Ocean Skies - Loreya

Those Little Secrets

A/N: Happee b-day to me lol

Lo'ak is buzzing with excitement — he's visibly shaking with absolute joy at all times during the day.

He's buzzing with unfiltered happiness that makes Neytiri smile and Kiri roll her eyes.

He doesn't say anything about Neteyam and Ao'nung's mating to anyone. He feels honoured to be the first person Neteyam has told about it — even Kiri is yet to know.

He assumes Tsireya knows, but just in case she doesn't, Lo'ak doesn't mention it during the time they spend together in their secret little spot. She says nothing about what she speaks with Ao'nung, so Lo'ak bites his tongue, even if he wants to really really squeal in happiness to someone who isn't Neteyam.

He's always wanted his brother to find a good mate.

"You know," Neteyam begins casually as he sits beside his brother on the beach, working on a neck piece with skilled fingers. "I know you've been following me around."

Lo'ak furrows his brows; for a moment, he genuinely doesn't know what Neteyam is talking about. "What?"

His eyes are kind when Neteyam responds, securing a new bead among the many. "When I snuck out at night. I know you followed me."

Lo'ak tenses, eyes widening. His fingers stop moving, a handful of tiny crimson shells in his palm.

Neteyam's face softens, his smile faint on his gentle face. He frees one of his hands and pats his brother's knee. "I'm not mad. I let you come along so you can learn of the courting customs."

Lo'ak's mouth suddenly feels very dry and his cheeks heat up, dusting indigo. "I— Uh."

Neteyam seems to be in a talkative mood; he sets his work aside and leans back on his hands, stretching his legs out and wiggling his toes. "It worked, didn't it? You've got the red shells."

Mutely, Lo'ak can only nod, pale yellow eyes wide and nervous as he stares at his older brother.

Tenderly, Neteyam places a hand on his cheek, caressing just under Lo'ak's eye with his thumb. "I plan to tell our parents tonight. About Ao'nung and I."

"That's great—" Lo'ak chokes out weakly as Neteyam pulls him closer, letting the younger male press into his side.

Neteyam swallows, hesitating. "I remember when you tried to talk to dad about Metcayina courting. How it's accepted among this clan to have a mate of the same gender. You did that for me, didn't you?"

Lo'ak hums in agreement.

Neteyam presses a kiss to the side of his head and curls his tail losely around his brother's nervously twitching one. "Can I tell you something?"

Lo'ak perks up. "Sure."

Neteyam, nervous, hesitates. It doesn't go unnoticed by Lo'ak that he tenses up slightly as he tries to find what to say. "Ao'nung was already my mate when I was shot."

Suddenly, it all makes sense. The way Ao'nung had been clutching at his own chest the same spot the bullet had torn into. Lo'ak feels tears in his eyes.

"He felt it, didn't he?" Lo'ak whispers, voice trembling slightly. He shifts so he can lace his fingers with his brother's, squeezing gently. "Because you're soulmates in Eywa's eyes."

Neteyam, for a few seconds, doesn't react, nor respond. He reaches into his pouch and tugs out the delicate, silky ribbon. He sets it carefully over his thighs with the hand that is not holding Lo'ak's. Shyly, he glances at his brother's face from the corner of his eyes.

Even bonded na'vi do not feel each other's physical pain so clearly unless they make Tsaheylu — but Ao'nung had felt what happened to Neteyam without that. He had felt Neteyam slip from his mind for the brief moment where Eywa had caressed his soul, ready to welcome her child back to her.

Because Neteyam's heart had stopped for a moment.

It was only Neytiri's frantic pressing on his chest that saved him.

For the faintest of moments, Ao'nung had felt Neteyam die.

Lo'ak takes a long, shaky breath, the realisation spreading across his body like the blood rushing through his veins. "Oh, brother—"

They feel each other at all times — Lo'ak has heard stories of true soulmates. One could simply prick a finger and the other would feel it.

Neteyam distracts him by handing him the string. Lo'ak takes it carefully, letting go of his brother's hand to hold it delicately in both his own. He rubs his thumb over the fabric, mesmerised.

"How did you know that you're soulmates?" Lo'ak asks suddenly, perking up.

Neteyam bites the inside of his cheek. "When he came to confess to me that he left you beyond the reef, I grabbed him by his kuru and yanked on it rather hard. I felt it in my own skull."

Lo'ak cackles quietly and shakes his head, handing the string back. "You're welcome, bro."

Neteyam huffs out a laugh and wraps an arm around Lo'ak's shoulder. "Where would I be without you?"

"Single."

Neteyam snorts loudly, startling a nearby bird. It squeaks and scurries away — a flightless creature with tiny wings. Too small for any na'vi to consider it a meal.

"Hey, bro?"

"Yes, Lo'ak?"

Lo'ak sighs softly through his nose and lets out a soft noise alongside it. "When did you two make the bond? Because you told me a while back that he's courting you, but that doesn't add up."

Neteyam flushes, averting his gaze. "The bond was... unplanned."

"That's why you said it was difficult, right?" Lo'ak begins working on his own craft, sewing on the little red shells carefully. "When you didn't want to tell me who was courting you."

Neteyam nods slowly, scrunching up his nose, a hand rubbing at his scar absent-mindendly. Lo'ak knows that's a habbit. "Yeah. That's why."

They sit in comfortable silence after that for an entire hour. Lo'ak had been silently working up his courage to speak throughout that entire time as they sat together, making their own necklaces.

There's a lump in his throat and try as he might, it won't go away, no matter how many times Lo'ak swallows. His stomach burns with nerves and on his eighth try, Lo'ak finally finds his voice.

He clears his throat and sets his needle to the side, not wanting to stab himself if he got too jumpy. "Can I tell you something, too?"

"Of course, baby bro." Neteyam stiffles a yawn, caught off guard by his brother's words. He rubs at his eyelids and turns to fully face Lo'ak, tucking his legs under himself. "Something on your mind?"

A lot. A lot is on Lo'ak's mind, but one thing more than ever. He decides to admit all his biggest fears.

"Dad hurts me."