Lo'ak contracts an infection from Ao'nung's homicidal play date, but his parents don't seem to notice.

~

Lo'ak often found himself either outside Tsireya's hut but never going in, or in the shallows, dipping his toes in. Tsireya would sometimes know he was waiting outside and take his hand to the secluded bioluminescent area under her hut, but other times Neteyam would find him and either sit in silence or take him back to their hut for the night.

So he was slightly upset when nobody sat near him after his dad yelled at him for going out to the reef, which he didn't.

His chest had begun to hurt shortly after Payakan saved him, but he assumed that was from holding his breath for so long. But as his dad screamed at him for being a disappointment to the family, etcetera etcetera, he couldn't help but feel worried at the worsening tightness of his chest. "Can I go now?" He snapped, trying to subtly rub his chest. He caught the nervous glances from his mom and brother, but he pushed them away. His dad nodded to the door and turned away. "Lo'ak-"

"It's fine. Don't worry, I won't breathe without consulting him next time," Lo'ak snapped, storming out of their hut and towards the shallows. He sat there, breathing back the urge to cough. The dizzy feeling grew worse over the hour or so he sat there. By now: everyone had gone to bed.

If the lack of light in his family's hut was anything to go by, so had they.

A small part of Lo'ak hurt at that: they couldn't even be bothered to check on him.

~

Midnight soon rolled around, not taking the chill in his bones (deeper than the cold) or the painful rattling in his chest. He rubbed his sternum harshly, trying to clear whatever the hell illness had settled. A cough ripped through his throat. He wheezed painfully as he tried to regain his breath. "Lo'ak?" He coughed into his fist again, looking up. "What?" He croaked. Tsireya frowned in concern. "You don't sound well," She pointed out. He rubbed his sternum harshly again. "I'm sure it's fine," He wheezed. Tsireya's eyes narrowed. "Why don't I take you to my mother? She is still awake,"

"It's fine, Reya, honestly, I'm fine." He took slow breaths.

"I'm fine," He repeated, whether, to himself or Tsireya, he didn't know. "Ok," She sat on the sand next to him, resting her head on his shoulder. Had he been feeling 100%, Lo'ak would've flushed bright and stuttered a conversation. Yet, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was very wrong.

~

He woke up the following morning gasping for breath. He shot upright, bracing himself on his arms. He coughed loudly. His breaths came out in wheezes. His eyes watered.

Was he having an allergic reaction? He took a shaky breath in, but stuttered and started coughing again. "Lo'ak?" A sleepy voice mumbled to his left.

He wheezed for oxygen, fighting back the urge to cough again. He rubbed his sternum, forcing himself upright. He took a long inhale through his nose and out again. His chest ached something horrific.

"Lo'ak!" He identified the voice as Tsireya, feeling guilty all of a sudden for worrying her. He grasped her arm tightly, wheezing for air pitifully. He coughed harshly again. "Mom!" Tsireya screamed. He blinked at his fist in shock. "What's your mom's name, Lo'ak, quick!" He panted and cleared his throat, "Ney-" He wheezed, "-tiri,"

He coughed again harshly, the echo reverberating in his skull.

More blood splattered onto his closed hand.

His vision blacked out to Tsireya screaming for his mom.

~

He woke up in Tsireya's hut. His chest ached horribly, but not as bad as earlier. "Oh my god, Lo'ak, you're ok!" A flash of teal and black hair rushed to his face. He turned wearily, blinking his eyes slowly. "Huh?" He mumbled. Tsireya sat on her legs, rubbing his shoulder. She pointed to the avatar in the corner. "Norm- he uh, he heard my shout on your thingy," She pointed to the radio on his neck. "He helped you,"

Lo'ak felt the oxygen tube above his lip and into his nose. "Why isn't he speaking to me? Is he ok?" Tsireya panicked. "He might be a little out of it for a while. Fainting does that to someone, especially if they've got pneumonia." Tsireya blinked and shook her head. "Mom?" He croaked. Norm inhaled sharply. "Sorry kid, they're out in the ocean with Tonowari and Ronal."

Ah.

Tsireya combed her hand through his hair, a habit he found rather cute. "S'all good though. I can stay until they get back. It's relatively simple. Just keep that in and you should be good soon,"

Somehow: his heart didn't hurt as much as he thought it would.