#aonung fluff

At first, it came as a surprise to many when you and the prince of the reef started dating, he had a reputation for being a ‘tough guy’, while you were one of the quieter girls with peculiar interests. Before the two of you became a pair, members of the clan imagined that Ao’nung would find someone who matched his fierce character, perhaps a skilled hunter like himself but turns out, you were just the thing he needed, as well as the only person who could see right through his ‘tough’ act.

The differences between the two of you were evident, yet they only drew you closer together. Although you barely spoke, even before your first interaction, he seemed to know a lot about you while you on the other hand, knew very little about him, who was significantly louder than you.

The future olo’eyktan had an outgoing personality, accustomed to always being the centre of attention — you, kept to yourself and relished the peaceful moments by the ocean. He was in the middle of every festival, you were sat in the corner, entertaining yourself with a small creature that rested in the palm of your hand. What the metkayina prince appreciated most about your shyness, was how no one else was able get a proper conversation out of you, not the way he could.

Ao’nung would lay leaned back in the sand, his eyes full of admiration, as you would run over to him, excited to show him the beautiful pieces you had collected. He was never a listener, no, he could talk for hours but when it came to you, everything flipped, suddenly nothing he had to say mattered anymore because all he wanted was to listen to you speak.

He could never deny you either, not when you looked at him with those big glossy eyes of yours, so anything you asked for, he would do. The first time his family witnessed this, Ronal thought her pregnancy was causing her to see things while Tonowari’s eyes widened in disbelief at his son’s obedience to his girlfriend, silently attempting to communicate across the table with Tsierya, but she didn’t seem amused. By now, all of Awa’atlu had noticed the change in Ao’nung who would follow you around like a lost puppy.

Some might even say he was whipped — not to his face, of course. His behavior never softened for anyone else, if anything, it grew harsher every second he wasn’t with you, the only one who could unlock that gentler side of him.

Although no one mentioned it out loud, many members of the clan admired you for somehow bringing a man, as stubborn as yours, to his knees with just a bat of your lashes.

── .✦

Ao’nung has been annoyed all day, shouting at his friends for the smallest mistakes during training as if he already was olo’eyktan. However his best friend, who has known him his whole life, immediately connected the dots that it had something to do with you.

“Have you seen her today, bro?”

Rotxo asked, questioning the clearly irritated man next to him, slightly leaning away in case Ao’nung would smack him again for mentioning you.

Luckily enough, he didn’t.

“No.” He sighed, his response bland but still far better than the physical assault he had bestowed on the shorter boy beside him earlier. Rotxo knew that the only way to get his friend out of his bad mood (so that he couldn’t take it out on him anymore) was to encourage him to leave his duties a bit earlier and find you, his anchor.

“I’ll cover for you, go talk to her cuz.” He smiled, not because he’d done good deed for his best friend, but because he’d finally be able to speak freely without being on the receiving end of a death stare each time he opened his mouth.

Before heading toward the direction of where he knew you’d be, Ao’nung stopped and patted the shorter male on the shoulder in gratitude, “Thanks man, I owe you.” Lo’ak’s and Spider’s slang really did seem to be rubbing off on everyone…

𓂃✍︎ to sum it up,

no you = angry ao’nung = everyone scared

On the other hand, unlike Ao’nung whose entire day depended on whether you chose to acknowledge him or not, you have been enjoying your afternoon. The sunlight flickered across your back as you took small steps into the ocean, carefully slipping in, your mind focused on retrieving that seashell you had set your sights on. The water closed around you like a second skin, rising from your ankles to your waist as you waded deeper.

Ignoring the fact that you were not the best swimmer, you continued to go more and more into the cool water — reminding yourself of how wonderful that seashell would look on Ao’nung’s loincloth (which was the only reason you were doing this) for motivation. Taking one last steady breath, you fully dove beneath the surface, the sounds of everything around you dissolving into a muted hush as you moved closer to your goal.

You weren’t someone who took risks by any means, more like someone who, once set their mind on something, acted on impulse, which tended to really bother your boyfriend who worried for you. You could almost hear his voice in the back of your head telling you to turn back, but with the water pulling at you and your prize somewhere below, your instincts took over, turning him out and guiding you deeper without any thought. After all, what kind of metkayina were you if you couldn’t handle a little bit of water?

A smile formed on your lips when you finally spotted the seashell, reaching for it with your hand — you were so close, just a stretch away, only a small lean forward from making the vision of Ao’nung in a sexy loincloth that matched yours, a reality. So close just—

Suddenly, a voice from the shore broke through the peaceful silence of the ocean, making you pause mid dive as you questioned whether it was real or your imagination. Unfortunately for you, it was very real. You must have jinxed it with how much you were thinking of him because you recognised the distorted voice calling out to you as the one of your boyfriend’s. Was he not supposed to be on duty?

Your heart began to race when you heard familiar sound again, which was exactly the opposite of what should be happening while you were underwater. You urgently kicked upward, swimming toward the surface, already aware of the scolding that awaited you, that is if he can resist giving into your glossy eyes, which he never usually could. Ewya had gifted you with big, doe-like eyes, and you knew just how to use them to get what you wanted.

Peeking your head out of the water to gasp for air, you see Ao’nung who is visibly pissed, jumping into the water after you. Only then did you realise just how far you’d actually swum — you could say that your boyfriend was sometimes great motivation. With each deliberate stroke, you moved closer to your lover, meanwhile planning on how you could manipulate him into not being upset with you.

The feeling of a warm hand colliding with your hip made you shriek, immediately snapping you out off your thoughts. For a moment, you almost forgot that Ao’nung was known as the fastest swimmer in the clan for a reason.

“Ao’nung!” You exclaimed, pretending you hadn’t noticed the irritated expression on his face. He looks so hot when he’s mad.

Instead of greeting you wish a kiss like he typically would, he firmly grabbed you by the waist, trapping your body against his.

