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askinkiskarma · 2 years ago

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Cruel Summer | Chapter V: This Love (alternate ending)

Pairings: Neteyam x (f)Human!Reader

Word Count: 8k words

Warnings/notes: fluff, smut, all the feels, Neteyam x Reader being the cutest

Synopsis: "Perhaps, after all, romance did not come into one's life with pomp and blare, like a gay knight riding down; perhaps it crept to one's side like an old friend through quiet ways; perhaps it revealed itself in seeming prose, until some sudden shaft of illustration flung athwart its pages betrayed the rhythm and the music, perhaps loveunfolded naturally out of a beautiful friendship, as a golden-hearted rose slipping from its green sheath."

A/N: Please read this before you read the final chapter x

Besties, if you're here, enjoy a much happier alternate ending to Cruel Summer.

I will leave my notes at the end of the chapter. Ily besties, enjoy!

: ̗̀➛ listen to the Cruel Summer playlist here : ̗̀➛ masterlist (x) : ̗̀➛ series masterlist (x)

Clear blue water

High tide came and brought you in

And I could go on and on, on and on, and I will

When Neteyam left the first time, he did so because he thought he was protecting you. That despite the heartbreak he’d have to endure, despite how much his heart and mind were screaming loudly, agonisingly that he should stay, he refused to put your safety at risk. He refused to let who he was and who his parents were be the reason you would ever be in harm’s way. So he didn’t fight it. And he left. The first time he agreed to mate with someone else, was because he didn’t know any better. He didn’t know how he felt, he didn’t know how you felt. Once again, he was willing to do something despite his own wishes and desires, because he thought it would aid in the clan’s peace and prosperity.

But now… now that he knew, now that he had this last day, now that he knew what it was like to love you, to hold you, to have you, Neteyam knew that for the first time in his life, he had to be selfish, and he had to stand up to his family’s expectations of him, and for him. Because it wasn’t fair. It had never been fair, the way he was treated, but he never complained, because he knew there were sacrifices that had to be made in order to be who he was: the prince of the Omaticaya, the son of the Olo’eyktan and Toruk Makto. But he was no longer a prince, and his dad - no longer the Olo’eyktan or the Toruk Makto. His father forsook his own and Neteyam’s titles and Neteyam was nobody now. Just another person in a sea of people on Pandora, and although not his ideal turn of events, it did come with certain perks.

“No.”

His dad rose an eyebrow, a expression he reserved purely for very specific circumstances, and it seems Neteyam’s only refusal in this life was important enough to warrant it.

“Father… I love you. You know this. I love this family more than anything in this world, I have been more than happy and willing to do anything and everything you have ever asked of me, but this I won’t do. Not anymore. Not when Lo’ak is in love with Tsireya and his union wouldn’t hinder his own happiness and purpose for the rest of his life. I can’t do this anymore. I have lived for almost 20 years with of myself hidden behind a facade, with so many sacrifices that kept getting heavier, until one day, I felt I could no longer bear them all without collapsing. There was only one thing in my life, one person, that helped me through it, and I had to leave her once. And it broke me, dad, and I still did it, because I thought it was the right thing to do. But I won't do this, I won't leave her again. Not when I just got her back."

Skies grew darker

Currents swept you out again

And you were just gone and gone, gone and gone

Neteyam found you at the beach, staring into the distance, back turned away from him and he was so happy, to be able to know he did the right thing for once, and he chose right, and he chose you.

“Vol…”

Your soft sniffles took Neteyam by surprise, as did your face, littered in tears, eyes, nose and cheeks red and swollen. Neteyam exhaled, a sharp tug of pain gnawing at his insides, and he sat next to you, turning until he faced you, until he tugged gently at your mask so you’d look at him, until he could tell you that there was nothing to cry about, not this time, not anymore.

“You heard.”

You nodded meekly.

“Yeah… your mother, uhm… she was talking about it when I went to check on Kiri.”

He smiled at you, and you frowned, not understanding why this was in anyway a smiling matter.

“Vol… I said no.” Your shocked expression only deepened his sense of euphoria, so excited to be able to tell you this, to be able to watch your expression change as you got to hear everything he had to say.

