#Neteyam x gn reader

[bookworm551]

A Few More Minutes | Neteyam x gn!reader oneshot

A/N: I took a month off and cut you bitches some slack. Tell a friend to tell a friend…I’m baaaack (but seriously, sorry I haven’t been posting like at all.) I’ve been working on a lot of stuff, but I’ve just been hitting wall after wall with each of my WIPs, but I read a poem on TikTok the other day called “Would I?” By Orion Carloto in her collection “Film For Her” and this little story popped right out of my head fully formed like Athena, so I hope you enjoy :)

Warnings: mentions of death and grief, mostly just fluff tho

Words: 2.3k

There was a comforting sense of consistency to your mornings. Every day, as Eclipse would end, the clan would collectively begin to stir, shaking off the remnants of sleep to start the day anew. Everyone was ready to manage the work that helped maintain the balance and livelihood of the clan.

It used to be that you were ready and willing to rise at the first sign of light to get things done. Now, you felt as though the end of Eclipse was a cruelty meant to pull you away from the warmth and comfort pressed against you.

Neteyam always woke up before you. You were never sure how long he would lie awake next to you, but every morning without fail, when you began to stir, he was already waiting for you to open your eyes. Many times, you were roused by his subtle movements—his fingers brushing against your cheek, kisses against your forehead, his body turning to press against yours.

That morning, it had been his arm around your waist pulling you closer. You were dimly aware of the small space between you and blindly followed his gentle prompting to curl up at his side. With your eyes still closed, you rolled over and reached your arm across his torso and pulled yourself closer to him.

Your head rested on his chest as his arm wrapped around you. His slow, steady heartbeat was lulling you back to sleep as his fingers gently stroked your back. You were at the cusp of unconsciousness when his deep voice broke the silence, "You need to wake up."

You groaned softly as you pulled yourself as close to his body as possible, one of your legs moving to rest on his. He was so warm, and you were so comfortable that you once again felt spiteful towards the sun for emerging yet again. "I am awake," you murmured, your voice raspy with sleep.

Neteyam gave a little huff of amusement and hummed. "I will know when I see your eyes," he countered. You gave another soft groan. Your eyelids felt impossibly heavy. You tried opening your eyes, but Neteyam's gentle touch and steady heartbeat made it even more difficult for you to shake yourself from your sleepiness.

"I am awake," you repeated, though you knew he wasn't going to let you get away with it. He didn't respond for a moment, and to your disappointment, his hand stopped caressing your back. His lips pressed against your forehead before he muttered, "You have to prove it."

You buried your face into his neck in protest. He chuckled softly, and you felt him press another kiss to your temple. "Come on now," he whispered, his lips right next to your ear. "You need to wake up." You heaved a large sigh and grunted in defiance.

In response, Neteyam brushed his fingers over your cheek. You could feel a subtle smile form on your lips as he traced the edge of your face and down your jaw. His fingers curled under your chin, gently tilting your head up to face him, and he pressed his lips to yours. It was a soft kiss, a lazy one, but you loved it. The hand on your back gripped you a little tighter, and your own hand that was draped over his torso slowly slid up his chest to cradle his face.

This was the surest way to wake you up. It didn't matter how long you had been together or how many kisses you had shared, his lips against yours always made your heart beat a little faster and your breathing quicken a little bit. And if his hands would begin to roam across your body, well, you weren't falling back to sleep.

You pulled apart gently, and you managed to slowly open your eyes to look at him. You had to blink a few times for your vision to clear, and when it did, you could see Neteyam's handsome face gazing down at you with a soft smile.

"There you are," he murmured as his fingers began brushing up and down your back again. You returned his smile and traced your thumb over his cheek. "I told you I’m awake," you replied, sleep still evident in your voice. He hummed in amusement as he look down at you in adoration. "So you did."

You took a minute to admire his face and to appreciate this moment between you. Waking up like this made you dread actually getting up every morning. If you could lay like this for the rest of your life, you would. You cursed the sun for forcing you to leave Neteyam's side every day.

With that thought, you closed your eyes again and rested your head back down on his chest. "Let's stay like this forever," you pleaded quietly. He chuckled at you and pressed his lips to your forehead again. "If only we could," he mused. "But we can stay like this for a few more minutes."

You smiled at your small sense of victory. Under your ear, you could hear his heartbeat again, and your head moved gently with the rise and fall of his chest. His fingers still moved gently over the skin of your back as your breathing eventually began to match his own.

***

In the afternoon, when the day was at its hottest, the clan collectively took time to rest for a small period of time. Some slept, some socialized, and some attended to some easy chores. For you, it didn't matter so long as you were able to spend that time with Neteyam.

You were sitting on the floor as you braided vines into rope when Neteyam finally walked in. You greeted him with a smile and said, "There you are. I haven't seen you all day." He poured himself some water from a basin you kept and replied, "I have been out with my father all morning."

“Doing what?” You asked curiously. He shrugged. “Some scouting,” he replied. “We spotted some smoke in the distance and went to see what it was. There are more Sky People setting up near the southern end of the forest past the river.”

He took a drink and sighed before coming over to sit behind you. Wrapping his arms around your body and pressing a kiss to your neck, he asked, "And how have you been today, my love?" You smiled and let go of the half-finished rope to rest your arms over his. "Horribly lonely without you," you responded dramatically.

Neteyam chuckled in amusement at your theatrics and placed another kiss on your neck. He had been out in the sun all day, and you leaned back against him to enjoy his warmth. "I went hunting with your brother and a few others," you added. He hummed in interest and asked quietly, "Who brought back the most?" "I did," you stated smugly. He hummed again softly and mumbled, "Of course you did."

You turned your head to get a better look at his face. His eyes were closed, and he had a gentle smile on his lips. "Are you tired?" You asked, noting his sleepy expression. His little smile grew just a bit wider as he opened his eyes to look at you again. "A little," he admitted, "but I don't want to sleep. I just want to spend time with you."

You smiled as he kissed your neck again. Turning around, you wrapped your arms around his shoulders and moved to sit on his lap. His hands rested on your thighs as he gazed up at you lovingly. “You are so clingy,” you told him as you rested your forehead against his.

He chuckled and replied, “Yes, I am.” You rolled your eyes at him, but he tilted his head up to meet your lips, and you couldn’t help but melt into him. There was no urgency to your movements. His hands lazily moved up from your thighs to wrap around your torso while you exchanged slow, drawn-out kisses.

You cherished these moments, the few minutes you had to be alone together with no expectations or obligations. Some days, you would both spend time with his family or your family, sometimes with friends, but you both preferred the privacy of your own space to relax for a while before attending to any more work that needed to be done.

Outside, you heard the sounds of others slowly grow louder and busier, indicating that the collective resting time was nearing its end. You felt a jab of disappointment having only spent a few minutes with Neteyam, and soon, you would be expected to go out and continue your day until Eclipse.

Neteyam could sense what you were thinking, and he broke apart from your mouth for a moment. “We don’t have to go out yet,” he murmured softly, his lips brushing against yours. “I know,” you whispered, “but we can’t stay in here forever.” He huffed a small sigh and pressed another gentle kiss to your lips. “Just a few more minutes,” he told you.

You hummed thoughtfully for a second as he proceeded to kiss you again. “Okay,” you conceded with a smile. “Just a few more minutes.”

***

The day Mo'at died, the whole clan grieved. Being tsahik meant that she had been the mother of the clan, the bridge between Eywa and the people. She had passed in the early morning, which allowed time for the Sullys to mourn together and prepare her body for the burial.

In the late evening light, the clan was gathered around the hollowed out roots of the tree where Mo'at's body now rested. Leaves and pedals were scattered over her as you all stood with a single woodsprite in hand. It was tradition that the closest relatives of the deceased lower their sprite first.

First, Neytiri stepped forward, her face contorted in grief as she fought back her tears and placed her woodsprite on her mother. After her, Jake placed his own sprite down into the grave, and when he stepped back, Neteyam let go of your hand to release his sprite as well. His face was poised and composed as he stepped back to take your hand again.

When the rest of his siblings had lowered their woodsprites, you were next. You gave Neteyam's hand a quick squeeze before stepping forward to lower the spirit in your hand to rest onto Mo'at's body. As you moved back to stand next to him, the rest of the clan came forward to follow suit.

The funeral rites moved quickly, and after the sun had receded behind the planet in the sky, you found yourself back in your private tent alone with Neteyam. There was a heavy silence that had settled over the two of you. Neteyam was sitting cross legged on the floor staring absently at nothing in particular. You had brought a small platter of food back to share in private rather than with the rest of the clan as you usually did.

"You should eat," you told him gently, placing the platter down in front of him. Neteyam didn't even look down at the food, he just shook his head and replied quietly, "I am not hungry." You watched him carefully for a moment, felling conflicted on whether or not you should push for him to eat.

You raised a hand to hold his cheek and carefully turned his face to look at you. His eyes met yours, and you could see the exhaustion that weighed on him. All day, he had been perfectly composed in front of the whole clan, but now, he had dropped the act and was finally displaying the grief he was feeling. It broke your heart.

"I know this is hard, Neteyam," you said softly, "but you need to eat, just a little bit." He seemed to study your face for a moment, and a tiny, sad smile pulled at his lips for just a second before he squeezed his eyes shut and took an unsteady breath. When he opened them again, his eyes were shining with tears, and he brought a hand up to wrap around your wrist. "I don't know what I would do without you," he whispered finally.

His words made your chest ache, and your eyes were immediately filled with tears. "Don't think about that," you told him as you pulled him into a hug. "I am here now." He buried his head in your neck as he wrapped his arms tightly around your waist. It wasn't long before his breathing became unsteady and his shoulders began to shake.

You wished with your whole heart that you could save him from this pain. You felt completely powerless to help him. Mo'at had been old, yes, and it came as no surprise to anyone that she had passed, but no amount of time or preparation could save one from the suffocating effects of grief. Of course, you also mourned for Mo'at as well, but for you, she was the tsahik, a leader. For Neteyam, she was a grandmother, his family. Your own grief was nothing compared to his.

You continued holding Neteyam as he wept quietly into your collarbone, and you cried with him. Neteyam so rarely displayed this level of vulnerability with anyone, but you were his safe space, the one who knew everything about him. There was no one in the world he trusted more, and he loved you with his entire being.

You weren't sure of how long you stayed there like that before your tears ran dry and Neteyam's breathing steadied. Your hand rubbed up and down his back slowly in an effort to soothe him. There was a delicate silence that had settled over you both, and neither one of you wanted to break it.

After a time, you asked softly, "Do you want to go to sleep?" Neteyam didn't respond for a moment, but then, he whispered, "Can we just stay like this for a few more minutes?" You nodded and placed a light kiss on his shoulder.

"We can stay like this forever."

[devilsjacket]

Y/n: I slept for almost 12 hours but I might still be tired so lets go for 12 more just incase.

Neteyam: Y/n, that's a coma.

Y/n: Sounds festive.

[bonnibuckets]

— too close to the sun | neteyam

pairings: gn! navi x neteyam

warnings: aged up neteyam (FOR PLOT PURPOSES), angsty rivals, physical dominance (tension but not crossing any lines), makeout sesh (nothing serious just teenagers being teenagers), choking (but not sexual)

synopsis: you always felt like neteyam was competition— you felt less than and you hated him...or did you? 

wc: 2.5K+

note: “kurkung” means dickhead

── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──

You grew up alongside neteyam you watched and experienced him mold into who he is now. Neteyam felt like a parasite to you, your family was close friends which meant you were physically close as well. You were an only child— so naturally, you felt pressured by your parents to be a certain way, act a certain way, and look a certain way.

You felt like you were compared to him— that he was better. It gnawed at your insides to be held at such a standard to then only feel like a letdown. As the years went on your hatred for neteyam grew— you wanted to be recognized for you and not just someone in his shadow.

It was exasperating to always be around him like a never-ending loop— you hated it, you hated him. It felt like fire in your body whenever you saw him, heard his voice, or even the mention of him. You wanted to bury his existence into the ground of pandora, as he wanted the same with you.

On the flip side neteyam hated you— he hated your freedom. He wanted it, he wanted to feel free from expectations from his parents. He thought your life was perfect and that you lived carefreely— so he hated you.. naturally. He didn't like that you always had an attitude around him and only towards him, he'd seen you interact with his siblings and others but when it came to him you pretended he was invisible.

It's not like he wished to speak with you but he wanted to be acknowledged by you. He was the next in line so he did feel that ego jab and it set his body ablaze whenever you'd walk right by him and cross your arms and roll your eyes as you pretended he was a tree. He didn't know why— he just knew he didn't like you.

—

“Tuk this flower is really pretty thank you!” you smiled as she held it up. “Let me put it in your hair” tuk jumped up and down and you playfully rolled your eyes as you crouched down. She carefully places the flower behind your ear and gently moved your hair “there! perfect” she smiled big.

“Thank you soooo much!” you said as you picked her up and tickled her and she was laughing and kicking. “Stop! It tickles!” she laughed but it was soon interrupted by an obvious fake cough.

You whipped your head around and saw who it was— your jaw clenched and your body went rigid. You carefully set tuk down and fixed her unruly hair. “Tuk it’s time to go,” neteyam said motioning her to follow, he dared not step too close— to you. It was like an invisible barrier between the two of you, neither one ever getting too close.

Maybe because the thought of being close repulsed either one or— maybe it was for a deep buried down unattainable desire that begged to be released, but was pushed down nonetheless.

—

You rolled your eyes and smiled to tuk “go on little one” you said as she hugged you quickly. You watched her run past her brother and you locked eyes with the devil himself. You hoped he could feel the hate seething out of your pores— hoping to poison him. You wanted the thick tension in the air to suffocate him whole, but it seemed to be suffocating you instead.

You shook your head and scoffed as you turned and walked away not being able to handle the pressure. You scowled as you couldn’t get his look out of your head, the way his face was completely unreadable and his deadpan eyes stared into your soul. You were scared he might’ve seen something you hadn’t planned on.

—

You sniffed as you wiped away tears while touching the top of the water watching it ripple. You sighed and groaned and gently slapped your face to center yourself “don’t let his words get to you”. You looked down at yourself through the reflection, “i’m not that bad looking” you told yourself as you moved your hair out of the way.

“What are you doing?” you jumped and immediately stood up “nothing” you lied. Neteyam crossed his arms looking you up and down, you felt daggers throughout your body and your breath got caught “nothing just got teased” you said exhaling.

You turned back around and waved your hand to dismiss him— it felt weird. He wasn’t looking at you with hatred and neither were you, you were extremely vulnerable but you hoped he didn’t notice.

“Just go,” you said shaking your head as you held yourself with your arms, you watched as his figure appeared in the reflection of the water. “No” you felt anger slowly bubbling up, “why?” you said as your fingernails slightly dug into your skin.

