lo'ak visiting neteyam in the spirit world too many times
+ kiri saving his ass
angst, kinda funny, kinda not, idk im trying to cope w this whole doomed siblings, i love my doomed siblings, hurt/comfort? mentions of suicide
Ps. Try playing this at a medium volume while u read 👍 hurts more :D
and anyway, lo'ak visits neteyam too often, it happens so often that someone has to keep bringing him back up to the surface just so he doesn't die from asphyxiation and join his brother
do u guys think sometimes even neteyam's like:
"don't you have somewhere to be? i think I see you too often than i do aunt sylwanin."
and lo'ak's like:
"nah idk about that bro, anyway look at this cool barrel roll i learned from ao'nung"
do you guys think neteyam finds out, from maybe kiri coming to the spirit world to complain to him about lo'ak
like kiri is just so fucking fed up with loak because she's been saving his ass from getting grounded again or yelled at by their dad by not telling them he's lowkey almost drowning himself
and she wasn't planning to tell neteyam about it at all, but she gets so upset while complaining about lo'aks typical antics that she ends up blurting out the lo'aks been spending a lot of time in the spirit world
too much time
that kiri often has to accompany him but sometimes she can't be there because she also has to watch over tuk or help their mom with something
kiri deeply misses neteyam as well, that's basically her twin i like to think
losing someone you could confide in about your own problems. vice versa, i like to think she and him were best friends, or she thought of neteyam as her best friend, she has lo'ak sure, but he's not like neteyam, he wouldn't understand the same way neteyam would have
and lo'ak knows this
kiri's so tired of everything and everyone and i imagine lo'ak being the same
she's tired of how people in the village look at them in pity
she's tired of the whispers when they draw close, the whispers when they're right there in front of them
"how pitiful..."
"it must be so awful...."
they're collectively sick of it
everyone in the family is tired of everything and everyone
and neteyam, ever the loving and considerate brother, ever the eldest son, the golden boy
that even after death he's still doing his part
comforting kiri, telling her everything's going to be fine, being there for lo'ak, going on adventures with him again, try to talk him out of shit
and do you guys think at some point neteyam starts timing lo'ak's visits
like he's not stupid, he's definitely aware of what's happening, he knows he's dead
he doesn't want his annoying little brother dead as well
and one time lo'ak genuinely won't budge, won't listen and is being a hard ass about it:
"i don't want to! bro i got time!"
and neteyam's genuinely getting so annoyed about it he turns away shaking his head, suppressing the urge to hiss at his little brother, because he knows, he understands, he misses them too, he misses them so much, during these times when he's coherent enough to remember that he's dead
he wishes he has more time with them, but he will one day, just not today, and not so soon
he averts his eyes up, looking at the sky, or what should be the sky, almost as if he's asking Eywa for patience. he's standing there too long and the tightness in lo'ak's chest is growing, something about to burst, maybe his lungs, maybe the grief and the guilt that he's carried for so long, he ignores it, he's gotten pretty good at ignoring it, he just wants more time
more time before his brother isn't taller than him anymore, he can't imagine it, he always thought his brother would be taller than him, and he thinks of himself as so selfish but he doesn't care
he feels that guilt rising again, but more so because he thinks he upset neteyam, and he's stepping forwards, about to reach for him, the way he never had on that boat
then neteyam inhales, and lo'ak stops, neteyam's shaking his head again, raising his arm, drawing it back, before turning back to lo'ak with that same look he had when he first asked him how he died and it almost hurts;
"sorry about this, little brother."
and lo'ak's confused,
"sorry about wha—?"
neteyam lands a direct punch to his face
and everything turns black, and next thing he knows is his vision is clouded by bubbles as he desperately swims up to the surface
"skxawng—" lo'ak would mutter under his breath once he breaches, gulping as much air as he can
and after that do you guys think lo'ak would be more mindful about how much time he's there in the spirit world, i think he would listen for once
and neteyam laughs about it with kiri when they return together;
"i can't believe it just took neteyam punching you in the face" kiri's snickering
"it hurt! i forgot he can throw a mean punch, i didn't even know i could feel pain here"
"well, i was not aware of that either, that was a lucky guess i took that you'd wake up,"
lo'ak's groaning, exasperated and neteyam and kiri laughs harder
"couldn't let you suffocate and die little brother, i died for you after all" he slaps his back
and lo'ak's quiet, so is kiri
then, memories back to when lo'ak tried to shoot himse—
neteyam's face stills
...
"get your skxawng asses over here" and he's reaching for them, pulling them towards him. and for once the younger two don't protest, letting their older brother pull them into a hug. "i love you. take care of them for me, take care of each other"
kiri and lo'ak don't say anything, just embracing him back, wrapping their arms around him, he was warm (?), in a way that mimicked the living
their chins each over neteyam's shoulders as he hunches over them
lo'ak and kiri meeting eyes, conflicted, resolute, a lot of things
and lo'ak was the first to break, expression scrunching up as he falls apart on his brothers shoulder, a sob tearing itself out his throat and kiri's next, her own just as loud as they both shake in his embrace, she's burying her face into his shoulder, holding tighter, afraid he'd disappear
and neteyam's still, just as still as he was when they last saw him, a few tears of his own rolling down his cheeks as he held his younger siblings just as he used to back then
afdaifja guys, guys guys
additionally:
i like to think that sometimes those in the spirit world are aware of your thoughts, especially intense ones, they won't be able to figure out what exactly it is you're thinking of, but they can feel it, see a bit of it but it won't be until you actually tell them what you're thinking that they'd know
i think neteyam would have flashes of the sea, the water, whenever kiri or lo'ak thinks back to the real world, or when they think about how lo'ak's been overstaying his welcome, running out of time, all neteyam sees are flashes of the water, the living world, one he can't go back to
i think them thinking about lo'ak's suicide attempt would be obvious to neteyam though, a flash of a memory of his brother with the nozzle of a gun under his chin, it's much more vivid, less vague, he'd know immediately
in this fic, those who have passed on to the spirit world are able to remember new information. will rewrite in the future if ever they finally clear up the whole thing with eywa + the connection
excerpt of avatar!reader from keep running comrade, the past is right behind you! finally visiting the spirit world
Back in the spirit world, you steel your resolve, you're taking few steps forwards again until you're right next to her. Watching her with something in your eyes. Still unsure whether you should get her attention, or watch her, study her. The version of the little kid who was always asking you about things of the human world, on the very few instances where she was actually interested in learning more of your kind. But only from you, it seemed the eldest of the Sarentu children trusts your judgment over Alma's.
You remember asking her why one time, because though you are human, you are as disconnected from your own world as they are from theirs. All you knew were sterile walls, you received no comfort when hurt other than a harsh voice commanding you to get back up, criticizing you for the mistakes you made. You don't know of the warmth of community or gatherings, other than when your peers and you were lined up, listening to another debrief from superiors who would care less if any of you died. Forces outside your control ensured that you'd be stripped of that right, perhaps that's why you became closer than you anticipated to be with the Sarentu chilren.
Aha'ri, nonetheless, pulled a face at that question, almost confused why you'd even ask her; "I like asking from you. You tell us the truth. Not like Alma or Mercer, always trying to convince us that the human world is better than ours."
She finally notices you, turning to look at you as she tilted her head. There was no recognition that flashes across her eyes as you pointlessly hoped. This Aha'ri does not know you. This Aha'ri does not remember you. This Aha'ri has no memories of you or your conversations before. But this Aha'ri is happier. This Aha'ri only knows of her home. This Aha'ri was untouched of pain, blissfully unaware of the tragedy that befell her clan.
Against your will, you feel tears gather in your eyes.
"Tawtute?" You thank So'lek for being patient enough with you to teach you about the na'vi language, maybe your grasp on it isn't the most fluent, but at least you can understand her.
Aha'ri seemed to realize something. "Do you know me?"
You don't answer for a while. You're afraid to. You think the only thing that would come out of you are cries.
HAHHAAHHAAHAH IMAGINE BEING STUCK IN MOURNING FOR AN ELDER SIBLING CHARACTER WHO DIED BEFORE THEY GOT THE CHANCE TO GROW OLD THE SECOND FUCKING TIME
avatar!reader who absolutely cannot deal with people touching them in whatever way possible
+ ur jumpy and end up hurting someone by accident lol
so'lek x reader, itu x reader if you squint
unedited!
fluff, injury mentioned!, had to satisfy my adhd impulses of bantering w someone for fun bcuz all my friends are stressed as shit rn and i don't wanna add to it </3 HUASHUAHDS
like someone just brushes against them accidentally and they're already shuddering in disgust, rubbing the skin where the other had contact with
and it's not because the reader hates anyone, you're actually very polite and nice, it's just you cannot for the life of you handle...well...being handled.
and you try really hard not to let it show, but it becomes very obvious to your companions that you interact with on the daily, common social interactions where physical contact is required, like, let's say a handshake, you can do that. Hugs? No problem, as long as you get the say for it or get a heads-up.
but imagine how much of a nightmare it is dealing with other na'vi who have become comfortable with you and naturally become more touchy as a result.
someone placed a hand on your shoulder, and you flinch so violently they feel sorry, thinking they scared you, and they did! but not in the way they think. they're apologizing and you're waving them off, reassuring them
"no! no! it's completely fine! i know you didn't mean it!"
but it becomes very clear to your companions that it is indeed not fine. it still happens, someone touches you and you're jumping away. almost like their touch burned, and you feel terrible but you can't help it. touch has never been something you associated with anything good. and it's embarrassing enough having to explain to them that; "...i don't find it pleasant."
and one time, itu startled you so badly you swung at him.
"shit-- itu i'm so sorry" you cringe, accompanying him to his clan's hometree. it was closest compared to going back to the resistance base.
he's shrugging at you, finding it in him to laugh despite the buzzing pain. "it is fine, you have good reflexes."
and you're scolding him. "itu you have a nose-bleed and you're probably concussed as well."
"had worse." he shrugs, again.
"are you serious."
"i am one of the best hunters in my clan, but i've had my moments where i get injured, you know? this is nothing." he's smiling at you, as if trying to help you feel better. but you know it still hurts. you know your strength. and in your avatar body? god, you can only imagine how strong that punch was, especially on instinct.
you only glance at him, helping him to his hometree. when you stay quiet. he tries again. this time, an apology. "i really am sorry for startling you."
"don't." you sigh, shaking your head, not meeting eyes with him; more focused on getting him to Etuwa. "don't do that. it's my fault."
he doesn't say anything afterwards, only glancing at you as you walked, rushing with his arm around your neck.
and to your luck, etuwa was there, but so'lek was unfortunately there too. they were in the middle of a conversation when you arrived with itu leaning against you.
"what happened?" he asked, he's already squinting at you accusingly and you're cringing inwardly, guilty and he's sighing.
"...i punched him."
he stares. "why?"
"...i--"
"i scared them." itu interjects, saving you from having to explain yourself much to your surprise. so'lek glances at him, then at you. eyes narrowed again. "you dreamwalkers are quite jumpy."
"it is just them." so'lek huffs, shaking his head. "alma is nowhere near this reactive."
you almost look offended. ugh, this is why you hate being around him. "you try getting killed every time you're out and about in a foreign planet then." you mutter out, crossing your arms.
so'lek gives you a look. "my race is not very interested in invading a foreign planet." he says this in english, so only you would understand, he knows he's taking this too far and that it's not fair. yet when it comes to you, he can't help it; you aggravate him in more ways than one.
and you on the other hand, your mouth falls open at that. but then again, he's got you there. "okay, fair enough, i walked into that. but what the hell do you want me to do? not jump every time i hear someone come up behind me? first thing you tried doing was try to kill me when i first met you! do you know how terrifying it is having someone's knife at my throat when i was just collecting samples?"
by this point, you were speaking in english as well. itu does not understand the words said, just that it was getting a bit heated. he feels like he contributed to the conversation going this way somehow. etuwa, who was tending to him, just listens in. while she doesn't understand what you're both saying either, she does finds your interactions...interesting.
"you were wearing an RDA uniform, how do you expect any of us to react? did you think i was going to ask if you were one of ours?"
"i was blending in in case there were RDA soldiers! and i was talking to tamtey through the comms! you were also tuned in that frequency! you didn't question one bit on why there was a fucking echo???" you pull a face, finding him unbelievable.
you and so'lek go back and forth in the tawtute language. whatever so'lek was saying was short, blunt, you on the other hand, your words spilled out of you, bloated, like the Rimo’a creatures that allows the ships of the Tlalim clan to float so high up in the sky.
you look increasingly agitated each time so'lek throws something in the exchange. you're exhaling through your nose as your eyes narrow, sharp. like daggers. and he returns it, albeit with less intensity. if looks could kill, neither na'vi present would know who killed who. just that it would be bloody.
then something flashes across your eyes after so'lek throws something in again. you're glancing to the side, posture leaning back as you cross your arms, a bit more relaxed, so'lek scrutinizes you for this, confused. it was clear that was not the reaction he was expecting from you. your voice now lacked the initial edge as you throw something in return.
whatever it was, it somehow pissed so'lek off to no bounds, he reacted quick, swiping at you, and you were just as quick dodging him, avoiding his reach. you're laughing now shrugging. and so'lek is saying your name, in a tone that was meant to be taken as a warning.
and you, ever the elusive you, were dancing circles around him, taunting him of course, what makes it worse for so'lek, and what makes it more entertaining for whoever was watching this interaction, is you were sticking your tongue at him, making faces.
