jellybear455

[jellybear455]

What's left of Anna - The Last of Us - Part 3

Pairings: Ellie x mother figure reader; Joel x reader

Warnings: canon violence, swearing, follows plot of the HBO series, I gave reader a name just in case that triggers you

Word count: 3100

Summary: Nearly fifteen years after the death of her sister, Anna Williams, Isabel Bailey journeys through post-apocalyptic America with her niece and a closed off stranger.

Part 1 Part 2

--

The museum, like the hotel, would have been gorgeous in it’s day. It stood almost stubbornly, surrounded by collapsed buildings and piles of rubble. It would have been pristine, if it weren’t for the browned cordyceps growth covering it. I gulp nervously, remembering what Tess said about the fungus. One wrong move, and infected will be coming at us from all directions.

“You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me.” Ellie mutters, echoing my thoughts down to a tee.

“Well, there is a way across from the top floor.” Tess says casually, adjusting her pack.

I raise my eyebrows. “I don’t know about you guys, but I’m totally convinced. Thanks, Theresa.”

“Oh, shut up, Isabel. We used to take it all the time. We’ll be fine.” Tess snaps back.

“You are so reassuring- what the fuck are you doing?” I ask. Joel whacks a pile of fungus with the butt of his gun.

“It’s bone dry.” Joel replies, as though that’s some kind of answer. “Could mean they’re all finally dead in there.”

Tess nods confidently, and the two pull out flashlights. I shake my head, pulling my own light out from my pack.

“Oh man,” Ellie groans.

“Marlene pack you one of these, or just sandwiches?” Joel snarks back.

“Yeah,” Ellie replies with a sigh, rummaging through her bag.

“Okay, so more ground rules.” Tess begins, shooting me a look that clearly says don’t argue. “We’re gonna go slowly. If we come up against anything, you get behind us and you stay there, okay?”

“Yes.” Ellie replies quickly. Everyone looks at me.

“Yeah, whatever, boss.” I roll my eyes, taking my rifle of my shoulder. “You are the experts, after all.”

Ellie looks between Tess, who has a gun, Joel and I with our rifles, and the pistol tucked in my pants. “I have a spare hand, you know.”

“Congratulations.” Joel replies shortly, before striding towards the museum door. He gestures for us to follow.

Just like the exterior, the museum is surprisingly well kept. Besides a few upturned cabinets, and the dead cordyceps everywhere, it looks disturbingly untouched. I sweep my light down a corridor. Empty. We approach the stairs. Joel shines his light past them and reveals a room drowning in the fungus. There is no empty space on the floor. A few decaying corpses litter the space.

“Cooked.” Joel says triumphantly.

“Finally, some luck.” Tess says.

“I wouldn’t say that yet.” I mutter, looking up to the next level.

Joel sends me a look, but otherwise ignores me. “We should have come this way in the first place.”

“Oh shit,” Ellie cries from around a corner. I rush forward, gun raised.

Slumped against the wall is a fresh corpse. The cuts across his forehead and neck looks relatively fresh, still glistening with blood.

“What the fuck did that?” Ellie asks.

Tess looks at Joel. It’s the first time I’ve seen her lose her cool. “Maybe, maybe he was attacked outside and crawled in?”

“The door was open.” I agree quietly. I want to believe it, because the other alternative is nastier. “I don’t hear anything.”

“Who would you hear?” Ellie asks. Too loud.

Joel and Tess hush her quickly, and I strain my ears, searching for anything.

Ellie lowers her voice to a whisper. “Are you saying an infected did that? Because I’ve been attacked by one, and it wasn’t like that.”

“From this moment forward, we are silent. Not quiet. Silent.” Joel mutters, just loud enough for us to hear.

“But why-”

“Just do it, El. No questions.” I cut her off. She sees the look in my eyes, and she is silent.

I follow Joel up the stairs. Ellie is close behind me. The only noise is the occasional scuff of a shoe or creak of a stair. We freeze every time. Nothing happens. My body starts to ache from tension. We approach the next flight. The cordyceps is everywhere now. If it wasn’t dead, we would have been found long ago. Even more disturbing than the fungus, is the pile of decaying infected. I try not to look at them.

Ellie steps on something and it lets out an uncomfortably loud noise. I jump, scanning the floor above us for any movement.

Joel pushes the door open gently. It creaks softly and I cringe. He scans the room, before nodding for us to follow. I let Ellie go first. I freeze, gaze snapping upwards as the roof creaks. Tess shoves me in the back, pushing us to the floor in time for the ceiling to cave in. Ellie groans beneath me, and I look back to see rubble right where I had been standing, blocking the exit. Tess had saved my life.

I grab Joel’s outstretched and uninjured hand, pulling Ellie up with me. He gives us a once over, and I turn to check on Tess. We are all unharmed, thank God.

The little scrap of relief I felt shattered as a growl reverberated down the hall. Joel and I point our rifles in the direction of the noise simultaneously. A chattering follows, and I nearly choke. Clickers.

The hairs on my neck stand up, sending a shiver down my spine. I shove Ellie behind me as we slowly back away. I struggle to control my breathing as the clicker stumbles through the doorway. It’s arms bend in unnatural shapes, and it drags one leg behind it. It’s most prominent feature, and arguably the most terrifying, was the fungus that had forced it’s way out of its skull, splitting the flesh in two and flowering across it’s face.

The clicker can’t see us, but that doesn’t make it any less deadly.

A second screech echoes from another hall, and we whir around in unison. A second clicker staggers in, and we back away from it’s path. I press my body against a display case and grit my teeth. Joel’s shoulder presses into mine on one side, and Ellie clutches my arm on the other.

Joel looks at Ellie over my head and gestures to his ears. She nods. The message is clear. Make a single nose, and you die.

The clickers screech and Ellie winces. She squeezes my arm tightly, and I squeeze my rifle. The infected stumbles past us, and Ellie sucks in a breath. That was all it took. The clicker spins around, screaming, and Joel fires his gun right in it’s stomach.

It barely flinches, launching itself at him. Joel shouts at us through gritted teeth as the other clicker charges forward. “Run!”

I fire my gun in vain until Ellie’s hand yanks on my arm. We run through the displays. The second clicker throws Joel to the ground, and I skid to a stop, aiming for it’s head. I miss, hitting it in the shoulder and gaining it’s attention. It takes after me instead, and I run for my life.

My heart beats wildly as I run, shoving over a pedestal in a desperate attempt to get it off me. The clicker takes the bait, slowing to a stop, before staggering off in another direction. I relax a little, before my flashlight flickers and I nearly drop it in surprise. It flickers again, and an idea pops into my head.

As quietly as possible, I unscrew the back end. It squeaks a little, and I wince. The clicker rattles it’s throat, and I peak around the corner slowly. The flickering light illuminates the disgusting flowery fungus for a moment, barely half a meter from my face, before shutting off completely.

I hold my breath as the infected stalks away and tip the batteries into my pocket. Crouching low, I cautiously creep back into the main room. Ellie looks petrified. A surge of protectiveness floods through me, and I nod my head towards where Joel crouches a few meters away, then hold up a finger.

Pulling a battery from my pocket, I chuck it at a display on the other side of the room, hoping Tess isn’t anywhere nearby. It clangs off a metal bar, and the clicker nearly trips as it hurries away.

Ellie starts crawling towards Joel, and I and I grit my teeth with each groan. I keep my eyes on Joel. Glass crunches beneath my boot.

The clicker throws itself towards me, and I kick it away, pushing Ellie to Joel before I’m pinned to the floor. It screams in my face, and I struggle it keep it at bay as it snaps at me. I battle a wave of hysteria, scrambling for my life.

The knife tucked in my belt is my only hope, and I desperately grapple for it with one hand. Just as my fingers close around the handle, a shot rings out. The clicker falters, and I drive the knife into it’s chest, shoving it off me.

I scramble backwards and into Joel’s legs. He holds his pistol steady, shooting the clicker in the head. It falls to the ground, but he keeps shooting until the gun clicks. I sigh in relief, and Joel helps me up. His hand squeezes mine.

The first clicker suddenly leaps out from behind a display and screams loudly. Tess jams an axe into its skull, and it writhes wildly, but doesn’t die. I snatch my rifle from the ground. This time, when I pull the trigger, I don’t miss.

Breathing heavily, my shoulders slump. Ellie rushes forward and buries herself in my side. I hold her tightly, but I don’t feel relieved. If there are any other infected in here, they’re coming for us.

“Everyone alright?” Joel asks after a moment.

“Yeah,” Tess replies, limping towards us. “Twisted ankle, but yeah.”

I look down at Ellie, running a hand up her arm. “Are you okay?”

“I didn’t shit my pants, so yeah.” She says quickly. She tries to play it off, but she’s shaking like a leaf. She winces suddenly and pulls away to roll up her sleeve. A second bite bleeds freely right on top of her scar. “You’re fucking kidding me.”

“Let’s get the hell out of here, and I’ll patch you up.” I tell her.

Joel leads us to a window, sliding it up and climbing out. I go last, my hands on Tess’s back to support her. She groans in pain. I crouch next to her on the roof, and Joel hands me a roll of tape. He hands one to Ellie for her arm.

“This way?” She asks, pointing to a wooden beam.

“Yeah,” Joel calls back. “I know it looks scary.”

“That was scary. This is wood.” She replies quickly, crossing the scaffolding with ease.

I wrap the tape securely over Tess’s sock, supporting her ankle. She tenses slightly. “Not too tight?” She shakes her head.

“There’s probably more up ahead.” Joel says from behind me.

“So we’ll deal with it then.” Tess replies shortly, snatching the tape and finishing the job herself.

I raise my hands in surprise and back away. “Are you alright, Joel? Nothing hurts? How’s your hand?”

“Fine.” He looks over at Elle on the next building. “What about her?”

“She’s fine. Or she will be,” I reply, putting my pack back on. “Ellie’s a tough nut.”

“What about the second bite? Maybe the first one just didn’t take hold-”

“Just take the good news, Joel.” Tess snaps suddenly, shoving the tape in her bag. Her voice is uncharacteristically harsh. “Can you do that? Like to think for once we could actually win?”

She waves us away, and Joel frowns, before following in Ellie’s footsteps. I linger for a moment.

“Tess?” I ask quietly. My voice shakes a little, and I clear my throat to steady it. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

She looks like she’s going to snap at me too, but she averts her eyes and nods. Tess looks nearly defeated. I nod back, before crossing the scaffolding and trying not to look down.

--

The State house is concerningly quiet. We crouch behind an abandoned car, watching for any signs of life. The only hint that the Fireflies have been here at all is the truck parked out the front. Although it was so rusty that I wouldn’t have believed it still ran if it weren’t for the fresh tire tracks behind it.

“Where the fuck are they?” Ellie whispers.

Joel shakes his head, doubtful they were here at all. He rises to his feet, stepping out into the open cautiously. We follow, and I take the rear. Joel quickly yanks the truck door open, pointing his gun inside. There is nothing except blood. A concerning amount of blood.

“Stay back,” Joel whispers. We reluctantly obey, and I plant myself in front of Tess and Ellie.

Joel makes a slow, full circle of the truck, before pulling open the back. It’s empty.

“What the fuck is going on?” Tess asks, stepping past me with her own gun.

“I don’t know.” Joel replies.

“Bel?” Ellie whispers. I follow her gaze and spot the drops of blood leading up the staircase.

“They went inside,” I say, loud enough for Tess and Joel to hear.

Tess snatches Ellie by the arm, infuriated, and marches up the stairs. “Come on.”

“Hey, get your hands off her!” I call out, shouldering my gun and following.

Gun first, Tess strides into the building. She doesn’t wait for us, and I shove my foot in the gap to stop the door from closing. I pull Ellie from her grip, but she doesn’t resist.

“There has to be a fucking radio or something.” Tess swears, rummaging through piles of equipment.

“Who killed them? FEDRA?” Ellie asks Joel.

“No,” He replies, rolling over a corpse with his foot. There is a massive hole in the back of the dead man’s head, and his eyes are pearly white. “One of them got bit. Healthy ones fought sick ones. Everyone lost.”

“Tess? What are you doing?” I call out.

She looks over, ignoring me and making a beeline for Ellie. “Where did Marlene say she was taking you?”

“I don’t know. Just west.” Ellie replies quickly.

I step closer, disturbed. Tess was frantic. In all the time I had known her, she was calm and collected.

“Just west. Fuck, okay.”

I remember how defeated she looked after the encounter with the clickers

“One of them’s gotta have a map on them. Joel, can you help me?”

“No, Tess. It’s over.” He stresses. “We are going home.”

“That is not my fucking home!” Tess cries. I can see the tears in her eyes. She turns away for a second, collecting herself, before standing up to face Joel. “I’m staying. Our luck had to run out, sooner or later.”

I push myself between her and Joel. “Tess, show it to me.”

“What do you-”

“Shut up, Joel.” I say, teeth gritted. “Don’t be a bitch, Tess.”

Tess sighs. “Come on, Bel. Don’t be like this.”

“Show. Me.” I hiss.

“Make me.” Tess snaps back.

“What are you going on about.” Joel butts in.

“She’s infected.” I say. It’s quiet, but everyone hears. “Now show me.”

Swallowing another argument, Tess throws her hair to the side and pulls down her shirt. The skin on her collarbone is pink and inflames, and veins pop out around oozing sores in the shape of tooth marks.

I press a hand to my mouth to stop from throwing up. It’s not the gruesome wound that makes me nauseous, but the knowledge that Tess isn’t walking out of this.

“Oops, huh?” She says, voice quivering.

I glance over at Ellie. She looks sad. “Take off your bandage.” Her wound looks sore, but not infected.

“Look, Joel. This is real. Joel, she’s fucking real.” Tess pleads, taking Ellie’s arm gently. When she lets go, her hand shakes uncontrollably. “I need you to get her to Bill and Frank’s.”

“No.”

“They’ll take her off your hands.”

“No.”

“They’ll handle it from here.”

“No. No, I can’t. They won’t take her.”

“They will, because you’ll convince them.” Tess insists. “Joel, I never ask you for anything, not the feel the way I felt-”

“No.”

“Shut the fuck up because I don’t have time. This is your chance. You get her there, you keep her alive, and you set everything right. All the shit we did… please say yes, Joel. Please.” Tess was almost sobbing now.

“Oh, fuck!” Ellie cries out, jumping away from the corpse on the floor. It groaned, flailing its arms.

Drawing my pistol, I put it out of its misery. I stared at the man’s hand, watching as fungus wrapped around his fingers. Glancing over at the other bodies, I spotted more of it twisting over their limbs. How we didn’t notice before- “We have to get out of here.”

Joel rushes to a window, but I can already hear the screams of infected in the distance.

“How many?” Tess asks. Her face glistens with tears but her eyes are hollow.

“All of them.” Joel answers, rushing closer. “Maybe a minute.”

Tess picks up Joel’s rifle, slamming the butt into a barrel. She tips it up, and gasoline pours out. She moves onto the next one quickly.

“What are you doing?” Ellie asks.

“Making sure they don’t follow you.” Tess replies, tossing a box on hand grenades everywhere. She stops, walking over to Joel. He avoids her eyes. “Joel. Save who you can save.”

Joel stares for a moment. Then, he grabs Ellie and pulls her towards a back exit. I snatch a discarded magazine from atop a crate, following after. I stop in front of Tess. The infected are close, I can hear them, but I can’t stop myself from reaching out and touching her face.

“Thank you. I’m sorry.” Then I run.

Ellie screams in protest as I grab her other arm, dragging her with us.

We make it out the back and into the empty field. Ellie is running freely, but I cling to her arm still.  The State house explodes with a boom. A single tear runs down my cheek. I didn’t know Tess long, but Joel did. My heart aches for him.

He turns and walks away, leaving me and Ellie to stare at the burning building. I take her by the hand.

“I’m sorry, honey. It’s gonna be okay, I promise.”

She doesn’t look at me. “Will it?”

“Yeah,” I whisper back. “It will. Eventually.”

--

Taglist: mattm1964 casa-boiardi

[jellybear455]

What's left of Anna - The Last of Us - Part 2

Pairings: Ellie x mother figure reader; Joel x reader

Warnings: canon violence, swearing, follows plot of the HBO series, I gave reader a name just in case that triggers you

Word count: 4200

Summary: Nearly fifteen years after the death of her sister, Anna Williams, Isabel Bailey journeys through post-apocalyptic America with her niece and a closed off stranger.

Part 1

--

Ellie is fast asleep. Her head is in my lap, and I run my fingers through her hair with one hand. The other is covered in a mixture of Joel and the soldier’s blood. I have nothing to clean it with.

Tess and Joel sit a few meters away. They both clutch their guns, watching wearily. We had been hiding out in this decrepit building since late last night. It was the furthest we could go without the daylight.

“Why are you so attached?” Tess asks suddenly.

“Good morning to you, too.” I reply quickly, as though she and Joel hadn’t been taking shifts to watch Ellie all night.

“Seriously, Bel?” Tess raises an eyebrow. “How are we supposed to the trust you if we know nothing about you?”

“I know nothing about you, either. And my name isn’t Bel.” I don’t really care that she called me by my nickname. I’m just spiteful.

Joel lifts his head. “The soldier called you Bailey. How’d he know?”

I swallow. We’re out of the QZ. These two are the only protection I have. I can’t risk lying. “My name is Isabel Bailey. I’ve known Ellie since she was born, and before she was taken to FEDRA.”

“So you’re not her mother?”

“No,” Her mother, my sister, is dead, I want to say, but the words burn at my throat.

“And the soldier?” Joel presses.

“My turn,” I say quickly. “How do you know Marlene?”

Joel glances at Tess, before speaking again. “How did the soldier know your name?”

He stares at me intensely. His eyes are stony, and there is no trace of the faraway look I saw last night. The staring contest lasts for a few more seconds before Ellie stirred.

