Linger
pairing: solek x female sarentu reader x itu
summary: itu isn't the type of guy who stays in one spot for a long time, but every time you're around, he can't help but be near you. and while you enjoy having itu around, there's one other person who finds himself bothered having to share your attention.
genre: fluff, classic jealous trope with love triangle
word count: 3,732
notes: long awaited request! if you know me from tiktok, you know I've been brewing with these ideas :) [more parts to come]
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Itu didn't plan on liking you, not even a little bit.
You showed up in his reality without warning, your presence sudden and unexpected when you came to him in the Kinglor Forest, claiming that he was teaching you how to hunt. He even laughed in your face about it, bellowing loudly that even his ikran Zomey echoed in a similar sound.
He didn't have to think twice to know that it was Nefika who had put you up to it, so accustomed to her usual antics. She would do anything to irritate him, knowing full well she couldn't do it in the comforts of Hometree, the place he avoided the most.
All he wanted to do was soar the skies alone with Zomey. He had absolutely no interest teaching you anything, the whole concept of it so intensely boring and not at all what he wished to spend his time doing.
Still, he found himself giving in to you anyway, unwilling to admit that there was something positive in the intrigue he held about you. Itu simply convinced himself that the mystery of your identity and your lack of awareness merely gave him more of a chance to make fun of you for your rookie mistakes.
Suddenly you had Itu's heavy bow in your hands, drawing the string back and aiming at the target ahead. You looked over at him before you let the arrow fly, slightly nervous under his judgmental gaze. Despite your own jitters, you hit the target with surprising precision, moon eyed while a satisfied smile took over your lips.
"You can hit a static target at least." He chided as he stood beside you, catching the happy glint in your eyes that remained even with his sarcastic remark.
You didn't find him rude or off-putting even though he found amusement in teasing you, laughing along as you replied, "So what do I have to do to hit a moving target? Not everyone can be as skilled as you Itu, but I'll take it as a challenge to try."
Itu raised his eyebrows at you, begrudgingly drawn to the quick contrast in you, your gentle voice speaking words that exposed a fierce spirit he didn't expect, "You are right about one thing. It will be a challenge. Come, you have a lot to learn."
Eclipse was nearly approaching, the regular shade of blue that cascaded the sky slowly darkening and the transition of the plants' bioluminescence almost upon you. You had lost track of time exploring deep within the trees and brush of the Kinglor Forest, learning to track with your senses and discerning the signs of the sturmbeests who were just nearby.
Itu knew where the sturmbeests would be of course, purposefully straying you away to test the sharpness of your senses. You had caught onto his tricks rather quickly though, but you went along with his lessons anyway, eager to learn as much as you could.
When you had successfully tracked the sturmbeest herd, four of them at the shore of a river drinking water, you let a breath out, trying your best to expel your nerves as you drew your bow back from a distance.
"Now is not the time for hesitation." Itu spoke in your ear, deliberately trying to distract you.
"Be quiet. Your annoying voice might scare them away." You glared at him before letting go of the taut string.
Itu said nothing, his focus on the release of your arrow and his mouth agape as he hoped you would miss, the inherent need he felt to gloat so desperately wanting to be fulfilled.
But to his dismay, you managed to hit your target, the sturmbeest falling into the water with a large splash as its companions scattered back into the forest.
You ran toward the animal quickly and approaching it, you knelt down, placing a delicate hand on its neck, "Thank you for these gifts." You spoke with your eyes closed, feeling its life fade and return to the Great Mother.
When you opened your eyes, Itu was right beside you, his hands against the stomach of the sturmbeest and his eyes still closed, whispers of prayers coming out of his mouth and into the open air.
You let him finish his prayer before you took out the arrow, wiping the blood off with the edge of your shorts. Itu watched you, shaking his head in disgust, "I meant to ask earlier, but what are you wearing? I have never seen armor as ugly as yours."
You were wearing military-grade clothing, bland guerrilla gear that was clearly out of place, "This is the best I could do right now," You sighed, remembering Nefika say the same thing, the sight of you ghastly amidst her ornately decorated silken accessories and colorful garb.
Chuckling, he began carving out the meat from the sturmbeest, "Your best can be better."
"I'll make sure to tell Nefika you agree with her then." You beamed with satisfaction, smiling at him as he met your eyes.
Surrendering immediately, he refused, "No, please do not tell Nefika one thing. I do my best to avoid her as much as possible, even through the mention of my name."
