𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐓, neteyam sully

X

‧˙· 𓆝.° ｡˚𓆛˚｡ °.𓆞 ·˙‧

lo'ak had been missing for hours on end now. the whole village was worried, even the people who didn't care about the omaticaya family.

for once, ionia had gotten herself out of trouble with her parents. she'd told a slight lie, that she was doing training duties around the village, not knowing anything about ao'nung and his idea.

ao'nung didn't snitch either. he went along with her story, knowing that for once, he was in the wrong here and that ionia did not deserve the trouble she'd end with.

"the boy has returned!" someone called out. the sully's and ionia's family rushed towards the dock, where lo'ak was.

lo'ak looked to ao'nung as soon as he stepped off the ilu, shook his head and took a threatening step towards ao'nung; but jake managed to get to lo'ak, stopping him in his step. "let's have a look at you," jake said. he examined his son, while lo'ak kept his gaze on ao'nung. "he's fine, he's fine. just a few scratches!"

neytiri hopped down to her son, placing her hands on his shoulders. "i pray for the strength that i will not pluck the eyeballs out of my youngest son!" lo'ak rolled his eyes at his mother's words.

tonowari spoke up, "no, my son knows better than to take him out of the reef," tonowari pushed ao'nung onto one knee, "the blame is his."

jake nodded, glad for this to be over, "okay, let's go-"

"no," lo'ak said, "this is not ao'nung's fault. this was my idea. he tried to talk me out of it, really!" lo'ak lied.

ionia's head shot towards the younger sully boy, "lo'ak!" she warned. she didn't understand why he would lie about this, especially to keep ao'nung out of trouble.

the sully family walked away, jake dragging lo'ak with him. tonowari pulled his son up, holding onto his arm. "is this true?" ao'nung did not answer.

"ao'nung, what were you thinking?"

‧˙· 𓆝.° ｡˚𓆛˚｡ °.𓆞 ·˙‧

"yes sir," lo'ak said, acknowledging the warning his father had just given him. lo'ak walked away in shame.

neytiri turned to her eldest child, "where were you?" she asked.

"yeah? what happened to keeping an eye on your brother?" jake added

neteyam looked to the ground. he was with ionia, actually enjoying his life for once. not having to stress about being someone he's not, or someone he doesn't actually want to be. just like he had to act right now.

"i was-" neteyam closed his eyes and took a deep breath, "sorry sir," he apologised. neteyam looked to the floor once again and then walked away from his parents.

ionia caught up with him, "hey, 'teyam," ionia called, running up to him and placing her hand on his back.

neteyam smiled to himself at the nickname. ionia had only just begun using it after she heard tuk call him it, and she had to steal it; but it was okay, because tuk would allow it.

"are you okay?" she asked, stopping him eventually, walking round to the front of him so they could talk face to face.

he nodded slightly, but ionia looked up at him with a look that said 'i know you are bullshitting me right now'.

he sighed, "i don't even know how i'm feeling..." he admitted, "i just- there's so much going on. lo'ak went missing, i almost got in trouble for it all, and i'm still not over moving away from my home. and just..." he closed his eyes, deciding whether he would say what he was thinking, "and you."