"you are like a child!" so'lek says finally in the na'vi language, exasperated, spinning to get you somehow, he doesn't even know what he's gonna do once he grabs you.
"treat me like one, you get one." you grin. it was impressive really, you're very good at avoiding his reach. all thanks to your dislike towards being touched, and likely your training that was designed to fit your combat style.
then you say one last thing in english, shrugging.
and that has so'lek stilling, staring at you. you in turn grin wider. you're glancing at itu and etuwa. "see you guys later. gotta go!"
and you're off. so'lek finally snaps out of whatever it was after processing what you said. and yells your name, again, pissed. you don't look back when you make your escape run away, laughing maniacally to yourself. laughter fading into the distance once you go deeper into the tunnels.
so'lek on the other hand was only able to take a few steps after you before giving up, agitated.
"somehow, watching those two energizes me." etuwa's laughing to herself as she shakes her head, focused back on treating itu. itu glances away, humming. he finds you amusing, that much can be said.
"they are quite interesting." itu comments. so'lek overhears that.
"insane." he corrects him. "they are insane." so'lek huffs after stalking back to the two. itu can't help but agree on that. then he's back to talking to etuwa once she asks for more on what happened. so'lek on the other hand, listens in, quiet as his eyes went to where you last made your exit.
highly recommend: making that character’s mourning WORSE!!!! make them play pretend with that corpse. make it seem like they’re moving on until they start telling the new person to start dyeing their hair the color of the person they lost and start calling them their name to make it clear that they’re hanging out with this person now to try and make them into the old one. make your grieving character put people in the same situation the person they’re mourning died in and have them hope they die to prove it was unpreventable. make your grieving character put people in the same situation the person they’re mourning died in and have them hope they live to prove that it wasn’t doomed to happened. make your grieving characters actively harm the people around them and the memory of the person they lost. I love you morally dubious grieving characters
oh boy i still have the og files with me for it, like i planned everything from start to finish, told myself "ok make 2 extra chapters so you have somethin to upload during these specific dates i anything happens" did not work out lmao, i was in 9th grade then oasflkfad
she was supposed to have a close friend, child soldier trope has always been something i thought of as a kid, anyway, that friend was supposed to stage a coup, for other children like them to escape, she was the one who provided "suicide pills" if worst case scenario were to happen, as in they fail and to avoid being arrested and tortured to expose other members of the insurgency
the suicide pills were prototypes, she finds out the prototypes were switched, and the mc would be frantically looking for this friend, finding him in one of the admin rooms leaning against one of the control panels, facing the windows that gave view to the , she was supposed to go; "please don't do it, we'll figure it out like we always do, let's just say you were spying on them, it'll work, they'll believe it, because i'll vouch for you"
tw // descriptions of death, false betrayal
she steps closer, growing frustrated with his silence. she's supposed to grab his shoulder, force him to turn to her. her expression would then morph into one of horror, realizing her friend already took the pill, he'd be foaming at the mouth, a mix of blood and saliva and stomach acid, his body spasming as his muscles locked up, and he's not even looking at her with his face drenched in tears and sweat
the og pills were meant to kill them immediately, but these switch ones were created to cause maximum amount of pain and damage, while also keeping the target alive
she'd be biting back a scream clawing itself out of her throat, but then steel her resolve, he's suffering, he will keep suffering, she must end it.
she'll reach for her gun, drawing closer to him, pressing a tender kiss between his eyes, a goodbye and apology. warm lips replaced by the cold steel nozzle of her gun. she's crying too now, but it's the fastest way to kill him. if it were any other circumstances where he wasn't already in so much pain, she'd go for the heart, like they talked about back then.
"i'd like to be killed like that, shot through the heart."
"you sure it's not some weird ass symbolism again, romeo?" she scoffing, a mix of laughter in her tone putting emphasis on the nickname as the skin around her eyes crinkle.
"okay, maybe it is but it's instant loss of consciousness! like what they taught us! there wouldn't be much pain i like to think. and why is it so terrible i have a taste for romance?"
"eugh. don't start with your poetic bullshit again man, i'd like to keep my lunch inside my stomach, where it belongs. and did you forget you'd still be slowly bleeding out to death?" And he laughs at that, light and happy despite the topic at hand. There's a boyish grin on his face when he meets eyes with her.
"i'll help you clean up if you do. and i'd prefer bleeding out to death than being in pain."
"not even a headshot? right through the brain stem. clean kill, instant death."
"nu-uh, heart." he's insisting, pointing to his heart. "headshots you'd still be awake, there's a chance you'll feel the pain also."
"just for a couple seconds!"
"a couple seconds mean different things to the brain!"
"i swear to god, you and your symbolisms." she exasperatedly sighs, her voice soft and yet he's still grinning at her.
"me and my symbolisms." he repeats, proud.
Her fingers would pull back, eyes closing at the memory. she's gritting her teeth, bracing herself.
Bang.
She doesn't flinch at the sound, but she does flinch when his body limps and falls on her. She can't open her eyes. She doesn't want to see the brain matter scattered behind him. She can't. She's embracing him, his head lolling to the side as she buries her face into his shoulder, muffling her cries.
hfkjah i have another thing written out, where she kills other members who participated in the escape attempt.
she'd be staring at them directly, while they're all choking on their fluids except two others, one barely awake and breathing from the torture, the other still badly beaten but at least coherent enough to look at everyone with pure hatred in their eyes, it seemed they quickly found out the pills were sabotaged, no doubt after seeing their friends take it.
her friend she shot was the squad leader, she was right below him in rank. now she's the one leading.
the superiors called everyone, have them witness the execution, show them what happens to anyone who defies them. one body falls, and that's when she steps forward, offering to do it herself, make it painless, fast.
"Oh, it's you. Surprising. Ironic...weren't you all friends? Let this be a test then, see where your loyalty lies."
And they're giving her the gun, everyone's eyes watching her every step she takes towards the guilty. Her friends. Her dear friends.
She's aiming, again to the center of the head. her target was one of those who took the pills. the one who looks to be suffering the most.
"Ah-ah." Her superior stops her right when she's pulling the trigger. "Start with that one, the one glaring. And go for the throat."
Her breath hitches but she obeys. One of the last two. There was recognition in their eyes when they met. Her eyes are glassy, and theirs widen, realization of something, flickering to the side, an idea pops up in their head. They get up and she takes a step back, surprised.
"You did this. I knew it! I knew you were the weak link! You're always telling us to stop! That someone's gonna find out! You've been planning to snitch on us from the very start!" They're screaming, trying their best to look angry, and she would be confused, none of that was true, she planned with them. "The pills? That had to be you! You sick fucking---"
She shoots at their ankle, and they scream, tumbling over. A spark of hatred passing by their eyes for real this time at that. Really? Was that necessary? They shut their eyes as pain shot through their leg.
"God, if he can see you right now." They spat out, saliva pooling in their mouth. "You killed him, didn't you? I saw you do it. I saw him beg for his life when you shoved that pill down his throat. I thought we were friends! We were supposed to get out together!"
Their voice wobbling, tears finally rolling down their cheeks. That's when she realized what they were trying to do. She shuts her eyes. Always the clever one. I'll play along.
"Silence that one. This is taking too much time."
"I warned you." She says, voice steady. They laugh, humorless as they look up at her. "There's no life for us out there. You were always so ungrateful."
"...once a dog, always a dog, huh?" She shoots them point blank then and there, right in the middle of their forehead, same way she did to him, masking it as emotional impulse when it was her best way to show mercy, their body falling over.
Then she's marching back to the other traitors lined up. One by one, body falling. Each shot fast and quick, like she wasn't even thinking anymore. She's about to shoot the last one, the one beaten inches to life.
"Stop." She does. "Go for the throat."
She pauses too long, her superior raises an eyebrow. He's opening his mouth to say something but then she suddenly changes aim, going for the abdomen and shooting there. The superior laughs behind her, surprised. "Good job. You must really hate them don't you?"
"...yes sir. Traitors deserve no mercy."
"Good. As do I," he's turning to face the other recruits. The children. The soldiers. "That is what happens to traitors."
He's beckoning her over, to come closer. And her feet moves before she even makes a decision. When she feels his hand on her shoulder, firm, proud, she wants to cut it off. Scream at him. That she hates him. She wants to kill him. Instead she glowers, looking forwards at all the people watching her.
Everyone reads it as something else.
"If you want to know what loyalty is, this one is your best example." He's gesturing to her, smiling at her. "Smile, my dear. You've made us proud."
anyway thats all, i actually miss my oc oof, but its been a while since i've written for that fandom
pairing: gn! avatar! isekai!reader & neteyam
word count: 6.3k
synopsis:
Consequences have been given and looking back into the past.
Apologies from an immature boy and making peace.
Golden boy's thoughts about you.
(reader) Parental issues if you squint. Reader is not considered part of the Sully family, and the reader is more like a close family friend. They have no desire in being part of the family to begin with.
warning/s:
nothing except maybe the envy of a certain eldest son who felt underestimated and undermined, light angst, you and neteyam getting into a physical fight (flashback)
note:
part 2 !!!! :0 after i upload the next i will be taking a break!!!!
honorary mention of @kaorivx for being my beta reader :]]
PART 01, (YOU ARE HERE), PART 03
You were all sent off to your respective places. You and your opponent—who you learned his name was Koro—were held back for a bit though.
Tonowari cited your punishments. What Koro received was less severe, a few tasks here and there in the village.
But you unfortunately got the brunt of it. The list was longer, if you didn’t know any better, it’s like you committed a crime. As though you stabbed someone instead of the one being stabbed.
You remember your mouth falling open when they cited yours;
You must help the tsahik in her hut for the next few weeks until she deems you’ve learned your lesson. You must help the warriors too in the training grounds. You must help gather materials for the artisans.
And you were grounded. Again. No ilu-riding or going into the ocean further than the shore, you knew this was the work of none other than Jake Sully himself. He knew how to get under your skin just as you knew how to piss him off. But he also knew you were one to respect hierarchy no matter what. He made a point to ignore you when you shot him a glare, shocked when you heard that you were not allowed to set foot beyond the shores.
Last but not least, you had to help Koro with his own assigned tasks. You’re not excited about it, neither was he you assumed. It was going to be so awkward.
But honestly, you were much more upset about not being allowed to go into the ocean. No bettering your techniques, playing with the sea creatures, letting the one ilu you’ve come to bond with so well drag you wherever and watching behind you as your friends try and catch up. No pulling tricks you’ve learned in the water. No—
You stop your thoughts there, fingers digging into the sand, because the more you think about it, the more it makes you depressed. Rubbing your forehead, you let your fingers tangle in your hair as a guttural noise left your mouth. You felt frustrated.
Man.
You did not miss this part of being a teenager.
Expected to act like an adult yet treated like a child. To be fair you definitely have not been acting like an adult. And though you took blame, you can’t help a part of you that wishes you didn’t. Childish. You’ve noticed how much more childish you’ve become once you defected and escaped the RDA with the others.
You look back to the ocean, watching the waves. The sunlight reflecting against the surface.
You’ve been more emotional lately. You don’t know why. You were taking it out on a kid too—or someone you deemed a child.
Maybe it’s because it’s almost that time, when the RDA comes..
You haven’t even told Jake yet about the details he needed to know so he succeeds. So he doesn’t worry. So the stress isn’t as bad.
You stood up, sighing as you dusted yourself off. Planning to find Koro, apologize to him if you do.
When you turn, to your surprise, you see the familiar figure of the guy who stabbed you, there at the edge of the village. Being pushed by none other than his friends, surprisingly Neteyam was there too, accompanying them, he’s saying something, hitting the side of Koro's shoulders. He locks eyes with you, giving a small wave. You just tilt your head, still confused.
You stop, standing there awkwardly with your arms crossed. Waiting, watching as he’s pushing back against them, hissing. Then, walking towards you with his tail hanging down low, flicking occasionally in annoyance.
When he’s close enough, he stops stalking, steps falling into a slower pace. He's fidgeting, then; “Hey.”
You squint your eyes at him. Scrutinizing him, and he can’t help but shift under your gaze.
“Hey.” You say back, falling silent. You’re straightening your back and taking a step away from him to maintain enough distance. He notices but doesn’t acknowledge it.
“…thank you for defending me.” He manages out. Like he's scared. "And I'm sorry."
You raise your eyebrows at that. He doesn’t know how to take it. Sensing his awkwardness, you adjust yourself, less stiff, less like you’re about to lunge at him again the moment he says something wrong. Your tail lowers, ears pointed forward, attentive.
“What, going soft on me now?” You ask. And to your relief, it works.
Koro scoffs, rolling his eyes, but his posture relaxes.
