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Ocean Genesis

Avatar: The way of water

"They found the Sully boy!"

Everyone rushed to the reef as Lo'ak had returned. For once it was Aonung was that it was in deep waters. Despite being incredibly furious with Aonung,  Li' Aeyana had not told anyone who caused Lo'ak to end beyond reef. The truth would reveal itself but more of all she understood what it was like to lose the trust of a parent- she would hate to see her brother experience the same thing.

Jake and Neytiri dropped down to the pod as Lo'ak approached them. She turned to see Neteyam, Kiri and Lo'ak watch from a distance. Jake immediately stepped forward as he took a look at his son

"Let's have a look at you."  He noted "He's fine, he's fine. Just a few scratches-" he answered as an furious Tonowari side eyed his own son.

"Lo'ak!" Neytiri called stepping to her son "I shall pray to the great mother that I don't pluck they eyeballs of my youngest son!" She scolded him taking hold his hand.

"No." Tonowari spoke "My son knows better than to take him outside the reef." He placed his hand on Aonung shoulders as Aonung lowered to his knees, with a scawl on his face.

There was a silence between the fathers and son. Li' Aeyana noticed the hesitation on Lo'ak's face

"No." He answered. Shaking his head as he looked to Ronal and Tonowari "Its not Aonung's fault, it was my fault. It was my idea. Aonung tried to talk me out of it."

A lie.

Li' Aeyana knew. She glanced to Tsireya who shared a concerning look to Lo'ak. Both knew the truth behind their brothers role in Lo'ak's brief disappearance.

"Is this true?" Ronal questioned examining her children's face. Aonung looked to the floor as the depleted face of Li' Aeyana told her enough. After dispersing Ronal and Tonowari faced Li' Aeyana as she watched everyone return to their pods.

"He is lying, the Sully boy?" Tonowari sternly questioned "It was your brother,  wasn't it?"

Li' Aeyana remained quiet

"Li' Aeyana, he could have been killed." Ronal reasoned "Why would your brother do this?"

Again she said nothing. She could not. It did not feel right to speak on that matter. Tonowari was a calm person,  incredibly so but when he raised his voice to his children, if needed the consequences- the feeling of knowing they have disappointed them was too awful. She had grown a thick skin over the years because of Ronal. She learned to not care what others thought of her , no less her family but Tsireya and Aonung were not so.

The followed command and order. Never stepping a foot of line. Both wanting noting but to not bring shame upon their family. It was hard being the child of a clan chief, but even harder when they try to mold themselves into something they were not.

Aonung had always carried a form of jealousy over Li' Aeyana, this she knew but he never held it against her, not as he did now. The worst part of it all, aside from feeling hurt is that she understood it because it was how she felt with Aonung and Tsireya when it came to Ronal.

Their mother was their voice of reason but Tonowari was hers. She knew he would never admit it but she could see it in how her father treated her. He always provided the peace between her and Ronal , and because she was so rebellious and prone to trouble, he always protected her but Aonung had it different. It was expected of him to follow in his father's footsteps but the task seemed impossible as he carried Li' Aeyana and Tsireya on his shoulders.

"I don't know." Li' Aeyana replied looking to her father "Just-" she shook her head in defeat "I don't know. May I be excused, please?" She asked as Tonowari nodded his head.

It was late at night, and with Aonung in a world of trouble she knew she would not be expected to return early. Not that she was the one who would be reprimanded.

Lo'ak was seated outside of their pod. It did not matter to tell the truth,  it was not like they would believe him after he took the blame. He kept his mouth shut, having shared a mutual feeling with Aonung when his father spoke with him.

You have brought shame upon this family

Something both sons had heard that night. He looked to the stars reminiscing rather on the afternoon, he did not feel so alone as he used to.

"Why did you do it?" A voice asked. Turning his head to see Li' Aeyana take a seat next to him "My brother lied, but you took the blame. Why?"

Lo'ak simply shrugged "He would've gotten into trouble with your dad. I didn't want to be the reason why."

"You did not have to Lo'ak. What Aonung did was wrong."

"It's fine, really. I don't mind taking the fall."

"Does not mean you should." Li' Aeyana agreed "Even he realizes this. Did you get into trouble with your father?" She asked having know that Jake was a strict father. Neteyam had told her how heavy it was , to carry all of his siblings actions of their shoulder.

