i say this so kindly (and as someone whose watched maybe one James Bond ((Daniel Craig)) movie) this game is so fucking straight im scared 😭 LIKE IM SORRY NO HATE TO SLUT JAMES GET IT HO
But damn. I forgot like how far back James Bond goes in terms of where it originated so it was peak male and alpha energy and having sex with women in bikinis as soon as you met and all that shii
im so used to my variety 🙏🏽 but I get why they stuck to that. I could not imagine it would go well by a certain demographic of gamers
((I low-key was shipping Monroe x James x Cressida 😞 before the big bang))
it’s so weird how some people talk about neteyam and tuk being the only “biological children” of neytiri bc they have 3 fingers 😒
yall know how weird you sound for that? Not to mention you obviously are just fucking stupid bc Lo’ak is still her child bIoLoGiCaLlY like dont pmo with whatver Navi purist bullshit
ive been playing sm of directive 8020, like i absolutely hate horror games. The only ones I’ve played myself of supermassive is Until Dawn, some of the Quarry and now their newest one. Ive watched playthroughs for all their other games bc again I HATE HORROR
Didn’t even finish aliens isolation man that shit had me screaming and crying
So yeah, me liking this game so much that ive been replaying it over and over is insane 😭 i genuinely love the game so much.
I love all the characters, especially cycle 13 clones. ALL OF THEM, including Mitchell and Williams, like are they shits ?? absolutely, but I love em anyway.
Especially during the qte to escaping the ship (SPOILERS)
if you have Stafford alive and fail his qte, and if Mitchell is alive, he sacrifices himself and I cried 😭 like he genuinely loves Stafford and Young sm, thats his FAMILY BRAH
But yeah, ive been having sm fun playing this game. I so desperately wpild love a part two, even though I know it won’t happen 😞
I kinda shipped cooper and anders but I also love them as besties. Honestly either way works for me bc I love the chaos they bring
OH AND I FUCKING MISS CARTER AND SIMMS (my asexual pookie) , their deaths destroyed me bc even though you barely get fime with them at the beginning, when you find all of Simms tapes…like brah i felt so connected with her and just so sad that she dies first
And not to mention if you let urself get caught when trying to escape her, Carter dies and literally has a flashback of all their times together LIKE WHAT THE FUCKKK IS WRONG WITH YOUUU MFS 😭😭 I want to keep them alive so bad BUT THEY GOTTA DIE NO MATTER (high key ship them)
I just really need a fic abt this found family and everyone being alive pls pls pls 😞❤️🩹
anyone else seen a influx of ai fics. Some of them being entirely ai or even partly is just
I would appreciate ur work 10x more even if it was “bad” like yall do not need ai to write your fics.
bc I don’t know how much more of scrolling through newly posted fics , and half of them being ai.
and yes! I know I could be wrong. But ai has a certain way they speak. And once you know the formula of how they write. Then it’s easy to pick up on what is written by a human vs ai.
Formula one fics currently have been hellish for it, not ALL but enough recent fics have been questionable for me to flag and just not interact.
Sighhh I just really want to read fics without them being written by ai
𝑵𝑶𝑻𝑬𝑺 | hello!! So I debated on posting this only because I am in the midst of other works…but I also really wanted to get started on this series because it’s been on my brain for ages. More than devil on wings, which was pretty impromptu that I had no real storyline for. And didn’t expect to be like 10 chapters. Whereas this was something I’ve been thinking about since avatar fire and ash and as well as the game.
But either way, I’m very excited to write for this series. Tamtey does have a set face claim, which I have not posted yet. But when I do I will link it here, but I’m also very cool with people imagining their own Tamtey in place!
I hope you enjoy the first chapter, a little shorter than I wanted it to be. But I lowkey was just impatient and wanted to start on it as soon as possible. Next chapter will be much longer <3
𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐧𝐞 | 𝐰𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐮𝐩 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐫!
“Her pulse is steady, won’t be long before she wakes. Make sure the sedatives are on standby. I don’t want this savage tearing a limb from me”
Tamtey doesn’t know the voice as she slowly comes from her sleep. Her mind in a heavy fog, unable to fully comprehend and compute her surroundings.
She can feel metal beneath her, cold but familiar. There’s something holding her down, straps around her wrists and ankles.
But as she tenses her arms ever so lightly she can hear the fabric giving away under her. Too easily. Too weak.
Whoever tied her down was under the assumption she wouldn’t be able to escape.
Tamtey listens to see if any of the people above her, three she counts by the heartbeats and scent, noticed her movements.
When nobody is alerted, no shouts for the sedatives. Tamtey lets her eyes open, the light above her burning her retinas. But she pushes through the pain, letting her vision slowly come back to her.
As her eyes dart around, past the humans who have their backs turned as they mutter between each other. Looking and pointing at the datapad in their hands.
“The resistance got too close. If we didn’t come when we did Mercer would’ve lost his asset”
Someone scoffs, shoulders tense as they jab at something on their pad.
“Mercer and Ardmore would’ve killed us both. He’s not our only boss anymore, we report to her now as well”
Tamtey stops, muscles clenched before settling back on her makeshift bed.
Mercer…he’s here?
The name Ardmore triggers nothing in her head, nothing to connect the name to. No blaring figure. But they were important, enough to be partnered up with Mercer.
Tamtey doesn’t try to escape now. Her body almost relaxing now that she know’s she in the care of people she knows. She doesn’t trust them, but if they were under orders of Mercer then she was untouchable to them.
And as though the devil himself could hear her thinking of him, heavy footsteps enter the room.
“Fucking morons, she’s already awake” Mercer voice cuts in loud and harsh, the sci-ops in front of her jumping a feet in the air before they spin around.
They look bewildered as they look between her awake, eyes unblinking as she stares them down and Mercer who has the usual look of anger etched onto his face.
“S-sir! We. We didn’t know. We thought she was still waking, she’d been in stasis for so long”
But he only rolls his eyes, shaking his head as he drags over rusted chair. He motions to the other soliders that had followed in behind him.
“Take them out of here, I want a moment alone”
Mercer doesn’t look at the sci-ops when he speaks about, barely giving them his attention now that they’ve finished their job.
Tamtey watches as they hurry out of the room, the one who had been speaking in anger beforehand now unsurprisingly quiet. His cheeks flushed as he’s the first to run out of the room.
Mercer locks in on her as soon as they’re left alone. Waving away the guards who had looked skepectically. But they knew better than to test the bosses patience.
Her teacher, handler and nightmare does not look to have aged. Exo mask firmly planted on, that combo of a white ironed button up and cream coloured pants.
Tamtey can see the songcord she once carried around like a lifeline still in his clutches. Wrapped around his wrist like a decoration. Her last connection to her older sister.
“Sleep well?” The question asked being mostly satirical but Tamtey knows that a small part of him does mean it. Not because he cares about, not in the simple sense of caring for someone out of worry.
He just can’t let anything too bad happen to a product of his.
She waits though, holding her tongue back from speaking before he’s given her permission. Even with the slight brain fog that is yet to disparate, Tamtey knows better than to speak out of turn.
Mercer smiles, content. Glad to see that even after all this, no matter that his assets was kept in cyro, remembered her training well.
“Good dog. You can speak”
Tamtey swallows, trying to get her mouth even a little wet with her saliva. She swallows once more, mouth still dry before she speaks.
“What years is it?” The words come out slow, voice cracking.
Mercer hums, leaning back in the chair. The rusted metal creaking under his weight. Tamtey spares another look around the room she’s in, nothing the dust, broken monitors, rust that has found it’s way through nearly everything.
“Too long. Fifth-teen years to be exact. But you know how to goes, we had much to talk about”
Tamtey looks away from one of the fading posters, the one that showed off natives and humans together. Dressed in human clothes and sharing an ice cream.
She wonders what flavour they were eating.
“Do you know the fucking logistics for trying to explain that one of our own turned coat and screwed up a multi-billion dollar project”
Now that Tamtey does remember, just before the chaos. Before Mercer and the others stormed into their classroom, dragging her away from the rest.
She remembers the manic wrath that emitted from her handler. The way he was unable to stop himself from cursing out Jake Sully.
Even now, nothing about the name stands out. Still a faceless man in her mind. But one who was able to change the entire system that the RDA had in place.
He did the impossible. Tamtey can respect him him for that, understanding the level of skill needed to pull of an operation like that. Her own tactical mind thinking of what she would’ve done.
“All for some blue pussy. Can’t wait to see him hanging by his neck. Maybe I can bid to have his head mounted on my wall”
Mercer voice bring her back, looking at the rage in his eyes. Black overtakes any colour in his eyes, teeth biting at his lip to try and calm himself.
“Regardless we needed to recuperate. And in the time it took us to get back everything was prepped and ready”
Mercer leans forward now, coming to rest on his knees, a manic smile.
“You see, General Ardmore. The one in charge of this entire operation heard about my little experiment. Wasn’t happy at first when she heard all about the gritty details but she understood me eventually”
Mercer leans forward, eyes manic and grin growing.
“She understands that this was for the sake of humanity”
Tamtey thinks of the first time she killed someone. Her own people, the way they begged for mercy. Unable to comprehend how a na’vi was working with the humans.
Tamtey couldn’t offer them anything else but a bullet through their head. Silencing their screams and rage of outcries.
She had to mutilate the body though, unable to leave them to rest even death. Digging out the bullet and stabbing an arrow into place.
They couldn’t let the natives catch wind of what TAP was doing. As doing so would eventually let the RDA catch wind of Mercer and his ‘ambassador program’
All for the sake of humanity.
“So she wants you. Knows all about the training you’ve undergone, seen all the tapes” Tamtey feels a sharp zap go through at his words, biting her inner cheeks as to stop the growl that wants to tear itself from her throat.
She never wants to see those tapes.
“Thinks that having a blue like you on her side will be more than enough to persuade some of the savages back in Hell’s Gate”
A dark look passes over Mercers face before he stands up, moving quicker than she expects and before she knows it his hand grips her chin.
Fingers digging into her as he pules her closer, inspecting her with a sick reverence.
“You may have been sleeping all those years. But I know my training is ingrained into you”
Tamtey doesn’t move. Back straight and poised as she waits for her next set of orders. Enduring having to be touched by this man.
“Doesn’t matter if Ardmore wants you. You’ll always be my pet”
Mercer tightens his hand, the pressure slowly become harsher under his touch. Her jaw now beginning to feel the discomfort.
He lets go then, Tamtey not moving under his ever present stare. Only letting the faintest of sighs of relief when he turns away from her with a huff.
“Smile for the cameras solider, you’re about to make history”
It doesn’t take long for them to start packing and getting ready to move out. Whilst majority of this group that came with Mercer for her would be staying behind in the Frontiers, only two sci-ops would be heading back to Hell’s Gate.
