summary: after a heated argument both you and so'lek open up towards each other understanding each other better as mates.
contents: so'lek x fem!sarentu reader, lil bit of angst, happy couple fighting, slight talks abt death but like meh,
notes: this is a part 2 for inconvenience!! read that first if u want to, i had no idea y'all wanted a pt2 so bad but the poll spoke otherwise LOL
The night deepened before he found you.
He didn’t waste time finding you. He moved without sound, slowly tracking you throughout the denser parts of the forest. He wanted to call out for you, scream for you to return to him.
Yet, he felt as if he didn’t deserve to call your name. As if the purity of it would burn his scorched tongue. That same mouth that hurled such cruelty towards you.
He found you perched against a tree, sitting on the peak of a small hill. Your ears were flat to your head, tail curled in under yourself as you cradled your knees to your chest.
What broke him more was the sound.
They were soft, barely audible sniffles. So small yet they carried so much sorrow. He watched the way you took in a large silent breath, trying to calm your quivering body.
His own body recoiled instinctively, ears turned down, eyes wide, tail hanging low, but the tip pointed up in distress. He could hear his own heart drop, tumbling down from the empty chasm of his chest to the soles of his feet.
He never intended to hurt you. But he was careless. Allowing his emotions to speak before his mind could.
Still, he knew the image of your face would be seared into his memories eternally.
He would never forget it.
So’lek moved towards you slowly, arms nervously glued to his side, unable to move freely.
“I should not have spoken like that.” His words came out quietly, his body crouching down beside you. He got a closer look at your face now, his chest aching as he noticed the way the moonlight reflected off of your tears.
How could he allow the grips of his own fear to stain your heart?
“Is that all?” You murmured, head laying in your arms turned away from him.
“No.” He replied quickly, a hesitant hand laying on your shoulder. “I am sorry I insulted you…there is no excuse for my behaviour.”
You let out a small ‘hmph’ simultaneously acknowledging him and ignoring him.
So’lek inhaled slowly, his hand pulling you closer to him. “You are a fierce warrior, you have no fear...” he paused, his breath shuddering “and I fear that one day you will die as one.”
You looked up from the shadows of your elbow, meeting So’lek’s eyes that spoke of only sadness and regret.
“So’lek…” you breathed, his name heavy on your tongue, blinking away a stray tear as it welled in your eyes. “I have fear. I am afraid.” Your voice was quiet, as if the words were caught in your throat. “I am afraid of the sky-people, afraid of what I have missed out on, afraid that one day they may snatch me back into that metal cage.”
So’lek’s eyes softened as you slowly crept closer to him, his arm snaking around your waist. “I will never let that happen.”
“Neither will I.” You utter, words firm but they had no harshness towards them. “I fight…how I do because I do not want you to worry about me…I do not want you to think that I am the poor naïve Sarentu girl who must be guarded.”
In that moment it all clicked for So’lek. The weight of his thoughtless words. That not only did he insult your fighting, but he found your insecurities and clawed at them.
“And…” Your voice cracked before you could continue, eyes darting down in shame at your display of vulnerability. “And what you said to me…enforced it all. That I am not as fierce and brave as I had let myself believe…but instead an inconvenience.”
So’lek immediately shook his head feverously, hands quickly coming up to cup your cheeks. “You are not an inconvenience; you never have been. I am the naïve one yawne…I am the one who has been watching you with closed eyes.” His thumbs shakily move across your cheek, wiping the salty tears. “I have been so afraid of losing you…that I had forgotten why I found myself falling in love with you.”
Your lips quivered as he whispered to you. You had no idea how much you needed his reassurances; how much his words would affect you. “I don’t need you to stop being afraid.” Your words were soft. “I need you to remember who I am when your fear speaks louder than reason.”
So’lek nodded slowly, thumbs still caressing your cheeks. “I will.”
Your hands travel from his forearms to grasp onto his rough hands. “I do not fight because I don’t care if I die.” You looked into his eyes as you continued. “I fight because I want to live…I want to live a life with you.”
So’lek responded with a soft hum, his eyes speaking more than words could.
“I know I scared you…I never wanted to frighten you. But when you spoke to me…I felt as if I had failed you, that you could not see me any longer.”
“I see you.” He spoke fiercely, voice coarse and direct. “I will never be blind towards you again.”
You gazed into his eyes, searching for any flaws in his promises and did not find a single one. You started to understand it all now. That deep beneath the convoluted walls that So’lek kept up was a fear larger than himself. A fear of loss and grief that did not listen to reason.
“I see you.” Your reply was sweet and gentle, breaking through his guarded walls.
“I will carry the burden of my words, I do not expect you to forgive me so easily.” In So’lek’s perfect world he would’ve never uttered a single thing to hurt you. In his world he would have harnessed the powers to rewind time to make sure his brutal artlessness never formed a bruise on your heart.
But neither him nor the world was perfect. All that was perfect was encompassed within you.
“No.” You said softly, grasping onto his hand just a little tighter. “We shall carry it together.”
You both breathed slowly, foreheads resting against each other’s. The hurt still lingered in between you, it was tender, still recovering from its wounds. But it was no longer alone. Beneath it all was a promise. A promise of trust and understanding. One that ensured neither of you would let that fear drive each other away, but closer together.
thankyou smm for readingggg!!! sorry if there was any typos lol i am writing this at like 4am but like whateverrrrrr. reblogs + comments are veryververveyreyruerher appreciated!! i just love to hear what you all thunked but yayay thankyou for reading byeeee ilyyyy
I’d like to request a Teylan x Gn! Navi reader if possible, where Teylan introduces you to everyone else at the base for the first time and they’re just like “wait Teylan gets bitches??? 😭” and are even more surprised at how smitten they are for each other
You're Teylan's Mate To Be? - ONESHOT
words: 1.4k
notes: Gn!Na'vi reader, fluff and more fluff!! generally more 'chill' and 'confident' reader, (does not replace Tamtey)
summary: Teylan, your future mate, introduces you to everyone at the base and things don't go the way you suspected!
thank you so much for the request!! I hope its to your liking it was so fun writing for him :"D he's so cute
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You and Teylan met at the Great Na'vi Games that the Zeswa held. It was there that you saw the curious young na'vi interacting with Kin. It amused you endlessly to see how he interacted with the others at the camp, how he interacted with Zakru. You even heard that it was here that he rode a pa'li for the first time. He was charming, seeing Pandora's wonders for the first time so purely.
You met around the fire one night. He was sitting on a log, holding some sort of sky people 'technology' as they called it. Interested, you sat down next to him, holding some meat skewers from the hunt you had partaken in earlier in the day. He awkwardly fidgeted with something on his strange vest- must have been some sky person attire.
"You must be Sarentu." you said to him with a smile, offering him a skewer.
"Oh! Um- yes! I am! Wow, did this come from the hunt earlier? Thank you!" He gratefully accepted the skewer and started eating with you.
You both ate in silence for a while, comfortably. He looked like like he wanted to tell you something, so you scooted closer and looked over his shoulder. "What is this... gadget you have? Why do you use it?"
"Oh!" Teylan blinked, stunned. You had grown to realize that that was not common- but he swallowed with a grin "You're interested in what's on my tablet?"
"Yes, I suppose I am." something about this strange Sarentu made your mouth curve into a smile.
"Well- actually- right now I'm looking at the data of the comms of the RDA, so we can track them! And make sure they don't come back again-" Teylan went on and on. You barely followed while he spoke his sky people words, but you listened anyway. It was nice to listen, and you found it cute how invested he was in this, 'tablet' he called it.
⚬────────────────────✧─────────────────────⚬
The two of you grew closer through the games and even closer through the months you were apart. Since the games had ended, Teylan had given you comms and a holotablet to communicate. Teylan was worried that you wouldn't like to speak to him anymore, that you'd forget about him, or that you wouldn't like using sky people technology to talk to him. But you didn't feel any of those things.
For the first month or so you two spent hours each day speaking to each other. Now, you had learned to enjoy the 'silence' with one another. You felt calm in each others presence, but you didn't lose the spark. You learned new things about one another every day, you both talked of your pasts, and you accepted each other wholly.
The others had noticed Teylan being off on his own more, and they were somewhat worried about him at first- but soon enough they had realized, he seemed genuinely happier. Tamtey in particular was so intrigued by Teylan's strange happy moods, poking at him lovingly to tell them what was going on. It wasn't like he was usually sad- he was happy with the Sarentu family they had built, but he seemed so different, in a good way.
"What has you smiling Teylan?"
"Oh- Just some data!" he'd lie. It worked though.
So'lek found him out on his one day, outside the base and speaking on a private comms line. He didn't overhear anything really- but he saw the look on Teylan's face, how content he seemed, and understood what must have been going on.
⚬────────────────────✧─────────────────────⚬
The Sarentu family, minus Teylan-- had naturally gathered to talk in the cave of their clouded forest base. Just as Ri'nela was about to ask where Teylan had gone, the group turned to see him, and you, walking from the cave entrance.
None of the other Sarentu had ever met you before- not to mention anyone at the resistence. Tamtey squinted at you with a hand to their chin, perhaps they had seen you before and were trying to figure you out.
Upon seeing their reactions, you turned to Teylan giving him a teasing smile, and whispered "You didn't tell them yet, did you?"
"Well- I- uh.. I wanted to tell them today! But then you said you were arriving early and-"
"Don't worry about it Ma' Teylan." You whispered back, a hand gently pressing against his elbow, guiding him towards the others. Teylan's cheeks burned bright purple. You met the Sarentu, the family Teylan gushed about so often. They looked confused, all but So'lek, who sported a small smile of recognition.
Ri'nela smiled gently, "Welcome back Teylan, and who might this be?" she took her hand to her forehead in gesturing to the arrival of both Na'vi, her brother and this new friend. You did the same.
"I forgot to tell any of you- uh.. I was going to say it today- but this is y/n! I am courting them!" Teylan kept clarifying, saying "well, we are courting each other-" but it felt like time stopped.
Both Tamtey and Ri'nela's mouths dropped, their eyes blinking. Even Priya had heard it and practically fallen over from the shock.
So'lek was the first to speak, replying straightforwardly, "It is nice to meet you, I am glad for you Teylan, truly." He clapped him on the back, and you couldn't help but chuckle.
Ri'nela and Tamtey's mouths kept open, as other members of the resistance who had heard the news came over to say congratulations.
"You're Teylan's mate to be?" Tamtey's mouth somehow opened wider, and you felt a flush over your cheeks. It felt so strange to hear it come from another person.
"Yes.. I am." You took a hand around Teylan's waist and he placed his hand on yours, slightly shy, but plain in his affection. Without missing a beat, you turned your head and pressed a kiss onto his cheek. Teylan let out a small 'eek' and smiled widely. "Hey!"
Tamtey was still blinking it disbelief, and Ri'nelas eyes winded slightly too. She could never have guessed this--you-- were what was putting Teylan in such a good mood in the past months. She shook it off with a smile "I am glad for you too, Teylan."
