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Tìtstew ⁴

Pairing: AgedUp! Neteyam x FemaleTayrangi! Reader

Summary: The forest has ears of its own, nothing ever truly staying as a secret as the wind carries voices away, but amidst feelings, Eywa provides unwanted help.

Disclaimer: English is not my first language, so there could be some errors in this. Neteyam and Kiri are 19. Reader and Lo’ak are 18. Tuk’s age is still the same as in the films. No mention of y/n or ___.

Warnings: Curses, a bit of verbal violence(?)

Word count: 4.9k!

Note: I struggled with this chapter a lot. I hope that you guys like it, we’re finally nearing the competition! I also want to mention that once I’m done with the series, I will rename it as ‘Courage’ :)

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Dictionary

tìtstew - brave, courage

tìmuntxa tìwäsul - mating competition (i made this up)

irayo - thank you

kurkung - asshole

vonvä - asshole, dickhead

skxawng - moron

sa'nok - mother

tsmuke - sister

mawey - calm

fnu - be quiet

olo’eyktan/olo’eykte - leader

olo’eyktenay - olo’eykte apprentice

A few moons later, the dreaded tìmuntxa tìwäsul arrived.

The clan was gathered near the shore, where the competition will be held, consisting of many challenges the hunters must go through in order to win.

Your friends and you have tried to sabotage the competition before it was held. Many attempts consisting on secretly damaging their weapons, trying to organize training and hunting shifts just at the time of the tìmuntxa tìwäsul, and even make a couple of hunters hurt themselves or get sick (not too much) so they couldn’t participate.

They were extreme measures, yes, but you were desperate.

And even with all your attempts, you haven’t succeeded to sabotage it.

Having no other plan, nor time to think about one, you decided to use your last resource.

Pray.

You slipped away from the shore, sneaking between trees and bushes through the forest. Steps quiet yet steady as you made your way to the sacred place of your people.

Stopping at the tree of souls, you kneeled down. A sigh escaped your lips, admiring the bioluminescent tree before taking your kuru to connect with it.

“Ma'Eywa, please hear my prayers…”

You sat there for a while, praying for something, anything, to happen to postpone that absurd competition or even better, to cancel it.

A sound then came. Your ears twitched. Eyes shot open. Cautiously, you disconnected from the tree, taking your dagger from the side of your hip.

Shifting your position, your gaze scanned the area. Paying close attention to every sound, every little shift in your surroundings.

A bush moved. Your gaze shot to it. Grip tightening over your dagger, ready to attack if necessary.

But what came out of it made you sigh. It was Swi’taw.

Your shoulders relaxed visibility. Dagger going back to its sheath as you stood up.

“You scared me, skxawng” you huffed, now taking into his exalted form.

Swi’taw panted softly, taking a moment to recover before speaking. “It was postponed” he stated.

Blinking a couple of times, you took a couple of steps towards him. Ears twitching subtly in interest. “It was postponed?” a hint of disbelief adorned your voice. It was too good to be true.

But Swi’taw nodded, straightening as he exhaled. “Yes, it was postponed. Toruk Makto arrived with a group of omatikayas.”

With mouth slightly agape, you turned to look at the tree of souls. A little breathy laugh of disbelief leaving your lips, growing slowly but hopeful.

“Irayo, Great Mother!” you shouted. Ululating in excitement. “Irayo!”

Eywa heard your prayers extremely quick. That was efficiency.

Turning back to your friend, you asked “How long was it postponed?”

“I am not sure, maybe a couple of hours, maybe until tomorrow” a shrug accompanied his words.

Yet even the uncertainty filled your body with hope. It didn’t mattered that it was a few minutes, you still had time.

“Then we must act quick. Think of another plan” you stated determined.

Swi'taw sighed. “Is it worth it? All of our plans have failed, at this point the only way to success is to get sick half of the clan—“ he paused, realizing his words as he saw your smile grow. “No. We are not going to do that” he stated, narrowing his eyes.

Huffing, your shoulders slumped a bit. “Fine. We need to think of something else, we have no time to waste.”

“Do you really want to? I do not think any plan we have will work” he shifted from feet to feet, his tail twitching behind him while he rubbed his arm.

“Yes, I do! Since when you are so pessimistic? Come!” giving him no time, you quickly made you way back home, leaving the young man standing there.

With a sigh, Swi'taw reluctantly followed you.

