𝑫 𝑬 𝑽 𝑰 𝑳 𝑶 𝑵 𝑾 𝑰 𝑵 𝑮 𝑺 | 𝟎𝟒
⊱ 𝒏𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒚𝒂𝒎 𝒙 𝒏𝒂’𝒗𝒊!𝒔𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒖!𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓! ⊰
𝔫𝔢𝔱𝔢𝔶𝔞𝔪 𝔠𝔬𝔩𝔩𝔢𝔠𝔱𝔦𝔬𝔫 | 𝔪.𝔩𝔦𝔰𝔱 | ✧ 𝔫𝔵𝔱. 𝔠𝔥𝔞𝔭𝔱𝔢𝔯
𝑭𝑬𝑨𝑻𝑼𝑹𝑰𝑵𝑮 | neteyam te suli tsyeyk'itan
𝑺𝒀𝑵𝑶𝑷𝑺𝑰𝑺 | in which the sully kids find uturu amongst the sarentu.
𝑪𝑶𝑵𝑻𝑬𝑵𝑻 | mentions of past near death, y/n being possessive and in love already, neteyam liking the energy shes putting down lmfao… violence and death, mention of past torture, explict language (I lowkey suck at these help)
𝑵𝑶𝑻𝑬𝑺 | another chapter, a lil shorter than i wanted, but again im currently on holiday and even tho i am chilling. I really wanted to write more for this 🙂↕️ anyway!! hope you will enjoy this new chapter, much much love for all the support.
“You are Sarentu yes? I thought your clan was gone, at least that’s what everyone says”
It is Kiri who breaks the peaceful silence between the group. Everyone situated in the common area, sat on the grounds as the Sully’s inhaled the food offered to them with vigour.
Your own mouth is stuffed full, having lasted the last few days on RDA rations. Easy and weirdly comforting, but nothing was ever as tasty and filling as home cooked na’vi food.
You look to Ri’nela who shakes her head at your state before speaking for you. Teylan looks around at the group, slighlty nervous before going back to fiddling with one of his many mini projects.
“No the stories you heard are correct. Our clan is gone. And we are the last, that we know of at least. I think we secretly hope there are more of us”
Look to your sister with soft eyes, ears pulled back at her words. You never realised she held out hope of their being more of you. You unlike some of the others had come to accept that your clan was gone.
“Amazing…how? I mean how did you go undetected for so long”
You decide to step in this time, already seeing how Kiri’s question had upset Teylan who had frozen from his fidgeting.
And Ri’nela whose tail had curled itself around her leg, ears flicking as though she as trying to figure out what to say.
“A story for another time? I see little Tuk has worn herself out” your head tilts playfully to the youngest Sully who has indeed tuckered herself out, head resting on Neteyams lap, chin messy with food as she lets out little snuffles.
Neteyam looks down at his little sister with a soft smile, wetting his thumb before cleaning up her face. Stifling his own laugh as she tries to push him away her own body betraying her before she falls limp in his lap.
You watch this all with a small grin, tail whipping around. You can’t help it, everything about him was so sweet. It was enough to make you sick, enough to have you wanting to face an entire army of the RDA than deal with why your heart beats a thousand miles.
“Come, I know where you can stay the night before we fix you a proper place” you stand up, ruffling Teylans hair and squeezing Ri’nelas shoulder.
You wait until everyone is following, dropping your masks made just for you and the other Na’vi in the basket before stepping back out into Pandora.
You take in a deep breath, inhaling the fresh air, eyes closed as you enjoy the feel of the wind against your face. The sounds of the forest, living and breathing. A connection of life that thrums all around.
“There is a little cave area down here. It will be suitable for one night” you beckon them to follow, looking back as Spider makes a sound of awe, pulling Kiri over so they could admire the glowing flowers that seemed to curl themselves around her fingers.
You turn to face Neteyam, who stands without Tuk in his arms. You glance a quick look to your other side to see Lo’ak with his sister in his arms before you look back to Neteyam.
“I think you already said that” you tease as you walk into the entrance of the cave, the walls decorated with murals done by Nor.