“What did you say?”

In silent screams

In wildest dreams

I never dreamed of this

“You heard me, Vol. I told father no. You know, all my life, I used to think the way humans lived was bad. That to ever put your needs on top of the people you loved’s ones is wrong, and immoral. My parents gave me life, my clan gave me a purpose, Eywa gave me a plan - to be Olo’eyktan, to be Toruk Makto’s son and worthy of it, to continue the lineage and the bloodline I was born into, to protect my people. And I intend to keep to that and honour it to the best of my abilities, but Vol, I learnt through it that there’s nothing wrong with being a little selfish sometimes. It doesn’t mean that you don’t love or appreciate these things, or that you’re not grateful. It means you understand that you only have one life, and at the end of it, you need to choose what life you want to flash before your eyes as you go. And I want you. You’re my life, you always have been. I want to love you, and not hide it. I want to see you everyday, I want to wake up in your stuffy, tiny bedroom, which happens to be my favourite place in the world because it has you in it, and your morning face, and your eyes as they stare up at me as soon as you open them. I want to walk through the forest, and watch you grow and teach you how to fight. I want to fight for my people. My people, not the reef people. So I told them no. And we’re going home, Vol. You and me.”

“It’s my turn now. It’s my turn to be selfish, and choose you.”

“Remember, you once told me humans believe in this concept of parallel universes. That in this immense universe we are in, there are actually other ones, parallel to our own, in which reality differs. There are infinite realties out there, they say, each of them slightly different to the other. In a different reality, maybe you and I never met. In a different reality, for some stupid, incomprehensible reason, I say yes. Maybe in another one, you leave me, or I die at the hands of the Sky People well before my time should be up. Maybe things don’t work out for us in every universe, but this one. But we have this one. I have control over this one. Maybe this universe is the only one in which I get to love you fully, and you get to do the same, and I’ll be damned if I let the opportunity pass me by.”

“I just got you back. I just got you back. I’m never letting you go again.”

You cried, letting it all out. All the hurt of hearing the news being spoken to you, all the relief of hearing it contradicted, the confession which you’ve longed for what felt like all your life. You cried in his chest for how overwhelming these past few months have been, for how much love you had to bury, for the future that you’ll now get, the one that felt like a dream or an out-of-reach fantasy, but it would be real, and finally within your grasp.

This love is good, this love is bad

This love is alive back from the dead

These hands had to let it go free, and

This love came back to me

He consoled you, so infinitely happy to be able to say these words to you, finally, and held you as you cried, removing his own tears that were lazily falling down his face at the relief of it all. He’d never have to let you go again.

“Neteyam… I can’t ask you to leave your family for me. This is too much, you can’t do this.”

He smiled and gently removed your hair out of the way, so he could look into your eyes, so you could see how serious he was, how intentioned his decision.

“Vol, you’re not asking me to do anything. It’s my decision. And this isn’t just about you. The Sky People never saw me. They don’t know who I am, I don’t look like my dad at all. I like the reef people, and I like this place, I swear I do, but I love the forest more. I miss home, I miss the Omaticaya. I don’t care if I never get to be Olo’eyktan anymore, I just want to be who I was always meant to be - a warrior of the forest people, and your mate. Ok?”

“Now, we have a day left before Lo’ak’s ceremony and our departure. You’re finally mine, and I am yours. We have one more day in this place, let’s take advantage of it.”

“Come on, Vol. We can’t leave without another swim.”

In losing grip

On sinking ships

You showed up just in time

You took a detour back to the village and stopped on a different beach, isolated and reclusive, full of greenery and sandy beaches, that you decided was now your beach, your own little portion of heaven in the reef, that Neteyam promised would be for just the two of you, for the rest of time, even after you were gone. It was a silly fantasy, of course, but in your minds, when you were together, the world was quiet and catered to you, the world was just there to be a witness to a love beyond belief, so good, and pure, so mighty and extraordinary that without a witness, might be considered just a fable, a story to tell kids at night, to keep lovers hopeful in trying times. He was happy to know he’s once more learnt your body like he used to know it back home, and ecstatic at how he would once more get to put his lessons to good use after today, and from tomorrow, every new scar, and new curve, every new freckle or mole, it would all be always be familiar to him again, he’d be there to witness it, to learn it with you, to love it for you.