“Because i just…don’t want to,” he said hesitantly. You felt the heat rise and you were trying to hold it back— you didn’t know why everything was weird about this interaction. Was he messing with you? Was he trying to get under your skin? What was he doing? The thoughts racing in your mind were interrupted by his piercing voice.

“Whatever happened don’t let it bother you,” he said and you whipped your head to see him standing all stoic-like. The anger you were caping popped and you felt the words spill before you even think. “What do you even know kurkung!” You immediately shut your mouth tight with wide eyes, neteyam’s face went from emotionless to rage in seconds.

It was a blur— he grabbed you and pushed you into a nearby tree knocking the wind out of you. He hissed and placed his forearm against your neck pinning you. You felt your stomach drop and you struggled against him— “let go!” you hissed kicking. You tried to bite him and step on his toes but nothing was working as he kept his grip. “Shut up!” he gritted and pushed his arm into you harder shutting you up.

You cursed to yourself as you felt lightheaded and were forced to conserve the air that was being taken from you. You stared daggers into neteyam and if looks could kill— both of you would be dead. You wished to claw out his eyes and skin him alive as he bared his fangs at you, you knew he wanted you to submit but you didn’t want to play his game. “Listen to me” he warned and you spat in his face.

He immediately switched from choking you with his forearm to his hand. You gasped and clawed at his fingers, he wasn’t going to kill you but you definitely felt the pressure on your airway. “You’re so damn infuriating!” he hissed and wiped his face, “I try and be nice and this is what thanks i get?!” he yelled getting in your face.

You felt your heart beat race and you felt antsy— you wanted to escape his hard gaze and grip “Let. me. go.” you seethed. You didn’t like what you were feeling something about this side of neteyam made your heart skip a beat. What was wrong with you? He was literally choking you, but you were secretly loving the power he had over you.

“You will learn to respect me,” neteyam said sternly. You mentally groaned, you knew if you didn’t comply you would pass out but if you did you could just go home and forget about this entire situation— at the cost of your dignity. You bit your lip and swallowed your pride as you nodded, “say it” neteyam said tightening his grip and your head was throbbing as your vision was slowly going out.

“Respect i’ll respect you,” you said quickly and he let you go. You immediately fell to your knees and tried to take in as much air as you could as you coughed. “Good,” he said and walked off, you rubbed your neck and bit your cheek because it was going to bruise if it wasn’t already.

—

The “incident” had you thinking for a while, you couldn’t get it out of your head. Every time you thought about it you subconsciously rubbed your neck even though the bruising had healed completely. He was seeping into your mind and neteyam slowly became the only thing that you thought about. You hated him even more because of that— you wanted to get him back and make him pay for it. You just never had the opportunity until now.

—

Neteyam was practicing hitting a target, and you had followed him from home tree. Quietly hopping from tree to tree with your bow. You wanted to show him up and prove that you were infact better.

You watched as he just barely made the bullseye and you smirked. He got visibly frustrated because he didn't hit perfectly, and you were snickering silently. You liked watching him mess up— it made you feel better about yourself in a weird sadistic way. You drew your bow and aimed at his target from above and let it fly— hitting the bullseye dead center.

You smirked and neteyam immediately whipped his head around bow ready and you laughed “I hit the target because you couldn’t!” His face immediately went red from embarrassment and he started stomping towards you. ‘Oh shit’ you thought to yourself as you ran away scared that what happened last time would happen again.

“Get back here!” neteyam yelled as he climbed the tree and chased after you. You jumped quickly as you could from tree to tree trying to lose him. You turned around briefly to see where he was and a branch smacked you in the face sending you back and down to the ground.

The wind was knocked out of you as your back arched and you held your face in pain, “oh my fuck” you said as tears welled in your eyes. Your whole body was in pain as you tried to get up as quickly as possible, but it was too late neteyam had caught up.

“You’re like a baby making so much noise” he gruffed. He pushed you back down with his foot and you hissed as you smacked his leg and got up. “Bah!” he shook his head and as you rose up he looked into your eyes “why did you do that?” he said sucking in his cheek.

“I said it already,” you said walking away, you couldn’t handle this right now. He followed and you groaned “stop!” you raised your voice “whatever you’re trying to do stop it, i hit the target because i followed you because i was noisy and i got hurt so i’m going home” you said as your face went red from embarrassment.

He grabbed your arm and turned you around “but why?” he said as his eyebrows furrowed. You puffed your cheeks and pinched the bridge of your nose “i don’t know! okay i wasn’t thinking” he shook his head. “You know why and you will not tell me” he stared into your eyes and you felt your heart race. He was too close and you could smell him and it was fogging your brain.

You tried to push him away but he grabbed your hands “why cannot you just tell me” he said holding your hands in place as you tried to break free from his grasp. You hissed and tried to kick him but he just got angry and cornered you as your breath hitched when he got so close you could feel his breath. “Tell. me.” he said staring into your soul, you felt like you were going to explode at any second. You wanted nothing more than just to crawl in a hole and pretend to be dead.

“I. do. NOT. know.” you said gritting your teeth, as you squirmed. He licked his lips and rolled his eyes “you think i’m a fool?” he said tilting his head and you felt your cheeks heat up. His eyes immediately narrowed and you hoped he didn’t notice. “No i just rather not tell you” you said jerking towards him and he laughed still holding you. “What happened to respecting me?” your face immediately went white remembering. “I do!” you said trying even harder to escape but he wasn’t budging.

You were getting fed up with all of this and your head was hurting and you wished he would shut up. His mouth kept running but you said spaced out hoping he would talk himself to death but you couldn’t handle it anymore “Shut up!”

He snickered and grabbed your jaw with his hand, “respect” he said as his face got closer. Your breath was ridged and you looked at his lips wishing they were on you. You immediately blinked and shut that thought away as he pulled you back into reality. “I’m sick and tired of this,” he said looming over you. You couldn’t focus on anything other than his face and lips, the way his eyes stared at you with hate.

You looked up through your eyelashes and reached up to shut his mouth. A rush of adrenaline hit you and he immediately pushed you away and looked at you starstruck. There was a moment of silence as you both shared a breathless look before crashing reconnecting lips. You put your hands into his hair as he kissed you as you were his last breath. Opened mouths and opened hearts as you both pulled away for some air as you both looked at each other in awe.

You cleared your throat and he rubbed the back of his neck as you too shared beet-red faces. “Well we should get back,” you said looking off to the side not being able to handle the embarrassment. “Yea..we should,” he said awkwardly as he also looked off to the side. Your heart was racing and you had no idea what to do with your emotions and a million thoughts were racing in your head.

“I don’t really hate you” neteyam said looking at you sheepishly hoping you’d understand what he was truly trying to say. Your heart swelled “i know” you softly said messing with the beads on your song cord. “I’m sorry” he said and you looked into his eyes unsure. You wanted to believe him but you were so scared of being hurt “i am too” you said hesitantly. “I’m also sorry i called you a kurkung” you said as you both shared a little chuckle.

“People’s expectations can push you to think you hate another person” neteyam said as he rubbed his arm. You had never seen him be this expressive or vulnerable and it was a change you weren’t use to, but you knew he was being genuine. Your heart raced as you reached to grab his hand “i see you” you half smiled as you stared into his eyes. His eyes widened and his gaze softened as your eyes looked at him empathetically.

He squeezed your hand and nodded half smiling “i see you too”.

— [fin]

taglist 🏷️: @d34ng3l @wekiamo @fanboyluvr @ellieshaze @sully-stick-together @gloryy-vs @catgogrrr @kyber4crystal @kairreeee @winkingface @starfrier @lov3-bby @itsokilovemetoo @eywaheardyou @loverswiftsblog @owaowaowawa @durinsnowxii @loaksbitch

[fabricated-misslieness]

ᴘᴀɪʀɪɴɢ: sully kids x hard of hearing metkayina gn reader (platonic)

ꜱᴜᴍᴍᴀʀʏ: In a search for a way to communicate with you, the family has to master Na'vi sign language. Along the way of teaching them, however, you learn more about yourself.

This is a gender neutral version of a previous fic! If you have read it, it is the exact same thing.

ʀᴇ𝐐: yes ~ ᴡᴏʀᴅ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛ: 6776 ~ male reader vers.

ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢꜱ: feelings of shame and embarrassment, struggling to hear and understand people (and yourself), hints of angst

ᴍᴀʏ��'ꜱ ɴᴏᴛᴇ: to check the original notes, check the male reader vers. (this version has more words because I included the extras) - There aren't actually many pronouns or moments referring to the reader in my fics that aren't in second point of view. Knowing this, I only skimmed through. If you encounter anything I missed along the way, don't hesitate to tell me. I WILL make the necessary changes.

☾⋆☆⋆☽

Ever since you were a kid, you had always loved the ocean. The Metkayina clan was a tribe of the water, the ocean, so it made sense; but unlike others your age who preferred to play with each other, you enjoyed being completely surrounded by Eywa’s children within the ocean.

You had no qualms with solitude, as all you needed was the sea; but eventually, it proved to be a problem.

The sea gives and the sea takes; it gave you a world to love and took your hearing.

☾⋆☆⋆☽

Tsireya introduced you to Sully’s in their first lesson as one of the Metkayina who truly loved the ocean. “This is our best free diver,” She put a hand on your shoulder, “(y/n). You’re lucky I managed to find 'em.”

Instead of responding in some negative way at her comment, you grin and offer a small wave.

“How so?” Lo'ak questions.

Tsireya doesn’t answer outright. She giggles, “You’ll see.”

The chief’s children and you jump into the water, demonstrating the proper way to dive in that best transitions into swimming. The Sully’s, on the other hand, jump into the water as though in play.

You could see it in their eyes, their amazement. The sea was an entirely different world from the one above, it was something you loved about it.

Only the Na'vi and their animal companions mingled on the coast above. The ilu could be compared to their banshees, nothing special; and the people, though physically different, were still Na'vi.

You didn’t doubt that these water creatures were unlike anything they’d seen before, and you were happy that they were astonished with the wildlife you, too, loved.

You turn back forward to swim, knowing that they’ll follow. You show them the form, using your tail to help and keeping your body like a spear to be able to cut through the water.

You lead them deeper into the sea, but Ao'nung taps your shoulder. You turn to follow his finger, which points up.

The Sully’s were taking a breath of air. Right, that’s probably something you should teach them, but you were probably not the best teacher.

Within the water, your safe haven, you tended to forget many things, so you signed to them, keep going, forgetting they didn’t know how to sign.

You keep swimming, this time checking up on them as you reach an underwater slope. They were bad swimmers, it seemed, which is an idea sort of incomprehensible to you, as every Metkayina was basically born in the ocean. They pushed off of coral and rock formations to push forward and keep up.

They don’t even make it to you when they go back up for air.

What’s wrong with them? Ao'nung signs.

They’re bad divers. Rotxo replies. Though fingers and hands hardly conveyed emotion, you knew from Rotxo and Ao'nung’s generally jokester demeanor that he was making fun of them.

Stop, they’re learning. Tsireya scolds.

Whilst they talk to one another, you get distracted with something out of the corner of your eye. It was bioluminescence, hardly noticeable during the daytime, which is why it’s so curious. You forget the lesson at hand and follow it.

The chief’s children and Rotxo swim up to talk to the Sully’s where they will actually understand each other. It is only after Tsireya promises to teach them sign language, which Neteyam ignorantly describes as “finger talk”, that they notice you and their dear sister’s disappearance.

The bioluminescence you had caught came from a lone hammerhead squid, which is even more peculiar because it was alone. Perhaps it was paranoid, because when it saw you, it began swimming away with determination.

You struggle to catch up with it.

It dives behind large coral, hoping to lose you, but you always catch up. Hammerhead squids found safety in numbers, so they usually didn’t go so fast, which means it would tire out soon.

Knowing this, you kept up the chase. Regardless, however, it puts up a good fight.

It shoots out its ink prematurely. The black liquid disperses in the water, clouding much of the view ahead of you. Instead of swimming through it, you dive under, although you almost bump into a sharp rock. Narrowly, you avoid it, swimming up quickly once you’re past the ink.

Though you move past it, its original outcome–clouding your view–succeeds. When you clear the ink, you suddenly bump into someone.

Sorry. You sign, rubbing at your forehead where you’d bumped into her, so so sorry.

The girl before you is one of the Sully’s. Her eyebrows furrow, confusion in her face, but you misinterpret it as anger. Great, it’s the Sully’s first day in the clan and you were already giving bad impressions.

I didn’t mean to bump into you.

Her eyebrows furrow further. Ultimately, although she doesn’t like it, she decides to surface so that the two of you may speak. She points up and you understand.

Once you’re up at the surface, she says, “I don’t know what you’re saying.”

You had long since memorized the way one’s mouth moves when they say those words, and their variations, so you explain, “I was apologizing for bumping into you.”

Though the next couple words come muddled to you, you just barely catch her saying “alright” and a wave of relief washes over you. “What’s your name?”

“Kiri.” She gives you a polite smile.

“Nice to meet you, Kiri.” You nod. “I didn’t realize we’d lost you while diving. Why’d you wander off?”

“Oh, I um,” She worries that you may think her a freak, so she waters it down. “I got distracted.”

You chuckle, “Yeah, I get it. Happens a lot to me too. It’s like a different world, isn’t it?”

Her face lights up when you agree with her, “Yeah, it is.” She ached to observe it again, to be surrounded by Eywa'eveng. “Do you mind if I..?” She gestures down.

You tilt your head, confused. “You what?”

“Go down again.” Kiri mutters, little ashamed to say out loud that she’d rather be underwater than talk with you, but you manage to read her lips.

“Oh, of course I don’t.” You shake your head, “Actually, I was in the middle of finding something. Do you wanna come with?”

Though she much preferred to take the sights all in on her own and on her own time, she had to admit your offer was interesting. “Okay, sure.” She nods.

Kiri follows you back underwater, and keeps swimming after you. Reminded of the other Sully’s, you make sure to keep your head straight and swim at a slower pace.

As you keep swimming past large coral and columns of algae, trying to catch a glimpse of the squid you were searching for before, Kiri gets distracted by something particularly special out of the corner of her eye.

She stays in place, entranced, and almost swims for it before remembering the task at hand. However, when she turns to you, you’re swimming back to her.

Txampaysye. You sign, but of course she wouldn’t understand. So, you wave your hand in the water to create ripples in the current and signify the water. Then, you pass a hand from your stomach to your throat and out your mouth to signify breathing. Breathing underwater.

Somehow, she understands. Though the butterfly-like Txampaysye catches her attention, uncharacteristically of her, she gestures for you to keep going. She’ll have time another day.

Just a bit of swimming later, you find the squid again. It doesn’t notice you. You point at it and Kiri’s head tilts with curiosity.

How could a squid be bioluminescent in the day? The sunlight’s rays still reached it.

