#metkayina!reader

[fluorynn]

What if…

Neteyam survived the bullet he received, yet it was Jake who lost his life in the conflict between Quaritch and the Sullys?

What if…

Neteyam gains a much more powerful and overprotective instinct to protect his family. Much more controlling, much more on the look out, much more like how Jake was with him.

“A father protects his own,” was what Jake, his father, the former leader of their fortress, always used to say. And it is set in the eldest son’s mind now to be the protector, to be the best example for his siblings. To help his mother guide them, to carry the duties of not only the eldest son but as a warrior, as son of Toruk Makto, and as now gaining a spot amongst the Metkayina as one of the best young warriors they’ve seen.

What if…

Metkayina’s Olo’eyktan, Tonowari, had a mate far before the current Tsahik, Ronal? That Tonowari once fell in love with another Metkayina female, Le’anu? Le’anu, who was not necessarily experienced in medicine or healing, not right for the role as Tsahik and yet he loved her anyway?

What if…

The eldest was not Ao’nung, but a girl, daughter of Le’anu? The little girl named Y/N, the future of the Metkayina clan. The little girl who was supposed to grow up with the immense love of both her parents, and bound to make them both proud.

What if…

The RDA conflict shown in ATWOW and brought to Awa’atlu isn’t the first Sky People conflict they’ve been involved in yet no other clan knew of it?

What if…

Because of this first conflict, Tonowari and 4 year Y/N end up losing the most important woman in their life, Le’anu in battle? Losing many good warriors and families in his clan because of these Sky demons and in return they lost as much, and keeps this conflict in secret for he made an agreement with the Sky demons, with one in particular who understood their language, a female; to not ever cross paths within their waters again, or this will repeat itself much more violently.

What if…

With a heavy, most devastating heart — one that had never experienced grief before — Tonowari re-mated just for little Y/N to grow up with the grown necessity of a mother’s love? She was little when it occurred, she needed a mother figure in her life because he clearly could not provide that, and he needed a life partner to help him take care of his daughter, to help him provide and bring hope to his clan.

What if…

This leads him to choose the next best healer, and most intriguing Metkayina female, Ronal? She was a good choice; she was a friend to Y/N’s mother, she was good to him, and most wonderful with Y/N as well. Firm but patient, attentive and caring. Yes. She would be good mate, good Tsahik, and most importantly, a good mother.

What if…

He does wound up falling in love with Ronal; the respectful and caring friendship becoming one of a very strong love, understanding, and admiration, and communication. And this love leads them into having their firstborn son, Ao’nung, and while Y/N is daughter to Ronal by heart, she has her first daughter by blood, little Tsireya.

What if…

Because Y/N’s mother was not Tsahik, she did not receive any training to become future one, and instead it was Tsireya who was chosen to become Tsahik both because her mother was one and because she was chosen by Eywa. Though Y/N did have experience, she learned from Ronal, she studied, but because she wanted her little sister to become this clan’s better future, she chose to guide her behind closed doors along with Ronal.

What if…

Tonowari grows fearful when Jakesully brings his family to Awa’atlu, seeking sanctuary from the Sky People’s war. While he was hesitant, he was not a cruel person. But Ronal, she showed her fear, showed her anger. She did not want her mate to suffer the pain he once did in losing Le’anu, she did not want neither of her children, including the one brewing in her womb, to suffer the way her eldest, her Y/N, did when losing her birth mother.

What if…

Because Neteyam is the oldest and was to be future Olo’eyktan back in the forest and held a promising future, the Metkayina’s Tsahik, Ronal has had a vision that he was to be promised to one of their People, and they assumed that he was to be mated to their youngest daughter, their future Tsahik, Tsireya.

What if…

This is why she chooses to provide sanctuary for this family — for the will of Eywa.

What if…

When this revelation comes to the surface the moment Neteyam hits the age of 18, Neytiri is willing for this to happen — to not disappoint their Great Mother, to let her son have this promising future he should have had back in the Forest, for him to ease his dense demeanor and find a happiness for himself?

What if…

Y/N was against this union, because she wants best for her sister, and she has seen the way Neteyam is towards other Metkayina women, the way he believes to only please the will of Eywa and nothing, not even love? And Neteyam is driven to try and court Tsireya to keep his high status, trying hard not to see the way his little brother may feel something for the Reef girl — because this is how Eywa wishes for it to be?

What if…

Y/N and Neteyam both find a way to torment one another within this union, irritating each other constantly, and yet it is clear to see that they clearly have a thing or more for one another?

————————————————

An idea is building up….

Neteyam x Eldest!Metkayina!Daughter!Reader

Friends to enemies to lovers maybe?

The concept to flesh out Neteyam into the eldest son who thinks he needs to constantly please everyone around him while he doesn’t exactly worry of himself being deserving of being pleased — and HEAR ME OUT, Jake, in my train of thought, may have to be deceased in this possible fic series—

And reader who sorta surrounds the idea of being undeserving of love if that makes sense? Of course, there’s still ideas to be thought out, more details, more world building but —

If this turns out well, if I continue debating and building it up….who would like to be tagged?

[aurora-starwars]

He Who Envies Others Does Not Obtain Peace Of Mind

Request:

I'd love a bit of drama between the brothers and the reader, but besides that, as long as it is with lo'ak I'm happy! Thank you so much

Pairing: Lo’ak x fem!Metkayina!reader

Summary: Lo’ak gains a crush on reader then gets jealous of Neteyam for no reason

Word Count: 2.2k

Warnings: Lo’ak being an idiot, swearing

A/n: I hope this is something like you asked for! Thanks for requesting! <33333

Masterlist

Future warrior of the Metkayina clan and Tsireya’s best friend, [Name], has had her eye on Lo’ak since the Sully family arrived to the Metkayina clan. It wasn’t something [Name] could explain. From the moment she walked out of the water with her best friend, she felt what she could only describe as a pull to him. As if an invisible vine tied them together.

This sudden infatuation was short lived as she learned that [Name] and Tsireya would have to teach the new comers the ways of the Metkayina clan. Although the pull never went away.

Teaching the Sully kids started off simple, teach them to swim. All that sounded simple, and it was as they watched them jump in, enjoying the water around them. It only seem to become a problem when they tried to follow the Metkayina kids, and they quickly found that these forest Na’vi could not hold their breath as long as they could. While Tsireya was swimming to the surface to ask what is wrong, [Name] signed to her friends asking why they had to teach them and not just Tsireya. To which they all but laughed and shrugged their shoulders, making their way back to the surface.

At the surface, she found Lo’ak make eye contact with her immediately. Stuck in a state of irrational panic, [Name] angrily told the Sully family that they must learn to hold their breath for longer if they want to survive in the Metkayina clan, before diving back down in the water.

Confused and slightly shocked, like the rest of the Sully kids, Lo’ak started:

“What was that all about?” His question was directed towards Tsireya but he would welcome anybody’s answer.

“I’m not really sure, I have never seen her act like this. Yes she has been cold, but never this cold, and never when she is not hunting.” Tsireya tried to explain, confused and concerned herself.

.ೃ࿐

All sitting in a circle, the Metkayina kids as well as the Sully kids were practicing breathing. Tsireya, having convinced [Name] to join them, was quite happy to lead the breathing.

“You have to breathe from the stomach.” Tsireya explained, closing her eyes and breathing in slowly.

“And stay calm while you hold it. Your body will use more air if you don’t stay calm.” [Name] continued, trying to stay calm herself while she slowly exhaled with the rest of the group, her heart beating rapidly.

Tsireya smiled at [Name]’s participation, to which [Name] smiles back softly, before closing her eyes once again to breathe in deeply.

[Name] could hear struggled breathing from beside her, as she opened her eyes she found Lo’ak breathing at a different pace the rest.

“No, breathe in from here.” [Name] held her hand over his stomach, watching as he attempted to breathe like her instruction.

As he continued to struggle, [Name] turned to face him, holding his shoulder as well. Watching him closely, she felt his heart beat pace only rise.

“You have to slow your heart down, it is beating too fast.” [Name] instructed, hoping to take her own advice and slow her racing heart.

Hearing chuckles from the group, and watching the look Neteyam gave Aonung, he let out a soft huff.

“Sorry.” Lo’ak spoke quickly, trying hard to avoid [Name]’s eyes.

“Breathe from you stomach, here.” [Name] watching him, as Lo’ak looks away again, she rolls her eyes.

As Lo’ak tries again, he breathes in deeply holding it for a moment before letting it out slowly. As he opens his eyes, he finds [Name] smiling at him with pride in her eyes.

“See? You’re getting it! Now just keep doing that.” [Name] beamed brightly, and all Lo’ak could do was look in to her eyes and smile back.

.ೃ࿐

As [Name] sat on rocks, watching Neteyam, Tuk, Kiri, and Tsireya play in the water, Lo’ak approaches her carefully.

“[Name]?” Lo’ak called hesitantly.

[Name] looked behind her, seeing Lo’ak, and sighing softly before smiling again. She could still feel that pull from when they first met but she no longer feels the weird panic and anger that she felt before. These feelings were so new to her, too new to understand. Her nervous energy and random anger was much unlike her. Although she was not all sunshine and smiles like her best friend was, she also wasn’t a sea of ice.

“Hey, Lo’ak. Do you need something?” She asked much kinder than Lo’ak was expecting.

Her voice kind and soft, much like Tsireya. She must have quite the influence, and [Name] would agree.

“Actually, I do. I was wondering if you could continue helping me with my breathing?” Lo’ak asking timidly, hoping for that same kindness.

[Name] smiled, “Of course, I can help you. Sit here.” [Name] pointed next to her, watching as Lo’ak sat down.

And as the afternoon went by, that is exactly what [Name] did. Sit on the rocks and teach Lo’ak to breathe so he may survive in the Metkayina clan. It started out the same as the last time she tried to teach him, but Lo’ak quickly picked up slow breathing technique by slow breathing technique. [Name] was happy how much he was learning from her and Lo’ak was just happy to feel her hands on him. [Name]’s hand on his stomach felt electrifying, as if with her hands on him, he could do anything.

.ೃ࿐

As Lo’ak was walking towards where he knew he would find Tuk, he heard splashes from the water not far from him. When he looked over to find the origin of the splashing, he found his brother running up to [Name]. As he got to her, Lo’ak could see their mouths moving signalling their conversing. As much as Lo’ak wish he could hear what they were saying, he couldn’t hear from where he stood. He could feeling his heart start to speed up and all of his muscles started to tighten, resulting in the curling of his fist.

It’s probably nothing.

He tried to tell himself, but his mind would not let go of what he sees before him.

Neteyam? Nah, nothing will happen.

He told himself again, starting to walk in the direction he was before, coincidentally the same direction that would lead him past where [Name] and Neteyam were talking. He was just about to mentally brush off his angry when he heard [Name] laugh loudly at something Neteyam said. That’s when he decide he had had enough. Curling his fists once again, he ran all the way to where he was going. Mentally cursing Neteyam for doing this to him.

.ೃ࿐

Lo’ak was in his head for the next few days. Even when hanging out with his family he was thinking how he had already lost [Name] to Neteyam. How he takes everything from Lo’ak. Neteyam was the golden child while he was just the runt. Never really enough.

The only thing that could really get him out of his head was [Name].

Spending time with her felt like a dream to Lo’ak. She helped him practice his breathing, showed him the waters and helped him as he learned to ride his own Ilu. Which he had a few issues with.

Lo’ak tried to spend 100% of his time with [Name], which at times proved to be difficult. Every moment with [Name] was like a breath of fresh air, which he knows much of after the many attempts at diving in the water to catch a shell.

So when they were sitting on the beach together, watching the waves, Lo’ak was more than upset when Neteyam asked to join them. He rolled his eyes at his ask and huffed as [Name] politely agreed. After a beat, Lo’ak groaned and stood up, stomping off in a huff.

“What was that about?” [Name] asked, confused and a bit upset.

“I’m not sure, I was just about to tell him that our parents are upset with him. But he has been kind of moody lately. Have you noticed?”

“Not really, but I guess looking back he has been a little?” [Name] replied thoughtfully, thinking back at all of the time Neteyam was there and Lo’ak was upset.

“Now that I think about it, he has been a little upset, but it is only when you are around.” [Name] continued.

“I wondered if that might be it. Well, thank you for clearing that up. I am going to save his ass from my parents and then ask him what is up. Later.” Neteyam waved at [Name] before walking off.

[Name] was left there to think of what was upsetting Lo’ak and why he stomped off so fast.

.ೃ࿐

“You have been acting weird. What is going on?” Neteyam asked incredulously as Lo’ak scuffed at his question.

“No weirder than usual.” Lo’ak muttered, reflecting on how he has felt as an outcast and apart from his brother.

“What?” Neteyam asked, hoping he would repeat what he thought Lo’ak had said.

“What do you want from me Neteyam? Being the golden boy not enough for you anymore? Here to pick on me some more?”

“What are you talking about? I am trying to ask what is going on with you. Why are so-”

“How does it feel getting everything? Why do you take everything from me?” Lo’ak questions angrily, cutting Neteyam off.

“What is wrong with you!?” Neteyam quickly follows.

“No! What is wrong with you! You take all of the attention and have alway been the golden boy but now you have taken [Name] too?! You take everything important to me?” Lo’ak practically screams, having to take a breath after.

Lo’ak catches his breath only to find his brother laughing hysterically, the shock from Lo’ak’s outburst having apparently worn off. Lo’ak’s eyebrow’s furrowed, if they could even furrow any more, his face beating red.

“What!?” Lo’ak yelled. Only to be met with more of Neteyam’s hysterical laughter as he fell to the ground rolling around.

“What!? What!? What are you laughing at!? Just tell me what you are laughing at!!!” Lo’ak demanded, fuming.

“It’s just- It’s just-” Neteyam tried, struggling to speak between his laughter. “It’s just that you think I am trying to get with- with-” Neteyam continued before roaring in laughter once again.

“Would you just spit it out already!” Lo’ak demanded once again.

“You think I am trying to get with [Name] because you’re jealous!” Neteyam laughed again, finding this whole situation beyond humorous.

“You mean you’re not trying to get with her?” Lo’ak asked utterly confused but his face burning for a new reason.

“Of course not! Never mind the fact I’m not interested, she has been eyeing you since we got here!” Neteyam grinned so wide his cheeks hurt.

“She has not!” Lo’ak was quick to ‘correct’.

“She totally has! Are you kidding me? And why do you think she takes so much time to teach you everything?”

“Because I am a slow learner?” Lo’ak asked, becoming more and more confused by the second.

“Because she like you and likes spending time with your dumbass!”

“Oh.” Lo’ak spoke looking down, thinking of all of the time they had spent together.

“Yeah ‘Oh’. Now get your ass over to her and tell her how you feel!” Neteyam pushed him in the direction of [Name]’s family’s marui.

After a short walk, Lo’ak found himself on the beach [Name] and him were last sitting at, where [Name] was still sitting. Lo’ak would have thought she would have left by now but there she was, hands supporting her as she gazed at the sky. Lo’ak took a deep breath, remembering all of the things that she had taught him, before making his way over to her.

“Mind if I join you?” Lo’ak asked, trying not to alarm [Name]. This reminded him of the first time they spent time together, alone, and the many times that came after that. He smiled to himself.

“Lo’ak, you’re back! Of course you can join me.” [Name] beamed, standing up to met him.

Lo’ak loved that smile. And he especially loved causing that smile.

“I’m sorry I stomped off, that was childish of me.” Lo’ak looked at the ground.

“Neteyam mentioned that you have been upset, why is that?” [Name] asked gently, as if he would stomp off again.

“I was mad at him for taking everything from me,” Lo’ak started. “He is the golden boy of our family that can do no wrong.” Lo’ak mocked and [Name] giggled softly.

“I just wish that my parents understood that…” Lo’ak looked down again.

[Name] took a step towards him, bringing her hand to his shoulder. To which, Lo’ak looked up and into [Name]’s eyes. As they stood not even a foot apart, [Name] brought her other hand to his cheek and gazed into his eyes. Lo’ak felt like she was looking into her soul, and as her looked into her eyes he found himself doing the same.

“I see you.” [Name] whispered so soft, Lo’ak wouldn’t have heard if he wasn’t so close.

Lo’ak watched [Name]’s face with pure joy, a wide smiled creeping up on his lips.

“I see you.”

A/n: Thank you so much for reading! Thank you so much to @senassn for requesting! <333333

Comment if you want to be added to the avatar taglist!

Master-list

Taglist: @nyotamalfoy

[stephstars08]

Falling For Him

Neteyam x Metkayina!Reader

Warnings: Reader has traumatic past, Death, Depression, Anxiety, Some Angst, Some Fluff, Reader has Thanatophobia (Fear of losing someone), Weapons, and Possible Grammar Errors. (Sorry if I forgot anything)

Summary: Y/N biggest fear is losing someone she love or cares about. So when the Sully family comes Y/N immediately connects with the eldest Sully child, Neteyam. She knows that she’s falling for him but that fear of losing him is holding her back.

Word Count: 1,396

Author’s Note: My first Neteyam story is finally here! Sorry for the long wait!! Sorry that this is short. I’m just getting back into writing so my first couple of stories will probably be shorter than usual. Anyways, I hope you all enjoy and don’t be shy to let me know what you all think!

Y/N at just fifteen years old has a heartbreaking life. Y/N is Na’vi and was born into the Metkayina clan. For the first five years of her life, Y/N had a life just like every Metkayina kid. That’s until a tragedy changed her whole life forever. Her parents died in a fire when she was just five years old. Their Marius had caught fire killing both of her parents. Y/N’s father was the one that got her out of their home. When her father went back in to go get save her mother their Marius collapsed. No one knows how the Marius caught fire but Y/N still has hope that some day she’ll know what exactly happened.

After the loss, Y/N was adopted by Ronal and Tonowari who are the Tsahík and Olo’eyktan of the Metkayina clan. Y/N fit in well with their family. She grew extremely close with Tsireya.

When the Sully family came Y/N helped Tsireya and her brothers show the Sully kids the Metkayina ways and culture. While Tsireya helped Lo’ak and A’onung and Rotxo helped Kiri and Tuk, Y/N helped Neteyam who is the eldest child of the Sully’s.

When Y/N’s blue eyes first met Neteyam’s yellow eyes she felt something go through her body that she has never felt before. When she was showing him how to connect and ride an ilu every time their hands would brush up against one another’s Y/N would feel her heart race.

These new feelings have been terrifying for Y/N. After losing her parents at such a young age her biggest fear is losing someone else that she loves and cares for. That’s why the only Na’vi she has a close bond with is Tsireya. She’s the Na’vi she truly trusts. Neteyam has been nothing but kind to Y/N and she does feel like she can trust him but that fear of losing him is what’s holding her back.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Y/N was in her Marius gathering some fishing spears. She had three that were different lengths. The biggest one is the one she uses the most and it was also her father’s as well.

Tsireya walked into the Marius. “What are you doing?” Tsireya asked her in a curious tone. “I told Neteyam how my dad taught me how to use a fishing spear so he asked me if I could teach him.” Y/N answered rolling the three spears up into a small blanket. “I’ve noticed that you two have been getting along really well.” Tsireya said with a smile. Y/N just gave her a shrug which wiped the smile off Tsireya’s face.

“What’s wrong? Do you not like Neteyam?” Tsireya asked with concern in her voice. “I like him.” Y/N told her. “But?” Tsireya asked sensing that there is more. “I feel like I….ya know.” Y/N said looking up at her Tsireya. She just couldn’t find the right words but Tsireya knew what she meant since that smile returned. “Aw, Do you have a crush on Neteyam?” Tsireya asked with in awe as she sat down on the floor next to her. “It’s not so simple or easy for me to answer that.” Y/N told her looking away from her. “Because you’re scared that if you admit it, you’ll lose him.” Tsireya said knowing right away what Y/N is talking about. Y/N just gave her a nod.

“Can I give you some advice?” Tsireya asked her. Y/N gave her another nod as she looked up at her. “I know you’re biggest fear is losing someone but don’t you think that Neteyam deserves to know how you feel about him?” Tsireya asked looking at her with a soft look in her eyes. “It’s better for him to know than to never know.” Tsireya added.

Y/N knew that Tsireya was right. No matter what happens it’s better to be honest about how she feels. “You’re right. Thank you, Tsireya” Y/N said as her lips turned up into a small smile. “You’re welcome. You know that I’m always going to be here for you.” Tsireya said as she brought Y/N in for a hug which Y/N returned.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Y/N was on the sand with Neteyam. After Y/N showed Neteyam how to hold the spear she drew a target in the sand. Y/N had Neteyam start with the training spear which wasn’t as long as the one she uses. After he hit the target easily with the training spear she gave him a different on which was three lengths longer than the training one. Neteyam did even better so she gave him the one she uses which again is three lengths longer. But this spear wasn’t as easy as the other spears since Neteyam was having trouble hitting the bullseye.

Y/N could tell that Neteyam was getting frustrated so she suggested that they take a break. They took a seat down next to each other in the sand.

“How did you get your spear?” Neteyam asked her in a curious tone. “It was my father’s. He made it himself.” Y/N answered as she stared down at her hands that were resting on her lap.

“Thank you for being so nice to my family and I.” Neteyam told her with a soft smile. “You’re welcome.” Y/N said looking up at him returning the soft smile. As Y/N’s blue eyes stared deep into Neteyam’s yellow eyes they started to lean into one another until Y/N suddenly pulled back and away from him.

“I’m sorry! I just got caught up.” Neteyam apologized quickly. “It’s okay Neteyam.” Y/N reassured him. “It’s not you, it’s me.” Y/N added which confused him. “What do you mean?” Neteyam asked her. “I do like you Neteyam and I am falling for you but since the loss of my parents I’m always scared that I’m going to go through that pain again. That’s why I distant myself and hide my feelings for everyone.” Y/N explained to him.

She could feel tears forming in her eyes so she looked away from him. “Tsireya told me that I should be open to you but it’s just going to take me time to open up since I’ve been holding in my feelings for a long time.” Y/N told him. Neteyam used one of his hands to pick her head up so she was looking back at him. She had some tears rolling down her face. “Then we can take it slow.” Neteyam told her. “I’m falling for you, too. But I don’t want to rush you into anything.” Neteyam added as he put his hand onto her cheek.

He wiped her tears away with his thumb. Y/N felt that familiar feeling in her chest from his touch. His touch made her feel safe and warm. “Do you want to take it slow?” Neteyam asked her in a curious tone. Y/N smiled as she nodded her head. “I want to take it slow.” Y/N said which made Neteyam smile.

“Neteyam!” They heard a familiar voice call out. When Y/N and Neteyam looked over they saw Lo’ak and Kiri walking towards them. Lo’ak was the one that called out to Neteyam. “Woah, are we interrupting something here?” Kiri asked referring to Neteyam’s hand on Y/N’s cheek. Neteyam quickly took his hand off Y/N’s cheek. “No!” Neteyam and Y/N said at the same time. “Sure doesn’t seem like it.” Lo’ak said in a teasing tone which made Neteyam roll his eyes in annoyance.

“Why are you two here?” Neteyam asked his siblings with annoyance in his voice. “Mom and Dad want us to come home and eat.” Kiri told him. “Okay.” Neteyam said as he stood up. “Do you want to finish this training session tomorrow?” Y/N asked standing up onto her feet. “Sounds good to me.” Neteyam told her with a smile. “See you tomorrow.” Neteyam added. “See you tomorrow.” Y/N said with a big smile on her face. She’s hasn’t smiled that big in a very long time. “See you around Y/N!” Kiri said in a kind tone and walked away with her brothers.

Y/N gave the Sully kids a wave and then gathered her spears together and wrapped them back up in her blanket. She picked the blanket up and made her way back to her Marius.

It felt so good for her to finally confess her feelings for Neteyam. She is so excited to continue Neteyam’s spear training tomorrow.

[syrupgirl]

The stars from two points of view -Neteyam

The gentle rippling on small waves echoed below Neteyam’s head. All he could think about was how the sound of the ocean was so different from the sea. Well, duh he thought.

He groaned and rolled onto his side, looking out onto the waters. As beautiful as these islands were, the humidity could be stifling. Just another thing he had to get used to.

It wasn’t a bad change, the circumstances, yes, but this land, these waters they now called home were so boundless. Filled with new, interesting people and more opportunity for adventure.

If he looked hard enough, Neteyam could see young ilu playing in the water out front. He smiled, his days were filled with swimming through those same channels. Probably what he would be doing tomorrow as well.

“Neteyam? Are you awake?” The oldest Sully child shot up from his lying position, looking around like a madman.

“Be still, it is only me!” Oh, he could recognise the voice now. He could also pick out the pair of blue-green eyes that met his from over the edge of the netting that surrounded his families home. Neteyam smiled as you pressed a finger to your lips before dipping below the walkway.

The young man glanced behind him. His mother and father tucked into each other with little Tuk nestled between them. Lo’ak was sprawled out and snoring, while Kiri lay with her back to him. All seemed to be sleeping deeply. Perfect.

Neteyam felt like a little kid as he snuck out. Back in the forest, he had gotten into his fair share of trouble with his father because he snuck out, but that was always with Lo’ak, or Kiri, or Spider, or even Tuk. But now, here, he felt like he could finally breath a little, be his own person, and not the golden child he felt reduced to.

Neteyam peered over the edge, expecting to see you floating down there, maybe smiling at him if he dared to dream, but all he saw was a few small fish milling around in the water below.

Confused, he looked to the sides of him, behind him, even above him (for whatever reason).

“Psst! Are you coming or not?” You laughed at him. Suddenly, Neteyam felt something small and sharp poke him in the ass. He jumped again, looking around and holding his now sore behind. He could hear you laughing, but the magic he once held was quickly being replaced by frustration that he still couldn’t locate you.

“Under here, idiot.”

Finally! He could pinpoint your voice, you were probbaly swimming in the shallows beneath his feet, though he couldn’t see you through the thick woven fibers.

He walked back over to the edge and got on his hands and knees. Ducking, he looked directly underneath the pathways and yelped when he became almost nose to nose with your grinning face.

You grabbed his hand from where it was gripping the edge and went to pull him under with you.

“Hey, hey, hey! We have to be quite! I’ll make a splas-!” Was all he got out before he was plunged into the water below.

His limbs flailed for a second and he opened his eyes. The water surrounding him lit up beautiful shades of blues and greens, and he could see the luminescence lighting up your body as well.

He had a small smile to himself before he headed to the surface to tell you off some more.

-

“-oh and Lo’ak needs to work on his subtlety. Even a blind man could see how he makes eyes at Tsireya.” Neteyam snorted, splashing his hands in the water.

“It is not for nothing, you know. Tsireya keeps to herself, but she admires Lo’ak. In her own way.” You sighed as you floated on your back next to him.

You had decided against bring the Ilu out, worrying it would bring too much attention to you, options just to float on your backs and look into the sky.

The sky was so clear out here, no trees to obscure his view, no Ikran flying across the way, just and endless sea is stars, not unlike the one he was currently wading in. They were probably not unlike each other, the sea and the sky.

“-eyam? Neteyam, are you still with me?” It was like your voice slowly faded back into focus and he glanced over to you.

“Yes, yeah, I’m sorry. I was just…admiring the stars. They are so clear here. Breathtaking.”

You hummed and paddled closer to him, as if to see things more from his point of view.

“You speak like you’ve never seen the stars before, can you not see them from the forest?”

“No, we can see them, there are often things that obscure them, that’s all.”

You didn’t make any noise but he knew you heard him. The ripples of the small waves creating a calm ambiance that fuzzed up his brain.

“You know, when I was small, my mother and father would bundle up my siblings and I and tell us stories of the stars.” Neteyam spoke fondly of his memories, you could hear it in his voice, but there was a sadness to it, a longing.

“I would like to see it one day, the forest. The way you and your family speak of it, it sounds beautiful.” You set your sights on the bot next to you, his beautiful hair rippling around his head like a crown. “I would also like to see the stars from where you watched them with your family. I want to see them from your point of view.”

I want to be the one to take you there he thought. I want to be the one to tell you the stories I was told.

Neteyam turned his head to you. To him, it’s as if you had placed those very same stars in the sky, the same one he could spend endless nights admiring. If he appraised the stars so, where does that put the one who painted them there?

“What?” you smiled, looking into his eyes, seeing those same stars in his eyes.

“It’s nothing, you have nothing to worry about, we have nothing to worry about.”

a/n: I purposefully wrote the dialogue to sound a little formal btw, since that’s kind of how they spoke in the movie. And also, i feel like i need to clarify since Neteyam is fifteen years old that I am his age, and the reader that I write in these fics is also his age, or very close to it.

[stomach-bugg09]

heyyy, could you maybe write a fic with the entire sully family x reader, where she is part of the metkayina clan, and after they get to stay she has to introduce the family to everything (instead of tsireya and aonung). They get closer and she’s a good friend to them.

She is very sweet, loves children and treats tuk like her own (this is a key element hihi)

So one day, after she goes out with tuk to entertain her, they get attacked by someone you can decide (I’m sorry but I need something angsty😭) and reader protects tuk and saves her life.

But, and here comes the “plot twist”, the sully’s misunderstand the situation and think reader did it on purpose or was trying to hurt tuk and they’re all angry and furious at her, not letting her explain.

So she retreats and doesn’t leave her marui pod for days, until someone from the clan clears it up, and they apologise to her… YOU CAN DECIDE THE ENDING, WETHER ITS HAPPY OR SAD!!!!