“You wish.” Giving you a challenging grin. You grin back, but it only lasts for a second before it falters.
“Seriously kid, I’m sorry too. I overreacted. You were just—“ you drag a hand up your forehead as you gesture to him. “Y’know, being a kid. I took it personally.”
“No— I—“ he stumbles over his words. He exhales. “I think playing dirty and then stabbing you was a bit much, no?”
The edges of your lips quirk up finding humor in this somehow. He’s not wrong, yet you shrug. “Eh. What can you do about it? I still have a hole in my shoulder, and I still attacked first with the intention of doing damage.”
When that doesn’t seem to convince him. You add, a quiet admission; “...I already decided to let it go when we were in the chief’s hut getting yelled at.”
His eyes widened at that. Oh. If he’s hearing this right, then he really didn’t need to do all this then. “…are you saying you forgive me?”
“Yep. Forgave you, and was planning to look for you to apologize. Why does it matter anyway? You guys don’t even give a rat’s ass about what we think given how easy it is for you to pick on us.” He doesn’t know what a rat is or what it looks like but he nods along anyway.
You raise your hand, and he stiffens, bracing himself, expecting you to punch him—a sneak attack maybe—that this speech about you letting it go being too good to be true, but instead he just gets a light push on his shoulder. “Good job defending yourself though. That was quick thinking. I would’ve done the same.”
He blinks at you as you pull your hand back, crossing your arms as you look at him. He expected a lot of things, maybe you would yell at him. Throw insults again. Or this resulting into another fight. But what he got instead was… your forgiveness and you complimenting him? For stabbing you?
Huh. You forest people were weird.
You raise your head. Your staring should be more intimidating to him right now, but it doesn’t feel like that at all. You’re just observing him. As if you knew what he was thinking. You always had a relaxed demeanor to you. Like you always knew what happened next, unbothered because you knew everything was going to be fine in the end. You were dependable in a sense.
Maybe that’s why Toruk Makto left you in charge. It was never said aloud, but everybody knew. They can see the responsibility that latched itself on your shoulders. Eyes often heavy with something when you thought nobody was looking. You still get into trouble frequently, mostly his and his friends’ fault. But when it mattered you were responsible. Someone to be trusted. Even for them, even if you’re always at each other's necks.
In truth you didn’t know what he was actually thinking. But you could guess to the best of your ability based on his body language and facial expressions alone.
“What, d’you expect another fight? C’mon, I have a stick up my ass but I’m not that petty. I’m injured.” You throw your head back, a smile gracing your lips. Your speech pattern rolls off your tongue in the na’vi language.
He can’t help the comfort he feels from this, how easy it was to talk to you like you weren’t expecting anything from him at all.
“I don’t wanna be constantly fighting or arguing with you guys every time we end up in the same vicinity. So….” You trail off, gesturing between the two of you, then extend a hand. “Friends?”
He immediately pulls a face at that. Friends was definitely too much. You expected that much, you know of the pride the youth held on so tightly, that’s why you tried not to let it get to you whenever they targeted you. They’ll grow out of it. Hopefully.
Jake Sully’s a prime example, gone was the sassy whimsical man you knew from the first movie. You don’t fault him for it, he’s a father in survival mode, but the way he handles it is something you had a lot of reservations against.
You snort, your whole body shaking from the laughter that spilled out of you as you waved it off, still extending a hand. “Nah, you’re right, I’m joking. Truce.”
“Truce.” He finds that more acceptable, he nods. Slotting his hand with yours, the handshake was firm and it was you who let go first. He turns, satisfied with his piece, throwing a hand back as a wave goodbye. But then he pauses, turning back to you.
He seemed to hesitate, but then found the courage to say it anyway; “You up for a real sparring match next time? Teach me your moves. Like when you redirected my strike.”
You’re surprised, again. You weren’t expecting this. You thought after all that they’d stop wanting to interact with you entirely. Kids his age were particularly easily miffed when their pride was involved.
You scaring him, and then proceeded to defend him the way you did, you thought he’d hate to even associate with you. You know many who took offense for less despite your intentions, it doesn't even matter how you did it, or what you said. And you try really hard not to upset someone or set them off.
“Make peace with him.” That was what Neytiri told you, firm. Well, what Miss Sully asks of you, what Miss Sully gets.
You thought it’d be hard to find him and get him to talk to you so you could apologize. But here he was, asking you to teach him how to fight the way you do. It made you strangely happy that you weren’t exactly shut out. You kept your expression relaxed though, doing your best not to let it show.
You knew better than to let them sense even a smidge of eagerness. Their age meant they had a certain sense of cruelty for the sake of amusement.
“Sure kid, when I’m all healed. You did some damage on me. Gotta kick your ass for that.” You shrug at him, casual as ever. He rolls his eyes, but does a pumped up gesture with one arm as walks back to his friends.
That gets a smile out of you, shaking your head. You lean to get a good look at the others lingering in the background. And one last attempt to make fun of him, you cup your mouth with your hands, you yell; “The power of friendship won!”
Koro almost stumbles. But he doesn’t turn around when he yells back, voice cracking; “WE ARE NOT FRIENDS!”
You laugh again, shaking your head. Neteyam’s already making his way towards you once he saw you were done with the conversation, you meet eyes with him when he throws you a look, surprised as he asks; “Is that true?”
“Us being friends? Nah. But I doubt they’ll be bothering us any time soon.” You wave at Ao’nung, who gives you a nod of acknowledgement before leading his lackeys back into the village. Neteyam’s eyes trails after him as well.
Noticing how quiet he’s being, you bump your good shoulder against his, startling him a little, now his eyes are on you. “You won’t have someone making fun of your baby tail and bunny ears for now, golden boy.”
“Nobody does that to me except you.” He throws in after a moment of silence, giving you an unimpressed look. You and that nickname you gave him back when you first came to the Omaticaya clan, he doesn’t know when you’re going to stop using it.
“Yep.” He rolls his eyes when he sees you nod enthusiastically, smiling.
“...they don’t even know what a bunny is.” He adds.
“Yep.” You get a frustrated noise from Neteyam at that.
You both fall silent for a few moments. Just the sound of the sea gently rolling against the shore.
With the sun setting just beyond the horizon. Your thoughts go back to the fight earlier, brows furrowed together, the end of your tail flicking. “Do you remember what I screamed at him? When everyone was holding me back?”
He looks at you, confused. “You don’t remember?”
You shrug; “Dude, I wouldn’t be asking if I did.”
You must’ve been really pissed then. He does not know you as the type to allow emotion to get to you like that, especially not to the point you blow up on someone, and then proceed to forget the words you said.
He hopes that never happens again.
He stares at you longer. You do a lot of strange things. But you always had reasons for them.
He looks to the past, the best example he could recall was when you saved them from an RDA ambush during a hunt. You tagged along much to his displeasure. You weren’t a warrior then, at least not by the clan’s standards. But his father allowed you to for whatever reason. Probably because you kept insisting and he caved.
Usually how you get away with these things now that he thinks about it.
He expected you to make trouble for them, hold them back, complain all the way. Be deadweight. But you caught up just fine. That was surprising, but then again he maybe shouldn’t have.
He noticed how uncharacteristically quiet you were, watching everyone and your surroundings. You were expecting something, waiting for something. He was confused at first.
He quickly ignored you after that, thinking it was just another one of your many strange behaviors.
But then it came, what you were waiting for, it happened. And you made quick work. Your usual personality was nowhere to be found as he watched you herd everyone, barking orders despite your current standing in the clan. But with the chaos, he and many others followed you regardless.
You and this unwavering confidence you had that you could lead them, even for a moment. You directed them elsewhere, somewhere safe, avoiding danger as swiftly as you could, hiding underneath the floating rocks. This was the first time he’s seen you in action, the first time anyone has.
He realized your slowness, that your seemingly lack of urgency that he first resented you for was deliberate. He thought of you as immature. It hasn’t changed, but it was more so reserved for moments when you do act that way.
By the time the dust settled and the danger had passed, everyone was safe. Some were injured, but everyone was very much alive. That was impressive for someone with no battle experience or knowledge for strategy, at least that’s what he thought.
Yet when you carried responsibility. You carried it well.
And this jealousy that he tried his best to bury and deny as anything but—it grew, and along with it was this sense of respect he had for you despite all attempts to snuff it out. Trying to convince himself that you were no one. Nobody of value.
You earned the respect of the people for what you had done despite this. While there were some displeased with you overstepping your place, or the fact that it felt like they were all running away from battle, it doesn’t change the fact that you still led them to safety.
You even managed to silence those whose pride was hurt, thinking that retreating without fighting back was an act of cowardice. Your excuse was that you all could strike back after regrouping, and coming back with a plan, and with as little damage done as possible to the clan’s numbers.
You helped with strategizing too, providing as many details as possible regarding the ships and number of officers involved in the ambush, their positions. Etc.
He saw the way his father had looked at you, full of suspicion. But ultimately trusting you regardless of that. Neteyam’s jealousy grew. Again. It was stupid. So very childish and stupid of him but he couldn’t help it.
You denied everything when you were confronted about it though. Making up excuses, stories, pointing fingers.
“I was flying by one time, I noticed their activity nearby, they were too close, I thought it was strange and out of place, so I looked into it. That’s how I figured out the RDA was planning an ambush.” That was a lie, he knew, because you were with them everyday before then. You all were nowhere near that area before the hunt, and he’d know when you would have slipped away because his eyes were always on you whether he was willing to admit that or not.
“If it wasn’t for Neteyam supporting me, something could have gone wrong.” That was also a lie, the most ridiculous one he watched you say while locking eyes with him. He was not supporting you at all, he was following after you just like everyone else was the moment the first explosion was heard. And you—which he thought at first was an arrogant move, even for you—charged ahead, and started yelling at all of them.
But he didn’t denounce it. He kept his mouth shut. And as though he was rewarded for it, you give him a look of gratitude. Relieved. A first. And the first time you weren’t scrutinizing him whenever your eyes were on him.
It was also the first time he entertained the thought of you becoming his friend.
And in doing so, he was proven wrong once more about an assumption he made of you after that incident, you did not do that because you wanted recognition. You did it because you wanted to keep people safe.
He stopped questioning you and began putting his full faith in you ever since, even if he was still making things hard for you then.
Neytiri seems to have warmed up to you a little bit since then too. You kept her eldest son safe. Protected her people. He knows you’d never admit it, but you looked up to Neytiri in a way. You looked for her approval more than you did Jake’s whether you noticed it or not. Neteyam noticed, he always did, he’s always watching you. It’s hard not to.
You’re always off doing something Lo’ak would likely do. But you’re also strangely…responsible. You know how to balance this urge you had to cause chaos, albeit with intention, unlike Lo’ak who just finds himself in those situations.
He respects his mother a lot. He knows just how capable his mother is, just as much of a warrior as his father, if not more. But when he noticed it, how you were always looking at Neytiri, watching her expression, waiting for what she would say, he still couldn’t help but feel a bit shocked.
You had the Toruk Makto’s attention and support on you, and yet you looked for approval from someone else.
Being able to gain the favor and unwavering faith of his father without much and so quickly too was a feat in itself. It was something he himself hasn’t been able to achieve, not fully at least.
Sure it was his responsibility to protect his siblings, keep them out of trouble. But you? You weren’t anyone at all, that's what he told himself at least, and you had no responsibility or duty that tied you down to them. And yet…
Present time, he’s still looking at you. Intently. You give him a look, tilting your head. Wondering what he was thinking of, waiting for him to say something. He’s usually easy to read for you but sometimes, like these times when he’s assessing you; it’s a bit hard to guess.
He knows he’s not the only one who feels jealous of the other. You said so as much, many times actually. You’re surprisingly honest when you want to be.
“I wish I had younger siblings to mess with.”
“I don’t know how you can handle all that responsibility on your shoulders, the thought of everyone’s expectations…” You’d shudder at the thought before turning to him. Laughing after, voice light as you gave a playful hit on his shoulder. “I can barely handle you guys. I’m jealous of you.”
Or even that one time you were watching the crowd at a communal event. Watching his parents quietly, almost like it reminded you of something. Your voice was melancholic; “...you have good parents, Neteyam.”
He thinks of himself as terrible for this, but he felt better about himself. About his own jealousy towards you that he hoped you couldn’t pick up on.
Then there was the first and only time he’s seen you cry, when you found them after they were chased by the RDA into the forest. He doesn’t know why you reacted so intensely then.
“Please, please listen to me next time.” You kept saying that over and over again, eyes wide in panic. You were inconsolable. Only calming down when you heard agreement from them. After that, they listened to you without question whenever you asked to do something.
That was when they figured you cared more than you let on. About them. About all of this. It wasn’t just babysitting duty to you. Not anymore at least.
Your ease wasn’t something that came naturally. It was purposeful. Well-practiced as the swagger you had when you walked. How it bled into the way you spoke. Or when you had that wide grin on your face when you did something stupid again–so very stupid–trying to convince people around you that you did not care at all. That you had all the time in the world, that you do not worry about anything but flying, or ilu-riding.
But you care. You did not have all the time in the world, you felt you had very little. And that you do worry.
