Tuk was inconsolable about missing training. The idea that they would be going on the ikrans the next day did not help. At first, she cried into her mother's arms but once she leveled her anger at Neteyam, there was no stopping her. It was only with the promise that he would take her out on her own very special ikran ride the next week that she settled down. But even then she pouted the rest of the night, pushing her food around before promptly falling asleep in Jake's lap. Neteyam tried not to laugh as he kissed the top of her head before plopping down to sleep himself.
As the sun rose the next day, so did Neteyam. He and Lo'ak agreed to meet the others as soon as the tide came in. That meant he and his brother had to trek up the island in the morning cold to get the ikrans ready. Somehow Kiri managed to sweet-talk them into calling her ikran down too.
The two joked as they made their way up the cliff-like rocks, jumping easily from one low-hanging branch to the other. "I'd like to see fish lips do this," Lo'ak called, flinging himself over a large drop before landing smoothly on another branch.
Neteyam huffed out a laugh and followed his brother, launching over the edge casually and catching himself on the next tree. It was probably true. Aonung's broad shoulders would probably get caught in the vines.
The Omaticaya were built for balance and stealth. The Metkayina had evolved to cut through strong waves with little effort, not swing through trees. Neteyam's tail curled around a branch absentmindedly as if proving his thought.
"You coming or not bro?" Lo'ak called from ahead, not being as thought-provoked as his older brother.
"Just giving you a headstart, skxawng," Neteyam yelled back, grinning.
"Oh it's so on," Lo'ak retorted with a laugh.
The two raced to where the ikrans had taken to nesting, cutting each other off at different turns and tripping back and forth. All and all it was hard to tell who won. Neteyam technically arrived first, but Lo'ak claimed it didn't count because the eldest Sully cheated by pushing him off the last rock.
They both looked a little worse for wear though. Lo'ak was heaving in air while Neteyam had to pull half the jungle out of his braids. They were both grinning though.
Neteyam recovered first and started chirping, letting his call ring out in the open air. Lo'ak immediately followed suit, emitting a lower sound from the back of his throat. A flash of a colorful tail and massive wing beats came from the nearby brush as two ikrans jumped out, hissing violently at each other before turning to their respective riders.
"Tsyalè," Neteyam addressed, dipping his head. She vocalized cheerfully.
Lo'ak on the other hand was knocked to the ground by a large blue jaw. He yelled out indignantly as his own ikran towered over him, teeth flashing with an angry screech.
"He doesn't seem too happy that you bonded with a tulkun," Neteyam remarked, his lips twitching in amusement as his brother tried to wrangle his ikran under control. Lo'ak glared at him from the ground but Neteyam just smiled and ran his hand fondly over Tsyalè's neck. The banshee preened happily and squawked in return.
"Hey!" Lo'ak shouted as Rodger snapped his many teeth at the Na'vi's ankle. "I'm sorry, ok. Just chill out."
Those words seemed to do more damage than good, but finally, the ikran settled on eyeing his rider reproachfully rather than eating him. "It's not like that Rodger and you know it," his brother told the creature, crossing his arms firmly.
Neteyam would never get over that name. Just like their dad, Lo'ak insisted on naming it something stupid. After they bonded, his brother spent hours pouring over the old sky people books until he found one he liked. Neytiri was not pleased that her son had chosen a human name for his ikran, but Jake smiled widely and celebrated all the same. "Like father, like son," he announced that night, holding the Na'vi by the shoulders. He had never seen Lo'ak smile wider than he did then.
The two only fought a few moments more before tsaheylu was made and Lo'ak joined Neteyam on the back of his ikran. Mountain banshees were notoriously fierce although his brother seemed to have chosen one with a temperament as volatile as his own. Tsyalè must have sensed this through the bond because she arched her neck proudly as if demonstrating how intune the two of them were, a direct conterance to the struggling pair next to them. Neteyam couldn't help but snort.
The flight back to the beach took less than five minutes. Kiri's ikran followed not far behind them, preferring to stay more in the open skies. He and Lo'ak on the other hand raced each other back, diving and turning through the island as they went. Each trying to throw the other brother off their course.