Do you want to catch it? You closed your hand, from splayed fingers into a fist very quickly, the sign for catch. It was pretty straight forward, so Kiri understood; what she didn’t understand, and what she was against, was the idea.

The question was only formal. You swim forward without waiting for her answer, thinking she wanted to catch it.

You approach it as silently as possible, keeping your arms to your body and swaying up and down, using your feet like a fin. You keep your tail rigid and in place, for paddling it side to side as opposed to up and down like your legs would create unnecessary noise.

Once you are close enough, you lunge with a quick, sharp movement. It doesn’t have time to react before you catch it between your fingers and palm.

Triumphantly, you turn to Kiri with your hand raised, failing to notice her growing anger. You swim towards her with enthusiasm.

Fyìp ioang. You sign.

For a moment you think you may be misinterpreting confusion as anger again, but you quickly realize you’re interpreting correctly. Kiri pries your fingers apart, freeing the creature who spurts the last of its ink (only a little) and leaves.

Her eyebrows are furrowed, a look you hate, and she points up towards the surface again. You follow, embarrasment beginning to spread through your body.

“You shouldn’t be taking animals against their will.” She scolds, pointing an accusatory finger at you. Her anger was loud and clear in her voice, loud enough for you to hear.

“Sorry.” You purse your lips and mumble so low you can’t even hear it yourself, “I was only curious.”

She huffs, “Your curiosity doesn’t mean you can imprison them just to poke and prod.”

“Yeah,” You point your gaze down, “you’re right.”

“Just don’t do it again.” With that, she begins to swim away, not caring if you follow her.

With shame, you dive back into the water, in search of one of your favorite places to soothe yourself.

She was right, of course, but your curiosity was often one of your driving points. It was why you spent most of your time in the ocean, what kept you entertained underwater. On the other hand, it was also why you’d lost so much of your hearing.

☾⋆☆⋆☽

The next morning, on their way to their second lesson, the Sully’s find you.

Lo'ak, after yesterday, now understands why Tsireya was lucky to find you before. He thinks they’re pretty lucky today, too, as it seems you’re going to head into the ocean. “(y/n)!” He calls for your attention, but you don’t hear him.

You’re just about to dive in, so Lo'ak hurries up to meet you. He catches you by the shoulder. “Hey.”

“Hey.” You greet him with a smile. “What’s up?”

“You left us yesterday. Where’d you go?” He asks curiously.

“I’m sorry, what?” You ask, having not heard him entirely.

“Where’d you go?” He repeats.

Again, you don’t hear him. You purse your lips, the shame of not being able to understand people creeping in. “Oh, sorry, I didn’t hear you.”

“Where did you go?” Lo'ak repeats for the third time, slowing down his speech.

“Look, I’m really sorry–”

Neteyam catches up, slinging an arm over Lo'ak’s shoulder. “What my brother means to ask is where you went yesterday, when you were supposed to be teaching us.”

“Teach you?” You tilt your head as you think. Did the Olo'eyktan assign you something? Tsireya only took the opportunity because she saw you yesterday. You can’t think of anything, though. “What am I supposed to teach you?”

Lo'ak sighs, “When you were teaching us how to free dive?”

The sigh makes you purse your lips. Your stupid ears were making people frustrated again. Still, you couldn’t say anything when you didn’t understand them. “…what about it?”

Tsireya comes to save you, noticing the struggle between you and the Sully’s. “(y/n), here,” She begins, pushing Lo'ak’s hand off your shoulder, “struggles to hear, if you guys haven’t noticed.”

She signs to you, taking advantage of the fact they don’t know how to sign. Do you want them to know your story?

You shake your head, to which she nods.

“It’d be much appreciated if you guys spoke louder, spoke clearer, and moved your mouths wider.” She demonstrates the way they should speak as she instructs them. “It helps them to be able to read your lips until you learn how to sign.”

“So they can hear us?” Lo'ak asks.

“Barely.” You respond, reminding him that you are in fact in this conversation.

Neteyam nods, rubbing a burn into his brother’s scalp. “Sorry, Lo'ak needs to remember these sorts of things.”

“Shut up, bro.” He pushes his brother away, causing him to skid sideways a few paces.

“(y/n), you would be a great help in teaching them sign language.” Tsireya turns to you, signing as she speaks.

You understand, but you purse your lips. “Today? I sort of wanted to explore…”

“Doesn’t have to be today, no,” She shakes her head, “today is about breathing. If you want to leave, that’s perfectly alright.”

She smiles at you. Oh, Eywa, you loved Tsireya. She was so kind.

You take her permission and give a wave before diving into the water.

You swim farther into the ocean, trying to wash off your embarrassment with the cool water. It burned in your cheeks, anyway.

When the Olo'eyktan and Tsahìk found out about your hearing loss, you had already reached a point where there was no way to be healed. Everyone blamed your parents, their neglect for your ears and the proper care after a swim. But in truth, you knew you were also to blame.

It had been a long time since you were a burden. The Metkayina accommodated for your hearing loss. You were lucky to be born in the clan who originated the language that didn’t require hearing. You had long since come to a comfortable life because of it.

When you realize that the embarrassment won’t wear off so easy, you lay down on the sea grass covered sand—or lay down as best you can. The current pushes your head and limbs up.

Your intent was to relax, but the bioluminescent squid from yesterday pops up above you. You react quickly, reaching out and trapping it in your hand again.

You. You sign, awkward because you’re one-handed, You embarrassed me in front of Kiri.

You’d missed two of its tentacles in grabbing it. It crosses its arms, giving you attitude, then pointed at you instead. Somehow, you understand.

Alright, fine. You huff, It’s my fault. You release the squid, but this time it lingers. You forgive me?

It waves two of its tentacles up and down as if to nod its head.

You pluck a small fish from its school and hand it over as an extra peace offering. Sorry, fyìp.

It stares blankly at your offering. Clearly, it was refusing it, because it was definitely capable of catching that fish on its own. Also, you were ignoring the lesson Kiri taught you. You release the fish, which scurries back to its school, signing sorry again.

Why do you want to hang out with me?

The tentacles at its sides raise up in a shrug.

You lost your group. You purse your lips, extending your hand so that the squid may sit on it, even if it is redundant underwater. Are you trying to find a new one?

It shrugs again, though accepts the spot you give it on your hand.

Well, I suppose we’re the same in that. You and I, we’re special. I’m hard of hearing, and you’re bioluminescent. You laugh inwardly, Although, those are two different things.

Fyìp does a twirl in your hand. It seems pleased.

Alright, let’s go. I’ll show you some of my favorite places.

☾⋆☆⋆☽

After the Sully’s breathing exercises, Neteyam is eager to find you. He dives into the water, both practicing his breathing and speed.

For the third time, he’s lucky to find you returning to the village for dinner, this time you were fortunately not caught up in exploring the sea.

Neteyam waves his hand in greeting. You do the same, though you hadn’t realized he had more to say.

(y/n). He signs.

Immediately, your eyes light up. Neteyam is delighted.

Who taught you that? You sign. Your hands are a flurry of speed, but he manages to catch the words anyway.

He recognized “you” and “taught” and the distinct lack of “I”, so he can assume what you asked. Tsireya. He signs simply, for she hadn’t taught him much more than that and your names.

I’ll teach you too.

He recognizes “I”, “teach”, and “you”, and understands. He nods excitedly, then points up towards the surface. You follow.

“You’re learning.” You grin as you surface.

“Yeah.” His smile turns bashful, “I want to learn so I can talk to you better.” He even exaggerates the movement of his lips so that you may read them.

“Aww, that’s sweet.” Though you’ve only known him for so long, you give him a hug. “Thank you.”

“No need to thank me.” He shakes his head, still holding your elbows gently even as you part from the hug, “It’s just what I should do.”

☾⋆☆⋆☽

“Hey, La'ok.” You tuck a hair behind your ear, “Sorry I couldn’t hear you the other day.”

“It’s nothing.” Lo'ak shakes his head, “I was actually being rude. I didn’t know you had–wait a minute.”

“What?”

“Did you just call me La'ok?”

Your purse your lips, genuinely confused. “…is that not your name?”

Lo'ak’s eyebrows raise. He closes his eyes as he registers the situation. La'ot. You thought his name was Lo'at. He laughs into his hands, shaking his head. It’s a laugh of disbelief, self-deprecating in a way. “La'ok!”

“What’s your name?”

“Lo'ak.” He exaggerates the enunciation.

You read his lips, “Lo…” His face rises with hope. “..at?”

“What?” His head jerks dramatically, “No, no, Lo'ak.”

“Lo'at.” You repeat again, not catching the way his tongue remained neutral at the bottom of his mouth.

“It’s Lo'ak. Not T, K.” He corrects.

“Lo'ak.” You nod, pursing your lips, “Okay. I uh, think I’ve gotta go.”

“Do you?” He asks. He hadn’t heard your name being called, and if it was you probably wouldn’t either. He also didn’t think you were really someone with many tasks in the clan.

“Yep.” You say, your voice akin to a meep.

Before he gets a chance to respond, you run towards the water with a hurry and dive in. Fyìp finds its way towards you immediately.

Fyìp! You sign with the equivalence to a whine, That was so embarrasssing!!

☾⋆☆⋆☽

Oh, you skxawng! You’re late, you’re late, you’re late!

Too caught up within the serenity that the sea brought you, you had forgotten that you were supposed to be teaching the Sully’s sign language!

You swim towards the shore with much hurry. Your body was preoccupied with a mission, to get there fast, and your mind was berating you for being stuck in your head so much. Because of it, you’re not exactly focusing on the world around you.

“Oof!” You grunt as you bump into a column. It was one of the ones that supported the Marui pods above.

You pull yourself up onto your elbows on the pathway between pods, spitting out the water you’d caught in your mouth when you bumped so stupidly into a column.

Your squid friend jumps up too, sticking to your leg then climbing up to your shoulder. Its sticky tentacles feel weird on your skin, but you pay it no mind. Instead, you focus on cradling the spot on your forehead where you collided.

When Fyìp lands on your shoulder, you turn to it with a huff and go back to rubbing your head. Then, once you actually notice, you double take back to it.

“You can go above the surface?”

Now, no longer muffled by the water, you can just barely catch its squeal. Huh, so it was making sound all this time.

It twirls around your shoulder as if to say yes.

You turn your head back forward, resting your chin on the pathway. “I’m so stupid–wait.” The Sully’s and the chief’s children are having the lesson quite a few ways ahead of you. They didn’t seem to notice you. “It’s them.”

Fyìp’s eyes almost seem to light up when it sees Kiri.

“Gah, should I really be joining them now? I’m so late!” You frown, thinking it over. “I’d be so lost,” You narrate your thoughts for Fyìp, “every time I think about something to teach, what if they already taught it? What even is their teaching plan? I shouldn’t have gone out today. Should’ve stayed to talk to Tsireya.”

Thanks to your awful hearing and tunnel-vision, you don’t notice Fyìp yapping in your ear. Only when it slaps you on the shoulder–it was a small animal, hardly hurt–do you pay attention to it.

“What?” You whine, now rubbing your shoulder.

Fyìp points forward vigorously, pulling its tentacle forwafd and back repeatedly.

“It’ll be so embarrassing.”

It crosses its arms in front of itself like a no. Even though you’re sure it will be, Fyìp’s insistence reminds you of your promise to Neteyam. It wasn’t broken just yet.

“Okay, fine.”

At your affirmation, Fyìp drops back into the water. You follow suit.

☾⋆☆⋆☽

Learning a new language, later in your life, was always hard. Although, Jake Sully was the only one in his family with that experience.

“Lo'ak, why are you home early?” Jake and Neytiri rush over to him, sitting down as he does.

“Sign language is so hard.” Lo'ak groans, his head down.

“Learning another language is hard,” Jake affirms, putting a reassuring hand on his son’s shoulder. “but it’s like everything else. With practice, you’ll get the hang of it.”

“At first, he was terrible at Na'vi too.” Neytiri grins, causing Jake to roll his eyes.

“Yes, and I became better.” He gives her a pointed look, to which she only replies by baring her fangs playfully.

“Well, it’s more than that.” Lo'ak frowns, looking down at his hands, the very reason he was so different. "I have five fingers! Everyone else has four. Whenever there’s a sign that requires fingers, everyone stares at me and Kiri. Their looks are so blank, but I can tell what they’re thinking.“

"So why didn’t you say something?” Jake asks. “It’s unlike you to not do anything.”

It was a good question that left him silent as he thought. He didn’t really know the answer, not as he dug through the surface of his mind. As he searched deeper, he found an answer, but he didn’t really want to believe it. “It’s because… Tsireya and (y/n) were there.”

“And..?” Neytiri prods for him to continue.

“I don’t want to disappoint them…” Lo'ak purses his lips, “or be a burden to them.”

“Son,” Jake places his hands on both Lo'ak’s shoulders, causing him to finally look up at him. Jake wanted to be sure that Lo'ak understood the sentiment behind his words. “you’re only learning. You can’t disappoint them. And if they get upset at you, then that’s their fault because they do not understand you and who you are.”

“Next time,” Neytiri speaks up, catching their attention, “make an arrangement. Find a way to work around it. Alright?”

Lo'ak nods, “Okay.”

☾⋆☆⋆☽

Usually, you were the one sought out within the Metkayina if they ever needed you because you were always doing something in the ocean. The sea was vast and cluttered, from seawall terrace to the shore, it was all within the realm of possibility of where you were.

But, for once, you’re seeking someone out.

“Kiri!” You call, “I was looking for you.”

She emerges from the ocean, ringing the water out of her hair. Too caught up in the sights and feeling Eywa in the sea, she had missed dinner. You could relate to that, so you had to make sure she was taking care of herself.

“What is it?” Kiri asks, treading carefully on her words.

“I saved you some dinner.” You hand her a leaf dish of fish.

“Oh.” Only once she sees the food does she remember her growling stomach and hunger. “Thank you.” She takes the leaf from you gingerly but begins to scarf it down once it’s in her own hands.

“It’s no problem.” You begin, “Sometimes I accidentally skip dinner too. I know the feeling of great hunger in the morning.”

Kiri nods in understanding.

“Make sure to get the water out of your ears.” You enthusiastically demonstrate by tipping your head to the side and tapping the side of it. “You don’t want to end up like me.”

Kiri almost chokes on her food. She coughs and puts it on the sand temporarily. “Like you?”

“You know,” She doesn’t know how you can retain a smile like this. “bad hearing and all.”

Ever since you’d lost the majority of your hearing, the adults started using you as an example of what not to do. Not only did they advice the young ones while using your example, they also advised your peers. At first, it was embarrassing, but you began to understand why you were an example and had long since grown used to the embarrassment it brought.

“(y/n), are you using yourself as an example?”

“What?” You tease, “Wanna end up like me?”