Trees passed by. Blurry patches barely making into your vision as you skipped over branches, wind plastering your face. While your friend hurried to keep your pace.

Once reaching the reef, you rushed through everyone to look for Zin'ara. Every second counted, so you had no time to care that now everyone was looking at you oddly.

After a while, you finally spotted her. Making your way between the people, you muttered a few “sorry” and “excuse me” here and there.

But as soon as you were about to reach your friend, a body stopped in front of you, making you halt to a stop abruptly. Swi’taw ended up bumping against your back, making you stumble and finally look up.

Your mother.

“Ah, sa'nok—“

“Where were you?” she questioned. Eyes narrowed while scanning your figure.

“I was at the tree of souls, you know, praying for the hunters that will go through that stupid competition” you sassed, your sarcasm not lost to her.

Sighing, Ikeyni took a moment to take a deep breath, her gaze shifting to Swi'taw, searching. He nodded a bit too quick, but she finally accepted that at least you were indeed praying to Eywa.

“Well, I think you will be happy to know the tìmuntxa tìwäsul was delayed until tomorrow. Toruk Makto came to continue with our talks” she announced to you.

Hearing it officially from her broke a grin on your lips, too satisfied and happy with the situation.

“Which means you have to be there too, 'ite” your mother added a second later.

Gone was the grin on your face.

Clicking your tongue, you frowned at her. “But why do I—“

“You are olo’eyktenay. It is your duty” the woman stated, giving you a pointed glare.

Huffing, your shoulders tensed. Your mother was right, despite how much you hated it right now.

“…Fine” you agreed reluctantly.

Ikeyni looked at you for a moment, then her gaze softened a bit. “We will be waiting for you at the blue tower.”

Nodding, you saw her walk away. Once she was out of sight, you tried to spot Zin’ara again, hissing lowly in frustration when you realized she was gone.

Turning to Swi’taw, you gripped at his shoulders, looking at him seriously. “Okay, this changes plans. Go find Zin’ara, make a distraction so I can slip away from the reunion to reunite with you, then we will think what to do.”

Sighing, he nodded, albeit not completely sure about it. “Alright, I will go find her.”

“I count with you” you gave him a little smile before rushing away to meet with your mother and the council.

Swi’taw saw as you disappeared into the sea of people, shoulders slumping as he looked around, looking for their friend.

“I don’t have a good feeling about this…” he muttered to himself.

At first, you didn’t noticed the siblings. You rushed to greet the group of both clans. “Oel ngati kameie” words noticiable less mean as the last time you have seen the omatikayas— or anyone really, but still born of duty.

You didn’t even payed attention to what they were talking about. Something about the pulley system, you concluded. It was quite obvious, but still, you found yourself not caring enough about it at the moment.

You were impatient.

Neteyam quickly noticed this, giving you one glance at your way. Your tail was swinging behind you, not in anger, but waiting. Your gaze was not with the elders either, it was searching around, trying to be subtle but failing at it.

Not that you cared about it though.

After a moment, you felt a gaze on you, so you turned your head, gaze meeting his. Your face fell to mirror his. One of practiced neutrality, that betrayed nothing past it. But after he didn’t looked away, you eyes narrowed. Ears twitching lightly in irritation.

But your little gaze battle was interrupted when a commotion was heard not so far from the tower.

Everyone turned around to see what it was about. Looking past Neteyam, there it lay a hut that had fallen down. The elders along your parents quickly noticed it was the one the weavers used to do their tasks. And this, trapping a couple of them under it before they could have escape.

“I am sorry, Jakesuli, we have to take care of this” your father quickly excused the sudden commotion.

Jake shook his head. “No, don’t worry, if we can, we would like to help” offered instead.

After a quick nod, both omatikayas and tayrangis rushed to the fallen hut. The brothers were quickly to follow their father, while you stayed a second longer on your place, looking around for your friends.

Neteyam, of course, noticed this, he slowed down, pausing for a moment to look back at you, narrowing eyes in suspicion.

But you looked past his frame, ignoring him. Then your eyes flicked up, finally noticing your friends hiding behind a bush. They gave you a quick wave before they ventured deeper into the forest, not wanting to get caught.

It was then that you finally moved, quickly walking past Neteyam as you approached the fallen hut. You helped to move a few of the fallen hut woven pieces, setting them aside.