Thank u in advance and I have to say, I absolutely love your writing, every time I finish one of ur fics I crave moreeeee!!!❤️

summary: [y/n] saves the life of tuk, but at what cost?

a/n: hopefully this turned out good !! i’m kind of bad when it comes to misunderstanding trope because i kind of hate it ( whoopsies ) but i think it turned out okay ?? i’m just glad i finally was able to publish something after a few days. reblogs + feedback are always appreciated !!

tags: @rafeslovergirl@wxnderingthoughts @liyahsocorro @bonnibuckets @hjkshshjkhklhkl @itssiaaax @grierpilots @fleurbeass @nyotamalfoy @23victoria

warnings: mentions of blood, injury, fear, a monster-like creature pursuing tuk and [y/n], jake and neytiri being kind of mean, scars, almost dying, passing out, a lil angst, happyish ending

words: 2.4k

i would do it again

she hadn’t meant for it to go the way that it did. everytime she replayed the scene in her head, tears pricked [y/n]’s eyes. what could’ve happened—what should’ve happened. she continued to thank eywa that both her and tuk made it out alive and safe.

it’d been that morning when the youngest sully bounded up to [y/n] in the middle of her chores. “[y/n]!” she cried, joy evident in her voice.

[y/n] could not help but grin, looking up from the net that she was busy detangling. “good morning, darling tuk!”

the sully family had been in awa’atlu for several months at that point, but [y/n] had been friends with them since they first arrived. [y/n] was a former warrior of the clan, despite how young she was. she was only twenty years old, but after a former event resulting in a very severe injury, [y/n] was quickly deferred to a safer alternative that still allowed her to help her clan.

after the incident, [y/n] found herself working with the children. it was her job to begin teaching them the ways of the water, which included breathing, swimming, and free-diving. when they got to the age of learning to hunt, they were passed along to another teacher.

that was how [y/n] first met the sullys.

after tsireya and ao’nung toured the village with them, the future tsahik introduced them to [y/n]. “she will be helping us teach you our ways.”

and so she did. although her schedule was far too busy to always attend the lessons, [y/n] was there as much as she possibly could, rewarding each and every child on their progress.

[y/n] was also introduced to neytiri and jake sully by tonowari. the ole’eyktan was quick to tell them of her honorable history, especially regarding the injury. [y/n] didn’t miss the way the toruk makto’s sympathetic eyes flickered to the large scar that still burdened her up and down her right leg. but, for the first time in a long time, his careful stare did not cause her insecurity. instead, it made her feel safe, especially as she limped up and down the beach.

it did not take long for the sully family to entrust [y/n]. she was kind, caring, and she was always there to help them. a part of [y/n] drifted to the sully family once neytiri began treating her as if she was one of their own, often inviting her over for dinner.

for the first time in years, ever since the deaths of her parents, [y/n] felt like she had a true family again.

so, given their history, [y/n] was not at all shocked at the arrival of tuk on that sunny morning.

“[y/n]!” she yelled once again, stopping in front of the metkayina girl. “oh my eywa, [y/n],” tuk panted, hands clasping her knees as she caught her breath.

“oh, my!” [y/n] laughed, smiling up from where she sat on the dock. “what is the matter, dear?”

“it is so nice out today!”

[y/n] chuckled at that. “oh, isn’t it?” leave it to tuk to cause a panic only for her to exclaim that the weather was good.

“we should go out,” tuk decided, crossing her arms in front of her chest as she gave [y/n] a look.

[y/n] only raised the muscles above her eyes. “you think so?”

tuk nodded vigorously. “yes, i do! kiri is busy with mother, lo’ak wants nothing to do with me, and neteyam refuses to take me out ever.” once she finished her short rant, she stuck out her bottom lip and widened her eyes. “please, [y/n]?”

“tuk,” [y/n] groaned, covering her eyes with her hands. “that’s unfair. you’re too adorable to refuse!”

tuk grinned pridefully. “i know, isn’t it awesome?”

just like that, the two soon found themselves sharing a ride on an ilu through the reef. [y/n] smiled at the way tuk’s arms flew outwards, allowing her to reach out and feel the tingling sensation as they passed through the thick waters.

the coral was gorgeous that morning thanks to the rays of sunlight that beamed through the surface, lighting up the seafloor. “look,” [y/n] signed to tuk, pointing out a crab that waddled across the ground.

a chuckle left the sully’s lips as indicated by the small trail of bubbles that floated above them. [y/n] grinned at the way tuk raised her hand, waving at the small creature that strolled across the ocean floor.

of course, it could only stay perfect for so long, and unfortunately, the perfection did not last long enough.

[y/n] immediately felt something was wrong when the water turned the slightest bit colder. although the sully girl did not notice, the chills rising on [y/n]’s arms sent her panicking. when her ilu rumbled in dismay beneath them, she knew they needed to turn around.

“it is time to go back,” [y/n] signed quickly, the annoyance being difficult to ignore from behind her. before tuk could sign anything back, the older girl rose her hand and gestured for her to stay quiet.

just as she directed the ilu to turn around, [y/n] noticed how quiet it was. for once in her life, [y/n] could hear nothing. it was just them and the ocean.

the fish were gone, fleeing into their homes. the crab on the ground was quickly sheltered by his hole in the sand. not even the water swayed all that much. a chill settled deep in [y/n]’s bones.

she panicked at the feeling of tuk’s arms wrapping around her waist, the sully’s small face pressed into her back. it was when she felt tuk’s hand hit her that she was prompted to look up from where she observed the quiet reef.

[y/n] nearly choked on the salty water when the sight of large animal. it loomed overtop of them, a shadow cast on top of them from his mere size. it’s flippers were large, but not nearly as large as his teeth were.

although it was only split seconds, it felt like a billion years until either of them made their first move.

when the creature attempted to close the distance between them, [y/n] sent the ilu flying beneath the beast. she swallowed a yelp at the feeling of the water by her ear, his mouth nearly having chomped it off had they not moved so fast.

unfortunately, the monster was as smart as it was quick, and it was soon adjusting. with one last look over her shoulder, [y/n] sent the ilu shooting forward.

tuk’s arms clasped [y/n] desperately, her eyes hidden from reality due to the fear it brought. at that, [y/n] urged the creature they rode on to swim even faster.

as much as the ilu tried, it was nothing compared to the fins that carried the monster behind them. once [y/n] felt it catching up, the only thing she could think to do was unattached her queue from the ilu and grab tuk. as they rolled off the side, [y/n] choked back a scream at the sight of her ilu being swallowed by the beast in one quick gulp.

blood blossomed in the water. tuk stared aimlessly, her cries not going unheard. [y/n] grabbed her face, pressing a hand overtop her mouth. not only could the beast hear, but tuk was losing breath.

“hush, darling,” she signed, eyes attentive to their surroundings. “you must be quiet. it will all be okay, do you understand?” tuk only nodded.

they hid behind a large rock-like structure, and [y/n] carefully peeked out to catch an understanding of where they stood versus the beast. she instantly rolled back around, back pressed against the textured piece of nature. he was close. dangerously so.

and so, [y/n] began to hatch a plan. as she would swim out, tuk would start swimming towards the surface. [y/n] was a trained warrior and swimmer, she could outswim the monster if she used the coral to her advantage. tuk just had to get back to civilization.

just as she turned to tell tuk of her plan, it appeared that it was far too late. she only whimpered once she felt the cold temperatures of the shade once again.

[y/n] grabbed tuk’s hand, praying to eywa that tuk would stay strong and stay smart. at least one of them needed to make it out alive, and it had to be tuk.

with one last squeeze of her hand, [y/n] stood up and locked eyes with the creature. behind her back, her fingers moved gracefully to communicate to tuk.

once she was done, she brought her hands above her head, making herself seem bigger as a small attempt, although it was more of a signal to tuk. with her arms up, tuk launched herself out and up, and the beast launched itself directly at [y/n].

she dodged almost perfectly if it weren’t for the spikes that took over his skin. she hissed as her skin caught one of the thorns, flesh tearing quickly.

[y/n]’s plan was, unfortunately, not at all fool-proof. dread settled in her gut as the beast’s eyes broke away from her and instead watched the distance thanks to the sight of a swimming na’vi.

“no!” she tried to scream, although the words came out extremely muffled because of the quick water.

and so, she let every primal instinct she ever had take over.

[y/n]’d never swam so fast in her life. she let the water take over, let eywa bless her and her senses. for the first time in a couple years, she could not feel the injury of her leg. it was just her and the sea.

her eyes did not leave tuk once, not even when the swam side-by-side with the monster. not even when he nearly ate her. she was far too quick for him.

they were throat-to-throat, and yet, at the last second, [y/n] sped ahead of the beast and launched herself on top of tuk. she cradled the girl as the water seemed to burst in every direction.

and then she blacked out.

when [y/n] awoke, she found herself in the comforts of her own home. the sun blinked through the marui, a feeling that caused [y/n] to smile.

that smile was quickly gone once she remembered exactly what happened before she’d passed out.

when [y/n] shot up, tsireya was quick to attend her side. “[y/n]!” she calmed, voice quiet and gentle. “[y/n], it is okay. you are okay! you are safe.”

[y/n] couldn’t even form full sentences. “tuk.”

“tuk is alive and well. she’s been awake for an hour or so, waiting for you.” tsireya’s smile faded. “but.. the sullys are keeping her from visiting.

[y/n]’s eyes narrowed at the news, confusion clouding her head. “what? why?”

“they think you did it.”

days go by, and [y/n] was quiet. quieter than she has been in years, ever since her injury. ever since her parents death. the guilt was nearly the same, nearly just as heart-wrenching.

they did not trust her. they thought she would hurt tuk. the mere thought of it sent [y/n] spiralling.

the olo’eyktan’s family tried to visit her often, but she was cut off. even when they did somehow make it inside, she was dry, often not even answering them. it was as if she pretended they didn’t exist.

[y/n] didn’t look so good either. she was leaving her own health as the last of her priorities, as if they didn’t matter compared to the fact that they didn’t trust her.

it was only thanks to the trustful word of tsireya that the sullys finally had clear enough minds to come and visit.

it was a quiet night, the only sound heard being the crash of the waves against the shore. [y/n] was busy poking at the food ao’nung delivered just moments before. she couldn’t find an appetite to even attempt eating the food, despite what she promised him.

at the sound of two bodies walking into her pod, she jumped onto her feet. ever since the incident, she was on extremely high alert. even when she slept at night, all she saw were the jaws of that monster… and then the way that the sea exploded around her.

time froze when she saw the guilty faces of jake and neytiri.

“[y/n],” jake’s voice was quiet, broken. almost as bad as she felt. “[y/n], we are so sorry.”

[y/n] only blinked. “why?” she swallowed, putting her food down behind her before taking a step towards the couple. “why in the world should you be sorry? it was only like i risked my life for your daughter and you didn’t even have the kindness to come and talk to me.” she shook her head. “i had to hear it from tsireya that you hated me. you didn’t give me a chance.”

neytiri sniffled, eyes full of guilty tears. “we understand. and that is why we are here.” she attempts to step towards [y/n], but retracts when she feels the younger girl tense. with a quick sigh, she continues. “we were worried. worried about our baby. all we knew is that you washed up together, and tuk was hurt because of something out on the reef. you were the only one with her. and we just… we thought, since you knew the reef so well, there was no way you could have run into such trouble.”

[y/n] paused before shaking her head. “i don’t know what that monster was,” she whispered. “i have never seen such a ghastly thing in my life.”

jake nods. “we know. we know that now, and we should have never doubted you. for that, we are so extremely sorry, and we are so extremely thankful that you kept tuk alive.”

[y/n] paused. after the years she spent grappling for approval from everybody on the island, after gaining it through risking her life, this was the first time that she truly felt fulfillment.

when tears welled up in her eyes, she allowed the parents to hug her. at the warmth of their arms around her trembling body, she whispered, “i would do it again.”

[thepaperpanda]

The Best Is Yet To Come || Lo’ak x fem!Metkayina reader

Summary: finally, Lo'ak opens up about his true feelings, not only about the Payakan situation, but also regarding you 💙

Warnings: none, pure fluff & Neteyam interrupting the confession of Lo'ak's feelings for the reader ����

Word count: 2203

Author: Rouge

A/N: prior to reading, it’s important to know that: the reader is female Metkayina ✤  there is no particular feeling between Lo'ak & Tsireya - he’s more interested in the reader ✤ Neteyam’s into Tsireya ✤ you'll find a glossary underneath the fic

The reefs of Pandora were more than breathtaking. The reef amazed you with its diversity, with its wide range of different colors, as well as many types of creatures living there. Having been Metkayina, you have been taught to look beyond the mundane. Water was both life and death, so to immerse yourself in this very specific kind of relationship with it was indispensable.

It was not anticipated that newcomers would arrive, especially forest people, Omaticaya. With Tsireya's assignment to show the newcomers their new home, you also took part in this task. Truthfully, you were curious about this new family that was about to settle among Metkayina. As opposed to your clan - their hands were slimmer and less muscular; their tails had funny fur covering the tips, and they had thinner legs. There was no doubt in your mind that they would have difficulty adapting to your environment.

Nevertheless, within a few weeks, the Sully family made great progress - they learned to ride ilu and how to fish, and Jake Sully's youngest son even developed an unusual relationship with Payakan, a tulkun outcast.

_________________

Sunset came in its boldest blaze, as if Eywa had painted rainbow-flames across the evening sky. You were coated in a light mist of salty air from the ocean breeze, blowing gently towards the shore. Sitting on the sand with Tsireya and Lo'ak, who grew closer to the two of you, you watched the eclipse coming across the sky; throughout the area, beautiful turquoise and violet hues began to appear.

"The thought of Payakan choosing you still baffles me," Tsireya whispered to Lo'ak. 

With a single nod, you also glanced at the young Omaticaya. "Tsireya's right. It seems to me that Eywa has something great planned for you, Lo'ak."

As he listened to both of your words, young Omaticaya nodded his head occasionally; some of his braids moved back and forth as he did. "I still don't understand why your clan refuses to accept Payakan's innocence."

There was an exchange of glances between you and Tsireya.

Taking a moment to calm herself, Tsireyspoke. "Loak," she started gently, "You know he is the one responsible for those deaths, according to the Tulkun Way."

"It's unfair," he replied, shrugging within his arms as he traced shapes in the sand with one of his fingers.

As if to ease his anger and sorrow, she placed her palm on his shoulder and whispered, "This is how it is, Lo'ak."

After letting out a deep sigh, the young man got up. "Even though I understand, I find it highly unfair that he must pay for the rest of his life for fighting against sawtute." When Lo’ak had finished speaking, he walked along the shoreline alone, leaving you and Tsireya behind.

Tsireya looked after Lo’ak while he walked away. "He's so upset. I don't know how to cheer him up." 

You got up and dusted the sand crystals off your legs, saying "I'll try to speak with him once more."

Tsireya nodded in acknowledgement. "I think it's worth a try. Just remember to be gentle."

"I always am," you laughed and hugged your best friend before attempting to locate Lo'ak.

_________________

Not long afterwards, you spotted him petting his ilu while sitting on a wooden pier, almost outside the village. You watched him from a distance for a while. Tsireya was right - he was extremely upset over the situation with his spirit brother. As you were considering leaving him alone there so he could collect his thoughts and find his inner peace again, he spotted you out of the corner of his eye. He turned his head to you and laughed lightly, "Have you ever been told how bad you are at sneaking up on people?"

As you approached him, you spread your arms wide. "Too many times, actually," you replied with a shrug. As you sat beside him, you rubbed your hands together and put your legs in the water. "Lo'ak, listen, I know that..."

"I appreciate both you and Tsireya's efforts to comfort me, but..." He paused to rub his temple. "It's not that easy, I'm sure you understand my point of view."

While you gazed at Lo'ak's sadness written on his face, you said, "I understand, even though it might sound foolish. I truly understand how you feel."

A hollow look crossed his face as he watched the horizon, asking, "Do you really?"

“Sran, Lo’ak. Oel ngati kameie.”

Lo'ak looked directly at your face bathed in the last rays of the setting sun after he stopped petting his ilu's head. The way he stared at your huge eyes made it seem as if he was trying to glean every little sparkle from them. There was an obvious attempt to express a thought, but he could not find the appropriate words to do so, so he continued looking at your face, moving his gaze from your eyes to your cheekbones and lips. “Listen…”

With your palm raised, you signaled him to remain silent. While your palm rested on his chest, your eyes were never taken away from his. "Listen to me now, please. The tulkuns were violent creatures who fought among themselves for territory and revenge during the time of the First Songs, one of the earliest recollections of Na'vi history. This way of life was eventually abandoned by the tulkuns, who adopted a pacifistic philosophy in which killing is strictly forbidden, even if it is justified, as in self-defense cases. Thus, any tulkun who acts against the Tulkun Way and kills is outcast from the tulkuns. The tulkuns and my clan share a close relationship, as you might have heard, so any outcast tulkuns are rejected by us as well. It is nonetheless my strong belief that Payakan will have an opportunity to make amends, sooner nor later."

Lo'ak held his breath without even realizing it as his eyes widened. As you spoke in a reassuring tone, Lo'ak's heart calmed a little; the belief you had that Payakan could atone eased Lo'ak's soul as well. "Do you really think it would happen, Y/N?"

“Yes.” Lo'ak grew quiet as he thought once again about everything you had said. Having anxious thoughts was like riding an ikran around the village over and over again, faster and faster - it was more than pointless, so the young Omaticaya decided to push them out of his mind. In view of the beautiful eclipse that swept over the world, Lo'ak raised his head up, letting a quiet sigh out. "I strongly believe that Eywa knows... That Eywa knows he was innocent and tried to fight back after his mother and friends were killed."

Initially hesitantly, you took his five-finger palm in yours and squeezed it tightly, smiling at him. "Would you be kind enough to smile for me, Lo'ak? I don't like it... I mean, my clan don't like it when our guests are sad."

Observing your face as carefully as he could, he tilted his head to one side, considering your words. "Do they really worry about me or is it you who are concerned?" He mused.

Oh! There were moments when you wished you weren't so sensitive, that you could conceal your emotions more easily; within an instant, your cheeks were rosy and your hidden emotions were evident to everyone around. Those yellowish eyes of his were fixed on you; they were the most beautiful and understanding you've ever seen. “Lo’ak…” You started, but he touched your cheek, he rubbed his thumb against your skin, making you hold back your breath and nuzzle against his palm a tiny bit.

"Oeru lu fpom. I'm glad I met you. My family is so fortunate to have you and Tsireya as friends. You seem like such a sweet person," he complimented.

You whispered, "Oh, stop it" but his closeness had an unusual influence on you; your heart pounded as if you were being chased by akula, your skin was hot, and your pupils dilated. "I like you too, Lo'ak," you whispered back.

Suddenly Lo'ak leaned forward and gently placed his lips against yours, without a thought in his mind.

Initially, you blinked, surprised, but soon lost yourself in the sensation. Despite being messy and uncertain, his kiss was sweet and full of promises of a better tomorrow. During the kiss, you were at your most pure and vulnerable selves. There were a million loving thoughts condensed into one moment in that kiss. His lips tasted like the sweetest nectar you've ever tasted. Immediately after the kiss was broken, you looked into his eyes hesitantly, just like he did. “Lo’ak…”

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have kissed you," he apologized, gathering his composure as he rose from the pier.

"No, no, Lo'ak!" You blinked and got up as well, following him.

Lo'ak's ilu put his head over the surface of the water to observe the situation.

“I'm so sorry, I have no idea what I was guided by. I didn't want to sully your honor," he said, getting from the pier to the sandy beach.

"Lo'ak!" you yelled as you tried to stop him.

The young Omaticaya took no notice at all and tried to walk away as quickly as he could.

"Lo'ak te Suli Tsyeyk’itan!" You shouted after him.

It was only that that made him pause and look back at you.

As you approached him, you shook your head in disbelief. Observing him with your bluish eyes, you asked, "You kissed me and now you are running away? You, the one who survived meeting with Payakan alone? What is it that you are afraid of?”

As he avoided your gaze, Lo’ak whispered, "Rejection. Rejection is what I fear most."

You took a hold of his palms, squeezing them, fixing your eyes on his face. "Please, hear me out, Lo'ak. I need you to know that you matter. Not only to me, but to the fate of this planet. You need to acknowledge your worth. Be confident. Start feeling the difference you actually make," you reached out and touched his cheek lightly, your other hand was put to his chest. “As I told you before, oel ngati kameie. The confidence and certainty you feel about your own self is what I want to see from you, for I admire you, my dear. And about the kiss... Your belief that you sullied my honor is terribly misguided,” you chuckled lightly, blushing yet again.

"I thought you didn't like it," Lo'ak replied, licking his lips as they became so dry he could no longer bear the feeling.

"I've been kissed a few times before," you told him openly, "but none have been as heartwarming and perfect as yours." You could see the gratitude within the sparkles of joy in his eyes.

"Look at that! I didn't know my little bro is such a skilled kisser!" Suddenly, a vibrant tone came from behind, and you saw no one else but Neteyam, Lo'ak's older brother, approaching you.

Your anger about Neteyam destroying the moment full of trust and thrill made you grin at him a little too wryly. "Neteyam."

As Lo'ak asked, his tone was filled with anger, "What are you doing here?"

"What am I doing here? It's well after the eclipse, and mother is worried about you," the older brother explained with a shrug. “Come on, let’s get you back home.”

Upon seeing his brother's smug grin, Lo'ak rolled his eyes and requested, "Just give us a minute."

When Neteyam walked away into the substantial distance, Lo'ak focused on you again. "I was wondering if you would like to hang out tomorrow? We might go to Payakan.”

"I think I'll be able to join you if you help me with fishing and net weaving," you told him with a smile, but deep inside you were really more than thrilled by the thought of spending more time with Lo’ak.

"You got it!" He smiled eagerly, and kissed you again, harder this time.

The actions of Lo'ak had not gone unnoticed by Neteyam, who whistled a few times. "Well, well, look at you, kiddos! It might be a good idea for me to tell mother to start preparing for your wedding, bro. Love is in the air!”

"Lay off of him, Neteyam," you warned as you leaned closer to him, "Or I'll have to open up about what I saw a few days ago."

In an instant, Neteyam stopped grinning; his eyes narrowed, turning into tiny gaps. "Don't you dare, Y/N."

Lo'ak exclaimed, "Hey, I wanna know!"

A smirk danced around your lips as you looked hardly at Neteyam and said, "Your older brother was making out with Tsireya."

Lo'ak chuckled loudly and opened his eyes wider. "Knew it! I saw you staring at her. Look at you, bro, you aren't wasting your time."

After shaking his head and groaning loudly, Neteyam turned and walked away, gesturing at Lo'ak to follow.

Lo'ak kissed your cheek briefly. "See you tomorrow!" He bid you farewell as he chased after his brother, lining up with him shortly after.

While watching him leave, your heart raced within your chest. There was no doubt in your mind that the best was yet to come.

Glossary:

sawtute - humans (“sky people”)

tulkun - a large, intelligent marine creature native to the oceans of Pandora

ilu - a sea creature, the direhorse of the Pandoran oceans

sran - yes (colloquial)

oel ngati kameie - I see you

oeru lu fpom - I’m happy

akula - a Pandoran ocean animal

[vante1920pm]

Love ur writing and headcannons for the avatar charcters! Could you maybe do a bunch of headcannons for neteyam and also kiri where they like a metkayina gn! reader and get super giddy and flustered around them and cant handle it? Basically Fluff and cute cheesy stuff lmao, thanks!!

──;; 𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐎𝐌 𝐅𝐋𝐔𝐅𝐅𝐘 𝐒𝐓𝐔𝐅𝐅 ★☆

★ 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲: thanks for the request ! <3

I'll make a separate part for kiri because I'm lazy 😭 also, maybe I'm gonna make a second part on this one !

◎ | avatar masterlist

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ

☆ 𝘀𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: just some disgustingly fluffy stuff <3

☆ 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀: neteyam/gn!metkayina!reader

☆ 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴: full of fluff, nothing else really

here to part two ! ( not finished )

It's not often that he does a double take, but when he saw you for the first time, he was instantly smitten by you.

He tried to play it off, but Lo'ak notices everything. No one is save from his teasing, especially not his siblings.

It started small, when Lo'ak would leave you and Neteyam because he had "businesses" to attend, which was most likely tea parties with Tuk or watch Tsireya just existing.

After a while though, Lo'ak started to yell your name when they were near you or pretends to tell you about his brother's crush on you, just to ask something completely off topic. He's just trying to annoy Neteyam at this point.

And it works.

Neteyam is usually composed and cool, but when you're near, his walls break down completely. It's like you're poisoning his mind with your whole being. There's nothing else he can think about when he lays awake at night. You're everywhere, even if you're not actually there.

One time, he tried to kiss you on the cheek, but you turned away so he kissed the tree beside you. It was pretty embarrassing, and the worst part:

Lo'ak and Ao'nung saw it 💀

It was literally an invitation for them to make jokes about it and mock him. But luckily, your focus was somewhere else, so you didn't notice anything.

Neteyam sometimes giggles at your jokes, even if they're not funny at all. Others mostly laugh out of pity, but there is he, unironically choking his lungs out.

But you're Y/N, so you're, of course, oblivious to everything. Though that's better than to see the guy embarrass himself time after time 😐

Bro needs to take a breath sometime, you're too much to handle for him. You're literally perfect in his eyes.

He's extremely interested in your home too. He'll listen to everything you tell him, even if Tsireya or Ao'nung already mentioned it. It just sounds better when it comes out of your mouth.

Alexa, play obsessed by Mariah Carey !

© 2023, vante1920pm | do not copy or translate any of my works without my permission. likes, comments and reblogs are highly appreciated

[shu-box-puns]

Shell-Shocked 

(Neteyam X Reader)

Part 1 -> Next Chapter

If you prefer to read on Ao3, you can find the fic here!

Summary: Shells appear whenever you’re around Neteyam.

Word Count: 8229

This is a Metkayina Reader and they use they/them pronouns. 

A little snack to keep you all entertained until Ao3 is revived :)))))

Y/n was terrifying. And after the horrors of war that Neteyam had witnessed, he did not admit that to himself lightly.

Maybe it was the fact that regardless of what he did or what jokes he cracked, they never seemed to warm to him. 

Or perhaps it was the permanent scowl carved into their features. Or their short, authoritative way of speaking. There was no warmth in them, not that he could decipher anyway. They watched blankly from the water, whilst Tsireya explained today’s lesson, eyes scanning the village as their tail idly swayed the waves. 

There was just something about them. The quiet but dominating way in which they held themselves. How they commanded all of his attention despite standing behind both Roxto and Tsireya, who Neteyam really should be paying attention to instead. 

How their eyes were piercing, picking apart weakness within seconds. So large and breathtaking, but closed off and emotionless. Neteyam couldn’t read them. Their face was a blank slate to him. He couldn’t tell when they were genuinely mad at him or if they were teasing. 

Tsireya clapped her hands, smiling wide and Neteyam blinked. His siblings made to follow her into the shallow cove, leaving Neteyam standing on the beach like an idiot. He was quick to fall into step beside Lo’ak, Kiri attempting to reign in Tuk who had already rushed to Roxto’s side. 

His brother barely spared him a glance - too infatuated with Tsireya’s warmth as she beconned him over. Which left Neteyam wandering aimlessly into the water, the last of the Metkayina watching him with disinterest.

<”Let us begin.”> They said simply as he approached. They didn’t bother waiting for his response as they turned and waded further into the waves, hollering to an ilu as they went. Neteyam followed, and the lesson progressed with as little talking as was strictly necessary.

And here he was, sweating bullets astride an ilu that was just as agitated as him.

Y/n had barely explained the mechanics of riding the animal before ordering him to clamber on and start practising. 

Their grip was firm on him, adjusting his limbs into the correct mount position. Those eyes critical and their ears perked. This close, Neteyam could tell they weren’t much older than him, and yet, he wouldn’t be surprised if they were close to passing their rite. The way they held themselves had his back instinctively straightening, which in turn hindered how he held himself in the saddle.

They would tut quietly to themselves, making Neteyam flush as his hands were swiftly repositioned by those strong fingers. The ilu chirped between Neteyam’s thighs, and Y/n was quick to soothe it with a gentle pat to the side of its head. Neteyam could feel the touch through the bond and shared in the ilu’s resulting calmness. 

They stepped back, and Neteyam stubbornly kept his head facing forwards. Absently, they nodded to themselves once, seemingly approving of his positioning.

<”Now, go with the ilu.”> They explained, mimicking the motion with their hands. <”Dive.”>

The word flickered across Neteyam’s mind and in an instant the ilu was doing just that. Plunging forward and down into the icy depths of the cove with little to no warning. Neteyam’s eyes bugged as he stubbornly choked down what little air he could suck in before the crystal blue waves closed over his face. Panic had the ilu kicking up its pace. Racing away at a speed that had Neteyam’s fingers slipping and unwillingly releasing the harness.

He was swept off his mount’s back in a current of bubbles, his kuru yanking free. 

Neteyam came up spluttering, his braids obscuring his view. He struggled to swipe them away, ears flapping in distress as he realised the ilu had left him in a spot where he couldn’t reach the floor. His head kept dipping jerkily beneath the waves in his panic, water rushing up his nose and blurring his vision. 

Unexpectedly, a strong hand wrapped around his bicep, unrelenting as he was lifted through the water and held above it. Neteyam sucked in a much needed breath. He turned in place, peering through his obscured view to find Y/n nodding silently to themselves as they effortlessly tread water. Grip still firm, they swam back towards the shelf of rock they’d been standing on with a few powerful swipes of their wide tail. 

<”That was better than yesterday.”> Y/n told him as they dragged him up onto the rock behind them. Neteyam scrambled to find his feet, sensing a ‘but’ on the horizon. <”You held on longer than Lo’ak. As expected from-”>

Whatever else they were going to say died on their lips as Neteyam’s ilu sidled back up to their side. For the first time that morning, Neteyam watched genuine surprise melt away the mask of neutral indifference. 

