Asterism (Human!Neteyam x Human!Female!Original Character) —Multi-chapter
Summary: He stared at his hands as they hovered in front of his face, tremors running up and down his fingers. His five fingers, not four. And deep brown skin, not blue.
When Neteyam dies, instead of ending up in Eywa’s promised paradise, he wakes up on an apocalyptic earth, with a strange human girl as his only hope for survival.
(b•h)/2 (Neteyam x Avatar!Female!Reader x Ao’nung) —One-shot
Summary: Every since you were gifted with an avatar body, two of your friends have been acting really weird.
Sparkles (Ao’nung x Human!Female!Reader) —Multi-chapter
Summary: You work as maintenance at base 36, a testing facility used for unethical experiments on captured local Na’vi. One day when the base’s power supply melts down and explodes, you’re caught in the flaming crossfire. In a split second decision, you also decide to free the panicking Na’vi in his glass cell.
Avatar Highschool Stereotypes AU —Headcannons
G.O.A.T. Avatar Fic Recs —Annotated List
To the Moon and Back (Platonic!Sully Kids x Human!Female!Reader) —Prompt/Long drabble
Summary: What if the Sully kids were captured instead of Spider?
Writing Challenges:
If you wrote a book where the first and last sentence were the same, but had different meanings, what would they be?
Summary: What if the Sully kids were captured instead of Spider? (A long drabble/short prompt?)
ZERO: THE ADDITION
"No!" Neteyam pounded against the glass, gritting his teeth. "Let us out!" When no one answered he growled, throwing himself against the wall. Expectedly, it didn't budge.
"Neteyam, stop it," Kiri wrapped a slender hand around his forearm, pulling him to face her. "You're scaring Tuk."
His eyes softened as they landed on his youngest sister, murmuring out a gentle 'sorry', before they hardened again as they landed on Lo'ak. His younger brother was silent as he sat curled in on himself, staring blankly at the wall with his head in his hands. Kiri couldn't stop him this time as he charged towards him, yanking him up forcefully by his necklace to sneer in his face. Lo'ak's eyes widened in shock.
"None of this would have happened if you had just used your fucking head!" He shouted, pupils dilated with aggression. "Are you happy now? We're all trapped here because of you!"
"Get off of me!" Lo'ak snarled, shoving harshly at his shoulders.
"Stop it!" Kiri cried, trying to step between them and coax them apart, but Neteyam refused to relinquish his hold or his glare.
"Cut it out," a foreign voice rang out in the white room, making them all pause. To their collective shock, the wall on the right lightened until it was completely transparent. The siblings warily huddled closer together as they saw two humans, a man and a woman, facing them on the other side of the window-like wall. Tuk wrapped her arms anxiously around Neteyam's waist.
The man clucked his tongue in annoyance, turning towards the woman. "See? This is why they should have been put in separate holding cells."
Neteyam felt Kiri's grip tighten on his bicep at their words.
"Would've been a waste of space," the woman huffed, quickly typing something on her laptop keyboard, before shutting it and giving them her full attention. Her stare was intense and very much unnerving.
"Where are we?" Surprisingly that had come from Lo'ak. His spine was rigid in an attempt at channeling their father's intimidating demeanor.
The man smirked, striding up closer to the glass barrier. "Far from home, kid. That's for sure."
"You can't keep us here," Kiri hissed, but Neteyam could feel her hands trembling against him. "Our clan will come for us and kill you all."
"That's what we're banking on," he chuckled, shoving his hands in his pockets as he whistled lowly. "We really lucked out with these ones, didn't we doc?"
Neteyam cursed under his breath. They were planning to use them as bait to lure his parents here. He needed to find a way to get in contact with them, but all of their communication devices had been taken away when they were thrown in here. Fuck.
"Don't entertain them," she snipped, giving him an unimpressed stare. "We're not here to play games. I actually have a job to do, if you haven't noticed."
"Trying to get rid of me already?" He put a hand over his chest, a mock wounded look downturning his lips.
"Yes," she replied bluntly.
"Come on," he jeered, waving his arm at them like they were some sort of freak show. "Don't tell me you want to be alone with the savages?"
Neteyam and Lo'ak bristled at the insult, baring their teeth. Tuk whimpered behind Neteyam's leg.
The woman glanced at them, wrinkling her nose in disgust as if she was instead looking at a giant, steaming pile of ikran dung. "Of course I don't, but I also don't want to be homeless," she gave him a pointed look, jutting her chin towards the exit. "Now, if you'll excuse me I have some work to do. Alone."
The man raised his hands in surrender. "Fine, fine," he chuckled, striding leisurely towards the door. He was almost there when he paused, turning around with a raised brow. "Coffee later?"
"Get out," she said flatly.
The door opened and closed, leaving the room blanketed in a tense silence. It was also then that she started behaving weirdly.
She began frantically shuffling through the objects on her desk, lifting papers and shifting around devices. After a few minutes of this, she seemed to come across what she was looking for: a small, round dark object about the size of her pinky nail—which she promptly threw on the ground and crushed under the heel of her boot. It made a small crunching sound as it succumbed to the pressure.
"Fucking Madden," she hissed under her breath.
After kicking away the debris, she lifted her gaze, staring at them contemplatively. She slowly approached the glass barrier, her features becoming more distinguishable the closer she got. The siblings tensed, not able to tell what she was going to do next.
"Believe it or not, I'm not here to hurt you," she said finally, her stare heavy and unwavering. "In fact, I'd say I'm your best ticket out of here."
Neteyam narrowed his eyes. He knew how the sky people were, heard stories of their greed and destructive nature and even witnessed it firsthand. She couldn't be doing this out of her own good will. Why would she risk her livelihood and possibly her life for them? "What do you want?" He growled. She had to be after something.
"Your names," she said simply.
"What?" They all reeled back in disbelief.
"Well, more specifically, I'd like to get to know more about you," she elaborated, the harsh look in her eyes softening into something that looked suspiciously like curiosity.
"Why are you doing this?" Kiri's voice wavered from beside Neteyam, staring warily down at the small woman. Well, small to them, at least.
For the first time, a genuine smile crossed the woman's face, taking them all by surprise. "Didn't your father ever tell you," she said, something unreadable twinkling in her eyes. "That Sullys stick together?"
*****
*Takes a deep breath*
—internal screaming—
Guys. I’ve been WANTING to read something like this for so long that my brain just vomited it out. This is just an idea I wanted to share cuz it wouldn’t leave me alone and won’t be continued at the moment.
PS: PLEASE WE NEED MORE FICS WHERE JAKE’S SIBLING(S) INTERACT WITH THE KIDS T_T
HOW HAVE YOU BEEN???? YOU BEEN GONE FOR YEARS! (Or what feels like years)
I’m great! Thanks for asking :)) how are you? I hope you’re doing well and taking care of yourself ❤️❤️
So happy to finally be posting part 2 of Sparkles! It’s been sitting in the drafts for awhile now. You know that feeling when you draw something and you feel like the proportions are slightly off but you can’t tell where? Yeah, that’s basically how I felt about this chapter for the longest time 😂 I eventually just had to scrap and rewrite most of it
Unfortunately, I’m still not consistently on tumblr. I’m pretty busy with a lot of other responsibilities that take priority over writing fanfics, no matter how much I enjoy them. Also, I want my writing to be more than halfway decent when I post it, not something I wrote sleep deprived at 3am 💀💀 Although the updates are pretty slow, know that I don’t plan on dropping any of my fics!
Thank you for reading my story :) I hope you enjoy what comes next as much as I enjoyed planning it out 😂 Get ready for some awkward bonding time between reader and Ao’nung 😉
oi, por favor, tome cuidado e bebahi, please take care and drink water. I hope it's better and know that I'll wait as long as it takes for an update. Just take care ♥️
Just 🥰❤️❤️ Thank you so much for your wonderful support and patience, this really made me smile :)) Sending all the love and hugs ☺️🤗 xoxo
did you hear that they are releasing a collectors edition that's full of deleted scenes from avatar????
AHHH HI LOVE :))
Sorry for the wait! My updating schedule is so sporadic 😭😭 and UMMM NO I DIDNT. EXCUSE ME FOR A SECOND WHILE I JUST— *immediately opens an Amazon tab* hehehe.
Thank you for the lovely ask 🥰❤️ it brings me so much joy to know that people enjoy my writing. My fics are usually born from too much time spent daydreaming at random moments of the day, so it’s flattering that others would want to read these ideas :))
Please enjoy the rest of your day/night! Take care ☺️❤️
Summary: You work as maintenance at base 36, a testing facility used for unethical experiments on captured local Na’vi. One day when the base’s power supply melts down and explodes, you’re caught in the flaming crossfire. In a split second decision, you also decide to free the panicking Na’vi in his glass cell.
Aged up!Aonung to 21 and reader is 20
Chapter 2: the giant blue alien in the room
You woke up to the pleasant feeling of burning agony, like you'd just skinny dipped in molten hot lava.
