Tsu-tey - The Age of Arrogance (3) (M)
CHAPTER 3
MINI SERIES MASTERLINK
➵ chapter summary: Things become heated between you and Tsu'tey after his awkward apology.
➵ pairing: enemies to lovers, tsu'tey x fem!reader(no use of y/n)
➵ word count: 3k
➵ warnings: mature themes, hints at masturbation, cursing, banter, depictions of injury and blood (very minor)
DON’T REPOST MY WORK
Tsawl Pamtseo Tsko Kllte - a large musical instrument that stands on the ground
tawtute - demon
nantang - viperwolf
skxwang - idiot
angstik - hammerhead titonathere
TSU'TEY POV
Every respectful Omaticayan man starts his day off with a morning hunt to soothe their hunger and provide for their clan. Tsu'tey is no different.
This time around, he's limping to the riverbank to have a nice bath and ease his aching shin with hot water and a message– because clearly, he's underestimated your strength.
As he lathers himself up with herbs, he realizes how he's underestimated you. You, with your strange tawtute words, four fingers, and hairy forehead. The attitude that carried itself so effortlessly and dripped off of your every move and every word made him want to stick his head into a nantang nest.
After the forced apology deep in the forest, and after discoverşing Reytan's efforts of courtship, the following week has been torture. He feels the tiredness and ache drip off his firm muscles with every brush of the makeshift loofa JakeSully weaved for the people. As much as he hated to admit, the strange sky-demon inventions sometimes worked well. He still looks at it with distaste though, even after using it countless times and having made a habit to demand a new one every two weeks.
As the thing brushes against his arm, he thinks back at the last few days and the utter agony of arguing with you incessantly. He was familiar with you now, though the familiarity consisted of arguing and bickering about the most insignificant topics. He passed it off as tawtute arrogance first, but you were adamant about proving you were no longer one of them.
The ball of woven silk glides onto his chest smoothly, and his heart picks off at the thought of your smart mouth. Why was it that you had an answer for everything? Why were so adamant about going against his commands?
He huffs, closing his eyes and throwing his head back as the water runs down his chest to his abs. It was only yesterday you fought about where the musicians were to be seated in the upcoming hunting festival.
"They should be in the heart of the fun, not up at some pedestal!"
Tsu'tey groans, gritting his teeth. "Why be in the middle? That is stupid and distracting. The people dance in the middle! If we put Tsawl Pamtseo Tsko Kllte in the middle, you will bump into it."
You ignore Jake's weak 'G-guys, I'm sure there's an alternative.' and roll your eyes. "How in god's name do you accidentally bump into a gigantic flute?"
Tsu'tey's face contorts in annoyance. "I refuse to answer your unnecessary questions, tawtute."
You clench your fists."They're rhetorical, you jerk.”
The lingering traces of your gritted voice carry a smirk to his lips– one of many 'fights' he's had with you after his so-called apology. It was easy to anger you; at first, you pushed his buttons just as much as he pushed yours, but after your relationship got into a rhythm where he said something and you made it your mission to counteract it, he started enjoying the strange arrangement. Especially seeing your flushed face and large eyes, peering up at him between your dark lashes. You would always march right up at him with clenched fists and a quip dripping from your tongue, and in those moments, he imagined harshly grabbing your face and pulling you into a heated kiss until your breaths became one.
He groans into the open air, the loofa brushing against his hardening cock ever so gently. He grits his teeth and squeezes his eyes shut to calm his urges–his instincts that light a fire inside his abdomen and make him act unlike a respectable man.
No, ever since you looked at him with those fearful, haunting eyes he ceased to be a respectful man. Those very eyes that slowly became unwilling and sparkling with mirth.
Yearning for a dream-walker mate was never in his plans. He supposes you were one of the people now, but you despised him. Especially after he masked his attraction with spiteful insults.
Then, of course, there was that skxwang who was shamelessly courting you.
