To Save Your Husband
Pairing: Jacob "Jake" Sully x Fem! Omatikaya! Reader
Requested?: Yes | No
Summary: When Jake offers himself up to Quaritch for the safety of the people and his family even if it meant being separated from you, also with the risk of not seeing you again, you knew you had to take matters into your own hands.
Word Count: 5.0k
Warning/s: AFAA spoilers, some canon events in the movies!!! angst, mentions of violent acts and violence, reader wary of spider at first, hurt/comfort, reader being a badass, let me know if i missed anything else!
Note: poured my whole day into making this i hope you like it... bc im obsessed with this scene ngl... lowkey think i cooked w the ending... likes, reblogs, and feedbacks are most welcome and appreciated!
GIF is made by yours truly!
Your eyes gaze around your surroundings, it was almost eclipse in the village and yet something felt different… It wasn’t right.
Everything did not feel right the past few days with your husband Jake always keeping watch, afraid maybe one day Quaritch and the RDA would come upon Awa’atlu, finding him, finding his family.
You made your way towards the shore, where you saw Jake sat by the edge, his rifle in hand. You were about to call him when you saw every muscle in his body tense, sitting up and spotting something through the lens of his gun.
Your stomach drops the moment the horns sounded, a small weak gasp leaving you as the sight welcomed you, their gunships, big flashing lights scanning the area as the faint hum of their engines began to get louder.
You froze for a moment as Jake scrambles up towards the village, already calling out the other warriors, “They’re blocking us in. Weapons out.” Jake says, urgently towards Tonowari and Ronal.
“Weapons!” Tonowari shouts as the other Metkayina began to scramble, arming themselves when you finally find Tuktirey, your youngest, kneeling and holding her gently by the shoulders while your other hand held your bow, grip tight.
“Where’s your sister?” You ask, feeling your heart start to race, tail lashing behind you.
“Where’s Kiri? Where’s Spider?” Jake appears suddenly next to you, also questioning the youngest. “She went for water.” The youngest spoke before her head snaps towards a direction, making the two of you look.
Kiri. Only thing was she looked distraught. “Dad!” She calls out, breathing ragged as the two of you rush towards her, Jake in front. “Where’s Spider?”
You move, holding Kiri’s arm and offering a comforting squeeze even if what was about to happen is dawning on you. “They took him- the blue colonel took him.” Kiri replies, eyes set on Jake, glassy.
Blue Colonel. That could only mean one thing. Demon. Quaritch.
Your ears perk up and a certain feeling washes over you, eyes meeting Jake’s as you take a sharp inhale.
The ships were close now; you could see their big flashlights filtering through every column in the village. They were here.
You spot the other Metkayina rushing to the shore to meet the enemies, taking a deep breath and willing yourself to stay calm when every fiber of your being was screaming at you to rush.
“Take the girls and go, now!” Jake says, holding his rifle tight as he stops moving and looks back at you.
“I want Jake Sully!” Quaritch’s voice booms at the shore, your fingers instinctively tightening on your bow as the others gathered at the shore.
“We will not go without you.” You say sternly, a growl in your tone, looking back to see Tuk and Kiri following close by, scared. Your heart aches.
“No!” Jake growls back. Fists clenched. “They’ve got Spider- there’s nothing holding them back, you’ve seen what they can do.” Jake says firmly, gaze set on you, hard expression on his face.
“These people will die.” A chill runs down your spine at his words, your chest heaves, ears pinning against your head, there was no way you could leave him, leave Jake, your husband… to what? Serve himself up as bait for Quaritch? Risk never not seeing him again?
You swallow and your voice breaks. “You cannot… you cannot ask this, husband… I cannot,” You can’t even process everything right now.
“I will not leave you with that-“ You began to say until Jake takes the sling of his gun off himself, throwing it with a thud in the sand, the muscles in your brow knitting as well as a pull of your lips into a frown.
“This is the only way.” Jake said, as if he had already made up his mind, that he had been thinking about it for a while. He probably had.
Your heart grows heavy at the thought. “Jake please-“
“Jake Sully!” Quaritch yells again over the noise, a lump forming in your throat. “Show yourself!”
