how would y’all feel about some eddie and volt blurbs from date everything? 🫣 i started playing a week and a half ago and i’m down BAD for that breaker box lol
soooo i was listening to the dream girls soundtrack and then ‘and i am telling you i’m not going’ started playing by jennifer hudson and it just puts me in the mind of tsu’tey and reader
i headcanon him as being “i’m better off alone. i could never love someone or let them love me. i must dedicate myself to my people and my home.” just very serious but isolated but reader isn’t trying to hear that 😭
she’s persistent in the way of “i hear what you’re saying but no.” like that’s her man even if he doesn’t know that yet 🌚
it’s just i know tsu’tey would pull the “i have to be the best example for my people/i don’t have time for love.” and reader would say something like, “the people already trust/believe in you. i’m not leaving you just because you said so.” just reader being resilient about not leaving him just because he doesn’t think he deserves to be loved/cared for.
and then they would argue and tsu’tey would see that he’s being a bit stubborn and open up just a little and BOOM THEY FALL IN LOVE
the end
i had to get this off of my brain! that song really just inspired me to write tsu’tey so i have to get it out before i lose the motivation 😔
-you can't stop daydreaming of the most eligible bachelor in the clan
word count: 4.1k
warnings: both characters in their 20s here, ooc tonowari probably, fluff, yearning, mentions of blood
The sun was warm.
Its rays blanketed your body wholly; every inch was touched with its light, the sand a soft cushion beneath your back.
It felt like a caress. Hands, large and strong, dragging across your arms and legs, spanning around your ribs, gentle but rough from wear.
It also felt like a kiss. Lips puckering against the corner of your mouth, dry yet somehow soft despite days in the salt water and sun. They would inch closer to your own lips, warm breath fanning you. The distance was tangible, you could feel it closing slowly.
And right as it touched you, a cool wash came over you and the image of hands and lips vanished in an instant. You sat up with a gasp, fingers digging into the sand around you. Your eyes blinked frantically from the droplets hanging off your lashes. You huffed, catching your breath as you took in your surroundings.
The sun was still high as it was when you had first lay down, warm, not cruelly blistering against the skin. You came to the shore for reprieve, but you did not remember falling asleep. The tide had risen slightly in your slumber, tickling your heel with every lap but it was not high enough to almost drown you.
Your brows furrowed, thinking yourself crazy for a second until water continued to drip from your hair and down your face. Your confusion was quickly washed away when a voice, deep and familiar, called out.
Not far from where you sat was a group of men on ilu back. One of them scrambled off, wading through the water towards you, his face hidden by the sun's rays. But he came closer, and his silhouette became clearer. His thick arms and legs, his strong jaw, his tall stature and the fresh tattoo on his temple, all things you have studied for far longer than even you knew.
He held his hand out, large and strong and rough, fingers splayed patiently, not demanding. He said something, but it was hard to understand with the water still clogged in your ears and your senses still dulled from your midday nap. You took his hand still, letting him pull you up. You stumbled into him from his own strength, and he steadied you, hands on your arms as gently as you had imagined.
Your eyes went to his chest, which was also decorated with a freshly healed tattoo. He said something once more, but still you didn't hear so he tried again, his tone concerned.
"Are you okay?" It was then you looked at his face. His eyes held worry so clear it almost made you sink in adoration. But you didn't. Instead, you shook your head, fighting off the remnants of sleep and answered wistfully.
"Yeah—yes," you cleared your throat. "I am fine." You smiled up at him, trying not to show how affected you were by his presence alone.
"Are you sure? Well, I must apologise, for um," he gestured to your soaked hair and body awkwardly, "we were racing, and I did not see you until it was too late." The other men behind him waved apologetically.
You looked down at yourself dumbly and tried brushing off the lingering droplets.
"Oh! No, it is fine. A little water never hurt anyone," you laughed shortly, "I should thank you actually or else I may have slept the whole day away."
He chuckled thankfully, his smile rugged and kind, just how it has always been.
You stood there, lips pulled back almost giddily at the sound, savouring the way his hand still lingered.
"Still, let me walk you home so you can get dry," he offered.
The walk to your kelku was short and the conversation along the way was shorter. Usually, you were better at speaking, but the dream from earlier had shaken you. It was not the first time you had thought of Tonowari in such a way. He was a formidable man, desirable in every way, honourable and kind and strong. But having a dream like that so out in the open was embarrassing beyond measure.
He was never much of a talker himself, but now he seemed especially closed-lipped and fidgety. For a delusional second, you wondered if he could peer into your mind and see what you had thought of, what you had imagined. You tried desperately to smother it and continue on like normal but it was a far more difficult task than you had imagined. The awkward silence between you both was palpable.
Your kelku was empty when you arrived, your parents having left for a hunt earlier in the day. You searched through baskets before pulling out a thick cloth and tapping your hair with it. Tonowari stood by the entrance, shifting his weight from one leg to the other, watching as you wrung out any residual water.
"Thank you for walking me home," you said.
"It is the least I could do," his pale blue eyes softened before turning to leave, then stopping halfway. "I believe I would see you for dinner?" He asked almost nervously.
You nodded.
"Great." He lingered for a second longer, then left, his muscular back shifting as he walked away.
You stared after him, heart pounding.
The communal tent was bustling as usual, filled with villagers, more boisterous today from the successful hunt. The air was warm from the active fire at the centre, and the space was filled with the scent of smoke and spice. You walked in with your parents, following to take your place at a table with them when Tonowari called your name.
You turned to see him walking towards you, his imposing stature causing others to clear a path for him.
He was smiling at you, grateful, as if he was waiting for you. You tried not to let your mind run wild.
"Tonowari.." you greeted, slightly stunned.
He stood before you, tall and sure like always, peering down at you in a way that felt consuming. "I saved a plate for you." In his hands were two wooden plates, filled to the brim with cuts of meat and piles of salted seaweed. "…I may have put too much on yours." He admitted sheepishly.
Your parents had halted behind you, eyes darting from him to you then to him again. You met their confused gaze with one of your own and a raise of your brows that said 'I do not even know.'
You took the plate from him. "I am sure it is just enough." You said. Not knowing what else to say, you invited him to sit with you and your parents.
It was quiet at first, muffled chewing being the only sounds amongst you four until your father spoke.
"Tonowari, I was surprised when we did not see you for the hunt."
Tonowari swallowed a bite, "I wanted to join, but my sa'nu was against it. She said it was too dangerous."
Your mother tilted her head. "Your rite of passage is soon. She must be worried you may injure yourself before the day arrives."
"She is overly protective."
"I suppose I understand. I too am grateful my ite is still bound to home."
You made a face, pushing around the bits of food left on your plate.
"For now," your father added, dragging your still half-full plate to him, "she is eager to complete her rite. I fear the second she does she would spend all her time on hunts rather than at home."
Your ears dipped in childish embarrassment that came when parents talked about you regardless of what was said.
"She would make a great huntress." You peeked up from the corner of your eyes to see Tonowari already watching you. You held his gaze, studying the way he looked at you with such earnestness that matched his words.
That night you dreamt again.
The same hands, the same lips, all over your body, devoted. This time you were not on the beach but in a hammock, not too different from your own. It was only bigger. The hands, gentle as ever, cupped your face, fingers spanning along your cheeks and temple, thumbs rubbing in soothing circles. The lips hovered by your ear, almost touching but not quite. You wanted to turn, to press your mouth against his, but your body stayed still. Your limbs were frozen. The breath against your ear was warm. A voice, deep and smooth, whispered so softly. It made your stomach clench. You couldn't hear what he said. The words were slowed and senseless. The vowels were placed weirdly and drawn out. Meaning in the letters were lost. He repeated himself, over and over. With each utterance, the words condensed, the letters started to fit together better, the vowels became less warped. You could almost understand him. Just almost. You wanted to know what he was saying. But you never did, as your eyes sprang open at the morning light that flittered through the kelku opening.
You sat up with a groan. You were too groggy to hide your annoyance at being awake.
"Are you okay, ma (Y/n)?" Your mother was already awake, looking over the hunting gear they had used recently, cleaning it with precision. "I was about to wake you up, you were sleeping so restlessly."
You huffed, lazily planting your feet on the ground and pushing yourself off the hammock.
"Just a dream."
Dinner was the same as the last. Surprisingly, Tonowari had forwent sitting with his parents and friends once more and instead sat next to you. And just like the last day, he had brought you a plate of food, which you noticed, pleasantly, had less food packed on this time.
Conversation flowed much more easily today.
Your mother wiped her mouth, "this may be forward but do you plan to be matched as soon as you complete your rites? Many these days tend to wait."
Rather than being put off by the comment, Tonowari answered without contempt. "It is something that is still being discussed. My parents do not mind how long I wait, but the council is another issue. "
"I heard you and Ronal are a prospective match."
Tonowari laughed, "No, no. Ronal is a dear friend but…we have no desire to be together in that way."
"Do you have someone in mind then?" Your father asked, his eyes pointed at you despite the question aimed at Tonowari.
You twisted your mouth at him, trying to convey with your eyes: 'be quiet'.
Tonowari hummed, then his eyes slid to you. You froze.
"Maybe" he said.
"Well (Y/n) has not mentioned any prospective mates. She is always too busy training these days, I doubt she even thinks about it for even a second." Your mother added.
"Sa'nu.." you whined quietly.
Your father took mercy on you, "She just has different priorities. There is nothing wrong with that."
"I agree," Tonowari said, "what matters is one's happiness."
You nodded, taking a steadying breath. "Yes. I am just trying to do one step at a time. First the rites, and then courting, if i choose it."
"I am just saying it is best to not let opportunities go by. Especially ones of the heart." Her brows raised at you, eyes subtly nodding to the man next to you.
Oh my eywa
The walk home afterwards was suffocating. You tried to outrun it by walking ahead of your parents.
"He is such a good young man," your mother commented, clear with intention.
You rolled your eyes.
Your father hummed in agreement, "a man worthy of his position."
"Oh my eywa.." you muttered.
"And he seems quite taken with you."
You groaned, "sa'nu, sempul, please. Stop."
Your father caught up with your stride. "You cannot hide anything from us." He had a proud tilt in his voice. "Your looks to him are not as subtle as you think."
"It is nothing."
"Ma ite," your mother gave you an amused look, "we are not fools. And we think that, if you desire it, he would make a good match for you."
"We barely talk to each other."
"No one is saying you must bond today. Just do not let the opportunity slip by because you are scared."
You wanted to object, but the truth was you were a bit scared. How do you admit out loud to having feelings for a man so high up? You were to be a huntress soon, but all that plagued your mind lately was him. You sighed. One step at a time, you told yourself. One step at a time.
The dreams returned like usual.