Tsu'tey remembers Reytan as a bright kid who was eager to learn how to hunt the biggest plays and where to filet his fish first to appeal to the softest meat. Not as an adult Omaticayan man ready to court a woman and settle down into domestic bliss - with you, no less.
Reytan would have it no other way, Tsu'tey realized. This past week, his pathetic courting attempts worsened– Tsu'tey could laugh. You didn't enjoy angstik meat, nor did you like scaling through trees as a means of spending time together.
What a failure, surely Tsu'tey could have wooed you much easier. It seemed as though you just needed some affection— some attention and cooing. Tsu'tey smirks, he would turn you into a stuttering, blushing fool if he so wished.
At least that's what he says to soothe his ragged ego. After being saved by you, almost losing his position as Olo'Eyktan, and having to deal with the tasteless fruits of his injuries, his pride is in the depths of Eywa, and pulling it back has proven to be painstakingly difficult.
After rubbing his body clean and ignoring his hardening cock at the thought of you, thoughts he's done his best to deny while his Na'vi instincts buzzed his entire body, he carefully steps out of the boiling water. Glancing around, he quickly gets dressed and makes his way to Hometree in undignified haste.
Like every morning, the people are in a scurry to start their morning duties; the stomach-grumbling scent of fresh fruits and the fumes of sizzling meat; mates scrambling after their little ones to calm them down and perhaps convince them to wear their clothes properly; teenagers rubbing their eyes to rid their tiredness and aching bodies.
The atmosphere is as lively as always, accompanied by the chirping and squawking of neighboring birds. The chatter resonates around the large community and beautifully accentuates the morning beat of drums and strings.
People greet Tsu'tey as he walks, but he's a man on a mission. His stomach gurgles in warning, and he has no choice but the start a jog fueled by nothing but his hunger. He spots Jake and Neytiri amidst the morning chaos, with Jake trying to weave a new armband and Neytiri sharpening her bows. They're chatting animatedly as they work. Stopping next to Jake, when the man offers him breakfast, he fights the urge to grab his face and kiss his strangely thin lips.
"Someone's hungry." Jake chuckles, abandoning his poorly done weaving.
Tsu'tey grunts, shoving fruits into his mouth. "I hunted this morning."
"I see."
"The forest becomes prosperous when the cycle reaches hot temperatures." Neytiri chimes in, looking up from her skilled fingers making quick work of the piece of wood.
"Oh, so it's summer now?" Jake asks.
Tsu'tey and Neytiri look at each other. "What is that?"
"Never mind," Jake shakes his head, then picks up his weaving again when Neytiri throws him a look.
Zeir and Takuk soon join their circle of calm conversation and sharing of food. Tsu'tey feels himself relaxing in the calming atmosphere brought on by his trusted aides—something he needed after weeks of stress and restrained sexual desires. He distracts himself by starting a weaving of his own as well but soon realizes it's a pattern you adorn yourself in. As the thoughts of offering the piece of cloth to you surge in from the depths of his heart, his hands start to shake.
Your smell follows the panic, and he realizes you're near. The unfamiliar stench that accompanies you is enough proof that Reytan will follow in your wake and fuel the anger building inside of Tsu'tey.
"Morning party people," you stand next to Neytiri and thank her when she offers you a leaf of food. "Reytan was showing me good hunting spots. I had no idea we had a literal waterfall."
Your eyes sparkle as you dig into your food, completely oblivious to Tsu'tey's thumping heart that demands your attention. How dare you.
Reytan is quick to add on, and Tsu'tey just now realizes he's also here. "Yes, it is quite a young one."
Neytiri and Takuk are quick to join the conversation about Eywa's gift, but the only gift Tsu'tey can think of is the one being weaved unconsciously between his fingers. You're avoiding his gaze and infuriating Tsu'tey for no apparent reason.
Reytan looks at you. "I can show you other places if you want."
You smile. "Of course, I'd love that."
Tsu'tey almost snarls.
The grip on his weaving tightens and the pointed drums of wood are dangerously close to his skin.
