The LaDS men with a girlfriend that has a lot of anxiety about possibly being cheated on? 👉👈
lads boys with a girlfriend that has anxiety about being cheated on
a/n - aww sweetie i hope this isn't coming from a place of experience because nobody deserves that! we all deserve to find someone who will be undeniably faithful and loving. thank you for your request i hope you enjoy it!
xavier
☆ if you need reassurance every day for a month, he'll give it every day for a month without making you feel guilty.
☆ his reassurances are incredibly verbal. he tells you exactly how he feels instead of expecting you to "just know."
☆ he's the type to randomly say, "i love you," while you're doing completely mundane things because he likes reminding you.
☆ he likes making future plans out loud because they're another way of saying, i'm still here
☆ "we should go there next winter." "you'll love this restaurant." "let's watch that together tomorrow."
☆ he also loves quiet physical affection. holding hands under blankets, resting his forehead against yours but his words do most of the heavy lifting.
☆ he thinks hearing "i choose you" should never become rare just because you're already together.
───♡──────♡──────♡──────♡─────
your voice came out barely above a whisper, "i'm scared you'll cheat on me one day."
the words had been sitting on the tip of your tongue all evening. you hated them. you hated how ridiculous they sounded. but they refused to leave.
xavier looked up from where he was sitting beside you on the couch, immediately giving you his full attention. he waited patiently. never rushing you to fill the silence.
"i know it doesn't make sense," you rushed out. "you've never given me a reason to think that. i just...sometimes i convince myself you'll realize i'm not enough."
you finally dared to look at him. there wasn't even a hint of annoyance on his face. only sadness that you'd been carrying that fear alone.
he reached for your hand, threading his fingers through yours. he was quiet for a moment before smiling softly.
"you know what i did this morning?"
you blinked through the tears in your eyes, "what?"
"i walked past that little bakery you like. they had strawberry pastries. i bought two."
you couldn't help the tiny smile tugging at your lips.
"when i found that movie yesterday, i saved it because i wanted to watch it with you."
another gentle squeeze of your hand. "when i was looking online last night..."
he glanced at you. "i found a house with a porch and a yard. it gets morning sunlight. i thought your plants would like it."
your breath caught but his voice was so calm, so certain.
"i don't spend my days wondering who else might make me happier. i spend them thinking about things i'd like to do with you."
another tear slipped down your cheek. "but what if one day—"
"there isn't one."
he moved his free hand to wipe the stray tear that made its way softly down your cheek.
"i love you. i'm faithful to you and i'm staying."
zayne
☆ he notices your anxiety long before you ever mention it. he doesn't confront you right away because he wants to make sure he isn't assuming your feelings.
☆ when you finally confess you're afraid he'll cheat, he goes very still. not because he's uncomfortable—but because he refuses to answer carelessly. he chooses every sentence with precision, almost like he's handling something fragile.
☆ he never calls your fears irrational. instead, he asks what experiences taught you to expect betrayal.
☆ if you need space he gives it but if he notices your hesitation, he asks "would reassurance help right now?"
☆ he remembers your answers. in the next few weeks he'll quietly adjust little habits without announcing it. if he's running late, he'll text. if someone flirts with him, he'll naturally make it obvious he's taken.
☆ he's never performative about loyalty. it's simply woven into how he lives. reassurance doesn't come naturally to him, but consistency does.
☆ even though sometimes he isn't the best at expressing his feeling through words, if you need to hear "i love you" ten times because anxiety is loud today, he'll say it eleven times.
☆ the first time you apologize for 'being too much', his expression hardens just a little and he says "needing comfort from your partner is not an inconvenience."
───♡──────♡──────♡──────♡─────
"can i ask you something?"
zayne looked up from the book resting in his lap. "always."
you gave a weak laugh before looking down at your hands.
"do you ever think you'd...find someone else?"
he closed his book, setting it neatly on the coffee table before turning his full attention toward you.
"what makes you ask that?"
"it's stupid."
"i didn't ask if it was."
you swallowed, "i just...sometimes i think you'll wake up one day and realize someone else is prettier or easier."
his brows pulled together ever so slightly. not in annoyance. in concern.
"you've been thinking that alone?"
your eyes stung, "yeah."
he reached over, carefully taking your hand as though asking permission first.
"i can't promise your anxiety will believe me immediately."
his thumb brushed across your knuckles, "but i can promise that i have never looked for someone else."
"i chose you. i continue choosing you. and if your mind forgets tomorrow..."
a faint smile tugged at his lips, "i'll remind it tomorrow."
rafayel
☆ his first reaction is pure disbelief. he's so dramatically offended that for exactly three seconds you think he's upset.
☆ then when he realizes you're genuinely scared, his entire demeanor changes immediately.
☆ he cups your face before you can apologize. he asks where this fear came from instead of arguing against it. after learning it's rooted in past hurt, he becomes incredibly gentle.
☆ he starts casually updating you throughout the day by narrating through voice notes. "look! i saw a cat. it reminded me of you because it ignored me."
☆ he'll absolutely start saying things like, "come with me," whenever he goes somewhere, just because he loves having you around.
☆ he'll dramatically hold your face in both hands and say, "you know I'm obsessed with you, right?"
☆ he becomes shamelessly clingy afterward, not because he's worried you'll leave, but because he wants you to feel how much he enjoys being close to you.
☆ if he catches someone flirting with him, he'll immediately find you in the room and throw an arm around your shoulders with the biggest grin, almost like he's saying, mine. see? you're mine.
───♡──────♡──────♡──────♡─────
"you think i'd cheat?"
you immediately regretted saying anything.
"i'm sorry, forget i—"
"no." he gently held your wrist before you could stand. "come here."
his voice had completely lost its usual teasing edge. you looked at him cautiously.
he sighed dramatically, "my love..."
he leaned forward until your foreheads touched.
"i get jealous when your attention is on a book for too long."
a tiny laugh escaped you.
"do you honestly think i'd go looking for someone else?"
"i don't know."
the honesty broke his heart. his fingers brushed your cheek.
"whoever convinced you love disappears that easily..." he kissed your forehead. "...was wrong."
then your nose. then each cheek.
"i am so embarrassingly obsessed with you."
you laughed through your tears.
"there it is. there's my favorite smile."
sylus
☆ sylus never dismisses fear, even when he thinks it's unfounded. he just isn't used to seeing that from you. he encourages honesty, even when it's uncomfortable. he'd much rather hear an irrational fear than have you silently suffer.
☆ he wants to understand the root before addressing the symptoms. he asks thoughtful questions — what started this? what does cheating mean to you? what would reassure you right now?
☆ he listens without interrupting. once he understands, he's incredibly direct. he doesn't make impossible promises. he simply tells you the truth.
☆ his confidence is strangely calming. and over time that confidence starts rubbing off on you. you find yourself borrowing his certainty when your own is shaky
☆ he treats the anxiety as something the two of you are facing together instead of something you have to fix alone.
☆ he isn't overly sentimental, but he's fiercely intentional. if he says, "i am yours," it's because he means every word.
☆ if you're having a particularly bad day, he'll quietly cancel less important plans without making you feel guilty, because to him, taking care of his partner isn't an obligation—it's simply where he'd rather be.
───♡──────♡──────♡──────♡─────
"you've been watching me."
you blinked suddenly feeling exposed, "have i?"
"for three days."
your cheeks flushed from embarassment, "i wasn't...it's not."
he reached over and took your hand, "what happened?"
you hesitated trying to find your voice. "i'm scared you'll cheat."
he was quiet. not because he'd run out of words. because he wanted yours first.
"what made you believe that was possible?"
so you talked. for nearly twenty minutes. he never interrupted.
when you finally finished, he nodded once, "i understand why your mind went there."
he lifted your joined hands, "i disagree with it."
his thumb brushed slowly across your skin.
"i don't divide my attention. if i choose someone..." his eyes met yours, "i choose completely."
then, after a beat, his expression softened just enough to betray the tenderness beneath all that composure.
"so next time your thoughts decide they're smarter than reality..." he brought your hand to his lips. "tell me...we'll argue with them together."
caleb
☆ caleb doesn't let conversations like this happen from opposite ends of the room. the second he realizes you're hurting, he's already pulling you into a hug.
☆ his love language is touch — back rubs, hair strokes, forehead kisses, holding your hand while you talk.
☆ he doesn't interrupt. doesn't rush to solve it. just lets you cry if you need to.
☆ he's incredibly validating. he treats reassurance like teamwork. "okay, what's your brain telling you today? let's hear it."
☆ once you've calmed down, he starts making you laugh again. he wants the conversation to end with warmth rather than tears.
☆ he has absolutely no shame about comforting you in the silliest ways if it gets you to smile again.
☆ if your thoughts are spiraling particularly bad one day, he'll distract you by pulling you into the kitchen to bake cookies at midnight or insisting on building a blanket fort together.
☆ he loves saying, "we've got time." as in, we don't have to solve this right now—you don't have to rush through your feelings.
───♡──────♡──────♡──────♡─────
"you've been quiet all night."
you kept your face straight, fighting back a frown. "i'm fine."
he opened one arm and you walked into it without thinking. within seconds you were wrapped against his chest.
"you know," he murmured. "i've learned that 'i'm fine' usually means the opposite."
you laughed weakly, "i'm scared."
his hand slowed on your back, "of what?"
"...that you'll cheat."
he held you tighter. not enough to trap you. just enough that you could feel every steady heartbeat beneath his hoodie.
"oh, sweetheart."
he rested his chin on top of your head.
"i'm so sorry someone taught you that love feels temporary."
his hand rubbed lazy circles across your back.
"you don't have to be scared by yourself anymore."
you stayed like that for nearly an hour. neither of you in any hurry to move.
valko
☆ valko is almost confused by the idea that he'd leave you. not offended—just genuinely unable to imagine it.
☆ in his mind, faithfulness isn't something he actively tries to do. it simply is.
☆ to him, you're his mate. that isn't something temporary or casual. he believes choosing a mate is choosing a life.
☆ family means everything to him. he loves talking about the family you'll build together someday—not as pressure, just because imagining that future with you makes him happy.
☆ he reassures through constant affection. passing by you? kiss on the head. sitting together? you're somehow already tucked against his side. walking through the house? he'll hook a finger through one of your belt loops just to steal you away for a hug.
☆ he's playful even during serious conversations because making you smile is one of his favorite ways to comfort you.
☆ he absolutely calls you ridiculous pet names in the middle of reassurance just to hear you huff. "my little worrier." "sweetheart." "my heart."
☆ if you're crying, he'll wipe away your tears with exaggerated seriousness before immediately booping your nose to make you smile.
───♡──────♡──────♡──────♡─────
"you think i'd leave my mate?"
you shrank a little, "it sounds silly when you say it."
valko sat up on the couch and opened his arms.
"c'mere."
the second you settled against him, he wrapped himself around you like he'd been waiting all day to do it. one kiss landed on your temple. then several more.
"you know what i think?"
"hm?"
"i think you have been thinking too much."
a small smile tugged at your lips. he noticed immediately. he gently nudged your nose with his own.
"i don't look at you and think about someone else."
"i look at you..." he smiled so warmly it almost hurt. "and i wonder what our home will look like. whether our children get your smile."
you stared at him, "you think about that?"
"every day."
he laughed gently and lovingly, "you're my mate. my family. the person i want beside me when i'm eighty and grumpy."
he reached up, brushing away a tear with his thumb.
"so no. i won't leave. that would require leaving part of myself behind."
The universe decided to peak into my life ig (I never thought I would need something like this, because I’m scared of a relationship because of my parents relationship and incidents but thank you)
“Let’s not move for the whole weekend. I really want to hold you just like this.”
a/n: @bloomaton thank you for your idea of a cosy Sylus fic inspired by this Rafayel one I wrote! This is a little different but I hope it’s still comforting <33
summary: after a long week, Sylus makes sure you spend the entire weekend relaxing in his arms.
tags: established relationship, domestic fluff, hurt/comfort, caretaker Sylus, acts of service, physical touch, sleepy cuddles, wearing his clothes, soft Sylus, pet names, cosy weekend, minecraft longplays
wc: 0.9k
masterlist
“You’re not even going to get changed first sweetie?” Sylus’s amused voice drifted across the room, gaze landing on you face down on top of his bedsheets.
“Nope,” you smile.
The Sylus of the past would worry that his sheets are being disturbed. But it was because of you. So that didn’t really count for anything.
As soon as you told Sylus you were finishing early, he let you know that it wasn’t a problem. He was still coming to pick you up. It was a Friday night after all, and you had both decided spending a cosy weekend together would be simply amazing.
You reach for one of the takeaway cups on his nightstand. Taking a sip, the warm hot chocolate fills your senses. Sylus picked you up in his car with them, deciding not to take his RX-116 motorcycle. He wanted you to be warm and relaxed. And the between the classical music playing in the background, Sylus’s steady driving and the hot chocolate, the ride to Sylus’s home was definitely comfortable.
He looks at you to see your eyes closed in comfort.
“Make yourself at home,” he smiles, removing the cuff links from his shirt. He was even letting you drink on his bed - what had gotten into him!
“I think I will.”
He lets out a wonderful laugh, that makes you impatient. His bed already smelt like him, and was super comfy, but it wasn’t enough. You wanted to cuddle with him.
You continue sipping your drink as he takes off his watch, putting into his watch drawer in the walk in closet. He moves out of sight for a moment before coming back with a set of clothes.
“Here, my guest should be comfortable,” he sets it down on the bed for you.
You hardly want to move, but getting changed and getting closer to Sylus is the goal you are happy to move for.
You get changed into the luxurious sleepwear and it’s way too big.
“Sweetie, it fits you perfectly.”
“Hmph. Just because you’re so big…”
He shakes his head in feigned annoyance. “You can get in you know.”
“Good, I’ll get away from your teasing.”
Sylus takes a moment to watch you open his sheets and jump inside. You give him a look and he starts, coming to his own side and getting in.
He opens his arms and you fall into them. So warm and strong, it feels like you could fall asleep in his arms forever. His arms settle around your waist and pull you closer.
“Did you miss me today?” He asks softly.
“So much you don’t even know it. Need to stay like this forever.”
Sylus leans down to your face curled against his chest, and rubs your forehead with his.
“Okay,” he says. “Then let’s stay here forever.”
-/-/-
At some point in the night you get hungry.
“Sylus, can you make me some food?”
“How brazen. Will you be helping me?” he asks.
“… nevermind.”
“The bottom door of the nightstand is a mini fridge. What did you want to eat?” He takes your hand.
“Wait seriously!” You almost jump up to face him. His serious expression meets you. “You’re the best Sylus.”
“I know sweetie.”
Miraculously, Sylus’s bedroom mini fridge has an assortment of snacks, fruits and drinks.
“So you do eat in bed!” You point at Sylus’s shoulder.
“Not really… I just know you like these foods.”
You let out a small pout at his kindness before you both arrange the snacks, sitting up in bed.
Sylus has a massive wall mounted tv in his bedroom. And you plan to take full advantage of it.
“If you want… you can put those bricks on,” Sylus says, munching beside you.
“Minecraft?” You laugh.
“Yes… Minecraft.”
Recently you had been putting on Minecraft longplays on YouTube. They helped you sleep, and Sylus was very content to watch them since you introduced them to him. He grew to love them so much.
The sounds of rain and mining filled the room, at the perfect volume for it to be cosy.
He holds his right arm around your lower back and hip, hand resting on the outside of your thigh. Even with his left non-dominant hand, he was able to feed you whatever you wanted.
His hand automatically caresses you, and you fall deeper into his side.
“You falling asleep kitten?” Sylus asks you.
“Yeah.”
“Come closer and lie down then, you’ll be more comfortable.”
“Yeah,” you mumble.
Sylus gently guides you to lie back, putting a pillow under your head and making sure you’re okay. Your arm reaches out for him and he lies directly behind you. His arm drapes over you lazily and you pull it against your chest, fingers intertwined.
“Are you comfortable?” Sylus’s voice is deep, and he speaks against your hair. It’s huskier than usual.
You smile, “So comfortable.”
Sylus was so warm against you, a personal heater. Minecraft was playing in the background. You were relaxing in Sylus’s bed, in his clothes. What could be better than this?
He moves to kiss your cheek gently, before moving to let his other hand stroke your hair.
“Let’s not move for the whole weekend. I really want to hold you just like this.”
You hum in agreement and he settles down into you closer. His heartbeat calmed you down, as your own moved to match his.
I feel a little creeped out tho cause u literally made a ff of all the things I do too (or we just have the same hobbies 😂) thank you again for making this ff
a/n: more valko content to fill the void in my heart - accompanying art here
tags: fluff, fluff (literal), established relationship
As soon as you’d kicked the door shut and slipped off your shoes, you’d heard the noise.
It was… rustling? No. Maybe it sounded more like… scratching.
“Valko?” you called out. The response you received sounded eerily like a whine.
It all quickly made sense when you walked down the hallway a found a wolf in your apartment. A real, honest to the gods, wolf. And a giant one at that. You'd stumbled upon this majestic creature, currently faced away from you on its hind legs, paws braced against the fridge door, gnawing at the handle.
What the fuck?
It spun around to face you, but immediately stilled once you took a wary step back.
The wolf lowered itself slowly, curling inwards to make itself look smaller, which would have worked if it wasn’t still one of the biggest creatures you’d ever seen in your life. It looked up at you with it’s golden eyes, patiently waiting.
“Valko?” you ventured softly, crouching down, hesitantly reaching a hand out. It should have been obvious- although, coming home and catching a wolf trying to pry open your refrigerator was surely enough to throw anyone. Plus you’d never seen your boyfriend so… cuddly before.
His ears perked up at the sound of his name, and his tail began to wag, but he kept his distance.
“It’s you, isn’t it, sweetheart?”
He made a soft sound, before lolling his tongue out.
“C’mere.”
It’s the direction he’d been waiting for- making sure you felt comfortable before approaching. Your heart warmed with fondness, how sweet, your gentle giant.
He trotted towards you leisurely, before nosing at your hand.
“Hey, Val,” you giggled as he licked your fingers. “Looking a little different today. Did you do something with your hair?”
He puffed and prodded you with his nose until you sat down properly, then promptly made himself comfortable between your legs. Unsurprisingly, even in this form he towered over you. You reached around to stroke the length of his back. Valko rested his head on your shoulder, practically melting under the attention.
While you were very much enjoying cuddling him like this, you suddenly became aware you were still in your work clothes.