“Did you guys sleep at all?” She asks with a yawn. She moves to stand, and Joel raises his gun. “Do I look infected?”

“Show us your arm.” Joel insists.

“Yeah. It’s not getting any worse, is it.” Ellie snarks back.

“Ellie. Tone.” I remind her. My lips twitch slightly despite myself.

Tess and Joel exchange a look for the millionth time this morning. There has to be something between then. The thought makes my throat tighten. I didn’t have time to ponder the feeling before Ellie is talking again.

“If we’re out in the open city, why aren’t we getting swarmed?”

“Don’t worry about that.” Joel replies without looking at her.

“Well, I’m gonna.”

Tess stares. “What was Marlene doing with an infected kid?”

“I’m not infected.” Silence. “She found me after I was bitten.”

“And she didn’t shoot you.”

“Clearly not. She’d lock me up and have her guys test me everyday to see if I was getting sick.”

“Test you how?” Tess asks.

I shift slightly, willing Ellie not to say much else.

“I have to pee.” Ellie says abruptly.

“Test you, how?”

“That’s enough, Tess.” I warn.

“It’s Theresa.” She mocks.

“They made me count to ten then hold out my hand and keep it steady. But, you know, I think what impressed them the most was that I didn’t turn into a fucking monster.” Ellie stands up quickly. “Now, can I please?”

Joel stands too, raising his gun. I grab my own and move in front of Ellie slightly. He sends me an irritated look.

“Fine,” Tess says, breaking the silence. “Back there, you can find a spot. Here. Tear out a couple pages.” She tossed Ellie a magazine.

“Are you sure there is nothing bad in here?” Ellie asks as she disappears through a rotting doorway.

“Just you.” Joel respond, sitting back down.

“Ha, funny.”

It was quiet for a long moment, before the annoyance boiling in my stomach bubbled over. “Jesus Christ. She’s just a kid.”

“We don’t take chances.” Joel replies after a beat. He looks down at his hand. It shakes slightly as he stretches it, and the sores look painful. Some of the irritation gives way to pity.

“Let me see.” I say, stepping forward and holding out a hand. Joel glares and Tess raises an eyebrow. “Chill out. I know what I’m doing.”

I sit cross legged in front of him, taking his hand carefully. The skin on his knuckles is torn and beginning to bruise. “Make a fist.” I instruct. “Tell me where it hurts.”

“I don’t think-”

“Tell me where it hurts.” Joel points to the knuckle of his middle finger. “Okay. Open.”

He stretches out his hand again, and I gently poke his hand, taking note of when he winced in pain.

“Marlene said you were a doctor.” Tess says.

I hummed, keeping my attention on Joel’s hand. “Graduated a few months before the outbreak.”

“I thought FEDRA took everyone with medical training?” Joel asks. I stay silent.

“That soldier knew who you were because you’re FEDRA.” Tess guesses.

“It’s fractured. Probably just hairline. If you’re careful it will heal quick.” I reply, pulling away. Joel grabs my hand with his injured one. His face contorts slightly. “I just told you to be careful.”

“Answer the question.” He presses.

I glance at Tess. She is staring intensely at me, clearly irritated with both mine and Ellie’s attempts to evade their questions. I sigh.

“Yeah, I’m FEDRA.” Tess opens her mouth to shout, but I cut her off. “I joined as a spy for a Fireflies. It wasn’t hard, all things considering. Then Ellie was born, and I shifted positions to watch over her instead.”

Tess drags her hand over her face. “So, you’re just another mindless follower.”

“No.” I snap back quickly. Now the truth was out, I couldn’t stop. “Marlene wanted me to dump Ellie. She was pissed I gave up my position for her.”

“I can imagine.” Tess replies, rolling her eyes.

I look up at Joel. He hasn’t said anything, but his hand still clutches onto mine tightly. “I didn’t know that soldier, but he came to me a few weeks ago for a broken nose. I can promise you that I am not loyal to FEDRA, or the Fireflies, really.”

Joel looks up. “Then who are you loyal to?”

Anna. “Ellie.”

He raises his eyebrows.

“Don’t be shitty. She made it through the night.” I snap.

“That doesn’t matter. It will happen, sooner or later, alright?” He turns to Tess. “We’re still close to the wall. We sneak her back into the QZ. We find a different way to get the battery.”

“This is our best shot. We take her back to the QZ, someone’s gonna notice her arm. They’re gonna scan her, and they will kill her.” Tess shoot back.

Joel squeezes my hand subconsciously. “Better her than us. We need to stop talking about this kid like she’s got some kind of life in front of her.”

“She is not gonna turn, Joel.” I hiss. “We are not turning around, do you hear me?”

I glare at him, and he frowns back.

“Are you guys gonna make out or something?” Ellie suddenly appears behind me. I jolt in surprise.

“Shit, El.”

“What? You guys are holding hands, in case you didn’t notice.”

I snatch my hand from Joel’s, but regret it when I see him wince in pain. Ellie sits back down in the middle of the room, placing the rifle I took across my knees.

“You hungry?” Tess asks awkwardly. “You can share some of ours.”

Joel gives her an offended look.

“Thanks, but Marlene sent me with my own.” Ellie replies, pulling a sandwich out of her back.

Grinning, I rummage through the pack Tess gave me, finding a few sticks of jerky. I watch silently as Joel struggles to pull apart his jerky with his injured hand.

“Is that chicken?” Tess asks suddenly.

“Yeah,” Ellie replies nonchalantly. “Marlene says they get it from smugglers. Guess it’s not you guys.”

I snicker. “’Smugglers’ my ass.”

“You’re joking!” Ellie cries.

“Nah. The guy in the apartment next door has a room with just chickens. It’s inhumane, but fucking hilarious.”

Ellie laughs, but quickly sobers when Tess stalks forward. I scramble to my feet, and Joel quickly follows suit, gripping his gun.

“Why- it’s fine, Joel. Why are you so important to Marlene? And don’t lie to me, or we’ll take you back.”

Ellie gulps, glancing over at me. I open my mouth to protest.

“And don’t you say anything, Bel. We want it from her.” Joel cuts me off. I don’t argue. About Ellie or my name.

“You take me back you don’t get the battery.” Ellie replies confidently.

“You heard that?” Tess asks. Ellie shrugs. “Well then you must have heard he wants to shoot you.”

Ellie glances over at Joel. He looks away, only for his eyes to meet mine. I grasp my rifle tighter. He won’t shoot her. If he wanted to, he would have done it already. I saw how he didn’t hesitate before killing that guy outside the QZ.

“I’m gonna talk to you like you’re an adult.” Tess stalks closer, crouching in front of Ellie.

“I wouldn’t do that,” I warns.

“Let her speak.” Joel demands, shouldering his gun. He’s injured, but he wont miss. I lower my rifle.

Tess continues. “Joel and I aren’t good people. We’re doing this for us because, apparently, you’re worth something. But we don’t know what you’re worth if we don’t know what we have. So answer my question.”

Ellie puts down her sandwich. “She told me not to tell anybody, and I’m gonna tell the first people that I-”

“Ellie…” I hiss.

“Shut it.” Joel snaps.

“There’s a Firefly base camp somewhere out west with doctors. They’re working on a cure.”

“I’ve heard this before.” Joel grumbles, putting down his gun. I follow suit.

“What ever happened to me is the key to finding the vaccine.”

“That’s what this is?” Joel snaps. “We’ve heard this a million times. Vaccines, miracle cures. None if it works. Ever.”

“Fuck you, man. I didn’t ask for this!” Ellie shoots back, standing up.

“You and me both. This isn’t gonna end well, Tess. We need to go back.”

I picks up my pack and rifle. “Fine. You go back to that hell hole. You look Marlene in the eye and tell her you’re too afraid to follow through.”

The quiet was deafening as Joel stared me down. I glower back, willing him to deny that he was afraid.

“Let’s just finish it.” Tess insists. “It doesn’t matter if she is or isn’t what they Fireflies say. If they believe she is, then we get when we want.”

Joel glars at me for a few more seconds. “Fine. But if she so much as twitches.”

“If you pull a gun on her you’ll be the one with the bullet between your eyes, alright buddy?”

Ellie makes a noise somewhere between a gurgle and a choke. I spin around, and she’s grinning. “Don’t you dare.”

“Sorry.” She whispers, looking slightly ashamed.

Joel exhales sharply picking up his rifle and attempting to shift the cabinet he showed in front of the door. I move to help, but he sends me a scowl. “Don’t call me buddy.”

Barely two minutes later, we’re outside, and Ellie is flabbergasted. “Woah…”

I was frozen, too, but for different reasons. Boston was in ruin. Sadness tugged at my gut. I wonder what my house looked like if this was the rest of the world. The only thing truly left of my sister is Ellie.

“Looks different in the daylight, huh?” grins Tess.

Joel hops onto a fallen chunk of cement, surveying the area. “We should get moving.”

It takes about five minutes of walking for Ellie to find her voice. She peers down a large crater, and I grab her pack to stop her from falling. “It looks like a fucked-up moon. Is this where they bombed?”

“Yeah,” Tess replies, slowing to a stop. Joel keeps walking. “They hit most of the big cities like this. They had to slow the spread somehow.”

“Worked here, but it didn’t in most places.” I speak up. It certainly didn’t work in Colorado.

Joel slows and comes to a half right on the edge of a huge empty street. There are no old cars or debris. It’s unnerving to see such an undisturbed space in an otherwise ruined city.

“State house is just across there. About a ten-minute walk if you could go straight.” Tess explains.

“’If’?” I ask at the same time as Ellie says, “So?”

“Long way, or the short way.” Joel replies, ignoring me.

“Well, it’s the long way of the ‘we’re fucking dead’ way.” Tess corrects. Well, that answers my question.

Ellie looks between the pair. “I vote long way based on that very limited information.”

“We have to check the hotel first.” Joel insists.

Tess takes the lead again, and Joel brings up the rear. It had been a long time since I’d walked freely. Or how ever free you could be when the world has ended. A little part of me misses the five years after the outbreak began. We never knew if we’d see the next day, or when we’d eat again, but after we met Marlene, I was free to do what ever I wanted. Anna wanted to settle, but I was wanted to explore and find survivors. My stubbornness got the better of me far too often, and Anna was dead because of it. The most I could do was keep Ellie from making the same mistakes. I owe my sister that much.

“Why are you still here?” Joel asks suddenly. I look up, surprised. Back to the present, where Anna was dead.

“I’m sorry?”

“Why are you here? You have stayed in the QZ. I don’t understand why you’re risking so much for that kid. And don’t say for the cure. If I’ve heard that once I’ve heard it a thousand times.”

I watch Ellie talk Tess’s ear off a few meters in front of us. “I told you. I’ve known Ellie since she was a baby.”

“But?” Joel presses. For someone so reserved, he had a lot of questions. “You said Marlene gave her to you to leave with FEDRA. Why would she give her to you?”

“I owed Ellie’s mother a debt.”

“What kind?”

I adjust my grip on my rifle anxiously. “One you don’t break.”

“And now?”

Silence falls. Even Ellie didn’t know I was her aunt. I wasn’t going to tell a stranger. Especially one who wanted to kill her. Tess and Ellie draw to a halt in front of us. I miss what Tess says, but I could see a bit of pride gleaming in her eyes.

Ellie tries to hide her grin. “Thanks.”

Slinging my rifle over my shoulder, I follow the pair over an upturned car. 

“So,” Tess start talking again. “No ones gonna come looking after you? Mom, Dad… boyfriend?”

“Nope. I’m an orphan, and… no.” Ellie replies, wrinkling her nose slightly. I grin. “Bel’s my only family. And my only friend.”

“What about you, Doctor Bailey? No family?”

“No one but Ellie and Marlene.” I reply truthfully. The end of the world tends to do that to you. It takes nearly everything from you. Like sisters and courage.

Ellie looks around again. “Everyone said the city was crazy. Like, swarms of infected running around everywhere.”

“Not exactly like that.” Joel replies. It was the first he had spoken in a while.

“People like to tell stories.” Tess adds, smiling humourlessly.

“So, there aren’t super-infected that explode spores on you?”

I raise an eyebrow. “Shit, I hope not.”

“Or ones with split open head that see in the dark like bats?”

Tess looks at Joel, then me. I purse my lips, and Joel stares at the ground.

An uncanny scream echoes through the buildings. We freeze, straining to listen past the screeching crows. Subconsciously, I check my knife is still on my belt and pistol is within reach. Just in case. Ellie holds her breath, so I reach over and take her hand reassuringly. She squeezes back, holding tight as we waited.

“What was that?” She asks. None of us answer.

“Let’s keep moving.” Joel says instead.

Any inkling of companionship that we had built was gone.

--

A better name of the ‘hotel’ would have been the ‘lake’. Joel heaves the door open, scattering a few ducks and revealing the entire first floor was flooded. Once upon a time, the hotel would have been a grand establishment.

“You gotta be kidding me!” Ellie cries. “Did you ever stay in a place like this?”

“No, a little out of our league.” Tess admits.

“I did.” I answer with a grin.

Joel glances over at Ellie. “How do you even know about this stuff?”

“Have you heard of books?” She sasses back. “What was it like? Tell me everything. Don’t skimp on the details.”

I laugh out loud. It takes me by surprise. I haven’t laughed in a while. “My sister took me to a concert for my eighteenth birthday. Apparently, this is part of the experience.”

“Cool.” Ellie breathes. When I don’t say anything else she adds, “And?”

“Later, babe.”

Joel takes off down the steps towards the water.

“Wait, are we going in there?” Ellie asks, her fascination temporarily forgotten.

“Yeah. We gotta get to the stairwell on the other side.” Tess replies, following behind Joel.

Ellie looks petrified. “I, uh, I can’t swim.”

“Seriously?” Joel looks dumbfounded, and I send him a dirty look.

“Do you think we have pools in the QZ?”

He rolls his eyes. “No, smart ass. I mean-” He jumps off the last step. The water barely went past his knees.

“I don’t know how I was supposed to know that.” She replies, heading down the stairs more confidently. Still, she hesitates on the last step.

“It’s okay, El.” I reassure her, striding past through the water. I try not to think about what creepy crawlies could be swimming around.

“This is so gross.” Ellie laughs, rushing towards the service desk, and tapping the bell. The dull clunking caught Joel’s attention, and he turns to watch. “Ding ding! Yes, sir, I would like your finest suite please.”

I hoist myself up onto the desk. Shoving my finger under my nose like it’s a moustache and putting on a fake accent, I reply, “Yes, ma’am. Would you like me to take your luggage?”

“Yes, sir!” Ellie giggles back.

“Right away, ma’am.”

“You guys are weird.” Joel remarks.

Ellie grabs the luggage holder, pushing it forward. “You’re weird- oh fuck!”

A body falls from the holder, knocking against Ellie’s leg. I point my gun towards it, but it quickly becomes clear that the skeleton is harmless.

“Oh my god…” Ellie pants.

“Are you okay, honey?” I ask, hopping down from the desk. I notice Joel is suddenly right in front of me, gun raised. Last I saw, he was nearly at the stairs.

“Yeah- I… sorry.”

Joel offers Ellie his hand, helping her up from where she leant against the piano. Too late, he realises its his injured one, and he flinches as she let go. I glance at it as I walk past. The bruising is purple now. I make a note to check on it soon.

“Are you okay?” Tess calls out.

“Yeah. Fucking fabulous.” Ellie replies with a sigh.

I shake my head. I wonder where that kid got her mouth, because it sure as hell wasn’t her mother.

Climbing the stairs made me miss elevators. My heart is pounding by the time Joel announces we were there.

Tess pauses to catch her breath. “Fuck. Holy shit.”

“You can say that again.” I huff.

“Come on, it wasn’t that bad.” Ellie insists. The kid was barely swayed.

“Cut me some slack, girl.”

“Is it ‘cause you’re old?”

I scoff. “I’m forty-five, not ninety.”

“Try climbing ten flours with these knees, kid.” Tess replies, gesturing for us to follow Joel.

We round a corner and stop dead before a pile of rubble. What that supposed to be there?

“When the fuck did that happen?” Tess grumbles. Guess not. They try the doors. Blocked. “Okay, I guess maybe I could climb up there, work my way around. Open it from the inside.”

Ellie pipes up, “Uh, no, I’m the smallest, so it’d be easier-”

“No. I’ll go.” I cut her off.

“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m perfectly capable.” Tess scoffs. “Help me up?”

I shrug. “You were just complaining about your knees, you know.”

Joel moves to help Tess, but I get there first. Kneeling, I cup my hands. Tess steps up, and I give her a boost. She crawls into the gap, disappearing in the debris. “You good?”

“Yeah, it’s just a bit of a mess. Might need a few minutes.”

Ellie slumps to the floor, leaning her lead against the wall. I follow suit, and eventually, so does Joel.

“I could have done that.” Joel mutters.

“Not what that hand you’re not. Let me see.” I demand. He holds it out reluctantly, and I examine the bruising. “I told you to be careful with it. That means don’t use it unless absolutely necessary.”

“I haven’t used it.” He retorts.

“Don’t lie.” I reply simply. “It’s childish.”

Ellie pulls out her knife, flipping it in her hand over and over.

“Nice knife,” Joel says. Ellie glares at him, before tossing the knife again. “Where’d you learn to do that?”

“The circus.” She snaps. She folds the knife up. “Where are you from?”

“Texas.” Joel replies after a moment.

“What about Tess?”

“Detroit. It’s in Michigan.”

Ellie scoffs. “I go to school, I know where Detroit is.”

I continue to stare at Joel’s hand, partly to hide my grin and partly because I like holding his hand. Wait, what?

“So, are you and Tess like…”

“Pass” Joel answers quickly. I’ll take that as a no. My stomach flips a little. What is wrong with me? I’ve known this man all of about five minutes.

“How did you get to Boston?”

“Pass. No more questions about me.”

