blurb: a rich uptown girl with car issues keeps visiting the small garage off the highway where the ownerโs super hot son works.
warnings: fem!reader, fluff, lowk ditzy!reader but not really, yummy mechanic!logan.
Logan heard you before he saw you.
He memorized the sound of those heels clicking against the rough pavement like a second heartbeat. After all, not many girls around this side of town wore vintage Prada pumps to an off-highway garage.
And even if they did, they most certainly did not own a BMW 6er f12 convertible.
Loganโs older brother Jeff was leaning against the workshop desk and sipping on a can of Coke when he saw you strut in. He sighed, โHere comes Lottie.โ
The nickname was a running joke between the brothers. Jeff had muttered it under his breath when you first visited the shop and asked a question about diesel gas. He took one look at you and knew you were a clueless, rich girl who shouldnโt be visiting garages such as theirs.
Logan hadnโt entertained the nickname so much. He thought it was unnecessarily mean. Besides, Lottie was always a sweetheart in Princess and the Frog.
Jeff turned on his heels and disappeared into the garageโs office, leaving Logan to deal with you on his own.
Logan put down a spare part he was working on and turned around, leaning back against the counter.
You waved excitedly with a cheerful grin. โHi, Logan!โ
He smiled politely, โHeyโฆโ
โDid you save my girl?โ You asked, batting your lashes.
Logan nodded, โSheโs all fixed up for you,โ he said, walking over to the wall of car keys hung on hooks to retrieve yours.
You clapped your hands, โYay!โ
He chuckled whilst shaking his head. You got happy over the simplest of things. He thought it was endearing.
You walked over to your car. Nebula, as you called her. A fitting name for a sleek, black convertible with dark purple leather upholstery and shiny silver rims.
Logan came over and handed you your keys. โYou wanna try her out?โ
You nodded and unlocked your car before opening the driverโs side door. No beeping. Perfect.
You beamed at Logan. โYou did it!โ
He smiled with an easy laugh, feeling proud of his work. In reality, your car issue was a minor one; the door sensor just needed a replacement. Nothing about it required a lick of rocket science, and yet you looked at him as if he hung the stars in your galaxy.
You put your designer bag into your car and bent over to fish out your wallet. Logan stared at your body for a second before he caught himself, clearing his throat and looking away respectfully.
You stood up straight, holding your leather wallet between both hands, looking at him with a doe-eyed expression.
He scratched the back of his neck and gestured for you to follow him to the counter. The gritty sounds of his boots crunching the gravel below and the rhythmic click click click of your heels echoed through the garage.
Logan went around the counter and pulled out a receipt and wrote down the service you needed with the price. He slid the piece of paper to you but you just kept looking at his face with a smile. He blinked before realizing you didnโt care for the price. Right, he thought. Rich girls donโt worry about those things.
โCash or card?โ He asked.
You held up your metal black credit card.
Logan pursed his lips and nodded as he pulled out a card reader. You tapped your card without even glancing at the screen and clapped your hands when the machine beeped in satisfaction.
โThank you, Logan,โ you told him kindly.
He shrugged politely, โItโs no problem.โ
You smiled at him. He returned it, โDo you want your receiโโ
Before he could even hand you your proof of service, you were walking back to your car. He nodded to himself and stuffed the receipt into the cash register.
He watched as you exited the garage, waving at him enthusiastically as you drove by. He gave a small wave back.
+
A week later, your BMW pulled into the garage whilst Logan was working under a car.
He didnโt hear the sound of your heels this time as he had headphones in, blasting a classic rock song. He felt a shadow looming nearby so he turned and saw your heels appear. He paused and rolled out from under the car, meeting the sight of your broad smile peering down at him.
โHi, Logan!โ
โHeyโฆโ He sounded confused. His eyebrows furrowed and he glanced around, โDidnโt you pick up your car last week?โ
You nodded. โYep. But my AC is broken nowโฆโ You pouted.
Hm, Logan thought. He sat up, โOh, I didnโt see that when I did the diagnostic last weekโโ
โMust be a new issue, then. These foreign cars are all funny,โ you replied, tilting your head.
He cleaned his hands with a rag before standing up. He had oil stains on his shirt and just a little smudge on his face. You thought he looked so ruggedly handsome.
โLet me take a look,โ he said and you stepped out the way for him to crank open your hood and inspect the situation.
As he got to work, you leaned against your car and watched. After a moment, you asked, โHow was your weekend?โ
People donโt usually talk to Logan when he repairs their cars. Especially not pretty, rich girls like you.
โIt was good, played hockey, worked here in the shop,โ he responded casually.
You nodded along even though he couldnโt see you.
โDid you win?โ You asked.
He laughed, an amused sound. โYeahโฆyeah, we won.โ
You clapped your hands, โYay!โ
Logan laughed again. It was cute, he thought, how you always clapped at good news.
โYou like hockey?โ He asked, looking over your hood to meet your eyes.
You hummed, โI only recently got into it. My family prefers watching polo, golf, or tennis.โ
Rich people sports, he wanted to say. That made sense.
โRecently, huh?โ He said instead, ducking his head to keep working. โWho should I thank for putting you onto hockey?โ He joked.
You smiled shyly and said, โYouโฆโ
His hand paused. The parts of your car suddenly looking like alphabet soup moving in jumbled letters. He lifted his head to meet your gaze again. But before he could manage a reply, you changed the subject. โIs it broken beyond repair?โ You asked, turning your attention to your car parts.
He snapped out of his daze and shook his head. โUhh, no. No, you just need AC coolant.โ
โIs that an easy fix?โ You asked.
He nodded, โYeah, the easiest.โ He said.
You smiled in relief. โThank goodness I have you fixing my car,โ you told him.
He smiled at that.
He fixed your car, you chirped out a โThank you, Logan!โ, you paid without looking at the bill, and waved goodbye as you left.
โThat the BMW girl again?โ Loganโs dad asked as he stepped out the office.
โYeah,โ Logan replied, wiping his hands.
โLottie back again so soon?โ Jeff teased. Logan rolled his eyes at the jab.
โYou overcharge her?โ His dad asked.
Logan looked at him, โWhy would I do that?โ
His dad shrugged, โLuxurious car fee?โ
Logan squinted his eyes, โWe donโt do that.โ
Jeff piped in, โWe could. She doesnโt even check her receipts.โ
Logan looked between his dad and brother, โSo what? We charge her fair and square.โ
His dad shared a looked with Jeff before he went back inside the office.
+
Week after week, you came by to the garage. First it was an oil change, then a rim replacement, then a loose window ribbon, then a tire with low air, and so on.
By week 7, Logan had had enough. Itโs not that he didnโt like seeing you, no. Far from it. He actually enjoyed your company. He often looked forward to when youโd come by and say Hi, Logan! in that sing-song voice of yours, your joyful smile, and innocent questions.
But now he was noticing a pattern.
So when you rolled in that Thursday night like clockwork, he didnโt go up to you. He stayed by the workshop desk and watched you with his arms crossed over his chest.
โHi, Logan!โ You beamed with a gleeful wave.
But upon meeting his stern expression, your smile faltered and your hand slowly dropped back to your side. You looked around the empty garage before walking over to him in hesitant steps. The sound of your heels filled the space between the two of you. You stopped in front of him and flattened down your skirt, a nervous tic of yours that you never noticed before.
โY/n,โ he said, his tone serious. โThis is the seventh time youโve come to the garage.โ
You nodded, โNebula keeps acting upโโ
โNo, she doesnโt.โ
You looked at your feet. No smile, no lively clapping.
His arms uncrossed and he stepped closer. He wasnโt angry. No, it wasnโt that. Logan isnโt an idiot. He knew. He knew you had a crush on him, knew the only reason you showed up time and time again was just to spend time with him. Why else would you come? He knew families like yours had their own repairmen at fancy dealerships who could fix any problem. You didnโt need to come into his familyโs garage.
Yet, you did.
Logan figured it out by week 4. But truth be told, he never mentioned it because a part of him liked being around you too. He liked hearing your upbeat voice, the familiar tap of your heels, the sound of your laugh. So he stayed quiet, he fixed your tires, and refilled your carโs oil. He went along with it. Because he liked your company just as much as you liked his.
Unable to lie to him, you lifted your head and met his eyes. โI did those things to my car on purpose.โ You confessed quietly.
Logan blinked. His stance eased at your admission and he looked at you with soft eyes.
โI watched a YouTube video on how to drain AC coolant,โ you added. โAnd drove around until my tires lost some of its pressure, andโโ
โY/n,โ he held your chin with his hand. โYou didnโt have to do all that to see me.โ
Your eyes widened as you stared at him. He smiled gently, โIโฆlike seeing you. With or without Nebula.โ
โYou do?โ You asked.
He nodded, โI do.โ
He leaned in slowly, giving you the chance to pull away. But you stayed. His lips met yours in a gentle kiss. Not hungry or desperate, just a soft sealing; a mutual understandingโI like you and you like me.
When he pulled away, he rested his forehead against yours. You looked at him with a honeyed, dazed expression. He smiled down at you and pecked your lips once more. You werenโt a spoiled, rich girl to him. Not clueless or ditzy. You were justโฆyou. A sweetheart with a crush on a cute guy who would do anything to see him. You were Lottie.
He glanced behind you at your car. He pulled away with a reluctant sigh, โWhat did you do to her this time?โ
You smiled sheepishly, โI jammed my gearshiftโฆโ
He chuckled softly, both amused and fondly exasperated by you. โOkayโฆlet me take a look.โ He said, lacing his hand with yours and bringing it up to his lips to press a kiss.
And not in the cute, sitcom kind of way people imagined when they watched shows New Girl. It was actually the exact opposite.
It was difficult on the inside and out. When people found out you lived in the hockey house with four Division I athletes, there was no โooh, that must be so funโ unless it came from some lust filled puck bunny that only had the nastiest of fantasies. To people with actual working brains, more questions always followed their judgmental looks. Thing like โwhy, โhow longโ, โare you dating any of themโ, โis that allowedโ. Which you understood, but could only answer with one phrase.
โItโs a long story.โ
Because it was! Getting into the intricacies of how you started the schools, and first ever, collage hockey cheer squad was too much: it always sounded like you were bragging about something that you didnโt see as a big deal. Plus, no one wanted to hear about how you despised the concept of bunking with a complete and total stranger for the sake of the college experience, especially when they were doing the same thing.
On the inside of the home, however, living with boys was even more difficult becauseโฆ well, you actually had to live with them.
Living with boys was hard in a deeply specific, deeply exhausting way no one warned you about.
First, it was because boys were disgusting.
Not always and sometimes not intentionally, but sometimes and for some reason, even maliciously. Like that one time Dean left a condom in the shower because Logan ate his leftovers that Tucker made. You didnโt know if it was a man thing, or a sports thing, but they moved through life with a level of casual recklessness that made you wonder how any of them had survived into adulthood.
And the house itself reflected that.
At first glance, it looked like any off-campus athlete house. Loud with the occasional party, sort of worn-in due to said parties. It also constantly smelled of detergent and sweat.
But there were traces of you.
Your pink throw blankets were draped over the couch because the you always got cold and the boys knew nothing about buying decent blankets themselves. Your Vogue magazines were spread across the coffee table beside their sports journals and empty Gatorade bottles. There were tiny decorative glass bowls full of hair ties and bobby pins sitting in random places throughout the place because you kept losing them.
There was a lemon blossom candle on the kitchen counter that Dean lit it more than you did. He eventually stole it to put in his room for his after shower activities, but the touch was yours nonetheless.
Your shoes by the front door mixed into piles of massive sneakers and hockey bags was a contrasting sight. Your colorful sandals, soft Ugg boots and fuzzy animal house slippers. Your skincare products that lined one side of the downstairs bathroom sink stuck out next to Loganโs beard trimmer that sat threateningly close to your toothbrush.
There was the small pros that you found cute as you passed through, looking at the way your vastly different lives were all intertwined this way. But with the pros, comes the cons. And some cons might be to your doing as well.
There were the packages. God, the packages. The delivery driver knew you by name and you knew his. It was Anthony.
Boxes of PR constantly showed up at the house, to the point where neither them nor you could keep up. PR packages from makeup brands, clothing collaborations from boutiques that used your Instagram for promotion. There were skincare launches, cheer gear, womenโs protein bars with aesthetically pleasing packaging because apparently gut health had to not only be gendered for some reason but become your entire personality this semester.
Though you found it stupid, you were doing it for the cheque. And the products worked because Garrett seemed to love them.
Dean once opened the front door and stared at the stack of boxes awaiting outside.
โWhat the hell is all this?โ He asked exasperatedly, looking over at you, who sat in the couch. You glanced up from your laptop, peeking over the couch as if you could see the packages on the porch. โProbably PR.โ You shrugged before going back to your screen.
โThere are, like, ten boxes here.โ
โYeah.โ You muttered, still clicking away on your laptop, not even looking up this time.
โWhy?โ He questioned, absentmindedly moving to load the boxes of various sizes into the home and sit them by the door. He lifted them up, dressed in nothing out gym shorts and slides, and closed the door with his foot. โI mean, who needs this much stuff? What even if half of this?โ
You let out a small sigh, leaning back in the couch as you looked up at the blonde man. โWhat can I say Dean, the brands love me.โ You shrugged with a cocky smirk before chuckling.
Dean scoffed and cut his eyes towards Garrett. โI picked the wrong career.โ
โโบโโโ เณ
Living with boys also meant your things slowly stopped becoming just yours.
Your blankets became communal blankets that barely covered you since you had to share with Loganโs huge body. Your expensive vanilla syrup for coffee was now used in Tuckers cocktail recipes. The fridge you so carefully organized slowly became demented into disarray as if it was ravaged by some beast, especially because Tucker cooked like a suburban mother feeding a family of seven.
Every Sunday, Tucker stood in the kitchen for hours meal prepping while music played low through a speaker. He moved around the kitchen with efficiency, his broad shoulders hovering over simmering pots. The place was warm as something baked in the oven and the entire home just smelled great when Tucker cooked.
The feeling almost made up for the rest of the boys existing.
Almost.
You had your own section in the fridge. Well, you were supposed to.
Tucker, the cute gentleman that he is and was raised to be, respected it. The others did not.
Your shelf was painfully recognizable compared to theirs. You had your glass jars filled with matcha or chocolate raspberry chia seed pudding. There was your coconut water, almond milk, and lemonade alongside your fresh fruit and sweet streets. In the door was your wellness shots that tasted like shit. And last but not least, your coconut cult probiotic yogurt.
Garrett liked called your grocery hauls โrich girl rabbit foodโ, which was ironic considering he ate enough food in a day to feed a small village. But you knew it was just a joke, especially since heโs seen your late night door dash orders.
Still, you bought those things for a reason. Whether it was your skin, your stomach health, your energy levels. It all went into your focus for cheer, which was important to you.
Being captain of the cheer team meant constant appearances, performances, uniforms, cameras, and social media posts. You couldnโt survive off frozen pizza and energy drinks, as much as you wanted to, the way the some boys somehow did. Trust though, you did indulge yourself whenever you seen fit.
Unfortunately, the boys viewed your food as fascinating, like zoo animals discovering their enrichment toys.
One afternoon, after your morning yoga session in the attic, you padded downstairs in green leggings and an oversized Briar U sweatshirt, water bottle dangling from your hand.
The house was suspiciously quiet. Too quiet for your liking, which caused you to narrow your eyes immediately.
You rounded the corner before turning into the kitchen, and thatโs when you spotted them.
Dean and Garrett were standing in front of the open fridge, spoons in hand and substance in their mouths. They seemed to enjoy whatever they were eating, humming in content.
You furrowed your brows before your eyes dropped to the jar in Deans hands. He was holding your yogurt. Your Coconut Cult yogurt.
Dean was actively eating from the jar while Garrett slightly grimaced through another spoonful, mildly enjoying its taste.
You froze at threshold of the kitchen, eyes widening and mouth dropping open. โOh my God.โ You said, hands coming up to cover your mouth.
Both boys looked up at you, frozen like they were caught red handed. Which they were.
Dean swallowed. โHey.โ The words got clogged in his throat, trying to speak and swallow what he thought was a dessert.
โThat jar is forty dollars worth of yogurt.โ You snipped, eyes bouncing between them.
Garrett blinked. โFortyโโ
โYou ate my Coconut Cult?!โ
Dean frowned down at the small jar. โItโs yogurt.โ He scoffed. โAnd it definitely shouldnโt be forty bucks.โ
โItโs probiotic yogurt!โ
Garrett took another bite and immediately regretted it. โIs that why it has that weird aftertaste?โ
โYes!โ
โSo you buy this spoiled tasting yogurt on purpose?โ
You marched across the kitchen in disbelief, snatching the jar from Deanโs hand like a mother catching teenagers with alcohol. โI eat this for my gut health, you idiots! You know Iโm lactose intolerant!โ
Dean leaned against the counter lazily. โOkay, weโll owe you.โ He shrugged as if it was nothing. โI didnโt know the chocolate moose yogurt was special and forty fucking dollars.โ He chuckled in disbelief.
โLike you canโt afford it.โ Garett mumbled.
โYou two are going to regret this later.โ You hissed, throwing the jar and whatโs left over, in the trash. Itโs not like you could use the rest anyway with the way they were digging back and forth into the probiotic.
Garrett scoffed. โThe hell is that supposed to mean?โ He questioned, watching as you rounded the counter to walk away from them.
You paused, turning to stare at them for a long moment.
Then you slowly smiled. โYouโll see.โ You grinned before making your way back upstairs, confused in what you can down for in the first place.
Tucker walked in halfway through the silence you left, carrying grocery bags. His eyes moved between the two boys, who was left frozen in your wake.
โWhat happened?โ
โThey ate her Coconut Cult,โ Logan called from the living room, where he was playing a Mario Kart on the television.
Tucker let out a small chuckle in disbelief as she placed the bags in the counter. โOh,โ he said softly. โOh, you idiots.โ
Dean frowned. โWhat?โ
โThat stuff has like a billion probiotics in it.โ
Garrettโs face slowly changed while Dean still didnโt seem to get the point yet.
โAnd that means?โ He questioned, eyeing the pair in the kitchen.
โOh no.โ Garrett mumbled, placing his head in his hand, holding himself up in the kitchen island. Dean eyed him, while Tucker chuckled in amusement.
โBro, what? Come on, tell me.โ The blonde urged.
โIf you took more than a spoonful of that, youโre gonna shit your brains out.โ Tucker smiled, moving around them to load the fridge full of food.
Deans face dropped as Loganโs chuckles echoed into the kitchen.
โโบโโโ เณ
Then thereโs the bathroom situation, which somehow managed to be even worse than the food situation.
Because the attic that you lived in only had a tiny half-bath. Just a toilet and sink squeezed beneath slanted ceilings. Meaning for showers, you had to use the downstairs bathroom. The shared house bathroom.
The one that you shared with four hockey players.
There were not enough candles or cleaning products in the world to emotionally prepare someone for sharing a bathroom with men.
You cleaned constantly.
Constantly.
You wiped the counters, refolded towels, reorganized the cabinet products, cleaned the floors. Anything to aid in stopping the place from delving into a yuck fest within hours.
One time Logan left a pair of compression undershorts hanging from the shower rod for three days.
Three. Days.
โYou guys live like rats.โ You complained, thudding down the stairs, gloves still on from scrubbing the bathroom counter. It was dark out, the soft sound of rain pelting the windows. โLogan, Iโm throwing these shorts away.โ You deadpanned, only gaining a shrug in response from the man.
Dean lounged against the archway of the living room, eating cereal straight from the box. โAnd yet you stay.โ He grinned, eyes in the tv, where some rival team shame tape played.
โUnfortunately, Iโve grown attached.โ You muttered, walking over to the kitchen trash can to rid yourself of the rubber gloves.
โAww, to us?โ Logan questioned with a smile, glancing over from the living room couch.
โTo Tuckerโs cooking.โ You quipped, flashing him a large beam. His smile dropped, causing you to chuckle as you leaned against the wall opposite to Dean.
Speaking of, he placed a hand over his heart dramatically. โHow cruel, puck princess.โ He chuffed, which instantly wiped the smile from your face. You reached over, slapping his arm.
โI told you about that name.โ You said through clinched teeth. All while Dean just laughed, showing all of his pearly whites.
โWell, you hurt my feelings.โ He shrugged, causing you to roll your eyes.
โโบโโโ เณ
The problem with sharing a bathroom, though, was the complete destruction of privacy.
There was absolutely none. People, roommates and strangers alike, barged in constantly because apparently locks meant nothing nowadays. You were never in the habit of locking the bathroom door before you moved in with these people.
One night after practice, steam from the shower you just took was still clinging to your skin and you stood at the sink brushing your teeth while wrapped in your fluffy pink towel.
Dean stood beside you, half his faced covered in shaving cream and his sweatpants hanging dangerously low on his hips while music played softly from his phone on the counter.
It was oddly domestic, but the usual after a few years living together. It was now your norm to do such things. And everything was fine, same as always.
Until you opened the drawer looking for floss. There, sitting very obviously amongst your hair ties and face masks was a hot pink vibrator.
You paused mid-brush, brows furrowed.
Dean noticed you stopping immediately, the chill vibe shifting to something else.
His eyes followed yours downward, and once they were placed onto what caught your attention, they widened in horror.
Painfully slowly, what you could see of his face started turning red.
You looked at him the same time he looked at you. I enter of you spoke for a while, just staring at each other like you were both caught in the middle of some compromising position.
Then the bathroom door opened and Tucker stepped inside holding folded towels before stopping dead in his tracks.
His eyes darted between the two of you, faces red and frozen in your half dressed states. He then glanced at the drawer, seeing the item, and then back up at you two.
A long silence followed, and his innocent stare gave nothing away.
Finally, Dean pointed aggressively.
โThatโs not mine.โ You both said at the same time.
โAt all,โ You added quickly.
Tucker blinked twice before he simply backed out of the bathrooms towels still in hand.
The door clicked shut behind him, leaving you two in silence again, though this time more charged than before.
You then burst into laughter, so hard toothpaste nearly came out of your nose. That broke the tension between you two, causing Dean groaned, dragging a hand down his half shaven face while still blushing violently. โOh my God.โ
Living with boys is hard. Itโs exhausting and loud and invasive. It was a feat that meant never knowing peace.
But sometimes it also meant coming downstairs at two in the morning unable to sleep and finding Tucker making grilled cheese in the kitchen.
It meant Garrett silently carrying your PR packages upstairs because he knew they were heavy. Or Logan shoving vitamins toward you after practice because you โforgot your weird supplements this morning.โ
And sometimes it meant Dean falling asleep on the couch under one of your pink blankets while a face mask on and a leopard print headband that sat on his forehead because you convinced him to do skincare with you.
The house was chaotic and messy. Sometimes a bit overcrowded. But somewhere between it all, it became home.
I get that you are mad that a lot of stuff has been changed from your book. trust me, as someone who generally reads the books before watching the media and then points out everything that has been changed, I get it. so I won't shit on you for being mad about Logan not having a brother.
but can you at least get Jules' pronouns right? they're non binary, they're his sibling, not his sister. thank you
I get that you are mad that a lot of stuff has been changed from your book. trust me, as someone who generally reads the books before watching the media and then points out everything that has been changed, I get it. so I won't shit on you for being mad about Logan not having a brother.
but can you at least get Jules' pronouns right? they're non binary, they're his sibling, not his sister. thank you
A collection of little stories that gives Lo'ak a parent who loves him unconditionally.
Author's Note: This is literally all just reader mothering Lo'ak, and it could possibly be hard to read if Lo'ak's relationship with Jake is difficult for you. This emphasises that and takes it a little further, probably. Anyway, Enjoy!
The more I watch Fire and Ash, the angrier I get with Jake. Like, don't you talk to my little Lo'ak like that. And that poor little baby just needed love. And Neytiri isn't any better for allowing it for so long!
Masterlist
The Younger Years
You remember the first time.
Lo'ak had been so small thenโbarely past his fifth year, all gangly limbs and oversized ears he hadn't quite grown into yet. You'd been weaving a new carry sling outside your kelku, fingers working the familiar pattern while Kiri played nearby with carved toys you'd made her. Neytiri's children visited often, drawn by your endless patience and the way you always had something sweet tucked away for little hands.
You heard him before you saw him.
The sound of small feet running, then stopping. Running again, then hesitating. When you looked up, he was standing at the edge of the clearing, his face blotchy and wet with tears he was trying so hard to hide. His little chest heaved with the effort of holding back sobs.
"Lo'ak?" You set aside your weaving immediately. "Ma'itan, what's wrong?"
He didn't answer. Just stood there, trembling, his hands balled into fists at his sides. Kiri looked up from her toys, but you gave her a gentle smile and a small gestureโit's alright, keep playing. She was perceptive, your goddaughter, already showing the wisdom she would carry into adulthood. She nodded and returned to her weaving, giving her brother space.
You opened your arms.
That was all it took. Lo'ak crashed into you with the full force of his small body, burying his face against your chest as the sobs finally broke free. You gathered him close, one hand cradling the back of his head, the other rubbing slow circles on his back.
"Shh, shh," you murmured, rocking him gently. "I have you. You're safe."
It took a long time for the crying to subside into hiccups, and longer still for him to find words.
"IโI messed up," he whispered against your chest. "I was trying to help Neteyam with his bow and IโI broke the string andโand Dad got so angry. He said I never think, that I always make things worse, that I should've justโjust stayed out of the way."
Your heart clenched. You knew Jake loved his sonsโboth of themโbut sometimes his Marine discipline came out harder with Lo'ak than with Neteyam. And Neytiri, your dear friend, was so focused on training her eldest, on preparing the future olo'eyktan, that sometimes her second son got lost in the shadow.
"You were trying to help your brother," you said softly, pulling back just enough to see his face. "That was kind of you."
"But I broke it." His voice cracked. "I ruined it."
"A bowstring can be replaced, ma'itan. It's just a thing." You wiped his tears with gentle thumbs. "You made a mistake. That's what children do. That's what people do. It doesn't make you bad. It doesn't make you less."
His golden eyesโso full of hurt, so desperate to be seenโsearched your face. "Dad saidโ"
"Your sempul was frustrated. Sometimes adults say things in anger that come out harder than they mean." You cupped his small face in your hands. "But listen to me, Lo'ak. You are not a burden. You are not too much. You are exactly who Eywa made you to be, and that is enough. That is more than enough."
Something in him broke open thenโnot with more tears, but with relief. He melted against you again, this time not in desperation but in trust. In the simple need to be held by someone who saw him and didn't find him wanting.
"Can I stay here?" he whispered. "Just for a little while?"
"As long as you need," you promised, settling back against the trunk of the tree behind you, this small boy curled in your lap like he belonged there.
And perhaps he did.
Because from that day forward, he came back. Again and again. Whenever Jake's voice got too sharp, whenever Neytiri's attention was elsewhere, whenever Neteyam's perfection felt like a weight on his chestโLo'ak found his way to you.
It was months later, after a particularly hard day, that he'd fallen asleep in your arms and murmured, half-dreaming, "Love you, Sa'nu."
Sa'nu.
Mom.
Your breath had caught. You weren't his motherโNeytiri was, your fierce and beautiful friend. But as you looked down at this boy who had claimed a space in your heart all his own, you understood.
He needed this. Needed you. Needed a place where love wasn't conditional on success or good behavior or being more like his brother.
So you pressed a kiss to his forehead and whispered back, "I love you too, ma'itan. Always."
And you meant it.
Eywa help you, you meant it with every fiber of your being.
A Family Evening
Three years later, you find yourself in the Sully kelku as the sun begins its descent, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. The space is alive with activityโorganized chaos that comes with a family of six.
"Pass me the salt herbs," Neytiri says from beside you, her hands deftly working to season the hexapede meat roasting over the fire. You've been helping her prepare the evening meal for the past hour, falling into the easy rhythm you've shared since you were both young women learning to cook from your own mothers.
You hand her the pouch, your fingers brushing hers. "You're using more than usual."
"Jake has been complaining the food is too bland." She rolls her eyes, but there's fondness in the gesture. "He still thinks like a tawtute sometimes, wanting everything to taste stronger."
You laugh, reaching for the basket of vegetables that need cutting. "After all these years?"
"After all these years," she confirms, a smile playing at her lips. Then, quieter, "Thank you for coming. For helping. You are always here when I need you."
"Where else would I be?" You bump your shoulder against hers. "You are my sister, even if Eywa did not make us from the same mother."
Something warm passes between youโdecades of friendship, of shared secrets and sorrows, of watching each other grow from girls to women to mothers. Well, she is a mother. You are... something else. Something undefined but no less important.
"Sa'nu!"
A small body crashes into your legs from behind, nearly toppling you into the vegetables. You catch yourself, laughing, and look down to find Tuktirey clinging to your leg, her tiny face beaming up at you.
"Tuk-tuk," you coo, reaching down to stroke her hair. "What is it, paskalin?"
"Look what I made!" She holds up a lumpy, misshapen attempt at a woven bracelet, the fibers tangled and uneven. "It's for you!"
Your heart melts. "For me? Oh, it's beautiful." You crouch down to her level, letting her slip it over your wrist. It's far too loose and will likely fall off within the hour, but you wear it like it's made of the finest materials. "I will treasure it always."
Tuk giggles and throws her arms around your neck. You hold her close, breathing in the sweet scent of herโyoung and innocent and full of joy. When you look up, you catch Neytiri watching, her expression soft.
"Tuk, come here," Neytiri calls gently. "Let Sa'nu work."
"She's no trouble," you assure her, but Tuk has already scampered off, distracted by something Kiri is doing in the corner.
You return to cutting vegetables, but you've barely made it through two when you feel another presence at your side. You don't need to look to know who it is.
"Sa'nu?" Lo'ak's voice is quiet, almost hesitant.
You glance over at himโeight years old now, still all gangly limbs and big eyes, but growing into himself slowly. "Yes, ma'itan?"
"Can I help?" He's already reaching for a knife before you can answer.
"Of course." You hand him a smaller blade and push some of the root vegetables toward him. "Cut these into pieces about this size." You demonstrate with your own knife.
He settles beside you, close enough that his arm brushes yours with every cut. It's not the most efficient arrangementโyou could both have more spaceโbut you don't move away. Neither does he.
"You're getting better at this," you observe after a few minutes, watching his careful, deliberate cuts.
His face lights up. "Really?"
"Really. Very precise. Very steady."
From across the fire, you hear Jake's voice. "Neteyam, how's that bow coming along?"
"Almost finished, sir," Neteyam responds from where he's sitting near the entrance, working on restringing his weapon. At twelve, he's already showing signs of the warrior he'll becomeโfocused, disciplined, eager to please his father.
"Good man. That's what I like to hear."
You feel Lo'ak tense beside you, his cutting slowing. You know that tone in Jake's voiceโthe pride, the approval. You know Lo'ak hears it too, hears what's not being said to him.
You rest your hand briefly on his shoulder, a silent reassurance. He leans into the touch, just slightly.
