Chapter Text
"Good morning Tsireya!" Lo'ak smiled as he got up from where he was sitting.
"Morning, Lo'ak" she smiled sweetly and moved close, hugging her boyfriend and nuzzling her nose a bit. "Morning to the rest of the Sully family."
"What do you need help with?" He asked and tilted his head, watching his family wave at her.
"Actually I wanted to talk to Neteyam about something." Tsireya said back.
Neteyam's ears perked up and he looked over at her from where he was helping his mother cook. He stood up and walked over, bumping at his brother to move him a bit. Lo'ak gave a glare but his tail swayed around Tsireya's waist a little and she giggled.
"My brother's coming of age ceremony is today as you all know. I wanted to invite you to the early day activities. Since you did not want a big ceremony." Tsireya suggested and tilted her head a bit.
"Oh it's alright, I have other things to do." Neteyam said back.
"What activities are there?" Neytiri asked as she looked between them.
"Well he'd learn to ride a skimwing with my brother. Maybe get a tattoo if you wish! Then tonight will be the big party." She smiled as she listed everything.
"You should go." Jake said, looking at his son, "learning a skimwing is a big thing."
"I guess...you said Ao'nung will be learning too?" Neteyam asked.
"Yes, so...you may get to see him fail a few times. It will be funny." She said back, giggling a little when Lo'ak pushed her hair back.
"Alright, I guess I'll go." Neteyam shrugged.
Tsireya nodded and moved away from Lo'ak, waving to them before leading Neteyam off. Soon enough they made it to where Tonowari, Ao'nung and a few others were before she waved and ran back to help with the preparation of the ceremony. Neteyam waved to the other before jumping into the water and walking over to them. One of the Metkayina men was bringing over a skimwing for the heir. Neteyam looked over at him, giving a nod before glancing over again. The boy had changed so much over the years. He was much bigger now, taller too. Had broad shoulder and strong chest, huge arms and legs to match it all. All his hair was up in a tight bun for right now but it had grown so much. He smiled at Neteyam and watched as they brought over the beast.
"So, would forest boy like to go first? You are older than me." Ao'nung offered, moving out of the way.
"Sure, why not." Neteyam shrugged and looked at the skimwing.
"Alright, when you get on we will hold it in place to make the bond. After that you must balance, and dive back with the right form so you don't break off. Okay?" Tonowari started as he wrapped and arm around the skimwing.
"Understood, got it." Neteyam said as he started to get on. "It's nice having it held for me. My ikran I had to do all by myself."
"Well this is no ikran." Aonung said and patted the beast.
Neteyam nodded and grabbed his queue, bringing it forward. Once the tsaheylu was made he could feel the skimwing under him shake fast. The other's holding it tightly to keep it in place. He quickly moved a hand to grab at the harness tight, taking a breath and looking over at Ao'nung, giving a smile before looking back at Tonowari. He gave a nod and soon enough they all backed off, letting the beast take off. He gripped tightly at the harness as the other hand pats at the side of it, soon enough it flew out off the water. He made sure to position his feet, trying to stay stable as it moved. He felt it started to curve and he took a deep breath, pressing down onto its back and letting his legs slide back glide into the water easier. When the skimwing was about to breach again was when Neteyam felt himself flung off, swimming back to the surface and groaning a bit once he looked over.
"Nice job, lasted longer than your father's first time." Tonowari said, already pulling another over for Ao'nung.
"Not bad." Aonung said back, smiling as he got up.
"Son now-"
"I know how it works dad, let go." He reassured.
Once Neteyam was out of the way Tonowari and the others let go. Ao'nung was off and instantly caught his footing when it breached out of the water. Keeping himself balanced much easier the Neteyam had. Neteyam swam back over to the others, which they brought his skimwing right back over for him to try out once more. Once Ao'nung dived back in the water it only took two fast strokes before he fell back. He swam up and over, looking at them them and hearing the clicks of the skimwing behind him.
"Looks like I made it longer than you." Neteyam smiled as he got back onto his.
"Beginners luck?" Ao'nung said back, smiling as he got back over.
"You should have that too." He remarked and pets down the back a bit.
"Let's try again, both of you till you two get this down." Tonowari said.
And they did. Over and over again. Neteyam caught on fast, much faster than he expected he would but that's how it was with his ikran. He was fast to catch and fly his without a problem. Ao'nung took a few more tries, a few more laughs at him, a few more teasing, and a few more stares. Neteyam found himself watching that smile more and more as the time goes on. This wasn't new, his staring problem. The past year or so he found his yellow eyes longing and following over the younger one. Watching how he would swim, how he'd click for animals, how he picked fruits or hunted small fish. Anytime Ao'nung did anything Neteyam found himslef staring, much like right now. He stared as Ao'nung got onto his skimwing again, how the water ran down his skin, how his hips moved forward to adjust on the strong beast, how he held his braid to form the bond. He wanted to throw himself into the water, perhaps drown himself when he saw Ao'nung giving him a cocky little smile before going off. This was the final round and he did it perfectly, they all let out a sigh of relief and gave a few claps.
"Alright son, go off and get your first tattoo." Tonowari shooed, "I'm going to watch the borders for our visitors."
"Come on Neteyam, let's go." Aonung said as he dive into the shallow water and started swim back.