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viviwritesss · 2 years ago

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The Songcord

Neteyam × female! Omaticaya! Reader

Some believe waiting is the strongest act of love one could ever do, for time is ever so ungrateful and cruel that it never hesitates to tear longing lovers apart. But when the pain of loss is too much to bear, perhaps one last glimpse at him could mend your broken heart.

Word count: 2.5k

Tags: angst, mentions of blood, mentions of death, soft Neteyam that dislikes killing and all that stuff.

A/n: Hello again! First of all, I'd like to thank you all for supporting the last post I made! I received a couple of requests, and I'll try to get to them as soon as possible! If any of you wish to make a request, I'd be glad to receive it! Anyway, remember reader's name is Zoraya, and also I would recommend you to listen to 'The songcord' by Zoe Saldana while reading this, it's a beautiful song :)

It had been a while since you last saw Neteyam.

Perhaps such a turn of events was for the best. Not knowing about him, not speaking to him, not touching him, not seeing him, made the whole situation more bearable, if only a little. Yet your mind couldn't help but wander everywhere but on the tasks you had to get done. Wander back to when you would look at him and smile without this pain in your woeful chest, when the two of you would laugh over his pitiful attempt at braiding your hair, when he would carry you around on his back because he knew how much you enjoyed it, back when your heart didn't seem to burn whenever you laid eyes on him.

He used to swear you two would stay together forever. Back in your childhood days, on the most distant memories your tired brain can still fathom, Neteyam often mentioned how he wished to be your loyal knight, like those his father used to tell him about in fairytales. Only the best of knights is suited for a princess such as Zora, he would repeat, before taking your hand and running off towards the forest. And as little time went on, Neteyam pronounced, now with a smidge more of common sense, that, rather, he wished for you to be his bride. For you to be his.

Perhaps neither of you understood the weight of such claims all those years ago, however, you would always answer with an enthusiastic nod, and a big smile on your face.

Since those days you knew you were betrothed to Neteyam. At least you felt like you were, even after he grew up and, little by little, stopped bringing up the idea.

In time, his eyes darkened, tainted and forever stained with burden, with responsibility and a duty that, one day, would abruptly befall onto his shoulders. And his hands –before soft and tender– dripped blood since youth, blood of his enemies, carrying on his palm yet another burden; the burden of murder. Of spilling the blood of those weaker than him, unable to stand against a trained warrior such as himself.

You still remember the first time he killed. A memory ever so vivid that you still carry it within your skin. You awaited his return, expectant, scared, for he always expressed with adamant regret how he wished not to rip out someone's soul out of their body, a brutal, cruel act that, according to him and his soft heart, he never wished to commit unless necessary. Yet he was commanded to do so. And so he did. For he was expected to do it, because he is Neteyam Sully, the firstborn.

That day, he returned to you first –before even reporting to his father– in the middle of the night, crestfallen, regretful, woeful and empty, oh so empty he could only look at you with those dark eyes of lacking color. Covered in blood that wasn't even his.

No words were exchanged that night. He wasn't even able to muster the strength of cleaning himself up, which is why you did, and with a wet, warm cloth, you wished to cleanse both the stain of blood on his skin, and the stain of pain in his heart.

He was always so gentle, so kind hearted and benign, that it hurt your soul to see him so utterly shattered. So delved in his misery, in a weight so heavy upon his back that made him crack.

That cold night, Neteyam held you closer than he ever had, as if you would get snatched from him for eternity. He placed his trembling, bloodstained hands on your waist, clinging to your warmth with such desperation that had you cradling his head on your chest, the sound of your heartbeat being the sole anchor that refrained him from falling apart.

And such encounters continued for a long time, for Neteyam was strong at fights, yet weak at heart. A cursed man, so young yet so haunted. Burdened since birth, condemned since the day he opened his very eyes, all for being a Sully; for being the firstborn.

Thoughts about him swallowed you whole, flooded your brain and drove you mad, mad from love? Who knows. You were losing your mind, that's for sure. Maybe you wouldn't mind such a thing, if at least you had him by your side, if at least you knew he was still alive and well, and if at least you knew how his thoughts had been treating him as of late.

Little more could you do than to cling merely onto a hazy remembrance of him, promising the world to you once he returned.

Once he returned…

Then again… how long has it been…?