Placing a hand on his shoulder, you let out another laugh, your eyes crinkling in the corners at the change in his attitude, "Relax, Itu. I'm only kidding. But try as you might, I feel Nefika will always have her ears open, even when she's not here."
He paused, finding himself amused again by you, disarmed by your laughter as his own erupted, "That is true. Nefika does have quite the hunger for gossip. But I would rather live my life in practice, rather than speak of things true or untrue for fun."
Shrugging, you disagreed, "All of us find joy in different things. You have a love for adventure and Nefika loves her clothes and gossip."
Itu put his knife down, turning his body toward you with a tilted head, his tone curious, "And what about you, Sarentu? What gives you joy?"
"What gives me joy?"
You thought for a moment, the spirit of the Forest seemingly livening with every breath as the bioluminescent glow awakened around you. Eclipse had finally come, beckoning the colors of each plant, the shore ebbing and flowing with receding shades of pink and green. You looked down at the arrow you still held in your hand and the heavy bow clasped around the other, then shifting your eyes to Itu, you couldn't help but smile seeing the dots on his face and body glow just as yours did—he was another one of The People teaching you the Na'vi ways, something that was no longer lost to you.
"Being here with you," The words left you rather carelessly as you looked all around in awe at the Forest's beauty.
Itu stilled, your words coming out like they were nothing as something in his chest stirred before he could stop it. It was an unwelcomed warmth that erupted so suddenly that he turned his face away from yours and back to the sturmbeest below him, chuckling as he brushed the feeling away, "Consider yourself lucky then that you've found company with me and not some of the boring folk who only want to stay at HomeTree."
"Well speaking of the boring folk of HomeTree, I have to go back now that we've finished our hunting lesson." You got up, wiping the dirt from your knees.
Itu stood up with you, his next words escaping without a second thought, "You don't need to go back to HomeTree right now. It is eclipse. Stay at my camp and you can go in the morning. Besides, don't you want to eat the sturmbeest you hunted?"
"Well, I have someone waiting for me to return after I come back from HomeTree, so I..." You began, but you stopped, noticing a slight pout on Itu's face.
But his pout faded away as quickly as you noticed it, a laugh replacing it, "Surely this someone who is waiting for you can wait one more day. I would not want to make you return in the night, no matter how capable you have proven to be."
You were caught off guard, crossing your arms with a raised eyebrow, "You give compliments with such attitude. You know Itu, if you simply enjoy being around me, you can just say that too."
Itu felt that unwelcomed feeling arise again inside of him, but he pushed it down deep as he scoffed, shrugging, "Do not be mistaken. I would rather be alone with Zomey. I am merely taking pity on you by saving you from a boring night with boring company."
You could sense that there was more to what he was saying, realizing that his relentless teasing was only a front. So, you simply surrendered to his request, going along with him with another chuckle, “Well then, thank you for saving me.”
Itu led the way as the two of you went back into the Forest. His camp was not too far from the water, the site nestled between two large trees and his resting spot being a small cave. Zomey was perched above the cave, waiting patiently for Itu to return before she felt comfortable to lay down atop the grass on the rock.
You stepped inside after Itu, his belongings placed around a firepit in the middle, "This is home for the week before I move on to another spot, somewhere near more Fortune's fruit most likely."
“Ah, that makes sense since it's her favorite, right?." You replied, watching as Itu began to prepare the fire, placing the kindling within the firepit then igniting it.
He had only mentioned that once to you, an instant smile forming on his face because you remembered, "That is right. The fruit is fitting for her personality."
"For both of you." The light jab making Itu laugh as he arranged a bed of rocks for the meat to be roasted on.
"For you as well." He paused, granting you his eyes as he looked over your figure in front of him, "There is more to you than meets the eye."
Leaning back, curiosity hung in the way he stared at you, his eyes lingering on you more than he meant to as he uttered a question you didn't hear at all as you heard a familiar voice in your comms, low and gruff.
"Tamtey? Can you hear me?"
Your eyes widened, your grin turning into a flat line as you placed a hand around the strange choker you had around your neck, "So'lek? Is everything alright?"
Itu was utterly confused, watching as you seemingly spoke into the air with no subject to catch them, commenting rather loudly with a smug grin, "I hope you are not so hungry from our hunting lesson you have begun hallucinating! The meat is almost ready."
"Who is speaking?" So'lek emphasized every letter, concern and confusion fusing into one hearing Itu's unfamiliar voice.