“I haven’t put my stuff down yet. I’ll go get changed and be back in a second. Okay big guy?”
You booped his nose, giggling when he grumbled in response. After giving him a few more scratches around the ears, you gently extracted yourself and left for the hallway.
You’d thought it was a little strange that he gave you up so willingly but when you returned to the kitchen and found him trying to open the fridge again it made sense.
“Hey! Valko no.” You tried pulling him away but he wouldn’t budge. “You can’t have chocolate milk or any chocolate for that matter!” you scolded, barely squeezing between him and the fridge. “What if you get sick!”
Valko huffed and whined and tried to (gently) push you away.
“Nope. No chocolate until you shift back.”
He let out an anguished howl and the theatrics of it all made you laugh. "None of that's going to help you Mr Wolf."
“And maybe consider keeping the howling to a minimum. I don't want a noise complaint.” Valko herded you backwards, out of the kitchen and into the living room. “And I don’t want to explain to my neighbours my newly acquired, well, wolf. It’d be hard to talk my way out of that one,” you continued.
The back of your knees hit the edge of the couch as soon as you’d finished speaking. Valko pounced up and draped himself across your lap. He whined and tapped your hand with his paw.
“You’re just a big puppy aren't you?” you laughed, beginning to stroke his fur.
Valko’s tail started wagging.
“You’re so cute! And your eyes, they're so pretty- have I ever told you that?”
Valko tilted his head to lick at your hand.
“You know, it's kind of easier to talk to you when you’re like this,” you said.
Valko paused and gave you his full attention, dropping his chin down onto your hand and looking up at you.
"I don't know why but I feel like it's less embarrassing? Or vulnerable?" You scratched his chin. "For instance, I can tell you that… when you go away on your business trips I miss you more than I let on. And even though I grumble about it, I secretly kind of like the hikes we go on together."
"I can also tell you that maybe I’m really glad you found me. I mean, I was doing fine before. But. You-"
Nope! Still too much!
You buried your face in his fur. "You fill my life with happiness just by hanging around. Please keep hanging around? It’d be nice if we could stay together.”
You hoped that the, ‘for a long time’, was implied.
Valko licked your cheek as soon as you braved the prospect of raising your head. You decided to take it as an agreement.
“Oh and one more thing. Just so you know... I think you always look pretty and handsome. But that last hair cut you got- I lied. I said I liked it but really, you were right, the barber cut it way too short. It didn't really look the best.”
Valko dislodged you, sitting up on his haunches and looking at you with a miffed expression.
“I was just trying to make you feel better,” you scrambled to explain. “It was practically a buzz cut- which you could definitely pull off if you wanted to,” you amended quickly.
Valko bit your arm playfully. It barely even stung but he was already licking it better.
“Yeah, yeah, I guess I deserved that. I’m sorry.”
You continued to pet him for a while. Eventually you leant over and rested against him. He was so warm and soft and your eyes were slowly fluttering shut. “Do you mind if I take a nap here?”
Valko wiggled out from under you.
“I guess that’s a no,” you sighed. You were about to lay down once again but then Valko was pulling your shirt, tugging with his teeth.
You let it happen without questioning it and found yourself lying horizontal across the couch. So he was making sure you were comfortable, you thought, smiling sleepily. Valko curled up against your stomach, settling in your outstretched arms.
“Love you Val,” you whispered. A soft contented sound was the last thing you heard before drifting off.
The living room was shrouded in darkness when you finally woke from your nap.
“Valko?”
Moonlight illuminated the face of your lover, who smiled as you blinked your eyes open. He pressed his nose to yours. “Hey sweets.”
“Welcome back,” you laughed softly.
Valko ducked his head and joined you in your laughter. “Thank you, thank you.”
“Feeling good?”
“Better than ever. Don't you worry about me.”
You raised an eyebrow. “So, were you just in a wolfy mood or, does this happen often?”
“Usually I shift once a month. Ideally it’d be more than that, but I rarely have the time.”
“I see.”
“I thought you might like to see it. See me, I mean,” he corrected, his confession coming out a little shy.
“You were right. I’m glad you shared that part of you with me. You were very cute,” you stated matter-of-factly.
“So I heard,” he said. Valko smirked, but his flickering ears betrayed how pleased he was to hear it again.
“And if you ever want to shift you're always welcome to do that here-
“Thank you.”
“-though, now that I’m thinking about it, I assume the forest would be better. That way you can actually run around, stretch your legs and… howl at the moon?”
“That’s a myth, pancake. We don’t actually do that.”
“Are you sure? I mean, I feel like you’re a real howler, you know? I can just picture it.”
Valko chuckled and shook his head. “How about this? Next time I shift, I’ll take you with me.”
You looked up at him, eyes wide. “Seriously?"
Valko shrugged. “Sure.”
"But I feel like- isn't that kind of an intimate thing? I don't want to intrude.”
"You wouldn't be intruding. I wouldn't have invited you if I felt that." He shook his head. "I feel safe with you. And I'll keep you safe as well."
“Wow.” You cocked your head, examining him. “You really like me, huh?” you teased, not sure how else to respond in the face of such earnestness.
“Yeah,” Valko admitted easily, seeing right through you. His expression was warm, his voice tender. “I really do.”
Description: You woke up with excruciating effort only to find yourself injured in a no-hunt zone in the middle of a forest, with no way of contacting other hunters.
Before you could start panicking however, you're greeted by a gentle companion offering his help.
Word count: 2.1k+
A/n: I really wanted to write this and it may flop, but I gotta get it out. Still holding on to hope to get you back our little wolfie.
The first thing you felt was hard soil underneath you. The grass was poking your skin that was not covered by your uniform and teared up in some places. Second, was the chirping of birds nearby and cicadas as your ears popped, gradually processing all the sounds around you.
You groaned, and lifted your hand to hold your forehead as it rang from being unconscious, making you scrunch your eyes shut to try and will the pain away. Along with that, your body was scratched up and your uniform was in a similar manner. Sleeves torn and covered in a mix of dried blood and mud.
Some of your memories were slowly returning to you as you scanned your surroundings. You were in a no-hunt zone, located in a dense area of the forest on the outskirts of Linkon city. The trees towered over your head, their thick leaves shutting out the bright sun rays, but even then, you were able to tell it was only early morning, or afternoon.
Your arm went to push yourself up but you winced and buckled down in pain when your elbow protested, all your nerves shooting up like lightning over your arm when you put weight on it.
“Ah shit.” Even whispering made your head spin, and so you attempted to gather yourself first, and make as clear an assessment as you can of your current situation. Which currently was you stuck in the middle of a no-hunt zone, with a fifty percent chance of a concussion, no ammo in your holster, and too many injuries to account for.
At least you weren't bleeding out from a fatal injury, which was the only positive thing you could lean on to push yourself to find a way out of this mess.
After some struggle, you pushed yourself to a sit and moved back to lean against a nearby tree. That movement alone took most of your energy and left you breathing heavily, settling the harsh reality of your situation as you forced your breathing to steady out. You felt around for your watch on your wrist, cursing when after tapping it, no response was given.
It was either dead, or broken before you fell unconscious. You also couldn't remember just what happened exactly to place you here in your current condition. Every time you tried to scramble your brain for answers, your forehead would only strike back sharply with a blinding pain.
You strained your ears trying to mentally calculate how far you were from civilization, but it proved a fruitless endeavour when all you were able to hear were the endless cicadas and other forest animals dwelling nearby, their footsteps crunching on dry leaves and thin tree branches.
The loud thuds of heavy footsteps reverberate in your surroundings, causing you to swish your head to where the footsteps were closest on your right. Your body moved, trained to withstand the pain and fight under pressure as you picked up your gun, thanking your lucky stars that it still held some ammo you can use. Not enough for a mass killing, but if used right, will determine whether you survive or not.
Your finger hovered over the trigger, and you used your other arm to also hold up the gun and keep it steady. Your breathing was slightly trembling, and your arms were aching, but you remained as you were, gun held up and ready for whatever it was that was creeping closer.
The thuds grew louder until the scrunches of leaves underneath its feet signaled its arrival. You expected a wild animal to jump out of the thick foliage at best, and a wanderer at worst. What you hadn't expected was the clash of intense amber eyes connecting with yours through the leaves, the shadows and bushes hiding the form of the owner.
Your head was tilted as you kept your aim true, waiting with baited breath for its next move. You couldn't escape its gaze, your eyes locked in an intense battle. Assessing each other. Waiting.
Your arm jerked up when the owner of those yellowish eyes blinked and carefully stepped into the light. The first thing you noticed was the thick fur on its hind legs, then the shadows parted ways and you were staring at a wolf twice your size, a predator of great skill and agility, slowly making its way to you.
You hoped the wolf wasn't hungry, or else it would have already pounced on you, so you held steady, prepared for any surprises which ended up being useless when the huge animal crouched down on its front legs, as if making itself seem smaller, and lowered its head in a way you hoped was letting you know its peaceful.
Your eyelids were betraying you as they started twitching, exhaustion seeping into your bones with no current help to fix up your wounds and the lack of nutrients in your body. Your grip on the gun trembled and you were forced to drop your arm when pain shot through, worse than before and more effective.
An involuntary whimper escaped your lips as your body began folding in on its self, making you reach the conclusion that a wound may have been stretched and reopened, if the fresh blood seeping out from your side was any indication. The blood stained your ripped shirt a dark crimson, and your gun hit the soft grass with a thud, your hands scrambling to put pressure on the wound which pulled a small yell out of you.
At this moment, you weren't aware of the approaching apex predator until his wet snout barely nudged your hand covering your side. The wolf let out a velvety puff of air, its warm breath hitting your bare torn skin as your chest contracted with unsteady breaths.
Your barely conscious mind couldn't comprehend what the wolf was doing, and why in the world it was being so gentle with you. All of your thoughts gradually died down until the last thing you remember is your head tilting sideways, your body falling with it into soft and thick fur.
…
The wolf whimpered, laying down on its side and curling around your body protectively. He used his snout to pry your hand from your wound and gave the bare skin a tentative lick, observant eyes flicking to your face for any signs of pain or movement.
When he saw none, he proceeded to lick at the wound, his saliva acting like special enzymes, killing bacteria and helping speed up your healing process.
So for an hour, the wolf stayed curled around your body, growling at any living thing that stepped meters from you, while actively licking any open wounds exposed to the cool air. Sometimes, you would whimper in your unconscious state, your limbs weakly spasming for short periods but in time, your brows relaxed from their scrunched state. Your body diving into the warm source curled around you, as the wolf's naturally healing saliva did its job.
Hours later, your senses awoke one by one, slowly loading into your system after the past rough twenty four hours. You registered the calm of a forest with the crickets alive and the faint noise of sleepy birds, smelled the cool fresh grass and felt the warmth of a fluffy cloud curled around your back. Your eyes fluttered open, disgruntled noises leaving your lips as you tried to sit up only to jolt when a yelp came out right beside your ear, making you whip your head around only to come face to face with a familiar wolf.
You blinked several times, absorbing the shock before it could burst forth and rationing with your mind that it was the same wolf who approached you so gently, and was laying down beside you with no fear.
You looked down, flabbergasted because this time, you didn't wake up in pain. Your hand automatically reached for your side but halted when it rubbed against patched skin. The same spot that caused you to faint from pure pain and blood loss, now mostly closed up and healed.
You tentatively turned your head to look at the wolf and the animal tilted its head slightly, reminding you of a mere domesticated puppy as you studied each other. Your eyes trailed over his figure laid down comfortably and you noted that its a male. Surprising you as they're known to be very territorial, though this one seemed to be an exception.
“You… My wounds…” You felt silly speaking to a wolf, but something in you made you feel that he can understand you. Another yelp. His wet snout nudged your arm, making its way under your elbow and you followed, your arms naturally circling his thick neck and using him as a crutch to push yourself up. Your injured leg hovered slightly in the air.
Now that the wolf was standing up fully, you were overcome by his sheer size and mass. If he wanted to, he could have crushed you underneath him but instead, seemed to hold himself back with immense effort as to not hurt you.
A soft puff of air escaped his muzzle, and he glanced back at you, whipping his head side-to-side in a quick shake.
“Um, can you help me make it back to Linkon…? Oh who am I kidding, I'm speaking to a- woah!” Your breath abruptly left you when the wolf nudged you with his side, causing your knees to bend and seeing as he was the nearest thing, your body fell on his back, your arms tightening around his neck to keep yourself steady.
“Hey what was that for!” Another huff, another shake of its head. You tilted your head.
Your eyes gradually widened when a conclusion, crazy as it may be, seeped into your mind. “Do you want me to get on your back?” A gentle bark. “Oh,” You blinked, “still doesn't explain how you're understanding me but, let's hope I'm right.” You gulped and with a bit of effort from your side, you grabbed onto his neck, and pushed yourself up until you were laying face down on his back with your legs on either side of his stomach.
A gentle purr rumbled deep within his chest, reverberating throughout his body and also through you. Your hands were holding on to his fur at his neck, arms curled around it to accommodate yourself and keep you from falling. When the wolf felt you settle, he began walking with slow and steady footsteps.
You were dehydrated and hungry, so in order to preserve your energy, you willed your eyes close to rest up. You didn't fall asleep, but the low rumble coming from your furry companion helped ease your muscles and keep you relaxed, and so you held out for a bit longer.
After an hour of trekking, maybe two, the familiar noise of traffic and city life reached through the forest from its outskirts. You lifted your head, your breath releasing in a relieved sigh, happy to finally be back where you can get help, and finally go back home.
The wolf stopped a few meters away, both of you still hidden in the foliage, and you noticed the fence gate in the distance, warning people away from the no-hunt zone. From your position, you were also able to see an ambulance nearby and people wearing the hunter uniform, no doubt your coworkers searching for you after you lost contact.
Your grip tightened slightly when the wolf crouched down with both his front and back legs, and with his support, you climbed off his back and stood on your good foot.
“You actually got me to safety.” Your voice was low, breathless as the magnificent creature pushed himself up and turned to gently boop your uninjured side. You giggled, your hand petting him on the head and he leaned into your touch, guiding you with his head until you were scratching right behind his ear. You heard a rhythmic thump and let out a soft laugh when you saw his tail happily wagging back and forth.
A minute later, you moved your hand down to his jaw and gave him a few more scritches. “Thank you, little wolfie, for saving my life.” The gentle thanks was whispered with your forehead leaning on his and with that, you limped backwards, using the nearby trees to steady you.
The wolf gives your cheek a lick and backs away and you take your signal to start trekking the last few steps until you reach the gate.
When you step into the light before the fencing, you hear exclamations and the rattling of a metal gate as it opens.
“Get the ambulance ready to move!” The noise started back up as the medics on standby rushed to help and the engine of the ambulance was turned on. The medic that rushed to you had you wrap an arm around his shoulder in support, helping you walk towards the truck.
You looked back, your trained ears catching onto a howl deep in the forest, and you smiled, hoping you could meet your wolf again.
that much was obvious. the way your eyebrows were knitted together. the small pout on your lips. how your breathing sounds like you're trying to not sound shaky.
sylus notices. he notices everything when it comes to you. hell, it's scary when he knows more about your habits than you. knows that when your upset, you try to hide it, yet also want him to be there physically and emotionally.
so, he walks up to your curled up form, and carries you. it's a silent comfort, sylus wanting to make sure you know that he's there. he'll let you sulk, let you mope, and sure it breaks his heart to see it, but he's right there when those tears run down your face.
he's careful and good with his words, knowing exactly what to say. but right now, he knows that you just need the comforting thoughts that even though everything hurts, everything feels so far away, that he's right there.
sylus would carry you around the house, setting you down in bed. the pillows and blankets smell like him- the familiar notes of smoke and spice and something uniquely sylus. he would kiss your forehead, muttering something you don't quite pick up, but feels like a promise and reassurance wrapped in one.
you watch him move around the room with his idle grace. picking things up, putting things where they belong. he leaves the room, but you're not alone. mephisto is perched on the bedpost. instead of putting up a squabble, he crips mechanically, just as sylus had asked him to.
sylus is back in no time. a cup of water in one hand, a small plate of your comfort food that he learned to cook just for you. he'd put it on the bedside table, sitting next to you with enough space that says I'm here, I'm right here.
he's got a soft cloth in hand, gently dabbing away at the streaks the tears left behind. he gently asks you to drink water, even just a bit. his smile is gentle when you take the food that he feeds you.
if you'll allow him, he'll hold you in his arms. he acts like your shield against everything that is weighing you down. he'll murmur small things of reassurance. and you know he means it, because nothing sylus does or says is half done.
"I'm so proud of you",
"You deserve the good things that come to you",
"You feel like home",
"It's okay to not be okay. I'll be right here for when you are and aren't",
"You don't need to carry the weight of the world alone, not with me, never with me"
and when you're ready to talk, to let everything out, he's right there where you left him. right by your side, like a dragon who protects its treasure. there is no love purer than his love for you.
i love and miss you sylus. i've never needed my dragon more than i do now. wait for me, please.
summary: you don't want to get out of bed, and Rafayel respects that entirely, keeping you company and in high spirits.
tags: wanting to stay in bed, established relationship, domestic fluff, hurt/comfort, caretaker Rafayel, emotional comfort, cuddling, hair stroking, pet names, acts of service, soft Rafayel
wc: 0.5k
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Rafayel is kind with his actions, when you look closely.
“Is my little fishie still in bed?”
Rafayel comes into your bedroom, undoing his tie. A fancy lunch with potential exhibit investors was to blame, and he was glad to be back home.
He smiles affectionately as his eyes come to rest across your figure still in bed, crackers that have been munched on and water sipped from. All brought to your side before he left.
“Mmm hmm,” you reply, not even bothering to move but you raise your head slightly. You watch him take off his shirt and swap his pants for something more comfortable.
“Good, I didn’t miss the party going on in here," he says softly.
From anyone else that would sound sarcastic, but as he gently comes into bed next to you and hugs you from behind, you know he is being genuine.
“Did I miss anything?” Rafayel asks you, joining you to gaze out of the bedroom window together.
“Only a pigeon that flew by.”
“Only a pigeon?” He asks. “That poor pigeon. Just living life and you don’t appreciate it.”
He smiles against your shoulder as you tangle your legs with his.
“And there was a flying insect. I think it was lost because it wanted to come inside.”
“See... it just knew you were in here, and it wanted to be cosy too.”
