As a kid always a leader, she‘s loving my demeanor.
So there‘s this song called 'Century' by EsDeeKid and it fits Ao‘nung so well and idk it kinda fits with what i came up with, also i know the lyrics aren’t right but it fits OKAY now read and shush. Also he‘s aged-up in here bc it fits better (19-20 yrs). Obvi they speak Na‘vi but I don’t so yeah.
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It began for as long as you could remember.
It began back when you were still two little fish stumbling over your own tails and screaming whenever things didn’t go your way, even then he managed to be a mean fucking bully.
It didn’t make things better that your mother grew up with Ronal, meaning you saw him a lot more often than you wanted to - and for some reason they never punished him for his behavior, always finding it endearing how he teased you.
"Ah, these two.." Your mother would chuckle from where she sat at shore next to Ronal, watching you two fight over a rock Ao‘nung stole from you
Yeah, he was a mean bully, a stupid little shithead that made your life a living hell.
Years passed and with each passing year you matured into something new, something beyond tiny tails and stumbling legs.
You grew up into a beautiful young woman, liked by your clan and always there when help was needed - your sweet smile could make even the most bitter elders smile.
Yet there was another side as well, the side that slipped out whenever a certain Olo’eyktan-in-training was around, a side where your replies would be much more snappier and disrespectful - your smile once sweet turning into an agitated scowl.
It wasn’t just you who matured, as unbelievable as it was Ao‘nung matured as well. He grew up to be an admired hunter amongst the clan which made his role as the future leader seem more fitting, and while the clan spoke highly of the Olo‘eyktan‘s son you always had an argument ready for whatever compliment someone gave him.
Beneath the new muscle, skilled hunting and cocky demeanor there was still that mean fucking bully you had fought with all those years ago, now that it wasn’t just about rocks or toys.
Now it was whatever he came up with, whatever he thought was amusing to him and his stupid little gang, whether it was how you dressed that day or a minor mistake he thought was hilarious.
While there were a few changes there weren’t too many, he still had his men following him and doing everything he said just like when you were young - some things never change.
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It was a sunny day, the village was bustling with little kids running around and the women doing whatever chores they were set to do that day, some chasing after little one‘s that wandered too far.
On days like these you and your friends enjoyed doing many things such as taking a swim, munching on some berries or…this.
The hunting party had just returned, the shrieks of their skimwings faint background noise from the joyful cheering. Alongside the fathers and the older men, there were the younger older men.
The ones that weren’t that old but also older than you, the ones that were just the right amount of mature and forbidden that made watching them even more fun - especially on a sunny day like this when the saltwater on their glistening skin mixed with sweat, hair messy and appearance disheveled.
Men were now more interesting than ever, as little girls you would have never openly ogled at men, but with maturing came the growing interest for such things. Especially for someone as liked as you, many elders have already tried to set you up under the excuse that 'a sweet flower like you must be protected by a strong man' yeah right.
A nudge of your friends shoulder against yours made you peel your gaze away from the men, looking at her with confusion spreading on your face. "We must have them come to the cove tonight!" Your friend eagerly nodded, the excitement practically radiating off of her, "Could you…talk to them?" Then there was that look again, big eyes and stupid pout - so of course you got up.
Your friends immediately trailed behind you as you walked up to the men you were just admiring, watching how one by one turned around once they noticed you walking up to them - very much interested in the group of giggling girls following you.
"My, my - has Eywa granted us a reward?" Pxoho chuckled as he gestured towards your friends, nudging one of his friends sides who had began chuckling alongside his friend.
Your friends, as supportive as ever, gave you a slight nudge urging you to deliver the message and invite them to join you at the infamous cove tonight - after all, what happened at the cove stayed in the cove.
"Pxoho, Mehao, Eyìaym, Tsì'oaw and Eyun…" You began as you let your gaze wander over all the curious faces staring at you, teasing smirks flashed at you. "Me and my very brave friends," You huffed as you turned around to see your friends glaring at you, "would like if you came to the cove tonight, see it as a…reward for being such good hunters." You finally delivered the message, watching as the men eyed each other before returning their gaze to you.
