Chapter Text
Aonung would say his life was pretty ordinary. He lived in a home with his father, mother, younger sister Tsireya, and soon expected another baby girl to join their family in a few months.
Although his family does have a lot of connections in the village, all of which think highly of them, he didn't really fit that role.
His father, the village chief, had always said how he must take over the role once he's older.
Something about returning the favor and grace that the people of Awa'atlu had given them.
He wasn't that intrigued.
Different from his sister, who had always been the golden child of the family, he was rebellious.
Borderline delinquent.
Tsireya, in all her ever goodness, was kind and helpful. Always open to new people and knew a lot about the basics. Even planned to be a nurse in the future because of how much she found joy in helping others. She always wore bright colored sundresses or a bright top with her favourite jean shorts, a small cropped cardigan to cover her skin from the harsh sun, with that shell necklace that Aonung had made for her 10th birthday.
She always did love to accessorise herself, something about maximalism or some other aesthetic she was into.
Aonung, on the other hand, was the polar opposite. He was brash, a bit rude. He hated change and new things, always the first to go against it. He barely wore accessories, found it a waste of time and a bother when working. The only thing he has would be the small thin bracelet Tsireya had made him for his own birthday, a clumsy thing he refused to throw away despite the girl being embarrassed of it.
He always wore dark blue shirts or light blue wife beaters, something his father always chastised since he should ‘wear something more fit for the occasions’ and also because his clothes were ill-fitting.
So, if you compared the two of them, you would've never expected them to be related if it weren't for their matching smiles and resemblance in their eyes.
The point is, Aonung isn't exactly that kind of person.
He never had been.
So when he was told by his father he needed to be a responsible teenager and eldest son, he knew he was in for a very bad ride.
When the Sully family came around to Awa'atlu, he honestly didn't bat an eye. They were mysterious, most of the children only ever being seen by the nearby creek or roughhousing on the porch.
Aonung didn't know much about them, just that they had apparently moved from their home town because of some personal problems that he didn't really care to know.
The only reason he even knew they arrived was because his father kept talking about being responsible and welcoming.
Which, give him a break. He hadn't even seen them exit the house the entire time they'd been there!
A bit hard touring the newcomers when they won't even exit their home.
The Sullies moved right before the school year started, exactly 2 weeks before it was the first day of the year.
And during those 2 week of him supposedly helping the newcomers, he hadn't met any except for Lo'ak
And Lo'ak…
He was insufferable.
If all the Sullies acted like him, he might genuinely lose his temper over his sheer annoyingness.
He could tell the boy didn't like him either, which he was a bit proud of.
If it weren't for Tsireya, they would've been fighting long ago.
They had met during some back-to-school shopping a week before school began. Aonung had accompanied his sister and Rotxo to buy some of their prescribed books, when this… this boy began a conversation with Tsireya.
“Woah there Mona Lisa, stepped out of your painting for a stroll?”
The voice was grating to Aonung, something he did not enjoy hearing one bit.
He stared at the boy who spoke, who dared to flirt with his sister in front of him.
He had a metal dog tag around his neck, hung like a necklace. The engraved letters were hard to read but it had the last name Sully on it. He wore a large jacket that was filled with random patches, a messy and chaotic black shirt underneath. The shirt was only partially tucked into his large baggy jeans that were held up by 3 different belts.
Who needed 3 different belts to hold onto their pants?
“Could've sworn I saw you at an art museum, somewhere in the sculpture area. Looking like that would let you make an impression on Monet.”
(Aonung agreed that it was actually quite witty, but what kind of compliment is that?)
But she laughed.
Tsireya was giggling as she tucked her hair, with that look in her eyes that made him stand on guard. ”That's so sweet of you.”
No.
He would not allow this- this little boy to be his sister's new crush.
Absolutely not.
Has she even seen his outfit?
Aonung stood between them then, gritting his teeth as he introduced himself.
“Aonung. What’s your business with my sister, you freak? ”
The boy looked up at him with a raised brow, nearly snarling.