"G-guhhhh—" you choked out, fingers twitching and trembling against the floor as you struggled to gain some semblance of motor control. Tears burned your eyes and dripped down your cheeks. You writhed violently on your side as wave after wave of excruciating, searing pain washed over you.
Breathe, you told yourself. Just breathe through it, Y/n.
That was a lot more difficult than it sounded, especially when all you could hear was a continuous, tortured scream in your head. Your nails scraped at the cold concrete that did nothing to cool you down, trying to grasp onto something for support but only finding air between your fingers.
Never had you experienced anything so intense and all-consuming in your life. On a scale of 'Oh shit, that was a spicy cheeto' to 'Fuck I think my face is melting off', you were probably at a respectable 'I want to amputate all of my limbs and live in a freezer for the rest of my life'. Your vision dimmed and blurred as you fought to stay awake.
It was a strangled choking sound that broke you slightly out of your delirium. Your head turned slowly to see a giant blue body not too far from you, the skin on his right arm and leg raised in a pattern of angry looking blisters, but that wasn't what caught your attention. It was the frantic wheezing sounds he was making, grabbing desperately at his throat.
Somewhere in your foggy mind it occurred to you that oh yeah, that's right, his kind were not meant to breathe in your air.
Get up, Y/n, you chided yourself, squeezing your eyes shut. You need to do something.
With all of the strength you could muster, you rolled over, your vision nearly going white from the blinding pain. Slowly you staggered to your feet, pausing as a wave of nausea washed over you.
You blinked through your titling vision, eyes scanning the room for a possible solution. The only thing you could see were the supplies you had originally found, although some of them were admittedly pretty burnt now. Rebreather masks would be useless to him as well. Shit.
That left only one option. You had to figure out how to bring the native air from outside into the room.
Your eyes rose to the two, tiny windows in the room, located way higher than you could reach. You knew that every single window in base 36 was mandated to be bulletproof, so the chances of you being able to break it were thin, but—you had to try.
Staggering to your pile of supplies, you dropped to your knees, hands frantically combing through the items until they closed around the handle of the rifle you had discovered earlier. You quickly snatched a rebreather mask from the floor and secured it on your face. With a shuddering breath, you aimed the barrel at the right window, flicking off the safety and hastily pulling the trigger.
Bang.
The bullet ricocheted off of the surface, imbedding itself into the wall just over your shoulder. You inhaled sharply, turning to blink at it in shock. That was...way too close.
By now, the Na'vi had given up clawing at his throat. He laid sprawled across the floor, eyes wide and terror-filled as his chest rose and fell rapidly in short, convulsing breaths.
Damn, damn, damn. He couldn't take much more of this.
"Don't worry," you articulated the best you could, which was probably a barely understandable slur. "I won't—I won't let you die."
With renewed determination, you lifted the barrel to aim at the window again. You pulled the trigger.
Bang.
"Ah, fuck!" You cried, stumbling backwards. The bullet had grazed your burnt arm. Damn that stung like a motherfucker.
You grabbed the wound, clenching your jaw as you put pressure on it. Warm, thick blood escaped from between your fingers, trickling down your skin in rivulets.
"Okay," you breathed to yourself, supporting your injured arm with your other hand. Your whole body trembled from the pulsing pain. "You can do this, come on."
You pulled the trigger.
With a cry, you dropped the gun, clutching onto your arm in pain from the recoil.
The bullet imbedded itself in the window. You panted, watching with wide eyes as cracks began to quickly spread from the point of impact.
It shattered, pieces of glass exploding outwards and clattering onto the floor. You lowered your gaze, sighing in relief.
Your eyes flickered to the trembling form to your left. He was in terrible shape, but he hadn't passed out yet. He would survive.
You sunk carelessly to your knees, hands pressing into the floor as you struggled to catch your breath. Was it you, or was it getting suffocatingly humid in here?
Wait.
You took a deep, experimental breath, horrified to find that it didn't quite fill your lungs. Your hands quickly shot up to your mask, grasping blindly until you froze, cold realization washing over you as your thumb ran over a noticeable crack.
No, no, no. You couldn't possible be this much of an idiot.
Except you were.
You'd forgotten to properly check your own oxygen supply in your haste to make sure that the potentially homicidal alien didn't suffocate next to you. Now you were about to suffocate instead. Fantastic.
You dove back into the scattered pile of junk with desperation, your heart sinking as one by one, the rebreather masks turned up cracked or burnt. Completely unusable.
This can't be happening, you thought hysterically, a sob threatening to burst from your throat.
You could feel yourself getting lightheaded, your eyelids fluttering with the effort of staying open. It was at that moment when you finally spotted it lying on the floor, maybe a dozen or so steps away.
A completely intact mask.
Your eyes widened as you staggered forward, hand reaching out desperately. You took about two steps before your vision swam dangerously, your gaze titling quickly towards the ground.
You landed harshly on the concrete, you could tell by the way your teeth clacked and the hard jolt in your wrists, but you barely felt any pain. The only thing you could feel was the burning in your lungs and the thrumming wooziness in your head that was making everything spin.
Come on, you gritted your teeth, using the last of your strength to shimmy yourself forward, your mouth gaping open in rapid, heavy pants.
Come on....
Your vision darkened at the edges as your head collapsed against the floor, your body finally giving in to violent convulsions. You panted shallowly, your fingers twitching out to reach for something—someone.
The last thing you remembered was the feeling of your body floating steadily in the air, before relief quenched the unbearable burning in your lungs. You blinked blearily, the last of your energy drained as your eyes finally slid shut.
You dreamt of the ocean. Sea mist in your hair and salt water on your lips.
****
Sunlight shone through your lids, making you groan.
Your eyelids fluttered in irritation, before finally blinking open in defeat, giving up on the hope of getting any more sleep.
You were...not in your your room. Your eyes widened as you jolted upright in shock—or, well at least you tried to. An overwhelming throbbing pain across your chest, knees, right forearm and head knocked you flat on your back again, wheezing for air.
The second thing you noticed was the mask on your face, your breath fogging up the clear surface in small puffs. Why were you wearing a mask inside the base? What was going on?
The base collapsing in the fire. Saving the blue alien. Getting knocked unconscious by the explosion. Struggling to breathe—
Your breath shuddered as you brought your left hand up to grasp at your neck at the phantom feelings of suffocation, your fingers drifting upwards to skim the tender bruise at the back of your skull. Your heart hammered frantically in your chest.
Then, if you were here, that meant...
Your head slowly craned over to the other side of the room, a gasp leaving your throat at the sight of your new roommate slumped against the wall.
Now that you were no longer in survival mode, you could truly take in his incredible stature. It was exactly like the stories you'd been told, he had to be at least ten feet tall, if not a little more. Lucky for him though, the ceilings in the storage room were just barely high enough to accommodate him at his full height.
His skin was not the same shade of blue everywhere. You noticed that it was a lighter, sky blue color nearing the center of his body like his torso and his face, and a darker, marine blue color at the extremities. There also seemed to be a distinct stripe like pattern that you were pretty sure was natural for his species. The dark, tattoo-like markings all over his body were a different story of course. The swirling shapes and symbols extended down his biceps and climbed delicately up his neck, but seemed to be the most intricate around his left temple.
Large blue eyes suddenly snapped open, catching your stare with startling intensity. You almost scrambled backwards in a jolt of fear, but caught yourself at the last second, holding carefully still.
You didn't even dare to breathe as he narrowed his eyes at you, making no move to come closer. His right arm hung limply at his side, the blistered skin probably making it very painful to move it at all. Not that you were much better off.
If you were to take a guess, you probably had second degree burns scattered in patches across the front of your body. The only thing keeping the bile in your throat from rising any further was your immobility.
After a few tense moments his gaze flickered away, growing disinterested in your little staring competition. You felt the air escape from your lungs, your tense shoulders loosening in a discreet sigh of relief. Right, you probably didn't register as much of a threat when you were sprawled across the floor like a rag doll.
You turned your gaze back towards the ceiling, staring thoughtfully at the condensation on your mask as you contemplated your situation. The rations you'd found earlier were probably salvageable, being packed safely inside thick bags meant to withstand the elements of Pandora. As for water...well, you were just happy it rained often here. You'd have to find a way to capture the water from the tiny windows much too high for you to reach, but that was a problem for later you. As for now...
You closed your eyes, willing yourself to push up to a sitting position. Your eyes watered immediately at the intense burning pain. Okay, no, your pain tolerance wasn't that high. Gritting your teeth, you tried rolling over instead, the stretch of your skin making your jaw clench so hard you were surprised a tooth didn't crack under the pressure.
You were so concentrated on the movement that you didn't feel your stomach roiling tumultuously, or the warm bile climbing up your throat until it was too late. As you pushed yourself up on a shaky arm, your eyes widened as you felt your body violently expel your last meal. You shoved off your mask in the nick of time, turning your head to the side as gunk splattered on the floor next to you in an acrid, chunky pile.