You nod.
“Would you look after me if I was that bug? Or would you squish me?” He asks seriously.
You laugh and he glows at the sound. “Of course I would.”
“Hey! I knew you would squish me!”
“No! I meant of course I would look after you, silly. I’d make sure to feed you what you can eat. And I wouldn’t put you in a container, I’d let you fly around wherever you please.”
“Then what if a pigeon eats me…”
“Enough of that silly," you twist to poke his cheek playfully. "I will look after you, don't worry." He nuzzles closer into your hand.
"How was your lunch?” you ask.
“So boringgg…”
Rafayel is kind with his words, when you look closely.
This is how he comforts you on a day when you don’t want to go anywhere or get out of bed. He doesn’t think it’s shameful. Everyone feels like that at some point in their life, and if anyone is to understand it, it would be him.
Rafayel will stay with you, keep you fed and hydrated, warm and cosy even when your thoughts are racing. He will ask you silly questions to distract you. He’d suggest you both go for a walk on the beach at sunset, even offering to carry you the whole way. Whatever you feel like, he’d respect.
As the peaceful day comes to an end, you look up at him. “Raf… thank you for looking after me.” Rafayel is half engrossed in reading a fashion magazine but he's still very present.
He looks down at you resting in his lap and stokes your hair gently with a tilt of his head.
“No problem cutie, that’s my job. And for you, my services are free of charge. Remember, because you’re my VIP.”
Summary: Sylus leaves for his mission, and you don't know what to do with yourself.
Relevant tags: Sylus x Fem!Reader, Fluff, Royal AU, Secret Relationships, Knights, Princes and Princesses, First Love
Chapter 1
AO3 Link
Tag list: @souppooppie @valiantchaosvalkyrie @imdeadinsidelolexe @babygirl-panda19 @thirsty-btch @ariqinonychinus
You stood in the palace courtyard, wrapped in a warm shawl, watching the men around you ready their horses. Sylus wore a black outfit - all wool and leather, something that looked like his men had brought from up north. You watched him attach his swords to his belt, his brow furrowed as he fiddled with the straps. Nearby, Sebastian was helping a knight finish loading supplies onto a cart.
There were surprisingly few men and horses out. There wasn’t an army. No crowds gathered to send them off with fanfare and celebration. Instead, they were leaving before sunrise, slipping away while the palace and capital still slept. You recognised the red-haired twins and a few other men from Prince Kaylen’s entourage, all wearing plain, black armour.
Sylus glanced over his shoulder and caught you watching him from the steps. He crossed the courtyard slowly and stood before you, a forced smile on his face. Noticing the small clouds of your breath in the cold morning air, he reached up and pulled your shawl tighter around you. His hands found your shoulders, his thumbs stroking you gently. You stood in silence for a long moment, neither of you knowing what to say. He sighed and pulled you into his chest, resting his chin on top of your head. You burrowed into his embrace, sniffling lightly. It’s only the cold, you told yourself.
“Send a messenger as soon as you settle in Willowby,” you muttered into his chest. “I want to know everything.”
“Mmhm.” His arms tightened around you. “I promise you, the messengers won’t get a moment’s rest.”
You wrapped your arms around him, imagining climbing into the cart and setting off with him. By the time they found you hidden in their supplies, you reckoned, it would be too late to turn back.
“Why are there so few of you?”
“More will join us as we pass through the capital.”
You sighed and fell silent again, melting into his arms, trying to squeeze every second you had with him.
“Please be safe.” Your voice cracked. “No showing off, and no taking risks.”
“I promise to be careful,” he whispered above you. “I’ll come back before you know it.”
“And you must eat well, and–”
A flash of white caught your eye, halting your words, and you pulled away from Sylus, glancing toward the palace steps. Lady Celia ran down the steps and threw herself at Sebastian. He caught her, lifting her into the air, and she clung to his shoulders, hiccuping and sobbing words that you couldn’t make out. Not wanting to stare, you took Sylus’s hands, lowering your eyes.
“See?” He said softly, and you looked up to find him gazing down at you with a sad smile. “Could be worse. At least they’re not interrupting our honeymoon.”
“If we get to have one at all…” You mumbled, your eyes stinging with tears.
“I’ll make sure that we do. It’ll be the honeymoon of your dreams.” He squeezed your hands. “I swear to you.”
“You’re making a lot of promises.”
“And I’ll keep every single one.” He answered without a hint of hesitation, and you cracked a small smile through your tears. With a sigh, you reached into the neckline of your dress and pulled out a handkerchief, handing it to him. He held it to his face with a small smile, closing his eyes for a moment. “It smells like your perfume.”
“And when it fades, it means it’s time to return,” you said, dabbing your eyes with your sleeve.
“I’ll treasure it,” he murmured, folding it carefully and placing it into his coat’s inner pocket.
He leaned down and pressed his lips to yours, letting them linger for a moment before pulling back. You whined and chased his lips, grabbing onto his coat and pulling him back toward you for another kiss. You squeezed so tight your knuckles turned white. When you finally pulled apart, he rested his forehead against yours, your breaths mingling together in the cold morning air. He looked toward the horizon, frowning at the pink and orange rays bleeding into the sky.
“It’s time to go,” he whispered, reluctant to move despite his words.
You gripped the fabric of his coat harder, your voice coming out small and weak. “Not yet.”
Gods, you sound pathetic, you thought as your vision blurred again.
Sylus cradled your face in his hands and pressed one last, tender kiss to your lips, like he was trying to imprint the feel of them into his memory. When he pulled back, your hand shot out, catching his before he could step away. For a breath, he held on, his fingers curling around yours. Then slowly, reluctantly, he stepped away from you, his hand slipping from yours. He turned and headed towards his horse, pulling his gloves on as he went. He climbed onto his horse, and set off without looking back. One by one, his men followed after him. With one last kiss to his wife’s lips, Sebastian peeled himself off her, and hopped on his horse, galloping to catch up with Sylus.
Lady Celia approached you and stood at your side, eyes puffy and red with tears, as you watched them ride off in silence. In the distance, you caught Sylus leaning toward Sebastian to say something, who seemed to bristle like an angry cat and hissed something back, gripping the reins tight. Sylus laughed in response as they rode on.
“See? They’re getting along already.” You linked your arm with hers. She laughed weakly, dabbing her tears with her sleeves. Watching Celia desperately try to hold it together made you remember Sylus’s words.
At least they’re not interrupting our honeymoon.
You felt an odd sense of comfort by the thought that you weren’t the only one going through this. Sebastian and Celia had their own story, and the knights and henchmen were likely sent off with similar farewells.
“I’m so sorry.” She sniffled beside you. “I’m such a crybaby.”
“Look at me, I’m just as bad.” You said with a small laugh, wiping your own tears. You watched the great castle gates close shut, the men disappearing behind them.
A chill went through you, making you shiver.
“Let’s get inside, then,” you squeezed Celia’s arm. “Before everyone sees us blubbering.”
Once you were inside, you managed to keep a straight face until you reached your bedroom. As soon as the guard closed the door, you flopped onto your bed with a heavy sigh, kicking off your shoes. You grabbed a pillow and hugged it close, curling your body into it. You could still feel his touch, his warmth on you. You pressed your face into your pillow, letting it muffle your sobs and soak up your tears.
Your thoughts wandered back to the last time you cried like this in your bed, when Sir Godwyn had retired.
All of my guards seem to leave me behind like this. You laughed bitterly at yourself. I’m never taking a sworn guard again.
Except the first time you’d been crying over losing your glorified babysitter, as the servants called him. This time, you were crying over your fiancé.
Eventually the fatigue from your sleepless night caught up with you, and you succumbed to the warmth of your bed.
You woke up to a soft knock on your door. Wiping your face with a hand, you pushed yourself up, confused and disoriented. When you peeled your eyes open, they felt dry and tender, the feeling making you wince. You couldn’t tell how long you’d slept, or what time of day it was. You instinctively patted the bed beside you, reaching for Sylus, and then you remembered. He was gone.
“Come in,” you called out, your voice thick with sleep. After some rustling on the other side of the door, Erin entered, carrying a tray of food.
“Your Highness.” She placed the tray down and sat beside you, eyebrows furrowed with concern. “Do you want to talk?”
Ugh, do I look that pitiful? You thought, seeing the look in her eyes. You placed your hand on top of hers.
“Thank you, Erin. For now…” You tried to give her your best reassuring smile. “I’d prefer a distraction.”
“Yes, my lady,” she said, deciding not to press. “How about a bath and some food? I made your favourite."
“You’re a star.” You patted her hand gently before letting go.
The rest of your day passed in a daze. Erin told you various stories and gossip from around the palace as you soaked in your bath. You listened for the most part, but your mind kept drifting to Sylus, to his mission, and the danger he was walking into. You wondered whether he had already reached Willowby.
“Sir Caleb says his family has acquired apple seeds from a faraway kingdom,” Erin said, as she patted your hair dry with a soft towel.
“I wonder if they taste good.” You leaned your head back into her hands.
“I don’t know about that. But he says that they’re supposed to bloom into lovely pink blossoms in spring.”
“They sound beautiful,” you muttered absentmindedly. “He’s trying to impress you.”
As Erin protested behind you, your mind drifted to Celia. You wondered if she had made any friends at the palace yet.
“Erin.” You looked at her in the mirror. “Would you please invite Madeleine and Eleanor to dinner?”
“That’s a great idea, my lady.” Erin seemed genuinely pleased as she reached for your hairbrush.
“And…” You paused. “Please invite Lady Celia, too.”
When you first ventured out of your room that day, you discovered that you had not one, but two guards. You stared at them for a moment. They stood, expressionless, at each side of your door like a pair of gargoyles.
Father, you sighed. He really meant it when he said I’m not going anywhere.
Then a second day came without your Sylus.
And a third.
Then a fourth.
It felt so… odd, not having him around. It didn’t feel right spending your days without him leaning against a wall, humming a tune, pulling out some blade from god-knows-where and inspecting it. Your new guards were twice as many, yet twice as quiet. Most of all, you missed the banter. The way he teased you. Not even Maddie dared say half the things he said. On a few occasions, out of pure habit, you turned to your guards for comment, and all you received was a hesitant “yes, my lady” or “no, my lady”. The awkward silence afterwards felt so wrong. Your family checked on you often, with hugs, words of comfort and encouragement, and eyes full of pity.
Anxiety crept up on you each day that you’d received no word from Sylus. Willowby wasn’t that far, and the roads were decent. Your mind raced with scenarios of what could have delayed his letter.
They were ambushed by bandits.
He’s been injured.
The messenger was attacked.
“Argh, you’re ruminating again!” You spoke to the quiet library, slapping your hands onto your cheeks. “His mission is more important than belly-gazing and writing lovesick letters!”
Your words brought a sudden realisation. Sylus couldn't afford to lie down and feel sorry for himself, and neither should you. He was working for your future. You ought to do the same.
But what do I do?
You looked down at books spread out on the desk before you. The Intricacies of Statecraft by Magister Thaddeus lay open. It was a book so tedious that a palace official had allegedly set fire to his own beard out of frustration. You slapped it closed and pushed it away.
What’s the point of studying this? Neither Sylus nor I will be inheriting any thrones. I’d be better off learning about Onychinus.
You paused. That was an idea. It wouldn’t do to arrive in Onychinus ignorant of their customs, traditions, and history. You only knew as much as anyone did, which wasn’t nearly enough if you were going to be marrying their prince. You had your tutor, and you had Prince Kaylen; they were plenty enough to prepare you.
“No more dodging Lady Jade.” You declared, slapping your hands on the desk and standing up from your seat, ready to hunt down your tutor.
Then the library doors swung open, making you jump.
“My lady!” Erin barged in, waving a stack of papers. “The messenger’s here.”
You gasped, beaming at her. She hurried over to you, and you took the letters, heart thrumming in your chest. You threw yourself back in your seat and opened the first one you saw, ripping the envelope.
Dear Sister,
Oh. It was your brother.
I thought you should know that all is well. Everything is going according to plan, so please do not worry.
You relaxed back into your seat, flooded with relief. You felt like a weight you’d been carrying for days had finally lifted.
However.
That fiancé of yours is one royal pain up my backside. He is near impossible to work with. Every hour he tests my patience. He is arrogant. He is aggravating, and I believe he does it on purpose. How do you tolerate him, dear sister?
As soon as we arrived, he disappeared in the dead of night. One evening he returned with some scoundrel who’d been sniffing around the village. I’ve never seen a man dragged by the foot like that.
Now that he is not hiding his identity, it’s as if he’s unfettered. He can be downright terrifying, if I have to be honest. Not to me, obviously, but to others. I am glad we are not his enemies.
I must say, your taste in men is appalling.
You clutched the letter to your chest, a small giggle escaping you. “That’s my Sylus!”
“Are they well?” Erin hovered near you as you quickly read the rest of his letter.
“Yes!” You handed her Sebastian’s letter excitedly. “See for yourself!”
As Erin read your brother’s complaints, you looked at the second envelope. You peeled the seal off and pulled the letter out, suddenly feeling oddly nervous to read it.
My love,
I can imagine that you’re upset that I didn’t write sooner. We’ve had to be discreet in Willowby - it’s only a small village, and we’ve already encountered a few suspicious characters.
Unfortunately, none of them carried any proof of where their orders come from. I managed to squeeze some information, however, about a cave where bandits are supposedly hiding like rats. I hope that at least one of them will be literate enough to carry written orders.
You imagined Sylus capturing enemies and squeezing information out of them. Venturing into dark caves and clearing out bandit camps. Rescuing captured merchants. You wished you could see that side of him.
I miss you terribly. All I have is a straw bed, your handkerchief, and my memories of you to keep me going. It still smells like cherry wine - did you already know that it’s my favourite?
“Silly man.” You let out a small laugh. He was speaking as if he’d been gone for years, rather than mere days.
I can’t wait to return to you. If we’re lucky, we won’t linger here for much longer.
And once I’m back, you’ll never be rid of me again.
Love you always,
Sylus
You stared at the letter for a long time, feeling yourself become emotional again as the memory of his departure came flooding back. You wiped a stray tear with your sleeve, then folded the letter carefully and pressed it to your chest. Erin gazed down at her hands in silence, not wanting to intrude.
“I need to write to him.” You blurted out as you rose suddenly from your seat, making Erin scramble up after you. “Please make sure no messenger leaves yet.”
You looked over your finished letter one last time. Your desk was littered with bunched-up papers, all discarded for various reasons. Your handwriting wasn’t pretty enough. You misspelt a word in your excitement. You changed your mind and scribbled a few words out, then started all over again.
Noticing your bottle of perfume on your vanity, you remembered Sylus’s words.
…did you already know that it’s my favourite?
Chewing on your lip, you grabbed the bottle and spritzed your finished letter, the familiar scent of cherry and spices filling the air. Then you folded it carefully and stuffed it in an envelope. Placing the letter down, you began to write his name.
His Royal Highness Prince Sylus of Onychinus
You stared at the words as the ink dried. His full name and title still felt unreal.
Pulling your desk drawer open, you took your personal seal and inspected it. You’d received a seal of your own when you had turned thirteen, and despite its age, it still looked pristine. You rarely ever found use for it. You dripped some hot wax onto the envelope and pressed your stamp in, leaving a seal in the form of a rising sun with a blooming rose beneath.
Once you’d handed your letter to a guard, you threw yourself onto your bed, giddy with excitement. You pulled Sylus’s letter from your bedside drawer and read it again. Even his handwriting was so distinctly his. It looked a little rushed, too. You could almost see him scribbling it in some dimly lit inn room. If this had been an official military campaign, they would have travelled with their own great tents, proper beds, and all the comforts befitting princes. This mission afforded no such luxuries. You wondered whether Sebastian grumbled about it. You couldn’t imagine Sylus complaining about the lack of comforts. He always took things in stride, and if he did complain, it was usually only to make you laugh.
You hugged the letter to your chest, imagining the look on his face when he read yours. You wondered whether he was waiting for your reply, or if he was too focused on his task.
Gripping the letter tighter, you shook your head.
Sylus doesn’t sit and wait. He takes action. So must I.
Sylus couldn't get in contact with you and he knew that being a hunter was a dangerous job but what you had wasn't an injury to your body per say. It was an injury to your immune system. AKA Sylus taking care of you when you're very very sick
OB: Hi I started writing this while i had covid back in august and I'm working on clearing out all of my old fic drafts so bear with me on any other updates
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A groan escapes your lips as you forcefully peel your eyes open. Your throat hurts, your head hurts, your body hurts, everything hurts. It took you a bit to register that the banging wasn’t in your head, but it was at your front door. Every cell in your body screaming at you to stay in your bed, but the knocking just wouldn’t stop.
As you sit up out of bed, your head immediately spins from the sudden motion.
“Fuck,” you attempt to steady yourself before fully getting out of bed, but it was hard. You tried to take a deep breath but that just caused you to have a coughing fit. The burn in your throat and chest is almost unbearable. The toll of whatever sickness you had had a harsher effect on your body than you thought. Initially, you assumed you could have just slept off whatever it was but now you were so sure.
Slowly, you struggle your way to the front door, blanket securely wrapped around you since you were freezing. Eventually, you get your door open as you glare at a well-dressed chest, your eyes racking up to see the owner of said chest. It was, of course, Sylus.
“Well, hello there, kitten. Nice to finally see you.” He smirks down at you for just a moment before noticing the state you were in, gently pushing you back to enter your space, closing the door behind him.
“What are you doing here Sylus?” You ask, your voice is scratchy and hoarse. Sylus brow creases as he gives you a once over.
“Mephesto claims you haven’t left your house in two days, and you haven’t been answering my messages or phone calls.” He says as he raises a hand to your forehead to gauge your temperature. You swat his hand away as you realize what he was saying. Two days? You haven’t left for two days??? You were just at work yesterday when you got sent home, right? Holding your hand out, you request him to hand you his phone which he does with no complaint. Ignoring the picture of the two of you as his lock screen and notice that in fact it had been two entire days since you had been home. You shove his phone back into his hand and shuffle back to your room to look for your phone. There it sat on your nightstand, still on the charger, opening it up to see several messages and missed calls from Sylus of course but some from Luke and Kieran, a few from Jenna and Tara telling you to get well soon, along with a few from Rafayel, Xavier, and Zayne.
