Chapter Text
The sea breeze is blowing him.
Tonowari watched his exceptional son head towards the shore for patrol duty. The threat brought by the Sky People had not subsided, and the defenses of Awa'Atlu had become even tighter over the years, ensuring that no external harm would befall their family. Tonowari knew that his son would one day become an excellent Olo'Eyktan.
Aonung had transformed over the years into a reliable and cautious young man. He still retained some of his youthful humor and mischievousness, but it had diminished, replaced by a greater sense of composure. He was no longer as impulsive as before, nor as playful. Now, he was dedicated to the task of safeguarding their home, with the defense of Awa'Atlu always taking precedence. Tonowari understood that these changes were brought about by Sully's eldest son.
Aonung rode his Tsurak out to patrol beyond the reef, unsure of when the detestable Sky People would return to threaten them. He looked towards the horizon with seriousness and anger. He was furious, filled with a long-standing resentment that extended to everything around him—the Sky People, himself, and Neteyam.
He resented the war brought by the Sky People that had taken away his beloved, his happiness. He resented Neteyam for choosing to leave him due to the war. He resented himself for not being able to forget him even after four years.
His cold and distant lover.
~
One day, the Omatikaya brought news that their clan had suffered great destruction at the hands of the Sky People. Their people were defenseless, and they needed Jake's leadership and combat experience to save them. Upon hearing the news, Neytiri insisted on immediately returning to her homeland to rescue her people. No matter where she was, it would always be her home.
They had been living in Awa'Atlu for three or four years now, and their children had already assimilated into the metkayina, with some of them even finding love there, like Neteyam and Loak.
However, Jake insisted that the entire family must return to Omatikaya, causing a conflict.
"Father! Can't we stay here? Can't Neteyam and I stay?" Loak cried out.
"No, right now, the battlefield requires people with leadership skills. Your and Neteyam's ability to react in the midst of battle is what we need," Jake explained.
"But once the fighting begins, we don't know how long it will take to return to Awa'Atlu! We can't just..."
"Do you want to bring up your love in front of the war? Is your love more important than our people?" Jake interrupted Loak.
Loak had nothing to say in response.
"In the face of war, there's nothing to discuss. Let's say our goodbyes. We must go back together to save them. There's no room for negotiation," Jake said sternly.
Neteyam stood quietly at the doorway, listening. He knew this would be the outcome. He had tried to fight for a different solution, had come up with many plans, but his father had rejected them all one by one. His parents were resolute in going back together.
He had tried.
A great sorrow engulfed the Sully brothers. They had to bid farewell to their loved ones.
Loak promised that he would come back alive and asked Tsireya to wait for him. He watched them cry and embrace each other, torn apart by the war.
The war mercilessly separated him from Aonung as well. Neteyam couldn't make the same promise as Loak did. He couldn't guarantee that he would come back alive. After all, he had nearly died once, and it was Eywa who brought him back. He knew that in the face of war, even if he fought bravely, he would be equally powerless if he received a fatal attack. He couldn't ask Aonung to wait for him. But He didn't know how to talk to him about it......
Days passed like this until Aonung came to find him.
"How long were you planning to keep it from me?" Aonung asked.
"What is it?" Neteyam's chest tightened.
"Stop pretending. You're going back, aren't you?" Aonung's expression was filled with pain.
"You... know?" Neteyam said in a low voice, unable to look at Aonung.
"I knew it the day Tsireya came back with swollen eyes. I was waiting for you to tell me personally... But it seems I won't get that, so I had to come and ask you myself," Aonung said with anguish.
"What about your decision?" Aonung's voice sounded more serious than ever.
"I have to go with them," Neteyam finally managed to say.
"You're leaving me?" Aonung looked at him.
"Yes, I have to leave you..." He couldn't bring himself to look at Aonung.
"But I can't be without you... Look at me, Neteyam..." Aonung held Neteyam's hand, hoping he would look at him.
Neteyam looked at him with sadness. He didn't want to leave him either.
"Don't leave me and take me with you instead," Aonung held his hand tightly.
Neteyam didn't expect to hear those words from Aonung. He was deeply moved. He wanted to go with him, but he couldn't. He belonged to the ocean, and This is the right place for him.
"No, I can't! You have to stay here!" He couldn't take that away from him.
"Why?"
"You are the future OLO'EYKTAN. I can't take that away from you," he didn't want the same regrets that happened to him to happen to Aonung.
"I love you. Even if I can't become OLO'EYKTAN, I will still be a warrior of the METKAYINA," Aonung argued.