You wiped your face with your good arm, spitting out the residue in your mouth with a grimace. Gross.
The Na'vi was eyeing you in disgust, and you were pretty sure that he would've moved away if he wasn't already sitting as far as he possibly could from you. You returned your own glare. Well, if it weren't for you, he'd currently be an extra crispy dino-sized potato chip, so he shouldn't be complaining about vomit.
Readjusting your mask, you glanced carefully around the room, your gaze sharpening on a first aid kit poking out of a ration bag. Well, patching yourself up was priority number one. You were not looking to deal with an infection on top of second degree burns.
You hissed a breath through your teeth, pushing yourself up on your elbows. Your arms shook from the strain, tears welling up in your eyes and streaming down your cheeks.
Twenty feet felt like two miles, and by the time you'd managed to drag yourself across the floor, you were pretty sure forty-five minutes had passed. The whole time, you felt a piercing stare burning into your back. You ignored it, not having the energy for another useless stare down.
Coughing wetly, you grabbed the duffel bag with trembling fingers, pulling it closer to you. It took you a few tries to pull the zipper open, but you finally managed the motion on the fourth try, freeing the white box of medical supplies from its confines.
You undid the clasps, flipping it open carefully. Bandaids, gauze, plasters, soap, alcohol wipes, sterile gloves, tweezers, antibiotic ointment, scissors, needle and thread. Perfect.
Carefully scooting yourself to a seated position and wincing at every tiny agonizing motion, you pulled on the latex gloves with a snap. A muted snarl broke you out of your concentration, making you pause.
Your alien roommate was not a happy camper, judging by his curled upper lip that exposed his giant, bat-like fangs. Okay, that was definitely not good. Those things could probably bite your leg clean off if you weren't careful.
The rumors you heard about his species still very much freaked you out, if you were being honest.
"Hey," you said lowly, raising your gloved hands. You flinched as his snarl grew more intense, eyeing the unnatural blue color on your skin in evident distrust.
Jesus Christ, you'd really done it now, hadn't you? Why couldn't you have just acted like a normal human being with self preservation instincts and only saved yourself? Now you had to deal with...whatever the hell this headache was.
"They're gloves," you emphasized helplessly, knowing that he couldn't understand you but still trying to convey meaning through your tone. "They're harmless, see?" You brought your hands down to pat your shoulders, hiding a wince at the movement. You put on your most convincing (although slightly strained), harmless smile for extra effect. A rogue muscle jumped under your eye.
His glare didn't relent but the hard line of his scowl relaxed a little. Okay rude, what did he even think you were capable of doing in this sorry ass state? Plus, if you wanted him dead you would have just let him be.
Struggling not to roll your eyes, you pointed at one of the nastier burns on your chest, where your shirt was torn to shreds and practically fusing with the reddened, bloody skin. "I'm hurt," you exaggerated the word, widening your eyes meaningfully and frowning. "This will help me heal." You pointed at the contents of the first aid kit, before pointing back at your wound with a raised brow.
The Na'vi snorted at your slowed tone, rolling his shoulder in dismissal before occupying himself with something on a distant wall.
Annoyance surged through you, but it was brief and you let it go quickly with a sigh. Whatever, it was a good thing his suffocating attention was off of you now.
He never turned his back to you though, you noticed. Even now, you could tell he was still keeping tabs on you by the tension in his shoulders.
Well, maybe it was better that he still saw you as somewhat of a threat.
Focusing back on the task at hand, you grabbed a water bottle, soap solution and some gauze, bracing yourself for how much this was going to make you want to shit yourself. And you were pretty sure that the Na'vi would muster up the last of his strength and kill you himself if that actually happened, judging by his utter disgust and displeasure at your vomit.
Wetting a piece of gauze with water and soap, you brought it gingerly to the skin over your collarbone. Striking pain erupted at the point of contact, your jaw flexing to keep in any sounds.
Patting the gauze lower, you couldn't help but screech at the utter agony of it connecting with your open wound. Fuckity fuck fuck, that hurt like bitch on steroids.
When you blinked away the confetti in your vision, you caught the Na'vi's alarmed gaze, the space where his eyebrows should have been now furrowed and pointed ears pricked up and facing you.
"Take a picture, it'll last longer," you muttered under your breath, before gritting your teeth as you forced your trembling hands to press the gauze pad over the rest of your wound. It took awhile and several rolls, but now every wound was cleaned, dressed, and if needed—stitched. Your head still throbbed uncontrollably in what was most definitely a nasty concussion, but you couldn't really ice it like you wanted to. By the time you were done, the sun had already started to set in the sky.
Your stomach rumbled in protest, and you grimaced. The intense pain had made you forget that you unfortunately needed sustenance to survive.
Time to take stock of your supply.
You dug through the duffle bag on your side, pulling out MRE kits and other field rations. You also found some plastic utensils and more water bottles and filters. Some of them were weirdly misshaped though, probably warped from the heat of the explosion.
You discarded those ones to the side with a frown. What a waste.
Ripping open an MRE pack, you mourned your microwave as you took a bite of room temperature tortellini. You just hoped that those in charge of the outer ring of base 36 came to your rescue sooner rather than later.
The rapidly familiarizing feeling of a piercing stare on you caused you to look up, your gaze locking onto narrowed baby blues. But they looked more curious than distrustful, this time.
You held up your meal pack, gesturing at him. "You want some?" You shook it in his direction meaningfully. "It's good." Lie, but he didn't need to know that.
Like most other living creatures, you were 99% sure he needed to eat to stay alive. And as far as you knew, he'd eaten nothing since you were both trapped. As long as he didn't try to eat you, you didn't mind sharing your rations. There was still quite a lot left, and you were pretty hopeful sure your fellow humans would have paid you a visit before you inevitably ran out.
His eyes widened minutely at the package, and you could see the barest predatory flash in his widening pupils, before he huffed, shooting you a disgusted look.
Your raised hand lowered as you gave him a deadpanned look. What a brat. Whatever, you shrugged, taking a quick breath as you lifted your mask. More for you then.
It was not even thirty minutes later that you realized your second dilemma.
That being, you had to tinkle. Real bad.
Goddamnit, this was embarrassing. You chanced a grimacing look at your companion, who was once again busy staring at a wall, but one ear was still turned towards you. No matter how weird this situation was, you had no desire to contribute to that factor by getting naked in front of a volatile, giant blue alien.
But you were nothing if not resourceful.
Goodbye, dignity, you sighed as you began hoisting yourself behind the pile of supplies and duffel bags you'd both stacked to take cover from the fire. You felt the Na'vi's wary gaze on you as you moved, but he hadn't felt the need to come and investigate, which you counted as a blessing.
Grabbing one of the warped water bottles, you poured out the toxic liquid on the concrete, before getting into position. Closing your eyes, you tried your hardest to pretend that you weren't trapped in a room with a strange alien man less than twenty feet away from you. You pictured your small, but warm toned bathroom, your toiletries lined neatly on the counter and a painting hanging over the towel rack.
Pretty soon you felt sweet relief as your aching bladder finally emptied its contents into the bottle. Your eyes blinked open, and you quickly cleaned yourself up, grimacing in embarrassment and disgust as you screwed back on the lid to the bottle and shoved it away from sight.
Well, that was over with.
By now, the room was bathed only in moon and starlight, the walls almost taking up a luminescence you would never be privy to on earth.
Your expression soured at the thought of your home planet. You didn't typically enjoy revisiting those memories, mostly because they were tainted with constant misery. The ashy smoke in the air, the dirt on your skin, the pangs of hunger deep into the night—you didn't want to think about it. You were far, far away from that life.
Although, you weren't quite sure if your current situation was much better.
With a wince, you scooted forward, peeking curiously around your makeshift wall of privacy. The Na'vi was curled on his side, still facing you, but now—surprisingly, his eyes had drifted shut, his expression finally peaceful in slumber. You held your breath, taking a moment to admire him.
Now that you weren't actively fearing for your life, you could really appreciate the wild beauty of this planet's native humanoid species. He looked like a mythical creature from a fantasy story, aqua blue skin shining like the glimmering shallow waters on a beach under the sunlight. You blinked a couple of times in shock, resisting the urge to rub them. No—wait, he was actually glowing.
At first you had thought it was the moonlight shining on his skin, but he seemed to be generating his own variation of bioluminescence instead. A beacon of otherworldly beauty, just like the rest of Pandora.
Incredible, you thought to yourself in awe, unable to look away. Your fingers itched with the sudden urge to start sketching him.
Suddenly, a pale, opalescent eye snapped open, glaring at you furiously. You yelped, almost falling backwards on your elbows.
His lip curled to reveal a snarl, his ears pinning down flat against his head in warning and his thick tail whipping restlessly in the air. The message was clear: mind your own business before I come over there and gouge your tiny eyes out. I'll do it—
"Okay, okay," you sighed, raising your hands in surrender. "I get it, I'm leaving."