“No, (y/n), that’s not what I mean.” She takes both your hands in hers. “You shouldn’t be using yourself as an example of what happens if you don’t take care of yourself.”

“Why not?” It was pretty normal to you now. You purse your lips, “Everyone uses me as an example. I am what happens if you don't–”

“Because,” Kiri breathes out in disbelief, “you’re more than an example. You’re your own person. You’re more than your past mistakes.”

“You’re right,” You snicker at the thought, “just like last time.”

“I’m just saying what has to be said.” She reassures, rubbing her thumbs over the back of your hands, “Value yourself more.”

☾⋆☆⋆☽

The trend of you seeking other people out, when it’d always been the opposite before, followed along for Lo'ak.

After your sign language lessons, you retreated into the ocean to clear your thoughts. Now that you had what you were looking for, you had to find Lo'ak, which thankfully doesn’t take long.

“Lo'ak!” You call as your eyes find him.

He himself seemed to be searching for you too, so when he sees you, his eyes brighten. He covers the ground between you two quickly. “Hey, I was just looking for you.”

“Me too. Do you wanna go first?”

He nods, “I found out a way we can work around my fingers.”

“Your fingers?” You tilt your head forward.

“Yeah.” He shows them off, wiggling all five for you.

“What about them?”

“Oh,” He realizes the question wasn’t because you’d somehow forgotten how many he had, but because you hadn’t heard the rest of his sentence. He speaks with his mouth wider for you, “I found a way to work around them.”

“That’s what I was trying to find you for, actually.” You snicker, “I found a way to work with them.”

“With them?” He hadn’t thought it possible.

“Yep.” You grin, “Oh, but you were going first. Go on.”

“Right, um,” Lo'ak lifts one of his hands with the other, up to your view, then he pulls his last finger down. “I was thinking we could tie down my pinkie.”

“Your pinkie?”

“My last finger, the smallest, it’s called the pinkie.”

“Okay, right.” You nod.

“Tie it down with like a, um,” He snaps his fingers while he thinks. “rope or something until I learn to stop using it.”

After hearing his thought, you burst out laughing. It leaves Lo'ak confused. He stands there awkwardly, arms falling down to his sides with a building shame because he can’t understand what you were laughing at.

“Sorry, um,” You shake your head to wipe the laughter from your face, “that’s too cruel, Lo'ak.”

“Cruel?” He asks, eyebrows furrowed.

“Yeah, don’t you think? It’s just like what your sister taught me. We shouldn’t take things against their will.” You hold his hand to bring it back between the two of you and press his pinkie down against his palm. The force you put on his knuckle and the position is rather uncomfortable for Lo'ak, and it shows in his face. “See?”

“Yeah, you’re right.” He mutters, then realizes his mistake. “Sorry, I mean, you’re right.” He enunciates louder and clearer. “Just that… I couldn’t really find any other way.”

“Well, I was thinking we could just use your middle fingers as a unit.” You bring his pinkie back up and press your fingers on his middle fingers, “What do you call them?”

“This is the middle finger,” He wiggles it and specifically avoids accidentally showing it off to you, even if you probably don’t know what it means. “and this is the ring finger.”

“Okay.” You nod, understanding quickly. Then, you press your fingers against the ring’s left and the middle’s right and hold them together. “We can consider these as my middle finger.”

You hold your hand up next to his, pulling your other fingers down to show him the middle. He almost laughs and tells you the meaning, but decides it’s funnier if you don’t know.

“Say, "happen” for example.“ You use his hand as if it were your own, as yours was holding it, and press the side of yourd against it. Then, you bring it to the side quickly whilst pushing your fingers wide apart. "To mimic my middle finger, you can use your middle and ring fingers together.”

“But… wouldn’t it be confusing?” Lo'ak argues, looking up into your eyes.

You turn away from him, biting your lip, “Much the same as you’re… accommodating for me by learning sign language, we must accommodate for you too. It’s only right.”

“Accommodate…” He hated that word, and clearly, you were just as ashamed to use it. It had been used all throughout your lives because of your particularities. “Let’s not say that.”

You turn back up to him, a glimmer of hope within your eyes. “What do you mean?”

“Let’s not say we’re accommodating for our differences.” He turns his hand, the one that rested upon your palm, and uses it to hold yours reassuringly. “Let’s just say that we’re doing this for each other.”

He loves the way your face lights up with a smile. “That sounds good.”

☾⋆☆⋆☽

Neteyam finds you as you’re coming back home for dinner early. You’re tapping the water from your ears when he approaches.

“Hey.” You greet, noticing him.

“Hey.” Neteyam mirrors. His face displays an enthusiastic grin. “How was the ocean today?” He signs as he speaks.

You pay attention more to his signing, as he was noticeably putting much effort into it. You read his signs out loud, “How was.. the fish, yesterday? I thought it was pretty good.”

“No, um..” He doesn’t let the failure get to him. Instead, he shakes his head and tries again.

“How was the… algae, today?” You blow a raspberry as you think, “Little slimy, green, just like always?”

Neteyam restarts, thinking the signs over in his head again. He was on the right track: ocean, fish, algae, all things related to water. He just needed to get the sign right, he’d already gotten the “today” part. “Okay.” He tries again.

“Nete…” You frown, “I don’t know what you’re trying to say.”

“Alright, maybe I’ll try something else.” Neteyam sighs. He rethinks it all again. “Alright. Do you like ilu?”

“Do I enjoy swimming?” You nod, “Of course I do, but less than resting underwater.”

“No, that wasn’t it.” He shakes his head, letting out a small groan. He rubs his hands together, warming them up to ready himself.

“Do I… excited, dive?” You frown, “I don’t think I’m reading those correctly.”

He sighs. Seeing how far he was from what he wanted to say, he puts his head in his hands. “I’m not doing well…” He whines into them.

You take his hands in yours and pull them away from his face, primarily so that you may actually read his lips and or listen to him, but you know the message the gesture conveys anyway. “Don’t worry. You’re still learning.”

“Well, I won't–”

“No more self-deprecating thoughts.” You interrupt him, squeezing his hands. “You’ll get better eventually. I promise you’ll get better with time.”

Neteyam huffs, but he nods. “I don’t know how you’ll fulfill that promise though.”

“Fpivìl…” You say as you think. When you find an idea, you snap your fingers. “I’ll teach you better, I’ll be more proactive at thinking of lessons. Are you a visual or auditory learner?”

“What?”

“We’ll figure that out too.”

Neteyam had to say, your enthusiasm was contagious.

☾⋆☆⋆☽

Thanks to Tsireya’s efforts, the Sully’s had learned the ways of the Metkayina.

They were still different, they were Omatikaya, and they and the Metkayina would always have their differences. However, despite their leaner bodies, they could catch up with you in the water; despite other physical differences like smaller lungs, they could stay underwater almost as long as you. They still preferred bow and arrow over spear and ikran over ilu.

Soon enough, they were good enough at free diving that they were allowed to perform their first Iknimaya trial, catching a small shell thrown into the sea.

Of course, it was the first because it was the easiest, the Metkayina completed it when they were young; but still, it called for a celebration.

Ronal denied a coming of age celebration. It was past the season for it, the tulkuns weren’t home yet, and the Metkayina didn’t know the Sully’s enough for it to have any real sentiment.

It didn’t matter to you, though. All they really wanted was a celebration with friends (which Ao'nung so gladly volunteered to not participate in).

You brought them into the sea for the celebration. For once, it wasn’t a test of their breathing, speed, or swimming form. It was just exploring, enjoying the water; and they hadn’t done that since they tamed their ilu.

As you dove into the sea, Fyìp swam to be near you. It seemed unbothered by the stares of awe he received.

Kiri grinned, signing to you, Fyìp ioang?

Yeah! Call him Fyìp now. You offer it a spot on your palm, which it accepts. You thrust your hand forward to show them all. He warmed up to me, forgave me.

Forgave you? Lo'ak signed. After your arrangement, he’d really gotten good at sign language.

Though the celebration was not meant to be a test, it was a great demonstration of how they were on their way to master sign language.

I believe I told you about the lesson Kiri taught me. I caught Fyìp to show it off to her, and she taught me I shouldn’t have done so, even through all my curiosity. You nod at the thought, Wise words.

Kiri tucks a hair behind her ear, It just made sense to me. Not something wise or anything.

Sure. You huff out a laugh, then turn around to swim further in. Fyìp clings onto your shoulder.

The sights were already amazing. The Sully’s were no longer limited by depth or obstacles now that they knew the way of water, so now they could see everything the sea had to offer.

You turn back to them again with an offer, You guys wanna see one of my favorite places? Knowing that they’ll definitely agree, you turn back around and start leading the way.

It doesn’t take long before you are standing before a marvel.

It was a cove of coral, fish, and many more ocean creatures. They were all colorful and eye-catching, but the main attraction was the ilu. It was similar to the Banshee Rookery in the Ayram alusìng.

We don’t always tame ilu bred from other ilu at the village. Sometimes, we come here, though rarely. You explain.

These ilu were wilder, more aloof, but they still retained their friendly nature with the Na'vi. So long as you do not anger them, we can hang out with them.

The Sully’s were practically let loose around the area. As you already knew much of it, you laid down on a rock at the heart of it and simply watched. Fyìp stuck around you, catching stray fish for dinner.

Kiri easily communicated with the ilu. Even if they were already friendly, they seemed even warmer with her.

Lo'ak managed to find the more playful ilu and had somehow gotten himself into a game of tag. He seemed to be one of the runners. He ducked behind coral, up and around rock arches. He was holding his own, despite the ilu naturally being much faster. Tsireya found herself watching too, and was laughing at Lo'ak’s panicked face as he narrowly avoided being caught by an ilu.

As Lo'ak and Kiri both found their own things to do, it seemed Neteyam was stuck with Tuk. But she wasn’t a burden to him. What kind of big brother would he be if she was?

He held her by the hand and admired some of the smaller creatures with her, although it seemed as though she had other intentions.

She escaped Neteyam’s grasp and began swimming away with vigor. For a moment, Neteyam panicked, rushing after her with alarm. However, he soon relaxed once she saw she was going to you.

She waved hello adorably with a grin then signed. As the youngest, she had a bit more trouble with signing, but you understood her. Why do you like being in the water so much?

Well, it’s very serene. You reply.

Neteyam caught up. He seemed interested too. Is that it?

You shrug, Sort of. There’s some other reasons, but… You took in Tuk’s hopeful eyes. She was far too cute to be denied. I could tell them to you.

Please? Will you? She swims closer, holding onto your wrists so that you may still sign.

Perhaps Tsireya rounded them up; otherwise, you have no idea why, as signing doesn’t make sound, but they all round up around you. Even Fyìp swims closer.

It was a bit nerve-wracking, having all those eyes on you, but you had grown close to all of them. Nothing bad would come of it if you told them.

Okay.

Tuk’s smile grows wider, she swims away so the others can see you too.

Ever since I was a kid, the ocean was so entrancing. It was majestic, a different world from the one above. The other kids my age, they preferred to play with one another. I preferred to explore the ocean. Even though I was hardly used to the world above, I still preferred exploring underwater.

Tsireya taught you that the sea gives and takes. While it gave me a world to love, it also took my hearing because I was negligent towards my ears. Eventually, the sea was more than just the world I loved. It was also the only place I could be normal.

Lo'ak and Kiri listen more carefully when you mention the word normal. It was something they both struggled with.

Everybody needs to sign to speak. You don’t need your ears to listen to them, you only need your eyes; and my eyes, I still have. Underwater, I swim and speak and listen just like everyone else.

Tsireya swims closer, a frown on her face. She holds your elbow endearingly, You are just like everyone else.

Yeah, you are. Neteyam does the same, swimming closer. You are Na'vi.

We are Na'vi. Lo'ak signs.

Though we are all different, we are all Eywa’s children. Kiri signs. It doesn’t matter in what way we are different, my fingers, our blood, your hearing…

Lo'ak’s eyebrows… Neteyam signs. Said eyebrows furrow at the teasing. Lo'ak retaliates by squeezing Neteyam’s exposed neck, as his brother always does to him. Neteyam pushes him away.

You guys, you all understand. You smile, I’m so sorry that the Metkayina treat you differently.

Lo'ak shakes his head, If it is something we must teach them, we’ll make them learn. He smiles, So long as we have great teachers like you and Tsireya to back us up, right?

You roll your eyes–he thinks it’s endearing–at him but nod. We’ll teach them that we’re all the same.

Tomorrow will be a good day for that. Tsireya signs, Let’s not forget we are celebrating your first Iknimaya trial.

Fyìp does an encouraging twirl that makes everyone smile.

To tomorrow. You sign.

[thesecretsoftheuniverse]

Could u do jealous neteyam headcannons or a fic pls? I love all ur works and ur writing style!

clouded perception !