⚬────────────────────✧─────────────────────⚬
You had resolved to stay for a while with Teylan. You had flown quite a long way by your Ikran anyway, and it would take at least a day or two for them to recuperate. Teylan opted to show you around, always lingering near you as he showed you all his interesting tech.
He surprised you when you were bent over looking at some sort of table with 'holo-images', his tail wrapped around your leg and he bent over with you, his face close to yours. It sent a small shiver through your body. He whispered to you,
"Um- Can I- Can I kiss you?" He looked nervous but resolved, to show his affection for the person he had spent so long with over comms. He always wondered what it would truly be like to hug you, kiss you, to be with you.
You flushed, surprised by his initiative, but nodded, "of course." the two of you shared a gentle kiss, your hand reaching up to cup his face. You heard him let out a small joyful giggle as you did so, and you felt your tail lash in excitement. "So cute." you smiled, as you pulled away.
Upon looking up, you realized half the resistance was staring at the two of you. You felt yourself sweat, blinking up at the many eyes that quickly turned away. Teylan didn't seem to notice, so you took that as a sign to keep touring the base with him, and listening to his passionate ramblings.
⚬────────────────────✧─────────────────────⚬
You were laid against a few pillows with Teylan in your arms. You were explaining something cool you saw outside in the clouded forest, a place you had never visited prior. Teylan nodded along, he decided to take off his hat because it was uncomfortable against your bare skin. You hadn't even needed to ask- he just noticed it.
Teylan couldn't be more comfortable, something that wasn't always easy for him within the resistance. Having his head pressed to your chest, hearing your heartbeat, it calmed his soul completely. He wrapped his arms around your waist as he cuddled into you more.
You were almost falling asleep. Teylan was completely asleep by now, with you softly petting Teylan's hair he didn't stand a chance. Hearing his worries, his doubts about his life and identity over comms, It pleased you more than anything seeing him so calm. Your eyes were half lidded when you overheard Ri'nela speaking to Tamtey, they were quiet- but not enough.
"I can't believe Teylan managed to get such a Na'vi to fall for him!" you heard Tamtey say quietly, their tone joking. You almost got upset, but you couldn't help but let out an amused huff.
"I was skeptical at first, a new Na'vi we had never met before, and Teylan just announcing they were mates! But seeing the two of them so-- in love, I don't feel worried at all. They will take good care of him." Ri'nela said, you could hear the smile in her voice in the last part of her sentence.
"And Teylan will take good care of them." Another voice, So'lek's. You couldn't help but smile as you drifted off, maybe these strange Sarentus weren't so bad after all.
--
Thank you for reading as always!! comments or reblogs are always appreciated :3!
pairing: so’lek x tamtey/f!na’vi reader
word count: 8k (oops) | part 1
warnings: kissing (both lips), unprotected p in v sex (girl idk if there’s birth control on Pandora but Eywa will provide and shii), oral sex (fem receiving)
divider credit: @uzmacchiato | not my gif!
author’s note: y'all forgive for taking forever to write this midterms week kicked my ASS 💔 despite that, i’ve had SO much fun writing the ending to this little two part fic! and also THANK YOU SM for all the sweet comments; if it wasn’t for the feedback i don’t even know if i would have made a part two so truly, thank you 🫶 ANYWAYYY enough yapping enjoy the fic and tell me what you think!
It has nearly been a week, and yet So’lek’s mind continues to ruminate over the events that took place that night. His mind is racing as he heads back to base after his routine patrol, your words replaying in his mind like a broken human radio.
“Go find somebody else’s emotions to toy with,” your voice echoed within the walls of his mind.
Go find somebody else.
But there is nobody else. There is nobody else for him. It was a simple statement in his mind, a truth as infallible as the sky being blue. But if he was so certain, why didn’t he just say it? Instead, he had tripped over his words like a skxawng, and been the one responsible for bringing tears to your eyes. He balls up his fist, feeling his blunt fingernails dig into his palms as he shakes his head at himself.
When So’lek steps out of the airlock entrance and into HQ, he instinctively scans the main room for you, even though he knows full well that you will not be there. You have been very deliberate over the past several days at avoiding him, using Ri’nela and Nor to relay excuses to him as to why you could not come on patrols with him. He had wandered to all the usual spots you liked to hang out in, hoping to “bump” into you there, but to no avail.
He does not know what embarrasses him more—the fact that he had messed up so badly, or the fact that everyone at HQ seems to be very aware of the tension between the two of you. The sympathetic looks cast at him by Alma, Raj, and Alex made his teeth grind together in a painful and unpleasant way; Sky People pity was the absolute last thing he wanted or needed. Ri’nela has been giving him routine glares lately, and So’lek could only assume you had told her what transpired that night, or at least part of it. But you and her are close, and she will be So’lek’s best chance at finding out where you are.
He finds her easily, heading to the cave under the base where you and the other Sarentu liked to gather together. Ri’nela looks up with a smile, presumably expecting Nor, but it drops once she realizes who it is.
“She is busy,” she says with a disinterested flick of her tail, already knowing what he came here for.
“I just want to know if she is alright,” he replies, forehead creasing with worry.
“She is fine, no thanks to you,” Ri’nela snaps. “And if you are coming here to ask me where she is, I am not telling you.”
So’lek lets out a sigh, running a hand down his face. Clearly, this was a mistake, he thinks to himself as he leaves to head back inside to HQ. He spends the rest of his afternoon being fairly withdrawn; he lingers in the forest near base, walking but not really going anywhere. He knows if he sits still, he will drive himself mad, so he half-heartedly engages in meaningless tasks to take his mind off of you.
Later in the day, he finds himself sitting near the cooking station just outside of the base, nursing his second cup of zangke that day. He’s about to pour a third when he hears a voice from behind him.
“You should take it easy, So’lek.”
He whips his head around to be greeted with the sight of a Nor, a disapproving look gracing his features. He simply sighs, turning back to the warmth of the fire as Nor sits himself down next to him.
“I wish to be alone, Nor,” So’lek tells him plainly over the crackling embers of the fire.
“This is a communal space,” Nor retorts. At this, So’lek gives him an irritated look, moving to drinking from his cup again; however, before it can even touch his lips, Nor’s hand snatches it away from him. So’lek makes a noise of protest, but Nor simply shakes his head and holds the cup even further out of his reach.
“Enough of this nonsense. You have been sulking all around HQ, Tamtey has barely been around, everyone is on edge… I do not know what is going on, but I would not be surprised if it was your fault,” Nor says.
So’lek opens his mouth to speak, but Nor holds a hand up, signaling that he wasn’t done talking. “She is in the caves, up by the cliffside with her ikran. Go make peace with her, for your own sake… and for ours.”
So’lek’s mind races at the thought of finally being able to see you again. How would you react? What would he say? How could he even begin to repair the trust that he had broken?
“Nor… thank you. I will be back,” So’lek replies, rising to his feet. His mind is racing now as he moves to the perch where Iley was. He pets his neck, and the animal nuzzles into his hand, letting out a friendly grumble.
“There is something I must do, old friend,” So’lek murmurs pensively, making tsehelu as he hops onto Iley’s back. He takes off instantly, and the wind rushes around him. For a brief moment, he regrets not taking his riding visor with him, but no matter—getting to you was the singular most important thing to him right now is getting to you.
He gets to the base of the cliffside sooner than he thinks, and he lands on the rocky ground, dismounting from Iley and craning his neck up. He begins to scale the side of the cliff, using a lift vine to give him a head start. There’s a breeze that flows around him, and So’lek closes his eyes, focusing his senses until his nose picks up on a very distinct scent—you. He follows the trail, each step feeling heavier with dread. He doesn’t know what he will do if you reject him; even though you wholly have every right to, he is certain his heart might burst out and fall on the ground right in front of him. The greenery starts to become more sparse, and as the rocks of the cliffside come into view, he hears a familiar sound. He whips his head around to see your ikran parched on a nook, and he cautiously approaches the animal. She hesitates to let So’lek near her, stepping back and letting out a harsh huff. His ears flick down when he realizes her apprehension is likely due to the fact that you have bonded with her since that night, and she could see all of your memories. He stretches his arms out to show the ikran that he is not a threat, and slowly, she lets him come near enough for him to pet her nose.
“I know, I know. I am here to make it right… hopefully,” So’lek says. It's almost like she understands him, because she nudges her nose in the direction of the entrance of a shallow cave, as if she was gesturing for him to look inside. He pets her as a “thank you”, venturing inside as the trail of your scent grows stronger. He had seen this place before when flying around, but he had never gone inside before. Night has fallen, and the cave should be pitch black, but there's a second opening in the cave that lets the moonlight in, illuminating his path inward.
When So’lek finally sees you, you’re sitting with your legs dangling off the cliff of the secondary opening, staring out at the vast expanse of the forests while you run your fingers over the beads woven within your songcord. He pauses for a moment, not wanting to startle you in your especially precarious position by bringing attention to his presence. He’s trying to figure out what to do when you suddenly speak out.
“Priya ratted me out, didn’t she?” you wonder aloud. You don’t look at him, keeping your gaze fixed on the vast landscape ahead.
“It was Nor,” So’lek replies, approaching you cautiously. The tanhì dots on your back glow persistently as you curl further into yourself, pulling your knees up to your chest and resting chin on them. Your tail wraps around your ankles as he pauses, careful not to get too close to you, as if he were approaching a wounded animal.
“I thought I told you to leave me alone,” you say. You try to inject as much venom as possible into the sentence, but you just sound defeated.
“I have come to apologize, if you will hear me,” So’lek replies carefully. You laugh, but there’s no humor behind the sound.
“I don’t really have a choice, do I?”
“If you want me to leave, say the word. Say the word and I will, but… I wish to explain myself,” So’lek tries to reason. He steps closer to you, and his chest seizes when he sees the way you flinch away from him, tucking yourself closer into your body and further away from him.
“I don’t know, I think you explained yourself perfectly well that night,” you scoff, still refusing to look at him. “You don’t need to pity me like a child. Did you hurt me? Yes. Will I get over it? Yes. But you make it really hard to do that when you’re changing your mind on how you feel about me every other day,” you continue, feeling yourself get more and more heated.
“The way I feel about you has never wavered, Tamtey,” he says softly. “My hesitation, it was due to the fact that I… I had not yet properly courted you.”
For the first time since you two had begun speaking that night, you look at him, and a look of bewilderment and barely-contained anger flashes across your face as you rise to your feet and cross your arms.
“‘I have not courted you yet’ and ‘I do not want to be with you’ are two completely different sentences with two very different meanings. We use guns, So’lek, human weapons of metal without any reservation in the world, and yet you want me to believe the reason why you changed your mind was because of courting tradition?” you spat, barely containing your irritability.
At this, So’lek rushes over to you, reaching for your arm in a desperate bid for contact. With the fire brewing beneath your eyes he fully expects you to push him off of you, but you sit still, eyes looking at where his hand rested tenaciously on your arm before moving back up to his face. Now it’s his turn to flinch a little. He wasn’t expecting you to allow him to speak, let alone explain himself; he was fully prepared to be turned away by you, knowing that he most certainly deserved it. He takes a shallow breath, silently willing his mind and his tongue to work together with each other this time.