“Yawne,” he said sharply, “how could you be so reckless?”

“I—”

He quickly cuts you off, his grip around you tightening, “No, I leave my duties early thinking we could spend time togther but instead I find you half way outside the reef.”

He takes a deep breath, trying to his best to keep his composure so he doesn’t accidentally raise his voice, “Do you have any idea how many Akula lurk here at this time of day?”

Not giving you time to answer, Ao’nung tried to continue, but the moment he met your glossy gaze, he froze. You were looking at him with a soft expression, fluttering your lashes as if daring him to say what he had been about to.

Don’t give in Ao’nung, don’t give in, she could have hurt herself, this is serious.

Fuck, but she’s too cute

One of his hands lifted slowly, cupping your face, instant regret consuming his features, “Paskalin, I’m sorry, I was just worried that you could’ve been hurt, I—I would never forgive myself if that happened and I weren’t there to save you.”

You put your smaller hand over his, gently caressing it with your thumb in a comforting way, before opening your mouth to speak, “I’m sorry, Ma Ao’nung you were just worried, it’s my fault—”

To prevent you from blaming yourself any further, he crashed his lips against yours, using it as an excuse to pull you closer to his chest. If there was one thing the prince of the reef hated more than anything, it was you putting yourself down when in his eyes, you were an angel and could do no wrong.

“Nothing’s your fault, we’ll just forget this happened, tanhi.” He murmured into the kiss, not knowing that this had all been apart of your plan. At hearing his words, you tried your hardest not to grin so instead you just kissed him back with even more passion, playing with his hair as your tounges fought for dominance. You secretly loved how ‘whipped’ your boyfriend was for you, you could do as much as bat your lashes at him and he’d be on his knees, calling you his princess — his future Tsahìk.

You whine as he pulls away to take a breath. This time, when he leans in it’s not to kiss you, instead Ao’nung nuzzles his face into your neck, one of his hands sneakily travelling to the curve of your ass to embrace you into a hug. Now that he couldn’t see your face, you smirked to yourself at how oblivious your boyfriend was to your techniques.

“Mhm, you smell so good, princess.” He whispers, inhaling your scent. The feeling of Ao’nung’s hot breath against your skin causes your tail to instinctively curl around his muscular leg, making him let out a small chuckle. “Someone’s eager.”

You met his comment with a death stare, so to please you, he immediately wiped the smirk from his face, an act of obedience that earned him a kiss on the cheek.

“So paskalin, what made you swim all the way out here?” He asks teasingly, bending down to place kisses on your shoulder while awaiting for your answer.

“Well I really wanted to get this seashell—”

He didn’t wait for you to finish your sentence, his posture snapped straight, his gaze locking onto your pretty, glossy eyes as if silently urging you to tell him exactly what you wanted needed him to do.

Without you even having to say a word, his hand gave your ass one last gentle squeeze before he dived under the water, determined to fetch the seashell you asked for.

Who would’ve guessed that the tough, mean to everyone, future olo’eyktan was secretly such a good boy?

"I have you," he murmured, his large, calloused hands steadying your waist. His brow was furrowed, eyes searching your face with a mix of irritation and deep-seated worry. "You are clumsy today. Even for you."

"I am just tired, Aonung," you breathed, leaning into his cool chest. The scent of salt and the familiar musk of his skin usually calmed you, but now, the world was spinning.

He lifted you easily, ignoring the giggles of the children nearby, and carried you toward the shade of your family’s marui. As he laid you down on the soft woven mats, the smell of the drying fish outside hit you. Usually, it was the smell of home. Today, it was a threat.

Days later, he found you draped over a sun-warmed rock near the shallow reefs, your spear lying forgotten in the sand while the other hunters were already halfway to the drop-off.

"The fish will not jump into your lap, pretty girl," Aonung said, though his tone lacked its usual competitive edge. He swam closer, hoisting himself up onto the rock beside you. "My father is asking why the best tracker in the village is currently napping like a forest-slug."

You didn't even open your eyes. You just groaned, shifting your weight. "The rock is warm. The sun is perfect. Tell your father the fish can wait for one day."

Aonung frowned, reaching out to touch your neck. You weren't hot—your skin was cool and damp from the spray—but there was a softness to your features he hadn't seen before.

"You are lazy, yawne" he murmured, poking your side. "Even Lo'ak works harder than this today."

You finally opened one eye, giving him a look so withered it should have scorched him. "If you poke me again, I will bite your hand off."

-

You loved the way the sun turned the ocean into a sheet of shattered diamonds, but now, the glare made your head throb with a rhythmic, dull ache.

Aonung was watching you, his playful smirk slowly dying as he saw the way you swayed. He’d been teasing you for your "laziness", but as you sat on the edge of the sun-bleached rock, he saw your throat hitch. Your breathing became shallow, jagged, and your hands gripped the rough stone until your knuckles turned a ghostly white.

"Yawne," he said, his voice dropping the bravado. He swam closer, reaching up to pull himself onto the ledge. "Do you need me to call my mother? You look—"

He didn't get to finish.

A wave of violent nausea crashed over you, more aggressive than any tide. You barely had time to lurch toward the edge of the rock. It was a total betrayal of your body. You doubled over, racking tremors taking hold of your spine as you retched into the salt water below.

It was a raw, ugly sound that tore through the peaceful afternoon.

"What-" Aonung’s voice was laced with a sudden, sharp panic. He scrambled onto the rock, his large hands catching your shoulders just as your strength gave out. You felt so small against him, your body shivering violently in the heat.

"Aonung..." you choked out, your vision tunneling into black spots. The acid in your throat burned, and the sheer exhaustion of the last few days seemed to culminate in this one, agonizing moment. You felt terrifyingly sick.

He pulled you back against his chest. His tail was thrashing the water behind him in a frantic rhythm, a clear sign of his rising fear.