“Well I am. Grateful that is. And not just for granting us uturu. But also for saving my family when I couldn’t protect them…I don’t know what I would’ve done if something happened to them”
You watch with sad eyes as he rubs at his chest thoughtlessly, the same area where you had spied the unique scar of a bullet. One precariously close to his heart.
You can’t help yourself when you step closer, body moving before any rational thought can stop you. Your hand hovering over his chest, eyes tracing the scar.
You feel an overwhelming sense of sadness. A sense of anger that you know you don’t have any right to claim. But the idea, the mere thought of knowing you could’ve lost him before ever meeting him.
It fills you with such pain. One you’ve only ever felt once in your life.
Neteyam doesn’t stop you, his own body still as your hands slowly reach to his chest, the very tip of your fingers slowly tracing the scar.
“How” is all that can leave your mouth, unaware how your tail has curled itself around his ankle, your ears drooping.
“Sky people. They had my family. Had Spider. I couldn’t leave him behind”
You slowly pull away, looking up at Neteyam who was already staring at you just as intently.
Of course it was sky-people. Of course it was humans who had almost taken him away. Away from his family…away from you.
You can’t explain it. Can barely understand this sense of possessiveness that falls over you. The fire that burns under your skin to kill those who harmed him, to rip their hearts from their body. To show them even a modicum amount of pain that he went through. What his family would’ve went through.
The protectiveness is enough to startle you from your thoughts, cheeks flushed as you turn your back to him after realising how close you had gotten. Turning around to kneel as you work on getting a fire started.
“I’m glad to see you lived. You are indeed a strong warrior”
Neteyam looks at your back facing him, eyes studying the way your tail flicks about with a sense of nerves. He can relate, he could barely breathe when you touched him. When he felt your hands trace the scar that he wore as a reminder.
A reminder of how close he came to losing everything. Even now, he can barely fathom that he lived. Remembered the blurs of his family hovering over him, he remembers their cries, their hands on his body. He remembers the light that enveloped him, the fear that he would be embraced by Eywa before he was ready.
The sight of Lo’ak’s face screwed up, snot and tears as he blubbered into his shoulders was the most beautiful thing he had seen.
He had lived. Shot by demons and risen from the ashes they left behind. It was not his turn to sleep. Not yet.
Neteyam could not understand this need to be seen by you. To be touched. He had just met you for gods sake, and yet.
The way you had so reverently touched him, hands so soft and careful. It thrilled him, made his heart beat out of his ears as he watched you. Internally begging for you to move closer, to hold him tighter.
“You so want her” Lo’aks’ voice whispered is his ear, far too close as he jerked from his brother and his annoyingly smug smile.
“You cannot talk little bro, don’t think I forgot the heart eyes your skxawng ass sent Tyseria” Neteyam bares his fangs, tugging on Lo’aks tail and moving out of his way before he could retaliate.
You could hear the brothers play fighting behind you, it being enough of a distraction for you to calm yourself, to stop the flush that wouldn’t seem to leave your face.
You didn’t want to call it love. That was…not right. Not yet at least. But you know you had something that was far more than a silly crush.
Seeing Neteyam. Meeting him for the first time was almost akin to connecting with Eywa. Like it was something you had known you’d been missing all your and it wasn’t until meeting him made you realise you had lost something in the first place.
Something precious and dangerous. Enough to make you feel like some newborn on its legs for the first time. It was scary.
So unbelievably scary…but you were exhilarated. You yearned to understand what it was, why it was Neteyam that awoke this in you. You would conquer this feeling, just like you did with everything else.
And perhaps at the end of it. You would have someone to walk this world with you. Maybe.
“We have mats tucked over in that basket, along with a few rations in case you get hungry through the night” you stand up and away from the growing fire, pointing to the woven baskets that held all the Sullys would need for the night.
“If you need anything just come into HQ, I assure you that most of the people inside will be awake. They never seem to sleep”
Neteyam steps forward, you hold back the amusement as you spy Lo’ak in the back with a red mark on his face and what looks oddly like a bite mark. A small glance at the wide awake and angry Tuk speaks for itself.