You were worried for the people that got caught, but this was the distraction you needed to slip away. Giving a last glance to the people that were now getting out thanks to your parents and the omatikayas, you turned to the forest, silent but quick making your way into it, not noticing someone looking at you from the corner of their eye.

When you were far enough, you straightened, letting out a sigh as you looked around, seeing your friends waving at you and calling your name.

With shoulders slightly tense and tail swinging behind, you quickly approached them. “When I told you to do a distraction, I did not think it would have been that” a little frown appeared in your face.

“It was her, not me” Swi’taw hissed lowly, turning to point Zin’ara accusingly, as tense— if not more than you.

“Sorry, I know I went a bit too far, but we had no better idea for a distraction” she admitted, ears flattening at the sides of her head with a guilty look.

“Still, someone could have gotten really hurt!” it was now your turn to hiss at her. “I appreciate that you did gave me time to escape but—“

“It was your doing” a voice cut you off.

The three of you turned quickly, seeing Neteyam standing a few steps away from you. His sudden appearance made your frown deepen.

With his tail swinging behind him, his sharp gaze cut through all three of you, finally landing on you before narrowing it. Hands bailing into fists in an attempt to restrain his emotions from overflow him.

“That was dangerous, the people inside the could have been seriously injured” he reprimanded. If there was something Neteyam didn’t appreciated was to put other people at risk for selfish reasons. “From all the things, you needed to put others at risk. Was that worth it?” he took a step closer.

You hissed, frown deepening even more— if that was even possible. “I did not tell them to do that, if you are going to blame me, do it for the right reason” you spat.

Neteyam opened his mouth to talk, but you beat him to it. “We will take responsibility for it later, now we have other things to take care of” with a final hiss, you turned back to your friends.

“Wait, we—?“ Swi’taw looked at you with a frown, narrowing his eyes.

“Move” you hissed, cutting him off before pushing both of your friends ahead.

They walked ahead of you, leaving Neteyam standing alone with a final glance from Swi’taw.

The omatikaya took a deep breath, closing his eyes.

In, and out. Count to seven.

After he calmed down, he looked back to the way he came from. Jaw tightening as he debated with himself between going back or to follow you and your friends.

Finally, he sighed, making his decision and turning back instead of following. There would be time to figure out what you were up to later, now he had to help with the fallen hut.

Just as his figure disappeared between trees, a new frame emerged from them. Similar. Four fingers instead of three. Cautiously looking back briefly to be sure that nobody saw him.

Lo’ak, unlike his brother, has been always the one to follow his curiosity, even if it often gets him in trouble.

But someone had to figure out what will you plan next. He have heard just as much of your conversation as his brother did, and though he too have been surprised and a maybe a bit too annoyed at what happened, he was not the one to jump into conclusions.

There was something else, he felt. There had to be. He had noticed the irritation in your voice when talking to your friend and the way you had reassured Neteyam you will be taking blame on what happened at the shore too quickly.

So he followed.

Even knowing it was wrong. He shouldn’t be listening into someone else’s conversation, even less following them.

But if he didn’t, who else would do it?

“We have to think a plan quick and an excuse before the omatikaya accuses us” you stopped when you were far enough.

Both of your friends turned to look at you, Swi’taw sighing while pinching his nose bridge, while Zin’ara crossed her arms.

“Any ideas?” you give the girl a pointed look, tone a bit sassy.

Huffing softly, her tail swung behind her, but she remained quiet.

The three of you tried to think about an idea, but you have tried pretty much everything to this point, you had little options to try.

Swi’taw then spoke a bit hesitant. “What if you disappear for a little while?”

“That will only delay the completion, not stop it” you sighed.

“Challenge your mother?”

“I tried, she just brushes me off.”

“And the elders?” Zin’ara proposed.

You thought about it for a bit, but shook your head after considering it. “No, it can compromise my position as olo’eyktenay, is not secure just because my parents are leaders to our clan.”

Swi’taw and Zin’ara looked at each other. You had a point, they couldn’t deny it, but with no ideas left, there was only one thing you could do.

“Then… why we don’t let the competition happen? I mean, is not like you have to actually choose the winner, your mother chose your father and he did not participated” Swi’taw spoke, words careful, knowing they will get a raise from you. Unaware of a pairs of golden eyes watching not so far from a behind a bush.