As the trees broke and the crystal clear water of Awa'atlu shone in the distance, Neteyam shot forward like a bullet. Tsyalè tucked her wings in tight and the pair dodged past Lo'ak, spiraling down in freefall. He felt the wind rush past his face and he hollered out in enjoyment. As the water began to approach, yipped firmly and Tsyalè pulled her wings out, easing them into a glide. Neteyam took a moment to appreciate the glimmering sand before soaring to their meeting point on the beach. As he dismounted, he could see Tsireya approaching with the others.
Lo'ak landed mere seconds later, out of breath and cursing.
"Too slow, little brother," Neteyam called, hopping off Tsyalè's back and disconnecting tsaheylu.
"Whatever," Lo'ak grumbled back, not bothering to dismount yet.
The sand warmed his feet as they dug into the warm ground. Tsyalè ruffled out her wings and eyed the approaching strangers. "Tam tam," he soothed, running a hand down her long neck. "Mawey."
"Hello brother," Kiri waved, making her way towards the ikrans, friends in tow.
"Sister," he responded with a respectful dip of her head.
"They are beautiful," Tsireya said in awe, her eyes wide as she walked closer to the winged creatures, admiring them cautiously.
Lo'ak, race already forgotten, grinned boyishly at the attention and noticeably puffed his shoulders out. That was until Rodger shook him off, promptly dumping Lo'ak's ass in the sand. He clearly still held a chip on his shoulder over Payakan. Rotxo hooted and even Tsireya giggled quietly behind her hand. Lo'ak growled indignantly up at his ikran in embarrassment and Aonung snorted. Although the chief's son noticeably lacked behind his friends, keeping his distance from the ikrans.
Neteyam stepped forward, choosing to spare Lo'ak by starting their lesson. His brother elbowed Rodger one more time before joining Neteyam at his side.
"This is Tsyalè," he said, running his hands down her long green neck.
His ikran breathed out heavily, settling under his touch. "The ikran is not like an ilu, or even a Tsurak. They will only bond one. One hunter, one flyer. It is for life."
"A warrior's iknimaya is completed when they successfully bond with their chosen ikran. They nest on Pandora's floating mountains. The hike up is treacherous but necessary."
The group looked at him in awe as he continued.
"How will you know when you are chosen?" Tsireya piped up curiously.
Neteyam paused and grabbed Tsyalè's chin thoughtfully, glancing at her deep yellow eyes. "They will try to kill you."
Neteyam and Aonung ended up further down the beach, separated from the others as the lesson continued. Warm water lapped against the sandbank where they stood.
"I have flown with Tsyalè through many battles. I know her movements as though they are my own," Neteyam said, holding his ikran's neck as Aonung approached hesitantly.
Lacking his normal bravado, the chief's son eyed the banshee warily as he advanced. Tsyalè shifted angrily and Neteyam shook his head in amusement.
"If you want to leave with all your limbs, I suggest not looking in her eyes," he said with a chuckle.
Aonung's gaze immediately snapped to the group before he glared angrily at him. "How was I supposed to know that," he snarled.
Neteyam looked back, startled. He took a closer look at the boy. The way his hands balled tightly into fists, how his jaw was clenched. He was scared.
Neteyam felt his chest tighten.
"Maway, Aonung," he said, softening his tone. Those blue eyes flitted back up to him for just a second more, his expression nervous.
"Just-" he said, reaching down. "-give me your hand."
Aonung looked between him and his hand, trying to understand if it was some sort of trap, before reluctantly placing his teal fingers in Neteyam's palm.
The Omaticaya couldn't help the soft smile that graced his lips. He ran his thumb soothingly over Aonung's teal skin, reassuring him. Aonung's head shot up, his eyes were wide and confused. Neteyam felt himself being sucked into the other boy's surprise at such a gentle action.
Squeezing his hand once more, he brought it forward. And together, they placed their hands on Tsyalè's back. His ikran watched their fingers intensely through slitted eyes before letting out a big huff and settling under their touch.