The ilu seemed to grin back at them, chirping merrily and presenting the motionless na’vi with a gorgeous, bright pink shell. Y/n’s hands visibly shook as they took it from the animal, who squeaked proudly. They seemed to get lost in inspecting the pretty shell, turning it over and over, examining it with a flush. Their nose was scrunched as if it smelled awful, but all Neteyam could smell was the salt of the sea accompanied by the bitter undertones of seaweed. Nothing that would warrant such a look of disgust.

Curiosity got the better of him as he carefully stepped closer, ears pricked in interest at the small gift. Y/n visibly jumped as his shadow fell over the shell, hands snatching it back and their eyes wide as if caught doing something they weren’t supposed to. 

His eyes found theirs and stayed. 

They blinked. 

And the spell was broken.

The na’vi looked back down at the pink surface of the shell, their expression pinched. Then their face hardened, and with a sigh, they dropped the shell into the water off the edge of the ledge. Neteyam couldn’t help but watch it go, eyes transfixed by the beautiful dips and weaves of the thing as it slipped out of sight. Dragged down by its own weight. 

<”You sit too tall in the saddle,”> the metkayina snapped unexpectedly, dragging Neteyam back to the task at hand and rekindling his unease from before. <”It creates too much resistance. You need to lean closer to your ilu’s back.”> He was nodding along again, watching dumbly as they called to his ilu and coaxed it into staying put whilst he climbed on. Before he knows it, he’s being guided back into the correct sitting position and being ordered to dive. 

This time he manages to hold on a little longer.

>_< 

The shells were everywhere. 

Wherever the oldest Sully boy was, the blasted shells were too. And they were PINK of all colours. And only getting brighter. Always around Neteyam, and only around Neteyam. There was no doubt in your mind who Eywa was nudging you towards. 

Since that first riding lesson, more and more of the pretty little things had been washing up around you. They got caught in your hair whilst you helped teach breathing lessons with the Sully children. When fishing, the shells got caught in your nets, tearing through the fine fibres. 

It was infuriating, but you kept every single one.

Even that first, baby pink shell, which you had gone back to the cove for after handing Neteyam off to Tsireya for the breathing portion of the lesson. It had taken countless dives and plenty of rooting around in the pebbly bottom of the training grounds, but eventually you found it and snatched it up. 

It had been the first of many shells to find a home on the topmost shelf of your pod. Tucked out of sight, but not forgotten. A dirty little secret that pulled at the edges of your mind and distracted you from your tasks. 

>_<

After those first few riding lessons, you began to see the oldest Sully more and more often. Neteyam was constantly asking for extra tips, never quite meeting your eye as he explained that he feared he was falling behind his siblings and needed to improve. 

Initially, you wanted to turn him down. It was annoying to be constantly pulled away from your duties, especially since your participation in the lessons only happened because Aonung was being a child, and Tsireya needed both you and Roxto to help babysit so none of the Sullys accidentally drowned themselves. 

However, with Aonung constantly disappearing to get out of teaching them, Tsireya openly flirting with the younger brother and Roxto being preoccupied with Kiri, you found that you had no choice other than to help Neteyam. If you didn’t and it wasn’t evident he was improving, you feared what Ronal would say. 

Useless students reflected poorly on their teachers after all.

In the beginning, it was simply a couple hours spent teaching him how to properly breathe. Time spent on the rocky outcrops overlooking the reef, soaking up the afternoon sun and breathing in time with the waves. Neteyam would sit a little way away, eyes clenched shut as he focused on his heartbeat, trying to relax. You found that if you brought something else to do, like mending, he would relax much easier without your gaze on him.

Then the breathing became extra ilu riding classes. 

And at some point, it turned into just hanging out for the hell of it. 

You would spend your mornings carrying out your usual duties, before helping Tsireya with the Sully children’s lessons after the sun crawled past noon. Then during your free time, like clockwork, Neteyam would turn up sprouting some lame excuse about practice.

You began looking forward to your daily time spent together. You found yourself excited to hear his stories about the forest, in exploring the islands and messing around in the waves together. A warmth filled you whenever you found a pink shell now. And you privately agreed with Eywa that her choice for you had been accurate. 

Neteyam was in all sense of the word, perfect. Easy to be around and fast to learn. Driven by his need to prove himself, whilst not allowing his own goals to consume him. Your time spent with him was pleasant, and in many ways, you never ran out of things to discuss or complain about. 

You loved Aonung and Tsireya, they were like your siblings, but you were very different people. Tsireya was warm to strangers where you were cold and wary. Aonung believed himself to be too young to take his future position in the clan seriously. And then there was you, constantly keeping him in line and struggling to find your place with your iknimaya fast approaching. 

Neteyam was your escape. And a lot of the time, you privately believed you were his too.

Even from a distance, you could see the heaviness of the responsibility his father placed on his shoulders. And although Neteyam carried it with his chin high and his shoulders back, you could tell he was weary. Alongside learning an entirely fresh skill set, he was tasked with looking after his siblings. The hours you spent beyond the village together, was the only time you saw him truly relax.

Before you knew it, he had mastered the ilu and you began teaching him how to dive. How to work the currents of the cove and remain underwater for longer periods of time. 

With the sun as your witness, the pair of you spent countless afternoons exploring the colourful reefs all around the island. You watched with a private smile as he stared in awe at the countless fish, his useless tail working furiously to move but getting him nowhere. More often than not, you’d find yourself grabbing his hand to move him along faster. And he’d hold on tight, grinning brightly as your powerful tail cut through the water and made you reach speeds he could not achieve on his own. 

His breathing still needed work, but you found you didn’t hate the frequent breaks between dives. Especially when he’d take the time to pull pink shells from your hair, commenting on how they seemed to love you considering how frequently he found them on your person. You would simply roll your eyes at the comment, playfully trying to snatch it from him, only for Neteyam to grin mischievously and hold it out of your reach.

You thought the unspoken spark between you had bloomed into an understanding. Perhaps even a connection.

And as such, you took it upon yourself to honour Eywa’s suggestion.

You began working hard on your courting gift. 

It took countless moons. Several sessions with Ronal to renew your weaving skills and enduring her knowing looks. And a few nights of you stuffing the gift into your hammock and shoving Neteyam back out of your pod when he unexpectedly invited himself in.

He’d laugh at your antics, perhaps tease you if he was in the right mood, before inviting you out for a night time swim. Considering how gorgeous your island home was at eclipse, you could never deny him.

Finally, your courting gift was almost complete. 

You grinned as you examined your knot work. It had taken you several days of sorting through the pink shells Eywa had gifted you and weaving them into the neck piece how you wanted, but it looked alright. You had hand woven the cord, ensuring it was strong enough to withstand the might of the sea. Had hand picked the shells from your shelf, selecting them for their appearance in the sunlight as well as their bioluminescent glow. 

Leaning back in your hammock, you slid a critical eye along the piece. Frowning at the tight knots and the uneven gaps between the shells which gave them a little too much room to slide around. It looked shabby, maybe a little pathetic.

Absently, you considered stopping by Tsireya’s marui to ask for her help in improving the stitches, but then thought better of it. Around this time, the Olo’eyktan’s family would be sitting down to dinner, and although Tsireya’s skill would greatly improve the gift, you wanted it to be firmly your own work. If you were going to do this, it was gonna be because you earned it, not because you took the easy way out. 

You would give it to him like this. You decided, slipping out of your hammock. It just meant the next stage - after you passed your iknimaya - needed to be impeccable.

Nodding to yourself, you held the necklace carefully at your side so as not to draw attention to it whilst you walked the short distance from your pod to the Sully residence. Judging by the position of the sun the family wouldn’t be eating for another hour, so there was plenty of time to grab Neteyam and drag him off to somewhere more private.

With Eywa as your witness, you soundlessly approached the Sully pod, your ears pricked in order to figure out how many witnesses you were about to have. The walkway creaked softly underfoot as you paused just short of the entrance, your hand raised to knock on the wooden support when Lo’ak’s voice distracted you. 

<”Come on bro!”> The younger brother begged, and your hand froze where it hovered. 

<”No!”> Neteyam immediately hissed, sounding exhausted once again. Your frowned, mind already decided on where you’d take him to work off that restless energy. He had seemed alright during training this morning, but perhaps it had been a trying day keeping Lo’ak in line; again. 

Curiously, you poked your eye around the doorframe to find Lo’ak hanging off of Neteyam’s arm like he was four years old, whilst Neteyam stood there, expression deadpanned as if this was a common occurrence. The older boy’s tail was swaying, expression unamused as Kiri fumbled around in the background.

<"I already met with them this afternoon. They will think I’m being clinging if I go back before dinner."> Neteyam reasoned, pushing firmly at Lo’ak’s forehead to dislodge him.

Lo’ak playfully snapped his teeth the motion but wasn’t deterred. Not even by Neteyam wiggling free and turning his back to unroll his hammock. 

The younger boy watched, tail flicking mischeviously as he geared up. <”But it’ll only be for a couple hours.”> He argued, giving up on tugging on Neteyam’s arm to instead standing in the way of where Neteyam wanted to hang up his hammock. The older boy huffed again, leaning around him to fasten the sheet onto the low hanging hook. <"I wanted to take Tsireya out after the eclipse tonight.">

Neteyam didn’t look up from his task as he replied reflexively, <”you took her out yesterday.”> <”I know, but I promised to show her a spot I found further inland.”>

<”I want to sleep Lo’ak, it’s been a long day.”> Neteyam groaned, still focused on the task at hand as he began unrolling the rest of the hammock to hook the bottom onto the central support beam. His tail was still thrashing, a motion only made more sharp by the sound of shells clattered out of the rolled up fabric. He froze in place and you felt your heart pound at the dozens of pink shells that tumbled out across the floor. 

Neteyam cursed in the Sky Person language. Hissing something about his younger sister, to which Kiri giggled but didn’t bother to help.

Completely ignoring the mess, Lo’ak was still talking. 

<”Come on bro! I know they scare you shitless, but I NEED this.”> Lo’ak argued, and you felt your brow furrow. <”I'm not going to get anywhere with Tsireya if her guard dog is glaring at me the whole time.”> 

Neteyam bristled, gaze narrowing as your heart sank. It didn’t take a genius to know who Lo’ak was referring to. 

<”You sound pathetic Lo’ak.”> Kiri interjected from across the fire. 

<”Shut up, no one asked you.”> Lo’ak fired back on reflex, before returning his attention to his brother. <”Come on Neteyam, just once more. We’re so close to being friends, I can feel it. Then I won’t have to worry about them chasing me off for breathing wrong.”>

<”Coward.”> Kiri interjected again. <”Don’t you think Neteyam has other shit to do than distract Y/n?”>

Neteyam’s head snapped towards his sister at that. <”I am not distracting them-”> <”Alright.”> She acknowledged, then turned back to Lo’ak. <”Aren’t you ashamed of sacrificing your only brother so you can get some local tail?”>

<”Kiri!”> Neteyam reprimanded at the same time Lo’ak confidently said,<”Nope.”> 

The pod briefly lapsed into silence as Neteyam finished fixing his hammock and purposefully brushing the pink shells onto the floor. Your stomach dropped painfully with every sharp thump of them striking the woven floor, chest tightening painfully as Neteyam’s foot crushed one as he shifted his weight.

<”I will see what I can do.”> The boy said quietly.

Lo’ak promptly cheered and you felt bile rise up the back of your throat. 

With an audible swallow you stepped away from the pod entrance, the necklace at your side now hanging limply like a severed limb. Your feet kept backing up, your ears falling lower and lower as realisation hit you like a fallen tree to the head.

You almost laughed at your own stupidity. 

At the classic mistake of getting swept up in your own head and being blind to what was truly in front of you. Of getting so excited about making a friend, of FINALLY getting signs of Eywa, that you stopped seeing. Stopped thinking.

Obviously, Neteyam wasn’t seeking you out because he enjoyed your company. It was a favour for Lo’ak. 

Neteyam didn’t care for you. Until a couple weeks ago, he couldn’t even look you in the eye. He’d been clearly uncomfortable in your presence, and your idiot self had interpreted that discomfort for bashfulness. The shells had tinted your eyes pink as well as swaying your heart.

And better yet, he was scared of you. Friends were not scared of their friends. And soulmates certainly didn’t fear one another.

Your tail had stopped swaying, falling still as your eyes stung. 

Stupid. 

So incredibly stupid and naive.

You were a year away from passing your iknimaya and here you were, looming outside of someone’s hut, the personification of your heart in your hands, and listening to the subject of your affection practically confess that he only spent time with you to get you out of the picture. As a favour to his brother no less!

You expected this kind of naivety from a village kid half your age. 

The sadness and shock rapidly morphed into a hot slice of anger. Your limp fingers clenched into a fist, eyes hardening as your gaze snapped to the necklace at your side. 

You were a fool.

The kind of lovesick fool who put countless hours into a shitty gift that would never be worn. What a pathetic waste of resources. 

That irrational anger took hold again. Your tail thrashing uncontrollably as your gaze slipped from the pathetic courting gift to the open ocean. 

Internally, you cursed Eywa for making a fool of you. For pretending to give you someone, only to cruelly remind you why she thought it best that you remain alone. 

It was easy to draw back your arm, but harder to let go as your fist swung forward intending to hurl the stupid thing into the water. Your fist didn’t let go. You tried again. This time, you made yourself recall the words Lo’ak had spoken. Neteyam’s quiet confirmation. His heavy sigh. The tired slope of his shoulders as he resigned himself to another exhausting night in your presence. The crunch of that blasted shell beneath his foot, the crack of which had echoed as if it were your own heart getting shattered. You ensured your rage was burning bright as you hurled the ridiculous necklace into the ocean with all you had.

It hit the water with a soft plop, floated there for a moment, before the ocean welcomed your discarded gift and dragged it down and out of sight.

You did not feel better.

<”Shit.”> Someone gasped at your back. You turned, expression thunderous.

Lo’ak was retreating back into the pod, eyes glued to your own as if your presence alone terrified him. You simply watched him retreat, eyes cold and your tail thrashing. 

He turned slowly. <”Neteyam. Your friend is here to pick you up.”> He yelled over his shoulder, gaze refusing to break.

You scoffed. If you saw that scheming coward, you didn’t know what you’d do. Maybe you’d punch him, or you’d break down and start crying.

Regardless, you didn’t want to find out. Turning sharply on your heel, you stormed back the way you’d come. The rhythmic bounce of the walkway greatly decreased the heavy fall of your feet, but the firm set of your shoulders didn’t make the stride feel too comical.

Clearly, your tense shoulders and the clench of your fists was not clear enough an indicator of your current mood, because Neteyam jogged up to you like nothing was wrong. He fell easily into step beside you, and you hated how used to his presence you had gotten. How right it felt for his taller frame to appear at your side and remain there. 

<”-didn’t realise we made plans-”> He rambled, although you gave no indication that you were listening. Your eyes flickered to the edge of the walkway, mentally judging how far you could jump compared to him to put distance between you that way. The minute you hit the water, you’d have the advantage. But he could leap further than you, and you’d witnessed his jumping ONTO Lo’ak once when the younger boy tried to escape him that way.

<”Hey? Are you listening to me?”>

His hand gently tapped your shoulder and you instinctively shoved him away from you, mentally hating how badly you craved that touch. 

Neteyam froze, eyes wide at the out of character reaction. You’d NEVER shoved him before, and doing so now made your stomach recoil uncomfortably. But he had backed off now. Looking shocked with his stupidly cute face, and his stupid swaying braids and his stupid little shocked expression. His stupid glowing freckles that you spent one night tracing with your finger, locating all the hidden constellations and remarking on how pretty they were.

It took every ounce of control you possessed to smooth out your expression. To stop baring your teeth and simple tell him straight up.

<”No.”> 

He blinked. Taken aback by the hostile tone. <”What happened?”>

You laughed, the sound strangled and humourless, then kept walking. Your pace picked up, shoulder bunching around your shoulders.

<”Y/n?”> Neteyam called to your back. His hand reached for you again, long fingers winding around your bicep in an attempt to turn you to face him. <”Are you okay-”>

The minute that warm touch made contact, you spun, ripping yourself from his grip with speed that was startling. <”Do not touch me!”> You growled threateningly. 

His concerned expression floundered, eyes widening comically as if he were staring down a pissed off akula. It practically confirmed all your accusations. You could see the fear in the slight shake of his palm, in his uncertainty at how to continue. 

This time, you were not blind to the evidence displayed so clearly at your feet. 

With control that came from your training, you fought to smooth out your posture as you forced yourself to relax. <”I am going for a swim.”> You said evenly, forcing your shoulders to loosen. <”Tell Lo’ak he has until sunrise to flirt his little heart out.”> <”Lo’ak? Why are you pissed at Lo’ak?”> The fear melted into confusion. 

<”We’re done here.”> You replied with, <”go to Roxto for lessons. I’m done dealing with you.”> His ears fell at that. The confusion morphing into raw hurt. His mouth opened to retaliate, but no words came out. You watched him shrink before his eyes. You saw his bravado melt away into the shell of some shy kid that couldn’t get their tongue to cooperate. You almost pitied him. 

This time when you tried to leave, he did not stop you.

>_<

Keeping your distance from Neteyam was harder than you anticipated.

If you weren't making a conscious effort to try, you'd find yourself instinctively gravitating towards him regardless. Only to be reminded of why exactly you were avoiding him. It was hard to remember, but you managed. 

The only time you couldn’t outright escape him was during lessons. Of course by now Aonung had been roped into helping out, but Tsireya still needed your support. You were the oldest of the friend group and therefore more experienced in finding the flaws in someone’s form and how best to correct it.

That morning after the fight, you had attempted to remain in your pod, but she had come looking for you like she always did when you tried to retreat into yourself. She had let herself into your home only to find you curled up in your hammock, arms wound around yourself and your eyes staring into nothing. 

She had called your name. Gently touched your shoulder. Startled, you swung your gaze up to her, expecting to find Neteyam asking for another one on one lesson, only for your heart to sink at her kind smile instead.

<”It’s time to get up.”> She said cheerfully, politely not mentioning your puffy eyes or the lack of pink shells littered around your home. After stumbling home the night before, you’d scooped up every morsel of physical evidence you could find and promptly dumped them into the sea, where the current whisked them out of view. 

<”I want to sleep in today.”> You told her bluntly, ready to nestle back down and forget about the world for a bit. 

<”And I would love to let you.”> She soothed, <”but Aonung and Lo’ak are at each other’s throats again and I can’t figure out how to get Tuk to breath correctly.”>

<”And you left Roxto in charge?”>

<”I left Roxto in charge.”> She confirmed. 

That got you rolling out of your hammock. <”They are gonna eat the poor boy for breakfast.”>

She prepared a snack whilst you changed, made sure your hair was where it should be as you ate, and then dragged you out into the sunlight where the clan was pausing for lunch. You were pleasantly surprised to find your various tasks already completed as she dragged you across the village to the training grounds. 

<”Aonung and I figured you’d needed a break.”> Tsireya explained kindly when she caught you staring at the buckets full of fish you were supposed to have collected yourself at dawn. <”You’ve been training so hard for you iknimaya and helping me with the Sullys, we thought you deserved it.”> You could only nod, silently assuming it had been Tsireya’s idea and she’d blackmailed Aonung into helping out so Ronal didn’t skin you for slacking. Although they would have had no way of knowing what had happened last night, you were warmed by the kind gesture.

Surprisingly, nothing was on fire as you approached the training grounds. Kiri and Neteyam were already practising diligently, whilst Roxto attempted to diffuse a yelling match between Aonung and Lo’ak. Little Tuk was still sitting on the beach, looking adorable as she studied some green shells.

<”You help Tuk. I’ll get Aonung.”> Tsireya said over her shoulder before dropping your arm and charging into the water to wrangle her brother. 

Dumbly, you stood on the shore, feeling raw and useless in the face of the ease of the group. Your arms hung loosely at your sides as your eyes tracked the movements of the ilus beneath the waves. Kiri was in her element astride the beast, whilst Neteyam was doing visibly better than when he came to the reef. 

It took great effort to turn away and focus on the task at hand, but you managed.

Keeping your footsteps light, you carefully approached Tuktirey. She glanced up as your shadow fell over her. Her ears pricked, as large eyes following the length of your body up until her gaze met yourself. <”Hello!”> She greeted enthusiastically and you forced a smile.

You greeted her in turn, dropping into a crouch before her. <”Tsireya tells me you’re having some trouble staying under the water?”> Her little brows furrowed. <”No.”> <”No?”> You parroted. 

<”I’m the best.”> Tuk returned confidently. <”Roxto said I’m a better swimmer than Aonung.”>

You had to bite back a smile at Roxto’s cleverness. <”I believe you. Aonung looks like a dead ilu with how slowly he moves beneath the waves.”>

Speaking of, Aonung and Lo’ak were still going at it, with Tsireya looking comically tiny between them, a hand on either boy’s chest to keep them from flying at one another. Roxto stood off to the side, hands on his hips and his expression annoyed as he watched the pair bicker. It was clear they were having no success in diffusing the situation.

<”AONUNG!”> 

Your voice rang out across the bay, sharp and as authoritative as you could muster. The boy abruptly froze, his shoulders hiked up to his ears. Slowly, he turned to make eye contact, already wincing. You let your irritation shine through, tail thrashing unhappily. He shot Lo’ak one last venomous glare before grabbing Roxto’s forearm and dragging him into the waves.

Tsireya was quick to place a delicate hand on Lo’ak’s shoulder, her face kind as he glanced to her. You watched the tension bleed out of him, how his ears pricked as she spoke. How he seemed to relax under her gaze, the way he reached for her in turn, tail wagging.

Your stomach tightened at the sight of them. How in tune they were. If anyone should be seeing pink shells, you knew it had to be them. 

<”What’s wrong with your face?”> Tuk asked innocently, with brutal honesty.

<”There is nothing wrong with my face.”> You replied quickly, tearing your gaze from Tsireya beginning to lead Lo’ak into the surf, their bright expressions mirroring one another. <”But your eyes are all puffy.”> Tuk pointed out, <”and you look really said.”> <”I’m not sad.”> You reassured her, forcing a tight smile onto your lips. 

Tuk was clearly not convinced as she continued to share her seven year old wisdom. <”When I’m sad, Neteyam always gives me hugs.”> <”That’s very nice of him.”> You told her, before struggling to steer the conversation away from her brother. <”Why don’t we go find some more pretty shells in the water?”> <”Will that help you feel better?”> Tuk asked, and when you nodded, her expression brightened. <”Okay!”> She chirped, launching herself to her feet before dragging you into the water.

>_<

<”Why are you still sulking?”> Aonung asked from your pod doorway, later that evening. 

<”‘m not sulking.”> 

He didn’t dignify the lame utterance with a response. Judgmentally, he ducked into the pod, eyes raking over your messy living space and the pot bubbling away at your elbow. 

Ignoring his blatant curiosity, you focused on preparing some rainbow clams you’d foraged earlier for the pot. They would pair nicely with some fruit that Tsireya had dropped off yesterday. 

<”You’re retreating from us. Why?”> Head bent over your work, you continued to wedge your knife between the stubborn shells of the clam. 

<”’m not.”> 

And you’d made a conscious effort not to. Especially not from Aonung and Tsireya, not when you’d known them since childhood. It was simply because whenever you had a spare moment with them, Neteyam would show up like clockwork. 

You hadn’t really noticed before how present Neteyam had become in your daily life. How he had a tendency to wander up to whoever you were talking with. You hadn’t realised how often he spoke with Tsireya and Roxto either. Or how much you’d begun to share chores until you’d turned to ask for his help in untangling the nets, only to remember you’d purposefully started working in a part of the village you didn’t normally frequent so he couldn’t find you.

It was childish really. But surely Aonung hadn’t noticed a change in your behaviour so quickly. 

The boy in question hummed thoughtfully. He approached on quiet feet, padding across your mats to sit down heavily across from you. In silence, he watched you work through a couple more clams before deciding enough was enough.

With surprising gentleness for a boy like Aonung, the younger na’vi reached across the space between you and stilled your knife hand. The confidence in the motion surprised you enough that you glanced up at him.

His ears were lying low, head tilted with an expression on his face that practically mirrored Tonowari. The warmth in his eyes practically melted away your defences.

<”What happened?”> 

He asked simply. Level and kind. It made you want to hide. 

The fact he was looking at you with undivided attention made you squirm. You were so used to shying away from such gentle concern, to taking on the brunt of any situation and shoving forward regardless, that the sudden attentiveness made you uncomfortable. In truth, you wanted to admit what had been bothering you. But a tiny nugget of your soul didn’t want to express vulnerability to someone who looked up to you. 

At a younger age, Aonung had proudly declared you an older sibling. He hadn’t been shy in referring to you as such, in following your lead. And in turn, you’d been more than happy to look out for both him and Tsireya. This was not something for him to shoulder however. 

Slowly, you slipped your knife hand out of his grasp and returned to prying open the clam shells. <”Nothing happened.”> You said with more certainty than you felt. 

<”If it was nothing, then you wouldn’t be hiding instead of mucking around in the shallows with the Sully boy.”> Aonung pointed out. 

<”Shouldn’t you be out training with Tonowari?”> <”Shouldn’t you stop deflecting now that you’ve been caught?”> <”Becoming Olo’eyktan requires training.”>

<”Lying requires being believable.”> <”Asshole.”> You offered half heartedly, not that Aonung took it to heart. Instead, he kept that same knowing look, that same gentle tone. <”Dad sent me to come check on you.”> Aonung admitted. <”He’s noticed you’ve been distracted today. He was worried.”>

Great. Just great. At this rate, the entire clan would know your business before the week was up. Eywa, you could already see the sympathetic looks they’d throw you.

A heartbeat of silence in which you picked up a fresh clam after depositing the last into the cooking pot. Aonung let the words hang between you for a heartbeat before pushing more firmly.

<”So, I ask again. Has Neteyam done something?”>

You took a deep, irritated breath. Aonung made a point of making himself comfortable, pulling out his own knife to help deshell the rest of the clams. It was clear he wouldn’t leave without a response. Not unless you physically removed him or his parents came to find him. 

Shame heated your cheeks as you dropped your gaze. You could already hear the teasing remarks Aonung would throw at you when you admitted what had happened. Could already see the disgust flickering in his eyes. The curl of his upper lip. 

Better to get it out of the way quickly. 

<”I made him a courting gift.”>

The words slipped from your lips, taking with it an indescribably weight. You immediately felt lighter, the hunch of your shoulders not so tight. 

Aonung seemed to wind up like a spring in comparison.

<”YOU, WHAT?”> He squeaked, practically yelled in your face. <”Yo-you made him a courting gift?”> Hesitantly, you nodded. <”And you didn’t tell me?! Did you tell Tsireya?”> <”No?”>

He relaxed. <”You ballsy akula.”> He laughed good naturedly, giving you a playful shove. <”Why didn’t you say anything? Tsireya could’ve helped you with the weaving, we both know you’re terrible.”>

Snapping your fangs at him jokingly, you tried to hide your relieved smile. <”Focus, Aonung.”>

He shook his head, forcefully wiping the expression of glee off his features. <”Apologies. So why the long face? The hiding? Were you keeping it a secret?”>

<”I didn’t end up giving it to him.”> <”Oh.”> He breathed, discreetly glancing around your pod. You knew he couldn’t find a hint of pink on any shelf or stuffed beneath any hammocks. <”Was it not the right time?”> The tension from before swept in faster than the change of the current. <”I never got the chance to present it to him. Turns out, we’re not even friends. He’s only keeping me occupied so Lo’ak can spend more time with Tsireya.”> You told Aonung simply, unable to meet his eye. <”He’s afraid of me.”>

That finally stunned him into a long, painful silence. His hands completely stilled on the clam, tail falling inanimate. 

<“He said that?”> A whisper. Barely a question. <”I overheard him and Lo’ak arguing over it.”> 

With a slow, practised motion, Aonung slid his knife back into its sheath. <”And the gift? Where is it?”> <“Tossed it in the sea. I was too embarrassed to take the time to disassemble it.”>

He hummed, sounding distracted, before rising to his feet. Gently, he patted your head, pulling you out of your thoughts. <”I’ll be back.”> He promised before motioning to the cooking pot. <”Leave me a few, would you?”> <”Where are you going?”>

<”I said I’ll be back.”> He replied simply, and crossed the pod to the entry before wordlessly ducking outside into the evening. 

Perplexed, you stared after him, mind churning from his silence and sudden departure. Then you recalled the last time a pissed off Aonung had been unleashed on the village. The last victims had been a group of boys who had thought it a good idea to pick on Tsireya, and they’d promptly lost their front teeth and still spoke with whistles.

Groaning softly, you jammed your knife back into its sheath and went after him. 

>_<

<”Oi! Forest boy!”> Aonung yelled from behind Neteyam, scaring the boy out of his head. Before he could pull his feet from the water, the walkway at his back drooped under the weight of the other boy and there was a hand on his shoulder, spinning him round. A fist connected with his cheek before he could get out a response. 

The force of the blow startled a gasp out of him as he bit his tongue and was thrown clean off the walkway and into the soft glowing water. The sounds of the village were abruptly muffled as Neteyam struggled to orient himself. Then he was kicking for the surface, rage bubbling low in his stomach.

He broke the surface with a greedy inhale, eyes zeroing in on the glowering boy looming above him. Spitting out a mouthful of salty water, Neteyam shook his head to clear the braids from his eyes. 

<“What the hell Aonung?”> 

A mocking smirk slid onto the younger boy’s face, head tilting dangerously. <”That’s for messing with Y/n, you spineless coward!”> He snarled venomously. Hand falling onto the hilt of his knife at his hip, Neteyam’s eyes followed the motion. 