You scooted away, back into your little alcove of duffel bags and random burnt junk. Lowering yourself onto the fluffiest looking one, you sighed, squirming uncomfortably as you stared at the scorched ceiling.
It didn't take long before your blinks became heavier and more frequent, your eyelids lowering more with each one. It seemed you were more exhausted that you thought.
When your breathing finally evened out, it was to the distinct feeling of a strong, steady heartbeat thrumming beneath you.
************
Y'all, I had way too much fun writing Ao'nung's pissy attitude XD. I can't picture his aggressive side eye without cracking up. Don't worry though, he'll eventually come around ;)
MRE: Meals ready to eat. Packaged meals meant for quick, convenient consumption. Used in the military.
If you’re not in the taglist already and you’d like to be, just let me know in the comments and I’ll tag you in the next part :)
Summary: You work as maintenance at base 36, a testing facility used for unethical experiments on captured local Na’vi. One day when the base’s power supply melts down and explodes, you’re caught in the flaming crossfire. In a split second decision, you also decide to free the panicking Na’vi in his glass cell.
Summary: He stared at his hands as they hovered in front of his face, tremors running up and down his fingers. His five fingers, not four. And deep, warm brown skin. Not blue.
When Neteyam dies, instead of ending up in Eywa’s promised paradise, he wakes up on an apocalyptic earth, with a strange human girl as his only hope for survival.
Chapter 3: Strong Enough
“Now!” She yelled, sprinting ahead of him with a sudden burst of speed.
He lunged after her, pushing past the tall glass doors and staggering onto the rough pavement. Neteyam narrowly avoided colliding with someone's chest, stumbling as he was shoved around harshly by the tidal wave of incoming foot traffic.
"Watch it," someone hissed at him.
Shit, his head swiveled, glancing around at the sea of unfamiliar faces. Where the hell did she go?
His gaze roamed frantically for a moment, before catching sight of a familiar, flickering head of curly hair. There!
He forced himself into the crowd, ducking under stray elbows and lunging between disgruntled pedestrians, wincing at the expletives thrown his way.
"Wait—!" He hissed at the girl, grunting as someone stomped on his foot. He could only barely keep track of her lithe form in the moving sea of people.
She didn’t even glance back. Neteyam growled under his breath, forcing his legs to move faster as he tried his best not to stumble into the incoming bodies. He could hear the heavy footsteps chasing him from behind, the same voice that had yelled at them in the store now demanding they stop at once.
Like hell he was going back there.
The girl had obviously done this many times before, judging by how smoothly she weaved in and out of the crowd, almost as if she were dancing. Neteyam had no doubt that if she wanted to disappear she could do so at any moment. He wouldn't be able to stop her if he tried.
The thought of being left behind, or worse, caught, pumped a new shot of adrenaline through his veins. Neteyam wasn't really looking for a repeat of his experience on Pandora, thank you very much. He felt himself slowly gaining more ground on her, the angry shouts of their pursuers fading with distance.
"Slow down!" He yelled, cursing under his breath when she disappeared around a corner. "Tsahey!"
He followed her, nearly skidding across the pavement from the momentum with which he rounded the corner. His long braids whipped over his shoulder, nearly smacking him in the face. Batting them away with a growl, he watched as she slipped behind a wall that jutted out from one of the buildings in the narrow alley.
Neteyam sprinted after her, his breath echoing loudly in his ears, rattling his skull. When he finally reached her, he found her crouched down, in the process of hiking up a clouded, rectangular window.
"What the hell was that?" he panted accusingly as he grasped blindly at the wall, trying to subtly lean his back against it to catch his breath.
If he was in his Na'vi form, he could have run circles around her and not broken a sweat, but this form was weak and unfamiliar. It also didn't help that every breath he took felt like he was breathing in more smoke than oxygen, the pollution here so unlike the fresh, crisp air of Pandora. The helplessness he felt majorly stung his pride. He was a warrior, and a talented one at that. He had spent years mastering his skills, and now it felt like he had to learn everything all over again.
"Now you don't look like you just crawled out of a garbage shoot," she said simply as she fiddled with a latch. "You should be thanking me."
Neteyam curled his lip, incredibly offended. "I didn't look like I emerged from one of your disgusting human trash piles." That was pretty low. He'd seen what humans called a 'garbage can' back on Pandora. Safe to say he was never walking within a five meter radius of one ever again.
She raised a brow at him, giving him a silent, unimpressed glance.
Her judgmental stare only increased his irritation. "Liste—" he started, only to be shoved harshly against the cold cement, one of her gloved hands pressed over his mouth.
"Quiet!" She hissed under her breath, caging him in with her body to plaster them both against the wall.
He heard thundering footsteps pass by their alley, familiar shouts of frustration echoing against the towering walls. Neteyam stood as still as he could, his heart thundering anxiously in his chest. The girl's hand was cold and small, the heel digging uncomfortably into his cheek, though he barely registered it with the cold feeling of dread slithering down his spine. Distantly, the smell of old leather and an unidentifiable, airy scent tickled his nose. He focused on that, closing his eyes, controlling his breathing.
As soon as the sounds faded into the distance, she let go of him, giving him a sharp glare.
"Are you trying to get us killed?"
"I—"
"This is not a game," she narrowed her gaze, making his jaw click shut, fists curled at his sides. "I don't know what kind of life you were living before, but here, if you don't pay attention you're dead. Do you understand?"
What kind of life he'd been living?
Neteyam's chest swelled with fury, his teeth clenching so hard he was afraid they might chip. "You have no idea what I've been though."
"And I don't care either," she took a step closer, glaring at him coldly. "Look, if you fall behind, I'm not going to hold your hand."
A thick tension settled over them, neither willing to back down from their glaring competition. Neteyam could barely hear the loud bustle of the city, his ears pounding from rage and frustration. Mostly, he was just tired. He was confused. He wanted to go home. But he knew that if he wasn't angry right now, he'd have another breakdown. He couldn't afford that.
It was her that broke the stare first, turning away from him. "Either you learn to survive, or you get left behind to rot in this shithole, your choice."
Neteyam watched as she crouched down by the window, slipping through it in one smooth motion.
She landed in a practiced crouch, rising slowly. Glancing over her shoulder, she raised a questioning brow at him.
Are you coming?
Neteyam scowled, weighing his options. It was obvious that it would be stupid to walk away from her now. All she'd done was help him in her own way (debatable), and he didn't know the first thing about how humans lived on Earth. He wouldn't make it on his own. With a frustrated huff, he crouched down so he could slip his feet through the window. He landed mostly with ease, his form still unsteady, but the motion was pleasantly familiar, years of swinging from trees at towering heights having seared it into his mind.
His eyes flickered around cautiously, scanning the dimly lit walls. They appeared to be in some sort of long passageway. It looked and smelt and worn out, the musky scent tickling Neteyam's nose. Dingy lights flickered above them, giving the scratched floors and peeling paint a more ominous feel.
Thud.
Neteyam flinched as the window slid shut behind them on its own. He chanced a look at the girl, but she seemed to be relatively unfazed. Still, he kept his guard up, fingers curled and ready to rise to his defense.
The floorboards creaked as they walked, making the muscles in his shoulders tense anxiously. She led him to the end of the hall, where a lone rusted door stood, the handle having long broken off into a jagged stub.
The girl raised her hand, tapping her fingers seemingly into the empty air in a distinct pattern, before suddenly a low humming noise emanated from the door.
It clicked several times, groaning as it gently swung open to a warmly lit living area. Couches, tables and various kinds of other furniture were haphazardly placed around the room. Trinkets and objects scattered most of the tables, some he recognized and some that looked completely foreign.
"You better have a good reason for bein' here, girly."
Neteyam forced down a jolt of surprise at the voice, eyes widening as he caught sight of the man lounging casually on the couch. With a gun pointed at them. What the hell. Was this how people greeted each other on Earth?
Still, she remained unphazed, save for the minute tensing of her shoulders. "Kian, don't be an ass."
The man grinned, his shaggy blonde hair falling haphazardly over his eyes. "Rules are rules, sweetheart. You know the drill."
The narrowing of her eyes was the only indication that she was unhappy. She reached for her left arm, rolling up a dark sleeve.
The man kept his gun trained on her, gesturing with his chin at Neteyam. "Tell your friend to stand back with his hands against the wall above his head."
What the fuck was going on?
"You heard him," she nodded at him. He backed away, despite the internal war waging in his head and the voice screaming at him to get the hell away from the hostile guy with the weapon. He would probably get shot anyway if he tried to run, and he really wanted to get through the rest of his day, preferably bullet-free. Once was enough for today.
With a glare, he backed up until his shoulders hit the wall, raising his hands so that the backs of them laid flat against the cold surface. To his alarm, Kian pulled out a glinting knife, about half as long as his forearm.
