Mune Olo'eyktan [Neteyam x Aonung]

Part 134

The next morning, skies are clear, and the sea is calm. Unfortunately, the Sully family isn't feeling quite as serene as the day they woke to.

Neteyam never came home.

Jake won't leave until he's found, so he sends his squad without him to continue their search. There's a woman who is capable of keeping the others in line, so he puts her in charge.

While the others go out looking for Neteyam, Jake holds Lo'ak back at the den for a moment. He saw the way Kiri looked at him when they realized Neteyam still hadn't returned.

Lo'ak looks up at his father's intimidating expression, and begins to feel small under the weight of the man's hand on his shoulder.

Jake- There's something you aren't tellin' me. Where's your brother?

Lo'ak- I don't know.

Jake- Are you sure?

Lo'ak- Yes.

Jake- Any idea why he would run off?

Lo'ak- I don't know.

Jake- Lo'ak, don't lie to me.

Lo'ak- I'm not.

Yune- Neteyam?

They turn towards the entrance and see Yune looking in, with Aonung behind him.

Yune- Not here either.

Jake- Yeah, we're looking for him too, he hasn't been home since yesterday morning.

Yune- Do you know what happened?

Lo'ak- Don't you say a damn word.

Jake- What happened?

Yune- He did.

Yune looks directly at him, and he shrinks when his father's eyes land on him again.

Jake- What the hell did you do?

Lo'ak- I just yelled at him some. He was the reason Rotxo got hurt.

Yune- Rotxo was hurt because of Aonung.

Lo'ak- What?

Aonung- What the hell are you talking about?

Yune- If he had simply walked away when Neteyam asked, no one would have gotten hurt.

Aonung- I was just keeping that guy away from Rotxo, Neteyam should've stayed out of it.

Yune- Throwing out excuses? Some leader. I thought you are supposed to be responsible for your own actions.

Aonung- Then Lo'ak should be responsible for his.

Lo'ak- I didn't do anything! I just yelled a bit.

Aonung- You punched the hell out of him.

Lo'ak- Well-

Aonung- Shoved him in the dirt, repeatedly.

Lo'ak- I-

Aonung- And stepped on him.

Jake blinks in a surprise. Sure the boys have argued many times over things, but have never physically hurt one another.

Jake- Lo'ak, what the hell?

Lo'ak- I was . . . He . . . He deserved it, alright.

Jake- How could you say that? He's been going through some tough shit, I thought you'd be helping him, not making it worse.

Lo'ak- I was helping! Or at least trying to, but he ditched us!

Jake- So that gave you an excuse to hurt him like that?

Lo'ak- No, I was still gonna help, but . . . Then he hurt Rotxo, and I got mad. I'm just fed up with this.

Jake- Lo'ak, you're his brother. No matter the dumb shit you do, he has always stuck with you.

Lo'ak- . . .

Jake- You wonder why I don't approve of you mating so young, this is why. You can't handle it.

Lo'ak- But, I-

Jake- Go. Don't come back until he's found, and if you find him, apologize.

With a nod, Lo'ak leaves the den with his head held low. Jake faces the other two teens and sighs.

Jake- Look for Neteyam, I'll wait here in case he comes back.

Yune walks off, and Jake sits on a container, trying to keep a level head.

Aonung- Um.

He looks up, seeing Aonung still standing there, looking nervous.

Jake- What is it?

Aonung- Lo'ak isn't the only one that hurt Neteyam. I got fed up with him too, and told him off.

Jake sighs and motions for Aonung to come over to him. The boy walks in, then Jake scoots over to let him sit, and he does so cautiously.

Jake- Don't be scared, I just wanna talk. About Neteyam, and you.

Aonung- I don't think he's a bad guy, really, but it's hard to be considerate of him when he isn't doing the same for me. It pisses me off.

Jake- And it probably pisses him off because you're acting different from what he knows.

Aonung- Things don't exactly feel normal to me either.

Jake- Does it feel like you're starting over? Like someone hit the reset button on your memories?

Aonung- Something like that.

Neteyam- Try having someone hit that button on your entire life.