“Thank you _. Really, I know I’ve already said this. But I don’t know where I. We, would be without you”
You shrug your shoulders, bashful in way you always were when people offered such sincere thanks.
Neteyam shakes his head, stepping in your space, so close that his scent fills your nose. You barely catch yourself from falling into him.
His hand comes up to rest against your shoulder, your body lighting up at his touch. Unaware of how your tanhì seems to glow ever brighter in his presence.
“Don’t do that. It wasn’t nothing. I’m in your debt. Forever”
Neteyams eyes bore into you, his face serious as he keeps your attention on nothing else but him. Those golden eyes seem even more beautiful under the night sky, glowing as though someone had poured the sun into them.
He was so fucking beautiful.
You couldn’t look away, the urge to fall ever deep into him was clawing at you.
A loud, hacking cough as you snapping away from the alluring eyes, stepping back when you realised how close you were to him. Again.
You turn to where the Sullys’ and Spider have lined themselves up, staring at the two of you in varying stages of amusement. Kiri stares at you like she knows something, eyes thoughtful.
Lo’ak and Spider haven’t stopped nudging each other, whispering as they point between the two of you with mischievous grins, looking like a pair of prolemuris.
You step away from Neteyam, despite how its the last thing you want to do.
“I should uh. I should go. Goodnight”
Neteyam steps forward as you leave, his hand twitching with the need to grab onto you. Only stopping as he comes to realise what he was doing.
He, unfortunately, had no hold over you. No right to keep you back. As much as he’d like to. As much as he wanted to.
Neteyam steps to the entrance, watching as you let out a few yips and trills, your ikran bursting through the trees only seconds after. Nimun coming to a stop and waiting for you to mount her.
He holds his breath when you look back, the shade of your eyes gleaming under the moonlight. He lifts a hand to wave good, a lopsided smile on his lips when you smirk back at him before flying away with a flourish.
Your head tilts as you watch your arrow fly into the heart of the last RDA soldier, his eyes connected with you eyes, loud gurgled gasps leaving his lips as his wands wave out in front of him. As though he was trying to grasp onto something.
You stalk towards him, footsteps silent before you crouch in front of the man, life ready to leave his eyes.
“You know. I met a boy. I think you humans would call it love at first sight. But I think for me it goes a little deeper than that. It’s more than just love. I’ve known him no more than I know you…yet I feel like half my soul has been found. The connection I feel to him is something I’ve only ever felt with Eywa”
You drop your bow to the ground, sighing as you lay in the polluted grass. The rasped gurgles slowing down with every second.
“He was shot once. By your kind. He almost died. The bullet almost touched his heart…much like you with my arrow. Only this time I did not miss”
You turn your head, eyes meeting the now dead ones of the man. Your fingers are slow as they reach for his dog tag, ripping it so you can read his name.
CORPORAL. LEONARDO WRENUSKI
“May your god show you more mercy than I did”
You stand from your spot, dropping his tags before leaving behind your trail of destruction. It would not be long before Eywa would heal this pocket of pollution.
Nimun sits obediently by the river where you left her, your ikran letting out low concentrated trills as she follows the fish in the water.
You giggle as she snaps her jaws and lets a snarl as she fails to get a fish.
“Mawey my sweet girl, come I have your favourite caronis eggs” laughing as she flaps about before turning to you waiting as you reach into the pocket of your saddle and pull out her food.
You pet her softly, fingers brushing under her chin as she downs the food, tail flickering happily as she lets out a trill. Her head dropping as she pushes into your stomach.
“Come. I promised that I would show them around, help them build a new place to stay”
As you mount Nimun and fly to the skies, your heart raves at the idea of seeing Neteyam again. Perhaps you could ask if he’d like to hunting with you.
Even just flying your ikrans together sounded just as wonderful.
Neteyam had woken to the morning lights to Tuk crying into his shoulders, her body shaking as grip tightened. Unwillingly to let go no matter how much he tried to pull her away so he could speak with her.