"Wait!" He took a step forward. "What are you doing?"
He stopped dead in his tracks when the barrel pointed itself at him instead. "Hard of hearing, boy?" Kian sneered. "Take another step closer and I'll put a bullet through your throat."
The girl caught his eye, her own gaze calm, if a little irritated. Although he had a feeling it wasn't directed at him. "It's fine. He's only going to take a blood sample."
There was something about the tone of her voice that immediately calmed his nerves. Maybe it was how unbothered she was? He backed away warily, exhaling loudly through his nose. She'd helped him this far when she didn't have to. He would have to trust her word (what other option did he have?).
Kian grabbed her wrist, pricking her tawny skin gently with the knife. A speck of red pooled at the tip, staining the shiny surface. He pulled it away, wiping it against a cloth and pressing the cloth against some glass device. After a moment, the machine let out a loud beep, the sides flashing green.
"Looks like you're good to go," he grinned, walking back and collapsing back onto the couch in his previous position. He raised his chin to eye them both curiously. "So what can I do for ya then?"
"I'm calling in a favor," she said, pulling down her sleeve, her stormy eyes flickering to Neteyam.
Kian caught the direction of her gaze and scoffed, shaking his head. "Sorry, we don't have room for any strays."
"Never thought you were one to decline a trainee," she crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes.
He grumbled something under his breath, before suddenly the sharp end of the knife was flying towards Neteyam's face. He ducked just in time, the blade vibrating as it sunk deeply into the wall above his head. Neteyam's breath came out in short, panicked puffs as he glared accusingly at the man who had just tried to take his head off.
"What the fuck?" he snarled. "Are you fucking crazy?"
"Hmm, not bad," Kian murmured, regarding him grudgingly. "Good reflexes."
"Wha—" Neteyam spluttered, blinking incredulously. "You just tried to kill me!" He turned to the girl, eyes widened. "He just tried to kill me!"
"Yes, yes," Kian waved off, not even paying attention to him.
"He's strong and fast," the girl raised a brow, ignoring Neteyam entirely. "He would make a good addition, he just needs some training."
Kian's eyes slid back to him, his gaze cold and calculating. It felt like he was being appraised, his entire worth being evaluated in a single glance. He suppressed an uncomfortable shiver.
Kian began walking towards him, his expression still unreadable like a stone wall. Neteyam swallowed anxiously, refusing to budge from his position. This felt like a test somehow. He needed to stand his ground.
The man's face now loomed intimidatingly over his, his gaze narrowed in hostility. Neteyam lifted his chin to stare back at him, his own amber eyes shuttered and challenging. It felt like he was back at the Hallelujah mountains, staring down the beady gaze of his ikran.
After what felt like hours of silent tension, Kian's face finally broke out in a grin, a hearty laugh bubbling out of his throat as he clapped Neteyam on the side of his arm.
"Welcome to the team, boy!" He cackled, startling Neteyam so badly that his knees almost gave out.
"A-Ah, yeah," he exhaled shakily, eyes flickering up to find the one who had brought him here.
She was standing a few steps away, staring at him with a flat expression. When his eye caught hers, he could've sworn he saw the smallest twitch of her mouth and a flicker of approval in her eyes, before everything melted away like it was never there.
"Come, come," Kian grinned, waving him over. "We'll get you all set up. Training starts first thing tomorrow morning."
Training for what? Neteyam almost bemoaned, but wisely kept his mouth shut.
His attention was diverted as he noticed the girl silently making her way towards the door.
"Wait," he said, stopping her in her tracks. "You're leaving?"
She glanced over her shoulder, frowning at him. "Yes?"
"Ah," Neteyam furrowed his brows, looking down in embarrassment. She did say she was only going to bring him here after all. But still, she was the first person he'd come to know on Earth, the only thing that had become slightly familiar to him in the short time he'd been here. He'd unknowingly latched onto her amidst the chaos. "Will I...see you again?" He said quietly.
"Probably not," she shifted impatiently, glancing at the door.
A small wave of disappointment washed over him, which he quickly brushed aside. This was ridiculous, she'd only done him a favor out of decency, he shouldn't be feeling any sense of attachment towards her.
Still, he wanted...at least something before she left. He didn't even know her name.
"What's your name?" He murmured, gaze flickering up insistently.
She paused, her eyes finally locking with his own. He saw the rare dregs of genuine emotion flicker in them, regarding him curiously.
"Cécile," she said, the name sounding foreign to his ears.
He nodded at her, face screwing up in concentration. "Nice to meet you, Ce-Cee-Say—" He frowned at the difficult pronunciation.
His eyes widened as he heard a breathy laugh, shooting up to see the small grin on her face. "Good luck," she said quietly, turning her back and slipping through the exit.
He watched her until she disappeared out the window.
*******
Tsahey = Damn! Ah hell!
How to pronounce: Cécile
Note: I noticed that a sentence in this chapter is almost identical to one in another avatar story I've come across. Just to clear this up, I wrote that part of the chapter back in February (I have revision history to prove) and the author just recently released the chapter that has this line, so the similarity is purely coincidental :)
Sweetie you've been gone for what felt like years...are you alright?
Hey love 🥰 thank you for asking :) Things have been kind of rough on my end. I’ve been sick in bed for the past week, and my schedule is so packed that I’m having trouble finding the time to write at the moment. When I first started posting, it was when things were going pretty slow and I had the time to sit down and hash out a thousand words. Sorry for the wait 🤗 but don’t worry! I have no plans of abandoning anything :) Thank you so much for your support ❤️❤️ it means the world
ARE YOU ALRIGHT??? THERE HASN'T BEEN A SINGLE POST ON YOUR PROFILE! ARE YOU ALIVE??!?!?!
Fear not, I’m very much alive and well 😉 In fact, if you scroll down slightly on my profile page, you’ll see that my last post was actually yesterday. Thank you for your concern!
Oi, meu nome é Manu. Sou uma brasileira. Eu não sei escrever em inglês é no momento utilizo o translate~ Bem o que eu quero dizer é que amo suas fanfics, sério, são incríveis 😍 No momento estou ansiosa para ver a fanfic do aonung que você posto recentemente 💗 Vim expressar meu apoio, eu realmente ameiii suas fanfics, elas são geniais ✨
Oi Manu 🤗 Obrigado pelo maravilhoso elogio, você me fez sorrir ☺️ Também estou usando um tradutor para isso, então espero que tudo seja traduzido corretamente e que eu não diga acidentalmente algo ofensivo 💀 Realmente significa muito quando as pessoas expressam seu apoio por algo em que trabalhei duro e sou apaixonado ❤️❤️ Obrigado por escolher ler minhas histórias! Tenha um ótimo dia/noite e cuide-se, querida :)
Observação: Se alguma vez você quiser traduzir grandes quantidades de texto, eu sugiro um site chamado ChatGPT. Ele funciona maravilhosamente e melhora muito a minha experiência de leitura :) Aqui está o site: https://chat.openai.com/auth/login
Versão em inglês abaixo, caso o tradutor falhe 😂
Hi Manu 🤗 Thank you for the wonderful compliment, you made me smile ☺️ I'm also using a translator for this, so I hope everything is translated correctly and that I don't accidentally say anything offensive 💀 It really means a lot when people express their support for something I've worked hard on and am passionate about ❤️❤️ Thank you for choosing to read my stories! Have a great day/night and take care, sweetheart :)
Side note: If ever you want to translate large amounts of text, I suggest a website called ChatGPT. It works beautifully and makes my reading experience so much better :) Here is the website: https://chat.openai.com/auth/login
summary: training begins, you attempt to make peace with your old and new lives, but finding balance proves difficult
warnings: tooth rotting fluff, Neteyam still kinda sucks, pretty long
dialogue in italics is Na’vi translated to English
chapter three
Chapter Four
Your feet have gotten tougher.
You can run faster, for longer. It still doesn't compare to even the children in the clan, but it's progress.
The feel of big ears twitching against your head is still foreign. They flick from side to side, trying to decipher the endless sounds emanating from the forest. You weave through the trees, leaping over fallen logs and overturned roots. The ground is warm, firm beneath bare feet.
Suddenly, Lo'ak jerks to a halt in front of you. Your chest hits a toned back, the air leaving your lungs from the impact. A curious gaze flicks over his shoulder, lips parting to ask what's wrong, but he lifts a hand to silence you. His ears shift as his head turns from side to side slowly. He's listening, you realize, waiting for something.
A moment later, a small figure bounds through the brush. You lurch back, heart in your throat. Lo'ak takes a large step to the side, arm extended to shield your body with his. You peer over him, tight muscles relaxing when you see a familiar face.
“Where are you guys going?” Tuk beams up at the two of you, bouncing on her toes.
Lo'ak lets out a rough breath, shoulders dropping. His fingers don't move from where they curled around your bicep protectively. “None of your business.”