"Lo'ak," Jake calls out, and the boy's head snaps up. "You finish your training with your brother today?"
"Yes, sir." Lo'ak's voice is smaller now.
"You keep up with him?"
A pause. "I... I tried, sir."
"Trying's not the same as doing, son. Neteyam doesn't just tryโhe succeeds. You need to push yourself harder."
You feel Lo'ak deflate beside you, his shoulders curving inward. Your jaw tightens, but before you can say anything, Neytiri speaks up.
"Ma Jake, they are both doing well. Lo'ak is young stillโ"
"He's old enough to keep up," Jake interrupts, not unkindly, but firm. "He's got to learn discipline."
Lo'ak's knife has stopped moving entirely. He's staring down at the vegetables, his ears pinned back.
You set down your own knife and turn to him fully. "Lo'ak, would you help me carry these to the cooking fire?"
He nods mutely, gathering up the cut vegetables. You do the same, and together you move toward where Neytiri is working. As you pass Jake, Lo'ak stays close to your sideโso close he's almost hiding behind you.
After depositing the vegetables, Lo'ak doesn't return to cutting more. Instead, he hovers near you, his hand occasionally reaching out to touch your arm, your back, as if reassuring himself you're still there.
"Lo'ak." Jake's voice again, and this time there's a note of exasperation. "Stop hanging all over her. I'm sure she's got enough to do without you bothering her every five seconds."
The words hit like a physical blow. You feel Lo'ak freeze beside you, starting to pull away, and something fierce rises in your chest.
"He is not bothering me," you say, your voice calm but leaving no room for argument. You turn to Lo'ak and open your arms. "Come here, ma'itan."
He hesitates, glancing at his father.
"Lo'ak," you say again, softer. "Come."
He steps into your embrace, and you lift himโhe's getting big for this, almost too heavy, but you manage. You settle him on your hip like you did when he was smaller, one arm wrapped securely around him.
"Lo'ak could never be an annoyance to me," you say, looking directly at Jake. Your tone is gentle, but there's steel underneath. "He is welcome at my side always. Whenever he wants. For as long as he wants."
Jake blinks, seeming taken aback. "I just meantโ"
"I know what you meant." You soften slightly, because Jake is your friend too, and you know he loves his son even if he doesn't always show it the right way. "But Lo'ak needs to know he is wanted. That his presence is a gift, not a burden."
Lo'ak's arms tighten around your neck, his face pressed against your shoulder. You feel the slight tremor in his body, the way he's holding back emotion.
Jake looks uncomfortable, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah. Okay. I just... I don't want him to be a nuisance."
"He's not." You press a kiss to Lo'ak's temple. "He never is."
From the corner, Kiri looks up from the beads she's been sorting. "Sa'nu, can you help me with this pattern later? I can't remember how you showed me."
"Of course, sweet girl."
"And me!" Tuk pipes up. "You said you'd tell me a story before sleep!"
"I did promise that, didn't I?" You smile at her, still holding Lo'ak. "I'll tell you about the time your sa'nok and I tried to catch a syaksyuk when we were young and foolish."
"We were very foolish," Neytiri agrees, her eyes twinkling. She's watching you hold her son, and there's something in her expressionโgratitude, certainly, but also something more complicated. Something that looks almost like longing.
You catch her eye, and understanding passes between you. She sees how Lo'ak clings to you, how he seeks your comfort in ways he doesn't seek hers. You see the small hurt in her eyes, quickly hidden.
But she doesn't blame you. She never has. Because she knowsโyou both knowโthat love is not a finite resource. That Lo'ak loving you doesn't mean he loves her less. It just means he needs something different, something you can give him that she, for all her fierce maternal love, cannot.
"Come, ma'itan," you murmur to Lo'ak, finally setting him down but keeping your hand on his shoulder. "Help me finish the vegetables, and then we'll all eat together."
He nods, staying close, and together you return to your work.
The evening continues in its chaotic, loving wayโNeteyam asking Jake about tomorrow's training, Kiri showing Neytiri her bead work, Tuk singing a nonsense song while playing with her toys. And through it all, Lo'ak stays near you, drawn to your presence like a moth to flame.
You are not his mother.
But you are his Sa'nu.
Warriors in Training
The afternoon sun slants through the canopy, dappling your workspace in shifting patterns of gold and green. You're weaving a new hunting net, your fingers moving with practiced ease through the strong fibers, when you hear the familiar sound of footsteps approachingโone set measured and steady, the other quick and bouncing.
"Sa'nu!" Lo'ak's voice rings out before you even see him. "We brought the herbs you asked for!"
You look up to find both Sully boys approaching, carrying woven baskets. Neteyam walks with the careful, balanced gait of someone who's been trained not to spill a single leaf, his basket held steady against his hip. Lo'ak, predictably, is swinging his basket with one hand, nearly skipping, the contents rustling precariously with each step.
"Careful, skxawng," Neteyam says, not unkindly. "You're going to scatter them everywhere."
"I'm being careful!" Lo'ak protests, even as a few leaves flutter free and drift to the ground.
You can't help but smile. At fourteen, Neteyam is already growing into the warrior and leader he'll becomeโtall, strong-shouldered, with his father's intensity tempered by his mother's grace. Lo'ak, at twelve, is all gangly limbs and restless energy, still growing into himself, still figuring out where he fits.
"Thank you, boys," you say warmly, setting aside your weaving. "Set them here, please."
Neteyam places his basket down with care, the herbs neatly arranged and sorted. Lo'ak plunks his down with less ceremony, and you notice immediately that while the quantity is right, the organization is... creative. Healing leaves mixed with cooking herbs, roots tangled with flowers.
"Lo'ak," Neteyam sighs, peering into the basket. "I showed you how to sort them."
"I did sort them!" Lo'ak's ears flatten defensively. "See? Big ones on the bottom, small ones on top."
"That's notโ" Neteyam starts, then catches your eye and shakes his head with fond exasperation. "Never mind."
You laugh softly. "It's fine, Neteyam. I can sort them. You both did well to gather so many."
Neteyam's expression softens with quiet pride, but Lo'ak practically glows. "There's a whole patch of the blue flowers you like near the river," he says eagerly. "I can show you tomorrow if you want! I marked the tree with a scratch so I'd remember."
"I would like that very much," you tell him, and his grin widens.
Neteyam crouches beside your weaving, examining it with genuine interest. "This pattern is different from the last one."
"Good eye." You're pleased he noticed. "It's stronger this wayโbetter for larger prey. Your father requested it."
"Can you teach me?" He traces the weave with careful fingers. "I know the basic patterns, but this looks more complex."
"Of course." You gesture for him to sit. "Here, watch the crossing patternโ"
You're demonstrating the technique when Lo'ak, who's been uncharacteristically quiet, suddenly yelps.
"Sa'nu! Look!"
You glance up to find him balanced precariously on top of your storage chest, arms windmilling, having apparently climbed up to reach something on the high shelf.
"Lo'akโ" Neteyam starts, already moving.
"I've got it!" Lo'ak stretches up on his toes, fingers grasping forโ
The chest wobbles.
Lo'ak's eyes go wide.
"Oh shโ"
He topples backward with a startled shout, arms flailing. Neteyam lunges forward and manages to catch himโbarelyโbut the momentum sends them both stumbling. They crash into your herb baskets in a tangle of limbs and leaves, scattering the carefully gathered plants across the floor in an explosion of green and purple and gold.
For a moment, there's stunned silence.
Then Lo'ak, sprawled on his back with Neteyam half on top of him and leaves in his hair, starts to laugh. It's that helpless, wheezing kind of laughter that's impossible to resist.
"Youโ" Neteyam tries to sound stern, but his own mouth is twitching. "You absoluteโ"
"I almost had it!" Lo'ak gasps between giggles, holding up a small carved box triumphantly. "See? I got the thing!"
"What thing?" you ask, trying very hard not to laugh yourself.
"This!" He sits up, still grinning, and opens the box to reveal a collection of small carved beads you'd been looking for yesterday. "You said you couldn't find them, so I thought maybe they were up high, and I was right!"
Your heart melts a little. He'd been listening. He'd remembered. And in his own chaotic, impulsive way, he'd been trying to help.
"Oh, ma'itan." You can't help itโyou start laughing too. "You could have just asked me to get them down."
"Where's the fun in that?" He grins at you, unrepentant, leaves still stuck in his braids.
Neteyam groans, extracting himself from the pile and beginning to gather the scattered herbs. "You're impossible."
"But I found them!" Lo'ak scrambles to help, though he's mostly just moving the herbs around rather than actually organizing them. "That counts for something, right Sa'nu?"
"It counts for something," you agree, reaching out to pluck a flower from behind his ear. "Though next time, perhaps use your words before you use your climbing skills?"
"I'll think about it," he says cheerfully, which means absolutely not.
Neteyam shakes his head, but there's affection in his exasperation. "Come on, skxawng. Help me sort these properly this time."
"I know how to sort!"
"You really don't."
They work together, Neteyam patiently re-explaining the categories while Lo'ak tries his best to pay attentionโthough you notice his gaze keeps drifting to the window, to the forest beyond, to anywhere but the careful, methodical task at hand.
You return to your weaving, but you're watching them too. The way Neteyam's hands move with careful precision. The way Lo'ak's fingers fidget and tap even as he tries to focus. The way they work together despite being so differentโNeteyam's steady patience balancing Lo'ak's chaotic energy.
"There," Neteyam says finally, sitting back. "All sorted."
"See? I helped," Lo'ak announces proudly.
"You helped make the mess and then helped clean it up," Neteyam corrects, but he's smiling. "That's not the same as helping."
"Still counts."
You laugh, reaching out to squeeze Neteyam's shoulder in thanks. He leans into the touch brieflyโhe's always been good at accepting affection, secure in his place in the world. Then you ruffle Lo'ak's hair, dislodging more leaves.
"Thank you both. Truly."
"Neteyam! Lo'ak!" Jake's voice carries from somewhere across High Camp. "Training time!"
Neteyam stands immediately, brushing off his legs. "Coming, sir!"
Lo'ak groans dramatically. "But we just got here!"
"We've been here for half an hour," Neteyam points out.
"Exactly! Just!"
You smile, giving Lo'ak a gentle push toward the entrance. "Go on. Your father's waiting."
Lo'ak makes a show of dragging his feet, but you can see the excitement underneathโhe loves training, loves the challenge of it, even when it's hard. He pauses at the entrance, turning back with that bright, mischievous grin that's so uniquely his.
"Same time tomorrow, Sa'nu? For the blue flowers?"
"Same time tomorrow," you promise.
"Yes!" He pumps his fist, then darts out before Neteyam can scold him for dawdling.
Neteyam lingers a moment longer. "Thank you for teaching me the weave pattern. I'll practice."
"You'll master it quickly," you tell him, and you mean it. "You always do."
He ducks his head, pleased, then follows his brother out into the afternoon light.
You watch them goโNeteyam's measured stride, Lo'ak's bouncing energyโand your heart is full. You love them both. Neteyam with his quiet competence and gentle respect. Lo'ak with his wild heart and desperate need to be seen.
But Lo'ak...
Lo'ak is the one who climbs too high and falls into your arms. The one who remembers small things and tries to help in chaotic ways. The one who seeks you out not because he needs something, but because he needs you.
You return to your weaving, smiling to yourself, already looking forward to tomorrow's expedition to find blue flowers with a twelve-year-old boy who sees the world as an adventure waiting to happen.
Your Lo'ak.
Always your Lo'ak.
The Old Shack
You're grinding herbs when he bursts through the entrance flap.
"Sa'nuโ"
The word breaks on his tongue. Lo'ak stands there, chest heaving, his face blotchy with tears he's trying desperately to hold back. He's fourteen nowโtaller, broaderโbut in this moment he looks exactly like the little boy who used to run to you after his father's scoldings.
"Ma'itan." You're on your feet immediately, crossing to him. "What happened?"
"Iโwe wereโ" His voice cracks. He's shaking. "Quaritch. He took us. Me and Kiri and Tuk and Spider. They had us, Sa'nu, theyโ"
Your blood runs cold. "What?"
"We went to the old shack and these avatarsโthey grabbed us, they had guns andโ" The words tumble out in a rush. "Dad and Neteyam came. They got us out but Spiderโthey took Spider and I couldn'tโ"
"Eywa." You pull him into your arms, your heart hammering. "Are you hurt? Is anyone hurt?"
"No. I meanโwe're okay. But Dadโ" His breath hitches. "He said I was reckless. That I endangered everyone. That I never think." The last word comes out bitter and broken. "He looked at me likeโlike he was so disappointed. Like I'm just thisโthis problem he has to deal with."
You hold him tighter, one hand cradling the back of his head. "You're safe. That's what matters."
"I messed up." His voice is muffled against your shoulder. "I took them there. It's my fault Spider's gone. It's my fault we almostโ" He can't finish.
"Listen to me." You pull back just enough to cup his face, making him meet your eyes. "You made a choice that had consequences. Yes. But you are not responsible for the Sky People's evil. You did not ask for demons to hunt you."
"Dad doesn't see it that way."
"Your father was terrified. When we're scared for the people we love, sometimes the fear comes out as anger." You brush away his tears with your thumbs. "But that doesn't mean you're not worthy of love. That doesn't mean you're a problem."
His jaw trembles. You guide him to sit, keeping him close.
"I have something for you," you murmur, reaching for the small woven pouch you keep near your sleeping mat. "I've been working on it for days."
You pull out the braceletโforest-vine fibers woven tight and strong, interlaced with thin leather strips, threaded through with small carved wooden beads. Each bead bears a symbol you carved yourself: the Tree of Voices, a bow, a handprint.
"I wanted you to have something that wouldn't break," you say softly, taking his wrist. You're careful as you tie the bracelet in place, your fingers gentle. "Something to remind you that no matter what happens, no matter what anyone says, you are loved. You are valued. You are mine."
He stares at the bracelet, his fingers tracing over the beads. "Sa'nu..."
"You are my child, Lo'ak. Not because I have to claim you, but because I choose you. Every single day." You press your palm over the bracelet, over his pulse point. "When your father's words make you feel small, you look at this. You remember that someone sees you exactly as you are and loves you for it."
He throws his arms around you, holding tight. You hold him back just as fiercely.
"I love you," he whispers.
"I love you too, ma'itan. Always."
You sit together as his breathing slowly evens out, as the trembling subsides. When he finally pulls back, his eyes are still red but calmer.
"I should go back," he says quietly. "Mom will worry."
"I know." You cup his cheek one more time. "But you know where I am. Always."
He nods, touching the bracelet like a talisman. Then he's gone, slipping back out into the eveningโstill carrying the weight of what happened, but no longer carrying it alone.
You watch him go, your heart aching.
You don't know yet that tomorrow will bring worse news. That the Sullys will be leaving. That this small refuge you've given him tonight is only the beginning of a much deeper goodbye.
For now, you simply pray to Eywa that the bracelet will be enough to remind him: he is loved, even when the world tells him otherwise.
Wings and Tears
The morning comes too soon.
You've known for three days that this moment would arrive, but knowing doesn't make it easier. The sun rises over High Camp in shades of gold and amber, painting the world in colors too beautiful for such heartbreak. The air is crisp, carrying the scent of dew-soaked leaves and the distant calls of ikran stirring in their roosts.
The Sullys are leaving.
You stand at the edge of the gathering area, watching as the family prepares for departure. Jake moves with military efficiency, checking supplies and weapons. Kiri helps Tuk secure a small pack, her movements gentle and patient. Neytiri stands beside her ikran, one hand on the creature's neck, her face a mask of controlled grief and determination.
You're sad to see all of them go. Neytiri has been your friend since childhoodโyou've hunted together, laughed together, mourned together. Kiri's quiet wisdom has always touched your heart. Tuk's bright spirit has brought light to the darkest days. Even Jake, for all his foreign ways, has earned your respect.
But Lo'akโ
Lo'ak is your little boy.
You see him across the clearing, helping load supplies onto his ikran with mechanical movements, his face carefully blank. The bracelet you gave him catches the morning light, the carved beads visible against his wrist. He hasn't taken it off.
Your heart is breaking.
"Ma Eylan."
You turn to find Neytiri approaching, her expression soft despite the tension in her shoulders. She stops before you, and for a moment neither of you speaks.
"Thank you," she says quietly. "For loving him."
Your throat tightens. "He makes it easy."
"I know he comes to you." There's something in her voiceโnot accusation, but acknowledgment. Perhaps even a thread of something that might be jealousy, though she's too gracious to let it show fully. "I know he seeks comfort from you that he does not always seek from me."
"Neytiriโ"
She shakes her head, reaching out to clasp your hand. "I do not blame you. I am grateful for you." Her eyes glisten. "He needs you. He has always needed you. And you have given him something preciousโa place where he can simply be loved without condition, without expectation." She squeezes your hand. "That is a gift I cannot always give him. Not the way you do."
You pull her into an embrace, holding your oldest friend tight. "Take care of him," you whisper. "Take care of all of them."
"I will." She pulls back, her warrior's composure settling back into place. "We will return. When it is safe."
You nod, not trusting your voice.
She returns to her ikran, and you stand there, watching, waitingโ
"Sa'nu?"
The voice is small, uncertain. You turn to find Lo'ak standing a few feet away, his hands fidgeting with the edge of his belt. He's fourteen years old, he will someday be as tall as his father, his shoulders broadening with the promise of the warrior he'll become.
But in this moment, he looks like the five-year-old who first ran to you with tears in his eyes.
"Ma'itan," you breathe.
He crosses the distance in three strides and falls into your arms like a child, his face buried against your shoulder, his hands clutching at your back. You hold him tight, one hand cradling his head, the other wrapped around his shoulders.
"I don't want to go," he whispers, his voice cracking.
"I know, my sweet boy. I know."
"I don't know when I'll see you again."
"Eywa will bring you back to me." You stroke his hair, memorizing the feel of him in your arms. "You are my child, Lo'ak. Distance cannot change that. Time cannot change that. Nothing can change that."
He pulls back just enough to look at you, his eyes red-rimmed. "What if I forgetโ"
"You won't." You cup his face in your hands. "And even if the details blur, your heart will remember. You will always know that you are loved. You will always know that somewhere in this world, there is a woman who calls you her son and means it with every breath."
His jaw trembles. You pull him close again, holding him the way you did when he was small, when the world felt too big and too cruel.
Across the clearing, you catch Neytiri watching. Her expression is complexโtender, wistful, perhaps a touch envious of how easily her son melts into your embrace, how completely he allows himself to be your baby. But there's no anger there. Only understanding. She sees what you are to him, what you've always been, and she doesn't begrudge him this comfort.
She simply watches for a moment, then turns away, giving you this final privacy.
"Lo'ak," Jake's voice carries across the clearing. "Time to go, son."
Lo'ak stiffens in your arms. You feel his breath hitch, feel him trying to pull himself together.
"Listen to me," you murmur, pulling back to meet his eyes. "When you fly away from here, you don't have to look back. Do you understand? If it hurts too much, if it's too hard, you keep your eyes forward. You protect your heart. I won't be hurt. I won't be angry. You do what you need to do."
"Butโ"
"I will watch you go. I will wave. I will hold you in my heart." You brush away his tears with your thumbs. "But youโyou take care of yourself, ma'itan. However you need to."
He shakes his head. "I'll wave. One more time, when we're in the air. I'll wave so you knowโso you know I'm thinking of you."
Your vision blurs. "Then I'll be watching."
"Lo'ak." Jake's voice again, gentler this time.
Lo'ak hugs you one final time, fierce and desperate, and you hold him just as tightly. You press a kiss to his temple, breathing in the scent of himโforest and woodsmoke and the sweet, familiar smell that's been his since childhood.
"I love you," he whispers.
"I love you too, my beautiful boy. Always."
He pulls away, and you let him go even though every instinct screams to hold on tighter. He walks backward a few steps, his eyes locked on yours, then turns and runs to his ikran.
You watch as the family makes their final preparations. Jake helps Tuk onto Neytiri's ikran. Kiri mounts her own with practiced grace. Lo'ak swings onto his ikran's back, his movements fluid despite the tears still wet on his cheeks.
The ikran spread their wings, the sound like thunder in the quiet morning. One by one, they launch into the airโJake first, then Neytiri with Tuk, then Kiri.
Lo'ak is last.
His ikran circles once, gaining altitude, and thenโthere. He raises his hand, waving, his face turned toward you even as the wind whips his braids back.
You wave back, your arm raised high, your other hand pressed to your heart.
The tears come freely now, streaming down your face as you watch them grow smaller against the vast sky. The morning sun catches on their ikran's wings, turning them into silhouettes of gold and shadow. They bank east, toward the distant ocean, toward whatever new life awaits them.
Lo'ak waves one more timeโa final flash of movement against the sky.
Then they're gone, disappearing beyond the tree line, swallowed by distance and light.
You stand there long after they've vanished, your arm still raised, your face wet with tears. The wind carries the fading sounds of ikran calls, then even those fade into silence.
Your little boy is gone.
The clearing feels impossibly empty. Other clan members move around you, returning to their daily tasks, but you can't move. You can only stand there, staring at the sky, feeling the absence like a physical wound.
"Eywa," you whisper, your voice breaking. "Keep him safe. Bring him home."
The wind stirs your hair, warm and gentle, and for just a moment you swear you feel somethingโa presence, a comfort, a promise.
He will come back to you.
Someday.
You lower your arm slowly, pressing both hands to your chest, feeling your heart beat beneath your palms. He's out there somewhere, flying toward an unknown future, but he carries your love with him. The bracelet on his wrist. The memories in his heart. The knowledge that he is claimed, chosen, cherished.
You take a shuddering breath and turn back toward your quarters.
There is grief to process. There is an empty space where your child used to be. There are long days ahead, wondering if he's safe, if he's happy, if he remembers.
But you are his Sa'nu.
And you will wait for him, however long it takes.
Because that is what mothers do.
Lo'ak's Return
The evening light filters through the woven walls of your kelku, painting everything in shades of amber and gold. You're grinding herbsโthe familiar, meditative rhythm of pestle against stoneโwhen you hear it.
Footsteps.
Not just any footsteps. You know the cadence of this gait like you know your own heartbeat: quick, uneven, purposeful. A stride that has always carried more weight than it should for someone so young.
Lo'ak.
Your hands still. The pestle hovers above the mortar as your ears swivel forward, catching the sound of his approach. He's moving fastโtoo fastโand there's something desperate in the way his feet hit the ground. Your heart clenches.
You set down your tools and rise just as the entrance flap is pushed aside.
And there he is.
Your boy. Your sweet, wounded boy.
He's taller than when you last saw himโbroader in the shoulders, more defined in the face. The reef has changed him physically, bronzed his skin, lightened the tips of his braids. But his eyes... Eywa, his eyes are the same. Those golden eyes that have always found you in crowded spaces, that have always sought you out when the world became too heavy.
Except now they're red-rimmed and swimming with unshed tears.
"Sa'nu," he breathes, and the word breaks on his tongue like a wave against stone.
You don't think. You don't hesitate. Your arms open wide, and he crashes into you like a storm finally making landfall.
The impact nearly knocks you back a step, but you steady yourself, wrapping your arms around him as tightly as you can. He's so much bigger than the last time you held him like thisโwhen he was fourteen and Jake had yelled at him for losing his temper during training, when he'd come to you with clenched fists and wounded pride. But despite his size, despite the muscle that the ocean has built on his frame, he folds into your embrace like he's still that little boy who used to climb into your lap after his parents made him feel small.
And then he sobs.
It's not a quiet cry. It's the kind of crying that comes from somewhere deep and primal, the kind that's been held back for too long. His whole body shakes with it, his face buried in the crook of your neck, his hands fisting in the fabric of your top like he's afraid you'll disappear if he doesn't hold on tight enough.
"Oh, my child," you murmur, one hand cradling the back of his head, the other rubbing slow, soothing circles on his back. "I have you. I have you, ma'itan. You're safe."
He can't speak. He can only cry, great heaving sobs that wrack his entire frame. You feel the hot wetness of his tears against your skin, feel the way he trembles like a leaf in a storm. So you do what you've always done: you hold him. You don't ask questions. You don't demand explanations. You simply anchor him with your presence, your touch, your unconditional acceptance.
You guide him down to the woven mat on the floor, settling yourself against the support beam and pulling him with you. He doesn't resist. He curls into your side like he used to when he was small, his head on your chest, his long legs tucked up, making himself as compact as possible. You wrap both arms around him and begin to rock, just slightly, the way you would soothe an infant.
"Breathe, paskalin," you whisper, your lips against his temple. "Breathe with me."
You exaggerate your own breathing, making it slow and deep, and graduallyโso graduallyโyou feel him trying to match it. His sobs begin to space out, becoming shuddering gasps, then hitching breaths. But the tears don't stop. They soak into your top, warm and endless, and you welcome every single one.
Your fingers card through his braids, careful and gentle, the way you've done a thousand times before. When he was seven and scraped his knee. When he was nine and Neteyam got all the praise for a successful hunt while Lo'ak's contribution went unnoticed. When he was twelve and Jake called him careless in front of the other warriors. Every time, he found his way to you. Every time, you held him just like this.
The light outside shifts from gold to violet as the sun dips below the horizon. You reach for a soft blanket without jostling him too much and drape it over his shoulders. He's not coldโnone of the People truly get cold in the forestโbut the weight of it seems to comfort him. He burrows deeper into your embrace, and you hold him tighter.
"I'm here," you murmur into his hair. "I'm not going anywhere. Take all the time you need, my sweet boy."
Minutes pass. Maybe longer. Time feels irrelevant when a child is hurting. You learned long ago that healing doesn't follow a schedule, that sometimes the most important thing you can offer is simply presence. So you stay still, stay solid, stay safe.
Eventually, his breathing evens out enough that you know he's ready to talkโor at least, ready to try. His voice, when it comes, is hoarse and broken.
"He's gone, Sa'nu."
Your heart splinters. You press a kiss to the top of his head. "I know, my child. I know."
"Neteyam isโ" His voice cracks, and he has to stop, has to breathe through another wave of grief. "He's gone, and it's my fault."
"No." The word is firm, immediate. You pull back just enough to tilt his face up toward yours, your hands cradling his jaw. His eyes are swollen, his face blotchy with tears, and he's never looked more like the little boy who used to bring you flowers he'd picked in the forest. "No, Lo'ak. It is not your fault."
"It is." The words tumble out now, desperate and anguished. "I was the one whoโwho went to save Spider. I was the one who got captured. Neteyam came for me, and heโheโ" A fresh sob chokes him. "He died saving me. He died because I was stupid and reckless andโ"
"Stop." You make your voice gentle but unyielding. "Stop, my child. Listen to me."
He's shaking his head, tears streaming down his face. "Dad saidโDad said it was my fault. He said Iโ" His breath hitches. "He looks at me like he hates me, Sa'nu. Like he wishes it was me instead. And maybeโmaybe he's right. Maybe it should have beenโ"
"Lo'ak te Suli Tsyeyk'itan." You use his full name, and it stops him mid-sentence. "Look at me."
He does, those golden eyes so full of pain it makes you want to weep.
"Your father is drowning in grief," you say softly, wiping his tears with your thumbs. "He is in so much pain that he cannot see clearly. He is lashing out because he doesn't know what else to do with all that he's feeling. But that does not make his words true. Do you understand me? That does not make you responsible for Neteyam's death."
"But Iโ"
"You went to save your friend. That was brave. That was loyal. Those are good things, Lo'ak." You keep your hands on his face, keeping him grounded, keeping him present. "What happened afterโthe battle, the Sky People, Neteyam's choice to come for youโthose were not things you controlled. You did not pull the trigger. You did not ask your brother to sacrifice himself. He made a choice, a warrior's choice, because he loved you."
Lo'ak's face crumples. "I don't deserveโ"
"You deserve everything," you interrupt, fierce and certain. "You deserve love. You deserve to be here. You deserve to grieve without carrying the weight of blame that is not yours to carry."
He breaks again, and you pull him back into your arms, holding him as tightly as you can. "I know it hurts," you whisper. "I know you miss him. I know you wish you could change what happened. But punishing yourself will not bring him back, my child. It will only destroy you, and I will notโI will notโlet that happen."
"Dad can't even look at me," Lo'ak chokes out against your shoulder. "Every time he does, I can see it. The disappointment. The anger. Like I'mโlike I'm this burden he has to carry. Like I'm the wrong son."
Your arms tighten around him, protective and fierce. "Then he is not seeing you clearly. Because when I look at you, I see a young man with a heart so big it frightens him sometimes. I see someone who loves deeply, who feels deeply, who cares so much about the people around him that he would risk everything to protect them. I see someone brave and loyal and kind."
"You have to say that," he mumbles. "You're my Sa'nu."
"I say it because it's true." You pull back again, needing him to see your face, needing him to see that you mean every word. "I have watched you grow, Lo'ak. I have seen you at your best and your worst. I have seen you make mistakes and I have seen you try so hard to make things right. And through all of itโall of itโI have loved you. Not because you're perfect. Not because you always do the right thing. But because you are you. Because you are my child, and nothing will ever change that."
His lower lip trembles. "Even though I'm not reallyโ"
"You are," you say firmly. "Blood does not make a family, my sweet boy. Love does. Choice does. And I chose you the first time you came to me with tears in your eyes, looking for someone to see you. I chose you every time after that. I choose you now."
He stares at you, and you can see the war happening behind his eyesโthe desperate need to believe you fighting against the voice in his head that sounds too much like his father's disappointment.
So you soften your voice, gentle it into something soothing. "Come here, paskalin."
You shift your position, leaning back against the support beam more fully, and guide him to rest his head in your lap. He goes willingly, curling onto his side, and you begin to stroke his hair the way you used to when he was small and couldn't sleep.
"When you were little," you murmur, "maybe five or six years old, you came to me one day with a flower. Do you remember?"
He shakes his head slightly.
"It was a woodsprite lilyโthe purple ones that grow near the river. You'd picked it yourself, and you were so proud. You said, 'Sa'nu, this is for you because you're nice to me.' Just like that. So simple. So sweet." Your fingers trace gentle patterns through his braids. "I asked you why you thought I was nice to you, and you said, 'Because you smile when you see me. Not the smile grown-ups do when they have to. The real one.'"
You feel him take a shaky breath.
"I have always smiled when I see you, Lo'ak. The real smile. Because you have always brought me joy. Not because of what you accomplish or how well you follow orders or whether you make mistakes. But because you exist. Because you are you."
"I don't feel like I bring anyone joy anymore," he whispers.
"Then they are not looking properly." You continue your gentle ministrations, your touch steady and sure. "Your siblings love you. Kiri and Tukโthey need you. And your father..." You pause, choosing your words carefully. "Your father loves you too, even if he cannot show it right now. His grief is a wall between you, but it is not permanent. Grief changes shape over time. It softens. And when it does, he will see clearly again."
"What if he doesn't?"
"Then you will still be loved. By me. By your siblings. By everyone who truly sees you." You lean down and press a kiss to his temple. "You are not alone, my child. You will never be alone."