– pairing neteyam x gn!reader | wc 2.6k | warnings a lot of jealousy, a lot of angst i guess (i had way too much fun with this oops) but also some fluff | what's inside neteyam has to learn how to deal with something he has never felt before as he watches you train with a close friend – authors note my first request! how exciting! i'm sorry it took so long. i hope i did your wishes justice anonie and thank you for the kind words! also feedback is of course always appreciated (and i'm the worst at naming fics haha) :)

neteyam excelled in anything you could possibly think of, especially in activities related to hunting, whether it was tracking, archery or flying. he was a natural in everything he persued. so obviously he felt hurt when you decided so ask another one of the skilled young na’vi to help you practice your shooting skills as you had always had a hard time keeping up with the others when it came to using your bow and arrow. you were training to become a healer, which put different qualities to a test. ever since you had been romantically involved with neteyam mo’at startet to take you under her wing to make sure you grew into your role of a possible future tsahík. but knowing every detail about plants and their healing capabilities and getting taught how to nurse and how to form a close bond with ewya didn’t spare you from basic training in archery to be able to defend yourself and your people if it ever came to a worst case scenario. this was the reason why you started to spend more time than usual with one of your closest childhood friends – ���anoa. it didn’t pass anyone that he was one of the most promising young warriors of the clan, frequently being compared to neteyam te suli tsyeyk'itan, the golden boy and child progidy of the clan. but neteyam had been busy, now more than ever. if he wasn’t with the hunting party, he was planning with his dad for an upcoming raid, assisting him where- and whenever he could. because of that the time you and neteyam shared was scarce and most definitely not used to get additional lessons in archery. that was why you confided in your best friend who gladly accepted your request.

one morning you and ‘anoa were standing on the edge of a clearing, facing makeshift targets. it was still early, the first rays of sunshine barely touching the tips of the trees and morning dew still covering the grass. your back was resting against ‘anoa’s bare chest as you were repeating the basics while drawing your bow, him correcting your position again and again, “you need more core strength. mind your abdominal muscles.” he turned over, pressing the palm of his hand against your stomach, which was slowly rising and falling from your deep breaths, “more, more.” as you were trying your best to tense your muscles just like ‘anoa instructed you pulled funny faces to make your training seem extra exhausting and get a smile out of your friend. “skxawng,” ‘anoa chuckled, slightly tapping the side of your head, but immediately returning to a more serious demeanour, “now just position your elbow a little bit higher and put your hand next to your cheek. close your eyes and feel your breath tingling your skin. sense the tension flooding your body and how it spreads to your arms and legs as you pull the string of your bow,” he said with a calm voice while correcting the placement of your left hand. “good. now that we’ve freshened up that bit try and give it a shot.” you focused on your target, feeling the hot breath tickling the skin of your fingers, mentally checking your position one last time. your mind shut down completely as you were focusing on what was in front of you before you let go of the arrow, seeing it flying into the direction of your target and hitting its center. you heard the impact as the arrowhead drilled itself into the trunk of the tree. “hey, you’re a natural! i don’t even know why we’ve been practicing all morning”, 'anoa cheered with a smile, giving you a side-hug. unbeknownst to you you had been watched. neteyam noticed how you had been up too early for you linking and left the village. surprised by your secretive behaviour and also wondering what you were up to was why he decided to follow you, which led to him hiding in the thicket of the forest, closely observing your little meet up. he knew that he could trust you and that you would never go behind is back. he also knew ‘anoa and what he meant to you, that you had been growing up together and that both of you were very close, almost like siblings as you yourself never had one. this was rather unnatural to na’vi, who tended to come in big families. but due to that you and ‘anoa were basically a package deal as over time he became something like a substitute sibling to you. and neteyam also knew that ‘anoa was already having a partner, a lovely girl. neteyam hadn’t been introduced to her yet, but he knew that she was a talented weaver and that she occasionally helped out his mother if there was something needed last minute while preparing for special occasions. but still, neteyam couldn’t help but let jealousy cloud his thinking, especially when he should’ve been the one standing there with you, with your back pressed against his body, him adjusting your movements and watching you beaming with pride after successfully making your shot. jealousy – something he had never felt before. something he never had to feel, as every male na’vi knew who you belonged to and that the son of the olo’eyktan is someone not to be messed with . so they always kept their distance. neteyam contemplated whether he should interrupt your training session, but settled on heading back to the village, still lost in his thoughts and having a frown on his face, angrily pushing aside every branch crossing his way as he was desperately trying to get rid of the irrational feeling sitting in his guts, which was slowly spreading through his body and engulfing his mind.

something was off. you could almost smell it in the air. this undetectable feeling was following you around all day long, haunting you at work while you were taking care of the wounded, ill and elderly. it was eating away at the food as you were sitting on the floor sharing dinner with your lover’s family and it followed you into your sleep. you couldn’t tell what exactly it was, but something was different. at first it didn’t really catch your attention as you thought this was just a phase. the day of the raid, which had been planned for weeks, was coming closer. so not only was every clan member busy with preparations as everyone who could in some way contribute was imposed with tasks depending on what their role and function within the clan was, but everyone was mostly stressed and worried. over time dinners started to become quieter as the mood shifted. even tuk, who tended to talk your ears off, wasn’t as chatty as usual. in the morning you suddenly were left without a loving peck on your temple, in the evening you weren’t greeted with a welcoming hug, being asked about your day. and this was going on for days. kiri was the first one to notice, to notice how neteyam was the one who grew more distant. more distant of you. how the first thing asking about after coming back from a hunt wasn’t you and your well-being or how he started to barely mention you anymore, requiting questions about you asked in his presence with a grunt. he started to become closed off and stopped talking about you, the light of his life. someone he normally didn’t shut up about. really, he stopped talking to anyone as time went by and jealousy started to consume him, wondering about why you felt the need of turning away from him, self-doubts starting to creep in. neteyam was a people pleaser, always trying his best for everyone around him. not meeting expectations was definitely something he was afraid of. he was afraid, if he had given you too little and if that was why you were turning to someone else, to someone better than him. the mighty warrior was afraid of being inferior. a fear he had been carrying with him ever since he had been able to think, something that had always been sitting in the back of his mind and now his worst nightmare seemingly became reality. losing his love, the one he was destined to be with, to someone else. to an outsider watching this probably seemed like an overreaction, like something blown completely out of proportion. you had been enamoured by neteyam ever since you were children. even a blind one was able to see it. so of course not a single soul would have possibly doubted your connection and your relationship, but neteyam was seeing red as he was confronted with something he was afraid of the most – losing a loved one, which changed his perception severely.

now that he became hyper-aware of the relationship of you and ‘anoa neteyam didn’t fail to miss every tiny interaction between you and your friend. he noticed ‘anoa’s subtle touches and how he put his hand on your lower back to bring you comfort. and neteyam saw the little wrinkles under your eyes, which always started to show whenever someone made you laugh so hard you had to hold your stomach and throw your head back. he noticed more than ever how ‘anoa made you laugh in that specific way, in a way only neteyam should have made you laugh. these little things hadn’t been anything new, but they started to bother him. it started to bother him that he wasn’t the only one in your life, even though this was something that had been off the table since the very beginning of your relationship as this was never going to happen anyway. he knew how much space ‘anoa took up in your life. but nonetheless you had never given your boyfriend any reason to doubt you or your love for him.

when neteyam started to brush off your absent-minded touches the both of you had been sharing ever since you started going out it finally dawned on you. it wasn’t the raid that occupied your lover’s mind, it had been you. but not in a good way. all of a sudden so many things made sense. how neteyam had been deliberately avoiding you all this time. how neytiri started to watch you and her oldest son with a worried look on her face, knowing that there was nothing in the world she could do make the situation any better as she knew she had to let you figure this out yourselves. and how kiri’s behaviour towards her brother became almost unbearable after she finally put two and two together. so you decided to take neteyam aside in an unwatched moment and make him listen to you. you didn’t know yet how to do that, but your plan had been set.

as you were on a break from your duties and sitting outside of one of the healer’s tents, thinking about how you could approach the issue, which had been on your mind for several days at that point you spotted neteyam. he was just about to leave for the next war council, accompanying his father who was discussing the next steps with other great warriors of the clan. you knew there probably would have come a better moment than this to stop him from whatever he was doing in order to talk. but you had to get this sorted, especially when anything could happen to neteyam during the planned raid. so you pulled yourself together, got up and headed into the same direction as him, following him into the woods. after a few minutes of just walking neteyam finally made a halt. you noticed the tips of his ears perking up, which gave away that he had heard you and that he knew who had been tracing his every step. neteyam inhaled deeply before slightly turning his head and acknowledging your presence, “y/n, I know you’re here with me.” you hesitated to react and give away your hiding spot. “you can come out. i know you’ve been following me ever since i left the village. i noticed your step pattern.” shit, you thought. of course he did. you slowly emerged from behind the plants you were hiding, not caring about the leaves rustling and the branches cracking under your feet. “yeah, it’s me”, you confirmed. you hesitantly approached him from behind, trying to not get too close as you didn’t want to intrude his space. neteyam lowered his head, still having his back turned to you, as you confessed, “i wanted to talk.” “well, but I don’t want to talk”, he requited. even though he was so quiet he was almost whispering, which was why you could barely hear him, you noticed how he sounded hurt, disappointment tinting his voice. “my love, you’ve been avoiding me for days know. i don’t know what i did wrong or how and why i hurt you. so could you please talk to me so that we can resolve this together?”, you asked gently, trying to stay diplomatic, even though anger was boiling within you due to his unfair treatment of you. “you truly don’t know what’s going on, do you?”, he snorted, but shortly after admitted, “to be fair i don’t even know what got into me myself.” “no, doofus! of course i don’t know what’s going. you didn’t say a word, just blatantly decided to avoid me.”

you finally dared to come closer, now standing directly behind neteyam’s back, putting on of your hands on his shoulder and slowly turning him around. “talk to me”, you encouraged him. neteyam sighed, putting his forehead against yours and taking your hands into his, stroking his thumbs along your knuckles. “it’s him. i know it’s irrational as he has always been here and he always will. nothing is ever going to change anything about that.” it took you a second before you understood who or what your boyfriend was talking about – ‘anoa. the look in your eyes became soft. “oh, yawne”, you whispered, putting one of your hands on his neck, playing with his hairline, and cupping his cheek with the other one, “i love you. so much. nothing is ever going to change about that,” you reassured with a hoarse voice. never in your wildest dreams would you leave neteyam, your fiercest protector and greatest confident. “i needed some more training, okay? and i knew you were busy. there is so little time we have to spend together and i value it too greatly to just waste it on some stupid bow and a stick, alright? that’s why i approached ‘anoa as i knew he would be understanding and gladly help me out.” you noticed how tears dared to escape your boyfriend’s eyes, a state he was seldomly seen in, while he was repeatedly nodding his head, "i guess i just felt useless." your heart broke into pieces as you listened to his words. “you will never be useless. not to this clan and especially not to me. your pain is my pain. so please cheer up, okay? i can’t stand seeing you in all this agony,” you said with the hint of a smile on your face, now tearing up yourself, while gently shaking him to try and cheer him up. neteyam sighed in reliefe, coming to realization that you weren’t going anywhere but sticking right to his side.

© thesecretsoftheuniverse 2023 | all rights reserved. do not repost, republish, steal, translate, modify or claim my work as your own.

[sethcertified]

「 UNDERNEATH THE MOONLIGHT ! 」 . . . 📁

avatar : neteyam sully

wrd count : 740

⊹˚.⋆ synopsis . . . [name] hides away to eywa when they see neteyam with a potential mate; heartbroken until neteyam comes and finds them

⊹˚.⋆ starring . . . neteyam sully & gn reader

It had taken a long time for the Sully family to learn the ways of the Metkayina Clan, but they had done it. They were well-adjusted to the ways of surviving the ocean and its many inhabitants. Despite their small tails, nimble bodies, and lack of adaption to the ocean's ways, they had done it.

Mating was the question, now, for the Sullys’.

Jake and Neytiri were mates already, Kiri's heart had already been taken by the human that had come to live with the tribe after the battle with the sky people, Lo'ak had already mated with Tsireya, and Tuk was far too young to mate with anyone. That only left the boy who had stolen your heart without a mate; Neteyam.

You saw how the tribe members fawned over Neteyam. He was mysterious, tall, smart, and extremely quick to adapt to new situations and challenges. He was every Navi's dream, and with the news spreading that it was time for him to pick a mate, they were clinging to him obsessively.

You couldn't dare to see him with another. Not after watching him have at least one potential mate at his side for days on end. So you hid away to Eywa.

Small tears leaked from your eyes as you imagined Neteyam off with someone right now, declaring their love for each other. It felt like stones in your heart. Sobs left your lips as you covered your face with your hands trying to muffle the sound.

A hand placed itself on your shoulder, and you swatted your tail at the unknown intruder. You hissed at the dark silhouette as you moved in a position to attack.

"[Name]! It's just me, Neteyam." he moved out of the shadows and into the light, and you relaxed. Tears stained your cheeks, and your eyes were watery, and you prayed that Neteyam wouldn't notice. He moved closer to you and brought his hand to your face, "What is wrong?"

You averted your gaze, "Nothing."

Neteyam moved his hand from your cheek to your chin, moving you to look at him, "You can be honest with me."

You exhaled, "Nothing, Neteyam." You turned away from him, and held Eywa's root for the strength to overcome your emotions, "Have you found a mate yet?"

"No, not yet.

You closed your eyes in relief, "You should hurry. The tribe is awaiting your answer."

Neteyam sighed as he too grabbed a root of Eywa, "Why are you so adamant about me finding a mate?"

Your braid whipped Neteyam in the face as you spun to face him, "| want you to be happy! A mate will make you happy," you pushed your index finger into his chest, "Is that too much to ask for?"

Neteyam took your hand from his chest and grasped it in his, "You make me happy."

"I am not your mate."

"You could be"

Your eyes met his as silence arose between the two of you. His gaze was certain. Your brows furrowed, "Why me? Why not Muangtu or E'eay or Äiroku?"

Neteyam rested his forehead against yours causing your noses to brush against each other intimately. His face was so close to yours you could smell the earthy, forest scent that still surrounded his presence, "Because you are the only one I see."

Your fingers twitched against his, nervously,

"You see me?"

"I see you."

A widespread smile spread across your face as tears of joy streamed down your face, "I see you too, Neteyam."

Neteyam tilted your head slightly as he closed in the space between you two. In all truth, he was a prodigy in kissing. His tongue was instantaneous and urgent as he danced with your rather an awkward tongue, not nearly as naturally skilled. The kiss overpowered your senses. You no longer cared for your surroundings or the time of the night despite it being rather late. All you cared about was Neteyam.

He broke the space between you two leaving a trail of saliva between your previously intertwined mouths. Your chests heaved in passion as the moon created a spotlight on your two tall, enmeshed bodies. You brushed your nose against Neteyam's cheek as you moved to whisper in his ear, "Let's come together, Neteyam. Tonight under Eywa. I want everyone to know that I am the only one you see."

And with that, your souls bonded together underneath the moonlight and Eywa's heavenly gaze.

✎ notes . . . yes, this is a repost. tumblr deleted my old acc >:( 🪐 ⏆   . 🎞 ﹢

©️ sethcertified 2023

[atokirina-writings]

I was wondering if you could do neteyam x tayrangin reader

Fly love.

Neteyam x tayrangi reader

Thank you for this request, pls send me more and check out my other neteyam works if you’re interested! I don’t have much knowledge on this clan so I apologize if it’s not very detailed.

Neteyam x gn! reader, reader is from the tayrangi clan. fluff :)

named after this song, i thought it was appropriate with the whole flying thing :)

The two of you ikrans were sleeping together when you called them to ride. Nights like this the air is crisp and cool but not cold. The bioluminescence of the plant life and the silence of your clan below sets the mood. It feels like you are the only two people in the world. You can only hear the flapping of your ikrans wings, the wind in your ears, and the laughter of your mate. Playfully swerving your ikran into his making silly faces at him as copies your movements.

After a while of flying you land in a secluded area away from the home of your people. Neteyam draps his arm around your shoulders as you admire the night sky and all of the star’s and constellations. Just as you feel yourself drifting off he turns his face to yours, he’s so close you can feel his breathing.

“I see you.”

[titan-senpai]

"Goodbye..My love"

Neteyam x GN reader ( Short drabble)

(I just saw some clips of the clips that didnt make the final cut and the ones that has me in a chokehold was the one where they prepared him for the ritual. )

How would Y/N His Promised mate react?

A tragity for the sully's.... that day was a tragic even for the metkayina's.... But his death really did a toll on his Bestfriend...Hunt Buddie.... His Promised mate Y/N...

