Work Text:
so apparently there was a new boy in town that had every girl forming comically huge red hearts in their eyes.
and allegedly, he had two brothers along with a sister attending their school, the other sister attending an elementary school down the street.
tsireya, the little gossip she was, found out that one of the brothers had a real nasty temper, ending him up as the designated troublemaker.
he's heard of all the stories surrounding him even if he just got here a few days ago.
how his family basically pitied him, how they treated him like some troubled outsider who always made things go downhill.
and oh he's definitely heard of that father-son relationship that he's not touching with a twenty foot pole.
he had his own.
and if ao'nung was honest, he would be just fine with never meeting these .. people.
clearly his father who didn't think to tell him that the new family's father was his friend didn't care or just didn't notice this.
:—:
awa'atlu was a small, remote island tucked away from any outside communication or contact, just small neighboring islands.
it was, essentially, a wet dream come true for his dad who was trying desperately to keep his family safe from an ex-friend from the military.
and like any other unfamiliar place, being the new boy in any town was never entirely easy.
yet in this particular town, it proved to be fairly easy.
of course, there were the ones who were wary, believing any outsiders were bad news, and the ones who had heard of his dad's success story, often feeling the same way as the wary ones, believing conflict would hit the shores of awa'atlu soon.
and of course, here comes the easy part,
some way some how,
girls were already attached at his hip, boy after boy lined up just to be friends with him, yet he never spared them more than one glance because his eyes laid elsewhere.
and then there was him.
there was a boy.
there was a boy who's mole near his upper lip meant everything to him already and he hadn't even gotten his name,
who's curly hair which, in neteyam's humble opinion, would look much better cascading down his shoulders, shined and showed out in the wave of light and dark teal polo shirts paired with khaki shorts and pants.
who's teal eyes that never landed on him no matter how much he wanted them to seemed to hold a storm in them.
a real violent storm with thunder booming and gloomy, dark clouds covering the once fluffy cloudy ones.
neteyam swore he saw lightning strike in them.
either way, it was beautiful and oh what neteyam would do to see those eyes on him and only him.
what he would to do see that storm pass and the light that was meant to be there, should've been there, come back and resume their work.
neteyam bit his lip and lowly cursed, putting his head in his hands and ignoring the concerned stare lo'ak gave him as he graciously stopped his rambling about some girl he'd met in biology.
he had to get his name.
:—:
ao'nung.
fuck, why didn't he think that his name would be as beautiful as him?
the name rolled nicely off of his tongue.
ao'nung.
even if the way he got it wasn't as ideal as he would have wanted it to be, it was okay.
ao'nung.
"hey dimwit stop whispering the name of the person who you just had to pull me off of because i was beating his ass and help me make an excuse !"
neteyam scoffed, "first of all i actually wasn't whispering his name. that's weird and distasteful. second, you didn't even actually beat his ass ! he put up a good fight."
he sent a glance to his brother who slowly realized he was subtly talking about his bruises, indicating and proving neteyam's point.
lo'ak scowled, stopping in his tracks creating a complaint from his brother as he hit his back.
"are you on my side or his side?" he stopped, as if choosing his next words carefully as to not offend his brother. "if you're on his side neteyam, that's real dense, bro. he clearly hates all of us, he would probably hate tuk if he saw her too !"
at that, neteyam internally disagreed.
no one could hate little tuk-tuk. even if your heart was as guarded as ao'nungs and as tempestuous as his.
"no! .. no i'm not on his side, lo'ak. i've just really seen him now !"
that was a lie.
"it's just .."
he's so damn breathtaking. like a gem and neteyam was one of the passerbys, so captivated and fascinated by it's beauty but could never touch it.
"you know i like to give people the benefit of the doubt !"
after a while of awkward silence as the two resumed on their path to their shared home, lo'ak sighed and cursed under his breath as his pace quickened and he smashed the doorbell next to the door handle roughly.
"whatever you say man.. whatever you say 'teyam."
the door abruptly opened to reveal a little tuktirey with a bit of chocolate on her nose, presumably from cookies if the smell that coated the house was anything to go by.