This time, his face was clear. Not smudged like a distant memory, but clear as if he was right before you. Every plane, every ridge was magnified. His eyes, round and kind, were locked onto you. They did not stray from your gaze. They held it. Pale blue like the moon, glowing with care. His lips curved softly. A smile so true. He was so handsome. It was almost infuriating. Because you knew, the thought would not leave you for days to come.
Today was daunting. But it was also impossibly exciting.
It was the last day of your rites.
You and Tonowari, along with a few others, would be diving into the caves off the western edge of the island. Far from the territory of grown akulas, but not free of the young. In those caves—their breeding ground—akulas would lay their eggs, as many as 5 in a clutch. They would protect the eggs for month on end until in the warm summer waters, they hatched. Then the adults leave. The young remain to grow, far from threats. The last of the clutches were reported to have hatched about a month ago. After a time, the hardened eggs of the akula pups would crystallize, turning from a dark gray to a more pearly iridescent that shimmered like rainbows when the sun hit it just right. You were to retrieve those broken shells and use them to decorate whatever you deemed fit. Some made gifts, some made clothes and jewelry, and others decorated their weapons.
It was not to be just a simple retrieval. The akula pups there would have already grown formidable. They were young but they were not to be underestimated. Akula were dangerous, no matter the age. And when they were young, they were more reckless, more volatile. They attacked anything and everything but each other. They were large still. Large and strong enough to kill. But you all were prepared. You had completed your other rites, which were just as dangerous.
You were on the beach, blade in one hand and a pumice stone in the other. The blade was already sharpened but you needed something to calm your nerves.
"I can feel your nerves from here."
Tonowari came strutting up to you, his gait wide from his long muscled legs.
"I am not nervous."
"It is not a bad thing to be" he stood over you for a second, watching as you continued sharpening the knife with angered strokes. "I am also scared."
You stopped, then looked at him. "You?" Then you huffed a laugh of disbelief, "you do not need to lie to make me feel better."
"I am not," he took a seat next to you, "I am truly scared. I have never been around so many akulas before. It is terrifying, but I think the tattoo would be worth it." He gestured to his unmarked chin. The tattoo there would be a sign of adulthood and bravery.
"It would suit you," the words slipped out without thought.
"I am sure when you get yours, it would suit you just the same." His hand came up but fell back down halfway as if to touch you but decided against it.
Once the moon parted the clouds, and well wishes were said, your group dove down.
The akulas were more active at night. They littered every corner of the reef, never stationary, always moving forward or circling areas.
Your group hid amongst the tall sea grass, using it as camouflage. You all waded through to get deeper, nearer to the caves. You looked up at a slow ripple of the grass, seeing the white underbelly of one swimming overhead. It seemed to pass by so slowly. Once it was clear, Tonowari—ever the natural leader— motioned towards a condensed coral structure with gaps big enough for you all to fit but too small for the akulas to swim through. As you moved, your hand instinctively went to the knife at your hip. Ideally, you would not have to use it. This was a hunt of stealth.
Just as you all settled into the coral, another akula began to circle the structure, curious and searching. Your heart pounded in your ears. Your fear must have been present in your face as a hand came down on your shoulder. Tonowari gave you a sympathetic look, motioning for you to take a breath, the txampaysye(gill mantle) on your back allowing you that reprieve.
In and out. Then you waited patiently as it lost interest in the coral and turned away. There was another in the direction you would be taking but it was higher up, near the surface. You all stayed near the sea floor, keeping as quiet as possible as you swam under the akula, following the illuminated path of plants that led to the caves.
The person in front of you, as they moved to push off the structure, a jagged edge caught on their skin, cutting open a small wound. But that was not the problem. The problem was that it bled, only slightly, hut thsy was enough to cause trouble. The small cloud of blood floated upwards, right to the akula.
For a moment, time stopped. Your breath left you. The akula shifted from the scent of blood, then with rapid speed circled downwards, heading straight to the source. Shock and fear rippled through the group, the others made a run for it, pushing through the water towards the cave entrance. But the bleeding person froze, fear overtaking them. With each blink, the akula came closer and closer. With no other choice, you grabbed them and swam back to the structure, your legs pumping tirelessly under the added weight until the person snapped out of it. You both did not look back. Looking back was a waste of time. You just swam. Just as you made it, hands gripping the edge of the opening to pull yourself in faster, the akula cut across where you just were. Your chest clenched seeing the blur of dark gray as it snapped at the bubbles left in your wake.
Your hand trembled on the handle of your knife. Eywa, they were huge. If you didn't know any better you would've assumed they were fully grown.
You should have brought a bigger knife.
The minutes passed by agonisingly slow. Your eyes remained locked on the aggressive akula now impatiently circling the structure. Then suddenly it circled widely and swan headfirst towards you. It jammed into the coral, causing it to sway. Its jaws worked, trying to squeeze into the gaps and fish you both out. You scrambled back, trying to get as far away from its mouth but not going out in the open. When it finally retreated, you could see the other akulas beginning to gather, drawn in by the racket.
You were trapped. There was no possible way you could fight off so many akulas. You were as good as dead.
Just as you were about to give up hope, the akulas darted away, swarming towards a cloud of blood on the far end of the reef. You panted, looking out at the akulas fighting over a carcass when Tonowari popped up in front of you. Without a word, he grabbed both you and the other na'vi whose scrape had since stopped bleeding, and pulled you both across the clearing and into the caves.
You surfaced with a gasp, adrenaline pumping through you still, your heart beating nonstop. You grabbed at the platform, the others pulling you up. Tiredly, you flopped onto your back, chest heaving with effort.
"(Y/n)" Tonowari's face came over you, worry etched into his face.
You pushed yourself up onto your forearms. "I am fine." But your breathing was still heavy.
You could see the other na'vi still shaken by the whole ordeal.
You sighed. It was clear Tonowari wanted to say something else, but you didn't give him the chance to. "Let us just collect the shells and get out of here."
With a nod, the group gathered themselves and dove into the water, swimming straight down to the bottom of the cave floor where the scattered pieces of shell sat, half covered by the sand. The closer you got, the more the shells grew in size. They were as large as your own head. And they were gorgeous. The blue glow of the surrounding plants reflected off the scaled surface painting it in this bewitching blue aura.
You approached one, reaching out to a half of a hatched shell. You turned it over in your hands, feeling the ridges of the outer surface. Then you surfaced again into the darkness of the cave.
"Let us return" Tonowari said, voice bouncing off the cave walls, "the akulas should still be distracted. Let us be quick"
The swim back through the reef was much easier. Like Tonowari had said, the akula were still preoccupied fighting amongst themselves.
When you made it back to the beach the air was frigid, sending shivers down your spine. The water dripping from your hair onto your skin made it worse. There were still a few villagers, waiting, mostly family of the group, who came barrelling forward in glee, crying out in gratitude that everyone made it back in one piece. You own parents were asleep. You had told them to stay home so they would not crowd you when you returned.
Your shoulders slacked. The ball of anxiety that was tangled in you chest finally loosened.
"Come." Tonowari appeared at your side, hand outstretched, "The tsahik calls for us."
Despite no one being mortally injured, the tsahik still demanded checking over every single person. She bandaged the scrape on your teammate and fluttered from person to person, handing out thick towels and bowls of warm soup. She fussed particularly over her son, Tonowari trying desperately to calm her to no avail. You would laugh if you were not so tired.
It was daybreak when you had finally left the tsahik's tent. Sleep seeped into every pore. Your eyes were bleary and your limbs were heavy. You were too tired to trek all the way back home, so you settled for a half shaded spot at the mangrove line, sunlight seeping through the leaves, ridding you of the lingering coldness of the ocean water and the morning air. You sank against the base of a tree, tilting your head back to get comfortable.
Sleep found you immediately, the exhaustion from earlier engulfing you.
And like always, your mind was never quiet in sleep.
Tonowari had not noticed when you left the tent. He turned away briefly, enduring the concerned scolding of his mother, but the second he turned back to find you, you had disappeared. He had left the tent, searching for you amongst the awaking village. It did not take long for him to spot you in that secluded spot along the tree line.
He softened, walking up to your sleeping figure.
He studied you, watching the way the morning sun hit your skin and made it shimmer. The way the shadows of the palm leaves shielded you.
Then you shifted. A quiet tilt of your head, sloping down to your shoulder. He lowered himself next to you, raising your head gently from the uncomfortable position and placing it on his own shoulder, letting you use it as a pillow.
You looked peaceful. Your lips were parted slightly, your breath easing through in quiet puffs. Your eyes twitched beneath your lids, lashes fluttering against your cheekbones.
You looked just like you did in his dreams.
Ethereal in every way.
Then so softly, a sound left you. It sounded suspiciously like his name. He leaned in, hoping to hear it again, clearer.
"Tonowari…" you mumbled into your sleep, face subconsciously nuzzling further into his shoulder.
Were you dreaming? Were you dreaming of him?
He hoped so.
His hand came up, fingers brushing a stray loc of hair from your temple.
He sat there as you slept, wondering what he would use his shells for.
With one look at you, he knew what to make with it.
sooo slightly off topic but me and a friend were talking about nanami from jjk and how he has survivors guilt and it got me thinking that so’lek definitely has it too 😭
like he’s been through soooo much, the death of his mentor, first ikran, his ENTIRE CLAN, along with other losses like his mental health, first love i mean hell his youth
sigh i just want to give him a big hug and a kiss on his forehead :((
hell even in the skybreaker dlc when the rda attack, so’lek says something along the lines of “i should’ve known this was going to happen, i let my guard down.” he’s blaming himself for not being about to discover harding’s attack on the camp
sooo slightly off topic but me and a friend were talking about nanami from jjk and how he has survivors guilt and it got me thinking that so’lek definitely has it too 😭
like he’s been through soooo much, the death of his mentor, first ikran, his ENTIRE CLAN, along with other losses like his mental health, first love i mean hell his youth
sigh i just want to give him a big hug and a kiss on his forehead :((
This sucker is almost 12k words..... I am so sorry/your welcome?
In Awa'atlu, you are one of three tsakarems competing for Tonowari's attention. While others rely on strategy and performance, you choose a different path: genuine kindness and authenticity. Over four weeks, an unexpected connection begins to form between you and the olo'eyktan himself—one built on honesty rather than ambition. But in a world where everything is a carefully calculated move, being real proves far more dangerous than anyone anticipated.
*Warnings* Violence (physical altercation with injury), Blood and bruising, Threat of serious harm, Emotional conflict/argument
The morning sun filtered through the woven walls of the marui, casting dancing patterns of light across the floor as you carefully ground the healing herbs between your palms. The rhythmic sound of the ocean was a constant companion, as familiar to you as your own heartbeat. You'd woken before dawn, as you always did, to prepare the day's medicines before the clan fully stirred to life.
"Y/n?" A small voice called from the entrance.
You looked up to find little Naya peeking inside, her large eyes worried. She couldn't have been more than seven years old, all gangly limbs and nervous energy.
