𝚃ì𝚢𝚊𝚠𝚗 𝚘𝚎𝚢ä 𝚕𝚞 𝚏𝚘 𝚜𝚠𝚒𝚣𝚊𝚠
(my love is an arrow)
So’lek te Elusa Kiro’itan X Reader
Warnings : tsaheylu / mating bond, implied sexual connotation, no nsfw!
⁀➷ 2.5k words of self-indulgence, ignore inconsistencies— i refuse to fix them! enjoy!
𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟
The forest hummed lowly in the early dawn, the warmth of the sun pouring through the dense foliage as you made your way through the village. It was early enough that The People hadn’t quite risen yet, only a few young warriors hovered outside— gathered around firepits and sharpening arrows as the chill of morning dew settled amongst them.
You walked quietly, giving a three-finger greeting down your forehead as you passed through their circles, the woven basket on your hip an indication of your plans for the new day.
Though, as you made your exit, passing through the main archway to delve into the forest— you hadn’t noticed a certain Na’vi who had begun to trail after you, a shadow lingering just far enough back not to be of notice.
So’lek was a gentleman, a fierce protector, and also hopelessly (and secretly) devoted to you. He knew his intrusion on your solitude was unusual, even possessive. Yet he couldn’t bear the idea of letting you go alone, your outline becoming less and less distinct striking a thrum of nerves in his stomach as his hand tightened on his bow, every shift of branches or call from the sky causing him to stiffen. He almost immediately upon meeting you realized that you were not like other Na’vi, but something far more dangerous.
You were gentle, you cared more than your heart could bear, you were an extension of Eywa’s love to The People. Kind, Sweet, Vulnerable.
It frightened him, it made him uneasy. Not because of who you are, but because of what happens to fragile things. Especially now, with the RDA searching for more Na’vi DNA to craft more dreamwalkers— or vrrtep, as some clan members called them. It terrified him, knowing the destruction and pain that the sky people had caused, knowing how quickly they would take you away from him.
So he lingers, wherever you go, no matter the hour or climate. No errand was too small for him to trace your steps with his own, arrow notched protectively as you mindlessly wandered along the wooded path.
You took a deep breath in, the air thick with the smell of salt and warm earth. Your ears perked slightly, the sound of waves lapping the shore invigorating your steps as your feet began to sink slightly into dark sand.
The beach was sparkling with deep blue waters, adorned by coastal foliage that crept towards the tree line. The sight made goosebumps arise on your skin, your senses zeroing in on the calmness of the waves that drew you near. It wasn’t often that you ventured this far from home tree, as most of the healers considered the forest's herbs stronger or better suited for The People— but you knew differently, you knew paua shell and reef flower made a powerful healing agent when guided by Eywa’s hand.
You set the basket down on the damp sand, stepping further into the water until it lapped at your thighs. You felt the surface with your palms, an unmistakable swirl of vibrations echoing through the water all around you. It was something you affectionately referred to as, ‘the call.’
Without hesitation, you dove under the surface.
So’lek felt his heart leap out of his chest when he heard a splash, followed by an absence of your silhouette against the beach. He had only looked away for a moment, the crackling of branches somewhere close stealing his attention.
His body reacted quicker than his brain, the only thing he could focus on was getting you back into focus— his step faltering for a second at the edge of the water as he peered into the vast sapphire. His yellow eyes are searching for any sign of you, the ripples distorting his view.
“Pxasik!” He hissed under his breath, hands tearing at his bow as he discarded it by the shoreline. By now, the panicked thumping in his chest had reached his ears, the thrumming echoing through his head like a war drum. Anticipation, drive, fear.
He dove into the water, pushing past the current and into the bioluminescence that adorned the wildlife.
You, blissfully unaware of this intrusion, had dipped down into a shallow cave— the best place to harvest paua shell. Your hands worked steadily, pulling the living shells from their crevices and offering their spirits back to Eywa as you tucked them into your small satchel.
A shift in the tide caught your attention, the call became distorted— the rippling of the water somewhere overhead disturbing the flow of the current. Inquisitively, you used the rock's edge to pull yourself out of the cove, a flash of Na’vi blue appearing from the bubbles of residual air that forced itself below the surface.
So’lek’s eyes betrayed him as he peered into the vast valley of coral and crystalline formations, the way of water never being something that came to him naturally, as he much preferred the stability of solid ground.
Though, as he prepared to push further into the water— a hand secured around his wrist, propelling him towards the surface with a gentle certainty.
