Little Mr Perfect

confrontations and uncertainty

The next day Neteyam decides to return to his own home. "Are you sure about this ?" Ao'nung asks worried, neteyam just nods" I've avoided them to long......". " if it gets to much or your dad is an idiot again you come straight back here !" Ronal orders him as she places a hand on his cheek, he nods in return. He grabs his backpack and leaves the Paora house. He enters his home and gets instant tackled by Tuk " you're back !!!". " im back little sister " he hugs her. He lets her go and tenses a bit as he spots his dad. "You.....its....nice that you finally satying here again...." Jake says with the awkward tension thats filling the hallway. "Yeah...well....i uh better bring my things upstairs.....then see if i can catch up on my schoolwork....." Neteyam sighs and starts walking up the stairs. "Neteyam" he turns around "Yes dad?". Jake opens and closes his mouth a few times trying to find the right words before sighing " Lo'ak got your school stuff ask him about it ". Neteyams shoulders drop and he nods "got it sir " he mumbles before disappearing upstairs. "Hey bro....dad said you got some of my school stuff?" He asks as he enters loaks room. "Yeah on the desk.....Tey....you ok ?" . "I'm ok....just trying to catch up again....cant believe Ao'nung convinced me to skip this long...." . "Tey thats not what i ment.....moms...worried, ronal and Tonowary being on mom and dad's asses about something.....what's going on with you " Neteyam grabs his things and stays quiet before putting on his signature smile "Im ok really....thanks for collecting my school stuff " he quickly leaves the room. Once in his room he sits down and actually works on the missed schoolwork, headphones on to drown out everything else and fully lock in.

He doesnt noticed the time flew by until his mother placed a hand on his shoulder gently. He takes his headphones off and looks at her, she rubs his shoulder a little "you wanna come down and eat with us?" She asks gently "you skipped lunch ....so atleast get some dinner in you " she says though her eyes betray her worry for him. Neteyam wants to decline at first but when he notices the worry in his moms eyes he just nods "I'll be down in a minute " Neytiri smiles and leaves his room. At the dining table Tuk is eagerly telling about the new friend she made at recess, Neteyam does have to admit he missed this sitting with his own family listening to their banter and bickering. Lo'ak eyes him still suspiciously trying to figure out what his brother is hiding. Sure even he noticed his brother getting thinner but he just cant wrap his head around it fully.

They all head to bed early, tuk sleeping over in neteyams room.

The next day Neytiri stays home from work having decided to keep Neteyam out of school for one more day. "Mom?" He asks a bit confused as he enters the living room." Come sit " she pats the space next to her on the couch, he sits down. "Neteyam....im sorry.....sorry for not seeing your struggle....not stepping in when your father was to harsh......" she starts, Neteyam just shakes his head " Mom....non of this is your fault.....I see Ronal really got into your head....." he sighs " im sorry for causing so much worry and conflict..."."do not apologise my son....." she pulls him close so he's cuddled on her side. "Ronal send over the infos about the clinic.....are you willing to go through it.....take a look at it?". " i....i...guess" he says a little nervous. They look at all the info Ronal gave them, also checked out the space online. "That's doesnt seem to bad doenst it ". Netyam just nods, though tensing up a little, this is a lot of new things, uncertainty of what the future might bring.

Over the next few days Neteyam manged to catch up on most of his classes. The tension between him and his dad remaining. Ronal and Neytiri got everything filled out and sorted. And thanks to Ronals connections it doesnt take to long until they get a call back that there is space for him. Now he's in his room packing a few things in a suitcase following the rules and notes they've send. Loak leans in the doorway " you know itll be boring without you.....how long till we can visit or call ?" . " something around a month or so...." he sighs "sorry you have to witness this ". " don't fret it....everyone struggles with something.....just cant believe you opened up to fish lips about it first....". " im sorry loak....i don't know why I told Ao'nung first....also don't call him that ". Loak just rolls his eyes " whatever ". They talk a bit longer while Neteyam finishes up packing, last things to go into his suitcase are a few of his books and a few notebooks especially the one he tracks everything in. "You all packed " their mom joins them in his room" i guess.....". Loak leaves as Tuk calls for him to play with him. "Youre brooding again", she lifts a brow " i....what if it doesnt work.....if I don't get better......then you did all this for nothing......". " Neteyam! You don't have to be ok right away...this....this takes time and it will get better " she hugs him close kissing the top of his head. He just hugs her back enjoying this embrace. " ok.....you ready?" She asks after a few moments, he nods "c-can we take Ao'nung with us ?". " Ao'nung? ....sure if you want that". They head downstairs, netyam informed aonung about it all. In the hallway to the front door he says goodbye to his siblings for now, just a quick one to his dad before putting his suitcase in the trunk and sitting down on the backseat. They pick up Ao'nung and off they are to the next step in his life though and uncertain and scary one.