"Come in, small one," you said gently, setting aside your work. "What troubles you?"
She stepped inside, cradling her left hand against her chest. "I... I cut myself on the coral. Mother will be angry. She told me to be more careful when gathering."
"Let me see." You held out your hands, and she reluctantly extended her injured palm. The cut wasn't deep, but it was long, stretching across the base of her thumb. Salt water had already irritated the wound, making it angrier than it needed to be. "Your mother won't be angry, Naya. Accidents happen, even to the most careful among us."
You cleaned the wound with fresh water, then applied a paste you'd prepared earlier—a mixture that would prevent infection and speed healing. Naya winced but didn't pull away.
"You're very brave," you told her, beginning to wrap her hand with soft cloth. "Much braver than I was at your age. I once cried for an hour over a scraped knee."
That earned you a small giggle. "Really?"
"Really. My mother had to bribe me with sweet fruit just to let her look at it." You tied off the bandage and smiled at her. "There. Keep it dry today if you can. Come find me tomorrow and I'll change the wrapping."
"Thank you, Y/n." She hesitated at the entrance, then turned back. "You're going to make a wonderful tsahik."
The words settled over you like an ill-fitting shawl. "Perhaps," you said softly. "Or perhaps Eywa has other plans. We'll see."
After Naya left, you returned to your preparations, but her words lingered. Three moons had passed since the tsahik had chosen yourself, Kali, and Lorin to train under her guidance. Three tsakarems, where there had only ever been one before. The entire clan knew what it meant, even if no one spoke of it directly: Tonowari, the tsahik's son and future olo'eyktan, was expected to choose one of you as his mate.
The thought made your stomach twist uncomfortably. Not because of Tonowari himself—he was kind, strong, respected by all. But the idea of being chosen like a prize fish at the market, of competing with your fellow tsakarems for his attention... it felt wrong. Hollow.
So you'd made a quiet decision: you would train to serve your people, to heal and guide them, but you wouldn't play the game that Kali and Lorin had so eagerly embraced.
As if summoned by your thoughts, Kali's voice drifted through the village, bright and performative. "Tonowari! How wonderful to see you this morning!"
You gathered your prepared medicines into a woven bag and stepped outside. The village was coming alive with activity—hunters preparing their gear, weavers settling into their work, children chasing each other between the marui pods. And there, near the water's edge, stood Tonowari with Kali practically draped over his arm.
He was impressive, you had to admit. Tall and broad-shouldered, with the easy strength of someone who'd grown up in harmony with the ocean. His dark hair was pulled back in the style of the warriors, and his face bore the traditional tattoos of his family line. But it was his eyes that always caught you—intelligent and watchful, missing nothing.
Right now, those eyes looked distinctly uncomfortable.
"I was just telling Lorin that we should go hunting today," Kali was saying, her hand resting on his forearm. "You could show us that technique you mentioned? The one for tracking the larger fish?"
Lorin appeared from another marui, her timing too perfect to be coincidental. "Oh, what a wonderful idea! Tonowari, you're such a skilled hunter. We would be honored to learn from you."
She moved to his other side, effectively boxing him in. Both girls were beautiful—Kali with her sharp features and confident bearing, Lorin with her soft curves and practiced smiles. They knew it, too, and wielded their beauty like weapons in this unspoken competition.
Tonowari's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. "I have duties with the hunting party today. Perhaps another time."
"We could join the hunting party," Kali suggested quickly. "As tsakarems, we should understand all aspects of clan life, shouldn't we?"
"The tsahik expects you for training this morning," Tonowari said, his voice carefully neutral. "I wouldn't want you to disappoint her."
You couldn't help the small smile that tugged at your lips as you walked past them toward the healing marui. Tonowari's gaze flickered to you, and for just a moment, something in his expression shifted—relief, maybe, or curiosity.
"Good morning," you said simply, nodding to all three of them.
"Y/n!" Lorin's voice was sweet as honey, but with an edge beneath it. "Shouldn't you be preparing for training as well?"
"I am prepared," you replied, holding up your bag of medicines. "I'm just delivering these to the healing marui first. Old Koro's joints have been troubling him, and I promised him a fresh batch of pain relief."
"How... thoughtful," Kali said, though her tone suggested she found it anything but. "Though I'm sure the tsahik would prefer we focus on our spiritual training rather than playing healer."
"Healing is spiritual," you said mildly. "Eywa's gifts are meant to be shared, aren't they?"
Before Kali could respond, Tonowari spoke. "That's kind of you, Y/n. Koro mentioned his pain yesterday. I'm sure he'll be grateful."
Your eyes met, and you saw something there—appreciation, perhaps, for the normalcy of the exchange. You weren't simpering or performing. You were just... being.
"It's nothing," you said with a small smile. "Just doing what needs to be done."
You continued on your way, feeling his gaze follow you for a moment before Kali recaptured his attention with another question about hunting techniques.
The healing marui was quiet when you arrived, just Koro sitting in the corner and working on repairing a fishing net despite his gnarled fingers. He looked up when you entered, his weathered face creasing into a smile.
"Little healer," he greeted you warmly. "You didn't have to make a special trip."
"It's no trouble at all." You knelt beside him and pulled out the jar of salve you'd prepared. "How are the joints today?"
"Stiff as driftwood," he admitted. "The cold water last night didn't help."
You began gently massaging the salve into his swollen knuckles, and he sighed with relief. You sat in comfortable silence for a while, the only sounds the distant calls of the clan and the ever-present ocean.
"You're a good girl, Y/n," Koro said eventually. "Your mother would be proud of the healer you've become."
Your chest tightened at the mention of your mother. She'd been gone for three years now, taken by a sickness even the tsahik couldn't cure. "I hope so."
"She would be." He paused, studying you with eyes that had seen many seasons. "And she'd tell you not to lose yourself in all this tsakarem business. I see how those other girls preen and perform. That's not you."
"No," you agreed softly. "It's not."
"Good. The right person will see you for who you are, not who you pretend to be."
You finished treating his hands and packed away your supplies. "Rest those fingers today if you can. I'll check on you tomorrow."
"Bossy little thing," he said with affection. "Just like your mother."
You left the healing marui with a lighter heart, but it didn't last long. The tsahik's training marui loomed ahead, and you could already hear Kali's voice inside, no doubt regaling your teacher with some tale designed to showcase her worthiness.
Taking a deep breath, you stepped inside.
The tsahik—Tonowari's mother, though you tried not to think of her that way during training—sat in the center of the space, her presence commanding despite her small stature. She was ancient and wise, her eyes holding depths you couldn't fathom. Kali and Lorin were already seated, both with perfectly straight postures and attentive expressions.
"Y/n," the tsahik said. "You're late."
"I apologize, tsahik. I was delivering medicine to Koro."
Something flickered in her eyes—approval, maybe, or amusement. "Sit."
You took your place in the circle, and the lesson began. You reviewed the sacred songs, practiced the healing chants, discussed the interpretation of signs from Eywa. Kali answered every question with confidence, even when she was wrong. Lorin's responses were always carefully measured, designed to please. You simply answered honestly, admitting when you didn't know something and asking questions when you were confused.
The tsahik's gaze lingered on you more than once, thoughtful and assessing.
When the lesson ended and you were dismissed, Kali and Lorin immediately began whispering to each other, shooting glances your way. You gathered your things and slipped out before they could engage you in whatever game they were playing now.
The afternoon sun was warm on your skin as you made your way toward the beach where the children often played. You'd promised to help weave new nets for their swimming lessons, and you were looking forward to the simple, honest work.
But you stopped short when you saw Tonowari there, crouched in the sand with a group of youngsters clustered around him. He was showing them something—a shell, maybe, or a piece of coral—and their faces were rapt with attention.
One of the children spotted you and waved enthusiastically. "Y/n! Come see!"
Tonowari looked up, and your eyes met across the beach. For a moment, neither of you moved. Then he smiled—a real smile, not the polite mask he wore around Kali and Lorin—and gestured for you to join them.
You walked over, curious despite yourself.
"Tonowari found a baby ilu," one of the children announced excitedly. "It's lost!"
Sure enough, in the shallow water near the shore, a tiny ilu calf was swimming in confused circles, calling out for its mother.
"The pod moved on this morning," Tonowari explained, his voice low and calm. "This little one must have gotten separated."
"Will it die?" a little girl asked, her voice trembling.
"No," you said firmly, kneeling beside Tonowari in the sand. "We'll help it find its way."
Tonowari glanced at you, and something passed between you—an understanding, a shared purpose. "The pod usually feeds in the kelp forests to the north this time of day," he said. "If we can guide the calf there..."
"Then it can rejoin its family," you finished.
You worked together without needing to discuss it further. Tonowari waded into the water and began making the clicking calls that ilu responded to, while you stayed on shore with the children, keeping them calm and explaining what was happening. The calf was frightened at first, but Tonowari's patience was remarkable. He moved slowly, never forcing, always encouraging.
Finally, the little ilu began to follow him, swimming in the direction of the kelp forests.
The children cheered, and you found yourself smiling as you watched Tonowari guide the calf toward deeper water. He looked back once, catching your eye, and the expression on his face was so open, so genuinely pleased, that your breath caught.
This was who he was when he wasn't being hunted by ambitious tsakarems. This was the man beneath the expectations and duty.
And in that moment, you understood why the tsahik had chosen three of you to train. She wasn't just looking for a future tsahik for the clan.
She was looking for someone who could truly see her son.
He watched Y/n smile at the children as they celebrated the ilu calf's rescue, and something in his chest tightened. She hadn't looked at him like he was the future olo'eyktan or a prize to be won. She'd just... worked with him. Seen a problem and helped solve it, as naturally as breathing.
It was such a stark contrast to the performance he'd endured that very morning.
That night, alone in his marui, he stared at the woven ceiling and felt the familiar anger simmer in his gut. Three tsakarems. His mother had chosen three, and everyone knew what it meant. He was expected to choose one as his mate, as if selecting a new fishing spear or deciding which route to take on a hunt.
The thought made his jaw clench.
He understood duty. He'd been raised for leadership, trained since childhood to put the clan's needs above his own wants. But this? This felt like being backed into a corner, forced to perform a courtship he hadn't asked for with women who saw him as a means to power.
He wasn't naive. He knew what Kali and Lorin wanted. He saw it in every calculated smile, every touch that lingered too long, every word carefully chosen to impress rather than connect.
And Y/n? He didn't know what she wanted. That was what unsettled him most.
The next morning, he was repairing nets near the water when Lorin found him.
"Tonowari!" Her voice was bright, musical. Practiced. "I was hoping to find you."
He didn't look up from his work. "Lorin."
She settled beside him in the sand, close enough that her knee brushed his. He shifted slightly away. "I've been thinking about what you said yesterday. About the hunting techniques?"
He hadn't said anything about hunting techniques yesterday. That had been Kali, and he'd been trying to escape the conversation.