Frozen, your eyes held Jake’s. “You gotta go… baby, please.” He breathes, a part of him, deep inside, that unsure pitch blending into his pleading tone. “You gotta go right now.”
No. You cannot leave your mate like this. To hide? That was not you.
Steeling yourself, you face Kiri, eyeing the girl who looks at you for what to do next. A hand on her arm. “Take your sister. Go and hide.” You command. “Go!”
Kiri looks at you and Jake before she was tugging Tuk by the hand, the latter reluctant, looking up at the two of you before they were off, disappearing from view to hide with the others.
A sudden rush of emotions fills you, holding up your bow. “Ma Jake if you stay I stay. I will kill many.” You announce, that fear in your veins turning into deep hatred.
Jake resigns but he pushes your bow down, shaking his head. “Whatever happens, do not raise that bow.” A beat. “You swear to me.”
All you could do was purse your lips in a thin line. There was no use of arguing.
“I know he’s here.” Quaritch says, eyes scanning the crowd of reef people, tilting his head. “Give him to me.”
“He’s Metkayina. He’s one of us.” Tonowari’s voice could be heard. “He’s one of us!” The olo’eyktan’s words rang with his people, even when they were in the face of grave danger, they will never risk one of their own.
You were heading in with Jake when a burst of bright orange flares through followed by the smell of burning wood, crackling. Fire. Quaritch had burned a part of the village, earning cries from the Metkayina, cheers from the enemy. Your eyes wide, they did not deserve this… you hear their cries of agony, and it forces you to swallow the lump in your throat.
“I want Jake Sully!” Quaritch recurs, the tone now harsher.
Your husband rushes ahead of you before you realize, rushing towards the crowd and presenting himself right up front.
“Ma Jake-!“ Your voice dies down in your throat.
“Stop, stop, no, hold your fire! Hold your fire! Stop!” Jake places himself in the spotlight, arms outstretched in an attempt to de-escalate the situation.
Quaritch complies.
You were left standing along with other Metkayina, helplessly watching your husband at the front, saying something to Tonowari. In a second, the olo’eyktan crouches with their weapons down, the others soon follow, bowing their heads down.
You do not.
Keeping yourself upright with Jake, having managed to already notch an arrow in your bow, you held it close. Then your eyes met with the tsahik of the Mangkwan, an itch forming on the scar she had caused herself when her arrow punctured right through your shoulder.
She hisses and you do not stand down, you hiss back, ears pinning against your head and your tail stiffening.
Your eyes stray to the movement, Jake coming close towards the RDA, towards Quaritch.
“Colonel.”
“Corporal.”
“You take me, you leave my family and these people alone.” Jake directs. Your ears perk, eyes widening by a fraction as you stared into your husband’s back, before your eyes train back on Quaritch and his woman.
“Not good enough, gonna need the missus too.” Quaritch says, offering a nod towards you in which you tense, biting back a snarl as you straightened yourself, a thought away from aiming and releasing your arrow. Your breathing heavy.
Your toes dig into the sand, trying to plant yourself there, reminding yourself you still were capable of doing something- but clearly you were outnumbered.
“You get me.” Jake repeats. “Both of you or I’ll hammer this place flat. Pregnant ladies, kids, I’ll blow grandma’s skinny shit through the back of the hooch ‘cause I just don’t care.” Quaritch chuckles.
“My pals here,” he nods back to the Mangkwan. “Well, they’re just dying to waste everybody and take some scalps.” A chorus of yips and jeers follow behind Quaritch, the tsahik of the Mangkwan smiling like she held this great power over all of you.
You exhale sharply, eyes flitting from Jake to Quaritch, to his woman.
Jake steps back and in a flash, raises his fist and you waste no time raising your bow and aiming, as the other Metkayina stand and mirrors you, their own weapons aimed and growls escaping from their system. Ready to defend their village.
The Mangkwan aims their weapons; guns. You notice the more you eye everyone of them. What was this trick Quaritch had pulled now? But you couldn’t think about that right now.
“Really? We’re doing this?!” Quaritch’s voice was too amused to be in this situation.
“When I drop my arm, you and your new girlfriend die, you in particular die a lot.” Jake growls, taunting.