“There is a side of me, a part of me that I thought was dead, and you bring this out in me,” So’lek blurts out suddenly, saying the first thing that comes to his mind.
Where did that come from? He was really starting to regret drinking all of that zangke; it may as well have been a damn truth serum. Your eyes widen a bit in surprise at the admission, but you stay quiet, allowing him to continue.
“I have only known loss, and it has hardened me into the man I am today. Vengeance has plagued my life; it is the sole driving force behind everything I do, and you are… so different from me. The Sky People took so much from you, as they did to me, and yet your spirit remains bright. I suppose I… I did not understand what you could see in a man like me. I did not want you to make the mistake of bonding yourself to me for the rest of your life.”
Your mouth falls open a bit, taking in the words falling on your ears. Your hand reaches up to hold the side of his face, and he freezes, desperately wanting to lean into your touch but feeling unworthy to do so.
“I do not say this so you will pity me. I concealed the truth that night by allowing my fears to speak for me like a coward, and in doing so, I hurt you. You do not have to forgive me, but I am truly sorry, Tamtey,” he concludes.
“So’lek… bonding with you could never be a mistake,” you whisper fiercely. He squeezes his eyes shut and shakes his head as if you have said something wrong.
“You do not know that,” So’lek says, his voice sounding pained.
“I can decide that for myself, you know,” you reply softly, stroking his cheekbone.
“I do not deserve you,” he murmurs, lowering his gaze. You grab his chin gently and lift so his eyes are focused on you.
“Hey. Stop talking about the man I love like that,” you say firmly. The man’s eyes widen to an almost comical size, and the smallest smile creeps onto your face.
“I… do you mean it?” he whispers breathless, eyes darting across your face to see if there was any hint that you might change your mind.
“I promise, I do. I see you, So’lek,” you whisper back. Your eyes flutter shut as you lean in and rest your forehead against his. There’s a few seconds of silence, and you feel a flame of nervousness flicker within you, but it’s extinguished the second you feel So’lek’s lips on yours. His lips are soft but unyielding, and he pulls back, only for a moment.
“I see you, Tamtey,” he says quietly.
“But your eyes are closed,” you say. You open your eyes just in time to see the look of bewilderment on So’lek’s face, and you attempt to hold in a giggle.
“Are you… trying to be funny right now?” So’lek asks. His lips are quirked, but his browbone is furrowed, as if he is deciding whether or not to laugh.
“Maybe,” you say, stretching out the last syllable of the word. After the emotional turmoil he had put you through, it’s only fair that you tease him, just a tiny bit. Your arms come up to rest your wrists on both sides of his neck, stretching to accommodate the height difference as you cock your head up at him.
“You will have me?” he questions cautiously. His hand comes up to run across the length of one of your arms before dropping to rest at your hip tentatively, and you try to ignore the shiver it sends up your spine.
“Hmmm… I have not decided yet,” you say to him, pretending to contemplate the matter. His other hand lands on your hip and he grabs you firmly—not enough to hurt you in any way, but enough to pull you closer to him.
“Then I will help you decide,” he murmurs. His face drops to the crook in your neck, lips pressing insistent little kisses down your throat. Your hands slide down to his vest as your breathing grows a little heavier, and a gasp slips out from your mouth when his lips brush over a particularly sensitive spot behind your ear.
“Off,” you manage to breathe out, pawing at his tactical vest. The dog tags strewn across the front of the vest clink together as he fulfills your request, and he’s deliberately slow when he takes it off, not missing the way you stare at his flexing muscles.
“Better?” he asks. You don’t answer. Instead, he’s caught off guard when you push down on his shoulders until he’s sitting on a rock ledge on the side wall of the cave, and you settle yourself right into his lap. His lips find yours again, and this time, it’s hungry. His hands roam over your body aimlessly, like he can’t decide which part of you he wants to touch you first. Your own are not idle, and one of your hands moves up to grab the side of his neck. When your thumb brushes over the curve of his throat, you feel the hammering beat of his pulse, and you jolt a little in excitement at the effect you’re seeming to have on him. It’s hard to even think right now, with So’lek all over you, strong arms anchoring you in place. You’re not thinking of anything, not even breathing properly apparently, because when So’lek finally pulls back, you gasp a little for air.
“Breath, ma’yawne,” So’lek instructs, smoothing your hair back with both of his hands. The intimate gesture combined with the unexpectedly sweet nickname has your heart skipping a few beats. He chuckles a bit at your seemingly dazed expression.
“Is this alright?” he asks you softly. Now it’s your turn to stumble over your words.
“Yes,” you say, a bit flustered under his intense gaze. Patience filled his eyes, but there was an underlying tinge of lust that just made you want to devour him whole. You shift in his lap a bit to readjust your position, and So’lek lets out a quiet groan. His eyes fly up to yours, almost as if he was hoping you didn’t hear it, but you did—and more importantly, you wanted to hear him make that sound again. You test him again, this time rolling your hips slowly but deliberately over his loincloth.
“Tamtey…” he rasps.
“Do you want me to stop?” you ask, though you don’t quite cease your movements. He grabs your hips and drags you back and forth, setting a steady rhythm. You throw your head back and whimper, biting your lip to try and hold back the sounds threatening to escape your mouth. So’lek sees your exposed neck as an invitation, his lips finding the skin there again as he sucks on a particular spot that has you growing wetter at your core. It’s too much and somehow not enough all at once, and you push your hips down. You’re met with a hard bulge and a soft gasp from So’lek, who is now looking up at you, eyes studying your face to try and figure out exactly what you wanted.
“We… we do not have to fully mate, if you are not ready,” he says cautiously, not wanting to cross any of your boundaries. He’s being so sweet and considerate, almost too considerate, and you affectionately roll your eyes at him.
“So’lek.”
“Yes?”
“I am literally on top of you,” you say, giving him a pointed look.
“Right, yes,” he stutters, a bit flustered as if he has just been made aware of the situation, and you can’t help but giggle a bit.
You move your hands to slowly remove your top, never taking your eyes off of So’lek. It was a simpler one than the usual gear you wore, carefully woven and gifted to you by Nefika. Its lack of pockets and holders for ammo compared to your usual vest (which you are sure So’lek will lecture you about later) meant that it served no purpose other than being decorative and pretty. With your chest laid bare in front of him, So’lek was paying no attention to your top, which was now cast aside somewhere beside you. His hands come up to hold the sides of your torso, traveling up and up until both of his hands rest to cup underneath your breasts.
“We should lie down,” he whispers, his tongue darting out to wet his lips as his eyes roam up your body. You feel red-hot under his gaze, but you happily oblige. You stand up and grab his hand to follow, moving a few steps to lay down on an especially soft part of the cave floor that was blanketed in grass. He comes down on top of you, and before you can even blink, his mouth has latched onto your left nipple. A gasp leaves your lips immediately, and your hands grip his shoulders to ground yourself as he swirls his tongue over your nipple, causing it to pebble up in his mouth. His finger comes up to pinch your other one, rolling it between his fingers, and the stimulation shoots straight down to your core. You needed his mouth, his fingers, anything—or you positively felt like you were going to explode.
“So’lek, please,” you whine, not even sure what you’re really begging him for. One of his hands moves down your torso, fingers feathering across your skin until they meet the junction between your legs. He brushes your loincloth aside and cups you there, and your eyes squeeze shut, hips subconsciously moving forward to get some friction.
“So wet,” he whispers, almost in awe. “Can you hear it?”
“Y-yes,” you manage to breathe out. If you were even a tiny bit less out of your head right now, you might be embarrassed at the way that you were practically humping So’lek’s hand now. The friction felt incredible, but the barrier that your loincloth was putting between your skin and his was starting to become unbearable. So’lek must sense your impatience, because he finally has mercy on you, pushing your tewng aside and dipping his fingers into your slick folds. He starts massaging you there, his thumb rubbing steady circles. Your back keens off the floor as your hand shoots down to grab his wrist, holding him there as a silent plea for him not to stop. When he starts pressing down into your clit, a squeak escapes you, and he quickly soothes you with a quick peck. His fingers withdraw from you now, and you let out a whine against his lips.
“Patience, Tamtey,” So’lek soothes you, dragging his lips all the way down your torso until he’s face-to-face with your pussy. He presses a searing hot kiss on the inside of your thigh before easing both of your legs over his shoulders, and you suddenly feel very self-conscious, realizing you’ve never really been so exposed to someone like this before. Your knees push together in an attempt to close yourself off, but So’lek stops you, a firm but gentle hand keeping your thighs open for him.
“Why do you hide yourself from me?” So’lek says quietly. His tone is soft, not accusatory at all, but your face burns all the same.
“I haven’t really shared myself like this with anyone… I feel a bit shy,” you admit.
“Do not be shy, tiyawn; it is just me,” he reassures you. “I will take care of you.”
“You always do,” you reply with a little smile. You reach down to cup the side of his face in your hand, and your heart leaps a little when he nuzzles into your touch.
“I want to try something,” he says lowly, kissing the palm of your hand. “Do you trust me?”
“Of course,” you say, half nervous and half eager to see what his next move is. He positions himself so he is once again facing your folds.
“My mouth will feel better,” So’lek mumbles quietly, almost like he’s talking to himself. Before you can even say anything in reply, he licks a long stripe up your clit.
“So’lek!” you squeal, grabbing at his shoulders. The man pays no attention to your squirming, instead focusing on sucking away at you as if you were the last dapophet pod on Pandora. So’lek’s actions are controlled, but the noises he makes are messy—the sounds of him slurping echo off the cave walls. He pulls and teases at your bud with his tongue until it’s swollen, your eyes rolling back at the sheer amount of pleasure he was giving you. Your hand reaches out, seemingly looking for something to hold on to, and So’lek laces his fingers in yours, grounding you. The other hand is now tangled in his hair, pushing your cunt against his tongue in an impossible attempt to get closer to him. He shoves his other hand under your ass and pushes you up into him, encouraging you to essentially ride against his face. It feels so good, almost too good; your legs involuntarily try to close at the stimulation, but So’lek simply brings up the hand under your hips to keep you open and pliable for him.
When he reaches a hand up to play with one of your nipples, you cry out before you can stop yourself. Gasping at how loud the noise was, you slap a hand over your mouth and squeeze your eyes shut, trying your absolute hardest to stay silent. So’lek, who has been keeping his eyes laser focused on you, does not take this lightly and pulls away for a moment.
“Do not hold back. I want to hear you,” he says, a bit more roughly than he intended. Your eyes open and widen at his tone, and you feel yourself clench around nothing. When you meet his gaze, his ears flit back bashfully.
“I am sorry, I—I did not mean to sound so demanding,” he corrects himself sheepishly, running a hand up your thigh before squeezing at the skin there as an apology.