“I-“ you stutter as you sit down on your bed, “ I guess I’ve been in and out of sleep this whole time.” You say with a frown, attempting to rub the pain out of your head. As you go through the numerous texts, a coughing fit erupts making Sylus run over to rub your back. He tries to soothe you as your fit dies, rubbing your back gently as you calm down, taking the blanket from around you, pushing you to lay down and tucking you in. You hadn’t even realized that you were truly TUCKED in until Sylus is running a hand over your cheek and you can’t move.
“Let me out Sylus” You struggle from how tightly he tucked you in, but you didn’t have any real strength in you to get out.
“No can do, kitten. You’re sick and I’ll just have to take care of you.” He puts his hand on your forehead to truly check your temperature. You were burning up and it took everything in Sylus to keep a neutral face, he was worried about you. He had originally thought, you had just buried yourself in work again but seeing you in this state does something to his heart that he doesn’t like. You were such a strong woman and now where you were, weak and frail and not from any wanderer just from what was probably the common cold.
“I’ll be fine, I can take care of myself.” You refute, struggling yet again but not putting up much of a fight. Theres a slight twitch in Sylus expression as he watches you.
“Please” Sylus voice comes out just above a whisper and you stop moving. It caught you off guard and you stopped fighting. “Thank you, so stubborn” he kisses the top of your head as you scoff.
You hadn’t even realized that you were falling asleep until you were being woken up by Sylus gently.
“What’s going on” you look around confused as you attempt to sit up, Sylus grabs your arm helping you as a rag falls off the top of your head.
“You have to eat something Kitten.” Sylus states as he grabs a bowl of some type of soup putting the spoon up to your mouth. You take a sip of it without complaint, it soothes but hurts your throat at the same time causing a groan to come out of your mouth. Sylus inhales a deep breath, gripping the spoon harder. You weren’t getting better, if anything it seemed like you were getting worse. Your skin was getting pale, your temperature wasn’t going down, and all you were doing was sleeping and while you were sleeping you were shaking. You were in cold sweat; he had to change the rag on your head almost every thirty minutes.
“It hurts, Sy” You grimace after you try to swallow another spoon full of soap. Your voice was so weak, you looked so frail, it was literally breaking his heart to see you like this.
Sylus puts down the bowl, “Just lay down sweetie.” He helps you get back under the covers and before he can even get back with another towel for your head, you’re asleep.
Now Sylus was a prideful man for sure, but for you, for you he would do anything, for you he would put aside his pride. He knew he couldn’t just call any sort of doctor because of the aether core in your heart, so he knew he had to call your doctor, Doctor Zayne. But oh, did he hate Dr.Zayne, YOUR Dr.Zayne. Sylus just knew that man was in love with you, your childhood friend who spent his life becoming a heart surgeon and then being your personal doctor. Tsk, he’s heard of the whole childhood friends to lover’s trope, he wasn’t a dumb man. He wasn’t dumb, but he was desperate, and he needed you to get better. It had already been a full day since he had been in your place, and you just kept getting worse. Begrudgingly he picked up your phone and did what he had to do.
You don’t remember much in your sick haze. It was hard to even distinguish what was really going on or what was part of your fever dreams. You lucidly remember Sylus waking you up to give you soup and take medicine. You think you remember Zayne coming in which would make sense, he is your doctor, but you also remember Xavier? Maybe you weren’t particularly sure, it wouldn’t really make sense for him to be there, but you were sure you remembered seeing him.
Eventually, you gain a full sense of consciousness. Surprisingly, your body doesn’t ache like it has been and there isn’t an immense pressure in your head. You attempt to sit up when you notice a hand holding onto your arm, and attached to the hand was Sylus. A soft smile spreads on your face as you see him sitting most likely uncomfortably in a chair next to your bed. His head was laid beside you and his hand grasping onto your arm. You had no clue had long he had been there or how long he had been taking care of you. The pill bottles, half eaten soup and cups of water you don’t remember drinking or taking had to have come from somewhere and it wasn’t you.
“Ah, I see the kitten has finally stirred from her hibernation.” Sylus exhausted face meets your curious eyes.
“Yeah, I’m feeling much better.” You say with a yawn and a stretch. The gaze he is giving you makes you feel small, causing you to turn away from him, “thank you”
His hand reaches out to grab your chin gently, “You had me worried, sweetie. You had a respiratory infection and pneumonia. What would have happened to you if I wouldn’t have come?” His jaw is set tight and you don’t think you would ever see the feared Onychinus leader looking scared. He was scared, scared he was going to lose you…...again.
“…… I’m sorry but you took care of me and I’m fine now. Yeah?” You say turning your head out of his hands in more embarrassment as you busy yourself with straightening out your night stand. As you pick up the bottle of pills, you notice you see that Zayne prescribed these. You glance between the bottle and then at Sylus.
He scoffs before taking the bottle from your hand, putting it back down “Well of course I had to reach out to your doctor. Your fever wouldn’t go down.”
“But you hate Zayne?” You questioned as you tilt your head in a way that was way too cute for Sylus.
“I do not hate the doctor. I just don’t like how friendly he is with you on the occasion.” He scoffs at the giggle you let out, “And I’m aware that you are childhood friends, but the man should have some boundaries”
That makes you laugh even harder, not THE Sylus Quin talking about boundaries. He wouldn’t know a boundary if it shot him in the heart. It was sweet, he was being so sweet.
“Yeah, I thought seeing him was just a fever dream I was having actually. Funny enough, I thought I also saw my friend Xavier here.”
The noise that leaves Sylus had you holding back the biggest laugh that you could possibly muster. So in fact you had not imagine Xavier, he had actually been there and surprisingly Sylus let him in.
“Another one of your ‘friends’ who needs to work on their boundaries. He came over in the middle of the night questioning about your whereabouts after sending you NUMEROUS texts and phone calls. He was insistent on seeing you or he would have gotten your little hunter association involved and I didn’t think you would want that.” He groans with this cute pout on his face. “It seems you have a lot of these type of ‘friends’ who lack any type of boundaries. You should work on that sweetie.”
You reach out to grab his face making him look at you, his gaze softened when he saw your face “Thank you for taking care of me, Sy.”
He grabs your hand a places a small kiss upon the back of it, “Of course Kitten”
When Sylus first gives you his black card, he expects to find charges for designer clothes, fancy perfumes and jewllery. Instead, he finds... year 2005 barbie dolls? pinned butterflies? pot plants? merch for an obscure childhood show that only aired in your home country? oddly spesific hobbies and collection items you apparently love. You don't need $10,000 shoes. You want a funky novelty landline phone to display on the shelves. You want 3 meters of a nice fabric to sew things with.
And while he is surprised and oddly amused, he is all for your oddly spesific hobby. You want a swimmable mermaid tail? sure, he'll pay for the custom fin add ons. You want a particular beanie bear you wanted as a kid? go for it, get five if you want.
Description: After you are injured on a mission, Anufi reveals some exciting news.
Warnings: Canon typical violence, gunshot wounds, RDA, descriptions of pregnancy, very slight mention of sex (if you squint)
Word count: 2.2k
A/n: This is for two requests! This request and this request. I know some may not read this because it's a pregnant reader, but I know some will love it! I hope you enjoy!
You and So’lek had always wanted to start a family. With the RDA wreaking havoc on Pandora, those dreams would have to be pushed aside. As much as others told you that no time is a good time, you could not justify bringing a child into a time like this. A time where their life would be in danger, one where even if you did everything to protect them, it could still not be enough.
So, you both decided to wait. It was not a hard decision; you knew you had plenty of time, but you could not shake the small sliver of doubt in the back of your mind. Anytime children ran past you, their laughter flowing through the air, you could not help but wish you had children of your own.
Still, you had bigger responsibilities to tend to. The RDA needed to be handled; you and So’lek needed to put your full focus on that.
It seems that the RDA had your attention more than ever in this moment. They had been growing bolder, setting up more and more sites, sending out more patrols closer to Na’vi camps. You often made it back to the Resistance Hideout exhausted every night. The ache in your bones settling deep, So’lek felt the same.
The Resistance had been making good progress with clearing out RDA sites. However, there was one that had yet to be taken out. It was something you and So’lek could handle; you had taken out much larger sites in the past.
Still, you could not shake a feeling of unease in your stomach.
So’lek could sense something was troubling you; he always could. So, before you made the journey to the site, he pulled you aside as you were gathering your weapons.
“Something is troubling you.” He said plainly, simply pointing out his observation.
“It is nothing. I believe I am just anxious, nothing more.”
He nodded slowly at that, not fully believing you, but he was not going to push it. He knew it was not due to anxiety, he knew you very well. He is your mate afterall. So, he knew that taking down RDA outposts never made you anxious. You had no fear, you were a fierce warrior, with a strong heart. Taking down sky people never stirred this kind of anxiety within you.
Still, he thought it better not to press the matter too much. There were more important things at hand, he could discuss this with you later.
With that, you got on your ikran and made your way to the outpost. Landing just short of the air defenses line of sight. You quickly went over the plan again with So’lek, while also checking in with Priya and Teylan on how exactly to bring the site down.
It was supposed to be simple, but you still could not shake the unease that laid within your stomach.
Ignoring this, you made your way towards the site, kicking open a vent to make your way inside. You took one last look at So’lek, nodding at him while you exchanged unspoken words. Understanding that you both needed eachother to stay safe. Regardless of how fearless you both were, you knew there were always risks to these sorts of things. Everytime you cleared a site, everytime you took out an RDA patrol, you always ran to So’lek in relief, relief that he was safe.
Once you separated, you were quick to begin. So’lek was covering the defenses, creating a distraction while you did the work to bring the site down. This always worried you, he always put himself in the line of fire, no matter how capable you were. He knew you were strong, but he could not live with himself if he allowed something to happen to you. So, you fell into a routine, he took down RDA, while you did most of the stealth work.
It had been going smoothly, the RDA had their full attention on So’lek. That was until a soldier spotted you.
By time you had realized he saw you, it was too late. A spray of bullets came towards you as you ran for cover, nearby soldiers and AMPs were alerted to your location. Quickly following suit after you ran. So’leks heart dropped at this, when he heard the soldiers yelling about another Na’vi.
He knew you could handle yourself, but he would not let you do so alone.
Going after them, he took down as many as he could, while you ducked for cover. As you caught your breath, you prayed to the great mother that this was a good hiding spot. Readying your bow, you pulled back the string to take down a soldier. However, a searing pain in your shoulder stopped you.
Clutching your shoulder, you ducked back down just in time as more bullets wizzed past you. Your hand came back coated in blood. Cursing yourself, you checked for more injuries, and other than your shoulder, you were only grazed by a bullet on your side. You would live, but you needed to get out of there before you bled out against sky people metal.
Suddenly, the bullets stopped, and it became quiet. Before you even had time to register this, So’lek was at your side, his eyes frantically scanning your body, taking in every wound. He went to pick you up, cradling you against him as he began to make his way out of the base.
“We have not finished the mission.” You protested, assuring him you would be fine, there was still time to take this place down.
“No. I will finish this later, you need to see Anufi.”
You dared not argue with him. Knowing how he is, you knew he would not back down. It was also a good thing that he was like this, sometimes your stubbornness got the best of you. Just as it was in this moment.
You clutched your shoulder, groaning in pain as he situated you onto your ikran. He checked over you once more before decided that you were well enough to fly. It was not a long flight, you would make it.
When you arrived at the Hollows, So’lek was quick to jump off his ikran, running towards you and gathering you in his arms.
He practically sprinting towards Anufi. She took in your state and guided So’lek as he layed you down on the mats. She switlfy began to work, having another healer stop the bleeding as she created a paste to go over your wounds. So’lek was hovering, hovering to the point that he was in the way. Anufi gave him a pointed stare, before ushering him out, despite his protests. She assured him that you would be fine, and that he needed to let her do her work.
So, he waited, listening for any signs that something was wrong. It felt like he had been waiting for many moons before Anufi finally emerged from the tent. He immediately stood, facing her as he anxiously waited for wait she had to say.
She smiled at him, and that alone brought him great relief. The cold that had seeped into his bones now replaced with the warmth of knowing you were going to be okay. Before he could slip into the tent to see you, she stopped him.
“Her and the child are just fine, her wounds were not terrible. In a few weeks she will be well, but I suggest that she does not do any fighting for some time, for the childs sake.”
So’lek felt his heart skip a beat. What was she talking about? He looked back towards her with the most confused expression he could conjure up.
“What child? She is with child?” He asked, his mind racing while he put the pieces together. She only nodded, beckoning him to go to you. He stood there for a moment, mind reeling with the news. Perhaps this would explain why you had felt so anxious earlier today. Had you known all along? Were you hiding it from him?
Pushing aside these thoughts, he made his way into the tent. Seeing you laying on the mat, you looked so weak. It pained him to see you like this. Dropping to his knees beside you, he took your hand in his.
“Did you know?” He asked plainly, leaving no room for avoidance.
You shook your head, your eyes brimming with tears while the realization that you were bringing a child into this world hit you. You had been careful, so careful, but it seems that Eywa had other plans.
“So’lek, what are we going to do?”
You were fearful, feeling hopeless as your mind conjured up every possibility that would endanger your childs life.
“We will figure this out, together. It is going to be alright.”
You nodded as you took in his words, tears now flowing freely. He was also shedding tears of his own. However, underneath the fear, and the uncertainty for what the future may hold, you both could not help but feel filled with joy at the news. You were to be parents, you would have a child of your own, a mini version of you and So’lek. A life that you created, together. A family.
Once you were healed enough to return to the Resistance, a few weeks had gone by. So’lek had been periodically checking in at the Resistance, much to his dismay. He was hesitant to leave your side, feeling more protective than ever. During this time, he had been taking care of you, doing every little thing for you, even if you protested. He had not told anyone that you were with child, out of respect for you, he knew you wanted to tell them yourself. He had only told them about the injury.
They were all worried about you, and eager for your return.
Once you returned, you were already showing slightly. A small bump had risen over your abdomen. So’lek loved this, but it also scared him, it made this more real. Now, it was more crucial that ever to protect you. He practically never let you out of his sight.
The Resistance members and the Sarentu were quick to run to your side. Bombarding you with their worries and questions. Before you could answer any of them, So’lek put his hand up to silence them, as he sensed you were becoming overwhelmed.
Then Ri’nela spoke.
“Are you alright? You are feeling well?”
You nodded, smiling warmly at her. This eased her worries, she had always fussed over everyone, she had a caring spirit, and you loved her for that.
Now was the time to tell them the news. You had discussed this with So’lek before your return, and he agreed that you should be the one to tell them. You could only hope that they would take it well.
“There is something I must tell you all. So’lek and I have news to share.”
They said nothing, only leaning closer in anticipation. Eager to hear this news you speak of. It was not often that you and So’lek spoke of your personal lives.
“I am with child.” You spoke bluntly, leaving no room for uncertainty.
They all remained silent for a moment, before smiles made their way across all their faces. Priya was the first to respond, squealing in excitement as she ran towards you, jumping up and down.
“This is great news!! Oh wow, you are going to be parents! This is like, the most exciting thing that has happened in a while!”
You were very pleased with this reaction, as was So’lek. It brought great comfort to you both that they were all happy with the idea.
In the following weeks, as you began to show more, the people at the Resistance, including your mate, let you do less and less. While it did irritate you, you also were fond of their efforts. Ri’nela was constantly making sure you were comfortable, Teylan hovered and chatted about his tech more than normal, Priya stopped asking you to check out RDA sites.
So’lek, well, he was the most protective, he would not let you lift a finger, but, neither would anyone else. He followed you around everywhere, you could not even go to the river without him tailing you. Even when you did sneak off, he somehow found you, chastising you for going off without him. He was not trying to be controlling, he just wanted you and the baby safe.
Even if their efforts annoyed you, you knew that all had good intentions. You also knew it would get worse the farther along you became. They were all already freaking out, taking care of you in every waking moment.
One night, as you laid next to So’lek, him fast asleep with an arm cradling your growing belly, you looked to the future. You pictured how everyone would dote on your child, just how they had been towards you.
It was safe to say this child would be loved.
Thank you for reading!! And thank you to the lovely people who requested this! I loved writing it! My requests are open! Also, let me know if you want to be added to my tag list!
Tag list: @theatregeek-247 @miss-aveline @simpfor141
A/N: Holy shit, please don't throw stones at me for this taking three months; I truly don't know what got to me. Furthermore, I told you they would reunite, but I didn't say it wouldn't be heartbreaking! This may be my last Avatar fic for a bit but not forever; I still love you all.
Translation:
Tsmuken: brother
Yawne: love or “my” love
Tsaheylu: sacred bond
Warnings: War, grief, violence, mentions of blood, death, and other things. Multi pov. Prisoner of war, very sad, So'lek.
Summary: Captured by Mercer and hidden deep within an RDA mountain base, you’re forced to survive steel walls, isolation, and the terrifying possibility that So’lek may never find you. But grief turns violent when So’lek learns you’re still alive, tearing through mountains, fire, and an entire compound to bring you home.
Prt 1
The light had long since vanished by the time you were left to rot on the floor.
Cold, merciless concrete pressed against your aching back, seeping into bone and muscle alike. You weren’t sure how long it had been. Hours. Days. Time had lost all meaning here. The only thing you could still cling to was the image of So’lek’s face. The way he had dropped to his knees before you, fury and terror warring in his eyes, held back only by Nor’s grip anchoring him in place.
The memory tore at you every time it surfaced. And it surfaced often.
In the silence, the long stretches of nothing, it replayed behind your eyes, unbidden. You were alone now. Trapped inside a glass box, hidden away from anyone who might care enough to come looking. The walls hummed softly around you, alive with machinery you did not understand but had learned to fear.
You hadn’t seen a living soul in a long while.
Luckily they redressed your wound, or else you may not have made it much longer. The last time they came, it had taken reinforcements to hold you down. Cold hands. Restraints biting into your wrists. Needles. Vials. They took your blood and called it research. They tested and prodded as if you were nothing more than another specimen—no different from the days before. No different from the cage you thought you had escaped.
The memory returned in violent waves when they burst into your cell.
Mercer.
Your sister.
You had barely escaped him with your life the first time. When they left you alone again, the door sealing shut with a mechanical hiss, you cried until your chest ached. You cried for your people. For So’lek. For Nor and Ri’nela. And for your sister most of all.
You had thought you had fled this. Thought you could prove her life—your life—was worth something more than what they had taken from it.