You worry a lot.
After that incident, Lo’ak listens to you more than he listens to Neteyam. That was how bad it rattled them. Neteyam had…personal reservations about his own brother listening more to someone who isn’t even part of the family, especially when he couldn’t even listen to him. That too took Neteyam a while to accept, but he accepted it nonetheless.
He loves his brother. It made sense when he thought about it, you don’t really ask for much from him, not often. So when you do—which is very rare—naturally, Lo’ak follows through without much protest.
…that and you never acted like that before, nobody mentioned it to either parents, or ever brought it up with you. But the siblings did talk about it among themselves, the few times when you’re not around.
You didn’t seem interested in bringing it up either. You went back to normal afterwards, making stupid jokes, pulling the same stunts that made his father lose his mind. Laughter still comes easy to you. But Neteyam remembers it clearly, that look of terror on your face. Distraught and afraid. Like you failed. That the weight was on you if they died. And it was, but he didn’t think you took it seriously. Not like he did.
…he was very wrong.
He thinks of how you were both jealous of each other for different things. How both of you carry similar burdens. And he’s glad he realized this a long time ago.
Back to the present, Neteyam’s eyes flicker to the side, ears twitching with them, still thinking if he should tell you what it was you said earlier to Koro in a moment of anger. It’s not like he didn’t deserve it.
Ultimately deciding against it, he shrugs it off, tail stiff, trying to seem convincing. “I can’t recall. I do not see why you should concern yourself with it, since he went out of his way to seek you out and apologize in the end.”
“Fair enough.” You shrug, thankfully not questioning him further.
Then you raise your arms behind your head. Cringing a little when you felt pain on your bad shoulder, you walked back towards the village. “We should go back.” You mutter out the last part, annoyed but resigned. “Before your old man’s on my ass again.”
“You are the only one who dares talk about my dad the way you do.” He points out.
“What? He’s not that scary and I don’t like him that much.” He gives you another one of his unimpressed looks. From anyone, else, he’d take deep offense. That’s his father, the Toruk Makto, that united clans during a time of sorrow. Even Tonowari himself, the village chief, knew of him, and respected him greatly.
His achievements are so vast that it casts a great shadow over Neteyam. He did his best to live up to his father’s expectations no matter how much it weighed on him.
But sometimes, he still worries he isn’t.
Most of the things you say lack a certain bite that tells people you meant them. He’d think you’re careless, but if he knows anything about you now, it’s that you’re the most deliberate person he knows. You beat his dad on that too.
He doesn’t know if he should admire you for that or what. But one thing for sure was that you were someone he’s come to respect and consider a good friend.
“Again, you are the only one who can talk about him like that here.” He repeats.
“You mean I’m the only one with enough balls.” You offer, laughing. He’s silent for a moment, staring at you, silently judging you for your brazen and crude use of words—then continues his steps. You quickly add, almost sounding nervous, explaining yourself; “I didn’t say he wasn’t scary but I don’t see why I have to be tip-toeing around him the way you do. He’s not my dad, I’m just someone he happened to pick up like a stray.”
He thinks that's a big reason you should be. Not even his mother disagrees with his father so openly the way you do. Lo’ak sure, but that’s Lo’ak for you.
“You should listen to yourself sometimes.” He sighs, shaking his head as he walks beside you.
“Well maybe if he was less hard on you guys, better I’d respect him more.” You countered, and he hums. He wanted to disagree with you. But he lets it go this time. He never understood this one-sided hostility you had with his father. Especially when it came to him and his brother.
It was…pleasant though. A warmth in his chest that grows knowing he has someone willing to defend him so passionately the way you do. You surprised him with that as well.
You and him had a fight once, only once. All he knew was it started with you both arguing at first, same as always. But next thing he knew, punches were being thrown.
He got a few good hits on you. You did too, but your punches were a bit more restrained, like you were holding back. That pissed him off even more then, because it felt like you were underestimating him.
Lo’ak had ran off by then, going to get their dad. Kiri stayed behind, trying to stop you both from fighting. Telling you both to calm down. But there was no use, nothing can stop this, not when this was the result of whatever it was that has been boiling over for years.
“Don’t tell me all the RDA taught you was to be weak.” He huffed out a laugh. Your expression shifted then, eyes staring harder, and your punches landed harder too, albeit still restrained. But your control was slipping, he could tell, each insult that left his mouth chipping away at you. He enjoyed it, knowing that his words got to you as much as your presence did to him.
You had him on his back on the ground then. He was about to throw in another insult, but he froze, staring at you as tears spilled over your eyes. Your tears dripped on his cheeks as both of your hands grabbed him by his necklace, shaking him, broken beads falling off due to how hard you were gripping him. And for the first time since the fight started, he felt a hint of regret. His mouth opened, but nothing came.
He thought he’d enjoy that, pushing you to the point of tears. He didn’t. He didn’t mean to make you cry, not like that.
“I’m trying to save you, you asshole! Why are you like this?”
He didn’t know, he still doesn’t know. He doesn’t know why your presence irritated him the way it did.
And save him? Save him from what?
He wasn’t able to ask, because by then Lo’ak had returned, and with him was their father, with a look on his face that he’s only ever seen whenever one of them did something stupid and put themselves in danger.
He pulled you off of him. And upon seeing your tears and how badly beaten you looked compared to Neteyam, he assumed it was him who started the fight. And he did, but you started the fight before it became physical. At least in his perspective, you guys were just bantering, as always.
But then you made that comment; “the ever perfect golden boy.” It was harmless really, but for some reason, hearing it from you, it did something. It was downhill from there. His dad was about to grill him, face flushed in anger, but suddenly, you stepped in front of him, surprising both Neteyam and his dad.
“I started it.”
His dad could hardly believe it. You had more bruises on you than Neteyam did. But you insisted, all the while wiping the blood that he drew from your nose.
“I got emotional.” That was all you said. His dad didn’t know what else to do other than give you both a lecture about getting along, and assign more patrols to you both, he made sure you did them together. No doubt trying to give you both the time and space to quell whatever it is between you. It wasn’t even a rivalry, and if it was, it would be one-sided. At least to Neteyam, and that was a hard thing to accept. Knowing you did not see him as a rival at all, that you had no hard feelings against him. It made him feel even sillier.
His father’s attempts at forcing proximity to fix whatever it was between you didn’t work. You both kept to yourself. You didn’t look at Neteyam, not even when he kept looking at you, hoping to meet eyes and start a conversation from there. He even tried intentionally flying his ikran close to yours. But you kept your unfeeling eyes forward, and made space when he did. You avoided his attempts at getting you alone. You avoided him whenever you could outside of what was necessary.
What made it harder was that you weren’t even mad at him. You were just indifferent, detached. And as good as you were at slipping into things you weren’t meant to be in, you were just as good slipping out of situations you didn’t want to be in. And he really tried, even his siblings got involved, mostly because they couldn’t stand the tense atmosphere and wanted everything to go back to normal between you guys again.
They realized this was something that time passing couldn’t fix. They all tried getting you alone, but you’d see him, freeze and immediately turn away, disappearing into the crowd, just gone, before he gets to say anything.
You and this habit of you disappearing and appearing out of places. He doesn’t even know how you do that. You were so light on your feet, he’d be resting under a tree, looking up, then yelping when he sees you, waving down at him with a grin. He almost hit you then. You did the same to his siblings…he remembers you doing it to his dad once. He yelled at you so loudly the entire village heard. Neytiri herself scolded you as well. The thought made him laugh to himself whenever he remembered.
You still tagged along whenever the siblings went somewhere, it was your job to keep them out of trouble after all, but you just kept to yourself then, silent. The siblings would exchange looks, the other two giving pointed ones to Neteyam and then nodding to you. He’d sigh, shrugging as he shook his head, as if to tell them; “I tried. Nothing’s working.”
He was sitting near the campfire one time. Racking his brain on how to get you to talk to him. He didn’t want this to go on for the rest of his life. You’ve been their bodyguard, babysitter, chaperone, eventually friend for so long that he couldn’t imagine you not being part of his life. And it annoyed him, everything about you was inherently annoying. Sure, you guys argued a lot. Butt heads. Sure you irritated him. But that was your dynamic.
You were a good friend as annoying and irritating as he found your presence. Were. He’s already thinking of his friendship with you in the past tense. He rubs his face at that. Didn’t he want this though? He was so sick of you and being around you all the time.
But he also found you hilarious, he wouldn’t be saying that to your face any time soon. He also misses your skxawng ass. Your advice when he asked for them was strangely wise. Just like his siblings depended on him. You were someone he could depend on. Were. Were. And now you can’t even look at him for a second before running off.
All he wanted to do was apologize to you. Did you really have to make it so hard? Did you really find what he said that insulting?
He was so lost in his thoughts, he didn’t see you settling next to him until he heard the clatter of beads in a wooden bowl being set on the ground. His eyes shot up, seeing you squatting down. He’s shocked, and you exhale at his reaction, finding it a bit too much.
He opens his mouth to say something, sorry, but it dies in his throat when you bring out his necklace. The one you broke during the fight you had. Then the dots connected, oh, were you trying to fix it?
“...I don’t know the pattern you used, man. I even asked your mom.” You sigh, focused on the necklace, carefully untying the knot you made to keep the rest of the beads from falling off.
He looks back behind you, seeing his mother watching you both in the distance, a knowing expression on her face. He can’t help the smile that tugs at his lips. She knew the pattern by heart, she’s the one who taught him the pattern in the first place.
She’s shaking her head, nodding towards you with a frown on her face. He knows what she means; “Go, make peace.”
His smile grows bigger, turning back to you. “Yeah. It is pretty hard you know.”
“I don’t know.” You deadpan, fingers stilling.
“Give it to me, I’ll show you, you're still too used to having five fingers after all so—”
“If you finish that sentence dude, I’m getting up.”
“Mawey! Hangvur!” (Calm! Joke!)
You both fall into silence, Neteyam watching as you follow the pattern he’s taught you. Minor corrections here and there, you were a fast learner…that annoyed him for some reason, especially back then.
When he believed you’d fall behind, and prove that his father made a mistake believing in you, putting you in charge. Not because he wanted his dad to be wrong, but because he hoped he’d make you go away. Because again, he couldn’t believe you swooping in out of nowhere and his dad immediately trusting you so fast and having done nothing to actually prove you deserved that.
…yet he felt glad that you’re still here. That you stayed.
While watching you work, his attention went to your knuckles, bruised from the fight you both had. He felt that familiar tug of guilt in his chest. His ears lowered; “...I’m sorry.”
Your eyes flicker to his, holding his gaze for a moment before you focus back on the necklace.
“I’m sorry too.”
And that was that. He is still yet to ask you about what you meant by “saving him.” But knowing you, you’d probably make up some lame ass excuse. He trusts you, yes, but with the full truth? Might as well just walk into an RDA base and hope they don’t capture and/or shoot him on sight.
You’re both settled into silence as you near the village, the maruis in sight.
…
…
“Watch your step—” He said suddenly, reaching to stop you. A little too late unfortunately, because in your vision, the world is already rushing past you, you slip. And he cringes inwardly, bracing himself for you.
Thud.
…
You were hissing in pain on the ground, clutching your leg. Trying to keep pressure off your ankle.
“Skxawng.” Neteyam sighs, but the insult lacked any malice, softness at the edge of his tone. He's already at your side, kneeling.
“FUUUUUCKKKKKKKK—” You wail through your gritted teeth. His hand was on your back, patting you instinctively, something he’s done for his siblings whenever they got hurt.
He’s comforting you, waiting for pain to subside enough for you to calm down so he could move you.
He suppresses the urge to laugh. But he can’t help himself, asking anyway; “Why are you so clumsy? I know this isn’t your first body but ma’Eywa, it’s been years–!”
pairing: gn! avatar! isekai!reader & neteyam
word count: 4.6k
synopsis:
leg problems, reader gets adopted sorta??? you lowkey always have, the way i see na'vi clan, they take care of everyone, like "it takes a village to raise a child" type of mentality but of course there's still gonna be the whole outcast thing because you're still very much human, shenanigans ensue
warning/s:
another injury, light hurt/comfort
note:
oh my god bro this took wayyy too fucking long to finish
expands on your relationship with the others, i asked my best friend to help me describe certain actions TT didnt expect it to get this long but here we are
please let me know about your thoughts and don't hesitate to ask my questions!
haven't decided on whether i should make the ending for this happy or sad ahsduahsdua
i love neteyam bro he makes me so sad, maybe i love him because he makes me sad, don't read into that
PART 01, PART 02, (YOU ARE HERE)
You’re shooting Neteyam a look, clearly irritated that he’s instead laughing at you. A stab wound you could handle, but ankle sprains ached. Pain that persists until they’re dealt with and given support. One of the few pains you couldn't just walk off no matter how often you got them or how often you tried.
“Can you fuck off,” you hiss through your teeth. Head slumping forwards because of the pain. “Sorry I’m not born na’vi and so perfect at everything I do without much effort.”