“I don’t want our ikrans to hear and think we’re in trouble or something,” you say breathlessly, biting your lip at the illicitness of it all. So’lek glances towards the direction of the main cave opening. The two of you were out of the ikrans’ sight, but you were right; they would definitely hear you both if you were loud enough.
“Next time, we will go without them if you wish,” he says. “You make such lovely noises, yawne; they should not be hidden.”
You barely have time to process his compliment before his mouth is on you again. Something pushes up against your entrance, and you moan out when you realize he’s carefully teasing a thick finger into your entrance. He curves the digit up, stroking that gooey spot inside of you, and you’re fairly certain your vision blacks out for a split second. His finger works you open with several strokes before he easily slips in another. The digits pumping in and out of you combined with the suction on your clit had you getting closer and closer to your peak. You can’t do much but whimper So’lek’s name and gasp out broken little moans, but he doesn’t seem to mind; when your hand grips his so tight you fear you’re hurting him, he reassuringly rubs his thumb at the junction of your interlocked fingers to ground you. His other arm suddenly reaches up to band an arm on your lower stomach, holding you firmly in place and you let out a loud choked out moan from the added pressure.
“So’lek, please!—” you cry out. So’lek thinks you sound so beautiful, even frenzied and desperate like this. He pushes through, determined to get you to your climax despite the soreness starting to settle into his jaw. When he pulls on your clit with his tongue just right, your orgasm hits you without warning. You open your mouth to scream but no sound comes out as the sensation of your climax washes over you in waves, white-hot pleasure searing through your body. The heels of your feet dig into his back as you desperately try to ground yourself. So’lek is relentless, still working his tongue on you; it’s not until you weakly push on his shoulders when he finally slows his movements to a stop. He pokes his head up from between your quivering legs, watching your face carefully as both of you catch your breath.
“Are you alright?” he asks.
“Kiss me,” you mumble, feeling your legs turn into jelly. So’lek laughs softly at the dazed expression taking over your features. He rises up, and in the glint of the moonlight, you can clearly see now how your wetness coated the entirety of his mouth and chin. He keeps his eyes on you as he drags the back of his hand across his lips to wipe it off, and your hole clenches around nothing at how lewd the action was. His lips meet yours, and you suck down the kiss greedily, as if he was your only source of air. You feel his hand reach down somewhere between your bodies, and it isn’t until the fabric of his now-discarded loincloth grazes against your leg do you realize he’s taken off the last of his clothing. You feel the hardness of his length brush up against your thigh, and it sends a shiver down your spine. So’lek, ever the attentive lover, notices how your body trembles momentarily and pulls back. He holds himself up his elbows, lifting up one arm to unstick the few strands of your hair that your sweat had annealed to your forehead. His gaze is so soft as he looks at you that it’s turning you into mush.
“I need you, So’lek,” you whine quietly. You didn’t care how desperate you sounded; despite the relative dim lighting of the cave, your eyes could follow the bioluminescent trail of his tanhì pattern down his torso into the darkness where his body was pressed between yours.
“You already have me,” he replies smoothly, ever patient in spite of your demanding nature right now. You, however, are not patient. You reach a hand down, fumbling in the space between your torsos until you clumsily grab So’lek’s shaft. His reaction is immediate, a sharp hiss being sucked in through his teeth as his head lolls forward into your shoulder.
“Tamtey!—”
The hiss of your name from his lips is broken, dripping with need, and it activates some wickedly smug part of your brain that wants to hear him sound like that again.
“Like this?” you ask coyly, your fist closing around his dick. All you get is a garbled response, and you bite back a smile. “Use your words, So’lek.”
“Yes,” he rasps, voice partially muffled by your shoulder. “Just like that, ma’yawntu.”
“Look at me,” you demand softly. He untangles himself from his position hunched over you, instead sitting back on his haunches just in time to watch you work your closed hand over his member. You finally get a good look, and you let out a soft little gasp. He’s big—not that you had anything to compare it to, but honestly, you didn’t need to. A gorgeous shade of dark cerulean, with glowing dots littering his pubic bone and stopping right before the length of him.
The way your eyes were moving back and forth between So’lek’s dick and his face, as if you were trying to gauge whether or not he liked it, was making his head spin. You’re careful, your fist firm against him but not tight enough for the kind of relief he needs right now. He brings a hand to wrap around yours, his large and slender digits dwarfing yours. He squeezes, increasing the pressure around his length to an almost vice-like grip before he starts to slowly move your hand up and down with his.
“Start slow, like this,” he says through gritted teeth. You nod eagerly, watching mesmerized as he helps you stroke him. Once you get a steady rhythm going, he lets go of your hand, letting you do the work all by yourself as he reclines on his elbows. He lets out a series of soft grunts now, increasing in frequency as you pick up the pace. The friction from your palm against the soft skin of his dick was warming up your hand, and you suddenly have an idea. You pull your hand back, earning a small noise of protest from So’lek before he realizes what you’re doing. You suck in your tongue before dropping a glob of spit on your hand, and you spread it all over So’lek’s tip, which is now flushed in a deep orchid color. He jerks fervently, his abdominal muscles pulling taut at the sensation of your warm spit dripping slowly down his dick. When he watches your head dip down, moving your mouth to follow, he stops you short with a crooked finger under your chin.
“I want to do what you did to me,” you pout, feeling slightly disappointed. So’lek’s heart skips a bit; he couldn’t believe how sweet you were being towards him.
“Another time,” he reassures you as he maneuvers himself, gently guiding you to lay down once more. The warmth of his body hovering above you has you forgetting why you were even upset.
So’lek dips down to kiss the juncture between your ear and your neck, feathering his lips down to the base of your throat. You feel something slick and hard rub against your clit and you let out a sharp gasp, looking down the length of So’lek’s body. You’re met with the sight of him dragging his dick up and down your swollen nub, pushing you to the brink of overstimulation. Your hands fly up to hold onto his biceps as you watch him work himself over you, your spit and his mixing with the remaining slick from when he ate you out earlier. The slow pace he was moving at was one of restraint, evident by how he was letting out hushed little grunts.
“So’lek… inside,” you manage to say. You felt as if you would dissolve into a puddle if he didn’t stick his dick in you right this second.
“You are ready?”
“If you don’t, I’ll do it myself,” you huff out, pulling your lip between your teeth. So’lek gives you a tiny grin, mildly amused by your bossiness. But he doesn’t mind, especially because it’s you.
“I will go slow. And you will tell me to stop, if it is too much, yes?” he tells you. His bulbous tip is now lined up against your entrance, and a few teasing pushes give you a preview of the stretch to come.
“I will, I promise. Just put it inside already, please,” you whine, not caring how desperate you must sound right now.
“You want it? How much?” So’lek whispers. He sounds smug for the first time all night, and your lips contort into a pout.
“Are you really going to make me beg?” you complain, although your hips move to try and nudge his tip inside of you.
“Mawey, ma’yawne,” he says with a soft smile. “I would never deny you.”
And with that, he finally pushes in.
It’s just several centimeters, barely anything to get you acclimated, but you suck in a sharp breath.
“Is it painful?” So’lek asks worriedly. You quickly shake your head to reassure him, and your hands move up to hold both sides of his face in your palms..
“I’m okay,” you tell him. The way he had worked you open on his tongue and fingers earlier made the stretch much more bearable. “Keep going, please…”
He obliges, pushing in even further as his eyes stay glued to your face for any signs of discomfort. When So’lek finally is buried to the hilt in you, he takes a pause, fighting with every fiber of his being not to cum right then and there. Your pussy had a vice grip around him, suctioning in his dick like it was custom made just for him. He starts to move, pulling out the smallest bit before rocking back into you. Slowly, he sets a steady pace, his hips rolling forward and pulling back as he dragged his thick cock in and out of you. Your legs are spread wide, knees resting on his hips, and the exposed position you were in had you wanting to hide. Your hands try to push down on his shoulders, wanting to bury your face in his broad chest, but So’lek is having none of that. His hand snakes up behind your head, just above the base of your neck, gently lifting you up.
“I want you to see what we are doing,” he grunts, his voice tinged with desire. You watch with heavy-lidded, lust-ridden eyes as his dick slides in and out of you, a thick, creamy white ring forming near the base of him. The sight has you feeling dizzy with want, and you reach a couple of fingers down to play with your clit. You were so full of him, and combined with the stimulation on your fingers, you felt dangerously close to having a second orgasm.
“K-keep going!” you beg. You didn’t even know your voice was capable of sounding so high-pitched with desperation, but you didn’t care. A few well-timed thrusts have you cumming again before you can even realize it. A shrill sound escapes you, something halfway between a moan and a squeal, and you slap your hand over your mouth, eyes wide. So’lek slows to a stop, panting over you, and you start to giggle uncontrollably.
“Why do you laugh, hm?” he questions, unable to stop a grin spreading on his face at the sight of your amusement. His hand comes up cradle the side of your face, and you lean into his touch contentedly. You’re glowing as you look up at him, chest heaving as you take advantage of the pause to catch your breath. So’lek decides right then and there that you’ve never looked so beautiful, and he does his best to commit your face in this exact moment to memory.
“I was so loud,” you chuckle, feeling half-mortified and wanting to hide your face in your hands. Your hands reach down towards him, one hand landing on his ass and the other on his hip. You pull at him lazily, trying to get him to move again.
He responds by putting both of his hands on your knees, and pushing up and up, until they’re practically squishing against your boobs. Then, without taking his eyes off of you, So’lek slides back into you, and you choke on a gasp. The new angle your hips are at allows him to get all the way to hilt, his pubic bone bumping messily on your overstimulated clit. Your eyes are rolling back into your head now as he begins to thrust into you in earnest, setting a pace much faster than before. You were stuffed so full of him, with nowhere to hide and nothing else to do but just take it. The tip of him repeatedly tickles the sensitive soft spot inside of you, the sensation sending a warm static-y feeling up the base of your spine. The sounds echoing in the cave are downright salacious, sweaty skin sticking and slapping apart every time he drives into you. Your brain feels like mush now, legs going limp as they wrap around his hips as tightly as you could muster. So’lek is finding it difficult to focus on keeping himself from cumming, and his fingers maneuver down to play with your clit once more. He’s rolling and pinching the bundle of nerves between his thumb and his second finger, and the return of proper stimulation there has you reeling. Truncated moans roll off your tongue as your walls involuntarily clamp down around him, and So’lek gasps sharply at the sensation, hips stuttering upon feeling the absolute vice grip you have on his dick.
“Augh- Tamtey–!” he grunts out, nearly sounding feral despite his hushed tone. He doesn’t even get a full sentence out before he stops suddenly, fully buried in you as his head drops into the crook or your shoulder. His breath is ragged in your ear as he lazily grinds inside of you, and the realization of the fact that he came inside you has you digging your nails in his back with a soft whimper. You felt his cum leaking out from the tight seal your cunt was making around him, dripping down your folds slowly. He finally slows to a stop, breath still ragged as he lifts his head up to look at you. He looks a bit lightheaded, as if he is remembering where he was and who he is, and you have to bite back a smile.