The Sully family had been away for more moons than you can count, perhaps even years, and with each passing day, the unbearable pain of getting left behind by your loved one left you dwindling. So much so that the image of Neteyam in your head started fading in time. The thought of forgetting his face terrified you, for it was tied to the idea of permanently losing him; of losing the hope of living the happy life he told you about before he left, a long time ago. It petrified you so much that you found it in yourself to try and draw him, draw what hazy details you remembered of him and of his kind features, to try and at the very least commit him into paper. Perhaps that way… you wouldn't forget. You attempted such portraits many times, yet upon glancing at the finished piece, you just knew something was missing, something was wrong, that is not Neteyam.

And then one day you finally realized. You forgot how he looked. Not only that, but the sound of his voice vanished from your memories. Finally, the only thing left of him you had was the songcord, which he promised would be the beginning of your story together just before leaving you behind.

Time never stopped, and as such, neither did your longing. Everyone knew this yet you were already of age, older, actually, for you were not betrothed out of respect to your decision and Neteyam's of waiting for his return to become his mate.

To your dismay, such an event never transpired, so you were soon to be betrothed to a good male of the tribe. A kind na'vi who knew beforehand that your heart already belonged elsewhere, in the hands of another man, despite the time that passed.

Yes. You hadn't seen Neteyam in a while. In years. Which perhaps made your betrothal more bearable. Yet, even then, you couldn't stop thinking about him. You started to believe you never could.

And one day, the sound of a foreign Ikran was heard.

"Zoraya!" A young girl approached you frantically and out of breath, tugging desperately at your hand with an unreadable expression on her face. "In the village, the Sullys, they…!" Your eyes widened. "They have returned!"

You left out an exasperated breath, feeling your heart quickly grow mad upon the news. Your chest started feeling terribly tight, as if concealed within iron claws, so much so that it felt as if you couldn't breathe properly.

Neteyam… he… he is back…!

You dropped the basket full of fruit you held without hesitation, to proceed to run desperately towards the village with little concern of your surroundings and without care of the cut and scratches you acquired while sprinting hectically through the forest.

Neteyam… Neteyam came back to me…!

Just the thought had you increasing your speed, ignoring the fleeting pain of wounds, disregarding whatever it was that got in your path.

I want to see him…!

Upon your arrival, you quickly made your way through the crowd, squeezing between the people surrounding the family that just arrived, and letting out quick apologies to try and reach them. Reach him.

Neteyam… finally, I can tell you one more time…

You locked eyes with Neytiri.

How much I love you…!

She looked at you with misery.

Your smile quickly vanished.

The whole family was silent, staring at you with narrow eyes, gazes so pitiful that had you taking a step back, embracing yourself in nervousness.

You couldn't see Neteyam.

"Where is Neteyam?" Your voice wavered, dwindling under sad gazes and the cruel realization that he was not there.

Jake appeared crestfallen, unable to look at you in the eye once more; unable to bear your helpless expression which still tried to seek out his son.

A son that was no more.

Neytiri was the one to look at you, strong face yet weak heart –just like her son– as she locked eyes with you. She choked on her words, obvious rage and sorrow coming out of her expression.

She could only shake her head at you in regret.

Your heart shattered.

A pain like none you've ever felt in your chest got you falling expressionless to the ground, water pooling in your eyes as you grabbed your heart in misery, clinging to the songcord he gave you as you felt your heart get ripped out of your chest.

You couldn't remember more from that day. Memories faded, yet pain lived vivid within you.

You felt empty, even if he left a long time ago and you knew nothing about him, it felt as though a part of you was violently ripped out of you along with his departure.

You often wandered off alone to the spirit tree. It made you feel close to him, even though death cruelly interfered. He finally went to a place you couldn't reach, a realm so far that your feet could never touch, not as long as your lungs drew air. He left, and this time, you couldn't follow.

The tree of voices felt quiet. Awfully quiet and dreadful, as if sensing your loss and the pain dwelling in your chest.

You sat down, taking deep breaths, trying to remain calm. You couldn't stop thinking about him; your mind, stained with love, would not let you rest, would not let you go a moment without wishing to see him one last time, to finally mutter what remained untold, to tell him how much love you harbored for him ever since you were kids.

You closed your eyes, feeling the wind envelop you in its cold embrace, a surge of emotions flowing through your body and a sense of vertigo coursing through your flesh.

And then you opened your eyes.

And he was in front of you.

You were no longer under the spirit tree, rather, it seemed you were between his arms, a wet, warm cloth in your hand, while he gently placed his hand on your waist.