I huff a little and Joel gives me a look. He doesn’t move his hand from mine.

Ellie let the silence continue for less than thirty seconds. “How long do infected live?”

“I thought you said you went to school.”

“Yeah, it was a shitty one.”

“Ouch.” I grin. “I though I was a good teacher.”

“Oh, shut up. You were. Everyone else sucked.” Ellie replies with a smirk.

Joel exhales, thinking for a moment. “Well, some live for about a month or two. But there’s others, been walking around 20 years.”

“You guys ever kill one?”

“Yeah, a lot.” Joel replies without hesitation. Ellie looks at me expectantly.

“Um, yeah. A bunch. Too many.” I shift uncomfortably, and Joel’s thumb traces a circle on my hand.

“Is it hard knowing they were people once?” Always with the difficult questions.

Joel doesn’t answer. I sigh. “Yeah. But they aren’t people anymore, honey. It’s kinder to kill them then let them live like monsters.”

Ellie thinks it over for a second. “Joel?” He hums in recognition. “What about that guy last night?”

Joel freezes, his hand clutching mine a little tighter. Ellie notices, but she doesn’t say anything. A thud sounds from the other side of one of the doors. Joel grabs his gun, his hand slipping from mine.

“You can put the gun down, Joel.” Tess’s muffled voice calls out. She pushes something heavy out of the way, then opens the door.

“What now?” Joel asks.

Tess doesn’t meet his eyes. Instead, she leads us through the room and out onto a balcony. I lean over the end, looking down into the street. Sprawled below are dozens of infected. They groan and twitch, but otherwise remain motionless. The sight is unsettling. “Jesus.”

“There is so many.” Ellie whispers.

“The last time we were here they were still deep inside the buildings. But I guess enough people can through looking for a QZ, they went inside seeking shelter, and that’s how they’d get more and more of the city, bit by bit, year after year.” Tess explains, and I feel nauseous.

The infected writhe in a sort of Mexican wave. “They’re connected.” Ellie realises.

“More than you know,” Tess replies. “The fungus also grows underground. Long fibres like wires, some of them stretching over a mile. You step on a patch of cordyceps in one place, you’ll wake a dozen infected from somewhere else. Now they know where you are. Now then come. You’re not immune from being ripped apart. You understand?” Ellie looks surprised, doubtful, almost. “This is important. I’m trying to keep you alive.”

Ellie nods, stepping back from the balcony. “So, what now?”

“Short way?” I ask, looking over the buildings.

Tess and Joel stare at each other, another silent conversation. “Museum.” Joel says finally.

--

Taglist:

[jellybear455]

What's left of Anna - The last of us

Pairings: Ellie x mother figure reader; Joel x reader

Warnings: canon violence, swearing, follows plot of the HBO series, I gave reader a name just in case that triggers you

Word count: 2700

Summary: Nearly fifteen years after the death of her sister, Anna Williams, Isabel Bailey journeys through post-apocalyptic America with her niece and a closed off stranger.

Author's note: Readers name is Isabel Bailey (previously Williams). Her physical features remain blank. I have the next 4 parts of this series already lined up, so lmk if you have any feedback. This story will be posted on wattpad upon completion.

Part 2 Part 3

--

Gun shots echo through the hallway. Someone is screaming at me to run. I fly around the corner, skidding to a stop at a locked door. My hands shake uncontrollably as I wrestle with the key. Footsteps boom behind me, getting louder and louder with each passing moment. Bursting inside, slamming and locking the door, I rush across the room. Chained to the wall is a terrified girl of no older than fourteen. She flinches as I run towards her, shoving a second, smaller key into her cuffs, setting her free.

“What’s going on?” She asks. Her voice is unsteady.

“Shh, Ellie. Stay close.” I whisper back, pulling my gun from where it was tucked in my pants.

We creep silently across the floor, cringing at gunshots and creaky floorboards. What felt like hours pass as we crouch by the door. Somehow, the lingering silence was more unnerving than the sounds of violence. I squeeze Ellie’s hand to keep the memories poking the edges of my mind at bay.

Eventually, the quiet is broken by the muted whispering of Marlene. She was clearly distressed, and a second voice reassures her. I exhale in relief, before seizing up again. A quiet tapping of feet on the wooden floorboards.

“Stay.” I whisper to Ellie. Sucking in a breath, I slowly reach up to unlock the door, dreading the inevitable soft click. The footsteps grow closer, and Marlene is still oblivious.

I burst out of the door, pointing my pistol down the hall. A few meters away is a man, pistol raised. He steps towards me slowly, and I pointed my gun at him, backing further away.

He was average height, with short, greying hair. His eyes are stony, and his pistol is aimed right at my forehead. As he came in line with the open door, Ellie leapt out, brandishing her knife. It took the man no longer than a second to get her on the floor, her knife under his foot.

“Godammit, El, I told you to stay put.” I mutter, placing my finger on the trigger. Anger swelled in my chest. “Let her go, you asshole, or I swear to god I’ll-”

“Joel?” Marlene says from behind me. Joel seems to recognise her as well, and took his gun off me. “Stand down, Bel.”

Reluctantly I lowered my weapon, but don’t lower my guard.

“Shit…” Ellie cries, looking past me at Marlene.

I press my back against the wall, reluctant to turn away from Joel, and realise Marlene has been shot. Her companion, Kim, is missing an ear.

“I’ll be fine, kid. I said stand down, Bel.”

“I am!” I protest.

“So, this is who Robert screwed us over with.” Another voice echoes down the hall, and a woman emerges from around the corner. “The Che Guevara of Boston? Your war must be pretty shitty to be buying from scumbags like him.”

“Yeah, it kinda has been,” Marlene replies, annoyance and pain leaking into her tone. “The merch was bad, and he obviously didn’t take ‘fuck off’ as an answer.”

“Why do you need a battery?” Joel questions.

Ellie grapples for her knife, and Joel points his gun at her. I raise mine again. “No! No. Not at her. Point at me.”

Joel looks down at Ellie, giving her a warning look, before slowly turning his gun to me. I exhale slowly, lowering my weapon. “What we need that battery for is more important that what you do, I can promise you that.”

“No offense, Tommy is just one man.” Marlene says from behind me. Joel’s face contorts, as though he is trying to conceal his shock. “It’s our business to know things.”

“’To know things’?” Joel repeats. He looks pissed. “You were the cause of it. You turned my own brother against me.”

I shift on my feet, uncomfortable with the anger in Joel’s face, and the terror in Ellie’s. “That was a lot of gunfire. FEDRA will be on their way. We need to leave.”

“I know. We were gonna move Ellie out of the zone tonight. But we won’t make it anywhere like this. Not for a while.”

Glancing over at Marlene, I flash her a look. “Do you think this is-”

“I think you should do it.” She finishes, ignoring my concerns entirely.

“The hell we are.”

“I’m not going with them!”

“I am not leaving her with strangers, Marlene.”

“You won’t.” Marlene sighs, looking to me, then Joel. “You’ll do the job for us. And take Bel with you. She’s a doctor.”

“Fuck, Marlene, you know I can’t leave.” I shoot back.

“Leave with her or leave her.”

I look away, shuffling my feet. She isn’t wrong.

Joel scowls. “Tess, we don’t have time for this.”

“Oh, you don’t have time?” The woman, Tess, scoffs. “Who is she?”

“To you? She’s cargo.” I snap back.

“We don’t smuggle people. Sorry.” Joel replies quickly.

Ellie’s head whips back and forth, unsure where to look. I pull my gaze from Joel’s gun and meet her eyes. “Deep breaths, hun. It’s okay.”

“I can do it.” Kim insists from beside Marlene.

“Kim, you don’t have a fucking ear on your fucking head!” Marlene snaps, “Could you please-… There is a team of Fireflies waiting for her at the old State House. I know what out there, we were going with an entire squadron for that exact reason. Now I don’t have a truck. I don’t have a squadron. FEDRA is five minutes away. What I do have is you. And I know what you’re capable of. For better or for worse.”

“What…” Ellie starts, clearing her throat. “What are they capable of?”

“Be calm, honey. I’m not leaving you.” Ellie sucks in a shaky breath at that.

“You will get her there safely. They will give you what you need.” Marlene pleads. “Not just a battery. The whole thing. Fuelled-up trucks, guns, supplies, all of it. I swear.”

Joel looks towards Tess, before flicking Ellie’s knife away.

“Asshole!” She cries, watching as he walks away.

I shove my gun in the back of my pants, cautiously moving forward and grabbing Ellie before she can retaliate. I wrap an arm around her, and she clings to my waist, glaring at Joel. We back towards Marlene and Kim. Joel’s pistol was still pointing at me.

“What the hell, Marlene?” I mutter. “How do you expect to keep her safe if she’s with strangers?”

“Easy, Bel. You’ll be with her. And I trust them.” Marlene reassured me. She sounded like she was trying to convince herself too. She raises her voice. “Ya’ll talks it through, but please remember I am bleeding out.”

Tess stares intensely at Joel for a moment longer. “Okay, here’s the deal. We get her to your crew in the State House, but before we hand her over, they give us everything we want. If not, we kill her then and there.”

Joel shoves his pistol into his jacket pocket, and a little bit of relief spreads through me.

“Deal.” Marlene says quickly.

“Really?” Ellie scoffs. “That fast?”

“You are all the matters. My team will not jeopardise you. Remember what I told you?”

I sigh. “Go get your backpack, El.”

Tess and Marlene exchange a look as I watch Ellie disappear through the door. When she returns, Tess doesn’t waste any time. “Let’s go.”

Ellie stares at Marlene, a silent goodbye, before disappearing after Tess, bumping Joel in the shoulder. I send Marlene a nod. I’m reluctant to leave her when she’s injured, but I don’t hav much choice. “Please be careful. And see a doctor.”

“Keep her safe.” Marlene says. “And don’t die. She doesn’t need any more of that.”

--

“What the fuck?” Ellie cries, thumping a fist against the door that Tess had just shut on us.

“It’s okay, honey. They’re just talking.” I reassure her, flopping down on an armchair.

Ellie grumbles in annoyance. I watch silently as she navigates her way through the messy apartment and picks up a book. The door opens again, and Joel storms in, taking a seat on the sofa opposite me.

“Sooo, who’s Bill and Frank?” Ellie begins, looking down at the book. Joel gave her a baffled look. “The radio’s a smuggling code, right? 60’s song, the don’t have anything new, 70’s, they got new stuff. What’s 80’s?”

Joel snatches the book, tossing it on the table. He lies down on the sofa, closing his eyes.

“What are you doing?” Ellie asks.

“Killing time.”

“Well, what am I supposed to do?”

“I’m sure you’ll figure that out.”

Ellie huffs, and I held out an arm. “Come here, hun.”

She grabs the book of the table, sending Joel a dirty look before curling up next to me. She lets me wrap my arms around her, and she leans her head on my shoulder. Before long she was fast asleep.

--

“Her name is Ellie.”

I looked down at the little pink baby in my arms. She was out like a light, breathing softly. Her tiny hands clutched at my finger like it was a lifeline. She was too sweet for a world this cruel. “Where’s Anna?”

Marlene nodded to the closed door. Someone was crying on the other side. There was only one reason my sister would give up her baby so easily. Ellie stirred in my arms, and I rocked her gently. I wanted to say something, anything, to break the silence, to smother the knowledge that this sweet baby girl would never know her mother, but no words came to my lips.

“Let me see her.”

“We have to give her up to FEDRA.” Marlene whispered, subtly wiping a tear from her cheek and placing her hands firmly on my shoulders. “I can’t keep her safe.”

“Let me see her!” I shouted. “Anna!”

“Bel,” I could hear her sobbing. “Keep her safe, Bel. I love you.”

Grief bubbled in my stomach. It burned. Ellie began to cry, and I clutched her tighter. “I love you, I’m so sorry. Let me go, Marlene. Please.”

“I’m so sorry, Isabel.” Marlene turned away.

 “Me too.” I sobbed.

The door closed behind her. I covered Ellie’s ears as a gunshot rang out. She cried louder and I tried in vain to calm her. It was difficult when I couldn’t hold in my own tears.

It was a few hours until we make it back to the QZ. I stood at my apartment window with Ellie. We watched the sunrise together. Then, I walked her right into hell.

--

Joel presses his shoulder to the sewer cover, forcing it open. A crack of light sweeps through the dark space, before moving past. He crawls out of the gap. Tess pushes Ellie forward next, then me.

“Jesus Christ, I’m actually outside!” Ellie cries, standing up and looking around.

“Ellie!” I mutter, pulling her down beside me just in time for the light to sweep past us again. “Stay the fuck down.”

We stay still for a few more moments, listening for any signs that we’d been spotted.

“Okay, we’re gonna take the left edge around the buffer zone.” Tess whispers.

I wrap one hand around Ellie’s wrist. “Stay close, and for god’s sake, stay down.”

“Yeah. Yeah, of course.” Ellie replies quickly. Joel makes a face.

“Let’s go.”

Tess leads us under an old, rusted bus. I keep a hand on Ellie’s backpack as we crawl. It was slightly inconvenient, but I am not letting her out of arm’s reach. We emerged from the bus and weaved through a maze of broken cars.

A FEDRA truck rumbled past, sweeping a light across us. Joel grabs me by the waist, separating me from Ellie and pulling me down to where he was hiding. We crouch there for a moment. My breathing is unsteady, and my heart thuds in unnatural patterns. Joel’s hand pressed into my waist until the light disappears and he gestures to keep going.

My hand is back on Ellie’s pack as we shuffle through a busted pipe. Another light sweeps past, and we freeze again. The wonder of being outside the walls had worn off, and I could see the utter fear painted on Ellie’s face. I clutch her hand tightly, offering silent reassurance. A flash of lightning illuminates us as we continue through piles of rubble.

“What the hell?” I spin around, spotting the FEDRA soldier too late. He scrambles from where had been taking a piss, grabbing his gun and pointing it at us. “Don’t move!”

Lightning flashes again, and I saw the man’s face. A flicker of recognition sparks in his eyes as he looks between me and Joel.

“You gotta be shitting me.” He grumbles. “I told you to stay home, man.”

“We can talk about this.” Joel replies quickly.

“Get on your knees!”

Tess sighes in resignation. “Do it. Get on your knees.”

It has been a long time since I had prayed, but I guess when you’re about to die that doesn’t matter. I pray that the soldier didn’t know who I was. I had seen him before, but I didn’t know his name.

“Listen, if you let us do this run, we’ll split the cards with you.” Tess reasons.

“Will you?” The soldier scoffs.

“Yeah.”

“Oh, I’m so blessed. Hands on your head, eyes forward.”

Reluctantly, I thread my fingers behind my head. The soldier holds a square device to Tess’s neck, and my blood runs cold. Ellie stiffens beside me.

“Really, man?” Tess cries.

“Yep. We’re doing this by the book.”

Ellie stares ahead, terrified. “Bel…”

“It’s okay, honey. I got this.”

“How about three quarters?” Tess was almost begging now. I catch a glimpse of the screen. It’s green.

“Unauthorised exit.” The solider announces. He sounds almost smug. “They’ll hang you for that.”

“Fine, everything off this run.” Joel pleads as the device is turned to him. His screen turned green, too. “And half off on all the pills.”

“Half off?”

“All off.” The soldier scowls. My screen was green. He turns to Ellie. “Risk my job for ‘half off’. Out of your fucking mind-”

I leap to my feet, throwing a fist into the soldier’s face. He stumbles back, clutching his nose. I grab his rifle, pointing it back at him. He whips out a pistol, aiming it at Ellie. I want to shoot him so badly, that would destroy any change we have of getting away.

“Jesus, Bailey.” He shouts. I freeze slightly. “Yeah, I know who you are. I thought you would be better than this.”

I suck in a breath. “You asshole.”

“Let’s talk about this.” Joel cuts in. He’s standing in front of Ellie.

“Move.”

“Put down the gun.” I snap. Nobody moves.

 “Move.”

My gaze flicks over to Joel. His hands are raised, and his face is stony, but his eyes were elsewhere. The soldier takes a step forward, and my finger moves to the trigger. Joel moves, and within a second he is on the soldier. His fist pummels into the soldier over and over, until he isn’t moving. Ellie stares. The soldier is dead, but Joel isn’t slowing down. Without thinking, I rush forward and grab his arm. “Joel! Stop.”

His fist heads in my direction, and I dodge. “Joel!”

He freezes, I can see the confusion in his eyes. I take to moment to grab his bloody hand and pull him to his feet. He doesn’t resist.

“Joel!” Tess called, flipping the device screen up. Red.

“I’m not sick! This is three weeks old. No body lasts more than a day!” Ellie cries desperately, revealing the veiny, white scar on her arm.

I swear loudly. This exactly what we were trying to avoid. “There is no time for this. We need to go. Now.”

Tess snaps back to reality, looking around for more soldiers. I sling the rifle over my shoulder. Joel is still dazed, and I drag him away from the body. Tess leads us through a hole in the fence, and we are free.

--

Taglist: --

[jellybear455]

MASTERLIST

AVATAR Tsu'tey x reader (requested) - Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

Let Me Heal You (Neteyam x reader) Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10

THE LAST OF US Ellie x mother figure!reader x Joel - Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4

INSPIRED BY SONGS Then we were one (Loki x reader) - Nancy Mulligan by Ed Sheeran My love will never die (Jack Sparrow x reader - Davy Jones by Fia Orädd

REQUESTS ARE OPEN!

[jellybear455]

Tsu'tey x reader

So this is part 2 of this request. Let me know if you guys want a part 3 xx

Warnings: angst ig

Word count: 2800

Italics is Na'vi

--

The cliffside cracks and crumbles underneath my foot, and I nearly follow it down. Tsu’tey throws an arm across my chest, pushing me back against the rocky wall. My face burns, partly in embarrassment, partly because his chest was pressed firmly into my shoulder.