"I would love to learn from you," Lorin continued, her hand coming to rest on his forearm. "You're so skilled, so strong. The clan is lucky to have a future olo'eyktan like you."
There it was. Future olo'eyktan. Not Tonowari. Not even just a person she wanted to know.
"I'm busy today," he said, keeping his voice neutral. "Perhaps another time."
Her smile faltered for just a moment before she recovered. "Of course. You work so hard. That's one of the many things I admire about you."
She listed three more things she "admired" before finally leaving, and each compliment felt like a stone added to a growing weight on his shoulders.
He returned to his nets, but his concentration was broken. Movement near the healing marui caught his eye—Y/n, carrying a basket of supplies, pausing to help an elder who'd dropped her weaving. She didn't just pick it up; she sat with the woman for several minutes, examining the work, offering what looked like genuine praise and suggestions.
No audience. No performance. Just kindness.
Three days later, he was in the training grounds when Kali appeared with her brother trailing behind her. She'd brought lunch, she said. Specially prepared. She sat too close, laughed too loud at things that weren't funny, and kept touching his arm, his shoulder, his hand.
"You're so tense," she purred, her fingers kneading his shoulder. "You carry so much responsibility. You need someone who understands that. Someone who can support you as olo'eyktan."
There it was again. The title, not the person.
Her brother watched with calculating eyes, and he felt a flash of irritation. This wasn't courtship. This was strategy.
He made an excuse and left, ignoring Kali's disappointed pout.
He found himself walking toward the central village, no destination in mind, just needing space. That's when he heard laughter—genuine, unguarded laughter. Y/n sat with a group of her friends, weaving something intricate while they talked. Her whole face lit up when she smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners.
One of her friends said something that made her throw her head back and laugh, the sound carrying across the water. It was unselfconscious, real, and something in his chest ached at the sound.
She glanced up and saw him watching. For a moment, their eyes met. She didn't simper or pose. She just smiled—a small, genuine smile—and lifted her hand in a simple wave before returning to her conversation.
That was all. A smile and a wave.
It shouldn't have affected him the way it did.
A week passed, then two. The pattern continued. Kali and Lorin found increasingly elaborate ways to corner him, to showcase their skills, to remind him of their suitability as future tsahik. Every interaction felt like a negotiation, a transaction.
And Y/n? She simply existed.
He found himself watching her more than he should. Not intentionally at first—or so he told himself. But he began to notice things.
The way she always had time for the children, never brushing them off even when she was clearly busy. He watched her spend an entire afternoon teaching a group of youngsters how to identify healing plants, her patience endless as they asked the same questions repeatedly.
The way she treated injuries with such gentle care. He saw her with a young hunter who'd gashed his leg badly. He was trying to be brave, but he could see the pain in his eyes. Y/n talked to him the entire time she worked, her voice low and soothing, telling him stories to distract him from what her hands were doing. When she finished, he was smiling.
The way she moved through the clan like water—essential, life-giving, never demanding attention but somehow always there when needed.
One evening, he watched her sit with one of the elders who'd lost her mate the season before. They didn't speak much, just sat together as the sun set, Y/n's hand holding the older woman's. Sometimes presence was the greatest healing, and Y/n seemed to understand that instinctively.
He kept thinking about the ilu calf. That moment on the beach replayed in his mind more often than he wanted to admit.
She hadn't hesitated. Hadn't calculated how helping would make her look or what she might gain from it. She'd just knelt in the sand beside him and worked to solve the problem because it needed solving.
And the way she'd looked at him when their eyes met—there'd been no agenda in that gaze. Just shared purpose, shared joy in a small life saved.
For those few minutes, he hadn't been the future olo'eyktan. He'd just been... him. Someone who cared about a lost ilu calf and wanted to help it find its way home.
When was the last time someone had seen him that way? Not as a title or a prize, but just as a person?
He couldn't remember.
The third week brought a storm. Not a dangerous one, but enough to keep most of the clan sheltered in their marui. He was helping secure the fishing equipment when he saw Y/n running through the rain toward the healing marui.
Curious, he followed.
Inside, he found her frantically mixing medicines, her hair plastered to her face, hands moving with urgent precision.
"What's wrong?" he asked from the entrance.
She jumped, not having heard him approach. "Tonowari. I—there's a family on the outer edge of the village. Their youngest has a fever, and with this storm, I need to bring them medicine before it gets worse."
"In this weather?"
"Fevers don't wait for clear skies." She was already packing supplies into a waterproof bag. "I'll be fine. I've traveled in worse."
She hadn't asked him to come. Hadn't even implied it. She was simply going to do what needed to be done, alone if necessary.
"I'll come with you," he said.
She looked up, surprise clear in her eyes. "You don't have to—"
"I know." He stepped fully inside. "But the path is treacherous in the rain. And if something happened to you, the clan would lose a skilled healer."
It was a practical reason, a logical one. It had nothing to do with the sudden, fierce need he felt to make sure she was safe.
Nothing at all.
They made the journey together, mostly in silence. The rain was cold, the path slippery, but Y/n moved with confidence. When they reached the family's marui, she immediately went to work, her focus entirely on the sick child.
He watched her examine the little one with such gentle thoroughness, explaining everything she was doing to the worried parents. She made the child laugh even through his discomfort, making silly faces as she administered the medicine.
"He'll be fine," she assured the parents. "The fever should break by morning. I'll come check on him tomorrow."
The mother's eyes filled with tears of relief. "Thank you, Y/n. Thank you."
On the walk back, the rain had lessened to a drizzle. Y/n was quiet, and he found himself wanting to fill the silence.
"You're good with them," he said. "The children. The families."
She glanced at him, surprised. "I just do what needs to be done."
"It's more than that." He wasn't sure why he was pushing, but he continued. "You care. Genuinely. It's not... it's not a performance."
She stopped walking, turning to face him fully. The rain had plastered her hair to her face, and in the dim light, her eyes were searching.
"Why would it be a performance?" she asked softly.
Because everything else in my life is, he thought but didn't say.
"It wouldn't," he said instead. "That's my point."
Something shifted in her expression—understanding, maybe, or recognition. For a long moment, they just stood there in the rain, looking at each other.
Then she smiled, small and genuine, and continued walking. "Come on. We should get back before the storm picks up again."
He followed, and tried to ignore the way his heart was beating faster than the walk warranted.
That night, alone again in his marui, he finally admitted what he'd been avoiding for weeks.
He was drawn to her.
Not because she was beautiful—though she was, in a way that had nothing to do with performance or display. Not because she was skilled—though her healing abilities were remarkable.
He was drawn to her because she was real.
Because when she looked at him, she saw a person, not a position.
Because her kindness wasn't calculated or strategic. It was simply who she was.
Because in a life that had become increasingly defined by duty and expectation, she represented something he'd almost forgotten existed: genuine connection.
The realization should have brought relief. Instead, it brought a new kind of frustration.
Because he was still trapped in this arrangement. Still expected to choose from three tsakarems, as if they were interchangeable. Still being hunted by Kali and Lorin, who saw him as a means to an end.
And Y/n? She treated him like a friend. Nothing more.
She wasn't playing the game because she didn't want to win it.
Which meant that even if he wanted to choose her—and he was beginning to suspect he did—he had no idea if she would even want to be chosen.
The fourth week brought a celebration—a successful hunt that had brought in enough fish to feed the clan for many days. There would be feasting, dancing, music.
And, inevitably, more opportunities for Kali and Lorin to showcase themselves.
He was proven right within the first hour. Kali appeared in elaborate decorative pieces, her movements calculated to draw attention. She danced near him, her body language an invitation he had no interest in accepting.
Lorin was more subtle but no less obvious, bringing him food, touching his arm, laughing at everything he said whether it was amusing or not.
He felt suffocated.
He was about to make an excuse to leave when he saw Y/n across the celebration. She was dancing with the children, spinning them around and laughing as they tried to teach her their made-up steps. She wore simple decorations, nothing elaborate, and her joy was so unguarded it made his chest ache.
One of the children—little Naya, he realized—tugged on Y/n's hand and pointed at him. Y/n looked over, and their eyes met across the celebration.
She smiled and waved, the same simple gesture from weeks before.
And he realized, with startling clarity, that he didn't just want to choose her.
He wanted her to choose him.
Not because he was the future olo'eyktan. Not because it would make her tsahik. But because she saw him—really saw him—and decided he was worth choosing anyway.
The thought was terrifying and exhilarating in equal measure.
He didn't wave back. He couldn't. He just stood there, frozen, as Kali said something beside him that he didn't hear.
Y/n's smile faltered slightly at his lack of response. She turned back to the children, and he felt the loss of her gaze like a physical thing.
He was in trouble.
Deep, complicated, impossible trouble.
And he couldn't tell anyone. Not his mother, who would see it as the problem solving itself. Not his friends, who would offer advice he didn't want. Not even Y/n herself, who had given no indication she saw him as anything more than a friend.
So he kept it locked inside, this growing feeling that was becoming harder to ignore with each passing day.
He watched her dance with the children, watched her laugh with her friends, watched her be effortlessly, genuinely herself.
And he wanted.
For the first time in this entire arranged situation, he wanted something for himself, not for the clan or for duty or for expectation.
He wanted her.
The realization settled over him like a weight and a relief all at once.
Now he just had to figure out what to do about it.
The afternoon sun was warm on your shoulders as you knelt beside old Takuk, carefully examining the swollen joint in his hand. The elder fisherman had been too proud to ask for help, but you'd noticed him wincing when he thought no one was watching.
"It's not so bad," he grumbled, though his face told a different story.
"Mm-hmm." You mixed a paste of cooling herbs, your movements gentle and practiced. "And I suppose you weren't planning to go fishing tomorrow despite barely being able to grip your spear?"
He huffed but didn't argue. You smiled, applying the mixture with careful pressure. "This will help with the swelling. But you need to rest it for a few days. Let the younger hunters take the lead."
"Bah. They don't know the good spots like I do."
"Then you can tell them where to go," you said reasonably, wrapping his hand with soft kelp fiber. "Your knowledge is just as valuable as your spear arm, Takuk. Maybe more."
The old warrior's expression softened. "You have a kind way of telling a man he's getting old."
"I would never." You tied off the wrapping with a neat knot. "I'm simply telling you that healing takes time. Even for the strongest among us."
He grunted, but you caught the pleased look in his eyes. "Your mother would be proud of the healer you've become."
The words settled warm in your chest. "Thank you. That means more than you know."
You were packing up your supplies when a shadow fell across you. You looked up, expecting another clan member in need of help, and felt your breath catch.
Tonowari stood there, and something in his posture was different. Not the careful distance he usually maintained, not the polite acknowledgment. He looked... uncertain. Almost nervous.
"Y/n," he said. "Do you have a moment?"
