ago in the first semester of their freshman year. Yet when the two of them were together, it felt like they knew each other from the very start of their lives.
The car ride came to a stop in a half empty parking lot that belonged to some fast food restaurant Neteyam liked. Ao'nung knew that ofcourse. That was why he started to drove to the place even before they discussed where to go. Neteyam gave him a knowing smile when he parked the car.
"I didn't think you wanted to eat here."
Ao'nung chuckled lightly and opened the door on his side to get out of the car. "Believe me I really didn't want to, Sully."
The forest boy rolled his eyes at his best friend, following him out the car. If it meant that he got to eat in his favorite place, he would bear with a sulking Ao'nung. He looked at his friend for a moment with adoration, his cheeks heating up ever so slightly. The guy was putting up with his taste of food, only for his sake, the less he could do was to thank him.
"Thank you, Nung."
"Don't even mention it." Ao'nung smiled at him, locking the car door with a single beep coming from the keys.
The reef boy threw an arm around the other's shoulders as they started to walk towards the building that was lit up by too many unnecessary lights. Inside the place was loud but warmer than outside, though both boys decided to get their orders to eat in the car instead. They were doing a two people hang out after all, the crowd didn't look too appealing.
When they got back with the cartoon bags holding their food, Ao'nung turned up the heat to keep them warm. While Neteyam reached for the aux without wasting a second to risk the chance of Ao'nung grabbing it before he did.
"Hey!" The reef boy said in protest while handing him his share of the food they bought. Neteyam beamed at him, eyes sparkling when he grabbed the bag.
The forest boy snickered at him, holding the phone out of his reach, towards the door on his own side.
"You already played all your songs since we started the drive." Ao'nung scoffed, but didn't move from his place to attempt change it. He would need to tackle Neteyam, but both of had the bag of food resting on his lap, and he didn't want to waste it all incase they ended up on the floor. Especially since they were starving.
They ate, bickering from time to time.
"Are you gonna eat those?" Ao'nung said, pointing at some fries. His meal had seemingly and already disappeared into his tummy. While the painfully slow eater he was, Neteyam was still munching on his own.
🌌
They stopped at the edge of a cliff that overlooked the ocean and the city center from afar. The moon's reflection was the biggest light around them as they stepped out of the car. The lights from the city of Awa'atlu seemed natural, merged into the nature of mangroves and other tropical plants around them.
Neteyam had his hands shoved into the pockets of his zip up jacket, smiling at the scenery. The nights in Awa'atlu was his favorite time, it was peaceful.
His life was busy, packed full of responsibilities and stress from school. But in these kind of quiet moments he felt at peace, especially the ones that he spent together with his best friend.
Small clicks broke the silence between them. Ao'nung stepped beside him then, offering him the lighter he had in his hand. Not having the plan to smoke tonight, Neteyam hesitated for a single moment.
But then his slender fingers reached for the cig already sitting between Ao'nung's full lips, sharing one instead of smoking an entire was better, wasn't it? Neteyam gently took it, and the reef boy let him do so.
They were both silent, enjoying the night air as the smoke flowed smoothly between the two of them.
But something sat heavy on Neteyam's heart, feelings that he couldn't let out.
His gaze found Ao'nung's profile as the boy took a long drag of smoke, and blew it out a second later. He grinned, turning to look at him too and offered him the cigarette.
"What troubles you, Tey?"
The question caught the said boy off guard. Neteyam pursued his lips, and tilted his head as he took the offered cig. "Why do you think something is troubling me?"
"I can see it in the way you have been gazing around the whole evening." The reef boy spoke with his voice lowered, carrying the gentleness that he only used with a certain Sully.
Neteyam snapped his eyes back to the scenery infront of them, a small sigh leaving him despite his efforts to hold it back. "You know me too well.." He muttered.
"I do! That is right, Teyam." Ao'nung smiled at him, not a smirk to tease, a genuine smile. "Aren't I your best friend? Ofcourse I know you well."
The words stung him, making the heavy feeling in his heart ache. He stiffened when Ao'nung's finned arms came to rest around his shoulders, pulling him into a lose side hug. It was something they occasionally did, while they were walking from one class to another, or watching a movie together with their siblings and friends.
It wasn't something new, yet Neteyam's heart did a flip each time. He scoffed half heartedly and pushed his arm away, slapping the lighter colored teal hand that reached for the cigarette.
"You always deny my touch forest boy!" Ao'nung protested, the smile on his face turning into his usual smirk. His arms reached for his companion again, he loved teasing his best friend, probably more than anything.
"I need to tell you something."
Both his arms dropped to his sides limply as Neteyam pulled away from him once again. Ao'nung could feel a dread coming down on him. His smile fell as he took in the sight of the other boy. "What is it?"
