Rule No.4 : A man isn't jealous, people are jealous of him

Growing up, Aonung always shined in people's eyes, particularly between Na'vis his age. They admired him and they wanted to be him. It was only normal as he was the chief's son. Inevitably, the Metkayina grew up with a boosted ego. He was convinced that jealousy from others was the best feeling, as it made him feel powerful. It made him confident. But he soon understood that he wasn't protected from being jealous at all, because eventually when the conditions were all present, he got his share of it.

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It was the morning before the hunting day in the village. All the young Na'vis were assigned to different tasks, making sure all the material was ready for the hunters. While Tsireya, Kiri and Tuk had to feed the Tsuraks and verify the leashes, the others had to take care of the nets. They had just finished braiding one and they decided to make sure of its efficiency by testing it.

Aounung threw the filet into the water, before holding the left side. The ocean currents were stronger than he thought because he was suddenly dragged forward by the waves. Even though he was strong, it was not enough to fight the tides.

"Quick, someone helps me !'' was all he could grit out, muscles contracted in a strenuous effort to keep the net from being snatched by the ocean.

The first person to react was Lo'ak. He ran toward him and help him hold the filet. Facing them, Neteyam and Rotxo arrived a few seconds later and held the opposite side. Each of them was trying to drag the net back onto the seashore but it wasn't working.

"Look like we've got a big catch," Aonung said with a smile even though his arms were becoming sore.

"Or you just suck at throwing and got it stuck somewhere," said Lo'ak mockingly.

The Metkayina turned to look at the Omatikaya with a glare. Lo'ak was smirking at him. Once again, the water Na'vi was reminded of how much the Sully brothers were different. When Neteyam smirked at him, it was to challenge him. It was playful and he enjoyed it. On the contrary, Lo'ak was just genuinely trying to rile him up.

Aonung was going to answer with words full of venom when his favourite voice interrupted him.

"Would y'all stop ?" Neteyam said while rolling his eyes. Everybody could see he was joking and wasn't actually annoyed, still, both Lo'ak and Aounung shushed it.

Rotxo then intervened.

"Guys, I'll count to 3. When I say go, you guys pull toward the inside while Neteyam and I do the same, '' he instructed before pointing toward the inside of the filet. ''There will be less water and it should be easier.''

They then adjusted their position, planting their feet deep in the wet sand and waiting for the count. It wasn't too long before they heard the "go" and they all pulled at the same time. It didn't move at first, but after a few seconds, it did and they were all propelled into the water.

Aonung quickly stood up to hold the fillet again before fishes could escape. He then looked up to make sure Neteyam was alright but instead was faced with an unpleasing sight. The Omatikaya was laughing as Rotxo was helping him up with his hands. When he finally stood up, he lost his balance again and Rotxo stabilized him with an arm wrapped around his lower back.

Aonung furrowed his eyebrows as he felt something tighten in his chest. It wasn't the first time his friends interacted with the dark blue-skinned Na'vi and he didn't usually mind. But why did Rotxo feel the need to touch Neteyam so much? He looked sideways not wanting to face them anymore.

When Lo'ak finally joined him, they all pulled the net once again until it was on the sand. Through the holes, they could see the large amount of fish of different sizes and colours they had caught. Aonung turned around to face Lo'ak with an eyebrow raised.

''What were you saying about my throw again ?''. The other only rolled his eyes, ignoring him and moving further away.

The Na'vis had to transfer their catch into baskets to bring to the village before giving the net to the hunters. They separated the fishes according to their colour and their size. Aonung was focused on his work but couldn't help peeking at the conversation in front of him.

"Here, this is a galaxy rasbora. It's the one we ate yesterday. Do you remember ?"

Neteyam was laughing and drinking everything Rotxo was telling him about the fishes of Marui. He would also tell fun facts about the fauna of his home. Aonung felt this weird feeling come back into his chest.

He hated it.

He wanted to push Rotxo away and be the one making the Omatikaya laugh, like usual. He was jealous. And he also felt guilty. How could he be jealous of his own friend? Rotxo wasn't even interested in Neteyam.

Right?