"We will be there…" Tsì'oaw replied with a big grin tugging at the corners of his lips, the message had been successfully delivered and now was the time to scram and get excited for when you’d head to the cove.
With a final nod you and your brave group of friends made your way away from shore, already planning on what things to wear and of course things to do at the cove…
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Time passed faster than expected and you found yourself getting ready to meet your friends at the cove, sure you went there a lot and it wasn’t unusual for many groups to meet there but you were excited anyway.
Your clothing had been different than from what you wore at day time, of course you had to look your best when meeting the men you so enjoyed ogling at - even if the cove was relatively dark, making wandering hands so nicely hidden.
With the last finishing touches of your hair done you approached the entrance of your family‘s marui pod, passing by your mother who was completely uninterested in where you went - she knew already. Her words were clear and honest 'Have fun, don’t make any choices you are pressured into or are unsure about - remember, we mate for life.' Sure a little too direct, but it kept you from doing a lot of bad things and dumb decisions.
"I‘ll be on my way now, mother, i…-" You were quickly interrupted by your mother who was smiling so friendly, perhaps too friendly. "Wait, my dear, i have…arranged something for you." She led you outside of the marui pod, watching as your expression dropped.
Right there stood the one man you were looking forward to not seeing that night, smirking like he had won at some game you didn’t knew you were part of and surely his little group had come as well. Wherever he was, they followed.
"What?! Mother i…-" Again you were interrupted, but this time not by your mother. "Ah, it is nothing, i was planning to go too." Ao‘nung quipped as he watched you glare at him, enjoying the all too familiar expression you made whenever he was around.
"Do not interrupt me." You hissed before turning back to face your mother only to be met by a stern glare that made your ears flatten against your head, a drawn-out sigh spilling from your lips before you’d turn around and walk past Ao‘nung.
The usually short journey to the cove felt painfully long with Ao‘nung walking next to you and his stupid followers trailing behind you, it felt like you were a child requiring an adult no matter where - though you were convinced Ao‘nung was more of a child.
"So, who are the poor souls you have invited this time?" Ao‘nung snickered as he turned his head to the side to look at you while waiting for you to answer to his obvious mocking question. "Only the most attractive hunters." You scoffed, not sparing him a single glance. "Oh, you must be confused, I’m already here, I meant the others." That made you want to sink into the very sand you had been walking on, you tried your best to ignore that terrible line and just focus on getting to that cove.
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Laughter, chatter and the splashing of water echoed throughout the cove making you pick up your pace to get faster there and be part of the fun and to get away from Ao‘nung for the night.
You dipped your head entering the cove, watch your friends eagerly greet you and tug you down to sit next to them on a flat rock, you had been excited for this moment all day.
Conversation flowed quickly, for being such arrogant hunters these men knew how to keep a conversation going and joke around, and before you knew it positions were already shifting.
Two of your friends were busy with three of the flirting hunters while you and another friend were busy conversing with Eyìaym and Eyun, these guys were pretty funny and more so irresistible. While you were distracted Ao‘nung and his little group had been amusing themselves with mocking the older hunters, even though their egos were just as inflated as the others they mocked the older ones for whatever amusing flaw they could find.
"Look at him playing with his hair, is he a strong hunter or a blushing girl?" Rotxo snorted as he shook his head, watching the men like they had personally offended him - or his ego perhaps. Ao‘nung chuckled at that, finally peeling his gaze away from one of your friends he was unashamedly eyeing to look at you trough the darkened cove.
And of course because he was the Ao‘nung he had to come up with some plan to ruin your flirting and whatnot, and he already had something in mind that surely would make things awkward.
After signaling his friends to pay attention, he snook up on you.
The cove was just the perfect amount of dark for you to not notice his presence right next to you, trying to contain his amusement so you wouldn’t hear him. Leaning in close he let his breath fan over the back of your neck, watching the subtle shift of your demeanor and the lightest adjustment of your shoulders as if you were leaning in to the sensation.
