“You’ll always be mama’s baby”
Mama!Tiri x Little!R (Main focus), Sully Family x Little!R (Background)
Requested- No
Spoilers- No
Summary- Reader just wants to show that they are as strong as their siblings so Neytiri plays along until they realize that not being strong isn’t necessarily bad especially when involves MamaTiri cuddles
Warnings- Reader is transmasc/male aligned. Uses He/They pronouns, SFW Age regression, Reader is human but their exo pack only covers their nose and mouth, Reader’s Regressed age is 5, Sully Family loves their little human. No Spider Bashing. Takes place in the forest
Word Count- 3.2k
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You loved trailing behind your siblings. Mainly your brothers. Neteyam, Lo’ak and Spider. Always trotting closely that you’ve stepped on their tails more times than they could count. They never said anything but you definitely stayed walking in their shadows. Only Lo’ak would show signs of annoyance when your small heel would dig into the sensitive bone.
Spider would quickly pull you back and Neteyam would give his brother a look. They knew you didn’t mean it. Like you were often clumsy within your headspace and Lo’ak never tried to outwardly show it but tails were sensitive even if they were fun to play with they needed to be handled with care.
“Hey listen to me really quick Paskalin..remember what Dad said about space.”, Neteyam turned bending down placing his hands on your shoulders waiting until your eyes met his. It was easy for you to get distracted especially when your brothers brought you along for walks in the forest.
“Remember, at least an arm's length or walk beside us”, Neteyam hummed hoping to gauge your memory. You perked up slightly at the familiar words. It was something Jake always found himself repeating. Something you giggled at repeatedly yet swore to stick by.
“I remember ‘Teyam!”
“Good, now how about you hold my hand so that you don’t accidentally step on Lo’ak’s tail again. Ok buddy”, Neteyam held his hand out for you to grab and you took it without much care, trotting beside him to keep up with his quick strides. He wasn’t walking fast but he was also 8’2 and you were only 5’5. Smaller than Tuk.
“Hurry up! Or we’ll miss the herd”, Lo’ak called from the front. His shoulders sagging at being stopped once again. Usually the three boys would have been back at hometree by now. Carrying at least 2 or 3 yeriks to present to their parents and the adults of the village to prove that they were good hunters. Good providers. You just had to tag along.
Not like Neteyam or Lo’ak and even Spider cared. They didn’t but you did slow them down significantly. Wide eyes getting distracted every five minutes by the living flora or kenten that got spooked from your clumsy movement. Neteyam rolled his eyes, deciding to just haul you up on his back. “You need to learn patience little bro. Let’s go”
Neteyam scolded and to which you stuck your tongue out towards Lo’ak mocking him. The 14 year old narrowed his eyes but returned the gesture just..if not even more childish. Appalled by your audacity. Brat.
“Alright..remember we have to be quiet or we will scare off the Yerik..”, Neteyam bent down allowing you to slide from his back. At his words you nodded your head vigorously. This wasn’t your first time joining your siblings on a hunt and well Jake had taken you out on many hunts. Neytiri wasn’t the biggest fan of it but she trusted her mate and children to keep you close; she just knew how easily it was for you to slip away.
If someone didn’t have their eyes on you at all times they would have to spend the next hours searching for you because your little mind and body loved to wander. Huge eyes lost in the beauty of Pandora. Even more so in your regressed headspace. Afterall back on Earth all you had was the drawings you made now you had the real thing. Real green grass and clean lakes to frolic in.
“I know ‘Teyam! I will be the most quiet.”, Neteyam winced, Lo’ak shook his head and Spider snorted. You didn’t have a quiet voice but thankfully the Yerik weren't too close to get spooked. “Yep..just stay here with Spider ok. Do not run off”
Neteyam pointed a finger looking a lot like Neytiri. His stern look, narrow ears and pointed eyes. You nodded, raising your hand to salute something you learned from the science guys. “Now bro please before eclipses hits”
Lo’ak whined, always impatient, adjusting his bow on his shoulder. Neteyam turned, giving Spider a look. The human teenager nodded. He knew to watch you but Neteyam needed him to actually watch you and not just check if you were in his line of sight through his peripheral.
