STORMBOUND - 4
summary: begrudgingly So'lek was asked to deliver some materials to the Aranahe. However, he never expected to meet an Aranahe woman who was so capable of breaking down his walls.
1.7k words, so'lek x fem!aranahe reader, injury, angst, SOME comfort, tortured lovers but theyre just stupid, slowish burn lmao, guilt
finally part 4 sorry it took so long y'all, i hope you enjoy!! i did this one more so from readers pov not so'lek's
masterlist / previous part / next part
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Another day came, though now they all seemed to blur together. Sun filtered through the tent flaps of Minang’s healing tent. How long had it been? Two weeks? Maybe three? It didn’t matter at this point. You were anchored to the ground by the broken bones in your leg. The pain tore through you. Up from the ankle to your hip. It wasn’t quite unbearable anymore, but barely tolerable. You couldn’t do a single thing by yourself, waited on hand and foot like some sort of useless child. No. Not even a child needed this much assistance.
So’lek by some sort of miracle had been next to you almost every moment of the day. Though he didn’t speak. Not since he had rushed out of the tent many moons ago. He was so…guarded. Like an invisible wall was plastered in between the two of you.
He knew your routine. When you were hungry, when you needed to eat those disgusting herbs and when to get Minang to aid in atreating the bruised sweltered wound on your leg.
He had fetched the pod fruit for Nefika a couple days after you had settled into your routines. At least she couldn’t scold you for delaying the progression of her dyes. Thank Eywa for So’lek.
The tent flap opened softly, So’lek stepping through, and shutting it curtly behind him. He didn’t say a word, just as you expected. He held a large green leaf in his hand, holding small pieces of meat and fruit to indulge in for the morning.
Slowly, you shuffled up in your bed. Inching with your arms, to push yourself up to rest on your uninjured leg. It was a painstakingly slow process, that most definitely looked pitiful to So’lek. So maybe that’s why he didn’t look at all? He just stared at the floor turning away from you. The same way a child did when they were scolded by their mother, unable to face the consequences of their actions.
It didn’t click for you though. His avoidance, his guarded stare it just made you feel like a burden. As if So’lek was…furious that you had been so reckless. That he felt the need be responsible for your healing and that he resented that fact completely.
Looking up at him to try and meet his solemn eyes you squeaked out a mellow greeting. “Good morning.”
“Morning”. The silence grew awkwardly, you let out a small cough to try and mend the tension in the sweet morning air.
So’lek crouched down next to you, stretching out his arms to hand you the meal. His hands shook slightly, it was odd for a warrior of his stature, to shake in the presence of such a pathetic excuse of a grown woman.
Taking the food, you placed it on the floor in front of you so could use one hand to hold your weight up, absolving your leg of it’s responsibility.
“Where is yours? Have you eaten?” You were sure he hadn’t, it was so early that he must’ve woken before the sun rose to prepare your meal.’
“No. Not yet.” He hummed softly still avoiding your gaze as if your eyes would turn him into stone.
You frowned, your bottom lip poking out. “You must eat.”
So’lek just shook his head as he pushed your food closer to you “I am not wounded.”
You sucked your teeth, rolling your eyes. “No way, I haven’t noticed.”
So’lek grunted as he crossed his arms, adjusting so he sat slightly closer to you. “Just eat. Don’t make me feed you.”
No longer protesting you ate the rest of your meal in silence. So’lek loomed over you like a hawk, his presence warm even though he was still so cold towards you.
He waited until you swallowed the last bite of your food before he moved from his almost predator like position, still and watchful. He reached for the leaf in front of you folding it neatly. He was attentive, too attentive. Always making sure that the space you inhabited was clean, that you were clean and taken care of.
He watched as you tried to adjust “There’s no need to rush” He said quietly. “I will help you”
“Why would I rush? I have nowhere to be.” You gestured to you leg laying stiff on the mat.
He paused, almost remorsefully. His jaw tightened, placing the folded leaf into a pocket of his vest. “You will.” He replied “Soon.”
The word echoed.
Soon.
An empty promise, you weren’t going anywhere. Anytime soon. Not when this lug of a limb held you down. You shifted, trying to adjust your position, but you were quickly shut down as a pain sharp enough to steal your breath flared throughout your entire limb. You bit down hard, refusing to make a sound.
Within these weeks you learned quickly that every sound you made, every facial twitch drew his attention to you. Despite your efforts he noticed anyway.