You had told him to run. To leave you behind, knowing it was not something he would ever do lightly. Even now, you could still feel his hand at the hollow of your neck. Still feel the feather-soft kiss he had pressed to your temple before he flew.
You wondered where he was now. What he was doing. What he was feeling.
How had it come to this?
–
“So’lek.”
Draw. Drag.
“So’lek?”
Draw. Drag.
The blade hissed against the stone, sparks biting the air, the vibration traveling up his arm and into his shoulder.
“So’lek—”
The knife was at Nor’s throat before the sound finished leaving his mouth.
Teeth bared, vision narrowed, So’lek staggered back as recognition struck too late. Nor stood rigid, hands lifted in instinctive defense, fear flushing his skin. The sight cut through So’lek like iced water, shock and regret crashing down his spine.
All Nor had done was touch his shoulder.
That was all it took.
“Nor”
“It’s alright,” Nor said quickly. “I’m sorry.”
Sorry.
The word curdled in his chest. He had heard it too many times, spoken softly and carefully, like the beginning of an ending. You weren’t dead.
He hadn’t lost you.
Two weeks. That was how long you had been gone. Taken by Mercer and his men, swallowed by the night. For what purpose he did not know. What they could want from you now gnawed at him, hollowing him from the inside out.
Nor’s hand on his shoulder dragged him back to the cliffside, uttering reassuring words of confidence birthed from ignorance. Then, being held in place while you were torn away, the prayers to Eywa vanishing as the doors closed before him. To the moment, he had been forced to live instead of die for you.
He would have given his life. Should have.
“Leave.” He dropped the knife onto the workbench, the clang swallowed by the ever-present hum of the resistance base. Machines whirred. Voices passed. The world continued, indifferent and intact.
“So’lek,” Nor said quietly, “I came to pull you from this cave. Not watch you die in it, tsmukan.”
Everything felt heavy. His limbs. His chest. His eyes burned constantly now, sleep refusing him, food turning to ash in his mouth. There was only the ache where you belonged—an absence that dragged him lower when anger loosened its grip.
And anger loosened rarely.
The first week, he flew until his muscles screamed, scouring the skies with Iley until exhaustion forced him down. No sign of you. Only targets for his rage. Places to carve it out of himself. No one had heard word of Mercer or his men, but survival clung to him as it always did. His drill base, however, lay in ruin. The rubble and pollution were bleeding into the land, a wound Pandora would remember long after the smoke cleared.
Now in this second week, he hadn’t worn his vest in days.
Not since the skies had yielded nothing but silence. Not since the endless flight with Iley had carved the wind into his bones and left him hollowed out by hope. The straps lay discarded now, forgotten where he had torn them free without thought.
Nor had noticed.
Anyone would have.
The faint mark still lingered on So’lek’s chest—a ghost of pigment against blue skin, barely visible now unless the light caught it just right. A handprint, once bold and deliberate, softened by time and sweat and grief. So’lek had worn the vest constantly after you painted him, refusing to let it rub away, guarding it as if it were something sacred.
As if it were you.
Now it was exposed, fading slowly with each breath he took, each moment you remained gone. Nor’s gaze flickered there only once before snapping back to So’lek’s face, understanding settling heavy and unavoidable in his eyes.
Now, standing still, he let Nor see him. The darkness beneath his eyes. The fracture that was running straight through his center.
“No,” So’lek said.
“Tsmukan—”
“I said no.”
Nor exhaled sharply. “You will kill yourself with grief.”
Nor knew now. What you were to him. What the two of you had chosen. What had been stolen before it could be completed. Something that had been ripped away too early, splintering So’lek from the inside out.
So’lek’s jaw tightened. “You do not get to decide what I do with grief,” he seethed.
Nor lifted his chin, his face hard as the stone around them. “Fine. Do as you see fit.”
When he was gone, So’lek picked the knife up again, stuck the sharpening stone between his legs, and went back to scraping a blade that no longer needed attention.
—
The walls hummed endlessly around you.
At first the sound had driven you toward madness, the constant vibration threading through the glass and metal like a living thing buried beneath the facility. It swallowed silence whole, filling every waking moment until there was no room left for thought. For grief. For sleep. Yet somewhere between the hours bleeding into days, you had stopped fighting it. Stopped clawing against the cage until your nails split and your muscles gave out beneath restraint. Pandora still breathed beyond these walls. You could feel her if you sat still long enough.
Eywa was difficult to hear here.
The metal disrupted everything. Thick walls, reinforced glass, machinery buried deep beneath the earth. The Sky People had built this place like a wound carved directly into the land, something meant to sever connection and isolate anything trapped within it. Still, beneath the humming and the vibration of engines, beneath the artificial lights that never truly dimmed, she remained.
Softly.
Faint as distant rainfall.
You sat cross-legged near the center of the cell now, eyes closed, breathing deep and steady as your fingertips rested against your knees. The ache in your body had dulled over time, settling into something familiar. Even your wound no longer burned the way it once had. They kept it clean now. Kept you alive. You had learned enough from the scientists moving around you to understand that meant you were useful.
Useful things were preserved.
Your thoughts no longer circled endlessly around violence and bloodshed. The memories still existed, sharp and ugly, but they no longer consumed every waking moment. Instead, you found yourself clinging to gentler things. So’lek’s hands in yours. Ri’nela’s laugh carried through the resistance caves. Nor teasing you beside the fire while the smell of roasted fish drifted through camp. You remembered the way Pandora glowed beneath eclipse light and the way So’lek’s breathing changed when he finally allowed himself peace beside you.
Those memories became a sanctuary.
You hold them close now, turning them over carefully within yourself like precious stones polished smooth with time. Eywa lived in memory just as much as the roots beneath the earth. You understood that now.
The sound of heavy boots eventually disturbed the stillness.
You did not open your eyes.
The footsteps slowed outside the glass, followed by the familiar hiss of machinery cycling nearby. Another visitor. Another scientist, perhaps, coming to prod and extract and study what remained of you. Your breathing never faltered.
“Well,” Mercer’s voice drawled from beyond the barrier, “that’s disappointing'."
Your eyes remained shut.
“I expected screaming. Maybe throwing yourself against the glass again.” His boots echoed softly as he paced before the cell. “This is just sad.”
Still you did not respond.
Mercer hated silence. You realized that quickly. Men like him preferred reactions. Fear. Anger. Anything that proved they still had their hands wrapped around your throat. Your calm unsettled him in ways rage never could.
The glass reflected him faintly even through your lowered lashes. Broad shoulders. Human arrogance dressed up as authority. Alive.
A mistake.
“You know,” he continued after a moment, “I was beginning to think maybe you finally broke.”
The hum of the room filled the pause between his words.
You focused instead on the pulse beneath the floor. On the distant feeling of roots buried somewhere far below steel foundations. Eywa was here. Faint, but present, and the thought steadied you.
Mercer eventually stopped pacing. “No questions?” he asked. “No begging? No heroic threats today?”
Your jaw tightened slightly.
That alone seemed enough encouragement for him to continue.
“That warrior of yours,” he said casually, “the scarred one. He’s making a real mess out there.”
The world stopped.
Your eyes opened slowly.
Mercer smiled the moment he saw the shift in you. There it was. The reaction he’d been digging for.
“So’lek,” you breathed before you could stop yourself. “He’s alive?”
Mercer leaned one shoulder against the glass. “Very much alive. Angry too. Hell, my men are practically scared to leave camp now.”
Hope struck so violently through your chest that it almost hurt. For weeks you had buried every thought of him beneath grief, terrified that Mercer had taken him from you too. Yet the moment his name crossed Mercer’s lips, you felt him again as clearly as if his hand still rested against your skin.
Alive.
So’lek was alive.
A slow breath filled your lungs as something inside you settled into place. Not relief.
Certainty.
Your spine straightened as you rose carefully to your feet, stepping closer toward the glass for the first time since he’d arrived. Mercer’s amusement faltered slightly beneath the weight of your stare. You could almost see the exact moment he realized he’d made a mistake speaking So’lek’s name aloud.
“He will come for me,” you said quietly.
Mercer scoffed. “You really think one Na’vi is enough to—”
“He will come for me,” you repeated, firmer now, your voice carrying through the room with chilling certainty. “And he will not stop until every one of you is dead.”
The humor faded from Mercer’s face completely.
You stepped closer still, enough that your reflection merged faintly with his against the glass.
“Or worse.”
—
The resistance base had begun to feel like a grave.
Not loud enough to be alive. Not quiet enough to rest.
The walls breathed with machinery and distant conversation, warriors moving through the caverns with purpose while So’lek remained trapped within them, pacing the same worn paths until the stone itself felt carved by grief. Every corner of the caves held memories now. You are laughing beside the fires. Your voice echoes through the tunnels. Your hand brushes his arm in passing. He could not sit without seeing you there. Could not close his eyes without imagining the sound of your breathing beside him.
It was suffocating him.
So’lek stood abruptly from the cot he had not slept in, the movement violent enough to rattle the weapons laid beside it. His chest felt too tight again, grief wrapping around his ribs like constricting vines, squeezing until breathing itself became labor. He needed air. Needed the sky. Needed movement before the darkness inside him swallowed what little remained.
His bow was slung across his back first, movements sharp and practiced despite exhaustion weighing heavily through his limbs. The rifle followed, secured against his side, before he gathered the remaining blades from the workbench. The resistance caves were dim this late into the cycle, lit mostly by low fires and glowing fungi along the walls, but even in the muted light he could see the vest where it hung untouched nearby.
His hands stilled.
For several long breaths he only stared at it.
The material still carried the shape of him from constant wear, worn soft along the seams from battle and flight and sleepless nights spent searching the skies for some trace of you. Slowly, his fingers closed around it, gripping tighter than necessary as memory struck him again with merciless precision. Your laughter while painting his chest. The warmth of your palm pressing against his skin. The teasing look in your eyes when he asked you to paint him.
As if preserving it could preserve you.
His jaw tightened as he dragged the vest over his shoulders. The faded handprint vanished beneath the leather once more, hidden close against his chest where no one else could see it.
Alive.
The word had rooted itself deep inside him these past days despite the silence. He did not know how. Did not know if it was instinct, hope, or desperation refusing to rot. But somewhere beneath all the grief and fury clawing through him, certainty remained.
You were alive.
And if you were alive, then he had wasted enough time suffocating in these caves.
So’lek turned sharply toward the exit tunnels, feet striking hard against stone as he moved through the resistance base with purpose for the first time in days. Several warriors glanced toward him as he passed, sensing something unsettled in the force of his stride. He ignored them all until a familiar voice cut through the cavern behind him.
“So’lek!”
He did not stop immediately. Only slowed enough for footsteps to catch him.
A resistance scout rounded the corner, breathless, rifle still slung over one shoulder. “A report came in from the northern mountains,” the young warrior explained quickly. “There is another RDA base hidden within the cliffs. Concealed beneath the fog.”
So’lek’s pulse slammed against his ribs.
“Where?”
“Due north past the black rivers, but the skies are too thick to fly safely right now. Ri’nela says we wait until—”
“I am leaving now.”
The words came sharp enough to cut.
The scout visibly faltered. “We need reinforcements assembled first. The fog—”
“I said I am leaving.”
The cave shifted with tension. Nearby warriors paused their movements as So’lek stepped forward again, shoulders squared with dangerous intent. The thought of waiting another hour, another moment while you remained trapped somewhere beneath human hands, made his vision darken.
“They are preparing a larger unit,” another voice interjected carefully. “If there truly is a hidden base—”
“I do not care.”
The admission echoed more harshly than intended.
Several heads turned fully now. So’lek barely noticed. His breathing had quickened again, anger and desperation twisting together beneath his skin until they became unbearable. Every second spent talking felt like failure. Every delay another moment you suffered alone.
Then Ri’nela appeared from deeper within the cavern.
She slowed the instant she saw him.
Not the weapons. Not the pacing tension surrounding the gathered warriors. Him.
The exhaustion hollowing his face. The darkness beneath his eyes. The grief he wore now as openly as bloodstains.
“So’lek,” she said carefully, stepping closer. “What is this?”
“I am going north.”
“Into the mountains alone?” Her ears flicked back slightly. “Through fog thick enough to blind Ikran?"
“They have her.”
The words cracked from him before he could stop them.
Silence settled heavily through the cave.
Ri’nela studied him for a long moment, something softening behind her eyes as understanding slowly took shape. “So’lek,” she said, quieter now, “what does she mean to you?”
His throat tightened violently.
Everything in him wanted to reject the question, to move past it, to leave before another moment slipped away. Yet your face rose inside him again with painful clarity—the sound of your laugh, your hands against his skin, the certainty that his soul had begun intertwining with yours long before either of you named it aloud.
“Everything.”
The word left him rough and unsteady.
Ri’nela’s expression shifted.
“I am nothing without her,” he admitted quietly, the truth scraping its way free from somewhere deep and wounded inside him. “Nothing.”
Several warriors lowered their eyes at the confession, as though witnessing something sacred they were never meant to hear.
Ri’nela stepped closer. “You have formed tsaheylu?”
So’lek froze.
The answer caught painfully in his chest.
“No.”
The silence afterward felt heavier than stone.
Ri’nela looked almost startled by it, perhaps expecting denial or shame, but instead she found only grief. A bond unfinished. A love formed so deeply it rivaled tsaheylu itself without ever needing completion.
For a moment she looked ready to scold him like some ancient tsahìk lecturing foolish lovers beneath the trees. Yet whatever sharp words first came to mind died quickly behind her eyes as she remembered you. Your loyalty. Your strength beside them in battle. The way you fought for these people as if born among them.
Ri’nela lifted her hand slowly, pressing her palm against the center of his chest over the hidden handprint beneath the vest.
“If your love for her outbids Eywa’s will,” she said softly, “then your love is the strongest of all.”
The words nearly undid him.
His eyes shut briefly as grief surged again beneath his ribs, violent and aching.
“Do not die being foolish, So’lek,” Ri’nela whispered. “She needs you alive if she is to return to you.”
The cavern remained silent around them, and slowly, painfully, the fury in his chest loosened enough for reason to breathe through it.
Though not gone. Never gone.
But waiting.
—
The resistance caves stirred long before dawn.
Warriors moved through the tunnels in low murmurs, gathering supplies beneath dim firelight while the mountain winds howled faintly through cracks in the stone overhead. The fog rolling down from the northern cliffs had swallowed most of the skies through the night, thick enough to blind even experienced riders if they flew too deep into it. Yet, still, the resistance prepared. Weapons were sharpened. Medical packs assembled. Scouts whispered over rough maps scratched into the stone floor while Ikran handlers moved through the outer caverns, checking harnesses and flight straps beneath flickering lantern glow.
The entire base carried tension now.
So’lek stood near the mouth of the upper caves where cold air spilled through the opening and curled around his skin. The mountains beyond were barely visible through the dense wall of fog swallowing the horizon. Somewhere beyond it, hidden within stone and steel, was you.
The thought settled heavily beneath his ribs once more.
Alive, you had to be.
Ri’nela’s words had lingered long after the cavern emptied. They haunted him now in the quiet moments between movement, burrowing deep into places grief had already hollowed thin. She needs you alive. The truth of it sat uneasily inside him because it forced him to confront something far worse than death itself.
Hope.
Hope meant there was still something left to lose.
His hands tightened slowly around the leather straps he was fastening across his forearm guards. The motions should have been familiar and effortless after years of battle, yet exhaustion made even simple tasks feel distant. His fingers slipped once against the worn buckles before he cursed quietly beneath his breath and forced them steady again.
A low chirr echoed from behind him.
Iley.
The ikran rested within the upper perch carved into the cliffside, her massive wings tucked close against her body while she watched him carefully. Even in the muted cavern light, her colors shimmered faintly beneath the bioluminescent moss lining the walls. She had sensed his unrest for days now. Perhaps longer. Each flight had become harder to pull her from, the creature reluctant to land once she felt the direction of his grief carrying them endlessly across the skies.
So’lek approached her slowly, the tension in his shoulders refusing to ease even now. Iley lowered her head slightly as he neared, rumbling softly deep within her chest. The sound reverberated through him in a way words no longer could.
“You are restless too,” he murmured.
The ikran nudged against his shoulder hard enough to nearly unbalance him.
A humorless breath escaped his nose.
“I know.”
He rested his forehead briefly against the side of her neck, eyes falling shut as the familiar warmth of her skin grounded him. Beneath his palms he could feel her breathing, steady and alive, tethering him to something beyond the fury threatening to consume him whole. The caves, the warriors, and the distant preparation behind him all seemed to fade beneath the weight pressing endlessly through his chest.
You should have been here.
You should have been beside him preparing your own gear while teasing him for the way he overtightened every strap when anxious. You should have been laughing softly beneath your breath while Ri’nela scolded reckless scouts nearby. Every future he saw still carried your shape within it so completely that imagining the world without you felt impossible.
And that impossibility terrified him.
“I cannot lose her,” he admitted quietly against Iley’s skin.
The words nearly vanished beneath the wind.
No warrior stood near enough to hear them. No one except Eywa herself.
Iley rumbled again, softer this time, pressing her head more firmly against him as though sensing the fracture threatening to split him open beneath the surface. So’lek swallowed hard, jaw tightening violently as exhaustion and grief clawed upward once more. He had spent days forcing himself not to unravel completely, burying emotion beneath anger because anger at least kept him moving. But now, standing within the cold mouth of the caves with the mountains looming ahead like waiting ghosts, fear finally found him.
Not fear of death.
Fear of being too late.
A sudden burst of movement echoed through the tunnels behind him as several warriors approached, carrying packs and ammunition crates toward the flight perches. Their voices broke the moment apart before it could deepen further. So’lek pulled away from Iley slowly, forcing his breathing steady again as the walls around him hardened back into stone instead of memory.
One of the scouts paused nearby. “The ground team leaves within the hour,” he informed carefully. “The fog is beginning to thin along the lower cliffs. Ri’nela believes we can move safely by dawn.”
So’lek gave a single nod.
An hour.
The waiting already felt unbearable.
Yet now that movement had finally begun, the suffocating helplessness inside him shifted into something sharper. Focused and violent. Purpose carved itself slowly through the grief, turning sorrow into a blade with only one direction left to point.
North. Toward you.
—
The mountains swallowed the skies whole.