A frown etched your face, tail now swinging wildly behind you. “But my father was already courting my mother before the competition and it is why she got away with it!” you exclaimed. “I have no one courting me, I do not even like someone like that!”

It was frustrating. No matter what you do. No matter which path you take, it all seems to lead you in the same direction.

Was it really the path Eywa had planned for you? But then, why hear your prayers earlier?

Maybe she was just playing with you, laughing at how fool you were to even hope you could change things.

“But you can still refuse” Zin’ara uncrossed her arms, reaching a hand to your arm, but you stepped back.

A bitter, humorless chuckle slipped from your lips. Breaths coming uneven unconsciously. “Do you think I have choice to refuse?”

A silence settled. Heavy. Tense. Thick of emotions that laid in the deepest of your heart.

“I mean… is not like our people is known for following rules” Swi’taw tried to lighten up the atmosphere.

“You do not understand!” you hissed, voice lacking patience. “The elders have the last word, no matter what I say, no matter what my father says, is not my choice.”

“And for all I know, I could end with a vonvä like Ka'yil, so please,” you looked at both of them, eyes searching, full with desperation.

“Please help me plan something, I—”

You took a sharp, deep breath, ears flattening against the sides of your head, letting your vulnerable side to come out. A side only them and your father get to see from you.

To let them see how scared you were at the situation too, not only your frustration and anger at the whole ordeal.

“I am not ready…” your voice lowered, tail falling limp behind.

“Sister…” their expressions softened a bit.

Zin’ara reached for your arm again, slowly, a bit hesitant, but this time you didn’t backed away from her touch. She took a step closer, hand moving down to take yours in her hold, while Swi’taw stepped closer as well, looking conflicted.

You never spoke openly about your fears, always putting a tough facade, to show your people you were strong. But this was the one thing you couldn’t pretend to be tough for.

Looking at each other, your friends tried to figure out what to do. Your distress was not something they brushed off easily.

With a sigh, Swi’taw place a hand on your shoulder, looking a bit unsure as he tried to find some words to this situation.

“We… maybe we can figure out something…”

A pair of golden eyes spied on them through the bushes as they tried to figure out a plan that they have yet not used, brainstorming once more.

Lo’ak was conflicted. He knew it was bad that he was spying them, but he couldn’t make himself feel all guilty either.

Now he understood you a bit better, seeing a totally vulnerable side of you that was a stark contrast of the mean girl that have been rude to him and his brother on their first visit, but that didn’t mean that your fears and frustrations justified your actions.

He, better than anyone, knew it.

His ears flickered inward, trying to catch every single detail of your conversation with your friends.

That was a little mistake, as he didn’t paid attention enough to his surroundings to hear quiet steps behind him. A hand quickly startling, making him turn by his shoulders and great the scowl of his older brother.

“What are you doing?” he whisper-yelled at him.

Neteyam haven’t took long to notice Lo’ak was gone when he returned to keep helping with the fallen hut. His gaze darted along the shore, shoulders tensing further when his father asked for his little brother whereabouts. Bitting the inside of his cheek, he quickly returned to the forest, tail lashing behind him in quiet frustration.

“…Observing” the youngest whispered quietly, gaze darting back to the little group.

Following his gaze, the oldest narrowing his eyes before focusing back on Lo’ak.

“Skxawng,” he hissed quietly. “This is wrong, you should not be here.”

Lo’ak bite the inside of his cheek at the scolding. He already knew that, if that wasn’t obvious.

“I know, but they are planning something—“

“Yes, I am aware. It still does not make this right either” words cut a bit too firm.

Neteyam then took a deep breath, taking a second to get a grip of his emotions. “We have to go” taking the right arm of his brother, he began to tug him quietly away from there.

“Bro, wait- I need to tell you something.”

“You can tell me back at the shore” he didn’t stop tugging him by the arm, but a voice make them freeze into place.

“Who is there?” your voice carried through the air in a clipped tone.

The brothers haven’t been as quiet as they thought. The wind carried their voices, quietly, but they were still there, and your instincts sharp as ever, have caught them, even if barely.

A silence filled the air, too tense as your friends sharpened their gazes, looking around to find the person they haven’t been aware was listening to them.

Neteyam cursed mentally, eyes sharpening too as his crouched form lowered a bit more towards the ground, pulling Lo’ak to do the same.

“…Are you sure you heard something?” Zin’ara questioned, not brushing away the possibility, but after a moment of silence, she began to doubt.

