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You swam from your clan on the Metkayina waters; you ran from your home once war was sought out there by your own brother. He felt he should be the next olo’eyktan, but your parents thought it best that you and your mate ruled rather than your angry brother. Once you knew he was coming for you, you left. Your parents knew, but you had to leave. Mostly, part of the reason for leaving is that you need to find a mate. One that could rule by your side, one that could best your brother and his unending wrath.
You swam to the next closest clan in the eastern sea; you happened to know the olo’eyktan and tshaik well. Tonowari and Ronal allowed you to stay; they knew a lot of what your brother was like. You didn’t plan to come here and mate with Ao’nung, but once Ronal mentioned it to you, it wasn’t an awful idea.
You’ve known Ao’nung and his sister Tsireya for a long time. Although you weren’t super close, you were good friends with them. Tsireya was thrilled to have a new sister, as you would be living with the olo’eyktan. Ao’nung, however, was different. He thought you were pretty, but he couldn’t care less; he had someone.
The Sullys arrived here months ago now, Ao’nung and Neteyam didn’t get off on the right foot initially, but now they were sneaking around behind everyone’s back.
Ao’nung knew he needed to mate eventually; his parents would be furious if he never produced an heir. As of right now, all Ao’nung was concerned with was Neteyam, what he was doing and where he was going. He didn’t care about anything but this boy, he was smitten with him. Neteyam could say the same, Ao’nung was all he ever needed. The two of them outwardly to everyone else just seemed like good friends, but when the two of them were alone, they were acting like a mated pair.
It was easy to pick up on some of their body language if you were looking, but even if you caught it, most would attribute it to their close friendship. You did too, you just thought that they were best bros, until you caught them.
They just so happened to be by some trees by the shore; they sat next to each other with Neteyam’s arm around Ao’nung’s shoulders. Ao’nung relaxed his body into Neteyam’s, and they would talk about whatever came to their minds and would occasionally laugh.
You happened to be walking the shoreline when you saw them, that definitely didn’t look like best friends. Someone like Ao’nung would never do that with someone other than his mate, so why was he doing it with Neteyam? Then Neteyam kissed Ao’nung’s forehead? That left you very confused; you weren’t sure what was going on.
That’s how you were the first to know of their relationship.
You actually became good friends with the guys.
You, Ao’nung, and Neteyam went out on ilus; the boys felt safe to be themselves around you. You would smile as you saw them interact, they were so in love that it made your heart smile. Sometimes, you felt like the biggest third wheel they were so deeply in love that you could see.
You went out to explore this cave that Ao’nung and Neteyam had found and claimed as their own. They would go out there commonly to be alone and away from the world. They came here often to be alone; they didn’t have to worry about others seeing them here. You felt honoured that you even got to see this spot, it would later become a safe place for you too.
You went into the cave with the boys, you came up from under the water and saw a dark cave being lit up by bioluminescent algae. It was gorgeous; you couldn’t help the amazement on your face, Ao’nung looked at you as you smiled. Neteyam and Ao’nung looked at each other and smirked.
Ao’nung had to admit he loved Neteyam more than anything, but when you came back. He had seen you again; it had been so long, and he thought you were quite pretty. He felt bad for having these feelings towards you and not saying anything to Neteyam.
You had sat in the cave for hours talking like you normally did outside in the sand or out splashing in the waters. You were close with these boys, knowing their dark secret helped.
Ao’nung talked to Neteyam that night; he was nervous to bring up the idea of liking you. He wanted to propose to Neteyam the idea of having you join them.
Ao’nung had met Neteyam at night on the beach like they usually did. Ao’nung sat down next to Neteyam; he could tell Ao’nung wanted to tell him something.
“What is it, syulang? I can tell you’re burning to ask me something,” Neteyam said.
“I do want to tell you something. I’m just not sure how to approach it,” Ao’nung said with uncertainty on his face.
“You can say anything to me, and I’d never judge you. You know that.”
“I know, I just don’t think there would be turning back from this.”
“We can work on it together if you tell me.”
“I think, I think I like (y/n). Like I like like her.”
Neteyam’s face showed shock before he kissed Ao’nung, “she is quite pretty.”
“I wanted to propose her joining us.”
“I think I would like that.”
Ao’nung’s face lit up, he then pushed Neteyam over and started to kiss him many times.
They planned to tell you the following night; that way, they could talk further about it.