“Keep walking.” He grumbles, withdrawing himself quickly.

Tsu’tey had been my mentor for the last half a year, training and teaching me. Today was my first step in becoming one of the Na’vi- claiming an ikran. I inched further across the small ledge, keeping my eyes on Jake in front of me and willing for the heat in my face to subside.

Tsu’tey never once showed any emotion other than annoyance to me, and yet I had fallen for him. Hard. Are Na’vi even supposed to fall in love? Do they love? Or do they feel other things instead? I did not know, and there was no body I could ask without giving away my little crush.

And besides, Tsu’tey was promised to Neytiri, I told myself. He could not be with me even if he wanted to. But I saw the little looks that the Na’vi princess sent Jake when he wasn’t looking. And I saw how Jake was killing his human body just to spend a few extra hours with her. Not unlike me.

Neytiri would just break Tsu’tey’s heart eventually.

Finally, I stepped off the tiny ledge and onto a bigger slab of rock. I breathed a sigh of relief, only to seize up again at the sight of dozens and dozens of ikran. Tsu’tey’s hand pressed into my back gently, strong and familiar, guiding me away from the entrance so the others could follow.

“Who wants to go first?” Neytiri asked, settling down on a large boulder to watch, eyes gleaming in interest.

Jake hesitated, eyes darting back and forth between Neytiri and the banshee, before opening his mouth to speak.

“I will go,” I blurted before he could say anything. Jake’s shoulders slacked in annoyance and Tsu’tey squinted slightly in surprise. Did he think I was brave? Or just stupid?

I turned my back to him before I could second guess myself and stepped shakily toward the ikran. A few glared at me curiously, making my heart leap, but they mostly ignored me. I had nearly made a complete loop of the nest, and back to Tsu’tey despairingly, hoping he could offer some kind of advice, but his eyes were not on me. Turning around, I searched for what had taken his attention, only to come face to face with an ikran.

It was a purple that was so dark it was nearly black, and red lines traced the muscles of its back and wings. It was the smallest of the group, but the intimidating look in it’s eyes made up for it. It opened its jaws, letting out a piercing hiss. Rocking back on my heels, I steeled myself, before lowering my body into the fighting position Tsu’tey had taught me. I swallowed quietly, before hissing back in a way I hoped was frightening. The noise came out of my throat easily, which, surprised me.

The surprise was quickly drowned in the relief that came with the next realisation. This ikran wanted to kill me, and I was ridiculously happy about it.

The ikran launching itself at me, and I ducked quickly, detaching the rope from my make-shift belt. I threw the loop upward as I slid beneath the belly of the beast, snagging the tip of it’s nose. It reared its head, roaring, and dragging me out from underneath it. I flew into the air, followed by the rope, which I still gripped in my hand tightly.

I landed hard at Tsu’tey’s feet. Pushing myself up, I met his eyes for a moment. I could see something in them, a kind of fear that I had never seen him wear before. Before I could figure out what it meant, the ikran roared again, and I ran back into action.

Throwing myself up into Neytiri’s rock, I flew through the air and onto the neck of the ikran. It thrashed wildly, but I held on. It reared it’s head, and I flung myself around, slipping the rope around its neck and holding on tightly. I reached out, feeling it’s queue just slip out of my reach. With a final screech, the ikran rolled right off the edge of the cliff.

We were free falling. I screamed with fear and determination.

My fingers finally grasped it’s queue, and I gasped in relief. The ground was becoming dangerously close. Panic began to set in. I would have to let go of the rope to grab my own queue.

Hooking my feet together underneath it’s neck, I squeezed tightly, bracing myself. I sucked in a breath and let go.

When our queues finally connected, we didn’t stop falling. My hands gripped at the rope tightly and frantically.

STOP! I thought, squeezing my eyes shut. Surprisingly, the ikran jolted to a halt. I opened one eye slowly.

The ikran’s wings beat gently, and we rose a little with each flap. “Well, damn…” I whispered.

Cautiously, I let go of the rope with one hand and stroked her neck. Her? As soon as it appeared it my head, it felt right. We landed on the forest floor, and I dismounted.

Without disconnecting our queues, I walked around to stand in front of her. “What’s your name, gorgeous?”

I ran my fingers under her chin, and her tail flicked madly. I grinned. She reminded me of a puppy. A name barged to the front of my mind.

“Hey, Lady,” Her tail thumped the ground harder. “You like that, my Lady?”

A shout rang out from the top of the mountain, reminding me what I was here for. Quickly, I pulled the rope off Lady’s neck and putt it back on my belt. Leaving a last pat on her nose, I swung my leg back over her neck and we took off into the sky.

We flew almost vertically up the cliff face, soaring past the others, then circling down the land in front of them. I couldn’t help the massive grin that had planted itself on my lips.

Jake was smiling too and shaking his head slightly in disbelief. Neytiri watched with her usual air of uninterest, but I could see the glint of relief in her eyes.

Tsu’tey’s eyes were bright with pride, and he called his own ikran. “Come, first flight seals the bond.”

Lady took off again, Tsu’tey following behind on his Ikran. I laughed as we rushed through the air. We flew loops and flips and circles. Tsu’tey watched from above, but I did not miss how his lips curled up in a small smile.

--

It is done. I am one of the people. The ceremony finished hours ago, and yet I am alone, sulking deep in the forest. Cupping my hands, I dip them in the river, splashing water onto my face. The paint that Tsu’tey spent so long decorating me with is ruined.

He sat with me all morning, his fingers running cross my skin. The paint was ceremonial, I know, but the way Tsu’tey touched me felt so intimate and personal. And now he wouldn’t even look at me.

The reminder felt like a stone had been dropped in my stomach. My eyes burned with tears. Were all the months we spent together for nothing? Was I a chore to him? I stared at my reflection in the water. The paint was gone.

Lady huffed from behind me and nudged my back gently.

“I know, I’m being stupid.” I sighed, wiping my face, and rising from the stream. “Why would I even think he felt anything for me? I’m not even a real Na’vi.”

A grumble sounded from a clump of bush. I sighed, running my hand down my Ikran’s nose. “Go, my Lady. I will see you later.” She took off and disappeared into the sky. “I know you’re there, Tsu’tey.”

The bane of my existence stepped out from a clump of bushes, hissing in annoyance. “What are you doing out here?”

“What am I doing? What are you doing Tsu’tey? You haven’t said a word to me since the ceremony and now you’re stalking me.” I growled back, folding my arms tightly across my chest.

Tsu’tey stepped closer, his eyes scanning my face. “You have washed off the paint.”

“Answer the question, godammit.”

“You looked beautiful.”

“Answer me- what?” My brain came to a hard stop. “What did you just say?”

Tsu’tey shrugs nonchalantly. “You heard me.”

“I- Are you serious?” I cry out, turning my back and taking a breath. “You ignore me, avoid me, then compliment me? Make up your mind.”

“I was not avoiding you…” Tsu’tey begins. I send him a dirty look over my shoulder. “I swear I was not. It is just… You are one of the people. I am simply giving you space to adjust.”

“Tsu’tey, I don’t need to ‘adjust’. I’ve spent the last six months with you. You have taught me everything I know. I don’t want that to just stop like that was nothing. I guess a little part of my believed you felt something for me, but even if this is just a job to you, it is everything to me. If there is one thing I need it’s you.”

The silence was deafening. I pressed a hand to my mouth as though it would take back what I had said. My only hope what that the sudden switch back to English would be enough. Tsu’tey stepped closer, but I kept my eyes glued to the ground. I would not look at him. I would not.

“I promise that I am not avoiding you, yawne.” Tsu’tey gently places his fingers under my chin, guiding me to look at him. He uses the same tenderness that he had that morning, and I forgot to resist. “But… you are eligible to choose a mate. I do not want to hinder your decision. It is better this way, because when it comes time, you will not need me anymore.”

The English was foreign on his lips, but the message was clear. He understood. My neck ached from tension as I tried to look away, but Tsu’tey held my face in both hands now.

“You must understand.”

“No,” I want to go home, back to Earth, anywhere that is not here, but the words spill from my tongue. “No, you do not get to decide that I cannot see you. It is not better this way. And besides, I have already chosen my mate.”

“Oh,” Tsu’tey visibly droops, hand his hands leave my face. I catch them before he can walk away.

“I chose him because he is brave and strong and he was the best teacher I could ever have been given.” We are impossibly close. I can feel his breath tickle against my lips. “I chose him a long time ago. I’m just waiting for him to choose me.”

Tsu’tey exhaled slowly, and his hand touches my face again. “You are certain it is him you want?”

“So certain. I see you, Tsu’tey. It is you I need. I do not want anyone else.”

“I see you, yawne.” Tsu’tey whispers back. His eyes bore into mine for a moment more, before he presses his lips to mine. “I am yours.”

--

The pod whirrs around me as it opens. I keep my eyes closes tight, but I know Grace is standing there, staring at me.

“Put me back in.” I tell her.

“No. You need to eat.”

I open one eye to see Grace holding out a bag of dehydrated fruit. “I want to go back.”

“Eat.”

I grab the bag, making for to let out a noise of annoyance. The desperation to return to my Na’vi body burns in me as I shove food in my mouth, hands shaking. My skin is pale and dry, and I can feel the grease in my hair. Somehow, I do not care. I want to go back. Back to my Tsu’tey. My mate. Warmth tickles my stomach. I eat faster.

“Can I go now?” I ask, mouth full.

An empty laugh echoes from the pod beside me. I look around for the first time. Jake is awake, too. In his hands is a bag similar to mine. He looks horrible. But then, so do I. “Congratulations, by the way. I didn’t see you after the ceremony.”

“Thanks. You too.” I reply. He smiles, and I see Tom.

“Look what you are doing to yourselves.” Grace says. Her eyes are sad and her voice shakes. “If you keep going this way, you’ll die.”

The realisation should stir something in me, but it does not. I will die if I am not with Tsu’tey. That is worse. “Put me back.”

Grace sighs. I lie down and the pod closes on me.

--

Tsu’tey’s steady breathing is calming. I can feel his heartbeat from where my head lies on his chest. His hand is threaded through the hair at the base of my head. I could stay like this forever.

An ear-splitting screech shatters the peace. Lady drops from the sky, and Tsu’tey jolts awake. His own ikran is close behind. We exchange a look, before separating to mount our ikrans. I connect my queue to Lady’s, and I am reminded of how Tsu’tey joined his queue with mine. The lack of connection is almost weakening. I am missing something I did not know I should have.

We soar over the forest towards the hometree. I keep one eye glued to Tsu’tey beside me. He gasps, and I follow his line of sight. Dread creeps over me. Huge, yellow machines, flanked by armed humans, are destroying the forest. Tsu’tey groans in pain.

Quickly, I drop from the sky and down into the trees. I yell for Tsu’tey to follow. He is furious. I can feel the angry radiating from his skin like hot coals in a fire.

Soon, we have landed, and Tsu’tey grabs his weapon in one hand, and my arm in the other. He pulls me through the crowd of shouting Na’vi. The Olo'eyktan spots him, gesturing him forward.

Tsu’tey lets go of my arm. His eyes are stony. “Stay here.”

“Tsu’tey-“

“Yawne. Stay.”

I watch as my mate rushes to the front of the crowd. The Olo'eyktan shouts over the noise. “Tsu’tey will lead the war party!”

No. There cannot be a war. If there is a war, the Na’vi will lose. They will all die. Tsu’tey raises his weapon, and the crowd cheers. I can see Grace desperately trying to make herself heard. I raise my voice.

“Stop! You must be calm.” The cheers turn to confusion. Tsu’tey sends me a look of surprise.

“This will make it worse.” Grace pleads to the Olo'eyktan.

“You do not speak here.” Tsu’tey snaps, tearing his eyes from me. My shoulders drop in disappointment. “We will strike them in the heart.”

A hand lands on my shoulder, and I spin around to see Jake. His hand is intwined with Neytiri’s. My jaw drops.

“Tsu’tey! Don’t do this.” He calls.

Olo'eyktan storms forward and points his weapon at Jake’s chest. Neytiri cries out in protest. “You have mated with my daughter.”

“Is this true?” Mo’at hissed.

Neytiri stood tall. She is brave, and I am grateful that Tsu’tey has not broken her heart by being with me. “We are mated before Eywa. It is done.”

A sigh of relief, then Tsu’tey’s hand on my waist.

“You are promised to Tsu’tey. How could you do this?” Mo’at growled. I could see Neytiri’s lips twitch slightly as she glanced over at us. The Na’vi gasp. Grace swears.

“We have welcomed you into our home,” The Olo'eyktan’s voice is dangerously low, and he stalks towards Jake. “Taught you our ways, and this is how you repay our kindness? Not only have you taken my daughter, but you have brought the enemy to us!”

“No! I am not your enemy. The enemy is out there, and they are very powerful.” Jake shouts over the noise, tossing his weapon down.

“Tsu’tey,” I plead, “You have to believe me, I had nothing to do with this, I didn’t know-”

“Calm, yawne. I know.” His voice is soothing, and his eyes meet mine. My stomach flutters a little.

“Thank you.”

He nods, before pulling me behind him and turning his attention back to the furious Olo'eyktan. I tear my eyes off him just in time to see Jake’s eyes roll back in his head. He drops to the floor. Tsu’tey isn’t quick enough to catch me before I follow.

--

@qu33n0fth3n3rds @thesheelfsworld @misscaller06 @bee814

[jellybear455]

My love will never die - Jack Sparrow x reader

Summary: Jack trades you for his life. He promises to be there when your ten year sentence is up.

Warnings: Jack is not the good guy here, friends. Rough treatment of reader, unrequited love, heartbreak, angst, a singular swear.

Inspired by Davy Jones by Fia Orädd

I'm considering making this inspired by a song thing a series. I really enjoy doing it. Anyway I hope you enjoy this delicious crunchy angst.

---

"Don't let them take me! Please, please!" I screamed and cried and kicked and punched, struggling to escape the iron grips of the men on either side of me. "God, please! Jack!"

Jack stood on the dock, his back to the shore and hands in his pockets. He did not flinch as my hands were bound in thick iron chains. He did not blink when I screamed at him to take me home, please just get me out of here.

A hand clamped over my mouth, and without thinking, I sunk my teeth into the calloused flesh. The man yelled, withdrawing his hand and slapping me across the face with it. His blood dripped down my cheek, mixing with my tears.

"You bitch!" He screeched. Wiping his hand on his shirt.

"Just let me say goodbye," I sobbed. "I won't run, I won't run I promise..."

The other man snapped shackles on the ankles and gave them a tug. "What ever, sweetheart. But if you so much as look in the wrong direction I'll-"

I didn't stick around to hear the rest. I half ran, half waddled down the dock and threw myself into the arms of my lover, sobbing into his shoulder. "Don't let them take me." I begged.

"I have to. I will be here when you get back." Jack's voice was smooth and calm, like it always was. Usually it was reassuring, but now I was unnerving.

"Aren't you afraid, Jack?" I cried. "Aren't you sad that I'm going away?"

His hands rested against my hips casually. "Of course, darling. But I must not let myself feel it, because I won't be able to let you leave if I do."

"Don't let me leave, Jack, take me home... take me home." I croaked, voice hoarse from screaming. I could hear one of the men stomping up the dock behind me, and I grasped his shirt desperately. "Kiss me, Jack. Please." "No." He replied, firmly and sharply.

"Jack-" The man grabbed my arm painfully. "No, no no, Jack... Jack, please just kiss me one more time."

Jack could not look in my eyes. "Take her away."

"NO!" I screamed and screamed as I was dragged up the dock again. I screamed until after I had been locked away below deck, and I no longer could see the dock out the small window. Then I cried until my eyes were red and I could nor cry anymore.

---

Ten years. That was the time I had to serve aboard the ship. Jack had said the wrong thing to the wrong guy. The price he had to play was me. Ten years of my hard labour, or they would take his life.

It was not a hard decision. I would have cut out my own heart for Jack. But I did not think I could survive ten years without him close.

I had been at sea for nine years, eleven months and thirteen days, and finally- finally- we had docked. I was home. Home to Jack. I ran down the dock, and this time I was not shackled. I ran until my bare feet hit pavement, then stopped. Jack was not here.

More slowly this time, I ventured back up the dock, looking more closely at the fisherman nearby. None of them were Jack. He told me he'd wait for me.

Tears filled my eyes as I remember Jack, my Jack. Who could never truly show how he felt, not even to me. Who could never tell me he loved me for fear that I would leave. I didn't need him to say it, though. I knew that he loved me. He never said it words, but he showed it in actions. The way he would glare at any other men who glanced my way. How he would take away my bottle of rum when I had had too much. How he would leave food on the desk in his cabin when I slept in.

He loved me. So why wasn't he here now? Maybe he was late. Jack was always late. But he always showed. Mostly. I concentrate on my list of things Jack does to show he loves me, but the more I think about it the more I see.

He would glare at the men that glanced at me when I wasn't looking, but then he would spent half the night staring at another woman's breasts. He would take my rum when I got to tipsy, but then would down the bottle himself and leave me to stumble across the deck into his cabin. He would leave food aside if I was still sleeping when he ate, but would yell that he was looking forward to having it as his lunch.

Jack didn't love me. He never did. I just made myself believe he did. He let me believe he did. I think back to the day they took me. Jack told me he hated to see me go. But he wouldn't kiss me. He did not mourn. I had spent the last ten years pining over a man who couldn't think twice about my feelings.

A dull, throbbing pain pulsed through my chest, and an unsettling rage nestled in my gut. I would make him pay for what he had done. The time he had taken from me.

I once would have cut out my own heart for Jack, but I did not have to. He had torn it to shreds.

---

[jellybear455]

Then we were one - Loki x reader

This was definitely out of my comfort zone oml... I tried my best not to make it feel like Disney

Inspired by Nancy Mulligan by Ed Sheeran

Warnings: cringe, tooth rotting fluff

Word count: 1.4k

--

"What do you think we should do with her?" Natasha Romanoff questioned her companions.