He then reached out to let his fingertips trail over your side, over your shoulder and across your collarbone before letting his arm wrap around your neck - even he was surprised you did not notice it was him yet. Ao‘nung watched as you let your own hand brush over his arm and up to his shoulder, feeling the soft squeeze of your fingers.
Your fingertips brushed against an arm cuff, tracing the small shells woven into it in a distinctive pattern, and the familiar pattern made you freeze right in your tracks. No, this couldn’t be…
In an instant you turned around only to meet the eyes of the person you least expected to see behind you, touching you like this, when you thought it was one of your special guests. Your eyes widened in shock as you quickly sat up ago get Ao‘nung‘s arm off of you and create some distance between the two of you.
Ao‘nung was very much amused, laughing and wheezing like he had done the most funniest thing ever, and for him this truly was hilarious. "You are…- that is the most funniest thing I have ever done!" He laughed as he threw his head back, his little friends giggling alongside him.
"Ao‘nung?! What is wrong with you?!" You hissed at him, voice low enough to keep the embarrassing exchange just between the two of you.
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"That slap was not necessary, you know.." Ao‘nung muttered as he walked alongside you, fingers brushing over the reddened skin of his cheek wincing at the stinging sensation that still lingered. Yeah, you had slapped him for his little stunt back at the cove - and even if he tried to play it down it hurt.
You gave him a dismissive scoff, shaking your head at him, "No, you deserve it, i should have drowned you.." You muttered as you continued to walk back to the village, already spotting your home from the distance. Ao‘nung huffed loudly as he couldn’t hide his displeasure towards your dismissive attitude towards embarrassing him right in front of his friends, your friends and the older hunters. "Oh please," He gibed rolling his eyes at you giving you the same attitude you were giving him.
"You could be glad it was me, you could not even handle one of these men!" And that was what made you stop walking as you turned your head to look at him properly, and his expression made you want to pounce on him right then and there. That stupid smirk.
"Handle them? You must be an expert in such things then." Surely if he had so much to say about it he must be an expert then, though you knew very well the women only went for him because of the protection his status would automatically give to his mate - and he very much enjoyed their attention.
Ao‘nung scoffed as he shook his head crossing his arms over his chest, cocking his head to the side as a silent gesture to tell you to continue with what you were trying to tell him. "Unlike you i do not use my status to get close to people, if one of us was to be mated I’d be the first." And that made Ao‘nung‘s expression falter, the challenge in your words was undeniable.
"So what is it you are saying?" Ao‘nung queried.
You wanted him to loose at something, to get payback for all those years of bullying and arguments you lost, and now you had the very chance to do exactly that - and you were so going to take it.
"A bet," You began as you took a step towards Ao‘nung, a faint smirk tugging at the corners of your lips as you couldn’t help but be excited for your long overdue payback, "The loser…purposely fails their next iknimaya."
The iknimaya, the coming-of-age ceremonies that rewarded one with ceremonial tattoos and status, Ao‘nung had never failed one of course. These ceremonies were important to the future Olo‘eyktan‘s rank and worthiness of the great responsibilities.
However, he would never back down, not when it was you suggesting it. "And what…-" Before you could continue, Ao‘nung already got closer.
"We shall see who will win, until then we will be the mature mates the village expects us to be." Ao‘nung smirked with confidence practically dripping off of every word that left his lips, the challenge got even him excited, the tell tale sign being the subtle wagging of his tail.
"That’s not what i, what?!..-" Again he interrupted you, the audacity this idiot had.
"I will see you tomorrow, goodnight." Were his last words before giving your shoulders a last nudge, quickly making his way back to his home.
The next months would certainly be something else, with the trouble you had gotten yourself in, but neither of you would back down that was for sure.
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I loved this but also procrastinated this so hard but it’s okay, there’s definitely gonna be a pt. 2 n 3 about this but we shall see until then….bye bye.