He wasn’t afraid of Aonung. The boy hadn’t yet passed his iknimaya, but Neteyam was conscious of his position in the village. His relations. Also that he was the superior swimmer if he decided jumping on Neteyam was necessary for whatever justice he was trying to carry out. 

<”Do you know why they’re upset?”> Neteyam asked hopefully, trying to steer the conversation in a direction that wouldn’t end up with one of them stabbed. Tuk had mentioned that she wanted him to give them a big hug for her. That the Metkayina had been unusually quiet during training today, that she thought they’d been crying. 

Neteyam had been looking all over for them. Tuk’s observation just fueling the uncomfortable tightening of his stomach that something had drastically gone wrong. Between the unexpected rage the night before and their odd avoidant behaviour this morning, Neteyam had a constant sinking feeling. 

Aonung scoffed. <”Don’t play dumb. They heard everything.”>

That only served to confuse Neteyam more. What could the had possibly-

Oh.

His stomach sank to the bottom of the cove. Shit. Depending on when they’d walking in on that conversation last night, they were either feeling betrayed or he was in incredibly beep shit. 

<”How much did they hear?”> Neteyam demanded, praying this situation could be salvaged.

Somewhere deeper within the village, Neteyam could hear Lo’ak’s distinct voice. Yelling at Aonung to no one’s surprise, calling him fish lips and every other insult he knew. English and na’vi. Aonung huffed, oblivious to the younger sully brother rapidly approaching his back. <”They heard what you and Lo’ak were doing. Trying to keep them occupied so your screwup little brother could get in good with MY sister.”>

Oh shit.

<”Aonung. It’s not what you think. Lo’ak-”>

<”Don’t go near them AGAIN!”> Aonung cut in, gaze piercing. <”Or you’ll be far more scared of me than you’ve ever been of them.”>

Scared? Of Y/n?

<”Okay, this-”>

Whatever situation saving speech he was about to give was abruptly disrupted by his bull-headed brother finally arriving on the scene. 

<”LO’AK DON’T-!”> Tsireya warned, but it was too late.

<”YOU’LL PAY FOR THAT FISH LIPS!”> Lo’ak shrieked, promptly tackling Aonung around the small of his back and sending both of them off the walkway and down onto Neteyam. 

The trio came up spluttering, with Lo’ak still trying to strangle Aonung, and the boy in question snapping his teeth in a very obvious threat that he would chomp through any fingers that got close enough. Neteyam stared at the pair in bewilderment. Slowly processing what Aonung had admitted, and partly amused by Lo’ak willingness to jump in without warning to defend his pride. Then again, the younger boy could simply have been itching for a reason to give Aonung a black eye.

“Lo’ak, get off him.” “But bro-” “Lo’ak!” Neteyam spat more firmly, struggling to look serious whilst treading water. Reluctantly, he obeyed, scooting back so he couldn’t continue to murder Aonung, but remaining between his brother and the boy. 

<”Stop speaking in your demon tongue and explain yourself.”>

<”Explain what the hell that was first!”> Lo’ak retorted stubbornly. <”Why the hell are you putting your filthy hands on my brother?”>

The appearance of Tsireya on the lip of the walkway interrupted Aonung’s response. <”Neteyam, are you okay?”> Dumbly, he nodded, watching the tension in Tsireya’s shoulders melt away before she turned a surprisingly sharp glare on her brother. <”What were you thinking? You could have injured someone.”> <”He deserves it!”> Aonung declared childishly, inviting Lo’ak to lunge at him, only for Neteyam to yank him back by his forearm. 

Tsireya looked as confused as Neteyam felt. Her voice dripped in sarcasm when she next spoke. <”And how, were you so grievously wronged this time, brother?”>

Ignoring her mockery, Aonung replied sharply, <”Y/n intended to court this asshole, but Lo’ak was just using him to get to you!”>

Court?

<”Court me?”> Neteyam squawked, eyes blown wide. Oh Eywa. This was rapidly becoming a lot of problems tangled into one enormous knot.

<”Not that you deserve anything they could make you!”> Aonung spat. 

A fifth and final creak of the walkway signalled someone else racing up to the shitshow. <”Tsireya, have you seen Aonung? He stormed out of my pod and I’m afraid someone is going to lose their teeth.”>

Tsireya stared wide eyed at her friend, tail stone still. Her gaze was glossy. <”You were going to start courting Neteyam?”> She said dumbly. 

From his position in the water, Neteyam couldn’t see Y/n, but judging by the silence that followed, they weren’t overly pleased. 

It was Tsireya who continued speaking, her voice abruptly kicking up in volume as she practically shrieked, <”YOU’VE BEEN RECEIVING SIGNS FROM EYWA AND DIDN’T TELL ME?”>

<”Hey!”> Y/n immediately retorted, <”you’ve been sneaking off with Lo’ak for Eywa knows how long, so don’t you dare start barrating me about keeping secrets. I had to find out by accident! Do you know how humiliating that is?”>

<”That’s besides the point.”> 

<”It is perfectly on point. I bet you’ve been finding pink shells everywhere too!”>

The silence that followed spoke volumes. 

Aonung was the one to break it. <”Wait! You’ve both accidentally found your mates and NEGLECTED to mention it?”> The boy demanded, looking royally pissed off as he glared at Neteyam and Lo’ak with equal venom. Neteyam wanted to punch him. <”I can’t believe either of you!”>

Y/n’s head popped over the lip of the walkway, their gaze narrowed dangerously. That expression twisted tighter and tighter as they noticed Neteyam and Lo’ak dripping wet as they treaded water alongside Aonung. 

<”THIS is what you ran off to do?”> They demanded, making Aonung dip lower into the water in a fruitless attempt to hide. <”Instigating a water fight instead of helping me finish dinner?”>

<”I was defending your honour.”> Aonung tried to argue. 

They rolled their eyes. <”Of course that’s what this is.”> 

<”Will you please explain what the hell just happened?”> Lo’ak pipped up. <”Shells, and mates and Aonung losing his shit. What the hell?”>

<”I’ll explain later Lo’ak.”> Tsireya replied calmly, although Neteyam saw the nervous thrash of her tail. <”But first, you need to get out of the water or you’ll catch cold.”> She knelt over the edge of the walkway and offered her hand to Lo’ak, who didn’t hesitate to take it.

<”Aonung.”> The boy glanced up guiltily at Y/n still stood behind Tsireya. <”If you injured anyone, take them to Ronal.”>

Aonung shook his head firmly. <”They can suffer.”>

<”Ronal will skin you if she finds out about this later.”> Was all they offered before sharply turning on their heel and storming off, tail whipping to and fro.

Neteyam watched them go feeling all kinds of confused and tired. This was certainly not what he’d been expecting when Tuk said Y/n was upset. He also he’d foreseen a split lip for his troubles either.

Obediently, he swam closer to the walkway when Tsireya bent back down to offer him her hand. Her expression was pinched as he approached, mind clearly far away.

Neteyam couldn’t help but feel the sentiment. He made to reach for Tsireya’s outstretched hand, Aonung’s irritating muttering falling to the back of his mind, only to be distracted by the soft chirp of an ilu. The water shifted at his side as the animal swam past before circling back. 

He recognised the markings of the animal to be the ilu he usually used for training. Elegantly, the animal lifted its head from the waves, something glowing caught between its teeth. Hesitantly, Neteyam reached for it, surprised when the playful creature dropped the item into his outstretched hand with no attempts at jerking it away or making him work for it. 

Tsireya made a sad little sound at the sight of the object, and Neteyam glanced up at her in surprise. <”What is it?”> He asked, to which Tsireya’s expression turned guilty. 

<”A courting gift.”> She explained softly. <”But I do not recognise it as anything the clan owns. Surely, someone would have noticed if they dropped it.”>

Aonung swam up beside Neteyam, his own face pinched as he looked at the unassuming necklace. Eyes raking down the pink shells accenting traditional metkayina knotwork. <”Y/n said they tossed the gift in the sea, instead of dismantling it like we would normally.”>

<”It’s definitely their work.”> Tsireya confirmed.

Part 1 -> Next Chapter

[homodotus]

I really hope this is your requests line

This is my first ever request and I hope it's cool with you. So it's just a fem!reader in where reader defends kiri and helps the boys fight ao'nung and his dudes and after the fight, kiri patches the reader up something like that and cuteness at the end hope this isn't too long 😭

thank you @themastaralex for a request! tw: blood. word count: 3035

small hands

The wood here is dry and smooth against your knees as you lean over the dock, splashing the sea water over your heated shoulders. The wood has begun to warp from your years of fishing; two circular dents about the size of your knees, and two more beside it similar to your feet - a sort of signature to this far-off, idyllic fishing spot you so favour. The day is hot; the sun is unforgiving with its heat, but the waves carry its rays to the shore, fracturing the light like one of Tsahik's crystals. You can feel the tickle of sweat at the parting of your hair, dripping down the nape of your neck. You rise, a sigh of resignation escaping from your lips as your back straightens with a pop. You pull at your net, the rope picking at the calluses of your roughened palms as you work out the knots and pluck it from the flaking wood that splinters the dock. Your shoulders have broadened over the years, muscle thickening as you threw the net, hauled the crates of fish, fought the bigger prey with a spear; your stature had begun to mimic your father's, and you wait in itchy anticipation for tattoos to adorn your arms. You imagine it now, looking into the shimmering horizon: mighty hunts beyond the reef, toughened skin marred with impressive scars and jewellery decorated with razored teeth. The net blossoms in the air as you toss it, the rope striking the water in an audible slap before it sinks below.

It was in your periphery, as you turned into the throw, that you spotted the Omatikayan girl floating in the shallow waters of an isolated piece of beach.  She has done this often in the few days since the forest people arrived -- she lingers in observation, fawning over some mediocre bit of nature that you could not understand her fascination with. You supposed you had outgrown the wonder of the reef - but still, she watches the water carry the sand as if it were riveting, feet kicking out of the water. It seems so primitive.

A tugging at the net brought you back to your fishing. There is a relief in your shoulders as they roll and loosen as you pull at the rope, fighting against the fish. You whisper your gratitude to Eywa, plucking the fish from the net and tossing them into baskets. It was a cyclical duty, the repetition of which would have others your age moan and complain, but it was mindless enough; it is therapeutic to work with your hands and not think too hard about things. Hours could pass before you even realised. 

The midday sun was considerably more tolerant. Once more you are on your knees, pawing at the water; it is cool against your skin, and your muscles ache for a weightless soak. Droplets run down your forearms, dance at the end of your elbows. You run a wetted hand across your sweaty face, and your ears curl toward the sound of sloppy footsteps to your right; Tonowari's son is whispering to a couple of other boys as they walk, snickering behind their hands and pointing to the distant shoreline. You mumble your annoyance under your breath, palming water into your face once more. Skxawng.

"Look at her", you hear him laugh, "what is she doing? These tree na'vi are wrong in the head."

Another boy - Rotxo, you think his name is, replies, "she is a freak."

This is not your business, you tell yourself; they are not your people, she is alien, she is not true Na'vi. You stand to pick up the net, ignoring the way your fingers tighten around the rope, whitening at the knuckles, ignoring the way your stomach churns at their words, at your own words. Your ears flicker toward her soft voice as she regards them in ignorance, "Hm? What did you say?"

'Freak', they laugh, pulling at her tail and grasping at her arms. The girl's ears are flat against her skull as she curls in on herself. 

You throw the net; it is half-assed and fruitless. Your eyes are closed and your jaw is clenched. Beyond the noise of your grinding teeth you hear another set of footsteps, this time fast and weighted. "Stay away from my sister!" A boy growls, and you open your eyes with a defeated sigh: two more Omatikayan kids, baring their teeth at the gaggle of Metkayina boys. The one that throws the first punch is tall but lanky, and though he is fast he takes as many hits as he throws. The other's shoulders are as broad as your own; he turns solidly into his punches, balances his weight on his feet well. They will do fine enough, you had thought, before watching Rotxo drag one of the Omatikayan boys through the sand by his hairy tail.

The net has sunk to the sea floor, no fish ensnared. You hiss in frustration as the rope falls from your hand and into the water with a sad splash, and you break into a jog toward the boys.

Rotxo's taunt is swallowed up by a breathless grunt as your body hits his; he flails in the sand like a beached fish, mouth gaping incredulously. You face Ao'nung, heart beating with a sudden adrenaline, and your breathing stutters. "Just because you are the son of a clan leader does not mean you are entitled to treat others like this. A son of Tonowari would behave better." Ao'nung is almost foaming at the mouth; you feel the spittle hit your face as he hisses. "You father would be disappointed in you."

The adrenaline coursing through your body did little to prepare your face for Ao'nung's charged fist; your lip split with a heated sting, and his knuckle collided into your nose with a sickening crack. Your tongue was overwhelmed with the taste of iron, and the saltiness was not so dissimilar to the sea. 

You tried to breathe through your nose. You choked on blood instead.

There was no thought of consequence as you reeled back your fist, knuckles popping and shoulders flexing as if you were about the throw a net deep into sea. There was an angry thudding at your temple, a tension that made your eyeballs bulge and teeth bite at your inner cheek. The skin splits as you bring your knuckle-white fist down onto Ao'nung's face, into his teeth. A mix of spit and blood leapt from his mouth, pooling at his chin. His lip was beginning to purple. "Tonowari will hear of this, Ao'nung!" You hiss, driving your fist into his shoulder, the both of you breathing hard. At the threat, Ao'nung begrudgingly resigned, eye twitching in bottled fury; he shoulders past you as Rotxo spits at your feet. 

There is a tickle at your chest, a blossoming warmth; it alarms you, looking down, to see how much blood is dripping from your chin. You tentatively touch your face, pulling back at the sting of your lip and the deep ache at the ridge of your nose. Your fingers are bloodied. 

You turn to leave, breath held as to not choke on your own blood in front of the Omatikayan kids; she catches your eye, then. The forest girl. Her five fingers reach out toward you, muttering something shaky and incoherent, but you pull away from her touch. A tiredness settles within you, and you pinch your bleeding nose as you retreat to the docks.

You sit once more at the edge, reserving a moment to compose yourself before seeking out your net, trying to stifle the anxiety that begins to bubble in your stomach.

You ease yourself slowly into the water, small waves kneading your stomach and blood melting into ripples of orange. This time, you anticipate the pain: the sea water laps up the blood and cleans your wounds; instinctively you flex your hand as your knuckles sting, cursing as a sharp, burning pain shoots up your wrist.

You allow yourself to float, kicking off a piece of choral; you guard your hand, holding it close to your chest as the water carries you. It is seamless, weightless; the blues of the sky and the sea melt into one another. For a moment, you can forget the chastisement from your parents, the reprimands - certain to happen - and forget about your cuts and bruises. For now, there is only you, the water, and Eywa. It feels like home; the cool water at your back and the sun that kisses your face, like a fire on a rainy day, the smell of salt and distant petrichor. 

You breathe in, filling your lungs with that fresh, chilly sea breeze, and arch backward into the water to find the net. You reach for it with your better hand, gathering the rope in your arms before kicking off the seabed. 

She watches you break the surface, the curls of your dark hair contorting in the sun's warmth as you blink away the water. Her eyes explore you like they do the sand, the sea, the little fish that swim at her feet and pulse beneath the eclipse; it is all wonder and delicate curiosity. She has cocooned herself within her leafy shoal, gripping at the seams as if to hide herself. That look of guilt and nervousness lingers on her face still. Her five fingers pick at themselves.

Your own eyes are strong and unblinking, unwavering teal; you watch her as if to understand a foreign fish or a new knot that your mother teaches you. But her gaze remains just as soft, just as innocent. "Kiri," A gentle voice says, "come."

Tossing the net atop the dock, you find purchase on the thick column of wood buried deep into the seabed, sand churning as you climb it. Pain blossoms at your wrist again as you lift your weight, and you instinctively hiss. The girl draws in a sharp breath as she watches, and a taller woman emerges from a nearby marui pod to steer her inside, speaking to her softly. She huffs in frustration as she breaks your gaze.

You sit on the dock's edge a moment longer, testing the limitations of your wrist. "Kiri," you repeat, swirling the word around your mouth with your tongue, as if to see how the name would taste. 

The flavour of it is polluted by the lingering zest of blood. 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The ocean disappears into the darkness, and the setting sun makes the distant islands burn a deep red in the horizon. The gentle sea breeze tickles at her cheek, and there is little warmth other than the sombre flicker of mounted firelight. Kiri pulls the shoal tighter around her shoulders.Her five-toed feet are familiar with the lubricous and barky terrain of the forest, but the splintered and sand-sprinkled slabbed wood of the docks rasps at her soft feet. She picks at the twine of her belt as she walks its length, anxiously readjusting the medicine pouch at her side as her feet begin to blister.

You had looked different from afar, Kiri thinks, as you worked through the knots of your net and waded through the shallow waters with a pointed spear. The Metkayina were broader, their bones strong and limbs finned; your thickened muscle and robust stature were admirable - you looked as much a warrior as you did a fisherwoman. And though your jaw was strong and hard-set, your cheek was soft and your chin was dimpled; your patterned turquoise skin reminded her of the fractured light that danced on the sand that she so loved to observe.

The gentle image of your skin dwindled away at the distant sound of grinding wood. Kiri stopped abruptly at your presence, toe stubbing the dock at the sudden flush of nervousness. The muscle in your thigh braced as you crouched for the weighted crate of fish; the torchlight accentuated the muscle on your back and highlighted the veins that ran along your forearm, and kissed your skin with a healthy glow. Kiri hesitated before she approached, coughing softly for your attention. Her heart had never beaten as fast, and she chews at her bottom lip in anxiety. She unclips the pouch from her belt and holds it to her chest as you turn. Kiri's gaze focuses on the dark bruise at your lip, stark and ugly against your skin, instead of your own eyes. You sigh before she has even said anything.

"Come," you say, setting down the crate with a thud before you rise, beckoning for her to follow as you walk the dock. The sounds of the evening clatter and murmuring melt away into the darkness; it is quieter here, and the tension in Kiri's shoulders lessens somewhat at the sight of the glowing choral and bioluminescent fish. Still, she cannot meet your gaze.

"I have something from home to help with your face," Kiri whispers, opening the pouch and gathering the leaves, roots and vials into her hands, holding them out for you to see. She can feel a heat in her cheeks as you inspect with your forefinger warily. Kiri notices the rudimentary bandage around your injured wrist, and a lump forms in her throat, mottled in guilt. You breathe deeply, and your ankles pop as you lower yourself to settle at the dock's edge. The gentle evening waves lick at your feet, and you extend a hand in invitation when Kiri hesitates to join you.

"Show me your forest medicine." Perhaps it was because the ice had been broken, perhaps it was because you had finally spoken to her, perhaps it was because it was now just the two of you, perhaps it was simply because she was passionate about medicine  -- Kiri could not decide, but she smiled. She sat facing your left, her legs crossed as she settled her trinkets beside her on the worn wood. Kiri displayed them perfectly in line, from least useful to most, bringing them up for you to see as she softly chattered. She looks at you in an excitement she hopes does not translate into childishness. Sometimes you entertain her with an interested hum or an ignorant but sincere question:

 "No, no. This is far better. It has similar healing properties but it stings significantly less. I do not usually have much of it because Lo'ak always gets himself into trouble, and Tuk scrapes her knees a lot." 

Your laugh is lovelier than Kiri had predicted. It is soft and comes easily from the throat; it feels like a tender kiss to the cheek. She looks up from the paste she is kneading between her fingers and into your gentle gaze. "May I?" Kiri whispers, and though you eye it warily, you nod. She is gentle as she thumbs your lower lip, mindlessly reaching out with her spare hand to tenderly cup your cheek for purchase. Her touch lingers at the softness of your skin, and she licks at her dry lips beneath your pointed gaze, throat darkening in a blush.

"Thank you, Kiri," you murmur, a shadow of a smirk pulling at your lips. Her ears flutter at the sound of her name, and they fold when she decides she likes it. The remaining paste is wiped onto a piece of dried tree bark and she pockets it for later; she washes her hands in the cold sea water, and dips her own toes in to imitate you, facing the dark expanse of the ocean. 

"I should be the one thanking you," Kiri laughs breathily, swallowing around the lump in her throat. She watches you lick at your lip in her periphery, pretending not to notice. Her ears fold once more. Your face contorts in disgust at the grassy taste of the paste. "I am sorry," Kiri whispers, gripping at the wooded edge of the dock, jaw tense, "it is my fault that you are hurt." You gently nudge at her side, craning your head to try and catch her eyes, but she stares miserably at the small fish disturbing the sand below.

"Do not apologise," you say firmly, resting your hand atop the younger girl's knee; your touch is coarse, yet warm and tender, and your three strong fingers are large enough to wrap around her leg. A soft gasp escapes her lips. She wonders what her hand would feel like in your own. "That skxawng had it coming. You had done nothing wrong. Tonowari will hear of his son's behaviour, I promise." Kiri wonders what good it will do since her father wants to kiss at the chieftain's finned feet, but she appreciates the sentiment nevertheless.

You rise, and mindlessly she begins to do the same, wanting to follow. "Come", you say, voice softer than before, reaching out a hand for her to take. You whisper her name when she hesitates, and Kiri feels as if she could melt into a puddle. "I must show you the shore in the dark. When the waves break on the sand, there is light - a blue glow. You must see it." Her hands are smaller in yours, silky and delicate, smudged with green forest medicine. Your tender grip makes her stomach flutter, a sensation new and odd to describe, and she lets you pull her gently along the dock and onto the beach, gently thumbing your scabbing knuckles. The sand is cold and it tickles her feet, and she giggles at the feeling. You look back to smile at her, skin aglow in the dark and curled hair dancing in the night's wind, and she returns it in earnest with a toothy grin.

You tell her your name as you walk, and Kiri repeats it delicately as if it were as natural as the waves kissing the sand; it felt comfortable on her tongue, and sounded idyllic in her voice. The shoal loosens around her shoulders as she laughs and stumbles in the sand, and she looks at her hand in yours in such an adoration it almost frightens her. The night is beautiful, she thinks, you are beautiful, and it feels so beautiful to be alive.

[l0velysmut]

can the atwow community help me find a fic ⁉️⁉️⁉️

idk if it was a fever dream but i read a fic of metkayina!reader defending lo’ak when jake said he brought shame to their family, and also defending neteyam. i coulda sworn it was a neteyam x reader fic but idk!!!

either way, i rlly wanna find it or something similar to the fic so if anyone has any idea what i’m talking about, pls lmk 😭 !!!

[nootyn]

“enough.”

lo’ak x metkayina!fem!reader

genre .: fluff—!!

summary .: as lo’ak sees you swimming alone, an idea comes to mind and he’s quick to act on it

warnings .: none

not—!! proof read .;

notes .: it doesn’t have much dialogue nd sorry if it’s not that well written as it is my first work TT

Lo'ak had always been fascinated by the Metkayina tribe, with their fierce independence and their close relationship with the ocean. He had met Y/N a few times before, and he couldn't help but be drawn to her beauty and her spirit.

One day, as he was flying his ikran over the ocean, he spotted Y/N below, swimming, with only the creatures of Pandora to keep her company. He took it as a chance to talk to her so he circled back, landing on the beach nearby.

"Hey, Y/N!" he called out, waving, making Y/N look up with a surprised expression on her face.

"Oh, hi Lo'ak! What brings you here?" she asked, swimming towards the shore.

"I wanted to show you something," Lo'ak said, a mischievous glint in his eye.

Y/N raised an eyebrow, feeling curious. "What is it?"

"Come with me, and I'll show you," Lo'ak said, gesturing towards his ikran.

Y/N hesitated, feeling uncertain. She had never ridden an ikran before, and the thought of flying through the air made her nervous.

"I don't know, Lo'ak. I'm not sure if I'm ready for that," she said, feeling hesitant.

"Please, Y/N. I promise, it will be worth it," Lo'ak said, his voice pleading, never once breaking eye contact.

Y/N sighed, feeling torn. She was curious about what Lo'ak had to show her, the simple image of flying through the air almost manipulating her decision.

"Okay, I'll go with you," she said finally, feeling a sense of trepidation.

Lo'ak grinned with a look of excitement written all over his face. He had always wanted to share the experience of flying on his ikran with someone else, and he couldn't think of anyone better than Y/N.

He helped her onto the back of his ikran, showing her how to hold on to the reins. She was now sitting in front of him, his arms on either side of her, holding her steady. Her body trembled as a surge of adrenaline went through it right as the ikran took off, soaring into the sky.

The wind whipped through her hair as they flew over the ocean, the sun beating down on their skin. Y/N felt a sense of exhilaration that she had never experienced before, as if she was flying towards the unknown, her heart pounding with anticipation.

As they flew further away from the shore, Lo'ak pointed towards a secluded cove that he had discovered on one of his adventures.

"That's where I want to take you," he said, his voice low and intense.

Y/N felt a sense of apprehension, as they flew towards the cove. She had never been to this part of the ocean before, and the thought of being so far away from everything she knew made her doubt this decision.

As they landed on the beach, Y/N looked around, feeling a sense of wonder at the secluded beauty of the cove. The water was crystal clear, and the sand was soft and white.

Lo'ak led her towards a small rocky outcrop, where he had set up a makeshift shelter. They sat together, watching the waves crash against the shore, as the sun began to set behind them.

Y/N felt a sense of peace settle over her, as she watched the colors of the sky change from orange to pink to purple. She had never felt so at home in such a wild and remote place before.

As night fell, Lo'ak built a fire, and they sat together, watching the stars twinkle above them. They talked about their lives, their dreams, and their fears, feeling a sense of closeness that they had never experienced before.

Y/N couldn't help but feel drawn to Lo'ak's adventurous spirit and his passion for exploring the world beyond their home. Now, as they had finally spent some time alone, she felt as if his simple presence made her once shy demeanor turn into a sort of restlessness, an yearning to explore. Not just Pandora, but Lo’ak as well.

As night set and they were readying themselves to leave, the Na’vi boy took Y/N’s hand to guide her to the ikran. It was a simple, innocent touch, yet it made her yearn for more. For now though, it was enough.

[stephstars08]

You’re Not Him

Spider Socorro x Metkayina!Reader

Warnings: Low Self Esteem, Spider being Bullied, Depressed!Spider, Parent Issues, Anxiety, Angst, Fluff, Y/N being Pressured By Her Parents, and Maybe Some Grammar Errors. (Don’t think I forgot any!!)

Summary: Ever since the Sully’s official adopted Spider he hasn’t been very welcomed by the Metkayina clan beside Y/N who is the eldest daughter of Tonowari and Ronal. Thanks to what Quaritch did to the Na’vi no one trusts Spider but Y/N always tries her very best to prove that Spider is nothing like his father.

Word Count: 2,031

Author’s Note: ALL IMAGES THAT ARE IN MY COVER PHOTO ARE NOT MINE AND I FOUND ON PINTEREST! I did try my best to make this story very accurate to the movie so I hope I did a good job and you all enjoy it!

Ever since Spider had reunited with the Sully’s he hasn’t really been welcomed in by the Metkayina clan. It’s mostly because his father is Quaritch who had caused so much distraction to Pandora. The only one from the Metkayina clan that have showed the most kindness and welcoming to Spider is Y/N who is the the eldest daughter of Tonowari, the Olo’eyktan of the Metkayina clan and his wife Ronal.

Y/N has always been the kindest Metkayina along with her sister Tsireya but Y/N does have a whole lot more pressure on her for being the perfect sibling since she is the eldest and her parents want her to be a good role model to not just her younger siblings but all of the Metkayina children. Her parents also expect her to be the most responsible as well.

That’s why it worries her parents to see how much she has bonded with Spider. Y/N’s parents done trust Spider like the Sully’s do.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Y/N was hanging out with her sister, Tsireya. They were in the water on their Ilus just talking sister stuff like they always do. As Tsireya was telling Y/N a story she spotted Spider hanging out with the Sully kids, Lo’ak, Kiri, and Tuk on the shore line. It didn’t take long for Y/N to put all of her attention on just Spider. She could feel butterflies in her stomach when Spider laughed at something Tuk said. She probably told them a joke that she came up with. The only two that laughed were Spider and Kiri while Lo’ak just playfully rolled his eyes which is what he does all the time when Tuk tells a silly joke.

“Y/N!” Tsireya said waving one of her hands in front of Y/N which quickly got her attention. “Sorry.” Y/N told her feeling embarrassed. “What were you staring at?” Tsireya asked her in a curious tone. “Oh, um nothing.” Y/N said looking anywhere but her sister’s face. Tsireya looked over and when she saw Spider her lips curved up into a smile.

“Why won’t you just admit that you are growing feelings for him?” Tsireya said looking back at Y/N. “Well, you like Lo’ak.” Y/N said ignoring her question by putting the attention on her crush than hers. She still wasn’t looking at Tsireya. “And I have already admitted my feelings about him to you.” Tsireya said reminding her which made Y/N playfully roll her eyes.

“I don’t see why you won’t admit it. I see how happy you are when you are around him.” Tsireya said which made Y/N let out a heavy sigh. “I feel like if I do admit my feelings, I feel like I’ll disappoint mom and dad.” Y/N told her looking at her sister with sadness in her ocean blue eyes. “Aw Y/N.” Tsireya said as her lips turned down into a frown.

“I don’t care who his father is. He’s not him.” Y/N said with some frustration in her voice. “I know he’s not but after everything that has happened between the Na’vi, and his kind mom and dad are just trying to be cautious.” Tsireya explained to her. “It’s just going to take them a little longer to accept him.” Tsireya added in a reassuring tone. “We’ll see.” Y/N said with a sigh looking over at Spider who was talking to Kiri while Lo’ak was on his Ilu with Tuk.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Y/N just got done with her chores her parents gave her when she saw Spider sitting in the sand all by himself. When the water would reach where he was sitting, he would feel the water with his hands. Y/N started to feel a little concern about him sitting there all by himself, so she decided to walk over to him.