The tension in his body begins to ease, slowly, like ice melting in the sun. His breathing deepens, becomes less ragged. You keep stroking his hair, humming softlyโan old lullaby your own mother used to sing, one you've sung to Lo'ak more times than you can count.
"Sa'nu?" His voice is small, young.
"Yes, my child?"
"Can I stay here tonight?"
Your heart swells. "You can stay as long as you need. This is your home too."
He shifts slightly, getting more comfortable, and you adjust the blanket around him. Outside, the sounds of the forest at night begin their familiar symphonyโthe calls of creatures, the rustle of leaves, the distant sound of the clan settling in for the evening. But here, in your kelku, there is only peace.
"I missed you," Lo'ak murmurs, his eyes drifting closed. "So much."
"I missed you too, paskalin. Every single day."
"The reef was beautiful," he says quietly. "But it wasn't home. Not really. Home is... home is here. With you."
Tears prick at your own eyes now, but you blink them back. "You are always home when you're with me. Always."
His hand finds yours, and he holds it like he used to as a childโfingers intertwined, grip tight. You squeeze back, a silent promise: I'm here. I'm not leaving. You are safe.
Minutes pass in comfortable silence. You watch as his face relaxes, as the lines of pain and stress smooth out. He's not healedโhealing from this kind of wound will take time, maybe yearsโbut for now, he's at peace. For now, he's simply a boy being held by someone who loves him unconditionally.
"Sa'nu?" he whispers, half-asleep now.
"Mm?"
"Thank you for... for always being my mom. My real mom."
Your breath catches. You lean down and press your forehead to his, a gesture of deep affection among the People. "Thank you for being my son. My real son."
He smilesโjust a little, just enoughโand it's the most beautiful thing you've seen in months.
You stay like that as the night deepens, as the stars emerge above the forest canopy, as the world continues to turn. You hold your child and let him rest, let him feel safe, let him simply be loved.
Because that's what mothers do.
And you are his mother, in every way that matters.
Tomorrow, there will be more pain to process. Tomorrow, there will be difficult conversations and complicated feelings. Tomorrow, Jake will have to face what his grief has done to his son, and Lo'ak will have to continue the hard work of healing.
But tonightโtonight, there is only this: a mother's arms around her child, a safe place to fall apart, and the quiet, powerful truth that he is loved exactly as he is.
"Sleep, my sweet boy," you whisper, continuing to stroke his hair. "I'll keep watch. You're safe now."
And as his breathing evens out into the rhythm of sleep, as his grip on your hand relaxes but doesn't let go, you send up a prayer to Eywaโa prayer of gratitude for this child, this beautiful, wounded, precious child who chose you just as much as you chose him.
He is yours.
And you will love him through this darkness, just as you have loved him through every darkness before.
Because that is what mothers do.
And you are his Sa'nu.
Always.
A Gift for Tsireya
The morning arrives soft and golden, the first light filtering through the trees in shafts of amber and rose. You wake before Lo'ak stirs, carefully extracting yourself from where he's curled against you on the mat. He mumbles something in his sleep, his hand reaching out, and you gently tuck a woven blanket around him before rising.
Outside, High Camp is already stirring with quiet activity. You can hear the distant sounds of ikran being prepared, supplies being checked one final time. The Sullys will leave after the morning mealโback to Awa'atlu, back to the ocean clan that has become their new home.
You move through your quarters with practiced ease, preparing breakfast. Roasted teylu, still warm and fragrant. Fresh fruit gathered yesterdayโyovo and spartan fruit, their skins bright against the woven plate. A handful of nuts. Two cups of herbal tea, steam rising in delicate spirals.
Simple. Familiar. Domestic.
The kind of meal you've shared with Lo'ak a hundred times before.
"Sa'nu?"
You turn to find him sitting up, his hair mussed from sleep, the bracelet you gave him still secure on his wrist. His eyes are clearer this morning, less haunted, though the grief still lingers in the set of his shoulders.
"Good morning, ma'itan." You gesture to the food. "Come. Eat with me before you go."
He unfolds himself from the mat and joins you, settling cross-legged across from you with the ease of long familiarity. For a few moments, you eat in comfortable silence, the morning light growing stronger around you.
"How did you sleep?" you ask gently.
"Better." He picks at a piece of fruit, then meets your eyes. "Thank you. For last night. For... everything."
"Always." You reach across to squeeze his hand briefly. "You know that."
He nods, and you let the quiet settle again, watching him eat. He's still too thin, you think. The months away have worn on him. But there's something else tooโsomething beneath the grief and guilt. A flicker of something lighter.
"Tell me about Awa'atlu," you say, keeping your voice casual. "Not the hard parts. The good things. What do you like about it?"
He glances up, surprised. "You want to know?"
"Of course I do." You smile. "You've been living there for months. It's part of your life now. I want to hear about it."
He considers this, then slowly begins to talk. At first, his words are hesitantโhe tells you about the reef, the way the water is so clear you can see straight to the bottom. About learning to ride an ilu, how different it is from flying. About the way the Metkayina build their homes on the water, how strange it felt at first but how he's grown used to it.
You listen, asking gentle questions, drawing him out. And gradually, his voice grows warmer, more animated.
"The sunsets are incredible," he says, his hands moving as he describes it. "The whole sky turns orange and pink, and the water reflects it all. And the bioluminescence at nightโSa'nu, it's like the whole ocean is full of stars."
"It sounds beautiful."
"It is." He pauses, then adds quietly, "You'd like it there. I think you'd like the people too. They're different from us, but... they're good. Kind."
"Tell me about them," you encourage. "Your friends there."
"Well, there's Ao'nungโhe's the chief's son. He was a skxawng at first, but he's gotten better." Lo'ak grins slightly. "Rotxo too. They've been teaching me and Neteyamโ" He stops abruptly, the smile fading.
You reach out, touching his knee gently. "It's okay. Keep going."
He swallows hard, then continues. "They've been teaching us. And Tsireyaโ" He stops again, but this time it's different. His ears flick back slightly, and there's color rising in his cheeks.
Your heart warms. "Tsireya?"
"She's... she's the chief's daughter." He's looking down at his food now, suddenly very interested in a piece of fruit. "She's the one who taught us to breathe, to adapt to the water. She's patient. And kind. And she..." He trails off.
"She what?" you prompt gently, though you already know. You can see it written all over his faceโthe softness, the yearning, the tender hope of first love.
"She sees me." The words come out quiet, almost wondering. "Not as the troublemaker or the screw-up or Neteyam's little brother. Just... me. She sees me, and she doesn't look away."
Your throat tightens with emotion. "She sounds wonderful."
"She is." He finally looks up, and there's something vulnerable in his eyes. "You'd like her, Sa'nu. I know you would."
You can't help the grin that spreads across your face. "Would I?"
His ears flatten further, embarrassed. "I just meanโshe's good. She's really good. And she's smart, and brave, andโ" He stops, realizing he's rambling.
You laugh softly, warmly. "Ma'itan, I already like her."
"You do?"
"Of course I do. Anyone who sees my boy for who he truly is, who treats him with kindness and respectโhow could I not like her?" You lean forward slightly. "Next time you come home, I hope you bring her with you. I would very much like to meet this Tsireya who has captured your heart."
His eyes widen. "Really?"
"Really." You reach out to cup his cheek. "Lo'ak, you are allowed to be happy. You are allowed to find love, to be seen, to have someone who chooses you. That is not something to hide or be ashamed of. That is something to celebrate."
He blinks rapidly, and you realize there are tears gathering in his eyes againโbut these are different. These are the tears of someone who has been given permission to want something good.
"I wish you were coming with us," he whispers. "I wish you could meet her now. I wishโI wish you could be there."
Your heart clenches. "I know, my sweet boy. I know."
"Why can't you come? You couldโwe could make room, you couldโ"
"Lo'ak." You say it gently but firmly. "Someone has to keep this place home."
He stares at you, not understanding.
"High Camp, the forest, the Omaticayaโthis is your home," you continue. "It will always be your home. And when you come back, whether that's in a month or a year or ten years, it needs to still be here. It needs to still be yours." You squeeze his hand. "I will be here. Keeping it safe. Keeping it ready for you. So that no matter how far you go or how long you're gone, you always have a place to return to."
His jaw trembles. "But I'll miss you."
"And I'll miss you. Every single day." You blink back your own tears. "But you are going to live your life, ma'itan. You are going to grow and learn and love. And I am going to be here, so proud of you, waiting for the day you come home and tell me all about it."
He's quiet for a long moment, processing this. Then, softly: "Will you really want to hear about Tsireya? About... all of it?"
"Every detail," you promise. "I want to know everything. What she's like, what makes her laugh, how she makes you feel. All of it."
A small, genuine smile breaks through his grief. "She has this way of tilting her head when she's thinking. And her eyesโthey're this blue-green color, like the shallow water. And when she smiles, it's likeโ"
"Like the sun coming out," you finish, grinning.
He laughs, embarrassed but happy. "Yeah. Like that."
You sit back, studying him. An idea is forming, something that feels right. "Wait here."
You rise and move to the small basket where you keep your personal belongings. You sift through carefully, looking forโthere. Your fingers close around it, and you pull it out, holding it up to the morning light.
It's a hair ornament, delicately carved from pale wood and inlaid with polished river stones and fragments of iridescent beetle wings you've collected from the forest floor over the years. Simple but beautiful, the kind of thing that catches the dappled light and shimmers with subtle greens and golds.
You return to Lo'ak, holding it out. "Give this to Tsireya when you return to Awa'atlu."
His eyes widen. "Sa'nu, I can'tโthat's yours."
"And now I'm giving it to you, to give to her." You press it into his hands. "Tell her it's from me. Tell her... tell her thank you."
"Thank you?" He looks confused.
"For seeing my boy. For being kind to him. For making him smile." Your voice catches slightly. "For being there when I cannot be."
Understanding dawns in his eyes, followed by something that looks like wonder. "You really mean that."
"Every word." You close his fingers around the ornament. "She matters to you, so she matters to me. And I want her to know that she has my blessing, my gratitude, and my hope that she will continue to see you for the remarkable person you are."
He stares down at the gift, then back up at you, and suddenly he's movingโlaunching himself forward to wrap his arms around you in a fierce hug.
"Thank you," he whispers against your shoulder. "Thank you, thank you, thank you."
You hold him tight, one hand cradling the back of his head. "You deserve this happiness, ma'itan. You deserve to be loved and seen and chosen. Don't ever forget that."
He pulls back, and his face is bright despite the tearsโexcited, hopeful, young in a way you haven't seen since before Neteyam's death. "She's going to love this. And she's going to love you. I know she will."
"Then I look forward to the day I can meet her properly and tell her all your embarrassing childhood stories."
He laughsโa real, genuine laugh that fills your heart with warmth. "Sa'nu, no."
"Oh yes. I have so many. Like the time you tried to sneak across the River Lights alone at nightโ"
"I was six!"
"Or when you got stuck in that tree and cried for three hoursโ"
"Sa'nu!" But he's grinning, his whole face alight with joy and mock indignation.
You laugh with him, savoring this momentโthis brief, shining moment where the grief recedes and he is simply your boy, happy and hopeful and loved.
Outside, you hear Jake's voice calling for the family to gather. The departure is imminent.
Lo'ak's smile fades slightly, but it doesn't disappear entirely. He tucks the hair ornament carefully into his pouch, then looks at you with eyes that hold both sorrow and gratitude.
"I love you, Sa'nu."
"I love you too, my beautiful boy." You cup his face one more time. "Now go. Live your life. Love that girl. Be happy. And when you're ready, come home and tell me everything."
He nods, standing. You stand with him, and he hugs you one final timeโquick but tight, full of all the things you don't have time to say.
Then he's gone, ducking out of your quarters and into the morning light, the bracelet on his wrist and the gift for Tsireya safe in his pouch.
You stand in the doorway, watching him go, your heart full of bittersweet joy.
He has found someone who sees him. Someone who chooses him. Someone who makes him smile even in the midst of grief.
And for thatโfor herโyou are grateful beyond words.
Because you cannot always be with him. You cannot shield him from every pain or hold him through every dark night.
But Tsireya can be there. Tsireya can see him, love him, remind him of his worth.
And that is a gift more precious than anything you could give.
You press your hand to your heart, sending a silent prayer to Eywaโa prayer of gratitude for this girl you've never met, this Tsireya who has captured your boy's heart and treated it with gentleness.
Thank you, you whisper to the wind. Thank you for seeing him. Thank you for being there. Thank you for loving him.
The morning breeze stirs your hair, warm and soft, carrying with it the distant sounds of ikran calls and farewells.
notes fake dating (this trope was requested <33), he falls first AND harder, yearning neteyam, reader is the sweetest girl in the world, smut (p in v), oral (f&m receiving)
synopsis neteyam offered a proposition to the most quiet girl in the clan: pretend to be his intended to make another girl jealous... but a short time into it and the lines had blurred for him. not for you, though! youโre serious about the mission, much to his frustration.
โThe moons are ripening,โ Elder Peyka remarked. โThe courting season will be upon us before the next great hunt. The young warriors are already preening like forest ikrans... Oh, how nice to see.โ
โAnd the girls are no better,โ another elder chuckled, tightening a string of seed beads. She turned her clouded but sharp eyes toward you. You were sitting a few paces away, your fingers flying across a loom. โChild. Look at me.โ
You paused, your heart giving a small, nervous flutter as you looked up. โYes, elder?โ
โYou are of age now, are you not?โ
โI am,โ you replied softly, your voice barely rising above the rustle of the loom.
Peyka sighed, shaking her head. โIf only you would go out there and be seen, child! You have the grace of the willow, but you hide like a yerik. You are too shy for your own good. If you do not lift your head, the season will pass you by and you might actually become a spinster, weaving alone while the rest of the clan sings of mates!โ
A chorus of gentle, teasing laughter erupted from the circle. You felt the heat rise in your cheeks, and you quickly ducked your head back down, focusing intensely on a loose thread. You let out a small, embarrassed chuckle of your own, a soft sound that barely escaped your lips.
You are painfully aware of that but you donโt know where to start. You have friends, yes, but they are not friends you hang out with outside of the weaving looms. You are almost always alone, and while other girls had found their places among the hunters, practicing their war cries or vying for the attention of the said men, you found yourself hidden in the looms to enjoy the repetitive routine of weaving.
Itโs not like you were the best weaver, too. You are not the best, not the worst either, just a girl whose hands were often stained with berry dyes and whose eyes were usually cast downward. It was safer that way. When you didn't look up, you didn't have to see the way the world seemed to orbit around people who weren't you.
A few feet away, leaning against a sturdy root, Neteyam sat silently. An elder weaver was currently binding a new leather guard to his forearm, and while he appeared to be focused on it, his ears were swiveled toward the elders' conversation.
He watched you.
Neteyam knew everyone in the clan. It was his duty as the future Olo'eyktan, but as he looked at you now, he realized he has never even heard you speak. He knew your name, he knew your family, but he couldn't recall the sound of your voice until that very moment. Your shy, quiet laughter brought a warm feeling to his chest for some reason, making him take a deep breath.
His mind drifted to Kaโani. She was the finest huntress among their peers, just like him. And heโs always thought of a partnership much like the one his parents have. His father is a great warrior and so is his mother. To be a great leader is to stand beside a fearsome woman as well... And he thinks itโs Kaโani.
But right now, she was becoming a challenge. Sheโs making him look like a fool, flitting from warrior to warrior to test his patience. She wanted him to chase her until he was exhausted, and Neteyam, the proud, capable, and unaccustomed to losing firstborn of the clanโs pillars, was reaching his breaking point. He was never fond of playing, but some games need strategy, too.
Neteyamโs gaze lingered on you. You were still working, your movements steady and humble, completely unaware of the weight of his stare. A slow, calculated thought began to take root in his mind.
โFinished, Neteyam,โ the weaver said, patting his arm.
โThank you,โ Neteyam murmured. He stood up, taller and broader than most men.
Instead of heading back to where the warriors were gathering, he turned his steps toward the shadows. He walked with deliberate strides stopping right in front of your loom until his shadow blocked your light. โYouโre doing that wrong.โ
The voice startled you so badly that the bone needle slipped. โIโwhat?โ you stammered, finally looking up.
Neteyam was standing over you. In the flickering firelight, his bioluminescent freckles were glowing like stars. โThe weave,โ he said, gesturing vaguely at the basket in your lap. โItโs too tight. It will snap when it dries.โ
โThe ones I did last moon were fine,โ you murmured. You tried to look back down, to disappear into your work as you always did. โIs there something you need?โ
Instead of answering, he sat. The movement was fluid, but there was a heaviness to it, sitting so close to you that his knee brushed against yours.
โI have a proposition for you, Y/N,โ he said. His voice was low, dropping into a register that felt dangerously intimate. He knows your name?
You blinked, your insecurity rising up like a shield. โA proposition? Do you need help with the weaving?โ
โNo, no, I donโt,โ he answered. โThe elders speak the truth, you know,โ he said, his voice a smooth baritone. โIt would be a shame for you to be hidden in the dark.โ
You finally looked up, your eyes wide. Neteyam wasn't looking at the fire, he was looking directly at you, and for the first time in your life, the Golden Son was smiling as if you were the only person in the clearing.
โI donโt know what youโre talking about,โ you breathed, your voice trembling.
He leaned in just an inch closer, his amber eyes sparking with a hidden intent. โHear my proposition... It might just solve both our problems with the coming season.โ
You swallowed hard, the dryness in your throat making it difficult to breathe. You were a weaver of threads, but sitting before you was practically the weaver of destinies in this clan. You know he could alter your life and he was looking at you with a terrifying amount of focus.
โOur... problems?โ you whispered, your fingers curling tightly around the bone needle. โI donโt have problems. And I donโt think someone like you have problems, Neteyam.โ
He let out a short, huffed breath that might have been a laugh if his eyes weren't so sharp. โEveryone has a role to play. Sometimes, that role becomes... suffocating. My mother is already looking at the daughters of the council. She expects a match that strengthens the line. Iโm thinking of Kaโani. Sheโs the finest huntress my age.โ
At the mention of her name, his jaw tightened. You remembered the last time you saw the girl. She was draped over the arm of a young warrior, her laughter loud and pointed, as if it was a performance, designed to reach the ears of a certain warrior. You remembered Neteyam standing in the training grounds then and everything clicked in your head.
โShe wants a chase,โ Neteyam continued, silencing your thoughts. โBut I do not have the time for nonsensical games. And you... The elders say you are a shadow. That you will be left behind.โ
โI am fine being a shadow,โ you countered, though your voice lacked conviction. โItโs not complicated. I will have what comes and accept what doesnโt.โ
โShadows are lonely,โ he said softly. โBe my partner. Not just for the ceremonies, but the communal meals as well. I will be with you. Let the clan see us, let them see you.โ
Your heart gave a violent thud. You weren't a fool. You knew what this was. You were the girl no one would suspect he will actually notice, which made you the perfect weapon to make Kaโani lose her mind with jealousy.
โYou want me to be a decoy,โ you said. โYou want her to see you with me so sheโll get jealous. You want her to stop playing around.โ
Neteyam didn't flinch at your bluntness. Instead, he reached out, his large hand covering yours where it rested on the loom. His skin was warm, his touch steady. โCorrect. And in return, you will no longer be the girl the elders pity. You will be the woman everyone sees. When the season ends and the act is over, every hunter in this clan will finally know your name. You won't be a spinster, Y/N. Iโll make sure of that. Youโll have your pick of any man here.โ
It was a cold, calculated trade. He will get the girl and you get a reputation and a way out of the shadows. He looked so sincere. You knew you should say no, you wouldnโt know how to act around him. But the thought of being someone for once, of walking through the village and not having people look through you, was a siren song you couldn't resist.
โWhat if I'm not a good actress?โ you asked, your voice a mere breath.
Neteyamโs smile widened, but it didn't reach his eyes. It was the smile of a strategist who had just moved his final piece into place.
โJust sit by my side. Iโll do the rest.โ he murmured, his thumb grazing your knuckles.
You took a shaky breath and nodded. โOkay. I'll do it.โ
Neteyam squeezed your hand once, a seal of the contract, before standing up. He offered his hand to help you up, and when you took it, the world felt like it shifted on its axis. You were stepping out of the dark, and into a fire that you knew, eventually, would burn you to ash.
Neteyam is a meticulous director and it was very hard for you as an easily embarrassed person. Being seen isnโt even enough for him, the act had to be over the top! He wanted it to be undeniable.
โChin up,โ he whispered one afternoon. You were walking to the central clearing for the communal meal, his hand hovering over your waist. โYou look like youโre walking to a funeral. Look at me. Smile.โ
โItโs hard to smile when I feel like a piece of bait,โ you murmured, keeping your eyes down, feeling at least a hundred eyes on you.
Neteyam let out a sharp breath. He stopped walking, maneuvering you to turn and face him. To anyone watching from a distance, it looked like a tender, private moment between lovers. Up close, his eyes were scanning the crowd, pinpointing exactly where Kaโani was sitting with her friends.
โYou agreed to this,โ he reminded you, his voice low and firm. He reached out, his fingers tilting your chin upward. His touch was warm, but it lacked the softness youโd imagined his touch would have. It was the grip of a hunter holding a prized bow. โIf you don't look happy, sheโll know itโs a ruse. Do you want the elders to go back to pitying you by tomorrow sun-up?โ
The reminder of your own invisibility stung. You forced your lips to curve, a small, shaky smile that felt brittle. โIs this better?โ
He studied your face for a beat too long, his thumb grazing your jawline. For a split second, his focus shifted from the crowd to the way your eyes searched his, but he shook it off quickly. โBetter. Keep it there, hm?โ
He led you toward the long tables. This was the stage. He made a show of picking out the best cuts of roasted meat for you, leaning in so close that his braids brushed against your shoulder. He was performative, ensuring the warriors nearby heard him.
โAnd since youโre starting a new tapestry,โ he said, loud enough for Ka'ani to hear from across your table. He draped an arm over the back of your seating mat, effectively fencing you in. โIโd fly to the borders to get you fibers for it.โ
You pursed your lips, lowering your head down to chuckle. โYour voice is too loud, Neteyam...โ you mumbled. โIโll end up with busted ear drums by the time this is over.โ
His own head lowered and angled toward you to catch what youโre saying, but it threw back as he let out a bark of genuine and deep laughter. You startled, your hand flying to his chest unconsciously, your head swiveling to the crowd of people who are now looking at you. You caught a glimpse of Kaโaniโs sharp eyes narrowing to slits.
The mission is working. You know it is working, youโve seen Kaโaniโs candid reactions in the past days and it was almost comical. You donโt understand how she can let other men touch her when it was Neteyam she truly wants. Itโs confusing, especially because you can see how she jealous she looks.
โYou can relax, Neteyam,โ you whispered, leaning toward him. โSheโs gone. She stomped away five minutes ago.โ
Neteyamโs posture didn't soften. He didn't pull his arm back. He took a slow sip of water, his expression unreadable. โThe act doesn't stop just because the primary audience leaves, Y/N. There are other eyes. Word must travel. That is how a reputation is built.โ He looked at you then, and for a moment, the strategic coldness was all there was. โEat your food. We have a walk through the groves. People need to see us.โ
The following days, and weeks, was a blur of choreographed intimacy. Neteyam was serious with his acts, he was everywhere you were. If you were gathering fibers, he was there, scouting the perimeter but always staying within your line of sight. During communal meals, he always ate with you, listening to you ramble and chuckling at everything you say.
Now that he has brought you out to light, more and more men were trying to talk to you, asking you random stuff they wouldn't even bother asking before. For them, you were almost unreachable in the past. You are too shy, too aloof, to be in the selection of girls they dare to play with.
But as the days pressed on, the meticulous director started losing his grip on the script.
The script had been clear: Neteyam would bring you into the light, and the hunters of the clan would finally notice you. It was exactly what he had promised. But as he stood on a ridge overlooking the path back to Hometree, watching you walk beside a hunter who was carrying your bundle of fibers under his arm, the air in his lungs seemed to turn to ice.
The hunter was Kiโong, a young man known for his easy smiles and a way of speaking that reminded him of the way you speak. If he saw this moons ago, the match would have made so much sense. The gentle hunter matches your gentleness. But today, he felt only bitterness. You were laughing, the sound he wanted to bottle and bring with him on patrol to help him calm down.
Now, Kiโong is easily basking in it, his tail twitching with a rhythmic interest that Neteyam recognized all too well for he was a man, too. His hand tightened around the grip of the bow until the wood groaned. His jaw locked. This was the trade, wasn't it? He had told you that by the time the season ended, you would have your pick of any man in the clan. So why did he feel like he wanted to shoot an arrow through the dirt at Kiโongโs feet as a warning?
His feet moved, and by the time you reached the shadow of the massive fern near the entrance, Neteyam was already there, blocking the path, calling your name in a sharp and dangerous tone that made Kiโong stop in his tracks.
โNeteyam!โ you said, surprised. โI thought you werenโt back from the scout yet.โ
Neteyam ignored you, his amber eyes fixed entirely on the other hunter. He stepped forward, entering your personal space with a possessiveness that felt far too real to be an act. You looked around. There was no crowd and no Kaโani at all, and this confuses you. What more, Neteyam wasnโt even looking around for the audience. He was looking only at Kiโongโs hand, which was hovering just a bit too close to your elbow.
Ki'ong blinked, his easy smile faltering under the sheer weight of Neteyam's stare. โI saw her in the forest, Neteyam, uh... What she was carrying was heavyโโ
โThank you for that, but Iโll take it from here,โ Neteyam cut him off, his voice dropping into a warning growl. He reached out, not gently, and pulled your fiber basket from the hunter.
โI'll... see you later then... Y/N,โ Kiโong said before walking away.
Neteyamโs head snapped back to Kiโongโs retreating form, his entire body coiled like a viperwolf ready to strike at the mere mention of a later. You watched him, your confusion slowly melting into a mischievous realization. You looked around one more time, and thereโs still nothing but a stray woodsprite. No Kaโani. No prying hunters. Just a very, very grumpy warrior holding a basket of fibers as if it were a thermal detonator.
A bubble of laughter escaped you, and you poked his rigid bicep.
โWow,โ you giggled, leaning in close to peer up at his stormy face. โNeteyam, that was... incredible. The growl? The death stare? Youโre getting really good at this. If I didn't know better, Iโd think you were actually trying to pick a fight over my honor.โ
Neteyam didn't relax. His jaw remained a hard line. โHe was overstepping. He was touching you.โ
โHe was just helping me,โ you countered, your eyes dancing with amusement. You started walking, motioning for him to follow with your basket. โBut honestly, Iโm impressed. Youโre such a perfectionist. Even with no audience, youโre still acting the territorial suitor.โ
He fell into step behind you, his tail still lashing even though heโs not speaking.
โOh, come on,โ you teased, walking backward for a few steps so you could admire his scowl. โLetโs just hope Kiโong tells everyone about your reaction. If word gets back to Kaโani that the great Neteyam almost bared his teeth at a hunter just for carrying my basket... well, our mission is as good as won. Itโs going to make it sound so real!โ You turned back around, a satisfied hum leaving your throat. โBut I donโt think Kiโong is the type to talk about stuff like that. He seemed too nice to gossip.โ
โHow would you know? You donโt know him,โ Neteyam cut you off, his voice sharp.
You laughed again, the sound light and airy. โMaybe I just know. I can sense if people have good hearts,โ you said, reaching back to give his chest a playful, comforting pat. โCome on,โ you smiled, oblivious to the way his hand tightened on the basket handle until his knuckles turned pale. โLetโs bring that to the looms. You can put all that 'warrior energy' into helping me sort the threads.โ
You turned on your heels and skipped ahead, feeling lighter than you had in days. Behind you, Neteyam stood for a beat longer, his eyes locked on the sway of your braids.
You two were swimming in the river, not alone anyway, because itโs just one of your many stages. His fellow hunters and warriors were swimming in the river several paces away from the two of you, but he has since swam to a secluded bend away from their prying eyes. You donโt always swim in the river. Mostly because you donโt want to swim alone, so now, youโre enjoying everything, even the reflection of the shimmering canopy above. You kept diving for as long as you could, the act momentarily paused because he had stirred you two away from the audience. You shrieked when you felt something tiny dart on your ankle. You dove your head, swimming after the tiny fish, your hand shotting forward to catch it and you bubbled a laugh underwater when you actually caught it.
You swam to the surface, holding up the fish as you laughed, the sound of your mirth echoing off the rock walls like bells. Neteyam stared at you from where he is, leaning against a mossy boulder, his chest heaving slightly, though he had been idle the entire time. You waded toward him, bringing him the fish, but he looked so serious that your lips pushed forward instead. Neteyam gritted his teeth at the sight of your smile fading.
โYou looked like the sky had fallen on you. What is it?โ you asked, putting the fish back in the water and watching it dart away from you with a small smile.
โOur scout yesterday everningโ he said suddenly, his voice low.
You nodded. He was late to the dinner last night... You figured there was something wrong, but you heard no news about it.
โThere was a near skirmish with a violent clan. They were one of those clans whose lands were spoiled by the sky people's actions. Apparently, theyโve been looking for a place to settle in, but they are also harming non-combatant clans.โ
You stopped splashing, the water settling around you. You hadn't heard about this. The elders usually kept such news quiet to avoid panic, but to know this now, and to see how burdened Neteyam was by it, you couldn't help but be bothered.
โThe council expects me to be like him,โ he said, staring at his reflection in the water. He didn't specify who him was and he didnโt have to. You know who he was talking about. As the firstborn of Toruk Makto, Neteyam has always lived in the shadow of a legend. โEvery battle, every hunt, every word I speak... it's measured against a standard I will never reach.โ
You stopped creating ripples in the waters, looking up at him. โYou donโt need to be your father, Neteyam,โ you said softly. โHave they considered a dialogue between the people of that clan? Perhaps... The chieftains of our neighboring clans could convene in a large council and speak with their representatives. I donโt think it needs to lead to people getting hurt when speaking would reach a much better conclusion.โ
Neteyam went still, his gaze snapping from the waterโs surface to your face. He watched you with an intensity he had directed to no one, but you wouldnโt know that. For a moment, the weight in his shoulders seemed to flicker, unsettled by the peaceful logic of your words.
โA dialogue,โ he repeated. He had been so focused on formations, weapon readiness, and the cold calculations of a warrior that the idea of a diplomatic council felt like a sudden breath of fresh air. โWhy do you think I am a warrior?โ he asked, a ghost of a smile touching his lips. โI am taught to protect. To fight.โ
โYou are taught to lead,โ you corrected gently, lightly splashing a bit of water toward his chest. โAnd a leaderโs first duty isnโt to fight, but to ensure peace. Your warriors will think of war, you will think of how to protect the people and the forest. The people of that clan is desperate, for sure... They lost their home, they are living like beggars. There is a reason they steal and harm the people who stop them. Have the clans thought of helping them?โ
He blinked, his amber eyes searching yours as if he could find all the answers there now.
