Chapter Text
The village of Awa’atlu was always calming. Azure waves glided through the water. Ilu’s swam gracefully with the people of the reef. But with the recent deaths, it has been more quiet, a mourning period in place.
It has been especially hard on Lo’ak. The way the dark red color of Neteyams blood covered his fingers. His alien fingers. He would always be an alien to everyone. An outcast.
The boy would never be like his brother. He was the golden child. A perfect example of an upcoming leader. While Lo’ak was impulsive. Reckless. A shame to the Sully family.
Before he knew it, pent up tears started to pour down.
Lo’ak had found a way to release his stress. It was a little harmful, but it keeps him distracted. The voices quiet down, and he can breathe.
There was a cove just a little far from the village. Of course, he could never tell anyone about it. His father would actually kill him.
The boy was about to head over when he felt a tug on his arm. A small, familiar figure stood behind him.
”Lo’ak, I’m bored. Can we play?”
Tuk was always a social kid back in the Omatikaya. But the move restricted most of her free time, having to adapt to the Metkayinas ways. The only people she could really talk to were her family and Tonowari’s children.
Lo’aks eyebrows furrowed, disappointed with the timing, “In a while Tuk. I have to go somewhere. Go play with Tsireya or Kiri.”
The child wasn’t completely convinced, just noticing the red lining around his eyes. But she complied, searching for one of the teenage girls.
The boy sighed, jumping into the water. The temperature was not hot or cold that day, making it wonderful to swim in. But he wasn’t planning on it.
The cove was Lo’aks hideout. Whenever he fought with his father, he would come to this spot to relax. A knife was always there for him in case. It was hidden in under the same, small rock. His mother had ‘lost’ the knife, when it really was with him.
He even stole from his own mother. Lo’ak started to cry again, guilty for everything he has done. Wanting the thoughts to go away, he hurriedly slashed the knife against his forearm.
Lo’ak hissed, pain instantly flooding his senses. But he persisted. Blood started to flow onto his blue, striped skin.
It’s your fault
He’s dead because of you
You deserve your fathers wrath
Slowly, the thoughts quieted, just like he wanted. That resolution always made Lo’ak relapse. It never made him happy, but he had a love-hate relationship with harming himself.
His open wound was still flowing with crimson. Shit. He went too deep today. Usually he let it heal by itself. But it seems today was different. He would need to clean the wound. Diving underwater, red blood mixed with water started to follow Lo’ak on his way back to the village.
The marui was empty, everyone doing their own thing. Tuk was probably playing an ilu, his parents learning how to hunt, and Kiri learning new medical skills. Lo’ak rushed inside, searching for the medical equipment. The boy was sure he could figure out how to heal his wound on his own. He was nervous to ask his sister to help him. What would she think of him? A rascal? A fool? A—
“Lo’ak?”, Kiri’s soft voice echoed. She walked towards him, kneeling down soon after.
Lo’ak was a bit scared, hoping she wouldn’t question what scenario caused such a wound. Thankfully, Kiri was more of a healer than the boy, effortlessly helping him feel slightly better.
Her eyes lingered on his arm, seemingly in deep thought.
”Could you tell me what happened?”
The teenagers eyes widened in fear. He didn’t want to disappoint his sister by admitting to such a foolish act.
”A rock cut my arm while I was swimming. But don’t worry, I’m gonna be fine.”
His eye twitched, an uncontrollable motion that Kiri noticed. Her eyebrows furrowed with concern, not wanting her brother to lie to her. “Lo’ak, are you sure this is from a rock?” Kiri was not too familiar with the concept of “hurting themselves”, in fact some Na’vi didn’t even know what that meant. But the way his wound was shaped. A straight line. Of course it’s possible the rock just caused a straight gash, but the rocks in the water seemed to be spiky and irregular. It was odd, and despite wanting to interrogate more, she resisted.
The girl placed her hands on Lo’aks shoulders, “I’m here for you brother. You can talk to me.”
The boy didn't want to believe it. He felt like he didn’t deserve such comfort, especially from someone as kind as his older sister. But he nodded despite, walking away from the marui.