Tamtey follows behind, still tied up in the makeshift cuffs. The material again far too weak to hod her back, but she doesn’t try to escape.
Their’d be no point anyway.
It’s not until they’re walking down the corridor that would take them out of TAP doesn’t Tamtey speak out of turn.
“Wait. What about the others”
She stops in her steps, uncaring of the humans behind who run into her.
Mercer turns from his datapad, brows furrowed as he looks to her. He doesn’t say anything at first, studying as she waits patiently. A muscle in his jaw twitches before he speaks.
The words unexpectedly stab at her very core.
“Dead. They died in cyro. Suffered in their sleep before they had a chance”
Tamtey thinks of their faces, of the Sarentu who were trapped here. She couldn’t care less about the likes of Telisi and Yuayt They deserved to die for being so weak.
But not Teylan, Ri’nela and Nor. They deserved to live. The only three in that wretched place that kept pushing through, stronger than Tamtey could ever be.
Unwilling to let themselves further into the hole that Mercer tried to push them into.
Tamtey protected them ease and let herself be the punching bag if it meant they stayed out of harms way. Putting Mercers and Harding attention onto her so they’d be left alone.
“You can thank your old teacher for that. Alma knew that those pods with faulty. But she didn’t care”
Alma. Always fucking Alma.
Mercer and Harding were evil. Tamtey would never try and argue otherwise. But they were boldface about their activities, didn’t hid behind pretty words.
Didn’t try and make what they were doing some saint work.
Didn’t try to convince themselves they were the good guys.
Not like Alma, who constantly lied to their faces. Who let the others build up a parental relationship with her.
Standing before them like she had no idea what happened to their family. Like she wasn’t guilty for the genocide.
“Let me kill her” Tamtey can’t control herself when the words slip through, accompanied by a growl.
Mercer only laughs, shaking his head as he looks back down to his datapad. Barely giving her any attention.
“Rabid little dog, but no killing for you. She holds valuable information, so until we extract with whatever means necessary she will stay breathing”
They come to a stop just outside the the airlock, only meters away from being back outside.
“But, once we’re done with her. You can do whatever you want”
Tamtey gives a short nod before following him into the airlock. Already imagining having Alma’s blood on her hands, one death that she would never feel guilty about.
It’s the least she could do. Her only way of pence for not being around to protect the Sarentu.
Tamtey looks behind her, ears twitching when she heard the increased thundering of their hearts. Eyes landing on the two guards that keep their guns solely on her.
She can taste the sweat that drips from them, hands shaking as they sloppily keep their fingers on the trigger.
She rolls her eyes, looking back to the front, tail curling in the air, grinning inside when she hears the shift of their boots against the floor. Hands tightening around the gun as they aim directly at the back of her head.
But Tamtey ignores them, focused on the airlock as it pressurises before creaking open. The first that envelops her senses is the smell of fresh air.
Always so different from the stale almost metallic air that would circulate through TAP.
Tamtey waits until Mercer moves first, following him out onto the fading helipad. One that Tamtey had often used when leaving base for her own missions.
It was overrun by now, twists vines of roots and flowers covered the entire floor. The control booth was just as an overrun, the thickest of the vine having smashed through the glass.
Tamtey let herself take in the scenery, walking past Mercer and ignoring the call from her guards to get back.
“Leave it, not like she’ll run anywhere” he says, uncaring when Tamtey leans over the edge of the helipad, looking down at the world that has now once again become unknown to her.
It was greener, even when she could see from some far distance depot, there was so much more green and trees than last time. Pandora truely had been in the midst of healing after all that time.
If she remembers correctly, there was a clan nearby as. The Aranahe, she’d only ever visited their base of operations or hometree as they called it.
At night and under the guise of one of their people she had killed. She’d been scoping for information, trying to see if there was unobtainum under their hometree. Much like the operation they had been undergoing back in Hell’s Gate.
But it was negative, and only a few days later did the body of Sakär, a weaver who was mated to one of their warriors. An arrow dripping with poison through their neck.
“Hell’s Gate won’t be like these passive fucks. You’ll be dealing with Jake Sully and his insurgents as well as the Omatikaya clan”
Tamtey turns to Mercer, ears flicking as she picks up on the heavy engine and blades of a Samson approaching.
Mercer tilts his head, hand coming out to play with the collar on her neck, fingers lightly brushing over her skin. She keeps herself from flinching, knowing the pain that has befallen her by those very same hands.
“A shame I’m losing such an asset. But Ardmore will get to see the fruits of my labour, how important TAP is”
The Samson blades cut through the sky as it approaches, Tamtey moving back a single step as it lands on the heli, a swirl of dust kicking up under them.
As the whirring of the blades settle, Mercer speaks again, just an inch louder than before.
“Be a good pet. If you forget your training, Ardmore is the one who’ll see fit to you punishments”
He leers at her then, stepping closer into her space.
“And I’m far kinder than she will be. So don’t disappoint”
A trio of soldiers exit the Samson, more heavy guarded than the two behind her who can barely hold a gun properly.
The man in front stalks forward, nodding his head at Mercer before turning to Tamtey, a sneer on his face as though he was looking down at her. She’s sure, if they were not in front of a superior she’d have a ball of spit lobbed at her.
“Is the asset ready for transfer director Mercer?”
His voice smokey and horse almost. When Tamtey listens closely she can hear the stutter in his heart, the slight rasp of his lungs. She takes a subtle sniff and inhales the familiar scent of artificial tobacco.
Mercer only hums, never looking away from her. Even as she turns away from him, and toward the man in front of her. She’s unsure if she should say something, a goodbye or see you later. Neither sounds appropriate, too casual for their positions.
“Get in the Samson mutt” Tamtey looks at the man in front of with disdain, the anger clear in her eyes as she stares him down. Relishing in the way he fidgets under stare.
Tamtey respects her superior officers, her handlers and trainers. But dog meat like these foot soldiers. Ones who wouldn’t be able to take her down, not even if they tried to ambush her.
They meant nothing. Entire being valued to a zero sum.
She wasn’t afraid of them. Not the way they feared her so easily.
“Tamtey” she looks back at Mercer, a sardonic smile on his face. As though he would love to see what she could do against them, his bets not on the soldiers.
“Be a good a pet” she acquiesces, nodding her head before brushing past the frozen man, her tail hitting his waist.
Tamtey sits in the middle and watches as they pick up a set of metal cuffs, high-grade and fit for nobody else but na’vi.
Without much a reaction she gives her hands freely, watching as they cut away her poor excuse of restraints before firmly putting them. The metal digging into her skin.
She ignores the three in front of her, looking out the window and where Mercer stands. He waves a hand, as the Samson begins to ascent, a sarcastic little thing.
‘Don’t fuck up’
And yeah, even thought Ardmore is now in charge of her. If all goes to hell, if she fails. She won’t have any problem droppping this all on Mercer who will make sure Tamtey feels every bit of the punishment.
The collar feels heavier around her neck, her body pulsing in rhythm with the hidden tracker that hides somewhere in her body. An inanimate object that had more rights over her own body than she ever did.
But all Tamtey does is close her eyes, letting the nerves wash away. She doesn’t the time nor luxury for such feelings in her life.
Instead she’ll spend this time on the Samson, locked and under watch mediating and readying herself for the hercules effort she is sure to face in Hell’s Gate.
As they fly further away from the Kinglor Forest, all Tamtey can think about is what type of shitshow she’s about to dropped in.
All thanks to a human who fell in love with some blue pussy.
𝑬𝑵𝑫 𝑵𝑶𝑻𝑬𝑺 | umm i dont think i need to touch much on anything? This chapter was pretty sure and sweet, buttt if their is anything you’d like to know more about and need clearing up let me know <3
but im very excited for this. Much inspiration from marvel, ie my favourite characters ever Bucky Barnes, Natasha Romanoff and Yelena Belova 🤍 so that is the type of energy im emboldening in Tamtey
so yay! If you’d like to be tagged for future chapters lmk and I’ll be sure to add you :)
𝑺𝒀𝑵𝑶𝑷𝑺𝑰𝑺 | in which the sully kids find uturu amongst the sarentu.
𝑾𝑶𝑹𝑫 𝑪𝑶𝑼𝑵𝑻 | 5.1k
𝑵𝑶𝑻𝑬𝑺 | soo I was planning on this being the second last chapter. Buttt the chapter 10 is going to be the big fight, so it’ll be much longer than this one. I think I’m going to make extend to a chapter 11 for an epilogue…perhaps. It depends how long chapter 10 will take me to finish, which I have already started on.
buttt hope you enjoy this! Sorry it took a little while 🖤
The world comes to you in pieces. You can hear a flurry of voices, some louder than others. You can feel hands on you, someone panicking as they shout.
Their words are lost on you. Unable to string together any sentences being said.
You want to speak, tell whoever is above you that you’re okay. You’re confused, don’t understand what’s happening. But you’re okay.
But you can’t, something stuck at the back of your throat. You try to inhale, but your breath is caught. A wet hacking as you choke on your own saliva.
“Shit! She’s waking, we still have the incubator in”
“Increase the morphine”
You go to shout, scream at whoever is around but you choke instead. Gasping, throat rubbed raw from the foreign intrusion you feel.
No
You don’t. You can’t go back to sleep. You need to wake up…you need to be moving because.
Where do I need to go?
Your eyes flutter open for a second, lights blinding your vision as you try to orient yourself but your eyes are shutting with your permission. A deep tiredness taking over your body as you slowly relax.
No…don’t sleep
Why. Why can’t you sleep, why does your mind still feel so awake. Screaming at you to get up and move.
They have him.
Who?
Nete-
“She should be waking up soon. We’re going to need to be ready when she does”
So’lek voice is a soothing balm to your confused mind. Eyes bleary as they try to open themselves. But it was like you were still stuck in that world between wakefulness and sleep.
It eerily and horribly reminded you of when you were coming out of cyro. It was the last thing you wanted to ever go through again.
“T-there’s no way she’s going to try and go in the state she’s in right?” Priya, that was Priya’s awkward and concerned voice. She was right beside you as she unintentally spoke in your ear.
“My brother was taken by the RDA, there’s no way that _ is sitting this one out”
That was…Lo’ak?
Neteyam.
His bunny smiles flashes in your face, his lips soft as you kissed, his hands warm as they held your hips. But then.
The whirring sound of the scorpion. The missile. Bodies thrown apart.
That’s right, they took him from me.
So’lek sighs as he looks at the Sully boy, the only one who had not left _ side since she had been sleeping.
Even though he still argued, fought them about the best course of action, he never left her side when Nimun had brought her back.
Her ikran and Telisi cries of distress had everyone awake, running outside to see ___ slumped over body, barely breathing.
They had since taken out her breathing tube, finally able to stabilise her and ___ breathe on her own.
