bound - avatar oc x oc

part 25

Mak'korro did not return home that night.

He had never fought with his father before. Not like that. His brother had always been the one to push boundaries, to raise his voice—but never him. Not until now.

He sat alone beside the rushing waterfall on his secret island, the one place that had always brought him peace. The sound of the crashing water used to calm him. Now, it only seemed to echo the storm inside his chest.

His thoughts were a tangled mess. Torn between the people who raised him and the girl who had quietly taken over his heart. His hands buried into his hair, fingers pressing against his scalp as the headache grew heavier with every conflicting thought.

With a groan, he let his body fall back onto the cool grass. The sky above swirled with stars, but he barely noticed.

Akaia.

He could still feel her laughter in his chest, her voice in his ears, the softness of her hand in his. His heart thudded painfully as memories of the night they spent here replayed in his mind—her smile, her stories, the way she had looked at him like he was something more.

His eyes fluttered shut, and sleep claimed him slowly, dragging him into a dream of a future that was warm and whole... but uncertain. A future with her—and without everyone else.

—

Akaia had waited all day.

She helped her mother with chores, tried to stay distracted, but her eyes kept drifting to the beach, searching for a figure that never came. He had promised to introduce her to his friends. He had sounded so excited. So why wasn't he here?

Her mother eventually noticed the weight in her gaze.

"Why do you frown, daughter? What troubles you?" Neytiri asked gently.

Akaia shook her head. "It's nothing, sa'nok. I just... I think I need to go for a walk. I'll help finish everything later, I promise."

Before Neytiri could ask more, Akaia was already out the door.

She needed to find him.

Her feet took her to the only place that made sense—his family's marui. If he wasn't with her, surely he'd be home.

She moved up the steps cautiously. This was still the Olo'eyktan's home, after all. But when she reached the entrance, she paused. Ronal and Tonowari were talking quietly inside.

Their heads turned as soon as they sensed her presence. Ronal's expression was unreadable. Tonowari's was sharp. Cold. He said nothing, simply turned and walked away.

Akaia blinked, stunned. Her stomach twisted.

Ronal approached with a soft sigh, one hand resting on her belly.

"I'm sorry if I've interrupted," Akaia said quickly. "I was just looking for Mak'korro."

"I wish I could help you," Ronal said quietly. "But we don't know where he is either."

Akaia's eyes widened. "You don't know?"

Ronal shook her head slowly. "He didn't return home last night. I was hoping... maybe he had stayed with you."

"He didn't," Akaia said, her voice faltering. "What happened? Why would he just... leave?"

The Tsahìk exhaled slowly, placing a gentle hand on Akaia's shoulder. "He and his father had a fight last night. A bad one. He hasn't been back since. I believe he is safe—Eywa would have told me otherwise—but he needs space. Time."

"A fight?" Akaia's mind was racing. "But Mak'korro doesn't fight with anyone... especially not his father."

"I cannot tell you the details, sweet girl. That is for him to share when he's ready." Ronal offered a small smile. "But I know my son. He's strong. He'll come home when he's ready."