“Tuk, what’s wrong?” Soothing her shaking cries, looking around to see the everyone else was still sleeping.
Sighing, he stands up and walks out of the cave, walking past a few humans who were awake, nodding at them politely as they waved at him.
He continues to walk until he reaches the stream, carefully sitting on the ground and manoeuvring Tuk around until she was comfortable.
“Now tell me what’s wrong lil sis. I can’t help you if you don’t tel me”
Tuk sniffles one last time, her red teary eyes staring up at him. Lips wobbling as she finally speaks.
“I miss mum and dad!” Her words causing her to break out in sobs again, shoving his face into his chest.
Neteyam freezes at her words, hands shaking as he slowly pets her head, trying to calm her down again. His own heart aching at her words, trying so hard as to not think about the abscence of his parents.
He had no idea if they were dead. If they were alive. But when all had fallen, when they didn’t come back. He did the only thing he knew how to do. Protect his family. Packing away the fear, the sadness and anger as he got them to safety.
He needed them alive. But for now, he needed to look after his crying sister. The youngest, the sweetest little girl in this family.
“I miss them too Tuk. So, so much” his voice cracks, eyes shutting for a second as he tries to control himself. Can’t let Tuk see him this way.
“But our parents? They are Eywa’s mightiest warriors. I know that they will do everything possible in their powers to come back to us. For now, we just wait here ok?”
And he did. He believed that they would find them. That the Sully’s would be reunited.
“Okay. Don’t tell Lo’ak or Kiri but you’re my favourite” Neteyam grins, leaning down to kiss her forehead before holding her tight.
All he wants is to keep this family together and protected. Keep them happy.
A shadow passing over them has him looking up, an unwillingly smile grows on his lips when he notices that it’s you.
The awe and excitement of seeing you fades when he notices the blood on your skin, the deep crimson a harsh contrast against your skin.
“_!? Are you ok” He stands, placing Tuk carefully on the ground as he rushes over to you, his eyes roving over your body as he tries to see where the bleeding has stemmed from.
“Huh?” She looks down at her chest, the splatter of blood, whose she wasn’t entire sure it belonged to. Only that it wasn’t her own.
“Sorry, sorry. I didn’t realise I had any on me. Don’t worry, it’s not mine” Neteyams hands hover of her, unsure what to do before finally dragging them back down to rest against his sides.
Curiosity building in him as he takes a look at your ikran and your saddle, notes the quiver of your arrows near empty.
“An RDA outpost, they were mining not far from hometree. One of the newer ones that have popped up”
Neteyam can’t help the way his mouth drops and eyes widen at your words.
You look up from where you had been focused on cleaning the drying blood from your body, taking in the way Neteyam is staring at you like you just told him you were secretly a human.
You try to contain your smirk, knowing that if So’lek was here he’d have pulled at your ear for the smug attitude. But you can’t help it, not when he looks at you this way.
Your body flushing with heat at the intensity of his stare. An almost…reverence as he looks over you.
“Well. It’s like you said, I am a mighty warrior”
He scoffs out a laugh, shaking his head as he walks closer. Only a hair breath of space between you two as he looks you up and down.
The sight of blood splashed against you is a sight that fills him with protectiveness and at the same time…he feels entranced by the sight.
“Mighty warrior or not. I’d rather not have the one person rooting for us around here to die suddenly. Take me with you next time”
You sxkawng what the hell are you even saying.
He curses himself, ready to backtrack and ask you to ignore what he said.
Your eyes shine with amusement, stepping even closer, your scent curling around him. Hypnotising him as he stares into your eyes.
“Next time I go hunting you will join me. Be my little…bodyguard”
You walk past him, tail brushing against his chest before you turn to walk backwards, a sly grin on your face.
“Later. For now we shall eat. And then we will set up a marui for you and your family”
Neteyam can’t stop the smile nor the laugh as you turn your back to him and walk backwards to HQ.
“Lo’ak was right. You are tail-whipped”
Neteyam rolls his eyes at Tuk, rushing forward to pick her up and throwing her over his shoulder, one hand holding her tight whilst his free one tickles her side.