“We still have a few hours before eclipse is over, what would you like to do?” he says, and you smirk, as you get up from your spot next to him and straddle his hips, running your hands over his toned body, muscular and powerful, so different to most Na’vi men you knew, and you thanked Jake Sully for the whatever human genes made it so this was the man laying beneath you, the man you got to see unravel before you, as you started lazily grinding on his length, matching his moans as the feeling of pleasure and relief built up in you.

“I might have one or two ideas.”

“You’re insatiable, you know? You’ve already had one or two ideas.”

“You have 3 months of ideas you have to make up for, ’teyam. I’m just getting a headstart.”

Your slick coated his cock as you continued moving, languid, unhurried motions, as you took your time to feel him, for him to feel you, because you had time. You had all the time in the world, and from now on you would make sure to cherish this, every step, every touch, every kiss, every orgasm, because you knew what it was like to be without it, and you now needed to have this etched in your mind, forever. So you would take your time. He growled, his canines on display and you found it so hot you increased your pace.

“You’re such a fucking tease, Vol.” you smirked again, loving the untethered, flurried look he had about him - eyes shut tightly, head pushed back, thin layer of sweat coating his beautiful skin.

“Good things come to those who wait, ‘teyam.” You rose from your spot, just enough to be able to line his cock at your entrance, just enough to be able to slowly sink back down, slowly, carefully, adjusting to his girth, a little easier now that you were stretched slightly from the last few orgasms, that you were still drenched in a mixture of both your cum and slick.

You lowered yourself as much as you could, stopping when he hit your cervix and curved slightly until a small bulge appeared in your lower abdomen, that he missed no time in caressing, in pressing until you squirmed on him.

“So beautiful. You’re so beautiful on top of me, Vol. So beautiful with my cock buried in you.”

His hands wrapped around your waist, fingers overlapping as he lifted you gently and back on him, and you cried out at the exquisite stimulation, at the pace he set, until it was so good it was overwhelming, and until the desire and pressure built up inside you reached a highpoint and exploded inside you, until your third orgasm made your legs buckle and make you fall deeper on him. The extra simulation from his length stretching you beyond what you could stand, and his thumb circling your clit, made you squirt all over him, gushes of liquid dripping down his cock and past his thighs, on the ground. Your throbbing walls squeezed him and he groaned wildly as he came in you, and you felt so full, so satisfied, so spent, so fucking good.

This love is good, this love is bad

This love is alive back from the dead,

These hands had to let it go free, and

This love came back to me

You fell unceremoniously on his chest, allowing the high to settle down as you listened to his lowering heartbeat and his progressively more relaxed breaths. You were so calm, so content, your life for the past few months felt almost like a bad dream, and you couldn’t imagine it outside of this moment anymore, couldn’t imagine not loving him everyday, not having his arms around your body as they were now, couldn’t imagine how your life would have turned out if you didn’t show up here in the first place. You made a mental note to thank Norm for talking you into the best decision you’ve ever made.

“I figured out what I want.” Neteyam says all of a sudden, and you raise your eyebrows, confused at his words.

“Hmm?”

“Our little bet in the water? I beat you to it, and I was supposed to tell you what I wanted and you were supposed to do it.”

“Ah, yes.” You say, almost impossible to perceive that that was just yesterday.

“So what do you want, 'teyam?”

“I want you to promise that you won’t name our kids some name from some movie or tv show without at least consulting me first. My dad wanted to name Lo’ak Louie and my mother almost had a heart attack. He tried again with Tuk, and my mum raced him out of the tent with a knife when he suggested Rachel, and I don’t want to do that to you, Vol.”

Your eyes widened and the tears pooled in them as you threw your head back and laughed, a real laugh, probably the first real laugh in months, since before he left.