“I… was I too rough?” So’lek asks worriedly. He brushes a few stray hairs out of your face as you shake your head.
“No,” you giggle softly.
“You laugh?” he questions, brow raised with a smile.
“I laugh because I am happy. You make me happy, So'lek,” you reply gently. He’s resting his weight on one of his forearms by your head, and you raise a hand up to stroke his arm, fingers lingering on a raised, pink scar on his bicep.
“When I rode Iley for the first time, we hit a sharp rock on a cliff,” he confesses, feeling uncharacteristically self-conscious. His eyes move to where your fingers are gently caressing the skin there that never healed quite right. “I was a bad rider.”
“Always so hard on yourself,” you murmur. So’lek chuckles softly above you. He feels his dick softening inside of you and carefully maneuvers himself to pull out, swallowing a groan at how tight you remained around him. You let out a small noise of dissatisfaction at the idea of no longer being full of him, but you’re quickly satiated when you catch a glimpse of So’lek’s seed slowly spilling out of you. When his bulbous tip finally exits you, there’s a string of cum that briefly connects your bodies before it snaps and trickles down to your hole.
“Do you like the sight of it?” So’lek asks huskily, noticing the way your eyes are transfixed on where your bodies were once joined.
“Yes… can we do that again?” you question breathlessly, fingers wrapping a bit tighter around his bicep. So’lek lets out a laugh, and you can’t help but smile at seeing him smile.
“Not so soon, ma’yawntu,” he smiles tiredly.
“Alright… how about tomorrow? Is that too soon?” you propose, looking up at him hopefully.
“Yes, we can do it again tomorrow,” he says with a smile. “But you must get some sleep,” he continues when you let out a little yawn.
“We did not bond, though…” you say apprehensively, chewing on your bottom lip.
“Tomorrow,” So’lek repeats, his body tensing up a bit. At this, your eyes go slightly wide, and an unmistakable look of disappointment flashes across your face. Nevertheless, you nod in understanding; perhaps he was tired and wanted rest too.
Or maybe he had changed his mind about you. About this.
When So’lek sees your eyes dart away from him, he immediately feels a pang in his chest.
“It is not that I do not want to, Tamtey,” he says quickly, trying to reassure you. “I am worried you will see me differently after we bond. There are things that I have done, things that I am not proud of. It pains me to think that the burden of my mistakes will now be shared with you,” he confesses.
Your face scrunches up a bit as you reach for his hand, wrapping your fingers around his, and he instinctively relaxes under your touch.
“So’lek, out of all Na’vi, I would understand what you did to the Sky People and why you had to do it,” you whisper. “I could never hold that against you.”
So’lek feels his heart soar the tiniest bit at your words of encouragement. He carefully untangles himself from you so he can sit down, helping you up so you can do the same. His arm curves behind him as he reaches for the braid covering his kuru, and you follow suit. He holds up the end of his braid and moves it closer to yours, and anticipation chews away at your stomach. The glowing tendrils sway closer, seemingly reaching out toward each other before they finally intertwine.
You gasp, the overlapping sensations hitting you all at once and overwhelming you. So’lek reaches out a hand to steady you, and you wrap your hands around his as you close your eyes. You see flashes from his early years, happy memories from his childhood with his father. You see the devastation of the Battle of Ayram Alusing, in which his dear mentor Wawen had tragically been killed. You see the start of his journey of solitude, many moons of marked loneliness. And then, you see you. You see yourself through his eyes for the first time, from the moment he met you coming out of that cryo pod up until this very second.
You don’t even realize the dampness on your cheeks until you feel So’lek’s warm hand on your cheek, his thumb gingerly wiping away the tears that fell there. You open your eyes, your browbone furrowing and irises glassy with emotion.
“So’lek, I—,” you choke on a sob. “You told me before, but to see it for myself… you have been through so much.”
“Not more than you,” he replies, his voice cracking with emotion. His thumb continues to stroke your cheek in an effort to soothe you.
“I was so mean to you… I did not know,” you continue, feeling upset with yourself at how you blew up on him before.
“No, Tamtey, do not apologize. I certainly deserved it,” he says with a strained laugh. The soft smile on his face calms you down a bit, and you reach a hand up to hold the one that was holding your face.
“And this whole time, you felt the same about me?” you whisper, almost afraid that it would become untrue if you said it out loud.
“Always,” he says definitively. “Even when I did not know it myself. And you were patient with me despite my foolishness… thank you, Tamtey.”
“For what?”
“For bringing hope into my life once more.”
“So’lek…” you say, a fresh set of happy tears forming in your eyes. “Oel ngati kameie.”
“Oel ngati kameie, ma’yawntu. Do not cry for me, please,” he pleads with you softly. A beat passes, and then he tacks on: “And I am sorry; I wish I had courted you properly before this.”
“It’s okay, So’lek. You still can now,” you tell him with a gentle smile.
“I suppose so. It is just…” he sighs before continuing. “It is not customary in the ways of The People.”
“Well, then, I guess we can make our own way. Just you and me,” you say, beaming brightly at him. So’lek smiles like a lovesick fool at your enthusiasm, and he silently thanks Eywa for granting him such a gift in the form of you.
“Yes, muntxate, we will make our own way,” he agrees. He moves to lay down, careful not to disconnect your kurus as he pulls you on top of him. You snuggle contentedly into his chest, and the steady movement of his chest rising up and down has your eyelids growing heavy before you know it.
“I don’t want to fall asleep,” you mumble sleepily. You attempt (and fail) to fight back a yawn, and So’lek chuckles softly at your effort.
“Why not, hm?” he asks pensively.
“I want to stay up and talk with you,” you complain.
“You can try, but I believe your body is fighting against you,” he replies. You weakly slap at his chest, and your antics draw out an amused sound from him.
“Not true,” you pout, letting out yet another yawn.
“We can talk when the sun rises,” he reassures you. “I will listen to you, always.”
You hum, and So’lek can tell from your lack of verbal response that sleep was luring you into its inviting embrace. So’lek wraps his arm around you tighter, and his tail intertwines with yours as his body heat has your eyes closing in bliss. Your heartbeats are synced as one now, the rhythm acting like a metronome and lulling you to sleep.
It’s only after So’lek knows for sure that you are asleep does he allow himself to start closing his eyes. But before he drifts off, he cranes his neck to press a kiss to the side of your temple— a seal on his silent promise to take care of you until his last breath.
This will have spoilers for my fic 'As We Grow' so check it out before reading lol!
All of this is lore I made up for So'lek, Tamtey, the other Sarentu, and their children. This is just what I thought up for my little AFOP universe! If any of it interests you lmk in the comments because I have been wanting to write more Sotey fics! Especially family ones <3
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Sotey:
- they officially get mated when Tamtey is 22 and So’lek is ~33
- their first child, Hiwaru, is born when Tamtey is 26 and So’lek is 39
- So’lek is very soft with his mate, and shows her the sides of him no one else sees. He laughs loudly and loves to play fight. He also blushes easily when she teases him
- they have lovers braces (bracers) that So’lek hand carved and Tamtey painted
- they sleep completely intertwined, like uncomfortably so, and Tamtey always has to be on his chest
- their last child, Zotam, is born when Tamtey is 37 and So’lek is 50
- they have five children, Hiwaru, Ka’sa, Na’kami, Oare and Zotam
- the two strongest warriors of their clan, they train all the new members of Sarentu, including their children when they become old enough
- they fight every battle together, and paint on each others' war paints
- Tamtey braids and does So’lek’s hair because he loves the feeling of her fingers on his scalp
- raise their children with both Trr’ong and Sarentu traditions
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Sarentu:
- Ri’nela and Nor eventually mate in the future, and have one daughter named Fafang, who is almost 15 years younger than Hiwaru
- Rasi is like a grandmother/mother to the entire clan. She dotes on all of the original Sarentus children but she has a soft spot for Hiwaru
- Teylan ends up mating as well. I think he would mate with a quiet Na’vi who is his age. I don’t know if he’d have kids, he still feels rlly young to me but if he did he would def have a daughter
- a smattering of people join the clan after Sotey’s children get older
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Sotey Family!
Hiwaru:
- first born child and eldest daughter
- the future tsahìk of the Sarentu, because Ri’nela begins to train her when she is 15
- ends up mating a Kame’tire herbalist woman named Meyraiu
- very exuberant like Tamtey, and eager for a battle like both of her parents. She loves to be sarcastic
- very close with her parents and is a daddy’s girl
- So’lek calls her tana’ring
- looks exactly like So’lek, with his skin color and hair color, but has bright blue eyes like her mother’s sister
- great at making arrows, and makes them super colorful
- her ikran’s name is Pom Pom (kissy kissy)
- hates loud noises
- can be sensitive
- super attached to her mom and dad but is a daddy's girl
- her favorite family member is Ri'nela
- her best friend is her mother (Tamtey)
Ka’sa:
- second born
- born three years after Hiwaru
- future mate is a man named Komul, a timid Zeswa boy her age who feels more at home amongst the calm Sarentu 'peace bringers'
- very exuberant and outspoken. She loves to stand up for all of her siblings and friends
- favorite color is purple
- black hair and lighter skin like Tamtey, and has rlly long ears
- so many ear piercings
Na’kami:
- born a little over one year after Ka'sa
- a great singer so she leads all Sarentu chants once she is old enough
- One day she mates an Aranahe male musician named Tümu
- light hair that’s almost red like Tamtey’s and dark skin like So’lek! Has her mother’s eyes but features like her father
- very empathetic
- hates swimming
Oare:
-blind and deaf on one side (R)
-born 1.5 years after Na'kami
-Was almost 3 months premature
-Has light brown hair, very pale blue skin. Her right eye is milky white while the other is yellow
-All the other Sarentu are very protective of her
-Smallest and shortest of her siblings, coming in at 8 feet tall
-Loves animals and has a 'pet' meer deer she calls Saho (means prayer in Na'vi)
-The kindest Sarentu. She is never rude, mean, or argumentative. She does not like fighting and never becomes a warrior
-Loves weaving things for her family
-The last to get mated since she is a free spirit and So'lek is very protective of her...
-Gets sick often
-Vegetarian (but will eat fish sometimes)
-Her mate is the son of a long lost Trr'ong member who acclimated to a wind trading clan, so he is raised with his mother there and meets the Sarentu during a gathering. His name is Ram (means mountain in Na'vi)
Zotam:
- future Olo’eyktan
- very gentle and kind
- an empath like his mother, so he cries really easily
- all of his sisters are very protective of him
- he’s the tallest sibling and the strongest. He loves to exercise so he gets bulkier than So’lek
- has Tamtey’s face and complexion, but So'lek's hair color
- ends up mating Fafang, Ri’nela and Nor’s daughter
- a very mighty warrior
- loves wearing his hair really long
- he becomes master storyteller when he becomes olo’eyktan
- his ikran’s name is Atanvi (a ray of light)
-he ends up getting the Trr'ong warrior tattoos like So'lek has when he becomes of age/a warrior
｡𖦹°‧So'lek te Elusa Kiro'itan x GN!Sarentu!Reader｡𖦹°‧
🪼⋆.ೃ࿔*:･Summary: Dancing around feelings like a Zeswa fighter in the pit, you find the gentle push of a community you fought to protect usher you into the greatest game of all.