"It's Itu." Your hands were on your comms as you bellowed in laughter replying to Itu, "I am hungry, but not hallucinating. I am speaking to someone through this...device in my ears. It is hard to explain, but—"
"Who is Itu?" So'lek interrupted, his tone coming off slightly insulted as he heard your laughter in his ear, "It is eclipse. I will come get you. I am with Iley now." You heard Iley's caw amidst So'lek's voice, his inflections of concern obvious in how fast he talked.
"He has been teaching me how to hunt all day. I am staying at his camp for the night since it is so late." Explaining the situation with ease, you thought that So’lek would respond right away, but there was a beat between his next words.
“So’lek? Are you still there?”
“Teaching you how to hunt? Had I known this was what Nefika had planned for you, I would have just taught you myself.” His voice, still low, came out more aggravated than usual, a tone of voice you hadn’t heard before.
Reassuring him, your voice remained calm and gentle as it usually did, chuckling lightly, “I am about to eat the sturmbeest I hunted now. And when I return tomorrow morning, you can teach me how to hunt your way."
"So you are not returning to HomeTree tonight?" So'lek prodded further.
"I'm at Itu's camp." You repeated, your response too nonchalant for So'lek's liking as he let another beat pass, his surprise taking away his ability to speak for a moment.
The silence made the air feel awkward, despite So'lek not being there and you made eye contact with Itu from across the fire, grinning nervously, "So'lek?" You repeated.
But Itu cut the silence, joking loudly, “Let me guess, this is the someone waiting for you to return? Tell him to relax. A woman with a brave heart like yours will be fine out here. And besides you are under my watch. No harm can come to you when I am by your side."
Like an electric shock to his ears, So'lek felt irritated hearing Itu's voice instead of yours, forced to listen to that noise rather than you. He had missed hearing it all day, the gentleness that always seemed to calm the turmoil in his heart.
"I am alright, So'lek. I will see you tomorrow." You reassured him again, and you could hear Iley caw again, her wings flapping amidst So'lek's voice.
He felt relief knowing that you were well and safe, the sound of your voice calming him like it always did, despite him wanting to see you in person. But it did not stop him from still showing his agitation, "If you would rather spend your time with Itu, I will not get in your way. But rest assured, tomorrow I do not intend to share my time with you. Good night Tamtey.”
So'lek was never a man of many words, his reaction wholly uncharacteristic as you said one more good night to him. He merely grunted in response, saying nothing more as you heard Iley's caw once more and the flap of her wings.
"He is angry you are not coming home?" Itu jested, smirking as he portioned off a piece of the cooked meat for you.
"So'lek is used to our usual routine. I realize now that I had forgotten about it when we were out in the Forest." You sighed, taking the meat from Itu as he handed it to you.
"Ah, so this So'lek is forgettable?" Itu kept his lighthearted tone, unable to contain another fit of laughter.
"That's not what I mean." Taking a bite of the meat, the spices filling your nose with their hearty aroma, you shook your head, "Most of the time we are fighting Sky People. It has been a while since I have been out in the Forest enjoying the Great Mother's gifts."
Itu let his gaze linger on you again, warmth filling his chest as he watched you happily eat the sturmbeest roast. Still, he felt denial within him, misguided in his thoughts as he attributed that warmth to the pride he felt teaching you.
"Well, should you ever want to break routine again, you know who to go to," He began, inching forward to sit closer to you, "Although you are not as good a hunter as me, I see...great potential in you."
This time, Itu's voice did not hold a cavalier tone, soft instead as he slowed his words. And you received his message with a grateful nod, smiling widely at him while your voice matched the gentleness he suddenly procured, "Just you wait and see, I am ready for your challenges any time. One of these days, you will be surprised by me."
-
When you returned to HomeTree the next day, Itu came with you, offering you a ride on Zomey to make your trip back quicker.
Touching down on the ikrans' landing, Nefika was already there with the other weavers that were seated. She was waiting there all morning for you to return, standing with other weavers who were completing their work outside in the morning light.
She was speaking to them, but the sound of Zomey from the distance made her ears twitch and looking in the direction of her familiar caws, she stopped talking mid-sentence, staring intently with her mouth hung open as she watched Itu help you dismount, taking your hand into his with a smile she had never quite seen before.
Not wasting any time, Nefika abandoned her previous conversation to greet you both, her mischievous tone escaping her as she said aloud, "I am surprised you still know the way home, Itu! Or perhaps you let our Sarentu lead the way?"
You touched your forehead with your fingers, extending your proper greeting as she did the same, "It is good to see you again, Nefika."