Fog rolled thick between the cliffs in endless waves of white, devouring everything beyond a few strained feet of visibility as the resistance riders pushed north through freezing winds. Even the bioluminescence of Pandora struggled here, dimmed beneath stormclouds and stone so towering they seemed to split the world itself apart. Iley’s wings beat hard beneath So’lek as they cut through the mist, her screeches echoing faintly somewhere ahead of the others before vanishing back into the storm.
The flight had become miserable long before dawn.
Rain lashed against his skin in sharp bursts, soaking through leather and collecting beneath the collar of his vest while the fog reduced the skies to blind instinct and memory. More than once jagged cliff faces emerged from the white without warning, forcing riders to veer violently away at the last moment. One young warrior nearly clipped the mountainside entirely before Ri’nela shouted a warning through the storm.
Still, they flew.
So’lek barely felt the cold anymore.
His hands remained locked tightly around the harness as Iley dove lower through the cliffs, her body weaving effortlessly between narrow passages hidden beneath curtains of mist. Every beat of her wings carried him closer to you. The thought had consumed everything else now. Hunger. Exhaustion. Reason. There was only movement northward and the violent certainty waiting beneath his ribs.
Several riders called signals to one another through sharp whistles when visibility vanished completely, their ikrans forced dangerously close together as the storm worsened. So’lek hardly heard them. His eyes remained fixed forward through the fog, jaw clenched hard enough to ache. Somewhere beyond these mountains, you were trapped behind steel and glass while he wasted precious time fighting weather and distance.
The fury of it threatened to hollow him all over again.
Eventually Ri’nela’s signal cut through the storm ahead.
Land.
The riders descended reluctantly toward the lower cliffs, where narrow ledges carved into the mountainside offered enough shelter to regroup. Iley landed heavily against slick stone, claws scraping loudly as she folded her wings against the rain. So’lek dismounted before she had fully settled, feet striking hard against the cliffside while the others secured supplies nearby.
The fog was thinner here near the ground, though only barely. Dark pines stretched endlessly down the mountainside beneath drifting sheets of white while freezing runoff rushed violently through the ravines below.
Nor approached first.
“You should eat.”
So’lek ignored him, checking the chamber of his rifle instead.
“You have not slept properly in days either,” Nor continued carefully, lowering his voice beneath the sounds of the storm. “Your hands are shaking.”
“They are steady enough.”
The words came flat as Nor watched him for a moment longer, concern deepening across his face before his attention shifted toward the valley below. “Scouts found signs of RDA movement further down the cliffs,” he explained. “Ri’nela believes we are close.”
Close.
The word struck like a blade sliding beneath So’lek’s ribs.
He turned immediately toward the slope descending into the trees below, already moving before Ri’nela’s voice stopped him.
“We move together.”
So’lek’s shoulders tightened visibly.
“She may not have time for together.”
Ri’nela stepped closer through the drifting fog, rain clinging to the braids against her shoulders. “And if you die rushing blindly into the mountains, then neither of you survive this.”
The truth of it only made him angrier.
His fists clenched once before finally loosening at his sides as several scouts emerged from below the ridgeline carrying rifles and scattered equipment. One of them looked shaken.
“There was fighting,” the warrior reported breathlessly. “Near the lower pass.”
So’lek moved before anyone else could speak.
The group descended quickly through slick stone and dense forest until the scent of smoke and blood cut sharply through the rain. The remains of an RDA patrol lay scattered along the ravine floor below. Broken equipment. Torn packs. Blood washed slowly across the stone beneath the storm runoff.
The bodies were fresh.
So’lek’s pulse thundered.
One soldier had been pinned violently against a tree by an arrow buried so deep through his chest that the shaft had splintered from impact. Another lay crumpled near the rocks below with his throat torn nearly open.
The resistance warriors spread cautiously through the wreckage while So’lek descended into the clearing alone.
Then he saw it.
Half buried beneath mud and rainwater near the edge of the ravine rested one of your arrows.
The arrows he had watched you sharpen beside the fires countless nights before, the feather coloring at ends unique to you.
So’lek stopped breathing.
Slowly he crouched, lifting it carefully from the mud. Fresh blood still stained the tip, as if it had been torn free from a wound.
Not old or abandoned.
Used.
The realization hit him so violently it nearly staggered him where he knelt.
You fought back.
A strange sound escaped him then, something between relief and rage as his fingers closed tightly around the blade. Every ounce of grief twisting inside him sharpened instantly into purpose.
Alive.
You were alive.
A sudden explosion ripped through the mountainside before the thought could fully settle.
The ground shook beneath their feet as fire erupted somewhere deeper within the valley ahead, bright orange flames momentarily illuminating the fog in violent flashes. Several ikran shrieked from the cliffs above while warriors immediately reached for weapons.
So’lek’s head snapped toward the source.
North. Towards the hidden base.
Towards you.
—
The moment Mercer spoke So’lek’s name aloud, something inside you changed.
Hope was a dangerous thing. You understood that now more than ever. It rooted itself deep inside the ribs and refused to die, even here beneath steel ceilings and fluorescent lights, where Eywa’s voice struggled to reach. Once you knew he was alive, truly alive, there was no longer room left inside you for surrender. The grief that had kept you motionless upon the cold floor sharpened into purpose so quickly it almost frightened you.
So you began watching. Listening.
Learning the rhythm of the facility the way you once learned the pulse of the forests. Guards rotated in predictable patterns. Scientists lingered too long while speaking outside your cell. The medical staff grew careless once you stopped resisting. That had been your first advantage. Compliance made humans arrogant.
So you let them believe you were broken.
The next medic who entered your containment room alone did not even notice the shift in your breathing until it was too late.
You moved the instant the restraints loosened.
The sound he made was short and wet as you slammed him hard against the glass wall, ripping the injector from his grip before driving it straight into his throat. Alarms erupted immediately. Red lights flooded the room in violent flashes while you stripped the access card from his belt and ran.
The hallways stretched endlessly.
Metal corridors twisting in every direction beneath screaming sirens and pounding footsteps as soldiers flooded through the lower sectors searching for you. You barely recognized your own body anymore as it moved. Faster. Sharper. Instinct carried you through every turn while gunfire sparked against steel walls behind you.
One guard rounded the corner too slowly, and you took his weapon before he could fully raise it.
Another came from the left corridor.
Then another.
The facility became chaotic around you.
You remembered very little after that beyond movement and survival. Blood slicking your palms. Human shouting echoing through ventilation shafts. Your own breathing roaring inside your ears as you carved your way through the maze, searching for one thing only.
Your gear.
When you finally found the storage room hidden behind reinforced doors, the sight nearly stopped you cold. Your clothing had been thrown carelessly across a steel table beside your weapons, cataloged and tagged like trophies. Rage surged so violently through you that your vision blurred.
You snatched your knives first.
The familiar weight settled instantly into your palms like returning pieces of yourself. By the time soldiers breached the doorway moments later, you were already moving again.
The first died before crossing the threshold.
The second managed half a scream.
From there, the base began collapsing from the inside outward.
You moved through it like wildfire. Vent shafts. Catwalks. Supply corridors. Every piece of knowledge stolen through observation turned against them now. One by one perimeter guards vanished beneath arrows fired from the smoke while isolated patrols never returned to their posts. Bodies fell silently into mud outside the compound walls while alarms screamed endlessly into the mountains.
You needed them to notice.
Needed someone beyond these walls to hear the destruction and come searching.
So you made the loudest statement you could.
The AMP suit had already been disabled when you found it abandoned near the eastern loading platforms, smoke pouring from exposed wiring while nearby fuel canisters sat unsecured in the panic. Your remaining arrows were few now. Precious.
You tied the explosive charge directly beneath one shaft with shaking fingers.
“Come find me,” you whispered.
Then you fired.
The arrow struck dead center, and for one suspended heartbeat nothing happened.
Then the world erupted.
The explosion tore violently through the compound in a chain reaction of fire and metal, fuel igniting so rapidly that the shockwave lifted you clean off your feet. Heat engulfed everything. Steel screamed. Smoke swallowed the sky as the blast hurled you backward across the platform.
Your spine slammed hard against the stair railing as pain exploded through your body.
A sharp cry tore from your throat as the impact knocked the air from your lungs entirely. The world was ringing violently around you while flames climbed higher through the base behind you, black smoke rolling into the mountains in enormous waves.
Coughing hard, you forced yourself upward onto trembling arms.
And then you saw them.
Dark figures burst through the fog overhead as Ikran riders broke across the horizon.
Your breath caught. They came.
Eywa, they came.
Ikran's screams pierced through the smoke while riders descended from the clouds like wrath itself, silhouettes cutting through firelight and ash. For one impossible moment, relief struck you so hard it weakened your knees.
So’lek.
You tried to stand fully, but pain lanced violently through your side, forcing a limp instead as dizziness spun the world unevenly beneath your feet. Blood ran warm down your arm now. You had not even noticed being hit while gunfire erupted somewhere below.
You staggered through smoke and wreckage, weaving between burning debris while soldiers shouted over each other in panic. The base had become a battlefield. Fire illuminated the fog in violent flashes while alarms still screamed without pause.
Then a voice stopped you cold.
“Well,” Mercer drawled from somewhere ahead through the smoke, “there she is.”
You froze, thinking to yourself, This is where he dies. This is where you kill him.
He emerged slowly from the wreckage with a rifle already trained on your chest, ash drifting around him like black snow. One side of his mask was streaked with soot and blood now, though the smile pulling at his mouth remained infuriatingly calm.
“You are becoming a real pain in my ass.”
You bared your teeth despite the blood coating your tongue. “Funny,” you rasped. “I was just thinking the same.”
Mercer laughed softly, adjusting the rifle higher against his shoulder. “You really thought you were getting out of here?”
Behind him, the mountains thundered with distant explosions and ikran cries.
“They found me,” you shot back, breath uneven. “And they are going to tear this place apart.”
Something dangerous flickered briefly across Mercer’s expression then. Not fear.
Calculation.
“You won’t get away,” he said flatly.
Then he fired, but not at you.
The bullet struck the fuel barrel beside you as light consumed everything.
The explosion ripped violently through the platform with enough force to shatter steel beneath your feet. Heat slammed into you like a living thing as the world vanished into fire and noise and unbearable white pain.
And then—
Nothing.
—
The hidden base burned beneath him.
Smoke swallowed the mountains in violent black waves as So’lek and Iley burst over the compound walls like something torn free from Eywa’s wrath herself. Gunfire erupted immediately from below, tracer rounds ripping upward through the fog while soldiers screamed over alarms and collapsing structures. So’lek barely heard any of it. His rifle thundered endlessly in his hands as Iley dove low over the rooftops, her screeches cutting through the firestorm while bullets sparked against metal beneath them.
“Where are you?!” he roared into the smoke.
Everywhere he looked, there was destruction.
Burning AMP suits. Dead soldiers. Explosions still rippling through fuel lines beneath the compound. The entire base had been ripped apart from within before the resistance had even arrived, and somewhere deep beneath the chaos a fierce, almost painful pride surged through his chest.
You did this. You fought and survived.
He spotted arrows buried in human throats. Bodies dragged into shadows. Blood trails weaving through the maze of platforms and stairwells like marks left deliberately for him to follow. Every piece of it carried your handprint. Your fury.
And Eywa, he had never loved you more.
Iley landed heavily atop one of the upper platforms, claws shrieking against steel as So’lek rose immediately from the harness, scanning the battlefield below through drifting smoke and flame. Warriors descended through the skies around him now, resistance fighters flooding into the compound while gunfire erupted from every direction.
Then he saw you.
You stumbled through the wreckage below with one hand clutched tightly against your side, blood soaking through your fingers while smoke curled around your body in thick waves. Even injured, even barely standing, he recognized the shape of you instantly. The sight nearly brought him to his knees.
His heart stopped, and his chest ached.
Yet a man stood before you. Mercer, and the rifle in his hands glinted through the firelight.
So’lek did not think; he couldn't. Only instinct took over. “Iley!”
The ikran launched instantly from the rooftop beneath him as he fired blindly into the compound below, rage consuming every coherent thought inside his skull. The world narrowed into violent tunnel vision. There was only you. Only the man standing before you. Only the unbearable distance between them.
You did not see him, did not hear his screams, or see his face.
Then everything slowed as Mercer fired.
The fuel barrel beside you erupted in blinding white light as the explosion tore through the platform with enough force to shake the mountains themselves. Fire swallowed the world whole as the shockwave slammed violently into Iley mid-flight, sending both rider and ikran spiraling hard through smoke and debris. So’lek hit the rooftop brutally, rolling across burning metal before crashing against the railing hard enough to drive the air from his lungs.
Pain screamed through his shoulder, yet he barely felt it.
“No!”
The roar ripped from him, raw and animalistic, as he forced himself upward through the smoke, one arm shielding his face from the consuming heat. Fire climbed everywhere now. The entire upper platform had collapsed inward beneath the blast, steel twisting and groaning beneath flames while debris rained endlessly from above.
You were gone; your presence missing from the place he just found you.
So’lek staggered through the inferno anyway.
“Sarentu!”
Nothing answered him beyond screaming metal.
Then he saw Mercer.
The human commander was being dragged backward through the smoke by surviving soldiers, one of his men shouting frantically while blood streamed down Mercer’s face. The moment So’lek recognized him, something murderous detonated inside his chest.
Mercer.
The man who took you.
The man who caged you.
The man who—
So’lek moved before thought could catch him, fury surging violently through every nerve as he reached for the blade at his side. He wanted Mercer’s blood beneath his hands. Wanted to rip the life from his body piece by piece until the mountains themselves remembered his screams.
But then another thought cut through the rage.
You.
The realization struck so painfully; it felt like another wound.
You were more important. More important than vengeance or rage.
So’lek hissed sharply through clenched teeth, forcing himself to tear his eyes away from Mercer despite every instinct clawing toward violence. His chest heaved violently as he searched the burning wreckage again.
Then he saw it.
Beyond the shattered railing where the explosion had torn through the platform, broken branches and crushed undergrowth carved a violent path down the mountainside into the forest below from your fall. The moment he saw it, So’lek ran.
He vaulted the ruined railing without hesitation as Iley screeched somewhere overhead, circling through smoke until his sharp whistle cut through the chaos. The ikran dove immediately toward him, wings folding tightly as she descended through the burning fog. So’lek caught the harness in one motion and hauled himself onto her back.
“Down!”
Iley hurled herself over the cliffside.
The forest rushed upward in blurred green and black beneath them as So’lek tracked the destruction left through the trees. Broken limbs. Blood against stone. Torn vines hanging where your body had crashed through the canopy. That's when he saw you. Crushed beneath twisted brush near the ravine floor.
Motionless.
“No no no—”
The words broke apart as he practically fell from Iley before she had fully landed, stumbling hard across the forest floor as he tore through the brush toward you. His knees slammed into the earth beside your body, hard enough to bruise.
You weren’t moving. Nothing was moving besides his frantic hands, tearing away the vines and sticks.
Your skin was streaked with soot and blood, your chest terrifyingly still beneath torn clothing while one arm lay twisted awkwardly beneath you. Burn marks crawled across your side where the explosion had caught you.
For one horrible moment the world simply… stopped.
So’lek’s breathing shattered.
“No…” His voice cracked violently as his hands hovered uselessly over you, terrified to touch, terrified to confirm what his mind was already screaming at him. “No, no…”
His fingers finally found your face.
Warm.
Still warm.
Relief hit him so sharply it hurt, curling inside his chest with a sickening feeling.
“Yawne…” The word collapsed from him brokenly as he gathered you carefully into his arms, cradling your body against his chest while panic and grief ripped through him all over again. “Stay with me. Stay with me.”
Your head lolled weakly against his shoulder as no response came. Fear unlike anything he had ever known consumed him whole then. Not battle fear or survival, but loss.
The unbearable realization that after crossing mountains and fire and death to reach you… he still might lose you anyway.
His forehead pressed hard against yours as his entire body shook.
“I found you,” he whispered desperately, his voice splintering apart. “Please… Eywa.”
The battle still raged somewhere above them, distant now beneath the ringing in So’lek’s ears. Gunfire cracked through the mountains in uneven bursts while flames painted the fog in violent shades of orange and gold, but none of it reached him fully. Not anymore. The world had narrowed into the weight of your body in his arms and the unbearable terror clawing through his chest.
So’lek pressed one shaking hand against the side of your face again, desperate for movement, for breath, for anything that would silence the horror building inside him. Blood streaked across his fingers immediately, mixing with soot and ash as he carefully pushed tangled hair from your face.
“You cannot leave me." The word broke apart in his throat. “Do you hear me? You cannot.”
His voice sounded unfamiliar. Raw. Fractured.
He had crossed mountains for you. Burned through grief and rage and fear until there was nothing left inside him except the need to reach you. And now that he finally had, now that you were here against his chest, warm and real, he could feel death lingering close enough to touch.
His forehead pressed shakily against yours.
The confession tore from somewhere deep and wounded inside him, stripped bare beneath the panic. So’lek’s hands trembled openly now as he searched your injuries, pressing carefully against the blood soaking your side while trying desperately to remember every healing technique Ri’nela had ever taught him. His breathing refused to steady enough to think clearly.
Something warm struck your cheek.
Tears.
The realization shattered something else inside him entirely.
So’lek had not cried since he was a child.
Yet grief and relief had hollowed him so completely these past weeks that now emotion poured from him uncontrollably, silent and shaking as he held you tighter against his chest. He buried his face briefly against your hair, breathing you in beneath smoke and blood and ash.
Your lashes fluttered weakly, and So’lek froze, breath catching for a brief moment.
A strained breath escaped you, barely more than air, but it hit him harder than any blade ever could. His head snapped downward immediately, hands tightening around you with terrified relief.
“Sarentu?”
Your vision swam when your eyes finally forced themselves open. Firelight blurred through the trees overhead in fractured pieces while pain pulsed violently through every inch of your body. For one disoriented moment, you thought perhaps Eywa had finally taken pity on you.
Then you heard him.
“Stay with me,” So’lek whispered desperately, his voice breaking apart again the instant your eyes found his. "Stay with me.”
Your breath caught.
He looked ruined.
Soot covered his skin and armor alike, smoke curling through loose braids while tears streaked openly down his face without restraint. His hands shook where they held you. You had never seen him like this before. Never seen So’lek—the warrior feared by both sky people and Na’vi alike—look so utterly undone.
“All this…” you rasped weakly, trying for humor despite the blood on your tongue. “For me?”
A broken sound escaped him somewhere between a laugh and a sob.
“Yes,” he breathed instantly. “Always for you.”
