When his father returned, Neteyam sat alone in the marui fiddling with some ties from his old sleeping mat. Lo'ak had promised to bring him a leaf wrap from the evening fire after eyeing him nervously when Neteyam winced when trying to taking a seat.

He glanced up from the leather straps when his father's footsteps entered the pod. Nets were carried in one hand and his newly crafted spear in the other. Now off the drying rack, the weapon was a thing of beauty. He had been admiring it the night before Aonung took him to meet Ato'k, but fully completed it looked absolutely deadly. He felt a stab of envy at the strength it must take for a warrior like his father to carry such a weapon.

Jake carefully leaned the spear next to the wall and took a seat by Neteyam's side.

He was quiet for a moment, simply observing his son. His eyes were full of honesty as he surveyed the boy up and down. "What's going on, Neteyam?"

Neteyam knew he couldn't keep this up much longer so he let out a long sigh and hunched his shoulders in defeat. He tried to gesture uselessly around when the words did not come but instead just ended it by looking up at his dad helplessly.

"I feel so weak."

That was the admission. The thing that had been eating him up inside.

Jake watched him for a moment more before letting out a sigh of his own. Just as he had done earlier he brought his hand to rest on his son's shoulder, an attempt at a comforting gesture.

"It's alright to feel that way son, you are healing. You just need to give yourself time," his father tried. But Neteyam snorted in frustration and removed his shoulder from his dad's grasp.

"No, no it's not," he said, words insisting and rising in pitch like each syllable was carving something out of him. "It's not! I'm supposed to protect everyone, keep everyone safe. That was my one duty and now I cannot even lift a fishing net! Let alone stand for more than a few minutes at a time. I am useless, father."

He didn't mean to yell again, truly. But he felt like it was all bubbling to the surface. He had been trained his whole life to be a soldier. To protect his siblings, to listen to orders, to take the blame, and be okay with it. And now that was all gone, taken away from him in an instant.

Once he yelled the words out, the anger he felt was simply punched out of him. His voice just crumbled and he desperately squeezed his eyes shut, willing the tears away.

"How can I make people proud?" he finally questioned, breaking. "How can I be a good brother if I am weak and defenseless?"

Jake looked at him for a moment, horrified. And then he scooped his son up into his arms like he had when Neteyam was just a little boy. He tensed for a moment and then let go in defeat, dropping his head onto his dad's shoulder.

His father gave him a moment, letting him still his breathing before pulling him away. When he spoke again, his voice had shifted.

"Neteyam, I fear that I have made a mistake while raising you." Jake's eyes were downcast and he brought a hand up to pinch the bridge of his nose like he could relieve all the stress that was etched into his face. "We were at war, and I thought the best thing I could do was treat you like a squad, that it would keep you and your siblings safe if I raised you as a soldier. But now I am beginning to realize that I put far too much on you. You were just a kid."

His father set him back on the ground and moved to crouch in front of him, eyes serious and face torn with guilt. "You almost lost your life because of it."

Neteyam felt his gut twist and he moved to interrupt his father, hating the grief on his face. "Dad-"

But Jake held a hand up. "Your worth is not defined by how well you take orders, my son. It never should have been. You are my child and I am proud of you no matter what."

Neteyam felt his eyes fill with tears. "Dad…" he tried once again but this time his own voice got in the way, words catching in his throat.

His father stood up and grabbed the spear from the wall before returning to his side. Neteyam's breath paused in his chest. The blade of the weapon shone in the dying light of the marui, the edge so sharp it nearly glowed pink.

"I want you to have this."

Neteyam was pretty sure he stopped breathing. His eyes went wide as he studied the weapon in awe. "Dad, are you sure?" he questioned, hand reaching out hesitantly to touch the spear.

Jake smiled as he watched his son trace his fingers over the leather straps in disbelief. "Yes," he said firmly.

"Each morning I'll take you out to train with it if you want. We'll go slow, make sure you're healing with each step."

He paused once more. "I just want you to be happy, son."

Tears welled up once more in Neteyam's eyes. He didn't want to cry in front of his dad so he blinked hard and swallowed out a gruff "thanks."

His father smiled at him, his eyes happy, and pulled him in once more for a side hug. "I'm proud of you son. Really."

By the time Lo'ak came back with his wrap, Jake and Neteyam were sitting by the dying fire and his dad was showing him the different parts of the spear. Neytiri came in behind him and set a wrap down in front of his father as well.

"What do I have to do to get a spear?" he mumbled jealously.

Neteyam didn't look up from his examination.

"Get shot," he tossed back over his shoulder casually, not missing a beat.

Neytiri let out a loud gasp and Jake stood there with wide eyes at his eldest child's easy reply.