You smiled lopsidedly, โYou can think of all that later though,โ you said softly, reaching into the crevice of the rock wall and plucking a small, ripe fruit that hung low. His eyes watched you peel it with nimble fingers. โBut right now? The water is cool, the fish are annoying, and you can rest your mind. Try being here for five minutes.โ
You gave him the fruit and when he took it, his fingers brushed against yours, lingering in a way that wasn't for show. He ate it slowly, watching you as if you were a piece of the puzzle he found after a long search. The silence was warm, humming with a new, dangerous kind of energy.
โYou think it could be that simple?โ he asked, his voice a low vibration.
โI think you make it too hard,โ you laughed, feeling a sudden surge of playfulness. You stepped back, the water splashing around your chest. โIโll bet a weekโs worth of weaving that I can reach the falls before you!โ
Before he could answer, you dove, your body disappearing into the water.
Neteyam stood there for a heartbeat, stunned. He didn't check the treeline. He didn't look back toward the other hunters. He didn't think about his father's expectations or the violent clan at the border. He simply dove in after you.
He caught up to you just as you reached the white water of the falls. You surfaced, gasping for air and laughing, only to find him right there, his eyes bright with a genuine, carefree light you had never seen before. You panicked at the sight of him, though, shrieking and kicking the hand that held your ankle. He barked a laugh, deep and resonant, that even he knows he hasn't laughed that way before. He reached out again, his hand finding yours under the water, squeezing it before pulling you to him. For the first time, he wasn't holding you so people would notice. He was holding you so you wouldn't drift away.
That night, as you both walked back to the village, Neteyamโs hand stayed on your waist even after you had passed the last group of onlookers. When you saw Kaโani appeared near the communal fire, looking particularly striking in her new top and loincloth that seemed to match the feathers in her hair, Neteyam didn't even turn his head even after you pointed it out. He was too busy listening to you describe the specific shade of teal the river turns into when the moons are at a particular shade. There's lightness in his chest that made him feel like he was flying.
Several nights later, Neteyam moved through the crowd with a lightness in his step that hadn't been there days prior. The communal dinner was buzzing with different conversations, but for him, it was merely a background, his eyes locked on your form, looking like a man who had finally found the trail home.
Earlier that afternoon, the Council had been tense. Jake and the elders focused on battle plans, on dispatching warriors to fight when necessary. Neteyam saw how the council, including him, lack the sight you have to see things differently. He didn't know where it was coming from, but his chest was puffing with full confidence on the idea you had given him, that when he spoke of dialogue, of the displaced clanโs desperation, and of communal aid rather than battles that would only end in loss, his voice was laced with certainty.
Jake had looked at his son with a mixture of surprise and pride. โThat is a path well thought of, Neteyam,โ he said.
โYou think like a true leader of the people now, son,โ Neytiri had added, her hand resting on his shoulder. โYou have grown.โ
Neteyam had offered them a small, humble smile. โI cannot take the credit, Mother. It was a good friend who gave me the perspective I needed,โ he said.
Neytiri tilted her head. โOh? Who is this friend?โ she asked.
Neteyam had looked at his mother. It was the easiest question heโd been asked, but it strike him quite deeply that he didnโt know what to say. โSomeone I... trust deeply.โ
Now, standing in the glow of the fire, Neteyam didn't even pause to greet the other hunters who called out to him. He made a beeline for the corner where you sat, tucked away with your latest weaving. When you looked up, your eyes widened at the sight of the massive, genuine grin splitting his face.
โThey accepted it,โ he said, dropping down beside you, his presence instantly making your corner feel warmer. โThe envoys will be sent at first light. My father and the elders... actually listened. Weโre calling a council of all the neighboring clans to help the displaced.โ
You felt a swell of pride in your chest, your grin matching his. โSee? Sometimes, you need to rest your mind and your soul, clear it until it is still water,โ you gestured in the air and be watched you with a lazy smile. โOnly then can you see the path clearly.โ
Neteyamโs gaze was soft, lingering on your face in a way that made your heart skip a beat. It was no longer the calculated look of someone directing a performance, it was the look of someone truly seeing you. You tear your gaze away, picking at the nuts on your leaf plate.
โI have something for you,โ he murmured, reaching into the small pouch at his waist. He held out his hand, palm up, revealing a mountain of perfectly ripe berries, the kind that only grow on the highest, most dangerous ledges.
You gasped, your fingers trembling slightly as you reached out for one. โNeteyam, these are rare. How did youโโ
โI was scouting the upper ridges,โ he lied effortlessly, though his eyes twinkled with the truth of the effort heโd put into finding them just for you. โTheyโre all yours. Take them.โ
You popped one into your mouth, the burst of sweetness making you hum. Neteyam let out a low chuckle, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he watched you enjoy the small gift. He didn't even notice the silence that had fallen over the nearby tables as they all watched him dote on the girl whose voice they rarely heard.
From across the fire, Kaโani felt the roasted meat in her mouth turn to ash. She couldn't even swallow. She had been so sure of what Neteyam wanted, sure that it was her in her strength and vitality. She was merely trying to break at his carefully cold facade, but he never did give her the satisfaction of seeing it.
But as she watched him now, she saw the way he leaned toward you, his body instinctively closing off the rest of the world to keep you in his private circle. She saw the way he laughed, unguarded, soft, and intimate. She had never seen that light in his eyes directed at her. She had never seen him look at anyone with such... peace.
Her fingers dug into the bark of her seating mat. This wasn't a game anymore. The challenge she thought she was winning had been forfeited by the man she wanted most, and the realization made her blood boil with a jealousy that was no longer a performance. As fot Neteyam, he has long forgotten to look if Kaโani even had her eyes on them, and tonight, he had forgotten she was even there.
Days later, you were at the washing stream, submerging your fibers in the cool water. You were thinking too much of Neteyam and the ride you had on his ikran last night when he brought you to the Hallelujah Mountains, but your peace was disrupted with the presence of another. You stopped and turned around, your breath hitching when you saw Kaโani step out from behind a massive fern.
โKaโani,โ you said, your voice steadier than you felt. You adjusted the empty leaf plate in your hands, refusing to cower.
โHow does it feel?โ she sneered, pacing a slow circle around you, her tail lashing behind her. โTo be the little pet? To be the girl Neteyam uses to get a reaction from me? You think those smiles of his mean anything? You think that look in his eyes is real?โ She let out a mocking laugh. โHeโs a warrior. The future Oloโeyktan. Do you think think I donโt know what heโs doing? He wants me, and heโs using a quiet mouse like you to punish me for playing hard to get.โ
You pursed your lips to stop yourself from chuckling. This is comedy to you, but you also feel guilty that she seems to be really upset. If only she werenโt being mean, youโd have advised her to go to Neteyam and talk to him properly, so that they can fix things between them.
โIf you are so certain of that, Kaโani,โ you said, your voice dropping to a calm, melodic register that seemed to grate on her nerves, โthen why are you talking to me?โ
Kaโani froze, her lips pulling back in a snarl.
โIf you're so sure heโs yours, go to him,โ you continued, stepping closer into her space, though your heart was hammering against your ribs. โWhine to him. Demand his attention. Tell him to come back to you. Perhaps it will do you better.โ
You didn't wait for her to respond, you walked past her, maintaining your composure until you were well out of her sight. You stopped when youโre well away from her, pursing your lips. โWah... That was a good one from me. Thatโs literally method acting,โ you chuckled to yourself.
At the same time, Neteyam was on patrol through the high canopies of the Omatikaya landsโ borders. Patrols are usually a time of hyper-vigilance for him, he was trained to scan for the unnatural glint of obsidian or the misplaced shadow of a predator. But today, his eyes kept snagging on a bright plant. He spotted a cluster of a familiar stalk, their ribbed skin a good shade of cerulean.
Moons ago, he would have seen them as a slippery obstacle on a landing branch. Now, he found himself hovering his ikran near the cliff edge, reaching out to pluck a single stem. He rubbed the surface, watching the pigment stain his thumb.
This, he thought, a ghost of a smile tugging at his lips, this is the blue she said looked like the deep water in the eastern seas. He found himself wondering about every plant he passed, not for its toxicity or its strength which he is wont to do as a vigilant hunter, but for how beautiful its hidden colors would be in the eyes of a weaver he keeps thinking about. He didnโt even have names for the shades he collected, but he knew you would find them beautiful.
When he finally returned to hometree, he didnโt head for the warriors' lodge to report in. He went straight to the weaving looms. His heart doing a strange, light hop when he saw your form hunched over a weaving loom. He silently crept up behind you and leaned down to tickle the curve of your ear with the cool tip of the blue plant.
You shrieked, your shoulders jumping as you nearly dropped your bone needle. You whirled around, your eyes wide but when you saw Neteyam, standing there with that lazy, genuine grin, you glared but still laughed.
โMy work will be ruined because of you,โ you breathed, clutching your chest.
โI thought a weaver's hands were supposed to be steady,โ he teased, his voice low, handing you the blue stalk. โI saw this on the ridge. Is it the one that turns to ink when you boil it?โ
You took the plant, your fingers brushing his. โIt is. I.. I'm surprised you remembered.โ
โI remember everything you say,โ he said, and for a second, the air between you felt thick and heavy with a truth that had nothing to do with your deal. He tore his gaze away when his cheeks burned at the realization of what he said.
Before he could lose his footing, an elder weaver called out from the circle, asking you to venture into the lower groves to find specific climbing fibers for the councilโs new tapestry.
โI'll accompany you,โ Neteyam said before you could even reach for your basket.
As you walked into the dappled light of the forest, your fear of the ruse ending began to fade, replaced by the sheer comfort of his presence. You started to ramble, and Neteyam, as you have discovered in the past weeks, was a good listener. He didn't interrupt, or patronize. He simply watched you with a curious, steady gaze that made you feel... heard.
โYou see that?โ you said one afternoon, pointing to a cluster of deep crimson berries clinging to a damp log. โMost people think theyโre just for eating, but if you crush them with a bit of limestone and the sap from a yellow stalk, you get a purple that looks like the sky before the sun sets. Itโs the only color that stays after the fiber is boiled.โ
Neteyam leaned in, peering at the berries as if they were a new species of prey.
โAnd those,โ you continued, stumbling over your words in your haste to explain. โIf you harvest them when theyโre still young, they give a gold that practically glows in the dark. I used it for the elders' ceremonial sashes last year. Everyone thought Iโd traded with the reef clans for it, but it was just right here, under our feet, being stepped on.โ
You laughed, a bright sound that echoed through the trees, but when you realized you were rambling, you quickly shut your mouth, touching your lips.
โSorry.ย Iโm talking too much,โ you gripped the basket hard.
Neteyam stopped walking. He turned to you with a genuine frown on his face. โYou can talk my ears off. Iโve spent my whole life looking at the forest for threats or targets. I never realized how much Iโm missing what was right in front of me.โ He chuckled, a low vibration in his chest. โI found myself looking at different plants lately, wondering if it was the right kind of hue for your weaving.โ
The admission was bold and he didnโt even feel shame even though he did feel his cheeks burn. He was thinking of you when you weren't together. The deal was working, but the lines were blurring so fast he doesnโt even care about the reason it began.
Weeks later, the success of the sturmbeest hunt was the reason for the thrumming of drums and chanting of the Omatikaya warriors dancing in the hometreeโs communal clearing. High on the central dais, the Oloโeyktanโs voice carried over the throng as he announced the success of the councilโs efforts to begin a dialogue with the displaced clan that has been disrupting the way of lives not only of the people, but that of the neighboring clans as well.
The chieftains of the other forest clans had apparently agreed to convene in a Great Council with the envoys returning with messages of unity. Neteyam stood beside you in the crowd, his shoulder brushing your arm. The rigid, perfect posture of a mighty warrior was gone, replaced by a relaxed stance he only seemed to find when he was within your orbit.
โYou did it,โ you whispered, grinning up at him.
Neteyam looked down at you, the firelight reflecting in his eyes. โWe did it,โ he corrected softly. โI was ready to lead a war party until you handed me that fruit and told me to breathe. I would have missed the obvious path if you hadn't been standing there to point it out.โ
You shrugged, picking a berry out of the leaf bowl he gave you. โSo, what happens now?โ you asked. โNow that the chieftains have agreed?โ
โThe next step may be the hardest,โ Neteyam said, his expression turning thoughtful. โWe have to send someone to the displaced clan. Not to fight, but to invite their Oloโeyktan. Someone has to show them we aren't their enemies and that weโll help them settle and get back to their own feet.โ
You looked at him, admiring the way the light caught the beads youโd given him which he had immediately put in his braids. โYou should go, Neteyam.โ
He blinked, looking surprised. โMe? My father will likely send an experienced diplomat, or perhaps a senior warrior.โ
โNo,โ you insisted, stepping closer. โYouโre the one who suggested it to the council. Itโs a great opportunity for you to hone your diplomatic skills. Youโre going to lead this people one day, and this might not be the last time a clan is desperate or angry. If you go, youโll learn a lot.โ
Neteyam went quiet, watching you with an intensity that made your breath hitch. He listened to you as if every word you spoke was important. โYou really think I can do it?โ
โI know you can,โ you said firmly. โYou have the heart for it.โ You looked at your berries again, eating more of it.
The wind shifted then, kicking up a swirl of fine wood-dust from the dancefloor. You winced, your hand flying to your eye as you felt a sharp things.
โOwโwait, somethingโs in my eye.โ
โDonโt rub it,โ Neteyam said immediately. His hands were suddenly on your face, his touch firm but incredibly gentle as he cupped your jaw. โLook at me. Keep it open.โ
You looked up at him, your vision watering and blurred. He was so close you could feel the heat radiating off his skin. He leaned down, his face mere inches from yours, and blew a soft, steady breath across your eye to clear the dust.
โIs that better?โ he whispered, blowing another.
You chuckled as you blinked several times, your heart doing a frantic dance in your chest. โItโs just a bit of dust, Neteyam, you look so serious,โ you said, smiling.
He stared at you, still not pulling away and when you didnโt move your head, he tilted his and pressed his lips to yours. It was deep, soft, and carried the weight of his yearning in the past moons. He didnโt know how long he had wanted to do that, but the softness of your lips is making him melt like candle wax.
In your belly, it felt like a hundred forest ikrans had suddenly taken flight. You felt giddy, almost lightheaded, but the thought of the deal flickered in your mind. When he pulled back just a fraction to let you breathe, your eyes pierced through him and spotted Kaโani across the fire, her face fuming as she watched Neteyamโs back, specifically how he was bent at the waist just so he could kiss you.
โSheโs looking...โ you murmured against his lips, your voice a shaky mess.
Neteyamโs mind was hazy, drugged by the taste of your lips. His brows furrowed. โWho?โ he asked, his voice a gravelly rumble as he kissed the corner of your mouth, his hands tightening on your jaw.
You closed your eyes, feeling the spark of his skin against yours. โKaโani...โ
โAnd?โ he responded, his nose nuzzling yours before he angled his head to kiss you more firmly. โOpen up...โ
โUhm, about what? I mean, she talked toโโ
Neteyam let out a low, vibrant chuckle that vibrated through your lips. โYour mouth, space cadet.โ
Before you could even process what he meant, he darted his tongue out and licked at the seam of your lips. Your head reared back in genuine shock though, your eyes popping wide open.
โThat was...โ you sputtered, your face turning a deep, embarrassed crimson. โWhy did you lick me? Neteyam!โ
He barked a deep, resonant laugh, a real, belly-deep sound that made his whole frame shake. The sight of your shocked expression was too much for him. You tried to maintain your dignity, but his joy was too infectious.
โItโs a sweet gesture!โ he laughed, reaching out to pull you back toward him.
โWhat? Like a fwampop?โ you asked, but you were already giggling, the two of you leaning against each other and laughing so hard you forgot the rest of the clan was even there.
The festival fire continued to crackle, but for the rest of the night, Neteyam didn't leave your side. He followed you to the communal food pits when you offered to help the cooks, not letting you carry the heavy food trays so you just rambled about anything you could think of. Every time your hand brushed his, or you leaned in to tell him a secret about one of the dancers, he looked at you with a gaze so heavy and warm.
The next morning, the festival fog had settled over the village, but Neteyam was already awake and waiting by the weaving looms. He was standing there with a slightly large, intricately carved wooden bobbin. Something he spent days working on, but he wonโt tell you that.
โBobbin?โ you asked with a huge smile when he gently handed it to you.
He shrugged nonchalantly, as if coming here early in the morning before his patrol to bring you something he had worked on for days meant nothing. โI saw you struggling with the one that kept snagging your thread,โ he said. His fingers lingered on yours as you accepted it, his thumb tracing the back of your hand in a slow caress.
โWow... This is perfect, Neteyam,โ you said, beaming up at him as marveled at the craftsmanship.
He stared at you, fighting the urge to punch the air or beat up his chest as if he won a huge prize.
โYou really didn't have to. Do you not have patrol?โ you asked.
โI have,โ he said. But he wanted to see you. Talk to you about last night, to clarify that the kiss had nothing to do with your deal.
โAlright, then. Iโll see you at lunch,โ you said, your attention already focused on your new bobbin. He stood there for a few more seconds, just watching you, his ears twitching at the sound of your voice.
Later that afternoon, though, the rain began to pour while you were in the forest, the raindrops caching you near the lower groves. You tried to shield your basket of dyed fibers with your own body but just as heavy drops soaked your braids, you saw a familiar figure coming, holding a massive, broad leaf.
โNeteyam?โ you uttered in surprise.
He had a boyish grin on as he held the leaf over your head. He was getting soaked, the rain slicking down his blue skin and making his muscles gleam, but he didn't seem to care. He stepped so close that his chest was almost touching your shoulder, the heat from his body acting as a shield against the chill.
โHow did you even know I was here?โ you asked, chuckling and pulling him close so he wonโt get wet.
โI think I already know your routines,โ he said, smirking playfully, though his voice was thick with a tenderness that made your breath hitch. He reached out and tucked a wet strand of braid behind your ear, his touch far more lingering than it needed to be. His eyes dropped to your lips for a heartbeat before returning to yours, as though searching for something.
You tear you gaze away. โI swear, youโre going to catch a cold! And youโre all muddy. What if Kaโani sees you? You always have to be in character, you know?โ you exclaimed, trying to push the leaf more toward his side.
Neteyamโs smile faltered for a second, a flicker of frustration crossing his features before he masked it with a soft chuckle. โRight. The act.โ
He guided you back toward the shelter of the Hometree, his hand resting firmly on the small of your back. As you walked, he intentionally slowed his pace, pulling you closer to avoid a puddle. When you reached the dry roots of the tree, he didn't immediately let go. He leaned down, his face close to yours.
โDo you really think I'm doing all this for the audience?โ he asked, his golden eyes searching yours with an intensity that felt like a plea.
Your brows furrowed, panic rising in you before laughing nervously, patting his arm and moving away into the shelter of the hometreeโs canopy. โWell, you're a very dedicated actor, โTeyam. I have to hand it to you. Everybody believes us,โ you said with a huge smile.
Neteyam went still. He stared at you, his hand still in the air, his mouth slightly open as if he wanted to say something. Instead, he let out a long, slow sigh, his shoulders dropping just an inch. โI suppose I am dedicated,โ he said quietly, a sad, lopsided smile touching his lips.
โIโm just glad I can help you with this. Iโve never had an actual friend, you know?โ you said brightly, grabbing your basket from him. โSee you at dinner? I heard theyโre serving the smoked fish you like.โ
Neteyam watched you walk away, your silhouette disappearing into the winding ramp. He looked down at the hand that had held the leaf, his fingers still tingling from the brief contact with your skin. โDamn it...โ he whispered to the empty air. This isnโt an act anymore and he doesnโt know how to cross the threshold between the stage and the reality.
โNo way! You can't move there, that's against the rules!โ Loโak barked, leaning over the board.
โYouโre not one to talk about rules!โ Spider countered, reaching for your game piece to help you. โGo on, girl, take his territory. Do it!โ
You laughed, your face flushed with the kind of rowdy joy you usually only heard from a distance before. You slammed your piece down, successfully โcapturingโ Loโakโs base. You turned to Spider and Loโak, throwing up a hand for a high-four. โDid you see that?โ
Spider barked a laughter. โTell him, โsuck it!โโ
โSuck it?โ you repeated with a confused smile.
The word had barely left your lips when the air in the room seemed to shift. Neteyam, who had been leaning against a nearby pillar watching you with a soft, protective smile as he sharpen his bows suddenly went rigid. He looked at Loโak and Spider, who were both chuckling, explaining to you what it meant.
โHey, don't look at us,โ Loโak muttered, though his tail was twitching with mischief. โSheโs just part of the crew now, brother. One of the guys.โ
Neteyam pushed off the pillar, stepping into the circle. He ignored the snickering from Loโak and Kiriโs knowing smirk. โShe is not one of the guys,โ Neteyam hissed under his breath.
You turned to him, still grinning from your victory. โNeteyam,โ you called and his ears twitched at your soft voice. โAre you angry?โ
He blinked, shaking his head right away. โNo, no, of course not,โ he told you, his eyes softening but a flitter of reprimanding gaze to Loโak and Spider promised later. He had just introduced you to them more than a week ago, for Eywaโs sake, and now, they are already teaching you the wrong things!
โYou're teaching her the wrong things,โ Neteyam told the two later that night when you left the small kelku they created for their games.
โBrother, I think sheโs enjoying just fine. Iโve seen her before, sheโs usually alone. Iโm sure Loโak and Spider are just who she needs,โ Kiri said,
โRight! Sheโs really fun. Just yesterday, we played with squid fruit by the river and she threw a mashed handful on my face. Look, I still have stains all over!โ Spider said, pointing at his pink-stained face.
โWhat?โ Neteyam replied, horrified, remembering the stain on your temple that he saw last night. โJust what are you twoโโ
Loโak snicked. โBro,โ he put a hand on Neteyamโs shoulder. โDonโt be too grumpy. You said you want her to have more friends and we are her friends now,โ he grinned.
Neteyam let out a huff, rolling his eyes. He understands this. Youโd told him you have never had an actual friend and he thought he could remedy that. Heโd give you everything, if he could.
A few days later, he insisted on coming with you to the forest and you agreeed, knowing you will have to pass by the training grounds where Kaโani could be and she was indeed around, her eyes following Neteyam as if sheโs waiting for him to spare her a glance but he was focused on the path ahead, oblivious or uncaring to her longing stares.
โKaโani was looking at you,โ you grinned up at him, nudging his side with your elbow.
You saw his brows furrowed for a moment and then his face hardened. You pushed your lips forward. You assumed it was because Kaโani still didnโt go and talk to him. The woman is fierce warrior, she was probably too proud to see that as an option. She wants Neteyam to come to her. To her credit, you had not seen her in the company of man in the past weeks... You wondered if Neteyam has realized that.
โYou know... I noticed Kaโani has not been hanging out with guys lately? Have you noticed that?โ you asked, angling your head to look up at him as you rambled, โWhat if sheโs just waiting for you to go and talk to her? I think thatโs what she wants. She talked to me, you know? She was mad, so I think she was jealous, isnโt that greatโโ
โShe talked to you? And she was mad?โ he turned to you, his face etched with both anger and worry.
You grinned. โYes. I can tell she was jealousโโ
โDid she hurt you?โ
โNo, she didnโt...โ you said. โShe was just angry, because the act is workingโโ
You saw the bone in his jaw tick as if he was clenching his teeth. โLetโs not talk about her.โ
Your lips pushed forward and you shrugged, listening instead to the soft crunch of dried leaves breaking beneath your feet. Neteyam fell quiet then, his tail twitching with a restlessness that told you something was weighing on him. You walked faster to match his face, pressing a palm on his chest which made him stop walking... and breathing, too.
โWhatโs bothering you?โ you asked, standing in front of him and feeling his chest slowly deflate.
This is crazy. He has never noticed girlsโ voices before, but now, they could probably use yours to cool him off. Your voice caresses him and your laugh sounds like bells in his ear. He wouldnโt have said a word if a different person had asked him, but you always have a way to make him open his mouth and just talk.
โThe council... they are advising against it,โ he said, his voice heavy. โThey think sending me to the displaced clan as an envoy is too much risk, because they see me as a target, not a diplomat.โ
Your eyes searched his face and he felt warm inside. โAnd what does your father say?โ
He let out a frustrated sigh and your hand caressed his chest. His hand rose to catch your hand, pressing it against his lips. โHe doesnโt say anything. Not yet. He just listens and only then heโll decide. Iโm worried heโll take their advice,โ he looked at you.
You huffed a breath, patting his chest, and giving him a supportive smile. โThen remind them, Neteyam, that you are no longer a child to be shielded. At your age, your father was already Oloโeyktan. You have to learn diplomacy just as much as any other leader. It wouldn't do you any good to be a leader who is ill-equipped in the discussions of peace.โ
Neteyamโs gaze softened, the tension bleeding out of his shoulders as he looked at you. You removed your hand but he caught it again. โThank you... for always sharing my burden. I don't think I could have faced them today without hearing that.โ
You chuckled, swinging your joined hands lightly. โBro, itโs nothing! Thatโs what friends are for, as Spider says,โ you beamed at him before turning back to the path ahead, missing the way his face completely dropped.
His smile faltered, and then it deadpanned. It was a total double-kill. Bro and friends in a single breath. You might as well have just shot him in the head and he would have taken it lighter. He huffed, his tail lashing once in irritation as he followed after you.
โIโm not your 'bro,'โ he said, suddenly reaching forward to grab your basket from your arm.
Your brows furrowed in confusion, and you laughed at his sudden grumpiness. โSilly! Weโre all brothers and sisters in the eyes of the Great Mother,โ you said, lightheartedly twirling as you walked, enjoying the dappled sunlight. You didn't even notice how his eyes narrowed as he watched you move through the forest with no care in the world, seemingly oblivious to how much Loโak and Spider were ruining his life with their vocabulary lessons.
He had reached his limit.
Before you could twirl again, Neteyam stepped toward you. He reached out, gently but firmly grabbing your arm. Your eyes widened in surprise as he guided you backward, gently pushing you against the trunk of a nearby tree. You looked up at him, your breath catching. His face was inches away from yours, his golden eyes burning with a sudden, fierce intensity that made your heart hammer against your ribs.
โNeteyam?โ you whispered, your eyes dropping to his lips before you stupidly, unconsciously licked yours.
He leaned down, and when you didn't pull away, he pressed his lips to yours in a kiss that was deeper and more demanding than the one at the festival. He licked your lips again and you chuckled against his mouth but when his tongue darted inside yours, you made a sound that sounded so womanly it surprised even you. His tongue tangled with yours as his lips devoured yours.
Everything made you feel hot, and weirdly, tingly between your legs that you had to close your thighs together.
When he finally pulled back, his hands moved to cup your face with a tenderness that made your chest ache. โThereโs something I want to talk to you about,โ he said, his voice low and trembling.
You blinked. โNow?โ
โThere are things that needs to be dealt with first,โ he said, caressing your jaw. You nodded.
The thing that needed dealing was Kaโani. He didnโt know the extent of the conversation you had with the huntress, but he knew how Kaโani talks, and the fact tha you said she was mad solidified what he knew. You two walked back to Hometree, with him carrying your basket for you. The elders giggled at the sight of him following you around like a loyal pet, and when he left with a lingering brush of his thumb against your cheek, they nosed around and asked if the warrior was truly courting you like they kept hearing from the youth.
โNo, heโs not... Heโs a friend,โ you said, noticing the arm band on your basket. You took it and thought perhaps Neteyam had left it there.
You followed after him, thinking he hasnโt gone far yet, but when as stood in the Hometreeโs shadowed entrance, you saw him approach Kaโani near the training grounds, your breath hitching. Kaโani tilted her head and smirked at him, turning on her heels into the privacy of the deeper woods. You saw Neteyam follow and you tucked yourself behind a massive fern, your pulse thrumming in your ears.
In the dimmed bioluminescence of the forest, Neteyam stood in front of the huntress, seeing that Kaโani was already smiling, a triumphant, sharp look. โNo need to say sorry, Neteyam, if thatโs how youโll start your piece. Because I know,โ she said. โI know exactly what youโve been doing. Youโve used that weaver girl to make me jealous, to straighten me up. I get it, so you can drop the act now. Iโve learned my lesson. I know itโs me you wantโโ
โI do not want you, Kaโani,โ Neteyamโs voice cut through her arrogance like a blade. โI never even thought I wanted you. Yes, you are a strong and fierce warrior, and I once thought that was what I needed by my side for when I lead one day... but I didnโt realize just how much I needed to see and be seen.โ
โAnd have I not seen you?โ Kaโani snarled, her tail lashing. โWe trained together, Neteyam! We fought, we hunted! I was always here! You just spared that girl a glance literally like yesterday and you think sheโs perfect for youโโ
โYou donโt know me in the ways that matter, Kaโani,โ he countered. โIโve had more connection with a rock, and I don't know why I ever entertained the thought that I needed someone strong by my side when strength is not the only thing this clan needs.โ
Kaโaniโs face contorted, her pride wounded in front of the man she wanted so much and thought wanted her, too. โWe can get to know each other! I regret it, alright? I regret playing around. Iโll focusโโ
โDonโt regret what you did,โ Neteyam said. โIโm glad you did it, because not only did it prevent me from making a huge mistake, it also brought me to her. And now, I have the rest of my life in front of me, bright and clear as day.โ He stepped closer to her, his voice dropping to a warning growl. โHave a good life, Kaโani. And do not ever approach my woman to tell her nonsense again.โ
He turned on his heel and walked away, leaving Kaโani watching him in deep contempt. All those last words he said not to do? She will do it. Back at Hometree, you sat by your loom, your fingers trembling as you picked up a strand of gold thread. You forced a smile onto your face, practicing the words of congratulations you would give him, even as you felt like the sky was turning a purple far deeper and darker than any storm. That was probably what he was going to talk about with you...
Outside, Neteyam walked back to Hometree with a sense of purpose heโd never felt before. He headed straight for the weaving looms. Tonight, you will be his. Heโd tell you the act ends here and you two will start something real. No act from here on end. No games. Just the two of you.
But he never made it to the looms.
A hunter intercepted him midway, out of breath and frantic. โNeteyam! The night patrol was ambushed by the violent clan. Two are wounded. Your father is calling for the council.โ
The shift in his demeanor was instantaneous. The soft, yearning man disappeared, replaced by the disciplined warrior. He hurried to the council, standing before Jake with a firm resolve. โIโll go,โ Neteyam insisted. โFighting would be the last thing Iโll do. Iโll talk to them, Dad. You call for the chieftains to convene and Iโll convince them to come.โ
He left within the hour, riding on his ikran, but his heart was back at Hometree, in the weaving looms... He thought heโd be back by light, but he didnโt know heโd be gone for days.
You had been crying. You learned that Neteyam left for a mission regarding the displaced clan, so even though you were heartbroken, you went to the Tree of Souls to pray for his journey. Your vulnerability was too obvious as you walk back to Hometee, and in it, Kaโani found her opening. You were so close to Hometree when she stepped out from the shadows, a satisfied smirk on her face.