“But Rachel’s a good name, no?” It was meant to be a joke. Just a teasing, light joke, and you wiggled your eyebrows at him as you stood on his chest and peppered kisses on his neck for as long as your breath allowed you, laughing at his groans and rolling of his eyes.

It was his turn to do the same to you, his feathery attacks tickling you and you were so happy, so so happy, it was hard to not feel tears pool in your eyes at the thought of him, of your past and your present, about how much more different the future could have looked under different circumstances.

“You’re crazy, Vol.”

“Eh, you’re right. It’s just ok. What about Chandler? I think that Chandler Te Suli Neteyam’itan just rolls off the tongue, don’t you?”

You tightened your arms around his torso, and pulled him as close to you as you could. He sighed, and you tried to keep more chuckles from slipping through as he huffed in fake annoyance.

“You’re a menace. You have to promise me!”

You nodded reluctantly, knowing that you would agree to whatever name he wanted anyway. It was a small price to pay for a lifetime of happiness, one that you’d pay over and over again, every day of your life, as long as you got to keep him.

“I promise, ‘teyam.”

This love left a permanent mark

This love is glowing in the dark

These hands had to let it go free, and

This love came back to me

You woke up in his arms as eclipse was almost over, and your heart swelled at the sight of him, sleeping peacefully, snoring softly, his chest raising and falling with each breath, and you felt yourself transported through time to all the other times you’ve found yourself in this exact spot, how many times you’ve seen him like this, comfortable and vulnerable and completely yours… except now he was actually yours. He was yours. You couldn’t help the wide grin that followed as the fact slowly sank in, still something so fantastical to you, it was hard to comprehend, hard not to let your mind ruin it by thinking of all the worst-case scenarios, of all the things that could be going wrong, of all the ways this could end badly. You shook your head in an attempt to push the bad thoughts out, and the motion woke him up, slight panic on his face until his eyes found yours, and it immediately melted, replaced by a shining smile and tender kisses on your neck.

“Good morning, ma Vol.”

“Good morning, sleepy. You know, you’re really pretty when you sleep.” You laughed as a slight blush made his cheeks purple, and he took off your mask to kiss you, and you moaned, deepening the kiss, pushing all the boundaries, and your tongue past his lips, until it hurt, until he had to force the mask back on your face.

“Why do you always take things too far?”

“Because one of us has to, ‘teyam.”

Neteyam chuckled as he buried his face in your hair. You were right about that. You’ve always been the brave one. He always thought you would have been a sight to behold as a Na’vi. You had no fear. You always went after what you wanted, and fought with an iron grip for what you believed in. When you were both 10, you and Lo’ak were fighting over a toy, and even though he was so much bigger than you, you worked so hard to make sure you got that toy, you put all your might into it, your entire body into it, and even went so far as to bite Lo’ak so he could let go. He still got the toy, but it was dented and almost broken when he did, and you said something that Neteyam will never forget: everything I let go of has claw marks on it. That was a complaint at the time, said in huffing and puffing, with puffy red eyes and an adorable pout, but Neteyam thought it was something that defined you as person your whole life. You held on to what you loved, until it bled, until there was nothing left. You were the one that kissed him first, that asked to have sex. You were took the risk, because you knew it was worth it, and he was so grateful. You came here, despite the pain and the hurt, despite not knowing what you’d find, and gave Neteyam a chance to finally be the brave one, at least once. He owed you his whole happiness, and he’d make sure you’d never forget it.

You rose to your feet, finding it hard to put on your clothes when all you wanted was to stay here with him, with the soundtrack of the waves crashing on the shore and the birds chirping away eagerly. He looked at you, admiring your body that he could never get over or used to, that he’ll continue to worship and cherish, that he’ll forever strive to know better than he knows himself, because what better way in there to live than buried and lost in you?

“I will ask you one last time, Neteyam. Are you sure you want to do this? Because you can’t change your mind after today. You’re stuck with me.”

Neteyam got up from the ground, and picked you up with ease bridal style, his long braids tickling your neck.

