Chapter Text
Neteyam was quietly in his room, the faint orange light he put on the less brightest light was shining directly to his book. It was some science thing he missed today in class, just only because Lo’ak got once again in trouble, Neteyam could have easily avoided missing science class.
It was his favourite class, even if Lo’ak and Kiri always told him he was too nerdy for his own good, his mother and father said the opposite, they couldn’t be happier that Neteyam was the smartest one in the family.
Neteyam spend most of his time studying, while Lo’ak was doing his whole extra math along with basketball and Kiri was hanging out in the beach with Tsireya and Eywa knew how, Neteyam wouldn’t be surprised if Kiri learnt how to padel surf or swim faster than him.
At first, Neteyam started doing track. Since Jake had told him he had to be more athletic, Neteyam tried at first, which he dropped some months after. When he ran, he got tired really easily. Along with the coach that put him running more laps than he should, Neteyam could barely take it even with months of practice. A lost case in sports directly.
After that, Lo’ak tried to convince Neteyam to join basketball, which Neteyam quickly denied too, he’ll probably be the worst one in the team or else, they’ll quick him out.
Right now, Neteyam had been 2 months without any extra activities, and he was sure his parents would point out that at any time, yet, he was still not sure on what to do.
Neteyam knew how to play bass, that was right, he could do music, but ever since his Father had said something that bass guitar was just… a filler that couldn’t get inside an orchestra, Neteyam lost some of the hope on his bass, which, he played sometimes too, not so much as before. Why would you even play a filler then?
Around 9 p.m, Neteyam heard outside the voice of his mother, and the faint smell of steak started leaking through Neteyam’s door. He immediately knew what was coming up next.
“Everyone, dinner is ready!” Neytiri screamed through the kitchen, she had this quirk where she could scream and it was probably heard by all the town, no wonder why Neteyam’s father sometimes feared his mother.
Neteyam closed his book as he walked out of his room, when he stepped out, he already found Kiri and Tuk in the table, Kiri had her usual vegetables (since she was vegan), and Tuk was already cutting her steak, Neytiri watching over her in case Tuk hurt herself, because she had just learnt how to properly use a knife.
Neteyam sat on the table and began cutting his own steak, afterwards, Jake. Neteyam’s Father got down too, he left a soft kiss on Neytiri’s cheek, he always did.
Then Lo’ak arrived, headphones around his neck, maybe the reason he came last, because in past times, Neteyam remembers Lo’ak being the first one to arrive, always. Lo’ak was the first one to arrive and probably the first one to finish if Tuk didn’t do it first.
“So,” Jake began talking, all eyes turned into him. “Neteyam.”
Oh shit.
Shit, shit, shit…
Neteyam raised his head towards Jake, stopping mid-biting as he softly drifted the fork away from his mouth.
Jake stopped for a fraction of second before talking again. “I was thinking.” He made another small pause to put his fork down too. “About the after-school activities.”
“What about them?” Neteyam asked as he stopped mid chewing.
“You said you will think about it.” Jake replied, he looked directly at his son, the little panic in his eyes, the fork in the table instead of the plate… “It’s been two months.”
Neteyam looked down at the table, his fork, laying there all alone.
He quickly picked it up and put it on the plate, thankfully, the table didn’t have a stain.
“Don’t press him, Ma’Jake.” Neytiri quickly chimed in when she saw her son. She could easily read them all, like an open book with big words that defined every emotion. “He maybe needs more time.”
Jake looked at Neytiri, they stayed looking at each other for some moments before Jake made one nod with his head.
“Fine,” Jake nodded, he drifted away to look at Neteyam, he was still staring at his plate, the braids falling into his face. “I’ll give you some more days. Clear?”
Neteyam looked up at his Father, well, at least, it wasn’t that bad.
But to be honest, for Neteyam, nothing in school had interested him, sports? Absolutely not. Neteyam wasn’t athletic. Or either theatre with Tsireya and Kiri, but even if Neteyam was good at speaking in public, singing or acting wasn’t up to him either. Photography? IT? Not really either.
The dinner went as usual, the same usual talk about school, the same usual talk about Tuk’s first days in elementary, the same usual talk about Lo’ak not finding any sense in being vegan and Kiri replying quickly with her smart retorts, it ended up in a small fun fight, not any serious.