โHi,โ she greeted. โIโm pretty sure youโd heard of Neteyam going to battle... Did he say good bye to you?โ
You lowered your gaze and shook your head.
โWhere do you think he was last night before he went to battle?โ she asked, her voice dripping with mock pity. โHe was with me... getting his strength from me.โ She stepped closer to you to tilt your head up. โHe apologized to me, weaver. For losing sight of whatโs truly for him... which is me. He loves me, which Iโm sure you know... And he did make me feel loved... see?โ
She tilted her head back, exposing the dark hickeys on the side of her neck. To your untrained eyes, it simply looked like bruises, but you knew what you were talking about. Pain bloomed in your chest and you felt ashamed for feeling it. Youโre not supposed to feel it. You knew where this is leading to, you knew it was all an act. This woman in front of you was the only reason he approached you.
Kaโani giggled. โNeteyam was insatiable. He missed me, as you can see... and now, Iโm still sore, honestly,โ she sighed, looking at you with that mock pity again. โDo you get it? Heโs back with me... After he strayed. I hope you can respect that?โ
You blinked, your lungs feeling as though they had turned to stone. You didn't realize you were holding your breath until she turned and walked away, and you felt like you might collapse, but the sound of Spiderโs familiar voice cut through the silence. He came running toward you, laughing, with Tuk trailing just behind him.
โWas that Kaโani?โ Spider asked, his smile faltering. โWhat did you two talk about?โ
You forced yourself to blink, the world slowly coming back into focus. โUh... nothing. What are you two doing?โ
โPlaying tag!โ Tuk squealed, slamming into your waist and hugging you tight. You automatically reached down to ruffle her braids. โTag! Youโre it!โ she shouted, tapping your belly with a giggle before darting away.
Your soul wanted nothing more than to crawl into a dark corner and let the tears fall, but looking at Tukโs bright face and Spiderโs expectant grin, you couldn't bear to be the killjoy.
โOh, youโre going to get it now!โ you called out, forcing a smile as you chase after them.
Neteyam had done the impossible. He had returned not just with his warriors intact, but with the promise of a unified forest. The first pace of the Great Councilโs efforts to help the displaced clan find a dwelling land, he had secured a future for the displaced and for that, he was their hero.
The clan had a small celebration for it, but as the smell of roasted meat filled the air, Neteyamโs eyes were only on the winding path toward your familyโs hut. He hadn't seen you in the crowd. He hadn't seen you at the landing where he expected you would be. Waiting for him. Kiri did tell him you were sick, though, which had sent a cold spike of dread that halted his celebratory high.
He didn't wait for his fatherโs final toast before slipping away, feeling a worry he didn't even feel during his mission. He arrived at your familyโs hut, breathless, practically vibrating with the need to pull you into his arms and tell you that he had thought of nothing but your face as he sat among the displaced.
When you emerged from the flap, he froze. You were pale and your eyes were swollen and bloodshot, the telltale signs of the days you spent in quiet agony. His brows furrowed, his feet moving before he could even think. He stopped when he saw you step back though.
โI... Iโm sick,โ you said when you saw the question in his eyes. You didn't look at him with the warmth heโd been dreaming of. You looked at him as if he were a threat.
He stepped toward the platform, his hand reaching out instinctively. โI know. Kiri told me. But what made you sick? Why are you crying?" His voice was thick with a worry so raw it made your chest ache. โI haven't even been gone for a week, and this is what I return to?โ
You stepped back into the shadows of the hut, a sharp scowl flickering across your face. โI... I don't know why I got sick. But I do know I want to lay down and rest. So if there's nothing else, Iโll go do it.โ
Before he could utter another word, you grabbed the woven flap and slammed it shut. Neteyam stood there in the silence, staring at the closed entrance. His brows furrowed, his head tilting in genuine, painful confusion. He had expected a hug, a laugh, perhaps even a repeat of that soul-searing kiss in the forest. Instead, he had been shut out like a stranger. The victory he had carried on his shoulders suddenly felt hollow. For this, he didn't return to the celebration at all. He walked back to the his familyโs hut in a daze, laying awake for hours wondering what could have poisoned the air in his absence.
The next day was filled with council meetings. He sat through hours of strategy and relocation discussions, but his mind was in the looms which he would check every time there's a chance, ready to scold you for working while ill, but your spot was empty. It wasn't until the following morning that he found you. You were sitting at your spot, your movements stiff and mechanical. And it seemed like you were waiting, too, because you looked at him the moment he stepped into the looms.
โLetโs talk,โ he said, his voice firm, trying to reclaim some shred of authority to hide how much his heart was racing.
You stood up, your face impassive. โWe do need to talk.โ you said, your voice cold and sharp.
He stopped in his tracks, staring at you for more than a minute. For the first time in his life, after facing predators, raids, and the weight of a legacy, Neteyam felt a genuine, cold prickle of fear. But as he looked at the fire in your eyes, a small, reckless part of him couldn't help but admire it. He feels crazy. You are so hot when youโre mad.
You walked into the forest, feeling even more slighted when you remembered him going in this same route with Kaโani. You felt his hand on your elbow though, steering you toward a different path instead. You glared at him. โWhere are we going?โ
The sight of direhorses answered your question though. You saw some warriors riding their mounts and Neteyam whistled for his. You saw Kaโani among the warriors nearby and saw how her eyes narrowed at the sight of you and Neteyam. Shame rose in you and you tried to wriggle away from Neteyamโs hold, especially when a warrior came jogging toward you.
โBrother, will you not watch the young tame their mounts?โ The warrior asked. โTheyโll be here in five minutes.โ
The warrior glanced at you and you took your elbow from Neteyam again, but you werenโt able to get away though, because his hand found your waist and pulled you to him.
โNo. I got something more important to do,โ Neteyam said. โIโm sure theyโll do well.โ
The warrior snickered, โEnjoy then,โ he glanced at you meaningfully before nodding to Neteyam, and turning away.
Neteyamโs hand spanned your waist and lifted you up on his direhorse in under ten seconds, making you slightly shriek. He mounted the beast behind you, making tsaheylu with it before wrapping an arm around your waist and pulling you against him. You tried to move away, but the direhorse had started moving, and in a second, it was running.
The wind roaredย past your ears as the direhorse ate up the miles, forcing you to lean back against Neteyamโs chest just to stay balanced. You enjoyed the sight during the ride, fighting the urge to move your head away when you felt him pressung a kiss to the crown of your head. You felt sad when he pulled on the reins, already missing the exhilaration of riding and the good view.
Neteyam slid off the mount first before reaching up to lift you down, his movements fluid and sure. He didn't let go immediately, his hands lingered on your waist as he looked around the clearing. He felt a surge of triumph that you hadn't jumped off and bolted, though he felt a twinge of guilt, too, because heโd brought you this far specifically so you couldn't run away.
The glade was breathtaking and it immediately snagged your attention. Under any other circumstances, you would have danced through the high grass, but the weight in your chest kept your feet heavy.
Neteyam turned to you, the light dabbing across his face. โAlright," he whispered, his jaw tightening. โTell me. What has changed since I left?โ
You scowled, the image of Kaโaniโs smug face flashing in your mind. โAre you sure things didnโt change before you left? Iโm pretty sure you made up with Kaโani, and did more than just talking.โ
The accusation hit him like a physical blow that his eyes widened, his head snapping back in shock. โI did not โmake upโ with Kaโani. Yes, I talked to her, but I simply told her to back off. I told her never to approach you again. Did she talk of nonsense to you again?โ He was practically vibrating, his tail lashing behind him.
โYes, she did! We talked,โ you threw back at him. โShe showed me the hickeys on her neck, Neteyam! She said she was so sore... because you were insatiable! Because you missed her so much that you had to get your 'strength' from her before you left!โ
โWhat?โ The word was a rasp of horror. A visceral disgust washed over his features, his body shivering at the image your words painted. โI did not lay with her. I never did and I never would. Oh, Great Mother... that woman is a huge liar!โ
You searched his face. You looked for a flicker of guilt or lie, a shift in his eyes, but all you saw was a man who looked genuinely nauseated by the very idea. You believe him, despite yourself and without your consent, the suffocating clouds over your head began to lighten. He stepped toward you, his hands reaching for your arms, but you crossed them over your chest, refusing to let him in just yet.
โBelieve me, please,โ he pleaded, his words beginning to tumble over each other in a frantic rush. โThat night after we were in the forest, all I did was find her and shut down her delusions. I was so mad that she dared to talk to you, dared to get mad at you, so I told her to back off and never approach you again. I was coming back to you, baby. I was going to tell you our ruse ends there and then. I was going to beg you for a chance to make it real.โ
He palmed his face , sounding completely undone.
โBut then the incident with our warriors happened and I had to go... Jesus. I was so stupid. I should have gone to you before I left, but I was thinking... I was thinking I probably wouldn't be able to leave at all if you told me youโd give me a chance.โ
His heart was beating too fast and to hard against his chest, watching the fire in your eyes finally die out, replaced by a soft heat. You believed him. It wasn't in your nature to stay angry when the truth felt so solid, and you knew Neteyam well enough now to know he would never play around. The fact that Kaโani had looked so bitter earlier suddenly made sense. She hadn't won anything, she had just tried to burn down your bridge.
You bit your lip, your shoulders finally dropping. โAlright...โ you whispered.
Neteyam didn't hesitate. He stepped into your space, gently wrapping his arms around you and pulling you into the solid warmth of his chest. โThatโs it? โAlrightโ?โ he asked, his voice soft and breathless, his face so close yours.
You pushed your lips forward in a small pout, though you didn't pull away. โI guess I believe you... I donโt think itโs in your character to lie like that.โ
A wave of shame washed over you as you realized how quickly you had let Kaโaniโs poison work. You had given him so little confidence, believing a lie over the man you know to be so genuine and kind. But then, you had been protecting yourself; you were in an act, and the lines had been so blurred you didn't know where it all ended.
โIโm sorry,โ you murmured โI just... I thought it was still an act. That we were still acting to get her back...โ
Neteyam tightened his grip, lowering his head to bury his face in the crook of your neck. โIโve long forgotten about the deal. I think I stopped truly caring about it just a week after I started spending my days with you. I just didn't know what it was I was feeling until the thought of it ending and not being with you anymore felt more terrifying than any battle.โ He pulled back just enough to look at you, his thumb caressing your cheek. โThis is why youโve been crying...โ
You pushed your lips forward. You wanted to forget that part! โLetโs just forget it...โ
โNo, we wonโt. You donโt know how much it broke me to see you cry, to see you so gray, and not know why. She hurt you, she meant to hurt you,โ he said, his voice hard and his jaw tightening. โAnd I played a part in it. I should have talked to you, clear everything for us so you would have confidence in me. So you wonโt believe her.โ
You looked up at him, your hand pressing against his chest to calm him down. โItโs over and done with, Neteyam... Whatโs important is that weโte okay now. Right?โ
He looked down at you, his head tilting. Kaโani was lucky that you are so kind, but she wasnโt that lucky because heโs not. He leaned down to kiss you, โRight. There will be no more acts and games... Just us.โ
You looked up at him, the weight finally gone, and for the first time in days, the light returned to your golden eyes. โJust us.โ you beamed at him.
He sucked in a breath, pulling you and tilting your head to kiss you hard. He was a man starved and you could tell with how he's holding and kissing you. He moaned when your tongue licked his lower lip, making him pull his head back to look at you.
โItโs you I missed so much...โ he mumbled, kissing you softly. โItโs you Iโd be insatiable for... And you Iโll make so soreโโ
โNeteyam!โ your hand lifted up to clamp around his mouth and he laughed. You shrieked when you felt his warm and wet tongue lick at your palm.
โI know... Iโll court you... Then you'll accept me as your mate... And then youโre in big trouble wth meโโ
You groaned, your cheeks burning purple. He kissed your cheek before angling his head to kiss you for real.
The next afternoon, the Sully siblings were in on the planโthough only Kiri truly understood the gravity of it. They had dragged you down to the river, telling you theyโll teach you how to properly splash a person without getting soaked yourself.
โFocus! You have to cup your hand like this,โ Spider shouted, sending a wall of water toward a ducking Loโak.
You laughed, the sound genuine and bright, completely unaware that Neteyam had quietly slipped away. He had seen Kaโani heading toward the upper trails, and he wasn't about to let another sun set without finishing this. He intercepted her near the high roots, his silhouette blocking her path. Kaโani stopped, her smirk faltering when she saw the look on his face. He didnโt look friendly at all, not that he had look friendly the last time they talked, but the hard storm masking his face right now was the look of a man who had seen a threatening the peace.
โNeteyam,โ she started, trying to reclaim her cool composure. โI thought you'd be busy with your little weaver.โ
โI am busy,โ Neteyam said. โI am busy realizing how wrong I was about you. I thought you were a warrior of honor, Kaโani. I thought that even if you were proud, you were noble. But to purposely hurt a woman who did you nothing wrong? To lie about the most disgusting things just to see her cryโโ
Kaโaniโs eyes narrowed, her tail lashing. โI know what Iโm doing, Neteyam! You were only using her to straighten me up! I just leveled the playing field. I was reclaiming what was mineโโ
โI was never yours,โ he cut her off, disgust for her delusions crumpling his face. โThere was nothing to reclaim, you had nothing. The life you are living is the one you actively chose. Even if we had tried before, I know I would have quickly realized it would never work, what with our lack of connection. The only thing we shared was the training grounds.โ
Kaโani winced as if heโd struck her. โI... I was just blinded, Neteyam. I was jealous! I was envious. Iโm sorry, alright? I was just trying to get you back.โ
Neteyam let out a sharp huff. โI wasnโt yours to get back, we had nothing to do with each other. And youโre not really sorry. At least not yet, because you didn't think of taking your words back during the days I wasn't home. You knew she was crying. You knew she was hurting from your lies, and you sat back and enjoyed it. You are only sorry now because I am standing here confronting you.โ
Kaโani opened her mouth to argue, her hands trembling, but no words came out. The truth of his gaze was too heavy to deflect.
โI hope you grow,โ Neteyam said, turning on his heel.
โNeteyam, wait!โ she called out, sounding frantic as he turned to walk away. โIโm sorry! Iโll go to her right now. Iโll apologize to her! Please... can we still be friends? Weโve known each other our whole lives.โ
Neteyam stopped, but he didn't turn around. He looked over his shoulder, his profile sharp against the sunlight filtering through the leaves.
โWe were never friends, Kaโani. You don't see me as a friend. You see me as a prize to be won.โ He took a breath, thinking of your laugh echoing by the river. โFriends donโt hurt the people you love. And that is exactly what you did to the woman I love. After that, I donโt think your wish can be possible.โ
He left her standing there, the weight of her own choices finally settling on her shoulders. When he returned to the river, he saw you. You were dripping wet, laughing as Tuk tried to climb onto your back.You looked up and caught his eye, beaming at him with a warmth that made his heart feel like it was soaring home.
He didn't say a word about Kaโani. He just waded into the water, pulled you into a lopsided embrace, and whispered into your ear, โI think itโs time I started that courting I mentioned. Properly.โ
And just like that, the moons had drifted by like dust in the wind, and Neteyam had kept his word. He courted you openly and even formally asked your parents for your hand, which they initially did not want to grant him. They think your life wouldnโt be as peaceful if you mated Neteyam instead of a simple man in the clan. Honestly, your parents didnโt know what to do with him. Neteyam was so intense in his courtship to you and your family that, most times, your parents were literally hiding from him. By then, he had already brought your family the finest meat and the rarest fruits, but surprise of your parentsโ lives probably came when he brought Jake and Neytiri. He wasnโt really planning to bring them along, it was just... Neytiri is apparently getting impatient over the fact that Neteyam isnโt an official suitor yet, and Jake wanted to relieve your parents of their worries over you being Neteyamโs mate.
And today, the celebration for the new village of the displaced clan felt like the culmination of everything you and Neteyam had built. It seemed so long ago when you two discussed the matter when you were swimming in the river, and now, the clan found a home by the river. The Oloโeyktan of the displaced clan stood before the grand fire. Youโd met him only today, but you could already tell the respect he has for Neteyam.
โFor too long, we were ghosts in this forest,โ the Oloโeyktan started. โWe lived like beggars, raiding for sustenance, hurting our brothers and sisters among your clans, and also fearing their spears, but a path was cleared where we saw only hopelessness. Our homes are standing here today because of Neteyam te Suli, our brother of the Omatikaya. Because of him, we have peace. Our children will know only the beauty of the forest and never the tragedy that forced us out of our lands.โ
You grinned as the crowd erupted, but Neteyam tried to sink into his seat, his ears pressing back in embarrassment as his arm pulled you to him. He hated the attention, but the chieftains wouldn't have it. They pushed him to the center, where he was forced to give a piece of his mind.
He cleared his throat, his golden eyes immediately finding yours in the crowd as if to ground himself. โThe peace you see today was not born in my mind,โ he began, his voice steadying as he looked at you. โI am a warrior, I was ready to lead with my bow. But it was my woman who showed me the wisdom in a hand offered instead of an arrow. She gave me the strength to listen when I wanted to fight. If this land is a home today, it is because her heart guided my way.โ
Neytiri turned to you and smiled as the men in the crowd roared to tease the warrior theyโve been acquainted with in the past moons. As he strode back to you, pulling you into a deep kiss of victory, a warrior from a different clan hooted from the side. โCareful, Neteyam! Keep your wits about you and donโt let her hit her head, or she might wake up and realize she could leave your ass behind!โ
Neteyam let out a deep, resonant laugh, pulling you flush against his side. โI have no intention of ever letting her get far enough to find out!โ
As the party reached its high, Neteyamโs eyes found yours, looking at you meaningfully, in a way that made your skin tingle. You raised a brow and he jerked his head toward the dark woods. You pushed your lips forward in a playful pout but tugged his hand anyway, leading him away from the noise and into the glowing embrace of the forest.
You skipped hand in hand, admiring the bioluminescent flora lighting your path and when you reached the secluded bend of the river, the sounds of the festival was nothing but a hum. You turned to him with a grin and, without a word, untied the ties of your beaded top. His hungry eyes followed the movement, his breath hitching as if he has not seen them for a hundred times already. You untied your loincloth next, letting it pool on the floor.
He watched you with an intensity that excited you, and when his own loincloth fell, you bit your lip, seeing of the hard-on you had become quite well-acquainted with over the past moons. The glow of the river and the forest illuminated his handsome face so perfectly your heart hammered against your chest. He is so handsome.
โHi,โ he whispered, his large arms on your waist pulling you close.
Your smile grew to a grin. โYouโre silly,โ you chuckled, pressing a palm against his muscled chest to gently push him back. โIโm going to swim... why are you holding me?โ
Neteyamโs eyes narrowed playfully, a boyish grin spreading across his face as he leaned in, his nose brushing yours. โOh, I think there are other things that need swimming, too,โ he teased, his voice dropping as his hand caught yours, bringing it down so you could feel his hardened cock. โYour babies want to swim in you.โ
โNeteyam!โ you called, almost swiveling your head around in case someone could hear him. Youโve learned, in the past moons, how lewd he can be with his words but your habit of looking around will probably stay for a few years more.
He angled his head to press a hard kiss against your lips. โWhat? Donโt you want our kids to have fun time?โ
You laughed, the sound like bells in his ears. You threw your arms around his neck, pulling him into a hug. โAm I in big trouble again?โ you whispered against his ear.
He groaned. โYouโre always going to be in big trouble with me if I had my way.โ
You smirked, tilting your head. โI want to take care of you tonight...โ you mumbled, your hand on his chest caressing his skin and pushing him back.
He raised a brow, always surprised still whenever you show him fire. You pulled him down to kiss him, your lips crashing into his with a hunger that made him vibrate in excitement. He let you push him back against the trunk of a towering tree, letting out a gravelly groan when his head thumped back against the bark.
His hands gripped your waist, pulling you so flush against him that the ridge of his hard-on felt like it was imprinting itself on your belly. With practiced ease, he reached behind himself to bring his queue forward, while his other hand found yours behind you, making you break the kiss for just a second, watching through hooded eyes as the pink tendrils of your kurus began to reach and weave together.
The familiar psychicย jolt of his intense love, raw devotion and desire for you flooded your mind, feeling his heart hammering against your ears, echoing the rhythm of your own. His fingers cupped your jaw to kiss you again, ad you smiled against his lips, pressing a lingering kiss to the corner of his mouth before trailing your lips down. You licked and kiss his neck, your palms staying flat on his chest, feeling the heavy thud of his heart as you kissed your way down over the hard ridges of his stomach.
โMy warrior...โ you murmured, kissing his lower abdomen.
You peered up at him, seeing his head pressed against the tree, but his eyes were looking down at you. You kissed sharp V-line of his hips before your hand reached out, fisting his girth. Neteyamโs breath hitched, a strangled sound escaping his throat as your hand began to move. The bond between your queues flared, sending waves of his pleasure crashing through the both of you.
โYou are celebrated tonight,โ you whispered, looking up at him with your innocent doe eyes that contrasted the sinful movement of your hands on him. โI think you deserve a reward, don't you?โ
โBaby...โ he rasped, his hands fisting as he tried to ground himself.
You didn't give him a chance to respond. You lowered your head, taking him into your mouth with a heat that made his entire body shudder. Through the bond, you felt the exact moment he weakened. His hands flew to your long braids as your mouth started sucking around his girth, your tongue playing with its underside, getting another sharp intake of his breath. You drew back slightly, then plunged deeper, taking more of him down your throat. You worked your mouth, your lips sealing around him that made him tremble. His fingers tightened in your braids in a gentle tug, guiding your movements, urging you faster.
Your tongue swirled, licked, teased, tracing the veins along his length. You felt him grow even harder in your mouth. You pulled back, then swallowed him again, your breath hitching as you felt the wide head deep inside your throat. His hips began to thrust, his hand on your jaw, meeting your eager mouth until you tasted him, the musky scent of his arousal filling your nostrils. Your throat ached, but the pleasure in his groans kept you moving.
โOh, baby,โ he gasped, his body trembling.
His hips bucked, a deep growl rumbling from his chest. You felt the first warm gush of him erupt into your mouth, hot and thick, and you swallowed as his body convulsed, still pouring into you. He groaned deeply, a powerful sound that made you shiver, his fingers digging into your hair as he emptied himself.
He slumped, his breathing ragged. โEnough, my love,โ he whispered, his voice hoarse, trying to pull your head up.
But you werenโt finished. You wanted to clean him, to savor every last drop. You ignored his pleas, your tongue flicking out, licking away the remnants of his pleasure, tracing the underside of his shaft. You heard his sharp intake of breath, his abdominal muscles tensing again. He was literally fighting to hold onto his strength, and you felt his cock twitch, hardening slightly at your continued ministrations. You ran your tongue along the tip, then sucked gently, drawing out the last of his cum.
โFuck. I regret teaching you, you know?โ he said weakly, his knees buckling.
You glared at him before reluctantly releasing him, your lips glistening. He reached down, pulling you up with a sudden, fierce strength that lifted until your bodies collided. His mouth found yours in a hard, demanding kiss, his tongue plunged into your mouth, mirroring the thrusts of his shaft earlier, tangling with yours. You met him with equal fervor, your arms wrapping around his neck, pulling him closer still, your hips instinctively grinding against his.
He broke the kiss, his lips trailing down your jaw and your throat in a fiery path. He lifted you, cradling you in his arms, your legs wrapping around his waist before he lowered you gently against the soft moss. He knelt above you, his golden eyes devouring your body like a man starved. His hand traced the curve of your waist, then upward, toward your breasts. His fingers brushed against your nipple and you arched your back, a soft moan escaping your lips. He leaned down, his mouth closing over one of the pebbled tips, sucking hard. You gasped and shivered, your fingers tangling in his braids, pressing him closer. His tongue swirled around your breast, while his other hand kneaded the other, his thumb circling the aroused tip.
โWhat a great reward,โ he groaned, his voice muffled against your flesh. He suckled hard that it made you arch your back both in ache and pleasure. He moved to the other breast, giving it the same intense attention until you cried out, your body writhing for more.
He pulled away, his eyes hot with a familiar predatory hunger in them. He shifted, kneeling between your legs, which had instinctively parted for him. He leaned down, his mouth moving lower. You moaned, knowing what was coming, your hips lifting in anticipation. His tongue flicked out, tracing the velvety folds of your pussy, already wet with anticipation,
He spread your lips, his tongue plunging directly into your clit, making you arch your back, your fingers scratching at his back. He licked, sucked, and torment, his mouth relentlessly sucking and his tongue playing more than it licks. He used his fingers, too, parting your lips to allowing his tongue full access on you. He tasted you, the salty-sweet essence, a taste that always drove him wild.
โSo sweet,โ he murmured against your folds his voice a low growl, his tongue flicking faster, harder.
Your breath came in ragged gasps, your legs trembling, wrapping around his head, pressing him deeper into your pussy. You felt the suction of his mouth and the relentless assault of his tongue on your clit, and your orgasm coiled in your belly. You whimpered, unable to form words, only sounds of pure pleasure, your hips bucking as your body shivered with release, leaving you gasping. You felt the soft shudders of your pussy, contracting around his tongue.
He pulled away, moving above you, his hard cock pressing against your folds. You whimpered, still quivering from your orgasm that your pussy was still throbbing and incredibly sensitive. He still pushed though, the head of his cock sliding inside. You moaned and he pushed deeper, stretching you, and filling you completely.
You wrapped your arms around his body that hovered above yours, his eyes locked with yours. He began to move, a slow thrust, then another, pulling almost completely out before plunging back in deep and hard. The sounds of him sliding in and out of your wetness filled the air, mingling with your gasps and his grunts. You wrapped your legs tighter around his waist, urging him deeper and faster.
He gripped your waist, his fingers digging into your flesh, lifting you slightly to control the angle, to thrust even deeper. โHarder,โ you pleaded, your voice hoarse, your hips bucking to meet his.
He responded instantly, his thrusts becoming a furious assault. He pounded into you, deep and relentless, filling you with every thrust. You felt yourself tightening around him, your muscles clenching. Your breath hitched, your vision blurring. You cried out his name, again and again, as your body convulsed, leaving you gasping, clinging to him.
He groaned, his body trembling above you as he thrusted a few more times, deep, desperate strokes. His body tensed, his seed erupting inside you, hot and thick, filling your womb with your babies that needed swimming. He collapsed onto you, heaving, his breath ragged against your neck. You lay there, your entwined bodies both slick with sweat and release.
He let out a long, shaky exhale, his tail giving one final, exhausted twitch against your leg. With a groan that sounded sated and delirious, he pulled out of you, watching the gush of his heavy and thick cum dripping out of you. โYou emptied me,โ he mumbled, his voice thick.
You chuckled, breathless. โComplaining, are we? Youโre the one who started talking about โswimmersโ in the middle of our conversation,โ you smirked.
Neteyam let out a dry, boyish laugh, propping himself up on one elbow. He looked down at your stomach, then back at your face, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. โI believe in my warriors. Theyโre fast.โ
You groaned, reaching up to swat his chest, but he caught your hand, bringing it to his lips to kiss your knuckles. โNeteyam, if my mother sees me walking back looking like this, Iโm going to receive a scolding.โ
โTell her you are a mated woman,โ he suggested shamelessly, pulling you closer until your head was resting on his chest.
โNeteyam... They donโt know that yet. We are following the traditions!โ you whisper-shouted playfully. โBeside, what happened to being modest for my parents?โ you narrowed your eyes at him.
He laughed, a genuine, chest-shaking sound that made you feel warm all over again. He rolled to his side, his hand grabbing your waist with a renewed look of heat in his eyes that made you groan. You sat up and his head angled to catch the pebbled tip of your breast into his mouth.
โโTeyam...โ your hand clutched at his shoulder.
โJust one more...โ he said, his words muffled because he had your flesh in his mouth.
You bit you lip and laid back on the soft moss, spreading your thighs as your hand caressed the soft skin on his back. You watched his large, formidable form hover over you, his thick and long cock already pointing at your pussy as if it knows its target. You shivered at the sight of it, your excitement vibrating in your body. His hand clasped under your knee and pushed your leg back, stretching you before his cock nudged your entrance.
His other hand moved over your pussy, his thumb rubbing your sensitive nub as his length disappeared in you. You moaned a long one, arching your back, offering your rounded breasts to him and he lowered his head to take one into his mouth, his tongue immediately swirling on your nipple. In a sudden, hard movement, his hand on your hips pulled you to him, burying himself to the hilt inside you.
โAh!โ you moaned, your thighs quivering to close around him but he kept them open, restraining both of them tightly befote delivering a series of hard and intense pounding.
You held onto him, your eyes flying open and meeting his. You probably looked so aroused and fucked, because his pupils blew even wider, almost swallowing the gold. Your mouth remained perpetually gaped, releasing jagged breaths and moans as he continued pumping into you. Your hand pressed against his lower abdomen and his thrusts quickened and hardened even more.
He lowered his head to kiss you, his tongue immediately plunging into your open mouth. You wrapped your arms around him, feeling his hard muscles contrasting his soft skin until all the sensations heโs giving you pushed you to the edge. He came first, shuddering above you despite his efforts to hold out longer. You hugged him tighter when you felt yourself erupt.
He kissed your neck softly, feeling your body shudder against him, you legs literally quivering as your walls clenched around him to milk him dry. He chuckled, pressing a hard kiss against your jaw. โI told you. Big trouble.โ
You let your head fall on the mossy ground, feeling him lick the skin on your exposed neck. โI think I can handle the trouble,โ you murmured. โAs long as itโs yours.โ
He squeezed your hip, giving you a lingering kiss. โI love you so much, space cadet,โ he mumbled. โNow, letโs put on act that we just swam in the river and are too tired to return to the festival.โ
๐๐๐บ๐บ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ Neteyam and you had grown up togther, played and trained like dangerous thanator cubs until his iknimaya came and he suddenly began to believe himself better than you. So why, now that it is mating season, does he suddenly take an interest in you again?
แถสท cannon divergence, aggressive(?)reader, smal misunderstandings, sexual comment made towards reader, angst?(happy ending)
สทแถ 13.7k
You remember the days when you were little, as if they were yesterday.ย
You remember when you first began to acknowledge Neteyam's presence. His face started to form features, instead of just being glossed over. His body began to take a shape, instead of being a blue blob in your periphery. The high pitched gurgles and giggles that he let out now reached deeper parts of your brain, and hearing them made you release your own in turn.
You remember when the two of you began to explore the forest. Learning of Eywa's beauties and strengths. Deciding upon your favorite creatures and flowers. Becoming unafraid of the ambiance that it held, and learning awareness of what sounds led to danger and what was alright to stay around.ย
You remember when your fathers began teaching you the ways of the warriors. Teaching you how to track, to nock an arrow, to achieve a clean kill, and to sharpen your knives. The two of you were always sparring partners in these early days โ you learned the traditional ways of battle, before adding your own flares to it.