“Vol, the only thing in the world I want is to be stuck with you forever. That’s all I’ve ever wanted. And I know that now. Confessing to you, hearing you say you felt the same way, for the first time in my life, I felt free. Like I finally know who I am and what I want. I want to go home, and I want to be with you. That’s it. No titles, no tsaheylu, nothing will ever mean anything if it’s not done with you. So let’s just go watch my brother get some, so we can start our life together.”

You smiled and traced your fingers over his features, caressing his forehead, and nose that scrunched slightly under your touch, and cheeks and lips, and your smile widened as he shuddered beneath your fingertips. The man was whipped, and you were glad. Cause you were, too, so it was only fair.

The ceremony was beautiful. She was beautiful. Tall and turquoise skinned, with luscious, long, curly hair and a supple, jewellery-adorned body, she was everything Lo’ak could have ever wanted, and based on the few stories that Neteyam’s told you, she was. Jake insisted that you stayed. You were family, this was a happy time, and you should be here to celebrate. And so you stayed. And you watched as the Tsa’hik symbolically bound their destinies together with a piece of woven thread. You watched as she brought their heads together and made them recite words of promise and forever, looking into each other’s eyes, praying to Eywa for a fruitful mateship and for healthy offsprings, and you cried happy tears, excited tears, when you realised that your little brother was getting to spend the rest of his life with someone he loves, someone kind and compassionate, who is a good balance to his flamboyant, irresponsible personality, who can mend his heart and show him what it’s like to be put first, the way he’s always wanted. You look at your own mate, and at the rest of your family surrounding you, and you’re happy it’s all finally out in the open. That they can finally know, that in their midst, the greatest love story they have ever seen was born and thrived, and they got to be privy to it. And you were glad that they didn’t take it nearly as harshly as you thought they might, and that the world won’t get to miss you, and miss him, for it will finally know a love like yours, a love that is beyond this life and the next, a love that stories and songs will be written about, a story others will aspire to.

After the ceremony, you had to watch as they left, just the two of them, headed towards the Tree of Souls, where you were just a few hours ago, and knowing what they were going to do made you act out in fake nausea, because that was your baby brother and you didn’t want to imagine him doing things that would imply that he’s finally an adult, and he’d one day have his own kids to traumatise. You assumed Neteyam felt the same, as he looked uneasy towards where the pair was headed, and you laughed and tried to distract him, and yourself. You tried to think of anything else, like Tuk, and Kiri, like Jake and Neytiri, like the beautiful beach and the sea and the animals inhabiting it, like how this place truly was a living, breathing paradise, and how you’d love to visit as often as you could, which you assumed you would have to, since Neteyam was coming with you.

“So…” Norm started, scratching his head awkwardly, as the crowd dispersed after the ceremony. “Anyone want to address the elephant in the room, or…?”

“Right…” Neteyam said, taking a step in front of you, essentially shielding you from what you assumed was his mum’s deadly gaze. “I broke the news to my family yesterday… that I am coming back home. I will be returning to the forest with you, as that is my place, and my home. I have been in love with one person, my whole life, just one person, and I know it’s strange, and maybe hard or difficult to understand, but mother… if anyone should understand, it’s you. You fell in love with dad, despite the clan’s expectations, and the Tsa’hik’s... with a human. And look what happened, look what it ended up being. It ended up being everything. I know you don’t approve right now, and you’ve always given her a hard time, and I tried to understand, but now I will ask you to understand. Understand that she is the most beautiful, empathetic, intelligent, capable person I know. That she didn’t choose to be human, or to be born here, on this planet her body isn’t made for, but she gave it her all, and her best. And she made the best of her circumstances. And she’s brave, and she has a strong-heart. Like you.”

You felt yourself tear up at Neteyam’s words. He didn’t have to do this, you said to yourself. It didn’t matter anymore, you liked to believe. All these years of needing, craving a mother’s love, some sort of acceptance, it was childish fantasies, you lied to yourself. You didn’t want it anymore. You wanted nothing more. You saw Neytiri approach and gently move his son out of the way. In a turn of events you never saw coming, she kneeled by your side, so you could be eye to eye. She was smiling.

