-oeyä yawnetu- Ao'nung x Reader

Chapter 5- Planning an Apology

Ao'nung's POV

Lo'ak followed us out into the sea on his Ilu, splashing and whooping with us. It seemed like he was actually having fun, it was too bad that we were going to abandon him. I gripped my Ilu tighter, knowing it could sense my stress. Did Lo'ak really deserve this? We were the ones messing with Kiri.

I don't have time to feel sympathy for him. He embarrassed me in front of so many people.

Y/n.

Not just her. All my friends, too. Maybe I shouldn't have picked on Kiri. Oh well. We passed over the edge of the reef, and I could tell my Ilu was stressed, too. Predators live outside of the reef. Not to mention the unpredictable waves. It was dangerous out here. I slowed down when I saw an island up ahead. I drew my spear, glancing at my friends, and then to Lo'ak. "Want to try?"

He nodded, his eyes squinting at the sun. He grabbed his own spear, and they all slid off their Ilus. We took off, waiting around a little bit, so that Lo'ak could catch up. We stopped when we saw a group of fish. I signaled to Lo'ak to follow them, so he could get the first kill of the hunt. He obliged quickly, slowly stalking after them. He rounded a corner, and we all looked at eachother. As soon as we were sure he was gone, we swam quickly back to our Ilus.

Leaving Lo'ak.

-

Y/N's POV

Lo'ak had been gone for some time now. Neteyam noticed, too. We went out to the beach, watching as Ao'nung and his friends rode to shore, laughing. Neteyam took big strides to catch them, and when he did, he shoved Ao'nung. "Where's my brother?!" he shouted.

Ao'nung's eyes met mine, his brows furrowing. He mumbled something to Neteyam, as he looked at the ground. I felt my breath catch in my chest, just as Neteyam's face dropped. "Where's our brother?" I hissed at him.

His face contorted into an even worse frown. If I didn't know better, I would have thought it was guilt. "We- I left him," he hesitated, looking at me, "outside the reef."

My heart dropped into my stomach. Him of all people know the dangers of the open ocean. I felt tears welling in my eyes. I was so angry at him. He tried to befriend me, and then betrayed me.

This shouldn't hurt this bad.

But it did. It hurt like nothing else, because we were making progress. I could have forgiven him for picking on my sister. I could have even forgiven him for beating the shit out of my brother, but even that would have taken some convincing. He left my brother to die outside the reef, alone. For a future Olo'eyktan, he was a pretty shitty person.

Neteyam grabbed Ao'nung by the arm, dragging him behind him. I followed behind them, all the way to our marui. Neteyam let go of Ao'nung, as if he was disgusted by him. "Tell him what you told me," Neteyam nodded towards dad.

He confessed that he left Lo'ak, and dad's eyes went wide. He started walking towards Tonowari's marui, preparing to go get his son.

I stayed home with Tuk while they went to find Lo'ak, that day. We sat on the beach, watching the horizon for them. We finally saw them riding in, and Tuk sprung to her feet. "Mama's back!" she turned to me; her eyes were almost sparkling.

I smiled, watching them ride in. Lo'ak was on his Ilu and had additional scratches and bruises. I ran over to him, pulling him into a tight hug. "Careful Y/n, my rubs are bruised."

"What happened out there?"

He smiled, looking at Tsireya. Dad began hollering to him. "You know better than to leave the reef."

Tonowari pitched in, "Ao'nung is at fault. He knows how dangerous the waters are."

All eyes turned to the boys. It was a silent bargain on who would speak first. Lo'ak did, "Ao'nung is not to blame. I asked him to go."

Ao'nung looked at him like he's lost his mind. He went open his mouth to protest, but ultimately decided against it. "Is this true?" Tonowari asked.

"Yes sir," Ao'nung said.

Lo'ak's gaze avoided everyone, and we walked back to our marui. "Why'd you lie?" I asked, finally.

He looked at me, dumbfounded. "I'm not an idiot, Lo'ak. I'm your big sister, I can tell when you're lying," I added.

"He's the Olo'eyktan's son. He has more of a reputation to keep than I do."

I frowned. "You're more important than him Lo'ak. Your mental state is more important than his reputation."

"Not to the clan," he said solemnly.

"Maybe not to the-" he interrupted me, "And not to dad either."

I froze in my place, his words echoing in my head.

And not to dad either.

"Being here is so important to him, and I get it, but it doesn't feel like he cares anymore," Lo'ak said.

"I'm sorry," I pulled him into a tight hug, being careful not to squeeze his ribs this time.

"I see you Lo'ak."

He smiled at me, his eyes welling up with tears. I knew it wasn't me he wanted to hear that from. It was dad.

-

Ao'nung's POV

"How do I apologize for something like that?" I asked Rotxo.

"I don't think you should be focusing on just apologizing to Y/n, Ao'nung. You did leave Lo'ak outside the reef."

I nodded, watching my feet dig into the sand. Lessons with the Sully's were cancelled until Lo'ak's injuries healed. He was attacked by an akura, but saved by a mysterious tulkun. It makes me wonder whose spirit brother it was. The tulkun weren't even back yet so why was one lurking in that area? As if Rotxo read my mind, he said, "Do you think it could have been Payakan?"

I thought for a second, "No, if it had been Lo'ak wouldn't have been found in one piece."

Rotxo hummed, contemplating. Although, why would Lo'ak know that name otherwise? And why would he lie? It just doesn't make sense. "I need to go apologize."

"To whom?" Rotxo inquired, his eyebrows raising.

"To all of them," I responded.