2 can play that game
Pairings: Neteyam x fem omatikaya! Reader
Summary: Raised as part of the Sully family, she grows up close to Kiri, but as she gets older, her dynamic with Neteyam subtly changes. Neither of them says anything, yet the shift is felt… noticed, mutual, and quietly lingering.
Warnings: slow burn, mentions of loss, sensual undertones, tension between characters, mild manipulation, mutual pining,.. lmk if i missed anything.
Notes: i was a bit reluctant on writing this because i know people were a bit weirded out by the spider and kiri situation during afaa but it was already drafted up so.. reader refers to Neytiri and Jake as ‘Ma’ey’ and ‘Pa’ey’ those names give the emotional weight of mom and dad without being literal parental titles.
Word count: 3.0K
part 2
Your mother and Neytiri had been best friends, much like how you and Kiri are now… always laughing, sharing, and looking out for each other.
But your mom was gone, caught in the fires when the humans evaded Pandora.
You remember the cold ache in your chest, the emptiness that settled in when you realized she wasn’t coming back.
Neytiri had been there, always by your mother’s side, and now… now she was all you had left.
Jake and Neytiri found you among the remnants of your home, trembling, ears pinned, tail coiled tightly.
They didn’t hesitate. Neytiri knelt beside you, wrapping you in a protective embrace.
“You are safe now,” Neytiri whispered, voice soft and steady, eyes full of fire and care. “We will not let anything happen to you.”
And they kept that promise.
They didn’t just take you in.. They raised you. They guided you, protected you, and gave you a family to rely on.
You learned to walk, to hunt, to listen to Eywa’s whispers, and to trust again.
They didn’t push you to call them “Mom” or “Dad,” but the love was there, unconditional, steady, and unwavering.
They are Your home. Your family. Your heart.
You remember how it felt the first time Jake smiled at you and said, “You are a sully… you are my daughter ” The weight of his words settled in your chest, a warmth that has stayed with you even now, years later.
Neytiri’s guidance shaped your confidence, her steady presence a anchor in the wild of Pandora.
And because of them, you grew strong, capable, and… ready for anything
You and Kiri slip into the mauri, trying not to laugh too loud. “Ma’ey! Pa’ey! Guess what we found!” you call, holding up a messy pile of forest treasures.
Jake raises an eyebrow, smirking. “Hmm… trouble, I assume?”
Neytiri laughs softly, shaking her head. “Still gathering what does not belong to you, I see.”
You grin, tugging Kiri’s hand. “It is not stealing if we found it first!”
You and Kiri had always been inseparable.
From the moment you could walk, you were trailing after her through the forest.. mud on your feet, laughter in your lungs, hands always tangled together as if Eywa herself had tied you side by side.
Neteyam had always been there too.
Not with you… not like Kiri was.. but nearby. Older. Taller.
A presence that blended into the background of your childhood until, one day, it didn’t anymore.
🐾
His siblings saw you as one of them. Another sister. Someone to protect, to tease, to laugh with without thinking twice about it.
But Neteyam never could.
Even when you were younger.. small and bright and always laughing beside Kiri… there had been something about you that pulled at his attention in a way he didn’t understand.
His protectiveness ran deeper than instinct, sharper than duty.
He watched you longer than he should have. Stepped closer without realizing why.
It wasn’t the kind of care you gave a sister.
It never had been.
As the years passed, the distance between you shifted.
You grew into yourself, into someone who made his chest feel tight and his thoughts slow.
He became aware of you in a way that made him restless, careful, quiet.
Neteyam told himself it was wrong to think this way.
That you were family.
That his place was to protect you, nothing more.
But no matter how many times he tried to see you the way his siblings did…
He couldn’t.
And deep down, he knew he never would.
🐾
Kiri noticed neteyam first.
The way his attention shifted without him meaning to.
How his gaze followed you through the clearing even when the conversation had already moved on.
How he positioned himself.. subtly, instinctively between you and anything that felt even remotely like a threat.
