Lo'ak & Neteyam's life. 16 drabbles.
NPOV - Neteyam's POV | LPOV - Lo'ak's POV | BPOV - Both

~

Arguments - LPOV

Lo'ak shifted on his foot, looking at the ground. Dad was yelling at him again, for what, well, he can't remember. All his dad seemed to do was yell or scream at him these days. Neteyam was shot three days ago, and Lo'ak had yet to see him. Even though it was only a shoulder wound, and he'd definitely recover, either his dad was in there with him or his mom was. Neither of which Lo'ak wanted to see. He suspected Neteyam knew this because he knew everything, but he still didn't bother.

If his dad had even bothered to ask, he'd know Lo'ak was also hurt. Granted, he'd only banged his head, but even so. He'd been up all night with the pain, unable to shut his eyes or lower his head. He'd ended up falling fitfully asleep against the wall of the hut. It hurt. "Go on. Get outta my sight," His dad finally spat. Lo'ak felt his tail quiver with the rush of emotion, but he turned and ran off instead.

Fuck knows where he ended up, but it was somewhere high. Some of the ikran flew below him, readying for their night's rest. Lo'ak debated just leaning that little bit too far. The branch would break, and his suffering would be over. His parents would have the perfect family: perfect Neteyam, special Kiri, and perfect Tuk. Without Lo'ak, they'd throw Spider to the side, leaving him with nobody once again.

He was finally drifting off to sleep when something crawled on the branch with him. Lo'ak froze and pretended not to notice, worrying it was a palulukan. He kept his eyes shut, craning his ear to listen. "Oh, Lo'ak," It spoke softly. A blanket was draped over his form. Neteyam. Lo'ak shifted subtly. Neteyam sighed. "They're too harsh, baby bro... I'm sorry,"

He wiped away the tear before Neteyam noticed.

~

Nightmares - NPOV *after Quaritch held them captive*

Neteyam worried deeply for his brother. His mom, dad and himself had rescued them from Quaritch's grasp, unfortunately losing Spider in the process. Despite Kiri being tearful, they were mostly ok. Tuk was quieter, Kiri was crying most of the day, and Lo'ak, well, he was by himself, away from the family. When Neteyam had tried to physically drag him back, Lo'ak bit his arm.

Neteyam left him alone for that night. The following night, however, was his parent's date night. Instead of doing what they usually did, and relax by the river, they flew in the sky. Neteyam, as the eldest, could wonder about the camp for a while longer before retreating to bed.

On his way back, after failing to find his brother, ironically, he found him. Lo'ak was dozing quietly in one of the hammocks they kept spare. Sometimes young children or teens used them to get away for the night. Neteyam climbed up, hesitating when a low whine came from it. He rushed up quickly, blinking in shock.

Lo'ak was having a nightmare. He twisted and turned in the hammock, sweat dripping down his face. Neteyam gently crouched on the tree, which was holding the hammock, and rocked it. "Bro, wake up. You're having a nightmare," He tried. Lo'ak continued to thrash, the hammock creaking dangerously. "Bro-"

"NO!" Lo'ak screamed, launching up. Neteyam ducked as Lo'ak swung his fist. "Lo'ak!" He barked. "Lo'ak! It's me!" Lo'ak shook his head, "No, you're dead. Go away!" He twisted, sending them both crashing to the ground. Not having time to recover, Neteyam barely blocked the punch intended for his face. He twisted his hips, swimming them over to the side. He pinned Lo'ak's arms behind his back, despite the thrashing. "Lo'ak!" He hissed loudly. His brother went abruptly limp. Then the tears came.

Saying nothing: Neteyam just held his baby brother as he cried.

~

Akula aftermath - NPOV *another long one bc I love taking out my frustrations on lo'ak*

Neteyam found himself taking the first watch of the night. Despite Kiri vocalizing her displeasure, she was to be supervised for a few days to make sure there were no more seizures. He was already in a bad mood thanks to his parents laying into him over his skxawng brother again. Apparently he needed to baby his 14-year-old brother, even though he'd left the damn reef to make their dad happy. He huffed as he sharpened his spear, keeping an ear out for Kiri. Shortly after his spear was completed, something Neteyam was very proud of, he caught sight of another Na'vi creeping toward the hut.

