or Neteyam's future didn't unfold the way he thought it would, and Aonung knew who he was from a very young age.
(here)
"I'm not an omega."
Aonung continued to stare in silence for a few moments before he scoffed, "Yes you are."
Neteyam frowned. "I'm not."
"Then why do you smell like that?" Aonung questioned, his tone accusing as he took a step forward towards the Omatikaya.
"Smell like what?" Neteyam questioned, this time around genuinely just at a loss over the other boy's odd behaviour. Despite the embarrassment, the Omatikaya sniffed the air, before deciding, "I don't smell anything aside from the salt in the air."
It was more than shock that Neteyam felt when Aonung suddenly wrapped his hand on the Omatikaya's nape, before tugging and, no warning whatsoever, pressing his nose to the crook of Neteyam's nape.
The beta frantically shoved Aonung away the very next second, and the Metkayina went along, stumbling a few steps backward with a genuinely confused yet interested look on his face.
"Like an omega," Aonung said a little dumbfoundedly before he said with more confidence, "You smell like an omega."
or Neteyam's future didn't unfold the way he thought it would, and Aonung knew who he was from a very young age.
or Ronal and Neytiri noticed their respective family seemed to be keeping a secret.
(here)
She addressed Jake Sully's question with her own question: "What has your son taught mine?" She deadpanned, moving further into the marui.
The Omatikayas both instantly had matching confused looks, so Ronal spared them the trouble of asking her for clarification by adding on, "Aonung has been running off with your oldest son lately. After asking me odd questions.
My son has always been one to not keep secrets from me. I can only assume that your son is up to something, and he is dragging my son into another one of your family's 'schemes'."
The tsahik merely rolled her eyes when Neytiri, expectedly, stood up and let out a low hiss.
or Ronal and Neytiri noticed their respective family seemed to be keeping a secret.
or how they became leaders and how they found each other right till the end.
alternatively; 5 moments throughout their co-leadership and 1 time it's more than that
(here)
D-7 Aonunete Week 2026: Free Day! (Co-Leaders, Back and Forth, Tension)
It had been a couple of months since the last time they saw each other. The metkayina still yearned for the other man.
In fact, ever since the two of them had been in the marui that suddenly felt so cramped, it was taking all of Aonung's attention not to immediately drag the other man into a kiss. Preferably a filthy one; so he could hear the other man shudder right against his lips.
Proof that Neteyam wasn't as 'cool and collected' as he liked to act so much.
A snap of fingers in Aonung's face, and suddenly Neteyam was right in front of him.
It used to piss Aonung off. It still does, but the satisfaction Aonung felt at knowing he was the only one who got to see all sides of the omatikayan was enough to balance it all out.
The thing about Neteyam, was that, no matter what circumstances he was put in, be it asleep or in the throes of ecstasy, he never failed to look breathtaking.
or how they became leaders and how they found each other right till the end.
additionally; D-7 Aonunete Week 2026: Free Day! (Co-Leaders, Back and Forth, Tension)
alternatively; 5 moments throughout their co-leadership and 1 time it's more than that
or their love was etched into their skin, even if it's not lived through.
(here)
D-6 Aonunete Week 2026: First Kiss, Matching Tattoos, Aonung Dies Instead
"Let's have matching tattoos."
Despite his surprise, Aonung had an indulging smile as he hummed, eyes still so full of warmth that was directed at the forest Na'vi he was with. "Sure."
Aonung was about to reach for the bottle he had started to carry with him, when Neteyam stopped him by grabbing his wrist.
"A permanent one," Neteyam rushed to clarify, batting his lashes in hopes of persuading his friend, who had sported a hesitant look the moment the omatikayan clarified.
The metkayina pursed his lips thoughtfully, seeming to be mulling it over before he shook his head from side to side. "'Teyam, I don't think that's a very good-"
"Please?" Neteyam interjected, looking meaningfully into Aonung's eyes while the metkayina's decision clearly wavered.
By the power of Neteyam's persuasive skills and his looks, he managed to convince Aonung to agree.
or their love was etched into their skin, even if it's not lived through.
alternatively; D-6 Aonunete Week 2026: First Kiss, Matching Tattoos, Aonung Dies Instead
Aonung had been so, so, charming, that when they were left alone, Neteyam being the last one to be dropped off at his college, the drunk man ended up drunkenly blurting out the one thing he promised to himself to never confess and say out loud:
"Don't freak out, but I think I'm a little in love with you,"
The man's cute and indulging grin turned awkward in the car and under the dimmed light, and Neteyam noted to himself that, if he ever needed to get (somewhat) sober in a blink, he'd just run his mouth and confess.