The forest boy seemed sad, even while he was still smiling. His melancholy was visible in the way he ducked his head and reached for Ao'nung's hands. "I have been...meaning to ignore this, but.."
His golden gaze didn't look up again, except he watched the way Ao'nung's fingers curled around his.
"You know you can tell me anything." The reef boy's voice had grown slightly more hoarse.
Ao'nung was worried. He had been worried since he picked Neteyam up from the Sully's house earlier. He kept dazing away, getting lost in thoughts. It was obvious he had something that kept his beautiful mind busy, and now that he was going to hear what it was, his worry doubled.
Neteyam pressed his lips together, his ears lowered and his hands gripped Ao'nung's slightly bit more tighter.
"I am in love with you."
The words were whispered against the wind, to the night that surrounded around the two of them. Ao'nung's grip tightened on his hand, but it was more like he was afraid of him to pull away than to reassure him.
"Teyam..."
Ao'nung's hand left his. The feeling was cold the second it happened, the loss of contact hit him hard. It was what Neteyam had feared the most, yet he already knew.
"I am so sorry, Tey." Ao'nung said, voice desperate.
His hands hovered over the guy who only kept looking down, nowhere else. But unlike most times, his touch did not find his skin.
"It is okay." It was a whisper, a small one that was barely heard.
Ao'nung could see the shake that started on Neteyam's shoulders, giving his heart a heavy pang of pain. He hated seeing Neteyam sad, let alone him being this way only because of him.
There were never much words needed between them to know what the other meant. Neteyam's raw confession hung heavy between them, lacking an equal answer from Ao'nung, but the forest boy knew.
It hurt. It hurt both of them. He had taken the risk purely because his heart couldn't handle keeping it a secret anymore. But now, standing right infront of Ao'nung, he was doubting himself. Couldn't he have just pushed the feelings deep inside, keep them protected from anyone who dared to ask?
Tears had started leaking down his blue cheeks before his mind caught onto it. He took in a sharp breath, slender fingers rushing up to wipe them away before he finally raised his head to look at Ao'nung.
The reef boy had his fangs sinked into his bottom lip, looking at him with something Neteyam couldn't figure out with the mess in his head present.
"Don't cry, Teyam, please."
Ao'nung's voice was low, and hesitant but arms finally wrapped around his lean body. Neteyam found his face burried into his best friend's chest as he couldn't stop the sobs that left him anymore.
"Don't cry because of me..."
With his arms securely wrapped around him, swaying them slowly side to side, Ao'nung tried to offer comfort. He pressed his cheek against Neteyam's temple and braids, "Shh..shh.."
Fingers digged into his shoulder blades as Neteyam clinged onto him, silent cries muffled by Ao'nung's shirt were present around them.
"I am sorry." Neteyam managed to offer, silently and between breaths that he managed to inhale deeply.
Ao'nung led him back to the car once he calmed down, yet their usual bickering, nor the fights about who got to choose the song wasn't there. The silence inside the ride was not awkward, not at all. But it was filled with so much emotion.
Neteyam let his head fall on the cold window, weak tears leaving his eyes which he did not care about. This time, for the first time, he didn't care who saw him cry.
Ao'nung could see any side of him now, as he had told him the deepest secret he had. The boy always knew that he was gay, Neteyam never hid it. But the feelings that only had been growing since the start of their relationship was known by noone other than himself, and now that boy himself.
Seeing the way Neteyam's tears continued silently, guilt was eating Ao'nung inside and out. He kept glancing at his best friend, wanting him to be okay, knowing tonight he had ruined that deeply. He was not like Neteyam was, he was not attracted to boys. Yet, seeing the person he cared about the most cry right next to him, without anything that he could do...
Neteyam was important to him, not in the way Tsireya was, not even the way Rotxo was. He loved them too, and he loved Neteyam too. But his heart knew the difference between that, while he himself was yet to find out. He thought that Neteyam was the most important person for him, and the fear of losing him after tonight was killing him.
But he didnt show it all, not wanting to give the boy false hope. But when they stopped at a red light one street away from the Sully house, his hand found Neteyam's shoulder. The boy's tear soaked eyes found his, but they left as quick as they met.
The light turned green then, and Ao'nung had to focus back on driving before having a chance to say anything and ruin the mutual silence.
When they arrived, Ao'nung was out of the car before Neteyam was. The Sully boy gave him an exhausted, yet confused look.
"I will walk you." He said, trying to offer a smile.
Neteyam visibly did not have it in himself to argue, so he ended up nodding and walking past him. Ao'nung caught onto him, his warm hand settling on his lower back for any kind of comfort he could offer.