Neteyam just spoke once or twice, proving things scientifically or laughing at Lo’ak’s stupid questions. At the end, there were just three people: Kiri, Lo’ak, and him.
“Yo,” Lo’ak began talking. “I was thinking, Nete. After-school activities aren’t that deep.”
Kiri looked at Lo’ak for some seconds before drifting her golden eyes at Neteyam. “Same here. Lo’ak is making a good statement now.”
Lo’ak quickly turned and softly elbowed Kiri on her ribs. “Shut up.” He said, before turning to Neteyam again. “But really, I think it’s because you stay at home too much.”
Neteyam had to think about that many times.
Right, he liked staying home studying, the home was usually quiet after school, Lo’ak was at basketball practice, Kiri at theatre and Tuk in dancing classes, Neytiri and Jake always went there to watch and also watch out if something went wrong.
During that time, Neteyam always kept his eyes glued to a book, the main reason he probably needed glasses.
And well, sometimes, he thought it was pretty boring, no matter what he did, nothing new appealed to him.
“Yeah, at this point you are going to start reading at 400 words per minute, or even more than the record.” Lo’ak added, he leaned back into the chair before getting up, he was walking towards the fridge.
“Don’t judge, you can barely read in class aloud.” Kiri instantly replied.
“That’s not the topic right now.” Lo’ak snapped back, he quickly turned to look at Kiri, before drafting to Neteyam. “Just think about it, yeah? Dad’s scary when he’s angry.”
Neteyam nodded with his head, sure, he’ll think about it. Damn well he would…
He didn’t take out the subject again, right now, if he wasn’t good at more things than maths, science and all school subjects, he’d rather keep it home than falling like a newborn seahorse.
Neteyam left the kitchen, the plate being left there on the table as he walked back to his room.
Think about it, think about it…
Shit, it couldn’t be that hard.
Neteyam flopped back to his chair, the science book still hit through the light, except less than before, darker. He stared at it for some moments, after that, he wasn’t really sure if picking it up would be the best option for the rest of the night.
Instead of that, Neteyam turned on his chair and picked up his back: Simple, black and with many hidden pockets to keep more things and don’t look like you are going to a camping trip either.
As he opened the backpack, he took one of those posters. It was an old, past-school band that, well, nobody had been there, because they mostly preferred playing in the band at the football matches or either being in a crumpy orchestra stuck with 30 people playing the violin and the other ones being just at the maximum of 5 people.
The teacher didn’t help either: He was old, really old. Some people said his brain worked too slowly to teach.
He was usually quiet, never replied, unless you asked a question, he could stay hours thinking if that was really logical or necessary, maybe even days, or even weeks.
The only time he would talk first was when giving advice, which he probably may have spent at least a month thinking about before saying.
That happened to Neteyam once.
Peacefully walking towards the halls, alone, someone tapped on his shoulder: At first, he thought it may be Lo’ak asking for lunch money, or Kiri asking for homework, but it wasn’t them, just, an old guy that could barely keep his head up.
Neteyam didn’t remember it clearly, of course, it had been a long time since it happened, but the old teacher just talked to him about music and its importance and later its goals and… well, Neteyam doesn’t remember.
He found out several minutes later it wasn’t actually meant for him, but for someone else, which Neteyam never heard of truly or even met that person, so normally, his brain completely forgot about that and let it all happen.
To his bad luck, that band closed after many time ago, since nobody joined either.
Back then, Neteyam didn’t care.
He didn’t either now, but, if it was still on, he would totally put it on his list or even give it a try.
Music, well, he enjoyed it, not as a passionate or a total nerd, but still, something he found interesting.
After putting the poster back on his backpack, he rotated along with his chair to the science book, quickly drafting a hand over it to avoid losing the page either.
He let the natural light go through the window, scientifically, since it was better for the human body, Neteyam usually followed these things without an exact reason, he just did it.
For a quick moment, the natural light completely vanished through the window, although Neteyam didn’t even pay attention, he was rather invested in the book than the sudden missing light.
Now, he heard two knocks against glass. He first thought it may be his neighbors: it was a daily routine for them to make sounds, especially in the night.
Then once more, louder, three knocks at a time.
It wasn’t the neighbors, but his. His room.