You blinked, surprised. In all the weeks since the tsahik had chosen her tsakarems, Tonowari had been unfailingly polite but distant. Your interactions had been brief, incidental. He'd never sought you out specifically.
"Of course." You stood, brushing sand from your knees. "Is something wrong? Are you injured?"
"No, I—" He paused, and you could have sworn color darkened his cheeks. "I'm fine. I just thought... would you walk with me? If you're not too busy."
Your heart did something strange in your chest. "I'm not busy."
The smile that crossed his face was small but genuine, and it transformed his usually serious expression into something softer. "Good."
You fell into step beside him as he led you away from the central village, toward the quieter paths that wound along the reef's edge. For a few moments, neither of you spoke, but it wasn't uncomfortable. The silence felt natural, peaceful.
"I wanted to thank you," he said finally. "For helping with the ilu calf. And for... for being kind to my mother during her meditation sessions. She mentioned that you always make sure she has fresh water and that the healing marui is quiet when she needs it."
You felt warmth bloom in your chest. "It's nothing. She works so hard for the clan. It's the least I can do."
"It's not nothing." His voice was firm but gentle. "You see people, Y/n. Really see them. Not what they can do for you or what position they hold. Just... who they are."
You looked at him, startled by the intensity in his eyes. "Isn't that how everyone should be seen?"
Something flickered across his face—surprise, maybe, or recognition. "Yes," he said softly. "It is."
You walked further, and he asked about your healing work. Not in the performative way Kali and Lorin sometimes did, trying to showcase their own knowledge. He asked real questions, listened to your answers, shared his own observations about the clan's needs.
"I've noticed the hunters have been getting more coral cuts lately," he said. "The reefs near the eastern edge are sharper than they used to be."
"I've noticed that too." You brightened, pleased that he'd seen the same pattern. "I've been thinking about preparing more of the kelp salve in advance. If we keep it in the healing marui, hunters could treat minor cuts immediately instead of waiting for them to worsen."
"That's smart." He nodded thoughtfully. "I could mention it at the next gathering. Make sure everyone knows it's available."
"You don't have to—"
"I want to." His eyes met yours, and there was something in his gaze that made your pulse quicken. "Your work matters, Y/n. It should be recognized."
You didn't know what to say to that. The sincerity in his voice, the way he looked at you like you were someone worth seeing—it made something flutter in your chest that you weren't quite ready to name.
"Tell me about the ilu calf," you said, needing to shift to safer ground. "Did it find its pod?"
His whole face lit up. "It did. I checked the next morning, and it was swimming with its mother near the kelp forests. It recognized me—came right up and bumped my hand."
"That's wonderful." You couldn't help but smile at the joy in his expression. "You have a gentle way with them. The ilu, I mean. They trust you."
"My father used to say that animals know when someone has a good heart." He glanced at you. "I think he was right."
The moment stretched between you, warm and significant, and you found yourself wondering if this was what it felt like when someone truly saw you in return.
That's when you noticed him.
Kali's brother—Kitangi—stood near one of the marui about twenty paces away. He wasn't doing anything, wasn't speaking to anyone. He was just... watching. And the look on his face made something cold slither down your spine.
It wasn't curiosity or casual interest. It was hostility. Pure, undisguised hostility, his eyes fixed on you with an intensity that felt like a physical threat.
You must have tensed, because Tonowari followed your gaze. His entire demeanor shifted in an instant—his shoulders straightening, his jaw tightening, his body angling slightly in front of yours in an unconsciously protective gesture.
"Is he bothering you?" Tonowari's voice had gone low, dangerous in a way you'd never heard from him before.
"No, I—" You shook your head, trying to dismiss the unease crawling up your spine. "He's just standing there."
But even as you said it, Kitangi's glare intensified. Then, deliberately, he turned and walked away, his movements sharp with barely contained anger.
"Y/n." Tonowari's voice pulled your attention back to him. The protective edge hadn't left his posture. "Has he done anything? Said anything to you?"
"No. Nothing." You tried to smile, to lighten the sudden tension. "I'm sure it's nothing. Maybe he's just having a bad day."
Tonowari didn't look convinced, but he didn't push. Instead, he did something unexpected—he reached out and gently touched your arm, just a brief contact, but it sent warmth spreading through you.
"If he does," Tonowari said quietly, his eyes serious and intent on yours, "if anyone does anything to make you uncomfortable, you tell me. Promise me."
The fierceness in his voice, the genuine concern in his eyes—it made your heart stutter.
"I promise," you said softly.
He held your gaze for a moment longer, then seemed to realize he was still touching your arm. He pulled back, that uncertain expression returning.
"I should let you get back to your work," he said, though he didn't sound like he wanted to leave.
"Thank you for the walk," you said. "It was... nice. Talking with you."
"It was." His smile returned, small and genuine. "Maybe we could do it again sometime?"
"I'd like that."
You watched him walk away, your heart doing complicated things in your chest. And you tried very hard not to think about the hatred you'd seen in Kitangi's eyes, or the way Tonowari had moved to shield you without even thinking about it.
You tried not to think about what any of it meant.
But as you returned to the healing marui, you couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted. Something significant and irreversible.
And you weren't sure if that feeling was hope or fear.
Maybe it was both.
Two days later, you found yourself wading through the shallow waters off the eastern shore, your gathering basket already half-full of sea herbs. The tide was low, exposing the rocky pools where the best medicinal plants grew—the kind with thick, waxy leaves that helped with inflammation and pain.
You'd told no one where you were going. It was early enough that most of the clan was still breaking their fast, and you'd wanted the quiet. The solitude. Time to think about Tonowari's smile, the way he'd looked at you, the promise you'd made.
The water was warm around your calves as you bent to examine a cluster of broad-leafed kelp. Perfect. You reached for your cutting blade—
"You should be more careful, going off alone like this."
You spun, water splashing around you. Kitangi stood on the rocks behind you, his posture deceptively casual. But there was nothing casual about the look in his eyes.
"Kitangi." You kept your voice steady, though your heart had started to pound. "I'm just gathering herbs. I'll be back soon."
"Will you?" He stepped down from the rocks, moving closer. The water barely reached his ankles. "Or maybe you're hoping a certain hunter will come looking for you. Notice you're gone. Play the hero."
Your fingers tightened on your basket. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Don't you?" His smile was cold. "I've seen the way he looks at you. The way you look at him. You think you're so clever, playing the humble healer while Kali and Lorin make fools of themselves."
"I'm not playing anything—"
"You're in the way." He took another step closer, and you instinctively moved back. "My sister deserves to be tsahik. She's trained for it her whole life. She's strong, capable, everything the clan needs. But she can't compete with your act."
"It's not an act." Your voice came out firmer than you felt. "And I'm not withdrawing from anything. The tsahik chose me. That's not my fault."
"Then make it your choice." His eyes were hard, calculating. "Walk away. Tell the tsahik you're not suited for it. Give Kali the chance she deserves."
"No."
The word hung between you, simple and absolute.
Something shifted in his expression. "No?"
"No." You lifted your chin, even as your pulse hammered in your throat. "I won't lie to the tsahik. I won't pretend to be less than I am just because it makes things easier for your sister. If Tonowari chooses Kali, he'll choose her. But it won't be because I ran away."
For a moment, he just stared at you. Then his hand shot out, grabbing your wrist hard enough to make you gasp.
"Wrong answer."
You reacted on instinct—dropping your basket and slamming your free hand into his chest, using his own grip on your wrist as leverage. He stumbled back, surprised, and you twisted free.
"Don't touch me—"
He came at you again, faster this time. You dodged, but your foot slipped on the wet rocks and he caught your arm, yanking you toward him. You drove your elbow back into his ribs, heard him grunt, felt a savage satisfaction—
Then his fist connected with your side and all the air left your lungs.
You went down hard, water splashing up around you. Tried to push yourself up but he was already there, his hand fisting in your hair, forcing your head back.
"You should have just said yes," he hissed.
You grabbed his wrist with both hands, digging your nails in until you felt skin break. He swore and released your hair, but his other hand caught your shoulder, shoving you down. Your back hit the rocks and pain exploded through your spine.
Fight. You had to fight.
You kicked out, caught him in the knee. He staggered and you rolled, scrambling for purchase on the slippery stones. Your hand closed around a piece of coral—sharp-edged and solid. You swung it without thinking.
It connected with his temple and he reeled back, blood streaming down the side of his face.
"You—" His voice was thick with rage. "You're going to regret that."
He lunged. You tried to dodge but he was too fast, too strong. His weight slammed into you and you both went down in the shallow water. His hands found your throat.
You clawed at his face, his arms, anywhere you could reach. Your lungs burned. Black spots danced at the edges of your vision. You brought your knee up hard between his legs and he jerked back with a strangled sound.
Air rushed back into your lungs in a painful gasp.
But he recovered too quickly. His fist caught your cheekbone and your head snapped to the side. Then your ribs. Your shoulder. Each impact sent fresh waves of pain through your body.
You fought back—landed a solid hit to his jaw, raked your nails down his arm hard enough to leave deep gouges. But he was bigger, stronger, and he had leverage.
When he finally pulled back, you were gasping, bleeding, every part of you screaming in pain. You tried to push yourself up but your arms shook too badly.
Kitangi stood over you, breathing hard. Blood dripped from the cut on his temple, from the scratches on his arms. You'd marked him. Good.
"Listen carefully," he said, his voice low and deadly. "You're going to stay away from Tonowari. You're going to withdraw from the tsakarem position. And if you don't—" He crouched down, grabbing your chin hard enough to make you whimper. "I will come back. And next time, I won't stop."
He released you and stood, looking down at you with cold satisfaction. "Think about it."
Then he was gone, disappearing into the rocks and trees beyond the shore.
You lay there in the shallow water, every breath sending sharp pain through your ribs. Your face throbbed. Your throat felt raw. Blood mixed with seawater on your skin.
Slowly, painfully, you pushed yourself up to sitting. Your hands shook as you touched your face, felt the swelling already starting around your eye, the split in your lip.
You needed to get back. Needed to... to do something.
But first, you needed to breathe.
Just breathe.
Something was wrong.
Tonowari had felt it all morning—a strange unease that he couldn't name or shake. He'd gone through his duties mechanically, his mind elsewhere. Distracted.
When he'd finished with the morning training session, he'd found himself looking for Y/n. Not consciously at first. Just... noticing her absence.
She wasn't at the healing marui. Wasn't with the elders. Wasn't anywhere he could see.
"Have you seen Y/n?" he asked one of the younger healers.
"Not since early this morning, Tonowari. I think she went to gather herbs."
The unease sharpened into something closer to worry.
He found himself walking toward the eastern shore, following an instinct he didn't fully understand. The tide was low, exposing the rocky pools where the medicinal plants grew. Y/n had mentioned wanting to restock her supplies.
That's when he saw her.