Cold hands touching your warm ones... Slowly but surely Jake was Washing his son while Neytiri held the bandage that was supposed to be around him, she coudnt do it "I cant ma jake" Hands trembling as she felt weak for the first time..

Jake didnt say alot but a glance and a hug to his mate was enough to calm her heart down for now, Dropping a few Flowers as you looked at the face you once loved... laughed with... Kissed.. Now there he was cold..not moving... not even looking back at you with those gorgeous eyes...

Holding his cheek as you placed a kiss on his cheek "Goodbye... My love" Shedding a tear as Lo'ak put the bracelet Tsireya gave him to to tie his hair.. so that he'll always have a piece of him and her with him..

unhooking the ankle bracelet he gave you when he asked him to be yours..clipping it around his ankle.

Soon it was time to let him go... as the clan joined around to show respect riding on an ilu behind lo'ak as you looked at the water below you..

jake and Neytiri placed their son underwater torwards the glowing coral as the family dove down you were allowed to dive with them because.. you were his and you were family..

taking one last look at him as he disapeard in the glowing coral..

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More of my avatar content? Click here

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[amansabastris]

amansabastris presents: cosmo's avatar masterlist

fics based off of james cameron's avatar

unless otherwise specified as gender neutral, the reader is male.

-

neteyam sully:

fics:

nga yawne lu oer - neteyam x gn! reader

made to love you - neteyam x kekunan!tsakarem!reader

part one || part two || part three

i love you, i see you - neteyam x gn! na'vi! reader

headcannons:

you sing him your songcord - multiple x gn! reader

how many kids does he want? - multiple x gn! reader

-

lo'ak sully:

fics:

in this body - lo'ak x trans male! avatar! reader

be my star - lo'ak x metkayina! reader

lucky shot - lo'ak x reader (request)

headcannons:

you sing him your songcord - multiple x gn! reader

how many kids does he want? - multiple x gn! reader

when you're not here with me - lo'ak x gn! reader

-

ao'nung:

fics:

ao'nung x male reader (request)

headcannons:

you sing him your songcord - multiple x gn! reader

how many kids does he want? - multiple x gn! reader

-

tsu'tey:

snumìna tawtute - tsu'tey x dreamwalker! reader

[fun-k-board]

AVATAR : WAY OF WATER with a Human ! S/O who has psoriasis

Characters included : Neteyam, Lo'ak, Kiri, Ao'nung, Tsireya

Pronouns used : They / Them

Note(s) : Psoriasis is a non contagious skin condition caused by stress, hormonal changes and immune disorders. It can also be caused by genetics as it runs in family. You get flaky patches on the skin that are painful and dry.

Neteyam

He's worried for your health, it was bad enough you were human but now he refuses to take you anywhere remotely dangerous. He worries if they look too red or flaky, bringing you to Mo'at with no questions or confirmation on if its actually sore or not. Sometimes it can get annoying, and to be honest it's not the best way to react, but Neteyam's doing it because he knows how stubborn people can be and doesn't want you dimishing your pain, regardless on if you've ever done it or not.

Has a schedule for you and your ointments, he won't let you skip one or two even if they're looking really good one day, Netyam is very strict when it comes to your health. If they get bad again because you've been a bit careless while he's been away you're in for a lecture.

If the areas where it's bad ever split he's literally doing everything for you no exceptions, and while he doesn't want to come off as overbearing, Neteyam knows how incredibly dangerous infections are, he can't risk further injuries coming from the scabs.

Whenever it's all flaky and crusty he admits he cringes a bit, but still doesn't mind bringing you to a lake or getting something to wipe the excess off. He's very gentle and slow, trying his best to prevent making it worse.

When you get to the Metkayina any bullying or harrasment is met with aggression, he won't go out of his way to fight, and even tries to deescalate the situation if it goes too far, but he will defend you.

He has a bit more trouble bringing you to Ronal, and ends up very stiff and awkward during the interactions of your health, less so if you talk to her directly. Because of this, Neteyam usually gets Kiri to help him gather herbs he can use to help you, and because some Na'vi are judgemental of humans and it'd be easier to avoid stares or confrontation going to Ronal.

If you itch, bite, pick, whichever, he tries to help by placing something with a layer of cream or some kind of ointment over the parts that you tend to aggravate, it's his way of being not only affectionate, but helpful in preventing an infection. Neteyam isn't judgemental as I imagine most of his younger siblings done it from time to time, he probably done it as well at some point.

Given that when it splits water and just touching in general is incredibly painful, he tends to convince you with how bad it could get in the future, reminding you what could happen if you don't try to prevent it. When rubbing them onto your skin he reminds you that you can ask him to stop at any time if he notices you flinching or closing your eyes in pain.

Lo'ak

He's mainly concerned, not overbearing, it's mainly small anxieties and asking questions that can be a little too invasive. They can get annoying sometimes even if he means well.

Wonders if because his family share DNA with humans that he could catch it, until you shut him down with the 'It isn't contagious.' which then gets him embarrassed on the fact he assumed in the first place. Ask him about it a while after, his face and even up to his ears and shoulders will go purple with a blush.

If you get made fun of, either by Na'vi or other humans, he'll defend you, as sad as the attempt is to watch, and relate to your experiences as he feels he can never truly fit with either. Even if the experiences you two have are wildly different in the simplest of terms.

Picking it usually ends in him being a little disgusted at the puss and blood that comes from it, but he wipes it away and washes the bacteria nonetheless, offering you comfort for the painful splitting. He can come off like he's disgusted at you, which he genuinely isn't, it's moreso the fact its gotten so bad and you could have an infection that ends in excruciating pain. He doesn't want you to go through that.

Lo'ak tries preventing picking and biting by telling you stories of how he nearly had to remove an arm one time because he scratched at an injury, this usually leads to you feeling anxiety or annoyed, maybe you're comforted by this and try to stop, either way he's trying to warn you of the dangers it can cause.

He takes a longer time than the rest to bring you to healers, unless you don't need convincing and go yourself, this isn't for a lack of caring, he just feels like making you go too often could make you feel babied.

Tends to ignore advice by healers, nothing major, but he brings you on exploration and hunts even after Mo'at or Ronal directly tell him not to.

He brings you to Mo'at very awkwardly, she tends to assume it's him in need of help for doing something dangerous, but whenever it's you she's sighing and asking why you didn't come sooner. Scolding him as he looks down and huffs.

Lo'ak makes sure to tell you he sees you for you, and he doesn't care that you have Psoriasis, it's apart of you, both figuratively and literally. He couldn't imagine you without it and doesn't make you feel bad for having it.

Kiri

Kiri feels really bad for you if you get bullied for it, she tries to relate to you given she gets made fun of for her being a 'freak', although her attempts come off slightly pushy, it comes from a place of love and wanting to understand you.

Her strong connection with Eywa allows her to help you, she's able to find the materials needed in order to soothe your pain without fully understanding where everything is.

She's been training to be a healer for as long as she could think, and is more capable than most in this list beside Tsireya, so she knows what to do on the physical spectrum of helping you. Emotionally, she's also really good! When you're feeling really down Kiri asks you questions, and if you prefer to listen, she's also amazing at speaking about things she's interested in.

When you pick and bite she tries telling you it won't help at all, explaining the dangers in detail, this can either distract you from it or convince you to try and be more aware of your actions, although you obviously won't always be able to stop if you don't realise. But if you react negatively for whatever reason she tries to be near you more often, gently removing your hands from the parts that you're going to pick or bite almost on instinct.

She will bring you to Mo'at or Ronal when she doesn't know how to help, listening intently so she doesn't have to. It's not that she hates the outside or anything, but in the Metkayinas she prefers to stay away from others from fear of bullying, both for you and her.

Ao'nung

Ao'nung made fun of you because of your 'strange skin', along with the Sully's for being 'demons'. After the whole Lo'ak incident he stops being extreme about his remarks but will still tease and mention it sometimes. However, if you genuinely have a problem with it and ask one of the Sully's, given the only way you'd be allowed with the Metkyina's is with the Sully's, to have him stop then he probably will.

I imagine he'd probably believe humans just looked like that, I don't think he's ever actually been 1 on 1 with a human before or up close. That's probably until he meets Spider, and you have to explain what Psoriasis is.

If it gets really painful he has no idea what to do, he then proceeds to be the embodiment of crying for his mother when he has an issue. He sounds fairly unbothered and even annoyed at you, but Ronal knows how he is, and she is side eyeing you both.

Will stand there and constantly ask questions while Ronal checks you over, she kicks him out after a while and remarks how childish he's being.

Given they usually only get painful if dry, though sometimes they're just annoying, Ronal suggested swimming more often, and so you joined in on the lessons the Sully's got. The lessons would most likely be longer with you because you tend to slow them down, at least you don't need to worry about breathing with the oxygen mask.

He'll try bringing you hunting every once and a while, mainly to help exercise you and help you be more useful so you can be more healthy. If you struggle and can't exercise more often, Ao'nung doesn't know what to do that could assist you beside help with ointments.

If you pick and scratch he gets kinda angry, it doesn't mean he'll yell or harm you, he just doesn't want you to be in pain. Ao'nung will hold your hands or cover the parts you can reach when he's around, but when he's gone it's easy to fall back into that habit. After a while of scolding you and telling you to stop doesn't work, he begs Tsireya for help.

Tsireya

She constantly asks her mother for help whenever it gets too painful or dry, Ronal tells her she can't help besides ointments on the skin regularly and Tsireya is dissapointed every time, wanting to help ease your pain.

Even though Ronal disapproves of you, being fearful of a betrayal given human nature, she will still be willing to help for her daughters sake and to remain in good spirits with the Sully family.

Tsireya tries ways to improve your mental health once you explain that things like stress can cause it, she takes you swimming in shallow water to try relax you and clean out any dirt that could be in the patches. She's gentle when guiding you and never presses hard against areas where it appears for you, sometimes she forgets how tall she is though and leads you too deep.

She's never judged or been rude to you, and when her brother or other people are she isn't kind with them. Heck, when she had first met you she had simply believed all humans had it.

Tsireya was really accepting when you told her what it was, she even held your hand and gently brushed a hand over some sore parts to prove she wasn't disgusted. Sometimes kissing them when it wasn't all crusty and all split.

Whenever or if ever you feel insecure, Tsireya to the rescue! She will separate the lessons with the Sully's and with you if you feel ashamed, only when you feel better about yourself will she bring you back. Building confidence is key and forcing you to the deep end, literally, will only shatter your self image.

Constantly reminds you to put the ointments over your skin and frets over you, loving to show you how much she adores you and doesn't mind your skin condition at all. Applying them herself if you forget.

She is still Ronal's daughter, and will be strict when it comes to medical issues, especially when they split given how painful it is and how it can become infected easier.

Again on the splitting or if you pick, she's hesitant to bring you back into the water, it hurts when wounds go into water and she's nervous you'll be in more pain. However, she does understand it can clean wounds and it's either this or wait until its healed to swim. Which she's fine if you prefer the second one.

If you pick and scratch she's probably the best one to have, she asks Ronal to bring her bandages so she can wrap them up after washing the dirt out and put ointments on, she helps change them and makes sure the bandages are thick so you can't scratch through them. Tsireya won't repremand you too much or get angry, she understands it can't be helped sometimes and besides some light scolds she treats you gently.

[bymuse]

𔘓 ⚖️ . ִ ֗ how they would cry to you

≡ ⌂ ⌕ ❙❘❙❙❘❙❚❙❘❙❙❚❙❘❙❘❙❚❙❘❙❙❚❙❘❙❙❘❙❚❙❘ ♡゙ written by muse

ˑ 𐇛̲﹗angst, hurt slight comfort, no comfort on neteyam's end lol, established relationships, grief, mentions of gore and injuries, death, bad mental health

cointains SPOILERS ! read at your own risk

characters : neteyam, loak

➷ NAVIGATION/MASTERLIST

neteyam

the first time you saw neteyam cry, was with a firm hand pressed upon his bleeding chest.

“neteyam, look at me.” look at me, or i'll lose it. look at me, or i'll lose you.

the blood gushed out of the wound. you felt it stain the lines on your palm. sticky and thick. something that would seep into your skin and leave its mark for eternity.

both of your hearts thumped in tandem. yours in fear, his in an attempt to keep him alive.

“it hurts,” he said through gritted teeth. his fearless and ambitious facade fell apart, piece by piece, until neteyam couldn't pick them back up again.

you pressed harder, hoping it would numb the agony and soothe the lines on his face, but to no avail.

“i know. i'm sorry.”

everyone surrounded neteyam. his parents, his siblings. and you, his beloved.

a wet, warm hand grabbed around your wrist. you knew it was his without glancing. you were familiar with his touch, and you began to fear one day you would grow to be a stranger to it.

“what is it, neteyam?”

veins popped on his neck.

he was struggling. you knew he was struggling, but what could you do? the only thing you could offer was your undivided attention as you listened to him.

“i want to go home.”

within a blink, your heart scattered. guilt and regret came up your throat in the form of bile. you wanted nothing more than to empty your stomach. it tasted sick.

sick. because if you went with him, you could've avoided this. you could've protected him. you could've brought him home. but no, he pushed you out of the way to bring his sister and tsireya somewhere safe.

something you failed to do in the end, seeing that kiri and tuk was nowhere here.

they would miss this. they would miss his last breath. they would not see their noble brother smile for one last time.

“i want to go home,” he said once more.

“you will. just stay with me, alright?”

against the deafening sound of gunshots and pitter-patters of rain, you barely registered the crack in your voice. the break of a promise.

with what little strength left, neteyam caressed your cheek and smiled.

“i want to show you the forest.”

“i would love that.” you accepted his touch, despite the metallic stench of blood coating his hands. you leaned over, closer, to shelter him from the rain. protect him from what you still could.

his touch didn't linger long.

once he withdrew his hand, his breathing slowed.

the blood wouldn't stop, flowing until the blue feather attached to his armband turned into a dark crimson hue.

immediately, your hands faltered. your vision stung with the amount of tears you were holding back.

“you're going to be fine. we'll patch you up and head back to the forest straightaway. no delays.”

were you consoling him? or were you consoling yourself?

“okay.” his thumb rubbed your hand. “i believe you.”

his words did more to calm you down, instead of him.

hope began to bloom.

be that as it may, one glimpse, one tiny grin was all it took for you to understand: he wasn't going to make it.

you heard it: the petals of hope crushed beneath the weight of truth.

his gaze darted between jake and you. you could tell he wanted to tell his father about your mating bond. how you both had mated before eywa weeks prior to this day. how you both agreed to announce it next week.

the two of you planned this meticulously, excited for a bright future together. he promised to wait.

neteyam couldn't wait any longer. you couldn't either.

he clenched your arm. you understood right away, nodding at his pleading look.

it was now or never.

“dad, i一”

he paused.

oh.

the second his heart had stopped beating, you had felt it first hand.

you witnessed the breath caught in his mouth vanish, as his pupils enlarged and the darkness consumed him.

no.