“We’ll be 15 minutes at best”, Neteyam finally turned trotting around to catch up with Lo’ak who had already been walking around docking his bow. Spider perched himself on a high branch so he could see better. He didn’t mind babysitting but he wanted to get in on the successful hunt as well. You scrambled up on a lower branch. Nails gripping the bark to see better.
It was cool seeing your brothers hunt. Different from Jake and Neytiri. Mama was the best hunter that was not a question and you always knew her arrow would meet its mark. Jake usually hunted the talioang but that you didn’t have to be quiet because the herd was loud and it was always done on Bob with at least 6 other riders. His arrows never missed either.
Neteyam and Lo’ak were still young. Boys transitioned into warriors so each kill was a lot more special. New strength and skills developing unlike the miles of experience that Jake and Neytiri had years to master. A small chirp found your ears. Attention easily diverted from your brothers to something in the distance.
You glanced up. Spider was distracted. Inching closer and closer each second. Your brothers were fixing their bows to take aim. It was just a quick peak. With ease you hopped off the branch with a soft thud and ran towards the noise. On your tippy toes just like Neytiri had taught you. Hands to help guide as you climbed onto a branch. It was a Yerik. Still young. Perfect size for you.
You glanced back. Nobody had followed you. Slowly you took your bow that was resting around your shoulder. Neytiri had taught you to shoot. You were the baby of the family but you weren’t defensively. Never, just slightly smaller than everyone else besides even Tuk had a knife.
The bow itself anyways was embarrassingly small, mainly given to you because you whined for it. Begging your mama to teach you because you were “big” and could handle it. Neytiri didn’t want to at first but there was just something so magical in watching you practice with clumsy hands. She would crouch close, her head practically resting on your shoulder. First she could fix your stance, then your arms and finally tilt your head the right way.
It wasn’t beautiful. God no. You had a terrible shot but just the act of doing it made you glow. Little body jumping up and down as you turned and threw your arms around your Mama’s neck. Neytiri was confused. You had missed the target wildly but she just grabbed your face nuzzling slightly. “Good job Yawntutsyip but we will..keep working on it”
That night you had proudly ran around hometree telling everyone that you shot a bow. First it was Jake. You needed your Papa to know just how good you did. Voice squeaky, words becoming babbles as Jake tried to catch on. He was fluent in the Navi language but your babbles always left him confused on what the hell you were trying to say.
“Our little one learned to shoot today Ma’Jake”
“YAY PAPA I SHOOT THE ARROW!”, Jake chuckled at your enthusiasm, thankful for Neytiri. She was your number one translator. Jake popped you higher on his hips fangs poking through as he smiled.
“Oh yea..you’re my little tsamsiyu aren’t ya bud. Good thing you’re learning from the best”, Jake praised loving how you stimmed in his arms. Neytiri’s smile never left her face. She loved her kids but absolutely adore babies. The concept of regression was so foreign. So unknown but children were a blessing by Eywa and all children needed a mother. You weren't a child but your headspace made you act no different and since you had no mother Neytiri didn’t hesitate to fill the role.
It was totally not because Neytiri also missed having a small kid that depended on her. Tuk was growing up running off on her own. She loved how you always seemed to need her. How big your eyes got every time you saw her.
You grabbed a small arrow from your quiver. The Yerik had not noticed you yet (your human scent masked by Neytiri’s helped a lot) still feeding pecking at the ground. Slowly you did what Neytiri had taught you may times. Stand tall, both eyes open, deep breath, tight core, balance the weight on your dominant leg, tighten your muscles, pull back and let the arrow fly.
The Yerik dropped with a loud squeak. Legs flailing. The arrow lodged in the weak spot just at the base of its neck. You jumped up surprised, scrambling toward the fallen animal. That was your first kill. You’ve never hunted before or used your arrows on a real target.