“So’lek.” You interrupted him before he could move. “Don’t”
He froze.
“I- I can do it,” you insisted, even when the slight tremor in your arms betrayed your determination. “I won’t break apart if you look away for a moment.”
“You are wounded.” He said, guilt laced in his tone.
Your chest tightened as you struggled to keep your weight on your arms. “I didn’t plan on needing this much help”
So’lek frowned as he moved closer to you. “That does not matter.”
“It does to me.” Silence stretched between you. “You don’t look at me, you barely speak. I know you have better things to do”
His shoulders sagged, the weight of your words pulling them down as he tried to stop his mouth from frowning. “That’s not true.”
“You think I do not notice it So’lek?” Your voice trembled despite your best efforts to not show your emotions. “You tense when I move, you hover over me like you’re waiting for me to hurt myself again. I know I slowed you down. I know your only staying here because it’s some twisted sense of pity and obligation towards me.”
“That is not it-”
“Then what is it So’lek? Because it just feels like you’re angry at me for being such a burden.”
So’lek’s posture softened, his hands slowly reaching out to you. His eyes sharp and wounded, like an animal cornered by something it does not know how to fight.
“I am not angry…I’d never be angry.” His words were soft, his voice low and controlled. “I’m afraid”
The words hung in the air, fragile and unexpected. Your breath caught in your throat, unable to respondbrui to his confession. The silence was long and painful, claws scratching down your throat where words couldn’t escape.
Eyes met, it felt as if a warm wave rushed over you, washing away the pain within you for just a second as for the first time in weeks you had met So’lek’s eyes and there was not coldness. For just a moment So’lek had not been a guarded keeper of her health…but a friend.
What was he afraid of? Was he afraid you would impede on his other responsibilities? That this injury would cost him his work? What could he mean.
You felt inclined to ask. To interrogate him. But you were too afraid. Of ruining what might be the one moment of vulnerability he would bestow upon you.
“You don’t have to be afraid. It’s not like I will break.”
So’lek shut his eyes quickly, screwing them shut as he took in a sharp breath. His chest trembles as his hand gripped onto his thigh tightly. “You’re already broken. I-” He cut himself off, now unable to met your eyes. Maybe he really was afraid.
“I know that So’lek.” You huff, anger tittering on the tip of your tongue. “I’m the one that is holed up in this tent all day with nothing to do but think. But you can leave at any time. It’s quite obvious how much you resent being here.”
So’lek almost let out a hiss as he turned back to face you, his brows furrowed as he kept his hands glued to his sides.
“Resent?” The words were sour and bitter in his mouth. “You think I resent you?” He gestured towards you and your leg. Before his hands curled into fists glueing back to his sides as if he was restraining himself from something bigger than anger.
“If I resented you, I would be back at resistance. I would’ve left as soon as Minang said you would live”
Your heart hammered in your ribcage. “Then what is it? Fear? Are you scared of me or something? Because I’m pretty much hopeless right now so I don’t know why you can’t stand to be near me!”
The question slipped out of your mouth faster than you could filter it. It was raw and brittle. You hated how you sounded so…desperate. For what exactly? Reassurance? Closure? Validation?
So’lek froze, his jaw clenched. Teeth grinding against each other as he fought with himself to stop spewing out a raw and vulnerable confession.
“Because I did this to you. I shouldn’t have let you fly out. I should have said no to Nefika. I knew better and…and you got hurt.”
Your fingers dug into the plush mat beneath you. “So…this is about guilt?”
His eyes snapped back to meet yours. “This is about consequence.”
“I chose to fly out with you”
“And I chose to race you in the plains winds.” His voice was soft, quiet as he tried to stop his voice from showing too much emotion. “And I got you hurt.”
“So what? Are you going to mull around me until I can walk? Because we both know that will be a long time.” You tried to move again, face scrunching in pain.
So’lek quickly attended to you, being less subtle about his motions to help you. Placing his large hands around your waist to prop you upright onto a woven backrest behind you.
As his hands left your skin, the heat lingered, an absence that burned more than the contact itself. “Until I can get you back home safely. I will be here.”
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notes: thankyou sm for reading!! i'd love to hear your thoughts what you think might happen, what you wish will happen!! it really motivates me comments, reblogs and asks are so so so appreciated. sorry if theres some errors i wrote most of this when i should have most definitely been sleeping
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