It was Lo'ak. "Bro, what're you doing? Dad'd kill you if he found you out," He said. Lo'ak seemed to stiffen with a quiet hiss. "Went to take a leak. That ok?" He snapped. Neteyam narrowed his eyes. "Don't be a dick," He said, pointing his spear in Lo'ak's general direction. Lo'ak huffed quietly. "Interrogation over?" He snapped. Neteyam rolled his eyes. "Be quiet. Dad'll be waking for Kiri watch soon,"

Not too long after Lo'ak turned in, Neteyam did as well, barely exchanging a look with his dad. The following morning, after another rough night thanks to Kiri's tossing and turning, he ate breakfast in silence. His mom's gaze kept flitting up to Lo'ak, Neteyam's following. His brother did look a little pale today. Maybe he was kept awake by Kiri as well. "You good bro?" He asked after they'd all eaten. Lo'ak leaned against the edge of the Marui on his left side. "Hm? Fine, I'm fine." He mumbled. Neteyam narrowed his eyes subtly. "Ok," He said. Lo'ak stayed leaning, obviously watching the sea.

It took less than five minutes for an argument to start. Kiri huffed at Dad when he refused to let her swim in the deeper parts, insisting she stays in the shallow areas. Neteyam found his gaze on his brother still. Something wasn't right. He was usually more animated than this, bursting at the seams to find that Tsireya he seemed to like. But he was quiet. He hadn't moved from leaning against the wall at all. Kiri's loud sigh pulled his focus back. "Ugh, fine," She grumbled. Dad left quickly, Mom following with a strange look directed at Lo'ak. After Kiri and Tuk had left as well, Neteyam sighed loudly. "What'd you do?" Lo'ak frowned in his direction. "Nothing. Why?" Neteyam nodded with his chin. "That. You haven't moved in the last fifteen minutes,"

Lo'ak shrugged a shoulder. "Just don't feel great," He continued looking at the sea. "How so? You got a temperature?" Neteyam strode over to place a hand on his head, but Lo'ak swatted him away. He gave a choked gasp as he caged his ribs. "What the- what happened? You damage your ribs?" Lo'ak's face remained pale as his arm caged his side. "I'm gonna guess you've broken it. Let me see," Neteyam lifted away the chest covering Lo'ak was wearing, something that would've usually rang the bells in his head anyway. He whistled. "Damn. You've got more colours on your side than in the forest,"

Lo'ak flinched away. "Just leave it. It'll be fine." Neteyam scoffed. "Tell you what, when you can move without wincing or crying, I'll leave you be," Lo'ak huffed shakily. "You know damn well-" He interrupted himself with a low whine. "Can I take you to Ronal? She might have something," Neteyam's urge to playfully bully him vanished quickly at the raspy breaths leaving his baby brother. Lo'ak raised a hand to inevitably say no but clenched it tightly instead with another whine. "I'm taking you to Ronal,"

Much later that evening, Neteyam was on Kiri watch again. He knew she'd be fine, so he devoted some more of his four hours to Lo'ak. Thanks to Ronal's method, whatever it was, seemed to ease his brother's pain enough to grant him sleep.

Neteyam rubbed his head in frustration. Eywa, why couldn't he be more careful?

~

Death - LPOV

"Lo'ak, you're shaking," Was he? "Are-are you cold?" He doesn't know. Maybe. Maybe not. "Please, talk to me," He couldn't. If he spoke, he'd start crying and wouldn't stop. "Can-can you at least look at me? Please?" No. If he met her red eyes, he'd run and not return. "Lo'ak, please," Don't beg. He couldn't help you if you beg. Neteyam begged, and he still died. "I-if you need alone time, I'll go. Just-please, tell me something, anything," He tried. He really did. All he could muster was simple: "Please," His throat burned horribly and his eyes stung bitterly. "O-ok. I'll go," Tsireya sniffled. Her hand left his bicep, a burning cold left in its absence. He brought his knees closer, wrapping his arms around them tightly. He'd already cried today. He probably had no water left to cry anymore. Yet, a lone tear dribbled alongside his jaw.

