Shy | Tarsem
Word count: 2.2k
Pairing: Tarsem x Sully!reader, Jake Sully and oldest daughter!reader
Description: Jake Sully uses his skills as Olo'eyktan to play matchmaker for his eldest daughter.
Based on this request and these suggestions.
Content Warnings: None? Jake is maybe just a hair out of character. I think he would probably be more protective realistically.
Author's note: This takes place in a AU where the humans never came back to Pandora and the Sully's stayed with the Omatikaya. I have been wanting to write for Tarsem for a minute, so this was so exciting for me!! (Why are there no pictures of him at all!! Like nothing! I know he had only a few scenes, but I need more).
Playlist: Man I Need by Olivia Dean
“Come on, grab your gear, we're going fishing,” Your dad said, clasping his hand on your shoulder as he passed by you. Your mom and Neteyam’s heads shot up at the words, as did yours.
“Fishing?” you asked, “We already have dinner.” He grabbed his spear and waited at the door as you lagged behind, confused.
“Just get your stuff, babygirl,” he sighed, but a slight smile still played on his lips.
“Can I come?” Neteyam asked, forehead wrinkled in question and Jake’s smile wavered at disappointing his son.
“There’s something we need to discuss. Sorry ‘Teyam. Next time,” he answered.
“Uh oh… you are in trouble big sis,” Neteyam teased, turning to you. Externally, you rolled your eyes, but internally your stomach dropped. Even at 18 years old, you still felt like a child being scolded whenever your parents asked to talk to you.
You grabbed your spear and a basket and followed your father outside.
“What is it?” you asked, anxiety gnawing on your gut as he led the way to the river, passing the other families as you walked through the village.
“You’ll find out when we get there,” he replied, shaking his head at your impatience.
Your gut dropped even further when you saw him. Tarsem. Your father’s protege and your nearly life long crush.
He was sitting outside his kelku (home) with his elbows resting on his knees as he braided delicate beads onto his songchord. His little sister played at his feet and made little ikran sounds as she flew a wooden toy around. His mind looked preoccupied as he reached for more beads on the bench beside him.
“Kaltxì Tarsem (Hello Tarsem),” your dad’s voice broke Tarsem’s trance and made you avert your eyes as he looked up. Your dad’s back stopped in front of you to talk to the young warrior.
“Olo’eyktan,” Tarsem said respectfully, standing up and putting his songchord down hastily on the bench. “Oel ngati kameie (I see you),” he greeted your father, signaling the traditional hand gesture to match.
“Oel ngati kameie,” Jake responded.“Kaltxì, little Se’val,” Jake added, saying hello to Tarsem’s little sister. The second his attention was diverted, Tarsem’s gaze slid to yours and you smiled bashfully, feeling like the little girl who first realized Tarsem was growing up to be kinda cute all those years ago.
“Oel ngati kameie, y/n,” Tarsem greeted you as well, his tail snaking around his knee. His eyes locked to yours so intensely it almost made you want to scream.
“Tarsem, Oel ngati kameie” you nodded, meaning the words with all of your heart. He smiled slightly, the corners of his lips curling up a fraction and it made your heart jump.
“How did the hunting party do?” your dad asked Tarsem and he tore his eyes away from you. It felt like a sudden influx of air hit your lungs.
“Good, sir. Three talioang from the East and several yerik from the North as well,” Tarsem explained, recounting the previous day’s spoils as you turned your attention to the little girl still playing on the ground. You crouched beside her, already familiar with her quirky attitude and kind heart.
“Hello Se’val, what is Yipip up to today?” you asked, referring to the purple ikran in her hands.
“He is flying to his home up in the mountains. He has been out hunting all day like Tarsem,” she said, weaving the toy through the air and making it do a loop. You tamped down a laugh as she squawked like an ikran.
“Wow, he must be tired then, that is a lot of work,” you pointed out and she nodded.
“He is very sleepy, he needs to go to bed,” she affirmed.
