ok so this might go against the specifics of Na'vi culture/customs, but listen, I'm not a stickler for the rules, and I have an idea. this may or may not become canon to my AU, I haven't decided.
but listen
before neteyam died, he and ao'nung made Tsaheylu (young, dumb, strictly romantic and impulsive decisions made in the woods by two kids who feel like their world is falling down around them, cause why the fuck not).
after, when ao'nung visits neteyam, he swears to his to be forever his.
neteyam tries to reason "we were so young, and let's be honest, that was kinda dumb. if I was still here, sure, but ma'nung you are still so young, you're destined to be chief, you don't have to do this, you don't have to be alone"
and ao'nung is like "I want this, I want to be yours. tsireya can be heir, she can be Tsahìk, she can continue the line of succession, if that's what it will take to be yours. I am not alone ma'teyam, I lost you and Eywa gave me ma'spider, ma'hi'ti (hi'ti is ao'nungs nickname for spider/Hi'i'tsyil). he may not be mate, he isn't, but he is more then my brother, he is my person. it is Eywa's will that I am yours, that I will be yours and not alone. I am yours and yours only, I promise you that ma'teyam."
and neteyam just gives in, cause ao'nung is stubborn and will not be budging, "can't wait for you to break that promise, yawntu (my love)" he jokes, just to spite his lover.
"I won't" ao'nung bites back
"I know, that's why I worry for your skawng ass"
"nga yawne lu oer (I love you)" he chirps, forever cheeky
"yeah yeah, nga yawne lu oer, now go be with your person" he huffs playfully, kissing his mates head.
and ao'nung just smiles, before breaking the connection, opening his eyes to his brother in front of him.
his love for spider is different then his love for neteyam, but equally strong. spider is not his mate, his love isn't romantic, but it would still drive him to kill for the human, to fight to the death of it meant keeping him safe. spider was his person, he felt his brothers heart beating in his own chest (reference to a currently unreleased fic, but fuck is it destroying me), feels the bond Eywa has created between them.
Eywa must have known his stubborn ass would need some company in life, cause he could never break his promise to neteyam, the one stupidly made in the dark of night on the sandy edge of forest oth boys called home.
~~~
I don't know, just the idea of spider and ao'nung being connected by Eywa makes my sad little self happy. it's bittersweet to think about too, cause like, ao'nung being the one to tell neteyam about spider, telling him about his new name, new family. having his other half taken while they were both so young, and still promising himself to only him, and having spider to give him companionship in life.
this was in fact fueled by me hc'ing spider as aroace cause I was projecting, and then crying over aonunete, and then being like... life partners.
anyway
ao'nung being a tirea sa'em (spirit parent, adoptive parent) and making a promise to spider to never fail a child like the Sully's failed him.
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