“I DID IT, ‘TEYAM ‘O’AK SPIDEY.. I DID ITS”, you turned happily clapping your hands jumping up and down once you saw your brothers. Neteyam grabbed his chest with relief, Lo’ak always trying to keep a stone face yet couldn’t hide his relief and Spider looked a bit guilty. Neteyam and Lo’ak missed their kill because well once Spider didn’t see you anymore the hunt was forgotten.
“Woah…you did that all by yourself Paskalin”, Neteyam bent down beside you. Clean..merciful. With his knife he rested a hand on the Yerik's neck before finishing the job, whispering prayers to Eywa. The Spirit goes to Eywa but the body stays behind to become part of the people. Once his knife was away Neteyam grabbed the arrow, plucking it out.
“That’s a good kill, little bro. Let’s get home before it gets too dark and we’ll cook it tonight”, Neteyam passed the animal off for Lo’ak to hold. He grumbled like he always did while Neteyam trotted ahead to keep up with you. You may have been small but you were fast, small legs zooming over branches and puddles. Everyone must know what you have done. Your mama needed to know what you did.
Your first successful hunt. Clean and Merciful kill no less. This had to be celebrated. It was said that Eywa had to bless you before you could kill anything in her forest. Today had been the day she had blessed you. Otherwise your aim would have not been true. Would have not met his mark. By the time the four of you reached hometree eclipse was just starting to set. Fires lit, na’vi returning from their day's work. You found Mo’at first.
The Tsahik was waiting on you. Of course she was. The one woman you could not keep secrets from because she knew all. The embrace was warm as always. Withered hands cradled your head. Yet you pulled back excitedly. “GRAN I DID IT. I HUNT”
Mo’at smiled. A chuckle slipping past her lips as she watched Neteyam, Lo’ak and Spider come into view holding your kill. “You did..Eywa has blessed you grandchild. The clan is proud”
“And why is the clan so proud”, Neytiri strolled forward wanting to see what the fuss was about.
“I HUNTED MAMA. A YERIK ALL ON MY OWNS”, Neytiri froze out of pure shock. Her hands cupping your face. Ears flickering, tail shooting up. You hunted…you..her sweet baby. She was happy of course she was and she wished she’d been there to witness it.
“Oh my ‘eveng. The great mother has blessed you”, Neytiri could cry. Tears actually did well up in her eyes. Neytiri smushed your cheeks between her three fingered hands nuzzling you affectionately. She was a very proud mother.
“Mama!! Let gooss!”, You pulled away with a squeal of laughter, nose scrunching as you twisted to get out of Neytiri’s grip. You never fought her ever but this was big. You had just hunted all on your own and so that made you big and strong just like the rest of your family and Neytiri didn’t nuzzle and scent them. “M big nows! I hunted all on my owns”
You wiped the bridge of your nose trying to swipe the scent away as if your whole body didn’t smell like her. Neytiri’s ears pinned backwards a slight frown on her face as she watched you pull Neteyam, Lo’ak and Spider along so that the Yerik could be properly prepared for dinner. It was small but just enough meat to feed the family comfortably.
That night for dinner you stuck close to Neteyam and Lo’ak. Spider sat next to Kiri and Tuk against Jake. Neytiri sat across the way watching you. She loved when you interacted with your siblings. Always finding a way to include yourself but usually at dinner you say beside her. Basically on her lap. She would hand feed you because you often got distracted but not tonight.
Tonight she had to watch her baby fend for themselves with a sudden surge of independence. “What’s wrong baby? You’re not eating”
Jake spared Neytiri a glance as he took a moment to take in his family. It was odd but it was perfect. He never thought it would end this way. Neytiri’s ears flicked as she turned towards her mate, a subtle frown on her face.
“Y/n doesn’t need me anymore”, Jake tilted his head confused where the sudden conviction came from. Of course you need them. You were always stepping in Neytiri’s foot prints and holding Jake’s tail to keep up with. Always the first to wake them up with mindless babbling and infectious happiness.
