strong - neteyam x oc

blame n.

The listened and his father sighed, taking a second to think things over, "Answer me truthfully Lo'ak." Neteyam watched as his brother tensed under their father's stare, if Lo'ak lied again he had no plan to try and help him, "The Chiefs daughter told me you knew nothing about the reef, that it was Aonung's idea. Is this true?"

He could see the pleads through his father's eyes, he truly wanted to know if what he heard wasn't a lie, that it hadn't been Lo'ak's fault. It made Neteyam just a little frustrated, of course his younger brother caused trouble, and yes.... some of those times had been dangerous. But Lo'ak was thriving here, he found things he was good at, why couldn't their father see that? Why would he willingly try to cause trouble when he had come to enjoy the Metkayina so much?

Lo'ak looked to his older brother, needing reassurance. Neteyam understood, his tail brushing against the younger one's arm, with a deep breath he spoke.

"What she told you was the truth...." His eyes quickly met the ground, unsure of how his father would respond.

"Why.... why would you lie about that?" The younger boy's ears dropped, he knew what he wanted to say, it was just getting the words out that was a struggle, "Lo'ak, speak to me."

"It would be the most believable if it was me.... and I was right."

Neteyam watched as his mother's face dropped at his words, it was unneeded to look to his father, the same expression most likely written on his face. His mother's hand covered her mouth, a small "Lo'ak" breaking past her lips, and she quickly kneeled near her son; pulling his head into her chest. The younger boy didn't do anything, he didn't speak, didn't cry- but his face filled with hurt. Relief even, as his mother held him. Neteyam had felt so much guilt from those words it became suffocating. Being Toruk Makto's son, he had trained his whole life to become like his father, but there was pressure on his younger brother to be just like Neteyam because of it. That was why the older boy always took the blame, to try and protect Lo'ak from feeling like a "disappointment" or as if he was less than his family. He had to do better, be there for his brother even more to try and help. What Neteyam would never realize is it was never his full responsibility, he was only adding more pressure onto himself.

His father held Lo'ak's hand, "I'm so sorry...." There weren't really emotion's behind the man's eyes, it was as if he had gone numb, "I'm sorry, I never meant for you to feel as if- as if that's what I felt about you," He took his son from his mate, holding him close to his chest. He whispered small "I'm sorries" to the boy, it being the only sound coming from the still Pod.

Neteyam allowed them their time, stepping out of the pod. Although the guilt ate at him, the moment he was out, the hold on him was gone. He felt like he could breathe again. He walked to one of the "docks" attached to the Marui Pods. The boy somewhat hoped to see Kireyi, to thank her for earlier. He sat down on the woven dock, surprised as someone emerged from the water. It was like Eywa heard him as he looked at the teal girl, her skin reflecting the water's color as it's own.

She looked to him in surprise, "Hey...." He softly spoke.

"Hi."

He shuffled under her gaze, "I wanted to thank you for earlier, for my injuries."

"Oh.."

"And my parents," he whispered.

Her ears lowered, and her cheeks turned almost a soft pink, "I apologize for speaking against them, it was rude."

"No don't be! Things worked out," Although it would take some more healing with everyone, what he said wasn't a lie. It was a step taken, "I sincerely thank you." He was now in the water, swimming closer to Kireyi.

"Were you both punished?" She looked up with worry on her face, and the same urge from earlier came up.

"No.... no, we weren't. Really Kireyi, thank you." Neteyam's face held a shy smile and he kept moving his eyes between the girl in front of him and the water. He felt vulnerable for some reason.

Kireyi's hand softly touched his arm; she examined his bruises and cuts, despite them being in the water, "How do your injuries feel?"

"They are better, I don't feel as sore either," He allowed her to examine every bruise and cut, her hands gently making their way around the top half of his body. Every injury she checked with intention, and it was quiet; the sound of the water was all the two could hear as she circled him. And he watched; these past few days, all he could do was watch her. With each touch, the boy grew more entranced by her; her touch was soft and caring. And she calmed him so easily, made him feel peaceful even if something big had happened. Kireyi herself was like the water. If he pushed, she would pull; he learned that if he wanted to be closer to her, he needed to see how she reacted to his own "movements," just as if he was swimming through the water. He was slowly learning how the girl acted, and he wanted to keep learning.

"Come, I will apply more ointment." She disappeared into the water, making her way to shore. Neteyam followed as she walked towards the trees. She steadily climbed a tree, grabbing a few leaves, and made her way back down to grab a few more plants; she sat near a flat rock. Neteyam sat with her and she took another stone crushing the plants she collected into a paste, "We have to do it here, I don't think it's best to enter my family's pod right now."

"That's alright, I trust you." He noticed how her ear twitched at those words, and he tried to hold back a smile. Like earlier in the pod, Kireyi applied the ointments. They hadn't stung as much, giving off a cooling feeling instead.

"This should be the last time you need treatment, your wounds have already started healing nicely. You may have some marks tomorrow but no more pain." She continued until finished and held out her hand to help him up. "Uhm...."

He leaned in a little, "What is it?" 

Her eyes stayed on her hands, and she messed with them in unease at how the boy would react, "I spoke to my brother, I know what he did can't be made up for...." She paused as Neteyam tensed, "But he wants to do better."

"Oh...." Kireyi shuffled, her tail grazing his leg, and he could see her nerves rise.

"I understand if you and your family doesn't accept it, I swear he is really sweet, and he really plans on trying to prove himself as bett-"

Neteyam took her hand, "It's alright.... I believe you."

"You do?" Her wide eyes filled with hope, and he exhaled softly at her wishes.

"I do, thank you," Neteyam squeezed her hand before letting go.

"No, thank you...." She looked out towards the sky, "We should head back."

She led him to his pod before seeking her own. As he entered most of his family was asleep, and his mother called him over to rest too.