You're quick to shove an elbow into his side, breaking free of his hold and stepping around his broad shoulders. You can't help but return his sister's smile. Her endless positivity is contagious.
“We’re going on an adventure.” You tease, ducking down a bit to meet her eyes.
They instantly widen, small mouth dropping open in wonder. Lo'ak's face rolls toward the sky, eyes pinching tightly. That's the worst thing you could've possibly said. Now, she'll never leave the two of you alone.
“I wanna go, I wanna go, I wanna go!” Her high-pitched voice echoes through the trees. Some kind of animal calls out before scurrying away, leaves rustling in its wake.
“No.” His response is firm, immediate.
“I’ll tell mom!” Her little brow furrows, fists clenching at her sides.
“Mom’s the one who sent us, crybaby.” Lo'ak mimicks her whiny tone, head dipping to accent the insult.
Her face scrunches even tighter, nose wrinkling in a tiny hiss. “Penis face!”
A hand comes up to cover your lips, stifling the surprised gasp and laughter that bubbles in your chest.
“Go home. Or I’ll tell mom.” All amusement is gone from his voice as he barks out the order.
Your lips roll inward, gaze flicking between the two siblings. You have to assume this kind of argument is normal. Not only are you an only child, but you were never exposed to kids your age while growing up. Petty disagreements like this just weren't a part of your universe. Sometimes, the Sully's interactions seem harsh to you, though it's obvious they have a deep love for one another.
Tuk's tongue pokes through her lips in defiance, tiny fists still clenched as she turns to stomp away. Once she disappears from view, Lo'ak shakes his head with a sigh.
“Sorry, she's so annoying.” His eyes meet yours apprehensively, as if afraid you'll be upset with him.
“I think she just wants to be like you.” Your voice soothes encouragingly, fingers lightly smoothing down one of his arms.
She's just a child, doing what children do. You've noticed that sometimes, there doesn't seem to be much room for childhood within the clan. Of course, they're allowed to run and play. The forest is like one huge playground, obstacles and adventure around every corner. It's probably heaven for any kid.
But in the same breath, they're expected to contribute to the clan as any other member would. They hunt, practice archery, have chores around Home Tree. Even Tuk always has her dagger slung across her chest, a pointed weapon she carved herself from the wing claw of an Ikran.
She isn't always given permission to be a child, and it tugs at your heart. It's why you're softer with her, despite the way the rest of the family seems to treat her as an equal.
“That's worse.” Something dark flickers behind Lo'ak's eyes as they meet yours. In an instant they're gone, his arm slipping from your gentle hold.
He walks forward, expecting you to follow. You can't help but study his retreating back for a moment before complying. He has these moments, these little flashes of emotion, where he exposes his inner turmoil. He's always quick to squash them, tell a joke or convince you to play a game as a diversion. But you see him, see through the tiny glimpses he's given you.
He's hurting, holding onto a source of pain that continues welling inside. If he doesn't open up to someone, you fear, it'll eat him up until nothing else is left.
Eventually, your feet scurry to catch up. The two of you walk in comfortable silence for several minutes. Subtle glances confirm the gradual unfurling of tense muscles until he's back to the upbeat Lo'ak you've come to expect.
You arrive at a dense section of trees, littered with thick vines. They almost consume the rough bark, twisting and curling all the way up into the leaves at the top. Wordlessly, Lo'ak hoists himself up onto a low hanging branch. Once he's climbed another two levels, he extends a hand down to you.
Several minutes later, your sore feet catch on a huge vine. Your chest heaves from the exertion of climbing up such a tall tree. Beside you, Lo'ak's breathing is completely even, unphased by the effort. He turns to face you, arms still connected to yours from the final pull he'd used to get you up.
Long fingers tickle the underside of your forearms as he helps stabilize you. His lips pull into a wide grin, eyes twinkling with something mischevious.
“Ready?”
“For?” Your voice is pointed with confusion, he hasn't told you what you're up here to do.
He starts slipping away, walking backward slowly, and you panic. Your fingers dig into his arms as they tighten, fear straightening your spine. Wide eyes flick up to his in question. The only response you get is another dazzling smile.
“You're it.” He practically rips his arms from yours, skipping several large steps away from you.
“Lo'ak!” His name is a desperate plea as a gasp rips up your throat. Your arms flail to the sides, body wobbling for several long moments before finding stability once again.
You look at him incredulously and he laughs. The skxawng (idiot) has the nerve to stand there, now too far to help if you fall, and laugh.
“Come on, tag me back.” He walks backward without a care in the world, as if he isn't hundreds of feet in the air.
A trembling breath leaves your lungs and you realize you're shaking. You've never been particularly afraid of heights, but you've also never been forced into a tight-rope act above massive treetops. A gulp scratches down your throat as you lean to the side carefully, gaze barely rounding the vine when Lo'ak's rough voice makes you lurch upright.
“Don't.” He says sternly, head shaking. “Don't look down. Just look at me, and trust that your body knows what to do.”
You instantly obey, something about the deep cadence forcing your eyes to meet his. He nods encouragingly, beckoning you closer with playful fingers.
Slowly, one foot lifts. You squash the rising urge to look down, holding your gaze steady with his. When skin meets rough bark, a fraction of tension releases. You do it again, and again. Tiny, cautious steps until you've almost reached him.
When you're mere inches apart, he bounces several long steps away, putting more space between you. Your eyes narrow and you stop, arms moving up once again to keep yourself upright.
“Now do it like you mean it.” Long arms cross over a broad chest, looking every bit his father when he gives the same command.
Despite steadily rising irritation, you know this is what he's supposed to be doing. He's teaching you, pushing you past the point of comfort so you can learn the Omatikaya way.
Your eyes fall closed for a brief moment, simply absorbing the input around you. The strength of the wood beneath your feet, the call of Ikran and other flying creatures in the sky above. Wind caresses your exposed skin, but you suddenly feel more stable.
In an instant, your eyes pop open and you run.
You don't stop until you crash into him. He's ready for you, waiting with open arms. They wrap around you instantly, keeping the two of you upright. A victorious laugh echoes through the trees as your face turns toward the sky. You can't help but throw your arms behind his neck, excitement making your heart soar.
“I did it!” You shout, and he beams.
Glittering yellow eyes meet, heat surging in your chest. Lo'ak's heart thrums against his ribs harshly, and he pulls away, afraid you'll be able to feel it.
Each time you accomplish a new feat, pride swells within him as if he's done it himself. The fact that he's the one that gets to teach you, gets to watch you learn how to thrive in the clan, it still feels too good to be true. It's like a shiny new present every day, a tiny reminder that he doesn't have to be the family screw up. That he can still do something good.
You don't stop running the whole way back to Home Tree. Now that you've faced this fear, proven to yourself that your body is capable, you move with a gentle swiftness. Lo'ak is still faster than you, but you've started closing in on his back, a surety in your steps that wasn't there before.
The moment you enter the bustling center of Home Tree, curious heads turn. Lo'ak watches you shrink, the carefree version of you it seems only he gets instantly dormant. His chest tightens, and before he can think better of it, he's grabbing your hand, pulling your attention away from the crowd.
“Hey, meet me at our spot tonight? After eclipse?” Hooded eyes watch you hopefully.
The words barely register over the echo of our spot, our spot, our spot in your mind. Something flutters in your stomach, a soft smile wiping away any brewing anxiety. A small nod is all the confirmation he needs to bound away, practically skipping with each step.
Change is difficult.
At times, seemingly impossible.
When you were still you, things were different. You woke up at the same time every morning, stared at the unobtainable beauty of Pandora from behind a thick window, and studied the world you thought you’d never fully experience.
Now, you have a front row seat. And it still somehow isn’t enough.
“Damn, did you get taller?” Meg’s beaming face appears as she shoves the heavy lab door open.
“Ha-ha.” You duck through the tight space, eyes flicking over the area quickly.
Sometimes, you just have to confirm that it’s still here. That this part of your life still exists in some capacity.
It’s been a week since you've had the chance to visit. With Jake and Mo’at constantly on your tail, it’s nearly impossible to find the time to sneak away. It’s nearly lunchtime now, and the clan is distracted by the meal preparation. You figure you have about an hour before someone notices you’re gone.
Your gaze settles on a collection of boxes near the far corner, back straightening with excitement. “Another shipment?”
Meg nods, her smile widening. She practically runs toward the goods. When you still worked and lived here, it was never a given that you’d receive the supplies necessary to keep going. When you did, it was always a cause for celebration.
“It’s a good one too. They sent plenty of food this time, and a bunch of new equipment.” She digs through a large box quickly, head disappearing behind the material.
“And look what finally came in.” Something small rests in her open palm as she skips toward you.
Your eyes widen at the sight of the small necklace and matching ear piece. You pinch it between large fingers and bring it closer for inspection.
“Have you tested it?” Your eyes flick to hers, wide with anticipation.