“Hi.” Y/N said to him as she stood next to him. “Hi, Y/N.” Spider said looking up at her. “Why are you sitting here all by yourself?” Y/N asked him. “Just trying to clear my head up a little.” Spider answered with a heavy sigh. “Do you want to join me?” Spider asked her in a curious tone. “Sure.” Y/N said with a soft smile. When she took a seat right down next to him, they both stared out into the ocean.

“I’m sorry that my clan hasn’t been very welcoming to you.” Y/N told him in a soft tone. “It’s okay. I’m used to that feeling.” Spider told her which made her heart ache. “I know that you’re on the Na’vi’s side in this long going war. But please tell me that you aren’t blaming yourself for what has happened recently.” Y/N said to him with hope in her voice. “I try not to but it’s hard because when anyone looks at me, they see him.” Spider said trying to keep himself together.

He’s tired of feeling vulnerable when it comes to what his father had done. He feels like the only one who looks at him as himself is Y/N. It breaks her heart to see all of the Metkayina kids brush him off and be really rude towards. It annoys her when her younger brothers, Aonung and Rotxo talk down to Spider and no matter how many times she’s told them to be nice to Spider they just brush her off too. It doesn’t help that their parents just take their side and keep letting them do it.

“You do blame yourself?” Y/N said looking over at him with concern in her eyes and voice. “Sometimes I feel like I could’ve done more to stop him. To stop them.” Spider told her as he avoided looking into her worried eyes. “But you knew everything they did was wrong.” Y/N told him. She took one of his hands into hers which made him look away from the water and at her. Her blue eyes connected with his brown eyes like they always do when they look at each other. “That’s all that matters.” Y/N told him with a comforting smile. Spider gave her a nod as his lips turned into a small smile. Y/N always know what to say to him when he gets down on himself.

“Y/N!” She heard a familiar voice call out her name in a stern voice. When both Y/N and Spider saw it was Ronal calling her daughter’s name they knew their hangout was over for the day. When Spider let go of her hand, she felt emptiness go through her.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Ronal asked looking down at her daughter with stern eyes. “I’m talking to my friend.” Y/N told her mom not being intimidated by her mother’s stern glance. She’s tired of her parents trying to control who she talks to or who she hangs out with. “Y/N to our Marui now!” Ronal told her in a stern tone. “No, I want to stay here and talk to Spider.” Y/N said standing her ground. “I’m your mother and I say go to our Marui now! I’m not going to say it again.” Ronal told her not letting her daughter tell her tell her no. “You should go with your mom.” Spider said before Y/N could respond to Ronal. “I should get back to the Sully’s anyways.” Spider said as he stood up. Y/N watched him walk away with sadness in her blue eyes.

“Y/N!” Ronal said breaking Y/N’s gaze away from Spider. Y/N let out a heavy sigh as she stood up from the sand and walked towards her families Mauri with her mom following behind her. Right when they got there Ronal told Y/N to sit which she did. Y/N folded her arms over her chest waiting for her daily lecture.

“No matter how many times your father and I have told you to stay away from that boy you just keep disobeying us.” Ronal said with anger in her voice. Y/N avoided her mom’s stern gaze. “You are the eldest sibling which means you are the role model to your younger siblings. They don’t need to see their older sibling disobeying their parents' orders.” Ronal lectured her. “You also have another sibling on the way, and you can’t keep stressing me out by being around that boy!” Ronal added as she put her hand on pregnant stomach. She added. Y/N just continued to stay silent.

“Y/N look at me!” Ronal told her in a demanding tone. Y/N sighed as she did what her mother told her to do. “I’m going to tell you for the last time.” Ronal started. “You are forbidden to see that boy.” Ronal told her in strict tone. “Do I make myself clear?” Ronal asked her but Y/N stayed silent which made her start to lose her patience. “Y/N answer me right now!” Ronal demanded. “No!” Y/N snapped finally talking. Ronal was caught off guard since Y/N has never talked to her in that tone before. She’s never heard her daughter talk in that tone ever. Y/N got up onto her feet.

“You and father have raised me to be accepting to everyone and anyone who come to our village and Spider is no exception.” Y/N told her now it being her time to talk. “I understand what Spider’s kind to us, but he is nothing like his father.” Y/N explained to her mother. “Just because you and dad don’t see him like I do doesn’t mean I am not allowed to be around him.” Y/N said in a stern tone.

“I think he’s very sweet and he cares so much about our people so no matter what you and dad say I’m going to continue to be around him.” Y/N told her. Without another word Y/N walked past her mother and out of the families Mauri.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Y/N has been clearing her mind out a little bit before she goes to talk to Spider. She wants to tell him that no matter what her parents tell her she isn’t going to stop seeing him. She finally feels free after standing up to her mom and she knows the perfect thing to say to Spider.

Y/N spotted Lo’ak talking with Tsireya so she walked over to them to ask Lo’ak if he knows where Spider is. “Hi, sorry to interrupt but I need to ask Lo’ak a quick question.” Y/N said getting their attention. “What’s up?” Lo’ak said in a curious tone. “Do you know where Spider is?” Y/N asked him. “Yeah, he’s in our Mauri with Kiri and Tuk.” Lo’ak answered her question. “Okay, thank you.” Y/N said and walked towards the Sully’s Mauri.

When Y/N walked into the Mauri she saw Spider sitting on the floor with Tuk and Kiri playing a game that Tuk most likely came up with. “Hi.” Y/N said only getting Kiri and Tuk’s attention. “Hi, Y/N!” Tuk said with an excited smile. “What brings you here?” Kiri asked in a curious tone. “Do you want to play my game with us?” Tuk asked before Y/N could answer Kiri’s question which made Kiri playfully roll her eyes at her. “Sure, but I need to talk to Spider outside first.” Y/N said which made Spider look up at her. “If that’s okay with him.” Y/N added. Spider gave her a nod as he stood up. Kiri and Tuk shared a smile as Spider followed Y/N outside.

“Y/N I don’t want to get you in trouble again.” Spider told her with worry. “I told my mother that no matter what her and my father tell me it’s not going to keep me away from you.” Y/N told him in a reassuring tone. “I love hanging out with you because it makes me happy!” Y/N told him with a warm smile. “Me too.” Spider said as his cheeks turned a light shade of red.

“Don’t listen to what everyone says. You’re not you’re father. You are a much better man than him.” Y/N told him locking her blue eyes with his brown eyes. “I see you.” Y/N told him. Spider smiled as he took one of her hands into hers just like she did earlier with his’s. “I see you, too.” Spider told her as he held onto her hand tight.

[cookieisbland]

Masterlist

Key-

△ ⇾ smut

▽ ⇾ fluff

⁑ ⇾ angst

⍟ ⇾ series

Avatar :

𝔧𝔞𝔨𝔢 𝔰𝔲𝔩𝔩𝔶-

Take it △ ⬎

jake is new to the omatikaya clan,and stumbles upon healer!reader.

˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊

𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐨𝐨𝐧

©️cookieisbland2023

[r1dd1kulus]

We changed him 😏 🤞🏾🤝🙏🏾

nìfnu

nìfnu [nɪ.ˈfnu] adv. silently

Anonymous Request: Can I have a story where it’s Ao’nung x Metkayina Reader who’s deaf and a sweetheart. When the Sullys arrive she doesn’t really interact with them so when they see Ao’nung being kind and protective towards her it they feel confused? Just pure fluff.

Lo'ak leans over and nudges his older sister, Kiri, forcefully on the arm.

"Ouch!" she yelps. "What, Lo'ak?"

He points, and she follows the line from his finger. It leads her eyes to Ao'nung, just a few paces down the beach from them, and he's with a Metkayina girl that Kiri doesn't recognize. She's tall, nearly as tall as Ao'nung, with her long hair pulled back into one large, thick braid. She wears a thin, shiny net over her shoulders, and Kiri notes how pretty it is. It glimmers in the sun. Kiri also notes how, even though Ao'nung and this girl are above walker, they are using the hand-speak to communicate.

"That girl. Neteyam tried to talk to her earlier, but she ignored him. And there she is, being so nice to Ao'nung. Who's an asshole."

Kiri elbows her sibling. "To you, he is. He looks like he's being perfectly friendly to that girl. And, I mean, she's very pretty."

"Why are they using the hand speak? They're not in the water."

Kiri shrugs. "How should I know? Stop elbowing me when you want something, Lo'ak. It hurts."

He groans and rolls his eyes, and turns his attention back to Ao'nung and the girl who rejected Neteyam.

--

"How are they adjusting?" I sign to Ao'nung, who shrugs and rolls his eyes. It's no secret that he resents having to teach the newcomers their ways, but I think it's nice. Ao'nung needs to humble himself sometimes, be more like his kind little sister.

"They are slow," Ao'nung signs in return. "I don't want to teach them. It's a waste of my time."

I reach out, pushing on his arm a little. "They seem sweet to me, especially the little one. Try to have patience with them. I would offer to help, but they don't know how to talk to me."

"Yet," he replies, and I smile.

"Yet."

--

Neteyam asks Tsireya about the girl, Y/N, the next day. He's noticed that she only uses hand-speak as well, and wonders.

"She can't hear," Tsireya says. "She's only spoken that way her whole life."

Neteyam could smack himself. He'd taken her silence as harsh rejection, when really, she just wasn't able to respond to him.

"Oh!" he exclaims. "She's, uh, really beautiful."

Tsireya laughs and smiles. "She is, but I wouldn't trouble yourself. Ao'nung has been in love with her for years." She throws a glance to her brother over her shoulder, but he's too busy making fun of Lo'ak to hear.

"Ao'nung?" Neteyam replies hardly, and Tsireya laughs even harder.

"I know. He has a soft spot for her, and her for him. If you want to compete, you'll have to learn hand-speak."

Neteyam shakes his head. She's beautiful, but not worth getting in a fight with the chief's son over. He'll just have to admire her from afar.

--

Though I can't speak, I am very proficient in reading lips. This helps me observe conversations from far away; as long as I have a clear view of someone's face, I can usually figure out what they're saying.

"Ao'nung has been in love with her for years."

That's what Tsireya said, and though she was smiling, it didn't seem as if she was joking. I dropped the plate of fruit I was carrying when she said it.

Is it true? Has Ao'nung been in love with me, and I haven't noticed?

Fruit is scattered all around my feet, and I bend over to begin gathering it again, every interaction I've had with Ao'nung recently playing over in my mind. If Tsireya is right, maybe I have been blind.

Ao'nung has always been kind, and patient and gentle with me. I knew he wasn't like that with many people, but I thought it was most likely out of pity for my condition - not out of love of affection.

A hand reaches out, picking up fruit and dropping it into my basket, and I look up to see Ao'nung himself.

Feeling flustered, I stand up, kicking the fruit basket once again, undoing all my work.

"Are you okay?" Ao'nung signs. I tuck my hair behind my ears, feeling a little speechless. "Y/N, what's wrong?"

"Tsireya," I sign, "she told the new boy, the oldest one, that you are in love with me. Is she just teasing him, because he thinks I'm pretty?"

"He said he thinks you're pretty?" Ao'nung signs back, quickly and furiously, glancing over his shoulder at where his sister still sits with the newcomers.

I shove his shoulder. "Yes! Answer my question."

"Well... come with me." Ao'nung reaches out, grabbing my hand and therefore silencing me, and pulls me away from the beach. We move through many huts, past the fires, and to the edge of the beach, where the sparse forest and rocks begin. Here, we are alone.

"Ao'nung!" I exclaim, breathless. "What's going on?"

He rubs his forehead. "I had a plan, to tell you. It wasn't going to be like this. I'm going to kill Tsireya."

I stand, silent, waiting for him to finish. My heart is beating out of my chest, and my palms are shaking; I'm not sure I could speak, even if I wanted to.

"For a long time, I have loved you, Y/N. I have tried to be more... understanding, and gentle, the way you deserve. But it's hard for me. I wanted to be better, before I told you. Before I asked you to be my mate."

Unable to control myself, I gasp, and bring my hands up to my mouth.

Me, the mate to the next Olo'eyktan? It's unimaginable.

"Your parents approve the match?" I ask.

Ao'nung smiles at me softly. "Of course. When I told them how much I love you, they couldn't object. They believe you will make a wonderful Tsahik, because you are so kind and understanding. My mother will teach you everything you need to know - if you want."

That thought alone is a little overwhelming, since Ronal can be so intimidating, but I also imagine she can be a good teacher.

And really, that doesn't matter. What matters is the way I feel when I'm with Ao'nung; special, adored, loved, doted upon. I feel safe with Ao'nung. I feel seen and most importantly, heard.

"I would be proud to be your mate, Ao'nung. So proud. Of course, I love you."

The smile that spreads across his face transforms Ao'nung from the sullen, anxious, grouchy man most have come to know him as. It turns him into the carefree, light and happy man he is when the two of us are together.

I am proud to make him smile like that. I promise myself then, to make him smile like that every day, for the rest of our lives.

[luvv4j4ybe11]

꧁𝑯𝒐𝒘 𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖꧂

✧ 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒖𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒎𝒆𝒏 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒄𝒂𝒏𝒐𝒏𝒔<3

✧ 𝑾𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔. 𝑴𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒑𝒅𝒂, 𝒑 𝒊𝒏 𝒗, 𝒐𝒓𝒈𝒂𝒔𝒎 𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒊𝒂𝒍/𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒍, 𝒔𝒊𝒛𝒆 𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒌, 𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒌, 𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒕 𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒌, 𝒄𝒐𝒄𝒌𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒐𝒓𝒂𝒍 𝒇𝒊𝒙𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏, 𝒔𝒑𝒂𝒏𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚'𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒔 (𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒋𝒔 𝒌𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒊𝒕 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒐), 𝒐𝒓𝒂𝒍 (𝒇 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒎 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈), 𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒌 𝒐𝒇 𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒈𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏, 𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈/𝒃𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒌, 𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒋𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒚/𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒔, 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒓𝒖𝒑𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒌, 𝒅𝒂𝒄𝒓𝒚𝒑𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒂, ’𝒔𝒊𝒓’ 𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒌, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒔 𝒊𝒕. 𝑳𝒎𝒌 𝒊𝒇 𝒊 𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒆𝒏𝒋𝒐𝒚 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒔💕

✧ 𝑻𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔: 𝒀𝒂𝒘𝒏𝒕𝒖𝒕𝒔𝒚𝒊̀𝒑- 𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒐𝒏𝒆, 𝒀𝒂𝒘𝒏𝒆- 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒅, 𝑶𝒆𝒚𝒂̈- 𝒎𝒚 (𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒗𝒆), 𝒀𝒂𝒘𝒏𝒕𝒖- 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒐𝒏𝒆, 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓, 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏, 𝒕𝒊̀𝒚𝒂𝒘𝒏-𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆, 𝒚𝒐𝒗𝒐-𝒚𝒐𝒗𝒐 𝒇𝒓𝒖𝒊𝒕, 𝒕𝒔𝒂𝒉𝒚𝒍𝒖- 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒏𝒅, 𝑵𝒊𝒇𝒕𝒙𝒂𝒏 ’𝒆𝒌𝒙𝒊𝒏, 𝒐𝒆𝒚𝒂̈ 𝒕𝒊̀𝒚𝒂𝒘𝒏- “𝑺𝒐 𝒕𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕, 𝑴𝒚 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆“, 𝑻𝒔𝒖𝒏 𝒌𝒆 𝒏𝒆 𝒕𝒊̀𝒏𝒈 𝒏𝒈𝒂 𝒂 𝒑𝒓𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒏- 𝑪𝒂𝒏’𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒊𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂 𝒃𝒂𝒃𝒚

✧ 𝑩𝒐𝒕𝒉 𝒏𝒔𝒇𝒘 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒇𝒘 𝒔𝒐 𝒎𝒅𝒏𝒊!! 𝑰 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒔𝒆𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒔𝒇𝒘 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒇𝒘 𝒕𝒉𝒐

✧ !!𝑨𝑳𝑺𝑶!! 𝑺𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒔𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒄𝒂𝒏𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒆𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒉𝒖𝒎𝒂𝒏!𝒔/𝒐, 𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒌𝒂𝒚𝒂!𝒔/𝒐, 𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒌𝒂𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒂!𝒔/𝒐. 𝑺𝒐 𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓. 𝑬𝒏𝒋𝒐𝒚☺️💕

──☆*:・ﾟ──☆*:・ﾟ ──☆*:・ﾟ✧𝑺𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍 𝒉𝒄’𝒔

- they’re all extremelyy protective over you. And always so ready to defend you.

- very touchy, weather it’s a little hand hold or a full on thigh grab he needs to have his hands on you at all times.

- they’re all very fertile, and so are you. (So yk what that means😘)

- their aftercare is AMAZING 🫦

- NON-SEXUAL DOMINANCE 😩!! Like…

Putting his hand on your back to lead you somewhere

Saying “no” in a stern but caring tone

Opening things for you/ Making way for you

Giving you reasonable instructions

Telling you “come here” and/or pointing to the ground to where they want you

Fixing your appearance (like fixing your hair or loincloth)

Lifting your chin up

“look at me”

Fixing your posture

“Yeah?”

And so many more😩

- always so quick to do anything for you. Want food? He already out the door. Cold? Blanket is already covering you. Need a hug? Immediately wrapping his arms around you and kissing you gently. This man is in loveee with you😭

- they got the besttt hand placement 😩

𝑵𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒚𝒂𝒎

❥𝑺𝑭𝑾❥

- loves taking you out on late night beach walks, the bioluminescence of the pandora making you look even more gorgeous.

- whenever you two go on walks in the forest he always hold your hand whenever the path gets too uneven. And whenever he has to climb or jump over something he’ll always pick you up so you don’t get hurt.

“Teyam! I’m fine! I’m not a child you know.”

“Mhm. Yeah sure, yawntutsyìp. Now come on.”

- hates when he sees other guys looking at you, almost like he can hear their thoughts. So he’ll just wrap his arm around you and trail kisses and a few bites all over your soft skin, making sure everyone know you’re his.

- whenever he gets mad his jaw does that thing, and ik yall know what im talking about 😩

- keeps track of your period/heat cycle, so he knows the exact day you’re going to get it.

- he baby’s you a lottt during these days, making sure his girl is ok.

“Here tahnì, kiri made this for you. It’s supposed to take some of the pain away.”

“Thank you, baby. You’re the best-“ and there it was again. That sharp pain shooting up through your core. It felt like someone was trying to tear you apart from the inside out.

You yelp in pain, neteyam automatically leaping next to your side and pressing his big hand into where the pain was coming from.

“Shshsh, yawntu. It’s ok..I know it hurts but I’m here baby. I got you.” He coos, the warmth and pressure from his hand soothing you immediately. The rest of your body weight pressing into his chest.

“That’s my girl.”

- always is looking at you even when you’re not looking at him. You always manage to catch his eyes tho, it’s hard not to when he’s staring right into your soul.

- but when you finally do meet his eyes they’re always filled with love and affection, it makes you smile all giddy every time

- his tail always betrays his words, like whenever you feel like he’s getting jealous, you’ll ask him upfront. And ofc he’ll say no, but two seconds later you feel his tail coiling around your thigh possessively. Or when you guys get into a fight and are still mad at each other afterwards, his tail will still wrap around your calve as a comfort. But he doesn’t even realize he’s doing it.

- does the lil “come here” waist grab combo before he kisses you🤤

!!𝑺𝒎𝒖𝒕!!

❥𝑵𝑺𝑭𝑾❥

- loves seeing how flustered you get by him just doing the smallest things, like when he flexes his arms or lowers his voice a little just to see your thighs clench and face get all red/purple

“Y/n..you listening to me, yawntusip?” He questions with a smirk that tells you he already knew the answer to his own question.

“Yes, yes I’m sorry, baby. Continue.” You responded, mind still focused on how the way he was looking at you and his deep voice made your panties unbearably slick.

“Mhm.. no. I rather do something else instead.”

- has such a huge breeding kink. Like he’s downright obsessed with how pretty you look all cockdrunk with his cum just leaking out of you. Makes him feralll.

- also has a courruption kink, size kink, slight spit kink, biting kink, Dacryphilla, and yeah this mf js freaky asf (but he keep it on the DL)

- speaking of him being freaky asf, he’d definitely fuck you in public. Like this man is balls deep inside of you, hitting your sweet spot every time he thrust back in, and he’s over here telling you shit like “shshsh, yawne.. don’t want them to hear you now do you? Mhm~fuck.. you must want them to with the way you’re clenching around me huh?” Like MHM😩

- he’s a eater. He’s such an eater. (js like his brother and daddy) your pussy is basically stress relief to him😭

- puts his hair in a bun before he eat it🫦

- doesn’t mind when you ask to return the favor, bc he loves seeing you on your knees in front of him, pretty lips wrapped around his thick tip and hands desperately gripping at his thighs as you try to push the rest of him into your mouth. The sight makes him js 😵‍💫

-so whipped for you 😭like this mf will do ANYTHINGGG for you, just say the word.

- loves watching you try to hold in your moans and whimpers, the way your face gets all puffy and hands start shaking and squeezing him desperately makes something primal awaken in him. And watching the tears finally spill over your face when he makes you cum? Fucking perfect to him.

- has a ‘sir’ kink too, you found out about it accidentally tbh😭

“Make sure you clean that cut, oeyä yawntu. Don’t want it getting infected.” He ordered softly, making you smile at his gentle yet stern demeanor.

“Yes, sir.” You quipped sarcastically, looking down at the bandage infront of you.

His whole body froze at the name, ears perking up and tail standing up in a ridged way “What?” He said lowly, his switch in energy making your body mimic his.

“I-uhm sorry I-“

“No. Don’t apologize, yawntu.” He walks over to you quickly before kneeling infront of you, kissing you hungrily. “Say it again.” Your tail sways around excitedly at his tone, body getting hotter by the second.

“Yes, sir.”

“Mhm..again.”

- a titty man definitely, he loves watching them bounce whenever he fucks you in missionary

- whenever he punishes you, orgasm denial/control and spanking are his go tos. He just loves how needy and whiney you get from him not giving you what you want.

“T-teyam, please! I’m sorry!”

“Yeah? You pissing me off says otherwise.” Another harsh slap.

You writhe and squirm under him, but it’s no use. Tears of frustration stream down you face once you feel two more slaps to your sensitive flesh.

“P-please, teyam. No..more.” You whine, chest heaving and mouth dry from your screams of protest. His expression softens at your small voice, hand coming down to rub the irritated skin back and forth gently.

“Alright, yawntu. No more.” He coos, leaning down to leave soft kisses on the back of your neck, “but don’t think I’m gonna let you cum at all tonight.”

- loves kissing you when your sitting on something, weather it be a counter or your bed, he just loves kissing you like that.

- grabs your waist to grind you down onto him/guide your movements

- “I’ll make it fit, Yawntu.”

- when he starts getting close he’ll whisper the DIRTIESTT shit in Navi to you 🫦

“Mhm~..Teyam, please..” you whine, the feeling of him using you and stretching your small, leaking pussy proving way too much for you.

“I know, ma’yawntu. Need you to be good for me ok?” He coos, holding the side of your face gently.

You lazily respond with a head nod, slowly losing yourself because of the feeling of your 4th orgasm building up in your core.

He shudders when your pussy clenches around him repeatedly, making him lean down to cadge you in with one of his arms, while the other holds your leg. Leaving slow, sloppy marks and kisses all over your soft skin.

“Hah~fuck..Niftxan ‘ekxin, oeyä tìyawn..Tsun ke ne tìng nga a prrnen~“

𝑱𝒂𝒌𝒆

❥𝑺𝑭𝑾❥

- likes having you on his lap while he does small chores that don’t require him to be standing

- and he does that thing where he pats his lap so you know where you’re supposed to be😩

- whenever your stressed he’ll always trace the same pattern on your back, and it soothes you almost immediately

- veryy affectionate with you,he’s a man after all. He loves to show his woman how much he loves her.

- he always lifts up your chin/ grabs your waist before kissing you

- when you guys argue (which is rarely) he’s definitely a “come here” typa mf, bc he hates making his girl feel bad

- likes to bring you to his meetings just to have you sit there and look pretty

“Baby, what does that mean?” You ask while looking up at him innocently, the sight making him smile softly.

“It means knowing our location, babygirl (knowing our 20)” he responds, placing his hand on your head as you let out a soft “oh..” and continue to listen to him talk to the other warriors.

- likes to form tsaheylu before you guys fall asleep

- hugs from behind 🫦

- loves you guys height difference so much

- another one that babies tf outta you, no matter what. Especially if you’re close to your period/heat cycle

“Hey babygirl, how you feelin?” He says with a soft smile on his face as he walks over to you with a basket of your favorite fruits and cold water.

“Oo! You got yovo for me? You really didn’t have to do that, oeyä tìyawn. I’m just feeling a little lightheaded is all.” You explain, sitting up on your hands so he can sit down in front of you. And that’s when the pain hits. A sharp pain going straight up your spine into your head that makes you cry out. The ringing in your ears getting excruciatingly loud.

Jake is quick to get to your side, placing you on your side so your spine is stretched out. Reliving the pain almost immediately. “I know babygirl, I know. I’m right here.” He coos, pressing firm circles into the base of your neck, massaging out the excess tension. “Just breathe, okay, hon? I gotchu.”

- the emotional security this man provides is AMAZING LIKE🥹🩷

- you always crave him, not even just sexually but physically too. Just his smell,his vibe, his company. Just him. And it’s the same for him too.

- he never stops trying to impress you, just because he has you it doesn’t give him a reason to stop

- he does that thing where he’ll say your name and then point with his head/eyes to where he wants you to be😩

“And I just don’t know how I could-“ you ramble, stressed out because of the celebration later tonight.

“Y/n.” Jake says sternly, but softly. His baritone silencing you immediately.

He looks at you before looking at the bed and tilting his head softly, making you obey his order silently.

Once you sit on the bed, he stands between your legs, cupping your face with his big hands gently. “Baby..” he pauses to kiss your forehead gently. Making you melt into his touch. “Relax. We’re gonna figure it out,ok?” You nod softly at this, letting your nerves leave you.

“Plus I can’t wait to see how sexy your gonna look to-“ “OK, Alright!”

!!𝑺𝒎𝒖𝒕!!

❥𝑵𝑺𝑭𝑾❥

- lovesss having you in mating press and missionary, something about seeing all of your expressions makes him drill into even harder, just to see how you react.

- when you start whining and whimpering from the overstimulation, he’ll just cup your face and place soft kisses on your skin while saying, “I know, baby, I know.” Not even bothering to slow his pace on your poor cunt.

- “you look so pretty like this, baby” and “that’s my good girl” are his favorites

- finds it so hot whenever your tail wraps around him when he’s fucking you in doggy, it’s such an ego boost for him.

- pushes your legs back whenever he’s eatin it😩

- he loves cockwarming after a long day lemme tell you 😮‍💨

- he absolutely loves praising you, but also degrading you a little too🙈

“Awh hon, this wet just from a little kissing? Such a needy little slut for me.”

- his biggest kinks are breeding and size kink

- likes using toys on you, and definitely slips one inside you before you leave in the morning, just to watch your knees buckle whenever he presses that little button

- definitely an ass man, he loves squeezing it and watching it bounce whenever he has you in doggy

- “sir” kink 100%, especially when he’s punishing you.

- speaking of this tho, his brat taming? Phew lawd😩 he gives you exactly what you want and also you nothing at the same time.

“Ja-Sir!, please! Im-sorry!” You yelp, voice bouncing from his harsh thrust and tears streaming down your face from the overstimulation.

“Nuh-uh. Too late for that shit now, babygirl. Wanted to act like a little whore, so I’m gonna fuck you like one.” He growled, leaving yet another hard slap on your ass, making you whine in pain.

The pace he set was fast and deep, avoiding your sweet spot every time he thrusted back in. And pulling out whenever you got too close. It was absolute torture. Yet you craved it nonetheless.

“Sir..please. I can’t..” you say softly, making him finally hit your sweetspot with his thick tip, turing you into a moaning mess. “Alright, babygirl. But this is the only time you’re cumming tonight.”

- forehead kisses after sex🥹

- speaking of kissing, he’s such a good kisser (obvi bc he has experience but still🙄) he always goes at the pace you want, he knows where to put his hands, and he always puts so much feeling into them like ugh🤤

- cockwarming with you while you sit in his lap>>

𝑳𝒐’𝒂𝒌

❥𝑺𝑭𝑾❥

- such a cuddle bug, like my baby loves being touched and touching you

- when you’re standing and he’s sitting, he’ll wrap his arms around you and pull you close to him. (Even tho he’s eye level with you because he’s so tall😭)

- hates seeing you sad, angry, etc and he does everything in his power to get you out of it.

“Hey mama, I got you some chocolate norm had stashed in the fridge.” He announces while walking into your room, shutting the door behind him with his foot.

“Thank you, sweet boy. I’m not that hungry though..” you say softly, tone quiet and deadpan. His ears perk up and flick at the tone of your voice, brows knitting together at your mood.

“Mama, what’s the matter?” He says softly as he climbs into your large bed, fit for the both of you. You say nothing, instead just rolling over and wrapping your arms around his much larger frame.