But then Neteyam completed his iknimaya.ย
He was the youngest of the Omatikaya to ever do it. His fathers expectations of him pressing him to become better, to be the best he can be, to be the symbol of the strength of the people.ย
When he had told you that he was going to attempt his iknimaya, you were surprised. It was not that you believed he couldn't complete it, but he was so young, had so much time left in his life and there was no need to rush things.ย
Nonetheless, you were excited. Over the moon for your best friend. Before he ventured out you had crushed him in your arms, pressing a swift kiss on his cheek to wish him good luck.
You werenโt surprised to see him arrive home unscathed. The celebration that night was loud, the clan's excitement at an all time high for the Oloโeyktans son. It was then that the young hunters approached Neteyam.
They were a few years older than the two of you โ slightly jealous at the fact that Neteyam had accomplished so much when he was so young. But instead of teasing him, pushing him, even bullying him into submission, they took to praising him.ย
There was no doubt that Neteyam would become Oloโeyktan. No doubt that he would lead the people when his time had come. So it was best to start making friendships now, to start fostering their relationships and secure their future positions in the clan while Neteyam was still young.ย
You and him had been dancing when they approached. Moving your bodies to the beats of the drums, laughing freely, simply basking in the celebration. But then Teylun taps on Neteyam's shoulder, dragging his attention away from you.ย
Over the music you can faintly hear something about โjoin us,โ and โwelcome you,โ. You miss most of what Teylun says, but from what you did catch it seems as if he and his friends want to congratulate Neteyam personally.ย
The two of you were attached at the hip, everyone in the clan knew you both were inseparable. So when Teylun begins to lead Neteyam away you move to follow. But for the first time, possibly ever, you arenโt allowed to go.
Teylun pushes Neteyamโs shoulder blade urging him forward, before turning back to face you. โIโm sorry โeveng, we will be discussing warrior things. It is best if you stay back, converse with people your own speed.โ
He is calling you a child? Just because you didnโt want to rush your iknimaya, did not mean that you were a weak child. That you couldnโt complete it if you really wanted to. Before you get the chance to retaliate, to say your piece, Teylun has already guided Neteyam the rest of the way to where his friends reside.ย
You wouldnโt disrupt. It was Neteyamโs night, his celebration, and he could be in whoever's company he wished. You would see him in the morning anyway, then you could tell him how rude Teylun was to you.ย
When morning arrives you begin your way towards the Sully kelku. Normally Neteyam would meet you halfway, then the two of you would head towards the training grounds or the forest together. He didnโt today though, maybe he was just tired. So you keep moving, you could just meet him at his home.
Maybe you could even steal some fruit or meat under the guise that your parents hadnโt fed you. Yes, that would be nice. A second breakfast to set you up for the perfect day. As you poke your head into their kelku, you donโt see Neteyam.
It still doesnโt phase you. Pushing past the hides that cover the entry way you make your way towards where Neytiri and Loโak sit. โGood morning auntie, Loโak.โย
The human word felt odd coming from your throat, but Jake had taught it to you when you were young. He said that the word meant close, almost motherly figure; and Neytiri was always like that to you.ย
Loโak stands, crashing into your chest with a tight hug. He acts as if he had not seen you just yesterday, had not danced with you after Neteyam left with Teylun.ย
โWould you like something to eat, child?โ
When you nod, Neytiri hands you a leaf holding fresh fruits and roots. The perfect way to start your day. You begin picking at the meal with your fingers, picking the best pieces for yourself, and giving the slightly less best pieces to Loโak.ย
After swallowing a few bites you begin to look around. Where is Neteyam? He is usually an early riser, and you had expected him to be up by now even with the late night he had.ย
As if sensing your curiosity Lo'ak speaks. โBig bro left.โ
He doesn't acknowledge the look on your face, doesn't even look up from where he's deciding what piece of fruit he wants from your leaf. You only come out of your stupor when he points at a particularly juicy piece of fruit and asks if he can have it.
โWhere did he go?โ You hand Lo'ak the fruit, leaning your head against his as you ask.
You can feel him shrug, feel his jaw work as he chews before he responds. โDunno, I think he said something about going with Teylun.โ
Neytiri snaps at Lo'ak, telling him to mind his grammar. She didnโt like how much English he included in his daily life, much less when he began creating Na'vi slang that matched with words his father had used when he was a human.
You tune her out. Instead focusing on how Neteyam is off with Teylun again. You could understand last night, it was important to show camaraderie. That must be what this is.
Allowing Neteyam to follow along with their hunt, or training, or whatever it was that they were getting up to. Allowing him to establish himself with the others who have completed their iknimayas.
So you thank Neytiri for the food, ruffle Lo'ak's braids, and head out to train yourself. You donโt manage to catch a glimpse of Neteyam for the rest of the day. Itโs odd, and it places what feels to be a rock in the center of your chest. But you knew you would see him tomorrow. These new friends would ebb and fade, and even if they didnโt Neteyam wouldnโt abandon you for no reason.ย
The next day as you approach the Sully kelku, there is distinct chatter. You can hear Teylunโs voice, is he ever going to leave Neteyam alone? Then Liโralโs voice filters in too. Neteyamโs voice is the first clear thing that you can hear.
โAre you sure that I cannot join you later? I have not seen ma txeylan in nearly two days.โ
Teylun laughs. You assume it is because he sees you as a child. Liโral pitches in, confirming your thoughts, โThe girl who has been attached to your side since the two of you were toddlers?โ
โYes, that is her.โ
โShe is a โeveng. You are a warrior now.โ
Neteyam sighs, โShe is not a โeveng. Just because she did not complete her iknimaya yet doesnโt mean-โ
โBut has she not trained as long as you?โ
โShe has. What does that have to do with her being a child?โ
Thank Eywa he was standing up for you. You knew you could trust him.ย
โIt means she should have trusted herself, her training and attempted her iknimaya as well. It is childish fear that held her back.โ
Most Omatikaya didn't complete their iknimayas until they were a minimum of fifteen years of age anyway. You were not behind, Neteyam was just leagues ahead of everyone.ย
You think Neteyam would retort again. Come to your defense as he always had โ but instead you can hear the familiar patter of footsteps. A faint conversation discussing the best way to roast a yerik, wafts over to your ears before you lose the ability to hear them.ย
Maybe he had defended you again when you were out of earshot. There was no way he allowed the conversation to change so easily, still wanting to defend the person he spent so many years beside.ย
The opportunity to confront him never comes. To ask for some comfort about the situation, for him to quell your fears that he truly did see you as a child.ย
Just a short week after his iknimaya, Neteyam was to complete his dream hunt. You would not let him evade you before this event. The possibility of him dying was too great to not at least wish him luck.
Not because he needed it, you knew how strong and determined he was. But because you wanted to show that you still cared, still considered him your best friend even with the distance of the past week.ย
When you approach the small group he's settled in, they go silent. Their eyes flit from Neteyam to you hastily.ย
โMa txeylan, do you have a moment?โ You keep your voice light, trying to block the nervousness from seeping into your tone.ย
Neteyam's ear flicks. The young hunters he's began to associate himself with eye him, smirks and grimaces adorning their features. His beads clink as he allows his head to nod slightly, โOf course.โ
He lets you drag him a few feet away from the group. Positions himself with a view of the group he was sitting with over your shoulder.ย
โI've missed you.โ A polite smile graces your features as you speak.ย
Once again he only nods to show any sign that he has heard you. But you don't let him get away with it; instead taking to staring into his eyes with your bright ones. So he grants you a small, noncommittal sound from the back of his throat.
When you realize that you won't be getting a vocal response you continue, โI just wanted to wish you well. To tell you I am hoping for good luck on your dream hunt.โ
โWhy?โ
Your eyebrows raise in surprise at his odd question, then they furrow, โWhat do you mean why?โ
Neteyamโs eyes flick over your shoulder, making contact with the new friends heโs solidified himself with. Then he breathes a deep, annoyed breath, โWhy do you feel the need to wish me luck. I am not a โeveng, like you,โ For the first time in days his eyes meet yours, โI can handle myself.โ
Oh. So thatโs how it was going to be. You stuck with him for years, and now he wants to cast you aside because he has some new and shiny friends.ย
How unfair.ย
Laughter bubbles up behind you. When you look up you can see Neteyamโs lips quirk into a smile at the sound, can see the way his chest puffs slightly in pride. You donโt need to look at the group to know they were staring at you, that their amusement was due to your embarrassment.ย
The sound burns into your memory. Sears painfully into the deepest parts of your brain. It must have changed the chemistry in your brain with the way that it now triggers your fight or flight response.ย
That same laugh drags your attention from your friends. It brings a twinge to your chest โ one that quickly places a scowl on your face. Itโs bringing the urge to fight. To cross the cookfire and pour a full waterskin over Liโralsโs head. To shove Teylun over the log heโs sitting on and cave his nose into his face. Toย grasp Neteyamโs tail and attempt to dislodge it from where it rested on his spine.
But you take a deep, steadying breath. Take a loving glance at the friends youโve surrounded yourself with; the ones who adopted you after Neteyam abandoned you. And you decided to take it out on him tomorrow during training, there no one could judge you for seeming bloodthirsty.ย
The adults of the clan havenโt seemed to get the memo that you and Neteyam are not friends.
Well, more that you cannot stand him. Anytime he speaks, you grunt to reply. When he looks in your direction, you make sure to avoid your eyes. If he approaches your friends to discuss what theyโre weaving or how the hunt went, you make it a point to act as if he does not exist.
When youโre in the same hunting party, not much is achieved. Formations are broken, twigs are snapped, prey is lost. No one can decide who to blame; Neteyam for putting you in the most useless part of the formation, or you for storming off and hunting by yourself.ย
And sparring together always leads to more scrapes and bruises than when you spar for anyone else. So youโd think that Jake and your father would avoid placing you two together. That theyโd want two of the clan's best warriors to stay in formidable shape.ย
Their wiseness should have been able to influence their decision. To prevent them from ever even thinking that the two of you could be applicable partners. That you could ever go back to how it was.
Instead, at least once a month, the two of you end up partners.ย
Unfortunately it is the most entertaining part of the session. Watching the two of you be forced into the circle; him smiling as he scratches the back of his neck, you huffing before shoving yourself off the tree you were leaning against. Theyโd watch in anticipation as Neteyam watched you, assessing your stance, trying to make eye contact.
Then their eyes would flick to you. Watching how youโd toe at the ground, roll your knuckles till they crack, bite your lip as you stare at your father like he personally offended you. It was obvious that you were wound up, like a cord ready to snap.ย
Youโd wait until the last moment, until your father or his would call for the start of the spar, to even glance in his direction. Rarely looking at his eyes, instead learning the movements of his muscles so you could determine his movements from that. Anything so that you wouldnโt have to look at his stupid face.ย
At the beginning of the spar, everything would be cordial. Proper stances, dancing around each other before taking light jabs, ducking and dodging until you were inevitably told to โpush your opponent!โ. It was then that Neteyam would start lunging a bit more seriously, reaching his hands out to grab at your thigh or push your shoulder; something to tip your center of gravity, allowing him to pin you down.ย
Youโd retaliate with shoves of your own, letting your nails scrape a lot more than necessary. It was low, a bit dirtier than should be allowed in spars, but it wasnโt explicitly against the rules. Plus, who's to say the scrapes didnโt come after the two of you had started rolling around?
It didnโt matter how it happened. Didnโt matter who shoved who, whoโs hips pinned the others down, who celebrated their victory a bit too early; the two of you would always end up tousling on the ground.ย
Provoked, enraged, by the others misplaced confidence, whoever was pinned would buck and thrash until they had regained a bit of control. Then the two of you would be wrestling, throwing insults back and forth among the punches, grabbing braids, tugging tails, hell youโd even taken to some below the belt kicks a few times.
With how last night had gone, today was shaping up to be one of the worse spars the two of you have had. Neteyam had pinned you, somehow still in top shape after all the rumaut wine he had had yesterday. It would be fine, everything would be okay, but then Liโral had to open his big fat mouth.ย
It wasnโt loud, not wanting the elders, especially the Oloโeyktan, to hear him. But it was loud enough to drift over the edge of the circle to where you laid beneath Neteyam. You heard his voice float over you as your ears were just recovering from their ringing, โIโm sure she wouldnโt mind if he mounted her like that again after eclipse one of these nights.โ Just who, on Eywaโs green planet, did he think he was talking about?
And if that wasnโt insulting enough, you could hear the faint laughter follow from Neteyamโs friends. On a better day, youโd take your eyes off Neteyam, angle your head back so you could tilt the yellow orbs to assess who specifically was laughing. Youโd catalog them into your brain, prepare to treat them a little harsher the next time you sparred. But today was not a better day, and it was just in Neteyamโs luck that he also heard the joke, and was allowing himself a few huffs of laughter from where he rested above you.ย
Your vision fades black at the edges, sole focus being on the boy atop you. With sudden, aggressive thrusts, you launch him from the seat he was claiming. He falls, landing on his back with a rough exhale.ย While heโs disoriented, you rotate off your back and hastily crawl towards him.
Before you can settle yourself into a position that allows you to hold Neteyam down, you swing. Your fist collides with his cheek, the force splitting his lip and sending you falling over until youโre laid out on top of him. From there you swing your leg over his torso, taking a firm seat before you continue your onslaught.ย
Surely, this had led to another joke to bubble from his friends. Something about how eager you were to mount him. You couldnโt hear it though, too busy thrusting your fist towards Neteyamโs face. Too busy ripping his arms away from where they came up to block your assault. Too busy pulling at those damn braids that he loved to swing around.
At some point Neteyam had tried to push back. Thrusted his hips up hoping to displace you, but you were too far up on his chest for it to do anything. Tried to grab your arms when you swung, yet you managed to dislodge them. Attempted to even roll his body under yours, to lay on his stomach and get some leverage to stand and force you off. But nothing worked, something had snapped in you โ something that gave you insane strength that you were using to the fullest.
The rage you had felt forcing your blood to boil, for it to rush so fast through your veins that you were rendered unable to hear anything else. You couldnโt hear the gasps. Couldnโt hear the concerned murmurs. Couldnโt hear Neteyam saying he yielded. Couldnโt hear the Oloโeyktan telling you to get off of his son, nor your father reprimanding your sudden rampage.
Suddenly โ well suddenly, for you, โ youโre hoisted off of Neteyam. As you raise into the air you get a perfect view of him. Laid out on the dirt, chest rising in heavy breaths, lip busted and bleeding down the side of his face, cheek already gaining an indigo tint, braids misplaced from the wrap he had them in; it brings a maniacal grin to your face.ย
Yeah, his friends and him could make fun of you all they wanted. But at the end of the day, youโd be the one laughing. That was one thing youโd made sure of ever since that night so many moon rotations ago โ theyโd never be able to call you a child again.ย
Slowly a voice fades into your head. Vowels and consonants forming into syllables that you can finally piece together into words. Itโs your fathers voice, heโs whispering a scolding, โI cannot believe you did thatโ, โmaโite, I know he aggravates you, but he is still the Oloโeyktanโs sonโ, โHow will it look to the eldersโ, โYouโll scare off potential mates if you keep up with this,โ. You werenโt embarrassed at your actions, but being hauled away while everyone knew you were getting scolded brought a slight flush to your cheeks.ย
Youโre sure to be scolded more intently when safely tucked into your kelku. Sure that your mother will force you to spend more time with the weavers and the gathers, saying that itโll soften your demeanor. Sure that your father will remind you of how he fought with Jake Sully and Neytiri, how their union was strong and Neteyam and yours should be similar especially with your mature ages.ย
So when the conversation happens you let it. Nodding dutifully as they chatter; agree to chaperone the gathers as they forage, agree to weave with the elders so you can soak up their wisdom, even agree to stay in formation next time you go for a hunt.ย
Itโs only when they mention apologizing, that you deny. A grimace overtakes your features, brows creasing as you speak, โI will not do such a thing. I cannot do such a thing.โ
โYou will. We must be united as a clan,โ Your father speaks, tone harsh, โToday you showed everything but unity. You showed the fierceness of the clan, and our unwavering determination. So you must tie the whole thing together with our camaraderie, this can only be completed with an apology.โ
You frown, ready to plead, to beg for any other punishment, โFather please. I cannot do it.โ
โYou must.โ He frowns back, not wanting to debate the matter any longer.
โIf you were to have heard what his friends were saying about me, then you would understand!โ
โIt does not matter. We must take the high route.โ
You stand, slightly moving towards the entrance flap of the kelku, โIt was disgusting, bordering vile, father! And he โ Neteyam, he was laughing right along with them!โ
โWhat did they say?โ
Fantastic.
You werenโt going to repeat their words. It would only make the situation worse. Your father wouldnโt stand for it, ready to defend your honor even if it put your family at risk of shame.ย
โCan I not just avoid him? You and the Oloโeyktan do not have to place us to spar any more, and we can coexist just fine as long as we arenโt forced to interact.โ
It must have gotten to him. Your father seems to be pondering the idea. Itโd be much simpler that way, changing schedules and ensuring that the two of you donโt spar together would prevent most of their issues. But it would also mean that two of their best warriors wouldnโt have their best competition, and it would risk their skills dulling.ย
A small grin graces your face. You could do this, could avoid Neteyam and his group of friends for the rest of your parents' days. And youโd never have to apologize for something you werenโt sorry for. But then your mother speaks, โYou must apologize.โ
โMother! I cann-โ
โYou must! I will not have the elders shame our family at the weaving circle, will not have others whisper our names with disgrace on their tongues. Please daughter, swallow your pride this time, after you may avoid him, yes?โ
Your head falls. Sure you may not have minded what the elders had to say, didnโt mind when people spoke ill of you; but that was because you knew they didnโt know the full story. That they would probably have your side if you had voiced your side too.ย
So instead of rebuking again, you allow your head to nod. A soft hum of agreement leaves your throat before you depart through the flaps of the kelku. You storm through the clan, rushing to the ikran rookery; a nice flight to clear your head before your inevitable apology.ย
Itโs a calming mechanism youโve used since you passed your iknimaya. The clear air and loads of open space allow you to think through all your problems easily. Small tricks and flips bring you confidence. Your skills in the air remind you of your skills on the ground; and a smile is brought to your face as you remember Neteyam flat on his back earlier today.
You fly for hours, watch the sun reach eclipse atop your ikran. Observe as the bioluminescent glow overtakes the forest. Eventually, your racing heart slows, and your breaths come more regularly, and itโs then that you decide you can apologize.
The Sully kelku has its entrance flaps open when you arrive, typical as the Oloโeyktan is expected to be available until the last clan member goes to sleep. You donโt walk straight in however, instead sing-songing a soft โKaltxรฌ.โ
It is Loโak who comes to the entrance, โOh shit.โ He laughs out your name, โDude, the way you beat Neteyamโs ass today was crazy!โย
โYes,โ a tight lipped smile adornes your features, โI am here to apologize. Is Neteyam around?โ
Loโak gazes at you curiously, even though you put distance between you when you stopped talking with Neteyam, he had never let you fully seal the door. Normally when heโd praise your skills, youโd at least laugh a bit with him. Nonetheless, he nods, โYeah. Yeah heโs on the sleeping mats.โ He jabs a thumb over his shoulder, pointing to where you could find him.
โWhere is everyone else?โย
โMom and dad are out, and Kiri and Tuk are weaving.โ
Good. This was good. You didnโt want to have anyone in the family hearing the conversation, but you also didnโt want to have it outside where anyone could hear. โCan you just come back in a little bit Lo? I must apologize to your brother in private.โ
You shove past him before turning and lightly pushing his shoulder to urge him into taking a few steps out the kelku. โIt is not like that and you know it.โ
As you move deeper into the home, you call out to Neteyam a few times. Eywa forbid he was improper when you finally saw him. When you finally hear his voice ring back, you allow yourself to duck into the area that held their sleeping mats.
Letting your eyes rove over him you can see the damage you did. You look at the way he winces upon sitting up, how his lip is still swollen, the indigo finally setting on his cheek, even the faint scratches that rest upon his pectoral muscles. He looked bad, it takes everything in you to not allow a smile to grace your features.ย
You allow yourself to kneel, not wanting to seem higher or more important by towering over him.
โI am here to apologize. My earlier actions are inexcusable and I hope you can forgive me.โ
Neteyam nods a bit. Lets your words linger in the air before he responds, โIt is fine. We all get overcome by our emotions sometimes.โ
โIt is not fine.โ Your head shakes, beads clinking to accentuate your point, โPlease accept my apology, do not brush it off.โ
โOkay.โ His tongue darts out over his lips, bringing the bottom one between his teeth before he hisses from how tender it is, โI accept your apology.โ
Good. He will no doubt tell his parents about your change of heart, and it will spread from there. Your family will be cleared from any possible shame and you can go on with your lives. As you move to get up Neteyamโs hand wraps around your wrist.ย
Your eyes flick over to his, โWhat is it?โ
โIโve just been thinking. I miss you, we used to be so close, you know?โ His hand falls, but his eyes keep peering into yours, โWhat happened to us?โ
โWhat do you mean, โwhat happened to us,โ?โ You scoff, all semblance of being friendly disappearing, โTrust me when I say this. You are not important to me. You may have been, but you never will be again.โ
Fast, jerky movements lead you out of the Sully kelku. How dare he say something so preposterous? How dare he act as if heโs not the reason the two of you are here?ย
Unbelievable.ย
At least you wouldnโt have to interact with him again. Thank Eywa.
Neteyam did not know what had gotten into you today.
Last night you had seemed pleased, happy to drink rumaut wine with your friends as the cookfire reduced to embers. Heโd been watching you, allowing his eyes to roam over the people, but lingering on you for a bit longer than everyone else.ย
This morning however something was off. You were on edge, nearly strung your bow too tight before archery practice. When the time for sparring finally rolled around, instead of meandering near the edge, you were bouncing on the balls of your feet โ like a thanator ready to pounce.ย
It was his luck that the two of you were paired together today.ย
The dance youโd fall into was familiar, he was prepared for it. Ready to dance around and trade dominance until one of you became too tired to continue. But today, youโre hyper-aggressive; your moves are harsher, punches are harder, jabs are faster.ย
He hisses the first time your nails make contact with his chest; itโs almost as if theyโve been sharpened, prepped to cut just for this. The sting urges him to take you down, to put some real use to his larger muscles thanks to his father's avatar DNA.ย
He ducks down, using his right hand to grab at your left thigh. His hand slides down the smooth skin until he can grab at the flexion of your knee. Then he tugs it towards himself, tilting you backwards.
Instead of letting you fall alone, he follows. Neteyam lets his left hand move to the back of your head, preventing it from hitting the ground too roughly. But once youโre settled on the ground, he clambers over you, settling most of his weight on your hips.ย
At first you try to hit him, fruitlessly using your arms to displace him. It doesnโt work, but it does get annoying. Neteyam moves to pin your arms, now he can secure his win without any other lesions to his body.ย
He smiles, huffing a little laugh at how angered you are today. He wants to ask what was up with you, wants to ask what crawled up your tewng today. But then something happens โ something otherworldly takes over you.
Unnaturally bucking overtakes your hips, your whole body is being used. Shoulders pressing into the ground beneath you, legs bent at the knee to grant extra force, even your arms slide across the ground to displace his grip.
The shock overtakes him, forcing him off your body. His back roughly hits the ground, and the breath is knocked from his lungs. And before he can even acknowledge that heโs off from where he once sat victoriously on you, youโve launched a punch into his cheek.ย
From there itโs only downhill. Youโve taken a seat upon him and begin laying into his face, his chest, his arms, really anything you can.ย
Neteyam tries to fight it at first. Tries to defend his face, to force you off of him, to flip the two of you over, but nothing works. He tries to ensure your win, to yield, but his voice goes uncared for or unheard.ย
Itโs only when your father hauls you off of him that he gets some room to breathe. The break allows the ache to set in his jaw, and his cheek, and his lip, and his scalp. Eywa, did he hope that his grandmother would use the yalna bark salve today.
His father hauls him up from the ground. Gives him a once over as he questions, โYou good boy?โ
Neteyam nods, braids falling over his face when he doesnโt move to raise his head again.ย
โGood. Go get patched up.โ
With a pat and light shove to his shoulder, Neteyam is off. When he arrives to the Tsahikโs tent, heโs pleasantly surprised to see that itโs only his mother and grandmother inside.ย
He can hear them chattering about something. The words โof age,โ and โbest time to train a tsakarem,โ float to his perked up ears before he realizes theyโre speaking about him.
So he delays making his appearance known for a little longer, taking post behind the tent where the hides are thin. Their words come softly muffled through the hide, his grandmotherโs voice ringing through first, โMany will seek him out during the upcoming mating season.โ
โYes,โ His mother hums, โI can only imagine how many gifts will swarm our kelku.โย
The two of them chuckle and it brings a smile to Neteyamโs face. But then he remembers how soon the season is, just a few short weeks away. Sure his siblings had teased him plenty about how many girls would throw themselves at him โ but that was useless teasing, this was his mother and grandmother. If theyโre speculating it must be serious.ย
โIt will all be for naught if he does not reciprocate. Has Neteyam spoken of anyone who has piqued his interest?โ
โNo, he has not. There are many near his age this season though.โ
His mother was right, there were many whoโd be his age this mating season. Even though Neteyam could think of the prospects himself, his mother and grandmother began to list off the girls that would be participating this season, allowing him to mull over their attributes himself.
โPxuleโฆโ She is one of the singers. Soft spoken until she needs to voice the hymns of the ancestors and she finally allows her voice to raise. A kind girl, but not one he could see himself being mated to for eternity.
โToโleiโฆโ A gatherer. Her nimble fingers always grant her perfect harvests. It would seem as if Eywa herself loves when Toโlei heads into her forest, always granting her the best materials from whatever area sheโs decided to forage in. Her skills would eternally be useful to the clan, but she engages in constant babbling as she gathers, rarely taking moments to embrace the natural noises of the flora and fauna.
โMekaniโฆโ One of the hunters. She was able to flawlessly lead a hunt among the younger bunch; her stern tone leaving no room for discussion or pushback. Her shoulders were never bare when she arrived back at hometree, making sure to share the burden of such a success with her fellow hunters. A formidable mate, someone who knew how to lead and the importance of being strict, but she never seemed to let up, never showed a softer side that would be important for raising children.
Maybe Neteyam would need to take some time to sit and think when he got home. All of the options that were being listed were good options; just not for him. He needed someone who matched him, someone who questioned when he was making a bad decision, someone who could be soft when he didnโt know how to be.ย
If he could take a trait from each of the girls listed and place them into a mold, heโd end up with the perfect mate. The one who would make him confident when he took the role of Oloโeyktan over. But that wasnโt possible, he couldnโt force any one of them to fit whatever mold heโd created in his head. Just as heโs about to push out of his kneel and approach the entrance of the tent his mothers voice cuts in again.
She spoke your name, โFor a time, when they were little, I believed that they would end up together.โ
โHm. Why is that?โ
โThey were always together. You cannot be that close for so long and never grow any feelings โ it is how I came to see Jake in another light.โ
Neteyam hadnโt even considered the fact that you would be participating this year. Sure you were the same age, and had long since passed your iknimaya. However the thought of you getting dressed up in brightly colored loincloths and chest coverings just to dance around the cookfire with potential mates made him sick.ย
His brain ran through the list of men whoโd be eligible this year. Sure there were plenty of options, but none of them would be good enough. Korvyn was too timid. Saโnel was too immature. Rikutu had many adventures with girls already.ย
The thought of you ending up with a courting gift adorning your body by the end of the season soured his mood.ย
He knew it was wrong โ to be this protective over you, even though he hadnโt spoken properly to you in years. But that wasnโt his fault! He had tried; joined your friends as they weaved, taken the position of lead in your hunting parties, and heโd made sure to never take it easy on you during spars not wanting to undermine all the training he knew you did.
You were the one that refused to speak to him after he came into his own.
After his dream hunt,ย heโd begun getting more responsibilities. It was around that time that you stopped talking to him. When he called across a clearing, your head would turn in the opposite direction. Heโd sneak up on you and Loโak as you helped him with his aim, only revealing himself to give some advice of his own, but instead of sticking around youโd mention that he could take over before leaving.ย
No matter what, it was a deflection, and it was you who influenced the distance. Not him. So why does it matter if youโll probably be ending the mating season with a serious prospect courting you. Who cares that in the next few months youโll mate before Eywa with some skxawng. It makes no difference that sometime in the near future there might be a child running around hometree with your eyes, your mates nose, and tiny loincloths weaved by your own fingers.
The thoughts wound Neteyam up tightly. As if he was twine woven around a tree to stabilize a kelku. It made his treatment rougher than necessary; his grandmother moving to massage the tensed muscles more than needed.ย
Even though his muscles had been worked out, stretched and prodded until they were spongy and soft again, his brain was still a mess. What could he do to prevent such an outcome? How could he implement himself back in your life in a way that would put him in a perfect position to determine who you decided to spend the rest of your life with?ย
Hours passed as he laid on his sleeping mat and pondered. Eventually his thoughts were interrupted by your voice calling out to him. At first he had assumed it had been a figment of his imagination โ that because his thoughts were all consumed by you, his brain had decided to play a trick on him. But then the voice came again, and again, and it only stopped after he had responded.ย
It was you, really you! Sitting next to him, poised upon your knees as you spewed something about an apology. Truly, he did not care. Everyone has bad moments, maybe not him, but now wasnโt the time to say that.ย
You hadnโt liked that. Forced him to not just brush off your apology. And thatโs fine, itโs the first time in nearly half your lives that youโve said more than โokayโ or โI heard youโ to him. So he accepts your apology all while silently hoping that youโd stick around, say something else to continue the conversation. You mustโve missed him as much as heโs missed you. Must have been wondering what his daily life looked like now.
Instead, you move to rise. Hands plant on your knees as you let your center of gravity shift to allow your knee to come up from beneath you. Itโs then that Neteyam realizes Eywaโs delivered you to him. Here, on a shining platter (your knees so youโre level to him), and heโd be a fool to not take the opportunity to talk.ย
He lets his hand rest upon your wrist for a moment. Allows his calloused fingers to feel over your pulse point until you question what he needs. It takes him a moment to find his voice, to gather his thoughts into a proper sentence.ย
โIโve just been thinking. I miss you, we used to be so close, you know?โ Neteyam lets his hand drop, believing that youโll stick around without him tethering you, โWhat happened to us?โย
For a moment he thinks that you will give him an answer. Something about how you wanted space to grow into your own, but now that youโre both old enough youโre willing to become friends again.ย
โWhat do you mean, โwhat happened to us,โ?โ A scoff falls from your lips, face falling into an unimpressed scowl,ย โTrust me when I say this. You are not important to me. You may have been, but you never will be again.โ
What?
What were you saying? Implying?
He supposes that he didnโt have to be important to you. But he never thought youโd say such a thing. Never thought such a statement would leave your lips when regarding your future Oloโeyktan.
Not that he needed to mention his rank. It was something that followed him as a child, something that lingered in the back of all the friendships that he held. You had never acknowledged it though, he was โjust Neteyamโ and he couldnโt be happier for that.
