To our little ones || Aonung x Neteyam

Chapter 20: Amends

Kiri kneeled in the grass, it was a sunny morning and things were still tense among everyone, since Ao'nung and Tsireya weren't on speaking terms they barely came out of their bedroom, so Kiri to keep Tuk and herself busy, she had asked Tonowari if she could take care of the little garden in the side of the house, and luckily he had agreed.

She cleared the dirt out of her face with the back of her hand as she watched Tuk dozing off on a nearby bench. Kiri smiled at the sight before her attention was caught by the sound of a carriage approaching.

She took off the apron that protected her dress from getting dirty and walked to the front of the house to investigate, being pleasantly surprised by the picture of Rotxo holding a briefcase in one hand and his coat in the other.

"Rotxo!" She got his attention while she approached him with hurried steps until she was almost running.

"Kiri!" His smile grew wide and he walked to meet her halfway, but as they were too busy being excited to see each other Kiri failed to see the small bump on the ground.

Her shoe got stuck, tripping her forward as a choked scream came out of her mouth. Luckily Rotxo was fast enough to drop what he was holding to open his arms and embrace her to avoid her touching the ground, but the impact was enough to make him fall flat on his back with his arms around her.

They bursted laughing in each other's arms, Kiri laying on top of him hiding her embarrassment against his chest. Eventually, she pushed herself up keeping her hands by each side of his head looking down at him.

"I missed you."

Rotxo was about to respond when the faintest green around Kiri's eye cached his attention, making him sit properly with Kiri still seated on his lap.

"What happened?" His hand hovered around the wound but he didn't touch her, too afraid it would hurt her.

"A lot." She tried to laugh it off but he kept his worried expression.

After a brief explanation of all the things he had missed in the few days he was gone, they agreed to go inside the house to catch up on the book they had been reading together. Kiri took Tuk to the study room followed closely by him.

" I will put my things away, I'll be back in a moment." Rotxo excused himself to his bedroom to throw his briefcase and coat carelessly, not wasting his time as he strode to the next door bursting inside the room and closing it with a slam.

"What is wrong with you!? Don't you knock!?" Ao'nung had been startled by it that he had to put a hand on his chest to calm his heartbeat.

"Happy to see you too." He frowned crossing his arms over his chest. "Care to explain what the hell happened? I was gone for four days and the first thing I notice when I'm back is the bruise on Kiri's face!"

"Her face has bruised?" Ao'nung gave him a half look, trying to hide the shame on his face.

"How do you not know this!? When was the last time you went out of your bedroom?" Rotxo scoffed at his lack of response, taking a seat by his desk. "Ao, what happened?"

"Kiri didn't tell you?"

"Of course she did but it was obvious that she was sugar-coating things. I want the truth, how did you manage to mess up this badly?"

"Well don't look at me like that. Why am I the one to be blamed when Lo'ak is the one at fault?" He mumbled getting away from the window to begin pacing under Rotxo's gaze.

"Because if what I heard is true, then I doubt he was the one to throw the first punch."

"Wouldn't you have done the same?" Ao'nung scoffed. "If you have been the one to find them, wouldn't you have reacted violently?" He saw Rotxo grimace as he rubbed his eyes already stressed.