"hi 'teyam! hi lo'ak!"
she let out a little giggle as she then turned around and turned a corner to do whatever she was doing beforehand.
neteyam let out a low breath as he walked further into the house. he turned a corner into the living room and his eyes scanned the room.
his mother was out, probably working out or at the grocery store, his sister was sitting in the kitchen, cup of water next to her and a fresh, new canvas set out in front of her with an impressive variety of colors and tuk, as always, was sitting in the living room completely oblivious to the tension.
neteyam's eyes stopped on his father.
to him, jake had always been a hard man to read.
"tuk, baby, go to your room, please."
tuk's excitement faded as she tore her gaze from the blaring tv.
her eyes told the whole entirety of the story, betraying her mind and showing how she felt.
disappointment with a mixture of confusion.
neteyam had a pretty strong feeling that that's, coincidentally, exactly how their father felt.
by now lo'ak had moved to the corner of the room, doing anything to escape the incoming, agonizing, piercing glare of their father.
neteyam knew the mixture of the disappointment, anger and frustration would inevitably lead to a screaming match between the two as lo'ak tried desperately to defend himself with jake not understanding why he couldn't just listen.
"what was the one thing i asked you two?"
and suddenly, the room felt hotter for neteyam.
he pulled at his collared shirt, a pretty, light teal one with soft gold writing on the front (it shamelessly reminded him of someone.), and forced himself to look at his father.
those eyes had always sent an electric shock down his spine, especially when they were trained onto him.
tuk had already left, most likely because jake promised her something.
kiri was no where to be seen, definitely sensing the tension and not wanting to be anywhere near it.
understandable.
"answer me, boy."
he swallowed, his spit feeling like a pebble rolling down his throat.
"to not get in trouble sir."
jake nodded, seemingly taking in the information he gave the two earlier this week.
"so why does lo'ak have bruises all over his face? and why does your uniform look so messed up?"
"it was my fault sir."
neteyam muttered.
he had done this hundreds of times now, it was just like clockwork to him.
jake clicked his tongue, clearly annoyed at the silence from lo'ak.
"you can't do this every time you two get in trouble, neteyam."
his eyes drifted over to lo'ak who had suddenly taken his spot next to neteyam again and was, surprisingly, looking at their father.
"well ?"
he could hear lo'ak distinctly taking a huge deep breath before responding,
"he was picking on kiri, dad. ao'nung or whatever his name was— was picking on kiri ! dad i had to do something."
jake's face fell as if he had seen a ghost and his head fell into his hands. "ao'nung ? .. as in my friends kid ? eywa .. go up to your room you two. you will apologize later tonight."
before neteyam or lo'ak could question the last sentence, their dads booming voice reiterating his latest command rang out in the living room and the two scurried up the stairs.
:—:
"it is settled, ao'nung ! you will eat with the sullys tonight— whether you like it or not."
ao'nung frowned at this.
"father please ! that .. boy is the reasoning for these bandaids all over my face and he is a sully! —"
"'nung, sweetheart."
a soothing, sweet voice emerged as ao'nung turned to stare at his mom.
"mama —"
"baby you have to stop being so hateful at some point. these kids, these people are just like you. they may not talk like you, they may have accents, they may not dress like you, but they are people and they will be staying here for a prolonged amount of time."
her talks— her interjections always had ao'nung quiet.
"just try and get used to them 'nung, 'kay?"
his bottom row of teeth gnawed at his top as he fought to keep an argument fly out his mouth.
"yes, mama."
he hated talking back to his mother. hated making her have to butt in every time ao'nung messed up and his father got onto him.
his father's face softened.
"i do not mean to make you feel uncomfortable, son."
he paused for a second.
"i know how you feel; know how you just want peace, safety. but please understand i just want this dinner to go well for us all and for you to not feel this way in your home town."
"i understand, papa."
tonowari smiled and put a hand around his wife.
