After Ronal had left, Lo'ak had snuck back into the marui and poked at Neteyam's side. His voice was hesitant as he looked nervously at his brother. "Bro, were you- were you with Aonung?" he asked quietly. Neteyam just looked away and willed tears not to fall. No, he guessed he wasn't really.

When he didn't answer, Lo'ak said nothing more. But his brother placed a gentle hand on his own shoulder and sat with him nonetheless. After that, he seemed to disappear from the hut more and more often.

It rained non-stop the following days. Water pattered over the woven structure, dripping down in rivulets from its roof. The sound was soothing as Neteyam began to heal. His mother was never far away, choosing to sleep near his side of the marui at night, always offering him a soothing hand when he woke in pain. The remedies Ronal had left, relived the burning in his lungs as his body began to stitch itself back together.

Funerals would be held for Roa and the baby tulkun alongside the warriors slain in battle within the next few days. Lo'ak often snuck out to be with Payakan during those long nights, leaving Neteyam alone with his thoughts in the marui. In truth, he was glad his brother had found someone. Someone who didn't make him feel like an outcast.

There was a certain kinship that had begun to develop between Jake and his youngest son. Every so often, Neteyam would find his father placing a caring hand over Lo'ak head and giving him a soft smile. It made Neteyam feel much lighter. Especially when his little brother would flash his fangs in mock annoyance at their dad before secretly smiling when he thought no one was watching.

It was a week after he first woke up when he caught sight of the full enormity of his injury. Neytiri was helping him to stand when he looked down. No bandages, no herbs. He nearly stumbled back when he saw the gaping bullet hole in his chest.

His mother was immediately there, steadying him with her gentle hands before placing both palms over his chest.

"Txur txe'lan ma 'itan," she told him, tilting his chin to meet her eyes. "Strong heart, son."

He nodded and allowed her to continue redressing the wound, trying to push aside the image of the deep puncture in his blue skin.

After a few days, the walls of the marui were becoming so familiar to Neteyam that when he closed his eyes the woven patterns were imprinted on the back of his mind. But he preferred it that way. It was better than images of Aonung, face twisted with disgust as he shoved Neteyam away in the sand. Only now they were paired with the look of pure relief that had crossed the Metkayina's face when he saw Neteyam on the beach. It left his heart a wreck that he shoved aside, choosing to focus on regaining his strength instead.

That night he waited until everyone had fallen asleep and slowly crept out of the hut. His feet did not take him far, he only found his way to the ledge outside his family's walkway. Neteyam sat there, above the water, all alone. The ocean was dark and the waves lapped softly against the wooden poles beneath his feet. It reminded him of the night Aonung had taken him to the cave.

The stars above glowed like the tanhì across his face. Snatanhì, his mother used to tell him, pointing up at the sky and then poking the dots across his face until his younger self would collapse into her lap and giggle endlessly. He missed those days, missed his time on the reef when the water reflected like crystals and the sand glowed white in the sun. It reminded him of the beautiful teal patterns across Aonung's thighs.

Instead, he curled his legs up to his chest and looked out blankly at the dark horizon. He wasn't aware when the tears started, he only knew when they began to fall down his cheeks in silent streams. No noise came out of his throat. He only sat there, crying quietly as he wrapped his arms around his knees tightly. His heart ached for something he could never have.

Each day the wound began to heal faster and faster until the rain finally let up at the end of the week. A silent mist hung around the village, creating a peaceful kind of stillness that Neteyam relished gratefully. He sat on the marui floor, watching as the last of the raindrops slid from the hut's woven cover. They made soft plinking sounds as they hit the pathways outside.

It was just him and Kiri. They sat together quietly, taking in the last of the rainfall. Her fingers worked over a new shawl, enjoying the feeling of Eywa all around her. The soft hum of her voice filled the air as bead after bead was added to the garment.

There was a noise outside and Kiri's ears perked up, shifting Neteyam's attention to her. Hesitant steps could be heard outside the marui, someone stopped just by the entry walkway.

It was Lo'ak's voice that carried through the wet air. "What are you doing here?" There was an unsure pause and when a distant voice responded, Kiri immediately stood up and went to the door.

Neteyam watched as her expression changed slightly, her blue tail twitching side to side. She nodded once and turned back to face her brother. He could feel his heart begin to beat unsurely, but her eyes were soft and reassuring.

"He wants to see you."

Neteyam didn't need her to say who it was. He already knew.

Aonung's voice was low as he argued with Lo'ak, the two seemed to be debating whether or not he should be let in. Kiri held her place by the door, but her golden eyes studied Neteyam in the way she always seemed to do. Her head tilted slightly to the side and her face told him, I would.

He hung his head down and pulled his legs up toward his chest. "Ok," he said reluctantly.

Kiri ducked out of the room. He heard Lo'ak make a noise of shocked noise of indignation before his footsteps angrily left. Kiri murmured something he couldn't make out and then there was quiet.

Slowly Aonung made his way into the hut. The light reflected through the woven ceiling cast an easy glow over the two of them. Neteyam noticed how Aonung was careful to keep his space, yet his hands twitched as though he wished to be closer.