You still remembered that night, the night he seeked you out, covered in blood. The night he murdered for the first time.

You left out a choked sigh, looking down at him, being met with his head, gently placed on your chest.

The both of you shared a burning warmth, sitting on the floor, with you sitting on top of him, seeking the contact of skin so fervently it hurt.

Your sight wavered upon meeting his form, a striking sadness making your eyes wet with tears. You could feel him, finally, after all this time, the longing within your chest felt less heavy, yet the sense of not being able to see him again lurked deep in your head.

He held you close, strong arms surrounding you with ease, as his big palms caressed your waist with care.

"Neteyam…" you cried out in a whisper, your voice heavy with pain, which had him looking up at you, at your hurt expression.

And then you saw him, his face, and it was as if your memory never forgot about him in the slightest. You placed both hands on his cheeks, smiling weakly through your tears at him and his concerned features.

He was still as handsome as you remembered.

And he was there. He was with you, and you could feel his warmth, feel his skin against yours and, this time, it was not a distant dream.

"Why are you crying…?" He spoke so softly, so tenderly and loving and it made you shatter, realizing how deeply you missed his voice. He removed his hands from your waist, placing them below your eyes to wipe your tears with his thumb, as he worriedly scanned your face for answers.

"I'm just happy to see you." You said, unable to stop the relentless tears from falling off your face, as with your palms you held his cheeks, trying to get this last moment with him ingrained in your brain.

You would never allow yourself to forget. Not again.

"I'm happy to see you too." He said, weakly smiling at you as his forehead connected with yours.

You embraced him like you never had before, knowing this would be the last time you were ever permitted to do so, placing your head in the crook of his neck as he protectively hugged you with the same intensity.

"Neteyam?" Your voice was worn out, tired, as with your hands you clung to his back, wishing to stay inside this memory for as long as possible. He merely hummed questioningly at the call of his name, and you sighed with delight upon realizing that, finally, you could say what you wished to confess ever since he departed. "I think I'm in love with you." You faced him, a sad smile on your face. "I'm terrible, am I not?" You laughed, further attempts to wipe your tears remaining fruitless.

He looked at you tenderly, his dark eyes regaining the color they lacked, shining under your gaze.

"Hardly," He mumbled, kissing your eyes, soft lips upon your eyelids. It all felt so terribly real it made your heart stirr. "I feel the same." He all but whispered those words, and you felt your world regain a little color. "You just said it before I could." You furrowed your brows in sorrow. He loved you as well, yet a timeless force separated you both in such a cruel way, that fate would never let you stay by his side.

You sobbed at the thought, and, once more, Neteyam grabbed your cheeks between his palms in an attempt to understand the cause of your sorrow.

"Why do you cry still, my love? I'm right here. Right by your side." He exclaimed with sageness, as water flowed down your cheeks, staining his hands with your tears. You could never achieve a shared future with the man you love, he would slide from between your fingers ever so gently, and you would get left behind once more. "I'll never leave your side, yeah? I'll stay for as long as you wish. So please, don't shed tears for me."

You could only nod, clinging to him in desperation, as you felt him vanish from between your grasp. You tried to maniacally hang onto his memory, but before you knew it, he was gone. He was not by your side anymore.

You were left alone with your thoughts again.

A pained chuckle escaped your lips.

He lied.

#avatar the way of water #neteyam #neteyam sully #avatar 2 #avatar x reader #neteyam sully x reader #neteyam x reader #neteyam x you #neteyam fanfiction #neteyam angst

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viviwritesss · 2 years ago

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Beautiful

Neteyam × female! Metkayina! reader

All moments, situations, encounters, despite their utmost challenging nature, are, at their very core, unimaginably beautiful. The infatuation of one's eyes are yet to fully display the extent of beauty that is yet to be discovered. However, Neteyam, solely when laying eyes on her, knows he is the only one who trully knows the meaning of beauty.

Word count: 4.6k

Tags: fluff, just Neteyam being down bad for reader.

A/n: hi! So, this is the first thing I ever published, I hope it's of your liking! I don' like adding y/n all the time, so I gave reader the name Zoraya! I must say english is not my first language, so I apologize for any mistakes, also, I wrote this in a weird mix between 2nd and 3rd person, hopefully it won't bother y'all♡

To say the sea was beautiful was an understatement.