But his body had a mind of its own as he unconsciously glared at them for a while, before looking away to his side when he couldn't take it anymore. This time, he made eye contact with Lo'ak who was giving him a weird look. It only added to his irritation.

"What do you want ?" he let out more aggressively than he wanted.

He quickly glanced back at Neteyam making sure he hadn't heard him lash out at his brother. Aonung was both reassured and annoyed to see the Omatikaya still engrossed in his conversation with Rotxo.

"Why are you staring at my brother for? " was the answer he got.

Aonung was left speechless as he didn't expect to be caught in 4K. After a few seconds, he grumbled out the first excuse that went to his mind.

"I wasn't staring at him, I was just making he was sorting the right fishes correctly," he directed his gaze back to his work, done with the conversation.

But that didn't seem to stop Lo'ak.

"What, you think my brother is dumb and can't make the difference between colours?" the younger Sully brother answered with a much louder voice this time.

Aonung started to feel his blood boil. He already wasn't in the mood because of Rotxo. Now Lo'ak was getting on his nerve on purpose, probably still salty of having been proven wrong earlier. His patience was holding on a thread and he didn't need that right now.

"If you're looking for trouble just continue, you're going to find it bitch ! " he said voice low in warning and jaw clenched, internally surprised at his use of the sky people's language he was taught by Lo'ak in their first fistfight.

Lo'ak smirked with satisfaction before also focusing on sorting the animals, which confirmed the Metkayina's assumptions. The other was simply trying to irk him.

The Na'vis continued their work for at least one more hour before being finally done. When all the baskets were brought to the village, Aonung turned around and went back to his pod before anyone could even place a word. He didn't want to talk and he felt like staying alone for the rest of the day.

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Neteyam was nice. It was common knowledge. The latter was helpful, funny, compassionate and always warm with Aonung. But this kindness was not limited only to him. Neteyam was like that with everyone.

So in the next few days, Aonung couldn't help but be extremely attentive to the people the Omatikaya was interacting with. Out of his bubble of feelings, he realized that everybody loved Neteyam, and he wasn't exactly sure how to feel about that. The biggest part of him was naturally proud. People were finally seeing beyond the fact that the younger wasn't part of their clan. Everybody was finally recognizing how much of a good and gentle person he was. Sometimes, it was the aunties asking for Neteyam's help with the cooking. Their ''Can we steal you for one hour only'' would always end up in a whole afternoon as they would squeeze his cheeks and babble about how cute he was. When Neteyam would come back with sore cheeks after, he would always glare at Aonung for being well aware of his situation but not saving him because ''the aunties aren't wrong. You are cute''.

Other times, it would be the six and seven years old Na'vi that would ask Neteyam to play games with them because they knew he would never refuse. Aonung had to admit that the sight was always adorable.

Now, it was his friends that finally considered the Omatikaya as one of them. While they only asked Aonung to bring Neteyam to their hang-out time before, now they would meet with the earth Na'vi without him being there. So the Metkayina was glad the smaller was being more integrated.

However, while Aonung loved all of that, it also meant that more people wanted Neteyam's time. And that is what caused an issue for him. After the evening at the cove, they were closer than ever, but they could barely see each other lately because the earth Na'vi was always doing something, somewhere, with someone else.

It was frustrating.

And mind you, Aounung wasn't jealous of children or elders (even if they wished the Omatikaya patted his head just like he did with the kids), but there was something about his friends that annoyed him. Aonung was happy to see they were finally including him. The Omatikaya deserved it, if not better. However, he wasn't particularly fond of the way one of them was taking a special liking into the blue Na'vi. Indeed, Rotxo seemed to be always attached to Neteyam's hip lately. Did he though he could replace Aonung? At first, the water Na'vi convinced himself that it was nothing and that he was just inventing stuff. But after multiple times where Rotxo asked Neteyam to stay up at night with him right in front of Aonung, he started to question the motive behind his friend's actions.

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It was night already and Aonung was supposed to meet Neteyam on the beach for a night ballad. They only had managed to see each other a few times this week and their next day was booked, so they decided to use their sleep time to meet.