“Yes, I heard voices.”

Swi’taw looked past some trees, finally getting a glimpse of two blue figures crouching behind some bushes.

He frowned, eyes narrowing as he finally recognized who they were.

The sons of Toruk Makto.

Annoyance seeped through his chest first, followed by a sense of disbelief, as he haven’t thought they would be capable to follow them an eavesdrop into their conversation.

He wouldn’t have mind too much if it the conversation was them just brainstorming ideas to stop the competition, but he didn’t appreciate that they have listened into you being openly vulnerable, knowing how much you struggled to talk about your feelings.

Feeling conflicted, he wasn’t sure if he should call them out or cover for them, knowing that you would be furious if you saw them of all people spying into you.

But then his gaze meet Neteyam’s, both sharp, but through the bushes he could notice a glint of guilt, despite him not being really the one to eavesdrop into your conversation.

Taking a little breath, he bite the inside of his cheek, hesitating for a moment before finally speaking.

“…Maybe it was just an animal” looking back at you, he tried to hide his own guilt from showing into his eyes, which he wasn’t really good at.

You looked at your friend, gaze narrowing as you saw the little hint of guilt that pulled into his lips, pushing them together in a way you perfectly knew he only did when hiding something.

“Animals grunt, they do not speak our words.”

Swi’taw tried to not look away, but your intently gaze was unnerving him. He knew you probably caught that he was hiding something.

His nerves finally betrayed him, ears pulling back ever so slightly as he looked away.

“You saw something” it was not a question, and for the way his shoulders tensed, your friend knew as well.

The silence that followed your words was all you needed as an answer. Hissing lowly, your gaze strayed from his, sharp eyes taking a moment to carefully look around again.

It was then that you spot something suspicious past some trees, hiding in the bushes.

Taking a step back from your friends, your tail moved carefully behind you, gaze focusing on two blurs of blue.

“Show yourselves, I know you are watching us” you hissed, steps growing closer to the figures hiding.

Feeling pressured by her steps coming closer, Lo’ak slowly stood up, brushing the grip of his brother and revealing himself.

Neteyam clenched his jaw, nostrils flaring quietly in frustration before he followed him, ears twitching slightly as his gaze met yours.

A hiss left your lips, loud, angry and filed with many emotions at the moment. Of course it had to be them, who else if not them?

“You followed us and brought your skxawng of a brother with you!” you accused the older brother, scowl making an appearance in your face as your tail lashed behind you.

Shaking his head, Neteyam brought his hands up, as if trying to calm you while he tried to explain. “No, I did not follow, I know this looks wrong but I just—“

Not wanting to hear his excuses, you cut him sharply. “Do not lie to me, kurkung.” Then you turned to Swi’taw, who flinched ever so slightly as your gaze fell on him, quietly bracing himself for your wrath. “Why did you cover for them!?” he was not getting off the hook either, his previous actions only upsetting you further.

“I- they looked guilty and—“ you cut him too with a hiss, ears flattening at the sides of your head.

“Guilty? Do you think they feel guilty for spying us!?”

Turning back to the brothers, you analysed his expressions for just a second, noticing how the older was clearly frustrated that you didn’t let him explain himself and barely seeing the way the ears of the younger flattened a bit.

“I see no guilt in their faces” you spat.

Neteyam took a deep breath, counting to seven before he dared to speak again. “Look, it was not our intention to—“

“Not your intention?” A humourless laugh cut him once more. “You think I am a fool who—“

“My brother is not at fault,” this time Lo’ak cut you off, making you redirect your heated gaze to him. “I am.”

Your gaze narrowed, thinking for a moment that he was just trying to cover for his brother. “Explain.”

With a sigh, his shoulders slumped a bit. “I noticed when you snuck away back the shore, it looked suspicious, so I followed before my brother did, I heard everything, how it was your friend who planned the fall of the hut-“ he looked briefly to Zin’ara behind you. “And when my brother accused you instead.”

Neteyam looked at him intently, tail flicking down at the admission, feeling a little bad that he had blame the wrong person.

“He truly went back to the shore after you guys left, I was the one who followed you, he only came looking for me because I was gone” he insisted, taking a step forward. “I know it was wrong of me to spy on you, I am sorry.”

With a sigh, the eldest apologized too. “I am sorry too, I should have not accused you based on what I barely heard.”