"I have you. Breathe, ma'Y/N," He wiped the sweat from your brow with a trembling hand, his eyes wide as he searched your pale face. "Eywa, why are you like this?"

He was genuinely terrified, watching the person he loved most slip away into a sickness he couldn't fight.

"It’s... it’s okay," you whispered, leaning your head into the crook of his neck. The violent nausea had stopped, leaving you hollowed out and trembling.

"It is not okay," he hissed, his grip tightening as if he could hold the life inside you by sheer force of will. "I am taking you to my mother."

-

The examination was brief. A few quiet chants, the steady pressure of Ronal’s hands over your abdomen, and then a knowing, sharp smile.

"The sea has planted a seed," Ronal announced, her voice echoing in the quiet space. "You are not ill. Well, you are, but you are simply carrying a new heavy burden of life. Rest. Eat what the body asks for. The nausea will pass when the moon turns."

-

The walk back to your own marui was silent, but the air between you and Aonung felt charged, like the moments before a great storm. He didn't say a word until you were both inside, tucked away from the prying eyes of the village.

You collapsed onto your sleeping mats, you felt heavy and strangely content. Aonung stood over you for a moment, looking uncharacteristically lost.

"Aonung?" you murmured, reaching out for him.

He moved closer, his tail wrapping around your thigh in a subconscious tether. He kissed you softly and then, tentatively, he reached out your belly. He hesitated for a heartbeat, his fingers hovering over the soft curve of your stomach, before he finally pressed his palm flat against you.

His hand was massive, covering nearly the entirety of your belly. It was warm as he touched you, as light as sea foam.

Aonung leaned down, his face inches from your skin. You watched with a soft smile as his ears flickered nervously.

"Listen to me, little one," he murmured, his voice dropping into a low, vibrating rumble that you could feel deep in your bones. "I am your father. You are already causing a great deal of trouble for your mother, making her lay in rocks, causing nausea and even eat bitter things."

You let out a breathy laugh, your eyes watering with happy tears as his thumb traced a slow circle over your skin.

"Grow strong," he continued, his tone turning fierce and protective. "The reef is waiting for you. The Tulkun are waiting. And I... I am waiting. Do not rush, but know that when you arrive, you will have the fastest ilu and the sharpest spear in the clan. I will make sure of it."

He pressed a lingering kiss to your stomach, his breath warm against you, before looking up at you with eyes that shone like the bioluminescent sea.

"You are carrying our child, a hunter/diver," he murmured and smiled at you, his grip tightening just a fraction—enough to let you know he was never letting go.

"I think they will have your eyes," he whispered kissing your temple, "And my stubbornness. May Eywa have mercy on us both."

-

Aonung’s plan was simple: keep the news quiet until the next full moon. He wanted to savor the secret, to protect you from the inevitable chaos of the clan’s excitement.

But Aonung was never particularly good at keeping his internal world off his face.

The "squad"—Rotxo, Tsireya, and even Lo’ak—were gathered by the communal fire-pits, sharpening their hunting daggers. You were sitting a few paces back, leaning against a woven pillar, currently focused on a bowl of a strangely bitter seeds Aonung had scavenged for you.

"Aonung, you’re sharpening the back of the blade," Rotxo remarked, squinting at his friend. "Are you planning to club the fish to death?"

Aonung snapped out of his trance, his ears flattening. "I am focused. You talk too much."

"You’ve been staring at Y/N for twenty minutes," Lo’ak added with a smirk, nudging Rotxo. "And she’s just sitting there eating... are those dye-nuts? Those taste like dirt."

Aonung’s tail gave a sharp, defensive flick against the sand. "She can eat whatever she wants. They are high in... minerals. For the spirit."

Tsireya looked between you and her brother, her head tilting with that innate Metkayina intuition. "You are acting strange, brother. You didn't even join the race today. You said you had to 'check the stability' of your marui’s floorboards?"

"The wood looked soft!" Aonung defended, his voice going up a suspicious half-octave. "It is important. If the floor breaks, someone could fall. Someone... heavy. Or someone who needs to be held up."

He looked at you, his gaze lingering on your stomach with such intense, blatant longing that Rotxo actually dropped his whetstone.

"Aonung," Rotxo said slowly, a grin spreading across his face. "Why are you looking at her like she’s a sacred Tulkun?"

"I am not! I am just..." Aonung scrambled for an excuse, his face heating up to a deep shade of teal. "I am ensuring she is breathing correctly."

"She’s been breathing for years, man," Lo'ak laughed. "I think she’s got it down."

You caught Aonung’s eye and gave a tiny, mischievous nod. You knew he couldn't hold it in. He was vibrating with the need to brag, to claim this new title.

Aonung took a deep breath, puffing out his chest. He tried to look stoic, but the corners of his mouth kept twitching upward.

"If you must know," he began, his voice dropping into a performative future-leader bass, "I have decided that Y/N requires extra monitoring because she is currently... busy."

"Busy doing what?" Rotxo asked.

"Carrying a future Olo'eyktan... Or Tsahìk" Aonung blurted out.

The silence that followed was broken only by the crackle of the fire. Then, Tsireya let out a high-pitched squeal, leaping to her feet to rush toward you.

"A baby?" she cried, her eyes shimmering. "I am going to be an aunt?"

"Wait, for real?" Lo'ak blinked, looking impressed. "Aonung, you're gonna be a dad? You can barely handle a stubborn ilu."

"I will be a great father!" Aonung said dramatically. He stepped in front of you like a shield, his hand instinctively reaching back to hover near your knee. "She needs more seeds. Rotxo, go find more of those bitter seeds. Now."

As the group erupted into questions and cheers, Aonung leaned down toward you, ignoring the boys' teasing. He whispered just for you, his tail winding tightly around your own in the shadows.