Upon his arrival, Neteyam couldn’t help but gasp, if ever so slightly, once his bright eyes were laid upon the enormous body of water. It was unlike anything he had ever seen before. The water, crystal clear and shiny as a diamond, extended far beyond his sight could reach, so much so that it made his eyes seem pointless. It made him stare in wonder at how far they had gone, at how far away his home was, at how much they left behind.

He wasn’t one to complain. Perhaps such trait arises from the fact that he was the oldest, the most mature among the Sully children, the example among his brothers and sisters that his father expected him to be and that, in time, he expected himself to become as well. And even though he never voiced discomfort about leaving his people, his forest, and his home behind, there was no denying it that Neteyam was not happy with the idea of abandoning everything once his father spoke to him about it. Yet the scenery displayed before his very eyes… he wouldn’t mind waking up to it for the rest of his days.

“Wow…” Kiri sighed, as stunned as she ever was when seeing something new in her common surroundings. “Maybe this won’t be too bad.” She smiled, hopeful, trying to convince herself more than anything else. Of course, she was ever doubtful of this change, and at this point, Neteyam believed even his father wasn’t as sure of this idea as he tried to seem before his family.

“Sure hope so,” Lo’ak mumbled with a low, displeased tone. It was evident that out of all of them, he was the most unsure of the situation at hand, besides Neytiri, of course, and the most willing to voice his discontent.

“We will be fine brother. As long as your ass doesn’t decide to do anything stupid, I’m sure you will be able to survive.” Neteyam said with a big grin on his face, eyeing his brother with mockery. It was no secret that Lo’ak could be quite a handful sometimes, more so to his big brother, who was accustomed to often taking the blame for him. “That is, of course, if father doesn’t kill you before we even arrive, which now that I think about it, seems more likely. Yeah, forget it, you definitely won't make it.” Neteyam knew how to upset his younger brother perfectly, and that by itself unnerved Lo’ak, whose answer was accompanied by a certain indecent hand gesture, proudly lifting both of his middle fingers towards his brother.

“Yeah, screw you, perfect boy.”

Neteyam let out a shameless laugh at his brother’s actions. Perhaps annoying the hell out of Lo’ak would make the situation less depressing for him, if ever so slightly.

The family was getting closer and closer to the shore, and with each passing second, Neteyam felt some kind of nervousness arising from within his chest. They were delving into something new, something different to what he was accustomed to, being so that he grew up within green forests, tall trees and the utter beauty Eywa had to offer in the land. The scenery before him was completely foreign, as foreign as his family was to the clan that now glared at them in wonder, and perhaps distrust, once their feet finally touched land. It was well known that the Omaticaya weren’t ones to leave the comfort of the forest, much less to an environment so different as it was the sea; the water. Not only that, but the Metkayina clan was not accustomed to receiving visits, much less from na’vi from land so far as it was the Omaticaya.

Suffice to say, the encounter was awkward.

His first impression was to notice how different the Metkayina were. Their skin, as strong and resistant as his own, was painted a much paler hue, while their tails appeared to be stronger to grant them the capacity of better mobility within the water.

He couldn't help but feel like he didn't belong among the clan just from looks alone. The sentiment made him slightly insecure, being surrounded by people who (for the most part) did not welcome him, and much worse, did not welcome his family. Yet their safety was at stake, and Neteyam was anything if not protective, so he could do little more than to lower the head and let his father speak on their behalf, he knew better.

'I see you' He politely signaled to everyone around him, gently nudging his sisters to do the same. The gesture was heavy on significance, as if granting respect to the mighty Na'vi surrounding them. He could do little more than that.

He stood tall before all his brothers and sisters, just slightly before Lo'ak and just behind his father and mother, as if to demonstrate he was the eldest son. The strongest. A subtle reminder and, why not, camouflaged intimidation, towards some Metkayina males who were making fun of Lo'ak and Kiri.

His father spoke to the people in a tone he's never heard before. As serious as ever; as confident as ever, yet desperate. His towering form remained still as imposing while his voice slightly wavered. It was to be expected, his family's destiny was at stake, a gamble he was not willing to lose.

Neteyam slowly raised his eyes beyond the crowd to glance at the houses of the village. They were lovely. The lively voices and laughter of children playing in the distance was the only factor that gave him a sense of familiarity, that, and the calming sound of the waves, which strangely enough, resembled the wild noises he often heard inside the forest.