But she had still taken a nasty beating, with two broken ribs, an array of bruises and burns that spanned across along her body. The worst of it being that burn wound that started from the neck and stopped just at her lips.
It crudely looked like a hand print. Ironic considering it was more than likely Mercer who launched this attack.
The man yet again taking control over ___ like she was nothing but his one of his toys to play with.
“I mean seriously what’s the plan now? Half the clans have backed out because ___ is down for the count, they trust her more than anyone”
Anqa cuts in, arms crossed over her chest as she looked between the ground. Trying to not look at the unconscious body of her friend. Someone who reminded her too much of her own little sister.
“Some are still willing! Etuwa and Itu are more than ready. And it’s not like the Zeswa need much convincing when it comes to sticking it to the RDA” Priya chimed in, voice soft as she tried to be the encouraging force.
“We must plan fast and precise. If we do this without ___ there can be no mistakes. No more should harm the Sully’s”
Lo’ak wants to shout more, scream until they listen. Until this group starts actually taking action rather than sitting around here doing nothing like they have been for the past few days.
It was horrible enough that to find out their parents had been kidnapped. And now Neteyam? His big brother taken from him again after he only just got him back.
The only reason Lo’ak hadn’t gone after his family himself was knowing he couldn’t leave Kiri and Tuk behind. Not again, not after last time.
And maybe there was some forceful persuasion from So’lek to keep himself out of trouble. Just a tad.
Lo’ak sighs, resigned as the conversation seems to be coming to an end.
He looks down at ___ before reaching out to adjust the morphine drip, wanting to make sure that she was resting. It was the least he could do, something to keep his mind and hands busy to stop feeling so useless.
A hand wraps itself around his wrist and with a lurching gasp, ___ shoots up. Her eyes wild as she looks around the room.
“Holy fuck!” Lo’ak screams, his heart stopping in complete fear, trying to pull his arm from her grip and wincing at her nails dig into his skin.
“Where. Is. He” her voice is horse and gritty, like two rocks being smashed together.
So’lek who was just as stunned as everyone leap forward just as ___ starts pulling at her the wires connected to her body.
Lo’ak who she had pushed away, catching himself before he could fall into the heart monitor.
“Calm ma’ite, you are still hurt. You cannot be moving around yet” So’lek grabs her shoulders, pushing ___ gently back to bed. Careful to put too much pressure on her still healing body.
“Don’t. Care” she grits out, hands shaking as she pushes back against So’lek.
“He took him. Mercer, always. Fucking. Mercer” ___ growls, fangs bared as she finally pushes So’lek away. Hissing at him as he tries to come closer to her.
“If you think, for a second” she cuts herself off, ripping out her cannula, nose scrunching before she throws it to the side.
“I’m going to sit on my ass, you don’t know me”
“Please sister you’re still hurt, broken bones and burns that are not healed” Ri’nela who had just come into medbay, the meal she brought entirely forgotten, as she rushed to _ side.
“How many times do I need to say it, I don’t fucking care”
Her words emphasised as she rips out the morphine drip, a small spray of blood as she throws it to the ground.
A thin stream of blood down her own arm.
“Oh damn” Anqa says, pulling Priya behind her. Not out of fear that ___ would attack them. Just to keep her clumsy girlfriend from doing or saying something she shouldn’t.
Although the more she catches a glimpse of those bloodshot eyes, the wrath in them as they scram for the unspilled blood of John Mercer. The more she fears of what ___ will do.
“___please. You want to save Neteyam? You cannot go out like this, anger on your mind and still injured”
So’lek the only one brave enough to face her head on, face indifferent to her raised hackles and low growls.
“Do not preach anger to me, Dog-Tag Warrior” ___ shakily pushes herself to her feet, unsteady for a second, hands reaching out to grip the rails for her hospital bed.
Her ribs only a mild pain now that she had taken the morphine out. It would not be long before she would feel it full-force.
But ___ did not care. Her pain meant nothing knowing that Neteyam, her love, her future mate was stuck under the filthy hands of Mercer.
“They took him, So’lek. Mercer took him from me and I will not lay down like coward and let him take anything else from me”
So’lek stares at the girl before him, the hate and rage in her eyes. The way she was barely able to get through a sentence without a gruttal growl overtaking her senses.
She was more predator than human. A stalking thanator that was rearing itself for a bloody fight.
So’lek prayed that Eywa would show her enemies mercy. Because there was nothing stopping her anymore.
They’d stolen her humanity.
“You really should be resting just a bit more! Please ___”
You slam the door shut in Alma’s face, hoping that it sends a clear message to the women.
You were not in the mood to entertain her faux motherly act. If anything, the more you were forced to be around her, the more that anger ate at you.
You know deep down inside, no matter how much she tries to make for what happened during TAP. You could never forgive her.
You tolerate her, for the sake of Teylan and Ri’nela. Even Nor, who won’t admit how much he clings to Alma. Despite his own hate for her.
But inside. Hidden, you seethe every time you see her. Every time her false body approaches as she tries to act like she is one of you.
Shaking her head, trying to push Alma from your mind. Her presence nothing more than a distraction.
You limp towards the mirror before stopping, head tilted as you stare at the person before you.
You note her mattered hair, blood and ash dirtying it. The purple and blue bruises that line her skin, ugly splotches of where she’d been attacked.
But the most jarring of all. Was the burns. There were smaller ones, ones that would heal within a couple of weeks. Gone like they were never there in the first place. Her ribs and thighs victim to the wounds.
But the biggest one. The one that would scar her of this moment for the rest of her life. Was the hand-like burn, that started at her neck and made its way to just the bottom of her lips. As though someone with a painted hand had smeared it down her neck.
All it was, was just another mark of his abuse.
You reached out, slow as you touch the burn. You couldn’t feel the pain. You don’t yet register that this girl before you is you.
“This will be the last time you touch me”
“Where are they are” voice monotone as you stare Priya down. The woman shaking, looking between you and then back to Alma who only shakes her head.
“We, well um we don’t a specific location, but me and Teylan were able to narrow it down to perhaps one of these 3 locations”
Priya shots a look at Teylan who steps in, voice cracking as soon as your heavy gaze falls on him.
“After listening to their communications, I thought maybe the best idea was to try and triangulate by using the aerial devices, but that didn’t really work out as we we’re getting too many pings but-“
“The locations Teylan. Please” you interrupt before he could on another long-winded spiel. One that would only waste your time.
“Right. Sorry. Uh, we have three locations. One is the omega drill base, the laser ore processor and” Teylan pauses for a second, clearing his throat before speaking, quieter this time.
“And the TAP facility”
You pause as you think about what Priya and Teylan have just said. Eyeing the holotable that projected all three different locations.
It would be on brand for Mercer to use TAP as a holding facility. Using the environment to his advantage, hoping to inflict as much pain upon you as possible.
And maybe it would’ve worked. The idea of being back in that cage would’ve had you crumbled. That same child all those years ago who hid under her bed in fear.
But they took him.
They took Neteyam. What else did you have to fear.
“We send a scout for each location. Once they confirm which place has them then we move”
Nobody speaks, looking at each other with confusion. Because this was the last thing they excepted.
With the way you had been a woman on a mission, mowing down whoever stood in your path.
To suddenly be thinking so calmly. It’s a complete change in pace. One that as So’lek questioning ___ and if there were hidden motives.
“Smart. But I would’ve thought you would want to attack straight away”
___ turns her glare on So’lek, unamused by his questions.
“And I’m not an idiot. Don’t think my anger means I lack patience”
So’lek hums, tail flicking as he looks over ___ who turns her back to him and immediately starts planning which scouts to send.
He would believe her any other time. Knows that she holds a strong strategic mind, hammered into her by the hands of Mercer and Harding. But there was one variable that made this whole thing precarious.
And it was Neteyam. The boy who earned the right to your heart, the one who saw past the tortured soul of a victim. And only ever saw the powerful warrior you were.
So’lek did not believe for a second that you were going to just sit back and wait.
Not when it came to the matters of the heart. The most beautiful yet dangerous notion of all.
“I will ask Etuwa to scout TAP, she will be at hometree and from there I will let the rest of the clan know the plan” you look around the table, waiting to see anyone refute your plan.
When theirs none you nod, pulling away from the holotable. The flight would be less then a few minutes, but anytime wasted as more time Neteyam spent with them.
“Good. Finish preparing, as soon as we get confirmation from our scouts. We’re hitting them hard and fast”
You turn your back on the group, making your way over to the storage cases that were usually managed by Daniela, who was currently absent.
You took the time to pick stock up on ammo, rustling through the box of shotgun shells. You note the worryingly low supply.
“___?”
You turn at the voice, eyes meeting Lo’aks own nervous ones. You watch as he clears his throat, hands clenched before speaking. Voice cracking at the start.
“I want to come. I want to help get back my brother and our parents”
Lo’ak takes you silence as a no, begins talking again. Anger slipping through his words as he speaks.
“Look I can take care of myself okay, I know what am I doing. But there’s no way you can ask me to sit this out, not when they have my family”
Lo’ak stops, catching his breath. He looks away, eyes downcast as his next words come out small.
“I already ran away once…I can’t abandoned them again”
“Lo’ak hated that we left our parents behind. Saw it as not as a way to protect this family but that we were abandoning them” Neteyam doesn’t stop his hand as it traces circles against the skin of arm as he speaks.
But you can see how lost he is, eyes glazed over as he no doubt thinks of that moment during the fight.
“Not that I blame him. I felt the same way, I didn’t want to leave them behind. If I didn’t have my siblings I would’ve gone back and fought with them”
You don’t speak, not yet, just letting him vent. To talk without interruption.
“I just wanted to protect my family. That’s all ever want”
Your heart lurches, breaking itself further apart when you look at Lo’ak. Because for a second all you can see is Neteyam.
You look down at the case of rifles before picking one up.
“You’ll join So’lek, listen to him and don’t go off alone” you push the rifle into Lo’ak’s arms. Ignoring his look of surprise as his eyes dart between you and the gun.
“W-wait you’re letting me come? You don’t think I’ll fu-mess up?”
Your head snaps to him, face dead serious, Lo’ak almost barreling into you.
“Can you shoot?”
“Yeah, our. Dad taught us”
“Then when the time comes you will fight” you step closer, until only a hairbreadth separates you.
“But if you disobey, if you do something to try and play the hero and someone gets killed? Not even Neteyam will save you. I’ll kill you myself”
You don’t stop to hear his reply, striding past him and towards the crafting table where your own weapons lay.
You leave Lo’ak to stow in your words. You know that all he ever wants to do is prove himself, it was easy to see how much he felt like he was shadowed under the light of Neteyam.
But you were not here to hold his hand. Not now. You would accept his help, his want to save his brother. But you made sure that he understood the consequences of letting his ego get the best of him.
You were not going to let anything nor anyone jeopardise this mission.