Neteyam didn't pull away from his touch, savoring what possibly could be the last time he felt it. The stood side by side, waiting the door to be answered.
To his luck it was Lo'ak who answered the door and not any of his parents.
"Welcome back bro-!" Lo'ak's voice died down, eyes widening in worry at the state of his older brother. "Neteyam, what happened?!"
He did not receive an answer from his older brother. Silently muttering a small "Thank you." to Ao'nung, Neteyam rushed past Lo'ak and disappeared up the stairs as quick as he managed to do.
Lo'ak turned towards Ao'nung, furious. "What did you do?" He spat, stepping into his face.
"Look.., it is between me and him." The reef boy held his hands up, face crumbling with guilt despite not having done anything himself. "But he is gonna ask to be left alone, don't do that."
His words only angered Lo'ak further. The boy was protective of Neteyam, especially when the topic was his so said best friend, who happened to be someone he barely managed to get along himself, despite dating his sister.
"I swear to god if you did something to him-!"
"Lo'ak, calm down." Ao'nung stressed, one of his hands clasping his shoulder tight.
"You can ask him, if he tells you, you learn." His voice was quiet, careful incase the other Sullys heard them. "But I promise you I would never willingly hurt him."
Lo'ak's anger deflated into worry, his ears lowered. He felt torn between going after his brother or keep confronting the Metkayina boy.
"Go after him. Do it because I cannot right now." Ao'nung whispered, voice desperate.
It shifted something in Lo'ak.
🌌
When he made it to his room, Neteyam tried to close his door as calm as possible, yet the slam of it shook the floor.
He curled into a ball on his bed, pressing his face into the pillow as he finally set his cries free.
Tuk was the first to rush into his room, having been in hers when he arrived upstairs. She opened the door easily since he has left it unlocked.
"Teyam.." Her little voice was in distress as she climbed onto his bed, holding her hand to her own mouth as she witnessed her older brother like the way he was for the first time.
Neteyam was always so strong next to her, so sweet and gentle. He was the most patient big brother ever, knowing how different he was than Lo'ak. It scared Tuktirey to see him crying, not even acknowledging that she was in the room with him.
Not knowing what to do, and feeling helpless for her older brother she ran out the room, making it to Kiri's down the hallway.
Kiri had been listening to music with headphones, not having heard anything that happened outside her room. Their father usually warned all of them about that, incase and emergency happened they needed to be aware, yet none of his older kids listened to that.
While Tuk had ran to get Kiri, Lo'ak had already arrived at Neteyam's room. He was on the bed with him, rubbing Neteyam's back as he was always ignored by the older boy. The only thing that left Neteyam's lips were small sobs that he had started to try and push down again.
The younger Sully boy didn't try to ask what has happened yet, not wanting to put his brother through further distress with his questioning.
"Oh brother.." Kiri appeared with Tuk, both of them going to the empty side of Neteyam's bed.
Lo'ak made room for Kiri as she laid down next to Neteyam's back, starting to rub his arm in an attempt of comfort. She shared a look with Lo'ak. Both of them had no idea what was going on.
All of them felt helpless, only managing to offer silent comfort. They didn't dare to speak up, guessing what Neteyam needed was some rest from whatever that happened.
Another presence sinked next to Tuk, startling the teens that weren't busy crying. Jake had been in his home office, having heard the slam of the door and the rush that followed it, all leading into the room of his eldest's.
His fatherly instincts had grew his worry, and it only deepened when he saw all of his children pilled up on the bed belonging to Neteyam.
Jake's grounding hand settled on Neteyam's leg, it being the only thing that he managed to reach since everywhere else was filled with his other children.
It was what finally got Neteyam to raise his head from the pillow that he was burried in. His eyes were red, swollen with the continues tears that seemed to not have an end. Yet he looked the most young he had ever looked in years, the mask of his perfect, composed self had broke.
Jake, and Neteyam's siblings all froze at the sight of him, of his raw emotion of pain.
"Oh baby boy." Jake whispered, hands reaching out for him the same moment Neteyam surged forward, burrowing himself into his father's arms.
"It hurts, dad." Neteyam's voice was hoarse and more hot tears found their way down his cheeks, burning his eyes. "My heart.."
Jake's hands settled on his head, and back. The one on his head started to caress his braids with a fatherly reassurance that finally managed to calm Neteyam down. "It is going to be okay, whatever it is that has you troubled."
Lo'ak pursued his lips, already knowing that something happened during his hangout with Ao'nung.
Neteyam was silent, sniffling softly as his tears finally seemed to be slowing, and finally stopping. His eyes were closed, head resting against his father's strong chest, having the chance to listen to his steady heartbeat.