"So much for a secret," he murmured, his eyes glowing with pride. "But they already know our little one is going to be the strongest of the reef."

He reached out, his thumb quickly brushing over the fabric covering your stomach and he kissed you, already acting like a overprotective father-to-be.

🌊⋆｡⋆˚࿔°.🐚⋆❀˖°⋆˚࿔

The horns sounded once more and you snap your head up from the fishes swimming on the edge to see them file out one by one, the cheers growing louder from parents and clan-mates alike, seeing their youth with renewed pride and joy from their success in their iknimaya.

Your yellow gaze flickers from face to face, which every one of them wore smiles and laughter and gratitude.

Until you spotted that familiar grin, from which for the first time you laid eyes on him you wanted nothing but to wipe it off his stupid face. Now it was the opposite.

There was Aonung, all in his boyish demeanor, energetic, too much confidence and yet a level of honor. You saw how he looked around- not spotting you yet, and how he jokingly flexes to his friends much to the amusement of his parents and sister, showing off his new facial tattoo and the leather vest he now adorned. Now a warrior making his own path.

Something in your heart lurches seeing him be in his own element, his people, and how grown he now looked to be when it was not long ago, he was picking fights with your own siblings the first few weeks you got here.

And yet… something warm settles over you. You were proud, letting a warm smile slip from your lips even if he doesn’t see you through the crowd yet.

You let him have his moment and eventually the crowd gets a little too much for you, taking a small breath, you let your last gaze linger on Aonung for a little while longer before you turned on your heel, walking off on the bridge out the area, settling for the quiet crash of the waves against the nearby shore.

You sat yourself down on the sand, tail curling around your leg as you stared out, the noise of the festival muffled from where you were. 

The waves were calming, almost lulling you to sleep, ears drooping as your eyelids start to feel heavy. 

“Think you could leave without congratulating me?” 

Your senses jumped, tail lashing in surprise with your ears going up at the sound of a voice, eyes blinking and turning to find him standing there not too far from where you were, same smug expression but a hint of something deeper within his gaze. 

Aonung’s tone was playful, but also somewhat genuine, his eyes squinting slightly watching you. Unbeknownst to you, he did catch you leaving.

“No…” you trailed off, shaking your head to wake yourself a little more but his presence did exactly that already. 

He shrugs his shoulders before he saunters over, planting himself beside you as your eyes glued to his every move, now seeing his tattoo and his new garment up close, you were hit with that feeling again. 

Your fingers reach out without thought, tracing the garment now strapped to his chest, tracing over the weaving and the fish scales adorning it. 

Aonung tenses for a moment but he lets you, teal gaze locked down to your five-fingered hand before slowly turning his head to look at you instead, so focused and admiring every detail. 

All his boyish demeanor was gone, replaced by something quieter, observing…

When you finish inspecting his garment, your eyes and your fingers slowly drag up to meet his face, Aonung doesn’t flinch.

He keeps his gaze on you, and you lock eyes with him, heart skipping a beat before your eyes take in the new mark on his temple instead, fingers reaching up now, it makes him breathe out a little, like he was holding his breath for that moment. 

Light as a wood sprite, the pads of your fingers seem to trace the new tattoo with the same admiration. 

Knowing Aonung, he can’t bear silence… or maybe because he wasn’t used to this kind of silence. 

Clearing his throat, he turns his face afront so you could look at the tattoo better, though leaning into your touch just by a fraction, tail thumps soft against the sand. 

“First of many I’ll get.” He spoke, not with his usual arrogance, no, he sounded hopeful, a dream of his he doesn’t usually voice but lets his actions do the talking, and this makes him feel… exposed. 

But the smile that appears on your face after he says that washes away ounce of uncertainty in him. You understood. 

“You will make a very fine warrior.” You finally speak and it feels like a reward, your fingers trace the arch again before it lingers there, eyes looking back into his as he turned to face you, teal eyes scanning your face and your yellow eyes, an understanding passing between the two of you. 

His four-fingered hand moved to cup your wrist that were still by his face, much bigger than yours, before it decides to slowly trace up to hold your fingers instead, pulling them down to press your hand to his chest, a simple act that meant so much more now to the two of you at this moment.

“Your fine warrior, one day.” He murmured, that all too familiar smirk curling on the edge of his lips, eyes holding all the promise he couldn’t put to words.

“You did not want it a minute ago.”

His bare eyebrow lifting in a question as he presses further.

“It's just..” soft voice, too busy imagining which top would go the best with your new accessory. Maybe the one with purple flowers, you think to yourself.

“Would be a shame to waste such pretty shells,” you murmur, eyes avoiding his intense stare. Face slightly flushed, trying to play it cool.

“I am sure Tsireya would find a good use for it,” he presses. No real intent of taking it away. He made it for you. Only you.

He tries reaching for it again.

“No!" you let out a muted hiss, fangs subtly showing.

"You gave it to me," voice soft and low.

"It is mine,” you murmur, eyes drifting away from his.

“What was that?”

Ao'nung moves closer, now crouching before your seated figure, knowing well what you just said. He wants to hear you say it again. Confidence fills his body.

“Raise your voice, Sevin.”

You blush at his use of words, hugging the necklace closer to your chest.

“I said,” you start, trying to sound stern. Back straight, looking right at his face again.

“It is mine now,” you say slowly, emphasizing each word, and asserting your claim.

Ends of his mouth curling upwards as he smirks, satisfied with your words. So possessive, he thinks to himself as he looks at your flushed state.

He could get used to this.

Aonung’s with his friends, water splashing around as they try to one up each other, seeing who catches the most fish in the shallow water by the reef barrier. Aonung’s quiet, too busy imagining what you might be up to in this moment. Days have past since he's last seen you. Your absence heavy on his heart. Gripping his spear tight at the thought of you. Perhaps you are with your mother, helping her around the village, busy with preparations for the festival. Or maybe you are with Tsireya, braiding each other’s hair as you usually do around this time.

