The lost twin
Part 2
Disclaimer: contains angst, trauma, and emotional themes, kinda ao'nung x reader.
I wanna thank you guys for liking the first one. As you can tell I'm new to putting my post public. But I appreciate all the love. And I'll continue if you guys want. And I do requests.
You woke up—but you didn’t come back. Not really. Your body healed slowly, your strength returning day by day, but your mind… your memories… they were gone. Completely. And no matter how hard they tried—they couldn’t bring them back. Jake told you stories. Neytiri held you like she was afraid you’d disappear again. Kiri whispered prayers and memories into your ears. Lo’ak tried to make you laugh, even when his voice cracked. And Neteyam…
Neteyam stayed closest. Always. “It’s me… Neteyam. Your brother.” You would look at him, your expression soft—but empty. “I’m sorry… I don’t remember you.” Each time, it broke him all over again. Days turned into weeks. Weeks into months. Nothing changed. You learned their names. Their faces. Their roles in your life. But it felt like being told a story about someone else. You didn’t feel it. You didn’t feel them. And slowly—you stopped trying. Because how could you miss something you didn’t remember?
How could you love people who felt like strangers? That’s when you met him. Ao’nung. At first, he was distant—watching you like the others did, but without expectation. Without desperation. He didn’t try to force memories into you. Didn’t look at you like you were something broken that needed fixing. “You don’t remember anything?” he asked one day as you sat by the shore. “No,” you answered simply. He nodded. “Then stop trying to be who they say you were.” You blinked, surprised. “What?” “Be who you are now.” And for the first time—something felt… easier.
You started spending time with him. Quiet walks along the reef. Swimming beneath glowing waters. Talking about nothing—and everything. With him, you weren’t the forgotten twin. You weren’t the girl who almost died. You were just… you. And somewhere along the way—you fell. Not fast. Not loud. But deeply. “[name],” he said one evening, his voice softer than usual. “You look at the ocean like you’re searching for something.” You smiled faintly. “Maybe I am.” “Do you want to find it?” A pause. Then— “Not if it means losing this.” His eyes met yours. And he understood. Behind you, your family watched. Hoping. Waiting. But you never turned back to them the way they wanted. Because your heart didn’t reach for them. It reached for something else. For peace. For quiet. For him.
But memories… don’t stay buried forever. It started small. A feeling. A flicker. A voice in your dreams. Then flashes. The forest. A bow in your hands. A voice calling your name—but not with love. With absence. With neglect. Then everything came crashing back. All at once. Every moment. Every time you stood beside them and weren’t seen. Every time Neteyam was chosen first. Every silence. Every ache. Every lonely night. You remembered. And it didn’t feel like coming home. It felt like breaking. You stumbled back, breath shaking, tears burning your eyes. “[name]?” Ao’nung stepped toward you. “What’s wrong?” Your voice came out sharp, trembling. “I remember.” The words spread fast. Your family rushed to you, hope lighting their faces like the sun rising after endless night. “[name]—you remember us?” Jake asked, stepping forward. You looked at them. Really looked at them.
And your chest tightened. Not with love. With pain. With everything they never gave you. “Yes,” you said quietly. Silence fell. Then relief. Overwhelming, emotional relief. But you didn’t smile. You didn’t move toward them. “Then come here—” Neytiri reached for you. You stepped back. Like her touch burned. “No.” The word hit harder than any weapon. Neteyam froze. “[name]…?” His voice broke. You shook your head, tears finally falling. “You don’t get to look at me like that now.” His breath caught. “I see you now—” “That’s the problem!” Your voice cracked, louder than the waves. “You see me now. Now that I almost died. Now that it’s too late.” Silence. Heavy. Crushing. “Where were you before?” you whispered. “Where were you when I stood right next to you my whole life?”
Neteyam couldn’t answer. Because there was no answer. You laughed weakly through your tears. “I begged to be seen without even saying a word… and none of you noticed.” Jake stepped forward, guilt written across his face. “We were wrong—” “You were absent,” you corrected. “All of you.” Neytiri’s eyes filled with pain. “We love you—” “No,” you whispered.“You love the idea of me. The version you almost lost.” You turned away from them. Toward the ocean.
Toward the only place that ever felt quiet enough to breathe. “[name], don’t go,” Neteyam pleaded. You didn’t stop. “I finally found peace,” you said softly. “And it wasn’t with you.” Then you ran. Into the forest. Into the unknown. Away from everything that ever made you feel invisible. They followed. Of course they did. Calling your name. Searching desperately. But when they found you—standing at the edge of a quiet cliff where the ocean met the sky—you didn’t turn around.
Ao’nung stood beside you. Silent. Steady. Neteyam stepped forward slowly. “Please… just come back.” You closed your eyes. A tear slipped down your cheek.“I did come back.” Your voice was barely a whisper. “And I wish I hadn’t.” His heart shattered completely. “I’ll do anything—” “You can’t fix something you never cared to see broken,” you said. The wind howled around you. The ocean roared below. And still—you didn’t turn around. “[name]…” This time—your father’s voice. You took a step closer to the edge. Not to fall. Not to disappear. Just… far enough to remind them. They were too late. And for the first time in your life— They were the ones left unseen. 𝓣𝓸 𝓫𝓮 𝓬𝓸𝓷𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓾𝓮𝓭…