“I die; everybody here dies.” He replies casually, his rifle the only one held down except for the others directed at all of you.
“Maybe, I think you could get some of us but not all of us… maybe we bum-rush you, and your gunships hesitate because we all look the same…” Jake forwards. “And when you’re begging for your life,” He slips out his tomahawk with his free hand as you watch your mate, your heart still beating very fast in your chest. Ready to cover him if it goes sideways.
“I’ll scalp you.” He finishes, pointing the weapon at Quaritch.
Quaritch looks amused, fangs showing in his grin and shrugging. “God damn corporal, I don’t know if you’re smart or just shittin’ us… you never struck me as all that smart.”
You were beginning to tense up, just begging for something to happen already, your fingers tight on your arrow, just one slip and you could strike him right here, right now…
“I need your word, marine to marine. Safety, for these people.” Jake’s tone was less hostile now, making a pact.
The standoff was unyielding, the sounds of snarls, breathing, the sounds of the gunships with their guns aimed down at the people, the chopper and the bright light didn’t distract you from the fact that your mate stood there on the frontline, facing them all.
“Do we have a deal?” Jake questioned after a few seconds.
“Done. Wanna pinky swear?” Quaritch says, holding that extra finger the avatars have, your eyes squinting at the act.
Jake lets out a breath, looking back at Tonowari before he throws his weapon to the ground, palms up and open as the Metkayina drop down once more. You didn’t budge, arrow still aimed at Quaritch, tail lashing behind you.
It hits when Jake offers his wrists, walking towards him. “Take him.” Quaritch gestures, his fellow recom taking Jake’s wrists and tying it behind him, allowing Jake to finally look back at you.
It hits you. Jake’s expression, how he didn’t fight against the binds, how he just looked at you like he was trying to memorize your face. Your grip on the bow tightens once more, though a shaky breath leaves you, everything suddenly feeling too constricting…
They began dragging him away and Jake doesn’t even look to where he’s going, eyes still planted on you. Your lips tremble, chest aching as you put on a brave appearance but Jake knew. He knew.
Your eyes shift to Quaritch and his eyes peer at you, taunting, taunting you to shoot that bow right at him when they’ve already got Jake. A last challenge.
Your fingers tremble. You let go with a growl, deciding to aim low, but enough to make a statement as the arrow lands in between Quaritch’s feet, him plucking it off and holding it up like a trophy.
Ears pinned down, your eyes flicker between Jake as they took him away into the chopper, Quaritch looking on proudly, his woman still aims at you.
“Another time then, Mrs. Sully.” Quaritch grins and you hiss in return, body coiled and was taking everything in you not to do something drastic.
They began to disperse and the reality sets in further. They were taking him, your husband, your mate… and there was nothing you could do about it. Thinking of not being able to see him again, the possibility that this was going to be your last time with him… You felt powerless for such an exceptional warrior.
You follow Jake’s gaze, your feet having a mind of their own, going forwards as they shove him into the chopper, your ears pinned and tail curled low, hands shaking as he didn’t look at anything else but you. Your heartbeat pounds in your ears.
“Ma Jake…” You whisper, as the engine starts up and they began to rise, eyes brimming with unshed tears.
Then he was gone. Just like that.
Your knees buckle from under you, before they hit the sand, eyes leaving the night sky before it finds what was in front of you. His tomahawk. Your fingers reach for it, caress the handle before you find your tears rolling down your cheeks, bowing your head and letting yourself wallow in the sadness and frustration.
The other Metkayina look in concern, Ronal, even if you two had clashed more often than not, she silently moves next to you, placing her hand on your shoulder. Nobody would even wish to lose someone’s mate like that.
“He will make it. He is strong, and you must be brave yourself.” Her words usually stern, now held something close to comforting.
“That is no guarantee, tsahik-“ You look up at her but she does not argue despite your stubbornness. “He is Toruk Makto, a great warrior. He will find a way.” She simply says before she lets go, leaving you to your own.
Then the rush of footsteps, Kiri and Tuk as their voices echo. “Mom!”