The lightness in his chest, the sound of laughter in his ears. It’s that moment of peace that he needs, a little break from the weight of the world.
The marui was one that was originally created for yourself.
But you had found somewhere else, further from the base. Closer to hometree and up high in the mountains. It was perfect place for you to unwind after long hours of fighting the RDA, of running around doing odd missions and requests.
And as much as you loved your family. It was also nice play to hide away from them.
It isn’t much of a walk from HQ to the Sully’s new marui, the group trailing behind you as they admired their new surroundings properly for the first time.
The Western Frontiers was undoubtedly beautiful. For you, you had never known anything else. It was a home, a comfort to fall into with opens arms. A welcoming forest that recognised you, finally, as one of its own.
As though it knew what you were doing for it everyday. Understood the blood you spilled in its name.
You spare another glance behind, happiness oozing from you as you watched the awe on their faces.
Espeically how Kiri would reach out a hand, fingers drifting over each flora and fauna, the forest life following after her, leaning over her like a protective shield. A content look on her face.
“So hunting?” Neteyams voice, deep and alluring has you turning to the eldest who has moved from walking behind you, to right next to you.
“Eager are we?” You tease, stepping over a root, eyes watching to make sure he follows in your steps, humming when he doesn’t trip over himself.
“Only to serve as the most dutiful and best bodyguard you’ve ever had” his words come out low and teasing, tail curling far too close to your own.
“Guess I’ll have to see how you measure up. Fkew tsamsiyu”
The two of walk together, fingers brushing against each other, tails curling ever so slightly. His touch against your skin lights an eternal fire in you.
You spare another glance to Neteyam, unsurprised yet shy about the fact he’s already staring at you with those gleaming aureate eyes.
You smile to yourself, ears flicking before looking away. Thankful when you spot the abandoned marui.
It already was a home just a few things that needed some fixing to make it perfect. The steps a little wobbly that would need some tightening and resin to keep them together.
The roof had a hole, one the shape of a body. Your back ached when you had fallen off Nimun and through the woven pieces. You did not like dwelling on it, despite the relentless teasing you received from So’lek.
“You will need your own cooking station, small enough for when you’d like to make your own food. The steps need tightening and the roof needs to be patched. Other than some bedding and perhaps new clothes for you, this marui will serve you well for everything you else you need”
You turn to face the Sully’s. The smile on your face dying when you take note of their despondent expressions, you look to Neteyam for help, but find he also has a similar one on his face. Hands curled into fists, ears pinned back.
“I…I’m sorry if it’s not exactly what you pictured”
It’s Kiri who speaks for you, her eyes glassy as she steps forward. Hand resting upon your shoulder.
“No, thank you _. It is beautiful. It brings comfort for us as it reminds us so much of our own home. And with that we also are sad. We miss our clan, our friends…and most of all our parents”
“Oh! I’m so sorry. Of course, I should’ve realised” Your hand comes to rest upon Kiri’s hand, squeezing all four fingers of her.
You think of what to say, of something to comfort them in this time of loss and uncertainty. But you were no Tsahìk, gentle words did come to as naturally as they did your sister.
You were the warrior of your clan, the one who poisoned herself by picking up the demon weapons. You had heard the whispers of how Sarentu would need an Olo’eykte, the eyes that followed you.
But you could relate. The loss of a home, doesn’t matter if you had be taken and they had been forced to leave. It was all the same to you.
You look at this small family of brothers and sisters. Even Spider in all his humanness was one of them. You moved over each of them before your eyes land on one who you had been expecting to see.
Mournful as they stare at you, his head tilted and ears pulled back. Your own heart clenches at the pain, and you can’t help the way you reach out to him.
Your fingers curling around his wrist and pulling him closer to you, tail curling around his as you move to hold his hand. The touch of his skin against yours was like breathing life into you.
“I’m Sarentu. I don’t remember my clan, my people. I don’t remember my mother. So I understand, this fear. This loss of who you are” You pause as your throat grows tight, that warmth holding your hand the only thing keeping the tears that threaten to break through back.