The two men on either side of her stayed silent for a while.

"I guess we could turn her in." Tony Stark replied uncertainly.

Steve Rogers exhaled slowly. "For what? She didn't touch anything."

The three were facing what seemed like a fish tank, except the glass before them was not glass, but an industrial grade plastic invented and tested by Tony Stark himself. Inside was a sad, lonely bed nailed to the floor. The only other occupant was a woman. Her tangled hair swished too and fro as she swayed to the music that only she could hear.

"Twenty two grand kids, now growing old..." She mumbled, almost inaudibly. "In the house that your brother bought you..."

The eerie rhythm sent a shiver down Tony's spine.

"Turning her in for forced entry will have her out of jail in a couple years, especially since she didn't touch anything." Steve continued. "She was just sitting there."

The team had found the woman cross legged on the floor of the sitting room that morning, not unlike her current position, mournfully mumbling meaningless poetry.

"I asked her father but her daddy said no, you can't marry my daughter." The woman sung under her breath.

"What ever it is, there is something wrong with her. She hasn't said a word other than her awful chanting." Tony grumbled.

It was as though his words flipped a switch. The singing, if it could be called that, stopped, and the woman turned to look Tony dead in the eye. "You do know I can hear you?"

Natasha covered her snigger with a hand, before stepping closer to the glass. "Why did you break into the tower?"

"Technically I didn't break in. The sliding door was unlocked."

"Godammit, I KNEW I was forgetting something!" Tony groaned loudly.

"You're avoiding the question." Natasha said, ignoring her team-mate. "Who are you, and why are you here?"

"My name is Y/n."

"And?" Steve pressed.

"She and I went on the run." Y/n mumbled, looking away into space again. "Don't care about religion..."

"And... she's gone. What now?" Tony asked nobody in particular.

"I guess we keep her around for now." Steve replied with a heavy sigh.

"I hate to interrupt, but our guest has arrived." F.R.I.D.A.Y. said, robotic voice echoing through small space.

The three Avengers silently exited the room, taking the elevator back down to the common space. Only Natasha noticed the sweet smile that spread on Y/n's lips as she heard the verdict, and the way she fiddled with her ring finger, at a band that was not there.

"She took my name and then we were one. Down by the Wexford border."

--

Loki stepped out of the elevator, chains rattling, and straight into a suffocating silence. He scanned the room, examining the stony faces of the original Avengers, and the curious and cautious ones of the new members. Despite the drowning weight of the people before him and the chains on his wrists, Loki stood tall, completely determined to show no feeling. Odin forbid the guilt poking at the corners of his mind creep through.

Thor clapped his brother on the shoulder concerningly enthusiastic. "Welcome to your new home, brother!"

"Uh uh, nope, rewind." Tony cut in, waving his hands. "Reindeer Games is only here until the shiny people in the sky say otherwise. Not forever. That was the agreement. Capeesh?"

Loki raised an eyebrow, a sharp remark readied on his tongue, when F.R.I.D.A.Y. interrupted. Always with the perfect timing.

"Mr Stark, our down stairs visitor is asking to meet our upstairs visitor."

Natasha furrowed her brows, deep in thought, as Tony huffed in annoyance.

"Tell her-"

"Tell her yes." The assassin cut in.

Tony did a double take. "Tell her what?"

"Lady Natasha said to tell the recipient her request was granted." Thor said helpfully.

"No I know what she said, but-"

"How do you know Y/n, Loki?" Natasha cut in.

Despite himself, Loki perked up slightly, then darkened in anger. "What did you do to her?"

"Nothing. Answer the question, Loki." Steve said, still stony faced.

"She is an old acquaintance." He replied, quickly pulling himself into line again.

Thor laughed heartily. "Nonsense! My brother and her were quite close back in the day. Very old friends. And if I'm not mistaken, old flames, too."

"Don't be too hasty, brother mine." Loki replied with a hiss.

"Are you sure it is Y/n, Lady Natasha? Our Y/n went missing many years ago."

Natasha watched the exchange, greatly interested. Loki's interest in seeing you was greatly obvious. She remembered how Y/n's lips had quirked up at F.R.I.D.A.Y.'s announcement. This was the most fun Natasha's had in ages.

--

"I met her at Guy's in the second world war..."

The room was silent apart from Y/n's haunting singing, and the scratching of the nail she had managed to pry from the bed on the wall. In the small time they had been gone, she had covered the space in intricate patterns and words.

Loki stood, slightly frozen in the doorway. Thor hovered impatiently, but silently, behind him, and Natasha watched intently. Tony was totally done with the whole charade already, and Steve tried and failed to hide how uncomfortable the singing made him feel.

"And she was working on a soldiers ward..." Y/n remained blissfully ignorant of the group behind her, focusing on scratching her patterns into the wall. Her voice had become more confident, and now she sang loud and clearly. "Never had I seen such beauty before, the moment that I saw her..."

Loki finally came to his sense, stepping forward. Tony had replaced the chains with two electronic dampener cuffs around either wrist, and the new freedom in his movement was relieving.

"Nancy was my yellow rose," He whispered, much to the surprise of the Avengers around him. Y/n lowered her screw, and slowly turned around to meet his gaze. "And we got married wearing borrowed clothes..."

Natasha watched as Y/n's face turned into one of pure adoration and joy, and as cracks chipped through Loki's stony facade. It made a smile of her own twist her lips.

"Loki?" The woman whispered.

"Hello, love." Loki replied, his gaze finally softening.

The two closed the distance, until all that remained was the glass between them. Tears filled Y/n's eyes, and Loki longed to wipe them away. The ache of separation had stretched their hearts to painful limits, but now that pain seemed tiny compared to the screaming agony that clawed at Loki's chest. He has waited all this time, only to be defeated by a sheet of plastic.

Loki strained his magic, desperate to over come the dampeners. He pushed until he phased straight through the barrier, leaving the cuffs and shocked Avengers on the other side. Tony stepped forward in rage, only for Natasha to hold him back.

Instead, they watched as Loki threw his arms around Y/n as she sobbed. The pain faded, but instead of leaving an empty space, it was filled with the love and longing they had been so long without. Loki pressed his lips to her jaw and neck, the motion so natural he did not know how he lived without it.

"I never worried about King and crown..." Y/n murmured. "Because I found my heart upon southern ground... there's no difference I assure you."

Finally after many long seconds they pulled away, now content to gaze into each other's eyes and remember.

"Y/n, where have you been?" Thor demanded, shattering the moment into little tiny pieces.

The woman laughed. "I found a new purpose. Perhaps you can meet her soon."

"Her?"

"Yes, how is my little love?" Loki asked, reaching out to touch Y/n's face.

"She'll be better when she sees you."

"Hold up," Tony exclaimed dramatically. "Reindeer Games has a child?"

"I am an uncle and I did not get to witness the miracle of the birth..." Thor wailed loudly. "How did this happen?"

"He and I went on the run," Y/n explained. "We didn't care about Odin's blessing."

"I told him 'I'm going to marry to woman I love, be it in an Asgardian forest.'" Loki said proudly, pulling his love back into his embrace protectively. "She took my name and then we were one, somewhere in an Asgardian forest." --

[jellybear455]

HBO Velma has me breaking out. Gotta watch some good Scooby Doo with an actual dog and not some last ditch effort for money.

[jellybear455]

let me heal you is one of my fave fics ever!! could i request a dreamwalker!reader x tsu’tey where tsu’tey has to teach reader the ways of the people because if he teaches jake he’ll rip his head off and he develops a major crush on the reader

Thank you for your request! This took me way too long to do for some reason.

Tsu'tey x reader

Warnings: blood, violence, loss

Word count: 3.2k

Part 2

--

Pandora. A planet full of new colours, knowledge and danger. Compared to Earth, it was heaven. Except, you can’t get there by dying. Instead, you must pledge your life force to science. Even then, only incredible luck got me here. Not as much luck as Jake Sully had, though.

The ex-marine, paralysed from the waist down, had a brother. I remember when Tom died. There was no funeral. No one hold funerals anymore. We spent years together, learning about Pandora and preparing to be launched into space. Tom was killed barely a month before we were due to leave. Six years in cyro can’t fix that pain.

Now, I watch Jake Sully, standing in Tom’s tall blue Avatar body, marvelling at the dirt between his toes. Human or not, he looks exactly like his brother.

Today was our first time linking to the artificial Na’vi vessels. The lack of a mask on my face feels strange, but strangely relieving. The Pandora atmosphere, containing curiously higher percentages of carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide and xenon, feels different to oxygen, somehow thicker as I breathe it in. It’s almost an out of body experience. I can feel my body, and I know it is mine, but when I look, it feels as though it is someone else’s. But that will go away in time. For now, I will enjoy the new freedoms and sensations that come with the Avatar.

--

The next morning, at 0600 on the dot, I am in my Avatar, and we are soaring above the Pandora jungle. I lean out over the edge of the helicopter beside Jake, who is also in his Avatar. We are zooming low over a huge body of water, accompanied by a flock of purple creatures, that squawk when we get too close.

The air craft rises again, over the trees, before descending onto the forest floor. Immediately, I jump down, ignoring how Jake waved his gun around like an idiot. He pushes ahead of me as the helicopter shuts off, tail whipping my leg. I hissed in annoyance, but followed behind without protesting.

We trepassed through the jungle, and despite the mind-blowing scenery, all I could think about was Pandora’s humanoid inhabitants. The Na’vi. The people we were impersonating with our Avatars. I was fluent in Na’vi, but Doctor Grace liked to tell me that my pronunciation was off. I think she just likes to get on my nerves.

The Na’vi were hunters by nature, and dangerous creatures that could kill you without batting an eye. Or so everyone would have us believe. Doctor Grace says the Na’vi are intelligent, sympathetic creatures, no different from us. Either way, I am certain that they are watching us right now.

Green monkey-like creatures with 6 legs swing through the trees. Jake raises his gun, but I reach out to lower it.

“Prolemuris.” I tell him, watching as they cartwheel away from us. “They are not aggressive.”

“Relax, marine. You’re making me nervous.” Grace says loudly, rolling her eyes and pushing past.

Eventually, Jake keeps walking.

“So,” Norm speaks up after sometime. “How will they know we’re here?”

“I’m sure they’re watching us right now.” Grace replies nonchalantly, echoing my thoughts from earlier.

We emerge from the thick forest and into a clearing. In the centre is a small, rotting, wooden hut. Grace strides in confidently, and the rest of us follow, a little less certain. Inside is the remains of a school. Books, which used to rest neatly on shelves, are scattered across the floor. Most of the desks remain upright, with chairs tucked underneath, but some are upside down and have been strewn across the room.

I watch silently from the door as Doctor Grace trails her hand sadly across a desk. When moves to another part of the room to gather equipment, I approach where she previously stood. Squinting a little, I can make out the rough letters scratched into the desk. ‘Sylwanin’.

“What happened here?” Jake questions, snapping me out of my thoughts. He stands next to an old black board, which is riddled with bullet holes.

Grace inhales sharply, and I watch as she fumbles for an answer. She finally settles on avoiding the question entirely. “Are you gonna help us here? We’ve got a lot to do.”

--

As Doctor Grace and Norm collect samples from a tree root, I wander off into the jungle. I enter another clearing, this time filled with round, spiralling plants. My hand brushes one, and it shrinks back into a little bud on the floor.

“What are you doing?” Jake demands, appearing from behind me.

I can’t help but giggle like a schoolgirl. “Watch this.”

When I poke another plant, Jake laughs too. I tough another, then another, and then they all shrink, leaving the clearing empty. My amusement fades away as Jake tenses beside me, and I spot a huge, armoured hammer-headed creature snorting at us from the trees. Jake yanks me behind him, and raises his gun. Fear spikes in my chest.

“Don’t shoot. You’ll only piss it off.” Grace’s voice crackles through the intercom in my ear.

“I think it’s already pissed off.” Jake responds, still pointing his gun at the creature.

“Trust me, Jake. That armour is too thick.” The marine relents, lowering his gun. Grace continues. “It’s a territorial threat display. Don’t run, or he’ll charge.”

“Thank what am I supposed to do, dance with it?”

“Just hold your ground.”

The animal huffs, pawing the ground, before letting out a roar and charging anyway.

“Grace…” I mutter, frozen in fear.

With a scream of his own, Jake ran, headfirst, towards it. My heart skipped at least three beats before the creature skidded to a halt, the webbed fans behind its hammer head spreading in alarm. It slinked away into the forest and Jake whooped in victory.

“Oh yeah! Who’s bad?” He shouted triumphantly. “That’s right. That’s what I’m talking about. Bitch.”

I laughed in relief, turning away from Jake to catch my breath. It did not take long for my blood to turn to ice again.

“That’s right, get your punk ass back to mommy.”

“Jake,” I whispered.

“Yeah, yeah you got nothing! You keep running.”

“Jake!” I hissed, a little louder.

Finally, he turned around. “What?”

The black, slick, panther-like thanator roared threateningly. It loomed above me on the tree, before leaping over us and growling at the pack of hammer heads. Jake raised his gun again in alarm.

“So, uh, what about this one? Run, don’t run?”

I grabbed his arm and pulled him in the other direction. “Run, definitely run!”

Leaping over a tree root, I rushed into the forest, Jake following close behind. I weaved around a tree, then through bamboo looking plants, then under a tree root. Still the thanator roared and crashed behind me. Launching myself off a particularly high rock, I curled my hands around a vine, using the momentum to swing myself up into a tree. The creature raced past, instead favouring Jake, who had taken refuge in the roots of another tree. He fired his gun desperately, but it did nothing to slow his pursuer. I searched my surroundings frantically, looking for someway to help. My eyes landed on the crack in the branch I stood across from.

My hands grappled for another vine, and I swung at the branch, hard. I was rewarded with a sickening crack. Still, the thanator dug at the roots, claws dangerously close to Jake. I swung again, once, twice, three times, until, with particularly loud crack, the branch plummeted to the ground, landing on the thanator’s tail. It screamed out, and Jake scrambled, running into the jungle. I grabbed another vine, sliding down and following after. The thanator kept screaming.

Jake ducked under a root ahead of me. Before I could make it through, the thanator soared over me, grabbing Jake by the backpack and swinging him through the air. He unclipped the back, and went tumbling to the ground. I rushed between the creatures legs as it shook the bag out of its jaws, and pulled him up with one hand. We kept running.

We hurtled through a break in the trees. The little control we had over our Avatar bodies was not enough to stop us as we realised we were fast heading off the edge of a cliff. I scream ripped out of my throat as the thanator snapped its jaws behind us. I crossed my arms over my chest and pushed my legs together. All I could do was hope that there was water beneath us.

My feet hit the rapids first, and the rest of my body followed. I did not have time to swim to the surface for air, because my head struck a rock, and I was rendered unconscious.

--

When I could think clearly again, the first thing I wondered was if I was dead. Then I realised that I certainly wasn’t, because why was my dead spirit being jostled around like a sack of potatoes? I pealed my eyes open, glad the light was not too bright. As it turns out, the person tossing me around was strangely familiar.

“Tom?”

The person looked down at me and grinned. “You’re awake.”

It was Jake, still in Tom’s Avatar. He had one arm under my knees, and the other across my shoulders, carrying me through the jungle. My head throbbed, and when I reached up to touch my forehead, my fingers came back with flakes of dried blood on them.

“How long have I been out?”

“Hours.” Jake said worriedly. “I was beginning to think you wouldn’t wake up at all. But hey, look on the bright side.”

He nodded ahead of us. A tall blue Na’vi woman carrying a bow stalked through the trees. She looked back occasionally, as if checking we were still there.

“Is that…”

“Hell yeah it is. She’s taking us back to their village.”

“Oh wow,” I muttered, taking her in. “What’s her name?”

“That’s a good question. I’ll ask.”

He did not get the chance, because his legs came out from under him, and we fell from the particularly high tree branch we had been walking across. I groaned loudly in pain when we hit the ground, unable to move as Jake frantically pulled on the rope around his ankles. As he tossed it away, more Na’vi on 6-legged, horse-like creatures emerged, wielding weapons.

Jake drew his knife, turning to see more Na’vi behind him. I struggled to stand, the pain in my head making me dizzy. I looked up, only to meet the eyes of a Na’vi. He aimed his arrow, no doubt laced with a neurotoxin, at my chest. I raised my hands in fear.

“Calm, people, calm.” The woman that had been leading the forest shouted. Despite being fluent, it took me a moment to translate the words.

The Na’vi pointing the arrow at me lowered his weapon, dismounting his horse thing, and stalking toward the woman.

“What are the doing, Tsu’tey?” The woman asked.

Tsu’tey. His name was Tsu’tey.

“These demons are forbidden here.” Tsu’tey replied.

“There has been a sign.” The woman insists. “This is a matter for the Tsahìk.”

I could not begin to comprehend what that meant, because my legs began to shake uncontrollably, and I fell to the ground again. Tsu’tey stared down at me, before grabbing me roughly under the arms and pulling me up on the horse thing with him, and laying me across his knees. I gasped, the sudden movement amplifying the dizziness in my head. I looked back to see Jake being dragged behind us by the Na’vi on foot.

When the jungle began to thin out, a huge tree came into sight. This was where the Omatikaya clan lived. The tree was at least three times bigger than the tallest tree in the jungle, and Na’vi flowed in and out of the trunk from a cave-sized hole at the base of it.

We rode straight into the hole, and the horse things began to slow down. Tsu’tey dismounted, pulling my down with him. My legs were still weak, but I managed to stand.

“This is so cool,” I whispered, gazing round at the curious eyes of the Na’vi around me.