Neteyam looked up at the other, waiting to hear what he had to say. The Metkayina opened his mouth a few times before closing it and looking around uncomfortably. When he did speak it was stiff and a bit awkward.

"Hey."

Neteyam looked up from his position and nodded back. "Hi."

Aonung seemed lost, looking around the marui before turning back to Neteyam. "Kiri um, told me you were healing well."

Neteyam thought back to the healing wound in his chest still wrapped with bandages. His eyes found Aonung's not sure what to do with that.

"Neteyam, I-" Aonung stepped forward but immediately reeled himself back, not sure if Neteyam wanted to be touched. "I am so sorry," he finally whispered, letting the words fill the enclosed space.

Neteyam wasn't sure what he expected. He didn't really know what to do. What came out of his mouth was not what he thought. "Do you still have it?"

His question seemed to catch Aonung off guard and he looked back to Neteyam, slightly confused.

The Omaticaya cleared his throat, regretting his choice of words immediately. "The armband-" he clarified quietly. The one with the pearl Aonung had given to him. He knew it was stupid but he missed it so much.

"I do," Aonung responded, seeming surprised, if not still unsure.

"Could I have it back," he asked nervously, tightening his own grip on his arms. "I know-I know you didn't mean it when you gave it to me. But please, it meant so much to me anyways-"

"No."

Oh. Neteyam hung his head and closed his eyes tightly. "Okay," he croaked out. "That's fine."

Panic flooded over Aonung and he dropped to his knees before Neteyam. "No, I mean- fuck. "

The use of the sky people word coming from the teal boy's lips caught him slightly off guard. He sounded surprisingly like Lo'ak.

Aonung seemed to forgo his no-touching rule because he pulled Neteyam into his lap, wrapping his arms around the boy securely. Neteyam himself was shocked by their sudden closeness. His eyes widened as he took in the swirls and dots that ran across the Metkayina's face. They were so similar to his own, yet different completely.

Slowly Aonung reached down to his hip and pulled something from a small leather pouch. He held it up between the two of them. It was the bracelet.

"I meant it."

Neteyam stared down at it in surprise. His fingers slowly traced over the familiar pearl, relishing in the comfort it provided. Aonung took a deep breath, as if preparing himself for his next words. They came out in a somber whisper. "When I found you in that water…"

Cold prickles ran down his spine as the memory was brought up. Aonung pulled him closer, hands pressing into his skin. Pure grief shined in those blue eyes as Aonung looked up at the boy he loved. "-there was so much blood Neteyam. Eywa it was everywhere."

Teal hands ran up and down Neteyam's arms as if he was trying to remind himself that Neteyam was really there, that he was okay.

"I thought I was going to lose you."

Neteyam almost didn't hear it. Aonung's voice had dropped completely, as though he couldn't even bear to say it. Like it was too painful to even speak.

When Aonung looked back up his eyes were wet and sad. "I thought I had lost you."

And then he hugged him. Neteyam wrapped his arms around the chief's son and pulled their bodies together, closing the remaining space. Aonung was the one to hesitate this time. Unsure if Neteyam would really let him. But slowly he hugged him back, burying his head into Neteyam's neck like he had on the beach.

Beneath his skin, Neteyam felt Aonung's heart slow and his breathing become even. For the first time since he woke up, Neteyam felt safe.

Aonung was the first to pull away. The hands around his waist loosened and he gently cupped Neteyam's cheeks until the Omaticaya finally found his voice. "Why did you say it?" Neteyam asked, words cracking as he looked down.

Aonung let out a teary exhale and hung his head so it rested on Neteyam's shoulder. After a few moments, he looked up to meet Neteyam's gaze and began.

"I had known Roa since I was a young child," he started, voice filled with sorrow. "She was my mother's spirit sister even before my birth. To lose her… it was unthinkable."

It was clear his mother's grief had carried over to her son. Aonung's ears had dropped below his head and glanced to the side sadly. Neteyam's hands stilled, gently wrapping around Aonung. His mother had lost friends to the war long before he was born too. Many Omaticaya had been slain, alongside her own spirit sister, Seze.

Aonung's gaze lowered slightly as if he could not bear to look at the boy in front of him. "The words I said… Neteyam, what I said was disgraceful. I was scared for my people and I took it out on you. It was shameful- I was shameful."

"But I swear to you I will never speak such words again. I meant everything I said in that cave, Neteyamur. Everything."

Neteyam looked into Aonung's eyes, searching for some kind of deception, or disgust. He found only regret and longing. With shaky hands, he took the bracelet from Aonung's grasp and wrapped it around his fingers.

Those blue eyes shot up to his, questioning and full of hope. "Okay," he said softly, tracing the leather straps with his fingertips.

"Yeah?" Aonung asked, clear eyes tracing all over Neteyam's face.

"Yeah," he confirmed.

Aonung shoved their lips together, the relief tangible when he grasped his body. Neteyam immediately sank into the kiss, letting out a happy moan as Aonung worked their mouths together. To kiss the Metkayina felt like breathing. Neteyam wanted to inhale the other into his lungs, he grasped Aonung's face holding him close as he kissed the Na'vi back with everything he had.

"We have to be quick," he murmured into Aonung's skin, smiling slightly. "Lo'ak might still try to kill you."