The image of you, content smile, eyes shut close as you let Tsireya do whatever she wants with your hair makes him smile.

Would she let me braid her hair, he questions silently. Almost ready to leave his friends to go find you.

His thoughts are interrupted when he feels his friend bumping his shoulder.

“Hey-“ he starts, offended that they dare pull him away from his daydreaming.

Now looking at his friends, he notices their eyes are fixed on the spot behind him. Intrigued, he turns around. Curious what got their attention.

There you are,

taking long strides towards him. You are on a mission, arms folded in front of you, palms tightly shut together as if you were hiding something.

He notices a slight hesitance in your approach, tension evident in your shoulders. Your tail flickering behind you. He might even think you look nervous, unlike your usual self.

He wants to say something, but the words die in his throat as he notices a familiar object gently swaying on your chest with every step you take.

A faint smile forms across his face, heart pounding.

He knew the white polished shells would look great on your turquoise skin.

“Ao’nung.”

He lets out a deep breath he didn’t know he was holding.

Oh, how much he loves the sound of your voice.

He does not give you a chance to proceed. His arm reaching out, fingers grazing one of the bigger shells on your necklace.

“I like it on you,” he states, feeling proud. His friends forgotten as the only thing he can now see is you, right in front of him, wearing the necklace he made for you.

You huff, looking past his shoulder. His friends pretending the small rocks by their feet are suddenly the most interesting thing they have ever seen.

His fingers gently press into your chin, redirecting your attention back to him.

You avert your eyes, ears folding down. Taking a deep beath, you look down at the item hiding in your palms.

Removing his hand from your face, you flip his palm upward and hesitantly place the item into his big hand. Taking a small step back, as to free yourself of his heavy presence, barely letting you breathe.

Ao'nung's curious eyes study it, bare eyebrows knitting together.

Heat floods his body as the realization hits. Fingers skimming over the elegant woven details. You must have spent so much time working on it. And you did it for him.

If he wasn't a gone man before, he definitely is now.

His body straightens, mouth dry, no words come out. His head lifts up, big eyes staring right into yours.

Blush creeps up your neck, this time you don't look away.

“We are even now.”

Your tender voice pulls him out of his trance.

Mind blank, he lets your words linger. He can hear the distant sound of waves gently crashing against the reef. Soft silence falls over you and for a moment its just the two of you.

You leave him there, a mess. The trace of your touch tingling on his skin. His mind screaming at him to chase after you, but he doesn't.

He moves his gaze from the graceful sway of your leaving figure to the armband softly resting in his palm.

“Yeah, we are,” he whispers to no one but himself. Voice low, genuine.

He’s had a taste of your affection and now he’s hungry for more.

Ta’ney had been one of Ao’nung’s closest friends. Growing up together side by side, doing their iknimaya together. Every milestone Ao’nung experienced, Ta’ney was there with him.

Everyone suspected that the pair would eventually mate, that it almost seemed fated that they would be together. However, Ao’nung never felt that way. He always had his heart set on you. No one could make his heart flutter like you could. Every little thing you did still after many years together sent butterflies to his stomach.

Yet, Ta’ney had captured his attention on your morning. She was in hysterics, her songcord had broken, and the bead that her late mother had passed onto her was shattered into pieces.

Ta’ney begged for him to help fix it, which seemed odd. Ao’nung never had a knack for fixing things. Tsireya was much more inclined for a task like this. But when Ao’nung watched his best friend hold the broken cord in her hands, tears streaming down her face. He let out a sigh…of course he had to help her.

The day slipped out of his hands. He went back to her marui, helping her mend the broken beads. It was easier than he thought it would be. The breaks were so clean, almost as if they were done purposely. But the thought didn’t linger in his mind.

Ao’nung glanced outside of the opening of the marui, the light spilled across the woven floor, the sun had shifted more a sign of the day passing. The cool that lingered in the early mornings had transformed into a soft warmth that felt heavier trapped inside her marui.

You would be awake soon. He knew you would be sleeping late, having celebrated all night before.

The thought pressed against his ribcage uncomfortably, in a way he couldn’t quite name. His mind drifted to thoughts of you, snuggled tightly under your woven blankets, your hair splayed across the bedroll as your eyes were shut tightly locked in your deep slumber.

When you would inevitably wake you would expect him there. Next to you. Sea urchins split open on a board he had adorned with your favourite fruits. It was a tradition. One he had never broke.

“I should go.” He murmured.

She didn’t seem to hear him…or blatantly chose not to listen. Her fingers softly tracing the repaired beads, as if she was testing if they would break again. When she looked up Ao’nung’s stomach shifted, her expression not sitting well with him.

“I don’t know what I would have done without you Ao’nung.” The way she said his name rolled off her tongue with a sharp edge. It didn’t sound as sweet as it did when you sung his name.

Ao’nung shifted in his position as she leaned onto him, her head cradling into his woven chest piece.

The chest piece you had worked for weeks to make, weaving it so carefully that your fingers ached by the end. The memory made something pang inside his chest. Deep and sharp.

Outside the village began to get busy, the day passing on without him. Your day passing on without him.

Ao’nung let out a long steady breath, an awkward hand placed on the top of her back, soothing her sorrows.

Just a little longer he told himself.

Just until she calms down.

He let her cry, holding her in his arms as her tears soaked the woven kelp chest piece. He held her just a little too close, and a little too long than you would’ve liked.

The sobbing slowly transformed into talking about old memories, reminiscing of the days when they were young and reckless. Free of their duties, free of the grief that had overwhelmed them in their teen years.

He went to leave multiple times, foot halfway out of the door when she would start crying again. Claiming that her songcord would never be the same and that she was so stupid and naïve to break the precious item.

The day turned into night quickly as Ta’ney brought out a large bowl of kava. The strong earthy scent filling the room.