She was sitting in the shallow water near the rocks, her back to him. For a moment, relief flooded through him—she was fine, she was just—
Then she turned slightly, and he saw her face.
His heart stopped.
"Y/n."
He was moving before he'd consciously decided to, splashing through the water toward her. She looked up at him and tried to smile, but the expression twisted into a wince.
"Tonowari. I was just—"
"What happened?" His voice came out harsher than he'd intended, but he couldn't help it. Couldn't control the sudden surge of rage and fear that crashed through him at the sight of her injuries.
Her left eye was swelling shut, the skin around it already darkening to purple. Her lip was split and bleeding. Bruises were forming on her arms, her shoulders. The way she held herself suggested more damage he couldn't see.
"I'm fine," she said, but her voice was too thin, too shaky. "I just—I slipped on the rocks. It's nothing."
"Y/n." He crouched in front of her, his hands hovering over her shoulders, afraid to touch her, afraid of causing more pain. "Please. Tell me what happened."
She looked away, and he saw her throat work as she swallowed. "It was an accident—"
"Y/n." His voice broke on her name. "Please."
Her eyes met his, and he saw the fear there. The pain. The truth she was trying to hide.
"Who did this to you?"
She was quiet for a long moment. Then, so softly he almost didn't hear it: "Kitangi."
The world went very still.
"Kitangi," he repeated, and his voice sounded strange even to his own ears. Flat. Cold. "Kali's brother."
She nodded, then winced at the movement.
Something inside him cracked. Then shattered.
"What did he—" He had to stop, had to breathe, had to force the words out past the rage choking him. "What did he do?"
"He wanted me to withdraw. From the tsakarem position. He said—" Her voice wavered. "He said if I didn't stay away from you, he'd come back."
The rage exploded into something beyond rage. Something primal and violent and utterly consuming.
He wanted to kill him. Wanted to find Kitangi and tear him apart with his bare hands. Wanted to make him hurt the way Y/n was hurting, wanted to—
"Tonowari."
Her hand touched his arm, light and trembling, and it was the only thing that kept him from standing up and walking away right then. From hunting Kitangi down and doing something he might not be able to come back from.
"I'm okay," she whispered. "I'm okay."
"You're not." His hands were shaking. He curled them into fists to hide it. "You're hurt. He hurt you. He threatened you."
"I fought back." There was a hint of pride in her voice, even through the pain. "I gave as good as I got. He's bleeding too."
Good. The thought was savage and immediate. Good.
But it wasn't enough. Not nearly enough.
"Can you stand?" he asked, forcing his voice to gentleness he didn't feel.
"I think so."
He helped her up, careful of her injuries, and felt her lean into him more than she probably wanted to admit. She was trying so hard to be strong, to minimize what had happened. To protect him from the truth of it.
It only made him angrier.
"We're going to the healing marui," he said. "My mother needs to see you."
"That's not necessary—"
"Y/n." He stopped, turned to face her fully. "Please. Let me do this. Let me... let me make sure you're cared for."
She looked up at him, and something in her expression softened. "Okay."
The walk back to the village felt endless. Every step she took that made her wince, every careful breath she drew—it all fed the fury building in his chest. By the time they reached the healing marui, he was barely holding himself together.
His mother took one look at Y/n and her expression went hard.
"What happened?"
"She was attacked," Tonowari said, and his voice sounded like it belonged to someone else. "Kitangi."
The tsahik's eyes flashed, but she said nothing. Just guided Y/n to sit, began examining her injuries with gentle, practiced hands.
Tonowari stood to the side, watching. Unable to look away.
"Bruised ribs," his mother said quietly. "Possible fracture. Contusions on her face and arms. Bruising around her throat—" Her voice went sharp. "He tried to strangle you?"
"Only for a moment," Y/n said quickly. Too quickly. "I got away."
"Y/n." The tsahik's voice was firm but kind. "You need to tell me the truth. All of it. I cannot help you if I don't know the extent of your injuries."
Y/n's eyes flickered to Tonowari, then away. "It's not as bad as it looks."
"It looks very bad," his mother said bluntly.
"I'm fine. Really. It just... it hurts a little when I breathe. And move. But I'm fine."
She was lying. Trying to minimize it. Trying to be strong.
Tonowari saw through it completely.
He saw the way she held herself too carefully. The way she flinched when his mother touched her ribs. The tremor in her hands that she couldn't quite hide.
She was in pain. Real, significant pain. And she was trying to pretend she wasn't.
For him.
The realization hit him like a physical blow. She was trying to protect him. Trying to keep him from doing something rash. From losing control.
Too late.
"I need to prepare a pain remedy," his mother said, standing. "And a poultice for the bruising. This will take a few minutes."
She looked at her son, and he saw the understanding in her eyes. The permission.
"I'll stay with her," Tonowari said.
"I know you will." His mother's hand touched his shoulder briefly. "But Tonowari—"
"I know."
But he didn't know. Didn't know anything except the rage burning through him, the need to make this right, to make Kitangi pay for what he'd done.
His mother left to gather supplies, and Tonowari crouched in front of Y/n again. She was looking down at her hands, at the scrapes on her knuckles.
"You fought hard," he said softly.
"Not hard enough."
"Hard enough to mark him. Hard enough to get away." He reached out, carefully took her hand in his. "Hard enough to survive."
Her eyes met his, and he saw tears threatening at the corners. "He said he'd come back. If I didn't stay away from you."
The rage flared white-hot.
"He won't," Tonowari said, and his voice was absolutely certain. "He will never touch you again. I promise you that."
"Tonowari—"
"I promise you."
She looked at him for a long moment, and he saw the moment she understood. Saw the fear flicker across her face—not fear of Kitangi, but fear for him. Fear of what he was about to do.
"Don't do anything stupid," she whispered.
"I won't."
Another lie. They both knew it.
His mother returned with the remedies, and Tonowari watched as she worked. Watched Y/n try not to flinch, try not to show how much it hurt. Watched the careful way his mother wrapped her ribs, applied the poultice to her bruises, mixed the pain remedy with practiced efficiency.
"This will help," the tsahik said gently. "But you need to rest. No gathering, no training, no work for at least three days. Your body needs time to heal."
"I understand."
"Do you?" His mother's eyes were sharp. "Because I know you, Y/n. You'll try to push through the pain. You'll try to keep working. But if you don't rest, these injuries will take much longer to heal. And some of them could become worse."
"I'll rest," Y/n said quietly. "I promise."
The tsahik nodded, satisfied. Then she looked at her son.
"Walk with me, Tonowari."
"I need to—"
"Now."
He followed her outside, leaving Y/n in the healing marui. His mother turned to face him, her expression grave.
"I know what you're thinking," she said.
"Do you?"
"You're thinking about finding Kitangi. About making him pay for what he did." She paused. "And you're right to be angry. What he did was unforgivable. But Tonowari—you are going to be olo'eyktan. Your actions have consequences beyond yourself."
"He attacked her." His voice was low, dangerous. "He threatened her. He tried to strangle her."
"I know."
"Then you know I can't let this stand."
"I know you can't." His mother's eyes were sad. "But I also know my son. And I'm asking you to think before you act. To consider what you're about to do."
He looked at her, and he knew she could see it in his eyes. The decision already made. The line already crossed.
"She'll be safe here?" he asked.
"Yes. I'll watch over her."
"Good."
He turned to go, but his mother's voice stopped him.
"Tonowari. Whatever you do—don't lose yourself."
He didn't answer. Didn't trust himself to speak.
Because he was already lost.
He walked back into the healing marui. Y/n looked up at him, and he saw the question in her eyes. The plea.
"Rest," he said gently. "My mother will take care of you."
"Where are you going?"
He crouched in front of her one more time, took her hand carefully in his. "I'm going to make sure you're safe."
"Tonowari—"
"Rest," he repeated. Then, softer: "Please."
She held his gaze, and he saw the moment she understood there was no talking him out of this. Saw the resignation, the fear, the trust.
"Be careful," she whispered.
He stood, and the careful control he'd been maintaining—the calm, the gentleness, the restraint—it all fell away.
What was left was something cold and furious and absolutely certain.
He was going to find Kitangi.
And he was going to make him regret ever laying a hand on Y/n.
The thought should have scared him. Should have made him pause, reconsider, think about the consequences.
It didn't.
He walked out of the healing marui, his stride purposeful and deadly, and he didn't look back.
You woke to voices outside the healing marui—low, urgent, shocked.
The pain remedy the tsahik had given you had pulled you under into a heavy sleep, but now consciousness returned in fragments. Your ribs ached with every breath. Your face throbbed. The light filtering through the woven walls suggested late afternoon.
How long had you been asleep?
"—never seen him like that—"
"—Kitangi's face, did you see—"
"—Tonowari just lost control—"
Your heart stuttered. You pushed yourself up too quickly and gasped at the sharp pain in your ribs. The tsahik appeared at your side immediately, her hands gentle but firm as she eased you back down.
"Slowly," she said. "You'll tear something if you move like that."
"What happened?" Your voice came out hoarse. "What are they talking about? Where's Tonowari?"
The tsahik's expression was carefully neutral. "He found Kitangi."
"And?"
She was quiet for a moment, and that silence told you everything you needed to know.
"How bad?" you whispered.
"Kitangi will recover. Eventually." Her voice was measured, clinical. "Broken nose. Fractured jaw. Cracked ribs. Extensive bruising. He's being treated now."
Your stomach dropped. "Eywa."
"My son was... thorough."
Thorough. The word felt like a stone in your chest.
"Where is he?"
"Outside. He's been waiting for you to wake." The tsahik paused, studying your face. "He won't apologize for what he did. I should tell you that now."
"I need to see him."
"Y/n—"
"Please."
She looked at you for a long moment, then nodded. "I'll send him in. But if you start to feel faint or if the pain worsens, you call for me immediately. Understood?"
"Understood."
She left, and you had maybe thirty seconds to prepare yourself before Tonowari ducked through the entrance.
He looked... wrong.
There was blood on his knuckles—dried and dark. A cut above his eyebrow that hadn't been there before. But it was his eyes that made your breath catch. They were still burning with that cold fury, that absolute certainty.
He'd meant every bit of it.
"Y/n." His voice was soft, careful. Like he was afraid you'd break. "How are you feeling?"
"How am I—" You stared at him. "Tonowari, what did you do?"
"What I had to."
"You beat him half to death!"
"He'll live." No remorse. No hesitation. "Which is more mercy than he showed you."
The casual way he said it—like it was simple, like it was justified—made something hot and sharp flare in your chest.
"That's not the point," you said, and your voice came out harder than you'd intended. "You're going to be olo'eyktan. You're supposed to be better than this. You're supposed to find other solutions—"
"There was no other solution." He moved closer, crouched beside where you lay. "He attacked you. He threatened you. He said he'd come back if you didn't stay away from me. What was I supposed to do? Talk to him? Ask him nicely not to hurt you again?"