And then he burst out laughing.

"Bro!" Lo'ak shouted and Neteyam dissolved into giggles.

His dad kept his word. The next three mornings were spent down on the beach. At first, it was just about position. Jake would help Neteyam lift his arm under the weight of the spear until his chest started to burn and then they would lower it before trying again. It felt incredibly slow but each time he raised his arm, he would get a little more mobility.

Ronal watched their first lesson with sharp eyes and a sharp tongue, insisting that it was too soon for the boy to be training but when she saw the glimmer of desperation in Neteyam's eyes she acquiesced. Something akin to respect shifted in her features and she nodded finally, instead leaving him with a new salve that would help speed his recovery.

By the fourth afternoon, Neteyam found himself sitting on the floor of his family's marui. Neytiri was perched behind him, cross-legged as she rebraided his hair. The two had fallen into an easy rhythm within the past hour. Neteyam worked to unbraid the strands he could reach in the front to save time while his mother sewed new beads into the section she was currently working on. She hummed old lullabies from Neteyam's childhood that made him relax and unwind his shoulders.

They were almost done when Aonung hesitantly stepped into the pod.

"Hello," he said, greeting the taller boy at the entrance, still sitting with his mother in their hut. Her hands were quickly tying off a braid, easily moving toward the next one. She had almost finished.

Aonung looked guilty for interrupting but Neteyam invited him in right away.

"I just wanted to see if you would come for a swim with me, my mother says you are well enough for the water, but if you are busy…" he trailed off awkwardly, gesturing to the boy getting his hair braided.

Neteyam rolled his eyes, earning a huff from Aoung.

But it was his mother who spoke up. "Come, sit," she invited with a warm smile. Unable to say no to the former Tsakarem of the Omaticaya, Aonung dutifully sat down by Neteyam. He could feel his eyes on him as his mother gathered up the last of his braids, specifically landing on the beads that clinked gently near his face. Neteyam watched as the teal boy's eyes constantly returned to them.

"Do you not have them," Neteyam asked curiously. He realized despite all his time here, he had yet to see a Metkayina with anything other than braids of curls. Most of the warriors here chose hairstyles here that flowed easily in the water, pulled away from their faces as they swam.

Aonung jerked his head up, almost embarrassed to be caught staring at the little trinkets. His mother smiled gently from behind him.

"Um, no," he coughed looking away.

Neteyam tilted his head to the side amusedly, earning a light hiss from his mother as she tied another strand.

"Do you want one?"

Neytiri finished off the last of his braids and stood up, stretching. Aonung's eyes went wide and he looked between Neteyam and his newly braided beads unsurely. But Neteyam just kept an easy smile, inviting Aonung to come closer. Neytiri observed them for a moment longer before squeezing her son's shoulder and taking her leave.

Aonung looked at the beads with curious eyes before Neteyam pulled one of his finned hands up to touch them. His mother had braided three traditional Omaticaya charms onto the strand near his face. The one that he so often tucked behind his ear when he was nervous. Each one of the circular beads was a bright orange-red color. Now that Lo'ak was in possession of his feather accessory, Neteyam just braided in a few other beads at the end of a strand near the other side of his face to balance it off.

Aonung fingered over the charms gently, like it was afraid to break them.

"They are Omaticaya beads," Neteyam explained softly, not wanting Aonung to move away. "They were made of amber sap from the Home Tree. We make the paint from local plants to symbolize strength and reliance."

Aonung took his hand away swiftly, realizing just how important these beads were to Neteyam's people but Neteyam just pulled his hand back and smiled.

"Let me give you one."

Aonung looked stunned. He began to shake his head and back away. "No, I could not possibly accept-".

Neteyam cut him off by taking one from his mother's braiding dish and placing it into the reef Na'vi's hand gently. He rubbed his fingers over the other's and gently closed his palm around the bead.

"I want you to have it," he corrected softly.

Aonung's gaze darted down to the object in his hand before swallowing loudly. "Alright," he finally whispered, voice nervous.

Neteyam couldn't help but smile at him happily. "Come here, I'll braid it in for you."

The two easily fell into the position, with Aonung sitting between Neteyam's legs as the forest boy undid his bun. He gently ran his hands through the dark black curls, soothing them out over Aonung's broad shoulders. He found a small section near the boy's scalp, tucked just under his ear, that he separated from the rest and slowly began to braid it.

After a while, Aonung's shoulders relaxed and he let Neteyam take control, tucking himself easily into the dark blue boy's body. Neteyam hummed softly and squeezed him gently in return. As he neared the end of the braid he took the bead from Aonung's hand and threaded a strand through it, easily weaving it into the hair just as his mother had taught him. He tied it off quickly and then finished the rest of the braid.