Immediate dislike.
Aonung preferred that.
“I'm Lo'ak. What, can't I just tell someone they're pretty? Figured, I bet no one would've told you anything similar to that ugly mug of yours.”
He saw red, snarling at the boy. “Oh, I see how it is, you freak-”
“Boys!” Tsireya snapped.
The two of them glanced her way, stiff and frozen. “Mind your manners. We are in public!” She hissed in disappointment as she turned and walked away, Rotxo following her with a small giggle.
The two boys were quiet.
“This is your fault, skxawng.” Aonung murmured beneath his breath, throwing a dirty look at the boy next to him in his scruffy clothes and embarrassingly mismatched patch jacket.
“This wouldn't have happened if you hadn't tried to be some high and mighty warrior, threatening me because I said your sister was gorgeous!” He hissed.
Aonung already knew they would not get along well.
And the idea that he might have to deal with being around this boy because of his sister's crush and because of this boy's interest in his sister???
Eywa'evang could come get him now and he would go without question.
They held onto a truce that day, just so that they could follow Tsireya since she was waiting with crossed arms for them to fix things.
Don't bother me, I won't bother you.
It didn't really help because every thing Lo'ak did rubbed Aonung the wrong way to the point Rotxo, his friend, had to physically punch his forearm to keep him from doing anything rash.
Aside from that…
Nothing more happened.
(Both boys will attest, even if plenty more happened.)
Because of Tsireya being so adamant that Aonung be polite to Lo'ak, and telling Lo'ak that Aonung is actually quite kind, they see each other a lot more than they want to.
Whenever Tsireya invites the other boy to the trip, they fake civility if only not to upset her.
Fake smiles.
Passive aggressive comments.
Plenty of harsh glares sent behind the girls back.
And Aonung just didn't understand the appeal.
This was a boy they didn't even know, and was too secretive of his family.
“So, what of your eldest brother?”
“He's far. Won't be around until probably a few weeks later because of some, military thing.”
Is the elder brother in the military?
“Why did you move here?”
“Mostly because my dad had a falling out with a family friend. Its really awkward now at family gatherings.”
That did not align with the information he knew.
“What do your parents do for work?”
“Oh, Si- Dad used to be in the military. Now he's in… a pretty cushy seat I'll say. And mom works at an archery range, she's really good. Even won at the Olympics once!”
He called his dad ‘Sir’??? That cannot be right.
So much about Lo'ak and his family was vague, hard to decipher. It felt like he was too used to sharing information without actually sharing anything about them.
What if he was a criminal? And that's why his family had to move so abruptly?
That was the idea that ran through his mind the most. That perhaps they weren't a family, but criminals who moved into the neighborhood, ready to wreck havoc on the people in Awa'atlu.
Sure, he may be overreacting a bit but he would rather his sister not have her trust be taken advantage of.
She was too kind, naively believing everything others say and being hurt because of her loyalty to the people she cared about.
And as the big brother, he's in charge of keeping her safe.
There was something fishy about these Sullies and he would keep an eye on them for as long as it concerned his sister.
The week went quick, especially since it was mostly him going out to chaperone his little sister on what seemed to be her… dates with this boy.
He might have had to give way to this boy for his sister's sake, but once school began it would be free ground.
“Aonung, please don’t do anything rash.” She pleaded as they walked to school that day.
Rambling on about how Lo’ak was just being kind and how she knew how he got.
She really didn't.
Aonung learned how to hide it from her.
“‘Reya.” He gave her a look, which she returned with an even fiercer one.
She really did inherit their mothers snarl.
He ended up rolling his eyes, surrendering clear as he fixed his bag. “I'll… try to be civil.”
“That is all I asked, Ma'tsmukan.” She responded, snarl gone and replaced with the sweet smile she usually exhibited.
He felt goosebumps seeing how… quick she just changed.
“Whatever.” He grumbled, kicking a rock as they walked past Rotxo's house.