“I don’t know the fate of your parents. I wouldn’t lie and say that everything is okay. But I know, that no matter what. A family? A home? It’s more than just a place”
You think of your siblings. Of how strong Ri’nela was becoming, of how Teylan was slowly opening up in the presence of others. Even Nor who had slowly begun bonding with So’lek.
You think of the resistance members, how they grown to be another family. And of course there was So’lek. Your mentor, the one who guided you when you were so angry and lost.
“It’s the people around you. The ones that are strong when you are weak, that will wipe your tears away, that will love and protect you no matter what. They are the ones who make up a family”
And although your words are for everyone, your eyes. Yet again meet his. Your words spoken just for him.
“Strong heart. That is what I see”
That is all Neteyam hears before a hand wraps around his wrist and pulls him away from where he had been leaning against the trees, eyes watching the unfamiliar forest around him.
If it was anyone else he knows he’d have stopped, dug his feet into the ground and glared at them until they let him go.
But your scent was embedded into his nose, your touch the only one to light him up in a way he’d never felt.
“_? Are we hunting? I left behind my bow and arrows”
You stop pulling him, turning around to face him but never letting go of his hand. Not that he wanted you too.
“No. We are going to fly” your eyes shine as you let out a yip and a few low clicks. One associated with you calling for Nimun. He’s proved right when a screech and shadow flies over him.
He squints his eyes shut when the whipping of her wings almost send him back. But you’ve moved closer, hand tighter around him as you walked towards your usually talkative ikran.
“Hi sweet girl, what’s gotten into you huh?” You use your free hand to pet her head, fingers scritching under his chin.
Your answer to her annoyance reveals itself. Another shadow, another squawk and less extreme gust of wind. You snicker when you see Telisi drop behind Nimun, bare glancing at Neteyam as she shuffles her way into your ikrans space.
You step back, your back against the warm and toned chest.
“You know, I think your Telisi might become heartbroken. Nimun hates her”
True to your word as Telisi tries to cuddle up on the side she is met with aggressive bites. Nimun huffing and turning her back to her fellow ikran.
“Nah, she’s just playing hard to get. She’ll fall in love with her eventually” the words spoken to your ear, low and decantant. Enough for goosebumps to raise along your flesh, ears flicking back.
You slowly turn around, your eyes faced at first with an azure skin. Your eyes catching the that bullet scar before travelling up past the broad shoulders, the stretched out neck, full lips and finally those golden eyes.
“You speak from experience”
His head tilts again, a dangerous smile on his lips.
“We are bonded. I know her just as she knows me”
You don’t know what to say. You never do when you’re standing in front of him. It’s like every function in your brain just shuts down in his prescene.
And from the way his are speckled with amusement, he knows the effect he has on. And he loves it. Just as much as you love it.
“Well. Perhaps we put this bond to the test”
You twist of his range, skipping your way to Nimun as you gently throw yourself on her back. Settling into your saddle and connecting your kuru with hers. The feeling akin to coming home.
“I’ll race you forest boy”
Neteyam can only scoff as you get a head start, flying past him. The sound of Telisi squawking at him, wings shaking as she tries to get him to hurry along. Too much of a distance between herself and Nimun.
He could, unfortunately relate.
He flies after your figure in the sky, sees how you wait until he’s close enough before taking off again. A scoff leaving his lips as he takes chase, eyes wide and heart pounding with exhilaration.
The world blends into each other, your yips and trills, the twisting of your body as you fly over him. Your hand reaching out to brush against his own before you fall back to earth.
His heart aches and shakes when you finally stabilise yourself. But as he flies closer he can see the rush of lilac on your cheeks, the way your head falls back and the smile. So bright and so, so beautiful.
He chases after you, his hand coming close to your body, fingers just grazing you. Just giving him enough to hold on, enough to leave him wanting more.
The world bleeds into one.
It is no longer the forest and reef that he has become so accustomed to.
No his world consists of one person in particular. The wild look in her eyes, the way she unashamedly touches him. Her spirit, her soul. Even the single strand of her hair.