Neteyam pulled his head back slightly, happy with his work. He let out a low noise and motioned for Aonung to put his hair back up. He had done it in a way that when the strand was looped in with the bun, the charm would be nestled amongst the black curls with a bright contrast. And when the boy's hair was down it would hang beautifully behind his ear, just like Neteyams.

"There," he announced, signaling to Aonung that he had finished.

With the same reverence as before, the Metkayina brought his hand up and ran his fingers over it. First the braid and then the bead, now against his head. When he turned back to Neteyam, his eyes were shining slightly.

"Thank you," he whispered hoarsely. It was more than just a bead to him.

Neteyam tried to shrug and keep a casual composure but failed miserably. Aonung looked so honored that Neteyam felt his heart ache a little.

"Now you are mine as much as I am yours," he said softly, fiddling with the pearl bracelet that never left his bicep.

Aonung's lips quivered and he hastily pulled Neteyam down for a kiss, arching his neck back so he could reach the boy whose lap he was sitting it. Neteyam was caught off guard for a moment but quickly slid down a little and kissed him back, wrapping his arms across Aonung's stomach and pulling him close.

The next day Neteyam found himself trekking through the forest, hunting. He had his bow slung over his good shoulder with the arrows secured firmly behind it. The first half of the day he had spent aiming at nothing, simply drawing his arrows back before unsheathing the arrow and repeating the process. His chest was still not used to the tug that came along with firing the string and his core frustratingly lacked the strength it used to.

His practice brought him to the island forest's edge. He bent down stealthily, taking a moment just to observe the beach below and rest. His bow remained low in his grip as he surveyed the area. He expected to see the rocks that so often nestled against the waves, but what he saw instead made his blood run cold.

A small human ship was anchored off the coast.

The low click of a gun cocking came from ahead and Neteyam spotted a female Avatar darting through the shore, weapons lining her trimmed waist. Her voice was low and angry as spoke out in the human tongue, her hand grabbing something Neteyam could not see. One of her large guns was drawn and Neteyam ducked down instantly, heart pounding. He drew his bow forward and held his position, remaining unspotted. Behind him, his tail flicked back and forth apprehensively. He had to warn his father and alert the tribe.

But it was the pained struggle of a voice that made his blood run cold, "Tung oer futa kä! Kalweyaveng."

Aonung. Neteyam's heart stopped as he finally saw what she was grabbing. The RECOM jammed the gun to the temple of the chief's son and began to drag him down the beach. His panicked words were hushed sharply as the Avatar yanked painfully on his queue.

"Shut up," she hissed.

The tattoo's on her skin were bright yellow and black, marking her up and arms and down the side of her neck. Neteyam recognized her from the RECOM boat, she was always chewing gum. When she spoke again her voice was cold and cruel. "I know it was your little friend who killed Fike. You're going to tell me where he is and we are gonna get some revenge. How 'bout that?"

Neteyam's heart was pounding now. A trickle of blood was already running down the Metkayina's forehead as he struggled to get free of the Avatar. She just pulled harder and jammed the tip of the gun further into his skin.

"Ftang," she spat out, gripping his queue at the base of his neck once more. Her words switched to broken Na'vi, the language sounding odd and foreign on her tongue. She kicked at the back of his knees and pushed Aonung to the ground. "Rä'ä rikx."

Aonung let out a pained sound as he was forced to kneel in the sand, more blood began to trickle down the side of his face from where the gun was shoved.

Neteyam saw red. From where he was crouched he could see the terrified expression on Aonung's face. His whole body was tensed and he knew his knees must be burning from the impact of that blow.

His arrow was already drawn before he knew what he was doing. He whipped forward in a swift movement and fired his first arrow into her side. With a furious shout, Neteyam leaped down to the beach and redrew again, arching his back to make the shot. The second arrow sped through the air sharply and buried itself square in the Avatar's thigh. She let out a pained grunt and fell to her knees releasing Aonung.

But Neteyam was already there. He yanked Aonung away and backed off, pushing the Metkayina behind him into the sand.

His mind was focused on only one thing. Protect.

The Omaticaya crouched over Aonung protectively and let out a vicious snarl. He tossed his bow to the sand and brought up his knife, holding it out defiantly.

Neteyam was terrifying. His ears were shoved back and his lip curled up revealing fangs gleaming with saliva as he hissed. Behind him, his tail whipped from side to side in fury, signaling clear danger. Even Aonung's eyes went wide. Neteyam looked feral.

"Do not touch my mate," he spat out, whole body tense and really to attack.

The Avatar recovered quickly, yanking the arrow out from her leg and standing up.