**Set in The Sky Breaker (contains spoilers for main story ending and early TSB storyline)**
🪼⋆.ೃ࿔*:･A/N: No use of Y/N, gender non specific, implied chieftain reader (we fought too hard for Ri'nela to be the only one to get a title in the clan), brief mention of loss, Zangke tipsiness, and size difference with So'lek on the account of him being a damn giant, Itu meddles for the love of the game, we stan a messy king.
Prompted by an NPC actually talking suggestively about So'lek during the ride to the new Zakru camp (that's our man, wdym is he coming, hands off). Nesim and So'lek are constantly hanging in this DLC, I love the ride or die hater duo
No TWs, come get y'all juice
🪼⋆.ೃ࿔*:･Word count: 4.2K
🪼⋆.ೃ࿔*:･Na'vi vocabulary for the language nerds:
Eylanay - acquaintance/friend
Oel ngati kameie - I see you (greeting/acknowledgement)
The migration of the Zakru was unlike anything you'd seen before. Their gentle, giant forms stomped their way across the fury of pastels that made up the upper plains, accompanied by the steadily drumming hooves of the Zeswa cavalry.
Kin, ever so friendly, had been riding (and yapping) beside you for the past hour, as you all accompanied the Zakru to the heart of the planes, making way for the Great Games Camp, everyone buzzing with excitement for the upcoming event. Somewhere down the line, your attention span had flown away, gliding over the colorful, unfamiliar flora like a kite manta.
"-and then Sosul spilled the entire cup of zangke over Novao, like a startled arrow deer!" Kin concluded, belly laughing hard enough at his own story to wobble on his direhorse mount. Offering a polite laugh, your eyes still lingered on the Olo'eykte of the Zeswa, naught but a few paces away, chatting with another Na'vi. The warm breeze had carried her words earlier, effectively taking hostage whatever little attention Kin had been previously holding.
"I have also heard he has joined us, but do you think he will compete?"
"Have you ever seen him smile? I doubt he will find amusement in something like the games-" the other Na'vi dismissed, but Nesim persisted with a laugh.
"So'lek has always been one to rise to the challenge. All you have to do is poke him a little with it," she said with more tease than you'd like, patting her huffing direhorse as they climbed over a slope, alongside one of the trudging younger Zakru, painted in yellow hues.
"I suppose it would be entertaining to see," the other woman agreed, their shared laughter an innuendo that wasn't lost on you.
Then, a loud noise and a strong gust broke your concentration abruptly, barely managing to contain your equally startled direhorse. Kin, who had been watching you quietly, found it hilarious.
"Careful young Sarentu, don't go falling off your mount now!" He chuckled, gently running his hand over the suspended trunk of the Zakru that had sneezed in your direction. Pollen makes an enemy of us all.
"Sorry, I was a little lost in thought-"
"More like lost in someone else's conversation." He joked, flashing a mischievous smile that held too much knowing for you to lie your way out of it.
"I... simply haven't seen So'lek in a while, so I was curious." You sheepishly replied.
"Yes, I understand you. I also look forward to seeing friends of old at the Great Games. I cannot remember the last time we were all gathered together as such-"
As he went on to reminisce, your mind drifted back to So'lek's kind words after the destruction of Mercer's facility. He had sat by you while you got patched up, his warm gaze washing over you like a campfire's glow, soothing your wounds more than any salve. Ironically enough, all it took was some encouragement and appreciation, and you had been somewhat attached to So'lek ever since. He'd offered you to join him in hunting down any remaining facilities that littered the beautiful slopes and hills of Pandora, an invitation that felt strangely intimate in the cramped medical bay of the resistance HQ.
Still, you had no claim on him whatsoever, and therefore you could not understand why you had felt something tighten in you, like a flamingo orchid closing up, at Nesim's jests.
It's not like So'lek would be interested in anything more than the missions that always preoccupy most of his time anyway...right?
.
.
.
"Been a while, eylanay!" Itu of all people called out, sprouting like a sage mushroom from the edge of the crescent formed around a Zeswa dance-fighting pit. The last time you had seen him was an hour before the attack on the facility, condemned to the fate of a foot soldier, with Zomey's departure still too fresh. It gladdened you to see him well, nonetheless.
"Oel ngati kameie!" You reply with a gentle motion of acknowledgement, which he easily mirrors. "I'm looking for So'lek-"
"I bet you are," he said with a knowing smirk, "he is up at the Archer's trail camp with Nesim, I had the pleasure to witness him ride when I also partook in the direhorse challenge. He beat my record with ease, unfortunately."
"That is a shame," you replied with a laugh at his boyish pout, "I'm sure you did great as always though!"
"Ever the diplomat, Sarentu. Direhorse riding may not have been my specialty, but I'll beat each and every record both you and he set in every other game!" He declared with a healthy doze of arrogance that was distinctively Itu, flashing you his pearly white teeth in a smug smile.
Laughing again, you turned to walk away, "well, I look forward to seeing you in the games, and to show you I've long since surpassed my teacher!"
"Lesnonrra!" He said with a roll of his eyes, turning back to the Zeswa fight pit, "I will see you out there!"
.
.
The ride to the camp was filled with an odd sensation of anxiety(?) in your gut. You weren't sure if that was the right name for it, but you certainly felt anxious, too. Your cultivated admiration and friendly bond with Nesim felt somewhat stale in your mouth now, like soured zakru milk. While you respected her greatly, the odd sinking sensation in the pit of your stomach only grew as you rode up the hill to see her swatting at So'lek's broad shoulder, teasing smile on her lips.
So'lek, ever the sharp warrior, noted your arrival first.
"Welcome, little Sarentu." He warmly greeted, and Nesim mirrored with an acknowledging hand gesture.
"Did you enjoy the ride? Are the Zakru not as marvelous in motion as they are in torpor?"
Her smile was so welcoming, that you almost completely forgot about your unreasonable territoriality. Almost.
"It was incredible. And what a beautiful sight it is, to overview the heart of the plains, bathed in sunlight. It filled my ribcage with such warmth, as if cradled by Eywa herself-" you caught yourself rambling as you met So'lek's golden gaze, speckled with mirth.
"It seems you have come to truly connect with Pandora and all its wonders, great progress since I first met you in that lab-" So'lek started, only for Nesim to interrupt, eager with excitement.
"I should've known you'd want to partake in the Great Games yourself, tsamsiyu!"
"Well, sure, though I have yet to find out what they exactly are..." you admitted, your tone laced with a hint of embarrassment as you felt the weight of So'lek's eyes upon you yet again.
"One step at a time! First challenge is direhorse archery! With any luck, you'll beat our records."
"In Nesim's case especially, as the way she shoots those arrows it is most certainly nothing but sheer luck that guides them." So'lek suddenly prodded with a humorously straight face.
Nesim barked a laugh that somehow seemed more charming than undignified, "This IS a game of speed, after all. Your mentor seems to forget that even though he met all his targets perfectly, he still scored just under me." Her smirk was almost audible.
"Well yes, anybody can finish first if they place all their pods in the basket of speed. Still," he turned to emphasize to you, "this is also an archery challenge. Not to mention you earn bonus time for every good shot. Nesim wouldn't know anything about that sort of thing, though-"
"Mighty warrior who takes his time to knock his arrows-!!"
Your gaze bounced between the two, yet you couldn't help but feel the equivalent of the tendrils of a whip leaf flick in your belly, as you witnessed what even in your envious state you could recognize as friendly teasing. Eywa, what had gotten into you?
"Anyway, give it your all, tsamsiyu!" She finally said to you, pushing So'lek's arm in order to quell this feud, even though you all knew he'd never so much as budge at the weak move. "With some luck and skill, you'll outdo us both!"
"Thank you, I'll do my best."
"You always do, I'm sure you'll do well." He encouraged, his supportive words bringing about a fresh wave of shyness over you.
Nesim cheered you on.
As you clambered onto your mount, you felt the faint heat of a blush dust your neck, ears and tail flicking nervously. So'lek, always attentive, took notice, and quietly steered the cocky Zeswa Olo'eykte some paces away, to let you prepare in peace.
.
.
"Now THAT is a score!" Itu's voice suddenly cut through the path of both Nesim and So'lek, who had been approaching your winded form at the edge of the track.
"Irayo, though it certainly was more difficult than I thought." You offered, sliding off your direhorse. "The first attempt was pitiful, truly. This one was much better."
"You just needed time to get used to the track. As soon as you knew where to go, you charged like a Thanator." Itu joked, yet his compliment was evidently sincere.
You nodded along with a laugh, pushing an escaped strand out of your eyes and behind your hunter's headband.
"That was very impressive, you beat our score by a nice solid 10 seconds, too!" Nesim praised once near, slapping your shoulder good naturedly with a bit more force than necessary.
"I learned from the best." You retorted politely, only for Itu to puff up his chest and add "She means me".
So'lek, a step behind him, did not seem amused, rolling his eyes and drawing an involuntary laugh out of you, bubbling like the base of a waterfall.
"Hold on now evi, I was the one to teach her how to ride-" Nesim now butted in, prompting you to take action before the bickering escalated.
"Let's call it a team effort, guys."
As Nesim lead the way back to the Great Games camp, Itu did not hesitate to retell the story of how you'd sought him out first, to teach you how to hunt, and then to ride an ikran. He conveniently left out the part about him needing to be saved from RDAs, and throwing you off the ikran rookery for your first flight; and you made no move to correct him.
So'lek, falling into step beside you, chuckled quietly, "yet I was the first one to ever put a bow in your hand."
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves, you were injured, and I had no idea which arrow end goes towards the target when I first tried to take out the RDA on your tail." You shot back with more confidence than you had that fated day, and So'lek enjoyed being on the receiving end of it, perhaps more than he should. In the last few months he had become aware of his subconscious favoritism towards you amongst the Sarentu, though he hoped he masked that well and treated everyone fairly. For the most part, you seemed none the wiser.
Putting a big, warm hand on your bare shoulder, he squeezed gently. "And today, you'd easily make Olo'eykte/Olo'eyktan. How far you've come, little Sarentu."
Biting back a smile, you elbowed his rarely unguarded side, and playfully ran ahead after the squabbling duo, twisting to catch his eye, tail flicking.
Now it was So'lek's turn to feel warm and tingly inside, as he took in your playful smile. Now that belonged in a memory painting, he thought to himself, yet sternly chastised himself upon realizing what his mind had just conjured.
He was, as Priya would say, "screwed".
.
.
.
When night fell, the ylltxep brought together an array of Na'vi - a blend of Aranahe, Zeswa, and Kame'tire had come together, as many years before, to celebrate life and to participate in friendly competition in the Great Games. Clans mixed together, peppered with a handful of resistance sky people - the palate was painted in all shades and colors of Pandora. Still, habits were hard to break, and while old friends broke cloud bread together, they still stuck to their social circles: weavers and dyers sat close, exchanging arts and crafts' advice in excited hushed tones, hunters and warriors spun tales of glory, and at the center of it all, always at least one of the reemerged Sarentu.