“Rotxo! Skxawng! Get out of there you're going to be late!” He screamed towards a window, knowing that the boy’s parents wouldn't mind.
They knew that only by Aonung yelling at the window will their son feel panic enough to fix up and head out.
Tsireya giggled as she heard a few crashes and bangs from the window.
“Coming! Wait- Give me 10 minutes!”
“I’ll give 3.”
“Awh, Reya, tell him to give me 10 minutes! I just finished my shower!”
“I don't know, Rotxo, we would be late if we waited that long.”
A groan was heard from the room, as Aonung and Tsireya looked at each other with amused smiles.
Exactly 3 minutes, Rotxo barrels out of the door with a sandwich in his hand and his bag still a bit messy.
Aonung quickly zipped it close.
“Come on, reckless. We need to get there quick before Ngìngkolì and her minions steal the middle seats again.”
“Ah, right. My bad, Nung. I forgot!”
They began running, Tsireya running after them with a laugh.
“Hey, don't leave me behind!”
“You need to be faster, Reya!”
“You skxawngs! So mean to me, I'll tell sanok!”
“No you would not!”
Arriving at school was as it always was.
Familiar faces they've seen since they were young, never adding, only ever lessening as college comes closer.
Well, never adding until now.
Aonung sneered at the sight of Lo'ak, standing too close to his locker.
“Reya, you should get to class, let me put your stuff in your locker. Quick.” Aonung immediately spoke, distracting the girl before she could notice Lo'aks figure in the distance.
“Nung?” She looked at him in confusion.
“You're about to be late, your teacher is Madam Hepete remember?”
It was an excuse founded in truth. Madam Hepete was known to be strict, be late to her classes and she would hold it against you the entire year.
Although she had a soft spot for Tsireya due to her kindness, she never made exceptions.
The girl paled, shoving her things into Aonungs hands.
“Thank you tsmukan, I will repay you later! I must go!”
Rotxo had already finished putting his stuff away so he turned to Aonung. “I'll head off first, Nung. Reserve us some seats.”
He grinned, shooing the boy quick.
And now, he turned around, the soft facade dropping as he glared at the boy standing by the locker with another figure.
This insufferable boy.
He bristled, already on edge just seeing him.
"Hey, freak!" He called out.
Lo'ak saw him and scowled, making his intentions clear.
The other figure turned around, a tiny girl who looked like she would want to be anywhere but here right now.
"Oh my Eywa, Lo'ak. Another fight? Seriously?" The girl hissed, punching Sully's forearm, making Loak's rather tan face melt into pain.
"Ow, Kiri. Stop that. That's Aonung. The one I was talking about at home with big brot."
"Wait, that Aonung? The one that's Tsireya's brother?"
"Yeah. That Aonung."
"Oh... "
Aonung didn't care to look at the other girl, Kiri. He honestly didn't want to.
She looked like a hippie, flowers in her hair, uneven layers, green tops with 3 different layered skirts, and messy hair.
“Get out of the way, Hippie.” He hissed, the girls face contorted in anger as he pushed her away.
"You better keep your grimy hands off my sister." Aonung hissed, jabbing a finger to the boy's chest, forcing him against the locker.
“The only reason you can continue to be fluttering around her is because she told me to be civil with you. But if you try anything…”
He glares down at the boy, who keeps eye contact defiantly.
Stupid forest boy.
“I'll break that pact myself and make sure you understand that my sister isn't someone you take lightly.”
He pulls away, walking off with one last glare at the boy. He didn't even pay the hippie any glances, especially since she hasn't done anything yet.
He does what he said he would, putting the stuff in the lockers and running up to class just in time. He sat next to Rotxo, the bright smile on his face never leaving once.
“What's got you so proud today, Nung?” He teased, patting the boys back as he sat down.
“It's nothing, just dealt with a small thing on the way here.” He smirked, turning to the front desk.
Well, at least Lo'ak knows not to try anything with Tsireya anymore.