“You… you saved my Kiri. And for almost 20 years, I watched you be my kids’ sister, their confidant, their best friend… and now their love. For so long, I let the things that haunt me in the middle of the night guide me, and push me away from what I knew was right, because I was scared. Because it is hard to deal with the losses I have had to overcome when you are a walking, talking reminder of them. But you’re not like them. Just like my husband isn’t… just like Norm and Max aren’t… just like Spider isn’t. Thank you, for taking care of Kiri… and for taking care of Neteyam. And while I still have my reservations and concerns, I also have faith in my son, and in Eywa, and she brought you two together for a reason.”

Then, out of nowhere, she hugged you. Your skin was getting pricked and scratched from her beaded clothes, but you didn’t care. You just stood there, stunned and awed at the interaction, so much so that you were startled as she reached for your limp arms and wrapped them around herself, chuckling slightly. You couldn’t help tightening your grasp on her, and crying in the crook of her neck. You wanted it, even now. Even after all these years. You wanted nothing more.

“I am sorry, child. I’m sorry I wasn’t the mother you never had, and always needed. I’m sorry I couldn’t be there for you because of my own shortcomings. But I am here now.”

“Thank you.”

The ride home was quiet and peaceful, a sense of solace as you sat in front of Neteyam, flush against his chest on his beautiful ikran, who was cooing affectionally, as you were patting it on the back of the neck, taking in the beauty of Pandora, that you didn’t quite notice on the way here, too preoccupied with seeing him again to care. You held Neteyam’s arm and comforted him, and despite knowing he made the right decision, despite the happiness overflowing around him at getting to go back, getting to go home, getting to keep you, you knew he was sad about leaving his family behind, sad at the sea of growing pains sometimes ebbing, but now definitely flowing in his life that was rapidly changing and evolving, paying little mind to the whiplash it was leaving in its wake. It would be an adjustment for both of you, for the Sullys and for the whole clan, but one that you were excited to brave through with him.

The days were slow, and dragging, as you continued to train and learn to be one of the people, but they were also incredible satisfying, and exciting, and joyous. Because your new teacher was kind, and patient and loving, and you got to take him home every night. And where he got to teach you the ways of the Na’vi, and how to fight, you got to teach him how to be human, and how to love. Where he took so much out of you during the day, he got to pay for it by giving it to you, over and over, during the night, until you both passed out on top of each other in exhaustion and bliss. Where he spent the days mostly in silence and giving subtle commands, he spent the nights showering you in kisses and confessions, whispering how much he loves you in your ear, how lucky he is to have you, how he’s never thought happiness like this could even exist.

And the best thing about it was your friendship never changed. You still made fun of each other, and told each other everything. You laughed and cried together, you shouted at each other in anger in annoyance, you bickered and fought and made up, and it was easy, like breathing. Like it always has been.

Your kiss, my cheek, I watched you leave

Your smile, my ghost, I fell to my knees

When you're young, you just run

But you come back to what you need

•☽────✧��°˖☆˖°˖✧────☾•

“Happy birthday, Vol.”

“So, how would rate your 19th birthday compared to your 18th?”

You thought about it for a while.

“Well, I can say it’s had a lot less booze, but a lot better sex.” You both laughed while your head was rested on his shoulder, as you watched your favourite season of your favourite show, sprawled in bedsheets, his naked body glimmering in the dark and reflecting in your eyes as you took his beauty in, that you never got accustomed to, no matter how many times you saw it. When the credits rolled in and the music faded, leaving a dark room behind, silent apart from your breaths, that were getting laboured once more as desire built up in your core yet again, you straddled him and watched his face get closer to yours, until your lips met, until his tongue explored your mouth and neck, leaving traces of him on you, until your hands trailed his chest and abdomen, lingering over his abs, until they reached what they were looking for, until he made you scream, over and over, until you let him.

“You’re a fiend.”

“I’m a fiend?! What about you?” Neteyam shook his head, and you scoffed and rolled your eyes at what you thought was a preposterous statement.

“Let’s think about it. Who seduced who the first time? Who was drunk off their ass and asked to fuck, huh?”