Before he can move to grab you again, to try and force you to explain your rash statement, youโre up and out of the kelku. He moves to stand but his body aches and he canโt move fast enough. By the time he calls out to you, he knows youโre gone.ย
How strange.ย
No matter. Neteyamโs sure that heโll have plenty of opportunities to talk with you before the mating season begins. Everything can be straightened out and he can claim his rightful position by your side and influence your final decision.ย
If you were hard to get a hold of before, you were impossible now. Neteyam could rarely catch sight of you. When he did you were promptly out of his vision a moment later, as if you were a phantom of his imagination.ย
He tried speaking to your friends. Urging them to spill the secret of where you were spending your time. When that didnโt work he tried bribery, offering them an uninterrupted dance with him during the season.
They hadnโt given up where you were spending all your time, but they had told him how you never stayed in the same spot for too long. That you allowed your schedule to rotate frequently to prevent being seen. This was not useful, but he had already pressed his forearm to theirs and grabbed their elbow in the traditional signal of a deal before they gave the information.ย
When there was only a week left until the start of mating season, he took to more desperate measures.ย
Neteyam begged his father to place you in his hunting party again. Jake's reply was less than pleasing, โNo can do son. Strict orders to keep the two of you out of each other's hair after that last spar.โ Who cared how that ended up?! The two of you were adults and could move past that if they gave you the opportunity.ย
He asked his grandmother to speak to you when you went to her to be patched up. Moโat sighed as she responded, โI will not get involved in your frivolous situation grandson.โ Neteyam had scoffed, spewed something about how it clearly wasnโt frivolous to you, before he departed from the tent.
Next to suffer was Loโak. Despite how you had pushed him away, and refused to be seen around hometree with him, Neteyam knew that the two of you still hung out. As Loโak had been leaving the village one day Neteyam had stopped him, asking to tag along. โSorry bro, not blowing up my spot for you.โ had been Loโakโs carefree reply. What did he mean โblowing up his spotโ? One would think that after all the heat Neteyam took for him, Loโak could do his big brother this one solid, but no matter there was still another path to try.ย
The final person he dared try was your mother. She was always nice to him, loving and caring whenever he stopped by the weavers circle. Neteyam knew it would be a long shot, but it was still important to try all his options, to just implore her to tell him what had gotten under your skin. But she denied him too, โMaโiteโs business is her business. You will have to find out from her yourself.โ At least she was nice enough to pair her words with a soft tone and a light smile.
What a shame. How did they expect him to solve this situation if you wouldnโt speak to him! How was he supposed to ward off potential mates if he couldnโt be in your vicinity!
The thoughts consumed him all throughout the first week of the season. Sure Neteyam had his fair share of suitors approaching him; plenty of young women, even some men, approaching him to converse and delve into their lives. He still made sure to keep an eye on you however, glancing over the shoulder of the person in front of him, turning his head in your direction as he itches the back of his neck, a few times even excusing himself as he sees you walk off.ย
The second week is when small gifts begin to be exchanged. He begins to get cuts of meat from Mekani. She delivers him the best, fattiest, pieces of sturmbeest and yerik meat. At first she delivers it raw, but as the week progresses she begins to cook it, glazing it in nectar, or roasting it with fruits.ย
Neteyamโs not interested. To eat the meat is to show signs of interest, but itโd be rude to just discard. So instead, he takes it to his friends, distributes it between Teylun and Liโral; and he only slightly regrets it when they begin to sing Mekaniโs praises.ย
Korvyn has been taking up your time. Not all of it, still allowing you to seek out other potential suitors, but he has certainly become bold in the last few weeks. He allows his tail to find your waist, to run it along the base of your own as the two of you talk. Tilts his head appropriately to show his interest in your stories.ย
There wouldnโt be any worry from Neteyam if you hadnโt been smiling so happily at him. Hadnโt inched closer where you sat perched against the log. Hadnโt presented Korvyn with a fresh harvest of rumaut that you had cut up yourself.ย
So the next morning Neteyam sets out, before the sun has risen over the horizon. He will bring back the best piece of sturmbeest meat, and then he is going to roast it slowly over the fire. When it is nearly done he is going to wrap it in a leaf with some fine roots, and glaze them both with honey, before allowing it to steam to perfection.
It would be perfect. A meal that he knew you consumed from childhood, perfected by his hands as the perfect distraction from other suitors.
Wait.
Wait.
What was he thinking? From other suitors? He was not trying to court you. Wasnโt trying to take a permanent, romantic, spot in your life.ย
Well. It wouldnโt be that bad.ย
Heโd known you all your lives anyway. Been close until you were twelve. Your families liked each other, parents supporting each other in the war against the sky people. It wouldnโt be the worst scenario if he were to court you.ย
Plus who would challenge the future Oloโeyktan for someone's hand? It would be stupid, they wouldnโt have a chance. Who would want a simple hunter, a weaver, a gatherer, or a carver, instead of the future leader of the Omatikaya?ย
Teylun had said something similar to him just before mating season had started. Boasted that because of his title, he could obtain anyone he wanted, that he could probably get an older woman if he really wanted. Someone with more experience on everything, especially how to make him see stars in the privacy of their own kelku.
He was always more focused on the sexual part of things. On the physical level of affections, not on how they start, on the emotional base that makes everything more intense. But nonetheless, it was a great idea. Heโd be able to ward off other suitors and maybe even encourage you to start seeing him how you once did again.ย
So Neteyam spends the entire day preparing the meal. Kneels over the roast until his back gains a twinge. Ensures that the glaze covers the entire meal nicely, in a perfectly even layer before setting it to properly settle into the meal.
And when heโs finally settled, finally believes that the meal is perfect, he wraps it tightly in woven cloths to seal the heat. Then heโs off to the cookfire. He steps past where his friends reside, faltering for only a moment until he sees that Korvyn has yet again taken the seat next to you, then he is back on his mission.ย
When he steps into the little bubble the two of you have cultivated neither of you pay him any mind. Your conversation flows, smooth despite his presence lingering in front of you both. Korvyn is in the middle of recounting how he learned to swim when his brother cast him into the river when Neteyam clears his throat.
The two of you turn towards the source of the noise. Korvyn lets a smile grace his features, always so friendly, but you just peer up at him. Your eyes go from the wide orbs that heโs used to, to half lidded at your disinterest.ย
Neteyamโs eyes are only on you, watching the subtle sway of your tail, the way the furry tip brushes against Korvynโs. He observes how your chest covering leaves very little to the imagination, it makes his throat dry up until Korvynโs voice rings out to his left.ย
โNeteyam, what can we do for you?โ
So he clears his throat, lets some saliva coat his tongue, then speaks. โI wish to speak with her.โ When no movement is made to leave the two of you alone he opens his mouth again, โAlone.โ
โOh. Right, of course!โ Korvyn turns to you as he moves to get up, โI will see you later, kalintu.โ
You let your hand grasp his bicep as he stands, allowing it to ghost over his skin until your hand rests in his. Neteyam can see the way your fingers flex as they hold Korvyns, can see the way his thumb rubs over your fingers before he inevitably steps away.ย
When he departs your face falls more than it already had. Even more so when Neteyam sits next to you. Your brow creases, frown tilting your lips downwards. And finally, heโs granted with your voice being directed at him, โWhat is it?โ
โI prepared this for you.โ Neteyam begins to uncover the food, neatly unwrapping the cloths from around it before he hands you the leaf. You stare at it, lifting it in your palms to test the weight before raising your head again.ย
โThank you.โ
โOpen it.โ
So you do, maneuver your fingers deftly to untie the twine that secured the leaf before beginning the actual process of unwinding the leaf. As you do a familiar sweet scent begins to flood your senses. You can tell what it is before it even comes into eyesight.
When it is finally revealed you can feel your mouth water. The delicious smell paired with delectable view sparks a hunger that you didnโt have before. But you couldnโt eat it, wouldnโt eat it, the implications were too great especially as anyone could see.ย
You mutter a soft, โThank you,โ before moving to rewrap the food. Neteyam shoots his hand out though, halting all movement from you.ย
โI wish for you to try it.โ
It was dirty. A play that he shouldnโt be forcing right now, but Neteyam can feel Korvyn still lingering. He knows that heโs watching this whole interaction and Neteyam wants him to know that thereโs competition. Worthy competition at that.ย
โYou know I cannot. That we are not prospects for each other.โ
โJust try it. I wish to know if Iโve improved on the taste from when we were children.โ
A huff leaves your nostrils. Heavy and harsh, as a clear sign of your distaste for Neteyamโs methods. But the slight grumble in your stomach does just enough to convince you. You raise the meat to your lips, parting them just wide enough for a bite before tearing off a piece with your teeth.
You let it rest on your tongue for a moment. To let the glaze flutter over your tastebuds before the tender richness of the meat joins it. Itโs good. Very good. Unfortunately, Neteyam had mastered what herbs and spices went best with the meat and honey.
Swallowing your pride you allow a quick, โIt is good.โ Before you move to wrap the meat again. This time Neteyam lets you, pleased that youโve tried his food in front of the whole clan. Even more pleased that you couldnโt deny that it was delicious โ you may not have verbally said it, but he could tell from the way your eye sparkled and the upward flick of your ear that it was just as you liked it.ย
The next few weeks went smoothly. Well, as smooth as they could in Neteyamโs eyes.
It had become clear to the clan that he and Korvyn were dueling for your attention. He had thought it would work in his favor, if everyone knew he was trying to court you, then they would encourage Korvyn to back off.ย
Instead, Korvyn's friends seemed to step up their encouragement. Neteyam heard whispers from them about how good of a pick he had made, how if the Olo'eyktans son wanted the same woman then she must've been the perfect choice. If Neteyam wanted to take a page out of Li'ral's book, then he would have used the statement to his advantage.
Ran to you and told you that Korvyn only spoke to you because he wanted to stake claim over something that Neteyam wanted. But before he could even let the thought form he heard Korvynโs voice drift over, โthat does not matter to me. I thought she was perfect before he decided to intercept.โ Great. He was a great, honest guy.ย
Neteyam really hopes that they can get along afterwards. That there wouldn't be any hard feelings when he took his rightful spot by your side. But he wouldn't be too upset if it didn't work out โ the more distance between you two, the better.
As the time passed he began to appreciate you. At first it had been a distraction, to encourage others to stay away. But as he spent nights bringing you meals, rare flowers, dyes from rare fruits, even a couple of carved bone jewelry pieces, he got to know you again.
He relearned the sound of your voice โ not the one he usually heard, the blunt, uninterested tone. But instead the light airy tone that you held in casual conversation.
Relearned how your outer eyelid begins to droop when you're tired. How you refuse to sleep when there's much left to do, and how your eyes begin to tear up in protest to your stubbornness.
Relearned how you'll allow your bare foot to scrape against the dirt when you find a pebble. Most would move their foot, kick the pebble away, or if they must, plant their foot on top of it and try to ignore the sensation. You instead, embrace it.
Relearned how observant you are. Even if you look to be immersed in a conversation, you're still tuned into everything around you. Your ears will flick back at particularly loud laughs, eyes will steal glances when people begin to move in your vicinity.
He feels as if heโs relearned you entirely. Cataloged every piece of you that was missing in the past twelve years.ย
You must have felt the same. Felt as if you came to understand him better. That every missed moment was now known and that you were as close as before.
Neteyamโs drifting thoughts led to him messing up his weaving. He had switched stitching styles midway and now the armband looked crooked and mangled. He grunts in anger before putting his fingers into motion to fix his mistake.ย
โWhat is wrong?โย
His mothers voice rings out behind him. She was preparing for dinner, carving the roots and slicing the meat while Neteyam sat a few feet away. She was always so observant, her oldest son the easiest for her to read.
โNothing is wrong mother.โ
He can hear the knife she held being placed down on the stone she was cutting on. Can feel her body heat shifting closer to his.ย โSomething is wrong. You are tense, hunching over your craft as if it must be shielded from the world.โ
Neytiri's palm presses between his shoulder blades. It urges him to sit up straight.
โI want it to be perfect.โ
He can feel his mother peering over his shoulder. It brings tension back into his body as he holds his breath. If his mother didn't like it he isn't sure what he would do.ย
โIt will be.โ Neytiri nods approvingly, โYou do not need to rush.โ
He did need to rush. Teylun told him this morning during training that he overheard that Korvyn had finished his courting gift. That could only mean that he would be presenting it to you tonight at the gathering, which meant that Neteyam had to finish his courting gift before then.ย
The two of you had been close last night. Closer than usual, dancing next to the fire with other couples. Body's swaying and twirling around each other, never straying far enough for someone to slip between you two. If Korvyn got to you first tonight, Neteyam was nearly sure that you would accept his gift, that he would lose you to him.
So he just smiles tightly at his mother. Nods in faux agreement that he had time to complete it, that he could be patient. He knew better though, and he knew he could complete it. Hours spent training in the ways of his people meant that he was well versed, he would complete this easily before the festivities tonight.
Normally armbands were fashioned with feathers as accent pieces. Two or three that would hang down the wearers bicep, usually of a color that meant something to them. He wants the feathers to be something that stand out; a nice rich orangy-red. Not only would it stand out against your blue skin, but itโd also draw attention, garner questions about who made it for you.
The thought brought a small smirk to his face. You, confirming the suspicions that the two of you were becoming something more, to any and all who asked.ย
As he approaches the fire he scans to look for you. You aren't at your normal log. You aren't settled where your friends are. Aren't nibbling on something near the edge of the forest.ย
Where were you?
Maybe you were late. He had heard that you were going to wash at one of the hot springs after training today, maybe you just hadn't made it back yet. That would make sense.
He takes up position with Teylun, Liโral, and the rest of their friends. He tries not to get too comfortable, to be ready to jump up and head over to you as soon as you breach the forest.
Neteyam didn't want to seem like a prude by not partaking in the activities while he waited. So he drinks some wine and assumes a casual, loose position. He converses with his friends, shares his opinions on their prospects, answered when they question his stance with you.
The conversation almost leads him to miss your arrival. But his ears flick towards the sound of your voice instinctually. He allows his head to swerve with them, to watch as you greet your friends. You seemed happy, smiling as you caught up with them, he wondered what you were talking about.
It seemed wrong to interrupt. When the conversation died down he'd slowly meander over, politely ask your friends to excuse you, and drag you away from prying eyes. Then he could present you with the armband and implore you to give this courtship a chance.
As he ponders how the situation would go, Neteyam can see a figure approaching. When his eyes refocus he notices its Korvyn. He's approached you while you talk, urging you away as Neteyam was just daydreaming he would.ย
No.
No, no, no. Neteyam only has one thought coursing through his mind as he approaches โ Korvyn would not ruin this for him.ย
โKorvyn! Can I speak to you for a moment?โ Neteyam places a firm hand on his shoulder, squeezing slightly.
Korvyn nods, โOf course.โย
Neteyam drags him away; away from prying eyes, away from their friends, away from you.ย
โI heard you are going to give a courting gift tonight.โย
โI am.โ
Neteyam lets his tongue lave over his bottom lip, pulling it between his teeth as he picks his words carefully. โI do not think it wise to do that.โ
โWhy is that?โ Korvynโs brow furrows, nose scrunching before he schools his expression back to neutral.
โI wish to court the same person. And-โ Eywa is he really doing this? Yes, he was and there was no turning back now, โand it would be embarrassing for her to deny you in front of everyone.โ
โShe has said that she would deny me?โ
Neteyam lets his lips press tightly together, โI have not asked. But it would be wise to think of all possibilities.โ
With another pat to Korvyn's shoulder Neteyam turns to leave. He makes his way back to the fire, back to the music, back to you.ย
But you aren't there again. So he rushes to your friends, questions your absence like he should have done earlier. They tell him you were tired, that you had outdid yourself earlier and the hot spring loosening your muscles only made you more tired.
That is fine. Perfectly fine. He could see you in the morning, before training went underway. Drag you away to a more secluded area and confess his feelings then while he presents you with the armband he carefully crafted.ย
So he goes back to his kelku. Laid down on his sleeping mat and pulled a pelt over his body before drifting off to sleep. When he wakes up he's excited, happy to see where this day takes him. Ever the optimist.
But when he gets to the training grounds you are not there either. It is fine, you were probably late again โ you said you were tired the night before, maybe you just slept in today.ย
Neteyam tries to keep his optimistic mood, to be the open and kind person that he should be. However it falters as the day goes on and he still does not see you.ย
You didn't make an appearance for the midday meal. Fine.
Didn't show up to the weavers circle to gossip with your mother and the other older women of the clan. Fine.
Werenโt up high on the ikran rookery tending to your ikran as if they were your child. Fine.
Maybe your father had sent you out to duties he was unaware of. Things that drew you away from the village. But then you werenโt at the fire later on. Not the cookfire or the celebration fire either.
And to be honest, it was still fine.
Neteyam was able to emotionally regulate himself to not fall into a spiral. To not consider that something bad had happened, or that someone else was able to steal you away in courtship before he could. You were probably resting, and if you were not resting maybe you had fallen ill.ย
So he lays his head down to rest another night, preparing to get up as the sun rises. He'd go to your kelku and ask for you before you had a chance to leave โ not that you would be leaving, since you were sick, of course.
Upon arriving your mother greets him.
โOh Neteyam! So good to see you โ quite early though.. How is your mother? And your siblings, are they treating you well?โ
A polite smile graces his face. Heโd always been fond of your mother, and itโs important to answer all her questions diligently if he wanted to ensure she also liked him.ย
โI apologize for the intrusion. She is well, I believe she's preparing for a hunt right now. My siblings are also well โ troublemakers, but they are well under my watchful eye.โ
Your mother nods along as he speaks, showing her interest, โThat is good. I am very happy to hear the Oloโeyktanโs family is doing well.โ She wipes her knife with a cloth, sheathing it before her face lights up, โAh - I apologize, you must be here for something important if you came so early.โ
Neteyam smiles, your name leaves his lips and he smiles politely. When your mothers expression falls into something morphed from confusion Neteyam realizes his mistake and continues.
โI was hoping to speak to her.โ
โShe is gone for the day already, another busy schedule.โ
โDo you know where I might be able to find her?โ
Neteyam feels as if he can see the gears turning in your mothers head. Itโs as if heโs watching her weigh the pros and cons of revealing your location. He hopes that the pros outweigh everything else and that sheโll guide him in the right direction but heโs not foolish โ he knows family should stick together. Itโs his fathers favorite saying anyway.
โI do not. She has taken on many responsibilities recently.โ
Neteyam can feel his face fall before he can school his expression. Disappointment settles in his bones, weighing his shoulders down. But before he can fully allow himself to count today's pursuit as a loss, your mother speaks again.
โShe may be with the gathers. Fishing while they gather fibers for weaving. However, I am not certain.โ
A smile graces his face at that. It wasnโt a definite answer of your whereabouts, but it's good enough. There were many spots to gather fibers down the river, and the walk would give him ample time to perfectly craft his confession.ย
As he walks through the forest Neteyam allows himself to kneel and pick a few flowers. If all went well maybe you'd allow him to braid them into your hair. He could picture it now. The two of you sitting in an alcove of a fallen tree, the ambiance of the local fauna surrounding you, talking about any and everything that came to mind as Neteyam weaved your braided hair into other patterns to incorporate the flowers as well.
Sounds of rushing water and muffled voices force him out of his daydream. Arriving to the river means he has to attune himself to everything โ heโd hate to miss you because you were on the other side of the river, or if the group you were with ended up being more inland.ย
When he passes groups Neteyam puts on a proper face. He smiles, greets the clan members โ sometimes he helps them with picking the fibers, or hauling a catch. When he comes upon the third group, he spots you nocking an arrow a few paces away.ย
After you release the arrow, he calls out to you. He watches as your yellow eyes snap to his figure. You allow your head to fall into a slight nod of acknowledgement before wading out to retrieve your catch.ย
Neteyam steps slowly, as if he is trying to not startle an animal. His hands reach out in front of him, trying to show that he means no hard as you yank the arrow from the octofins body. When you toss the fish into a basket filled with the rest of your kills, he finally approaches.
โCan I steal you from fishing for a few moments?โ
He can see the way your tongue rolls over your top teeth beneath your lips. The way your eyes narrow just slightly, before you motion towards the forest.
Good. The denser flora would better muffle your conversation from prying ears. He wanted this to be a more intimate moment, and heโs glad to see that you share the sentiment.ย
Neteyam feels like a child with how he brambles behind you. His feet snap twigs, his hands take ages to move the vines from his vision, and his heart is pounding in his chest. Any sense of preparation flees when you reach a clearing that you deem good enough.
โSpeak.โ
Not the joyous greeting he had hoped for, but it was fine, he could work with it. Perhaps you were just stressed about bringing back enough fish.
โHow have you been? I missed you at the festivities the past few nights.โ
You scoff, โI am fine. I have been busy โ I am currently busy as you just saw. What did you come all this way for?โ
โI wish to give this to you, so you can carry a piece of me with you always.โ Before Neteyam can begin to dig into the satchel that rests tied to his tewng on his hip, a snarl from you halts his movement.
โDo not humiliate me. I will not allow it, not again.โ
โI would never. These past few weeks have been very special to me. I feel as if I have gained ma txeylan back, as if we had never grown apart.โ
Your lips tightly purse together, and you nod. This is not how Neteyam thought it would go. He believed that you would share his sentiment, that you would elaborate on how it felt from your perspective. Did someone else get to you first?ย
โDo you not feel the same.. Didโdid you agree to pursue someone else already?โ
โOh you are just so full of yourself! Canโt you see that?โ You bellow, โYou toss me aside for some new shiny friends, just to act like itโs my fault that we arenโt friends anymore. And now you bring up Korvyn? After youโve forced your rank so that he does not court me?โ
Neteyam allows his brow to crease. โWhat do you mean?โ
โThe other night! He had approached me to speak before you dragged him away, and yesterday morning I hear that he's been asked to stay away by the future Oloโeyktan.โ
โNo. No, not that.โ He waves his hand dismissively, before looking back at you, โI did not toss you aside.โ
โAfter your iknimaya. When Teylun first approached he called me a child. Then you brushed me off until your dream hunt, and then you only laughed at me and called me a child yourself!โ
Realization dawned on his face. Much had happened in the past years, so much that he had buried that memory in his head, refused to allow it to see the light of day.
โIโฆ I am so sorry.โ You huff a laugh, disbelieving smile adorning your features before Neteyam continues, โI was taken with the praise that was being bestowed upon me, blinded by their perceptions of who I was that I didnโt consider how rude and childish my actions were.โ
โEven if that were true, you only started taking an interest in me when you saw others approach โ not because you truly wanted to reconnect.โ
โIt started like that, but I have always enjoyed our time together.โ Neteyam hopes you can hear the earnestness in his tone.ย
He tries to assess the non vocal signs you give him. The way your ears are slightly tilted back in annoyance, the way your tail is lashing angrily, how your fingers dig into your elbows where you hold your arms together. And despite your standoffish stance, you don't snap at him again.
โActions must be paired with your words. Do not embarass me.โ
A smile graces his lips, overjoyed that you're giving him a real opportunity, โYou wont regrโโ
โIf you try to humilate me again the beating you recieve will be worse than the last.โ
โOf course.โ The smile falls a bit, but he cannot shake it from his face entirely. โMay I help you bring back the fish you have caught?โ
The thought dances around your mind before you shake your head, โNo. You may begin with whatever you're trying to achieve tomorrow. Let me fish in peace.โ
Not wanting to ruin his chances, Neteyam listens. Withdrawing from the area bidding the lingering clan members a goodbye before he begins his trek back through the forest. It hadn't gone as he planned, but you hadn't taken away his opportunity. Hadn't sealed and locked your heart away like one of the pressurized doors at the human outpost.ย
He hoped that his luck would play out. That he would be able to charm you into feeling the same way for him. But time would only tell.
Everyday Neteyam worked on something. Something to impress you. Something to show he cared. That he considered you as more than a prize to win.ย
At first they were simple things.ย
A nice feather to tag your arrows with.ย
Materials to help you craft a stronger grip for your knife.
Polished rocks that could be carved down into something to adorn your body or be used as decoration.
But Neteyam knew those things would only mean so much. Deep down he knew that anyone could retrieve those items for you โ he had to distinguish himself somehow, to show how much better he was for you then any of the other candidates.
So the gifts progressively got more elaborate.
When you carved yourself a new bow, he weaved fibers together to make you a string to match its fury.
When the two of you somehow ended up in the same hunting party, he placed you in prime positions. No longer watching for unseen stampedes, but now being the one to arrive at hometree with the delight of knowing the clan would feast on your kill tonight.
He spent time making new meal combinations. Picking the ripest fruit to pair with savory mushrooms. Heโd scour for ferns to crush into spices for meats. Swim out to rocks in the middle of lakes and rivers to catch the bigger fish that resided there.ย
Neteyam wished to make you clothes, jewelry, shawls, anything that could adorn your body. He wanted others to look at the craftsmanship and question where you found the time to make something so intricate when you were so busy. He wished for a deep purple tint to find your cheeks when you admitted that Neteyam made them for you, that he somehow found time in his even busier schedule to make you such detailed gifts. But he knew he had to wait โย that he should wait, at least until you accept his courting.ย ย
So until then he continues with other acts.
He makes mental notes of beautiful hidden alcoves that he sees on patrol. Which he later begs you to accompany him to. Some are in the forest, hidden behind vines and trees but bright with glowing flowers and moss. Others are in the floating mountains, lush green spots that contain shallow bodies of water for the two of you to lounge in after a long day.
Most importantly, well most important in Neteyam's mind, he makes more of an effort to listen and also show you that he heard you.ย
When he asks about your day, he makes sure to delve into the little details about what fibers you're using for your weavings. Then the next morning more miraculously arrive outside your kelku.ย
When you state that a meal didn't come out as good as you hoped because the fruit you used wasn't of the rarest quality because you didn't want to scale the mountain for it, Neteyam makes sure that not only the fruit, but the meat and the nectar you were using show up with him the next day. You tried to take it from him with a polite apology, but he insisted that the two of you cooked together. He couldn't stop himself from getting caught up on the fact that you let him feed you when taste testing the meal.
When you complained others speaking about you, Neteyam set them straight.ย
Toโlei said that the future Oloโeyktan couldn't have a carbon copy of himself as a mate, that he needed someone with a slightly different personality. So he politely reminded her that his mother not only matched, but exceeded in some senses, his fathers personality and their leadership has been strong and prosperous.ย
Ulkan mentioned how the two of you had always butted heads, that this complete change did not make sense. Neteyam informed him that people can change and mature, but also that mistakes and misunderstandings happen and those are mendable wounds.
And before Teylun and Li'ral could even think of making a comment Neteyam took the initiative to speak to them. He tried to not dwell on the past, to blame them for his past mistakes, but he did make it clear that they would have to respect you from now on, along with more of the clan's women. Specifically for you however he made it clear that it is not to be because of his interest in you, but because they can acknowledge your skills and prowess in what you do.
After weeks of changing his ways, of proving himself to you Neteyam began to think that it would not work. That you wouldnโt ever take him seriously and all of this was for naught. Sure, you had softened โ allowed him to be around you more, laughed freely, and teased him as you once did. But that didn't mean you'd give him a real chance at proving how good of a mate he'd be.
But one morning as he's making his way to the training grounds he sees you already there. Youโre teaching some of the children how to properly hold their bows โ what stance their feet should be in, how to twist their hips, and how to line their shots. That isn't unusual, the children loved to learn from you and you didn't view it as a hindrance as long as they listened.
What was unusual was the bright orange and red feathers that adorned your bicep, upon trailing his eyes up a bit more Neteyam could see that they were attached to a very familiar pattern.ย
He couldn't stop the smile from gracing his face. The boyish grin bringing a sparkle to his eyes as he approached calling your name.ย
โYou accept?โ
You startle. Wave the children off dismissively, and huffing a bit when they don't disperse easily because of their nosey habits. But then you turn to him fully and nod.ย
โI am willing to try. It is as if you brought back the aspects of the boy I grew up with and paired them with the actions of a man.โ
โThat was my goal.โ His hands reach towards your hips but they hover instead of landing, โMay I touch you?โ
When you nod again he allows his hands to fall. His thumbs begin soothing over the skin they rest on, โHow about a kiss too? I promise I will not disappoint you.โ
Instead of answering you allow your lips to press to his. It's brief, nothing to cheer or shout over, but it's everything to Neteyam. It's proof that all his months of trying have now progressed into something palpable, and it means that his feelings are reciprocated. When he moves to kiss you again, you press a hand to his chest halting his movements.
โThere are children around.โ
โIt is nothing they have not seen from their parents.โ
โDo not be hasty. How about we go flying tonight, and we canโฆ continue then?โ
Neteyam nods eagerly, dislodges himself from you and begins to make his way across the training grounds. If he were to stay nearby with this recent revelation hanging in the air he wouldn't be able to contain himself.ย
So he strides away, takes to sharpening a spear with an even wider grin than before adorning his features. He cannot wait for the future that he is so sure will happen โ mating before Eywa, the ceremony with the clan, the births of your children, and eventually falling into the roles of leaders.
He should make a stop by the spirit tree to thank Eywa later. Neteyam is sure that she has had a role in this. That she had opened your heart and mind to the idea of him, and that without her he would have never been able to atone for his past mistakes, and never had won you back.
He would have never become important in your eyes again if not for her.
Maybe he would even take you - to prove that she had blessed this communion. Or maybe not, he should save that for when you consummate the union anyways.
Translation:
Eveng - child
Ma txeylan- my best friend
Rumaut - cannonball fruit
Maโite - my daughter
Kelku - home
Kaltxรฌ - hello
Tewng - loincloth
Skxawng - idiot/moron
Kalintu - sweet person
a/n: lowk didn't love the ending of this but i wanted to write it instead of figuring out my ten minute presentation thats due in a few days or studying for my super important exam on monday soooo it is what it is
Dividers by @cafekitsune
tag: @skepticalvoidhedgehog
pls like/comment/reblog/come into my inbox and tell me what u think of the fic <3
Neteyamโs story in the Accidental Engagement series
Part 1
โSyekalin.โ Neteyam was no stranger to the cleanliness of the laboratory that stung his nose. Antiseptic and disinfectant that altered the natural presence of the scents of the forest had always been off-putting to him.
And human. So deliberately human.
But this was different, the scent that had radiated from a small corner in the labs had drawn him away from his siblings. There was a desk with notebooks bound by thick coils that kept the pages together. Captured images on ย glossy paper had been stacked on top of the other before being slightly scattered.
The camera, a human invention that he was no stranger to, had taken these images. But instead of people being caught in the pictures it was nature, the flowers and climbing vines in the Omatikaya forest of his home. There was admiration for the creation of Eywa that was prevalent even in the simplicity of the photographs that were laid out. As he briefly analyzed the pictures that had once been stacked, his hand reached for one of the notebooks that was laying around.