Chuckling softly at this, he kisses your head lovingly. “It’s ok, mama. I gotchu”

- likes teaching you the lingo his dad uses on the throat com, he just loves how genuinely intrigued you are when he tells you about it

- gets jealous very easily, he’ll be so quick to pick a fight with someone it’s not even funny

- hates when people touch his hair but loves when you do it

- whenever you guys talk, he always does the triangle method without realizing it. And it gets you flustered every single time😭

- “my girl can wear whatever tf she want but if you touch her ima break your jaw, it’s that simple” typa bf

- loves playing with your hair/ braiding it

- always stares at you, always. Whenever you walk by him and flash him a quick smile his whole train of thought just stops, kiri and neteyam always make fun of him for it😭

- especially if you guys are talking in a group of people, just a lil hand hold or eye contact with you will have this man melting

!!𝑺𝒎𝒖𝒕!!

❥𝑵𝑺𝑭𝑾❥

- he’s definitely an eater just like his dad and teyam, but before he eats it he always kisses your thighs and ya lips (both of em…bc we all know know these men are js as much of pussy kisses as much as they are pussy eaters yfmm???)

- the second he puts his hair into that ponytail..phew yk you done for😩

- loves doing the finger + tounge combo js to hear you scream and cry out his name

- speaking of that he loves hearing you say his name, deadass makes his eyes roll back just because of the sound of your voice and the way your pussy squeezes him so hard

- does the knee thing whenever you guys make out (and always has his hands on ya tittes🤭)

- the make outs you guys have?..phew😩 sloppy and slow and bodies all pressed tg😩

- you put on a mini skirt one time as a joke and phew lawd..the way he bent you over so quickly and fucked your brains out🫦

- steals his dads camera to take pictures of you so whenever you guys are apart he has something of you to keep him company 🫶🏽

- absolutely adores your body, he loves how soft and squishy it is, especially your thighs and ass

- such an ass man, (like Jake😭)

- loves having you in doggy and missionary

- also I see him liking 69ing too, but he didn’t realized he loved it so much until you introduced it to him

- a switch, loves being in control and making you a cockdrunk mess for him but also loves when you fuck him

- he has such a huge oral fixation, like if you stick your fingers in his mouth while you’re riding him, he turns subby so quick 😮‍💨 or whenever you start randomly kissing and sucking on his hands his brain turns into putty, poor baby gets so overwhelmed by how good your mouth feels he almost cums untouched 🙁 breathing all heavy and face a mess.. ugh😍

- doesn’t really like quickies, but if you both are desperate he’ll do it. He just rather take his time with you, he loves watching you fall apart for him.

- he has a thing for whenever you touch his hands, like when you massage them gently and tell him how pretty they are or how nice they look he turns into a blushing mess, tail wagging and thumping against the floor wildly

- likes touching you in public to see how long you can keep quiet

- “Awh, what was that mama? I couldn’t hear you.” While having the most shit eating grin on his face

- loves teasing you about how much your tail sways and wags when you’re around him. And how much it’ll instinctively wrap around him.

- one of the ways he likes to punish you is making you sit in his lap while he tells you how to touch, cooing and teasing you when he sees your delicate, slow strokes turn more aggressive and needy. So he holds your hand to guide you at the pace he wants.

“Lo’ak!~ please..wanna cum so bad..” you whine frustratedly, moaning softly as he curls your fingers into your sweet spot. But it isn’t enough. You need him.

“Awe that’s too bad, baby. Shouldn’t have been such a needy slut before you got into this. Now you just gotta take it.” He says sternly, removing his hand from yours and placing them on your inner thighs.

“Lo’ak I-“

“I don’t care. Now keep touching, mama. And if I see you speeding up you’re not cumming at all tonight.”

- and yet anotha man that’s whipped asf for u, when you guys were officially mated, he swore he fell even more in love with you. Mf was already making plans for kids😭

- so so vocal😩 especially when you force him to be submissive(he acts like he hates it but yall both know damn well😭)

- another one who grabs your waist to grind you down onto him😩

- another “I’ll make it fit” mf, but he’ll taunt and tease you for how much your legs are shaking and the tears endlessly flowing from your eyes.

“Fuck!~ lo-lo’, wait..it’s not gonna fit..” you writhe and yelp, pathetically trying to push him away from you with your shakey legs.

He growls angrily at this, grabbing both of your legs with his hands and pushing them down next to your ears, folding you like a pretzel under his strong frame.

“Don’t, fuckin’ push me away, mama. Ever.” He seethes, your faces inches apart from each other. “Plus, your pretty little pussy seems to be doing just fine. Poor girl keeps getting greedier and greedier the more I push into you.” He places a slow, sweet kiss on your lips before pushing the rest of his cock inside of you, rubbing your clit to open you up even more.

The stretch makes you cry out and squirm, tears spilling down your face at the stimulation. “Awe, look at you sweet girl. Is my cock too much for you? You can handle it, baby. You said it yourself.” He teases, a shit-eating grin appearing on his face when you try respond to him, but all the comes out are little moans and whimpers.

He thrust into you softly, testing out the waters. You moan loudly at his slow movements, pussy clenching around him repeatedly as you reach for him aimlessly, mind already turned into mush. He chuckles at this, giving you his hand before carefully speeding up his pace. “My pretty girl, already cockdrunk? Mhm~ Fuck..can’t wait to turn you into my personal little cock sleeve~, want that, mama? Want me to fuck you so much that you only crave me?” His words make your pussy clench and squeeze around him repeatedly, letting him know everything he needed to before his pace turned ruthless.

──☆*:・ﾟ──☆*:・ﾟ──☆*:・ﾟ

𝑨/𝑵~ bc why did this take sm more longer than an actual fic? Im done 😭 I tried to make them all as even as I could, but some of them have more than the other (let’s take a huge guess on who I’m talking ab😭). Might make another one for the girls tbh🤭 but I hope yall like this, and if you want me to write more lmk🩷 I had fun with this one🥰

𝑫𝒖𝒄𝒆𝒔🫶🏽,

𝑳𝒖𝒗𝒗4𝒋4𝒚𝒃𝒆11~

~

~

~

𝑻𝒂𝒈𝒔: @xylianasblog @strongheartneteyam @professional-yapper @itchaboi-itchyboy @blue-slxt @hotdsworld @plooto @quicktosimp

𝑫𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒃𝒚 @eloquentreverie

[tiredmamaissy]

Ralak te Sepawn ieyk’itan: Special Episode V

Something is Brewing

Masterlist ; Rut/Heat/Knotting Info

🔞 minors, do not interact 🔞

Hyperlinks are attached to specific paragraphs that when clicked on will lead you to its illustration by Ralak's insanely talented creator @zestys-stuff. Thank you so much for allowing me to play around with your characters!

Characters: Metkayina!Ralak (25) x Sully!Omaticaya!Reader (20)

Warnings: explicit pregnancy smut, pregnancy fluff, pregnancy angst [for the plot], pregnancy [this chapter is entirely about pregnancy if you haven't caught my drift, just giving you guys a proper warning], age gap, mood swings, cravings, nausea, vomiting, reader is very clumsy, intimate/invasive medical treatment, rut cycle, sexual tension, pregnant sex, p in v, titty fucking, cum eating (m and f), oral sex (m and f), masturbation, exhibitionism (kinda, not really), lactation kink

Word Count: 17.5k (this takes the cake, i apologize)

Requested: Yes || No

Author’s Note: Hey guys! Thank you all for being so patient with me as usual. I had planned to post this chapter earlier, but with the help of @zestys-stuff, we made a last minute change to the chapter. This will definitely cause some changes in the next chapter, so I’m going to work on that right away. I won’t lie, I’m really nervous to publish this one. It's been a while and I’ve ventured into some new territory where I’ve introduced a couple of new themes and -drumroll- a new character. There are parts of this chapter that can possibly cause discomfort (technically, all of this could), so I urge you guys to proceed with caution and click off if you do feel uncomfortable in any way. Aside from that, it’s good to be back (again, lol) and I hope you enjoy!

Synopsis: A timeline of your pregnancy with Ralak’s child, shown through a series of flashbacks of your most prominent milestones—some of which foreshadow something bigger to come…

<- Previous -> Next

Pregnancy is tough. 

A beautiful blessing, but tough nonetheless. With its own set of hardships, uniquely tailored to your own being. If it’s not one thing, it’s another. A sore back, chest, ankles…the list is seemingly endless. The shift in moods, the fatigue. Adjusting to an entire new being growing inside you—one that sucks the nutrients straight from your bones and blood—has your body overcompensating.  

At first it was a dream. 

No life-changing symptoms. It was smooth sailing for the first few weeks. Life went on as usual. If anything, others were more reactive to your pregnancy than you were. Your skimwing became aggressive towards Ralak, snapping at him and whipping her tail, treating him as a threat rather than a companion. He was more than understanding, as it’s common for the protective instinct to kick in when the tsurak senses their rider is with child.  

More importantly, it was an urge that Ralak shared with the beast.

—

You watch as your tendrils intertwine with your skimwing, and how they come together with a rough tug. You let out a rugged breath and the beast beneath you starts to writhe. Ralak instinctively grasps at the harness to steady you and— 

Slash. 

Your trsuak whips her spiked tail at your mate, who blocks it with his strake.

“Shit.” You gasp, tugging at the leather strap and patting her neck to subdue her. “I thought I was in control. Are you alright?”

Ralak nods, his hair now soaked and plastered to his chest. He simply chuckles, respectfully and cautiously approaching the beast with an open hand. Despite this, your tsurak continues to thrash, repeatedly snapping her snout open and shut. Ralak clicks melodically a few times, and her pupils blow and constrict as she calms down. He strokes her snout with one hand, and lays his other on your thigh, gripping it lightly.

“She senses that you are with child.” 

“She does?”

“Yes. That is why she protects you. I understand the feeling.” His accent is thick on his tongue. 

——

Then the nausea came. It was… unbearable. Insufferable. It was almost frightful, actually. Not being able to stomach anything really brought down a sense of dread upon your shoulders. Most days, you found yourself worried about the budding life inside you more than yourself. 

Was he getting enough? Would he develop properly if you went another day without eating? 

Ralak was more worried about you, of course. Going to great lengths to find something you could stomach. Spoon feeding you as you laid down all day from the gut churning nausea. Washing the sick out of your hair when you missed the bucket at your bedside. Detangling and braiding it for you to keep it clean and out of your face. Releasing his pheromones—your only relief—just to put you to sleep at night. 

—

t.w. nausea, vomiting.

In the crisp night, a wave of nausea washes over you, waking you from your sleep. Typically, this is the only time you have a break from the nausea—your slumber. That, and the first ten minutes after throwing up.

You quickly hurl over, grabbing and heaving into your bedside bucket, something that's rightfully earned its spot at your side. Ralak jolts awake, sitting up behind you to gather your hair into his fist, rubbing your back as you retch. 

“Alrigght.” He hums lengthily. “Get it up.”

Finally, you stop. You gasp and pant for air, sitting up only to collapse back into him. “I h-hate this–haah.”

“I do, too.” He grits, reaching over you for the rag at your bedside, and wiping your mouth.

He hates seeing you so sick. He’s tried it all, and though he’s found a few foods that you can stomach, nothing seems stops the nausea. Well, that’s not entirely true.

Ralak relaxes his body, focusing on opening his scent glands to release his his pheromones. They slowly become stronger, calming you down and dulling the waves of nausea. He pulls you close to his warm body, reaching behind him for his kuru. 

“Tsaheylu.” He whispers yearningly, making the bond slowly. He sets a steady breathing pattern, slipping his hand over your tiny bump to caress it. The sickening feeling eases up enough for you to drift back to sleep, Ralak along with you.

——

Thankfully, Eywa lifted you of your säspxin [sickness] when you were about to come upon your third month of pregnancy. Cravings increased ten-fold almost instantly. On the occasion where you couldn’t keep it down—when the desperation was too much—you’d volunteer Ralak to eat it for you so that you could satisfy the craving vicariously through him.

—

“Eywa, that’s so good. One more bite.”

“Tanhí. Enough now.” He grumbles, feeling overly stuffed and almost queasy. 

You glance down at the purple hue of your connected kurus.

“Please...” Your eyes burn as they threaten to well with tears, and your bottom lip quivers, “…last one, promise.”

Ralak sighs, shoveling in another bite of boiled squid, chewing it slowly so you can savor the taste. You keep your eyes closed as he eats, tongue swirling in your mouth to swish your pooling saliva in your cheeks. And when he swallows, you swallow too, gulping down your spit. 

“Thank you.” You say shyly as you open your eyes, feeling bad for making him overeat now that you can really feel his fullness. 

It is my pleasure. Never feel bad. His accented voice tickles your brain. A smile spreads across your face, just as one does on his. 

——

And when you could keep it down, they were delightful when satiated. Keyword being satiated. It posed an issue when they were what Ralak called, ‘forest food’, or on a more rare occasion—‘sky people food’. Those were the insatiable ones. The ones he couldn’t just whip up for you. The times he'd come to you with his ears laid flat to his skull, admitting his defeat. Those were the moments where you felt something stronger than just disappointment. 

It left you gutted. 

—

You can’t stop the tears from flowing down your cheeks. They’re hot and leave a sticky film on your skin, clumping your eyelashes together. It’s stupid. They’re stupid. Stupid tears, from a stupid cause. All because you want your grandmother’s stupid soup. Another thing the blessing of pregnancy has bestowed on you—big, intense feelings. 

As you soak in your bath, Ralak cooks dinner and you just know that whatever is in the pot is something that will make your stomach churn. You bury your face in the palms of your hands, trying to keep your snotty sobs to a minimum. It’s ridiculous, sobbing over something like this. It’s shameful, even. How can you be so ungrateful when this man goes to such lengths to care for you?

“Tanhì!” You hear his rough voice echo from the pod. 

You quickly wipe your face clean, and scramble for your loincloth and top, slipping them back onto your body. Finally, you fix your hair and force a smile to your face. As you get up to the marui, you’re met with the sight of Ralak stirring the soup pot over the firepit. Then the smell hits you. Typically the first thing to set off your nausea to begin with. It smells like—

Grandmother’s soup.

You stare at your mate wide eyed, taking a deep breath to savour it in your lungs. Outside of Ralak’s scent, nothing has smelled this good in months. And you swear you can already taste it on your tongue, the savoury flavour with the sweet aftertaste. 

“I asked your mother. Hope that is okay.” Ralak speaks casually as he serves you a bowl.

As you let out a harsh breath, your eyes burn as the tears come back with a vengeance. You sniffle once, twice—thrice, whimpering quietly as they roll down your cheeks. Ralak looks up at you, concern and honestly a smidge of confusion fixed to his face. Putting the bowl down, he stands and comes over to you, enveloping you in his arms. 

“I do not like to see you cry.” He hums, kissing the crown of your head. “Is it the smell? I will make you something different.” 

“N-No, no. It’s… it smells great. I’m sorry. I—I” You sputter, burying your face into his chest. 

“Then what is it, tìyawn [love]? What do you need?” Ralak cups your face and gently tilts your head upwards so he can look you in the eyes. “Tell me and it is yours.” 

“Thank you.” You croak, feeling your bottom lip curl over and kiss your chin. Now his facial expression is just pure confusion. He tuts in a comforting manner, pulling you back in close to his chest as he waits for you to settle, rocking side to side. 

“Alright, my little one. Shh–shh.”

——

Soon after, that soup pot made quite an appearance. It became your favourite dish, your favourite craving. Ralak made it just like grandmother, for the most part. There were a few omaticayan herbs missing, but outside of that it tasted like…home. At that point, you felt like you had this pregnancy thing down pat and could return to a semi-normal life. 

Everything was relatively the same, except a few obvious things—your growing bump and lack of heats. That was also a blessing, not having to go through a torturous heat every month. Though, you couldn’t say that for Ralak. 

As you neared the end of your third month of pregnancy, his pheromones grew stronger, wafting by you at random times of the day. At first you thought he was just doing it for you. Or, perhaps it was your heightened sense of smell. 

But the day came when his scent was so potent, it was as if it had stained your lips. There wasn’t a moment where you couldn’t smell the scent of your mate under your nose. That was the night you realised it was out of his control. That it was his rut coming. That was the night you confronted him at the bonfire. 

The night he looked at you like you were something to eat. 

— 

Right…there.

You catch the flicker of his eyes just before he lowers his head, shifting to that deep shade of blue. He keeps stealing a glance or two. Maybe even three, or more. It’s hard to keep count when he’s looking at you like this.

is piercing eyes, sultry and alluring, tempting you to crawl through these roaring flames just to get to him quicker. His demeanour. His stance and posture. His domineering leer. Whatever he—or his body—is doing, is working. 

He sits on the boulder, elbow perched on one thick thigh and a hand propped on the other. His hair covers his chestpiece, curled ends barely brushing against his defined ribcage. His bioluminescent freckles dance under the moonlight, his turquoise skin almost golden from the cast of the fire. It’s all so intimidating. He’s exuding dominance, practically looming over you despite him being seated. But there’s something about his aura, something darker.

“I can feel it, you know.” You speak casually, uncrossing your legs.

Ralak’s eyes snap up, boring into yours. He cocks a brow, keeping his eyes locked on you as you stand and walk towards him.

“Your rut. It’s close, isn’t it?”

This would be your first, real rut with him. Without the influence of your own heat. Ralak huffs a sigh, his eyes falling to the small bump that’s in his direct line of sight. Ralak watches as it seemingly grows bigger the closer you get. 

“You are showing.” His hands gently rest on your lower abdomen. Holding his shoulders, you slowly straddle him. 

“Answer me.” You whisper as you cup his face, tilting it upwards to make him look at you. “I want to be with you… and before you say it—” Ralak grits his teeth as he turns his head away, out of your hands.

“No.” 

“Ralak. I am your mate.” You retaliate through tight lips. You knew this would pose an issue. 

“Y/n.” He growls, turning his head to look you in the eyes. “You know my rut. Must I remind you that you are with child? It is final.” 

“I do know, and that’s why I won’t let you go through that alone, ever again.” Though your voice is stern, he can hear the tenderness in it. That this comes from a place of concern and love.

“I will not be in control.” Ralak admits as he shakes his head firmly, flicking his gaze back down to your belly. 

“Look…I made a plan.” You basically confess that you’ve been conjuring up ideas on how to endure this together all day. Although his eyes and hands remain fixed on your tummy, Ralaks ears perk up. He’s listening. 

“How do you feel about…being tied up?” 

Now you’ve got his attention, eyes snapping up to meet yours. The idea of being tied up isn’t entirely foreign to him. It’s something that his people use as a punishment for those who do wrong. He’s not opposed to it. Having a rut so intense is probably something to be punished for, anyways. 

“Hands behind your back…bound to the marui stilt. I will be the one in control. I will take care of you.”

You take his hands from your stomach and tuck them behind his back, your face now millimeters from his. Ralak fights the urge to kiss you. To free his hands from his back to grab your hips and shove your further down onto his growing bulge.

“...feed you…water you…bathe you.” Your voice falters as you swallow your spit. “...fuck you.” 

“...that so?” He whispers against your lips, heart thudding wildly behind his ribcage. 

You look in his eyes, and see that they tremble with constraint. He can’t hide it, the look on his face gives it away. He’s really struggling to think straight. To keep his answer as a firm no. And it doesn’t help that he’s on the cusp of his rut. He yearns to accept. Every fibre of his being wants this–wants you. You see it in his eyes, as they flicker like the flame behind you.

He just needs a little push. 

“We’ll take it slow…gently.” You roll your hips into him and feel his cock straining against his tewng. You lean in close, lips brushing against his as you speak into his mouth. “And, if anything happens… we’ll stop. No knotting.” 

His ears twitch. He’s considering it. Really, actually considering this. But how could he? How could he expect this of you in your state? He squeezes his eyes shut, frustrated and conflicted. And aroused. So fucking aroused that when he feels your lips drag against his cheek, your tongue tasting the lobe of his ear…your breathy whisper, “Pänutìng [Promise].”, he lets out a heated, shaky breath of defeat. Of surrender. 

That seals the deal.

—

Not now. Not yet. Ralak thinks to himself, fighting his urges.

The urge to mate—to pin you down and drive himself inside you. He must remain in control. For you. For your unborn. He sits on the floor, slumped against the stilt of the marui, bowed shoulders and a heavy, hung head. His skin, flushed, and eyes swollen—glowing a vibrant mauve. His hair haphazardly sticks to his sweltering skin as his hands lethargically twiddle with the braided twine behind his back. 

Groggy, you strain to open your eyes and quickly scan your surroundings. Ralaks pheromones cloud the room, engulfing you with their overpowering scent. As you sit up, the bed creaks and Ralak lifts his head, allowing it to flump limply back into the stilt. Extra lidded eyes and tensed brows, he breathes through his mouth. He wills himself to speak, but he’s heavy and sluggish as if he were three bottles deep.

“Ralak.” Your voice is wary and full of concern. Your eyes continue to trail down his body, landing on the undeniable, taut bulge in his loincloth. His cock strains against the fabric, precum completely soaking it through. “How long have you been like this?” 

“Few hours.” He croaks out a dry throat. 

“And you didn’t wake me?” You hastily make your way behind him, slipping to your knees to take the twine from him. 

Fuck. There it is. Your scent...driving him over the edge. Wafting past his nose and making him woozy in the head. 

“Tie me.” He demands. For a moment, you’re frozen in place by his tone, unable to move your hands and fingers. “Quickly.” 

The edginess in his voice startles you, causing you to fumble with the twine. You take a breath and begin tying the knot as he taught you, weaving the twine with itself, tugging at the ends to close it.

“Tighter.” He snaps at you, making your ears lay flat. You pull the ends even tauter, witnessing the twine pinch the thin skin on his wrists. 

“Shit—sorry. Didthat hurt?” You go to loosen the knot, but he pulls at the restraints, making it even tighter.  

“Leave it.” He grumbles, tugging yet again, ensuring it’s unyielding.

Because the closer you get, the harder he finds it to resist. He needs to know that he can’t get out—that he can’t hurt you—before he loses it completely. And with that delicious scent seeping from your neck, he feels himself slipping under. 

“Are you sure? I can tie you after you drink some water and have a—” 

“No...haah—now.” He growls, dropping his head causing the rest of his hair to flow forward and cover his face. “…need you now.” 

Blood rushes to your cheeks, heating them up and flushing them over. You can even feel your heart pumping it harder–faster. It’s hot in here, but even hotter now that you feel yourself heating up too. It’s his rut, influencing you like some sort of drug. You can barely control your breathing, much less think straight. But you told him that you’d be the one in control, the one to care for him. 

“Mawey, ma’ muntxatan [Calm, my husband].” You whisper close to his ear, giving the knot a final tug. “What kind of mate would I be if I did not care for you first? Hm?”  

You shuffle to your feet, and walk away, newly widened hips swaying side to side with temptation. He’s taking in the show through the cracks of space between his clumped together strands of hair, unable to look away no matter how hard he tries. Knowing this, you bend over, lifting your tail to expose your clothed mound to him. You swear you can hear a hiss seep from his lips, and that brings a smile to yours. 

Teasing him is one of your favourite things to do. 

You scoop up some water into the cup, and bring it over to him. Using two fingers to his chin, you tilt his head back, revealing the famine in his inebriated eyes. They’re glossy with need and desperation, begging you to take his ache away. 

“Alright, alright.” You coo softly, sinking back to your knees. “I’m going to make it go away. Now, drink for me.” You bring the cup to his lips, tilting it carefully as he gulps it down thirstily. A few drops dribble down his chin and onto his already glistening chest, rolling down his unflexed stomach. 

Tossing the empty cup to the side, you bend forward and lick the beads of water up his stomach, to his throat, to his lips. His arms jerk reflexively, wanting to cup your face as your lips lock with his.

Throwing a leg over his lap, you straddle him, pressing against the bulge in his sticky tewng. You cup his face instead, deepening the kiss to have a taste of the potent desperation on his tongue.

When you pull away, your noses brush against one another and you feel woozy in the head. His rut is beginning to affect you now. Which isn’t all a bad thing if you want to be able to keep up with him for the next couple days.  

Your hand smoothes over his jawbone to the nape of his neck, where you gently grip the base of his kuru. His ears immediately lay flat to his head, reddening at just the tips. Running your hand along its length, you bring the end of his kuru in front of him. 

“Going to make the bond.” You warn him breathily, bringing forth your queue as well. 

At this point, Ralak is huffing for air and sweating profusely. It looks as if he’s nearing his peak already. This only reaffirms that you’re making the right decision by making tsaheylu—you need the direct influence of his tìsom [heat]. 

When the tendrils intertwine, you come together with a sharp tug and gasp. Instantaneously, you sink into a hazy state, heating up from within. Your breath syncs with his, and suddenly you’re panting too. 

“Ralak.” You moan softly, grinding into him for a bit of friction.

You can’t stop your hips from snapping, and your loincloth is almost completely soaked. He throws his head back into the wooden stilt, looking at you through lidded eyes as he lets loose subtle groans. He looks more than hungry. He looks starved. 

With trembling hands, you search for the knot of his loincloth at the base of his tail. After a bit of scuffling, you untether it and shimmy his tewng down his hips and off of him. Up springs his aching cock, veiny and swollen. It’s so obviously neglected, glossy and sticky with his slick, so uncomfortably hard that it’s already pulsing as it stands firmly pressed against your clothed cunt. 

“Fuck. It’s… even bigger.” You’re taken aback, unsure of how exactly you managed to take this inside you last time he was in rut. Then you notice the red tinge of colour on his cockhead, especially where his ridges stand erect. “D-Does that hurt, karyu?” Bump in the way, you shift your hips back to reveal what exactly you’re talking about. “Need your numeyu to take away the pain?” 

The giant remains silent, but his cock jumps in response, oozing out another large bead of precum. Using your pointer finger, you trace the length of his cock, swollen balls to his pointed tip, collecting that fresh bead of slick on the pad of your digit. He watches intently as you pop your finger into your mouth and suckle, swallowing his semi-sweet essence. His brows knit tightly together. 

You know this is nothing short of torture to him. And though you have every intention to take the ache away… when would you get another opportunity like this? Where this giant is tied down and unable to resist the pleasure you bring him. Where you’re completely… in control. Fuck, you’ve never felt like this before. It's exhilarating. It’s a feeling of power. Of dominance.

A smirk pulls at your lips.   

You begin to pull yourself to your knees, brushing your swollen breasts against his lips. His tongue darts out, eager for a taste. Looking down, you cup one breast with your hand, and guide your stiff nipple into his mouth. His lips pucker over it, closing once they make contact for a vacuum seal.

Your breath hitches when you feel his tongue tickle the sensitive tip of your nipple. His teeth graze against them as he tries to do this handsfree, and you let out a low hiss. Soon his movements grow erratic, being bound to the marui stilt is starting to frustrate him. 

“Ah-ah. What do you need, karyu? Just tell me.” Your voice is feigned with innocence. He breathes heavy against your chest, keeping quiet as his focus is purely on getting his fill. “You won’t get anything from them.” You tsk, tugging away little by little, until eventually you pop off his mouth. 

You continue to rise to your feet, dragging his lips along your swelling tummy, until he’s eye level to the band of your tewng. You can feel his eyes pierce into you, his stare is anything but discreet. It’s intimidating. Your hand flies to the back of your loincloth, fiddling with the knot to untie it. 

“Is it this?”

The cloth drops to your ankles, exposing your flushed cunt to him. It’s pink and hot to the touch, undeniably aroused. Your scent grows stronger with each passing second, filling his lungs. It’s driving him insane—being able to see and smell, but not touch. His rut is only making him more irritable. He just needs to fuck into something and spill himself inside. 

His eyes glisten over an even brighter shade of purple, locking onto their meal. He wets his bottom lip with a quick swipe of his tongue as you take a step closer. You cup his jawbone, tilting it upwards to look down at him. The sight is… intoxicating. His lidded eyes, blown pupils that are threatening to roll to the back of his head. Tensed brow bones and damped, slightly parted lips—not a drop of composure left in his features. 

That new feeling rushes through you again, making you take two more steps forward. Your bare cunt brushes against the tip of his nose, officially branding it with your scent. He leans into you, closing his eyes and straining his neck to indulge himself. 

Your thumb smoothes over his jaw before your hand slips to the back of his head. You fist his hair and yank his head back, sending his eyes flying open. With your free hand, you spread your pussy lips, exposing your swollen clit. It’s sticky and in need of attention, throbbing occasionally as you tug your hood back. 

“Now, suck.” You demand breathily, slowly guiding him by the head to bring his lips to your clit.

You clench around nothing when you feel his heated, slippery lips pucker over the stiffened nub, sucking gently. Sharp eyes bore into yours before they roll back, leaving nothing but the whites exposed. Lids finally fluttering closed, he sucks a little harder, tips of his canines accidentally nipping your supple skin.  

“Ss—fuck.” You hiss, hips snapping back with force, popping off his mouth with a sharp sting. Frantic fingers rub away the tingling sensation as you grit your teeth. You shuffle your feet to ground yourself as you tighten your grip on his hair and hold his head still. 

“I know you’re in rut, but be good to your muntxate [wife].” You warn through your teeth before shoving his face back into your cunt.

This time he feasts with greed, groaning like a starved man. Eating, like a starved man. He’s slurping and sucking, lapping up your slick as it coats his tongue and lips, enjoying every second of your reign.

“Oh—oh shit. Fuck. Right there—” You moan breathlessly, free hand flying to his head to fist his hair, using it as leverage to keep him just where he is.

Before you know it your hips are moving on their own, humping at his face as you hold him tightly with both hands. With each thrust you shove him further back into the stilt, until the back of your hand is repeatedly hitting its surface. 

Until you’re hunched over him, looking him deep in the eyes as you grind into whatever part of him your clit is rubbing against. He expertly holds his breath as he allows you full control to fuck his face as if you were the one in heat.

Because with each roll of your hips he feels it too.