Neteyam could feel Aonung visibly unclench and it made him beam. Slowly, he stroked down the green skin of the ikran, letting Aonung get used to her.
"Do they really try to kill you?" he asked after a moment, surprising Neteyam. His voice was low and hidden. Almost worried.
Neteyam couldn't help but let out a chuckle as he pushed into Tsyalè with a grin.
"Yes," Neteyam chuckled, turning towards his Ikran in amusement. "But that was all part of the fun wasn't it, yawne," he said, grabbing her chin playfully. Tsyalè blinked heavily as if rolling her eyes, but pushed back into him happily.
Aonung stayed silent but Neteyam could feel his eyes on him. He was suddenly very aware of how close they had positioned themselves. Aonung's chest was practically touching his shoulders. If he leaned back even slightly they would be in each other's arms.
"The bond is like any other," he said finally, stepping away. "Your breath becomes theirs, and their movements become yours."
Reaching up, he grabbed her kuru and connected his queue. As their minds linked, he traced his hands over the patterns of her neck. Her breathing calmed and he could feel her heartbeat resonating in his chest.
With practiced ease, he swung himself up and perched on her back. She ruffled her wings as Neteyam reached down, offering his hand once more.
"You coming?" he grinned.
Aonung joined him but hesitantly wrapped his arms across Neteyam's chest as he settled on behind him. The warmth that engulfed him immediately made Neteyam's stomach clench. It was clearly felt through the bond because Tsyalè tensed her wings nervously.
Even at the subtle movement Aonung flinched and clutched Neteyam tighter. He could feel the boy's heart hammering into his shoulders as he realized just how nervous Aonung was. With a deep breath, he forced Tsyalè to settle and carefully he leaned back, letting his presence soothe the other boy.
Aonung hesitated before slowly relaxing and settling his cheek on Neteyam's shoulder.
"Ok?" Neteyam asked, settling his hands on the reins.
"Yeah," Aonung mumbled, his lips pressed against the dark blue skin.
"Alright."
With a deep breath, he dug his thighs into Tsyalè's side and thought, Fly.
Immediately, she shot into the air and let out a screech. If Neteyam through Aonung was holding on tight before… Eywa he was mistaken. Aonung had now practically glued himself to the Omaticaya's back, head buried in the nape of his neck.
Tsyalè beat her massive wings through the air as they gained more altitude, leaving the beach behind him. The teal hands that wrapped around his chest clutched nervously as they caught the breeze and glided to the left.
His lips twitched and he had Tsyalè swoop down just a little on the next burst of wind, causing them to drop down a few feet. Aonung let out a terrified noise in the back of his throat before they steadied back out. He chuckled a little before bringing them to an easy drift
As they soared over the island, Neteyam nudged Aonung gently.
"Aonung" he softly.
No response. The boy just clutched him tighter.
Neteyam shook with light laughter. "Aonung, look up."
Slowly, the reef Na'vi lifted his head from Neteyam's neck. He could both hear and feel the sharp intake of breath that came out of him.
Awa'atlu lay below them, woven into the giant roots of the island's mangroves. The sand shimmered in a deep contrast from the vibrant colors of the reef. Small shapes of the ilu's swimming under the village could be seen as they twisted playfully.
"It's beautiful," Aonung breathed.
Neteyam was practically beaming. He loved it up here. Flying with Tsyalè was his escape, his freedom. "Wanna see something really cool?" he asked, turning his head to the other.
Aonung widened his eyes and looked around hesitantly. He glanced between Neteyam and the island below them before giving in and nodding. "Alright."
"Hold on!" Neteyam shouted before urging Tsyalè forward. She yipped excitedly and took off, letting her many wings shoot them through the air. Aonung yelled out in fear and grabbed him tightly.
Pushing his intentions through the bond, the ikran coasted left and headed toward the water. It shimmered like sapphires as the morning sun hit it. Small white caps crested as they soared closer. A few Na'vi's fishing on the reef called out to them happily just like on the day of their arrival.