"I am glad we are spending time together," Reytan shyly looks down, tail twitching.
You chuckle. "You're a good friend."
Tsu'tey pricks his finger. It was inevitable and strangely grounding. He feels the sting of the sharp tool imprinted on his cut skin. Deep crimson pools on the tip of his finger and slowly drizzles down his veins. With a hiss, he puts the digit in his mouth.
"Tsu'tey!" you gasp, and swat at his hand. Embarrassment causes him to lower his ears and purse his lips— he was getting jealous over a vrrtep and this notion caused the stinging burn on his finger to worsen. His collected and menacing persona was broken by a mere demon– only children got hurt like this. He was supposed to be Olo’eyktan.
His tail trashes behind him but he does nothing to control it. He needs to make his anger evident. Needs to protest against your will to help him. He doesn't need anyone's help.
You tut at the small cut. "It's small, I'll bandage you up."
"No-"
"Brother, go and get treated. We have an important hunting day tomorrow."
Unfortunately, Jake is right. Grumbling, he follows you into Mo'at's kelku and doesn't glance back at the sullen Reytan watching you walk away.
READER POV
While the kelku is otherwise empty, the intense gaze Tsu'tey has on your face makes you feel suffocated. With a thumping heart and a flushed face, you gently apply a bead of paste with nimble fingers on the small cut.
The silence is loud, filled with your thoughts.
The past week Reytan has been diligently courting you, and you were diligently rejecting his advances. The countless 'no's' and the 'please, I see you as a friend' repeated to the younger man inevitably caused the feelings inside of him to diminish.
However, they were not completely gone. They would never be fully gone unless you mated with another man, or he was to find someone else, you realize. And as you think this, you glance at Tsu'tey, feel your heart drop, and then swear under your breath.
It wasn't that you didn't consider Reytan, you truly tried. But trying wasn't enough. The attraction you've had for Tsu'tey was undeniable, and seeing the man almost every day made your urges almost impossible to ignore.
After his apology, you've fallen into a strange rhythm of friendship(?) with the man. You had love for him, this was a given. Did he have love for you? Maybe sometimes when you weren't being particularly nit-picky. He rendered you speechless every day—with abstract strategies, insults with absolutely no filter towards clan members he has distaste, and the way he simply looks.
Determined to argue with him on everything and push his buttons, you had to simultaneously fall prey to his eye contact. Tsu'tey liked to hold intense eye contact, as he was doing now and staring at two gaping holes on your head. You were entirely too focused on his finger, but how interesting could a finger be? Surely not more than him.
No sooner than you could say 'it could be much worse', your stomach takes the reins into her own hands and thunders. The waterfalls were quite mesmerizing, and as you dumbly admired falling water for almost an hour, you neglected breakfast. The gurgling noise breaks the serene quiet of the kelku as you apply a darker ointment around the edges of his finger.
Tsu'tey doesn't say anything, but it's no doubt he heard. If he didn't, your stomach reminds him again. Watching his ears flicker is a giveaway that he's picked up the abominable sound and itching to comment on it. When it happens again (bless your poor heart, was this punishment for the pranks you have been pulling on Jake during your hunting parties?).
Tsu'tey snorts. "Are you okay?"
"Shut up," you grumble, or gurgle.
Tsu'tey cackles, slapping his knee with his uninjured hand. Would a prick even count as an injury, after nearly dying? "Eywa! I thought it was going to rain. I was about to warn the others!"
"Just...shut up." you hiss through gritted teeth, unable to hold your smile at bay. Fuck, as if a stomach gurgle wasn't embarrassing enough, it had to grace your day in front of Tsu'tey.
With tears in his eyes, Tsu'tey's laugh booms around the space. The raspy timbre bubbling from deep within his chest tickles your ears—he laughs with his entire body, chest bobbing and eyes crinkling. Your heart takes flight and flutters around Tsu'tey's laugh before landing right on the left side of his chest.