His eyes swayed towards the waves once more, where more Metkayina people were arising from its depths to witness their unexpected arrival.

That's when he saw it. Saw her.

A young female emerging slowly from within the vast ocean, her beautiful braided hair wet with the reminiscent of the water she was once in. She wore bright eyes like he had never seen before, and a grace that made him inevitably suck his breath as water dripped down her form.

She used beautiful, small gemstones on her garments, skin and hair with colors that resembled the water, in such a delicate way that, if for a fleeting moment, left Neteyam out of breath.

She is like nothing he has ever seen before.

Unlike anyone he has ever seen before.

…she is gorgeous.

He could only imagine how foolish he must have looked. Dumbfounded, unable to tear his eyes from her silhouette, unable to remain calm, unable to stop his heart from beating so damn fast at the mere sight of her squeezing her hair in an attempt to get the ocean water out of it.

What the hell was happening to him?

He was more than capable of riding an Ikran, hunting, killing, and yet… a beautiful girl he had only looked at had him relenting in the most stupid and embarrassing way he had ever seen.

And then the worst happened.

She looked their way.

Looked at him.

Never in his life has he felt so fucking weak. So fucking bashful and flustered.

He cleared his throat one, two, three times, his imposing stance dwindling preposterously while his nervous eyes quickly averted from one way to another, all to diligently avoid her gaze and the fact that he was so shamelessly staring at her. Intently.

What should he do? Should he look back her way? What if she thinks he is a freak? Much worse, what if she thinks he is an ugly, stalker freak? For Eywa's sake he wouldn't be able to live with himself from the embarrassment if that were the case. His brain couldn't compute a calm solution to his terrible dilemma, which is why he merely settled on looking the other way, a hand on his neck, trying to dissimulate the absolute wreck that was going on inside his mind.

Don't look her way again. Don't you fucking dare to look her way again. Just don't turn your eyes, you will look like a goddamn fool if you do it once more.

He convinced himself.

No he didn't.

He ever so slightly turned his head around, slowly, as if his life depended on it, to catch a glimpse of her once more if only through the corner of his eye.

That's when he clenched his jaw in nervousness, fisting his hands until his nails dug into the skin.

She was approaching.

"What's gotten into you dude?" Lo'ak murmured, noticing the way his older brother moved, how his broad shoulders faltered and his stance lowered suddenly and without a seeming explanation.

"Nothing, nothing." He repeated himself after silently clearing his throat. He felt flustered beyond explanation, lowering his head while occasionally shooting a fleeting, short glance at her.

She is beautiful.

Lo'ak, curious, confused, looked the way his brother's eyes were constantly eyeing, until he landed on a young Metkayina walking towards the crowd.

Oh.

"I see, I see." He said, teasingly. Shooting his brother a stupid grin that got on his very last nerve. "Good luck bro." Lo'ak's tone was awfully mocking, destroying what was left of Neteyam's dignity, while with his hand, he patted his brother's shoulder as if with pity. "You definitely won't make it."

Oh, he would annoy the living hell out of Neteyam.

"Shut the hell up." He smacked his brother's head with a low hiss, not as hard as he wished, for he'd be damned to act like so in front of the people who had yet to welcome them in their clan.

Lo'ak let out a low 'ow!', and he was about to shoot back at his brother until he noticed the piercing, murderous glance their mother was giving him from the corner of her eye.

Fucking hell.

Merely that made him stay in place, completely stiff and unmoving, straight face and wide eyes.

Neytiri looked at him knowingly, to then stand again, stone faced and valiant beside her husband.

Lo'ak let out a relieved sigh, watching his brother once more, and noticing how his eyes carefully scanned the female that now, was beside Ronal.

'I-I see you" He signaled, albeit clumsily, to the girl in front of him that captivated his eyes. How he managed to stutter while fucking signaling is beyond him and Lo'ak, who mentally facepalmed at his sentimentally constipated brother, yet all of the embarrassment and distress he went through just a couple of minutes ago was worth it.

For she smiled.

At him.

His heart couldn't stop racing.

But it got worse. She laughed. She laughed and his heart couldn't take it. A laugh so delightful that almost had him on his knees from how beautiful it sounded. From how downright adorable her laughing features were.

He didn't understand how na'vi women could be so beautiful.

No, how the one in front of him could be so beautiful.

And once he saw her delicately signal to him back, 'I see you', with a smile that made her bright eyes crinkle ever so slightly, he just knew he smiled like a fool.