“Come! I want to show you my favourite space. My first connection with Eywa”
Neteyam grins, before following close behind. His heart still racing from your dance. The way you see freely trusted not just your ikran, but also him.
It chewed at his heart and burned his lungs.
And as his eyes fall on the curve of your back, at the scars that line your body, your cascading hair. You have him trapped in a grip.
He doesn’t bother trying to break free. He is exactly where he wants to be.
“I don’t remember anything about my clan. I hear stories about them, of what we used to be. I see the way some of the elders look at me like they’re expecting some who isn’t me”
The world has quietened, only the two of you on this mountain next to the tarsyu plant. The glow of its stamen illuminating your face, one that is lost in the past.
Desperately he wants to reach out and hold your hand. To ground you as you shift through what seem to be painful memories.
“The only world I ever knew was the metal box, the concrete floors and the cold walls. Ri’nela and Nor, they remember life outside Pandora, glimpses but more than I or Teylan ever did”
Neteyam watches as you pull out your songcord, fingers slowly tracing each bead and cord. Each one a moment so important in your life, each one he would love to hear the story behind. Even one day be part of.
“You were taken? Did they ever tell you why?”
The hatred that he holds for these particular humans is enough to almost scare him. But he can’t help it, the idea of never meeting you, of knowing you could’ve stayed trapped under their thumbs.
“The Ambassador Program or TAP. That’s why we were taken. Mercer wanted Na’vi that could act as convoys, make it easier for other Na’vi to trust the humans. But it was always something more to Mercer. It’s like we were these toys for him. He wanted full obedience from us. He had this idea of what he wanted and none of us fit it. Too blue, too big. Too Na’vi for him”
A dark look comes over your face, hands gripping the songcord so tight he fears that it would break under your hands.
“Harding she was also in charge of us, the loyal laptop and she was a bitch. She didn’t care about what the program was for, she was given the opportunity to abuse her power. To be control of the ‘dumb savages’. The things she would do to us”
You pause for a moment, eyes lost in the haze of the past. Neteyam inches closer, letting his leg pressed against yours.
“She’d broken Teylans hand for not holding the gun properly. She would waterboard Nor when he fought back against her. Ri’nela would be locked in a tiny box for not wanting to pick up a gun”
“And you?” His question comes out strangled, hanging on by a thread from losing control. From hunting down these demons in your name.
“Let’s just say that I was a test subject when they wanted to test the limits of our kuru”
His eyes snap to where your Kuru lays, untouched and unharmed. You may not have gone into detail, but he knew exactly what you meant.
The fact that you are here and alive keeps him calm. Your life proof that you had lived through such a plethora of suffering. Coming out the end of the abuse as the strongest person he knew.
It did not stop him imagining them dying by his blade.
“But Mercer. He is the one I want dead the most. I want his bleeding, beating heart in my chest. To watch the life leave his eyes. It would be penance for all he’d done. It would never be enough. But it’s the least he deserves”
Your words come out through gritted teeth, a hiss leaving with every word. But it’s the shine of your eyes that make him move even closer.
“I had a sister. A beauitful older sister. She was powerful with the strongest heart. The mightest warrior I had ever known, and it’s what got her killed”
Neteyam isn’t ready for you to look at him. And his body this time moves for him, reaching out and grabbing your hand, holding you to him as tears fall down your cheeks.
“She was shot. Her back to Mercer as walked her way to freedom. Her final act of defiance to the weak-willed coward”
Your voice breaks and he pulls you in before he can stop himself. Holding you against his chest as you cry into his shoulders, his hands coming up to brush back your hair, speaking soft nothingness into your ears.
“Fìtseng for nga my tìyawn. Rä'ä sngum”
The world comes back to him slowly. Memories hazed of fire, ash and death. His mouth is dry, body aching as he tries to sit up. Only stopping when his body screams in protest, his tail lashing in pain before he falls back to the ground.
“Ma’jake” the words said with breathless relief.
It’s enough for him to open his eyes, wincing at the bright lights. Shutting them once more before opening them again, adjusting to the bright lights.
Jake groans as he looks around, white walls, white floors. So achingly familiar to the medical walls he was used to on Earth.