How his fingers twitched, as if he wanted to reach out and steady you, and then didn’t, letting you find your balance yourself.
She noticed how he listened when you spoke.
Not politely. Not patiently.
Intently.
And then she noticed you.
The way you went quiet whenever Neteyam stepped into the clearing.
How your fingers fumbled, how your ears twitched just a second too late when his voice joined the conversation.
You, who had grown up fearless, climbing trees faster than the boys, laughing too loud, never shy.. suddenly became all nerves and stolen glances.
Oh, she knew.
You were sitting beside Kiri near the roots of the spirit tree, knees pulled to your chest as she braided a thin cord of fibers.
You were mid-sentence, rambling comfortably, when a familiar shadow fell over you.
“Hey,” Neteyam said casually.
Your brain short-circuited.
“Oh…hi… neteyam.. I mean…” You cleared your throat, heat rushing to your face as you stood too quickly, nearly tripping over your own feet. “I was just… uh”
Kiri bit her lip to keep from smiling.
Neteyam's eyes flicked to you, lingering for half a second longer than necessary.
Something unreadable passed over his face.
like he was cataloging every detail.. the way you avoided his eyes, the flush on your ears, the way your tail betrayed you.
From then on, he made no effort to avoid you.
If anything, he sought you out.. always casually, always with Kiri present.
And every time you stumbled over yourself, he smiled.
Not openly. Not teasingly.
Just a small curve of his mouth. Like he found something quietly satisfying.
Each interaction was small. Innocent.
And every single one left you flustered.
🐾
Neteyam's teasing was quiet. Subtle. Designed just for you.
He started greeting you differently.
Not just a nod. Not just your name.
A hand briefly resting on your shoulder when he passed.
A light squeeze at your elbow when guiding you through a crowd.
Once. just once, he leaned down and murmured a joke meant only for you, his voice low enough to make your ears warm.
You laughed too loudly.
Neteyam's eyes lit up.
He liked that.
And then he started doing things.
Small things at first.
Like sitting closer than necessary during evening meals, his knee brushing yours beneath the woven mats.
Like handing you things directly instead of setting them down.. letting his fingers linger for half a heartbeat too long when you took them.
Like standing behind you while you listened to someone speak, close enough that you could feel his presence without ever seeing it.
At first, you thought it was accidental.
Neteyam had always been kind, steady, calm, attentive in the way the eldest often was. He spoke when needed, listened more than he talked, moved through the forest like it bent itself to him.
So when he lingered near you longer than necessary, or chose to walk beside you instead of ahead, you told yourself it meant nothing.
But then it kept happening.
Every time you were around him, your body reacted before your thoughts could catch up.
Your ears flicked back when he spoke too close.
Your tail curled when his shoulder brushed yours.
Your voice stumbled when he looked at you directly for too long.
And at first, you were too busy being embarrassed to notice him.
Until one evening, the three of you sat beneath a tree as the forest settled into night.
Kiri leaned back against the roots, calm and comfortable.
You sat across from her, knees tucked in.
Neteyam dropped down beside you... closer than he needed to be.
He stretched his legs out and rested his arm behind you, palm flat against the moss.
Not touching you. Just there.
You could feel the heat of him.
Kiri glanced between you both. Said nothing.
The silence stretched.
Your heart pounded so loud you were convinced Neteyam could hear it.
Kiri leaned forward suddenly, resting her chin in her hands, eyes darting between the two of you. "You know," she said innocently, "she gets really nervous around you."
You nearly choked. "Kiri!"
His eyes flicked.. not to your face, but lower. To your tail. To the way it had curled tight around your leg.
Then back to your eyes.
And there it was. That quiet, satisfied look.
Your chest tightened. Wait.....
Neteyam hummed softly, pretending to consider this. His hand playing with the moss behind you. "Does she?"
Your ears burned. You heart thudded. You tail flicking uncontrollably behind you.
His gaze flicked down again brief, deliberate, then back to kiri. And this time, he didn't hide the smile.
Small. Warm. Absolutely unfair.
That was the moment it became clear.