You saw Ri'nela from the corner of your eye, engrossed in the process of spinning a story, holding the attention of Anufi, Nefika and Minang, as Priya, Anqa and Alma listened quietly from their own circle nearby. You had at some point, as you made your way to an empty spot, seen So'lek seated between Nesim and Etuwa, and while you thought of joining them, you lost your spacial orientation in the throes of Na'vi whom you had to navigate through (and jump over) to get your cut of the meal. You weren't sure there was any space amongst them left for you, though you chastised yourself upon that thought as you knew they'd gladly make some - unlike Teylan, you knew your fears were irrational and RDA-induced; you belonged just fine, even if you sometimes had to catch up on it.
Speaking of Taylan, you briefly noted that he sat by Kin, eagerly nodding at yet another drunken anegdote only he and Sosul were privy to. You were glad he was setting root in his Na'vi ways, even if shaky, like a leaf in the storm, slowly coming onto his own. Shaking your head, you settled for an empty spot by one of the fires nearby, with a mixture of quietly conversing Zeswa and Kame'tire hunters. The somber thought of Nor's absence as you scanned the crowd felt like a sore bruise you cannot help but run your fingers over, time and time again. Aha'ri too, would've loved this. You openly spoke about these feelings with your fellow Sarentu, feeling like it would help quell them. At the same time, you refrained from telling So'lek this, afraid you'd reopen wounds of his clan's loss. Diplomacy has its downsides too, it seemed.
Clutching the wooden bowl full of Cheesy Sähena, you had barely made a dent in the mass of it when a presence filled the spot next to you.
"You'd think the holder of the highest score of direhorse archery would be a bit more merry than this." Itu's friendly taunt reached you just as your eyes raked up his chest piece and landed onto his face. He was painted in the warm tones of the ylltxep, the shadows playing on his bone structure. You forced a smile that you both knew didn't reach your eyes. He was kind enough not to push it.
"Sorry, I was lost in thought." You offered simply, turning your attention back to your half eaten food. Itu regarded you for a moment, then spoke up.
"Did I ever tell you about how my first hunt with Zomey almost led to me being eaten by a pack of Nantang?"
"No??" You prompted with a small grin, cheeks full of zakru cheese, and heart full of gratitude for the distraction.
.
.
Across the fire, a different kind of predator regarded your interaction with Itu. So'lek, who had lost you in the crowd when you'd gone to get a plate, finally found you laughing at young Itu's animated story, your profile illuminated warmly by the fire. Laughing at a boy's jokes, a boy greener than the upper plains. Though you were young, too. He took in the way your cheeks pulled, your eyes creased. He watched you throw your head back in laughter, revealing your slender neck from the wraps of your Aranahe `are, the silky yellow tones of the cape Nefika had gifted you wrapping your woven Sarentu top in a tender warmth. Glancing at Itu's similarly yellow chest guard, he caught himself scoffing involuntarily at the implication.
Unfortunately for him, Etuwa caught him, too.
"What troubles you, warrior?" She jested once her perceptive eyes had found the object of So'lek's evident ire. Her Tsahik eyes could only speculate, but your mentions of him in passing had certainly sowed a couple of spores.
"Nothing..." He trailed off, displeased even further for being caught acting petulant, like a child. He pinned his gaze onto his empty bowl, knowing fully well that he has no reason to feel this threatened. You and So'lek were nothing but friends and allies, after all. Feeling this way was disgraceful, you were quite younger than him, too.
"He may be a little big headed, but Itu's both a fine hunter and man." She slowly started, treading in the murky, uncertain waters of So'lek's mood.
"I'm sure he is, I've watched him fight and spoken to him firsthand."
"He's grown a lot since he lost his ikran at the hands of the sky people."
"Yes, we spoke about it at the camp earlier today. I too have lost my bonded in battle. I know the loneliness and pain that kind of loss brings all too well." So'lek said, risking a glance in your direction, just in time to catch Itu giving you a piece of his Mushroom Picker's pie. You pat his wrist cheerfully.
"Yet, you do not seem too happy to see him spending time with your protegè." Etuwa pressed in a lowered, conspiratory whisper, as she noted Nesim's conversation with the others next to them becoming less loud and animated.
"They are not my protegè-" So'lek winced slightly, finding the mere idea that you needed mentoring silly; you were both incredibly talented and intuitive, you had no need for teachers like him or Itu.
"Perhaps not in your eyes, no." Etuwa carefully said, setting down her own empty bowl, "but our Sarentu needed all the guidance and support they could get. It's a dangerous enough world out there as is - they need to know they have someone to lean on...when the storm grows too rough."
Only then did So'lek finally meet Etuwa's gaze, brimming with meaning.
A loud cheer from their circle broke the tense moment. Sighing, he rose to his feet, excusing himself from the group. Nesim and the others barely spared him a goodbye, as they were still loudly joking and gesturing, placing bets on the Great Games. Etuwa only nodded at him with a secretive smile. Perhaps there was something there after all. Good luck, Sarentu.
.
.
"That's preposterous!" a Zeswa warrior interjected yet again over Itu's new story about fighting off 11 RDAs at once with nothing but a handful of arrows on foot. Itu doubled down, and you had to heatedly confirm that while unbelievable, Itu had made quite a mastery out of disorienting RDA soldiers in the Kinglor thicket.
"Surely those big metal bodies of theirs tower over-"
"Matu," So'lek suddenly interrupted, making all the young warriors halt abruptly. You looked up at him from your spot, cheeks flushed from several deep gulps of Zangke the Zeswa warrior across you had offered, as well as the heat of the flame and discussion. "I'm afraid I must borrow the Sarentu for a moment."
"And who will broker the peace then?!" Another tipsy Kame'tire hunter joked, perhaps too loudly, making stabbing motions between the other two men.
"I'm sorry to say, you are all doomed." So'lek replied with more mirth than he thought he had left in him tonight.
In your inebriated, baffled bashfulness, you rose abruptly, swaying dangerously close to the ylltxep from your blood being more Zangke than anything, really. Itu's left hand subconsciously shot out to catch your hip from where he sat, but he, for the second time that day, was too slow.
Your breath stuttered as you gathered your bearings in So'lek's strong arms; as he held you firmly by the waist. Looking up at him, so close, you suddenly became very aware of how beautifully his eyelashes framed his amber in the fire glow eyes. In turn, he looked down at you, slight concern evident in his features, yet all you could think of was how much you'd like to press your lips against the thin old scars that run along the side of his face, kiss each one of them better. You couldn't help but wonder, when was the last time someone so consumed by revenge and survivor's guilt had been held by anybody, consoled? You had Ri'nela and Teylan, perhaps one day Nor if he were to return, but who did he have, all alone in this world?
He had wanted to chastise you, truly, but the moment he saw that shadow of sadness run across your sweet face, he decided against it.
"You seem unwell. Let's get you outside for some fresh air."
The others, too preoccupied with battling over the last sips of Zangke, barely noticed the two resistance warriors take their leave. Itu only smirked knowingly as his eyes met Etuwa's across the communal space. She rolled her eyes at him, suddenly connecting the dots of his unspoken plan. At least someone was showing initiative.
.
.
"Have a seat." So'lek said softly, guiding you to sit on the smooth rock bed, overseeing the River of The Lost. He offered you water from his water skin, which you greedily drunk as if you had been stuck in polluted, dried up RDA territory.
"Irayo," you finally mumbled, pressing your palms to your heated cheeks and forehead.
He sat close by you, giving you just enough space to cool down. Your drifting eyes took in the coursing river and the vastness of the upper plains, while So'lek took in the planes of your face, bathed in the glow of Polyphemus. You eventually turned towards him, a small smile forming on your lips.
"Thank you for always watching out for us...for me."
"You do not have to thank me." He says earnestly.
"I know. But... I feel like you don't hear it enough."
"Hear what?" So'lek asked absent-mindedly, eyes chasing constellations in your bioluminescent markings, wondering how inappropriate of him it would be to trace them with his fingers as he cradles your endearing, tipsy face. Had this fondness always been gnawing at his weary bones?
"I cannot imagine how lonely and hard it must be, always being on guard, running towards danger, alone."
"Do you not also run towards danger constantly?" He asked, leaning on his palm in your space, against the stone, amused.
"Yes, but I do it because I want to protect. Not to destroy. You seem to want the RDA to feel everything the way you did when you lost your people and home. I hardly remember what I've lost. I can only hurt for the things I never had, which are easier to mourn."
So'lek's face fell ever so slightly, but you knew him better than he thought, as you immediately grabbed his hand to apologize.
"I'm sorry, I only realized how insensitive that was after it came out of my mouth-"
"As opposed to your usual, put together Sarentu rhetoric." His rich, deep laugh caught you so off guard that all you could do was gape for a second.
"Hey, I try really hard to live up to my predecessors' legacy okay? You have no idea how hard it is to start with a blank slate, while everyone has a blueprint of who you're supposed to be, except for you."
His gaze softened, and suddenly it was your hands that were wrapped in his much bigger ones. "I'm sorry for not doing more for you."
"You don't have to do anything, or be sorry. Just...being here...is enough."
"Then," So'lek said quietly, ever so carefully, as if afraid he'll scare off a meer deer, "let me be here for you whenever you need me."
"...you already always reply to my stupid radio calls and questions 24 hours per day." You joked, but as he ran his thumb over your knuckles, your humor faded.
"I'd like to be there for even more...if you'll have me." He added, briefly letting go to remove one of his intricate bracelets, woven with beads and colors of his clan; a beautiful polished shell seated in the middle.
"It's not especially made for the occasion but, it is just as sentimental." He sheepishly said, and for the first time, you looked at So'lek and saw a lonely soul, not a gruff man hardened by loss and pain.
"It's lovely because it's yours." You replied, offering your wrist for him to clasp it on.
"Hopefully, so are you."
"Lovely because I'm yours?" You teased.
"Lovely and mine." He corrected, his face a breath away, eyes downcast, face focused on fastening the bracelet.
"That can be arranged." You shot back, and leaned in to press your mouth clumsily against the corner of his, right on a little silver scar.
"I see you." He whispered against your lips, eyes closed. "I saw you from the moment you took my bow and poorly shot those RDAs by the creek, without hesitation, in spite of the fear."
"I see you, even when you're shrouded in past and present anger. I wish I could disperse that fog for you." You whispered back.
This time he kissed you slowly, properly, savoring the sweetness of your words, the stutter of your breath, and the little whine upon parting.
"I can now see a little past the fog, into a semblance of a future. Because of you."
Warnings: Mentions of torture, abuse, child endangerment, kidnapping
It's early morning, the sun just starting to seep around the edges of Polyphemus, threads of light brushing the floating mountains of the Boundless Range, spinning sunrise into the rainforest.