"now, could you please now go and sit the table ? tsireya will be down in a minute to help."
ao'nung, again, nodded, feeling a weight on his shoulders that felt different from the one he held beforehand.
he had to get along with the sullys now.
no bullshit.
:—:
"what has you all dressed up tonight, hmm 'reya ?"
rotxo asked teasingly.
"who knows what boy it is this time ?"
rotxo smirked, fist bumping ao'nung as they both laughed at their sisters blush.
"hey you know we're having dinner with the sullys tonight right ? so you can't go anywhere to meet whatever boy youre seeing anyways."
tsireya's blush deepened as she pushed out a small, "i know."
confusion took over rotxo as ao'nung stared at his sister in disbelief.
"neteyam ? really ? oh .."
ao'nung was .. disappointed ? annoyed.
"no it's lo'ak."
ao'nung's upper lip curled up and his disbelief turned into unmatched disgust.
"oh yuck. even neteyam would've been better !"
rotxo giggled and threw his head back as ao'nung still looked like he was going to throw up.
"this isn't funny rotxo ! it's bad enough we have to house them tonight."
he shivered.
"oh! oh are you still angry that lo'ak whooped your ass ??"
ao'nung's face turned red as he yelled, "shut up! —"
"i heard that ao'nung ! watch your mouth. come down you three ! our guests are here !"
:—:
the dinner table had, just a small, contrast on each side.
on the right, conversations continuously started and ended.
and on the left, the same was happening— only ao'nung just stared at each sully in horribly concealed annoyance.
except tuk-tuk.
including tuktirey.
if looks could kill, lo'ak would be dead on ao'nungs front porch right now and so would kiri who was, surprisingly, making small talk with rotxo.
the fifth guest, spider, couldn't attend due to some unknown reason.
whatever, ao'nung couldn't handle another sully even if he wanted to.
he ignored neteyam on purpose, skillfully avoiding his gaze as his eyes wandered towards the window.
it stayed like that for a while. a real long while.
ao'nung was getting tired of the sunset and the feeling of neteyam's eyes on him.
it was creepy to say the least.
just as he was about to tell the eldest sully off, to tell him to stop being such a creep and keep his eyes to himself, jake sullys voice echoed off the walls.
"children go outside. we need to have a talk as adults."
for the first time since dinner started, ao'nung showed the signs of a growing smile.
finally a reason to get away from everyone.
:—:
neteyam finally, finally had a reason to see ao'nung again outside of school.
he wasn't sure he even had classes with the boy, but oh was he happy to see him again.
as the adults told them to leave the room, to go elsewhere, neteyam quickly looked at ao'nung.
when he saw the smirk on his face he smiled as well.
oh no you don't.
he thought as he quickly stood up, ignoring ao'nungs weirded out intrigued stare.
as the group started to walk outside and step onto the porch, neteyam commenced his plan to follow ao'nung.
he wouldn't let him get away this easily.
:—:
a few grunts and groans sounded from the forest as ao'nung struggled his way through the forest.
there was a real pretty lake near his home, one that he played in with tsireya and rotxo since they were young.
it had such beautiful and eye-catching plants surrounding it. and even though ao'nung had never been a forest or plant boy, these were the exception.
they came in all sizes, short; tall, wide; thin. some of them had bright pink flowers blossoming off of them, and others had pale yellow buds that seemed like they were trying to become a bright pink flower.
he felt a pull towards it, one he hadn't even felt towards the trees that were in every single one of his childhood outdoor pictures.
as he finally saw a glimpse of it, he smiled and started speeding up only to trip over a branch and at the last second hear a faint twig snap.
only a person rushing or running could achieve that.
he didn't have time to sit on it though as the dirt started to become closer and closer to his face.
he gritted his teeth as he braced for it, knowing he'll have to go inside after this because he hates hates dirt touching any of his upper body. he barely tolerates it on his feet.
so he waited. he waited and waited yet he never felt that downright disgusting feeling of dirt caking up on his face.
he opened his eyes and stumbled away from the perpetrator, a thank you already at the tip of his tongue.
ao'nung has never held his tongue nor closed his mouth so fast in his life.