Neteyam looked up at his window, there was someone there, out of breath (did he just climb up there?) and violently banging in Neteyam’s window.
Neteyam rushed to the window and snapped his window lock, now face to face with that someone, they could just talk normally, not like two maniacs.
“For Eywa’s sake, Aonung.” Neteyam left a long sigh. “Can you just use the door like a normal person?”
He took a look at Aonung, he was wet, with his swimsuit as bottoms and the only thing dry was the tank top he possibly just put on.
“Just thought this was more impressive.” Aonung replied, he quickly stepped inside, waterdrops still falling from his hair.
“Well, at least you can take a shower and dry yourself before coming in.” Neteyam eyed-up Aonung all over his body.
First of all, Neteyam had hated Aonung the first day they arrived here, but maybe he had started growing on him, a little bit.
Neteyam couldn’t deny that Aonung was handsome, more that he would like too, because if he didn’t shine and look good every time, Neteyam wouldn’t catch himself staring at Aonung more than he should.
And the other reason was the fact that Aonung got on a fight with Lo’ak once, and after that, when it seemed like they were “friends” after saying sorry to each other, Aonung came with the plan of sneaking with Lo’ak and some other old friends for the night in school, as in, stealing a trophy from the principal office, or the mop of the janitor, these things some students do and get expelled right after.
When they were mid robbery, Aonung and his old friends left Lo’ak all alone, which ended up with him getting locked up (by Aonung, of course) and sleeping the night in the janitor’s room.
Neteyam still remembered how angry his father got after finding out, well, at first, it wasn’t at all. Before Jake could even react, Aonung’s father, Tonowari, knocked on the door to apologize for his son, but for some reason, Lo’ak said it was his fault.
Neteyam remembered watching from the back, honestly thinking on how did Lo’ak give himself up like that, he wasn’t sure at all.
“It started raining outside without any reason.” Aonung replied, he grabbed one of Neteyam’s blankets, the one he usually used for winter, it was built like a towel, but wasn’t quite at all, since it was larger and a little more smooth and fluffier, Aonung seemed not to care at all.
“Fine,” Neteyam let out a sigh and leaned back on the wall. “Why did you come here?”
“It’s a little bit odd.” Aonung replied, now the “towel” was on his head, gently rubbing his hair and messy curls. Aonung sometimes didn’t even bother to brush it, it always looked good no matter what. “You play an instrument, do you?”
That kind of catched Neteyam off-guard, nobody had asked him for two years at least, and if someone did, he didn't expect it to be Aonung. Not at all.
“Why are you asking me?” Neteyam asked.
“It’s important.” Aonung quickly added, he threw the towel to the chair. “Have you ever thought about playing in a band?”
Neteyam frowned for some moments, yes, indeed, he had thought about it back then, it was one of his options again on the list, just if that old jazz big band had not closed due to missing people.
“Uh, I–” Neteyam tried to reply, but he was catched off-guard when Aonung quickly held his shoulders, he got close, too close, Neteyam could notice some sunburnt marks from the morning, and a little scar in his eyebrow from a childhood accident, that’s what Tsireya said once to Lo’ak and he just went and spattled out to Neteyam when he was talking about the time him and Tsireya spent together.
“Good, now you are joining one. No complaining.” Aonung quickly said.
Neteyam’s eyes went a little wide, he never captured Aonung in a band, or even created one himself, because since Neteyam knew, Aonung didn’t play an instrument, neither Rotxo and Tsireya. Yet, Rotxo had a good ear, perfect pitch or something similar.
Neteyam often thought Rotxo should be a musician too, since being naturally gifted with perfect pitch was uncommon and really useful in the music world, he could at least build his name when he was older.
Of course, Rotxo said he’ll think about it when Tsireya pointed it out, which had more possibilities to mean “no” rather than “yes”. At least, Tsireya convinced him to try it when he was ready, which can never happen.
“What?” Neteyam finally asked when he came back to his senses, ok, he was too confused to even think.
“I once saw you playing bass, that’s useful.” Aonung replied, he finally let go of Neteyam and stepped back. “That’s the type of thing bands search for, nobody plays bass.” Then, he pointed at Neteyam with a drumstick, a really used one, almost at the verge of breaking in two.
Oh, so it was him?