“Tarsem,” you heard your dad bark. You looked up to catch the young man already staring at you as you spoke with his little sister. His face flamed purple as his head shot to Jake. “Sorry sir, what did you say?”
Your dad’s eyebrows and ears were lowered as he scoffed. “Where’s your head at? I said I need your help with the ritual tomorrow night. Kalu is doing her dreamhunt,” Jake repeated and you stood up, Se’val was in her own world anyway.
“Right, I will be there,” he nodded, avoiding eye contact with you now as if it would burn him.
“Okay…” your dad sighed, “We better be off then. You two have a good night, get some sleep.”
“Tsìltsan txon (good night),” Tarsem said, eyes finally glancing over to you and there went all the air again.
“Tsìltsan txon, Tarsem, Se’val.” you repeated, gut twisting as you tore your gaze away from his and turned your back on the two.
“Bye!” Se’val called, hand waving as her eyes still stayed locked on her game.
Your dad waved back and you turned around to wave as well only to see Tarsem’s eyes on you again. You were like a magnet drawn to him, you could not escape his eyes. Your body whirled back around to follow your dad and you tried to ignore the embarrassment and hope rising in you.
-
“So, what was that?” Your dad asked, his gaze stuck on the water in front of him, but his words were directed at you. You stood side to side in the stream, water up to your knees as you watched carefully for any fish.
Your stomach dropped, “What was what?” you asked, feigning confusion. You were a bad liar, your voice was far too pitchy for someone supposedly innocent and Jake didn't believe it for a second.
“Come on, that back there with Tarsem,” Jake prodded further.
“I don't know what you mean,” you lied. Sirens went off in your head, this was a conversation you did not want to have with your dad.
“You think I don't know my babygirl? I see the way you look at him,” He said and your cheeks flamed.
“Sempu! Is it that obvious?” you asked, hand coming up to put pressure on your temple. This was giving you a stress induced headache.
“Only because he’s looking right back,” he snorted and you closed your eyes in embarrassment. Your ears flattened at the threatened feeling taking over your senses.
“Do you like him?” he asked, finally turning to level his eyes at you, wanting to read your reaction.
You sighed, “This is not something a girl wants to talk about with her dad,” you ground out, shooting him a glare.
“Well I’m not just any dad, I’m Olo’eyktan, so you have to tell me. Do you like him?” he teased and you huffed out a laugh at his persistence.
“Yes, Sempu. I like him, I have liked him for many years.” you admitted, your hand gripping tightly to your spear.
Jake hummed, “Ah, now we get into it. He obviously likes you, why has no one made a move?” he asked, a soft smile gracing his lips.
“Because we are duty bound and shy,” you gritted out.
Jake barked out a laugh, somewhat surprised that you had an actual, honest answer. “Well, that will do it. You should talk to him, tell him how you feel,” he suggested.
It was your turn to scoff, “Yeah right, what if he does not like me back? No, I would rather not know,” you said, embarrassment already clouding your mind of just thinking about that.
“If he doesn't like you back then he’s an idiot and I’ll tan his hide into a new cumberbund,” your dad said stoically and you rolled your eyes at his dramatics.
“Be serious, Sempu,” you chided.
“I am, babygirl! Who wouldn't like you? It’s obvious he does,” your dad said softly, placing a hand on your shoulder.
“I guess I’m just scared. I don't want to have misread him,” you explained, shoulders slumping at the defeated feeling in your gut.
“You’ll never know until you talk to him about it,” he reminded you and you nodded.
“Yeah, I’ll think about it,” you agreed, but you and he both knew that when it came to matters of the heart, you’d never scrounge up the courage unless an opportunity forced you to.
“He’s a good man. No one deserves you and I wouldn’t go that far to say he does, but if someone was to come close, it would be him,” Jake said, looking at his little girl with adoring eyes.
“Thank you, sempu,” you smiled, despite the shame still plastered to your face.