“I really shouldn’t Ta’ney, I have to go.” He said putting a handout refusing the drink.

But suddenly her eyes teared up again grabbing onto Ao’nung’s thick arm, her delicate fingers wrapping around his rough skin. “Just one…a celebration? For fixing my songcord…It’s barely the afternoon.”

Recklessly he sat back down, agreeing to her negotiation. Her breath steadying too quickly for someone on the verge of tears.

Just one drink.

Just one drink turned into two, then four. By the end he could barely remember what they were talking about anymore. His body buzzing, pupils shot as Ta’ney poured him countless drinks that were making him too drunk to refuse another.

By the time Ao’nung stumbled back into the marui he was barely able to keep himself standing. His hands fumbling with the tent flap, a drunk smile plastered on his face. As he tumbled in, he was ready to give you a warm hug, and ramble about the stupid day he had.

“Babe…you won’t believe the day I had.” He chuckled, his words slurring off his tongue. He brushes the sand off his body as he moved closer to you in the tent. Ready to flop next to you on the bedroll and turn in for the night.

“Ta’ney broke her songcord! She’s so clumsy that girl- Came sobbing to me this morning…what was I even doing up that early? I can’t remember.” He let out a drunken snort, the bright colours of the marui whirring together as he moved around the room. Trying to stabilize himself on a wooden shelf.

“Had to spend half the day fixing the stupid thing! Still don’t know why she asked me, I have never once been good at crafting things.” His mouth babbled on as he was headed to the bed, his eyes still not finding you in the blurred room.

Finally, he glances towards you. You were sitting in the corner of the marui, hands holding onto sea urchins, red and sore, the shells uncracked. You looked as if you had been crying, eyes red and puffy as your breath came out in fevered sighs.

The smile on his lips dropped as he wobbles closer to you, trying to get a better view of you. A flicker of doom impending in his chest.

“Baby why aren’t you asleep yet it’s late.” The smell of flowery herbs and alcohol invaded the space between them.

All of a sudden it clicked.

The day. Today. Your birthday.

A knot forms in his stomach, hands becoming clammy. His eyes dart past you to the room. There were no gifts, no special foods, nothing. The plans and promises he had made weeks ago crumbling in front of him. He felt his body go cold, his heart plunging down to his feet.

He was suddenly stone cold sober.

He turns back, staring at you. And for the first time today he sees you. He sees the day you spent alone. He sees the disappointment that lingered in the room. He sees the unopened urchins that were no longer fresh, only warm and disappointing. He sees what a perfect day with his mate could’ve been. The plans he had made, the trip to the cove of ancestors. He sees the small box in the corner of the room. Inside was a woven chest piece. He had spent weeks with Tsireya learning how to make it so you both could match. All of it going to waste.

Then as he closes his eyes he sees the day he actually had. Holding Ta’ney too close. Letting her cry onto him. Pouring countless drinks until the hours slipped away. Laughing at memories while forgetting the new ones he should’ve made with you.

Ta’ney who knew it was your birthday today. Who somehow appeared bright and early. Whose beads were broken with too much precision. Whose sobs seemed to die down too quickly. The pieces start to click in his mind. A move was made in a game he didn’t know he was playing. Yet he chose it. He forgot it. He forgot you. His mate. His wife. He chose her over you…on your day.

So now he stood there awkwardly, arms stuck to his sides, his ears flat against his head. Standing in front of you. Smelling like another woman, your birthday ruined all because of him. His words stuck in his throat like stones.

“Baby…” His voice was weak, slowly edging towards you. “It’s a misunderstanding I promise…”

He had to do something. Explain. Deflect, Apologize, Anything.

“Ta’ney, she needed me.” As soon as the words he knew what they sounded like. Weak and useless and he knew he was going to watch them break whatever was left.

Your eyes tilt up to him. Ao’nung felt his chest tighten as he gazed at you. There was nothing in your eyes, completely devoid of any emotion.

“Then go to her.” Your words are flat. Monotone and final.

Ao’nung feels like he is physically pushed back from the blow of your words. “Baby that isn’t what I meant-”

You cut him off abruptly, eyes sharper now, no longer devoid. “You chose her all day. Why stop now?”

Ao’nung shakes his head stepping closer, reaching out to grabs your hand. But you retract away, as if his touch would burn you. He looked down at the space you made between them. A physical manifestation of his mistakes.

“No, please baby let me explain.”

“Hm? What pretty words can you say to get yourself out of this huh?” You stood taller now, chest puffed out, eyes twitching as you stared daggers into him. “Did you have fun? Spending my birthday with her? Was it worth it?”

Ao’nung shook his head feverously. He had never seen you like this before. So mad…so livid. Yes, you have had arguments before but nothing that felt as drastic as the rift that was forming between you. “No! No it wasn’t. I messed up.”

But you weren’t hearing him. Anger clouded all of your thoughts, adrenaline rushing through your veins. You had to take a cautious step away from him, scared of the rage bubbling inside of you.

“And then you have the audacity to come into our home. Our home! And reek of that bitch!” Your tail lashed behind you knocking over the plate of sea urchins. A sick display of your shared traditions being broken because of his mistakes.

“Coming home drunk! You smell horrid! You can barely stand up! You spend my entire day celebrating and drinking away as I sit here…alone! I woke up with no one next to me and spent the day wondering when you would return!”

Ao’nung took in a deep breath his ears turning down as your voice proceeded to get louder and louder. With every word that came hurling towards him he doubted anything he could say would make up for the atrocity he had committed. “Baby I’m so sorry…I never meant for this to happen.”

“Or did you just not want me to find out.” You hiss, teeth baring in front of him. Ao’nung feels his body go numb, pins and needles snaking up through his limbs. What were you insinuating?

“What? Find out what?” Ao’nung was stunned, did you truly think that he would ever cheat on you. That he would commit such a sin against his beloved.