“___” Ri’nela voice, soft and concerned pulls you from your thoughts.
Turning your head and ignoring the zolt of pain that rushes down your spine. The morphine was wearing off and as such were begging to feel the pain of all your injuries.
Not that you would let it stop you.
“Sister” is all you say, turning you back on her to as you sort through your weapons. Testing the strength of your bows string. Jaw clenching when you note the dried blood along your heavy bow.
“I ask you. Not as your sister nor friend. But as your Tsahik, to think again before partaking in this upcoming fight. Please”
Ri’nela watches as ___ pauses in her motions. Dropping her heavy bow before slowly turning to face her.
Never once as Ri’nela been afraid of ___. She was her sister, her friend and one of the Sarentu. They had the shared experince of being in TAP, of facing the abuse and dealing with Mercer and Harding.
And through all the years that she has known her. Ri’nela has never once felt fear with her.
Not until now.
“And I am Olo'eykte. Stick to your prayers sister”
She picks her bow up, gun already in its sling and over her shoulder as she brushes past Ri’nela.
“And I’ll stick to what I know best”
Who watches as she leaves headquarters without a word. Her prescene a swirling mass of rage and death.
A single minded focus of getting back Neteyam. No thoughts nor care about anyone else. If they were not her allies then they were her enemies.
Ri’nela already could see the blood that would soak her sister’s hands.
And once again, as does all their pain. It lead them right back to Mercer.
“Hey sweet girl” you let your hackles soften as Nimun digs her snout into your chest, her soft cries as she finally is reunited with you. Connecting your kuru to her, letting your bond settle over you.
“I know. I know. Thank you for saving me. You did a good job”
You pull away to scratch under her chin, soft trills leaving her. You pull out her favourite meal, a pale coronis egg.
You offer to Nimun who stares at it and then you, you can feel the curiosity thrum through your bond. She knows that you don’t offer this just for any reason.
“I’m not wasting another second of Neteyam being with that monster. We’re going after him alone, just me and you”
Nimun squawks in favour, accepting your treat and reason as she lowers herself close to the ground for you to get on.
You’re in the air within seconds, cutting through the sky as you slowly you make your way back to where it all began.
You know Mercer better than anyone.
He would never miss out on making you relieve your suffering. There was no other place he would be.
You know he’ll be waiting for you. But that’s exactly what you want.
One last showdown with his head on a pike.
“Neytiri he’s waking up!”
Neteyam groans, mind blurred as he slowly wakes up. His head pounding, as though someone had dragged his skull across the ground.
He groans, whining as he opens his eyes only to shut them again at the bright lights that burn his vision.
“Hey, hey slowly. Don’t move too fast son”
Who…?
“Oh thank you great mother, thank you, thank you”
“Mom? Dad?” Neteyam calls out, eyes still closed, his body still in pain. But he would know those voices from anywhere.
“Yeah it’s us baby, we’re here” Jake pulls Neteyam closer to his chest, arms protectively wrapped around his eldest, Neytiri kneeling right beside him as her hands grip their sons.
They’d been shoved into this room for days now, trapped in some facility. Hands cuffed as they marched them from the heli and into this place.
It was abandoned, not obvious by the grown plants that had been slowly taking over. Yet it was still oddly preserved.
If you ignored one of the rooms that had been blown up by some detonator. Destroyed amp shoots and rotting corpses of the RDA.
All Jake was able to catch as they were dragged through the place was that this was at the hands of the resistance. Some dog-tag warrior.
But another thing that stood out the most to Jake and Neytiri, was that the room they were shoved into, a classroom. Was the size of the tables and chairs.
Too big for human usage. But the perfect size of avatars. And na’vi.
It was only then, alone in this room that Jake remembered why the name John Mercer was so famialr to him.
He remembers years ago when Grace would curse out the man. An egotistical prick more dangerous than Quaritch and Selfridge. Which at the time seemed absurd to him.
But then the news from the Western Frontier, from the resistance being run by Alma, someone he’d only met a few times before when she was in Hell’s Gate.
And then news of her lost students, ones who had been part of the TAP. A program that was heinous to its core.
Jake had no idea how they got the na’vi to accept taking their children away. But he knows it was not doing willingly.
But it was run all by one person. John Mercer. And if by his psychotic break about getting back the na’vi that belonged to him. Well it wasn’t hard to put two and two together.
Which brings them to now, only two days had passed when they were stuck in this room. No escape, windows unbreakable and with guards monitoring their everyone outside.
And then, the doors had slammed open as they threw a body on the ground. Mercer’s voice talking to them over the intercom.
“Think of it as a family reunion”
For a moment Jake saw himself back on that cursed rock, his baby boy bleeding out in his arms. His mate crying, begging for Eywa to not take her son. To not take another of her family.
It was Neytiri who had dropped to her knees first, a cry leaving her as she pulled Neteyam’s limp body onto her lap.
“Ma Jake! He’s breathing!”
Those words jumpstarting his heart again before he was flinging himself to the ground. Hands moving over his son’s still body, checking his wounds.
He’s breathing, he’s breathing, he’s breathing.
The mantra on repeat in his head. Mind a war as he kept being pulled between the past and present.
It was until his own hand pressed against Neteyams chest, over his heart, over the scarred bullet wound. Did Jake let himself settle.
And then to was just a waiting game. Neteyam laid out in their laps. Cleaning the ash from his body, monitoring his breathing. Whatever happened to him, he was spared from the worst.
“If our son is here…where are the rest of our children”
Jake couldn’t let himself focus on that. Couldn’t let himself think of the worst. Could only pray that they were safe. Unharmed.
Which brings them to now, Neteyam awake. Slowly coming out of his two day slumber, voice breaking as he speaks, eyes squinting as he looks up at them.
“Is this…is this real?”
Jake lets out a watery laugh, nodding as he kisses his son forehead. A small weight lifted off his shoulders. His alive and breathing.
“Hey kid, I’m real. We’re here. Mom and Dad are here”
And Neteyam, for the first time since they left the oceans. Forced to turn their backs on his family. Cries.
Sobs leaving him as he curls up in the arms of his father, hand gripping his mother. Unable to let himself be pulled away from. Still fearing that this was a sick and twisted dream.
It is Neytiri who is forced to break their reunion, holding Neteyams face in her hands. Fingers smoothing over the bruises that lined his face.
“Neteyam. Your siblings…are they?”
“No, no, no we’re okay! We flew for so long, didn’t look back like you said we found uturu with-“
Neteyam cuts himself off. Body tensing as he finally realises he’s here alone.
“Wait Mom where’s ___? She was with me, we were together when…”
Neteyam pulls himself from the safety of his Dad’s arms, ignoring their protests for him to stop.
“___? S-she was with me. We were on the mountain together” Neteyam staggers to his feet as he looks around the room of upturned tables and chairs, looking past the makeshift bed of his parents.
Golden eyes searching for one person, his heart breaking when he comes up empty.
“Dad please, I need to know”
Jake shakes his head, looking to Neytiri who is just as confused. He walks forward, hands slowly as he drops it on Neteyams shoulder.
“Son, hey. Hey look at me. Nobody else was dropped in here with us. It’s only been me and your Mom when they brought you here”
Neteyam can feel the world closing in around him. Shaking his head at Jake’s words.
“There was nobody else with you”
Neytiri can see the snap in her son’s eyes, wrath dripping from them in spades as he snaps his head to look around the room.
“Mercer! Mercer! I know you’re here. Show yourself”
He roars to the room, ears pinned back and tail lashing wildly. An unnatural growl leaving his lips.
It is a sight Neytiri has never seen before. Never thought that Neteyam of people would lose composure in such an animalistic rage.
Jake jumps forward, reaching for Neteyam to pull back down, to try and settle the rage that emits from him.
But the tapping of a glass has all three of them snapping their heads to the side. Looking at the man who has the audacity to wave at them with a pleased smile.
“You! Where is ___, what did you do to her”
Mercer tsks, shaking his head in faux disappointment.
“What a temper. I can see the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree”
Neytiri hisses at the man, coming up behind Neteyam to hold his shoulder.
“Where is she”
“Well unfortunately our little coup didn’t go exactly as planned. I was supposed to have the both of you here”
Mercer sighs, rolling his eyes like the situation was such an aggrievance to him.
“But I think I like this better. A family reunion at this special place? Oh ___ is going to love it”
Mercer predatory eyes never look away from Neteyam, the looks enough for Jake to step in front of his son, his hackles raised anytime the man looks their way.
“She won’t let you get away with this, whatever plan you think you have. _ will burn it to the ground She’ll come for you” Neteyam screams, hissing at monster dressed up as man who was the cause of the Sarentus pain. Of your pain.
Mercer only smirks, eyes dark with the plan he had set in motion. The one that would bring back his property.
“Exactly what I’m counting on kid”
Neteyam goes to throw himself at the glass, only to be pulled back by Jake. His Dad’s arms wrapped tight around him as he pulls him back.
Mercer only sneers at the sight, spiting on the ground.
“You’ll get your due like the savages you are. And I’ll get my trophy”
𝑬𝑵𝑫 𝑵𝑶𝑻𝑬𝑺 | ahh yes trauma response of shutting down your emotions and going into fight mode. We love to see it 🙂↕️ and y/n being an ass to Ri’nela…but yk how it is. Love of ur life was taken by ur abuser…gonna be just a tad stressed.
Oh and Sully reunion! Half Sully but YAY!
I had fun writing this!! And I hope you enjoyed reading it. Again sorry if it was short, butt be rest assured that the next chapter will be longer <3
Again tyty for all the love and support on this series 😽🤍
(btw i have not slept and have a horrible migraine. Would not recommend drinking five cans of energy drinks. So if i you see any spelling/grammar mistakes ummm kindly ignore…I’ll get around to editing that eventually…)
𝑺𝒀𝑵𝑶𝑷𝑺𝑰𝑺 | “And boy, it really hurts to see you and her. Be so in love, it makes me sick”
𝑾𝑶𝑹𝑫 𝑪𝑶𝑼𝑵𝑻 | 4.3k
𝑵𝑶𝑻𝑬𝑺 | Spider is literally my favourite white boy right after Jake ok. We need more fics of him because he’s so endearing to me 🥹🖤
𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑝𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑒𝑑 — 𝑑𝑒𝑎𝑑 𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑚
“He belongs with his own kind” your mother’s voice fills your ears and as a sense of anger and disgust wash over you.
Sky people. Demons. Humans.
It didn’t matter what they were called. They were evil, no care for life, no understanding beyond wanting to take what wasn’t theirs.
They would kill and sacrifice whatever they deemed nesscary if it meant their end goals would be met.
You heard the stories, had seen the memories shared through the tree of souls, the way your mother still bore the scars of the sky people. The loss of her sister, father and friend.
How your father would wake up from nightmares that clung to him the rest of the day. Eyes glazed with the memories of what the humans did, of his own torrid actions back on earth.