“Yes, it is so very unfortunate you aren’t me.” He says with a smile, he didn’t mean it in a malicious way at all but at this point everything that leaves his mouth pisses you off.
“Neteyam,” venom lacing your tone. “If you don’t shut the fuck up and come help me up instead of yapping with your skxawng looking ass—”
… snort.
You whip your head towards his direction. Narrowing your eyes at him as seriously as you could. “Do you find this funny?”
“…no.” He coughs into his fist, averting his eyes from your smoldering ones, leaning over you to get a good look at your leg and see the damage done. He stares at your ankle, ears lowering once he sees how bad it is.
“Can you move?” It was a stupid question really, he realized this a bit too late. But who could blame him? Given your previous track record, you were the type of person to shrug off injuries much to the distress of those around you, he's seen you ignore a dislocated arm before. But today you surprised him with the stab-wound, he thought of that as extreme. Even for someone like you.
“Oh sure—” Without a second thought, you punch him hard on his arm, using your arm with an uninjured shoulder, just hard enough to get the point across. But it seemed it may have been too hard given the way his lips instinctively pull back into a snarl, but ultimately purses his lips into a thin line as he throws a glare at you.
"Tsahey—you throw a mean punch." His hand grabs your arm, an effort to stop you once you pull back to throw another punch again. Only letting go when he feels it limp, your focus back on your ankle as you groan again because your movements triggered another wave of pain through it.
“FUCKING HELL—”
“You deserved that.” He says, deadpanning, rubbing the place where you punched him. You don’t respond, still rocking yourself but managing to throw that human one-fingered gesture only you and Lo'ak liked to use so much regardless.
Then you let out exaggerated sobs, Neteyam rolls his eyes at the sound, he forgets just how dramatic you can be, but pity still pulls at him inwardly.
“Okay, calm down, vonvä'.” He sighs, done with your complaining, squatting properly and turning his back on you so you can climb on to him. “Get on.”
“You’re joking.”
“I’m not.” He turns his head to the side to get a good look at you. You’re frowning at him, not very impressed with how this situation is turning out. He wants to tell you that you should’ve been paying attention where you’re walking in the first place, but he bites his tongue.
“Do I look like a child to you???"
“I never sai—Eywa—just get on.” When you don’t move. He groans, irritated as he throws his head backwards. “Do you want your ankle fixed or do you want me to leave you here and have you pathetically limp towards help? The tsahik’s marui is right at the edge of the village on the water. We are nowhere near there.”
The threat worked it seems, with how fast you clambered up his back—and he was joking by the way—your good leg hooking to his side, he almost stumbled backwards. Laughter erupts from him as he plants his free hand on the ground to balance himself so he doesn’t fall on you.
The last thing he wanted was to give you another injury. Once he figures out the best way to carry you without exacerbating your new injury, he adjusts you against him as he leaned forwards. You hit him on the back of his head this time, hard enough to get an audible ‘ow’ from him.
“I was joking!” He defends himself.
“Your jokes are fucking stupid.”
…
…
“This is so embarrassing man.” He hears you mutter through gritted teeth. You were angling your face, hoping that he could cover any view of you. He huffs, finding it unbelievable that this is what you drew the line in terms of what you found embarrassing or not. You have embarrassed him plenty. This? This is not embarrassing at all.
But then again you always did have an aversion to depending on people. He finds that annoying about you. One he never lacks to bring up.
“You are always embarrassing yourself, I don’t see why this is such a—”
“Oh sure, Toruk Makto’s perfect son and the stray dreamwalker child they picked up needing to get carried like I’m useless sack of meat, I wonder what the village gossip’s gonna be, and your dad put me in charge and do you know how that’s gonna make me look—”
“Oh yes, people’s opinions of you are much more important than the fact that you can barely stand on your own and need urgent treatment.” Sarcasm dripped from his tone.
“Yeah because you don’t have to deal with how humilia—” You pause, hearing people nearby as you both get closer to Ronal’s marui. You shrink inwards, trying to make yourself smaller. Your voice hurried; “Neteyam. Dude. Bro. Man, please. I never ask you for anything, RUN.”
“Calm down.” He’s rolling his eyes when you start kicking him and pushing his shoulders. You push harder once, and he’s scrambling to make sure you guys don’t fall over, he's hoisting you up on his back, adjusting his grip on you, unable to suppress the hiss that leaves
his mouth. A warning. Which you heed, stopping your movements albeit begrudgingly, still complaining behind him about how embarrassing this all is and he needs to run faster.
He sighs, his attention flickers to the ugly mash of black and purple on your ankle. He can’t help the worry that tugs at his chest. “They will think you got in another fight…and it looks really bad.”
“Oh my god dude, LET THEM. I don’t care!” He stifles a laugh, the pace of his feet against the ground going faster. A growing grin on his face when you limp, throwing your head back, groaning again in embarrassment. He doesn’t even know why he was so worried, you were stabbed just earlier today and you were fine, an ankle sprain is nothing to you.
He adds quietly; “I’ll tell them you lost then.”
“Your neck is in arms reach.” You remind him seriously. “I have one arm around your neck right now.”
…
…
“...one good arm, you can barely move the other.”
“Oh fuck off. I’m going to fucking strangl—”
“There you go again, always so quick to resort to threats of violence—”
“Shut up!”
…
…
“How long do you think it’s gonna take for your dad to show up?” You ask.
He thinks. “Not long. Someone’s probably seen us by now and told him.”
He hears you groan at that. He rolls his eyes, again, he’s surprised he doesn’t have eye problems from the amount of times he’s found himself doing it around you. Really, it was inevitable for someone to see you guys the moment you both stepped in the village.
…
…
“...wanna bet on what he’ll say?” You speak up again. No doubt just trying to get your mind off of things. He decides to entertain you.
“He’s gonna think you got in a fight and blame you for sure bro.”
“Of course he will, I’m the one he put in charge, and I'm the one who got hurt again.”
“Jesus fucking Christ. Of course it’s you again, what happened this time?” Jake’s voice cuts through the quiet atmosphere once he enters the marui. Eyes on you laying down, leg propped up. He deduced the ankle sprain, but what else? He rushed over once he got word that Neteyam carried someone to the tsahik’s hut. Jake’s hand finds his forehead, massaging his temples, stress levels already high. If Na’vi hair could turn grey, his would’ve been white as snow by now.
First strike.
“Hasn’t been a day since you got stabbed, kid. How many more fights and injuries are ya gonna take ‘til you quit?” His tone was accusatory. You, on the other hand, sigh, deep and tired. “I expected this from Lo’ak, but you? Jesus f—”
Two.
“I. fell.” You interrupted him, each word punctuated, arms crossed as you looked blankly at the intricate pattern of the walls. Completely and decidedly uninterested in facing him.
“...that’s it?” He makes a surprised noise, disbelief clear on his face. When you don’t answer further and only get another one of your sighs. Jake looks beside you, to his son for confirmation. Who in turn shakes his head.
“They weren’t watching where they were going, sir.” He answers, posture straight. Not being able to help the habits his father had drilled into him since he was young. “...the tsahik says they will be fine. Recovery will take longer this time, because now they have two injuries.”
Once confirming there was no danger to your life, and that this was a result of your own carelessness. Jake allows himself to relax, throwing you a grin, crossing his arms. “Serves you right, kid. Couldn’t ‘predict’ this one happening, could you?”
That joke had your tail lashing in annoyance. Neteyam watches, unsure why that had upset you in the first place. But your ears lowered further, expression souring every moment his father’s presence lingered, but this time around it seemed you had the self-control not to talk back.
Maybe you listened to what he said earlier.
“Try not to aggravate them if you can.” Ronal’s voice came behind him, carrying various herbs and items into the marui.
Jake flinches in surprise, a yelp leaving his mouth as he moves to make way for her; “Jesus.”
And that’s a third.
Neteyam purses his lips, ears twitching as he immediately finds the wall more interesting now once he sees you whip your head in his direction, avoiding the intense look you were giving him. He knows that if he makes eye-contact with you, you’ll laugh, for a long time and so hard he’ll worry if there’s any air left in your lungs too, maybe you might even reopen your stitches.
He also doesn’t trust himself not to laugh either if you do. He found your laughter was infectious once he managed to get a laughit out of you the first time. It wasn’t graceful or controlled at all, not at all the way you carried yourself before you finally started showing more of your colors.
The you he’s gotten used to. He decided since then that he liked you that way. He’s not the only one, his siblings too. Maybe because you became easier to be around with after that.
The best way he can describe you before when you first arrived was the phrase you liked to use a lot, like you had a stick up your ass. You were always breathing down their necks, telling them to turn back, telling them not to go too far, etc.
At some point he even started plotting with Lo’ak, joining forces with him just to get a break from not just their father and the duties he had when he was still expected to be the Olo’eyktan-in-waiting, but from you as well.
But somehow you always found them. He and his siblings would be somewhere deep in the forest, somewhere he swears he has never shown you, or somewhere he swears you’ve never been. And you’d be there, waiting.
One time, they were in the forest under the Hallelujah mountains, the mountains themselves behind them. Trekking with no particular destination in mind other than to just get away for a bit.
They turn a corner, and then suddenly they hear this very familiar and relaxed; “Yo.”
Followed by everyone groaning. You’re giving them a full half-assed wave as you slide down from the rock you’ve been perched on, watching them for who knows how long.
“How did you even find us? We made sure to—”
“Esoteric wisdom.” You reply coolly.
“Pxasìk!”
“Hey, watch it, I know what that means now skxawng.” You’re narrowing your eyes at Lo’ak, before sighing and jabbing a thumb behind you. “Your dad’s been looking for you guys the first 5 minutes you left. I gave you plenty of time and came up with plenty of excuses by the way. If I say; ‘I tracked a thanator’ again, he’ll strangle me when I get back.”
You make a show of strangling yourself with both hands and making choking noises as you morph your expression into one of mock pain. Getting a giggle from Tuk, who quickly suppresses it when nobody else laughs.
As if on cue, the comm around your neck crackles to life. “Found ‘em yet?”
You shift your weight on another leg as you glance at the Sully siblings.
“No.”
“That’s no sir to you.”
“Apologies, sire, please forgive the insolence of this poor peasant, I seem to have forgotten my place!”
You hear an audible sigh from the depths of this man’s soul, and you swear you can hear him roll his eyes so far to the back of his head he would’ve seen his brain. “You found them, didn’t you?”
Even you're surprised by that, when you don’t answer fast enough, Jake’s already speaking again. “ETA?”
You look up, thinking. “Before dinner, I’ll get them there. Conscious or unconscious?"
“Conscious—Jesus, okay, look kid—you better—-”
“Okay, conscious then, we’ll be there.” You turn back to the siblings behind you, motioning them to follow you as you walk towards the direction they were coming from. “Well, you heard him, play time’s over, let’s go.”
The walk back was just as awkward as watching that whole conversation you had with his dad. He’s never really heard anyone talk to his dad like that before. But you seem to make it your mission to make him look like a joke.
He remembers apologizing to Lo’ak after the first few weeks, wondering if this is how his brother felt whenever he had to keep him in check. If it was, then Eywa.
He remembers the surprise on Lo’ak’s face, and how it morphed into the biggest smile he’s ever seen on him as he burst into laughter, loud enough for the whole village to hear. Almost sheepish once he felt when everyone’s attention went to them, desperately trying to stop Lo’ak from laughing.
His thoughts get pulled back to the present once the tsahik speaks.
“Their energy must be reserved for healing. Now go. You have seen with your own two eyes the child is fine. They will sleep here tonight.”
“Thank you once again, Ronal.” Jake bows his head, respectful. He shoots you a look, telling you to behave, you roll your eyes before throwing a thumbs-up in his direction.
“It is my duty.” She says simply, ignoring the interaction you both were having, settling next to you as she places down the extra beddings she found, preparing the herbs to change the wrappings on your shoulders. “This one seems to find trouble wherever they go. With their newest injury, they will have a harder time looking for it.”
“You got that right.” He huffs out a laugh, the sound gruff. Neteyam stifles his own laugh, for your sake. But you hear it regardless. You let out a dramatic sigh. Draping your arm attached to your good shoulder over your face. “We’ll come by tomorrow. Good night, Ronal.”
Ronal nods. Jake tells you to rest as well. You peek under your arm, watching as he leaves, Neteyam on the other hand lingers at the entrance, waiting for you to look at him, then waving at you once you do.
You give a warm smile, resignation as you wave back. He grins at you, satisfied, before following after his father.
The marui is silent, other than the waves lapping against the support beams under the hut. And Ronal crushing the herbs, the sound of the pestle repeatedly grinding against the mortar.
“You worry for Toruk Makto’s eldest son.” Ronal says, a statement.
“...he is my friend, tsahik, I worry for all my friends.” You flex your fingers, hands on your lap, unsure how to take this.
“The way you worry for him…it is different.” She insists. You were not prepared for what she says next, evident with the way your breath catches. “You worry as though he will disappear like the morning mist every moment you take your eyes off him.”
It almost felt like when Koro struck your abdomen again, but instead of numbing pain, this time it was a tightness that settled somewhere deep in your chest. You swallow. Ronal hums, knowing she was correct.