She is cute. So, very cute.

"This is Zoraya, our second child." Ronal spoke harshly, with an imposing tone governing her strong voice, grabbing her daughter by the shoulder and gently shoving her forward before the Sully family, which had Lo'ak wiggling his eyebrows knowingly and without shame at his older brother who, in exchange, looked like he would murder Lo'ak right then and there if only he could. "I expect her to show your children and guide them in the Metkayina ways." She stated, glaring at the foreign kids in front of them, not bothering to cover at all her distrust, until she followed with a menacing hiss. "We do not need useless mouths to feed."

This unnerved Neytiri, who in exchange, responded with a hiss of her own, which made Jake quickly apologize on her behalf

"Do not worry. Our daughter is well versed in the matters of hunting, healing and riding the Ilu. Your children will be fine." Tonowari stepped in in a swift manner, trying to comfort an altered Neytiri the best he could, gently nodding at Jake who looked at him with gratitude. "The rest of our children shall also teach your kids all they have to know. And I expect everyone to accept the new family as one from our very own. Treat them like our brothers and sisters, for they are now part of our family." Tonowari announced this to his people, despite receiving odd looks from some who seemed adamant to accept the Omaticaya within their village. Yet there were no objections.

And so the Metkayina dissipated from what was once a crowd around the new family, leaving behind the children of the Tsahìk and Olo'eyktan.

"Behave. I don't want any of you causing any trouble. Have I made myself clear?" Jake said with a tone resembling a commander talking to his soldiers. All of them nodded adamantly. Jake let out a stern 'good', before turning around with his wife to follow Tonowari, not before kindly acknowledging the kids that would show his children the Metkayina ways with a nod.

"As you already heard, my name is Zoraya. Don't be nervous, I'll make sure to teach you all you have to know to become one of us." She smiled kindly, her eyes settling for a fleeting moment on Neteyam, who looked at her intently. "This is my sister, Tsireya," The young na'vi bowed her head upon hearing her name, a gentle smile to reconfort the new kids on her face. "And this is-"

"Ao'nung." He cut her sister's sentence, grimacing menacingly at the na'vi in front of him with a slight tilt of his head. "Be sure to remember it." He let out a loud hiss, displaying rather plainly his discomfort at the new na'vi on the island, and quickly leaving his sisters with little regard for the duty his father bestowed upon him.

"Don't mind him. He can be rather rude sometimes. Consequences of not having a brain." Zoraya muttered, though making sure she spoke loud enough for her brother to hear her comment, winking in a friendly manner at Tuk, who seemed rather intimidated by Ao'nung. The small girl, tugging Neteyam's hand, shyly smiled at Zoraya with kindness, which made Zoraya giggle ever so slightly.

"What is your name, little one?" Tsireya kneeled close to Tuk, who was gently nudged forward by her older brother, giving her slight courage to speak.

"Tuktirey." She said, fidgeting with her hands.

"Such a pretty name for a pretty lady, don't you think Zoraya?" Tsireya said, caressing her hair in such a motherly way that had Tuk smiling widely at the compliment.

"Oh, definitely! Not only that, but it sounds like the name of a fierce warrior, don't you think?" Zoraya exclaimed, a hand on her chin, with an expression of surprise and wonder adorning her kind features, until she smiled, noticing how the small girl's eyes instantly lit up at her comment.

"Well, you are definitely right, I am a fierce warrior! Just you wait and see!" Tuk said, raising her hands in excitement, smiling at Zoraya, while quickly taking Tsireya's hand in anticipation.

Neteyam merely observed with a warm look on his face.

"You seem to be good with kids." Neteyam approached her, giving himself courage to speak to her while overcoming the quick beating of his heart which couldn't help but speed up at the sight of the na'vi in front of him, and the adorable scene that just transpired before his very eyes.

Zoraya turned around to look at him with a giggle.

"Yes, well, I'm rather fond of kids. The children in the village are all lovely, good kids." She said, and Neteyam smiled, letting out a low 'I see.' as a response. Zoraya noticed this, feeling her face heat up at the handsome na'vi with bright eyes and fulminant stare before her. She had never seen anyone with features such as his. Gentle and strong, both at the same time, with kind, pretty eyes and a smile so delightful like water on a hot day. "And what shall your name be?" Zoraya shifted her full attention to the oldest, tilting her head curiously while her sister conversed with Lo'ak and Kiri.