You understood why your mother hated humans.
But Spider wasn’t like them. He never would be.
Your best friend, the boy you grew up with. The one you loved so endlessly. His prescene was like air to your lungs.
The same spider who struggled with being accepted as one of the people. Who did more for your family than anyone would ever realise nor admit.
How easily he threw himself into the fire if it meant protecting you all. Keeping his lips sealed even when they tourted him with their metal devices.
You had cried to yourself, alone and away from eyes, when he told you what happened. The faux smile he tried to wear as he downplayed what he went through.
But you could see it. The invisble scars.
How being crowded by too many people at once had his chest began feeling heavy, eyes searching for an escape.
You had seen the bruises on his wrists, his ankle and body. The purple and blue that faded overtime but what they represented. It never left yours nor Spiders mind.
And the war in his eyes everytime he had to step into medbay, eyeing the metal and human members with an uneasiness.
Your friend. Your Spider.
He’d been through so much. All for you. For this family.
And your mother thought to leave him with his own kind? When they held him prisoner, when they tried to break him, when they hurt him like he was nothing more than some animal rather than a person.
“He helped us, helped you” your voice cutting in before you can stop yourself. Breaking the stare-off between Neytiri and Jake as he looked to you.
“y/n please” your father started, already knowing where this conversation was going to go.
Jake wasn’t stupid. As much as his kids tried to hide it, he knew what loved looked like. And he knew when his own kids were in love.
He knew it when he saw Lo’ak and Tsireya. When he saw the shared looks between Neteyam and Ao’nung.
Before…when he was alive.
And he had seen the way you watched Spider. The love in your eyes, the soft touches. How you clung to him the way humans needed air. His first defender, always putting yourself in front of him when some of the clans barbed words became too sharp.
You loved him for just exisiting. He didn’t need to be anyone else to you.
And despite that love you held so close to your chest. You never tried to push it, never tried to make your love known.
Because you had seen the way Kiri would laugh at him, cheeks flushed as she pushed a wayward strand of hair behind her ear.
Or the way Spider would never shut up about how amazing Kiri was, how he would stutter in front of your sister like an idiot, that ever present blush on his cheeks when he tried to make her laugh.
And Jake had seen it. He knew. Watched as you stepped back, away from the light. Away from the boy you loved.
You always did, because when it came to your family. Your sisters and brothers, you’d do anything.
Even if that meant suffering with a broken heart in silence.
And because of that love, he knew how this conversation would go. Your love for Spider and Neytiri’s hate for him.
An immovable object vs unstoppable force
“No Dad! Mum can’t keep acting like Spider is like the rest of them when he’s not” your voice getting louder with each word, fists clenched as you hide the way nerves eat at you.
“He’s saved helped us so many times, always fighting for our family! And you can barely look at him”
Neytiri tail whips back and forth, her expression slowly hardening the more you talked.
But despite that, you push through the fear that hammers at your heart. Swallowing down the ball lodged at the back of your throat before you speak again, voice soft.
“Spider is not our enemy, tell me what has he ever done that has caused you to hate him so much”
You hate the way your own voice breaks this time as you’re standing up to your mother, how watery your eyes become as you try to control your emotions.
But you’re just so tired. Tired of the humans, of this war that had been passed onto you whether you liked it or not. The death, so much death.
And Neteyam…his death that broke you the most. Your soul cleaved in two, missing your other half. Your twin.
Your heart fractures and this time you can feel tears roll down your cheeks. Because you know that your big brother would’ve been right next to you. His shoulder on your hand, fighting for Spider just as much as you were.
When you mother doesn’t give you an answer you can’t help but scoff, the sound watery but no less angry.
“His only sin was being born a human”
You step closer, ignoring how your father comes beside you, his hands on your shoulder to pull you from doing something stupid.
“You can’t see past all your hate to see all the goodness inside him. He’s not some demon, this evil sky-person you have made up in your mind
He’s real. He lives and breathes our culture. He speaks our language. He hunts like us. Paints himself in blue so he can feel even a semblance of acceptance”
You can’t stop the words, chest heaving as you finally speak all you’d been holding back.
“Spider cries, he laughs and he feels pain just like you and me. He bleeds when he’s hurt, his stomach aches when he’s hungry. He’s human…he‘s real. But he is not some monster
He does this thing when he laughs, it’s like he can’t choose if he wants to stop or not. And so he tries to stop but he just ends up snorting and choking on his own spit”
You think back to every time you had fallen against each other, tears in your eyes as you tried to maintain some dignity, failing as you Spider would choke on his own laughter.
“And you know his eyes, they’re not really fully brown. When the sun just hit’s right you can see flecks of green
And his hands? He might have four fingers but they hold so much love and strength in them. All of those times he stood with us, ready to fight. When he held Tuk when she was crying, when he held me”
You were crying, inconsolable as your family dragged you away from Neteyam’s body. You couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. You just wanted to rest forever curled up on his chest.
It wasn’t right, it was unnatural to live in a world where your twin was dead.
“It’s ok. I’m here, you can let go” Spiders earthy scent tinged with iron, filling your nose as he held you to his chest. Your tears soaking his skin like a tattoo, hands bruising his body as you screamed and cried, begging for Eywa to let your brother come back.
“I’ve got you y/n…I’m right here”
“You say all humans are capable of Is destruction and death. But all I feel with his is love and protection”
You’re breathless by the end of it, uncaring of anyone who had listened to your outburst. Barely even remembering when you raised your voice, but by the look on your mother’s face and your own aching throat, you were.
Your eyes shut for a moment, taking in a deep breath before looking back to stunned Mum.
You were just so tired of it all.
“You accepted Dad. Even after all he did, you trusted him again. You loved him”
You ignore the way your Dad ears droop, his tail lashing once, twice before curling around his leg in comfort.
No doubt thinking of his own actions. How his choices lead to many grave mistakes.
“So why can’t you do the same for Spider”
You don’t wait for a response, removing your Dad’s hand from your shoulder carefully before leaving.
You needed a break, just a moment away from your family. The clan. From the drama and heartbreak you had been through for the past twenty-four hours.
Just you and nobody else.
“Do you love him”
You don’t look away from where your ikran, Temek, is laid out on his back. Rolling around, remincest to the cat video Norm had once shown Neteyam who had ‘temporarily borrowed’ his datapad.
The two of you hiding under the blanket together as you explored the world of humans. You remember how red your twin went, eyes wide as he tried to hide his less than appropriate search history.
You couldn’t stop laughing, unable to breathe, even as your Dad had stood over you two. Trying to be stern but failing every time you would start laughing again, especially when Neteyam would tackle you and try and shut you up.
Your chest tightens at the thought of your brother. Oh how you missed him. Wishing every day you’d wake up to his stupid grin.
Instead you woke alone, half your heart buried. His armguard you wore every day a physical reminder that he was alive. He was real.
“Do you love him” Kiri asks you again, slow as she takes a seat beside you.
You don’t look at your sister, partly because this conversation was the last thing you wanted to have. But mostly because telling Kiri would make it all real.
“My answer doesn’t change anything” is what you settle for, the cowards way out. The easy version.
But Kiri was a Sully. Meaning she didn’t know when to back down.
“That doesn’t answer anything. Do you love Spider?”
You breathe out a huff before finally turning to look to Kiri, your little sister looking to you with indignat eyes. Her lips pursed as she plays with the ends of her braid.
I could scream. Yell until my throat bleeds, until I cannot speak again. I could roll on the ground and throw a tantrum about how Spider was mine first.
I could tell her to back off. Dig into her insecurities and say that Spider would never love a freak like her.
I could be a horrible person. A horrible sister.
Just so he could be mine. For a second, a minute, hours, months or years. All the time to no time in the world.
Anything would be enough to saite me.
And for a second you think about it. Let yourself imagine a world where Kiri backs off, lets you have this.
Where Spider is finally yours to touch and love freely. For all to know that it was this silly human with his too big heart that had captured you.
That he would be your bonded.
But the look on Kiri’s face, how she can barely hold eye contact with you before shes looking back to the ground. Hands tightening around her braid, failing to self-soothe herself.
You’d never forgive yourself for coming between them. You couldn’t hurt your sister and best friend this way.
And besides, it’s not like you know if Spider liked you back. He had only ever shown interest in Kiri.
Never you. No matter much you dreamed for it.
“Spider is my best friend Kiri. Of course I love him” her breath hitches and eyes water.
“But not like that. Not the way you love him. He’s nothing more than my best friend”
Liar.
“He’s like a brother to me”
L I A R
“But…all those things you said to Mom and Dad? That didn’t sound like something you’d say about a friend”
Your jaw clenches as you’d been hoping she didn’t hear any of that. Your moment of weakness as you waxed poetry about Spider. Knowing that if they didn’t know already, they know about your feelings for him by now.
“I mean you told me how you loved being around Rotxo, that his soul was like yours. I didn’t think that meant you were in love him”
You almost feel bad for the boy in how quick Kiri scrunches her nose, rapidly shaking her head.
“Eywa no! He’s a good friend and nothing more”
Ouch, sorry Rotxo
“Well it’s like that. I promise you Kiri, I am not romantically in love with Spider”
You swallow the bile that builds at the back of your throat. All this lying getting to you.
Die, die, die.
“Besides, I’ve seen the way you two look at each other”
Die, die, die, die, die, die.
“Nobody could ever come between that. Least of all me”
You force yourself to move, grabbing your sister’s hand and holding it tight as she finally seems to relax. Easily believing you, because what reason would you ever have to lie.
“I’ve seen how he looks at you. How you look at him. The love, the trust and friendship you two share is unlike anything else”
You move so your wraps around her shoulders instead this time, her head coming to rest on your shoulder.
Your eyes misty, that same goddamn ball growing at the back of your throat. You push it down and out of mind.
You were never going to let Kiri find out the truth. You’d rather kill yourself.
“You’re worried about nothing lil sis. Spider loves you just as much as you love him”
He always has and always will.
You hoped that Kiri would’ve been your last visitor for the night, having promised you’d see her later back at camp.
You still wanted that alone time.
Of course, the world had other plans for you. You playfully roll your eyes when you heard the crunch of a stick and low curse.
Unable to stop the small grin from tugging at your lips or the way your tail curls happily at his prescence.
“Hey tiger”
“Hey blue”
Spiders smile is beautiful, the way his eyes crinkle, that small dimple on his cheek as he drops beside you, uncaring of your personal space.
Tiger and Blue, nicknames you had for each other since you were children.
From Spiders insistence that you were exactly like the old animals from earth. The mighty tiger. He never elaborated much as to why you reminded him of one but his few simple words were enough for you.
“Tigers have stripes are cool. And your cool too”
You had then came up with blue. It was partly to tease how much he’d paint himself the colour trying to be na’vi. You always told him he never needed to, you loved him either way.
