Gift From Eywa Pt. 2 - Neteyam
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1583 words
Part 1
Warnings: none except slight spoilers of you haven't seen ATWOW
+ The impossible has happened. Neteyam was back, breathing and unharmed. No one can believe it but everyone is beyond happy. After the intial high of his return, it was time for Neteyam to learn about
"This is impossible." I said while sitting next to his head. After Aonung and Tsireya returned with help, we took him back to my marui and Ronal had met us. She immediately began to check him over.
"Quite." She said as she circled him but paused next to me. "Maybe your visions were not just from grief. I think Eywa was trying to tell you of his return." She gives me a smile, caressing my head. She moved on around me. I heard commotion outside and then Netyiri ran in. She froze in the door before letting out a loud cry.
"Neteyam!" She collapsed next to us. She was crying heavily. "This can't be real. This can't be real." She cried out as she hovered over his side.
"Neytiri..." She Looked up at me. "He's here. He's really here." She smiled and reached up to cup my face, setting her forehead against mine. I held her wrists as Jake came in at that moment with Tonowari behind him. He stumbled at the sight of his boy and Tonowari held him up.
"How?" The question came out as a puff of air.
"I'm not sure. But I see it as a Gift from Eywa." Ronal said blissfully. Jake knelt down behind Neytiri. She grabbed her son's hand to hold it to her chest and I felt Jake set his hand on my head. I looked at him and he was giving me a look asking if I was okay. I nodded with a smile. He moved his hand to my shoulder and kept it there.
After Ronal had checked him over and deemed him in good health, she left with instructions for me to look after him. She said she would return when he wakes. Everyone else left reluctantly when it came to turn in for the night. All except Lo'ak. He refused to leave.
"You carry too much sometimes, Skxawng." I chuckled as I placed a blanket over a sleeping Lo'ak who made his place in the corner. He hummed in his sleep as I covered him up.
I walked around, snuffing out the lights before returning to Neteyam's side. I laid down next to him and caressed his face. I sighed, afraid to fall asleep in case I woke up to it being just a dream. I forced myself to sleep with a hand on his breathing chest, over his beating heart.
"Hmm." Warmth from the morning sun woke me from my slumber. I squirmed under the blanket before sitting up. I peered around the room. The memory of yesterday came rushing back and I looked next to me. Neteyam was gone. "No... no, no, no." I got up and ran from the marui. I ran around the village, looking around frantically for the boy.
"I missed you so much." I heard Tuk yell. I ran in that direction and saw Neteyam in the middle of his family, Tuk attached to his waist. He was hugging his sister tight, cupping the back of her head. I slowed and stopped not far from the group.
"Neteyam..." I hiccupped in relief. His ears twitched before he looked toward me. His expression turned from joyous to concern.
"Yawne." He pulled away gently from his sister and ran towards me. I reached out for him and latched onto his shoulders as soon as he got close. I buried my head in his chest and let out the breath I was holding. "Oh love, I'm here."
"I thought... you were gone when I woke up. I thought it was all a d-dream." I stuttered. I sniffled and he cooed as he cupped the back of my head. I moved my head to his neck before looking up at him.
"Oh, love. I'm so sorry." He pulled back and cupped my face, nuzzling his nose against mine as he whispered some comforting words. I collapsed into his chest again and he held me tight. He cradled the back of my head and wrapped his other arm around my waist. "Lo'ak told me about how you've been lately and thought it was best to let you sleep. I'm sorry. I should have stayed close."
"No, no. It's alright. I know you would want to see your family. I just..." I trailed off while playing with on of his braids sheepishly.
"I know." He kissed my head before resting his cheek against my head. I looked over his shoulder and saw everyone watching us with smiles. A sad thought crossed my mind.
"Did they tell you?" I asked gently. I felt him grimace and pull away, realizing what I was asking. He held me by my biceps and I held onto his battle belt. He looked down and nodded. I placed my hand where the bullet wound should be. "I was so lost..."
"I'm here now. I don't know how or why but I'm here now." He set his forehead against mine, holding me tight against him.
"I hate to break up this tender moment up but I figure you're both getting pretty hungry?" Jake chuckled. As if on cue, both of our stomachs growled. I hid my face in Neteyam's chest in embarrassment.
"Come on bro. Let's get you both something to eat." Lo'ak came over and wrapped his arm around his brothers shoulder. Neteyam let his brother pull him away but paused when I didn't follow.
"Go on. I'll be along." I assured him. He brought my hand that he was still holding up to kiss it.
"Okay. Don't be to long. You have a lot to catch me up on." I watched as Lo'ak drug him into the marui. I chuckled and felt my heart swell at the sight. I turned and looked out over the water. I closed my eyes and took a big breath, thanking Eywa for the miracle. A tug on my hand brought me back.
"Come on, Y/N." I turned to see Kiri holding my hand to her chest. I smiled and squeezed her hand back.
"I'm coming." She pulled me along and had me sit next to Neteyam. I just stared at him as he ate, still in disbelief but ecstatic nonetheless.
After breakfast, Tonowari had arranged for a celebration in honor of Neteyam's miraculous return. It had been a long day of celebrating and the two of us needed a break. We stole away for a moment alone just before eclipse. The sun was setting over the water and the moment was serene.
"I can't believe I was gone for a year." He said softly while gripping my hand. I sighed and nodded.
"It was torture for the first few months... for all of us. Neytiri couldn't sleep, Kiri was less lively, and Tuk couldn't stop crying. Even Tsireya and Aonung were devastated beyond reproach. But...Lo’ak and Jake were especially torn up." I pulled him to a stop and we faced each other. "They both blame themselves heavily. No one could or can convince then otherwise."
"I know. I could see it in their eyes." He looked down, nose scrunching in distress.
"I honestly think Lo'ak blames himself for all of this." I ran my thumb up his nose, smoothing out the skin. He relaxed his face.
"What do you mean?" He asked.
"Well, he thinks if he never had gone to the old lab, We would have never had to move and we would not have had to fight the RDA at Three Brothers."
"What?! That's absurd. Quaritch would have done anything to come after Dad anyway! Regardless if Lo'ak and the others getting caught." He said, confused.
"I know." I reached up and cupped his neck. "And I think he needs to hear that from you. You're the only one I think he'll listen to on this."
"I will." He wrapped his arms around me. "You've mentioned how everyone fared... except you."
"Observant as always." I chuckled. I set my forehead against his chest. "I could hardly stand it."
"How so?"
"I was completely numb for days ...months." I looked up at them. "If it wasn't for Tuk, Tsireya, and everyone else, I would have faded away. I felt empty and couldn't find it in me to go on."
"Yawne..." I could see tears welling up in his eyes, anguish taking over his face. He pulled me into a tight hug, arms wrapped snugly around my form. "I'm so sorry. I can't believe you had to go through that. I'm..."
"Shh..." I placed my fingertips on his lips. I leaned up and kissed him. He immediately responded, kissing me softly. We pulled away but only a bit. Neteyam kissed my head. "It's okay. You're here now and that's all that matters."
"And I never plan to leave you or everyone else again." He said with soft determination. I nodded and nuzzled into his neck. He ran a hand up and down my back while the other ran through my hair. "And if you'll have me, I want to be mated to you as soon as possible. I don't want to wait any longer."
I saw Neteyam glance at me with a smile before he looked at the stars, too. Above us, the stars twinkled as if Eywa herself was answering me.
"Neither do I." I nose his cheek. As Eclipse came upon us we started back towards the village. I looked up at the stars and smiled. "Thank you Eywa for the best gift of my life."
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