"I'm sorry." Li' Aeyana apologized "It must not be easy for you though."

"Wh- what did Neteyam tell you?" Lo'ak rolled his eyes "About me making things difficult for him?"

"He did not say that. Just that he's always concerned for you." Li' Aeyana answered "But it can not be easy. Feeling like you cause nothing but trouble."

"I suppose." Lo'ak admitted "It's not on purpose." He confessed "I-"

"It's okay. I know better than anyone. Tsireya is the perfect daughter." She chuckled trying to lightening his mood. She noticed Lo'ak's eyes lit up. It was a look, as of recent she had grown used to with his brother. "Speaking of my sister, you seem to have eyes for."

"I uh-"

"Don't worry, I won't try to drown you because you like my sister."  

"Maybe that's a good thing. I'm a terrible swimmer." Lo'ak laughed "Maybe I need more lessons from her." His words accidentally slipped out.

Li' Aeyana lightly punched his arm "Hey, that's still my baby sister."

"Where were you tonight?" His mother asked

"Yeah, what happened to looking out for your brother?" His father asked

There were very few times Neteyam no less allowed himself to be vulnerable. He loved his brother and sisters,  more than anything in the world but they would never understand how much pressure their father and mother put on his shoulders. To take care of them,  keep them safe and in life. It was hard because each one was different, and as hard as he tried, he failed. It was impossible.

Neteyam sat on the sands of the beach after everyone had fallen asleep, a occupation tendency since arriving on the reef of the Metkayina clan. Before he would have never even think to leave his parents sight, but somehow he had found a new freedom

His racing heartbeat skipped a beat when he felt arms wrap around his middle and a chin rested on his shoulder. "It's stupid to ask, but are you okay?"

"Yes, everything is fine."

Neteyam tried to compose himself, and though Li' Aeyana was not the best in knowing what to say , when. She could see he was struggling.

She held him closer as he wiped a tear off of his cheek. Both having never been the type to cry, even speak whenever they were struggling but having found someone they were unafraid to be vulnerable and open with each other brought a great comfort. Li' Aeyana held him tighter as a comfortable silence them, pulling him into her arms.

Neteyam at first was confused when he woke up. He was inside of the pod, alone. The sun was bright outside. He could feel the emotional exhaustion weighing him down, but he could not remember returning home.

"I was supposed to be here when you woke up." Li' Aeyanas voice alerted him as he sat up. Entering into the room as she sat across from him.

"How did-"

"You fell asleep after you-" She referred him crying as he hang his head low "Aonung took a walk and he helped me get you back. You slept like a baby."

"I'm sorry- I shouldn't have-" Neteyam quietly mumbled "It was not necessary for you to do that."

"It was. I've cried myself to sleep many times on that beach." Li' Aeyana held out her hand as he took hers "Neteyam, you should not have to say sorry if you are not well. It is normal to cry sometimes."

"I know... but I don't." He sighed as his thumb traced the back of her hand "I just all felt too much. I was scared- scared that Lo'ak was gone."

"Thank the great mother he was not." Li' Aeyana replied "And for what it is worth I think Aonung learned his lesson."

"I don't like this." He disagreed "I don't like talking about my problems. They make me feel weak. It feels like I'm making my stuff your problem and I don't want it to feel like that. I'm not supposed to be your problem." He shook his head as Li' Aeyana sat closer to him

To this Li' Aeyana rolled her eyes "I care for you Neteyam, a lot. I don't like seeing you sad." She quickly defended "Plus, you know you can tell me anything. I am the last to judge."

Neteyams immediate blush was enough to tell Li' Aeyana that he felt somewhat comforted.

"I see you." She quietly added. It had been so long since he allowed himself to feel conflicted. Neteyam pressed a kiss to the top of Li' Aeyana's head, as he felt his heart flutter at the soft gesture.

"I don't mind being there for you. I'll be there for you no matter what. Good or bad, right?"

"Thank you." Neteyam nodded his head in agreement. He looked up at her, finding his gaze already on Li' Aeyana.

Authors note:
Just Li' Aeyana casually becoming the Sully kids therapist and not the problem child for once 💁🏽‍♀️

So this chapter is shorter because I want to space more chapters out in between the plot. So far I'm planning 20 chapters,  25 at max for this book before its completed so I don't wanna rush the entire plot of the film into two chapters

Also I have no idea how I wanna end this book,  so there's also that 🙂
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