It tickled, but he couldn't find the energy to wipe it away. Then another fell in its path. And another... and another. Blinding rage took over his body in a single hot wave. He swiped at the tears furiously. He grit his teeth, harshly pulling on a braid that irritated his neck. The braid didn't move: his anger worsened. He fisted his hair, pulling it with a frustrated scream. Then the pain hit. His scalp burned in agony and the cycle started again.

~

Grief - LPOV

Lo'ak was numb for weeks after Neteyam died. He didn't eat, he just threw it back up. He didn't sleep, he just had nightmares of his brother's red thick hot blood staining his hands. He didn't go in the water, because it turned red with blood. He'd been told there were five stages to grief.

denial.anger.bargaining.depression.acceptance.

He'd done it in a... slightly different order. There wasn't room for denial: he'd held his hands against his dying brother's chest, praying to all deities out there, in any galaxy or world or even universe, to save him. Yet: they'd all turned their backs and left him to die. To take away Lo'ak's light. Anger, well, he was an angry person by nature. Years of belittling and unfair discipline from his parents contributed to that. And his five fingers and five toes. Fuck, some days he wanted to rip them off, just to be normal. Around a week after... it... Lo'ak was sitting on the rock he'd sat on with his brother, less than 24 hours before he'd died. He glanced at his hand bitterly. A sudden wave of anger rushed over him, dragging him deep. Red filled his vision as he brought a rock down, hard. He hadn't felt the pain until a long while after that: just happy he only had four fingers. Like his big brother did.

But then his hand grew large, hot and very painful. As Kiri bandaged it up, the tears fell fast and silently. His mom, or his dad, should be doing it. But no: they were away, reliving memories that Lo'ak was to pussy to do.

He cried himself to sleep that night, and every night after that for a solid week.

~

Bitterness - LPOV

A month has officially passed since... it. Lo'ak's hand had healed slightly wrong. His pinkie finger was now permanently bent slightly off-angle. He'd also broken his foot, though that was a 50/50 accident.... 75/25. Fine, 90/10. He was angry that his mom and dad were absent again, leaving him to field Kiri and Tuk. Even though Kiri was the oldest now, one of the few words his dad had spoken to him was: "You're the older brother now, you've gotta act like it,"

He'd held Kiri as she cried softly, Tuk piling in after. All the while, his parents were off in merry-happy-go-fucking-lucky land, spending time with their son, the one they loved the most. When they'd returned, Lo'ak had stormed off, anger fuelling his every move. In a fit of childish rage, he kicked a rock. His foot was on fire immediately, but he was too riled up to return to the hut. So, he sat on the rock again, holding his knees tightly. His foot burned with agony, but Lo'ak didn't care. Neteyam only felt pain when he died, why the fuck should he feel any different? Why the fuck should he feel loved, full, and healthy? While his brother was dead?

He didn't return to the Marui that night, nor the following, nor the third. Neither did he eat. He would doze for a few minutes, but never more. His brother, as much as he loved him, haunted his dreams. His blood would be suffocatingly hot, dripping down his arms as he desperately tried to save him, in vain. On his fourth night of sulking on the rock, he'd passed out from no food. The energy depletion left him with a blank mind for the first time in a while. When he woke: he was still on the rock. Nobody had bothered. Why should they? You killed Neteyam. Something hissed.

And it was right.

~

Moving on - LPOV

It took Lo'ak six months before he grew the balls to see him. And even then, Payakan had been the one to do it. Lo'ak had swum to him in tears after an argument with his dad. He'd yelled at Lo'ak to be "more mature, more grown up," Lo'ak had snapped "like Neteyam?" And his dad said "Yes, exactly! Why can't you be him!?" and under his breath muttered: "I wish you'd stayed in the goddamn village" and that was the final straw. Lo'ak screamed how he "hated him" and wished he was the one dead as well, not to worry.