The Metkayina was waiting for the other, sitting on a rock, far from the seashore. He looked forward to finally spending time with the dark blue-skinned Na'vi, even if it meant lying there in the dark staring at the sky like they already did a dozen times. He smiled faintly looking at the sea as time passed and passed but the Omatikaya didn't appear. Maybe he had fallen asleep? It wouldn't be surprising for Neteyam to be tired. Still, Aonung started worrying, his friend was always on time, so what was going on? He waited a few more minutes before standing up and walking toward the village. He would go to the Ometikaya's pod and check on him just to be sure.

Aonung was a few meters away from the village's entrance when he heard the voices. They were faint but they weren't too far from him. He curiously followed them until he found the origin of the disturbance. His gaze fell on Rotxo and Neteyam sitting side to side in front of a small fire camp. They were working with something in their hand while whispering to each other.

Aonung's fist tightened when he saw the proximity between the two. Did Neteyam forget him because he was too focused on Rotxo?

His heart throbbed.

While his mind screamed at him to go away and let both of his friends have their conversation in private, his body acted on its own. He hid behind a large rock to hear what they were saying. He could hear bits of their discussion, but it wasn't perfect.

''You need to put in...fire again. It not hot...-nough.'' The voice was rough so it definitely belonged to Rotxo.

Sounds of wood banging echoed in the silence.

''I wanted to tell you...-thing, don't laugh. '' Aonung recognized this voice as Neteyam's because of its softness.

''Go on.''

"I think you.. real-... and cute." He furrowed his brows.

Neteyam thought Rotxo was cute? He wasn't sure he had heard it well since the Omatikaya was speaking particularly low and he hoped he was wrong as he listened to the rest.

"You think...cute ?"

It was silent for a while so the Metkayina assumed Neteyam had answered with a gesture.

''Actually, I knew it, you weren't discreet with me you know. And we wouldn't be here right now either if it wasn't the case,'' Rotxo said as he chuckled loudly.

When Aonung heard Neteyam giggle, the feeling of jealousy came back in waves. He then tried to reassure himself. Finding someone cute meant nothing, right? But who was he kidding? With the doubts he had accumulated in the past week and the bundle of nasty emotions growing inside of him, he couldn't stop himself from getting ideas.

"What did you want to ask me though ? " the sweet voice added after a while.

There was another silence.

"I-it's not something easy to say... -ike that.'' Aonung's heart started pumping in his chest as he heard that sentence.

What he was thinking of wasn't happening, right? He soon had his answer as the deep voice continued.

'' I need...dvices. I want to court you...er." The last part was a bit unclear as Rotxo lowered his voice in shyness.

But Aonung didn't care about that. His mind was still stuck on the words he heard clearly. His friend wanted to court Neteyam.

He was right all along.

The Metkayina felt a lump in his throat as he waited for the answer.

" I kinda like you so why not? Stop being so formal though," was Neteyam's answer and Aonung lost his focus after that.

Neteyam had said yes. Neteyam had accepted Rotxo's advances. He looked down at his chest.

It hurt.

The Metkayina suddenly stood up and started walking not even looking where he was going with his clouded mind. He replayed the words in his head until he finally found himself back at the spot where he was waiting earlier. He sat down just like half an hour ago and it all crashed unto him.

He wanted Neteyam. But the latter already liked Rotxo. He had seen how the two had become closer, but deep inside him, he couldn't help but think of his sweet moments with the earth Na'vi. He didn't understand where everything went wrong. He thought they were circling each other, waiting for the right moment to just throw away the title of friends. Was it a dream? Was the fond stare, sweet smile and affection given by Neteyam only a creation of his mind? No, it had all been real. That's why did hurt so bad.

Aonung was experiencing his first heartbreak.

The night wind brushed the hair at the back of his bun as he stared at the sea. Earlier, the water was filled with colourful vegetation and animated animals. Now, only the phosphorescent plants could be seen through it and the view seemed sad as if the happiness had been torn away from it. A reflection of Aonung's heart.

He sat there and bathed in silence for an unknown amount of time. All he knew is that at some point, he heard hurried feet behind him, accompanied by a worried voice.