He feels the jolt of pleasure that shoots through you when his tongue hits your clit in that special spot. When the tips of his canines graze your swollen folds. The feeling is all consuming and he’s whining into your cunt from the over—and under—stimulation. His cock shifts to a shade of purple, jumping each time you thrust into his mouth. 

‘Sorry, Ralak. ‘m sorry.’ You think to him through tsaheylu, feeling the burn in your own lungs now. 

“Haa—ah, fuck. Thrust. Fuck. Thrust. F-Fuck! I’m gonna cum—in your—ngh!” Your voice quavers as you come suddenly undone in his mouth, holding him firm and still as you rock your body into him. 

His eyes slam shut and his brows knit tightly together as he grunts repeatedly into your cunt. He tugs harshly at his restraints and his heels dig into the woven floor. Yet still, you hold onto him even tighter until your pussy stops fluttering. 

With a loud, shaky gasp, you yank him away, letting go of his hair to grab the marui stilt to stop your trembling legs from giving out beneath you. Ralak wheezes loudly, shoulders heaving harshly as he frantically pants for air. His face is bright pink, flushed and glazed in a layer of sweat. He opens his eyes but they’re so heavy that you can barely see the colour in them. 

“Rutxe [please].” Ralak begs through a desperate groan, flicking his stare downwards. And when you look, you’re met with the sight of his still-throbbing cock, covered in his sticky, thick cum. Shiney beads still ooze out and dribble down his length and onto his swollen, firm balls. 

His first word was a plea of help. 

Your heart aches in your chest. How could you let yourself go so far with your little bit of power? To be so selfish. And here he was, in so much discomfort and yet you put your needs first. Leaving him so neglected to the point his body makes the release for him. Is this how he felt after he unleashed six pent up years on you in a couple days? 

Pent up years of suffering. 

“Shh. You’re okay, my love. You’re okay.” You whisper as you slowly squat down. “I got you. I’m going to make it…” you hold eye contact with him as you lower yourself onto his cock, aligning his tip with your sopping entrance, “…all better now.” 

You wince when his cock slowly penetrates you, mewling a little higher with every inch you manage to take. The stretch is almost unbearable. This is the first rut you’ve spent with him without being in heat. 

No foggy haze to dull the ache. 

No emptiness to be filled. 

And it doesn’t help that your womb is already so full. 

Your mewl quickly turns into a whimper when your bodies become flush to one another. Ralaks head slumps back into the marui stilt and he heaves a loud, lengthy moan of relief from being buried deep inside your warm cunt. You feel so good around him, making his cock heat up and twitch inside of you. 

Snaking your arms around his neck, you hold onto him as you frantically try to adjust to his size. It’s dawning on you exactly what you’ve gotten yourself into, and that you’ve seriously underestimated his rut. A sense of uncertainty begins to tighten your stomach but it quickly dissipates when you hear Ralak’s second plea. 

“Rutxe, ma’ tanhì..” Ralak mutters with a pained, gravelly voice. 

Without another word, you move your hips up and down, dragging his length along your gummy, slick walls. Your movements are sloppy and uncoordinated, you’re not used to doing most of the work much less all of it. With his hands tied behind his back, you can already feel the burn in your thighs and the throb in the tips of your toes. 

Regardless, you keep moving your hips. 

Bouncing up and down on his cock, pressing your forehead into his in a poor attempt to steady your position. That little sting slowly morphs into something of pleasure the more your hips meet his with a slap. And soon all you can hear is smack, after smack, after smack. The noises that split his lips tell you all you need to know. He’s feeling good and that’s all that matters. 

But exhaustion hits you quickly—unexpectedly. His cock is buried to the hilt inside you, and the more tired your legs get, the deeper it drills inside you, pressing harshly into your cervix. Your legs are trembling uncontrollably and you can barely catch your breath, leaving you no choice but to lazily rock back and forth on his cock. 

Ralak lets out a grunt and bucks his hips. 

“Haah!” You yelp.

Ralaks ears lay flat, lips pursed tightly into a thin line. He can’t hold back his frustration any longer. He’s growing impatient. If he didn’t get his real release soon he may really lose it. He’s grunting through his nose and tugging at his restraints, bruising his wrists. You feel him shift his hips up and shove his cock as far as he can inside you. 

“Ngh! I-It won’t go any deeper!” Your voice strains as you try to lift yourself up. But he just keeps pushing until his feet are grounded. And then his hips drop, pulling his cock half way out of you. 

Thrust.

Ralak slams his cock back inside you, drilling deeper than he was before. Your mouth falls open as all the air is forcefully expelled from your lungs. As you suck in a gasp of air he thrusts inside you again. And again. And again. Until he’s rutting into you in a feverish frenzy, chasing his climax as if it were prey. His thrusts turn relentless, leaving you breathless with each buck of his hips. 

“Fuck—fuck—fu—” Your voice bounces with his thrusts. 

You look down, met with eyes that are empty yet heavy with appetite. He’s in the thick of it and he’s no longer all there. He’s purely instinct now and the only thing holding him back from pinning you down and having his way with you is the twine wrapped around his wrists. 

You can’t lie and say that you aren’t enjoying the look on his face and the break from the burn in your thighs. Stars sprinkle your vision as you’re overwhelmed with the immense pleasure he’s slamming into you. He’s fucking you into submission and you’re mind is borderline blank. His groans are primal and guttural, and they grow louder with each hysteric thrust. 

“Want to knot.” He huffs suddenly—desperately. You can feel his thick knot poke and prod at your entrance, his thrusts now sloppy and erratic. 

“Fuck, I—” You know you shouldn’t, no matter how hazy his rut is making you feel. “W-We can’t. I’m still ea—rly.” But he’s too busy watching himself fuck you in a daze, drenched with sweat. “Ralak…” You grab his face, tilting his chin upwards so he looks you in the face. His gaze is hollow yet his features are tense. “…are y–ou hear–ing me, la–k?”

“Need to breed.” He growls as he fights against his restraints. He doesn’t ease up on his tussle with the twine, sweating and panting as he desperately tries to force his knot inside you. 

“Shit.” You mutter, coming to the quick realisation that he can’t stop himself. “Wait, wait, wait—” 

Your hands fall from his face to his stomach, pushing down in a panicky attempt to lift yourself off him. But his rut is making you sluggish and weak, so you make the quick decision to sever the bond with a rough yank. 

Snap. 

“Oh, fuck.” You curse under your breath. 

The twine breaks, and his arms fly forward, hands making impact with your hips, fingernails digging into the thin skin. His grip is unyielding as he holds you down firmly on his cock. You feel him throb inside you as he attempts to plug you full with his knot. 

“Lak! Ralak, h-hold on!” As much as you actually want to, you can barely take what’s inside you as it is.

“Submit.” He rasps, top lip curled tight to his teeth, baring his canines. 

“I—I’m pregnant.” You whisper quickly, voice hoarse and strained. 

Immediately, his movements cease and his eyes flick down to your tiny bump, then widen when he finally realises. In one swift, sudden move, he lifts you off him and uses your swollen pussy lips to hug his cock and finish himself off. He rocks you back and forth like a rag doll at the mercy of undying grip, growling and grunting. 

His head drops forward when he outright howls. You look down and witness his mushroomy head pulsating feverishly, spurting out his load in thick ropes, all over his stomach and chest. All whilst his engorged, throbbing knot pulses against your slit as he cums, earning some well deserved comfort and warmth.

Ralak sputters as he tries to catch his breath, hands still glued to your hips. The fog still clouds his mind but it’s less blinding now. He’s just about capable of acknowledging what just happened. To acknowledge that this was risky, and could’ve ended badly. That, if you hadn’t said something to him, he would have knotted you without mercy.

An uncomfortable silence passes between you, where you’re both breathing heavily and staring at one another. You both share the same thought—the same realisation. His rut is too aggressive for you to handle right now. 

“I must go.” Ralak looks away as he breaks the silence, wanting to take advantage of his release before the pressure builds yet again. He’s clear headed enough to leave without turning back and pouncing on you. 

“No, don’t… we can try again.” You say softly, hand cupping his jawbone, turning him to face you. You feel terrible that he may have to spend this rut alone, that you couldn’t fulfil your promise—your duty as his mate. 

“I almost knotted you, y/n.” His eyes gloss over with guilt, his hands finally peeling away your bruised hips. 

“But… you didn’t. You stopped yourself—” 

“And if I do not leave now… I will.” Ralak growls inches away from your face.

You’re a little taken aback by his bluntness, but you know it’s the truth. And it’s final. No matter what you say. No matter how it makes the flesh between your legs throb a little more. You nod, keeping yourself quiet. 

“I will see you in a couple days. I love you both.” Your lips meet briefly before he carries you to bed and readies himself to leave. You watch in silence, murmuring an “I love you, too” under your breath when he exits the marui.  

—

As time passed you grew more angsty, unable to keep in one spot or focus on a single task. All that ran on your mind was Ralak and how he was probably suffering all alone. All because you failed to do your duty as his mate. The guilt was almost sickening, having you dry heaving into your bedside bucket a few times for the rest of the day. 

Until later that night. 

You rub in the thick, oily concoction on your belly, getting ready for bed. The sound of the marui door flapping open startles you, making you jump in your skin and clutch your stomach. You’re not expecting Ralaks return so soon. 

A silhouette stands tall at the door, his bioluminescent star pattern unmistakable. 

“Ralak? Oh, Ralak. Eywa. You’re back. I should have made dinner. I thought you'd be gone for a while longer. You must be so hungry. You—” You speak urgently, eyes flicking down to his tewng, which is seemingly damp, “—was it too much? …are you alright? Let me help you, lak.”

“Tanhì.” Ralaks cuts you short, voice trembling slightly, yet full of relief. “It is done.” 

“…what?” The question is breathy. 

“My rut.” Ralak says as he makes his way towards you, scooping up a glob of your special concoction. He sits next to you, and begins massaging it into your back. “You have fixed me.” 

You come to the realization that he's talking about his rut finishing earlier than usual—like that of an average na'vi.

“You were never broken, my love.” You moan softly, closing your eyes to enjoy the massage.

Ralak then rests his chin on your shoulder, smoothing his hands down your back and around your abdomen—rubbing what's left on his hands onto your swelling belly. His touch prickles your skin, sending the tip of your tail swishing. 

“I live for you.” He mutters with a thick accent, nuzzling his face into your neck. “I will die for you.”

Your heart skips a beat when you hear his words, he must have really been suffering for the past six years. You feel your face heat up, and you try to fight the smile balling your cheeks. You opt to drop your head and hide your face instead, resting a hand on his thigh. 

“Well. We won’t have you doing that.” You giggle, rubbing his upper thigh as you turn your head to glance at him. “…the last part, that is.” 

But he just looks at you, face still as stone. He speaks sternly.

“I will.” He speaks sternly.

You swallow your spit, tempted to drop your head again as you take in the gravity of his two words. You nod, searching his eyes with yours as you close the space between you. You hover open mouthed against his lips. 

“Me too.”

——

Time waits for no one. 

At least that’s how it felt. You had ballooned overnight, round and a little heavier as you embarked on your sixth month of pregnancy. His kicks grew stronger and more uncomfortable. But it was Ralaks favourite thing to feel before bed.

You found yourself spending most of your days bouncing between your marui and your family’s marui—paying your family visits more often. They grew fond of the idea that there would be an addition to the family and it became a regular thing for you to seek refuge there when Ralak was roped in for his ‘duties’. Which seemed to increase in number the further along you progressed. 

Ralak had his daily duties—tending to the ilus, a few lessons, fishing... These were just the simpler tasks that you could say you knew for certain he did. But there were his ‘fkxaranga’ [stressful] duties’, as you liked to call them.

The ones where Tonowari would summon him with nothing else but a simple nudge or glance. The duties that were spontaneous. That stole precious hours of his time. Duties that left Ralak spent and on edge, reaching for his top shelf when he came home. Those were the ones you dreaded the most. 

The ones like last night. 

——

With a huff, Ralak chucks his gear onto the floor and roughly unclips his chest piece. His pointed tools are covered in some sort of thick, iridescent muck, shifting from green to orange as they rock side to side on the floor. It’s something you’ve been seeing recently with no idea as to what it is. 

Ralak grunts, bringing your attention to his lips, which are slightly downturned. The more you take in the sight before you the more it occurs to you how exhausted this man is. His eyes are hollow, ears droopy, tail dragging heavily behind him. His muscles are seized up despite the bow of his shoulders—he looks as if he could use a massage. 

“Manga [Hey, you].” You get up to meet him at the door, taking the chest piece out of his hands to hang up on the wooden stand. “Tonowari is working your tail off. Do I need to have a word with that man?” 

He only works up a grumble as you lead him over to the bed. “That bad? What is he making you do? Hunt akulas? Eywa.”  

Ralak sits down, face sinking into his hands before two fingers slip down to pinch the bridge of his nose. You climb up and settle behind him, huffing and puffing along the way. Your hands smooth over his back, thumbs pressing firmly into his muscles, kneading the flesh until you feel him loosen up. 

Though the question sounded rhetorical, he knew it wasn’t. He knows you’re awaiting a response, the silence is loud and clear. You always want to know more about his day, fine details and all. And he’s usually reluctant to speak of it, but insisting it’s nothing for you to worry your head over. But recently, your inquisitivity is… well founded. And he knows it.

“Not quite.” He mumbles wearily into his palm, ears laid flat to his skull–although it wasn’t uncommon for him to encounter an akula or two whilst fulfilling the olo’eyktan’s orders. 

You open your mouth to question him further, but you can tell that he’s more than tired. And it didn’t help that you were constantly needing his help, especially now that you’re growing heavier.

Going down the stairs is a struggle considering you can no longer see your own feet or keep your balance. You had been waking him up almost twice a night to help you down the marui stairs just to pee. He’d always be happy to help, though. He understands that this is what comes with the changes that are happening to your body that’s giving life to his child. 

“Rest. Please.” You say softly, tugging at him to lie down in bed with you. 

To your surprise, he actually lays down, assuming his typical position before dozing off for the night—on his back with a hand on your belly. You expected him to resist a little, insisting something or another.

He really, really must be tired. Your heart fills with something heavy. Something that makes you almost feel sick. Your brows pinch as you look beside you to see his tensed face relax into something of tranquility. 

And a smile pulls at your lips when his eyes fall shut. 

Dinner’s over the firepit—his favourite stew with extra mushrooms. The sound of it bubbling becomes louder as it thickens. With a quick, final stir, you take it off the fire and cover it to let it sit. You hope that this will help lift his mood when he wakes. You look over to him as he lays stockstill with softened features, breathing tidally. 

Holding onto a supporting beam of the marui, you bring yourself to your feet and waddle your way over to him. You extend a hand to wake him for dinner but you hesitate. He needs this. And that’s when you make the decision to allow him however long it takes to rest. Even if it means that you speak to Tonowari yourself. 

Night falls and the temperature falls with it. The glowing firepit keeps the stew and marui warm for the time being as you prepare for bed. You draw the curtains and glance over to your mate, who still remains in a deep sleep, tucked cozily under the blanket you covered him with. You drape the shawl he wove you over your shoulders, and make your way to the door. 

A silent yawn splits your lips just before you lift away the flap. Your eyelids are heavy and the drowsiness is weighing on you tenfold. You have one last step of your nightly routine before you can crawl into bed next to your husband. And that's emptying the bladder that your son uses as a footrest. Plus, if you didn’t do it now, it would just be an additional trip in the middle of the night. 

As you make your way to the door, the need to go becomes urgent. Perhaps it was all the water you thirstily chugged whilst eating, or maybe it's just the fact that you're already on your way there. Either way, you can’t seem to get there quick enough. Your movements turn hasty the second you get to the top step, hands clutching on the only thing available—your bulging belly. You’re looking down despite the fact that you can’t even see your feet.

Leaning forward slightly, you try to shift your stomach to the side to see your next step. You step down and feel your bare foot make contact with the slippery wood. Your toes press into its surface to ground you as you take your next step. You wobble when you get to the last step, and sigh in relief when you feel the cold, wet sand spill between your toes. 

After wasting no time and doing what you came to do, you quickly make your way back to the marui. The tips of your ears and tails are just going numb from how cold it is and the night dew is beginning to form. You get to the bottom step, fixing your shawl so that it’s out the way. You make your way up the first, second and third step, but when you get to the fourth your shawl falls forward. 

And so do you. 

A blood curdling shriek rips from your throat when you feel your feet give out beneath you. Your hands splay out to grab onto whatever’s around you to break your fall but before you know it you're tumbling back down the stairs at a frightening rate. You keep on your side as best you can, landing into the sand with a muffled thump. 

“Fuck. Shit—oh, great mother—” You mutter as you hyperventilate, clutching your stomach as you wait for your son to kick—to show you some sign of life. Your eyes well with tears as you rub your bump vigorously. Your heart is slamming violenting against your rib cage, so hard you can hear it over the ringing in your ears. “Please, please, please.” 

…but nothing. 

“Y/n?!” You hear Ralaks worried voice boom behind you, then his hurried footsteps down the stairs. 

Maybe it’s his fathers voice, but your unborn son gives you one of the biggest kicks yet. You sob out a laugh, rubbing your stomach as relief flows through your body. You take a few deep breaths through your mouth to calm down, feeling another reassuring kick. 

“Y/n. Y/n.” Ralak chants your name, eyes rapidly darting side to side to assess you as he kneels beside you. Concern’s etched deeply into his features as he lifts your arms and legs, searching for injuries. 

“I’m alright. I’m alright.” You repeat urgently, but he continues to look, even taking off your shawl. His eyes are wide and he seems to be in some level of shock, especially after coming straight out of a deep sleep. “Ralak. Really. I’m fine. We’re okay.” 

Ralaks features soften at your two final words. His stare falls to your swollen belly, hands taking the place of yours as he waits. After a few seconds of stillness, his eyes snap up to yours—refilling with worry. He begins to shake his head, and you reassure him with a hand to his face. 

“Talk to him.” You whisper with trembling lungs. Ralak looks back down to your stomach.

“Maitan [My son].” Your mate says in a low, steady voice, ensuring not to allow even a hint of fright slip through. Just then, he feels a little nudge against the palm of his hand. Ralaks gaze snaps up to you and his expression relaxes, hands rubbing your belly gently. “How did this happen, tanhì?”

“I…needed to pee.” You say shamefully, avoiding eye contact. “…and I tripped going up the steps.” You glance up at him to see what you perceive to be a face of disappointment. “I’m sorry. I know, I’m so stupid.” 

“No. Do not say that.” He interjects, tensing his jaw. “...you are heavy with child—why did you not wake me?” 

“You were so, so tired. You needed to rest, and I did not want to disturb you.” You turn to your side to get up, wincing when a sharp pain shoots down your back. 

“Careful.” He clears his throat, stopping you from trying to get up on your own. He watches your contorted face relax, but the heart wrenching guilt just gets worse. “You should have. Wake me for anything.” He says sternly, snaking his arms underneath you to lift you up. “Everything.”

“You really don’t have to—” Ralak continues, scooping you in his arms and holding you close to his chest. “I can walk. I’m all right, Ralak.”

You try to reassure him, shuffling in his arms to get down. But he only muffles out a sigh, glancing down at you with downturned brows and droopy ears. He then walks away from the marui stairs, to the direction of the water. 

“Where are we going?” You ask quickly when you realise that you’re walking away from home. Ralak clicks for his tsurak, taking his time as he mounts it with you tucked to his chest. “Ralak.” 

“To tsahìk.” He states, making the bond with his beast.

“Ronal?” You sound almost panicked as the idea of everyone knowing you fell up the stairs clouds your mind. It’s almost mortifying to think about. “We don’t need to do that, it’s really late too, and—”

Commanding his beast to go, you both take off at full speed. It doesn’t take long to arrive at the tsahìk’s healing pod. Many healers gather at the door when they hear the sound of Ralak’s low pitched call. And they rush out to meet him as he carries you towards them in a hurried manner. They usher you in, hushed murmurs growing louder and clearer as they bring you to Ronal. 

You didn’t even notice the burning pain in your lower back until you were about half way here. 

The Tsahìk stands upon your entrance, her crystal blue eyes widening when she sees Ralak with you in his arms. You wince as he lays you down where the healers instruct him to. She strides over to a woven basket filled with an array of herbs and needle-like wooden sticks, and quickly props it on her hip—just out of the way of her own bump. She settles herself beside you, feeling your stomach as she channels Eywa. 

Ronal throws a look to Ralak, whose hands are on his hips as he waits patiently for the verdict. 

“She fell.” He says, only for Ronal to cock an eyebrow. “Stairs.” He finishes. Then both her eyebrows raise, and she reaches for a jar of a ground up, purplish herb. She pours half of it into a wooden bowl, and activates it with a few drops of water from the spirit tree. 

“Baby is strong. Very strong.” The Tsahìk announces, and both you and Ralak heave a loud sigh of relief. “But—” Ronal props your legs up on the makeshift table, spreading them slightly. Embarrassment flushes your cheeks as you look over to Ralak. “You are still at risk.”

Ralak moves closer to you, taking your hand in his to keep you calm. You both watch as Ronal rolls the fabric tightly into a small cylindrical shape. You swallow your spit when you realise exactly where that’s going. 

“This ensures he stays. It will also help with the pain.” She states, glancing at Ralak to see the glare he’s trying to hold back. She shakes her head slightly and hands you the precautionary apparatus. “Insert. Rest…and remove at sunrise.” Ronal continues, drawing back the curtain to give you some privacy. 

“Sunrise?” You whisper to yourself as you watch her step out.

Your eyes dart up to Ralak who is clearly concerned, staring down at you with worry in his eyes. Embarrassment heats up your cheeks and your nerves fray. Why are you so shy all of a sudden? He’s your mate. Your husband. 

You sit up a bit more and try to see over your stomach to get the task done with shaky hands. You fumble and struggle with the flimsy cloth, blindly doing your best. But each time you lean forward the pain in your back burns hotter.

Ralak’s supporting you with a hand on your upper back, patiently waiting for you, noticing your trembling fingers and little grunts. He uses his free hand to cup yours, stilling your hurried movements.

“Mawey [calm]. Breathe.” He hums, gently taking it from you and helping you lay down. 

You look him in the eyes as he inserts it carefully, wincing when the concoction stings a bit. Ralak gives your hand a light squeeze, speaking as if he had access to your thoughts. You nod, trying to smile through the burning sensation, but he picks up on your discomfort. 

“What is it? Is it your back?" His voice quavers with worry.

“No… just burns a little.” You say quietly. You watch his jaw flutter and his shoulders droop as he huffs out a sigh. “Not to worry. It’s going away now.” 

As he’s about to speak, the curtain is drawn to the side and Ronal comes in and stands at the arched entrance, hand on her hip. Ralak averts his attention to her, his eyes glancing down at her unborn moving in her belly. Although you were both six months pregnant, you were noticeably bigger than her. 

“A word.” Her serious tone of voice brings him out of deep thought, and her nudging head tells him that it’s something urgent. 

Ralak looks at you, not wanting to leave you alone but you smile and reassure him with a light nod. He clenches his jaw but you give him a gentle push towards Ronal. He squeezes your hand before letting go and leans in to plant a firm kiss on your forehead. You watch as he leaves, laying back and taking in the ripples in the curtain as you strain to hear their hushed conversation. 

“Ronal. Oe irayo si ngaru. [Thank you]” Ralak begins, bowing before the shorter na’vi.

“I worry for your mate.” Ronal cuts to the chase, using her hand to guide him further away from the curtain. 

“For what reason?” He asks, keeping his head hung to hear what she has to say. They walk until they’re nearly at the entrance of the healing pod. 

“Your son is fast growing.” She speaks calmly but quickly.

Ralak is a little puzzled, although he doesn’t show it. Is that such a bad thing? He continues to look down at her with the same expression, listening intently to what the tsahìk speaks of.

“Her body will struggle. Birth will be hard. Very long and painful.” Now Ralak is having a hard time keeping his emotions concealed as they chisel themselves into his features. Yet he remains silent. “You must warn her about mun’i [the cut].”

“Pxasìk [no way/fuck that]” Ralak curses through a hiss in his native tongue as he stands at full height, figuratively and literally taken aback. How dare she call that upon his mate? Ronal returns a low hiss as Ralak moves away from her, staring down at her with a mixture of emotions. 

Concern. Surprise. Fear. 

Mun’i [the cut] is rare and risky. Only three have been performed since the birth of this clan, all done in desperation when hope was gone. The last one was performed by Ronal's mother herself. It is an extremely invasive procedure where the mother is cut and the infant is removed. It’s only done in dire situations, where the mother is incapable of giving birth to their young naturally, and risks dying in the process.

Ralak can’t help but feel a burning anger amongst the sea of emotions flooding him at once. How could she suggest such a thing to him? Something so dangerous and grave? All because you will give birth to ‘a different kind’. He’s more than confident that you’re capable of this, despite the murmurs circulating the clan. 

He has always been aware of Ronal's perception of you, and her opinion about the mating. It was no secret, though she never outwardly told Ralak as he is like a son to her. She often insisted that you two were not compatible in more ways than one, and always saw you as the forest girl who needed special training. But to know that Ronal doubts your capabilities to give life ignites a flame in his chest. 

One that he must quickly put out. 

“Ralak!” 

He hears you call out for him, prompting him to quell the flame and shoot Ronal a glare of displeasure. “She is stronger than you know.” Ralak speaks through his teeth before turning his heel to tend to you. 

Heart pounding, he makes his way through the curtain to be met with the joyous sight of you cradling your stomach with a smile plastered to your face. That only further calms the flicker of the flame in his chest, making a smile tug at his lips. He sees you glance up at him, pearly teeth glistening in the luminosity of the night. 

“Sorry if I startled you, it’s just—he’s kicking so hard. Come, come feel!” You blubber excitedly, reaching out for his hand to place it on your belly. He slowly takes a knee, staying still as stone to soak up each movement. “He is so strong, Ralak. Like you.” You whisper, looking down at your mate doting on your bump. 

Though he should be proud of your words, he can’t help but feel a little nervous by them. If this child is really like him, then what Ronal said may have some truth to it. Yet he smiles, smoothing his thumb over your protruding belly button. 

“He is strong like his sa’nu [mummy].” He says softly, perhaps in attempts to reassure himself and calm his own nerves. Your smile only grows and you place your hand on top of his. 

“What did Ronal say?” Ralaks eyes snap up to yours, wide and almost panicked, wiping the smile off your face instantly. “Oh, no. Is it bad? Is something wrong?” 

“No, no. She says…” He drops his head, watching his unborn move as he contemplates telling you. You need rest, and this would further stress your mind and body. Ralak urges himself to smile—to create a new mask—one of feigned happiness. “…you must rest. Wait until sunrise.” 

“Oh, okay.” You exhale a sigh of relief, “Good. I—I can do that.” 

—— 

After such an eventful night, sleep found you easily. Ralak carried you up the marui stairs, tucked you into bed and watched as your eyes fluttered shut. And even so, he remained at your side for some time, ensuring you were deep in sleep before embarking on his new task. 

It began with a ‘quick’ trip inland for the right kind of wood. The kind that holds up well against the elements and the saltiness of the water. The kind that doesn’t have a slip to it when it's been wet for more than a few hours. It took a few trips to get it all back to the beach but it was more of an irritable task than a difficult one.

Ralak tried to keep as quiet as possible, spending the rest of the night—until sunrise—cutting and carving the wood, binding them together with twine, sap and wooden pins. And by the time the first few rays of sunlight beamed in, he was engraving his finishing touches. 

—

Ralak chucks down the tool and it lands into the sand with a muffled thud. Using the back of his strake to wipe his forehead clean of sweat, he looks up at his work for a final time—railings for the marui stairs. Then the bright ray of sun shines before his eyes, standing between his two new creations. 

You.

You’re surprised to see him out this early, still in his gear from last night. The realisation dawns on you that he’s been up all night, doing this. You can actually feel your chest warm up as your heart pumps the blood through your veins at an insane rate. It rushes to your cheeks, making them hot and flushed. 

“Is this what you’ve been doing all night?” You ask the question under your breath, dragging a hand along the railing. It’s smooth under the pads of your fingers, and warm to the touch, as if they’ve just been filed down. You notice a small carving on the side of the railing—your son’s initial.

R. 

“Mm.” He grunts, not that he could have slept anyways. He glances at the initial that you’re staring at. “I should have done it long ago.” The shame in his voice is loud and clear. You look down at your feet, unsure of what to say, noticing that he’s redone the steps too. 

“Ralak—”

“You must still wake me. Understand?” He cuts you off, already knowing what you’re about to say. 

You take a step down, holding tightly onto the railing with one hand and the other tucked under your bump. He rushes up the stairs and supports you by the arm. You lean into him for a hug, nuzzling your face into his chest. “… thank you, my love.” 

“Kea tìkin [no need (for thanks)].” He presses his lips onto the crown of your head, words muffled by your hair. His hand slips down your arm and rests on your lower back. “Still feeling pain?” 

“No. I feel good. Like new.” You smile, watching his features soften and his lips pull into a subtle smile. “Your son, too. He kicked me all night.” 

“Is that so, young one?” He leans down to speak to your belly as you watch intently, “you must be gentle with your sa’nu [mummy].” 

As he looks back up to you, your eyes follow his every move. And suddenly it’s just the two of you, before the orange glow of the sunrise, sharing this intimate gaze with one another. 

“Ralak… I see you.” You say softly, witnessing his pupils blow until there’s nothing but thin rings of blue.

He swallows, you see the lump in his throat undulate, and the balls of his cheeks stain a light pink. He blinks a few times, leaning in until his lips brush against yours. He lingers there for a bit, jaw fluttering as he grits his teeth a few times. He can’t help but feel a pang in his chest. 

How could he keep this from you?

“Oel ngat kame, ma’ muntxate.” He husks the words before locking his lips with yours.

