Not a Soldier Yet |Ao'nung x Neteyam|

10. Peace in My Violence

When he arrived home, his father had dragged him straight to the Olo'eyktan, not even waiting for an explanation. Jake demanded the situation be dealt with. They had asked for shelter, safety; this was not it. His bleeding son was not shelter.

Tonowari seemed disappointed and ordered some of his warriors to find Ulro and his friends. His hand caressed Ronal's lower back as he eyes Neteyam, trying to find the answer - Tonowari did not expect such a thing to happen.

Neteyam was numb to everything that was happening around him, not speaking unless spoken to, and even then only answering questions. Tsireya was hugging her brother's arm, cheeks moist with tears as she eyed Neteyam's raw wounds and bloodshot eyes. Even Ao'nung seemed just the slightest bit distraut by the sight before him.

Ronal tended to his wounds silently, explaining some of the rules of the Metcayina to Neteyam, assuring him that Ulro would be punished for what he had done, but Neteyam was not entirely sure he believed that would solve his problems. He was afraid the punishment would only fuel Ulro's anger further.

The next couple of hours went by in a muted blur; Neteyam shut down. He closed his mouth after he admitted the cruel comments about his body and refused to say anything more until the sun had set. Tonowari had pulled him aside gently, leaning down to be eye-level with the forest na'vi. The leader tried to get him to talk, but Neteyam only stared ahead, zoned out completely. Numb. It was as though nothing mattered anymore.

At home, he yanked his arm free when Neytiri tried to pull him in for a hug, blinking back tears. He chewed his lower lip bloody.

Neteyam did not say good night when he went to sleep that night, nor the following nights for the next couple of weeks. By the time the phrases of the moon completed a full cycle, he had stopped going to lessons as well, hiding in hidden caves or the tallest trees.

He braided his own hair but added no beads. Then, he removed them, yanking the braids loose in frustration. Nothing felt right.

His throat was raw from the screams he let loose under the water. He was not allowed to leave the marui at night anymore, despite the security being heightened. Jake always caught him trying to sleep out.

Sometimes, Neteyam trashed in his sleep, shouting or calling for his ikran. He could not stop his thoughts running wild even if he closed his eyes and hugged Tuk close.

One morning, Neteyam startled awake silently. His family was still sleeping, snoring softly. The sun was barely rising. He heard hushed voiced outside his marui; Neteyam stood, running his fingers through his loose hair to untangle it somewhat. He recognised the voice and saw red.

It was unintentional, but Ulro was talking to one of his friends nearby. The Metcayina's ears flattened when he noticed Neteyam, but he did nothing. Neteyam wondered what his punishment was. The friend, one Neteyam had never seen before, did not notice the Omaticaya, chattering softly to Ulro, who stopped listening long ago, eyeing Neteyam with undisguised distrust as Neteyam walked closer to them, eyes hooded and fists clenched by his sides.

Ulro gestured for his friend to leave; then he turned to fully face Neteyam as the shorter na'vi stopped and stood right in front of him. They were left alone, standing by the water on the soft sand.

"You think you can bend me over, is it?" Neteyam hummed, head tilting to the side and thin tail swirling wildly behind his back.

Ulro pursed his lips, staying silent. Neteyam circled him, the air around them chilling, colder than the night.

"You're just a coward," Neteyam whispered, showing his own arms. Two small, straight lines went down clean in the middle. Light scratches. "You mocked me for being different, but we bleed the same. I bleed because I wanted to. You will bleed because I made you."

Ulro gulped. Here, on land, he was not nearly as strong as in the water. The Metcayina took a step back - that was his mistake. Neteyam lunged for him, knocking Ulro to the ground and locking his thighs around the male's hips, pinning him down and smashing his fist into his nose. Ulro shouted out in pain, accompanied by the sound of breaking bones, a sickening crunch.

The beach was empty except for the two of them. Ulro flipped them over, but Neteyam grasped his queue and pulled with all his might, muscles flexing under his skin. Ulro hissed, clawing at a Neteyam's hand, trying to fight his way free, but now that Neteyam had him, he was not letting the water na'vi go. Not until he suffered the same way Neteyam had. Neteyam knew he had broken the older male's nose, the sight of blood smearing across Ulro's face, edging him on further. Something broke within him - that something was what kept his violent tendencies in check.

"Say it, " Neteyam hissed in Ulro's ear. "Tell me all the things you want to do to me, don't be shy now."

Ulro swallowed, pupils shrinking in disgust. Neteyam was holding him in place by his queue; his other hand grabbed Ulro's throat, squeezing. The Metcayina stayed silent, defiance clear in his pale blue gaze. The blood dripping down his chin was a deep contrast compared to his teal skin.

Neteyam rolled his eyes.

"What's the matter? Are you too scared to say anything?"

"No, you freak-"

Neteyam yanked on his queue, forcing a whine from Ulro's throat. "I would best your teeth out right now. Of only it was night time."

The Metcayina began to struggle in Neteyam's hold, finally breaking free.

"You're disgusting -"

Neteyam scoffed, fist smashing into Ulro's mouth, the boy's teeth breaking the skin of his knuckles. Ulro stumbled back, clutching his face as pain blossomed all over his mouth. Neteyam did not hesitate, he reached for the other's shoulders and kneed him in the stomach as hard as he could. Ulro fell to the ground on his knees, groaning.

Not being able to think straight, Neteyam aimed for the other's head, knocking him unconscious with a kick to his temple.

The violence felt comforting, he tapped his fingertips to his wounded knuckles. The first horn of the morning sounded. Neteyam walked away without looking back.