"what the fuck are you doing here ?!"
a completely awkward and embarrassed neteyam sully stood, his hands still out from where they used to hold ao'nung.
ao'nung mourned his warmth.
ao'nung has happy to be out of his hands.
he scoffed once he didn't receive an answer.
"hello ?? see this is what i talk about, you get every girl on the island and every boy wanting to hang around you, you're sooo perfect and now you can't even find the decency to speak to me ? oh what am i beneath you now or something— "
neteyam cringed at that.
recently, lo'ak had told him about that air of superiority he held when he hung around his fellow adolescents.
he had also told him that his need to be perfect was suffocating.
so, he would just relax and maybe, just! maybe at the bare minimum become friends with ao'nung and eventually win his heart over.
"the lake !"
ao'nung stared at him as if he had lost his mind.
"so now youre gonna interrupt me ?"
he groaned.
"no i —"
he swallowed and took a deep breath.
"the lake. i am certain that's where you were heading. maybe we could just relax there ?"
ao'nung still looked reluctant, as he turned his gaze towards the lovely lake again.
to neteyam's delight, it seemed as if it was changing his mind one baby step at a time.
if only he could do that, except with full steps.
"fine ! fine. okay ? only because of papa and mama's orders."
he grumbled the last part, yet in neteyam's mind it blared as loud as megaphone, broadcasting the words neteyam had waited to hear for a bit of time.
"this means nothing sully ! now help me with these branches—"
neteyam hurried.
:—:
this is— even though he just met him— the only thing neteyam's ever wanted.
he's never been able to want.
not only, not only! does he have the man of his dreams right beside him, said man also had his hair down beside him!
right now, ao'nung was looking at the aforementioned plants and herbs by the lake, most likely for his herb book?
or maybe medicine book ..
either way, he still looked beautiful.
ao'nung abruptly got up, seemingly scanning the premises as if he was planning.
he was right, as ao’nung suddenly took his shirt off and —
oh eywa he had more moles.
his body was slim but lean, he had muscle and he had a mole near his waist, neteyam discovered as his eyes traveled downward. his waist was so, so perfect for neteyam’s hands to rest there.
it was like they were molded just for him and only him to hold.
“i’m going to take a swim. leave, which would be the preferred option, or stay and do nothing which is very weird and totally not unsettling.”
and no! no neteyam did not get what Ao’nung was trying to say.
sighing, he took off his shirt as well, his lips curling into a small smirk as he caught ao’nung’s eyes on his arms and chest. (score !)
he turned and walked a small distance back from the lake, intending to answer ao’nung’s questioning eyes.
ao’nung turned his full body towards neteyam, causing ripples in the water as his eyes widened when he realized what neteyam was going to do.
he was going to —mj
“cannonball !”
ao’nung groaned, “ohyouresuchalittle… ugh !”
he was cut off as a huge amount of water doused him and he spit of some droplets that got into his mouth.
despite his mind screaming no, ao’nung smiled and started giggling while wiping his eyes.
he didn’t see neteyam’s soft smile, nor did he notice him wading towards ao’nung and reaching to put his hands on his hips.
his breath hitched as he looked down towards neteyam, who’s eyes were trained onto his.
he never—
he never realized how pretty his hazel-like eyes were.
never realized how they were beautiful, like deer’s eyes.
so doe-like and wide, yet fierce as if they had seen everything.
they were so, so much prettier than the dirt ao’nung was about to fall in.
shamelessly this time, ao’nung admits he’d like to fall into those eyes rather than the dirt.
:—:
neteyam had seen ao’nung’s eyes so many times, but he’s admired them even more.
he could see it, he could see that storm leaving, could see the rain letting up and becoming softer.
those once green-like, dark teal clouds that inhabited the landscape, suddenly disappeared and were replaced with such an unique and pleasant light teal glow.
had neteyam ever mentioned how close their faces were ? how much he wanted to kiss those soft, plush lips that always pouted ?
he could see when ao’nung truly became aware of their predicament because the storm in his eyes showed signs of returning.