"Whoooop" he called out as they sped by. Even Aonung laughed as water sprayed their faces. And just like that they were past the reef. Aonung sucked in a breath behind him. The vast ocean lay before them, no end in sight as it touched the horizon. Deep blue for miles and miles, never relenting.
Neteyam clicked as they tilted to the side, exposing the sea directly below them. Aonung leaned over, watching the swells of water crest against each other over and over. He seemed to be at a loss for words. Shakily he held his hand, out letting the wind run over his teal fingers. "Tsal Fìtxan," he murmured.
Neteyam couldn't help but agree. The forest was lovely but there was something indescribably about Pandora's boundless oceans. Slowly, a pair of lips gently touched his shoulder. Neteyam clenched.
"Thank you," Aonung whispered.
His heart practically reverberated through his body. The warm feeling of the boy behind him, the teal lips pressed against his skin, all of it. A soft purr began to resonate in his chest and he allowed himself to lean back into the embrace.
They stayed like that as Tsyalè glided above the world, above everything. With a chuckle, Neteyam elbowed Aonung's side. "You better hope Lo'ak didn't see you jump like a scared ilu."
Aonnung scoffed indignantly. "I was not scared. If anything, I mastered flying very quickly."
Neteyam chuckled, twisting them into an easy roll. Aonung clutched onto him fearfully.
"Uh-huh. Sure."
He felt the teal boy shove him angrily once they leveled back out but he just laughed and dragged the other back to him. Aonung huffed but eventually re-settled himself against Neteyam's shoulders.
The wind whipped his face a little as Tsyalè hit a slight updraft, unexpectedly pushing him backward. Every few moments he continued to be jostled back, despite his efforts to stay seated. He had opted to not use a saddle this ride since it could only fit one which meant there was more of a give on the ikran's back than he was used to. Before long, Aonung started to shift behind him, his handles fluttering nervously over Neteyam's waist. Confused, he turned back to see Aonung's teal skin marked with a distinctive red flush. The chief's son wouldn't even meet his eyes.
Neteyam turned to ask what was wrong when a strong gust of air caught him off guard. The next thing he knew he was practically in Aonung's lap. The teal boy's breath hitched sharply as Neteyam was unexpectedly ground into his erection. The finned hands on his waist unintentionally tightened, causing the Omaticaya to groan slightly. Shock filtered through him.
"I-" Aonung started to stammer doing his best to wiggle away but there was only so much space he could move to. Another bump hit them and his hips shifted, the warmth of Aonung's thighs practically caging him in.
A bold thought entered his mind. Slowly, almost testing himself, Neteyam slid back again. Heat coursed through him as Aonung's hardness rubbed into his ass. The pleasurable feeling that followed was so unexpected he nearly choked. A nervous moan bubbled up in his throat.
This was different than the other times. This time Aonung was behind him, pressing into him in a way he had never experienced before. In a way that made his stomach cave in as he unexpectedly clenched around nothing. A shocked whimper was sucked out of him.
Before he could think, or even breathe, the screech of an ikran had him ripping himself away. Kiri's ikran, Sälyne, had departed from the beach, having dropped its riders off. He tried to compose himself, tried to steady his mind as he felt Aonung doing the same behind him. Fuck.
Eventually, they coasted back down towards the beaches, seeing Kiri already landed with Rotxo behind her. As Tsyalè's claws touched the sand, Neteyam dismounted, running his hand along their bond to easily break tsaheylu. He took a deep and grounding breath, trying to righten his mind as the tide surrounded his feet. A thump in the sand confirmed that Aonung had stepped down behind him.
"Did you see us Ao?" Rotxo yelled out excitedly, from further away. "We were so high up I thought even Eywa couldn't reach us."
The boy was running over to them happily, the original pallor in his face completely gone. "Kiri- she was amazing!" he blurted out. "I have never gone so fast, not even on an ilu."