“An apology does nothing” you hissed, gaze hardening when it landed once more at Neteyam.

“I am sorry too—“

“Shut up” you cut Swi’taw without second thought, making Zin’ara snort softly. “It is not funny tsmuke.”

“It is not, sorry” she gave a half-hearted apology.

“…I know apologizing is not enough for spying on you,” Lo’ak caught you attention once more. “So let me make it up to you.”

“Lo’ak” Neteyam called his name, a clear warning as he took his shoulder, a silent plea for him to stop before he did something he will regret later.

But of course, Lo’ak being Lo’ak, he ignored his brother. “You need help about that competition, right? Let me help.”

“No” the rejection was immediate, not even stopping to think about it for a second. “You know nothing about tìmuntxa tìwäsul, you will be no help.”

It was the truth. He knew nothing about the competition, the only thing he knew was the elders had the last decision if you were to deny the winner, but that was only because he eavesdropped.

Unfortunately, Swi’taw always being the sweet soul, he intervened. “Maybe there is a way he can help, he run out of ideas—“

“No” you repeated, hissing at him as you turned. “How can he help? He knows nothing about the competition nor our ways, he is an outsider and a child.”

Lo’ak narrowed his gaze. “I am not a child, I am one of the people, a hunter.”

“You do not act like it, and I see no vest” you bite out.

“Mawey—“

“Fnu Swi’taw, I do not want to hear more of you siding with them.”

Lo’ak bite the inside of his cheek, swallowing back the words that threatened to spill out. He knew better than to reply back in a rude way that you were acting like a child too.

“But maybe he can actually help, he looks at things in a different way we do, maybe that is what we need” your friend tried again. “See it this way, what we have no tried yet?”

The suggestion was clear, there was only one thing you haven’t tried yet, and that was because it would have look too obvious if one of your friends did it.

But it wouldn’t be if someone you have publicly called a child did it instead.

“Swi’taw” you warned.

“Maybe you can participate at tìmuntxa tìwäsul for us” he ignored your warning, looking at the young brother.

That, of course, made Neteyam frown. “What?”

“He is a child, that is stupid” you came closer to your friend, swatting his arm without restrain. “Our hunters train for many moons for the competition, he would not even pass the first duel—“

“I will do it.”

All gazes fell on Lo’ak, yours unimpressed while Neteyam seemed like he was about to strangle his little brother.

“What are you doing?” taking his arm, Neteyam reprimanded him with a look, voice lowering into a hiss.

“Why would you even want to participate? You are an unprepared child, that will only embarrass you in front our clan” you huffed.

“I am a capable hunter and you need help, let this be my way to make up for my actions.”

Turning your body, you took a couple of steps towards him.

“Tìmuntxa tìwäsul is not a game” you firmly stated.

Lo’ak smirked. “Good, I am not planning to play.”

Neteyam groaned at his brother, thinking it was too reckless to play into a competition just to try to make up for his actions, knowing very well he could have found another way to help and make up for spying.

But tired of being in the constant shadow of his father and brother, Lo’ak found a way to prove everyone he was not a child anymore.

Lo’ak, what did you get yourself into?

Neteyam was sure the vein on his forehead was going to explode.

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dewylewis44

NETEYAM CHARACTER ANALYSIS

Summary: little breaking down of Neteyam’s personality in ATWOW.

A/n: This is my personal analysis based strictly on what we see in the movie. I’m trying to stay as canon as possible, I’ll try to put images and contexts from the movie too.

This is not an aged-up version, not a fanon rewrite. It’s just how i genuinely perceive Neteyam as a character. If you have different interpretations, that’s totally fine, feel free to share them I’m all ears !!

Wc: 1k

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Okay so, to me Neteyam is a character that’s often simplified in fandoms, he’s usually reduced to one trait being the “serious older sibling”, but when you actually pay attention to him in the movie, there’s a lot more going on beneath the surface. His personality is subtle and mostly shown through “background” moments rather than dialogues, cause he’s in fact not the most talkative fella.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~From the beginning of the movie, you can tell that he models himself after jake. Not because he naturally is like him, but because he thinks that’s what he’s supposed to be. He copies his posture like when the sully’s arrived in the metkayina’s clan.

(okay but his pose fries meeee)

Anyway, he wants to be reliable, composed and most importantly MATURE. He wants to be the son his father can trust without questions.