“Who kept getting boners around their best friend until one day she had the guts to do something about it, huh?”

He rolled you off of him with ease and pinned you to the ground, smirking and pushing his hips into your still dripping core.

“You know why I kept getting boners, Vol? Because I could smell you. I could smell how wet you were around me. Your scent drove me nuts for so long. It still does. You intoxicate me. You drive me fucking crazy, Vol.”

You said nothing as you looked in his eyes, as your heart fluttered much like the butterflies that were digging their way through your stomach.

“‘teyam…” He shuts you up with kiss, tender and soft, so unlike his words or actions, and you melt into it, and the fear creeps in your chest as you fall for him deeper, as you half-consider just telling him, just coming out with it, because fuck, you loved him and this wasn’t helping.

“I have something for you. Birthday present.” Suddenly, he got off you, leaving you a breathless mess, and retrieved something from the pile of clothes on the floor. He plopped himself next to you and pulled you close, until you were resting his head on his torso, and you snuggled into him, glancing at the object in his hand curiously.

His words were soft-spoken and quiet, almost bashful, and you noticed his heart picking up speed, thumping loudly in the ear that was pressed tightly against his chest. “I didn’t know what to do for your birthday, considering you’re already blessed with the best gift in the world… my presence in your life, that is…” you snickered sarcastically, and he continued. “…but, every time I go on a mission, I think of you, and your voice that tells me to be safe, and I see your eyes looking back at me as you stitch my wounds afterwards, and I make it a point to grab a pebble at the end of each mission, to give to you. But, for one reason or another, I never did. So here.” He grabbed your hand in his, turning it upwards so your palm was facing the ceiling, and dropped the item in it.

A necklace. A gorgeous, stunning, impossibly beautiful choker, with tens, if not hundreds of beads and pebbles of different colours and textures woven into it. It looked majestic, fit for a queen, or a Tsa’hik, and you felt tears pool in your eyes at its meaning, at how long he must have been collecting these for, with you in mind, at how long it must have taken to make, at how much it meant to him, and now to you. He took it from you and you held your hair so he could fasten it around your neck. It fit you perfectly, and you smiled up at him, raising an eyebrow.

“How did you know it was going to fit?” He smiled and your fingers caressed your cheek, leaving a trail of goosebumps in their wake.

“Let’s just say I’ve had my hand wrapped around your throat enough times to have a pretty good frame of reference.”

You couldn’t help the blush in your cheeks, or the way your reached back for your new gift so you could trace your fingers over it, imprinting the feel of every bead in your mind, thinking of each one and trying to correlate it to a time, or a place, to a hunt or a battle he was part of that you weren’t, but how you were ever-present in his mind.

“Do you like it?”

“I love it, ‘teyam. Thank you.”

“Making this necklace, it was a good reminder that you have been the only constant in my life since I was born. No matter how much my life has changed, how much I changed, you’ve always been there to brave the storm with me. And I love you, Vol. You’re my best friend. Forever.”

“Forever.”

•☽────✧˖°˖☆˖°˖✧────☾•

The high of the dream lingered as you woke up, as you had to deal with its remnants that were tattooed in your mind, as you had to once more breathe in the fact that somehow waking up is better than what you just left behind, that despite how amazing these memories were, the reality of the man you love snoring softly next to you was infinitely better. It was, it always was. It was hard to find the will to get out of bed when he was in your bed, naked and comfortable, and all you wanted was to take advantage of the fact that it was your birthday, and he should be submitting to your every whim right now, and the first thing you wanted was him, deep inside of you. You smiled as you realised this day somehow stopped belonging to you two years ago, and you couldn’t find it in you to be upset about it, not when it was a reminder of this formidable love and where it all started.