They rush in between you and you pull back from holding Jake’s weapon to cradle the two of your daughter’s heads close to you, the two instantly leaning in but the missing presence of their father already gave them the clue as to what happened. Their father was taken.
── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ──
It had been almost three days. Three days since Jake was taken from you. The Marui had never felt so empty. The absence of your son Lo’ak cuts close to the lingering and painful absence of Neteyam. Lo’ak’s last parting gift to you was your bow, how every detail was carved as it had been, careful, strong… and then he was off, saying he had something he needed to do, he doesn’t even know his father had been taken…
It had just been you, Kiri, and Tuk in the large marui. You tried to stay strong for your girls, but you just had this feeling, this pull… you had to do something.
One night you pull them close, after having explained what you plan to do.
“Mom, this is dangerous…” Kiri’s voice reminds you, whilst Tuk nodded in agreement, her wide eyes looking at you. “You should not be alone.” Kiri added.
You sigh, hands coming up to their shoulders and you shake your head. “This is something I have to do… your father… he needs me.” You say, no chance of backing out your idea. “While I am gone, the tsahik would look after you, she has promised.” You say, offering their shoulders a squeeze.
The two look at each other, growing up they’ve learned how much of a fierce woman their mother was, and now with her saying she’s going to try and save their father, all on her own… they knew better than to doubt her.
With no more sounds of protest, you smile at them, leaning down to press kisses to their temples, embracing them tightly before you slowly pull back. “Go…” You say before they nod and start to leave the marui.
Taking a sharp breath, you turn on your heel, grabbing where your bow was perched, closing your eyes and holding it close to your chest for a moment.
Preparing yourself, you look over and crouch, pulling off the mat covering the weapons Jake had recovered from the wreck, opening the latches with a soft click.
As much as you hated the thought, you pluck the arrows Jake had made for you, the one tipped with ‘explosives’ as Jake called it…
“Just don’t be close when it hits.”
With a shaky breath, you began packing.
── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ──
Traveling back to the forest with your ikran, it didn’t take long for you to track the growing Bridgehead. It was huge now since the last time you first saw it. Already you feel your eyes darken with hate, hidden by the foliage you look around for any signs, hints of how to progress from here.
As if on cue, there was rustling, ducking to keep yourself hidden, you easily track them down. Mangkwan. Three of them, having just finished a hunt and started to set camp.
Steeling yourself, you get a perimeter around them, moving as swift as a thanator, you got closer.
“…They were the ugliest ones in the village.” One pipes as the other two cackle, voicing their agreement and joked around. One was busy gutting their game, your first target, better to eliminate the one with the weapon first.
Bracing yourself, you grab your normal arrows, notch, aim…
Fire, shooting the one with the knife down, you move quick as they jump to alert while the one with the knife drops dead, snarling as you quickly pull another arrow to shoot one, taking the time to notch as the other grabbed their gun and as they pulled the trigger you hit them square in the chest, the spray of bullets flying, making you dodge them.
Inspecting if they were still alive, your ears pinned down, eyes scanning, until you find something strapped to their necks, you grab ahold of it, yanking it off the lifeless form, it looked to be some kind of… red card, with the RDA logo upon it.
Exhaling, your eyes travel to the walls of Bridgehead, then back to the necklace. One step closer to Jake.
Calling for your ikran, it doesn’t take her long enough to appear, calming her down before you ready to disguise both of yourselves, praying to the Great Mother that what you were about to do was right.
Finishing up the face paint and making sure your ikran also looked the part, you gave your girl a soft nuzzle, palm against her side, tapping lightly before you finally make the bond, hopping on and there, you held the necklace, with the other, you steer her towards the Bridgehead.
You held your breath the moment you got closer, knowing they had all these technologies to spot you easily, so you kept calm and hoped the disguised worked, and you felt relief flood you when you pass the walls.
You were here. Sky people territory. This was no place for them…
Your eyes take it all in, the tall structures, the bright lights, the passing vehicles on the ground, until you finally see it, tents that looked out of place. Na’vi.
Patting your ikran, you banked to the left, lowering until you had her perch on the pipes, landing smoothly and quietly, like you belonged. “Watch for me.” You say to her before you were off, clutching your bow.