Your hand lifted weakly toward his face, trembling from the effort until he caught it immediately, pressing your palm hard against his cheek like something sacred. His eyes shut the moment your skin touched his.
You felt him lean into it.
“I told him,” you whispered slowly, fighting through the dizziness pulling at you again. “Told Mercer… you would come for me.”
So’lek’s forehead dropped against yours once more, a trembling breath leaving him as his entire body seemed to finally crack beneath the weight of everything he had carried alone.
“There was nowhere in this world Eywa could have hidden you from me.”
The words settled warmly through the ache in your chest as your fingers curled weakly against his jaw, eyes tracing every exhausted line of his face. “You look terrible.”
That finally pulled a real laugh from him, soft and broken though it was. He shook his head once, overcome again as he pressed another desperate kiss against your forehead.
“You nearly died.”
“So did you it seems,” you whispered back.
For a moment neither of you spoke.
The mountains burned around you. War still thundered in the distance. Yet down here beneath the trees, held tightly in So’lek’s arms, the world suddenly felt impossibly small and quiet.
His gaze dropped slowly to your mouth then, hesitation flickering there for only the briefest second before emotion overwhelmed restraint entirely. One hand slid shakily against the side of your neck as he kissed you like a man dragged half-dead from drowning.
It wasn’t careful or restrained. It was truly desperate as every ounce of grief and relief and unbearable love was poured into it all at once. His lips trembled against yours as he pulled you closer despite the fear of hurting you, breathing you in like he still could not believe you were real beneath his hands.
You kissed him back just as fiercely as your injuries allowed.
The realization hit all over again as your forehead rested against his afterward, both of you breathing unevenly while the fires burned beyond the ravine. You were both alive by the will of Eywa. By the will of your trust and your bond.
“I thought I lost you." So’lek admitted quietly.
You swallowed hard against the emotion tightening your throat before brushing your thumb gently beneath his eye, catching the tears still clinging there.
Late at night, your mind overwhelms you with dark doubts of your loved one's feelings. And so, Sylus makes it his job to remind you that he loves you for who you are, not just for who you used to be. In other words, don't trust your thoughts past 10 PM.
➤ pairing: sylus x gn! reader
➤ tags: dialogue heavy (mostly sylus), comfort, wc: 810+
➤ NOTE: NOT PROOFREAD, in March 2025 i saw a comment on tt that said “what if he only loves current MC bc of their past life” so i wrote this in anger towards that comment
For a while you have been unable to approach him with your assumptions. You can’t even recall what had planted that seed in your mind. Thus, you feel ridiculous for even doubting his love when he has shown you everything to offer. Riches, gifts, foods. Yet, your late night thoughts grip at your heart whenever you revel in the past.
Ever the mind reader, Sylus catches on one night as you lay together on the soft velvet bed. “A gem for your thoughts?” he utters, the hand that was adjusting the duvet finds its way to your waist.
“Sy… why did you love me?,” you start, not knowing how to express these ideas without it sounding like an attack. He raises an eyebrow, “‘Did’? I still do.”
“Do you love me, or do you only love me because of the life we’ve had before?” you allege. A slight widening of his eyes is your sign that he understood your current worries.
Sylus ponders for a moment. A sigh follows and he gently guides your face up from the pillow to make eye contact. “All I have are the memories of how we loved. To assure you, my current self much prefers you as you are right now.”
He continues, “The past is in the past- I love a little differently now.”
He grabs your hands, places them on his face and lets them fill the sharp curves there. His breathing was so calm it made you feel a little silly for these feelings. “Now that we are our own persons…I hope that you love a little differently as well,” Sylus leans in once more, not only because he misses your lips, but to also get your full attention. Your body turns to jelly and you wrap your arms like an octopus around his head. Such a soft embrace is a rarity in your relationship with the constant movement of your jobs and the built up passion that explodes in the scarce moments you two are able to meet.
Grabbing one of your wrists, he moves it towards his chest where you can feel the irregular beating of his heart. He pulls back from your lips, far enough to have your face in full view. “Even without this curse, I knew back then that it wouldn’t be the only life where my soul would find you. I am sorry if the way I have been loving you seemed like it was for someone else,” he concludes before moving his body away from yours. You curl into the bed a little more due to the pressure and sincerity that pours out of his expression. Those vermillion eyes that are always so sharp and commanding obedience, but at this moment all you notice are the corners that have widened a little, eyebrows relaxing into his temples, and the glint in his eyes that scream his boundless affection.
Combining Sylus’ expression with his words, you gulp, overtaken by the conflicting emotions and overwhelming love that continued to mature when you thought it had already reached its peak. You were one breath away from breaking down; so thankful at his reassurance and that yes, his love for you was current, it was for you. Unable to respond to such sincerity, all you could say was, “You might be too much for me.”
He barks out a laugh, knowing that with your tone you did not mean it in a negative way, understanding that you were only drowning in the rush of his words.
Seeing your expression wavering, he closes the distance (he can never live without your warmth) and wraps himself around you once more. “I believed that was the most I could’ve ever loved…but for these past years, I knew it was not the same,” he confesses. As he lays his face in the crook of your neck, his hairs tickle the sensitive spots behind your ears. Instead of tears escaping you, all that you let out was a quiet wheeze that transformed into an airy giggle. Fighting the urge to tease, he lifts himself to place lingering kisses on your face.
“But I understand where you come from. I would be jealous if you preferred any of my other selves as well, such as the dragon…”
He pauses before leaning back, the corner of his mouth twitching down and raising his eyebrow, “You don’t… do you?”. You respond with a chuckle, feeling a little bad now that you potentially planted that idea into his head. You shake your head and embrace him once more.
“Good,” he airs out, planting a kiss on your forehead.
“I love you. Enough to find you in each era, and I can only hope that you love me in every lifetime as well, even if it’s not the same amount. So for now, let us love in the way this life allows us to.”
Description: After the death of your son, you find a way to keep your children safe. However, So'lek is not too fond of the idea.
Warnings: Death, grief, mentions of war, and canon typical violence. Sky people.
Word count: 1.6k
A/n: This is Part Two of A Normal Life! I hope you enjoy! Based on this request and this request
Agony. Pure unrelenting agony was what you were feeling after the loss of your son, Ikmay. For the longest time, you thought that the loss of your clan would be the worst pain you would ever feel.
Oh, how wrong you were.
After your son was killed during the destruction of Resistance HQ, you shut down. You and your family made your journey to the clouded forest, and Ikmay was laid to rest with the Kame’tire. Once the new Resistance Hideout was established, you pulled away. No longer did you speak to any of the sky people in the Resistance. You hardly ever showed your face. Despite your children's pleas to go with their father, So’lek, to visit the hideout, you refused.
How could you bring your children near them again? They could not be trusted, even if they stood against the RDA; they were still sky people. You had to protect your children.
So’lek was not any better. Rather than shutting down, he had drowned himself in work. Taking down RDA sites before they even had the chance to realize what was happening. His newfound vengeance made him even more aggressive towards the RDA than usual. He would be sure to make them pay for taking his son.
Regardless of this, you still could not stand seeing your mate help the sky people. You could not understand why, after everything they have done to your home, your clan, your family, he would still surround himself with them.
As much as So’lek urged you to come back to the Resistance, you refused. He understood your apprehension, but your hatred for the sky people worried him. He could see his own past bitterness within you. He would do whatever it takes to stop you from going down that path, a path of hatred.
Your children had held up as best as they could. Lew’eyn stepped up more than ever since the loss of his brother. He felt that it was now his responsibility to fill Ikmay's role. You and So’lek disagreed; he was still too young, not yet strong enough to face the horrors of the RDA. Yuwe, your sweet Yuwe, had become a frightened, traumatized little girl. Often she would crawl into your and So’leks’ hammock at night, clinging to you both in pure, childlike fear when her nightmares became too much.
You could understand this. The image of Ikmay's lifeless body haunted you not just at night, but anytime you saw or heard anything that reminded you of your eldest son.
The frigid cold reminders would wash over you like a powerful waterfall with no means of stopping.
Everyone has their breaking point, and you surely had met yours.
No longer could you stand to be near the sky people, near their cold metal boxes, their sterile air that disgusted you to breathe in. You could not stand their looks of pity, for it all felt inauthentic. They did this, the sky people are at fault for all the suffering you, So’lek, your children, your clan, and all of Pandora have felt.
So, you decided to do something about it.
You knew that So’lek would not be easily convinced to step back from the Resistance, let alone to seek uturu among the Kame’tire, but you had to try. You had to think of your children's safety; it was your job to protect them.
You waited till the children had gone to sleep for the night. You approached So’lek softly as he was sharpening his knife, choosing your next words carefully.
“I believe that it would be best if we stepped back from the Resistance. I wish to seek uturu among the Kame’tire.”
So’lek’s form went rigid at this, the muscles in his back visibly tensing. Without even seeing his face, you knew how he felt towards the idea. He did not turn towards you; the sharpening of his knife stopped, filling the room with a cold, heavy silence.
“No.”
His voice was gruff with the weight of finality. No other words needed to be spoken to tell you how he felt. Still, you would not back down so easily. You had been mated with So’lek for many years. Even before that, you grew up together, spending your childhood joined at the hip. So, you knew him very well; you knew this would take more convincing. You also knew that he would not shut you down entirely.
“Think of our children, So’lek. I cannot lose another to the sky people, I will not.”
Finally, he turned towards you, pushing himself to a stand as he looked at you with that hardened expression you had become too accustomed to. You held your breath as you waited for his response. Hoping that he would see your fears.
“You think that I am not thinking of our children?”
“I- I did not-”
He cut you off before you could finish your sentence. It was clear he was growing increasingly irritated with the idea and with this conversation.
“I think of our children every day. I think of our son, of how I failed to protect him. I told you I would protect him with my life, and I failed. Not a day goes by that I do not fear for our children. That is exactly why I will not run from this war. I fight to protect the children, to protect you.”
You understood his way of thinking, but you could not see clearly. Turning from him, you shakily held back tears. How could you convince him of this?
“I would not ask this if I felt there was any other way to protect them.”
So’lek softened at this. He stepped closer towards you, gripping your shoulders as he turned you to face him. Then, taking your face in his hands as he wiped your tears.
“Yawne, we cannot hide from this war. Running will not put a stop to it.”
You sniffled as you nodded at his words. Wrapping your hands around his wrists to ground yourself. You let out a shaky breath that you did not realize you were holding. Finally, you looked up at him, gazing into his eyes. His eyes were clouded with grief and determination to protect his family and put an end to this war.
“I am scared, So’lek.”
Your words came out quiet, almost a whisper. He pulled you closer and wrapped himself around you, shushing you softly as you sobbed into his shoulder.
“I know. I know you are scared, as am I, but the Resistance needs us. You cannot shut down, not now.”
You shook your head at this, pulling from him to gaze up into his eyes. How could he ask you to rejoin the Resistance? He knew how you felt towards the sky people. You could not.
“You cannot ask this of me. If you refuse to join the Kame’tire, that is fine. I will not surround myself or my children with those sky people.”
So’lek felt his heart break at your words. His chest twisting into something sharp, it pained him to hear your words, to hear how your hatred had seeped out like this.
“They are on our side. Do not forget who we are fighting. I will not allow you to go down this path, a path of hatred. You saw what it did to me.”
You took in his words. Maybe he was right. As much as it pained you to admit it, the Resistance was only trying to help your cause.
“I will rejoin the fight, but do not expect me to be cordial with them.”
So’lek hummed in agreement, pulling you back into him, breathing you in.
“Thank you, yawne. I promise you, once this is over, we will give our children the life they deserve. I will protect this family, regardless of my past failures.”
You would not allow him to blame himself for your son's death. You could see how it had affected him. The torment he faced was visibly wearing him down every day.
Softly, you spoke into his chest, not wanting to pull yourself from his embrace.
“Do not blame yourself; the only ones at fault here are the sky people. You did everything you could to protect him.”
He only nodded, fighting back tears of his own. He knew that if he spoke, he would choke on his words. So, he remained silent. Only holding you tighter as a means to ground himself.
Together, you faced the realization that this war was far from over. The RDA would continue to take until they were squashed out.
So, after weeks of grief and isolating yourself, you slowly stepped back into your role at the Resistance.
You were still apprehensive the allow the children to come, so for the time being, they stayed back. When the time was right, and you felt comfortable again, you would allow them to come with you and So’ek.
The Resistance was thrilled to have you back. None of them said anything to you about Ikmay, but you could feel the weight of their unspoken words lingering in the air.
You stayed more resigned than you once were, but So’lek was happy just to see you rejoining the fight. As much as it pained you to face the RDA once more, it had to be done.
Much like So’lek, you would do anything to protect your family.
I hope you enjoyed! Thank you for reading! If you have any ideas for more So'lek fics, my requests are open!
wc: 720
gn reader, soft sylus, exhaustion, fluffy comfort!
Your day was exhausting. Too many people, too much noise, too much everything. You left feeling dizzy and strained, not even having the energy to text Sylus that you were coming over. You're sure he'll understand; he shows up to your apartment uninvited quite often, and you never complain. You stop by your place on the way to change into more comfortable clothing, then pull on your helmet and hop on the bike he gifted you.
Luckily, you manage to stay fully awake for the entire duration of your drive to Sylus's manor and park smoothly in his garage beside his favorite bike. You're sure he knows you're here by now; his security system is incredibly robust and likely identified your face on your way into his garage.
You scan your thumb on the reader, and the door unlocks with a happy-sounding chime and a little caw sound effect. You can't help but smile a little, remembering how you asked the twins to help you implement it, and how the two gleefully complied, offering to record his reaction as well.
The way his eyes widened with surprise and then softened with fondness as he chuckled still lives in your mind, the memory brightening your days. Part of you expected him to change it, but he never has. Your little project of adding small, cheery touches to his home has been going surprisingly well.
You rub your eyes as you make your way through his side door, toeing off your shoes in the entranceway and trudging forward. You check each room as you pass by, looking for signs of Sylus's presence. Empty, empty, empty… You eventually reach his study, and there he is.
He's in an ornate armchair, reading, with one of his favorite records playing in the background, filling the air with a gentle melody. You feel an incredible weight lifted from your shoulders just from breaching the threshold, causing your posture to relax and a yawn to escape your throat. It smells like him in here.
Sylus doesn't seem surprised to see you, merely placing his book aside and opening his arms in invitation with a smile. "You should have said something about coming to see me. I would've prepared you a drink."
You hum lowly in response, your brain far too scrambled to prepare anything coherent to say. You just take his invitation, crawling into his lap and nestling your head into his chest, curling into him. The day's tension melts from your frame, and from Sylus's as well. He lets out a soft sigh, pressing tender kisses to your hair and enveloping you in his embrace. He almost seems to be purring.
"Your presence is a lovely surprise, sweetie." He murmurs, pulling you closer, smothering you with affection. His kisses travel down to your neck, and he snuggles into you, the tip of his nose nuzzling into your soft skin, a smile curling his lips. "Long day? Hmm?"
You wrap your arms around his torso and whine. A quiet laugh rumbles through his chest, his hand sliding beneath your shirt to slowly stroke up and down your spine. "Alright, alright, no more teasing."
His chest is so warm beneath your cheek, his arms holding you close and insulating you from the harsh world outside. You're enveloped in a safe little bubble, free to let go without fear of judgment, free to recharge without having to rely on solitude. It's as if the universe is just the two of you, and you've never felt safer.
"Naptime?" he whispers, and you nod, cozy and drowsy, your mind fixating on the rhythm of his heartbeat and the vibration of his voice resonating through his chest. He hums, placing a kiss on your jawline. "Rest. You did well today. You should be proud."
At this, you open your eyes to look up at him, meeting his gaze. "Really?" you ask, something in your expression making him chuckle fondly.
"Yes, kitten, really. You know I don't offer empty praise." Your eyes start to water, causing Sylus's to soften tenderly. He shushes you, tucking your head back into his chest with his free hand and threading his fingers through your hair, soothing your tears.
"I'm proud of you. Never forget that. Rest well for me, sweetheart. I'll stay right here by your side."
you wake to a gentle hand on your shoulder, shaking you delicately to gain your attention, as if afraid of harming you. you ignore it, burying your face in your covers and hiding from the intrusive figure.
they're persistent, though, and they turn you over, keeping you from curling back up into your protective ball. you whine, but comply, seeing as the strength behind the hand was determined to keep you awake.
you crack your eyes open and are met with a pair of ruby-red ones staring back at you with concern. it's who you expected, though you're not disappointed. you're just tired.
you try to push his hand off your shoulder, and he moves it to cup your face instead, running his thumb underneath your eye socket. his eyes search yours, even though you can barely keep them open.
"sweetheart," sylus whispers, patient as always. you won't be able to push him away that easily, even if you'd do anything you could to go back to sleep right now. you've already wasted the whole day; what difference would it make to waste a little more?
he's more stubborn than you are, though. he taps your cheek when your eyes droop closed again, and you begrudgingly open them for him, knowing he's waiting for your attention. you don't want to waste his time.
"did you take your medication?" he asks, his voice still steady and calm. you shake your head no. he doesn't respond with frustration, simply nodding and pulling your pill organizer and a glass of water over with his evol.
he presses his hand to the center of your back, gently guiding you upwards, even though you whine in complaint. "i know, i know. just sit up for me and take these without choking, then we can take a nice, long break."
you begrudgingly comply, letting him feed you the pills a few at a time alongside sips of water. it doesn't take you long to finish them, and once you do, sylus rewards you with affectionate kisses all over your face. even if you try to complain a little, he knows you love them.
the pill container and glass are returned to their place with a swish of his evol, and he doesn't waste a second before climbing into bed beside you, smoothly pulling you into his secure, warm embrace as he does so.
by the time he's settled, you're all bundled up in his arms, enveloped in him in one of your favorite positions. chest to chest, his hand beneath your shirt to rub your back and press you just that little bit closer. you sniffle and nestle your head into the crook of his neck, hiding from his scrutinizing gaze. he lets you.
"i love you." his words are simple, yet they convey centuries worth of longing and adoration. "you can sleep all day if you'd like. just don't shut me out. let me sleep with you." his whispers brush against your shoulder as he presses a tender kiss there. "let me love you. that's all i ask, darling. let me remain in your life."
"okay," you whisper, and though your brain is foggy from sleep, you could swear he begins to purr. either way, your mind is soothed for the moment, and you drift back off to sleep, knowing you won't ever have to do so alone.