You’re silently asking her to shut up. You respect her, you do. But you don’t need someone pretending to be your therapist. Telling you your problems, laying them out bare, for everyone to see.
“You do not act like most children your age…so do the Sully children. A result from war, yes? But you…there is this heaviness you carry, even when you pretend that you don’t, I do not know what it is.” She starts again, something in the edge of her tone. Still focused on grinding the herbs for your treatment. Then she pauses, inhaling. “But child you cannot hide it, it leaks out of you, through cracks you don't seem to be aware of.”
You don’t need this. You don’t ask for comfort. It has been a very long time since you last did.
You even tear your eyes away when you watch Neytiri show affection to her children. How she worries about Neteyam. How Jake comforts Kiri.
“I see my children in you. And it is difficult to watch, not knowing how to help.” The admission shocks you. She’s untying your wrappings, her movements gentle and light. A contrast to the feeling growing inside you, being anything but that. The movies weren’t always a reliable source of how the characters act, that much you’ve learned, especially with Neteyam.
You remember in the movies, Ronal was shown as incredibly strict. She was still the same here but they never showed how…loving she was when she wanted to be. You wished they did, it could have prepared you for this. She was the tsahik. Evaluating. Strict. Protective. Compassionate. Because she was also a mother, not just to her own children, but to the entire village. Their people.
You tend to forget you’re also part of the village now. That though she had reservations about you and your origins, your status as a dreamwalker. Your humanness. You were included among their people (whether or not they had issues with it) by default. Whether you wanted to be or not.
“I do not know what this weight is, but it seems to follow you. Haunt you.”
No. Stop. Shut up. Shut up.
She’s cleaning your wounds, ensuring none of the stitches were inflamed or infected. Then she rubs the paste on it. Your focus is on your hands resting on your lap, jaw tight and ears flat against the sides of your head, tail curling beside you, trying to shrink yourself. Unable to look Ronal in the eyes, and she knows this is just how you are, always wanting to hide and disappear despite how loud you are.
Neteyam wasn’t the only one observing you when you’re out and about.
Pursing your lips, you remember to ignore the ache in your chest when your gaze settles on the families huddled together during the gatherings. You ignore Neteyam’s calls when he looks for you in the forest so you could join them. You ignore the guilt when he turns back, disappointed that you didn’t answer.
So much guilt.
And then there is this bigger guilt gnawing at you, that you have done your best to ignore. The guilt of knowing Rona’s fate. But there is only so many people you can save and so many more that need saving. This much you have accepted.
And ultimately in your head, you decide that you’ll save Neteyam instead.
You remember how much that guilt grew whenever you were facing Ronal. How it chokes you. So you tried to lessen being around her as often as you could.
Unfortunately that only made her pay more attention to you. You curse the universe this once, you call it cruel and twisted. Because it is, this is so fucked up. Why now? You can’t save her.
Please don’t make me care about you.
You blame the herbal paste, the smell. Maybe your injuries. That whole thing with injured people being more vulnerable emotionally because their body is trying to heal.
Because the moment she reaches for your hands that you don’t remember when they began trembling, the moment she leans forwards, truly looking at you. Genuine concern and care in her eyes. Your vision blurs.
“I see you, child. I worry for you.”
And for the very first time, even since before you left the forest. You allow the tears to fall.
For the very first time, you willingly break under the gaze of someone who wants to hold you.
And for the first time, someone does. You don’t know when she pulled you towards her. But it was gentle, her embrace, as you cried in her arms.
It hurt. The guilt, everything. The reminder. And her, the way she willingly shows you comfort.
She’s doing all this for you, to comfort you, unaware of the choices you already made concerning her life. How sick were you? To make a choice like that? Think of someone’s life as lesser than the other? But you made the choice regardless.
And here she is, embracing you, the very person who has made the decision to look away once she charges towards her inevitable death.
la'ang - pile of stinking, rotting animal matter
tsahik - head shaman, high priest, interpreter
Mawey - calm
The following morning, Lo’ak pops his head in through the doorway. He greets the tsahik, who returns it before focusing back on her work.
“Wow, you look like la'ang.” He grins. All you give him is a look desperately asking him to shut up, which he pointedly ignores as he settles next to your side.
“The tsahik fixed you up pretty good, almost good as new! Too bad she can’t fix your face.”
You pull the sweetest smile you could muster at him then. And at lower volume; “When I get better, I’m going to formally challenge you to a fight so I can beat you to a pulp in front of the entire village.”
“I think you have other things to worry about first. Like your ankle.” He gestures. “And your shoulder. And your face.”
“You—”
“Stop it, both of you.” Neytiri chides, entering the marui with Tuk and Neteyam following behind her. She swipes at her youngest son, who ducks to avoid her reach, she in turn puts that hand on her hip as she gives him a look and he’s giving her one of those sheepish smiles. She glances at you and you instinctively find yourself straightening your back. Your tail that was lashing around curls inwards, your eyes lowered and lips thin. A bit of guilt perhaps. You don't like the thought of disappointing her.
You weren’t able to see it, but her eyes softened at the sight of you, exhaling before she makes her way to Ronal, who was grinding another batch of herbal paste for your wounds. Once she walks off, only then you were able to raise your eyes and look at her.
You wonder if Ronal's making a different mix of herbs? She usually makes enough to last a few days when you had to help out before. Then you watch as Neytiri places her hand on Ronal’s shoulder, whispering something. You wish you could hear whatever it is that they’re talking about.
“Sometimes it feels like we have two Lo’aks.” Tuk says suddenly. Once that registers, both you and Lo’ak whip your head to look at Tuk. Offended.
“I am nothing like him!”
“They’re nothing like me!”
“See.”
“No, you’re right Tuk.” Jake suddenly appears behind them, he’s chuckling as he picks Tuk up under her arms. “They do attract trouble, don’t they?”
“Dad!” Tuk laughs as Jake spins her around before carrying her, having her rest on his hip.
“More like they cause trouble.” Neteyam chips in. Lo’ak rolls his eyes as he exasperatedly sighs, his head following. He's scooting over regardless, giving Neteyam room so he can sit next to you as well.
“The difference is I cause trouble when I think it’s necessary.” You defend yourself. Lo’ak feigns offense, gasping.
“So you thought it was necessary to throw sand at my son’s face?” Ronal speaks up from the across the marui. You cringe inwardly, both in surprise of her speaking up and at the intensity of her stare. Ao’nung, of all things you thought of him, you didn’t think he’d be a snitch.
“Tsahik, that was completely unintentional. He just happened to be in the way." You say, posture straight. Neteyam was massaging his forehead, eyes closed as if praying to Eywa that you’d shut up, because there is no way that was the best excuse you could come up with. “And everyone was getting pelted by sand, not just him.”
Ronal doesn’t answer back, only glancing at you with a knowing hum. Jake, not wanting to involve himself in this conversation, goes to Neytiri and Ronal. Speaking with them as well. You try not to make it obvious that you’re trying to eavesdrop on their conversation, but the look Neteyam gives you says it all.
You give him a shrug, and he shakes his head in disbelief.
“That was genuinely the stupidest idea you’ve ever had.” Kiri settles across from you. Just at your feet.
“Hey, it worked didn’t it? These two skxawng asses would’ve gotten into a pretty bad fight. I prevented it.” You grin, nodding your head towards the two Sullies beside you.
“Dude, I still feel sand in my mouth sometimes.” Lo’ak makes a face.
“It's your fault you can’t dodge. I don’t even think I ever got a hit on you.”
“Yeah, because it hit me instead!” Kiri deadpans, ears pinned against the sides of her head.
“I was aiming for—”
“—Mawey.” Neteyam interjects before you dig your grave any deeper, arms shooting forwards, giving both you and Kiri a look. He meets eyes with you, shaking his head disapprovingly as he leans back. Silently hoping you get the message to shut up because at this point this conversation was going to become an admission of guilt. If he hadn’t interrupted, you probably would’ve admitted that you did indeed intend to hit Ao’nung then. “You are supposed to be saving your energy to heal. Not argue.”
You’re groaning again, hating every moment of this as you slam your back against the wall of the marui, ears lowered. How can you not argue? Everyone’s basically ganging up against you right now.
Next to you, Lo’ak had this wide, content smile on his face as he watched this all unfold. You pull a face, narrowing your eyes at him accusingly.
“What are you smiling about?”
His smile grows wider, shrugging. Reveling in the fact that for once, he wasn't the one being lectured. He can't lie and say he's not enjoying this at all. You, on the other hand, stare at him harder, the end of your tail thrashing beside you.
warning/s: suicide mentioned, its lowkey psychological horror typa vibe for the reader specifically and they're losing their fucking mind lmao
I ACCIDENTALLY DELETED THE MAIN POST AGAIN TRYING TO DELETE THE REBLOG
i like to think isekai reader was only able to get close to neteyam bcuz of how persistent they are
it's weird for him sometimes because he doesn't know where they stand, sometimes they're like this older role model figure, even though their ages aren't far off from one another, other times they're acting just like their age, sometimes even more childish and it annoys the fuck out of him
i'm thinking of incorporating the concept of time resets into it, like, they die, then by sheer will, they come back, back to a moment before they died, (maybe a different story actually lmao), but think of loading a previous game file because your current route sucks, like you made the wrong decision and you wanna try again, fix it, find the best ending
i want to see how many times reader has to die until it starts weighing on them, and other characters start noticing just how reckless they've become, imagine how disturbing it is to watch someone you care about act like dying is the least of their problems
constantly, happily throwing themselves into danger
i wanna see like at some point when an outcome they never wanted to happen happens, they instinctively reach for a knife, a weapon, anything to kill themselves with because they can just "start" again, go back before, choose a better option, make a different decision
the act of killing oneself is a serious thing.
killing yourself is hard. a very difficult thing to do. sometimes your survival instincts override that desire to die. sometimes you stay despite.
and the reader, you, growing so numb to it you think it's the easier option rather than moving forwards and accepting the situation as is, highlighting just how far you've fallen, how far you've deteriorated, like all your experiences building up but you can't think of anything better, you're permanently locked on that goal you've set for yourself, "save neteyam" "save him"
lol you can tell im not a big fan of big sudden trauma, like if someone died, this character is traumatized now, not to negate the fact that someone dying is traumatizing, but i like trauma that piles up, less like a truck that runs you over, more like crushing pressure that wears you down overtime, makes you think you can keep moving, crawl yourself out but it keeps you stuck, the pay off is more satisfying that way imho (i just realized this is literally houseki no kuni's influence on me)
i think i just like psychological horror but anyway ahsdfjhsajf
like imagine neteyam still dies no matter what action the reader takes, and reader keeps having to kill themselves to go back and i wonder if it numbs them, because the whole reason they're even on pandora in the first place is to save him, or at least that's what they think so, like this intrinsic desire to make things better becomes your hubris, and you think the universe, whatever it is that put you here is just playing with you at this point, torturing you
doomed by the narrative? doomed by fate? idk.
imagine another failed route, neteyam dies again, they're on the rock, with the family, neytiri's cries in the background and their mind just goes static, maybe a mix of grief, frustration
you're lwk losing your mind, spiraling; why is nothing working, what's the point of me being here, why do i keep failing, i don't understand, i don't understand, why does he keep dying, i made a different choice this time, the plan was perfect, what went wrong? i don't get it. i'm so tired. how many more times do i have to do this, i don't want to do this anymore---
and absentmindedly you're reaching for your gun, a knife, your own face blank as your vision blurs at the edges, staring at neteyam's dead body, and you're pressing the blade into your skin, or fingers on the trigger slowly pulling it back
this has happened before, you killing yourself right there, the world going dark and you wake up back to when he's still alive, where everything's fine and alright before it all goes wrong
but god, why won't anything change? why is it so hard to stop it from going all wrong?
this time something's different, someone notices what you're doing
maybe kiri, lo'ak, or jake, his attention snapping on you, and he's grabbing your arm, stopping you, bewilderment clear as day on his face; "what the fuck is wrong with you?"
and for the first time, something surprises you; this never happened before
yes im just basically making a crackfic atp but thats like the whole reason i write, self-indulgence, writing about concepts i find interesting
ADDITIONALLY ADDITIONALLY, what if, it turns out, the only way to save him is to sacrifice yourself
the only way to stop him from dying, is if you die in his stead
your existence in their universe, someone who first saw it as a work of fiction, is a form of imbalance, you're not "wrong" but you're not supposed to be there either
because the universe works in mysterious ways, and I'm a firm believer in there being balance and the universe always doing it's best to correct any forms of imbalance, either slow, or sudden
and there's always a price for everything, you can't take and take, you have to give
"This story is a tragedy because it didn't have to end this way." vs "This story is a tragedy because it was always going to end this way"
i just read your isekai!reader scenario and it’s such a fun idea, i love the concept! i feel like loak would either be the one that asks the least questions after reader prove him wrong a few times or would suspect them of being psychic or something hehe
I was wondering if you were going to make it into a series? no pressure ofc only write it if you feel like it but I wanted to comment and saw it wasn’t possible so I decided leave you an ask I hope I’m not bothering you
have a great day/night c:
hello!! thank you! i hope you're doing well too! i'm very happy to hear that you enjoyed my little story and reached out to tell me about it!! i enjoy interactions in general especially with people interested in knowing more about my creative works, i love sharing ideas and concepts!!
i actually wrote that post on a whim, it kept popping up in my head and i couldn't focus on my schoolwork 😭
i do have plans on writing it out properly or extending it because i have ideas, but turning it into a full series, i'm not quite sure about that, i don't have the best track record with finishing a book series i write, that's why i label most of my ideas as prompts for people to build off of
and i don't like making promises i can't keep so for now it's staying as a scenario/imagine
that said, if anyone is interested in taking their own spin over this concept, they're free to! and i'd love to read it!
just please credit me if you're going to base it specifically off of that post, as in word for word plot, dialogue and everything
if it's just the concept of isekai or saving neteyam/the sullys, lol go to town with it, that idea is not mine nor do i have rights to it, there's a lot of isekai canon fix its fics that exists, i was genuinely surprised when i couldn't find any for avatar so i wrote it myself
and sorry about the comment thing, you're the second person to bring that up, i have it set to only people who i follow/follow me can comment, i'll be changing it back so people can comment
i hope you know you made my day ❤️!
answers about lo'ak + how neteyam feels about you swooping in and essentially taking his place + afaa spoilers below cut!
continuation of isekai!reader sorta
part 1
From my understanding of Lo'ak's character, he has a strong sense of justice and which naturally makes him the type to question things that doesn't make sense to him even if it means going head to head with an authority figure.