In the morning, when Ao’nung woke up, he felt this sense of joy in the air. He walked out to see his parents, and that's when his mom asked for him to meet in the tshaik tent.
“What’s this about mom?”
“Your father and I have been talking…”
“And?”
“We want you to mate with (y/n). She needs to take over her parents’ spot as tshaik and you as her olo’eyktan.”
Ao’nung’s face held shock; he couldn’t believe it. He liked you, but then there was Neteyam. He knew why you left and came here, but clearly, there was more than you let on. “Why her?”
“Because you will be a good leader, and you will be able to fight.”
“Why me? Don’t I have to be here?”
“Your sister can lead. We need you to help the people.”
“Why can’t she stay here?”
“They need a new leader, and her brother can’t be the one.”
“What about her brother?”
“Her brother is unfit to lead, and that’s all you need to know. You will mate with her. Bring her a courting gift tomorrow.”
Ao’nung wanted to fight back, but he knew his mother was at her wit's end. He knew there was no fighting her; his mother always had the last word. Ao’nung knew there was no way out of this, but he was also super pissed off now. Ao’nung went to Neteyam, Ao’nung knew Neteyam would understand and comfort him. Ao’nung found Neteyam sitting by the shore, he sat next to him and sighed before resting his head on Neteyam.
“What’s wrong.”
“Remember how we talked about potentially letting (y/n) in on our thing?”
“Yeah, what about it?”
“My mother just told me I have to mate with her.”
“Neteyam moved away slightly and looked at Ao’nung in the eyes, “you serious?”
“Yeah, she kind of stopped me and said that she and my father wanted it and that it has to happen, and there’s no other way. Then there was something about her brother and that he’s unfit to lead to I would have to go back with her.”
“Ao’nung, that’s too much. What are we going to do? You can’t leave. What if she doesn’t accept us, or what if she does but doesn’t want you or doesn’t want me, or what if she-“
Ao’nung kissed Neteyam to stop his incessant worrying, “we will work it out. Don’t worry.”
“But either way, we would have to go back to her clan,” Neteyam said.
“We talk with her tomorrow, find out what’s really going on. Plus, my mother wants me to talk with her tomorrow and bring her a courting gift.”
“Are we going to ask her tomorrow to join us then?”
“I’m okay with that if you’re okay with it.”
“Let’s do it.”
The following morning, you were off to do your chores, and when you were finally more secluded by the waters, you saw Ao’nung and Neteyam coming over to you. You didn’t think much of it; you hung around the lovers often. You were sitting on the sand, fixing fishing nets and reknotting it. Ao’nung squatted down next to you, his strong thighs right next to you. Ao’nung held a necklace in his hand; you looked up from his muscular thighs and up into his eyes.
“We have a question?”
“We?” You couldn’t stop yourself from smiling as Ao’nung talked for both himself and Neteyam next to him.
“Yes, the both of us.”
“What is it?”
“We uh, we want you to join us,” Ao’nung presented you with the necklace.
“Wait, like join you both, as in you both courting me?”
“Yes, you’re the only one that knows about us, and my mother wants me to court you of course, she doesn’t know about him. But we were just talking about wanting you to join us when my mother told me, and I figured that was a sign.”
“I’ll join you both,” you smiled at both of them.
Ao’nung went to put the necklace on you as Neteyam sat down next to you. Ao’nung tied the necklace off, he sat down on the other side of you and watched as you played with Neteyam’s braids like normal.
“I did have one question though.”
“What is it?” You asked, looking away from Neteyam.
“My mom said some stuff about your brother; she said that I would have to go back to your clan because your brother can’t lead. Why?”
You looked down at your lap, suddenly, the ribbons on your loincloth were particularly interesting. “My brother can’t lead. He’s just not right.”
“Why not? What did he do?” Neteyam said as he took your hand into his lightly.
“He’s just angry and doesn’t want the best for the people. He only got angrier when my parents chose me to lead. He’s violent when he’s angry and I had to leave for my safety. I came here because I needed to find a mate, bring them home and banish him. I don’t even know if I want that.”
“Suylang, that’s awful,” Ao’nung said.
“I didn’t have a choice; I don’t even know if I want to go back.”
“You shouldn’t have to,” Neteyam said.
“But all those people, my family. I just wish my brother wasn’t so angry.”
Ao’nung brushes some hair off your forehead, “you’re not going to do anything you don’t want to do. We will be here to protect you.”
