Aonung x reader • Dance•

VII

You didn't own many things. You wore almost everything you owned except a large dagger your father gave you that you only ever used when hunting. Your mother had made you a beautiful hair accessory that she braided into your hair. It had pieces of coral and shells weaved through it. Each piece representing an event in your life like a simpler version of your song cord. There was room for a few more pieces and the final piece would be added when you were finally mated.
There was only one Na'vi in your life that you wished to be mated with but with recent events you weren't so sure anymore. You had thought that maybe you were overreacting or being too dramatic but what he did really hurt. It didn't matter now though, you would leave and when you returned you would be mated. Your parents seemed to have arranged that for you too. You didn't feel in control of your life anymore.
On your last night with your clan there was a celebration to wish you and the other young Na'vi good luck on your travels and a safe return. You would preform one final dance for the clan, which did lift your mood slightly. With all these plans your parents had for you the one thing they couldn't change or take away from you was dancing. You savoured every moment of preparing for the performance. You painted your body in beautiful bright colours that complemented your skin and fastened your long skirt adorned in shells, coral, small pebbles and seaweed around your waist. Finally you tightened your long necklace that covered your chest around your neck and back so it wouldn't slip out of place.
The clan cheered when you and the other dancers stepped out on the sand in front of the water. The drums began and the crowd clapped their hands to the beat. You began your dance. Every step precise and every hand movement was exact. You danced with perfect technique but the emotion behind the dance simply wasn't there. You couldn't feel anything except sadness. You hated that this was all happening so fast. Once you finished your dance you felt no joy. You had never experienced this before. Dancing always made you happy no matter how sad you were it just seemed to fix everything, but not this time.
The clan cheered and continued the celebration. You sat down on the sand next to Tsireya. She tried to cheer you up and help you look on the bright side but nothing seemed to work. From the corner of your eye you saw Neteyam approaching. You turned your head towards him and he flash you his usual handsome smile. " Hey, I really liked your dancing." You couldn't help but smile back. At the very least your dancing still made other people happy. " Thank you Neteyam." He shifted his weight on his feet nervously " It's not like how we danced in the Omaticaya clan." He smirked. You were so caught up in your own problems you had forgotten that Neteyam and his whole family had to leave their home with no certainty of ever returning. Suddenly, your situation didn't seem so bad. At least you knew you'd come home. You heart no longer ached for yourself instead it ached for Neteyam. " Would you show me how the Omaticaya dance then?" His face lit up immediately and he held his hand out to help you up. You accepted and he lead you to the open space where some Na'vi were still dancing in celebration. " Ok so this dance is pretty easy you just follow my lead and it fits with almost any song with a fast rhythm." You nodded your head feeling excited to learn a new dance for the first time in a while. Neteyam began to dance and you followed his lead. The dance was easy to pick up and he was very skilled at leading. For a few moments you forgot about everything and just enjoyed your dance with Neteyam. It felt different dancing with Neteyam instead of Aonung. It wasn't bad at all you found yourself smiling and laughing with easy. If Neteyam could leave his home and keep up a brave face then why couldn't you?
Aonung watched from a distance feeling truly awful. He didn't want you to go and he hated that you were spending your last night dancing with someone else and not him. However, he wouldn't let his feelings show. He was too proud and stubborn to show you how much he wanted to keep you away from every other guy that approached you and keep you by his side forever. He had never experienced jealousy like this before and it ate at his core. It made him meaner and it soured his attitude towards others. He pushed himself off the sand and away from the celebration. He found it unbearable to watch someone else make you so happy when lately all he could do was make you angry.