"Yes!" The word burst out of you, sharp with frustration and fear. "Yes, that's exactly what you were supposed to do! You could have brought it to the elders, to your mother, to the clan council. You could have exiled him, or—or punished him some other way. But instead you just—" Your voice cracked. "You lost control."
"I know."
"You beat one of your own people, Tonowari. One of your clan. What kind of message does that send? What kind of leader does that make you?"
"The kind who protects what's his."
The possessiveness in his voice should have thrilled you. Instead, it made you angry.
"I'm not a possession," you said quietly. "I'm not something you own that needs defending with your fists."
He flinched like you'd struck him. "That's not what I meant—"
"Isn't it?" You pushed yourself up to sitting, ignoring the pain screaming through your ribs. "You saw me hurt and you went after him like—like some kind of animal. You didn't think about the consequences, about what it would mean for the clan, about what it would mean for you. You just acted."
"Because he hurt you!" His voice rose, raw and desperate. "Because he put his hands on you and threatened you and I couldn't—I couldn't just let that stand. I couldn't be the kind of man who does nothing while someone he—" He stopped abruptly, his jaw clenching.
"While someone you what?"
He looked away, and you saw his hands curl into fists. The bloodied knuckles. The evidence of his violence.
"You're better than this," you said, and your voice broke on the words. "You're kind and thoughtful and you care about your people. You're the man who spent an hour helping an elder repair his net. Who stayed up all night with a sick ilu calf. Who looks at people like they matter. And now you've—you've thrown all of that away because you couldn't control your temper."
"I didn't throw anything away." His eyes snapped back to yours, fierce and burning. "I made a choice. Maybe it was the wrong choice by some standards, maybe I should have been more measured, more controlled. But Y/n—" His voice dropped, became something raw and honest. "I would make the same choice again. Every time. Because the thought of him touching you, hurting you, threatening you—it's not something I can be rational about. It's not something I can control."
"You have to control it," you said desperately. "You're training for olo'eyktan. Control is your responsibility."
"I know." He reached out slowly, carefully, and took your hand. His touch was gentle despite the blood on his knuckles. "I know what I am. What I'm supposed to be. But I also know what I feel. And what I feel for you—it's not controlled. It's not measured. It's not any of the things an olo'eyktan is supposed to be."
Your heart was pounding too hard. "Tonowari—"
"I choose you." The words came out fierce and certain. "Not as one option among three. Not as a tsakarem candidate. I choose you, Y/n. I've been choosing you since the moment you smiled at those children and didn't care who was watching. Since you helped me with that ilu calf. Since you looked at me like I was just a man, not a title or a position or a prize to be won."
"That doesn't make what you did right," you whispered, but your voice was shaking now.
"I know." He brought your hand to his chest, pressed it against his heart. You could feel it racing beneath your palm. "I know it was wrong. I know I should have found another way. But I won't apologize for protecting you. I won't apologize for making sure he never touches you again. I can't."
"He's your clanmate—"
"And you're mine." The possessiveness was back, but this time it was different. Softer. More vulnerable. "You're mine in a way that has nothing to do with ownership and everything to do with—with this." He pressed your hand harder against his chest. "With the way my heart stops when I see you hurt. With the way I can't think straight when you're in pain. With the way I would burn down the world to keep you safe."
Tears were burning at the corners of your eyes. "That's not healthy."
"I know." A ghost of a smile touched his lips. "But it's true."
You looked at him—really looked at him. At the blood on his hands and the cut above his eye. At the fierce protectiveness in his gaze and the vulnerability beneath it. At the man who'd lost control because he couldn't bear to see you hurt.
He was flawed. Violent. Capable of terrible things when pushed.
But he was also kind. Thoughtful. Genuine in a way that made your heart ache.
"There will be consequences," you said quietly. "The clan will talk. The elders will question your judgment. Kali will use this against you."
"Let them." His thumb traced circles on the back of your hand. "I don't care what they say. I don't care what they think. I only care about you."
"You should care—"
"Y/n." He leaned closer, and his free hand came up to cup your face with infinite gentleness. "I've spent my entire life being what everyone else needed me to be. Controlled. Measured. Perfect. And it was killing me. Slowly. Quietly. Until you showed up and reminded me what it felt like to be real."
"I'm not worth losing everything for," you whispered.
"You're worth everything." His forehead touched yours, careful of your bruises. "You're worth the consequences. Worth the judgment. Worth whatever comes next. Because when I'm with you, I'm not just the olo'eyktan. I'm not just a title or a responsibility. I'm just... me."
The tears spilled over, tracking hot down your cheeks. "You're an idiot."
"I know."
"You should have found another way."
"I know."
"I'm still angry at you."
"I know." His thumb brushed away your tears with heartbreaking tenderness. "But are you angry enough to say no?"
Your breath caught. "To what?"
"To me. To this. To letting me court you properly, the way you deserve. To giving me a chance to prove that I can be both—the olo'eyktan the clan needs and the man you need. To choosing me back."
Your heart was hammering so hard you thought it might break through your ribs. "Tonowari—"
"I'm asking you to be mine," he said softly. "Not as tsakarem. Not as tsahik. Just as you. As Y/n. The woman who sees me. The woman who makes me want to be better even when I fail at it. The woman I—" His voice caught. "The woman I love."
The world stopped.
"You love me?" The words came out barely above a whisper.
"Yes." No hesitation. No doubt. "I love you. I've been falling in love with you since the moment you chose kindness over strategy. Since you looked at me like I mattered beyond my title. Since you made me laugh and challenged me and reminded me what it felt like to be human."
You couldn't breathe. Couldn't think. Could only feel the truth of his words settling into your bones like they'd always belonged there.
"Say something," he whispered, and for the first time, you heard fear in his voice. "Please."
"You're still an idiot," you said, and then you kissed him.
He made a sound—surprise and relief and something deeper—and his hand slid into your hair, cradling your head like you were something precious. The kiss was gentle at first, careful of your split lip, but then you pressed closer and it deepened into something desperate and real.
This was what you'd been building toward. This moment. This truth.
When you finally pulled back, you were both breathing hard. His forehead rested against yours, and you could feel him trembling.
"I'm still angry," you whispered against his lips.
"I know."
"You're going to have to make this right with the clan. With the elders. You can't just—just beat people and expect it to be okay."
"I know." His hand was still in your hair, his touch reverent. "I'll face whatever consequences come. I'll do whatever it takes to make this right."
"Good." You pulled back enough to look him in the eyes. "Because I'm choosing you too. But I'm choosing the version of you who's better than violence. Who finds solutions instead of throwing punches. Who leads with wisdom instead of rage."
"I'll try," he said quietly. "I can't promise I'll always succeed. But I'll try. For you."
"For yourself," you corrected. "Be better for yourself, Tonowari. I'll just be here to remind you when you forget."
Something in his expression softened, became almost unbearably tender. "How did I get so lucky?"
"You didn't." You smiled despite the pain in your lip. "You just finally noticed what was right in front of you."
He laughed—a real laugh, surprised and genuine—and kissed you again. Softer this time. Sweeter. Like a promise.
When he pulled back, his hand found yours again, threading your fingers together. "So you'll let me court you? Properly?"
"Yes." The word felt like freedom. Like coming home. "But Tonowari?"
"Yes?"
"If you ever lose control like that again, I'm going to be the one throwing punches. At you."
He grinned, and it was the smile you'd been waiting for—unguarded and real and entirely his. "Noted."
You leaned into him carefully, mindful of your ribs, and let yourself rest against his chest. His arms came around you, gentle and protective, and you felt his lips press against the top of your head.
"I love you," he murmured into your hair. "Even when you're angry at me."
"I love you too," you whispered back. "Even when you're an idiot."
His chest rumbled with quiet laughter, and you closed your eyes, letting yourself feel the rightness of this moment. The peace of it.
There would be consequences tomorrow. Conversations with the elders. Judgment from the clan. Kali's fury and Lorin's disappointment and a hundred complications you'd have to navigate together.
But right now, in this moment, there was just this: his arms around you, his heart beating steady beneath your ear, and the knowledge that you'd both chosen each other.
Not perfectly. Not without flaws or mistakes or anger.
But real. Honest. True.
And that was enough.
Three days later, you stood beside Tonowari as he addressed the clan elders. Your ribs still ached, but the tsahik had cleared you for light activity. The bruises on your face had faded from purple to yellow-green.
Tonowari had been honest about what happened. About his loss of control. About the violence he'd inflicted on Kitangi.
The elders had been grave. Disappointed. Concerned.
But they'd also seen your injuries. Heard Kitangi's threat. Understood the context, even if they couldn't condone the response.
In the end, Tonowari had been formally censured. Required to make reparations to Kitangi's family. Mandated to work with the elders on conflict resolution protocols for future incidents.
It wasn't nothing. But it also wasn't exile or removal from his position.
The clan would move forward. Heal. Grow.
And so would you.
As you walked back to the village together, Tonowari's hand found yours. The touch was casual now, comfortable. Like it had always been meant to be there.
"Kali's withdrawing her candidacy," he said quietly. "Lorin too. They both spoke to my mother this morning."
You glanced at him. "How do you feel about that?"
"Relieved." He squeezed your hand gently. "It was always going to be you. I think they knew that before I did."
"And the clan?"
"Will adjust." He smiled slightly. "They usually do."
You walked in comfortable silence for a moment, watching the sun glitter on the water, listening to the sounds of the village coming alive around you.
"Y/n?" Tonowari's voice was soft.
"Yes?"
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"For choosing me anyway. Even after everything. Even when I didn't deserve it."
You stopped walking and turned to face him fully. Reached up to cup his face in your hands, gentle and sure.
"You did deserve it," you said firmly. "Not because you're perfect. But because you're real. Because you're trying. Because you see me and I see you and that's what matters."
He leaned down and kissed you—soft and sweet and full of promise. When he pulled back, his eyes were bright with something that looked like hope.
"Come on," you said, tugging his hand. "Your mother wants to check my ribs again, and you promised to help Elder Takuk with his nets this afternoon."
"I did, didn't I?" He fell into step beside you, and you felt his thumb trace circles on the back of your hand. "What about you? What are your plans?"
"I thought I'd gather some herbs. The medicinal stores are low after—" You gestured vaguely at your face.
"Not alone," he said immediately, and there was an edge of protectiveness in his voice that made you smile.
"Not alone," you agreed. "I'll take Seyri with me. She's been wanting to learn more about the sea herbs anyway."
"Good." He relaxed slightly. "And tonight?"
"Tonight?"
"I thought we could watch the sunset. Together. Away from everyone else." His voice dropped, became something intimate and warm. "I want to hear about your day. Your thoughts. Everything."
Your heart swelled with affection so strong it almost hurt. "I'd like that."
"It's a date, then."
"It's a date."
