Luminous Nights [Neteyam x Aonung]

Luminous Days : Part 3

After a few minutes of lying on his back, and pretending the guards didn't just watch him lose a fight with his boyfriend, Aonung finally leans himself up and feels his spine pop a little.

He stands with a stretch, slightly turned on by the fact that Neteyam could even slam him like that, but still highly upset they ended up arguing.

He knows it's his fault, and knows Neteyam is just worried for him, but there's no use in worrying about something that can't be fixed.

Perhaps, even though he'd hate to relive it, after he lets the blue boy cool off he could properly explain everything, to at least let him see why it's a lost cause and hope Neteyam leaves it be.

Who is he kidding? Not only does he know Neteyam wouldn't leave it alone, he's not even sure he could tell him.

It shouldn't be too hard for him after all this time. After all, it's not like he'll ever have to face that nightmare with his eyes open.

His friends keep reminding him it's nothing but a memory now. He keeps forgetting that fact often these days, since for some reason he's been remembering the feeling left in his stomach after such brutal blows that happened years ago.

He managed to ignore it before, when Haeda kept stirring it up, but something about after graduation made it stick.

Perhaps because it was an all too familiar scene, enjoying himself so much without a care. He couldn't help but think something bad would happen again after that, which caused him to snap at Neteyam that night.

He became frustrated, for even allowing himself to be affected by the memory, and it brought many toxic things to his mind. Things from that nightmare. Which ultimately led to this fight.

One of the guards opens the door for him, and he walks in with a sigh, hoping his mother made one of his favorites for dinner. The door closes behind him, and his father comes from behind the staircase with a smile.

He's seen the man smile many times before, when he's genuinely happy and enjoying himself, but even though this look is familiar, it's nothing like that.

He's seen it before; The strained, almost lifeless lie of a smile looking like a mask on a dead expression.

There's only one other time he can really remember his father wearing this face, and that was about four years ago, near the changing of seasons, when-

Tonowari- Aonung, you're just in time. Someone is here to see you.

A large, much older man comes from behind his father with a grin on his face, and Aonung's heart drops to his stomach and is replaced by a beating pincushion.

Yonohan- So you've grown into a man. Let's hope it isn't just a look. (chuckles)

He can't believe his eyes. His nightmare just returned to reality. His vocabulary no longer exists. His brain has completely shut down. The only thing he can think of is running, but he can't, he's petrified.

Tonowari- Aonung.

Aonung- Oh, uh . . . Hello, Grandfather. You came for me?

Yonohan- Yes. It's time to start thinking of your future. What's a man without his wealth? Well, there's status, but you can't have one without the other.

The man chuckles, and Aonung smiles awkwardly, letting out a breath of air in an attempt to pretend to laugh with him.

With a family lineage filled with many Olo'eyktans of the Metkayina clan, money has always been a family privilege, but every leader has gone down the road of making money in a different way. Whether it be running a city, or company, etc.

Being the head of a peaceful clan, not at any war, in all honesty, is boring to Tonowari. At this point he considers it free money. And running a city, where the authorities handle most things, is also not fulfilling to the man. Therefore, he works a regular job less for the money and more so he'll have something to do.

Tonowari's father, Yonohan, is here to ensure that Aonung does something similar. It's a way to be certain the boy never becomes lazy, and to make sure he realizes hard work is what's rewarded.

Yonohan- Let us discuss this in the living room.

Ronal comes from the dining room, after sitting Rain in her high chair, and confronts them as Tsireya takes her place at the table.

Ronal- I was actually about to serve dinner. Let him eat first.

Yonohan- He can eat after we talk. Time is money, and this is important.

Ronal- You need food to live, this is more important than some discussion.

Yonohan- You need money to buy that food, so in a way, money is more valuable. As is my time over yours, so go back in the kitchen and wait until we're done discussing how your son will make his own.

Ronal's blood boils as Yonohan ushers Aonung over to the living room after degrading her authority again.

Tonowari gives her an apologetic look before joining the other two, but nothing could make her hate this man any less.

She often wonders how Tonowari turned out the way he did living under a roof with such a tyrant.