‘no.’ neteyam thought internally.
he had fought so hard just to see that storm leave, while yes it was just as pretty— he wanted to see that light more often.
he wanted to see ao’nung happy.
so just as ao’nung was about to wiggle out of his grasp, aiming to be set free, neteyam held him tighter and pulled him closer to him, just so they were chest to chest.
ao’nung looked away.
neteyam followed him and placed his hand on his chin, just so he would be facing him instead.
“ao’nung please.”
silence followed.
“ao’ please.”
he flushed at that, he never heard that nickname before.
was it a crime to say that he enjoyed that ?
they stood like that for a while, the sun dipping below the trees and the fireflies coming out, illuminating the space between the two.
neteyam’s eyes moved every second, seemingly taking in every single part of ao’nung he never had gotten the chance to peacefully.
“you ..”
neteyam sighed dreamily.
“you are so pretty, ao’. so, so pretty.”
just as neteyam tried to continue, that ugly but fascinating storm returned in his eyes.
“what about .. what about those girls, huh ? what about those boys ?”
in the moment, neteyam’s grasp faltered and ao’nung stumbled back.
he hurriedly tried to grab ao’nung’s hand, attempting to limit the distance between the two once more.
ao’nung swiftly moved his hand.
“what about them, neteyam ? i’m sure they’d love to be here instead.”
he sneered, “what’s so special about me when you’ve got every boy and girl on the island practically at the tip of your finger ?”
the two resumed their staring match, only this time it was far less sweet and more sour.
ao’nung raised an eyebrow. “well ?”
neteyam swallowed.
ao’nung eyes followed his adams apple bow up and down.
“well, i’d start with your personality.”
he paused.
“ao’nung, i don’t want someone who always bends at the knees for me, don’t want someone who doesn’t have a mind of their own. want someone as witty, as funny and intelligent as you.”
he was inching towards ao’nung now, had been since ao’nung didn’t back away when he noticed.
“despite what many may think, ao’nung i don’t want a boring life, don’t want to spend the rest of my days with someone who isn’t you.”
he took a deep breath now, as he placed his hands now on his waist, and as he predicted they fit perfectly.
“and then i’d end it with how you look. ao’nung, i’m not a selfish man, far from, but i wanna be blessed every morning when i roll over and i see your face, or back.”
he smiled as ao’nung let out a watery laugh.
he then cupped his face, now even closer than before.
“baby,”
ao’nung blushed.
“i’d give you the world if i could, all these girls, all these boys mean nothing compared to you.”
ao’nung was tired of waiting, tired of pretending he didn’t want.
neteyam was selfless, on the contrary ao’nung was not.
he quickly closed the distant between them.
ao’nung had wanted to do that since he saw those two-toned lips for the first time.
even if it wasn’t in the most desired way.
neteyam groaned in delight when he tasted ao’nung.
he tasted like marshmallows, only with a slightly more salty taste.
his lips were soft, and as they parted for air, neteyam didn’t miss the chance to kiss that mole he had been admiring from afar.
of course he didn’t miss the smile on ao’nungs face.
“can we go sit on the grass now ? near the plants ? i’m tired of swimming and standing for so long.”
neteyam nodded.
:—:
“can i tell you something ?”
ao’nung nodded vigorously from where he was in neteyam’s arms.
“do you remember when school first started ? when i first walked in ?”
ao’nung laughed. “yeah. the whole hallways went silent. i had never seen it so quiet before.”
neteyam smiled. “yeah and then suddenly everyone started talking again, not so subtly talking about me.”
ao’nung scoffed at the memory, clearing disliking all the talk about him, the jealousy he held once before now emerging again.
“but you were the only thing i even saw, the only thing i cared for in that hallway.”
the jealousy tripped and fell quickly.
“neteyam i was all the way at the end of the hallway, i was leaning by my classroom ! there’s no way —”
“ao’ that’s just how much you shine.”
ao’nung looked down.
“baby look at me.”
ao’nung did.
“i wasn’t lying when i said i didn’t care for everyone else.”