I don’t care that we’re different, you know? What I care about is you. I care about you. Okay? And I didn’t say it, I should’ve said it, but I didn’t. Because…well, ‘cause I am an emotionally insecure source of your discomfort, who is not good at expressing his feelings. Probably because I’ve been on my own my whole life. It’s not an excuse, it’s why, instead of telling you that you’re the best thing that ever happened to me…I-I make jokes about your ears. And I tell you that you’re trying too hard, when, you know, the truth is - I just don’t want you to get hurt. Because no one else in the world matters more to me than you do.
It's always "I love you" and never "Okay, I don't care that we're different. What I care about is you. I care about you. Okay? And I didn't say it. I should've said it. But I didn't. Because... well, 'cause I am an emotionally insecure source of your discomfot who is not good at expressing his feelings. Probably because I've been on my own my whole life. And it's not an excuse, it's just- it's why instead of telling you that you're the best thing that ever happened to me, I make jokes about your ears and I tell you that you try too hard. When, you know, the truth is, I just don't want you to get hurt because... because no one else in the world matters more to me than you do."
But only in small doses because I'm waiting to see their relationship evolve throughout the series. My reasons for loving this pairing are that both characters feel out of place within Pandora, caught between two worlds and identities.
Kiri, born of strange and unusual origins, is acutely aware of her strangeness or, as her bullies would say, "freakishness." Kiri senses Eywa in ways others cannot, and her connection to the natural world makes her feel out of place even among the Na’vi.
Spider is human in body yet Na’vi in heart, and is CONSTANTLY reminded every single day of his otherness. He is rejected by humans as an “enemy” and treated as lesser by many Na’vi because of his species and his genetic connection to his sperm donor, Quaritch.
Because of this, Spider and Kiri understand each other in ways others simply cannot. I believe their bond is a sanctuary. These two teenagers do not have to explain themselves to each other, because the other already knows what it means to live as an anomaly within a society that should be supporting them instead of condemning their uniqueness. Kiri is blessed to have the support of her adopted family, but struggles to fit in with her peers or be seen, while Spider was practically rejected since birth and made to live on the fringes of Na'vi society for the simple crime of being the son of a colonizing monster. Their companionship is built on familiarity, shared childhood memories, and connection rather than forced romance just to please some aesthetic.
Plus, I'm a huge sucker for childhood friends to lovers.
If James Cameron decides to go down that route, their relationship would be built on shared years, the kind of love that grows so gradually that both would only realize it when they are already deeply, hopelessly in it. As they grow older, their bond deepens, matures, and suddenly their closeness feels different. They don’t know when it changed. It just did.
It’s the childhood friends trope at its softest, and Spider and Kiri fit that arc beautifully.
I understand that some people don't ship them, and that's great! Not everyone is going to like the pairing. I just so happen to love them, but I'm waiting for a bit to see how Avatar 3 explores their relationship.