Tsu’tey gave me a funny look, before ushering me forward through the crowd, that parted like a sea. I could count the four fingers pressing into the skin between my shoulder blades, although his touch was not rough like before. Some of the people whispered among themselves, and others reached out to touch me, darting away quickly, as though my five fingers were contagious. A little girl grabbed some of my hair, forcing me to stop. My hair went past my waist, since I had not had the chance to cut it. I smiled at her, and she giggle shyly, letting go. Tsu’tey pushed my forward.

We came to a stop, and soon Jake was pushed into position beside me. The woman stepped in front of us, talking to an older man with a huge belt across his shoulders. He approached, scanning us critically. I made the gesture the woman had made a few moments before. Three fingers to the forehead, then forward. I see you.

“Why do you bring these demons here?” He questions. The commanding tone, plus the decorations adorning his body. He is Olo'eyktan, the leader of the Omatikaya clan.

“I was going to kill them,” The woman says. “But there was a sign from Eywa.”

That’s the second time she’s mentioned a sign. What does that mean?

“I have said before, no dreamwalker will come here.” The Olo'eyktan booms.

“What’s he saying?” Jake whispers.

“The alien smell fills my nose.”

“You smell bad.” I whisper back, holding in a laugh at the confused expression on his face.

“My father is deciding whether to kill you.” The woman says.

Jake shifts uncomfortably. “Your father. It’s nice to meet you, sir.”

He steps forward, offering his hand, and the Na’vi behind him leap to restrain him. I step forward too, quickly shoving Jake’s arm back to his side. The woman shoves him back, and Tsu’tey steps in front of the Olo'eyktan defensively.

“Step back!” Someone calls. “I will look at the aliens.”

A woman descends from a stairway above. She is decorated too, but not as much as the Olo'eyktan.

“That is mother.” The younger woman says. “She is Tsahìk, the one who interprets the will of Eywa.”

“Whose Eywa?” Jake asks.

I groan in annoyance. Can he be anymore oblivious? The Tsahìk circles us, pulling on Jake’s braid and tail, then running a hand through my hair and examining my fingers.

“What are you called?” She asks, her Na’vi accent dripping over the English words.

“Jake Sully.”

“And you?” She looks to me.

“My name is (Name).” I say in Na’vi, gesturing I see you to her as well.

The woman huffs a little, then withdraws a small pointy spike from her necklace. She reaches out suddenly, slicing it across both out faces in one fluid strike. I recoil in shock, then stead myself again. She licks it with her tongue, and her expression immediately changes to one of surprise.

“Why did you come to us?” She questions.

“We came to learn.” Jake replies confidently. I look at him out of the corner of my eye.

“We have tried to teach other Sky People. It is hard to fill a cup that is already full.”

“My cup is empty, trust me.” Jake insists. “Just ask Doctor Augustine, I’m no scientist.”

“Then what are you?”

Jake is silent. “I was a marine-“

“He is a warrior.” I cut in, thinking as quickly as I can with the pounding of my head. “Of the Jarhead clan.”

“A warrior!” Tsu’tey cries. “I could kill him easily.”

“No.” The Olo'eyktan stops him. “This is the first warrior of the Sky People we have seen. We need to learn more about him.”

“My daughter, you will teach him our way.” The Tsahìk says.

“Why me? Why not Tsu’tey?” The other woman hisses.

Her mother’s lips twist a little. “They will likely kill each other before the day is out. It is decided. My daughter will teach you our ways, Jakesully.” She approaches me again.

“What about her?” Jake asks, gesturing to me.

Yeah, what about me? Butterflies flap in my stomach. What if she kicks me out? I’m not a warrior. I am a scientist.

“That depends. Are you a warrior?”

“No…” I say. “But I can learn, too.”

The Tsahìk cocks her head. “Why should I believe you?”

“She is a warrior.” Jake cut in. “Just a different kind.”

“What are you doing?” I whisper.

“Saving your ass.” He mutters back. “She came here to save her people down on Earth. She will learn, trust me.”

It is silent, as the woman before me contemplates what to do. “Tsu’tey, you will teach this one.”

Tsu’tey growled. “But-“

“You will learn, child, or you will leave. Now go.” Tsahìk waved her hands. “You must begin immediately.”

With a hiss, Tsu’tey stalked toward me, grabbing me by the arm and pulling me through the crowd. I stumbled on my own feet, struggling to keep up with his pace.

“Why are we in such a rush?” I huffed in annoyance when we had ascended to a higher, less crowded level of the tree.

“What is rush?” Tsu’tey asks, still leading me through the village.

“Um, to do something quickly, I guess.”

We stop at large hut. As we go inside, I take in the three women sitting in the corner, and the piles of bowls containing brightly coloured pastes around them. The rest of the floor is covered with woven mats.

“This is the healing hut.” Tsu’tey says.

10 minutes later, we emerge again. The wound on my head is clean and covered with a patch. The healers had retrieved a few garments of Na’vi clothing. A cloth top winds around my back, across my chest and loops around my neck. A second, much smaller cloth dangles between my legs, held up by a strap that curves above my hips. It definitely covers the extremities, but not as much as I’d like. I suppose this is a part of the learning.

Again, Tsu’tey grabs my arm, leading me further up and into a large communal level. In the centre is a bonfire, and Na’vi circle it, all crouched on their hunches. We walk right through the crowd and sit at the front. Tsu’tey hands me a rolled up leaf. Upon opening it, I pick up one of the contents. It is a beetle shaped thing. Tsu’tey crunches on his own, so I follow suit. Its hard on the outside, but soft and smooth in the middle. It kind of tastes like chicken soup, just… solid.

Beside me, the woman from the forest pushes Jake down to sit.

“Hey,” He says to me.

“Hi.” I wave back, munching on a beetle thing.

Jake talks to the woman, who eventually introduces herself as Neytiri. Tsu’tey hasn’t said a word to me since we left the healers.

“So, Tsu’tey, what is this stuff?”

“Teylu. You call…” Tsu’tey pauses to search for the words. “Beetle. Larvae.”

“Oh.”

[jellybear455]

Thank you for 100 followers, and your comments on 'let me heal you'!

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[jellybear455]

Let me heal you - Neteyam x reader (Part 10) FINAL

Characters are aged up.

Warnings: a LOT of spoilers (don't come at me for it), Lo'ak being a shxawng, violence, injury

Readers name is Stela, and uses she/her pronouns.

Word count: 1202

Previous part

a/n: Thank you for all the support on this story. I appreciate every like and comment. It truly makes my day to see people enjoying my work. I love you all. So with out further ado...

---

“Ma?” I called, attracting the attention of a tall, beautiful Na’vi woman.

“My ‘eveng (child).” She cried, opening her arms wide.

Tears cascaded down my face for the thousandth time this week as I embraced her. It did not worry me that my mother was long dead, and that to see her, I would have to have suffered the same fate. My mother took my face in her hands. She was crying too, and she looked at me the same way one looks at a beautiful flower.

“My Stela…” She whispered. My name on her tongue was sweeter than I had imagined. “I have missed you.”

“I missed you too, Ma.” I muttered back.

“You have grown to be so beautiful… and you have your father’s eyes.”

She hugged me again, and we stood there for so long. Many minutes passed before the reality of the situation settled in.

“I am dead, aren’t I?” I asked, somehow not afraid of the answer.

“Not yet. But close. Eywa has sent me here to help you, my Stela. You must make a choice. You can come with me. We will pass through the eye and spend forever with the Great Mother. Or, you can go back to Pandora, and live again amongst the Na’vi.”

I could tell from the look in my mother’s eyes that she wished I would go with her. She had no need to worry. How could I leave her so soon? I reached up to touch her face, to reassure her. My hands were covered in blood. Neteyam’s blood. I died saving him. My Neteyam. I did not even tell him that I loved him. I love him.

My mother, as though she could sense my hesitation, took my hand. “Go. You have a whole life to come. I will be waiting.”

“I see you, Ma.” I said, capturing her face in my memory.

She pressed her forehead mine, and I closed my eyes. When I opened my eyes again, she was gone. Replacing her was the woven roof of the healing mauri.

“Ma?” I croaked, squinting at a blue figure crouching beside me.

“Stela?” It was Ronal. Her hand gripped mine. “You are awake.”

“Is Neteyam okay?”

Ronal laughed, but her voice was hoarse, as though the practice was unfamiliar to her. “He is just fine. It was you we were worried about.”

“Why?”

“You have been asleep for a week.”

“Oh,” I replied. A week? I could only stare plainly up at my aunt. Noticing a cut on her cheek, I reached to use my gift, but I could not find it. “My power is gone, Ronal.”

“That is alright. Do not worry yourself. Rest.”

I scoffed, feeling a rush of energy blow away my drowsiness. “I’ve been sleeping for a week, Ronal. I think I’ll be fine.”

Ronal hissed as I pushed myself up. Surprisingly, my head did not spin. After a few laps back and forth to stretch out my limbs, I stepped out into the light.

“Be careful Stela. You have only just woken up.” Ronal called from behind me, but I waved her off, eager to feel the salt water.

I weaved through the crowd until I reached the beach. Wiggling my toes, I wondered why I had never stopped to appreciate the feeling of sand before. The water lapped at my ankles. I took in a deep breath, preparing to dive in.

“Stela!” Someone shouted behind me.

Before I could turn around, a tiny cannonball barrelled into me, her arms wrapping around my waist.

“Tuk,” I laughed, lifting the girl onto my hip.

“You’re awake,” She said, snuggling into my shoulder. “And you saved Neteyam.”

She dropped from my arms, taking my hand, and pulling me away from the water. I protested, but only for a moment, when I realised where we were headed. When we arrived at the Sully mauri, Neytiri scooped me into a bone crushing hug. She thanked me over and over. I hoped she would hug me more often. It reminded me of my mother.

Jake Sully took me by the shoulders and looked me in the eyes. “You saved my son. We are in your debt.”

“Dad, I found the-… Syulang?”

Turning around, I met Neteyam’s eyes. Immediately, I searched him for any trace of an injury. There wasn’t even a scar. I sighed in relief, a tear trailing down my cheek. I met him halfway, wrapping my arms around his middle.

He was okay. My Neteyam was okay.

--

The Sully mauri was empty. Soon, there would be no evidence of them ever living here. The thought of it broke my heart just a little more. I hugged Ronal tighter.

“You must visit.” She whispers.

“Only if you do.” I whisper back. I never thought I would see Ronal cry, but here we are. I pry my finger out of my new cousin’s little hand. “I will see you again, little one.”

I step back. Tsireya is standing behind her mother, the tears flowing freely down her face. Anoung is stony faced, but I can see the sadness and regret in his eyes. Tonowari sends me a nod. I smile back, before retreating to Neteyam. He wraps an arm around my waist comfortingly. We mount his Ikran, and I settle in front of Neteyam.

The Ikran takes off with a screech, and I watch as the Metkayina clan grows smaller and smaller. At first, Neteyam objected to me going with them. I am glad he relented, because there is little left for me here. I have no gift, and the only man that I could ever mate with is leaving.

Neteyam’s arms are strong around me the whole flight. Surprisingly, I liked flying. Not more than being in the water, which I will surely miss. By the time we reach the Omatikaya clan, I am windswept, and my legs are stiff.

I climb off the Ikran, and watch as Neytiri rushes to a decorated woman, presumably Tsahìk, and envelopes her in a hug. The Tsahìk opens her arms again, and the Sully children have a sort of group hug with her. It is now that she spots me. Nervousness flaps in my stomach. She can make me leave if she puts her mind to it. Neteyam, as though sensing my uneasiness, steps back to take my hand.

"Syulang, this is the Tsahìk, and my grandmother, Mo'at."

“Who are you?” She demands, although her tone is not unkind.

“I come from the Metkayina clan. I was a healer.” I say as she approaches me.

“And now?”

I stayed silent for a moment, contemplating the question. I was no longer Metkayina, nor was I Omatikaya. I was not of the sky people, although their blood ran through my veins. I thought of my mother, a beautiful Na'vi woman, and my father, who had come from the stars. It was obvious who they were. Who did that make me?

I looked to Neteyam, who was scanning my face for any sign of distress. Looking into his eyes, I was reminded of the last eight months we had spent together. I was not just a healer, and I did not have to light the path alone. I was who ever I chose to be.

“I am Stela.”

Mo'at smiled. “Welcome home, Stela.”

--

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[jellybear455]

Let me heal you - Neteyam x reader (Part 9)

a/n: Guess what? Stop guessing this is the second last chapter! Also wayyy too many of these are ending with Stela passing out. Gotta work on that.

Characters are aged up.

Warnings: a LOT of spoilers (don't come at me for it), Lo'ak being a shxawng, violence, injury

Readers name is Stela, and uses she/her pronouns.

Word count: 1365

Previous part

Next part

--

Passing out was not fun. I hope to avoid it in the future. Two times is enough.

When I pushed through the foggy, dream-like state of half-consciousness and forced my heavy eyelids open, the first thing I notice is the pounding of my head, and the bright light reflecting off the water. Then it is my wrists, bound to a railing. Beside me, Lo’ak kneels, stock still. Tsireya and Tuk struggle on my other side. The tulkun murderer has his gun pressed to the back of Lo’ak’s head, and is gazing out to sea, where a flock of Ilu are gathered, carrying an army of Metkayina.

The murderer says something in English. He speaks into a small device, one that I recognise as Lo’ak’s, which he used to call his father earlier. One Ilu, holding a slightly bluer Na’vi, inches forward. It is Jake Sully. He barely makes it halfway before Bayakan leapt out of the water and soared through the air.

The Avatar raise their guns, shooting at him in a panic, but do not pierce his armour. A laugh bubbles up and out of my throat as the tulkun lands on the ship with a crash, flapping his fins. Sky people are knocked down left and right.

Raising his gun, the murderer staggers to his feet beside me. I kick him, hard, in the back of his knee, and he is on the floor again. He glares at me, holding us his weapon again, before becoming distracted by an explosion rocking the boat. Bayakan dives back into the water. Avatar and sky people abandon the deck in favour of joining the battle, and the four of us are left unsupervised.

I scan the deck, eyes locking on the knife I had dropped before. This is our chance to escape. I stretch out my leg, attempting to grasp it between my toes. Tsireya watched intently, and Tuk urges me to hurry. Just as I grip the knife, a second explosion sounds, and the boat begins to rock violently.

“No, no, no.” I mutter, watching as the knife slides away.

The ship lurches forward, and crashes into a rock, soaring into the air. Tuk screams, and Lo’ak is thrown into me. Sky people are thrown overboard, and we are saved by the restraints holding us to the bar. The boat hits the water again, and we hit the metal deck, hard. I cry out in pain, for my knees are surely bleeding. The ship tilts at an abnormal angle, and sirens sound. We are sinking.

“What do we do?” Tuk cries, tugging on her restraints, and searching for any way to escape.

“We wait,” I said, pressing my shoulder to hers in what I hoped to be a comforting way. “Someone will come to get us. Be brave, little Tuk.”

As if on cue, Neteyam hurls himself over the side of the ship, brandishing a knife.

“Brother!” Lo’ak shouts, and Tuk cries with relief.

Neteyam frees Tsireya free first, sawing quickly at the bonds. Tuk is released next, and he pushes her towards Tsireya, urging them to get as far away from here as possible. He slices at my restraints, then Lo’ak’s. His arm goes to my waist, guiding me to where Tsireya and Tuk disappeared to. Lo’ak runs in the other direction.

“Lo’ak, what are you doing?” Neteyam calls.

“They’ve got Spider. Come on.” He says, taking a gun from the Avatar lying nearby. Neteyam does not move. “We can’t leave him.”

Neteyam hissed, then turns to me. “Go. Follow Tsireya. I will find you.”

“No.” I do not know what spider is, but I will not let Neteyam out of my sight again. “I am coming, my Teyam.”

He is silent. Then, he presses his lips to mine. The brief touch is not enough. “Fine. Stay close.”

Soon, we are shimmying along the pipes on the ceiling of the boat. My head and knees throb, but I do not care. The sooner we find the spider, the sooner we can get out of here. Below us, a group of sky people rush through. Among them, is a young boy, wearing a cloth and blue war paint. The spider is a human boy.

Neteyam drops down on top of one of the sky people, throwing him over the railing. Lo’ak follows suit, taking out another. I hit the floor, unsure. I watch the three boys take out the sky people. Then, I spot one on them raise his gun at Neteyam. I dive, knocking the weapon out of his hands and ripping off his mask. I single punch to the face knocks him out cold.

Looking up, I see Neteyam, his eyes sending me a silent thank you. I nod in response. He helps me up, and we face the Spider.

“Thanks guys.” He says with a nod. His Na’vi is clear and fluent, as though he has been speaking it all his life.

The moment is over quickly, as Lo’ak spots the murderer stalking the ship, and raises his gun. Neteyam shoves him along, his hand in mine, and we take shelter behind a wall as shots ring out. He takes Lo’ak’s gun and fires. I do not know if he shot anything, because he is ushering his brother over the railing and into the water. The spider goes first, and Lo’ak follows, swallowing his objections.

“My Teyam!” I shout over the pinging of metal on metal.

“Go!” He yells back.

I run and throw myself over the railing. Shots ring out above me, but I am home free. Neteyam crashes into the water behind me. Lo’ak whoops in celebration, and I can not help but laugh. I can see Tsireya approaching on an Ilu. I turn to face Neteyam, and my grin fades. He is struggling to stay afloat, and the water around him is stained red.

“No!” I rush to him and pull his arm across my shoulders. “He is shot! Tsireya, help me.”

Lo’ak mounts the Ilu, pulling Neteyam across his knees. The rest of us hold on to what ever we can as the Ilu tears through the water. Fear settles into my chest as we come to a halt by some rocks and pull Neteyam up and out of the water. What if I cannot heal him? Or if I lose consciousness before I can finish the job?

Lo’ak screams for his father, who scrambles to reach us, immediately rolling Neteyam over to check for an exit wound. Blood seeps out the back of his chest.