You appear to blend in, though the sight of the humans made your skin crawl. “What’s up, cutie?” One even tried to call you for fun, but you respond with a hiss, making your way over to where you assumed the tsahik of the Mangkwan, Varang’s tent was.
Managing to easily cut yourself a small entrance behind her tent, your gaze zeroed on her laying on her furs, alone, much to your luck.
You could take her, then and there, plucking your knife from behind you, you crouch and press it against her throat.
“Make no sound, witch.” You whisper lowly, full of threat as she gasps awake, eyes wide before they met yours. “Where is Jake Sully?” You ask, keeping your grip on the knife tight.
But all Varang does is give you an amused smirk. “Ah, the wife… loyal to her man.” And you had no time for games, pressing further. “Speak or I cut.” You hiss but she quickly yanks back your wrist, but you were faster, free hand yanking around her own kuru, slotting your knife in the loop. “Where?” You demand again, holding her braid and your knife together.
“I will not ask again.” You mutter. She hisses but two could play at that game as you yank her kuru once more, moving your wrist but she yelps out, hands gesturing wildly. “Wait! Wait!”
“Past the camp, a cage for an animal.”
The muscles in your brows met. “Take me there, now.” You command, still holding onto her kuru. “Which way?” You ask but then the voice of Quaritch approaching stuns you, allowing her to break off from your grasp. You try slicing at her but she backs easily, grabbing her own weapon.
Then Quaritch opens the flap to the tent, the scene before him making him pause until you hiss at him, to which he recognizes instantly and wastes no time grabbing his handgun from his side, shooting.
You slip fast from the entrance you made, running and climbing as you hear the others be alerted of the sudden gunshots, heart hammering against your chest as you made your escape.
You climb and climb until you drop off onto your ikran, almost slipping but you got your bearings easily, pulling out one of the explosive arrows, aiming at anywhere before you release, the explosion certainly grabbing everyone’s attention now. Adrenaline was filling in your veins, all you could think about was Jake.
Meanwhile for Jake, he hasn’t touched the tray of food served to him earlier, just crouched down on the end of the cage, flashing lights endless, the TV flashing his face like some kind of spectacle. The traitor. 0600 tomorrow as Quaritch said, would be his end.
Maybe this was it... he didn’t imagine himself going down without a fight, but if it meant keeping the people safe, keeping you and his family safe…
His thoughts were interrupted by a huge explosion in the distance, making him perk up and stand, eyes wide. Then another explosion much closer to where he was now. Until he spots it.
You had set off another explosion, anger coursing through you before you finally spot Jake in the middle of it all. In a cage as Varang said, all eyes on him. You steer your ikran, letting her nails drag on the top of the glass cage, making Jake know you were there.
You were going to get him back.
Jake looks up as the scratch occurs and he couldn’t fight the huff leaving him. “Baby-“ He says in wonder. Of course it was you.
He watches you as you avoid the spray of bullets, making his heart and his mind race. You were crazy… and right now? He absolutely loved you for it.
The bullets follow you, but you were much more swift at evading them, trusting in your bond with your ikran, you dodge and flew, deciding to keep yourself on the low as the choppers began to spread around, without a doubt looking for you.
You find yourself beneath a structure, ikran perched on the post as she screeched, patting her to calm her down. “Shh… we are almost there…” You murmur softly, thinking of how to get Jake out of that cage.
Unbeknownst to you, somebody else had already done that part for you. You fly your ikran out your hiding spot when it was clear, already rounding back to the location but you saw the damages had been made not by you, your eyes scanning for Jake quickly.
Rounding your ikran until you found a sight that made your stomach churn. Jake and… Spider.
The human boy, who now breathes Pandora’s air was using himself as a shield for Jake, gesturing wildly to the ship before he was pushing Jake, running together, trying to get out of the sights of the gunship.
With a hiss, you flew by just in time before they could start shooting, shouting as your arrow strikes the pilot dead center, losing control as it explodes on the ground, sending debris flying everywhere, Jake shielding Spider.
Finally landing across from the two, you were still tense. “Ma Jake!” You yell, seeing him in one piece was enough to put you at ease. “Mrs. Sully!” Spider happily acknowledges, moving before Jake does, running and hopping up your ikran. You look at Spider momentarily before Jake was rushing towards you, hands cradling you and your arms- like he was dreaming.