But as he pulls away, you see the glint in his eye. When he sees your lowered brows and inquisitive eyes, he attempts to fix his mask of indifference—no, happiness. But you see right through it—

The glint of guilt. 

“What is it?” You ask, reaching behind him for his kuru. It’s your way of saying, 'no secrets'. He’s quiet. Uncomfortably quiet. Unsure of how to say what he should say. You urge him with a light tug to his queue, creating a little more distance between you to look him dead in the eye. “Ralak.”

“Ronal doubts…you.” He says plainly, trying hard to rid himself of the thought of childbirth taking you away from him.

“I don’t understand. What—what does that mean?” You ask, confused and worried. 

“I should have told you about it when you asked.” Ralak says, shaking his head. “But…you were already under so much stress. In pain. Our son—” 

“Ralak. Tell me about what?” You whisper quietly—quickly. Ralak looks at you, allowing a few seconds of silence to pass before he speaks. 

“Mun’i [the cut].” Ralak’s voice cracks with pain as the dreaded thought floods his mind. 

Ralak goes on to explain mun'i, giving you a brief lesson on its history and typical…outcome. He explains why Ronal urged him to warn you about it. And exactly what he told her in return. That he is confident that you are more capable of doing this. 

It ends with a comforting embrace and the both of you coming to the conclusion that a conservation with Jake is needed. If the cut were to happen, the sky people’s medical advancements would be…useful. 

——

Since then, Ralak adapted a very strict agenda when it came to the preparation of the birth. In some ways, it reminded you of the beginning of your relationship with him as teacher and student. Karyu and Numeyu. A revision of previous lessons, such as breathing lessons. 

—

“Deeper breaths, tanhì. Slow.” Ralak instructs you with his hand on your round belly. 

“It’s hard…” your voice is strained, “when his feet are in my lungs.” 

Ralak chuckles, nodding in understanding. “Right. Do your best.” 

You attempt to follow his demonstration a fifth time, inhaling deeply through your nose, holding it, and then slowly letting it out through your mouth. “Light headed now.”

“You did well.” Ralak praises you, snaking an arm around you as he lowers you onto your back. “You all right?” 

“Just fine.” You mutter, grateful for the new position. 

Ralak looks at you for a while, taking in a sight that may be similar to the one of you giving birth—giving life. The reality that you will soon be a family quickly dawns on him. The reality that… Ronal's words still weigh heavy on his heart.

“And when you bear down…” Ralak pulls your leg back, your knee now grazing against your cheek as they flush with embarrassment. “…shallow, fast breaths. Do not hold it.” 

He then demonstrates, emphasising the sound of the breathing technique to ensure you’re doing it properly.

'…hee—hee—hoo…'

You mimic his sounds, looking down to see nothing but your protruding bump. It may be strange to some that Ralak is teaching you a lesson on something such as childbirth. But with his mother-figure being the tsahìk, there were just certain things he grew to have knowledge of. 

“Ronal says there are times where it is best to allow your body to take over. Focus on breathing him out. Let your body do the work for you…” You nod slowly as you practice deep breathing in this new position, “…she will show you some positions in your lesson tomorrow.” 

"What?" Your ears perk up. For some reason one on one interactions with Ronal always make you nervous. 

“The other expecting women of the clan will be there.” 

Your ears relax, and you feel a little more at ease knowing you won’t be alone, even if it’s a sea of gossiping women. At least they were more discreet about it. 

——

As you neared the final months of your pregnancy, Ralak was called out more frequently. The aches and pains that came along with being so big were just as frequent, it seemed. They’d hit you at the strangest times, during your sleep or whilst on your tsurak.

But when the pain spread to your abdomen is when Ralak urged you to take things easy. But they didn’t stop him from going anywhere. No matter how badly he wanted to stay home and tend to you. It was more complicated than that. Something that you were blissfully unaware of. Something he wanted to keep that way until it was the right time to tell you. 

—

“Must you go?” You ask hopefully, tugging at his bicep. “You just got back.” 

“Tono will have my head, tahnì.” He states, buckling his chest gear yet another time for today. 

“It’s not fair. Not even the warriors back at home tree were called out so much. Especially if their mate was this far along.” You huff, letting go off his bicep to clutch your protruding belly. He cups a hand over yours, leaning down to kiss your forehead.

“Ah. I know, I know. I want to stay, I do—” He’s cut off by your sudden gasp, and your face screwing with discomfort. “Are you alright?” His voice turns fills with concern, head tilting even more so that he can look you in the face. It felt as if your back set ablaze and your stomach hardened into rock. It eases up within a few seconds and you take a quick breath before answering. 

“Yeah, I think so.” You feel around your bump, taking note of how it’s softened and back to normal. “…that’s the second one today.” 

“Hm. It is. See Ronal while I am gone.” Ralak insists, tucking a couple loose braids behind your ear. You nod in response, gritting your teeth from the reminder that he’s leaving again. “I will speak with Tonowari today.” 

He’s quick to kiss you, lingering longer than he should. You savor his tender touch, breathing him in until you’ve gotten your fill to last you until he’s back. He pulls away, a grimace fixed to his face as it’s almost painful to do. He rubs your belly a final time, clicking for his beast. Reluctantly, he leaves, and so do you.

—

‘Practice Contractions.’

Ronal’s diagnosis of your pains. 

You’re not entirely unfamiliar with the concept. Mom calls them something different, but it all means the same thing at the end of the day. The body’s way of preparing to give birth. The constriction of your stomach, accompanied by intense pain, at random times with no rhythm. 

It’s normal, and expected. Ronal was particularly pleased to see your body do this early in your pregnancy. It typically occurs a couple weeks prior to birth, and both of you weren’t due for another month. 

They’re nothing to worry about, but she advises to rest if they get too intense. You waddle home with your tail dragging behind you, unhappy to see no sign of your mates return. 

—

“You are late.” Tonowari speaks monotonously, back turned to Ralak as he keeps his eyes on his task—forging a new tool. Ralak has to swallow his frustration and maintain his confidence. 

“It will happen soon.” He responds in a similar tone, his eyes following as the olo’eyktan stands. “I must be with her.”

“I understand. I do. But—” Tonowari finishes up the last touches, giving the tool its final inspection. “This is your duty, son.”

“She, is my duty.” Ralak snaps, his frustration slipping through. 

Feeling challenged, Tonowari turns to face him, now eye level with Ralak as he slowly nears his subordinate—chest to chest. But with a pregnant mate of his own, and the fact that Ralak is like his own son, Tonowari huffs a sigh and gives this a pass.  

“This is for her, too. For the people of the clan. You know what we are about to face. You will do this.” The olo’eyktan states sternly. “When the horn sounds… you come. And that…” he shoves the tool into Ralak’s chest, “…is an order.” 

Holding the tool against his own chest, Ralak looks away from Tonowari, grinding his back teeth hard enough to file them flat. He breathes heavily, attempting to recenter himself and stamp out the flame flickering in his chest. Tonowari gives him space, going ahead and mounting his skimwing, readying himself to embark on their journey. Whilst Ralak is left behind to let out a sluggish, shaky breath, closing his eyes when it dawns on him...

…what he must do, where he must go and who he must see. 

All before coming home this evening. 

—

“Zu’té.”

Ralak calls his name outside of the secluded, dim marui pod. It’s familiar, yet so unknown. It’s an eerie feeling to be standing here. It’s as if no one’s home. Not a single flame burning, nor the residual heat of a smothered fire pit. But Ralak can sense his presence. It’s thick. Aggressive. Just as it’s always been. It’s only intensified since the incident. 

The silence is deafening now. A message loud enough to have Ralak reconsidering his actions—rethinking his feelings. No part of him really desired to ask anything of this man, much less this. But in the case Tonowari really doesn’t budge with his decision, it is something he must do. No matter how many years have passed. Ralak has moved on…come to terms with what’s happened, and is in a much better place in his life now. Because of you.

You.

He’s doing this for you. Or is he? The fact he’s fathered a child has a major influence on his decision to be standing here to begin with… perhaps it’s something within him driven by nature—by instinct. The further you’ve progressed, the more he’s thought about rekindling this relationship. But he always brushed off these passing thoughts, until they were no longer just thoughts that passed. They became thoughts that lingered and kept him awake some nights. 

Showing their faces the most when Tonowari reminds him of the imminent danger the clan may face.

They reminded him of the good times when they were children. Teasing the ilus when no one was looking, sneaking off to the reef where the adults went to hunt just to see what it was like. But it also reminded him of the more unfortunate moments they shared. Those that will forever leave a scar on their souls, branded by pain and suffering. Since then, Ralak took an oath to never allow his own family to suffer the way he did. 

If this is what he must do, he’ll do it.

“I am in need of a favour.” Ralak finally admits, witnessing a tall, thick silhouette emerge from the marui. 

At this angle, its darkness looms over Ralak ominously. Green glowing eyes peer down at Ralak as the figure's hands cross defensively over his chest. He steps out of the darkness, revealing his inked face and intricately up-kept hair. He looks as if he’s been disturbed or rudely interrupted, evident in the way his eyes pierce fearlessly into Ralak. But Ralak simply returns the leer. 

“Zu’té.” Ralak speaks his name again, a little more sternly this time.

“Brother. To what do I owe this visit?” His tone is sarcastic with undertones of hostility. 

Ralak sighs, turning his head away from his older brother, fixating his gaze elsewhere. His jawbone flutters as he struggles to figure out what words to string together next. This isn’t easy for him—being here with his tail tucked between his legs. 

“It is no way easy for me to ask you of this…I know we have not spoken for some time.”

“Really? You think so? I would say it has been a little more than ‘some time’, no?” Zu’té’s irritation is shining through now.

“Agreed.” Ralak speaks sharply, dropping his head, gaze piercing into his own feet. He swallows and sighs once more, finally lifting his head to look his brother in the face. "I need your help, brother."

“Hm.” Zu’té scoffs, meeting his stare flagrantly. “Let me get this right. You come here, wake me out my sleep, speak to me like this for the first time in over forty-eight seasons…and demand my help?”  

“You are the only one I trust with this.” Ralak grinds out the words, they are hard to admit. 

This quietens Zu’té, causing his features to soften and his fixed stare to falter. To hear this after twelve years, straight from his brother’s mouth has him a little taken aback. There’s only one thing that it could mean—that could bring the golden child before him, begging for a favour. 

War. 

“What does our ‘mighty’ olo’eyktan have you up to now, baby brother?” Zu’té’s tone is especially sardonic when speaking of their father-figure. 

“Plenty.” Ralak chuckles quietly, shaking his head in amusement. His curved lips fade into a thin line, returning his grim expression when he’s reminded yet again of his exact reason for being here. “Look…” Ralak exhales, “...it is nowhere likeable for me to show my face like this. Trust me, I have thought of every possible solution. But…" he shakes his head, hesitant to share what he must say next. "My mate...she is pregnant."

Zu’té’ sighs when he realizes the gravity of the situation, eyes narrowing as they look behind Ralak to scan his surroundings. He’s far from all of the neighbouring marui pods, being the last pod along the mangroves. But if someone were nearby, they could eavesdrop with ease.

Zu’té lightly nudges his head, giving Ralak the silent signal to enter his marui. Ralak moves slowly, a little surprised by his change in...heart. Annoyed with Ralak's sluggish movement, Zu’té rolls his eyes.

“What? You expect an invitation?" Zu’té asks the rhetorical question loud and clear, watching in awe as his not-so-little brother stands almost eye to eye with him. "...you've grown."

"Surprised?" Ralak mutters, ears spasming from his brother's comment—shuffling past him.

"Don't get smart with me, little brother." Zu’té snaps with his ears pinned to his skull, automatically slipping back into disciplining his younger brother like he once used to. Ralak fights the smirk pulling at his lips, making his way further into the neat, well-decorated marui.

——

Ralak came home that night, as he does most nights nowadays with a heavy tail and tensed muscles. That night he broke the news that he had no luck with Tonowari. That he remained tied to his duties as a warrior, teacher, hunter and evidently more…that you had no knowledge of. 

But he made it clear that none of them came before you—his most important duty of all. He promised not only to your father, but also to you, to put you first, no matter what. That he will do whatever he needs to ensure your safety is never compromised. Even if it means putting his pride aside, and asking for help, as he did that night. 

The desire to prepare for your son's arrival grew with each passing day, making you nest like an expecting ikran. You smoked enough meat to last for the next couple months, and gathered as many herbs and fruits that you could manage.

Weaving has been one of your more frequent tasks, making a couple slings and a few more blankets. Ralak was quick to build the cot when he got into a nesting frenzy, too.

But regardless of what your next task was, it was always a little bit harder…a little bit more tiring. Until you were so round and heavy that most of them became unachievable. Your size started to affect you in more ways than just physical. It started to affect you mentally, too. Playing tricks on your mind, making you think negatively about yourself.

And Ralak picked up on that very quickly. 

——

As you wait for his return, you give the marui another deep clean. You take small breaks often, sitting down whenever you become short of breath.

Whilst you sweep the patio, you see your mate trudge up the stairs, ears pinned back and exhaustion wrinkled into his forehead. Ralak sees you and wastes no time to take the broom from you and pull you into his chest. 

He holds you in silence. Comfortable silence. Savouring how you feel against his body. The thud of your heartbeat, the warmth of your skin. You’re his safe place. His home. As he is yours. His embrace is what you look forward to the most after a long day apart. 

Perhaps this is what you both need. A moment of peace and quiet, where your focus is purely on the person in front of you. A break from the mayhem that life can entail, from the pull and push of the rough tides. Serenity. All to be interrupted by Ralak pulling away, holding you by the arms to create some distance between you two. 

Furrowed brows and beaded eyes stare back at you when you look at him. He’s staring at you, but not at you. His eyes pierce into your chest, and then peel away to flick down at his stomach. A smile creeps on his face, and a huff of air through his nostrils as he chuckles softly. His gaze finally meets yours, and he lets go of your arms.

“Your milk is in.” He almost whispers, his fingertips grazing against your stomach. 

“What?” You breathe, caught off guard to say the least. Your head snaps down, eyes searching every inch of your shawl to find two large, growing wet spots on it. “O-Oh.” You stutter, looking back up at him, catching sight of the glistening liquid on his stomach. “Oh.” 

Your cheeks grow hot when blood rushes to them from embarrassment. Just another thing pregnancy has bestowed upon you. “Sorry, Lak.” You turn to reach for the nearby cloth that hangs by the window. 

“What for?” He asks innocently—a little confused. 

He watches as you wipe him down in an almost frantic manner. He stills your movements by grasping your wrists, causing you to drop the cloth. He brings your hands to his lips.

“Mawey [Calm]. Nothing to be ashamed of.” He speaks into the palm of your hands. You hear his words, but you still can’t bring yourself to look at him. “Hey.” 

He lets go, and cups your cheek, urging you to look at him. When you finally do, he’s smiling down at you, allowing his hand to slip down to the bow of your shoulder—his fingers hooking underneath the hem of your shawl. “Let me clean you up, hm?” 

“Oh—okay.” You stutter shyly, feeling his fingers slip under the woven fabric to slip it off your shoulders. “W-Wait.”

And when the material hits the floor, a shiver shakes your spine. Your breasts are exposed to the cool air, sticky nipples hardened into peaks for him to see. They’ve darkened in colour, and are even a little more puffy too.

Honestly, you weren’t the biggest fan of them anymore. You wore thicker tops or shawls to conceal them, just as you did your stomach with your new…stripes. But Ralak loves them, always stealing a glance at every given chance. 

But to know that they’re full with milk makes him feel…on edge. 

His eyes bore into them, unapologetically taking in every detail. His smile falls into a slight smirk, which then droops into a thin line. His jaw flutters as he grits his teeth, biting back his urges. 

“Don’t stare.” You whisper shyly, covering your chest with one arm and your belly with the other. He looks at you, and reaches for your arms, peeling them away from your body. 

“Beautiful.” He states as a fact, intertwining his fingers with yours. “So beautiful, carrying my child.” 

“‘m really not.” You mumble, looking away in shame. You feel his hand move to your face, two fingers tugging at your jaw to have you look up at him. When you finally give in to his nudges, you see the look on his face. It was as if you had deeply and personally offended him.

“You are.” He insists softly. 

You simply shake your head, arms instinctively wrapping around your chest and belly once more. “I don’t feel it. I don’t even know how you can look at me and say that.” 

Ralak almost feels angered by your words. It hurts him to hear you speak of yourself in such a way, especially when it’s far from the truth. If anything, he’s even more attracted to you. Knowing that this is what your body is going through to bring his child into the world has made him even more appreciative of you. 

“Never say such things.” He husks firmly, removing your hands from your body and keeping them in his grasp. “Do not hide.” 

“You have barely touched me.” You retaliate, voice cracking with hurt. 

“Not for that reason.” He’s quick to cut you short, making sure you know that the last thing stopping him from pouncing on you every chance he gets is the way you look. Absolutely not. 

“If that’s what you need to tell yourself, then—”

Frustrated, Ralak shoves your hand onto his loincloth, pressing it firmly against the bulge that strains against the material. “You feel that?” 

You do, you feel every inch of it, hard and warm against your palm. Your face heats up even more, cheeks staining a bright red. Your breath turns raggedy as you struggle to find the words to say. 

“Hm?” He grunts as he presses himself even harder against the palm of your hand. 

“Y-Yes.” You stutter. Ralak turns you around, pressing himself into you from behind. His heated lips are flush against your ear, hot breath prickling your skin. 

“This is what you do to me.” Ralak husks into the shell of your ear, grinding his bulge into the swell of your ass. “Day after day.” He groans almost painfully, filled with all sorts of emotions. He holds you firm against his body, grazing his bottom teeth against the lobe of your ear. “All it takes is a single glance.” His words have your clit pulsing under your tewng and your thighs rubbing against one another. “The sight of you…of your swollen breasts… your swollen womb…” he hisses, on edge and high strung as he caresses your belly, “…it makes me lose myself.” 

“Fuck.” You breathe, reaching behind you to tug his loincloth down in a frantic manner. You feel his lips nibble and nip at the skin behind your ear, making their way down the back of your neck. You can’t help but moan from the feeling, your already stiff nipples tingling from his gentle touches. 

You feel his hands wander over your stomach and under your tewng, his fingers fondling your folds as he gently parts them. He grunts against your neck, inhaling your scent deep in his lungs as his hips stutter into you. Your stickiness coats his fingers as they slip and slide over your hardened nub. 

You tug even harder at his loincloth, struggling to get the annoying thing off him. You let out a frustrated grunt, and he lets loose an amused chuckle, peppering soft kisses down to the bow of your shoulder.

“What is it? Need me to take you right here?” He husks low, voice muffled by his continuous kisses. “…where someone may see?” 

Right, you’re on the patio. 

Out in the open, under the light of the moon. Ralaks marui pod is far from the village on a cul de sac. The only thing further than here is sand, open water and a couple smaller islands off in the distance. However, there' is's always the slim chance of a na’vi or two going for a late night swim or on a romantic adventure far from the village.

But you simply didn’t care. 

If anything it only riles you up more—the riskiness of it all, the thought of being caught. The need to be sneaky and quiet, when all you want to do is moan his name until your voice goes dim. It seems that Ralak feels similarly as you feel him throb against you, excited to take you where you stand. 

“I don’t mind.” You huff shakily, finally tugging the cloth down enough for his cock to spring out. “Do you?” 

You feel him smile against your shoulder when you grip it in your hand, smooth teeth bumping into your skin as his free hand cups your full breast. 

“Not at all, my tanhì.” He breathes, gently kneading the soft flesh, feeling the trickle of your milk flow over the back of his hand. 

“Good.” Your lungs tremble beneath his touch, hand desperately stroking his length. Yet he remains gentle with his touches, pinning your clit between his two fingers as he rubs you slowly. “Then hurry…I need you inside.” 

Ralak quickly moves his kisses back up your neck, and you feel the tip of his tongue tickle the lobe of your ear before he suckles on it lightly. Tingles ripple up your spine, sending your head into a shiver as you lean into his mouth. His fingers dip into your soaking core just as he rolls your tender nipple between his other two digits. 

It’s all too much. All-consuming. Making you gasp for air in lungs that won’t seem to fill. Fog clouds your head. How did you get here? How did this happen? Fuck, it doesn’t matter. Not when you feel like this.

You’re already so sensitive as it is, so tender and delicate, like silk under his fingers. He pushes his two fingers even deeper inside your aching pussy, curling them and earning a whimper from your lips and quiver of your tail.

“Not too loud, oeyä sevin muntxate [my pretty/beautiful wife]”. Ralak whispers the hushed praise, knowing it’s what you need to hear. 

You’re so much warmer around his fingers than usual, so much softer. Wetter. With each curl of his digits comes out a squelch as he works you open for his cock that he’s been dying to plunge inside you. 

You wrap your leg around his, perching your heel on the side of thigh as you lean all your weight back into him. He steadies his knees, supporting you with ease. Your head slumps back into his shoulder, opening up your neck to his hot breaths, an arm reaching behind you to fist his hair. 

His brows are tense and his breath is heavy. He’s overcome with arousal and he can’t keep his composure as your scent grows stronger now your throat is directly under his nose. Truthfully it’s been too long, he knows that. He knows he’s been too protective, too cautious. Depriving you and him of the touch that’s necessary between a mated pair. 

His fingers slip out of you, now expertly unravelling the loose knot just barely keeping your tewng on you. As it drops to the floor his fingers are back where they were, rubbing sloppy circles into your clit before spreading your pussylips apart. His hips stutter as he attempts to align the crown of his cock with your slit and finally buck forward when he senses your little, exposed hole. 

His cock sinks inside you at an achingly slow pace—inch by inch. You let loose a lengthy moan when you feel him fill you completely, no longer caring if anyone hears you. 

“Hnng—I missed you.” The gruff words slip out as he bottoms out inside your cunt. He has longed to feel your gummy walls squeeze oh-so tightly around his cock. “You alright?” He checks on you in a daze, voice thick with want—with the desire to pummel your little pussy until your voice is hoarse. But the last thing he wants is to hurt his heavily pregnant mate. 

“Mhm, ple-ase.” You purr with need, closing your eyes and relaxing completely into him. Trusting someone this much feels too good. Ralak moves slowly, pumping his cock in and out of you in a languid haze, tickling your sensitive clit with just the tips of his fingers. 

“Tanhì—haah—you are squeezing me so tight.” Ralak moans as his strokes grow with intent. His hips roll deep, shoving and forcing his cock inside your sensitive cunt until his swollen balls kiss your clit. 

He’s unapologetically coaxing out the orgasm you’ve been denied for so long with only a few lazy thrusts. And he knows it. He can feel it from the way you clench around him. From the way your thighs tremble a little more after each deep stroke…from the sweet, filthy noises that shamelessly drip from your lips. 

“Oh my—Ralak! I-I’m gonna—” You sputter the words between choked sounds, eyes welling with tears from the burn between your legs. 

“I know, I know.” He huffs, dragging his hot tongue along the length of your throat. The truth is, he’s close too. But he can’t allow himself to finish inside you. He can’t risk letting himself go and pounding recklessly into your poor, tender pussy. He’s already had a long day. “Let it out, tìyawn [love].”

Its almost cathartic. 

Weeks of pent up frustration released in a few minutes, leaving you near convulsing in his grip. You can’t stop the flutter of your pussy walls if you try, it’s out of your control, much like the surge of white fire going right through you. Your legs fight to stay open and you hold onto your mate to keep you standing. Gurgled noises spill from your lips as your body shudders under him. His hips still, keeping his cock buried to the hilt inside your quivering cunt as he holds you tight, supporting you until you finish riding out your high. 

“Good girl. Good girl.” He praises you in a hushed, shaky voice, extremely wound up from feeling you flourish so beautifully under his touch. It's a miracle that he didn't empty himself inside you right then and there. 

“But you—but you haven’t—” You sputter, collapsing into him as your legs give out. 

“I know. It is alright..” He hums, carefully leading you inside the marui to lay you on the bed. 

“Thought you were c-cleaning me u-up. Not mak-king m-more of a mess.” Your breath is relentlessly hitching as you watch him hastily remove his tewng that’s been digging into his thighs. A reminder of exactly how quickly things happened. 

“You are right.” Ralak tsks, cocking a brow as he stares down at you with a predatory leer. “I did say that, didn’t I?” 

Ralak situates himself between your legs, crouching over you, ensuring there’s plenty of space between him and your stomach. His cock presses between your sticky folds as his lips press against your clammy neck. He tastes the faint saltiness of the thin film of sweat on your skin as he drags his lips down your chest—between your breasts. 

“Lak…” You whisper, back bowing against the bed. 

You’re way too sensitive right now, like an exposed nerve. His eyes snap up and lock with yours, responding to you moaning his name. His tongue darts out, sampling a taste of the spilled milk on your breast. Then his eyes slam shut, tensed brows and scrunched nose telling you that he’s unsure of the flavour in his mouth. 

Eyes widening, you’re taken aback by his actions, feelings of shyness and embarrassment creeping back in. Fisting his hair, you pull gently at his head to pry him off your chest, only for him to resist your tugs. 

“You shouldn’t have done—why’d you do—” You struggle to find the right words at this moment, flustered and nervous that he’d do that. 

But what leaves you even more speechless is when he opens his eyes to reveal dots for pupils, a look you only see when he’s high strung. And then he eagerly takes your nipple into his mouth, latching on and ensuring the suction is airtight. The tip of his tongue flicks at your hardened nipple a few times before he gently suckles at your breast.

A tingling sensation radiates your chest and you feel it in the pit of your stomach. Your breath catches in your throat, a little surprised by his lewd behaviour. And soon, all you can hear are the repeated, muffled gulps of your warm milk flowing down his throat.

“W-What are yo-ou d-doing, my love?” You mewl, squirming underneath him from the strange feeling. He unlatches harshly with an audible pop, leaving your pointed nipple misshapened and exposed. 

“Cleaning you.” He huffs quickly as he catches his breath, diving back in to lap up the milk leaking from your other neglected breast. Your head throws back in what is undeniably pleasure now, legs tightening around his waist. You look down in a daze, watching him feast greedily, feeling his hips begin to stammer against you. 

“Fuck—I didn’t know this i-is what you meant.” You’re finally calming down from your orgasm now, already feeling your body gearing up to have another. His desperation is pungent. Evident in the way his cock grinds between your soft, slippery folds, scenting your cunt with it. 

He pulls off you with yet another pop, his tongue swiping his bottom lip so not to let the bead of milk dripping off of it go to waste. He’s huffing and puffing against you, trailing his wet kisses down your curved stomach as he tucks your legs back. You feel his hot breath against your thighs and your legs tremble in anticipation. 

“Kalin, kalin [sweet, sweet].” He mumbles, kissing your pulsing clit. “Oeyä kalin [My sweet].” 

“Oh shit.” You let loose the breathy curse when you feel his lips pucker around your over sensitive nub, and squeal when he begins to suck on it too. Your hands fly to his head, grasping at his hair to shove his face further into your cunt. He devours you with exhilaration, lapping at your leaking slit to savour your sweetness. 

His cock is aching now. He’s so hard it’s painful. He can’t stop throbbing and his cock strains so hard it’s swollen. He wants to shove himself back inside you— your warmth—and hump at you until his marked you with his essence. 

He can’t help but touch himself as he pleasures you. Stroking his cock with every lick of your pussy. Thrusting into his hand when he feels you throb against his tongue. He’s groaning and grunting into your cunt, urgently chasing his own release as he sucks on you for his own pleasure. 

Too busy to realise that you’ve been begging him to slow down a bit. That you’re too sensitive. That you feel like you may explode if he continues. 

“Ralak! I just came! F-Fuck—” You yank his head away, hurriedly rubbing at your sore pussy.

Ralak pants for air, pulling back into a standing position to reveal that he’s been fucking his hand this entire time. It’s glossy with his precum as it dribbles down his strake. He’s frantically stroking himself, staring brazenly down at your pussy—taking in how it’s flushed and swollen, glistening with his spit and your slick. It’s a delicious sight, tempting him to go in for another taste. 

He’s close and you can tell, his hips are stuttering erratically and he’s groaning like a dying man. You sit up slowly, bringing yourself to your knees as you shuffle your way closer to him. Your chest is level to his cock and you cup your full breasts with both hands, pushing them together only inches away from him. 

He seems a little confused, unsure of what your next move may be. Fuck, you aren’t even sure of what your next move is. But you’re going with your instinct, pinching your nipples until they begin to leak milk. His brows jump, the sight of that sends his hips stammering into his hand. With each huff and thrust sends his cock a little closer to you, until his swollen cockhead is poking at your breasts. 

You shuffle a little closer, moaning softly from watching him get off like this. Then you feel his sticky cock slip in between your breasts, and his hand falls to your shoulders. 

Now he’s fucking your tits in a frenzy, his leaking tip prodding at your lips. You stick your tongue out for a taste, allowing his cockhead to slip and slide against it. He’s groaning and moaning, eyes fixed in the sight beneath him. The pressure from his fat cock between your breasts only makes you leak even more, and that’s when he loses it completely.

“Oh, fuck.” He growls, thrusting hard enough to shove his cockhead into your mouth. You feel him throb violently against your tongue, his thick, hot load coating your cheeks until they're full to the brim. He pulls out as soon as he realises what he’s down, immediately reaching for your bedside bucket to spit in. 

But you shake your head, glossy eyes staring up at him as you swallow his cum with a singular, loud gulp. His eyes bulge, his hands flying to cup your cheeks as he quickly searches your eyes. You simply smile, using a thumb to swipe the single bead of cum on your chin and pop it into your mouth. 

Features softening, he returns the smile, chest heaving wildly as it swells with pride. 

——