Description: With the sky people driven out, you and So'lek try to live a normal life without your clan.
Warnings: Pregnancy, descriptions of childbirth, mentions of war, canon typical violence, death.
Word count: 4k
A/n: Buckle up
After the battle of the Hallelujah Mountains, you and So’lek were alone. With the Trr’ong clan practically wiped out, the few who did survive joined other clans. You and So’lek did not. Instead, the two of you moved on your own, living in solitude.
You saw the way the battle had hardened your mate, filled his spirit with vengeance. However, you could not deny it had the same effect on you as well.
Many nights following the loss of your clan, you wept in each other's arms, mourning the loss of your family, friends, and clan. With the RDA driven out, neither of you had anywhere to place your bitterness. So, you did the best you could to have a somewhat normal life.
Constantly being on the move wasn't easy, especially with it just being the two of you. You would take rests at other clans' camps, never staying more than a day or two.
You were beginning to get accustomed to the routine: wake up, hunt, rest at camp, leave the next day, repeat.
That was until you fell ill.
It came on suddenly, a sickness beyond what you have ever felt before. It wasn't exactly debilitating, but it definitely slowed you down. Your symptoms began as a sluggish feeling in your bones; you assumed it was exhaustion from your travels.
Then came the vomiting, the slightest smell that normally would not bother you, twisted your insides until you expelled the contents of your last meal. Beyond that, you did not have many other symptoms. The problem was that this sickness persisted longer than it should.
Weeks had passed, and you still hadn't gotten better. So’lek was immensely worried, doing everything he could to help you, trying every remedy he could think of. This was all futile, as none of these methods seemed to work.
You assured him you were fine, and this would pass. As much as he wanted to believe you, he could not. So, much to your chagrin, he decided to take you to the Aranahes tsahik, Asahe.
The two of you had been in good relations with the Aranahe. He was hopeful that their tsahik would see you. You made the journey to Hometree, not without a string of complaints from you the entire way. He assured you that this was necessary, that after this, you would be better and things would go back to normal.
That was the farthest from the truth.
-
Once you arrived at Hometree, So’lek, ever the gentleman, and also a dramatic, carried you to their tsahik. “Ma So’lek, I can walk, let me walk.” Exasperated, you attempted to wiggle out of his grasp, but he did not budge.
“Yawne, you need not exhaust yourself even more.” He continued to carry you the entire way to the healing circle, not without a sly smirk on his face, one that only you could pick up on.
Lying you down on the mats, he moved away just enough to take your hand in his, while also giving the tsahik room to work. She hummed as she examined you, and then abruptly paused, as if she had already figured out what troubled you.
“Oh ma’ite, you are not ill,” She gave you a knowing smile, but you, however, did not know what she was trying to say.
“She has been ill for weeks. How is there nothing wrong?” So’lek questioned her, slightly frustrated but more so confused. She smiled at him again, with a warmth that you could only see when great news is heard.
“This is no sickness, you are with child.” Your heart skipped a beat at this; the world narrowed in focus. With child? How could this be? Although you had to admit, you and So’lek were not very careful, but you never thought this would happen. Not now, not when you two were still discovering your place without a clan.
Asahes warm smile remained on her face, as if she could not see any reason this could be worrying news. Finally, snapping out of your trance, you looked up at So’lek. He had the same deadpan expression you wore, trying to make sense of what he just heard.
“I will leave you now to discuss,” noticing your shock, Asahe left the room, leaving you and So’lek alone.
After what felt like ages, the tension was clawing at your skin. “So’lek, please say something,” you pleaded with him. Finally, he snapped out of his daze, studying your face carefully, as he chose his next words.
“We’re going to be parents.” There was no hint of distaste in his words, only disbelief. Tearfully, you nodded, tightening your grip on his hand that never let go.
Looking down at your hand in his, then back up to your face, his free hand travelled to your stomach, carefully resting there. His face broke out into the most pure, real smile you had seen since before the war.
“This is the greatest of news,” letting out a breathy laugh, you choked out your next words, tears flowing down your cheeks. “Are you not afraid, So’lek? This child will have no clan, what kind of life is that?”
He only shook his head, “They will still be Trr’ong, we will share the stories of our clan, so that they will never forget where they came from.”
He pressed his forehead to yours, breathing you in. Then, leaning down to press his lips to your not yet swollen stomach.
“Nga yawne lu oer,” He spoke to not only you, but your growing child as well.
“Nga yawne lu oer,” you spoke back, lovingly running your hand through his hair.
-
The months that followed were not easy, navigating pregnancy and travelling. You often stayed at camps longer now, giving you ample rest. Especially as your belly began to swell.
Oh, did So’lek revel in the sight. It brought him great pride to see you swollen with his child. His chest filled with warmth whenever he saw you rest your hands on your bump, tenderly rubbing back and forth.
At night, when it was just the two of you, he lay his head on your belly, speaking words of endearment to your child.
“Your Sa’nu is a fierce warrior, even if she claims not to be; you are already so loved and protected, Ma’itan.”
“What makes you think we are having a son, Ma yawntu?”
He only smiled up at you, your head filling with fuzzy warmth. Oh, how you loved him. He was already an amazing, loving father. You could not wait to see him hold your child in his arms, whispering softly to him.
“I just have a feeling,” he said, as if Eywa herself revealed to him that he would have a son.
“Well, we shall see if your feelings are correct.”
“Yes, we shall,” and with that, he laid his head back down, continuing to whisper to your child.
-
It was nearing the child's arrival, and your belly had doubled in size. No longer could you travel; now you resided with the Aranahe while you waited.
“What should we name him?” So’lek asked, looking at you carefully. He wanted to hear your ideas first.
You hummed in thought, hand resting on your belly. “Well, since you are so set on us having a son, I was thinking we name him Ikmay.”
He smiled, laying a hand on your face, “Ikmay is a strong name.”
With that, it was decided, now all you had to do was wait.
-
You did not have to wait long. Only three eclipses passed before the labor started.
So’lek rushed you to the tsahik, trying to hide his anxiety, but he was failing. He sat behind you, his chest to your back, as you gripped his hand with crushing force.
He held back a wince, knowing that your pain was greater than his.
He was there as you gasped in pain, cooing softly and speaking words of encouragement as you brought your child into the world.
“I do not know if I can do this,” exhausted, you lay your head against his shoulder. He placed a kiss on your hairline and wiped the sweat from your forehead with a wet cloth.
“You are so strong yawne, you can do this. Just a little longer, and we will have our child in our arms.”
This brought you back to reality, readying yourself for the next contraction. Gritting your teeth as you felt each wave of pain.
“Push now, my child,” Asahe said as she knelt before you, ready to catch your baby as he came out. With one final, excruciating push, it was done.
You fell limp against So’leks’ chest as soon as you heard the shrill cry of your baby, sobbing from the overwhelming emotions you were feeling.
Ikmay, who was in fact a boy, was laid on your chest, and you made tsaheylu with him. Your breath came out in ragged spurts, still reeling from the pain you felt moments ago.
That was all washed away once you bonded with your son. You wept as you felt his fuzzy mind, how it was filled with warmth and love for you, seeking the comfort of his mother's embrace. So’lek wept as well; he couldn't believe that he had a son, he was a father.
He placed his hand on the back of Ikmay's head, rubbing his thumb softly back and forth. You tore your gaze from your son, looking up at So’lek. “We have a son,” he smiled back at you, “He is beautiful, he has a strong heart, like his Sa’nu. You were so strong, Ma yawntu.”
The two of you sat like that for some time, soaking up every moment with your son. Hardly able to believe this was real, you were parents.
“Ma So’lek, hold your son,” you said as you handed him off. He carefully, with shaking hands, took him from you. More tears crept through his eyes as he felt his warmth, saw his tiny features; he looked so much like you. He held out his free hand to him, Ikmay grasping his finger with his tiny hands, barely able to wrap his fingers around one of his.
You moved to help him make tsaheylu with him, and that is what finally broke So’lek. He wept harder as he bonded with his son, overwhelmed by the sheer love he felt for not only him, but you as well.
You spent a while like this, sheltered in your own little world. Filled with love and admiration for the family you created. Together.
-
Years had passed since then. You and So’lek welcomed two more children into your lives. Another son, Lew’eyn, and then a little girl, Yuwe. Both with strong spirits, just like Ikmay, just like you, and So’lek.
Fifteen summers had passed since the birth of Ikmay, thirteen since Lew’eyn, and nine since Yuwe. You cherished the family you have created. Never once did you let them forget where they came from, their roots in the Trr’ong clan.
Life was seemingly perfect. So’lek was an amazing father, soft, encouraging, and hard when he needed to be.
Ikmay had grown into a strong young man and had already completed his Iknimaya. You could see his father's spirit in him; he will make a fine warrior. He was level-headed, responsible, and took care of his siblings.
Your second son, Lew’eyn, was just as fierce. While he was still navigating his journey into becoming a man, he tried his best to prove himself to you and So’lek. You both saw his determination. While he may not have been as level-headed as Ikmay, he was still young, still learning. So’lek encouraged him endlessly, raising him to be strong.
Yuwe, your sweet Yuwe, was timid, but just as strong. You saw yourself in her a great deal. She had a gentle spirit towards everything around her, but she also had the fire of her father's spirit. You knew she would grow to be just as strong as her brothers, with your and So’leks’ guidance.
-
They were at the age where you could leave the children alone, with Ikmay. Often, you and So’lek would have ‘date nights’. Soaring through the sky on your ikrans, running through the forest just as you did when you were young, freshly mated, swimming in the lakes, splashing each other, laughing until your faces hurt. Moments like these made you feel young again, made you forget the troubles of your past.
One night, everything changed.
You and So’lek were lying on the moss, high above the trees on the mountains, gazing up at the stars. You curled up next to him, laying your head on his chest, your knee curled up onto his lap. He gently stroked your head, occasionally planting gentle kisses there. How could anything ruin this?
That question was answered when you noticed something up above. A star that seemed to be getting brighter and brighter. Until finally breaking through the atmosphere. You quickly realized what it was: a demon ship.
It landed with force, burning everything around it.
In absolute shock, you broke down in sobs, clinging to So’lek as he gripped you tight, grounding you. If you had seen the look on his face, it would have told you everything. Years of healing from the bitterness he felt towards the sky people, wasted in an instant.
“We need to get back to the children,” his words came out rough, that familiar edge already made its way back into his voice.
Agreeing, you gathered your things, calling your ikran. The flight back home was sorrowful; it felt as if a hole had been punched through your chest. So’lek remained silent, a hardened look on his face; it was as if he had reverted to who he was the first time the sky people were here.
Once you made it back to your home, you ran to your children, falling to your knees as you held them in your arms.
“Sa’nu, what happened?” your youngest asked, trembling in fear as she looked up at you. So’lek remained by the entryway, staring at you and your children, while they looked to him for answers.
He would not sugarcoat this; he would not lie to them. They deserved to know. So, he told them the truth. “The sky people have returned,” the words came out strained, as it burned him just to speak them.
Your daughter gasped in fear, clutching you tighter. Ikmay stood, giving his father a look that you recognized, the same look So’lek had when the sky people first arrived many years ago.
Right then, you knew your comfortable, happy life you had built was dead. Now your sons are forced to become warriors, and your daughter is clouded in fear.
-
Shortly after, So’lek informed you of the resistance. A group led by sky people who shunned the RDA, who needed Na’vi allies to help them fight. While you did not trust sky people, and you were wary of the idea of bringing your children around them, you trusted your mate. So, you made the journey to Resistance HQ.
They were ecstatic to have you join them. After all, not many Na’vi wanted to associate themselves with the likes of sky people. They were… Nice. Welcoming you quickly, and your children adjusted as well as they could. Ikmay was wary of them, just like his father. Lew’eyn adjusted rather well, making friends with some of the resistance members. Yuwe was shy at first, clinging to your leg, hiding behind you as you spoke to them. She slowly came out of her shell, often tagging behind Ikmay and Lew’eyn. At least she stopped clinging to you as much.
It broke your heart to see what the sky people have done to your family. Never would you have thought your children would be exposed to this, to war, to ruin. The land they once knew, now desecrated, unsafe.
So’lek took on his role with ease. After the return of the Sarentu, he became a mentor to them, guiding them as they learned how to navigate Pandora. Especially when being thrust into it in a time like this.
Much to your dismay, he became harder on your sons. While still loving, the softness they once knew had dwindled. You understood, now it was more important than ever. So’lek was prepared to have Ikmay fight alongside the resistance.
This did not go over well with you. You waited till after eclipse, after the children were asleep, to confront him.
“He is young, So’lek,” you were angry with him; how could he suggest such a thing? How could he be so comfortable sending his son to fight the RDA?
“He is ready, yawne, he is strong,” he looked to you, a stern expression on his face. Clearly, he was not backing down. Your ears pinned, head bowed, tears clouding your vision. So’leks’ heart cracked at this; he knew he had upset you, he knew how afraid you were. The tension in the room was thick, fear and sadness masked by anger.
So’lek strided towards you as you turned away, hand to your heart as you wept. Wrapping his arms around you, he rested his chin on your shoulder. “You have seen what they do, So’lek. I can not lose him, I will not.”
“You will not lose him, yawne, he is capable, I know this. He will not be alone.”
Your sniffles faded, composing yourself, you turned to face him. He rested his forehead against yours, “I know you are scared, as am I, but he can do this.” You nodded, accepting his words, even if they pained you.
“You will protect him?”
“With my life.”
-
That was the reassurance you gave yourself moving forward. Even when it broke you to see how war was hardening your son, just as it did to you and So’lek. You had to admit that So’lek was right. Ikmay was a fine warrior.
He did not rush; he was careful, calculated, just as he had been taught. Taking down RDA sites with ease, killing them before they even had time to think.
Your other children stayed safe. Lew’eyn was not ready to fight, even though he wanted to. He accepted it, knowing he needed to stay and protect his sister. He took on that role with ease. Whenever you went out to fight, he stayed behind, comforting Yuwe as she cried in fear, fear that you would not return.
You did, you always returned to them. Even if you were injured, you returned. You and So’lek could not afford to lose your lives; your children needed you.
With the Sarentu on your side, they worked tirelessly to gather the clans to fight alongside you. This was no easy task; the Aranahe were wary, already scared by the RDA after they killed Asahe, their tsahik. Etuwa stepped into her role quickly; she was more than willing to fight.
Convincing the Zeswa was easier; they were more than happy to join the fight. Seeing how the sky people had destroyed the land, killing the zakru. That unleashed a fire within them. A fire that could only be extinguished once the RDA were destroyed.
-
After gathering the Aranahe and the Zeswa, it was time to strike. Taking down Col Hardings extractor plant would be no easy task, but with their help, it would make it possible.
You and So’lek readied yourselves for battle, applying your paints on each other. You savored this moment with him. You feared that every battle would be your last, that there was a possibility that one of you would not make it back. This fear was amplified as Ikmay was joining you.
“Stay safe, Ma’itan, please come back to me,” you said, laying your hands on his shoulders, taking the sight of him in. He looked like a true warrior, adorned in paints and Na’vi armor.
He nodded, pulling you in for a hug, “I promise, Sa’nu.” You grasped him for a moment longer, holding back tears.
“It is time, we must fly.” You pulled away, going to ready your ikran.
As you looked back at So’lek and your son one last time before flying off, all you could do was pray that Ewya would protect them.
-
The battle was victorious, Col Hardings base destroyed. The Zeswa and the Aranahe celebrated loudly at camp, pleased with their achievements.
You ran to Ikmay, embracing him hard. You reached for So’lek, bringing him towards you to join the embrace, thanking Ewya for returning them to you.
Little did you know this moment of comfort would be cut short.
-
The resistance is celebrating at HQ. Of course, we should celebrate; this was indeed a massive victory. Your children were happy to join the party. Yuwe laughed as she danced with Lew’eyn. Ikmay stood by his father as he talked with Nor. You made yourself busy, helping Teylan with setting things up, talking to other resistance members.
You really were enjoying yourself. You even tried some of Jin-young's Na’vi dishes. While they were… interesting to say the least, you appreciated the effort.
You went to find Teylan at some point, hoping to speak with him, but you could not find him. It appeared that all of the Sarentu had gone off on their own.
Everyone was having a good time. That was until everything went wrong.
It happened so quickly, you didn't have time to think. Mercer knows where we are. You ran to So’lek, looking around for your children, but you could not see them. Everyone was panicking, scrambling to take cover as a blast shot through HQ.
The screams are what horrified you, so many injured, some even dead.
You and So’lek searched for your children. You found Yuwe cowering behind Lew’eyn. Both of them trembling and terrified. You felt a wave of relief that they were unharmed, but the unease in your chest still would not shake, not until you found Ikmay.
You called out for him, but there was no response.
“Did you see where Ikmay went?” You hurriedly asked Lew’eyn, starting to fear the worst. He only shook his head, afraid as well.
Your fears were confirmed when So’lek called out to you, the edge on his voice could only be described as pure grief. Your blood ran cold, the world narrowed in focus. He has to be alive, he has to be. Your body moved before your mind did, rushing to So’leks side. What you found would forever be engraved in your memory.
Ikmay, lifeless, motionless, on the ground. All life stripped from him.
You collapsed, a guttural scream crawled its way out of your chest. So’lek caught you, holding on to you as you wailed. He thought that he was grounding you, but he was grounding himself as well. All he could do was stare blankly at his son as you cried.
You held onto Ikmay's body, “Oh great mother, no, not my son,” you cried.
Turning towards So’lek, you screamed out, “What is the meaning of this? When will it be enough for them? They kill needlessly!” Your voice laced with pure anguish, continuing to cry out, gripping onto your mate as if your life depended on it.
Lew’eyn and Yuwe sat at his feet, sobbing as they watched the scene unfold. So’lek looked towards them, and then to Ri’nela, who at some point had knelt down beside you to lay a comforting hand on your back. “Take the children from here,” He choked out, not able to bear letting his children witness this.
She nodded in agreement, moving your children away from the scene.
So’lek looked to the sky, fighting back tears as he felt your pain mix with his own. How could he let this happen? How could Eywa take his son?
In that moment, he blamed himself. The need for vengeance came back tenfold.
Vengeance, he was sure to get.
I hope you enjoyed! This was an angsty one. Sorry for giving zero comfort. Maybe I'll make a part two.