You want to ask him why he’s here, not that you’d ever be against having his company. But after today and that already emotionally draining conversation with Kiri
You were really hoping he was only here to tell you some dumb story.
“So um. Kiri said you guys had an interesting conversation”
You shoulder drop and you bite your lip to contain the whine of distress that wants to escape you.
Fuck me.
“It was stupid to begin with and we cleared it up anyway so it was nothing” you try to wave it off, hoping Spider buys it.
“She thought you were in love with me”
He pauses, licking at his lips as he tilts his head, brows furrowed.
“But Kiri must’ve just been tired, confused by everything because you’d never be in love with me”
The way Spider says it, part pained and with a sense of resignation. It has you pausing, looking away from your scenery of the floating rocks to stare at him.
Heart jolting to see Spider already looking at you. And god, even under the moonlight he’s never looked more beautiful.
The way the light brings out that hidden gold in his eyes, the sheen of saliva on lips as he continues to bite at his skin. The ever present light blush on his cheeks.
All you wanted was to hold him in the palms of his hands and kiss him. To feel his touch against your skin.
You realise you’d been staring at him too long, not giving him an answer to his question.
“Right?”
You blink and shake yourself from your thoughts, forcing a fake smile onto your face.
“Yeah. She was just, she heard somethings and got confused”
You look away, back to the view in front of you. Because if you looked any longer into his eyes, you’d do something insanely selfish and stupid.
But it would be worth it no…?
“What did she hear that made her think…that” Spider now turning his whole body to look at you.
You shrug, hands playing with Neteyam’s armband.
“Just got into an argument with Mom that’s all”
“About me? You shouldn’t let me be the reason why you guys fight, I’m not worth it”
You turn to him then, angry at how little Spider thinks of himself. How he won’t let himself be defended, especially when he deserves it the most.
“You are worth it stupid, you can’t just ask me to ignore how my Mom talks about you, especially when you don’t deserve it”
Spider only shakes his head, looking down at his hands, digging at his own cuticles.
“But I’m not. I’m just a stray pet that takes up too much space. I know what the clan thinks of me. I’m nothing”
The growl leaves your lip before you can stop it, entering Spider personal space as you grip his shoulders, shaking him almost.
“Stop it! You’re a fucking idiot if you a think for a second I care what anyone else thinks of you?”Breathless almost as you look down at Spider in nothing more than righteous anger.
“You’re not some heartless demon my mother thinks you are. I see more kindness in you than I’ve ever met in anyone else. I mean I’ve seen you cry over having to kill a fish for food”
You can feel your throat tighten again, voice breaking.
“You’re so precious to me Spider. I wish you could see the way I see you”
You shake your head when silence is answered in return. Your cheeks flushing in embarrassment.
“Forget it-“
Your words are cut off by the feeling of his lips. Your heart stops, your breath hitches at finally being able to taste him.
You can’t stop yourself, hands coming up to cradle his face in your hands, lips moving against each other, forcing years of one-sided love into this kiss.
Because you know that deep down, this will never happen again. Spider will never be yours to touch like this.
So you’ll commit this sin in the middle of the night, with only Eywa as witness to your forbidden love.
You moan as his tongue slips against yours, tail curling around his leg as you pull him closer, body almost fused together.
You hold it, one more second, one more taste before pulling away. A thin string of spit connecting you.
Spider lets out a gasp, cheeks a dark red and his eyes lidded as he looks up at you. Chest heaving as he tries to speak, but failing.
“y/n I…”
You shake your head, hand coming to cover his mouth before resting your forehead against his.
“This means nothing” you ignore how his body goes taut under you and whatever muffled words leave his lips.
“You love Kiri and she loves you. And we?” You stop yourself for a second, eyes shut tight. Unwilling to cry. Not now and not in front of Spider.
“We were just too late. This moment is all that will be for us, now and never again”
You open your eyes this time, meeting those devastating brown eyes. Looking up at you, wounded and watery.
“We just weren’t meant to be in this life”
Maybe in another time. A simpler world where he wasn’t a human and you weren’t na’vi. Where your family is happy. Your brother alive.
Maybe then you’d have a chance. But not now, not in this world.
“You can’t just ask me to forget this” Spider shots back, gripping your hand in his own. You ignore the flutter at the size difference between the two of you.
“You will. Because you love Kiri more than you would ever like me”
Spider shakes his head, but he doesn’t refute you. He can’t.
“That’s not fair” he all he can say. Words soft and broken, his grip softening.
“Maybe. But you won’t change it and I’d never ask you to”
You push him away, standing to your feet. Looking down at him one last time.
“I’m sorry y/n”
You shake your head, body moving before you stop it. Cupping his face one last time, letting yourself hold him as you study everything on his face.
Those brown eyes, pretty and long eyelashes, the ever present blush on his cheeks. That small scar on his chin, and that spackle of freckles that line along the bridge of his nose. And those ever so soft and kissable lips.
“I see you Spider. But you won’t ever see me”
You leave him before he could say anything back. Not that you would listen in the first place. You meant everything you said.
No matter how much your heart was tearing itself apart. How you couldn’t stop the tears that flowed, you were not breaking your promise.
Spider would never be yours. And you would learn to be okay with that, you would accept his friendship and the platonic love. You’d learn.
You would have that moment alone, of his body under yours, his lips pressed against yours. That moment in time would suffice you enough.
You would force yourself to accept it.
As you walk into your family marui, you see nobody else but your father. Jake cross legged on the ground, a familiar necklace in his hand.
You wore a matching one.
“Mom and Dad are so going to kills us”
You stare down at the dead viperwolf before looking to where Neteyam is on the ground, a long bloody wound on his leg. One that matches your own.
“Maybe. But at least we got some cool looking necklaces”
You give Neteyam a deadpan stare as he proudly shows off two bloody viperwolf fangs in his hands.
“I don’t know how you ever convinced our parents you were the responsible one. Your just as bad Lo’ak”
Neteyam only grins at you, the one where his cheeks pull up and show off his fangs, eyes crinkled in that rare show of mischiveness.
“I’m just better at hiding it”
“Hey babygirl” your dad’s voice pulls you from the memories, leg lighting up in phantom pain as you remember how you and Neteyam had told hold each other as you made it back home.
You don’t say anything as you drop to the ground in front of him, careful to not break it before collapsing into his arms.
“Hey? What’s the matter” Jake drops Neteyam necklace back into the basket, arms wrapping around you on instinct as he holds you close.
“I just really want you to hold me, please” Your voice breaks and this time you don’t try and hide back the sobs.
Breaking down in your dad’s arms, letting your tears soak his skin. Hands digging into his skin to hold onto something real.
“Oh sweetheart, it’s ok. Dad’s got you. I’m here, everything is gonna be okay”
You don’t fight him, just letting yourself fall deeper into his arms as he bundles you up against his chest just like when you were a newborn.
Nothing was okay. And it wouldn’t be. Not for a very long time.
You’d get there eventually. Just now not.
“You okay monkey boy? You look pale”
Kiri hands cups his face, and what was once a gesture of comfort and love now feels tainted.
Your hand doesn’t feel right.
Spider wants to blurt it out but he holds it back, biting down on his tongue until the metallic taste iron fills his senses.
“I’m fine. Just, tired after everything”
He ignores the fear and nerves. Forcing himself to smile at her.
Kiri smiles right back at him before leaning forward and planting a soft and sweet kiss to his cheek.
“Good. I missed you”
Her head rests on his shoulder as she goes off on a little tangent about her day, what she did in their time apart.
And any other time Spider knows he’d love it, engaged with her the whole time. Stopping Kiri and asking her to explain something he didn’t understand. So many questions and jokes before they’d find themselves on a completely different topic.
But now?
All he can think about…is you.
𝑬𝑵𝑫 𝑵𝑶𝑻𝑬𝑺 | no happy ending! Which is on brand because I usually don’t have happy endings in anything I write. DOW being the only exception since I think I’d be hunted down and killed if I tried to kill anyone off.
But yeah, i love how this unrequited love oneshot turned also into me mourning Neteyam. He lowkey haunted the narrative, because i did just finish rewatching the second movie and was in my feels.
Anyway I hope you enjoyed! It was a little short and sweet thing. I probably won’t expand on this, but I will definitely write more about Spider in the future 🤍
𝑺𝒀𝑵𝑶𝑷𝑺𝑰𝑺 | “your the eldest. my firstborn. it means you’ve got a job, one you might not want. but you’ll do it to protect you siblings. protect this family…repeat after me. my family, my responsibility”
𝑪𝑶𝑵𝑻𝑬𝑵𝑻 | childbirth, mentions of blood, some explicit language used, Jake being a stressed out dad for no reason. Tskxoä taking after her mama. Small injuries to child and mentions of close near death [nothing extreme or explicit]
𝑾𝑶𝑹𝑫 𝑪𝑶𝑼𝑵𝑻 | 4.4k
𝑵𝑶𝑻𝑬𝑺 | welcome to my new series!! I will update randomly, no real set days or anything like that. Will take place over the course of the two movies. Depending on if I do catch up to the third movie then I might venture into afop territory. Again nothing really set in concrete
𝐈. 𝔰𝔱𝔯𝔬𝔫𝔤 𝔥𝔢𝔞𝔯𝔱
Tskxoä had been born ten months after the Battle of Ayram Alusìng. Born just outside Hell Gates under a mighty storm that had knocked out power, torn up homes and left a raging fire in the Na’rìng forest.
Neytiri had been in labour for almost 33 hours, her heart was weakening, Jake was wearing the ground thin as he panicked and Mo’at was pleading with Eywa to not take another child from her.
“Jake, please” Neytiri cried to her husband, her body heaving with exhaustion as she reached for her mate, hand gripping his shoulder as she pulled him towards her.
Jake could feel her nails dig into his skin, the small trickle of blood that began to flow down his arm.
But none of the pain registered, not when his wife and child were suffering and in danger.
“I’m here baby, right here. You’ve been doing so good” he cooed, despite the way his heart was racing. He would be the strength for her.
“I can’t, I’m so tired” Neytiri let out a sharp screech at the end of her sentence, her head lolling back as she tried to push. To muster the energy to have this child.
“That’s quitter talk, you said I had strong heart” Jake cupped her cheek, wiping the tears tracks, ignoring his heart breaking at the exhaustion and fear.
“But you’ve got the stronger heart yeah?” Jake leans down, foreheads pressed together as he soothes her.
“Carrin’ our child, helping this clan get back together. Providing for this family”
Jake ears prick up when he hears the familiar voices of Norm and Max, relief filling him as they clamber into the tent.
“You just gotta do one more thing, just gotta push our baby. So I can scold them for making their mum and dad worry so much”
Neytiri lets out a weak laugh, letting herself sag in the arms of her husband. Her eyes fluttering shut as a wave of sleep washes over her.