“neteyam?” you choked down a sob.

no reply.

a drop of rain rolled down your cheek. it was rain, you convinced yourself. it wasn't anything salty or burning. it certainly wasn't streaming from your eyes.

you traced his features. the handsome face you would awake to once you both announced that you were mates.

happiness was so close. it was right at the palm of your hand and you struggled to hold onto it. an immortal love, now dead.

letting go, you gazed at your bloody hands.

the second he died, a part of you did too. a mate was another half of you. you would never recover. for the nights that would come, you would be mourning for a lover and a version of you that used to smile and love.

“neteyam?” neytiri's voice shook.

you wished you could shout, scream or thrash around like neytiri. but somewhere along the line, you became exasperated.

you couldn't move an inch. your body wasn't listening to you. you just crouched there, hands in your lap as neytiri wailed into neteyam's corpse. for a second, you thought you were the one who died.

as every sound turned muffled and every colour faded in your eyes, you reached out to wipe the tears left on your lover's face.

the day eywa reunited with her child, neteyam had cried, knowing it would be the first and last time he did.

loak

when loak cried, he used his tears to wash his hands.

he told you they were dirty. smeared with his brother's blood. it was his own imagination, he knew.

after returning from three brothers rock with neteyam's lifeless corpse, he had been cleaned. somehow. he didn't remember who helped him. days passed in a blur. loak wasn't even certain that he moved at all.

instead of his family's marui pod, he slept in your home. he couldn't bear to enter his pod. not where it was filled with memories of neteyam. he was afraid, if he entered, he would face neteyam's ghost.

“loak?”

he flinched at your voice.

gingerly, you sat down in front of him. the weather was gloomy; showing no sun, just gray clouds. it bathed the room in a shade of loneliness, of hiding, of grief.

“the ceremony will be held tonight.” you dapped a cloth around his sweaty forehead, not bothering to look at him because you knew what would await you. “are you prepared?”

“tonight?”

his voice was meek, barely audible if the wind blew inside.

you'd inhale a sharp breath, before searching for his gaze. there you would find the remnants of a broken boy.

gone were the molten gold of his eyes. all of it were replaced with red. had he been crying while you went out again?

“let's get you ready, okay?”

loak wasn't sure what happened, but somehow he got himself changed in his funeral attire. as for the intricate face paint and beads, you were the one who did it for him.

right. you were always there for him.

it was you who urged him to bathe. you, who dried his hair. you, who fed him when he forgot to eat. you, who rubbed his shoulders when you didn't know what to say. you, who made sure he survived when he was set on dying.

he sniffed. the noise stole your attention instantly.

“loak? what's wrong?” you placed down the bowl of paint, wiping your fingers clean. “why are you crying? tell me, sweet boy.”

loak never noticed when he cried. it just happened. but now, he felt the tingles on his skin. the burn in his eyes returned.

slowly but surely, he was feeling again.

“i'm sorry.”

“what for?” you furrowed your brow.

he wanted to cup your cheek like old times, but it was still hard. his soul was only beginning to return to his shell of a body.

“you've been taking care of me for the past few days, and i didn't even acknowledge or thank you.”

your breath hitched.

“i wasn't myself,” he admitted.

“it's alright. i'm fine.” you didn't care if you were shuddering to compose yourself. you couldn't break. not when one of you had to be strong. you cracked a grin. “i'm just waiting for my loak to return to me.”

the loak she fell in love with. the boy who lived like there was no tomorrow. the one who tickled her and kissed her beneath the moon.

“do you miss him?”

you closed your eyes for a while.

“so much,” you said. “do you think he's coming back?”

silence.

what was i expecting?

you ignored the disappointment that shot down the last shred of hope in your heart. it's too soon, anyway.

you gathered the disarray of fabrics and paint on the floor. loak watched you, without saying another word. you couldn't bear the shame of asking him such a crude question. you needed to be patient, but great mother you just missed the sound of his laughter.

at the entrance of your marui, your back faced him for good. you were sure you were about to cry. you were grateful for his silence. if he had spoken a word, you一

“yes.”

it was one word.

one word, and the dam broke.

now, both of you were crying. you cradled his sobbing body in your arms, absorbing all his apologies as he repeated it on the skin of your shoulder.

neteyam was dear to both of you. for such a beautiful soul to return to eywa this soon, none of you could accept it.

especially loak.

you'd watch him wallow in guilt everyday and know there was nothing you could do. you'd lose slivers of him with each sunrise. it took every fibre in you to not beg him to snap back into reality.

“the blame isn't yours to shoulder,” you said. “you didn't shoot him, loak.”

“i brought him there.” for spider. he had exchanged neteyam's life for spider.

“no, he followed because he was your brother. he followed, despite the dangers, because he cared about you.”

it was true. wherever loak went, neteyam followed. wherever loak brought him, he would go.

“he would never blame you. he loved you so much, how could he?”

you sunk into each other's warmth. by the time, both of you calmed down, the sun was setting. the face paint streaked down his cheeks.

you called out to him.

“so would you wash your face and bring him somewhere one last time?” your meaning struck him.

bring him to eywa's hold.

“you're coming too, right?” he sounded desperate. so eager for your support. “i won't be able to do it without you.”

you rested your forehead against his.

“i'll be with you, every step of the way.”

reblogs are appreciated

( 2 posts in 1 day the fandom is about to get sick of me & im kinda dazed rn pls point it out to me if u see any spelling errors )

written by muse 2023

[fabricated-misslieness]

ᴘᴀɪʀɪɴɢ: neteyam x metkayina gn reader

ꜱᴜᴍᴍᴀʀʏ: Even as a member of a clan of Ocean folk, on an island within a huge archipelago, you have found a special place in the forest. You decide Neteyam is worthy enough to know about it.

ᴀɴᴏɴ: i'd like to request a neteyam x reader where reader shows him some secret spot beautiful part of the ocean or the reef or the jungle and he's mesmerized and they have a soft moment <3

ʀᴇ𝐐: yes ~ ᴡᴏʀᴅ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛ: 1592

ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢꜱ: swearing

ᴍᴀʏʙ'ꜱ ɴᴏᴛᴇ: this is cute

☾⋆☆⋆☽

"Nete."

"Hm?"

When Neteyam turns, he finds your smile first. Then, he takes the rest of you in. You've got your hands behind your back and you're bouncing on the balls of your feet. It's cute, but... he raises a browbone, "What is it?"

"I've got something to show you." You declare excitedly.

"Something?"

"Well, a place."

"Hm," He thinks about it, "that sound suspicious."

"Trust me." You swing your hands forward, crossing them before swishing them away from each other, "It's something good. I'm not up to anything bad."

He's still not convinced. "Right."

"Come onnn!" You whine, bouncing more furiously on your feet. "It's really great, I promise."

"Okay." He replies, which brightens your grin that much more. "Let's go."

☾⋆☆⋆☽

He expected something within the sea, not within the jungle. Though he had been curious ever since he'd step foot on Awa'atlu, his father stated that it was important to focus on the sea and its way. He didn't mention the idea of the jungle at all, but he knew that his children had taken notice of it. It was implied in his speech that they mustn't explore the Jungle.

But something else implied was a not yet.

"You know, I don't think we're allowed here."

Neteyam followed close behind you. Though he was used to forests and jungles, he wasn't used to this one. It was beautiful still, and most importantly, different from the Hallelujah Mountains and the jungles below. Plus, a lot more humid.

"You'd be right about that." You chuckled. "But hey, what's the fun if you don't break any rules?"

Neteyam purses his lips and slows down, something you take notice of. You turn back to him, inquisitive look on your face. "Nete? Something wrong?"

Breaking the rules. It was getting close to curfew, his father had (though implied) prohibited him from entering the jungle, and who knows what the Metkayina thought about this place.

But what was the harm in it? He was just exploring. The shame builds in his shoulders, but he shakes if off. You were going to show him something. He'll be damned if he doesn't at least indulge you. "Nothing."

Your lips grow into a smile, and with the wave of your hand you beckon him forward.

There's a pond ahead, cutting through the trees. It doesn't have much of a shore at all, only small rocks about the size of Na'vi feet in order to cross.

You jump across the rocks quick and nimble, as if you'd done it a thousand times before. He doesn't doubt that you have. He follows along behind you, though the pond catches his eyes. It was extremely bioluminescent, glowing light purple at the edges and baby blue around the center. Water plants grew anywhere and everywhere, as reeds around the rim and big leafy pads with flowers around the middle. They added a nice green to compliment the other colors.

Distracted by the pond, Neteyam almost slips. Almost.

Before he can even dip so much as a toe in the water, you grab a hold of his wrist and successfully stop him from falling in. "Careful. This pond is poisonous."

"What?!" Neteyam exclaims, quick to move his foot onto the rock pathway.

"Looks harmless, right?" You chuckle at his reaction, turning forward again. "Don't fall in. I don't want your blood on my hands."

He huffs, "You underestimate me."

"Oh?" You begin, your tone condescending. "Says the one who almost fell in."

He hisses playfully.

Once you cross to the other side safely, you turn around. Neteyam's gaze follows you curiously.

He doesn't have the time, nor the reflexes fast enough to stop you as you dip your toe in the water. "What the fuck, (y/n)?" He shouts, "You just told me–"

"Ta-da!" You bring your foot out of the water and demonstrate it with pride. "I'm poisoned!"

Neteyam knew poison when he saw it (probably) and he knew this was not poison. Instead, your toe was covered with a mysterious dark green plant he couldn't name. "(y/n)..." He groans.

"Not poisonous, clearly." You snicker, bringing your foot in the air and flicking the plant off your toe. "Just mucky."

He rolls his eyes.

The glow of the surface did well to hide the mucky web of plants below. If he had fallen in, it'd be like getting mud all over him, and then you'd have to take a detour to the lake. That required time you didn't have.

"Let's just keep going."

☾⋆☆⋆☽

You had picked up light conversation as you headed to your promised place. He didn't know much about it, though he asked you plenty. You wanted to keep it a surprise. Him being in the dark meant he didn't know where it was, or where it began; but when he steps into the clearing, he knows this is the place.

He takes slow, cautious steps. His head turns this way and that way every time something new catches his eye and something new happens every second.

It is so beautiful.

Two more steps forward, and he stops entirely. It's just his head, his eyes, and they move constantly. He takes it all in.

It is amazing.

It is a menagerie of bioluminescence, natural glows, every color he could even name, all clashing yet all mixing wonderfully. When you take him by the hand to a log so that you may sit down, he hardly registers the movement.

Ahead of the log, ahead of you, is a small waterfall. The heart of the island held a set of multiple waterfalls, all leading into lakes, all leading into other waterfalls, until they reached the lake at the very bottom.

This place, this clearing, had its own waterfall. The heart of the island wouldn't be a very ideal place to hang out. The waterfalls were so very loud, and there were so very many of them.

Here, however, it is just far enough and just small enough that Neteyam can hear everything.

And everything mesmerizes him.

"Do you like it?"

"I love it."

You smile at that. It was a sight you had grown used to, yet a sight you loved. It was beautiful, the way each glow of a differing color shined on his face. It was beautiful, how his big eyes were blown even wider as he strived to see everything. It was beautiful, the smile trained on his lips.

"See, I don't know anything about the Omatikaya." He doesn't look at you, too entranced with everything else, but you can tell by the perk of his ear that he's listening. "And I'd like to learn about them, about you. But I do know... I do know that they–you lived in a forest. And I thought, well, maybe you would enjoy this."

"Enjoy is..." He lets out a breath that turns into a laugh, "an understatement."

"Yeah." You say, grin growing as wide as his. "I can see that now."

"The ocean is beautiful. The wildlife there, is wide and diverse. I don't see animals here, not often. I only see small things that run when they see me too. I see bugs that, in a second, escape my sight. The big things, the predators that the Olo'eyktan warns us about, I never see.

"We Metkayina, and possibly every animal around us, have adapted to the ocean. The sea, the water, the fish, the Tulkun, we have in abundance.

"So we often forget this is here."

"The plants are here." Neteyam points out the obvious, because it is what is at the forefront of his mind. He doesn't notice how dumb it may be.

"Yes," You chuckle, "the plants remembered. The plants, these ones, they stayed here. And they looked at this place, this little waterfall, and decided this is where they wanted to thrive."

"It's a beautiful place." He remarks.

A silence... then, "Maybe not as beautiful as you."

Neteyam turns to you, finally, for the first time he set foot here. Shock is written all over his face, but the compliment doesn't draw his features into a sour picture. "What?"

"Sorry, I–Well, I thought, you know..." You sputter for an excuse, but then realize you don't need one because fuck it. "Okay, you know what? You're beautiful."

"I–You, uh, th–um..." He, too, sputters for something to say. Anything at all. He only finds three words, only three little words that were suitable enough. "I see you."

Your brow bones raise, along with everything else on your face, with surprise. "In the midst of all of this?"

"Yes." He nods his head, scooting closer to you. Your knees touch. "I see you. Because this place is everything to me, a piece of my home in the Metkayina jungle, but you're the one who showed it to me, and you're the one I truly care about."

"A couple seconds ago," You begin, your exhale coming out a shocked laugh, "you wouldn't even look at me."

"(y/n)." His voice gives off the tiniest whine when you point it out.

"Okay, sorry." You shake your head with closed eyes. When you open them back up, his eyes are still trained on you, fully attentive. They're big and round and golden, unlike your blue ones, and they look perfect. "I see you."

In the midst of it all, where everything glowed, where everything was beautiful, where everything was colorful, where everything called for your attention, you saw each other.

He saw you, and you could only see him.

[thesecretsoftheuniverse]

stargazing !

— pairing neteyam x gn!reader | wc 0.4k | warnings just fluff | authors note this is the first thing i have written in a very long time and the first piece of work i've ever published. constructive criticism is always appreciated, but please be gentle with me.

neteyam is a sucker for everything celestial. there are only few moments when he can switch off and forget about all his duties, his responsibilities for the clan and his siblings. ironically getting lost in the endless withs of the universe catching a glimpse of the past is what grounds him most. hence you regularly use the safety of the dark to your benefit and sneek out of the village to get to your favorite spot and look at the stars together. hand in hand you stroll through the thicket of the forest until you reach a clearing on a hill and lay down on the damp grass. legs intertwined, his one hand on top of the one you put on his chest. he admires the night sky, illuminated by tiny bright spots, while you focus on his steady breathing, which slowly becomes one with his heartbeat. tilting your head you see him looking up at the stars with a content smile on his face. moments like this make him realize that there is only so much control he holds in his hands. that there is something so much bigger than him out there. it makes him feel small. insignificant. which gives him the chance to mentally take a step back and just take in and appreciate his surroundings. no matter how much weight he feels like he has to carry on his shoulders, in the end it doesn’t matter. nothing truly matters as everyone and everything will one day return to dust. something that he cannot really fathom. a rather gloomy prospect that brings him quietude. he finds peace in the silence engulfing both of you. after some time of dwelling on random thoughts neteyam looks down at you. you shuffle. adjusting your body and scooting up a little, one half of you lying on top of him, facing each other directly. his eyes look like they took up the whole night sky, now holding galaxies within them. you take your hand and put a loose braid behind his right ear before placing your palm on his warm cheek, admiring the markings on his face and tracing the scattered glowing dots with your thumb. an almost inaudible giggle filled with happiness escapes your lips. his ears perk up as he feels your abdomen vibrating. a smile forms on his face, one corner of his mouth sitting slightly higher than the other. the look in his eyes is filled with adoration. you put your forehead against his and close your eyes. his soft breath tickling your skin. and in that moment you swear you were infinite.