“You know, I could always set up an arranged marriage between you. He'd have to like you then,” he shrugged and you could tell he was joking, or at least you hoped he was.
“That would be just perfect! Why did I not think of that?” You said sarcastically, rolling your eyes as Jake laughed.
“Good, I’ll make it happen,” he teased back.
You sighed looking back down at the water, “We were never gonna do any fishing were we?” you asked as a Pekavol fish finally swam past you and neither of you moved.
“Nope.”
“Figures.”
-
You sat in the grass the next day near the cliffs edge, picking apart blades of grass and staring out into the sky, watching as ikrans dipped and veered. You had been lost in thought all day, so much in fact, that your mother had sent you away after you dropped one too many items and Lo’ak lost it laughing at you.
Your mind was on your conversation with your dad yesterday. Well, that and Tarsem, always Tarsem. He had occupied every waking thought in your mind and it was driving you crazy.
“I’m so sorry!” the very subject of your thoughts exclaimed, bursting through the tree line and scaring half the wits out of you. “I’m so sorry I’m late. I didn't know,” The words rushed out of him like a river as you gaped at him with wide eyes.
You had shot up to your feet when he emerged. “What are you talking about?” you demanded in shock.
Tarsem’s eyes narrowed, “Your dad said you were waiting for me.”
“I wasn't waiting for you, I was just… Oh. Oh no.” you stopped suddenly, eyes widening.
“What?” he panicked, stepping closer to you.
Your shoulders slumped as realization hit you, “He set us up,” you confessed, and Tarsem’s face opened into one of confusion instead of worry.
“I don't understand, what do you mean?” He shook his head.
You sighed again, “He told you I was waiting for you here so we would be forced to talk.”
“Why would he do that? We talk nearly every day," he pointed out.
You decided to grasp the last thread of courage you had and hold tight to it. You were a Sully after all. Your dad had put you in a difficult position, but you might as well take advantage of it, “Because… he says I should tell you how I feel…” you stammered, the words not coming out how you wished.
“How you feel…” Tarsem stated, staring blankly back at you. “How do you feel? Tell me,” he urged.
“That I… like you.” you continued, covering your face with your hands to hide the deep purple it was turning.
You felt rough hands grasp yours, tugging them away from your face and holding them tightly between your bodies. “You like me?” he asked, bright eyes boring into yours.
You nodded, not possessing the will to speak any longer. You could have shriveled up in embarrassment right then if the Na’vi body was capable of it.
His lips broke out into a smile, “That is convenient.” he said and your heart lept, in fear or hope, you were not sure.
“Yeah?” you asked softly.
He nodded, “Yes, because I like you too.” He smiled softly and you returned it.
“Oh!” You exclaimed brightly, “Yeah, that is fairly convenient, since you know, you will be Olo’eyktan, I am in line to be Tsahik. You like me, I like you. It is all very… convenient,” You rambled uselessly as Tarsem grinned wider.
“You are very beautiful when you blush,” he said, reaching up to trace a finger over your cheek and your breath hitched.
“Thank you,” you stuttered.
“You are welcome. May I kiss you?” he asked with more confidence than you imagined him to possess.
“Please,” you sighed as he smiled wider and hooked your chin between his finger and thumb.
He lowered his face to yours, pressing his lips against your mouth softly, barely a whisper of touch before you both relaxed, meshing together. Tarsem brought his other hand to your waist as you rested your hands on his chest, coming closer before finally separating for air.
“You’re good at that,” you chimed, a laugh running through your words.
“Thank you, yawnetu (beloved),” he smiled smuggly.
“My dad is gonna freak,” you muttered.
“We will never hear the end of it now,” he agreed.
“He will probably even threaten to kill you if you hurt me. I might take it seriously if I were you, he has done crazier things,” you explained with a worried grimace.
Tarsem nodded once grimly, “He already did, last week.”
“Oh… and you still like me? That is so sweet,” you cooed.
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