Given the way he's defied the heads of the clan his family were taking refuge under, and even challenged the clan's warriors over Payakan, arguing that their ways aren't right even if it was deemed disrespectful, that takes a lot of balls.
But because of his older brother already doing a lot of the drilling questioning, he lwk takes a step back and enjoys the show, albeit throwing his own questions from time to time, so you're not exactly wrong.
I imagine Lo'ak feeling somewhat relieved that he's not the one going against the grain this time around, finding it both surprising and hilarious that the perfect soldier son is ignoring a direct order from their dad in terms of making the reader in charge of them (meaning they have to listen to whatever the reader says, do as what the reader decides to do.)
And yeah he definitely would have thought you were psychic, sort of similar to Kiri. And he even asks you about it offhandedly when you were all trekking the forest. You stayed behind in the group as Neteyam lead the way. Even with your knowledge, he knows more of the forest than you do, he literally grew up in it.
When you hear the question from Lo'ak, you give him the most incredulous look.
"No, Lo'ak. I'm not psychic."
"...you sure??"
"Yes."
"...then.. how did you..."
You make up a sorta lie on the spot. Shrugging; "Pattern recognition. General knowledge of things....esoteric wisdom?"
He believes you. Neteyam overhears and he's trying not to say anything, but he can't help the roll of his head, ears pinned flat against the sides of his head, he can't believe that his little brother is that gullible. He manages to keep his tail still. But you saw it all anyways.
"Keep your eyes ahead, golden boy, if we fall in a hole or something and one of us gets injured and your dad is on my ass about it, I swear—"
"Relax skxawng, I know my way." He shouts back, head turning to the side so he can get a good look at you squinting at him.
Neteyam on the other hand, I imagine him just generally feeling miffed about the whole situation, a sky person? Who they don't even know? Not even that much older than him, in charge of protecting him and his siblings? Is that a bad joke.
Imagine having proven to your clan, your family, your mother, your father that you are capable of whatever responsibility befalls on you, handle any situation that comes your way, protect those you care about out of love and duty. And someone you have never even heard of swoops in, hasn't proven anything, at least not to you and suddenly you have to listen to everything they say.
So you can trust he finds it a bit insulting, undermined at best. He's still a teenager even if his official position in the clan is that of an adult's. So he's going to react like one, but in Neteyam fashion. Deliberate and controlled, easy going.
He isn't an arrogant person, far from that. He's pretty humble, but he does have pride.
He'd never express these thoughts to his father, at least not under normal circumstances. He'll treat you with respect but not really in the same essence he'd respect his parents' authority or someone of similar status like his grandmother, or other village elders. He respects his father a lot. The reader? You? You haven't done anything yet that proves you earned his respect.
Think of how Neteyam would roll his eyes, hide a sarcastic smile, and exchange looks with Lo'ak whenever Ao'nung would say something in the second movie.
He does that. To you. But he's also more vocal about it much to your dismay. Lo'ak finds it funny watching the exchanges between you and his older brother. It's a side of him he never gets to see. And it's interesting to watch you hold yourself back from exploding on him.
Kiri rolls her eyes whenever Neteyam does it. She can't stop her brother from doing whatever it is he's doing, but she can make it bearable. She treats you well, likes to talks to you and ask for your thoughts on things.
Neteyam basically micromanages you, except he does it with your every move so yeah it's gonna piss anyone in your position off. But you do your best not to lose patience with him, and he's lucky you care about him so much, even if he doesn't know about how you feel about him.
Neteyam doesn't really want to piss you off, but there is a small part of him that wants to see how you get when you're actually angry. He's enjoying it a bit actually, he's not trying to piss you off but hypothetically finally being the one to rage-bait someone in the way his brother does him brings him amusement.
pairing: gn! isekai!reader & neteyam
word count: 0.6k
synopsis:
Isekai reader into avatar lmao but its not gonna be lmao soon
warning/s:
none
note:
have shit to pass at 5pm but can't stop thinking abt like a reader who gets sent into the world of pandora, it's essentially an isekai scenario, but you've been born into Avatar, a human.
You know what's gonna happen, you've read everything you could about avatar in your past life. and you commit to making sure you remember every little detail.
And now you're there, in front of the Sullys. You immediately let your intentions known. You want to help. You want to fight. And that you're good at it.
But Jake, despite his better judgement, despite seeing that you were just a kid, not even an adult yet, he lets you. You tell him things you know. Not too much. Just enough.
You tell him of your dreams. You tell him you know things about them. He thinks you're lying at first. Until you mention a few things in too much detail.
For whatever reason, no matter how hard you tried changing something, it never works. The pace is set, how the story goes is how the story goes. Unless it was at your expense you noticed.
He thinks you're better by the kids' side. You know things he doesn't know why. And he doesn't trust you very much or at all. But that sureness in you made him believe in you despite this.
Suddenly Neteyam gets demoted below you. He doesn't understand why his father decided to trust you. What was said between the both of you. He thinks it's ridiculous but he keeps it to himself. As always, the obedient eldest son of Toruk Makto, Jake Sully who betrayed his own kind.
He notices things about you. How you move, how you're always so sure about what happens next that you leave no room for doubt. He's always doubting though. Not much, but you're surprised he even says anything. This only encourages him to continue doing so. Much to the confusion of his siblings because he's never been the type to question authority.
"We can't go there." You'd say.
"Why?" There he goes again.
"Because the roots of the trees are weak and it will topple if we climb."
"How do you know this." Your eye twitches, common occurrence whenever you're interacting with him. He's much different from the Neteyam you knew in the movies. But it was something you were aware would happen, you knew he's not perfect, he's a kid, he's the eldest. He just knows how to control himself and his reactions because he loves his family.
And he doesn't know you. And he will never.
"Because I passed by there once and I noticed the soil being soft. Not tightly packed together." You managed out, jaw tight as you throw him a glare. He just hums, not exactly satisfied but content enough not to question you more.
He does this often. And you do your best to spare him patience. Patience you're not sure you have but you do so anyway because it's Neteyam and you knew him as the boy who died before he got the chance to truly live.
You don't try to get to know him better than this. You don't go out of your way to make jokes with him. You have your priorities. Change the outcome, somehow, someway. Don't cry. Don't leave anyone behind if you can. You want a possibility, a universe where he lives. Where he doesn't leave his siblings behind. Where Lo'ak still has a brother to rely on.
Unfortunately this is something Neteyam notices as well. He becomes less hard on you when he did. He realizes you were someone just trying to carry responsibility as best they could. He sees it in you because he's just like you.
And you only notice he stopped questioning every move you made but not much of why. You stop just doing things on your own and start asking him for his input. This surprises him, but he obliges. You don't treat him like a subordinate anymore, you even apologized for it. You treat him like you would someone you get partnered with in a school project.
Except there's much at stake here. And he feels it, but won't ask why. He won't overstep, and you won't as well.
Aftermath of Avatar!Reader who looks like Aha'ri dying
+ how So'lek & the Sarentu clan may react
scenario by @writingfool001
based on this post about avatar!reader who looks like Aha'ri and acts similarly to her that the Sarentu clan ends up using them as a placeholder
so'lek yearning but lol he tries to bury it. lwk depressing, angst again.
true yearners know it only starts after it ends.
use of typology, MBTI + Enneagram
use of Y/N like once, still figuring out if i should use Y/N or ___ lmao
reader in this one is the type to be self-sacrificing for the sake of others, as seen with how they're more than willing to put up with all the using them as a placeholder for a loved one, they'd likely die trying to protect others, would hurt more if it's the Sarentu clan
maybe they even get killed in the RDA raid where Nor locked all the members inside just to get Alma killed, but again in the effort to save others, you'll be telling people to hide, and then you'd go distract the RDA agents, that's how you'd die
So'lek is an ISTP 6w7, and i base my characterization of him off that, ofc not completely, but enough + what i've seen of him from the game
he'd likely just be distancing himself in the beginning from the Sarentu clan, but due to his duties in the Resistance, he'd be in close proximity to them regardless of his current preference
there will be this build-up of resentment, anger he can't avoid because they still consider and treat him as a close friend even if he himself needs space from them to process his thoughts and next moves
he's already quiet on his own, he'd be way quieter in this case, not really engaging as much unless his input and/or help is truly needed or they directly ask him for help
them constantly referring to the reader as Aha'ri even after death, i think he can ignore it, like of course every time they do there's this strange twisting feeling in his chest that grows, bitterness? spite? something like that. it grows and grows after every conscious choice of theirs at discarding your name.
he can handle it just for a little bit at least because again, he knows they're coping (lol, coping)
but at some point he'll get fed up, he has a sense of impulsivity to him despite his efforts of restraint after all
I imagine him finding it deeply disrespectful for them to continuously call you Aha'ri as though you never had a name.
Before, when you were still alive, he could at least excuse it, understand, do his part in reminding them that you are you, not Aha'ri. Maybe not directly confront them but he would actively use your name in their presence, he doesn't want to encourage this type of behavior after all.
he notices the way your shoulders would relax even just a little bit, every time he did it, a brief glance, quick eye-contact shared between the two of you that at first he couldn't decipher, looking back he realizes it was your way of thanking him.
it was almost like you were afraid to ask for help. afraid to acknowledge that you want help.
but you do.
the first thing he noticed about you when he first met you was your eyes. Always glazed over with something. a sadness that never quite disappeared even when you were laughing heartily with company.
he found himself searching for you since then. trying to find moments where your laughter actually reached your eyes.
when he couldn't, it went from trying to see when you're free of it, to wanting to see what it would be like if eyes would look like if that sadness wasn't there. to wanting to be the one to help erase it.
but you're gone now. he can hope, pray and yearn all he wants, but the dead stays dead. you can dig up what's been buried, but like anything that was once living, after a while it decomposes. all that'd be left are bones. bones and tiny crawling creatures feeding on the carcass left behind. maybe they'd know the taste of your sorrow that's so deeply engraved into your very being.
he expected the Sarentu clan to finally drop it. use your name. grieve you properly. Imagine his disbelief when they consistently still call you Aha'ri, grieving her as if Aha'ri was the one who died all over again, and not you. and maybe that is true, to them she did die all over again.
but to so'lek, it'd further agitate him. again, anger building-up. he can't help himself then and finds himself confronting them, spur of the moment kind of thing but still controlling his anger.
and when they explain themselves, maybe justify their actions about how much they're hurting. how they're the ones who lost someone. that could be where So'lek erupts;
"Lost someone?" he echoes. finding this all so... ridiculous. "And tell me, who was the one who lost their life?"
something along those lines.
I can't imagine him throwing a punch at anyone in the Sarentu clan (minus Nor lmao). He cares about them a lot obviously. But I don't think he'd get angry at them to the point of violence. But he'd be very close. Like, about to lunge, but he has a sliver of self-control left and stops himself.
I really don't see him hurting Teylan either, who in this case would be the main person who keeps wanting the reader to act like Aha'ri. At least that's what I think.