Neteyam forced himself back to the present moment and turned to look at Kiri with a cheeky face. Her ears darkened immediately before she practically hissed at him and turned back to her ikran. It seemed that maybe Rotxo's infatuation wasn't necessarily one-sided.
A loud holler came from above them, followed by Tsireya's musical laugh. Neteyam tilted his head to the sky just in time to see Lo'ak land beside them, a happy teal girl clinging around his waist.
"That was amazing!" She yelled, still wrapped around his brother.
Lo'ak grinned triumphantly as though he had just had the best day of his life and released Rodger's kuru before stepping down. With a dark blue hand, he helped Tsireya off the ikran's back and they both landed easily on the sand.
They joined the group, and Neteyam noticed how Lo'ak's arm easily found its way around her shoulder. Tsireya beamed and smiled up at him blindingly. Neteyam couldn't keep the grin off his face as his skxawng of a brother practically glowed under her happiness.
"Brother!" Tsireya exclaimed, not noticing the way Aonung stood silent behind Neteyam, unusually stiff. "Did you have a good time? Lo'ak showed me the entire island," she rambled joyfully. "I had never seen it from so far up. Even the ilu looked tiny! Can you believe that?"
It seemed her infectious happiness was able to draw him forward because Aonung shook his head quickly before grinning back at her. "Yes! And the reef, father once took me up on the tsurak but to see it from above was something else entirely."
She bounced on her feet happily before sighing and leaning into Lo'ak one last time. "Mother wants us back for basket weaving but I wish to pick up some fish on the way back. Will you walk me brother?" she asked.
Her brother nodded and stepped from Neteyam's side, eyes still lingering hesitantly on the other Na'vi. The two bid their goodbyes but not before Aonung placed his hand on the side of Tsyalè's wing. With one last glance towards Neteyam, he patted her affectionately before leaving with his sister.
Neteyam ended up walking back with Kiri, his mind ablaze with what had just happened. They released their ikrans back to the island with a few chirps before Rotxo took off with Lo'ak yelling about some new kind of reef fish the boy had seen. Just then Rotxo made a comment about how close he and Tsireya had been on Rodger and Lo'ak practically shoved him over in the sand. Kiri shook her head as the two disappeared down the beach, Rotxo laughing behind a sulking Lo'ak.
Neteyam always enjoyed his sister's company. She was contemplative in a way his other siblings weren't. Always seeming to know what people were thinking before they said it. The two of them made their way back through the village, stopping by the docks to grab some woven kelp their mother had requested.
"Lo'ak seems rather smitten," he noted, passing some of the heavy strands to Kiri with a smug grin.
His sister, ever the pessimist, rolled her eyes, but still she flashed a bit of her fangs in humor at the idea of their poor brother.
"Yes," she returned, smirking. "I am surprised he has not sought out a pearl for her."
Neteyam froze. "What?" he coughed out.
Kiri hummed."Apparently it is an old Metkayina tradition to present the one you intend to court with a pearl. It is a romantic gesture here," she said, unaware of Neteyam's visceral reaction.
"Although Lo'ak is far too young. Father would probably ground him for life if he tried something like that. Of course that is if he manages to find him before Tsahìk Ronal dismembers him," she continued.
Neteyam's heart was pounding now. The band Aonung had given him, the one that was still elegantly wrapped around his arm as they spoke, held a pearl. That stupid dull beautiful pearl intricately woven in with care, that Aonung had kept after their fight on the beach.
Neteyam shoved those thoughts away. He was probably mistaken. It would be foolish for him to think Aonung would care for him in such a way.
"Are you coming?" Kiri asked expectantly, holding the kelp in her arms.
"Yes, sorry," he stammered, following behind quickly, desperately hoping she did not notice the tremor in his hands.
As they neared their marui, Neteyam started to sense something was off. When they reached the doorway he was met with a grim sight.
Tonowari stood firmly in front of Jake and Neytiri, looking off at the horizon with his lips pressed together tightly.
Jake immediately stepped forward and took his wife's hand. "What is it?" he hedged, looking up at the chief with a pained expression.
"Sky people," he responded without emotion. "The next village over."