“No wonder you carry her pungent scent.” You scoff, head turning away as you put your hand out maintaining the distance between you two. “Was she good huh? Better than me? Better than all of this?!” Your hand pointed around the room.

Every bit of your lives was inside this marui. Your shared gifts, your hunts, your furniture, your memories.

“What? You think I fucking cheated on you?” Ao’nung stood taller now, the alcohol still flowing a warmth in his body. “You think after everything I’d do something like that?”

You scoffed again, an unnerving smile morphing onto your face. “Then what else does it look like huh? You come home drunk and reeking of other women. Spending the entire day with her? You must’ve kept busy somehow!”

Ao’nung freezes, the warmth of the alcohol curdling inside him. He felt it burning, twisting into something sour and sharp. He opens his mouth to say something, but the words falter in his throat.

“I didn’t.” His voice finally giving in to his will. “I swear baby, I didn’t touch her.”

You let out a hollow laugh, a sick smirk on your face. “That’s your defence?”

His shoulders drop, a shuddering breath escaping his mouth. “I should have never been there. I- I’m so sorry. I should’ve left the moment my mind went to you.” He drags a hand down his face, trying to stop his emotions from spilling out of his eyes. “I knew it was your birthday. I didn’t forget. And I stayed anyway.”

His words are a final blow. Hurting more than anything he had said.

An unnerving silence stretches between the both of you. It was thick and suffocating.

You take another step away from him, your body collapsing into the shelves behind you. Items clattering to the floor. Ao’nung leaped to you, scared you were hurt but you struck a handout making sure he stayed away.

“So, you chose to forget about me.” You whispered weakly.

Ao’nung shakes his head violently “No. No I didn’t- Please baby I’m sorry. I just- fuck. Please let me make this up to you.”

“You need to go. I’m sure she would happily take you in.”

“No baby I don’t want her. It’s you, I want you.”

“I don’t want you here. I need you to go.”

“Please baby.” Ao’nung was defeated, wet tears staining his cheeks as the consequences crashed down on him.

“Just fucking go away! Go!” You lunge forward pushing his chest weakly. Ao’nung stumbles back his hair falling in front of his face. He just wanted to hold you. Apologise profusely for what he had done. He would never betray you like you thought he did.

But his body failed him, he was frozen. Stuck in place unable to defend himself. To fight for his relationship.

“Why aren’t you going?!” You cry out a shaking hand coming up to cover your face.

“I can’t” he says hoarsely

You look up at him startled, seeing the tear streaks on his face, the devastation in his stature. A part of your heart clenches. You hadn’t seen him so distraught in a long time. The only time you’d seen him cry was at his mother’s funeral.

“I can’t- I can’t leave us. I can’t leave you.”

He takes a step closer, then another. His breath touching your face. His arms fall to your shoulders, resting his forehead on yours. Everything about him was stripped bare. There was no pride, no bravado. Just him.

“I fucked up.” He chokes out. “I know what this looks like and I know that I fucked up. But I’d never hurt you like that. I know I ruined your day; I ruined your trust.” His hands clutch at your shoulders, scared you would run away.

“Please don’t make me leave.” He sobs, his eyes glassy and sorrowful.

Your chest aches hearing the devastation in his voice. Were you too harsh on him? Did you anger cloud your judgement.

“I never touched her, baby I didn’t.” the words rush out of his mouth. “I swear on my life, on Eywa, on us. I was stupid and naïve. She poured me the drinks until I couldn’t refuse them, her beads were never truly broken…I was too fucking stupid to see it. It’s no excuse for what I did to you.”

His voice drops, his hand clasping around your chin tilting it up so he could stare into your eyes. “You’re my mate, my wife- I had so much planned and I just- fucked it. I don’t want you to forgive me…but I can’t let you think I’d betray you like that.” He pauses, his breath hitching as a broken sob escapes him.

“Please don’t send me away.” Silence stretches between you as he waits for you to answer him. Holding his breath as his heart bleeds out for you.

You don’t pull away from him. Sitting in the silence feeling the way his hands desperately clinged to you.

“I know you wouldn’t touch her- I was just…angry” You say quietly

Ao’nung feels a wave of relief crash over him.

“But this still hurts Ao’nung.” Your eyes flick up to him, hands trembling by your sides. “You still chose her” You whisper, the anger inside you slowly disappearing and transforming into disappointment. “You chose to stay with her; you chose to forget me.” Your voice cracks despite your best effort. “On my birthday.”

Ao’nung mouth opens to say something, but you lift a hand silencing him.

“I know it wasn’t intentional…to some degree.” Your eyes burn as you try to hold off the incoming tears. “But I sat here and waited and waited. Telling myself you must be planning something great, that I shouldn’t be doubting you. Just for you to come home stinking of another woman”

His face crumbles, his breaths becoming short and laboured.

“I love you Ao’nung.” You say, your voice bare audible “But it really fucking hurts.”

“I love you too.” He rushes out trying to say something, anything to try and save himself from his choices. “Baby I love you so much.”

You step back from his grasp, the space between your bodies is small but devasting.

“I just need some space.” You took a breath “Just for tonight.”

His hands fall from your shoulders slowly, as if he’s afraid letting you go may be permanent. “Okay.”

And deep inside you, as you watched him fumble with the tent flap, stepping outside of your home. You began to regret your request.

Ao’nung wakes before the sun. He slept in Tsireya and Lo’ak’s marui the night before. Though sleep is a strong word.

For a short moment he forgets where he is. The different surroundings, the dull ache in his skull. It comes rushing back quickly. The fight, the distance.

He pushes himself off the bedroll quick and determined.

He was knee deep in the ocean as the first spill of light filtered onto the shore. Hands moving on instinct as he fished for the freshest sea urchins he could find. He splits them carefully, laying them out on a wooden board with the specially chosen fruits he picked for you.

