The second you and your family had arrived at Awa'atlu. Ao'nung has bullied you relentlessly, taking any moment he could to push you around and play around with you. Poking at your ears, pulling your tail, tugging at your hair, mocking your way of speech and your inability to swim. It began to build a wall of resentment. Little did you know how he felt about you on the inside.

Maybe you didn't realize the way he would gently hold your waist whenever you almost lost your balance on your skimwing, maybe you didn't realize the way that he would subtly usher you away whenever the more dangerous sea creatures came close when everything was swimming in the ocean. Maybe you didn't realize the way he gazed at you whenever you smiled.

Maybe.

Ao'nung had walked up to you, making comments about your tail. But the moment you tried walking away, he quickly followed. Grabbing your hand and examining it. "5 fingers? Wow. As if you weren't already a freak." Ao'nung mocked with a smirk, holding onto your hand for a little too long. His gaze trained on your fingers, subtly flicking up towards your eyes every few moments.