You made it to the shore, towing So’lek behind you haphazardly. Upon first glance, you knew he was out of his depth (literally), and could waste no time. You dug deep into the sand, leveraging the two of you back onto solid ground.
“So’lek!” You exclaimed, pulling your satchel off to free up your movement. “What in Eywa’s will?”
The Na’vi blinked the salt from his eyes, his tail thumping, displeased, at his side. “What—?” He pushed up to sit straight, eyes raking over you for possible injury, hands moving to your forearms— turning them over as to further inspect. “I don’t understand.” He then spoke, the words heavy on his tongue.
You tilted your head slightly, blinking slowly. “I was harvesting some paua shell in a cove not far below the surface, I heard.. a disruption in the ocean’s song.” You said softly, pushing some of the wet braids from his face to inspect him for ailment, his face flushing a tint of purple at the feather-like brush of your fingers.
“And then you were there.”
So’lek hummed in acknowledgment, a deep swell of relief blooming in his chest as he let himself relax a little onto the sand. “I see.” He spoke slowly, a new wave of warmth pulsing into his face, the realization dawning over him.
Your mouth quirked slightly into a smile, your hands moving to draw the water from your braids. “What are you doing here?”
He shifted slightly, a newfound awkwardness seeping into his usually guarded exterior. “Well,” He began, pausing to consider his words. “I refuse to lie to you, I followed your path here. I was.. concerned about your safety.” His gaze flickered to you, a hesitance drifting over him. “I.. I saw— Well, I heard you fall into the water. I thought you could’ve been hurt, so I jumped in.”
Your heart leapt in your chest, a warmth ghosting over your cheeks as you broke your eyes away from him. “You could’ve gotten hurt. You don’t know the waters as you do the forest.” You chided, your tone betraying your inner passivity.
“I do not care.” He punctuated effortlessly, his tone shifting to something more grounded. His words left no room for confusion, backed by a now piercing stare from beneath his full lashes. “There is no length I wouldn’t go to, to protect you. You must know this.” His words carried into your ears like the atokirina on a stiff wind, a plea marked with a certain desperation that made something primal burn within you.
Air caught in your throat, a radiating warmth filling your chest as you glanced over to him. “So’lek..” you murmured, tail gliding affectionately against the wet sand.
A deep sound arose from the man’s throat, a short recognition of his name on your lips. “This is not how I would have imagined this conversation.” He admitted, hand reaching up to caress the plush skin of your cheek.
You leaned unconsciously into his touch, eyes peering up at him curiously. Though you’d be mortified to divulge it, there had always been a part of you that hoped there was something more to his lingering stares and sweet countenance. It felt irresponsible, to wish for his attention when you knew how important it was for him to be elsewhere. It was a selfish want, but one that burrowed deep into the forefront of your mind.
“Oel ngati kameie.” You spoke softly, a hand moving to cradle over his own.
So’lek took a harrowed breath, his lips quirking into the beginnings of a smile. “Ma Yawntu,” He began, the sweetness of the name settling into the buds of his tongue like the saccharine fruit of the forest. “Oel ngati kameie.”
As you pulled back, you felt the echoes of So’lek’s heartbeat, the thrumming connection of his skin on yours sending you into an ocean of sensation.
You took a deep breath in, his scent blending beautifully into your own. A pleasured mix of rich soil and salt-soaked shores, something sacred in memory. “Eywa blesses us,” you sigh, letting yourself push closer to the na’vi, your side now flush to his own. “She’s answered my prayers.”
This piques So’lek’s attention, his ears twitching slightly as he turns his head to look at you. “My foolishness answered your prayers?” He chuckles, turning your wrist over in his hands— tracing the beads of your songcord unconsciously.
“By your txe’lan, Ma So’lek.”
His heart clenches, stealing the breath from his lungs as he swallows thickly. Your sweet voice humming his name in a way that fills his spirit with pride, an instinctual devotion. “I want to do this right, Ma yawntu.” His voice was barely above a whisper, his eyes flickering down to the full curve of your lips.
You shudder lightly at the implication, a flutter of nerves taking root in your belly as your tongue darts out to wet your lips. “What is right, if not following in the direction of Ma Eywa?” You asked, an edge of softness seeping into your reasoning.
Then, as if to defend your logic, a soft breeze pushed a group of wandering atokirina atop you two. The sacred seeds taking an interest in the bond that pulsed noticeably around the two of you, an unseen force of nature that drew them in.