"Oh is this your little boyfriend?" she sneered, English flowing off her tongue more comfortably. The gun at her side was brought up once more. Aonung did not know what was being said but he looked on from behind Neteyam in fear. Not in fear of the intruder, but of what Neteyam might do to her.

He heard the trigger click before the bullet was even fired. Neteyam sprang forward and sunk his blade deep into the Avatar's neck, wrenching the gun from her hands. The bullets ricocheted off to the side, far away from Aonung, and with a blood-curdling yell, Neteyam slashed his knife violently through the tendons of her throat before dropping her body to the ground. She fell to the sand face-first already dead.

But that didn't matter. The Omaticaya's eyes were blown wide, pupils nearly gone as he growled pointedly. His tail still thrashed protectively behind him. Red seeped from the lifeless blue body as Neteyam surveyed the scene, teeth still barred.

"Neteyam?" He heard Aonung call, but it was far away from his mind. He held his position firmly, still crouched at the ready to defend his mate.

A flap of wings caused a commotion to his side and he spun with a violent hiss. Not even thinking he picked his bow up in one fluid, deadly motion. The arrow was already strung by the time he turned around, string held taut with his fangs bared... Only to come face to face with his mother, detaching from her ikran.

Neytiri looked shocked and immediately held her hands out to the side, showing her son she meant him no harm. Neteyam slowly lowered the aim slightly but refused to put away his fangs, nor unholster the arrow. His mind was reeling with only one word. Protect.

From the corner of his eye, he could see more Na'vi approaching, no doubt due to his yelling. Ronal was tearing her way to the beach in search of her son with Tonowari right behind her. She stopped dead in her tracks when she arived taking in the scene before them.

Neteyam turned toward her, eyes wide, still not fully back from whatever fuge he was in. To any newcomers that approached, the Omaticaya looked savage. His blue hands were covered in blood and the Avatar's body lay to his side, head wrenched at a wrong angle, throat completely severed. He never once backed down, firmly keeping Aonung behind him.

"What is he doing," Tonowari asked as he approached, eyes flickering apprehensively from the body, to his injured son, to the Na'vi before him aiming his bow at anyone who came too close.

Ronal placed a hand gently on his bicep. "He is protecting our son."

Familiar voices and the face of his mother were slowly helping to bring him back but his eyes still darted rapidly between them, as if assessing any threats. But it was only when Aonung touched his arm did he spin around completely and come back to reality.

The sight of the Metkayina before him, safe and mostly unharmed, broke whatever spell had come over him. He threw his bow to the side and pulled the taller Na'vi into his embrace, wrapping his lithe arms around him. Aonung was stiff at the abrupt crushing contact but he quickly drew Neteyam into him and cradled him carefully as he whispered soft words of reassurance into Neteyam's skin until he could breathe again.

Slowly, like coming up from underwater, Neteyam's rapid heartbeat returned to normal and the harsh ragged pants calmed as he felt Aonung's warm skin beneath him. Alive. Aonung was alive.

Only then was he able to pull himself away from the other shakily.

Jake arrived swiftly, running to his son's side. He cursed when he saw the Avatar on the ground. His hands touched his son's neck and shoulders, checking for any injuries before turning to the dead RECOM.

"Zdinarsk," he growled. "She was the only one we couldn't account for after the battle."

Neteyam was shaking and he dropped his knife in the sand as he stared at the blood that coated his palms. Jake quickly turned back to his son and put two and two together. Tugging the boy in for a hug he rested his chin on top of the newly braided hair. "There you go. Just breathe kid."

Now that Neteyam had calmed down, Ronal approached her son. Tsireya rushed up behind her to pull her brother into an embrace quickly. The boy was still shocked, looking up at Neteyam, the boy who had defended him so protectively.

"You are alright," Ronal declared, examining the blood that ran down her son's cheek. "He is alright," she announced once more to the ever-growing crowd of Na'vi.

Whispers began to break out as they saw the dead Avatar laying in the sand.

But it was Tonowari who approached Neteyam first. The boy left his father's hold as the chief approached. To his surprise, the man held out his hand.

Still shaky, Neteyam nodded and hesitantly placed his grip within the Olo'eyktan's. Tonowari shook his arm once, firmly, before everyone.

"Thank you." His words were gruff and stiff but full of gratitude.

Neteyam just nodded once more, nothing coming out of his mouth. His senses felt dull from all the shock. By the time Lo'ak and Kiri arrived on the scene, the body was being taken away and people were dispersing.

"Holy shit," his brother whispered. But Neteyam didn't hear anything anyone was saying. Instead he just moved to Aonung and placed their foreheads together, repeating the same word in his head over and over again.

'Mate.'