As far as I understand, it’s canon that Kiri is jealous—very jealous—when it comes to Spider. She’s even jealous of Lo’ak and Spider’s relationship; they’re very close, and Kiri doesn’t like that because she wants Spider to be only hers. Could we have some jealous Kiri? That girl even gets jealous of Lo’ak and Spider’s friendship—imagine how she’d be if Spider got close to another girl or had female friends.
Oh, how very juicy!
Sooooo... It’s VERY canon that Kiri is possessive of Spider, even if she’d never admit it to anyone or herself. Maybe she'll stake her claim through little touches or position herself right next to him to show a united front. Kiri's jealousy is quiet, watchful, and razor-sharp. She notices everything. Every laugh Spider gives someone else, every moment of closeness that doesn’t include her. Every private joke. Every moment alone. And it bothers her far more than she lets on because those moments are for her and Spider. For them alone.
Even Lo’ak, her brother, isn’t exempt. Kiri knows, logically, that Lo’ak and Spider are practically brothers, almost twins with their mannerisms and confidence. But that doesn’t stop the irritation from rising in her chest when she sees them together, heads bent close, sharing jokes she isn’t part of. She hates how easily Spider relaxes around Lo’ak, how unguarded he becomes. There’s a part of her that wants that version of Spider reserved for her alone. The fact that it isn’t makes something dark and petty stir beneath her calm exterior.
Kiri does not confront Lo'ak. That would be super weird and get her strange looks from both Spider and Lo'ak. Instead, she inserts herself between them, resting her hand on Spider’s arm or chest, drawing his attention back to her with nothing more than a look or a nudge. This makes Spider focus his attention entirely on her, which leaves Lo'ak to entertain Tuk as usual, and that, in its own way, feels like a victory because try as he might, Spider would NEVER ignore her.
Now, if Spider were to grow close to another girl, especially a Na’vi girl, or, Eywa forbid, a human girl, Kiri’s jealousy would become something else entirely. It would skyrocket into unhealthy heights.
She would watch first. Always watch. Silent, unreadable, eyes following every interaction. She’d file away smiles, touches, notice the way Spider’s voice might soften, etc. And if she decided that the girl posed a real threat? Nature itself would begin to feel less welcoming around her. The vines in the tree would tangle. Branches would snag. Insects would swarm and cause discomfort. Nothing overt enough to accuse Kiri of anything, but enough to make the message clear: you are not to come near him.
Kiri wouldn’t even see it as cruelty because in her mind, Spider shouldn't waste his time hanging around outsiders. Spider is hers, claimed and chosen, and anyone who tries to take up space between them will feel her wrath.
And Spider… Spider knows. He’s not oblivious to it. He senses the tension, the subtle shifts in the world around him whenever Kiri feels threatened. He doesn’t call her out. Not because he’s afraid, but because part of him finds comfort in how fiercely she wants him. After a lifetime of being unwanted, overlooked, or treated as a leper, Kiri’s jealousy is proof that he matters. That he belongs.
So he doesn’t stop her...and he can't stop her. He tried, and Kiri simply ignored him until he promised not to speak to that person again unless it was pleasantries... But after a while, he gets sick of it.
"Look, Kiri, I love holing up with you in my room playing Norm's board games, but I need new friends."
"You don't need new friends. You have me."
"That's not what I'm... Ugh. Look, just stop doing THAT and let me have a social life, okay? We're together non-stop every single day. Ke'eta was only trying to show me how to dye beads, and you made her trip and drop them all!"
"No, I didn't."
"Yes, you did."
"Are you sure?"
"..."
