➳☓♡ II ao'nung x oc

ᅳ➳23♡ᅳ

ᅳ➳☓♡ᅳ

"You never listen."

Ta'liyahs' heart instantly grew heavy. Her content expression turning frigid.

Turning back she was cursed with the sight of the person who seemed to be the root of all her problems. "Shouldn't you be with your friends?" Her tone is full of disdain as she crosses her arms.

Ao'nung stares at her for a few extra seconds, his expression is completely unreadable. Ta'liyah can't seem to read his eyes through the rain. He only stares and does nothing else. She takes a step back to distance herself from the estranged figure.

Ignoring her words, he finally speaks. "What were you doing with the outsiders?"

"Why are you here Ao'nung?" Ta'liyah gives a slight frown. Noticing a fresh bleeding cut on his lips that hadn't been there before. "What do you want now?" She sighs, knowing nothing good ever came from their alone interactions.

Harsh winds began to blow.

"Why kneel yourself before them?" Ao'nung stepped close, noticing the girl shake her head in dismay as she stepped further away. "What did you tell them?"

"The truth." Ta'liyah answers, her eyes held lingering resentment.

"When will you realize they don't belong here?" Ao'nung sneers, forwarding himself. "They are a threat to the village, our home," He emphasizes in irritation.

He's close enough for her to scent. Salts, metal—blood, and strangely enough.. mint.

"Our home is also their home." Ta'liyah spits back, shoving him away.

"Don't give me that shit." He snarls back in her face, "You only think that way because you've grown feelings for one of them."

"You're still on that?" Ta'liyah murmurs in disbelief. "I never thought that of all people you out of anyone would fall for low rumours."

For someone who was victim to countless amounts of untrue rumours, you'd think he'd have known better.

"Considering what I saw seconds ago, those low rumours hold more truth than your lies." He jeers, his voice lowered with anger.

"You know nothing." In an instant she feels Ao'nung place both of his hands on each of her shoulders, shoving her back against a tree causing her to hitch her breath.

Finally, she's able to read his eyes and wished she hadn't. There was only hate.

"I know you," He sneers, his eyes heavily glaring down on hers. "I've told you this. You can fool them but never me."

"What the hell do you know?" Ta'liyah hisses, smacking his hands away, her chin held high.

Low thunders began to rumble as heavy rainfall began to pour. Ta'liyah silently thanked the large palm tree for mildly shielding them from it.

"Rumors or not, you like him," Ao'nung states in a deceptively calm tone. "You're falling for him. You won't admit it to yourself because it'll tarnish what you value most."

Ta'liyahs' eyes narrow. "And what is that?"

"Your adored reputation, your control, and.. your idea of love." He answers, setting his jaw. It was everything Ao'nung himself went against.

Ta'liyah felt a sharp ache in her heart as her hands began to tremble. His words held truth. However, It wasn't Neteyam she was thinking of.

True, Neteyam had grown close to her. But it was mutually platonic in her eyes. She couldn't fathom why she was thinking of the leering figure towering above her.