And as you walked together through the village—past the curious stares and whispered conversations, past Kali's tight-lipped silence and Lorin's graceful acceptance, past all the complications and consequences—you felt something settle deep in your chest.
omg i feel like a deadbeat rn 💔💔 i pinky promise that i’m still writing that jake story! i have one more day left of work and then i’ll get some good progress on it when i’m off!!
i also still have tsu’tey headcanons but i lowkey don’t like them 🌚 and there’s a wip of his just sitting around like ughhhh guys i’m gonna do better!!
summary: you can’t help but become possessive over so’lek when people still think they can have him, even when he’s bonded to you!
warnings: lowercase intended! smut! slight crack in a way. exhibitionism! caught in the act! p in v sex. slight choking if you squint. a bit of hothead reader which leads to an argument. mentions of younger reader but no minors! threatening people. there’s some fluff in here too! umm really just reader being possessive over so’lek! let me know if i missed anything!
a/n: ummm period brain really possessed me to write this, yk? these are really just head canons! i think? idk y’all i just started writing 😭 on a truthful note i stay maladaptive daydreaming about so’lek so this time i wrote it 😛 okiii that’s all! i love y’all!! i hope y’all enjoy!! credits to the owners of the pictures! dividers from @/diviniyae
imagine being with so’lek and let’s just say reader is a bit on the younger side but also realll possessive! nothing too crazy just so’lek being an older gentleman (which in my opinion he is)
okay anyway let’s say the sarentu/resistance are in the upper plains with the zeswa just partying, right? i’m thinking of a group of older zeswa women around so’lek’s age just trying to downplay the fact that so’lek is in love! him and reader have already bonded before eywa, done the proper courting rituals, and he even gave her a part of his camp just all of the romantic and genuine actions.
but of course the women are a bit saltyyy, i mean i would be too if so’lek wasn’t mine lmaoo but! reader is known for being a bit of a hothead and you overhear this conversation of “so’lek can do better/she is too young for him.” “oh? are you saying you are a better mate than her?” the woman laughs “i am not saying it but i am not denying it either” and you are trying your bestttt to just ignore it! you’re with the zeswa and the sarentu trying to enjoy the evening but you can’t.
cue you getting up about to walk over, placing a hand on so’lek’s shoulder and saying, “i will be back shortly.” and so’lek immediately clocks it, grabbing your wrist to keep you there, “where are you going?” you shakes your head, “i will be right back, do not worry.” “yawntu, leave it.” you shoot him a look and he KNOWS he’s not going to win this. also cue the other sarentu watching this like teylan nervously shifting back and forth. ri’nela wanting to step in but knowing her friend and tamtey reading the situation trying to see how much damage control they’ll need to do.
you walk up to the group of women calling them out, “why must me and my mate be the topic of your conversation?” they tense of course not expecting to be called out and the one who’s been talking the most speaks, “well, we just know that an older woman suits him best.” “oh? so you know him best? is that right? what does he like to eat when it is raining? what is his favorite weapon to use when fighting against the sky people? what is his favorite color? what about his bonded? what DO you know?” she’s stunned, scrambling, so you step closer. you can feel the entire camp shift, how the people still. no one dance-fighting or drinking zangke and no more telling stories.
“you know nothing. i know the places he frequents the most, which dishes remind him of his clan, his favorite weather, when he likes to hunt, his favorite animal. these are just a few, i can continue but i will not. this proves that you know nothing. me and so’lek are mated, in the eyes of the people and before the great mother. she is the reason i have the strength to not strike you where you stand. speak of my husband again and you will know true pain.”
she’s taken aback, mouth gaping and not really knowing what to say. you feel a soft/warm touch to your lower back, you take a deep breath knowing it’s so’lek. “yawntu.” you give him a small hum as he gently pulls you back. you take in a deep breath and say, “enjoy the rest of your night. make sure you thank the great mother a bit more tonight, she will not save you next time.” you turn away from the group with so’lek right behind you and you both make it back to the others.
tamtey is on the verge of tears trying to hold back their laughter and you see teylan visibly relax. the rest of the camp takes a minute to get back into the swing of things before the atmosphere shifts back to normal. you lay your head on so’lek’s shoulder and he rubs your arm. silently thanking you for not hurting anyone (😭) and the rest of the night goes beautifully! no more chitter chatter about your man!
but i can’t leave it off thereeee, follow me 😏
sooo let’s say a couple of days go by and so’lek thinks that you’re over the whole ordeal. you ask him after patrol if he would fly with you to the upper plains. he gets suspicious but you tell him that you want to ride pa’li with him. he still eyes you but says yes! (yay!) you two make it to the upper plains and run around until you find some dire horses to ride. you bait him into a competition and he wins (of course he does). you bring him to a clearing, the night sky being a beauty and you two sit by each other to watch the view.
you share a sweet conversation on how you love how things are between you, here girl let me let you say it, “i am so glad to be here with you. who would have known on that fateful day that we would be here, together. i know i can put you in tough situations and i am sorry but my heart is so full of love for you, so’lek i can’t imagine anyone else feeling the same way i do.” “yawntu, do not say that. yes, they may be tough but i would not want it any other way. i want you. i want to be apart of you forever, as i am now. my days used to be filled with rage but now i can breathe and you brought that out of me. the thought of you calms me and that is a feeling i would not trade for anything.” you both smile at each other before leaning in to kiss.
it starts off sweet and romantic! but soon the kisses take a turn. you push your tongue into his mouth and it takes him by surprise (a good surprise) and he grabs at you. successfully pulling you into his lap as his hands rub along your back before settling in your waist. he pushes his hips up against yours and you feel your eyes begin to roll into the back of your head. you break the kiss to let out a soft moan and he grins at your reaction. you glance at him before smashing your lips against his, he groans into the kiss. you break it again and watch him chase your lips before laughing softly. “not so fun is it?” you tease lightly. he responds by gripping your tail, squeezing it just a little at the base and your back arches into him.
you let out a delightful moan and you hide your face in his neck. you both enter a cadence, grinding into each other. you begin to suck along his neck, knowing it’s a weakness of his. leaving marks and little bites along your way, he leans his head back and you see him begin to breathe heavy. he squeezes your hips a few times, “yawne, please.” letting out a small hum you respond, “what is it?” he doesn’t say anything just takes deep labored breaths so you stop your movements, lifting your head. he lets out a sound of disapproval. “what? i thought you wanted me to stop, ma so’lek? is that not what you want?” he lets out a chuckle before locking eyes with you, “you know that is not it.” he tilts his head at you, (sorry guys jake possessed me here), “bond with me. i want to experience tsaheylu with you again.” you smile and nod your head, bringing your kuru towards him but he shakes his head. “no. i must hear you say it.”
that sends a shiver down your spine, you swallow before speaking, “o-okay. yes so’lek, i want to feel you too through tsaheylu.” he grabs his kuru and you both make the bond and you feel so many overwhelming emotions at once. love, gratitude, desire, vulnerability. everything. this sparks the makeout session further and you both are completely fine with it. your hands run all over his body, his chest, his arms (YUMMY), his stomach, his waist, his shoulders; you can’t help yourself. he does the same to you, even taking some time to break the kiss to place love bites on your chest and leading them to your breast. you can feel the tension getting higher and higher but then you hear the soft sound of footsteps… perfect.
remember how so’lek was suspicious earlier? well, he was right. now don’t get me wrong, you still wanted to enjoy a night with him but you have to stake your claim and what better way to do it is to show it? the place you picked aligns with that woman’s patrol schedule. you can hear her abruptly stop in her tracks, what did that one zeswa say? “you must be still to read the plains.” oh you’re still alright. to make sure so’lek doesn’t notice you go back to kissing his neck. he lets out a groan and you move your hips a bit faster now. so’lek places a hand on the side of your neck, tilting your head to him. “you think i do not know, yawne? did you forget we are in tsaheylu?” shit. you did.
you scramble to say something, an apology quick on your lips but he stops you. “no, you will keep going. you want to prove your point, yes? then do it.” that lights something in you, maybe it’s the fact that you have an audience or so’lek really knows the right things to say. you let out a small whine and you move with a purpose. you slide your hand under his tewng, grabbing his dick before sliding down. your chest heaves and you let out a punched moan. once you’re comfortable you kiss him sloppily, feeling pleasure everywhere. he doesn’t stop you, he helps by moving your hips faster allowing you to reach a speed you couldn’t accomplish on your own.
“you like this, huh? showing others that i am yours? knowing she is watching us.” you moan even louder and nod your head, “y-yes! so much, oh my-, so much so’lek! please yawne please!” he chuckles, “pretty thing. so lost that you don’t even know that she left already but that doesn’t matter to you, huh? you made your point, right?” you shake your head again, placing your hands on so’lek’s shoulders as you begin to move your hips back and forth. “good.” he sits up so you’re chest to chest and he wraps his arms around you, pulling you in a bear hug. he leans his head down to whisper in your ear, “i like it too, yawne. i love when you get possessive over me. i love what comes after it, this side of you. so hungry but only for me. for your husband.” you let out a whine that’s a borderline sob into his neck, agreeing with his words.
“y-yawne, i am close! please so’lek, baby please!” he groans and nods his head, “i am r-right there with you, yawne. let go for me, for your mate.” your hips begin to stutter as you reach your peak. you wrap your arms around him, your hands finding solace in his back. your body tensing and relaxing in shivers. you hear so’lek growl before he releases and he holds you tighter. he lets out soft grunts as he begins to come back down. you nuzzle your cheek against his jawline and you can hear him purr softly. he places a gentle kiss on the crown of your head before he rubs his cheek across yours; you both effectively scent each other.
“well that was something, huh?” you say a bit shyly before giggling. he hums, “do not think you have gotten away with your scheme.” “hey! it was not a scheme! just a well thought out plan!” he just stares at you with a deadpan expression before breaking and laughing. “whatever you say, yawne. you have scarred the poor woman.” you smack your lips, “so? she deserves it. and do not speak of other women when you are inside me.” he kisses you, “of course, sevin.” you both relax there before so’lek decides its best to head back to camp. you try to convince him to sleep in the clearing but he thinks scarring one person is enough (LMAOAOAO SORRY SORRY). to sweeten the deal he flies back with you on ìley and you both make it back in no time. still giving you both enough time to wash up and sleep.
once you’re both in the hammock he holds you tightly as you both fall asleep, whispering sweet nothings to each other before letting sleep overtake you both.
and what if i say i spontaneously wrote a little something something for so’lek for the past hour and a half instead of sleeping on time for work tomorrow? 🌝
once i proofread it, i’ll post it! pinky promise! i’m still writing that jake story i gotta get back in that mood and once it’s done i’ll post it!
i restarted the skybreaker dlc and i got a few pictures! one of my favs is the last one! ri’nela telling stories to the kids just brought tears to my eyes! i can’t believe i didn’t notice it before!