Weeks passed, and Ao’nung’s mom was happy that he was courting you and seemed to be getting along with you quite well. Ao’nung’s mother and father were getting him ready to eventually lead and leave with you to go to your clan. Ao’nung was just happy to have you and Neteyam by his side.
But eventually, all good things must come to an end.
You were sitting on the pathway by all the maruis; you had your arm around both of their shoulders. You were just spending time with your boys; you were happy here with them.
The past few days, you couldn’t help the feeling of being watched. You figured it might just be from your boys, but it was hard to brush off. You felt like whenever you looked into the water, something was staring back, and it made you extremely anxious.
Sitting on the ledge of the bouncy pathway, looking into the water where your feet hovered above it, you felt like you could see it.
You felt Ao’nung kiss your shoulder; he knew how anxious you had been recently. He could feel your hand playing with his hair more and mindlessly, lightly scratching his skin; he could tell something was bothering you.
“Are you okay?”
“Do you see something in the water?”
“No, I don’t see anything, syulang,” Ao’nung said to you.
“I don’t see anything either,” Neteyam said as well.
“I could’ve sworn, but maybe not.”
“We're here, you have nothing to worry about,” Ao’nung kissed you.
That’s when something grabbed your ankle and pulled you down into the water; you grabbed onto Ao’nung as you were forced underwater. Ao’nung and Neteyam went into the water with you only to see you try your hardest to get away from another Na’vi. Your body flailed around in the water; bubbles were being pushed around, blocking a lot of Neteyam’s and Ao’nung’s vision.
Your boys grabbed your arms and tried to pull you away from the grasp of this Na’vi, but they were too strong. You struggled occasionally you’d get free, but you wouldn’t get far before their hands were on you again. Ao’nung got out of the water to get help clearly he and Neteyam weren’t strong enough.
Ao’nung went for his father; he didn’t know what else to do.
A few minutes later, Tonowari showed up, he and Ao’nung dove into the water and saw you still fighting. Your body was scraped up from the Na’vi’s hands on your legs, feet, hands, and arms. Tonowari tried to pull this Na’vi away from you; you were going to drown at some point soon, he knew that much. You were screaming and losing so much air, not to mention the water you were inhaling, Tonowari knew he had no other choice.
Tonowari brought his spear, if it was you or this Na’vi, it was going to be you.
Tonowari threw his spear, and it hit the Na’vi right in the chest. It was enough for you to get away enough to breathe, you went to the surface and continued to swim towards the shore. It was quite far away as the Na’vi had pulled you farther and farther away from the clan. When you got to the surface, you were coughing up water and trying so hard to breathe. Ao’nung and Neteyam were by your side right away, helping you get to the shore.
Tonowari and this Na’vi were still going at it; he wasn’t going down, and Tonowari didn’t know how to stop him without really killing him. Tonowari took his spear again and rammed it into his stomach, Tonowari didn’t want to hurt anyone, but he had no choice.
Once you were on the shore, it wasn’t long before you saw Tonowari come up with that Na’vi. Ronal was there to take a look at you, you and her looked up to see Tonowari coming to the shore with a limp Na’vi.
“What happened?” Ronal asked as she saw the blood on the Na’vi’s chest.
“We have to try and save him; it was the only way to make him stop.”
“No,” your voice sounded damaged, thanks to all the screaming and coughing you had done.
Everyone looked at you, you got up and walked over to the body Tonowari had laid out on the sand. Your hands cupped the Na’vi’s cheeks.
“You did this to yourself, Tritannus (iykyk). I didn’t want this for you. You’re the one that came after me. I wasn’t going to banish you like mother and father wanted. I loved you so much, but you became dark. You were misguided; I can’t have you hurting the ones I love.” You kissed his forehead.
“Is that your brother?” Ao’nung asked.
You nodded.
“He came after you.”
You nodded again.
A few days later, your parents came for the burial. You cried to them the entire time; you could feel it yourself, and you could feel it on your parents. Everything felt lighter and brighter; he was like a dark cloud, and he brought the storm with him wherever he went.
After the ceremony, you were sobbing, and you were hugging Neteyam with Ao’nung kissing your shoulder. You looked up and kissed Neteyam, then turned your head around to kiss Ao’nung.
“What do you say about making it official tonight,” Ao’nung suggested.
“I would like that,” you said.