Jake panics now, looking down at his wife before back to Norm who was in the midst of setting up the EKG.
“She’s sleeping! She shouldn’t be sleeping right” He doesn’t wait for a response, turning back to his mate to wake her up when Max pops up beside him.
“No, no it’s okay Jake. Sleep can be good for prolonged pregnancies, it’ll help conserve her energy for when it comes to pushing again”
As Norm places the electrodes on Neytiri, mindful to not wake her up. Nodding along to Max’s words.
“We know she’s essentially been in labour for the past 30 hours. And usually that would be cause to worry”
Norm moves out of the way for Mo’at who had finished her prayers, sitting herself beside her daughter as she carefully cleans her face of sweat and tears.
“But it’s her first birth, this is pretty normal. But we’ll do a checkover, make sure we don’t miss anything. She’ll be fine Jake”
Norm grips his friend’s shoulder in comfort. “Everything will be okay”
Jake nods, looking back to Neytiri as he sits close. One hand holding her hand, rubbing circles into her hand whilst the other rest carefully on her stomach.
“Already fighting us and you aren’t even out of the womb”
Mo’at drops the cloth into the bowel of water, reaching over to grip Jake’s wrist. Squeezing it in comfort.
“Your child has a strong heart. Just like her mother and father”
Jake huffs out a small laugh, leaning down to press a kiss to Neytiri’s forehead. Pushing a wayward hair behind her ear with love.
“Just hope they get all of Neytiri’s traits”
Don’t be like me. Please.
𝐈𝐈. 𝔟𝔩𝔢𝔰𝔰𝔢𝔡 𝔟𝔶 𝔱𝔥𝔲𝔫𝔡𝔢𝔯
“Come on baby, you’re doing so good” Jake letting Neytiri crush his hand, her screams of pain a hurt he couldn’t fight. Couldn’t fix.
It was nature running its course. Eywa’s plan as Mo’at kept reminding him, despite the fact she was no less worried or restless.
The storm that had been building was at its peak. Too late for them to take refuge inside Hell Gate, the baby was on its way and it would wait for no one it seemed.
“Alright Jake the baby is crowning okay. Just one last, big push”
Neytiri moaned, shaking her head as she sobbed, she couldn’t. She was on fire, inside and out. She couldn’t do this.
“No, I can’t. Please sa’nu, it hurts”
“Come here Jake Suli, you will deliver your child whilst I care for mine” she motions for them to switch places.
Jake pauses, because he fears. Fears leaving Neytiri behind to hold onto something even more precious. His kid, their kid.
How’d doesn’t he know he won’t fuck it up, destroy his child just from holding them. He never expected to be a father so soon, was hoping he’d have another year or two before finally being ready.
“Jake” Mo’at’s voice drags him from his spiral, looking back to his wife who withers in pain.
“Be right here baby, you’ve got this”
He leaves a lingering kiss to her forehead before taking Mo’at position, kneeling between her legs.
It he was totally honest, he would rather face down the RDA alone. More fear in messing up fatherhood than taking on humans.
The storm was picking up, Jake can hear the sound of rain slamming against the homes. The shouts of his clan as they struggle with the storm pressing against them.
As Olo’eyktan he knows he should be out there helping, making sure his clan, his people are looked after and safe.
But nothing matters more than this right now. He can feel their child, hands slick in amniotic fluid and blood.
“Fuck this storm is messing with the equipment. Norm turn it off, no use having a metal machine be active during a thunderstorm”
Max lets Norm deal with that before he comes to Jake side, already seeing his friend in the stages of panic.
“Ok you can fear their head yeah? That means all we need is one big push and she’ll be here”
Jake nods, eyes wide and tail lashing behind in fear.
“Almost there Jake. You’ll be a dad in no time”
That’s the problem.
“Come on daughter, push” Mo’at encourages, holding Neytiris hand as her daughter screams herself horse.
“I’ll kill you Jake! You did this to me you bastard”
Jake knows he shouldn’t laugh, but he squeezes Neytiri ankle and laughs. His chest tight and eyes watery.
“I know baby. I promise you can kick the shit out of me when this baby is born”
Neytiri only growls, eyes shut tight as she takes a second to breathe. Before they snap open, yellow eyes blazed with that same determination she had when they thought back the RDA.
“One last push”
The words are said over and over again to her. From her mate to her mother and from Norm and Max. All these people telling her to push when all she wants is to take her bow and arrow and shove them right up-
Neytiri inner monologue cut short by that same intense fiery pain, getting worse and worse by the second.
No more. I am shoving this child out and never doing this again.
And as Neytiri growls, jaw clenched in concentration, screaming with each heave as she pushes and pushes.
And then.
The world shakes and thunders before a loud, piercing crack snaps against the top of the healing marui. There is a burst of heat and flame, the hair standing at the back of Jakes neck when…
Cries. Loud, mournful cries fill his ears and Jake looks down.
Their child, covered in blood and mucus, eyes slowly before wide amber eyes stare at him. Little body crying, not in fear, but confusion.
His eyes take everything in at once. The stripes on their skin, the spotted bioluminescent freckles.
“Oh. It’s a girl
And then his heart drops at the four little fingers curled up.
No…
And no. No, it wasn’t fear or anger or disgust at the sight of them. At what made their little girl just like him.
It was the implication. Of how the clan would look at them. It didn’t matter that Jake was Olo’eyktan or Toruk Makto.
He was still judged for the four fingers. Still heard the uncertain whispers of a demon leading this clan.
And the last thing he wanted as for his daughter’s life to be difficult.
“Bond. Make the bond with our daughter Jake” Neytiri whispers out, a smile on her lips as she sees their child. How small she looked in her mates hands.
And Jake, he looks around at everyone. Unsure, still confused. Still so fucking scared. Still so fixated on that extra finger.
And it’s only at their encouraging nods that he brings his kuru over his shoulder, tendrils flicking out as he reaches for their daughter’s own.
And it’s nothing like a bond with the ikrans and direhorses. This was different.
It was deeper, feeling her fear and confusion. But not at him, because she knew this man holding her was her father. But at the bright lights, the smell of smoke and of no longer being in the home of her mother.
But here, with their kuru connected. Jake fell in love again. And this time with his beautiful little girl who let out her first small coo of happiness.
He can hear Max and Norm moving around him, speaking as they pack things away. Getting ready to move them into the main building.
But all he can focus on is his daughter.
Tskxoä. The name they agreed upon after countless hours of playful arguing. Back and forth of names. Some too human.
“We are not calling our a child Karen”
Some too na’vi.
“Sweetheart I say this with the most amount of respect. But I can’t in good nature, for the sake of our child’s future, let you call them Eyfrryrrisur”
“That was my great grandfathers name”
“And was he bullied as a child?”
“…we are still not calling them Karen or John”
And then they decided on Tskxoä. On a rainy day, when storms had thundered down and Jake had broken his bow. The two huddled in their Mauri, existing in a moment of peace when Jake whispered the name.
Neytiri had smile, that crinkle one Jake was so, so in love with.
“It is Perfect. Our little Tskxoä”
“I think we’re okay…the mauri wood was thick enough. But we shouldn’t tempt nature” Norm warns as he and Max pack away what they can to take back.
Leaving behind the EKG, not wanting to risk taking it out during the storm.
But Jake doesn’t care, his mind focused on only two things. Two of the most important people in his life right now.
“Tskxoä” Neytiris voice, soft and breathless. Her hands outstretched for him and their child. Their beautiful babygirl.
Wanting her turn to hold their daughter, childish almost as she makes grabby hands.
Jake hands her over with no qualms, disconnect their bond as he watches closely over his family.
Neytiri takes their daughter into her arms, arms shaky as she pulls her kuru to connect with Tskxoä. A sigh of relief leaving her lips as she brings her little girl close to her chest.
“Sweet, sweet girl. You took too long to let your mama see you”
Neytiri barely pays Jake attention as he wraps her up in a blanket before lifting her up in his arms.
Completely enamoured with her baby in her arms, eyes crinkling as she shares every memory, every emotion. Cementing their bond as mother and daughter.
Tskxoä stares up at them, her amber eyes staring up at her with a quietness that was not found among many newborns.
Neytiri remembers how her mother would try and scare and Jake, how they would be up all night and day dealing with a child whose screech would rival an ikrans.
But here, Tskxoä was quiet. Soft coos and babbles leaving her mouth as her small hand grips Neytiri’s finger.
Jake looks down at his two girls, barely able to contain his grin as he leaves a quick peak to his mates cheek and another on Tskxoä.
“Max went ahead already to make space for Neytiri, should be ready by the time you get there”
Jake nods, holding his girls tighter in his arms making sure the blanket is wrapped tight over them.
He pauses just at the entrance to the healing tent, looking to Mo’at who was humming to herself, eyes shut as she said a prayer to Eywa.
Jake doesn’t get a chance to say anything before she lifts a hand and waves him away, eyes still shut.
“Go Jake Sulli, look after my daughter and granddaughter”
Her eyes do open then, sparing him a heavy side glare. That same no nonsense look that Eytukan had once gave him.
“Your status of Olo’eyktan matters little to me when it comes to them”
𝐈𝐈𝐈. 𝔱𝔥𝔦𝔰 𝔩𝔦𝔱𝔱𝔩𝔢 𝔭𝔢𝔯𝔰𝔬𝔫
It took Jake days to get used to having another living creature in their home. Tskxoä, was still the most silent baby ever, she didn’t cry when she was hungry, didn’t cry when she was hurt.
Not even when she wanted attention, silent until Jake popped his face over her crib. Her little babbles of happiness enough to soften even the hardest of hearts.
Jake remembers the stories, how the hunters would speak of long nights staying up to attend to their restless child. Piercing screams and clothes that stunk of throw up.
Jake had been preparing himself for something similar. Waiting for those sleepless nights, the non-stop headaches and smelly clothes.
Yet…nothing.
At first he worried, anxious as he debated back and forth with Neytiri about why his little girl wasn’t screaming and crying.
“And you want that?” Neytiri asked, head tilted in confusion and amusement as her mate cradled Tskxoä in his arms.
She noted the way their daughter’s amber eyes never strayed away from her dad. Little fists holding tight onto his thumb as he paced back and forth.
“Anything is better than silence! Are we sure she’s not broken? Maybe we need to go to your mother”
And Neytiri, even after trying to placate Jake, relented and they made their way to Mo’ats new healing mauri. The old one was far too ruined to try and fix after that thunderstorm.
When Jake dropped beside his mother-in-law, Tskxoä still held protectively in his arms, speeding through his explation of why he was worried.
Mo’at all but looked at the man in front with nothing but rolled eyes and playful disdain.
It was sobering that even the great Toruk Makto, Olo’eyktan and warrior was just as hopeless as every other parent.