Mostly because I headcanon him being close to Aha'ri before her death, like he'd show her movies, things he finds interesting, and Aha'ri just listens thoughtfully. I do think Aha'ri wouldn't be interested at all and just go along with it because it's Teylan.
extension of this prompt of an avatar!reader who veiws themselves as a tool
warning/s: light descriptive injuries/gore-mentioned in one bullet point though so i think its fine, bone breaking
fun fact: if u squint you will see houseki no kuni influences here regarding the dynamics lmaooo, im sorry im a huge nerd
i wonder how na'vi would feel watching an avatar driver literally just ignore a mortal wound that should have debilitated them
like oh, my guts are hanging out?? okay, lemme just push them back in, wrap myself up and go back to the battle field!!!
like someone who truly does not give up until mission is complete
i wonder if the navi see them as a monster or a true warrior
maybe a bit of both, impressed by their will, and horrified at the same time:
"you need to rest"
"no, i have to keep going"
"you are bleeding, that is a gaping wound and you are still moving like you are a talioang, please, regain your strength" (i had to look up pandoran animals for this on the wiki oh my god)
or someone whose willing to break their body and limbs just to keep going
leg is stuck and everything and they go; "fuck it"
bone cracking and they're free, back in the battle
so incredibly reckless
it would also be nice if they're partnered with someone who is the absolute opposite
they're careful on their feet, able to avoid debilitating hits, able to dodge, smooth, graceful even
they're well trusted and dependable
also why they're partnered with starfish (starfish name because you know, their limbs grow back, something the the tool avatar driver lowk acts like, they act like they can just fix a limb after doing massive damage to it)
warning/s:
canon-typical violence, toxic ways of trying to be useful, just you know, the general thing with "i only have value if i am useful, and i am only useful if i put myself in great danger and harm for the sake of succeeding no matter what" type of mentality
love love characters who view themselves as a tool
i love characters with a blatant disregard for their lives because they harbor a 2nd body and their real one is safe tucked away from all the fighting
i love characters who use themselves as meat shields, uncaring about the pain, knowing it's superficial at best
i love character who realize in real time that their mentality of viewing themselves as a weapon, a tool to further ideals is genuinely affecting their peers
i love characters who get so confused about it too
"why does this upset you so much?"
"because you do not see yourself a person"
"...maybe you're the one who should see me as a tool."
Natives who have come to care for you are very much disturbed by your lack self-preservation
Scientists too. But they can't help it, only able to remind you the costs;
"That's still billions of dollars worth of bio-hardware. Take care of it."
But really what they wanted to say was;
"Take care of yourself."
They, too, are traumatized by war.
People who only wanted to learn ended up lied to, manipulated, betrayed, turning their back on Earth because Earth turned their backs on them first, unable to bring themselves to get any closer to someone.
Because caring about someone who does not care about themselves is sure to bring heartbreak. Heartbreak they can't afford to have given how spread thin they already are.
Or when you're confronted about it during a battle.
"Stand aside, retreat."
"I am fine!"
"You are very injured, the very sight of you right now is disturbing to our allies. It does not help morale, I do not know where you fare from where this insanity is normal. But go back. Heal. You are not needed here until then. Ma'Eywa, I wouldn't be surprised if your very viscera was hanging out of your abdomen and I still see you fight."
I love characters who resemble dead loved ones and they end up being used to fill the space left behind.
Y'know like, grief, grief being love with nowhere else to go.
So those grieving end up using you to cope. Using you as a placeholder. A vessel to pour all their love into even if it does not belong to you.
Hurt/Angst ahead.
So'lek x Reader at the end if you squint
You've come to the resistance, way before the Sarentu children do.
But when they see you. Their breath catches at just how much you resemble Aha'ri.
They're exchanging looks with Alma, who looks back at them knowing exactly what they're thinking, she knows what they're seeing.
Nor thought it was the RDA's doing, another one of their cruel jokes. Alma says no, you were just someone who happened to look like her. Happened to act like her as well.
What's worse is how you were the age Aha'ri would've been if she was still alive.
Nor hates you, in a way. But still can't help being around you regardless. You were so similar to their old friend. From the looks down to the personality. At least when you were in your avatar.
"Why the fuck are you here again." You pull a face at him, one of disgust. But not in a malicious way. Not really.
"Am I not part of the resistance?" Nor asks, tilting his head at you as he leans against the wall, watching you work. Then he stands up, walking closer to the table, pretending to be observing the flora. "I'm working to help too."
"...you are but I'm sure your work doesn't involve studying plants skxawng." The na'vi insult rolls off your tongue naturally when directed at him. He remembers Aha'ri.
He tends to linger around you a lot. Despite you both always at each other's neck.
He's not that much of a bother if you're honest with yourself. He's like a kid who can't seem to leave the one adult who pays attention to him.
You only realize what your presence meant to them when Tamtey breaks, crying as she comes to you in your little area within the base. In her delirious state. She calls you he late sister's name.
"Aha'ri, I'm so tired." She sobs, falling into your arms.
And you're quiet. Holding her, watching her. Alma warned of you this once. You and your soft heart. You and this inherent desire of yours to help ease pain. Even at your expense. Despite your better judgement, against Alma's better judgement. You let Tamtey find comfort in your presence.
You let her call you Aha'ri.
This happens often, whenever Tamtey comes back, exhausted from a mission. She seeks you out.
And so do the others.
Overtime the other Sarentu children follow suit, calling you her name too. By mistake at first.
It starts slow.
"Aha'ri, can you come help?" The comm crackles to life, Ri'nela's voice on the other end. She realizes her mistake and immediately corrects herself. "Sorry, I didn't mean to—"
"That's okay." But there was this tug in your chest. You felt bad for them. Pity them. Unable to bring yourself to correct them, or stop them from calling you Aha'ri at all.
Over time they stop correcting themselves.
"Aha'ri, come eat with us."
"Aha'ri." Their voices soft, wrapped in love, love meant for someone else.
Gone was your name. Not that they never knew. Just that they completely discarded it for something else. Someone else's.
You knew it was wrong. There's this twist in your chest that hurts just enough as time passes. You're not loved for you. You're loved for what comfort you bring. And it hurts. But you try not to let it show.
Because when they look at you like that, like you're the only one who can help. When you feel their desperation whenever you pull away, when things get too much, the expectations. You can't help but oblige.
"This isn't healthy. You know this." Alma confronts you one day.
"I do."
"You need to put a stop to this. They won't listen to me, but they'll listen to you."
"I know." Frustration rising in your tone.
But you don't enforce it.
You try. Once.
"Hey, Tamtey—"
And she enthusiastically looks back at you, curious. She's smiling at you, eyes full of affection. Affection that woudl not be directed to you if you did have the appearance you do right now.
"Yes?"
The words die in your throat. You can't do it. Not when she's looking back at you like that. Like you're her entire world. You can't be the one to take her world away from her again. Not if you can help it.
"Never mind." Your voice tight, but soft all the same.
So'lek's the one who still calls you your name. It helps with your identity crisis that has gotten worse since this fake persona began. You find his presence comforting. You feel bad of course, that you’re relying on him so much.
He's the one who still corrects the others whenever they call you Aha'ri's name.
"So'lek can you hand this to Aha'ri." Teylan asks, reaching a device to the older na'vi. Who's looking at him with an unreadable expression on his face before wordlessly taking it.
"Of course. I'll give it to Y/N." He makes sure to put emphasis on your name. A reminder that you are you and not a ghost from the past returned. And Teylan would freeze. Guilt passing through his face. But he doesn't say anything more.
"...thanks, So'lek." He'd mutter, no acknowledgement whatsoever in what happened. "Tell them I said hi."
But he’s the only one who seems to understand. It's an incredibly complicated situation. And so far So'lek's been the only one who's successfully managed to maneuver around it without encouraging the behavior.
And he’s close with the Sarentu children as well. He doesn't get angry at them. He understands. It's grief coming back in full force. He can't imagine what it's like to see an old loved one this. Someone who looks exactly like them.
He knows this is just them trying to desperately cope.
But So'lek still adamantly disapproves of this. What you were doing, what the Sarentu children were doing. He doesn't like the fact that you're just letting them use you. Doesn't like that you let it happen despite how much it's affecting you. Doesn't like how much of it has been destroying you.
He sees how the exhaustion clings to you. The guilt. Pretending to be someone you're not. Stepping in and taking on a persona that's not you. Because while you have similar personalities to the Sarentu's late sister. You have many differences from her as well. And it doesn't take a while for them to notice.
Whenever you do something that wasn't very Aha'ri-like, they question you. Putting down the bait. Hoping you step back into the act of their loved one:
"Aha'ri, are you okay? Don't you like these movies? You used to like them back then." Teylan would ask. And your breath hitches.
"No, I hate these movies. I find them so incredibly boring." You wanted to say that, yell, scream. There has been this resentment building inside you for so long, threatening to explode. Trying to break out of this prison you made for yourself. It almost does, you're nearing your limit, you don't know how much longer you can play this part.
But then you see the expression on his face. Waiting. Searching, And so very eager to please you. So you smile, forcing the feeling down, swallowing the bile bubbling up your throat. Oh God, you want to throw up.
"I'm okay Teylan. Just got distracted." You smile kindly at him. And he finally smiles again. Excited.
It's not their fault. You keep trying to remind yourself. It's not their fault I started this. I should've stopped when I had a chance to then. I dug this hole.
"Okay! Good! This is the best part of the movie! It always made you laugh!"
So'lek judges you for it. Watches how your expression looks of pain when the Sarentu children are not looking at you. And how you still put on a smile when they look back at you again. Mask seamlessly put back into place. Smiling so wide he thinks it should hurt.
And it does. But you do not complain.
"This is wrong." He says once. You immediately know what he's referring to. You're pursing your lips, continuing to work.
"I don't know how to stop anymore, and I don't know how to tell them to stop." You say honestly. The most honest you've been in a long time.
But ultimately he understands you just want to help them. Even if your way of helping is toxic to both you and them.
"...this will end badly." He speaks up again, eyes watching you carefully. "There are no other possibilities where this ends well."
where i got the placeholder trope, this trope lives in my head rent free because of this manga and haunts the narrative whenever i make ocs, the temptation to put them thru this arc ahsudasudhduhasu
reader however is just much more nicer compared to Cairngorm though lmasdoasod
pairing:
human extinctionist! defected!reader x defected!nor
(not romantic)
word count: 0.6k
warning/s:
human wishing for the destruction of their species and actively pursues it, racism, murder (mentioned), canon typical violence (mentioned)
notes:
you guys want. Just a warning I haven't watched the entirety of the DLC yet or the game. So.. OOC Nor. OOC everything.
Thinking about writing a fanfic involving a reader who aids Nor in killing humans, all humans, RDA, members of the resistance, etc.
They lowkey already made plans, they're a misanthrope, deeply believes humanity is a cancer that needs to be erased, but didn't have the resources to actually put it in action nor did they believe anyone would really support their plans.
Reader was hiding when Nor rolled the ball by decidedly allowing the RDA to kill Alma and the other resistance members by trapping them inside the building. Once the gun fire stopped, they step out of their hiding place, giving Nor a look.
He thinks he has to kill them too. Until the reader smiles at him, clapping. This further convinces Nor that humans are all the same deep down, because of the fact that someone like the reader who has been part of the Resistance longer than he, was happy that he murdered the others and Alma.
The anger that engulfed him that had him commit such atrocity, grows and threatens to engulf everything else in his life. Before he can even think of what to do with the reader. The reader breaks the silence before he does.
"Nor," voice steady, lips stretched into a smile. Hands clasped together as they look up at him, beaming at him so brightly and so proudly, you wouldn't know that just behind the door were bodies of their allies that he massacred. "Good job."
Maybe he defects from the Sarentu clan altogether. Bringing the reader with him, only because of the insanity in their mind furthers his goals of erasing all traces of humans, the darkness they spread throughout Pandora.
He despised you all the same. Maybe not you, but, the fact that you were human. You on the other hand, you weren't that bad.
The fact that a human like you exists. One so glad to bring the destruction of their own species entirely simply because you too have given up hope that your species, humans, were worth saving. He felt it proof enough. You were a convincing tool to gather people to support him.
You were good with your words. For a demon. A sky person. And then you spoke of your own experiences on your planet. The horrors. The destruction.
It was, confusing, to watch something speak with so much hatred, and then with so much compassion.
You don't plan on staying alive once your own plans come to fruition. You'll die too. Who are you to preach that humans deserve to go extinct, if you still live on?
Here's the kicker though, Nor comes to appreciate you, as a friend. Comes to realize that you too were a victim of whatever it is that has plagued your home world, your species.
Maybe he realizes he was wrong. Humanity isn't as evil as he thought. He has many reservation about you. Bat shit crazy, sure, insane? Yeah. But evil?
...you were not evil despite your own beliefs. Wishing for the extinction of humanity, creating such horrid plans to further and achieve said wishes were atrocities of their own.
But they were not inherently evil. You did not wish for humans to suffer. Your people have suffered enough, by their own hands. You wanted an end to it. The insanity, the pain and suffering. You wanted it to stop. In a way, in your way, you loved humanity. This was your way of saving them, from themselves, for other species, other planets that might be touched by the gluttony and desperation of humans.
Nor may realize, or other Na'vi, that this, maybe this is the nature of humans. This kindness that you too have attempted to snuff out from inside you. For there to be great evil, there must also be goodness that encompasses.
This was the true nature of humans, something that humans themselves can't escape from their own hands. How fragile.
But as the saying goes, you cannot save someone who does not want to save themselves. He already committed to this. So did you.
You guys would've been good friends, and you were, a time ago.