“Yeah, they work great. The range is incredible.” She turns suddenly, as if just remembering something. “Oh! And I finally found your journal. You had a damn good hiding spot this time.”
You fiddle with the neck microphone, lips pulling into a small smile. The lab has been waiting months to get these in. They're a great resource when out on the field, allowing everyone to maintain contact even from far distances.
Now, more than ever, you're grateful for the arrival. It's a lifeline, something to provide some stability—maybe even some comfort—if you aren't able to make it to the lab. Meg approaches you slowly, pulling your hands outward so she can place the bound pages of your journal into them.
“We're okay, Y/N.” Her gentle voice pulls your attention back to her. Your eyes meet hers, uncertainty clawing at your chest. “You've been dreaming about this your whole life. I just...I don't want to to worry about us.”
Your stomach twists uncomfortably. Her encouraging words sounding a lot like a thinly veiled we don't need you anymore. You fight a frown, instead forcing your lips into a small smile that doesn't quite reach your eyes.
She shakes her head, a wide grin taking over her features. “Anyway, enough serious shit. Tell me all about your adventures.”
You sit with her for awhile, spilling every detail possible. Your heart sings at the familiarity, the comfort of gossiping with someone you've known your whole life. Someone who practically raised you. But still, there's a small voice in the back of your head, whispering that it just isn't the same. That it will never be the same again.
Wide eyes trail the gradually eclipsing sun, a silent curse forming on your lips. Jake and Mo'at are definitely wondering where you are by now, something you really wanted to avoid. It was difficult to leave Meg, to leave the comfort of the past, and you ended up staying much longer than planned.
When you're at the last turn before reaching Home Tree, something barrels through the brush, slamming into your side. You stumble, legs buckling, the small leather satchel Meg gave you to carry your things tumbling from your shoulder. It clatters to the dirt, contents spilling everywhere.
“Shit, sorry.” A familiar voice murmurs, instantly crouching to pick up the items.
“Kiri?” The name raises in question as you bend to her height, grabbing your journal first.
She hasn't missed meal preparation once since you've been here, always following her father's orders to aid the elders around the raging fire in the center of the gathering area. That, plus the fact that she was running through the forest in such a frantic way, has you wondering what she's been up to.
“Oh, hi Y/N.” She chirps, back straightening under your scrutinizing gaze. Her eyes flick to yours briefly before returning to the microphone and earpiece in her upturned palm. “What is this stuff?”
“Oh, it's really cool. That necklace there is a microphone. You, ah, you talk into it and then you put that thing in your ear so you can—”
“Wait, these are sky people machines?” Her head suddenly snaps up, narrowed glare slicing through you.
You sputter silently for a few seconds, thrown off by her change in demeanor. “Well, yeah. It's not dangerous or any—”
“Y/N, you cannot have this here.” She hisses, glancing through the bushes and into Home Tree where the clan bustles.
Confusion pinches your brows. You hadn't even thought about it being a problem. Maybe the clan isn't as open to technology as you'd hoped.
“I'm sorry, I didn't mean any harm...” Your hand extends toward her, hoping she will return it at least. You really need a way to keep in touch with the lab.
One of her ears twists to the side, just before her head follows. Her eyes blow wide in alarm, and she hastily grabs your bag off the ground. She shoves the necklace and earpiece inside before slamming it into your hands and jerking to her feet.
“My father is coming. You cannot tell him you have this, or that you have been to see the sky people.” Her voice falls to a rushed whisper, tightened with anxiety as you rise to stand beside her.
“Wha—why?” Your heartrate doubles, confusion and alarm fighting between your ribs. The slight panic clouding her eyes worries you.
“He would not understand. None of them will understand. Please, Y/N, if you wish to stay here you will not—”
“Kiri!” Her name is a sharp rumble as a large figure approaches.
She straightens, muscles instantly rigid. She gestures to your satchel and you sling it over your torso, sliding the bag behind your back just as a tall shadow breaks through the foliage.
“Where have you been, baby girl? And have you seen—Y/N. There you are.” Jake comes to a halt before you both, expression softening at the sight of his daughter in once piece.
“Sorry, dad. Got a little lost.” Kiri's big eyes blink up at him innocently, and he melts with a rough sigh. Something passes between them, an unspoken message that has you wondering if the excuse isn't meant literally.
“And you? I thought I asked you not to go out on your own.” A tinge of that authority he seems to use on everyone but his two daughters returns, his voice deepening with cautious disapproval.
He's given you few rules since being invited into the clan. Keep your head up, don't cause trouble, and stay near Home Tree unless accompanied by an escort. Although well intentioned, it's suffocating. You aren't used to such communal living, where little to no alone time is normal. You need room to breathe, or you'll end up blowing up at someone and causing a scene. And that would mean breaking another of his rules.
Your lips part, ready to spill out some random words that may or may not get you into more trouble, but Kiri beats you to it.
“She was with me.” One of her arms lifts, moving to the side to cover you as if it would protect you from her father's wrath.
A large hand swipes down his face, eyes tightening in irritation. His head tilts back, a long breath releasing through pinched lips. He spares a quick glance over his shoulder before his attention returns, flicking between you both.
“Alright, but I don't want anymore of this sneaking off crap.” He points an admonishing finger at you, then moves it toward Kiri. “If your mother asks, you're grounded for two days.”
A grin splits her lips and with a playful roll of her eyes, one of her arms loops through yours. She pulls you forward, jumping up to land a quick kiss on Jake's cheek with a quiet thanks, dad as her parting words. You squeeze her hand in silent gratitude once you're past him, and she shoots you a knowing look.
It's all you need to know as she separates from you, going her own way toward the Tsahik tent. You clutch your bag, sliding it back around to the front of your body, off toward your hammock to find a suitable hiding spot.
Fingertips poke at your scalp tenderly, a pained hiss leaving your lips.
It's been a few hours since your hair was tightly wound into fresh braids, and the throb hasn't yet subsided. The moment you reentered the busy center of Home Tree, Neytiri approached you. At first, weariness tightened your stomach, but her usual harsh glare had simmered to a dull irritation.
She told you it was time for braids, having noticed that keeping your loose strands tangle free had become nearly impossible. There was little time for a morning routine within the clan, as Neteyam waited impatiently to bring you to breakfast every morning. Your hair had turned into a cluster of mats, which the women of the clan none-too-gently combed out before weaving it into thin beaded strands.
“Lo'ak is so mean.” A small voice whines beside you, tiny shoulders slumping.
You can't help but chuckle, turning to place a gentle reassuring hand over hers. “I’m sorry you couldn’t come with us today, Tuk. He means well.”
The two of you are perched on a rock near what remains of the crackling fire. Light dances across the youngest Sully's forlorn expression as she pulls her hands from yours, instead clasping them together in her lap.
Most of the clan has turned in for the night, the sun's eclipse nearly complete. After finishing your meal, you enjoyed a few moments of peace before she totted her way over and plopped down beside you.
Her little nose scrunches in displeasure. “They always have fun without me.”
“How about the next time I go on an adventure, you can come with?” You peer down at her kindly, watching as she unfurls, a surprised grin splitting her lips.
“Really?” Her voice rises hopefully, and you can't help but smile.
Your lips part to assure that you'd love to hangout with her, but a rough voice interrupts.
“Tuk.” Her name is a sharp warning spit through clenched teeth.
Neteyam approaches, braids swaying with his hurried pace. She yelps beside you, jumping up from the rock. She lands behind it and crouches low, grabbing your shoulders to hide behind you as if he hasn't already seen her.
“I’m hanging out with Y/N. She’s my friend, ‘Teyam. I don’t care what you say!” Her voice squeaks, tone harsh.
Your eyes pop wide, unsure how to respond to the situation. You let her drag you from side to side as her brother steps to your right, then left trying to grab her.
“Home. Now. It’s bedtime.” He growls the command, coming to a halt directly in front of you. If his tight shoulders and clenched fists are any indication, he's already tired of her games.
You pat one of her hands lightly, eyes catching on his heated glare.
“It's okay, Tuk. I'll see you tomorrow.” Your voice is gentle as you tear your gaze away from his, murmuring the words over your shoulder.
She stands up sharply, letting out a little hiss at her brother. “You're meaner than Lo'ak!”
She stomps away with tightened fists, grumbling something under her breath. Your head shakes with slight amusement. She is definitely her mother's daughter. Neteyam turns to watch her, attention only returning to you once she's disappeared into the Sully family tent across the clearing.
“Stay away from my sister.” His jaw clenches, hardened stare boring into you.
Your back straightens, irritation bubbling in your stomach. With few others around, a surge of confidence rolls through you. He's been nothing but rude since the moment you met him, and it's starting to grow old. The constant glares and insults have kept you on high alert, nervous to make any mistakes for fear of retaliation.
“She just wanted to talk.” You explain evenly, hoping to keep the conversation cordial.
“She does not need to be talking to you.” His scrutinizing gaze sweeps down your form before flicking back up to your face.