“She is fine Jake Sulli. Calmer than most newborns but there is nothing wrong with her, so do not fret”
Neytiri who had been watching from behind, arms crossed as she listened with a small grin. She couldn’t say, ‘I told you so’ to Jake. Because she loved how much her mate loved and cared for their daughter.
It was endearing how close he kept Tskxoä close to them. If she wasn’t in the crib, she was curled on his chest as he held her all night.
She still remembers how fearful Jake had been before she was born. Anxious as he rushed around their home ‘baby-proofing’ everything that could kill their child.
“Maybe Norm could do a brain scan…”
Neytiri rolled her eyes then, coming to kneel beside Jake as she gently took Tskxoä from him despite his small protests.
“Listen to your Tsahìk. Our daughter is fine” she lets a little mischievous grin grown on her lips. “Besides, you have plenty of clan duties to attend to. So go”
Jake groaned, knowing he’d put off being Olo’eyktan for the past few weeks for Tskxoä. He didn’t realise how quick time had passed and how much he loved doing nothing but being with his two girls.
“Look after yourselves, I should be home before eclipse”
Jake kisses Neytiri before looking down at Tskxoä who was already reaching out for him. Her little hands grabbing at the air and twisting the knife that had lodged itself into his heart.
“I’ll be back soon sweetheart” Jake plants a soft kiss to her head, huffing to himself when she gurgled and babbled out those adorable noises.
Maybe he could try and shove his duties to some of the other hunters…it wouldn’t be the end of the world if he spent one more day home.
“Jake” Neytiri warned, already knowing what her husband was thinking. Watching as he rose up with his hands up in defence.
“I’m going, I’m going”
As he turned to leave the mauri, he stops by the entrance, one more look back at his family.
Never did he think life would turn out this way. To walk again, breathe air that wasn’t clogged with pollution, to meet his soulmate and to be granted that miracle that was his firstborn daughter.
I’ll do anything to protect this.
Jake would protect this family with his life.
𝐈𝐕. 𝔫𝔬𝔱 𝔱𝔥𝔞𝔱 𝔴𝔬𝔯𝔡!
The months flew by, simultaneously too fast and too slow at the same time.
Tskxoä was already crawling her way around, a little escape artist who had figured out how to climb out of her crib and make her way in between them whilst they slept.
One too many times had Jake and Neytiri turned over in their sleep, almost crushing their daughter who would let out an outrage of babbles that had them shooting up in fear that something had happened.
But no, their little girl had crawled out between them and settled on the chest of either Jake or Neytiri. Depending on her mood of which parent she wanted.
By now Tskxoä mostly spoke in baby nonsense and sounds. She still didn’t scream or cry, instead making her need for attention know by crawling into their laps and tugging on their cloths.
And so whilst Jake didn’t need to worry about being kept up during the night by her cries. He did need to worry about accidentally crushing her in his sleep.
He wasn’t sure which option was better.
Now it was just the two of them at home, Tskxoä in front of him as she played with a toy ikran that once belonged Neytiri when she was a child.
They tried to offer Tskxoä ones that weren’t as old, Jake even trying his hand at crafting a direhourse for her. But she had scrunched her nose up, all loud babbles as she shook her head and threw it away before picking back up the faded blue and green ikran.
Their kid may not be a little nightmare that kept them awake. But she certainly was a bossy little thing.
Neytiri was out, alternating between working with Mo’at in the healing hut before she would spend the rest of the afternoon hunting.
It left the two of them alone, the day so far mostly alternating between fixing his bow and keeping Tskxoä away from trying to pick up his arrowheads. Who eventually got bored and went back to ramming the ikran into his leg.
It was a productive day for the both of them.
Now however, Jake was on a mission. Laid out on his stomach, Tskxoä in front of him in a similar position as she played with toys, this time ramming the ikran into him again. Only this time in his biceps.
“Da-da! Come on baby, it’s just one word” Jake paused and scratched at his head. “Two. Kinda”
It wasn’t the first time Jake had been trying, and failing, at trying to get Tskxoä to say Dada. He’d take even Da or Pa if it meant he got it before Neytiri.
And sure, it wasn’t a competition. But ever since he had listened in on Neytiri trying to get her to do the same thing with Mama. Well it was only logical he won this unintentional war.
He would not lose.
“Just one word, saying da and then da!”
A series of gurgles that cut into a laugh as she continued to hit Jake in the arm with her ikran was her response.
“Ah fuck whatever. Still got time to win this” Jake leaned down and kissed Tskxoä before getting up with a sigh.
Neytiri would be bringing back home their dinner, but in the meantime he would cook up a small snack for himself and Tskxoä to keep them satiated.
“You keep working on saying Dad” Jake turned away to cut up a few fruits. Mouth already watering at the idea of sweet yovo.
“Fuhk”
Jake dropped the fruit, spinning around at the small, shaky voice. Eyes wide, ears pinned back as his tail whipped behind him.
“No…” the word squeaked out of him as he dropped to his knees in front of Tskxoä as he shook his head, lifting up his daughter so he could face her head on.
“Bad word, very bad word! Don’t say that”
Neytiri was going to kill me.
Tskxoä could only stare at him, wide amber eyes before she let out a laugh. Far too happy despite the situation at hand.
“Fuhk!”
Jake whimpered, shaking his head before bringing Tskxoä to his chest, squeezing her as his hands tickled along her sides. Doing everything to distract his daughter from
“Say Dada, not that word”
Her little laughs a soothing balm to his worries as he cradled her close. Hoping that Tskxoä would not try and attempt to say anymore swear words.
Jake picks up her abandoned ikran toy, flying it in circles over her head before crashing it down into her. Tskxoä giggling, completely distracted from her attempts to send him into an early grave.
Too fucking close.
𝐕. 𝔶𝔬𝔲 𝔧𝔲𝔰𝔱 𝔡𝔬𝔫’𝔱 𝔨𝔫𝔬𝔴 𝔦𝔱 𝔶𝔢𝔱
Pandora was dangerous, always was and always would be. Jake had learned that the hard way, one too many times.
But despite it, he would never give it up. The beauty, the culture, the people. And most of all, his family.
So when the first time Jake and Neytiri had taken you out into the forest. They weren’t expecting to have a heart attack as you silently crawled into the lake.
Thank Eywa that the river tide ran low, and the water too cold for you to move anymore than just the shore.
But that scare was enough for them to never let it happen again.
Which brings them to now.
Tskxoä threw her ikran, watching it fly through the air before landing in the dirt. She lets out a loud laugh, delighted at the sight.
But it doesn’t take long before a frown comes onto her face as she realises that her toy isn’t flying back to her.
Tskxoä tries to escape from her mat, crawling forward before being dragged back. She turns, frown deepening at the rope that had tied her to the tree. Stopping her from important explorations.
Neytiri spared a look away from the fish she was hunting, looking down to where Tskxoä was further down the river. Sat unhappily, little hands pulling on the rope.
She shook her head at her daughter’s insistence to be free. But after the last time of Tskxoä almost crawling into danger, she wasn’t able to let her roam freely.
She wouldn’t let Jake know that his idea of tying her to a tree worked. He’d be far too smug for her liking.
Tskxoä let out an angry babble before giving up, turning back around to look at her ikran far too away from her.
But. It wasn’t. It was right in front of her, her blue and green toy dropped right at her feet.
And beside it was a creature, tar-black skin, six legs and funny looking spikes that stuck out of its head.
Tskxoä cooed in excitment, a new friend for her to play with. One that made her ikran come back.
Her stubby little hands picked the toy back up, uncaring of the slobber on the toy as she made to fly again, watching as it soared through the air before landing in the dirt.
The creature, just as small as she was, letting out a low croon before turning on its heal and chasing after the toy.
It picks it up in its mouth, careful, before running back. Kicking up dirt as he comes to a stop in front of Tskxoä who is giddy with happiness of making a new friend who wanted to play with her.
This went on, a back and forth of throwing and fetching. The little creature all too happy to play with the funny looking blue animal who made loud noises.
It wasn’t until Tskxoä reached out too early, impatient as she tired grabbing her toy ikran from the creatures mouth, her hand catching on a sharp canine. Digging into her hand just deep enough for skin to cut.
Neytiri head snaps to her daughter’s cries, body moving before she for her before she could register.
It is only then she see’s the danger, a guttural hiss leaving her lips as she notches her arrow, aiming at the thanator pup.
How did she not realise the danger? How could she have been so careless…
The thanator looks up at her in surprise, ikran toy still lodged in it’s mouth as it lets out it’s own growl. The sound weaker than an adult, before mighty enough to even instil fear in Neytiri.
Tskxoä cries out, confused and scared as she looks between her friend and her mother.
It’s enough for Neytiri to rush forward, loud screams leaving her mouth as she raised used her bow to hit the pup away from her child.
The thanator yelps before rushing back into the forest, only stopping once to look back at the crying Tskxoä. Their eyes connecting, a flicker of a bond.
It leaves, footsteps thundering into the forest. Tskxoä toy ikran in its mouth, her blood an added decoration to the blue and green.
“Oh my child, my sweet girl. It’s okay, mama is here. I won’t let anything happen to you” holding Tskxoä close to her chest as she cries, her little hand bleeding far too much for her liking.
Neytiri tempers down the nerves that are building in her, trying to calm her heart as she picks up her bow and rushes through the trees and back home. Leaving everything else behind her only priority was Tskxoä.
“Grandmother will heal you. Don’t cry itetsyìp”
But Tskxoä wasn’t crying over the wound on her hand, too young to speak, to let her mother know that she weren’t hurt. She was crying over her friend leaving her behind. Of her ikran flying too far her to crawl after.
And as Neytiri rushed home, arms full with her child and fear gripping her heart.
Nobody saw the sight of atokirinas settling themselves on the ground of two souls that had bonded.
One unspoken, unknown and that would be forgotten until it was time.
𝑬𝑵𝑫 𝑵𝑶𝑻𝑬𝑺 | i did an absurd amount of research of lightning strikes and a deep dive into Neytiri’s eye colour 💀 for no reason other than pure curiosity for the second part just because her eye colour seems to range from like green, yellow, amber. Which partly is lighting but still.
And the lightning strike research i somehow ended up going down a rabbit-hole on storm chasing. Yeah. Idk man, I procrastinated hard for no reason 😭
And yes I used this website to come up with Eyfrryrrisur. Just in case someone thought I was using random letters.
I do have a Spotify playlist for Tskxoä, which you can find on her character profile page which is linked at the featuring. Also what she looks like, thanks to afop and just her kinda vibes. I probably will work on it and add more 😼
As of right now, no certain story, working through that as I write chapters. But I just love anything sully daughter <33 I think I’ll have a lot of fun writing this.
if you’d like to be tagged just lmk know
I have a lot of angst and depression ready for this 🤍 like a lot :D
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