After a long, tiring, satisfying morning, you got up from the bed and showered, finding comfort in the water hitting your skin and untying the knots in your tense muscles. When the two of you made your way through the village to join everyone for breakfast, you were greeted with a myriad of screams of happy birthday, from humans, avatars and Na'vi alike, and you felt a surge of joy in your heart, and a swell of gratitude for the unforeseeable change in attitude from the people of the clan. For the first time in your life, you felt welcomed here, and you didn't know whether it was Tarsem's influence, or Neteyam being back, or the Na'vi having another reminder, now that the Sky People were back, that not all humans are inherently evil, or your strenuous effort to be one of them and join in the battles and the training, but regardless of what it was, it was a gratifying change. Neteyam smirked in your direction, and you scoffed at the way he’s been acting weird all morning, a stupid smile plastered on his face.

"Birthday girl, come on. We've been dying to give you your present." Max had the biggest smile on his face and an item you couldn't place in his hand.

"Here. Happy birthday, from all of us."

You raised an eyebrow.

"From all of you? That's a big present."

You took the curious contraption in your hands and twirled it around. It was lanky and weird, and it looked old, before your time, and even their time. You noticed as you inspected it that it had an eyepiece that resembled that of a microscope.

"That, kid, is called a stereoscope. Look into it."

You did, and as you put your eyes in the socket, a big picture of... cells came into view. But they weren't cells you've ever seen before.

"What is this?"

"Those, kid... are your cells. Actually, if we are being specific, they are your future Avatar's cells."

The stereoscope fell from your hands and you were happy Spider had catlike reflexes because it looked precious and unique and you didn't want to break it, but God, in that moment, you really couldn't care less.

"What did you say?"

"You know all the things we got from the humans that we didn't know what to do with or what they were? Well, we figured it out, kid. You, Spider and Max are all getting Avatars. And their technology massively improved, too. They're growing like crazy, it shouldn't take more than a year. By next year, you might be able to take it out for a spin."

This love is alive back from the dead

These hands had to let it go free, and

This love came back to me

You turned around and looked at Neteyam, who had tears in his eyes, and you jumped in his arms, and screamed, screamed at the top of your lungs, because what the hell was this and how could you be so lucky to get everything you’ve ever wanted? As if the universe was willing to reward you for 20 years of hurt and inaptitude and incertitude and unfairness, and you had to admit, it was doing a good job at redeeming itself.

“Vol… I think Eywa has heard my prayers. Vol, I love you so much, and you’re mine, forever. And one day, you’ll take your Iknimaya and your own ikran, and you’ll have your place among the people. And one day, our kids will run through these tents and through these forests, and their laughter will fill these caves and our hearts, and I can’t wait, I can’t wait to keep you, and to love you every day, for the rest of my life, and to thank my lucky star that I found you, and you found me, and you chose me.”

You raised your hand to your necklace, that you wore every day now, thinking of all it represented, touching every pebble - each one, in your mind, a memory, or a touch, or a kiss, or a laugh, each one an i love you, an I miss you said to each other, each one a second, a minute, an hour, a day, a month spent together, each one a new memory you’d get to make, a touch, or a kiss, or a laugh you’d get to experience every day, each one an I love you or an I miss you you’ll say until you ran out of breath, you embraced it all, and embraced him, too - for good measure.

“Forever.”

This love left a permanent mark

This love is glowing in the dark

These hands had to let it go free, and

This love came back to me

A/N: there it is, besties. the happy ending to cruel summer. honestly, i just wanted to say a massive thank you if you managed to reach this far. when i started this blog, a few months ago, and posted the first chapter of illicit affairs, i did it on a whim, i did because i thought why not? Now, 2000 followers later, I get to write so many stories I never thought I'd ever get to, or even think of, and it's all because of you.

Cruel Summer means a lot to me, as i think it signifies my growth as a writer, my growth on this platform, and as a person learning through deal with my own personal issues through my characters. I loved writing it so much, I cried so much, probably more than with any other story I wrote, and I hope I managed to make you feel something, and maybe think, bc that's all I want, that's all anybody that does any sort of art can want i think.

Thank you for coming on this journey with me, and I hope you stay for what's next, bc I'm not done, as long as there's still people that want to be here. I love you and am very grateful to all 2000 of you.

Taglist: @liluvtojineteyam @pinkpantheris @fanboyluvr@bananafruityawne @zaddyneteyamlovergirl @netemoon @www-interludeshadow-com@jackiehollanderr

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