“Baby! I don’t know whether to kiss you or yell at you!” He says, visibly ecstatic at your appearance. A light shove is what you give him. “You waste time!”
He’s dumbfounded before he follows, the three of you getting on your ikran before you were flying away, and out of Bridgehead.
── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ──
You could feel how tired your ikran was, from how long you’ve been flying, even the sun has risen now, but all you could do was face forward, zoned out, your thoughts keeping you awake, as well as a small weight behind you, Spider had fallen asleep on your shoulder.
“Land… anywhere.” Jake finally calls out to you after the long silence, making you blink and follow, making your ikran slowly dip until you came upon a stream, landing, waking Spider up.
All of you disembarked, the peace now a contrast to what you all just went through. “You guys landed just in time.” Spider says with a small grin, moving towards the stream, crouching and taking a drink.
Your golden eyes watch him, still so cheerful after having guns pointed at him, risking his life for Jake’s, and who knows what else he’d gone through at Bridgehead.
You had mixed feelings for the human boy, you knew he meant so much to Kiri, and yet he was Quaritch’s son… your enemy. Despite that, he completely shows who his loyalties lie with. To Jake, to your family, to Kiri… even when he knew you often didn’t like him around.
But this time, you felt a change start to take root, he was a good kid.
Your thoughts were interrupted by Jake tugging you a couple of feet away, blinking up at him as he looked down at you.
“Come here.” He simply breathes, pulling you in an embrace, tight, filled with all the worry he had pent up the past few days, and you gladly lean into his touch, fearing you wouldn’t experience anything like this anymore, from him.
You bury your face in his neck, a soft breath leaving you, his warmth enveloping you before you pulled back, not without Jake kissing your temple first. “I was so worried Jake, I thought I would never…” You began.
“I had to do something; I cannot lose you.” You speak in a hush whisper, Spider looking to glance at the two of you for a moment before he minded his own business, interacting with your ikran instead, helping wash the paint from her.
“Baby you don’t know how I felt seeing you there, you done a number on ‘em…” Jake chuckles, cupping your jaw as his thumb stroked your cheek, eyes closing upon instinct.
“I mean, how’d you even…?” Jake says, tone filled with wonder at how you manage to sneak into such a heavily fortified city. You scoff, pulling back and shaking your head, also beginning to wash the paint off yourself when you crouch by the stream. “It is a long story.” You simply say.
“I knew it. You used the arrows I made you.” He said, quite proud of himself for that, tail flicking behind him.
When you finish, you splash water on your face again, rubbing off the last of the paint.
“Mrs. Sully…?” Your head lifts to see the boy, and you tense for a moment, yet you tilt your head, eyes landing on the scar starting to fade on his chest… a harsh reminder where you had cut him before in your fit of rage when Quaritch had Kiri to his knife, after losing your eldest. It leaves a bitter taste in your mouth.
Spider noticed your eyes drift to his scar, and he almost shrinks into himself, but he only shrugs it off as much as he could. “Thank you… for saving me…” He says quietly. Jake sees this, but he remains where he stood, letting you get this moment to decide.
The more you looked at him, the more you felt yourself start to understand. You even recall yourself arguing with Jake about Spider’s fate… now you regret ever having those thoughts as the boy looked at you with nothing but unselfishness.
You could feel a lump form in your throat, now facing him still crouched, as your hand reached for him, large palm flat on his chest, feeling his heartbeat to which Spider freezes but he realizes what’s happening, his face softening before you moved your hand to his cheek.
“I see you.”
Jake could also feel that warmth bloom in his chest, moving towards the two of you, placing a hand on your shoulder before he looks at Spider who now had tears rolling down his eyes.
You could not hold it off either, finding your tears staining your cheeks when Jake pulled the both of you into an embrace, your hand and his cradling Spider’s head as you rest your own against Jake’s chest, closing your eyes, another press of Jake’s lips to the top of your head, a silent thank you.
And with a silent prayer to the Great Mother, let there be no more blood in this family be shed.