"No, I can't..."
"Are you willing to tear us apart?" Aonung asked sorrowfully.
"Yes... I am willing..." Neteyam's hand trembled.
"Why don't you let me accompany you? Do you think I can't be with you? Do you think I would simply accept our separation?" Aonung couldn't understand why Neteyam was so resolute in rejecting him.
"That place is the forest, not AWA'ATLU. It's not your place. You will surely die there!" Neteyam said sadly.
"For you, I'm not afraid to embrace death!" Aonung's grip on his hand tightened, unwilling to let go.
"I'm afraid. I can't do it. You can't!" Neteyam couldn't bear to look at Aonung, he turned his face away. "You stay in AWA'ATLU, protect your homeland, find a suitable woman to be your companion, forget about me!" He left behind cruel words.
"A suitable woman?" Aonung couldn't believe what he heard.
"Yes."
"Neteyam, are you joking with me? Do you think I would give you up and find someone else? I never expected you to think of me this way," his sadness turned into anger. It was a clear sign of his lover's lack of trust in him. Didn't he believe in their love?
"You underestimate my love for you. Do you think I would go and love someone else? Do you think I'm afraid of death?" Aonung spoke loudly, turning Neteyam's face towards him.
"Aonung..."
"You don't understand the greatness of love for the METKAYINA. We celebrate love, it is deeply rooted in our blood. We are absolutely loyal to our loved ones. You don't believe in my love or trust in my abilities. You refuse to believe that we can overcome this together," he shook his shoulders, gripping him tightly.
"Aonung, this is reality, not a beautiful legend. We can only go this far. I can't let you foolishly wait for me," he said quietly.
"What if I insist on going with you?" Aonung's tone carried a seemingly threatening air.
"You can't abandon your people for me, Aonung. You must stay for them. I won't allow you to betray them," he knew that if such a thing were to happen, it would be a lifelong regret for Aonung.
"They say our love is insignificant in the face of war... I'm speechless... I can't..." Father's cruel words hurt everyone's hearts, leaving Neteyam with no choice.
"Aonung, I can't argue with him..."
"You simply don't trust me... and you even belittle our love," Aonung's anger grew from within.
"You're letting go too quickly... Neteyam..." Aonung felt a chill in his lover's attitude, how could he easily accept their separation?
"... " Neteyam's heart couldn't let go.
"Have you fought for us with your father?" he questioned.
"... " He did, but he couldn't say it out loud.
"It seems I'm easily forgotten by you," Aonung laughed lightly.
"... "
"Our love is dispensable," Aonung released his lover's hand.
"... " His heart shattered. In that moment when Aonung's hand withdrew, he hoped he could continue holding onto it.
"Say something, Neteyam. I'll ask again: Do you want to leave me?" Aonung looked quietly at him, hoping he would turn back.
"Yes, I want to leave you. We part ways here. Please go find a lover who won't easily leave you," he mustered the courage to look into Aonung's eyes. This might be the last time he sees those blue eyes.
"In AWA'ATLU, love is the blood of the METKAYINA. We deeply love our own lovers, without counting any cost, including our lives. Any sacrifice is seen as a celebration and praise of love. We never easily betray or separate. It is integral to our lives. That is important to us," he said solemnly.
"Neteyam, you need to remember that the reason we're separating isn't because of a foolish war, but because of your lack of trust in me. You don't believe in me. You'd rather have a flaw in my life, Make me empty inside. You chose to hurt me..." Aonung's voice was low, filled with indescribable anger.
"I won't say that I regret meeting you, but you're a cold person, Neteyam. Maybe our love for each other isn't the same. Haha, do you love me? Have I received your love? I'm starting to doubt. I haven't even gained your trust. Look at how little confidence you have in me," Aonung began to mock himself.
"..."
They stood there silently, neither of them speaking. They stood like that for a long time. He saw Aonung looking at him, eyes filled with endless disappointment. With sadness, he turned and walked away from him.
Neteyam knew he had hurt him. He saw those blue eyes no longer shining brightly.
"It's not that I lack trust in you. It's me who lacks confidence..." Neteyam muttered to himself, watching Aonung's departing figure. Of course, he knew he would regret it for the rest of his life, but it was a gamble he could never afford to take.
War tore apart their love, tearing apart everyone involved.
Aonung remembered that day, witnessing their departure irreversibly.
He angrily went to the empty beach and roared his despair to the sea.
And even now, he couldn't forget. All he could do was be angry at everything.