Not a Soldier Yet |Ao'nung x Neteyam|

14. Rainclouds

"Kiri, what is the meaning of this. That is the Olo'eyktan's son!" Neytiri gasped, watching her eldest daughter drag Ao'nung into their marui mercilessly. She almost did not recognise the young na'vi girl, having never seen her so angry before. Neytiri rushed to them, grabbing Kiri's wrist, forcing her to let go. Jake jumped up from his seat but did not walk over.

"He hurt Neteyam," Kiri cut her off, making Lo'ak raise from his sleeping spot, shoulders tensed, jaw clenched. He moved to step closed to Ao'nung, but Jake stopped him, grabbing his arm and shaking his head.

"Is this true, Ao'nung? You hurt my son?" Neytiri asked, eyes widened in distrust.

"No, I-" -I kissed him.

"Are you the one who has been pulling his tsaheylu and leaving fingernail marks on his skin?" Neytiri's suppressed rage bubbled to the surface as she stared Ao'nung down.

Jake stepped in between them, pushing Kiri away gently. "Neytiri -" he muttered in her ear, watching as it twitched. "Calm down, my love."

Ao'nung lowered his head as Tsireya brought Tuk inside hesitantly, having only just caught up with them. "My brother would never do such a thing. This must be a misunderstanding. "

Neytiri eyed the young Metcayina girl, lips pursed before she shook her head in great disappointment. Ao'nung swallowed thickly, knowing that his sister's words were anything but true. He would do it - he had done it.

"Let us clear up this misunderstanding then," Jake replied, gesturing for everyone to sit down. Tuk ran to him, Jake wrapped her in a comforting embrace. Ao'nung felt a pang in his chest. He desperately longed for comfort after what had just happened to him. It felt like his heart had been ripped out, stepped on, and thrown back into his chest carelessly.

"I was- I compliment the necklace Neteyam had made. I was trying to be nice, but he got upset with me and stormed off." Ao'nung did not lie, but it still felt like it.

"That does not sound like my son." Neytiri placed her hands on her hips. She had refused to sit down, towering over everyone. On her neck was the very necklace they had just spoken about. Ao'nung was beginning to associate it with pain. He was growing to dislike the delicate beauty Neteyam had created.

Jake nudged Tuk to the side, standing suddenly. "That's the problem! Nothing sounds like Neteyam anymore. Nothing he does is what he would have done just months ago. Don't you get it? He's suffering, and we haven't been doing shit to help him."

Desperately, Jake reached for Neytiri, eyes wide with a pain only a distraut father could feel. He grabbed her shoulders - Ao'nung felt like he was intruding on something private - and pulled her close, golden eyes peering into his mate's similar pair.

Tsireya shared a look with Ao'nung - a look of sympathy he did not feel he really deserved. He had been part of the reason Neteyam became the way he was. Kiri watched him intently before she too hung her head in shame, eyes shining with tears. Tuk was crying silently in Lo'ak's arms, who appeared to be the most furious out of everyone in the room, silent rage written all over his features.

"We have to find Neteyam, " Jake said suddenly.

"Shouldn't we wait for him to come back?" Kiri asked. "To give him the space he needs?"

"Babygirl, we have given him more than enough space," Jake replied, turning to face his eldest daughter. "He always returned bleeding or bruised. I can not let that happen again."

Kiri swallowed, hugging herself tightly. Tsireya grabbed one of her hands, trying to comfort her. "We will help you find him."

Neytiri left without a word, taking her bow with her. Ao'nung's heart dropped, feeling thought he had just been drenched in boiling water and needles.

"Come, brother, we must alert father-"

"Please," Jake raised his hands in surrender. "Do not trouble the Olo'eyktan. Neteyam cannot be too far. I'm more than thankful if the two of you help. That's already more than I could ask for."

Ao'nung's ears flattened. He pursed his lips and walked out with Tsireya, who was followed by Lo'ak. Kiri had stayed back to look after Tuk, who had been too distraut to even attempt getting on an ilu to search for her brother.

"Lo'ak, where do you think he could be?" Tsireya asked, taking the youngest Sully boy's hand in herd delicately. Lo'ak could not offer an answer, looking absolutely crestfallen. Neteyam must have had a favourite hidden spot somewhere on the island by now - just as he had back home until Lo'ak found it.

Ao'nung felt it wad better if he looked for Neteyam alone. He wanted to know why the other had reacted the way he had. He needed to know. Otherwise, he felt his heart my shatter completely.

Netayam was beyond the reef, sitting on a rock, hugging his knees. He was not crying. The Omaticaya was examining the wound on his hand where the skin had torn from the force of his most recent punches. Neteyam hated fighting - unless if it was just a game. With Lo'ak, their fights were mere playful tumbles. Neteyam only ever fought Ao'nung in such a manner since coming here. He wondered why the other had kissed him - he felt used and borderline violated. Neteyam was not sure he could ever trust anyone to love him the same pure way he his younger brother was loved by Tsireya. Perhaps only girls could love in such a way. Neteyam signed, lying on his back. He had no idea how long he had been out there - he found himself not caring whether his family was worried about him. He deemed himself selfish for wanting the others to worry about him.

Neteyam spotted a few birdlike creatures flying above him as clouds gathered on the clear blue sky. Neteyam touched his fingers to his lips lightly, stomach fluttering nervously as he recalled the feeling of Ao'nung's lips pressing against his own. The feeling itself was not bad, Neteyam's lips had tingled, but what such a gesture meant had filled Neteyam with so much fear that he could not see straight.

The first few raindrops fell from the sky, tapping his forehead lightly. Neteyam heaved a sigh and allowed himself to drift off into a restless, uncomfortable sleep, hoping nobody came looking for him.