His mom had called out for him, pointlessly chasing him as far as the sea, but Lo'ak's young body was too fast. He'd dived him, swimming away as fast as he could. Payakan had found him quickly, getting him up on his fin, clicking frantically.
What's wrong, brother!? You are very upset! Please, talk to me! Are you hurt!?
After a long while, Lo'ak collapsed against his side. He'd opened up like a book, letting the feelings pour out. Payakan was silent for a few moments. I do not like your father. And it made Lo'ak snort loudly. Payakan seemed to relax a little at his friend laughing again. Perhaps you should visit your brother. I do not believe you have done it. Lo'ak shook his head. "Not yet buddy," He'd dozed off after crying for so long.

He should've known the sneaky bastard would've tried something.

When he woke, Payakan was lowering him into the cove. Brother, for your own health, you need to do this. You need to speak to him again. Upon Lo'ak's frantic stuttering, Payakan blew water from his blowhole. No. You need to do it. You need to rest your soul, and that will not happen until you see your brother. Payakan began loweing his fin. And I will not let you up until you have done it.

Bastard.

Lo'ak swam down. Get it done quickly. He thought. He connected his queue to the tree, falling deep and fast into... something. He rolled his eyes when he quickly realised he was the only one around. He bent down to grab a flower with a tut. "Do my eyes deceive me," He turned with a gasp. "Or have you finally decided to visit?"

~

Bonus: 20 years on - NPOV

Lo'ak visited him every month, like clockwork until he had kids. Neteyam watched with tears in his eyes as both Kiri and his baby bro had children. Tuk had yet to mate, and he was fine with that. She was still 8 in his mind. Kiri was the first to welcome a child, a daughter. He found it sweet she'd called her Grace, after her mom. Her mom also found it sweet, if the tears that cascaded from her eyes were any indication. He knew Rotxo would mate with her, and he took very good care of her. And her connection to Eywa.

Lo'ak was next to have a child, a son. Neteyam frowned deeply at the sad look on his brother's face. He'd reached out but pulled back. Spirits cannot touch the living. He deflated. Until Tsireya spoke from the bed: "Neytiri? Jake?" His parents had lept up, ready to help the new mother. "I have a name I'd like to use. Do I have your permission?" Lo'ak had frowned deeply, holding the baby like an expert. Neteyam wiped away the tear in his eye. His mom and dad exchanged a look with a smile. "Of course you may, we'd be honoured," At first, Neteyam thought she'd call the baby Jake, or Tom, after his brother's dead brother. But no. Instead, she said: "Neteyam," And displayed the baby.

Neteyam sobbed for hours.

Lo'ak and Tsireya had another baby, a daughter, a year later. They named her Kailua, and despite her amber eyes, Neteyam thought she was the carbon copy of her mom. He watched them grow and cried every single damn time. Grace was five when Kiri had twin girls, Mai'ah and Rinia. Poor Rotxo: only one of his daughters had the Metkayina skin. All three had Omatikaya eyes and stripes.

A year after that, Lo'ak had another baby, Mneto, his second son. He, like Kailua, was a copy of his mom. Neteyam was surprised to see his own eyes reflecting back, and not his brothers. He found himself laughing loudly when Tsireya chased Lo'ak through the gathering area two months after that, screaming that he'd made her pregnant again too quickly. Lo and behold, eight months later, baby Ro'ah was born. Neteyam had cackled at the panicked look on his brother's face. "Four!? Four kids!?"

He'd fallen over when Lo'ak fainted. As they grew, Neteyam watched every moment. From first words to first steps to first hunts, to their Ikran bonding (something both Lo'ak and Kiri had insisted they do) to even their own matings.

And when, at the ages of, 171 and 164, Kiri and Lo'ak joined him, they reunited with their parents and previous family members, enjoying life together once more.