𝐊𝐈𝐒𝐒 𝐌𝐄. 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐲𝐚𝐦

𝟏𝟕. 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝

Alo'an moved his body, feeling a soft breath hit his chest. He looked down, seeing Neteyam in his arms.

He sat up, trying not to disturb Neteyam's sleep. Obviously, he had failed.

"Where are you going?" Neteyam asked.

Alo'an looked back smiling.

"We have to go home. It's late." Alo'an replied. "We can go back in the morning." Neteyam sighed.

Neteyam got up, wrapping his arms around Alo'an.

"Don't you think sleeping in the sand is uncomfortable?" Alo'an hummed. "It's all in your hair."

Neteyam looked down at Alo'an, seeing him brush his hair off. He sighed letting him go.

"Alright then." he mumbled.

Alo'an grinned, grabbing Neteyam's hand. Knowing everyone was asleep, the two could walk freely.

"I'll see you tomorrow." Alo'an yawned. "Okay." Neteyam hummed.

He gave Alo'an a quick kiss before letting him walk inside the Marui. He walked off, going back home as well.

Neytiri saw him at the entrance, she held her hand up. Neteyam understood and stayed outside.

"Where were you?" Neytiri asked, walking out.

Neteyam looked at his mom, getting nervous.

"I was with a friend...we lost track of time." he replied.

She looked down at him, her eyebrows perking up. She moved his head, seeing a mark.

"What's that?" she hummed. "Oh, nothing." Neteyam smiled, putting his hand over it.

She furrowed her brows, getting more curious.

"Who were you with?" Neytiri asked.

Neteyam avoided her gaze, letting her know who he was with. She looked into the Marui, making sure everyone was asleep.

"Did Alo'an do that?" she whispered, moving his hand. "No..." Neteyam lied.

Neytiri frowned, knowing her son was lying. She roughly pressed on it, seeing Neteyam flinch.

"Did you do anything to him?" she hummed.

Neteyam shrugged in response. Neytiri was worried now. If Alo'an and Neteyam had bruises at the same time, someone would notice, and they might suspect something.

"Well, it doesn't matter." she whispered. "You're going to have to wear your neckpiece until that disappears."

Neteyam nodded, following his mom into the pod. He lay next to her, trying to sleep. He kept thinking about Alo'an, putting his fingers on the mark.

Before he could tell, it was already morning. He arose, hearing his dad calling him.

"Get up." he frowned.

Neteyam nodded, looking at his mom. She gave him his neckpiece, which he wrapped around his neck.

"Where are we going?" Neteyam asked. "Aniri wants to talk to you." Jake replied, sounding slightly annoyed.

Neteyam was nervous as he got closer to the Marui. He looked at Alo'an, who was sitting down.

"Sit." Aniri groaned.

The family sat down, focusing on the two boys.

Aniri looked at Neteyam, seeing his necklace. He hummed, looking at his parents.

"Where was your son last night?" Aniri asked.

Jake and Neytiri looked at each other, not having an answer. Aniri nodded, looking at the boys.

"Where were you last night?" he hummed.

Alo'an sighed, looking at Neteyam. He wanted him to answer.

"We were together, close by." Neteyam answered. "Okay, so you two were together. Okay." Aniri sighed. "Neteyam, tell me what's on my son's neck." he pointed.

Neteyam looked at Alo'an. The boy pushed his hair behind his shoulders, revealing a bruise.

"What is that? How'd it happen?" Aniri asked.

The two boys looked at each other, getting nervous. Aniri stared at them, furious.

"Remove your necklace." Aniri instructed.

Neteyam looked at his parents. Jake was looking at him, curious, and Neytiri was avoiding his eyes.

He listened, taking the neckpiece off. Aniri stared at his neck, seeing a bruise on Neteyam as well. He hummed, looking at Jake and Neytiri.

"Did you two know that our sons were out there sneaking around like this?" he asked. "No, we didn't." Jake frowned.

Jake looked at Neytiri, who immediately looked away.

"Did you know?" Jake gasped.

She sighed, looking at him.

"Yes, I knew." Neytiri replied. "So then why didn't you tell us?" Aniri questioned. "That is not my responsibility, it is theirs." she replied.

The three of them looked at the boys, seeing as they were already staring.

"So, when did you two start this?" Aniri asked.

Alo'an looked at Neteyam, and then at his father. He put his hands together, taking a breath.

"The night after the welcome party. He came to find me after the fight." he answered. "Since when have you been together in this way?" Jake asked.

Alo'an looked at Neteyam, seeing as he started.

"Yesterday...we mated yesterday." Alo'an replied.

The two dads looked at each other, surprised.

"You are mated?" Aniri gasped. "Yes. We were mated at the Spirit Tree." Neteyam replied. "We were mated before Eywa."

The three adults looked at the boys, sighing.

"Why didn't you tell us?" Jake asked. "I was afraid of how my father would react, knowing the expectations he had set for me." Alo'an explained.

Aniri looked at his son, sighing.

"Alo'an, because I want to see you have a family doesn't mean I will force you. It is your body and mind, you are in control of it." Aniri mumbled. "But that doesn't mean you can keep such big secrets from me, especially a mating like this."

Alo'an nodded, surprised to see his dad's reaction. Aniri got up, letting everyone stand up as well.

"What about you, Jake, Neytiri?" Aniri asked. "What will you say about this."

The two looked at each other, and then at Neteyam.

"We have no say if this was something we did when we were younger as well." Jake explained. "All we can do is accept it, after all."

Aniri nodded, looking at the boys. The Sullys were dismissed, leaving Alo'an to talk to his dad.

----

I've been stuck on this chapter since yesterday so it's not my best 😭.