Your skin warms with rising anger. Pressure mounts in your chest until you simply snap under the weight, unable to handle it for a second longer.
“Do you hate me just because of your mother, or are you capable of forming your own opinions too?” Your gaze sharpens to match his.
Normally, you would never dare speak out of turn to the future Olo'eyktan. But no one is around, and he's purposely provoking you. You've done nothing but try to fit in since the moment Mo'at extended her invitation, and yet, his opinion hasn't wavered.
His chin lowers, eyes narrowed into a deadly glare. He grinds his teeth for a long moment, lips twisting as if mulling over what he'll say next.
He never gets the chance as Jake emerges from their tent, eyes instantly falling on the two of you. He calls Neteyam's name sharply, no question having noticed the tension between you. In an instant he's gone, turning on his heel to promptly obey his father's command.
A tight breath slips past your lips, shoulders slumping as you lean forward, elbows resting on bouncing knees. Your head falls into waiting hands, feeling more weight than ever pulling you down.
Bioluminescence blooms beneath your feet with every step.
You leap over upturned roots and stray rocks, weaving your way through dense trees. Chirps and coos echo all around, making you feel a bit disoriented in the low light. You've rarely navigated the forest on your own at night, so it's all a bit unfamiliar. Still, you press on, knowing the destination is near.
Something rustles at your side, your quick strides coming to a halt curiously. Your ears twitch, head turning to watch a kenten (fan lizard) as it emerges from the small patch of bushes only a few feet away. Glowing wings spin it gently in front of your face. It wafts upward, as if propelled by imperceptible wind, disappearing into the trees above.
With a soft smile, you continue on your journey, the steady hum of running water guiding you. In no time you turn the last corner, fingers tentatively pulling back thick vines. Your warm gaze instantly catches on a familiar silhouette, illuminated by the soft glow of the earth.
He's sitting by the water's edge, feet submerged in the pond. You take a moment to study his back as you approach, watching the way toned muscles bunch. His ears twitch against his head just before it swivels toward you.
“You came.” He sighs, a tinge of surprise marring the words.
Your lips pull into an encouraging grin, hand resting on the place between his neck and shoulder. You don't know when this started. When these little touches became a normal part of your relationship. Somehow, over the last several days, the two of you have fallen into a comfortable rhythm. It's unspoken, a slightly deeper connection that's fostered naturally.
Fingertips dance across his skin, following your path to the open spot he's left at his side. He shivers beneath your gentle caress, hands tightening where they're clasped in his lap.
“Of course I did.” Your voice is light, not fully believing that he thought you'd stand him up.
“I have something for you.” He blurts, unable to wait a second longer.
You've barely settled into the earth, feet just dipping into the still water when your attention shifts to him. Big eyes round in surprise, intrigue glistening beneath the dazzling yellow. For a long moment, he's transfixed, eyelids growing heavy as something warms in his chest.
He clears his throat, tearing a lingering gaze away to glance at his hands. He opens them slowly, a sudden nervousness gripping his stomach. Your eyes drop to the bundle of leaves he holds, woven neatly into a small pouch.
He lifts it toward you, the gift resting in an upturned palm. You look from the package to him several times before taking it with some hesitation. He watches you eagerly, attentive gaze drinking in every minute flicker in your expression.
Your fingers move gently to unravel the thin leaves, slowly revealing the present inside. A gasp slips past your lips, one of your hands abandoning the bundle to cover your mouth. Your heart soars, thrumming wildly between your ribs.
“Oh, Lo'ak...” You can't stop looking at it, eyes flickering over each intricate detail.
It's an arm band, expertly woven and adorned with colorful beads. It's thin, light brown twine crossed in a strong pattern meant to last many moons.
“I, uh, I made it...for you.” He scratches the back of his neck, feeling uneasy. He hates that you don't have anything of your own, that all you've been given to wear are old discarded pieces no one else uses. He just wants you to have something that's truly yours, something to make you feel a bit more welcome within the clan.
“It's beautiful.” You whisper, glistening eyes catching his. He fights a smile, a tiny shrug lifting one shoulder. You're both still for a long moment, simply drinking each other in.
He swallows thickly, lower stomach churning. His eyes can't help but drift toward your lips, chest squeezing with an emotion he's recently become familiar with. He's seldom been able to keep you from his mind. His stomach is a mess, all twisted up, his heart racing more than it ever has in his twenty cycles around the moon.
“Put it on me?” Your gentle voice jerks his attention away, and he nods quickly.
He takes the accessory from your hands, winding it around the bicep you've extended out toward him. His fingers begin to shake as he knots the two thin strands he's left at the ends. It fits snugly, not too tight but firm enough to stay put.
“Perfect.” His voice drops to a husky murmur, heart jumping at the sight of his handywork against your skin.
His fingers wrap around your arm gently, thumb rubbing a soothing pattern beneath the twine. Your eyes drift up toward his, breath hitching at the intensity of his heavy lidded stare. His lips part, jaw tensing as his chest lifts raggedly. Your chin dips, one of your new braids falling in front of your forehead.
A tentative hand rises, fingertips ghosting your temple as he gently tucks it behind your ear. Your gaze returns to his, something palpable sizzling in the small space between you. Instead of taking his hand back, his fingers drop, curling around the side of your neck.
Your skin warms in both of the places he holds you. Sharp teeth snag your lower lip, heart fluttering wildly. His eyes instantly snap to the movement, restraint tightening his chest as he withholds a groan. It's all suddenly too much, too intense. The way he's looking at you, like nothing else exists, is overwhelming.
Your gaze drops to your lap, but he's quick to hook a thumb under the edge of your jaw, angling your face back up toward his. Glimmering yellow eyes burn a hole straight through you. Straight through any walls you've attempted to build. It sends a thrill up your spine, a shiver wracking your chest.
You need something to break this tension, something to calm the raging warmth exploding within you. But, even so, a certain apprehension tightens your stomach. His fingers smooth down the side of your neck, silently urging you to act. He trembles with anticipation, though he's hesitant to make the first move. He wants this to be on your terms.
You lean in slowly, planting a soft peck on his cheek. He stiffens beneath you, fingers twitching against your arm. You slide forward a bit more, lips smoothing over his jaw. A quivering breath fans your skin, his head tilting back at the feeling.
“You’re it.” The taunt is a low murmur against his ear, a callback to the game he'd played with you high above the trees earlier that day.
In an instant you pop to your feet, water splashing from the abrupt movement. Lo'ak's eyes pop open, lips parting in shock. All he can do is sit for several long moments, frozen in place. His jaw is slack, chest heaving, racing heart thrumming against his ribs. He watches as you dart away, quiet giggle floating on the wind.
His lips slowly pull into a huge grin. He lets out a chuckle of disbelief, shaking his head before he's out of the water and chasing after you.
No rush don’t ever want to stress anyone out but for sparkles can we get a glimpse into the next chapter? Doesn’t need to be excerpt or anything can just be the brainstorm ideas 🥺🫶🏼
Absolutely! 🤗🤗 Y'all I'm convinced that my teachers are evil demons from hell. How is it even possible that I have an assignment due every god damned day of the week 😭
I have to warn you though, this is a very rough draft so some concepts, style of writing or chronology might change when I review it. Fun fact: I have a habit of rereading and editing my shit until I'm fed up with it and usually end up posting it in an impulsive fit of rage🥲
Anyway here's a tentative excerpt from chapter 2:
Tentative title: the giant blue alien in the room
Never had you experienced anything so intense and all-consuming in your life. On a scale of 'Oh shit, that was a spicy cheeto' to 'Fuck I think my face is melting off', you were probably at a respectable 'I want to amputate all of my limbs and live in a freezer for the rest of my life'. Your vision dimmed and blurred as you fought to stay awake.
It was a strangled choking sound that broke you slightly out of your delirium. Your head turned slowly to see a giant blue body not too far from you, the skin on his right arm and leg raised in a pattern of angry looking blisters, but that wasn't what caught your attention. It was the frantic wheezing sounds he was making, grabbing desperately at his throat.
Somewhere in your foggy mind it occurred to you that shit, that's right, his kind were not meant to breathe in your air.
Get up, Y/n, you chided yourself, squeezing your eyes shut. You need to do something.
With all of the strength you could muster, you rolled over, your vision nearly going white from the blinding pain. Slowly you staggered to your feet, pausing as a wave of nausea washed over you.
You blinked through your titling vision, eyes scanning the room for a possible solution. The only thing you could see were the supplies you had originally found, although some of them were admittedly pretty burnt now. Rebreather masks would be useless to him as well. Shit.
That left only one option. You had to figure out how to bring the native air from outside into the room.
Don't mean to rush you or anything but; when do you think the next chapter of Sparkles is going to come out?
Hey love ❤️❤️ Unfortunately my schedule is starting to get really busy so I won’t be able to give you an accurate time. Thank you for your support and enthusiasm 🤗