Neteyam had lately been hearing someone play the drums in the street, he seemed to be the only one that cared, which, well, it sometimes annoyed him.
It first started as loud banging across the street every afternoon except some days, right after some time, it grew to songs, Neteyam sometimes found appealing, at other times it felt more annoying.
“You’re the one playing the drums every afternoon?” Neteyam asked, his eyes fixed on the drumstick on Aonung’s hands.
“Yeah, I picked it up from my father's old drumset.”
Neteyam thought about it for some time, by the fact that Aonung was always angry for anything, he probably poured it out in that old drumset, it was still surprising how it didn’t break yet or stopped working.
Also, the thought of playing with more people, well, Neteyam didn’t want to be there either, as the quiet bassist on the back, and by doing so, he knew only a few people. His social skills weren’t as good as Anoung's, he could talk to anyone, make them smile or even act like old friends in ten minutes and after that don’t talk for the rest of the school year.
“It’s just Rotxo and me.” Aonung quickly added, Neteyam guessed he probably just read his face like an open book with huge letters. “Rotxo’s on the brass section, he can pull off any of those trumpets without any problem.”
Neteyam sighed before replying, it couldn’t be that bad either, he could get free from his parents questions, also he had an excuse to go out too.
“Uh…” Neteyam thought it for a moment. His ears were pointing down and his golden eyes were looking anywhere except Aonung. “Fine, I’ll go.”
Aonung quickly grabbed Neteyam’s shoulders, not really that strong to put him down either but still enough for Neteyam to not run away.
“Good!” Aonung exclaimed. “Tomorrow after class, until 5 pm.”
Neteyam stood there, unfazed as he watched Aonung step out through his window, it was still raining, a little bit more lightly.
Still, Neteyam had offered Aonung a small umbrella, even if Aonung didn’t want it, Neteyam made him take it anyway.
The umbrella was blue, light blue, it reminded Neteyam of the sea, beaches and salt, and also Aonung. He always smelled like that and everytime the scent filled Neteyam’s nose he always felt it like peace and warmth. But also as a strong thing, like Aonung.
After Aonung left, Neteyam walked over to his bed and dropped sat, his glasses slipped a little bit down from his nose, although, Neteyam didn’t care a lot.
Tomorrow, after class, he was going to be with Aonung, the one who “taught” him the way around in the little town across all the place. Who really didn’t taught him at all but through these days, Aonung had changed a little bit since Neteyam and his family arrived.
Neteyam knew there had to be a type of tension between them, since Neteyam first saw Aonung, he wasn’t sure if he fell for him or directly was blinded by his attractiveness like every girl did, and maybe some guys too.
After Aonung was assigned to show all the way through town to Neteyam, that was the moment he knew it all just happened.
Neither of them asked for this, but it happened, maybe Eywa had chosen this, but Neteyam wasn’t exactly sure.
Sure, he found himself staring at Aonung too much, but there wasn’t anything romantically on it, just… staring at him, not like a big creep but not as falling in love.
He didn’t even know Aonung enough for that, he may just forget it and move on. It was all stupid and his feelings will get off.
Neteyam was sure Aonung probably already fell for someone, a pretty girl from school, a cheerleader, anyone except him, of course, him. How would he even?
* * *
Neteyam was rolling in his bed, side to side, unable to sleep.
He did some all-nighters before, but with the light on, studying, memorizing, actually focusing on something. But now he wasn’t, the lights were off, there wasn’t any science book shoved up on his face and there wasn’t anything to write.
The last thing Neteyam did was pick up his bass again, maybe to practice a little bit before tomorrow. He was still glad that his muscles still remembered how to work, even if his fingertips had burned while hitting the thick strings, Neteyam knew they always healed after a few hours without you realizing, so it wasn’t a big issue. But if they started to burn bad the next day mid any song… well, he was doomed.
He thought of Aonung’s words, at five pm…, probably because Rotxo had another thing to do before or Aonung went surfing at those times.
Neteyam couldn’t deny that when the loud banging from drums started being heard all over the neighborhood, Neteyam had memorized the schedule for at least knowing which afternoons he would had peace and which ones no.
Or maybe it was just an hour to warm up before the rehearsal, so you could at least sound a little bit better in those two hours.