“Get out of the way,” I command, placing one hand underneath Neteyam and one on his chest, either side of the bullet wound. He groans from pain. “I know, tìyawn (love), I know. Just stay awake for me.”

“Syulang,” Neteyam mutters.

“Sh, my Teyam. Do not speak. You will be alright.” I told him, ignoring the tears running down my face as my hands began to glow.

Neytiri collapsed on the other side of him, a sob escaping her. I remember how she comforted me as I cried. I can comfort her now, by keeping Neteyam alive. My hands get hot, and my vision is blurry. If it is from the tears, or my powers, I do not know.

Neteyam gasps for breath. “I want to go home.”

“It’s okay, we are going home. We’re going home.” Jake reassured him.

“Stay with me, my Teyam.” I urged, fighting to stay awake.

“Stela,” He panted. “I…”

The light disappeared from his eyes. I scream ripped at my throat. No, no, he would not die, not on my watch. I poured every ounce of my power into him, begging for Eywa to help me now, even if it killed me instead. Neytiri sobbed from beside me, and her grief only fuelled me. I couldn’t see, and I couldn’t feel anything except for Neteyam and the slow beating of his heart. He would not die. He would not. I screamed again, battling the to urge to sleep.

Then, gently, he began to breathe. His heart rate sped up and gasped in relief. Then, the heat in my hands disappeared, and I let myself go.

--

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[jellybear455]

Let me heal you - Neteyam x reader (Part 8)

a/n: I have discovered action scenes are not my strong suit.

Characters are aged up.

Warnings: a LOT of spoilers (don't come at me for it), Lo'ak being a shxawng, violence, injury

Readers name is Stela, and uses she/her pronouns.

Word count: 1437

Previous part

Next part

--

“One of the tulkun have been murdered by the sky people.” Ronal yelled, and our clan gasped and muttered in response.

I stood amongst them, Neteyam’s hand in mine. I did not join the ruckus. The pain of losing my sister was still fresh in my chest. The only thoughts that echoed in my mind were those of revenge.

“This war has come to us,” Tonowari declared. “We knew about the hunting of the tulkun, but it was far on the horizon. Now, it is here.”

The crowd whooped and crowed in response.

“You don’t understand how the sky people think,” Jake Sully insisted, speaking over the shouts. “They don’t care about the tulkun way. They don’t care about the great balance!”

“Listen to him!” Neteyam snapped from beside me, to no avail.

“The sky people will not stop. This is only beginning. You have to tell the tulkun to leave. To go far away from here.”

This was met with gasps of confusion and anger. Despite the protests of my people, I could not help but agree. No one else will have to feel the pain of loosing their spirit sibling.

“Leave!” Ronal shouted. “You live among us, and you learn nothing.”

“We will fight for our brothers and sisters.” Anoung called, and was rewarded with a cheer.

Jake Sully attempted to silence them. “No, no, no! If you fight, and if you attack, then they will destroy you. All of you. And everything that you love.”

Ronal clutched her swollen stomach. The Metkayina only roared with anger. Jake snatched the harpoon Neteyam was carrying. He held in in the air, and somehow, the crowd went silent.

“You tell the tulkun that is they are hit with one of these, then they are marked for death. And to call for me.” He told them, his words finally gaining a reaction. “Saving their lives. That’s all the matters. Saving your family.”

It was silent for a long moment. Finally, Tonowari raised his voice. “Tell them. Tell the tulkun.”

The crowd dispersed almost immediately. I did not follow, because I no longer had a spirit sister to warn. The pain lashed at my chest again, as though I was realising Naola was dead all over again. I think of the first time we met, when she was a calf, and I was very small. We spent hours splashing and leaping and diving. Then, the second time, when we had both grown a little, and we bonded. It was so special. The feeling of the words ‘spirit sister’ rolling off my tongue was sweeter than nectar. Tears rolled down my face again, salty and hot.

A pair of arms surrounded me. It was Neytiri. She spoke to me softly and did not seem to mind when I cried into her shoulder. Her motherly embrace was welcome, but unfamiliar. Ronal, despite raising me, had never quite been a mother to me. So now, as I sobbed uncontrollably, the haze of grief suspended over my mind began to clear, and for the first time I felt wanted. I knew I would never truly recover from Naola’s death, but as much as it hurt, life was still liveable.

I withdrew from Neytiri’s embrace, wiping the tears from my face.

“Do not forget that we are here for you, my ‘eveng (child).” Neytiri said, combing my hair with her fingers. “You are not alone.”

“Thank you…” I whispered back. My voice has hoarse and weak.

“Neteyam went that way, he followed his brother, I think. If you are quick you can still catch him.”

I thanked her again, unsure of what else to say. Neytiri hugged me again, before letting me follow the Sully girls and my cousins in the direction Neteyam had gone.

“Lo’ak!” Tsireya called and he dove into the water and onto his Ilu.

“Come on, he is going to Bayakan.” Neteyam urged, calling an Ilu, and pausing for a moment to let me mount behind him, before racing off after his brother.

We rushed out of the bay, barely keeping Lo’ak in our sight. Neteyam’s hand kept a firm grip on my thigh, and my arms circled his waist tightly. We emerged to see Lo’ak on top of a tulkun, presumably Bayakan, and tugging at the flashing harpoon in his side. In the distance, I could see a flying metal ship approaching. They are the people that killed my sister. They must be. And I will make them pay. In the meantime, we must save Bayakan.

Neteyam urged Lo’ak to call their father as we tugged on the harpoon. I dove back into the water, grabbing a length of rope from my Ilu and looping it around the harpoon. I commanded the Ilu to pull, and the harpoon began to shift. With one last tug, a combination of all our efforts the tracker came clean out of Bayakan’s side.

“Go that way, I will draw them off.” Neteyam shouted. I tried to mount the Ilu behind him, but he pushed me away. “Go with Tsireya. I will come find you.”

With my arm around Tsireya’s waist, we went tearing through the water. Eventually we slowed to a stop, hiding in amongst the seaweed. It was silent for a moment, until a whirring sound echoed through the ocean. Metal divers dropped into the water not far from us and swam in our direction. We took off again, away from the machines. Our efforts were fruitless, as we were soon surrounded. Tsireya guided the Ilu deeper still, where the weeds were thick.

The combined speed and continuous assault from the leaves caused me grip of Tsireya to slip, and I was thrown backward into the water. Tsireya disappeared in the leaves, still being pursued by a diver, and I searched frantically for her. Instead, I spotted Tuk, who had suffered a similar fate, and was beginning to struggle.

Grabbing her under the arms, I guided her to a bell-shaped plant filled with a pocket of air. We gasped for breath. The flesh of the plant glowed with the red light from the metal divers.

“Are you alright?” I huffed.

A head popped up beside us, and Tuk did not answer. It was Lo’ak, and rising behind him was Tsireya.

“It is coming,” She cried.

“We gotta go,” Lo’ak urged sucking in a deep breath.

We dove back down out of the plant, only to come face to face with a diver. Swimming frantically in my other direction, I pulled Tuk onto my back to make sure she did not fall behind. Tsireya changed direction again quickly, and I spotted another diver. The panic was beginning to set in as we kicked frantically though the water.

A pop sounded behind, and a net draped over us. Tuk squeaked in surprise and flailed violently. Lo’ak who had managed to avoid capture, pulled on the net in an attempt to set us free. We were scooped into the air by an Ikran, but Lo’ak managed to hold on, slashing the net with his knife in an attempt to set us free.

“Go, Lo’ak. Swim!” I shouted, urging him to flee.

“No. I am not leaving you.” He hacked furiously and determinedly at the rope, but the no avail.

We were dropped onto the deck of the metal ship, and instantly surrounded by Avatar and sky people. The net weighed me down, and I struggled to escape as Tuk was grabbed violently. I broke free, scooping up the knife she had dropped, and slicing at the hands of the Avatar reaching for me. I quickly gained the upper hand, pinning him with my knife against his neck.

I hoped that he could not feel the shake in my hands. I was a healer, not a soldier. I had never hurt anyone before. A tall, short haired Avatar dismounted an Ikran. His confident swagger and the way the sky people shyed away under his gaze told me he was the leader.

“You,” I shouted, gaining his attention. “You killed my spirit sister.”

“The tulkun? Yeah, yeah that was me.” He grinned, showing no remorse.

The anger burned in my chest. Screw the tulkun way. I would avenge my sister. With a scream, I leapt off the back off the Avatar I had overpowered, swinging the knife. Barely bothered, the leader dodged and threw me to the floor. Before I could get up again, his gun slammed into my head, and I collapsed again. I fought furiously against the black clawing at the corners of my eyes. The battle was lost, and the fury melted into unconsciousness.

--

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[jellybear455]

Let me heal you - Neteyam x reader (Part 7)

a/n: Okay but this is a mildly depressing chapter. Also two in one day because I couldn't wait to get this up :)

Characters are aged up.

Warnings: a LOT of spoilers (don't come at me for it), Lo'ak being a shxawng, violence, injury

Readers name is Stela, and uses she/her pronouns.

Word count: 1108

Previous part

Next part

--

All hell had broken loose. Ronal and Tonowari were shouting at me, Jake Sully and Neytiri were shouting at Neteyam, and all the adults were shouting at each other.

“We have taken you in out of our kindness and you let your son mess around with my niece?”

“You should have though this through, Neteyam These people have given us sanctuary, and you risk that!”

“Ay, Stela, after I took you in, knowing you had demon blood, thinking I could change you! I almost wish my sister had been killed in the war instead.”

It becomes silent. Ronal covers her mouth with her hand. She had gone too far, and she knew it. Tears prick at my eyes again, but I will not cry. I will not.

“Go back to our mauri.” She whispers. “Go!”

I stand, and Neteyam pulls himself up with me. He gives his parents a sideways glance, before cupping his hand to my cheek. Ronal stays silent.

“Don’t worry, my syulang, I will work this out. Okay?” He mutters.

“Okay,” I whisper back, but somehow this feels like goodbye. I kiss his forehead, Ignoring how Neytiri squeaks in annoyance. “I will see you later, my Teyam.”

As I leave the mauri, my eyes begin to sting. The whole walk back, I cry bitter tears. I ache for Naola’s sweet words of comfort.

--

The next morning, I sit in the mauri, quietly weaving a fishing net. I had not been allowed to leave all morning. Ronal had told me indirectly, through Tsireya. She was yet to speak a word to me.

The creaking of the walkway alerts me of the approaching group. Tonowari leads Tsireya, Anoung, Neteyam, and Lo’ak towards me. Ronal brings up the rear, her hand on Lo’ak’s back. They all wear solemn expressions, and Tsireya is on the brink of tears.

Neteyam catches my eyes, offering a small smile. I can see Ronal watching from behind, but she does not comment. Instead, she paces in front of the group.

“You allowed this,” she finally says, her eyes darting between Tsireya and Anoung. “You allowed him to bond with the outcast.”

She glares at Lo’ak, who hangs his head, but does not look ashamed.

“Tsireya,” Tonowari says. “You disappoint me, daughter.”

I stand from my seat behind her and wrap my arms around her shoulders. I will not let her feel like I had. My cousin clutches my hand tightly, still fighting a loosing battle against a wave of tears. She hangs her head, but unlike Lo’ak, she does look ashamed.

Tonowari turns to Lo’ak. “And you, son of a great warrior, who has been taught better.”

“Bayakan saved my life, sir. You do not know him.” Lo’ak insisted, unaware of his parents approaching from behind. Neytiri spots me, but this time her eyes are filled with pity instead of anger.

“No, Lo’ak,” Tsireya whispers in warning.

“Sit.” Tonowari mutters. Lo’ak lowers to his hunches. No one else moves. “Sit down!”

I take this as my queue to resume my weaving. I do not want to become the subject of Tonowari’s rage today. Not again.

“Hear my words, boy. In the days of the first songs, tulkun fought amongst themselves. For territory and for revenge. But they came to believe that killing, no matter how justified, only brings more killing. So, all killing was forbidden. This is the tulkun way.” As Tonowari spoke, Ronal paced behind him, and Neteyam keeps his eyes on me. “Bayakan is a killer. So, he is outcast.”

“I am sorry, sir. But you’re wrong.”

Neytiri hissed. “Lo’ak.”

“I know.” Lo’ak insisted.

“That is enough.” Jake Sully finally spoke up. He grabbed Lo’ak by the forearm and dragged him away, not unlike how Ronal had done to me the night before.

Tonowari let out an angry sigh, running a hand down his face. Neteyam stood quickly, following his mother and father. Dropping my weaving, went to do the same, but Ronal took my arm.

“What are you doing?”

“I did not think you would want to be in the presence of a vrrtep (demon).” I said, shaking my arm out of her grip. She did not protest as I left.

“My Teyam!” I called.

He flashed his beautiful smile when he spotted me. “Stela.”

“I’m sorry about last night. I did not mean for them to find out.”

“They would have had to eventually.”

“I suppose,” I replied, shrugging my shoulders. “But I did not want it to be this way.”

Neteyam hummed, before taking my hand and leading me down onto the beach. We sat in the sand together in silence. Any worry that Neteyam would no longer be interested in me were gone.

Ronal and Tonowari rushed by on their Ilus, followed by a group of Metkayina, Jake Sully and Neytiri. Neteyam and I exchanged looks. We left the beach, and I called my Ilu. We followed them outside of the bay until we reached the tulkun pod. There, floating lifelessly in among them, was Naola.

A scream echoed in the air, but I didn’t stop to realise it was my own. Neteyam clutched my waist tighter as I urged my Ilu faster. I pried his fingers off me before diving into the water and crawling onto Naola’s fin. Her lifeless eyes stared into nothing, and another scream ripped at my throat.

“My sister…” I pressed my already glowing hands to her side searching for something, anything, any sign that she was still there, and I could bring her back. There was nothing.

“Who did this?” I asked, but it remained silent. “Who did this?”

“The sky people.” Jake Sully called from his Ilu.

“The sky people…” I repeated, struggling to see through the barrage of tears. “The sky people killed my sister… my Naola… I will kill them. I will kill them!” I sobbed and sobbed, wrapping my arms around my sister.

“Stela, we must go, it is not safe here.” Ronal urged, reaching out towards me.

“No, no! Don’t touch her… don’t touch me! No, no…” My head hurt. I could not see. I felt sick with grief and helplessness.

“Syulang,” Neteyam. “You must come.”

I let him pull me away from my sister and hold me in his arms. The ride back was long and painful. Neteyam’s arms around me, and the sweet memories of my Naola kept me grounded. By the time we had arrived back at the village, the tears were gone, replaced only by the suffocating anger squeezing at my heart.

I will get my revenge, and I will kill the people who did this. Who took away my sister.

--

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[jellybear455]

Let me heal you - Neteyam x reader (Part 6)

a/n: the drama omlll. Forgive me this chapter was kind of cringe.

Characters are aged up.

Warnings: a LOT of spoilers (don't come at me for it), Lo'ak being a shxawng, violence, injury

Readers name is Stela, and uses she/her pronouns.

Word count: 1249

Previous part

Next part

--

Many days had passed, and Kiri had recovered. The scare had shaken the family, and as such, no lessons had occurred since, and would not until Kiri had been given the green light by Ronal. Today was supposed to be that day. Instead, there was an extremely welcome interruption. As I restocked supplies with Ronal, the horn sounded. We rushed the to entrance of the mauri and were met with a joyful sight. The tulkun were home.

Moments later, I was soaring through the water, searching for my spirit sister, Noala. We rushed to each other, meeting in a flurry of ‘I missed you’s and ‘I have so much to tell you’s.

‘I am so happy, my Stela.’ Naoal told me. ‘I have decided I will try for a calf next season.’

‘Oh Noala, I have no doubt that Eywa will bless you.’

‘Thank you. It is so wonderful to see you again, my sister. Tell me all that has happened.’

I told her everything about the Sully family and our lessons, but hesitated for a moment before telling her about my little moments with Neteyam. After all, even I was not sure how it made me feel.

‘I sense you are leaving a few things out.’

‘I’m sorry, sister.’ I signed, although I could not help but smile. Noala was always so perceptive. ‘Perhaps instead of telling you, you could meet him?’

Noala screeched with delight. With promises to return, I rose to the surface, almost immediately spotting Neteyam on an Ilu, watching the Metkayina reunite with their spirit brother and sisters. I swam in his direction, mounting the Ilu behind him and wrapping my hands around his waist to steady myself.

“The return of the tulkun is always a joyful celebration. They are gone for ever so long, and only come back for a short time.”

“Then why are you wasting time talking to me?” Neteyam questioned, his hand creeping over mine.

“I was hoping, my Teyam, that you might want to meet my spirit sister, Noala.”

Neteyam looked over his shoulder to look me in the eye. “Of course I would.”

“Txantsan (excellent).” I grinned. “Now come, she is waiting.”

I dove back into the water and swam back to Noala, leading Neteyam by his hand.

‘My Noala, this is Neteyam of the Omatikaya clan.’ I signed to her.

‘I have heard so much about you, boy.’ Noala said, scanning him as she would a potential threat.

‘It is an honour to meet you.’ Neteyam signed back, slower, and less smoothly.

Noala looked back to me. ‘He is very handsome, my Stela, and very polite. I can see why you like him, and I can’t help but approve.’

‘Sister!’ I left out a gasp of breath. Both Neteyam and I had turned a dark shade of blue.

The rest of the day passed like a dream. Eventually, the tulkun left the bay to graze and rest, with promises to visit again before they left. A happy smile danced on my lips as I walked Neteyam back to his mauri. After spending most of the day beneath the surface, I had failed to notice the grey clouds gathering. The sky opened up and it began to rain.

“Did you have fun today, my Teyam?” I asked squeezing our interlocked hands.

“I did. The tulkun are beautiful and kind. Although, what was that Noala said about me?”

I stopped walking. “I was hoping you would forget about that.”