"Neteyam, my name is Neyetam." He nodded with resolve, his nervous voice betraying his tone.

"Well, I hope our lessons go well, Neteyam."

She smiled, and he was infatuated.

Stunning.

Your hand was gently placed on his chest, fingers grasping the dark blue skin beneath with care. You took a deep breath, eyes closed, in order to feel his breathing, feel him. Your fingers moved around carefully upon the warm surface beneath them, being sure to touch with care as if you were brushing with the tips of your fingers his very soul.

She was absolutely stunning.

The beating of his heart beneath you started increasing swiftly, as though he was fiercely running from a relentless foe. You touched him further, a slight frown on your features upon realizing that –for some reason– wherever and whenever you touched his chest and abdomen in such a delicate manner, his heart went mad, and his skin seemed to burn. You got closer, gently grazing his chest with your palm and he flinched ever so slightly at your touch.

"Neteyam?" Your voice was low, calming. Tender in such a way that, somehow, got him even more nervous, more so now, that you were so close to him. He could feel your touch on his skin, your breath nearing his neck and it drove him mad. With every passing second he couldn't help but feel like he was burning on the inside, as if your soft fingers left a gentle trail of heat on his chest and abdomen.

"Yes, Zoraya?" He responded softly, somehow swallowing the utter nervousness within his brain, head tilted in your direction, his eyes never leaving your face.

You were so beautiful, even more so up close (he didn't even know how that was possible), that he couldn't help but stare at you in wonder, with an infatuation so evident that had Kiri rolling her eyes in the distance.

"Your heart is beating too fast." You slowly opened your eyes to look up at him, just to meet with the fact that he was already looking at you, beautiful yellow eyes like you've never seen before piercing your stare.

He is beautiful.

You had never seen a hue such as the one of his skin, blue as the sky on a gentle night, and so, so very beautiful.

And eyes so strong and tender at the same time, piercing at their own way, but full with a sense of duty, of responsibility, yet never rude nor egotistical, rather lenient, selfless.

And his smile. So full of life, of an air that resembled the sea on a hot summer night. So genuine and bright, as if the sun itself graced you with one of its radiant rays.

"Is that so?" He whispered, leaning closer to you to scan your face, and grinning upon noticing a slight, adorable flush on your cheeks.

"Y-yes." He looked at you so downright adoringly that it was always inevitable for you to get flustered; to shy away from his adoration, from his smiles, from how he sometimes winked at you from afar, yet still got nervous when you were so close. You shook your head slightly, trying to focus on the task at hand, while putting a little distance between you two by gently pushing him to lessen your flustered state. "You ought to slow it down. We have practiced so many times before yet your heart never seems to remain still." You frowned, uncertain. Neteyam was a great warrior, pretty much exceptional at any task; perks of being burdened since birth you suppose, yet a single breathing exercise with you proved to be his weakness. The one thing he could never achieve fully, despite months of practice together.

He let out a small chuckle

"Well it's rather difficult you see." Neteyam answered, grinning.

Lo'ak rolled his eyes when watching the scene from afar. Truth is, Neteyam had long grasped the Metkayina breathing techniques, more so, mastered them, yet still seeked your help whenever possible. Seeked your company, your presence. He enjoyed your voice, the sweet tone it had, how you spoke and how, whenever he made you laugh, the corner of your eyes would slightly crinkle.

He enjoyed the way you talked about things you like, and how you would just sit down and listen, staring at him in wonder, with those big, adorable eyes of yours, whenever he spoke about the forest, about the environment that used to be his home.

He enjoyed your soft touches on his skin, how concentrated you'd get to feel his lungs, his breathing. And every time, his heart couldn't take it. His feelings couldn't take it.

You were so beautiful.

"Let me try again." He took your hand to place it on his chest once more, proning you to stand still, stand closer to him, smiling to you so brightly that had you smirking in return. "I'm sure I'll get it this time."

Unimaginably beautiful.

He always kept such thoughts sealed within, whether it be on his mind, or in sappy pieces of writing he often tried to commit to paper to, finally, give one to you some day. However, after finishing each letter, he couldn't help but feel like they were lacking, not only on skill but also on describing you.

Today, however, the thought came out of his lips for the first time, without thinking it twice, as though the words were ingrained on his very skin and mind.

He was practicing with Tsireya and his brothers when he heard a distant, sweet laugh he could recognize anywhere. His ears twitched, turning around slyly to catch a glimpse of you, swimming with some children nearby.