"Your… jokes are…" Aonung had started to say, pausing to think before he settled on rephrasing with an awkward and sheepish grin, "You've always been terrible at jokes."
Thankfully, Neteyam was still drunk enough to not embarrass himself by crying over being rejected. Rather, he had ended up bawling over a sad romcom that he remembered watching, and Aonung, the moron, stayed for who knew how long, comforting Neteyam.
D-4 Aonunete Week 2026: Rivals to Lovers, Love at First Sight, RDA Aonung/Mangkwan Neteyam
"I'm pretty sure you missed the briefing because, well, hmm," the Mangkwan pretended to think, going as far as to tilt his head as he continued, "I don't know. A stomachache, maybe. I'm sure your friend and sister have given you some kind of recap, so. Looks like we'll be working together. Or, well, something like that. Here's something I made to break the ice."
Aonung looked down at what Neteyam was holding.
A plate. With a fish.
The fish that got shot with an arrow laced with poison.
He remembered attempting to throw the plate right into Neteyam's face, but the Mangkwan dodged, seeming to have expected it and breaking into a fit of laughter.
Neteyam had smiled so brightly, looking so damn pretty, that Aonung was barely able to stop himself from throwing a punch right into that frustratingly beautiful smile.
He hated that smile.
So much that he slept, dreamt about it, woke up, and had to shout into his pillow.
It wasn't 'love at first sight'. No way.
Neteyam was just too fucking pretty.
or they clashed a lot.
alternatively; Rivals to Lovers, Love at First Sight, RDA Aonung/Mangkwan Neteyam
or he couldn't remember when he had taught Aonung how to braid his hair.
(here)
D-3 Aonunete Week 2026: Memory Loss, Doing Each Other's Hair, Break Up
"Let's break up."
The words felt odd on Neteyam's tongue.
Aonung, who had been diligently braiding the omatikayan's hair, briefly stopped for a moment or two before continuing his ministrations. He chuckled, fond and affectionate, when he softly asked, "Where did that come from?"
Neteyam wasn't sure either.
He was at Awa'atlu's shore. It was so early that no one else was awake except for Aonung and him. He was seated with his legs crossed, leaning against Aonung's chest while the metkayina braided his hair like they had all the time in the world.
He didn't know why the word 'again' passed by his mind.
This was the first time Aonung joined him on his 'early day routine'.
It was supposed to be.
Neteyam would have remembered if they'd done this before.
or he couldn't remember when he had taught Aonung how to braid his hair.
alternatively; Memory Loss, Doing Each Other's Hair, Break Up
or they first met each other at the forest when they were 5-year-olds.
(here)
D-2 Aonunete Week 2026: Childhood Friends, Fake Dating, and Grief/Mourning
Neteyam snapped his fingers, and successfully grabbed Aonung's attention.
"Sa'nok is right. This is not just 'babysitting'!"
Aonung furrowed his eyes and scowled. "I'm your age; you can't 'babysit' me."
Neteyam ignored Aonung's correction with a dismissive wave.
The omatikayan boy offered his hand, and when Aonung turned to him in confusion, the boy enlightened him, "Let's make a deal.
You tell me all that you've seen and known about the sea and the reef, and I'll do the same with my forest. That way, it's not 'babysitting'. It's 'intel gathering'!"
Aonung blinked at the other boy a couple of times in mild befuddlement, "...or it can just be called a 'hangout'?"
Neteyam pursed his lips, thinking, before he shrugged. "Well, I guess that works, too. Come on. Let's shake on it."
"Why?"
"Because that's what warriors and leaders do when they agree on something," Neteyam easily answered, wiggling his hand around to prompt the other boy to shake his hand.
or they first met each other at the forest when they were 5-year-olds.
alternatively; Childhood Friends, Fake Dating, and Grief/Mourning
D-1 Aonunete Week 2026: Love Languages, Idiots in Love, Jealousy
Just when Aonung thought he was getting the hang of the 'comforting his friend-and-totally-not-crush' thing, Neteyam abruptly stepped back, cutting any contact the two of them had together. Aonung blinked a couple of times, a little disoriented by having the other suddenly so 'far'. Just when he was about to blurt out 'what's wrong?', all words died in his mouth when he noticed Neteyam scowling at him.
"Were you not loved as a child?" The omatikayan suddenly deadpanned.
Aonung slowly blinked.
"What does that have to do with anything?"
Neteyam's deadpanned expression morphed into a pitying one, and Aonung was quick to defend his family's honour, "I am loved! By- by my family!" Then, with furrowed eyes, he repeated his prior question, "What does that have to do with anything?".
The omatikayan took on his unimpressed expression once again as he answered, "Because you clearly don't know how to hug."
or the five love languages between them.
alternatively; Love Languages, Idiots in Love, Jealousy