"Hey, hey! Nung' I'm here."

It was Neteyam.

His...friend fell to his knees right next to him. "Sorry, I completely lost track of the time and I didn't realize it was already time for our meeting !"

Neteyam put his hand on Aounung's tight, holding himself up as he was trying to catch his breath.

"Don't touch me !" Aonung pushed away Neteyam's hand on his leg.

Neteyam nearly fell face-first into the sand as he lost his balance. He caught himself at the last second with his other arm.

He furrowed his eyebrow as silence took place between them. It is only then that he realized the Meytkayina hadn't moved his gaze away from the sea since his arrival.

"A-Aonung, is everything alright ?" the blue Na'vi said, voice hesitating.

He was answered with silence. Neteyam extended his hand by reflex toward Aonung's hand to show his comfort before stopping himself remembering what happened a few seconds.

He tried to talk again, but this time with more confidence. " I'm talking to you Aonung, did something happen?"

Aonung's mind wandered back to his friends being close to each other earlier, it was all it took for his anger to resurface. He was angry at Rotxo, he was angry at the world, and he was angry at himself for falling in the first place. Even if sadness and disappointment were the emotion he felt in the majority, anger was his defense mechanism. It has always been. And even if in the past weeks he had learned better, it couldn't completely change him. This was rooted deep inside him. So he did what he knew best before meeting Neteyam.

"You tell me! You tell me what fucking happened !" He suddenly let out looking back at the Na'vi.

He was faced with surprised eyes. He didn't know whether it was his expressions or the anger in his tone that surprise the other so much, but it didn't make any difference. Quickly, the startled expression of the other changed to confusion.

"What ?"

Aonung had to stop himself from rolling his eyes.

"Don't play dumb right now."

Neteyam looked more lost than ever.

"I don't know what you are talking about, tell me !" Neteyam tried once again starting to get annoyed himself.

The earth Na'vi looked more helpless than ever as he tried to understand what the other was mad for. But Aonung was too caught in his own hurting to see it. He talked before he could control himself.

"You always do that! You play all innocent and sweet so people fall into your little trap. You keep looking for attention wherever you can find it and I'm tired of it ! " he finally screamed.

And then he realized what he said. He widen his eyes as he finally noticed the confused stare the other was giving him.

Neteyam looked down as he retreated, putting more space between them. When he looked back up, he still had this lost expression. Except for this time, there was a new emotion in the golden orbs. Pain. And Aonung had never seen it so vividly in his eyes before. Even at their first meeting, when they would clash with each other, the other never looked that hurt.

Aonung fucking hated himself at that moment.

He loathed himself for hurting the one he loved the most. Because even when Neteyam had just broken his heart, he couldn't bare to see him hurt. The Metkayina felt dumb because instead of making the earth Na'vi happy like he was supposed to, he vented his anger on him. How could he have done that to the one person who saw him for who he was? Right when wanted to apologize, even if he knew it wouldn't fix everything, he got cut.

"S-sorry, I never wanted to keep you waiting. I...I should head back," mumbled Neteyam, voice trembling. A second later, he was already up on his feet, avoiding the Metkayina's stare and speeding back toward the village.

The water Na'vi didn't even have the time to process the information, the smaller was already far away, the space between them growing both physically and emotionally.

"Fuck !" He screamed while punching the sand under his feet.

He wanted to stand up and follow the other but it was already too late. He would only cause a commotion in the village and wake people up. He pulled his hair with his hand. How could he have done such a mistake? How did this night that had started so peacefully end up like that? He couldn't stop the few tears that rolled down his cheeks before landing on the sand.

That night, Aonung did not return to his pod. He stared at the sky as he thought about jealousy. He was wrong all along. It wasn't an empowering feeling at all. On the contrary, it brought out the worst in him and made him feel the most miserable he ever felt in his life.

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Here is the chapter ! I hope you don't hate me too much after the angst. Anyways, i'm in a rush so I didn't think any question for today. So I hope you enjoyed chapter and if you did, don't forget to leave a vote !! <3333