He noticed the way you maintained them close to the shore, helping them submerge properly, and showing them the kind creatures that lived underwater.

Neteyam couldn't help but chuckle when he saw a little kid get behind you devishly. You obviously noticed the little, not-so-stealthy girl's plan, yet acted fool, looking for her with an exaggerated tone and your hands on your waist, until she splashed you with water, a playful 'Hey!' coming out of your lips right after. You splashed the girl right back with little force. That's when the rest of the children decided to attack you, all of them relentlessly throwing water at you with big smiles on their faces.

You laughed, playfully trying to get to them, yet failing miserably upon facing their endless water attacks.

Neteyam chuckled when he saw you, completely defenseless against them, beaten by kids. He shifted his body to better witness the scene.

After a couple of minutes, the kids ran out of the water full of laughter, escaping from you. You were left alone in the water, fully drenched, hair dripping and body completely soaked. You chuckled at the interaction, shaking your head.

"I'll be back soon." Neteyam muttered to the people around him and, without expecting to receive a response nor looking back, he hurriedly approached you with a smile. Tsireya and Lo'ak smirked knowingly when noticing where he was headed, and did nothing to stop him.

You noticed him quickly, beaming at him from the water you still were in, trying to get your hair out of your face, dealing with the consequences of your previous battle.

"Quite the war you had with them." Neteyam said mockingly, now a few meters from you, grabbing you by your elbows to get you closer to him.

You couldn't help but let out a low laugh, placing your hands on his chest with care.

"You saw all of it? Well, that's embarrassing." You said, shaking your head in defeat, which got Neteyam tilting his head while smirking at you. "I still won though."

"Zoraya, I'm sure you lost." Neteyam retorted between laughs, for your defeat was a fact that couldn't be denied, not even by you. His hands sneakily lowered, scavenging your skin, until settling on your waist with tenderness, trying to get you ever so close to him as possible. "Are you alright?" His thumb caressed your skin gently, murmuring the question with affection.

"I'm fine, my ego is the only one hurt here." You placed your hands on his shoulders, then around his neck, like you did many times before behind closed doors and far from prying eyes.

Neteyam looked at you in amusement, a quiet and adoring laugh leaving his lips when placing his eyes on you.

You were as beautiful as the day he first saw you, if not even more. The past months he spent with you were the happiest he had ever been, making him thank Eywa for getting your paths intertwined in such an intimate, endearing way.

He believes he would never get tired of looking at you. Of perceiving every detail of your face with an infatuated look, because every time, he found something new; something so adorable that he was sure he was doomed, fallen and struck down by nothing but love. Love for you. Yet if adoration was to be his damnation, he would gladly take it one and a million times, as long as he can see you smile at him.

He took a strand of your hair, placing it lovingly behind your ear, to then stroke softly your cheek.

"You are so beautiful." Neteyam murmured, and you smiled, flustered. His thumb moved against your cheek, and you leaned on his big palm, closing your eyes in comfort. "I mean it."

His face slowly got nearer to your own, your bodies flush against each other, with Neteyam firmly holding your waist with one hand. You held your breath in anticipation, with excitement and utter happiness pooling on your chest when realizing your closeness.

"Zoraya…" He whispered, so drunk in love and adoration that made your stomach flutter. You could feel his breath against your lips, ever so close yet still not pressed upon yours. "May I…?" He asked for permission, thumb caressing your cheek expectantly once more.

You merely nodded, and he was quick. Quick to join your lips and kiss you like a starved man, as if he was waiting for you for a million years. He held you close, impossibly close, your heart beating uncontrollably against your chest, feeling him as you had never before.

You cut the kiss to breathe for a quick second, yet he trailed behind your lips, refusing to let you go.

"Again." He murmured, before connecting your lips once more and flushing you against him again.

You were like a drug he couldn't get enough of, lips so soft he wished to kiss them forever, get the memory of you ingrained in his flesh that even upon death he shall feel you as close as he did that day, when you shared you first kiss. The first of many yet to come.

He finally broke the kiss, an adorable smile adorning his lips, while he pressed his forehead to yours.

"You are insatiable." You chuckled at him, putting one hand on top of his, to caress it tenderly.

"How can I not be?" He said in a whisper, looking at you once more, kissing your forehead lovingly.

You smiled.

Beautiful.

Absolutely beautiful.

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