“Jake, look at me please”
Finally does the world come back to him, the aches in body, the iron in his mouth. The cold chains around his wrists.
His eyes snap open, darting around before they fall upon Neytiri, tears streaming down her cheeks before she lets out a gasp of relief, words of prayer leaving her mouth.
“Oh great mother, thank you. Thank you”
It hits him all at once. The war. The Sky-people. Varang and Quaritch. He had lost hope, he was ready to die under their hands. No more strength in his body anymore.
Eywa had heard them. For a second time she had come to save her people.
He remembers searching from the children, looking for Neteyam or Lo’ak. Screaming himself horse for his children until he remembers his mates words.
One said in desperation and fear. To never let their children be taken away, to be used as a bargain chip. They would never alllow harm to befall their children.
But then Quaritch was in his ears again. And instead of his children, he had his wife under his blade.
And then he was stuck in that red haze, moving on pure instinct. The same ones screaming at him to protect, save and kill.
It only dissipated when he was standing over Quaritch, the man just as beaten and bruised as him. Those eyes staring him down before the man grinned.
The last thing Jake heard before the man fell into the fire. His body lurching forward as though to reach the other and stop him. But he was gone, slipped through his hands and into the fire.
He remembers finding Neytiri, just as battered by alive as him. The promise of finding the kids. And then…
“Where are we baby?” He ask Neytiri, in hopes she knows. She had been awake longer, maybe she had seen something.
She shakes her head, body slumped against the walls, her body just as chained up as him.
“Darkness and a heavy sleep. Demons were above us but I couldn’t fight back. And before I knew they had taken us here. They said nothing as they locked us away”
Jake growled, slowly sitting up so he could rest against the wall. Movement slow and body aching.
Neytiri shakes her head, eyes filled back up with tears as she speaks, voice shaking.
“Nothing. I have heard nothing and with that” she stops to take a breath, and Jake wants nothing more than to hold her against him. To carry her burden and pain.
“I have to pray. And hope that Eywa is protecting them. That they are safe and far, far away from these demons”
Their heads snap up as the voice speaks out into the room.
Jake looks around for the speaker, finding none, his hackles raised as he hisses at the room.
“Put the fangs and claws away Sully. We know you’re not a real Na’vi. No matter how much you play dress up or kids you pop out. You’ll always be the human who betrayed humanity”
“Where the hell are we! And who are you”
“You can call me John Mercer. And whilst I could give less than a fuck about you and your savage wife. Your children have find themselves in the care of some very important people”
He looks to Neytiri who is already pulling on her chains, tail lashing as she growls, eyes blazed with that familiar anger he knew so well.
“Where are my children demon! Answer me or I will put an arrow deep into your eye”
“For fuck sake what is it with you Na’vi. First it was the Sarentu, could never just listen. Obey. And now you? Look at yourself. You need a strong hand to lead. You need humans”
The man scoffs, mumbling something below his breath before he lets out a loud sigh.
“Nevermind. All you need to know is that your children have someone I want. And I am going to do everything in my power to get her back”
𝑬𝑵𝑫 𝑵𝑶𝑻𝑬𝑺 | y/n being a little freak, we love it lowkey. And omg Jake and Neytiri are alive…who would’ve ever thought 🫣. Also…listen I know i said i was only going to write like max 7 parts. But i feel like that wont be enough…so I’m gonna stick it to a max 10 parts and that is it. Again, i didn’t want to make this into a long series, just a mini one. Anyway!! Thank you for reading and hopefully I will be able to post again soon 🖤 lmk if i missed your request to be added to the tag list, i tired to make sure i got everyone <3
OH YEAH. So i forgot, kinda. Even tho i touched upon it lightly i think in the previous notes. But the timeline for afaa and afop is kinda…messy. So we will pretend that Mercer is still alive, the Sarentu haven’t found out the truth behind their clans disappearance. Bombing on HQ hasn’t happened and the Mangkwan have not arrived! Sort of just imagine it pre-Mercer party but set during the 3rd movie timeline <3
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