© thesecretsoftheuniverse 2023 | all rights reserved. do not repost, republish, steal, translate, modify or claim my work as your own.

[cryinq-boutstuff]

Not my gif!

I blame Tumblr for deleting my draft and having me work with this rushed mess.

Neteyam x gn! Ometicaya! reader

Warnings! :fluff, fluff, fluff, jealous neteyam, protective neteyam,

!! Mentions of bare skin!!

(This font means it's in na'vi)

_--_--_--_--_--_--_--_--_--_--_--_--_--_

new comer

You and neteyam were friends but neteyam thinks otherwise, he usually always hangs out with you and always laughed at your jokes. You had a crush on him but you were scared to tell if just if he didn't feel the same.

One day you were talking with neteyam as usual then I turned my head to look at the main area and saw a huge crowd. “neteyam! There's a huge crowd over there! Let's go!” you said holding his wrist and pulling him into the crowd, “okay,okay slow down” neteyam said as you pulled him closer and closer to the crowd.

You nudged into the crowd while you let go of neteyam's hand once you let go he immediately put his arm around your waist to not loose you. You didn't even realize that his hand was on your waist the entire time. You saw a new member he looked like the Sully's “hey he looks like you!” you said pointing at him “no shit y/n” he says sarcastically you just rolled you eyes and kept your eyes on the man this thin single man....

You start to find him attractive and you had been awing over him the entire time... “Pandora to y/n?” neteyam says snapping his fingers in front of your face. You were about to respond to neteyam when you were cut off by your father saying “welcome Lucca! Treat him like our own!” hhen you saw him staring at you... You blushed, turned around and walked out of the crowd.

Neteyam saw you “did you blush at him?!?” he said in Jealousy “somebody's jealous” you said raising an eyebrow he puts his hand on your back and says “no..”

_--_--_--_--_--_--_--_--_--_--_--_--_--_--

I'm literally so lazy I need to make it 2 parts so I'm really sorry😭 it's also for me bc I'm so lazy I just finished school 😩😩 ty thoo!!

Hope you like this part first tho

[neyitedives]

Neteyam x metkayina! reader hcs

NO WARNINGS : just fluff and kissing!! When I was writing this, reader was afab in my head but i don’t think it’s mentioned in the hcs!!

English isn’t my first language so please correct me if I made any mistakes ｡ﾟ(ﾟ´Д｀ﾟ)ﾟ｡

(Starts below the cut)

Neteyam who was skeptical at first when you got assigned to be the one to teach him how to swim, (even though he found you attractive) but became drunk in love when he got to know you better.

Neteyam who never left you ever since then. He got so obsessed with you that he’d follow you everywhere like a lost baby. He hated being this pathetic when he was with you.

Neteyam who would ask his father about human facts just to he can flex when he’s with you and watch you admire him.

Neteyam who has fantasies about saving you from the sky people. He wants to be your knight in a shining armor and have you thanking him on your knees. In reality, you’re the one who would probably save him.

Neteyam who wants to be “a real man” with you but always looses his means when he’s around you. It’s even worse when you look at him in the eyes, he gets almost intimidated by your charisma

Neteyam who confessed his love (or obsession) to you when you two were looking for Lo’ak. You were both alone in the middle of the ocean on a small boat and he figured it would probably be the only chance he got to confess.

Neteyam whose biggest fear is to lose you because he truly believes that you are his soulmate even when you’re kinda nonchalant about your relationship since you only focus on your duties.

Neteyam who loves you like a human. His feelings for you are so strong that he’d literally die for you without any hesitation. That’s why he follows you everywhere, on land and underwater. He’d drown if you asked him to.

Neteyam who steals kisses from you throughout the day. He wants to show you that you’re his to every Na’vi that looks at you.

[boinitwdidthat]

// Imagine - Them meeting a hybrid Na'vi (and falling for them) Pt. 1 //

>( Neteyam, Lo'ak, Aonung)<

>The boys meeting their first Omaticaya/Metkayina Na'vi (Gn terms, they/them)<

>Neteyam<

First running into you on the sands threw him off kilter

Literally, he ran into you and tripped on accident

"Ah, sorry- I should've been looking," He stood quickly, holding his arm out to assist you. Allowing him to really witness you for the first time.

Looking at your skin, almost seemed mythical. The splotches of teal and deep blue standing out beautifully to the sands. However, it was your eyes that captured his interests most.

Instead of either strong yellow or blue, they portrayed a pale green. Almost matching some of the younger plants he had seen coming to your home lands, and truly some of the most unique he had explored.

"Thank you," You grabbed his arm to stand, lightly dusting yourself off afterward. At last, you look up at him, smiling gratefully for his help. It was then you remembered the boy, familiarity showing in your excited voice.

"Oh! You're one of the new people! From the farther lands!" He bounced his head jokingly, appearing to mimic your excitement.

"Yes, you're one of the first people to sound happy for meeting me," He chuckled to himself before holding his arm out again, this time for a proper greeting.

"Neteyam," You reached out, his grip was definitely solid, and more textured than you expected. Curiosity grew in you for the reasoning behind it, but almost feeling embarrassed to ask.

"(Y/n)," As you shook, Neteyam's gaze couldn't seem to stray away from the various differences on your body. Even finding similarities to his own, but not recalling seeing any other villagers like you upon arriving.

Unless there was some secret section to their people for others like you.

His stares did not go unnoticed though, as you let go of his arm and began to shift away.

"Well, I've got to go fufill my duties for today so.." You slid past him, grazing his shoulder, "I'll see you around Neteyam."

As you began to leave the awkwardly growing silence, Neteyam's voice called out behind you.

"(Y/n)! Wait!" His body jogged back next to yours, mouth flapping silently for a moment. "I've been trying to learn about these lands, but I haven't been able to find any help. Could you- possibly, help me? It would give me a chance to talk to someone other than my family for a while." His smile boyish as he scratched the sand off of his arms.

"Uhm, yeah you can help, just can you.." You gesture gently, trying not to seem aggravated, "stop the staring thing you've been doing?"

He closed his mouth, definitely appearing apologetic.

"I'm sorry about that it's just, I've never seen one such as yourself before. It's so-"

"Weird? I know I've heard it all already," You turned away, hurt by his impending reaction. But, it wouldn't have been a new one, so it's best not to cry over the small things.

"Beautiful," Hi voice seemed to echo as it reached your ears, freezing your form in place.

Hesitantly you began to turn, after all, this could still be a cruel joke.

"You look like a gift from the Great Mother herself," his face was now a deep blue, reminding you of the depths of your oceans.

"I- thank you," You were reveling in this shock, too stunned to notice his body moving closer once more.

"So, if you'll still have me," His arm gently nudged against your own, "I really do wish to learn about your lands, but I wish to know more about you too." Eyes bearing into you, as if every inch of your soul was visible.

"Well, if you truly want to join," Leading the way through nearby shrubs, you motioned for Neteyam to follow.

"Now, just how can beauty such as yours," He gestured to your being, "Come to grace my feeble eyes." His joking manner pulling a small laugh from you at his antics, attempting to lighten the mood once more.

"Well, my father is of these lands, one with the waters. But, my mother was a woman of the trees.."

>Aonung<

Seeing you arrive with the other mutant bloods, he didn't expect you to be any different.

But when he truly saw you, he knew that wouldn't be the case.

You looked like his people, but not at the same time. Your hands were like his, not the tree boys, yet you had their skin too.

It wasn't until he was in charge of you for the swimming lessons that his questions became overruled by fascination.

"Okay, you need to breathe from here," placing his hand on your stomach first, watching your first breath come semi-easily.

"Wow- that was actually pretty close, are you sure this is your first time?" His smug smirk flustered you, increasing your heart rate out of balance.

"Yes, I'm sure," His hand removed as his body adjusted, displaying his intent listening for you. "I've lived among the trees all my life, it was my father who lived one with the waters."

Shock flooded his mind, spilling over to his face. He'd never heard of such a relationship among his people. One among the trees and one from their waters, having a child? Let alone a person breathtaking as yourself

Breathtaking? It was true, you're obtuse skin tones seemed to meld perfectly in his eyes. Tail neither wimpy, nor fully his own in similarity.

Your body markings held his eyes the longest though, each one dipping through the shades similar to a river line on his peoples maps.

"I've never thought there were children born that way," He maneuvered towards the rock you had been resting on, vaulting up as to sit next to you.

"Yeah, from what I remember they loved both cultures," You motion to the various decorative beads adorning your body, "Each is a separate piece from their home. I was going to learn about this place when I reached age, but then the sky people came.." He sat and watched as your eyes slowly dulled at the mention, and attempted to cheer your up.

"Well," His body slowly slid back into the water, "I can teach you our ways, but you've got to give me something else in return. Deal?" His hand reached out, offering a curious deal, you took a few moments to consider.

"Deal" Your grip was strong, but didn't match the slight wrinkled callouses on his own hands.

"You have to sneak out with me tonight, so I can give you a 'guide' to our night-life nature," His grin was almost devious towards your reaction, a look of appalled theme clouding your face.

"What- fish boy! I can't just sneak out for the wishes of a virtual stranger!" Letting go, question flashed his face until realization followed-suit.

He hadn't gave you his name this entire time, how badly he wished to sink into the waters and vanish was astounding.

"Yes- I'm Aonung," His arm stuck out a second time, before retreating back.

Too much hand holding for a first meet, already shook once, a second time isn't needed. Until your airy laugh brought him back to reality.

You were laughing at his expression, one of confusion towards his own actions.

"Hello Aonung, I'm (Y/n)," His name rolling off of your tongue had flutters running about his stomach, and odd feeling definitely as he took in your features once more.

Tsireya's voice broke through your small dome of solitude, bubbly excitement infecting your own.

"C'mon! I wanna show you the canals, the eggs should be hatching soon!" Hand grabbed, she jogged you away from the lessons, having deemed enough learning has been done today.

"Okay! Tsireya you're going to rip my arm off!" Your rambunctious laughter slowly fading to the distance, as Aonung watched your forms retreat further and further away.

You were. . . new. But not weird to him. If anything, he was excited to teach you the other ways of your blood.

"So, fish boy," Lo'ak's arm wrapped his shoulder, "how's it feel falling for a tree hugger." The smug bastard was reveling at his reaction, face swiftly flushing to deep cyan anger, before shoving him away stomping off. Away from responsibilities for the day.

All he could do now was hope his sister wouldn't torment him too much about this later.

>Lo'ak<

Lo'ak loved his father, really he did. But sometimes, when things escalated and words are exchanged, he can't help but feel as if he'd never been wanted.

His mother claiming these arguments only happen because Jake sees so much of himself in Lo'ak. But that reasoning can only last so long in the boys mind before it starts to sound like an excuse.

Today had been one of those days, having gotten into trouble again the lectures began to muddle together.

Eventually, he simply left the undergrowth, wanting at least some time to himself before inevitably they come looking for him.

Venturing out, he glanced around searching for any seldom reserves these people could be hiding.

That's how he came upon your form, kneeling among the grasses, almost statuesque.

You were holding some plant, examining it as if your life purpose hid within its leaves.

Tearing his eyes away from the majestic plant, to your lingering figure, still hyper focused in on the nature.

His eyes scanned your features, curiosity wailing in his mind, all he wanted to do was ask you questions.

Were you from his people, or the water clans? Remaining the largest in his head, he definitely saw you as an enigma.

Your head turned his direction, having felt a chill go down your spine, as if someone was watching you . Proving your suspicions to be correct, the lean boy stood frigid, mind racing through all of your eccentricities.

What attracted him to most to you, was your decor. Wearing both beautifully woven pieces from his home, but also intertwined with some of these lands.

Witnessing how the delicate ropes and beads fell onto speckled skin, his questions won him brain over in the end, as he slowly made his way over to your nook in the juncture.

He remained in a low crouch, as if moving to fast would startle you.

"What are you doing?" The tone accusing yet confused as he gazed up at your question.

"Huh?" Standing dumbfounded now, a few feet away from you but all the more able to save every feature of yours in his memory.

"Why are you crouching like a baby?" The smile on your face grew as his eyes widened, seeing his antics as the most ridiculous you've come across in a while.

"Oh! Uhm," His posture straightened, "I was just- examining the bugs." His smile felt tense, so after reveling in the comedy for another minute you loosened up, motioning for him to sit down.

"The life in these lands are, gorgeous," His eyes focused on your arm bands, one woven with the leaves of a tree from his clans lands.

Your eyes followed his, sighing in realization at what drew his attentions, the sigh slightly startled Lo'ak, as he quickly averted back to your face.

"It's one of my mothers pieces," You held out the band, gently placing in in his palm, grazing you fingers back as if hesitant to let go of it entirely. "She was not one with the ocean, instead she lived among the forest."

His face contorted at the statement.

"Really?" His astonishment genuine, his final straw for if this was some stray prank, trying to prove the tree boy stupid.

You fully turned to face him, taking his larger palm in yours before displaying your the various blues on your hand.

"I didn't take after one or the other," pressing his palm to yours showed the matching blue splotches, "Instead Eywa gifted me with traits from both of them."

His eyes did not move away from your connection, feeling the subtle softness on your finger pads. Clearly you hadn't climbed trees in the same way he had.

Sensing your growing sadness, he came up with an idea.

"Have you ever," the opposing hand gestured wildly, "tried to climb as your mother did?"

Pale jaded eyes meeting his prominent yellow, before silently shaking your head no.

"Well, as repayment for intruding on you like this, I can teach you the ways of trees. Just as I was raised."

His smile was radiant to you, almost disarming the dismissal you had planned on giving him originally.

"I don't know.."

"I promise, if you let me teach you I won't let you fall," The smile shifting into one of a smirk as he addressed your nervousness.

"Well," He hung on almost every detail from your words, "If you promise this won't impose on my duties as well, I'll attempt to learn your ways."

"Our ways," His hands doubled, gently sliding your mothers band back into place.

'Yes', you thought back to your dual nature.

Our ways