A rainforest charred and broken with ash.
No animals walked here. No ikran would fly here. No na'vi could live here. The forest was silent. It had been for days. But that didn't mean no-one was there. Indeed, there remained a very small camp with only a few inhabitants that wanted to stay here; most of the Sarentu clan, a Trr'ong warrior and a small child who preferred the company of those she knew to being uprooted to the Spires with the other Kame'tire. It had been a hard battle with Anufi to allow her to stay with the last fragments of the Resistance- she had not had good relations with the Resources Development Administration in the past and while the child had wanted to stay, her adoptive mother had fought a little harder.
This charcoal forest was no place for a child, though- especially not one who was raised without walls. Walls kept you safe. Teylan knew that, Teytìrìn accepted it, Ri'nela acknowledged it, Rasi was at least aware, and Tamtey... Well, Tamtey was gone. Mo'tsey, though? Even Teylan had struggled to keep her indoors, Teylan, the one Sarentu she would listen to, even over her birth mother. She refused to be distracted by anything she was given, finding something else or even just joining Teylan at the console. It was understandable; Anufi was in the Spires with the rest of the Kame'tire, but Mo'tsey was here, in Aranahe territory, so unfathomably far away from her mother. And they couldn't exactly bring Anufi here; she had a clan to lead. So Mo'tsey remained, bored and restless, trying to get out of the hideout to at least peer across and squint to see if she could see any of the forest's mountains.
No luck.
"<They won't notice...>"
The door clicks, the airlock hisses. A pair of blue ears twitch. It's early, too early for people to be outside. Even So'lek would not be awake yet. So who...
It comes to him almost before his feet hit the floor, sprinting to the airlock to pull her back in, by her kuru if he needed to. Not today. Not after all his promises to Anufi. Not after all the security measures. Not after the destruction of another RDA outpost. He knew she didn't mean anything bad by it. She knew to stay indoors. It would have been for a breath of fresh air, to try and see her home from the floating mountains without her breath fogging up a plexiglass window.
The airlock can't open fast enough. The pressure equalises, the doors open-
Just in time for the first thing Teylan sees that morning to be a small blue body tumbling into the air, in the claws of a pale ikran, shrill scream echoing around the mountains as she's snatched away.
Everything feels too slow after that. Climbing onto Ada, her wings beating the air, giving chase, dodging a hail of bullets, everything, too slow too slow too slow. You're going to lose her, your friend, because you were too slow too slow too slow. It's only when Ada starts to protest at the gunfire and the pursuit that he turns back, that he retreats, because he would be no use to her if he let his ikran die trying to rescue her. No, he had to think, had to plan, next steps, how to get her back.
He paces the grass, paces the airlock, then paces the empty living space. How long could she survive? She was able to tough out three days of intermittent oxygen torture, but he knew she had struggled getting back together after that and even that was probably lighter than whatever the Mangkwan had in mind for her. They had- at most- a day to rescue her before she suffered anything irreparable. Not that he wanted her to suffer at all. By the time he looks up from his thoughts, Ri'nela is up and about and watching him pace.
When they speak it's at the same time.
"Where is Mo'tsey?"
"How far is the Aranahe hometree on ikran?"
She peers at him, horrified.
"The Mangkwan have her-?"
"She went outside, the Clouded Forest-"
He looks equally worried.
"Teylan, slow down. What happened? Where is Mo'tsey?"
His ears pull back nervously. "She woke up first. I think she wanted to go outside, to look at the Clouded Forest, you know she doesn't like masks. The airlock woke me up- well, I was already slightly awake, which is why I heard it-"
"Teylan."
"Right- I tried to get her, because RDA security is tighter now, I didn't want her to get hurt, and- and one of the Mangkwan took her. He flew by on an ikran and just- picked her up. I don't know what to do, Ri'nela..."
She sighs. It wasn't his fault. Mo'tsey had worked with him on the airlock security; of course she would know the code. It could keep RDA out- but they had never meant it to keep her in.
"Contact Anufi. We need to move to the Spires, or she needs to come here. It is likely the Mangkwan and RDA will attempt to contact us, to ransom; it is important that she is here to help in negotiations. You know what they are like. She is young, and small." Teylan nods, but Ri'nela's eyes seem to piece his soul.
"She can hold human weapons, Teylan. I do not know what they will make her do, but a... Version of TAP is not unlikely."
That scares him enough that he gets immediately to calling Anufi, Ri'nela on standby to fly to the Spires if needed. Rasi was not awake, but any more commotion and she would definitely be up- and wondering what had happened to her daughter. Not good. They didn't need any more stress than absolutely necessary. No-one outside to look for her until Anufi arrived. Everything was loading, too slow too slow, the comms ticking to life as precious seconds slipped away from them. They didn't know how long Mo'tsey could hang on. How long they had. How much she could withsta-
"Teylan. Calm down. You are muttering. She will be okay. She is strong. Have you contacted Anufi?"
"N-no, not yet- but Ri'nela, are you sure? What if they hurt her too much before-"
"Teylan. Contact Anufi. Focus. You will not do her any favours if you catastrophise like this."
"Right. Yes. Anufi. Contact her."
His fingers drum the table, nervous, fidgety. You couldn't blame him. She was his best friend and so for him to worry was normal; but it would help no-one if he only stressed about her rather than focusing on the tasks at hand.
It takes a while, but eventually Anufi picks up, a small radio that each clan leader had one of; a simple, fast way to contact them without the need for messengers.
"<It is so early. How is Mo'tsey? Everything is good, I hope?>"
Dead air on Teylan's end. Right. The language gap. Ri'nela is the first to speak.
"<Anufi, something's happened. We need you at the Boundless Range. As fast as possible. Do you have an ikran?>"
There's a murmur of what they can only hope is agreement from Anufi. An ikran would be vital.
"I will leave Tsu'lo and Okul to lead in my absence."
Teylan's ears perk at the English; Anufi was coming. That was good, right? Ah... But now he would have to explain that he had let Mo'tsey get kidnapped... Not good...
It's the better part of a day later by the time Anufi arrives. Rasi is awake and restless, just as worried as Teylan despite her somewhat minimal involvement in Mo'tsey's recovery after the last RDA kidnapping. The hunter lands outside, Anufi sharing the saddle, before she dismounts and approaches the airlock; leaving Teylan to rush to open the doors and then fetch her a CO2 canister and mask. He notices the set left carefully by the front door of the chamber. So Mo'tsey had planned to return soon after. But not soon enough, though he had tried.
They explain the situation as best they can, Rasi helping with translation where needed. It was frustrating, this lexical gap, where none of the Sarentu knew enough of the other language to act as a translator. Teylan tries to read Anufi's facial expressions. She mostly seems worried, like the rest of them; but like Ri'nela, she's good at not letting it control her.
"So we are waiting?"
A general nod of agreement from the three Sarentu. A general buzz of static from the computer speakers. Teylan considers trying to make a translator to help communicate between the two languages, especially during this.
More waiting.
Maybe the waiting is the most unbearable part. Not knowing what will happen. Wondering whether they misjudged the RDA, if they would just kill her to simply get it over with.
The static buzzes.
Then crackles.
Then the lines on the overhead monitor break into a fuzzy image, that starts to clear, a little blue face peering back at them with two large ears flat to her head and two green eyes filled with fear. While the image on the monitor isn't about to win any awards, they can see the purple starting to flower under her skin, a few small stripes of red, harsh against the soft blue. How her pupils shrink away from the harsh facility lighting.
"Sa'- Anufi! It is... Um... Good to see you...! Hello! I have joined the-" She looks behind her for approval from whatever officer was orchestrating this, only to receive a sharp jab to the forehead with the front of the rifle. When she turns back her nervousness is almost palpable. "I have joined the RDA! To get stronger and learn more E... Eng..." She sticks out her toungue, the unfamiliar sounds starting to cause her confusion. "Eng... Lìs?"
The façade breaks, her accent comes through too much, and the sound of a blade coming out makes her pupils blow round with fear as the video cuts out, Anufi wide-eyed with horror.
"What... <What was that...?>"
Rasi is the only one not too shocked to speak. They had all seen, firsthand, the atrocities the RDA could commit; but Rasi had neither seen the worst of it nor did she have the same connection with Mo'tsey that Anufi did.
The screen flickers again. A timer. Eleven hours, fifty-nine minutes, fifty-eight, fifty-seven seconds. When would that be? Teylan peers out of the window. It was later than they thought. The sun was being obscured again, and the plants and mosses here were starting to glow to life. No doubt something similar would be happening in the rainforest below, where any plants not caked with ash would be beginning to glimmer weakly. So the timer would end at...
"<Dawn. It is for dawn.>"
His accent is broken and he isn't sure if he gets it across, but they couldn't waste time with a lexical gap. Not here.
Thankfully, Ri'nela is next to speak. She knew more of the Na'vi language. That was good.
"<We wait. We do not know what... This is. Teylan? Can you... Watch?>" A nod from Teylan. "<We will take turns. Teylan first. Then me. If it is there tomorrow still. Me, Anufi, Rasi will sleep.>"
This plan seemed to work; if they were going to kill Mo'tsey- a thought that distinctly worried Teylan- they would tell them, or try to strike a ransom. But he still didn't like how... How scared she had looked.
So he sits. And he waits. And he hopes beyond anything that Mo'tsey will not die, or be killed, or suffer before they can figure out what the RDA plan to do. Maybe they would tell them, if it was suitably threatening. Maybe they would torture her to bait them. He didn't want to think about that idea. He remembered the beatings all too well, the bruises, the aching. If that was still fresh in his mind ten, twenty(?) years later, how bad would it be for Mo'tsey, only eight years old and yet already knowing things about this world no child should have to?
How bad would it be if they couldn't save her within the next few hours?
i'm a writer for avatar ! i haven't written much before so have some trust in me 💔💔 i'm learning on the job ✌️
i also draw !!
more about me and what i write under the cut ^^
my favourite character is Teylan! as you can see :] i also really love my ocs !! Tsa'tan and Etoa :3
I've never made a writing blog before so yay!!
i take prompts for one-shots only!
what i will write :
violence/graphic violence, trauma recovery, hurt/comfort, hurt/no comfort, angst, sfw romance , smut , headcanons , light canon divergence , self harm/referenced self harm (NOT in a glorifying way, but im just saying i am comfortable writing it) , character x reader, my oc x canon , canon x canon , trans!reader , any gender reader , human/na'vi/avatar reader + anything that isn't on my blacklist !! if its not on there and i dont want to write it, i will tell you in my reply to your ask and add it to the blacklist :]
blacklist/what i won't write :
rape , incest , romanticized abuse, mommy/daddy kinks, smut of underage characters (i don't believe in aging up) violent kinks , dangerous/dodgy paraphilias , porn without plot (i like plot i feel like it makes it better) , heavy canon divergence/crossovers (idk i just dont like them) , mixing movie characters with game characters, pregnancy , use of y/n , in first person (i, me, my) , black!reader/white!reader etc (i dont feel comfortable writing for specific races)