“Baby..what are you talking about? Of course he needs us. He’s just having fun with the boys”
Jake shuffled closer. He knew how hard Neytiri loved. How hard she loved you. Ultra maternal and protective instinct going haywire 24/7. He felt the same but he didn’t hover as much. Let you run wild in the forest while Neytiri would not let you out of her sight. Took you to meet Toruk just days after integrating you in the family while Neytiri didn’t want you anywhere near Sa’ata not knowing how the animals would react; wanting to keep you away from danger and safe in her arms.
“No Ma’Jake you do not understand. He hunted the Yerik all on his own and now he prefers to eat on his own. He even wiped away my kisses”, Jake bit the inside of his lip. He knew that didn’t necessarily mean anything. You were just rambunctious and just preferred to showcase that you could be big and strong just like everyone else.
Jake classified it as a human thing. Just classic toddler behavior. Seeing your big brothers doing something and then believing you had to do the same but he didn’t know how to convince Neytiri so he just dropped the conversation. After all she was purely convinced that you would stop being her baby and well the woman was head strong. Jake figured the whole situation would sort itself sooner or later it always did anyways.
Later that night when it was nearing your bedtime Neytiri stalked over slowly on all fours before scooping you up. You let out a yell of pure shock that morphed into laughter. Squeaky. Carefree.
“MAMA! YOU SCARES ME!”, Neytiri hummed her own soft smile gracing her face as she leaned down to nuzzle your cheek. You didn’t pull but you did crane your head to the side before she was doing it right in front of your brothers and well you were big!
“Come on ma yawntutsyip, it is bath time than bed time”
“Nuh uh Mama! I’m not tired and I’m big! I stay wake with ‘Teyam and ‘O’ak”, you slipped out of Neytiri’s arm nodding your head with certainty. Bedtimes were for babies. You were a warrior now. You had a successful hunt and you were big just like your brothers and they did not have bedtimes.
“Oh you are big uh baby. Mama’s big boy is that right”, Neytiri bent down to cup your face, squishing your cheeks. You nodded wild hair flopping grin widening as she understood. Neytiri sighed with mock defeat, her tail swaying softly behind her as she shrugged her shoulders. “I guess..if you are Mama’s big boy then you can stay with your brothers. Mama will just have to give tuk all her cuddles and stories…”
Neytiri turned on her heels, slowly walking away. You watched her go feet turning inward as you weighed the options. You still wanted mama cuddles. Mama cuddles were the best and Tuk..Tuk didn’t even care for stories. How was she gonna steal yours? Your cheeks puffed out and your eyebrow furrowed as she ran to catch up to her. Neytiri kept her pace slow on purpose trying to keep from smirking when your little hand grabbed hers.
“Wait Mama..I wan cuddles and stories too”
“I know baby but you wanted to stay with your brothers remember. Big boys don’t need cuddles and bedtime stories to go to sleep”
“NO! NO I NAH! I NAH BIG MAMA! I SMALL”, Neytiri didn’t expect you to fold so fast. You begs tugging her arm bouncing up and down on your feet. You weren't that big. You still could get cuddles and stories.
“MAMA I NAH-“
“Ok baby…ok I heard you. Calm down there’s no need to get so worked up”, Neytiri easily picked you up placing you on her hips making your tiny chest pump a thousand miles per minute. Running her thumb down the bridge of your nose before nuzzling your face lightly.
“Mama was just messing with you. She did not mean to make you upset. Ready for bed now little one”
“I still get cuddles n stories..”
Neytiri’s heart could burst at how small your voice was. Using one hand to push your head to rest against her collarbone. “Of course you are my baby. Mama’s darling baby..you will never be too big for cuddles or stories”
Your breathing evened out. Her words true in your ears as you wrapped your arms snug around her neck burying your head deeper into her collarbone. You liked being big but maybe you would stay small just a little bit longer. If being small meant that you would never have to leave your mama’s arms…well you never wanted to be big again.
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Na’vi Word Guide-
Paskalin- Sweet Berry
Yawntutsyip- Darling ≠ Little Loved One
Tsamsiyu- Warrior
‘Eveng- Child
Thanks for reading