Then his mind drifted to Aonung, how would he be playing the drums? Would he actually do good or just show-off his mediocre skills? Neteyam wasn’t sure. He hated this.
Well, not at all, he didn’t hate it that much.
Neteyam kept rolling in his bed, alone, just him and his thoughts that kept rushing through him which he didn’t even ask for. And yet, there he was. Rolling side to side.
He had to fall asleep in one moment, at least.
After some more struggles, Neteyam fell asleep.
If he didn’t mention the use of melatonin, of course, because his brain would just not shut the fuck up and let him sleep peacefully. Neteyam had never been one of those overthinkers every night, but it seemed like this night catched him, all because of Aonung and how “romantic” it was the climbing window and then dropping in his floor, a little bit impressing, since Neteyam’s room was up up on his house, maybe on the tallest part.
Aonung was strong, yeah, Neteyam knew that, apart from a surfer he worked at the beach on his free time as a life guard, Neteyam still remembered that time were a jellyfish bit him once while playing with his siblings and Aonung, damn you, had to come to help Neteyam.
“How did you even manage this? There was no jellyfishes around the coast.” Aonung had asked.
Neteyam looked down at his leg, the bite was a bright red, not really big either but it stung really bad. He watched as Aonung applied a white cream to it, next to him, a pot that indicated it was for jellyfish’s bites.
“Well, maybe next time we should check up more further.” Neteyam replied, his knuckles turned white as he grabbed the table, trying to minimize the pain. “Tuk went far away with Lo’ak. I had to go there to get them back, but then suddenly I wasn’t looking and felt a pain in my leg. When I turned, there was a jellyfish already swimming away from me.”
“That’s so stupid.” Aonung replied, he kept gently applying the cream into Neteyam’s red leg. “Look, if you keep twitching like that I don’t think we’ll end soon.”
“I’m so sad you aren’t experiencing this,” Neteyam hissed under his breath. “I hope it happens to you next time.”
“Woah, don’t get that aggressive with me, Nete. I know how it feels.” Aonung laughed a little bit, which only caused Neteyam to look away and get even more pissed.
“Since when do you work here?” Neteyam hissed again, his grip on the table loosened a little bit when Aonung finally stopped with the cream.
“Just for the summer,” Aonung replied, he got up with the cream container in his hands and closed the orange lid in a quick spin in top of the pot. “It’s fun, I mostly don’t do anything because some people know how to actually get into the safe part and not go further.”
“How funny.” Neteyam rolled his eyes at Aonung. “How many days do I have to stay with this?”
“Like a week or two,” Aonung finally replied.
After that, Neteyam left with a bright red leg, and also limping a little bit, he still remembered how bad Lo’ak and Kiri laughed at the way he walked, and how Tuk thought Neteyam got burned by water, or something similar.
After that, maybe Neteyam had eased down on Aonung a little bit, since they used to tease each other for fun, well, that was just Aonung. Neteyam never found it funny, but Aonung did, and it pissed Neteyam more than it should.
That night, Neteyam dreamed of unicorns and shells with wings flying all over his ceiling. He was already used to it a little bit, since melatonin always had this weird effect on dreams, it made Neteyam feel like he was higher than ever.
He woke up mid night at maybe by 3 or 4 in the morning, still a little lazy and sleepy to even move, but the light was starting to get bright inside his room, and Neteyam forgot to close the lids, sure, he hasn’t noticed.
He still remembered that flickering light from the room of the house in front of him: Aonung’s house, he was probably already going to sleep again after doing absolutely nothing but rotting in his bedroom for three hours straight until now, or maybe he had woken up an hour before Neteyam in any interruption too and probably distracted himself with something bright to get him sleepy again. Neteyam wasn’t sure if what happened later since the lids went quickly shut when he pulled down the string.
“He’s probably as nervous as me.” Neteyam thought to himself, the little voice in his head seemed to laugh at him a little bit: but Neteyam wasn’t sure at all. “Or maybe I’m delusional?” He thought once more.
After closing the lids shut, he went back to his bed and rested on his back.
He dreamed of something really similar, unicorns and shells with wings but it was all in the same turquoise tone.
Next day, Neteyam had already forgot most of that dream and that midnight see-through, but it sometimes clicked on his head. Just sometimes.