“Maybe I did forget. Refresh my memory?” Neteyam smirked, stepping closer.

“Ay, don’t do that.”

“Do what, syulang?” He replied, smiling bigger.

“Don’t smile at me like that.”

“Why?”

I looked away from his face, lowering my voice to a whisper. “It is just as Naola said. I like you, Neteyam, more than I should.”

Neteyam took my face in his hand and turned my head until I was looking at him again, then pressed his forehead to mine.

“That is good. Very good.” He muttered. “Because I like you too, very much.”

“Oh.”

That was all I could say before he pressed his lips to mine, softly and slowly. All I could think about was him. One hand went to his hair, and the other remained interlocked with his. The moment, which only lasted seconds, was not enough, and I wished it could last hours.

“Stela.” A sharp voice cut through the air. “What are you doing?”

I turned around quickly and came face to face with Ronal. The anger painted on her face was unmistakeable and red hot.

“My Teyam, go back to your mauri.” I begged him.

“Stela-”

“I will come find you later. Now go.”

I watched as he disappeared around a corner, before turning back to Ronal. She hissed, grabbing my arm, and dragging me back in the direction of my mauri.

“What were you thinking?” She growled. I stayed silent. “That is not what is meant by making them feel welcome! I knew it was a boy on your mind the other day. I did not think you would stoop so low. I have never been so disappointed in my life.”

“You’re disappointed with me for liking a boy?” I muttered.

“No, I am disappointed with you for liking a dangerous Omatikaya boy. You have disgraced me Stela, after all I have done for you. Do not think Tonowari will let you off easy, either.”

With an angry sigh, I let Ronal drag we back to our mauri, where Tonowari was not present. Ronal, not in any mood to wait, dragged me back the other way, until we arrived at the Sully mauri. Tonowari, who was talking to Jake Sully and Neytiri with a serious expression on his face, looking confused as Ronal entered, dumping me unceremoniously on the floor. The skin on my knees scraped clean off, and I hissed from the sting.

“Tonowari. This child has disgraced us.” Ronal nearly shouted.

“I have never known Stela to do such a thing.” Tonowari replied.

It was at this moment, with the most unfortunate timing, that Neteyam appeared from somewhere inside the mauri. I could not look him in the eye, so instead I stared at the floor. Ronal, who had other plans, grabbed me by the hair, and forced me to look up at Tonowari.

“Tell him what you did.” She hissed. “Tell him!”

I did not speak, and despite Ronal’s grip being no where near painful, a tear rolled down my cheek. I was embarrassed and angry. Was kissing Neteyam that bad of an idea? Ronal urged me to speak, but I remained silent, tears continuing to fall.

“Let her go,” Neteyam said firmly, kneeling beside me. “It is not her fault. It is mine.”

To my surprise, Ronal released me. Neteyam pulled me into his arms as I tried in vain to stop my tears.

“Why must you insist on taking the blame?” I whispered.

“I was the one that kissed you. And the worst they can do to me is make me leave.”

Ronal had grown impatient. “I caught these two kissing in the village.”

The adults gasped, and Tonowari stepped closer to us.

“Is this true, Stela?”

I looked up at him. His face was blank, but his eyes swirled with anger and disappointment, as Ronal’s did. Neytiri was grinding her teeth as Jake held her back, his own expression one of steel. Facing the wrath of four warriors was a terrifying idea, but still, I answered truthfully.

“Yes.”

--

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[jellybear455]

Let me heal you - Neteyam x reader (part 5)

a/n: hohohoooo this is so much fun! Thank you for the support, have a present. 🎁

Characters are aged up.

Warnings: a LOT of spoilers (don't come at me for it), Lo'ak being a shxawng, violence, injury

Readers name is Stela, and uses she/her pronouns.

Word count: 1138

Previous part

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--

“Oh brother, I wish I had been there. The ocean has blessed you with a gift.” The morning was still young, but chores had been completed, and Lo’ak was telling us about the tulkun that had saved his life. Kiri, who I had noticed felt a stronger connection to the sea, was swooning.

“The tulkun have not returned yet. And anyway, no tulkun is ever alone.” Anoung said. We sat on opposite sides of Neteyam. I had not so much as breathed in his direction since last night, and I did not plan to.

“This one was,” Lo’ak insisted. “He had a missing fin, like a stump, on the left side.”

A gasp escaped me. “Bayakan.”

“Who is Bayakan?” Kiri questioned.

It was silent for a moment, then Roxto answered. “A young tulkun who went rouge. He is outcast. And he has a missing fin.”

“They say he is a killer.” Tsireya told Lo’ak, her hand on his arm. Despite the topic on conversation, I had to supress a smirk at the proximity of the two.

“No, no.” Lo’ak muttered confusedly.

“He killed Na’vi.” Anoung said. “And other tulkun. Not here, but far to the south.”

“No, he is no killer.”

Tsireya inclined her head. “You are lucky to be alive.”

“My baby bro, the mighty warrior. Who faced the killer tulkun and lived to tell about it.” Neteyam joked in an effort to disperse some of the tension of Lo’ak’s shoulders.

“You guys aren’t listening.” Lo’ak said, and stalked away moodily.

“Lo’ak, I am listening.” Little Tuk called out.

Kiri only rolled her eyes and muttered under her breath. “Shxawang (moron).”

It was silent as the group watched Lo’ak disappear into the waves.

“Ay, we must not let this spoil our day.” Anoung said, slightly too cheerfully. “Tsmuke (sister), shall we?”

Soon, Tsireya and I were leading the Sully children to our most sacred place.

“The cove of the ancestors.” I told them, grinning at the wonder in Neteyam’s eyes.

As we emerged from under a rocky arch, we were met with a glorious sight. Rocks were suspended from the sky, with vines dangling off them and barely hitting the surface of the water. Beyond, a circular stone formation towered into the sky. Not far ahead was the spirit tree, glowing softly underneath the waves.

“Eclipse is the best time of day to be here.” Tsireya explained as the light disappeared.

I lead them forward, to the spirit tree, which was glowing brightly and beautifully beneath the water. Pride swelled in my chest as we approached. This was my home, and it was magnificent.

The tree glowed a bright blue-purple, with seaweed like branches suspended upwards and swaying softly in the current.

As we dived below the waves, I guided Neteyam to a billow leaf of the tree. He pulled his queue over his shoulder. He had barely closed his eyes when the glowing tree began to flash urgently. I caught sight of Kiri, seizing violently, her queue still attached. Tsireya broke the bond, and the sea went dark. Grabbing Kiri under the arms, I rose to the surface, holding her in my arms as I mounted my Ilu.

I laid her across my knees and brought my cheek close to her mouth. She was not breathing. I brought my hands to her chest, as Ronal had showed me so many times. Then I pinched her nose and breathed into her mouth. I could hear Tuk crying nearby, but I did not stop the routine. Finally, she coughed and spluttered up water, but she did not wake up.

I took her in my arms properly, before looking up at her siblings. Neteyam was holding little Tuk in his arms, and they sat together on his Ilu. His eyes were filled with fear and confusion. Kiri shivered in my arms, reminding me of what was at stake. We took off homeward without waiting for the others. Kiri’s gasping breaths every time we broke the surface drove me faster still.

Soon, Kiri was lying in the healing mauri, still unconscious. An Avatar from the Omatikaya clan had arrived in a flying machine, with his technology and medicines. He told Jake that Kiri had a seizure. I was not quite sure what I meant for her, but his tone told me it was bad.

“I see we are not needed here.” Ronal said, clearly thrown off by the new technology.

Neytiri grabbed her by the arm. “You are Tsahìk.”

“Remove these things.” She commanded, and Neytiri chased the avatar out. Ronal turned to me. “Can you help her?”

“No, I already tried. The problem is of her mind, not her body.” I told her quietly, guilt setting in at my apparent uselessness. “I’m sorry.”

My mentor only nodded. “It will not do you any good to worry.”

We knelt beside Kiri and Ronal began to chant. My only job was to hold her remedies. I wished I could do something more helpful, but at the same time I was somehow grateful that it was not up to me to save Kiri. All I could do was pray.

Finally, after many long minutes, Kiri’s face scrunched up, her eyes opened, and she began to sob. The sound, filled with pain and confusion, could not have been more welcome in that moment. Sighs of relief echoed throughout. I stood, packing up Ronal’s things and Neytiri and Jake comforted their daughter. Ronal perched herself in the corner of the room to observe, and a small nod told me I was dismissed.

“Stela!” A voice called out from the mauri. It was Neteyam. He stepped forward so we were out of the view of our families inside. “Where are you going?”

“I am sure you want some time with Kiri. I am not needed.” I told him, the guilt from before worming its way back into my head. I turned to leave, but Neteyam took my hand, stopping me.

“I need you.”

Slowly, I turned back to him. His eyes were filled with fear and relief and tears that threatened to spill. His grip on my hand tightened.

“Teyam…” I muttered, pulling him into a tight embrace as he cried.

“Thank you… for helping her.” He whispered after his tears had slowed down.

“I did nothing. It was Ronal.”

Neteyam sniffed. “Still. You rushed her back here. Thank you.”

Gently, I ran a hand through his braids. His hair was soft, and the clay beads clinked together. Reluctantly, I let go of the hug.

“Go be with your family. I will see you later, my Teyam.”

He nodded, turning back to the mauri. I watched as he walked away. Then, as though he was second guessing himself. He approached me again, pressing his lips to my head.

“I see you.”

Then, he was gone.

--

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[jellybear455]

Let me heal you - Neteyam x reader (Part 4)

a/n: longest chapter yet! Let me know if you like shorter or longer parts.

Characters are aged up.

Warnings: a LOT of spoilers (don't come at me for it), Lo'ak being a shxawng, violence, injury

Readers name is Stela, and uses she/her pronouns.

Word count: 1650

Previous part

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--

All through the morning chores, I could not stop thinking about Neteyam. His smile, his way with words, and how he had called me flower. Why was there this funny feeling in my stomach? Perhaps it was another side effect of my gift. I glanced at Ronal, who was grinding away at a powder beside me. If I asked her, would she put restrictions on my healing. I know Neteyam would encourage it, but… there is that funny feeling again.

Ronal clicked her tongue, grabbing my attention. “Ay, Stela, you are very distracted today. You are not unwell, are you?”

“I’m fine, thank you.” I replied, resuming my task of stirring a paste. It was silent again.

“It is a boy, is it not?”

I gasped, “Ronal!”

“You will become a woman soon, ay. I was your, age once, believe it or not. Boys were often a topic of thought.”

“I am married to my work.” I told her firmly, forcing my thoughts away from Neteyam.

“Somehow, I do not believe you. But do not fret. When the time is right, you will choose a fine Metkayina man, and you will have a long and happy life together.”

A Metkayina man. Guilt stirred in me. Was it wrong to be thinking these things about Neteyam? When it becomes safe again, he and his family will return to the Omatikaya clan, and this will be for nothing. The thought made my heart ache. I do hope that happens either very soon, or never. But that is selfish. And I must not hope selfish things.

After Ronal dismissed me from my chores, I summoned an Ilu and disappeared under the waves with my thoughts. Barely had I begun to think, when I was interrupted by none other then the cause of the turmoil. Neteyam.

“Hello, syulang,” Neteyam said, once we had risen to the surface. “I trust your morning was peaceful.”

A smile tugged at my mouth. If only he knew. “It was fine, but it is better now.”

“You flatter me, Stela.”

“Only returning the favour, Teyam.”

The rest of the morning was spent cruising along at a leisurely pace, not really going anywhere, but enjoying each other’s company. Eventually, you spotted Anoung and his friends talking to Kiri on the beach.

Nudging Neteyam, I said, “Do you think they are getting along?”

“I am not sure.” He watched for a moment in silence.

Lo’ak approached the group, and Roxto pulled his tail. Neteyam sighed, taking off towards the sand. I followed, dismounting my Ilu in the shallows. Neteyam stalked onto the beach, his shoulders set. I watched his retreating back, feeling the fuzziness in my belly again.

“You heard what she said.” Neteyam said firmly, pushing Anoung away from Lo’ak. “Back. Off. Now.”

There was a beat of silence, in which the two Na’vi boys stared each other down. Eventually, Anoung stepped back and raised his hands in acceptance.

Neteyam backed up as well. “Smart choice. From now on, I need you to respect my sister.”

Still watching from the shallows, I decided it was a very good thing that Neteyam and I had been nearby. He took Kiri and Lo’ak by the shoulders, guiding them away. Still, Anoung and his goons, laughed and poked fun from a distance. Lo’ak approached them, this time with his jaw set and fists clenched.

“Oh no,” I muttered under my breath, rushing forward, barely taking a few steps before Lo’ak threw a punch, right in Anoung’s jaw. By the time the water was to my knees, Neteyam had joined in, defending his brother.

Finally, by feet landed on dry land. “Tìftang sì (stop it). Now.” I growled harshly.

The boys stopped in their tracks, staring at me with wide eyes. Kiri giggled. I grabbed Anoung by the ear, and his other three friends by the tails.

“What are you thinking?” I shouted, anger boiling in my toes and rising up like steam. “You are supposed to make them feel welcome.” I tossed them down on the sand, ignoring the blood and beginnings of bruises on their faces. “Go home.”

“But, Stela-“ Anoung objected.

“Go home. Now.”

They scrambled away on the beach, back towards the village. Sighed, I turned to face Lo’ak and Neteyam, who were on their feet by now. Annoyance flaring, I punched Lo’ak in the stomach, not too hard, but he still winced. Kiri sniggered.

“And what were you thinking?”

“I could take them.” Lo’ak mumbled, blood dripping from his nose.

“All four of them?” I examined his face. “I will heal you later. We must speak to Tonowari first.”

Moving on to Neteyam, cupped his face with my hands, treating him slightly less harsh then Lo’ak. He had blood on the corner of his mouth, and a bruise forming above this left eye.

“But they called Kiri a freak.” Lo’ak told me, folding his arms.

My hands went cold, and I dropped them from Neteyam’s face. “What?”

The short journey back to the village was silent, and I could not help but wish I had let the fight continue a little longer. Or punched Anoung myself.

A quick search proved that Anoung and his friends had now returned. Instead, we ran into Jake Sully, who sent Lo’ak to apologise.

“Jake Sully,” I said, as he turned to leave. “I am sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry. You split up the fight. I should be thanking you.”

“No.” I shook my head. “It should not have happened at all. I let Anoung harbour those thoughts. I should have reprimanded him when I had the chance.”

Now Jake was shaking his head. “You are not responsible for him. Do not claim to be.”

In that moment, I was struck by the realisation that Neteyam and his father were very much alike. Despite myself, a smile picked at my face.

“You should be proud of your sons, Jake Sully. They are good.”

After twilight, Tsireya and I were carrying a few baskets to the healing mauri. Neteyam hurried passed us, holding Anoung by his hair. Apologising to Tsireya, I dropped my basket and rushed after. He did not say anything but grabbed my free hand with his. He was shaking slightly, but if it was from anger or fear I did not know.

Neteyam shoved Anoung into the Sully mauri, and to his father, who was talking to Kiri at the water’s edge. He did not let go of my hand, his grip only tightening. I could not help but be glad, because I liked it when he held my hand.

“Tell him what you told me.” He growled at Anoung.

My cousin explained how Lo’ak had approached him and his friends, and they had taken him outside the reef to “where the men hunt,” only to abandon him. Any forgiveness I had scraped up evaporated and by face was hot with anger again.

As twilight had already fallen, Neteyam and I were not allowed to join the search party. We waited, hand in hand, as the minutes drew out agonisingly. At the sound of a horn, we scrambled to our feet, rushing to where Lo’ak had miraculously found his way back to the village.

The two of us rushed into the gathering crowd. Lake had Lo’ak by the shoulders, examining him. Neteyam went directly to his family, but I remained with Ronal. As much as I wanted to pull out all of Anoung’s teeth and force feed him them, he was not my son, and neither was Lo’ak. It was not my place to reprimand them.

Neytiri hissed. “I pray for the strength that I will not claw the eyeballs out of my youngest son.”

“No, my son knows better than the take him out of the reef.” Tonowari said, placing a heavy hand on Anoung’s shoulder, forcing him to kneel. “The blame is his.”

“Okay, lets go.” Jake Sully took Lo’ak by the arm, but his son only shook him off.

“No, this was not Anoung’s fault. It was my idea.” Lo’ak said, “Anoung tried to talk me out of it. Really.”

As Neytiri and Jake tried in vain to drag Lo’ak away to their mauri, no doubt for a long lecture, Ronal and Tonowari exchanged doubtful and confused looks. As he passed, Neteyam touched my shoulder. A small smile flashed on his lips, then it was gone. When the crowd had dispersed, and it was only Ronal, Tonowari and my cousins remaining, Anoung approached me.

“Hey, uh, would you mind…” He gestured to the bruise under his eye.

The anger from before reared its head. My eyes flickered to Ronal, who was watching wearily, while discussing the matter under her breath with her mate.

“I didn’t think you would want help from a freak.” I said, voice shaking a little as I looked back to Anoung.

His ears twitched. “What do you mean?”

“I am a freak, am I not? Five fingers. Five toes. Eyebrows. Demon blood. That is why you insist on torturing those poor Sully children, correct? Well surely that should make me a freak, too.” Anoung looked surprised. My whole body was shaking with rage now, and Ronal had ceased her conversation. “Why is it so difficult for you to come to terms with this, Anoung? We are family, and yet you call them freaks and demons when you know that I am one of their kind. So no, I will not heal you. And if you dare touch on any of our guests, then you will have no fingers left to touch with.”

I stepped back from Anoung, wiping hot tears from my cheeks. Ronal and Tonowari watched silently. I remembered how they had objected to Jake Sully and his family when they first arrived, and how Ronal had called them demons. How could they say that to their faces if they couldn’t say it to mine?

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