His eyes sparkled beneath the sacred beings, unspoken gratitude lingering on his parted lips as he looked towards you again— the walls he’d built to protect himself from heartache tumbling down as he rushed forward to press his forehead onto your own.
“My soul craves to bear witness to your love.” He breathed, a desperate torment pulling in his stomach— aching to be close to you.
The words sent a sharp chill down your spine, livening your senses as you pulled your braid around from the back of your head. Your eyes darted back over to So’lek, heart thrumming wildly in your chest, kuru now fully on display for him as it pulsed with anticipation.
“I can imagine no world in which this is not my fate.”
So’lek’s chest burned with desire, his hands shaking slightly as he pulled his kuru into view. “Oeyä muntxatu,” He spoke deeply, hissing sharply under his breath as the two of you inched closer. “Make the bond, rutxe.”
You let your kuru extend into his own, pupils blowing wide as the sensation settled into your body. A mind-numbing blur of unyielding desperation, along with flashes of memories.
The sight of yourself through unfamiliar eyes. Your smile, the tinge of purple that decorates your cheeks, the warmth of your hand on his shoulder as you provide him with Eywa’s blessing before a hunt.
You felt it all, the love. the longing. It made your eyes begin to shine, unshed tears banking in your waterline. “Oel Ngati Kameie.”
His body vibrated in ancient recognition, waves of bliss washing over him— delivering the purest forms of your adoration and stirring his most animalistic awe as his scent began to seep into yours. “I see you,” He spoke huskily, eyes darkened in the now low light of the afternoon eclipse.
He bent down to crush his lips into yours, the combined pleasure causing a strangled groan to slip from his throat.
Your hands reached out for him, tangling in the leather straps of his gear and thrusting yourself atop him. Your thighs caged a single one of his, hands palming the exposed skin of his chest as you peppered kisses down his jawline.
So’lek’s breath caught, lips parting in shared ecstasy as you nuzzled your face into the nape of his neck— marking him with your scent. His hands found your hair, tugging you back slightly to capture your lips again— teeth nipping at your bottom lip as if he’d been cruelly starved, the taste of you unlike any ambrosia he’d ever tasted.
You panted slightly, swallowed whole by the man beneath you as he kept hungrily coming back for more. You couldn’t blame him though, the ecstasy of tsaheylu was something you could’ve never imagined. The pleasure that built within you from such juvenile touch shouldn’t have this mind-bending power over you, though every time you closed your eyes— it was like you were one person. One body experiencing itself. The sensation was addictive.
The na’vi took his turn, tongue dragging down the slim expanse of your neck— finding the sweet spot with the breathy sound of your whines before sinking his teeth into the soft flesh.
“Ma So’lek,” You whimpered, the heavy wooded scent he wore rubbing into your skin as he pulled away— tongue tracing the fading outline of his teeth soothingly. Your cheeks were a flushed purple, pupils dilated in a way only a lover could arouse.
He brought a hand to your cheek, brushing the half-dried tear streaks away with the calloused pad of his thumb. “Ma muntxatu, I have belonged to you long before this day.” He drew your hand to his chest, the strong beat of his heart prominent beneath his indigo skin.
Your eyes shone in the hazy light of late afternoon, nodding reverently. The deep thrum in his chest anchors you to reality, following a familiar rhythm that your bonded brain couldn’t recognize. (Though later, you’d come to realize it was ‘the call.’)
“How will we explain this to the elders? To Tsahik?” You wondered aloud, his arm latching around your waist to keep you flush to his chest.
So’lek breathed a sigh of contentment, an undeniable smile pulling at his swollen lips. “Ewya provided for us, what we could not find on our own. That is no crime against The People.” He reasoned, fingers tracing unremarkable patterns on your lower back. “They will come to accept it, if not now— in their own time.”
A beat passed before you spoke again, this time something far more profound.
“I love you, Ma So’lek.”
“And I, you, Oeyä muntxatu.”
na’vi word / term directory ᝰ.ᐟ
(some of these may not be 100% correct translations, I did my best!)
⤷ vrrtep - demon
⤷ pxasik - screw it
⤷ oel ngati kameie - i see you (spiritually)
⤷ ma yawntu - my beloved / my love
⤷ txe’lan - heart
⤷ oeyä muntxatu - my mate / my spouse
⤷ rutxe - please
⤷ tsaheylu - mating bond
⤷ ma - my