It was inevitable, his laugh was contagious. "Not another word from you." you giggle.
Tsu'tey gives you a pointed look.
"Speak for yourself." he cackles, his head careening towards your stomach. With his eyes shut and face pinched, he doesn't realize he’s digging his head into your navel and causing you to squirm.
Having never touched his firm skin lest you count saving his life, you merely freeze and hope intimacy is common amongst Na'vi.
Tsu'tey's shoulders stop bobbing. With no warning, his body becomes slack and hot under your soft touch—merely his forehead grazing against your navel. You can feel him take a deep breath when his chest expands and his nose almost flutters.
Short-cutting is an understatement. The soft breath Eywa lets out amongst the sunny afternoon rustles the intricate chimes hung loosely outside the half-opened flap. The breeze peeks inside to rush across your skin gently, to softly raise the hair until it prickles like needles.
Tsu'tey raises his head, and in doing so, lights fires inside you when his braids tickle your stomach. The beads in the skilled weaving of his hair chime in warning to Eywa—almost butting heads, and the reward is ear-ringing silence.
His eyes slowly roll up, until they settle on you. You think he's lit up from the inside when his freckles glint and eyes glow. He makes it hard to look away as if he's daring you with his intense gaze. You can't, anyways.
Your tail mimics your heartbeat beautifully, swaying from side to side with unintentional thumps on the wooden floor. You watch Tsu'tey's eyes turn half-lidded and hazed as he observes you. The intimacy is settling around your bones and enhancing his irresistible pull. As though he's testing the waters, pushing to see how much you'll let him until you pull– his tail gently wraps around your thigh. Your breath hitches because it's possibly the softest thing you've ever felt, like velvet or fresh grass after fruitful rain.
He pulls you forward until you have no choice but to hold onto his shoulder for support, then look down at him with wide eyes. Your heart beats throughout your entire body as the waves of pleasure run through your veins in deep crimson.
Cursing his large eyes, you struggle to catch your breath. His hand slowly settles on your hip– Tsu'tey touch is soft and never what you've imagined it to be. He's a callous man with sharp edges that stab if you try your luck, but the man gazing up at you with lidded eyes is nothing but. He's beautiful and warm, you relish.
"Vrrtep..." he breathes a secret whisper, like a reminder. But it does nothing of the sort. Guiding his other hand on your other hip, he can now steer you however he wants and you'd probably let him take the reins with no protest. He mindlessly pulls you again until your knees bump against each other. He's clinging onto you which is an obscene scene. Especially when he was itching to get away from you last week and on his deathbed. Succumbing to his mindlessness, you lean forward when he urges you with the tightening of his tail.
"Tsu'tey, are you okay?"
Jumping away from Tsu'tey in panic, you scramble to gather yourself and the medicinal tools scattered about the floor. Jake struts into the marui with large steps and surveys Tsu'tey. You don't know what he sees because you refuse to look, but it must be something interesting enough to pull out an awkward chuckle from his lips.
Standing straight with heaps of objects clutched in your shaking hands, you struggle to keep your composure. "He's all patched up...I need to go water the uh, waterfalls."
Quickly running out of the kelku causes a gust of cold wind to hit your face and realize the severity of the situation. If Jake hadn't interrupted you, what would he have done? What would you have done?
His lips were right there, and if you had leaned in just an inch-
Stopping your sprint, you kneel to your hunches and hold your head. You've mindlessly run into the forest, hoping to escape your feelings, but they're attached to your heart with a mighty strong grip. You huff out a breath, then stand up. Starting a slow walk, you think about the past month with these new revelations.
Tsu'tey's always been indifferent but the ache of being ignored dulled after two weeks, then merged into hatred. The thin line between aggravation and romantic feelings blurred—well, you don't know when or where, but it did.
Perhaps your feelings stemmed from the admiration you've had for him or the hidden fantasies you entertained every night with your hand between your legs.
Frustrated, you decide to walk to Hometree and finish your duties for the day early.