Observing you up and down, she crossed her arms, her facial expression satisfied, but expectant as she raised her eyebrows, "If I recall, I sent you out into the Forest early morning, Sarentu. Surely, you are not so bad at hunting that you both stayed up all night." She paused, feigning a casual curiosity, "What else did you do?"
"Besides have my clothes mocked by Itu?" You glared at him playfully, but he only returned an innocent smile back at you.
Nefika watched Itu's reactions, sensing the energy between the two of you, and taking your hand into hers, she tilted her head, prying again once more, "Oh our Sarentu! You worry me for staying out so late! And I was not the only one looking for you. Your dear So'lek came to HomeTree last night."
She was baiting Itu on purpose, watching for a slight twitch in the lip, any hint of being affected when she mentioned So'lek while she listened to you speak.
"So'lek came all the way here?" Recalling your conversation in your comms, you didn't know that So'lek had already stopped by HomeTree when he called you, your heart sinking at the realization, "I didn't know that."
Right to sense that Itu would be affected, Nefika caught the quickest shift as Itu clenched his jaw for a moment. Satisfied, she added, "But I reassured him that Itu is a fine hunter and a fine man as well! You would not be in harms way. So, he returned back home."
Looking out at the horizon, you sighed, "Thank you both for everything, but I should return home as well."
"I will take you to where home is for you. It will be faster on Zomey." Itu insisted, already looking behind at her.
"It's okay Itu! You already took me here and you didn't have to. I know you want to go explore and fly on your own. I can go alone from here." You refused, walking toward the back entrance before Itu took hold of your hand.
"Where is it? You cannot refuse if I am already on the way there anyway." He coaxed.
Pointing northwest, you explained "It's above a waterfall in the Dyers' bowl."
"Then our journeys cross. I must pass Dyers Bowl to get to Waterway Valley." Itu boldly stated, confident as he waited for your approval.
There was a faster way to Waterway Valley that did not go through Dyers Bowl at all, but Nefika maintained her position, highly amused as she watched Itu unabashedly lie to you. In her mind, she was praising herself for what was unfolding before her. Never did she think she would ever catch Itu in such a state, but she fully intended to take advantage of this newfound project of hers, taking you two both by the shoulder with affectionate fervor.
"Please Sarentu! Go with Itu! Besides, you would not want to make So'lek wait too long."
"You're right. Thank you again." Again, you spoke from your heart, oblivious to her true intentions.
"But you must come back soon. I've already begun to design your new clothes!" Nefika called out as you and Itu both walked toward Zomey.
"Of course. I will come back a week from today then!" You were already behind Itu, mounted on Zomey who was waiting for Itu to tell her what to do, her eyes already on the sky.
You figured you would surprise So'lek, not telling him that you were coming. You waved goodbye to Nefika one last time before Zomey took off, flapping her wings as she gained altitude, higher and higher until she was above the tops of the Kinglor Forest trees.
As you rode together, Itu was determined to make the flight memorable, switching between speeds and guiding your trajectory. Then when you approached closer, you instructed him past the trees and up the waterfall until you saw the familiar flag that hung on the edge of the base.
Landing Zomey near the shallow part of the water, Itu observed the base, the stories he heard of Sky People metal no longer stories as it became tangible in front of his eyes, "This is home?"
"This is—"
"Tamtey!"
Turning around, you already knew who it was, your grin widening, "Sorry I'm late."
Walking over, So'lek started out smiling, but it faltered when he noticed that you had not come alone, Itu close beside you with one hand on his ikran's head, "And you decided to bring the reason you are late here?"
Acknowledging him, Itu greeted So'lek properly, but maintained a smug smirk, "And you must be So'lek? Forgive me. I heard you were concerned for her safety, so I figured I would ease your mind."
"So you are Itu." So'lek clenched his jaw, reluctantly polite as he replied gruffly, placing an affectionate hand on your shoulder, holding your gaze with fondness, "Thank you for bringing her back to me."
"For now." Itu let out, amused as he watched his comment harden So'lek's soft gaze on you immediately, the smile he once had thinning into a frown, his agitation brewing as he glared.
And as Itu mounted Zomey again, his eyes lingering on you again, he thought about what you had told him in the cave. In truth, it only took one day and you were already surprising him.
Because suddenly, Itu found himself ready to break routine for you.
-
Author's Note:
Oel ngati kameie,
Nefika is sooooooooo funny. She really is such a gossip queen.
If you're here from my TikTok, hi! This is just part 1! If you liked this first part, tell me what you think in the comments!! :)
I love hearing your favorite parts or what you loved about the chapter! Stay tuned for the next installment