And that pressure shapes everything about him. And I think, since his dad was toruk makto, neteyam feels like he has to live up to that and I know for sure there were moments when he was genuinely scared he wouldn’t measure up. He would doubt himself a lot, and he would hide it well.

He would probably wants neytiri to see him as fully na’vi, like one them. With his dad being human and loak and kiri having human blood too, he might feel like he has something to prove. That he’s different, that he belongs here completely.

He wants to show her that he’s capable and not just following his dad’s footsteps or riding on his family name. He wants her approval.

He’s responsible, and protective, yes. But that responsibility isn’t effortless. hear me out, it’s PERFORMED.

You can see him constantly checking himself, holding back reactions, swallowing comments. For example the scene where he fought with aonung and roxto etc, he didn’t want to fight not because he didn’t want to. But because it would make troubles to his family.

But the movie also shows us that the “perfect warrior son” images can cracks really easily.

Like this is the same guy who literally goes “ow, ow ow” when his wound are being cleaned, like he’s not afraid to complain.

He feels pain, and he doesn’t hide it, this dude complains like a normal teenager would.

Also he is expressive, just not loudly, as I said he’s not really talkative compared to loak.

He mostly communicates a lot through his face, the side eyes, the looks, the silent judgement lol.

Vid from ka5eaa on tt

He is constantly giving people looks like “did you really just do that?”

Anyway this point brings me to his humor.

People act like neteyam has no sense of humor, but that’s just so wrong.

His humor is dry, teasing, and sarcastic. And mostly reserved for people he’s close to. He’s not the type to joke around with strangers. He’s cautious and polite. But with his siblings and friends OOOH HE TEASES A LOT.

(Im sure he’s super annoying when he’s comfortable + vid from neteyaaam on tt)

He’s absolutely the kind of guy who makes quiet comments under his breath, or smirks when someone messes up, then he pretends he didn’t laugh, his teasing isn’t mean but shows his closeness to the person he’s facing.

You can see it in the way he reacts to loak. He gets annoyed but it’s not hatred or coldness, it’s mostly frustration mixed with care he’s always looking out for him and stepping in, trying to keep things under control even when it’s not his responsibility to do so.

Anyway, another important part, neteyam still wants to be a “kid”.

You can see it in the small moments when he relaxes, when he’s being with his loved one, that’s when his tension drops and can allows himself to enjoy things.

Also he’s curious and competitive in a quiet way, he clearly enjoys proving himself but not to dominate others, but to reassure himself that he’s doing “good enough”

Another thing, he is emotionally intelligent.

He reads the room well, he notices shifts in the mood, and adapts his behavior depending on who he’s with. He knows when to step back and when to step in.

Hes also sensitive but not in a weak way. He cares deeply and that’s exactly why he restrains himself so much, because if he didn’t, it would overwhelm him.

Little headcanon, but I’m sure neteyam is a bit picky with food, he clearly doesn’t love some stuff but still eat it because, well.. there’s nothing else.

I’m sure that when he joined the metkayina he ate seaweed and didn’t liked it at all but still ate because he wanted to fit in, and doesn’t want to be disrespectful, so he adapts with no comments or a grossed out face.

It actually says a lot about him, he puts his personal preferences aside to respect another clan and their ways of living

Neteyam also seems to comes off as more of an introvert, or at least introvert-leaning. He’s not loud and outgoing, he is way more comfortable in observing than talking. Like he speaks when it matters not just to fill a silence.

He can handle being in charge or around people, but you can tell it’s not what gives him energy. But of course with the people he trust, he relaxes more and crack some jokes a little, and show genuine warmth. But yeah overall with strangers, he just stays polite and reserved.

Fun fact. For the na’vi, getting your ikran isn’t just learning how to fly, it’s basically a rite of passage. Like once you pass iknimaya (which is the test) and bond with an ikran you’re immediately seen as more mature. Cause na’vi don’t grow up the same way as humans do. They live longer than us and most of them hit maturity earlier. Yeah ball knowledge lol.

And I saw somewhere that Neteyam got his ikran on the first try, while loak needed two tries. It lowkey shows how Neteyam was already fitting into that responsible and ready guy role.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Okay, I think that’s about it? I kinda got lost halfway through my own brain but yeah that’s basically neteyam. Lmk if you actually liked it or if I just rambled like a nerd hahaha 😥

For the occasion here’s silly pics of him I found HILARIOUS.

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