His hands work quickly, racing the rising sun. He wanted to be there when you woke. To do what he should’ve done yesterday. To try fixing this rift between the two of you.

He almost sprints back to the marui, his heart stuck in his throat as he slowly opens the tent flap.

His eyes flick over the room. It’s still messy, items still toppled over, gifts untouched. But then he notices something.

It’s empty.

There was no sign of your presence anywhere. Panic flashes hot through his veins. Had you left him? Could you simply not fathom being in a space you both shared? Was this rift beyond repair?

Suddenly a growing commotion near the village centre caught his attention.

Ta’ney laughed first, sharp and ugly stabbing right into you. “Did you wait like a good loyal mate all day while he was with me?”

Your ears flick back a growling hiss escapes out of your mouth. Then something snaps. You lunge forwards into her, body slamming into her hard enough to knock the wind from her lungs. She yelps as she stumbles back of a platform into the sand.

“Shut your fucking mouth.”

Ta’ney recovers quickly, letting out a loud hiss as her face twists in rage. She shoves her hands out as she stands pushing you down onto the sand. You hit the ground hard, groaning in pain as she sits on top of you pulling your hair tightly, making your scalp cry out.

“He came to me!” She spat, eyes wide as she held your head back tightly. “He stayed with me! He held me while you sat there like a pathetic bitch!”

Your vision goes red.

Your hand surges forward grabbing a fistful of her hair, yanking it with such force that she comes toppling off you, small bits of her hair ripping off her scalp. She claws at your arm as she rolls off, leaving bright red marks on your arm. You end up on top this time, pinning her arms below your knees as you sat on top of her.

“He’s my mate!” You hiss, fist raised. The crowd murmurs, circling as chaos unfolds around the two of you. “He’s mine! Not yours! And he never will be!”

Your fist landed on her face.

Once.

Twice,

Ta’ney shrieks in pain as she bucks you off her with surprising strength. You tumble off her crouching on the ground as you flick her blood off your knuckles.

Ta’ney stands as she wipes the blood from her split lip, her eyes crazy and wild.

“We were meant to be together!”

You scoff in her face. “Then why aren’t you?” You tilt your head up as she hisses at you. “Why did you have to break your own songcord hm? Pour him the strongest drink you could conjure just so he could put up with you?!”

Ta’ney stumbles back, her deceit coming to light.

That was the opening you needed.

From your crouching position you rushed into her tackling her onto the ground with a loud thud. She cries out as you land on top of her. You grab onto her kuru holding her head tightly so she couldn’t move.

“You wish you were me.” You lean down, a fury burning in your eyes as the words fall out of your mouth like venom.

She thrashes beneath you helplessly. “He chose me!”

“No.” You cut her off, voice shaking with rage. “You tricked him!”

Ta’ney hisses again head moving as she bite your arm hard, fangs piercing your skin. You let go of her kuru grasping onto your arm in burning pain. Ta’ney quickly tries to land a punch on your face. Your heart beating out of your chest you dodge it bringing your forehead to hers as you slam them together. Your head rings for a moment as Ta’ney cries out in pain, her nose starting to bleed.

You shove her away quickly, baring your teeth as you stand above her.

“He wouldn’t be so fucking miserable if he was with me!” She hisses, trying to stand but her legs give out making her collapse in the sand.

You scoff as you stalk around her, like an animal about to devour their prey. “He loves me.” You say calmly, head cocked to the side. “He chose me everyday until your little games got in the way.

You crouched down your blade out of its sheath. It’s sharp edge reflecting the morning sun as it pointed to her throat. “You don’t get to touch what’s mine.” Your voice was menacing, an imminent threat of what would happen next.

The village went silent as you bent over her.

“Baby!” Ao’nung voice cracks through the silence like lightening. He barrels through the crowd, his chest heaving. His eyes widen as he takes in the scene. Both of you bloodied and feral. A blade stuck against her throat as your eyes were wide with primal anger.

You turn to see him, your entire demeanour softening. You let out a long exhale. “I had to deal with something.” You say softly, a little chuckle in your voice.

“I can see that-”

“Ao’nung! She almost killed me-”

“Shut up.” He snarled, his voice snapping while not sparing a glance. He couldn’t take his eyes off you.

His hands go to the small of your back, the first time he had touched you since the fight. He felt like his body could melt into yours. “Come. There is breakfast at home.” You both slowly walked out of the crowd back to your marui.

“Is it my favourite?”

“Of course it is.”

It took awhile for Ao’nung to patch you up. He offered to get Tsireya but you refused. You just wanted him to be by your side.

You both sat in a comfortable silence as you ate your breakfast. The juices of the fruit slipping down your hands and fingers. A sign of a meal truly enjoyed.

“I’m sorry you got hurt.” Ao’nung says softly looking up at you.

You shrug nonchalantly. “Should’ve seen the other guy.” You snort at your own joke, still impressed by your own performance in the fight.

“No baby. I am sorry.” He moved closer towards you wiping some fruit juice off your cheek “You shouldn’t have had to prove to her that we are mates…I was naïve in thinking she had no ill intentions.”

You shrug again clasping his large hand in yours. “If I’m being honest. It was quite fun.” You let out a laugh as did Ao’nung, shaking his head at your antics.

“It was kind of hot” Ao’nung tilts his head gazing at you. “Being so territorial over me.” His voice became smoother, hands dropping from your cheek to your waist.

“Mhm, I don’t think anyone else is going to try anything with you anymore.” You grinned, your hands travelling to lay on top of his.

“They wouldn’t dare.” He whispered, his head tilting down to rest next to your ear.

 “I’m exactly where I want to be.”

a/n: thankyou so much for reading!!!! i got a lil carried away but i needed to make the girls fight LMAO plz leave a comment or a reblog i love to know what u guys think!! ilyyyyyyyyy