He wasn't teasing by accident.
He wasn't unaware.
You glanced at him and saw it.
The way his eyes softened. The way the corner of his mouth twitched like he was holding something back.
The thought hit you so suddenly you almost gasped.
He likes this.
he enjoyed watching you unravel a little at a time.
Not in a cruel way. Not mocking.
But... entertained. Amused. Patient.
From then on, you started paying attention.
And you realized he knows exactly what he’s doing.
‘He’s…. Testing me’ you thought.
It became so obvious neteyam was intentionally teasing you.
Not with words. Just proximity. Light touches that could be explained.
Your shoulder brushing his arm, fingers barely grazing, thighs close when navigating narrow paths.
Each time, your tail curled tighter. Your ears flattened. Your heartbeat raced.
He noticed.
And he definitely wasn't going to stop.
🐾
The first time he tested it, it was almost accidental.
The three of you were sitting together near the training grounds.
You and Kiri were sharing fruit, shoulders pressed together, when Neteyam approached and dropped down across from you.
His movements were easy, confident, completely unaware, it seemed, of the way your spine straightened the second he sat.
He leaned back on his hands. Relaxed.
Your fingers stilled mid-motion.
Neteyam's eyes flicked to your hands. Then slowly he smiled.
"You going to eat that?" he asked, nodding toward the bitten fruit in your hand.
Your mouth went dry. "I.. yeah.. I mean-"
Kiri elbowed you lightly. "She was."
Neteyam hummed, amused. "Was."
You shot him a look, flustered.
He met your eyes easily, unbothered and held them just long enough for your heart to start racing.
You hesitated, fingers tightening around the fruit before, without thinking too hard about it, you held it out toward him.
“I.. if you want it,” you said quietly.
Neteyam’s features lifted slightly. Just a flicker of surprise.
Then he leaned forward. He didn’t take the fruit from your hand.
He bit into it.
Right where you had.
Your breath hitched. Your tail stilled completely.
He pulled back slowly, chewing, eyes never leaving your face. There was a pause.. brief, heavy before his lips curved into something small. Satisfied.
“Thanks,” he said, voice low.
Kiri made a soft, knowing sound beside you.
And just like that, it wasn’t accidental anymore.
You stared at the fruit for half a second too long.
He’d bitten it. Right where you had.
“He’s testing me..’ You think again.
The marks were still there.
Your ears burned, heat creeping down your neck as you became painfully aware of Kiri watching you from the corner of her eye.
Neteyam didn’t say anything. Didn’t move. He just leaned back again, relaxed, gaze settled on you like he was waiting.
Testing.
You swallowed.
Then, before you could talk yourself out of it.. you lifted the fruit and took another bite.
From the same place.
Your teeth sank into the softened edge, his bite still there, unmistakable.
The world didn’t end. No one gasped. No one said anything.
But Neteyam’s posture changed. Just slightly.
His eyes darkened, focus sharpening in a way that made your stomach flip. He didn’t smile this time.
Kiri’s eyes widened. Just a little.
‘Two can play that game.’ You think to yourself.
You chewed slowly, forcing yourself to stay calm even as your heart pounded in your chest.
When you looked back at him, your gaze didn’t waver.
Barely.
Neteyam exhaled through his nose. He swallowed. His face a purple hue.
kiri laughed, tail flicking with amusement. "Ohhh, there it is," she teased, grinning. "Look at you, Neteyam! The mighty warrior, flustered!”
His head jerked slightly, eyes narrowing but not in anger. Just... embarrassment.
Warmth spreading across his face and neck, even though he tried to hide it.
"Ohhh, don't think you can hide that! I see it!" kiri adds.
Neteyam's jaw tightened but the faintest curve of a smile betraved him.
you both sit there, flushed and wide-eyed.
Kiri’s little laughs echoing through the forest.
I hope you enjoyed, let me know what you think!
I see you guys asking for a “Not now. Not ever.” part 2 and that is coming soon!!
I’m also in the progress of writing a Tonowari x reader so yay!
Thank you for reading!
