Courting

Chapter 42

Sorry for the long break, I was extremely unmovtivated after being very busy. It's still here tho <3

At the next joint meal between their families, Ao'nung and Neteyam made efforts to connect with each other's parents. Neteyam made sure to help carry the dishes out, insisting Ronal take a seat instead, while Ao'nung helped Jake convince Tuk to leave her ilu at the edge of the platform they were sitting on. When they gathered around the low table, Neteyam took the place on the corner between Kiri and Ronal, while Ao'nung sat next to Tuk, with Neytiri on his other side. The dinner was filled with many encouraging smiles between Neteyam and Ao'nung, and awkward glances to either side at their boyfriends' parents. Ao'nung managed to start a conversation with Neytiri about braiding, and was asking how she managed to do Neteyam's hair on the day he visited Neykina. She was instantly delighted to explain the intricate details and sectioning involved, and Ao'nung was extremely pleased by her offer to braid his own hair sometime.

"That would be awesome!" Ao'nung exclaimed, nodding excitedly. Neytiri smiled warmly.

"Neteyam tells me you need some practice braiding," she prompted, nodding at her son. Ao'nung blinked, immediately flushed.

"Oh, um, yeah. I never really learnt..." he mumbled, cursing his boyfriend's close relationship with his mother. 

"Well, then you'll just have to learn won't you!" She smiled encouragingly. "I can show you on Nete, he loved getting his hair braided," she told him, now looking lovingly at her son. Ao'nung smiled. 

"That would be wonderful, thank you Neytiri." 

She nodded, then leaning past him to scold Tuk for pushing her food around. Ao'nung glanced at Jake, who gave him an awkward grimace that might have been an attempted smile. Playing along, Ao'nung smiled back, then moved his gaze to Neteyam. Well, the side of his head rather, as Neteyam was busy in conversation with Ronal. To Ao'nung's relief, his mother was smiling slightly, talking in what appeared to be a relaxed manner. From what he could see of Neteyam's face, he was discussing something earnestly with her. Pleased with the scene, Ao'nung relaxed, and decided to actually eat something from his almost untouched plate. 

Neteyam POV

"So, from what I gathered after talking to Ronal," Neteyam began, walking with Ao'nung after dinner. 

"On a first name basis already?" Ao'nung asked sarcastically.

"Jealous?" Neteyam smirked, continuing. "Anyway, it appears she made an effort to teach you to braid this," Neteyam brushed a hand through Ao'nung's long curly hair, which was currently down over his back. "But you didn't reciprocate well to the teaching. That is to say, you 'couldn't be bothered', as your mother put it." Neteyam looked accusingly at Ao'nung, clearly enjoying this. 

"All your mother wanted to talk about was my inability to braid too!" Ao'nung groaned. "Must you lecture me again?" 

"I would never," Neteyam gasped in mock incredulity. "Anyway," he said again. "I suggested that I could teach you, and she agreed! So, lucky you, you will now be spending an extra hour with me everyday!" Neteyam told him with a wide smile. Ao'nung raised his eyebrows, genuinely surprised. 

"Does my father know about this arrangement?" he asked. 

"Presumably," Neteyam responded, grinning and swinging his arms dramatically as he skipped ahead. Ao'nung rolled his eyes, jogging to catch up.

"Would you believe, your mother suggested the same thing!" Ao'nung told him. Neteyam seemed slightly surprised. 

"You talked to my mother about this too?" he asked.