His attention had shifted from the pictures to the thick notebook and the coils that kept it bound, his golden eyes speculating that the book must have been well used. The scent of the syekalin had clung to the front cover of the book in his hands, and the colour of the metal coils was tarnished and fading.
The front cover had been opened and shut multiple times; repetitive motion had worn down the parts and pieces that made it function. Curiosity had gotten the better of Neteyam and he had turned his attention in full to the notebook in his hands. He flipped open the front cover and had been remarkably surprised by the details that were captured upon the very first page.
There was artistry that was admirable and lifelike, the defined sketch of a helicordian in its full stature before it retracted as a defense mechanism. The sketch was so lifelike, Neteyam thought that he might have been able to place his fingertips against the lines and feel the texture for himself.
โOh!โ The syllable and the sound behind him makes the tips of his ears twitch though he isnโt as startled as the human who made the sound. Thereโs no rush in his movements as he turns his head and looks over his shoulder to settle his golden eyed gaze upon the scientist he scared.
Behind him by at least ten feet is a human woman wearing a white lab coat like the rest of the humanโs here. With the same antiseptic and disinfectant stench that makes him want to sneer. ย But beneath it all was the scent of Syekalin, the sweet-smelling flower that had been a welcomed counter to the neutrality of the labs. It was apparent that the source of the floral wonder had been coming from the woman, short even by humanโs standards.
โKaltxรฌ.โ The human speaks, the voice rising with a dulcet tone that is almost reminiscent of soft babbling water of a creek he used to visit as a child. โUmmโฆno one was supposed to be here.โ
Neteyam is still holding onto the notebook, and he makes the correlation slower than he should have, that it is the humanโs notebook. The scent of the Syekalin that radiates from the humanโs body is only tainted by an edge of sourness that comes from a thin avenue of nervousness. Anxiousness. Fear.
Neteyam looks back at the notebook in his hands, at the helicordian that you captured with perfect likeness, and the corner of his lips begins to rise. He keeps his focus upon the drawing captured on the pages while detecting your slow movements, the sound reverberating in his ears. You move cautiously, maybe to avoid startling him or maybe to try and pry the notebook from his hands without him noticing.
โThis is good, you are good at drawing.โ Neteyam finally lifts his head and casts the golden eyed gaze upon you, and the moment he looks at you is the moment you stop completely. Your hands fall to your sides and your fingers twitch naturally due to you not knowing what you should do with them.
Your lips part and it looks as if youโll say something before you ultimately choose silence. Thereโs a glimmer of tension between you, mostly stemming from your uncertainty of Neteyam and what he could doโhe could easily crush you with one hand.
When your eyes flit from the mighty warrior to the notebook in his hands, it brings a real manifestation of a smile to his face. Itโs clear you are now focused on the sketchbook, which looks like nothing more than a childrenโs book in his hands, and how to get it back.
โThis belongs to you.โ He extends his hand and holds it out for you, taking the first initial step in this interaction. As you move he instinctively inhales the scent of those sweet flowers that clings to you, welcoming the glimmer of nature that interrupts the clinical aesthetic of this human place.
โThank you.โ You grab the sketchbook and flip the top back over before you clutch it to your chest, rumpling the white coat beneath it. He watches it all, observes the way your eyes dart around your little corner of the lab, analyzing the mess you left behind to see what else he might have touched.
When you donโt find anything else out of place, you inch toward the desk and take as wide of a berth as you can. โYouโre Neteyam, right?โ
Your voice, Neteyam registers, is as dulcet as he first thought and matches that sweetness of your scent to perfection.
โNeteyam te Suli Tsyeyk'itan.โ He repeats his full name, speaking it quickly and clearly just as you look at him from over your shoulder.
โIโm not going to remember all that.โ You admit with a small rolling shrug and then you turn to face him, leaning awkwardly against your desk to hide the pictures and the rest of the notebooks with your body. He follows the sight of your movements and tilts his head ever so slightly to the left, wondering if there were other pictures in their drawn by your hand.
โNeteyam,โ he rests a hand upon his chest, speaking slower for you to catch the fine complexities of the sounds, and as you repeat his name, he smiles again.
You are adorable, even for a human.
โYouโre Jake Sullyโs kid.โ He can see the recognition hitting you, although the wording you chooseโkidโcauses Neteyamโs lips to twist into a slight sneer. Kid, as if he is no more than a boy running around playing warrior when he is, in all actuality, deadly.
Especially to humans.
โSorry,โ you correct yourself as if you can hear the dissidence he heralds for that term, โnot a kid, obviously not a kid. You passed your iknimaya right? Well Iโm assuming you did because there are ikranโs flying above andโฆโ
You ramble, and his scowl becomes more akin to an amused smirk. If he had thought you were adorable before, now you are innate and sinfully to die forโthat is undeniable.
โIโm making myself look stupid.โ You criticize yourself, perhaps louder than youโre aware of, and shake your head, You straighten your posture, the movement causing more of that elusive sweetness that clings to your lab coat to find his heightened senses.
You introduce yourself by name and hold your hand out for him, letting it hover for a moment before your eyebrows furrow and your pretty, plump lips form a frown.
โItโs a handshake.โ You explain, marginally, what youโre doing and Neteyamโs golden eyes falter to your hand. โThis is what humanโs do when they introduce themselves. Do NaโviโฆI mean maybeโฆโ
You trail off as he continues to stare at you, and then your eyes dart around nervously.
โShould I do theโฆโ you raise your other hand to your forehead and start the motions of a traditional Naโvi greeting, only getting halfway before you freeze again. You stop yourself before you complete the action because Neteyam has suddenly grabbed your hand and begins shaking it.
His hand absolutely dwarfs your own and thereโs a soft fluttering of your eyelashes that is tied to relief when he simply shakes your hand instead of whatever other detrimental action he could have completed. He is observing you, watching you with growing interest and intrigue, acutely aware that you are, truly and inarguably, the cutest little human he has ever seen before.
โIโฆโ your lips part once more as you begin to speak only to snap it shut when a loud crash comes from behind the two of you.
The sound draws both of your attention to the chaos, and thereโs an inexplicable annoyance that rushes through Neteyam.
Loโak, Kiri and Spider had come to the lab for variable reasonsโKiri wanted to see her โbirth motherโ and Spider was determined to follow his mate along, while Loโak wanted to try and steal a few holotablets. The holotablets that the scientists denied having, that contained nothing but images and videos that were made for self-pleasure.
He had successfully stolen a few of them before but this time, in trying to put them back and exchange them, he was caught. And while trying to run, he had knocked over a set of beakers and sealed containers.
You rip your hand out of Neteyamโs and turn sharply, finding everything on your desk far more interesting than his little brother being chastised. Chastised by the human scientists who are trying to chase him out before he causes more damage. Although you had pulled your hand away and you were no longer looking at Neteyam, he was not yet done with you.
He stared at you, openly and intensely as he willingly and wantonly committed every inch of your pretty, adorable face and body to memory. He hadnโt shown much interest in visiting the labs before, not when the Omatikaya forest had more to offer. But he hadnโt known that such a cute little human lingered here either, and that had given Neteyam a reason to return.
โBro, weโre getting kicked out!โ Loโak called for Neteyam, finalizing the catalyst that would make him leaveโat least for now.
Before he had actually left, Neteyam had reached for you and plucked a broken piece of dried leaf from your shoulder that you missed. The figurative sparks of electricity that had passed from his hand to your shoulder and neck, had caused you to turn your head. Your eyes locked and Neteyam had made a show of dropping the broken, dried leaf to the edge of your desk.
โKรฌyevame, ma tute fawey.โ When he bids you goodbye and calls you cute, which you are, he is pleased by the widening of your eyes and the faltering of your breath.
Neteyam leaves you with that and turns on his heel, following Loโak, Spider and Kiri out of the lab while promising himself that he would come back another time.
The string of the bow digs into the underside of his knuckles as he pulls it taut. Through the thick density of leaves that he is camouflaged behind, he can see the form of the hexapede he is tracking step into view. Neteyam shifts his feet silently as he raises his bow and adjusts the angle of his arrow before he lets it fly.
It cuts through the air with a sharp whistle before the tip of the arrow sinks into the weak point of the beast. Neteyam exhales and his shoulders relax as the hexapede sparsely reacts before it falls to the cushioned grass below it. Neteyam waits until he knows it is dead before he darts out of the tree line and skids to a stop behind the beast. He places one hand upon itโs neck and bows his head to thank Eywa for the gift, before he starts to prepare the meat.
โThis seems like a lot of effort for a human, bro.โ Loโak calls out from above Neteyam, sitting on a branch while watching his brother. โYou canโt settle on a pretty Omatikaya and you choose a human-โ
โShut up, skxawng.โ Neteyam raises his head and casts a glance at his little brother, his golden eyes fixing into a glare. โDid you come here just to mock me?โ
โYour little human is in the forest, bro.โ Loโak presses one hand upon the tree trunk and rises to his feet, his tail swishing behind him. โJust left the lab.โ
Neteyam exhales and drops his gaze toward the hexapede he still has to prepare. There is an urgency that settles under his skin to drop everything and find you, to make sure your time outside goes smoothly.
He had done that for weeks, keeping a silent guard over you every time you stepped outside. While you were running experiments and taking samples for Norm, Neteyam was watching from the high trees. Heโd been prepared to remove any threat from your proximity, much of which was done just by his presence.
Naโvi were the apex predators of Pandora, if you had cast aside the fact that humans were an invasive species. They were skilled and highly intelligent, agile and had combat skills that made them capable of surviving in the hostile environment that Pandora could be.
Neteyam had to do nothing but linger in the tree line, hidden to you as you navigated your way through the forest to take samples. He would watch over you like a guardian angel some of the humans believed in.
For weeks he watched you, studying you. It had become something the Naโvi and Sky-People would think was akin to obsession. Neteyam knew it was more than that, that he had found himself deeply invoked in the idea that you were his mate.
He wanted you as a human and as an avatar.
โTake care of this for me.โ Neteyam had no choice but to follow you, his instincts had screamed at him to.
โWhat do I get?โ Loโak braced himself against the tree before he jumped down to be at Neteyamโs level. He crossed his arms over his chest and cocked his head to the side, watching Neteyam stand and then straighten his tewng.
For weeks Loโak has watched his brother pining over the little scientist that worked with Norm. He would listen to Neteyam speaking endlessly about the cute little avatar and human that plagued his dreams until he couldnโt think of anything but you.
Neteyam hunted for you, drying and salting meat so you had actual food instead of the processed dry rations. He created Naโvi style clothing for you because he couldnโt stand to see you, his future mate, in rags.
Regardless of your own opinions about Naโvi clothingโyou admired the style but thought the clothing was too revealingโunaware that Neteyam had entire baskets prepared for you.
โHalf the meat and half the hide, you can take it back to the kelku and act like you were doing something with your time.โ Neteyam was already stepping over the hexapede, knowing that Loโak would take care of it because he could not show up empty handed again.
โThatโs it?โ
โI wonโt tell dad you stole his Zangke and nearly burned down the marui.โ Neteyam tried another tactic as he righted himself and fixed the cummerbund around his chest.
โBlackmail, bro?โ Loโakโs lips formed a smirk as he shifted toward the downed hexapede, taking his place.
While Loโak had started where Neteyam left off, the older Suli brother began moving through the trees. Familiar paths he had taken since he could walk, were now beaten down under his feet. With every hurried step he took, darting off through the bramble of trees, ducking under low lying limbs, he was closer to you.
You burned under his skin, infiltrating his heart, mind and soul with an infinite entanglement that he would never be able to rid himself of. He had never understood how a Naโvi could become so drawn and obsessed with a human beforeโeven seeing Kiri with Spider had felt odd to Neteyamโbut now he knew.
With attraction to a little human of his own, Neteyam had finally comprehended what Kiri felt. Spider was her human; you were Neteyamโs.
He comes to a slower pace when he hears the sound of your footsteps and voice. Though you have an avatar and look enough like the Naโvi, you are as inexperienced as his father was. You are too human even when you look like they do, your footsteps are too heavy, and you breathe too loud even without meaning to.
This gives your position away. It makes Neteyam easy to spot you as you bramble through the bushes. You are wearing those unsuitable human clothes again that he hates. The only good comes from the pair of shorts you wear that hit high on your legs. He can see the firmness of your thighs, the delicious looking stripes of your avatarโs skin that he wants to taste with his tongue.
โKe nรฌltsan fya'o nga oeyรค." Neteyamโs chest rumbles with a purr and he reaches for a branch that hangs nearby, effortlessly pulling it out of the way. He wants a clearer picture of you and when he has it, he feels relief that he can see you unhindered.
You do not yet know that you are mine โ true words that echo in his mind.
Your avatar, like you as a human, stuns him. He is completely captivated by youโconsumed by the natural obliviousness that makes him more protective. He will not allow you to be harmed, he will not allow your little scientific tasks to be disturbed.
Not even by him.
ย He watches you as you stop every once in a while to take samples from the flora, careful not to damage them. You write on each little container or tube that you carry, using caution to keep the sample pure and untainted. You were a brilliant little human when it came to your sciences yet seemed to be so oblivious to the nature of men.
Both Naโvi and human. You did not know that one of the other male avatarโs that followed you around like a lost puppy was trying to sleep with you.
And you had no idea that Neteyam was already laying the foundation for your courtship. That, in his and his clanโs eyes, you were his. Eywa damn him if he let anyone else try to steal you, Neteyam would then understand the depth of his anger and protectiveness.
He moved silently around the other side of the tree line you were working in. His eyes were constantly fixed upon you and when he had taken the position he wanted, he was ready to step out.
Until that avatar, the male who was close to your age, called your name. Neteyam slinked back into the tree line and bared his teeth with an animalistic, angered hiss. He watched the avatar crossing the distance to reach you as you turned and greeted him with a smile.
Friendly. Oblivious.
Neteyamโs hands clenched by his sides and his ears became flatter to his head, tail thrashing behind him. The male approached you with a small vacuum sealed pack of rations, disgusting things, that would tamper your hunger. Neteyamโs lips curled at the thought of you eating that ration when he had just killed a hexapede for you.
Fresh meat, hand picked roots that overflowed with flavour, ripe fruit and berriesโฆreal food, good food. He has specially prepared it all for you, removing the toxins from them for when you are human, and slicing them tenderly for when you are in your avatar.
โPo lu kelsar ngaru, ma sevin." Neteyam scowls and begins a slow predatory pace around the area, insulting the avatar male.
Calling him useless to you, to Neteyamโs pretty girl.
He gnashes his teeth and waits for the moment the male before you reach out with the rations in his hand. Neteyam cannot bear anymore of the useless waste of breath encroaching upon his mate and he knows he has to act.
Neteyam steps out of the tree line while the two of you talk, appearing suddenly and in a manner that has you jumping.
โNeteyam, donโt do that!โ You scold him with a hiss and press your hand against your chest as your smaller golden eyes widened. โYou move too quietly.โ
โAnd you sound like a thanator cub taking itโs first steps.โ He croons affectionately and moves closer to you, making a show of stepping between you and the other dreamwalker. Neteyam is sure to cut him off from you, to physically place himself between you and the competition heโs up against.
โI know, I try to be quiet but Iโmโฆobviously not.โ You mumble and your cheeks heat, colouring your blue skin with lovely shades of deeper purple.
His beautiful little dreamwalker mate blushes and Neteyam adores it.
โItโs not your fault, weโre still adjusting to these bodies.โ The male speaks up, offering what he thinks is comfort to your self-deprecation, and it nearly drives Neteyam to strike him. โI brought you some rations, since you missed breakfast-โ
You blush again and grab the ration pack, tucking it into your side. Neteyam looks from you to the male he hates, irreversibly so, and then to the ration in your hand. The pack is grey and seems so lifeless and dull, like the food inside.
Neteyam knows he has better food prepared for you, food that doesnโt taste bland and mushy. Disgusting to the tongue, even to his little human although youโre too nice to say anything.
โYou donโt want to eat that, paskalin.โ Neteyam grabs the ration pack from your hands. The dense brick is heavy, and theoretically will sustain you but it is nothing compared to what Neteyam has.
โYou would rather have yovo fruit,โ he tosses the pack of rations back to the other male with a pointed sneer before his expression softens for you, โwould you not?โ
Neteyam sees your look of discomfort as your eyes pass from him to the other avatar, your lips becoming slightly pursed. You donโt like confrontation; you are a sweet little human who avoids it at all costs. You would rather placate everyone you can because thereโs enough fighting elsewhere.
โNeteyam, I have to finish thisโฆโ again you try to placate him and the other male, using the tasks you are given as both an excuse and a reason to ease the tension.
โIโll help you-โ
โNo.โ Neteyam steps between you again, teeth bared and his ears falling back to his head once more. โYou will not. I will help her, you will go back to the metal closet you call a home.โ
It feels final and it likely is, because the male knows he cannot fight Neteyam. And the scientists, the humans, have to respect the boundaries the Naโvi have given themโphysical and otherwise.
โIโll see you later tonight then.โ The male concedes, he has to, and eventually he backs off and gives you and Neteyam space.
While silence becomes awkward and stiff, it only lasts until the other avatar completely disappears from sight. Only then does Neteyam turn to you, all tension evaporating like mist through his fingertips.
โYou need to eat, yawne.โ He reaches for you, pressing his fingers against your chin to tip your head back. โAnd not that shit you have in the lab. Real food.โ
โI have to do this, Neteyam.โ You insist, you press the matter that you cannot leave until itโs done.
If you think that will make Neteyam leave, you are wrong. He doesnโt leave you alone, he stands back and lets you work while keeping his steady eyes upon you.
This is where he should be, protecting his future mate.
I got so insanely carried away, but again, I just cannot write a short story. I also never write smut so stfu (แตโ ฬ แต ). There will absolutely be mistakes, this isn't entirely proofread, and I cba rn so I'll do it later.
Summary: Duty weighs heavy when the clan expects you to stand shoulder to shoulder with the one youโve spent years convincing everyone you loathe. Your father is the clanโs greatest warrior, closest friend to the Oloโeyktan, and their bond sealed your fates together long before you could draw a bow. You grew up running wild with the Sully children but the flawless eldest son always seemed to shadow your every step and youโve perfected the scowl reserved only for him. The clan believes it and they accept your envy. Everyone except the parents who watch with quiet amusement, because they see what you both still refuse to name.
Or in which; youโre the warriorโs daughter, bound by expectation to the perfect future leader you claim to hate. You insist itโs true and everyone believes you. Except, parents always know their children best.
enemies to lovers, holy slowburn, slight soulmates (but not really?), childhood rivals, forced proximity, aged up Neteyem, so much smut!!! as always, my terrible gramma
Your composure is a facade.ย He knows it.
He knows it because he sees it.
In the way your scowl falters just a fraction as you swirl colorful insults through velvet words and he finally bites back. In the way you push against him when he even attempts to offer his help โ because the basket youโre lugging looks absurdly full, and yet you still let him walk you the rest of the way to the village.ย
You snarl at him when he even attempts to correct your bow arm, and it used to make him flush with something sharp and ugly โ envy, maybe? โ because you didnโt have a problem with authority, he knows because you seem to take his fathers criticismโs just fine. When anyone else rectified you, you adjusted.
It was only ever a him problem.
Because when he corrected you, you hissed at him like his correcting hand was tipped with arrowheads and poisonous herbs.ย
You had a problem with Nateyam.
As a teenager, it used to irk him to no end. Because as the firstborn son of the Oloโeyktan, he was meant to carry himself like the leader he would one day become, like an authority the clan respected without question and trusted to guide them through storm and calm alike. Yet the one thing expected of him above all else, the one duty his father never let him forget, was simpler and far more aggravating.
He was supposed to get along with you.
You โ the daughter to the clan's most formidable warrior, his fathers right hand man.ย
You โ who did not listen. Who did not trust him. Who always โ always โ questioned him.ย
It may as well have been written in the stars by Eywa herself that the two of you were fated to fold neatly into the same position as your fatherโs. And yet you resisted with every breath possible.
You rebelled, and scowled, and cursed at the mere mention of his name. You made it clear you wanted nothing to do with the Olo'eyktan's first born despite your role, and that made it so exceedingly hard to get along with you. It left his skin flushing that embarrassingly dark purple colour which made his mother chuckle whenever he spoke of you.ย
He tried to make sense of it. Of the way you rolled your eyes at his advice, or scowled when the two of you were paired in training once again and he couldnโt recall doing anything wrong. Not really.
You fought as normal children had, argued and competed as two eldest children to high-ranking parents would, but never with anything sharp enough to leave a lasting wound.. Nothing that should have haunted him like this.
However, he wasnโt a young boy anymore and time had an ironic way of sanding things down. He noticed what once felt like a raw hatred you wore like a book written in some foreign sky-language, suddenly became much more legible as his years grew to start with a two, almost as if he learned how to annotate his memories of you with the clarity he lacked as a teen.ย
One in particular he remembers most vividly. That evening by the central fire, where you were seated opposite him, and the air still carried the echo of that afternoonโs argument. He sat closest to the basket ofย ripe utumauti fruits, something he always recalled being your favourite through the years of shared meals, and he remembers the way it sat just beyond your reach on the woven mat.
When you asked for it low and casual, he didnโt think twice. Of course he picked it up and of course he leaned forward to pass it, because why would he not? He sat the closest, and both your siblings and his own had been too occupied in animated conversations with each other to notice.
He also remembers the way you had slapped his hand away with a guttural scoff, almost as if he was utterly ridiculous for even offering. The sting on both his knuckles and his pride had his brows furrowing instantly and that familiar anger, the kind only you could kindle so effortlessly, surged hot beneath his skin once more.
But it was only when the soft snickers rose from nearby โ his mother and yours, seated side by side and watching the exchange with far too much interest โthat he noticed.
You had still taken the basket.
โHey!โ He remembers the way your fathers voice cut from just to the left, โPlay nice.โย
And heโd assumed, as always, that your father was less than impressed at his daughterโs rude manners toward the Oloโeyktanโs son. But the reprimand softened almost immediately, chased by a low chuckle that started only after Jake failed to hide a snort of his own beside him.
The two men were already leaning into one another, shoulders touching, Jakeโs head tipped low as one hand, holding a piece of half bitten meat hung limply by his mouth, trying and failing to hide his laughs through a mouthful of food.
The nudges of your sister's elbow into your side was the last thing he remembered noticing, sharp and mocking but quickly followed by the look you shot her. It was a silent warning in that strange language heโd never understood as a boy โ the one you did with your eyes alone, but one he was now, uncomfortably, starting to. Because you ate your fruit without ceremony, eyes trained forward and stubbornly refusing to drift his way, yet the basket sat firmly in your hands all the same.
That was when Neteyam stopped letting it irk him. When he realised why everyone else around him seemed to find that mean spirit you reserved only for him so humorous, despite his distress. You were composed, yes, but he finally understood why.
Your composure was a lie.ย
And once it stopped irking him, once it settled into something he thought he understood, all the memories of you persistently adorning that scowl that seemed to exist only for him suddenly lost their bite.ย For a moment he felt like he had maybe started to figure you out.
But recently, something had changed, subtly at first, then all at once. What was once harmless irritation had suddenly sharpened into something more volatile. You didn't just brush him off anymore, you snapped before he'd even opened his mouth, and flinched away the moment he so much as reached to steady the basket. It was as if every breath he took was a disruption, and his presence had become something you could no longer tolerate in silence.
That mean spirit wasn't funny anymore, because now it was relentless.
Which was why, standing across from you now, he didnโt brace for your signature fang baring scowl. He expected it in a way that made him sigh with knowing fatigue, and yet a little bit of smugness all the same.
โWhy must you always be so difficult?โ The words surfaced in that defeated tone he reserved only for you and your impertinence for him.ย
Your body shifted back and you leaned against your heels to glance over your shoulder at where he stood behind you. You were still kneeling over the stump of braided vines you had been meticulously shredding into winding fibres with your knife.ย
โI am not.โ And there it was โ that scowl he expected. It twisted your face into that familiar snarl, upper lip curling to flash the set of fangs he saw more than his own. โYou just insist on hovering.โ
โWe were sent out here to collect fibre together. You โinsistโ on making it a one man job.โ
You didnโt look at him again, instead, turning back to the vines where your blade already resumed its steady work, as if his presence were nothing more than a distraction.
โI do not need a partner to cut fibre,โ Your response was flat as if it were such an obvious observation, and then you sighed, a long drawn out exhale to yourself. โSo ridiculous.โ
The scoff that followed was harsh and hidden under your breath.
Despite its low delivery, the sound didn't slip Neteyamโs ear, and he raised an unassertive brow at what he thought he heard, the corner of his mouth tipping low in confusion. โWhat is?โย
His confusion hit you like a sudden gust of wind, and with a growl that spoke as if you couldn't believe he dared asking, you quickly shot up with a whirl, tail whipping fast with a force Neteyam had to step back to avoid. You were facing him completely, now.
โThat our fathers insist on sending us out here together like we are still little children. I do not need a partner and I certainly do not need any partner of mine to be you.โ
The words landed harsher than the scowl ever could. For a moment he only stared at you, really observing your features twisted with perplexed anger, yet comically softened by what he could only describe as a pout in your lip. He took in the way your stance squared and the way your grip curled around the knife with agitated force.
You may not think you acted like one, but great mother, you looked like a child right now.
โRight, you are not a child.โ He said at last, voice level. โBut maybe our fathers would not feel the need to treat you like one if you stopped acting as one.โ
โExcuse me?โ
The grip on your knife tightened, handle creaking under the pressure of your grasp that almost splintered the wood. The corner of your mouth twitched up once again in that scowl that bared the top of your right fang to his watchful eyes, and your tone was so even it almost made him falter.ย ย
Neteyam held his ground, though. And instead, he replied carefully in an attempt to diffuse that constantly building tension just a little.
โYou make an enemy of me in everything we do, as if we havenโt been paired together since we were barely old enough to hold a blade. If you wish to be met as an adult, you cannot bare your teeth at every word spoken to you, Fang.โ
That age old nickname rolled like honey off his tongue but struck your ears and curdled into venom. Your fists curled so tight your claws bit crescent marks into your palms, and the muscles along your jaw tightened until you felt the throb of it.
Fang. You despised when he called you that.ย The way he reduced you to nothing but the sneer he so often deserved.
With a slow drawn out breath that carried no warmth, you bared the edge of a laugh that held no humour, letting your mocking reply land bitter and sour on your tongue.
โPerfect Olo'eyktan's son, always so composed and responsible. Maybe I would enjoy my time with you more if Eywa hadnโt shaped you so stiff in the tail you forgot how to bend, Tawtute.โ
For a heartbeat, the words hung between you like a knocked bowstring waiting to snap with release. Then Neteyamโs jaw tightened, because he always hated when you commented on the human in him, as if it made him less Navi. Less than you.
A Tawtute, a sky-person, as if it were an insult. Spoken like a curse, when all heโd ever done was try to prove it wasnโt.
He let the silence stretch a moment longer, before taking one deliberate breath to regulate his reeling thoughts, choosing to ignore your bait. Low hanging fruit as his father would call it.
โYou forget how many times that stiffness kept you from getting hurt.โ
You turned back toward the vines with a scoff, knife biting down harder than before. The fibres split unevenly, curling away beneath the force of your hands. โI do not need to be helped by someone who can barely hold their bow arm high enough to knock an arrow. I do not listen to you.โ
โYes,โ Neteyam scoffed a humorless laugh, โyou never do.โ
He sank down into a squat then as well, finally turning his attention to the pile of finished fibres you had shoved aside. His hands were quick to gather a few filaments between his pointer and thumb, testing the strands between the fingers as he twisted the two together, before giving them a short, sharp tug. They held for one, and held for another as he stretched them further, then finally faltered with a snap as he pulled them taught enough.
His mouth twitched down.ย
โYou cut angry,โ He observed with a growl. โUneven. Wasteful.โ
You spun once more, this time in your squatted position to meet him at eye level, the knife still gripped between your four fingers almost as a threat. โYou waste them with your stupidity! Of course they break when you only weave two fibres!โ
โThey need to be thick enough for bowstrings, to hold knocked arrows in new bows.โ He countered.ย
You sneered with a slight hiss, leaning further into him. โThen donโt use them.โ
โOh no, I will.โ He smirked, as he finally began his job, looping the fibres together, securing them with practiced ease. โSomeone has to make sure we donโt come back empty-handed.โ
You shot him a glare. โI said I do not need your-โ
โYou do not need my help,โ He finished for you, clearly way too amused now. โI know. You have said it at least five times since we left the clearing.โย
He leant closer as he spoke, not directly into your space, but just enough that you had to shift your stance to keep working without him intruding. His looming shadow falling over the stump you worked on, over your hands and the blade that suddenly seemed to falter under a different kind of pressure now.
โAnd yet,โ he continued, eyes never leaving the strands as he calmly coiled the fibres, โyou keep cutting while I bind. Funny how that works.โ
You stopped your movements, sending him a glare out the side of your eye, one that had your lashes feeling heavy and jaw slightly agape.
โGet out of my way.โ You spat, but it was as if you couldnโt convey the weight of anger you meant to land. Your tone was weak and almost a little desperate.
โYou always rush when you are angry,โ he ignored your demand - if it could even be called that - with a tone that was almost conversational. โYour tail gives you away.โ
Your eyes flashed with the realisation that he had even been looking long enough to notice your tells, and your cheeks suddenly flared with something warm and hot that turned you purple.
โStop watching me, Tawtute.โ This time your voice really did sound desperate.
โI canโt. You make it difficult.โย
You were close enough to see the faint curve of that infuriating smile he loved to wear, and to feel the heat of him radiating that smug confidence he wore like a headpiece.
Years of success at keeping him as far away as one could be from someone they worked with on a near daily basis, you felt had suddenly dwindled into an endless array of interactions where he always managed to dominate the conversation. Reduced to this. To the way he always stood too close now, and spoke too smugly, as if he had suddenly decided that he finally had you all figured out.
Despite your lack of response, he broke the silence, voice dipping just enough to grate, โYou know, for someone who insists she doesnโt listen to me, you react an awful lot when I speak.โ
โBecause you are provoking me!โ You snapped in a low growl.ย
โYou glare like you are about to strike me." He replied, entirely too amused.
โLucky I am working, because you would deserve it if I did.โ The words landed like a pathetic cry, and suddenly it felt like you were deficient of every insult you had ever known, reduced to the same childish fury youโd sworn youโd outgrown.
โOh are you? Would not have guessed, with the way you are looking at me like a Yerik in the firelight.โย
Eywa, if you didnโt look angry before.
โNeteyam!โ
This time, you hissed it like a venomous mantra, fangs bared and legs snapping up to your full height as you leaned into his space, close enough to let the words bite the air. Your ears pinned sharp against your braids, and his jaw set as he met your glare without yielding, tension pulling tight between you like that drawn bowstringโ
โOh good, youโre fighting again.โ
A sudden unexpected third voice had both your heads spinning towards the break in the clearing just a few yards East, where a very unimpressed Loโak tread carelessly down the path with a barely-contained giggling Kiri besides him. Kiri moved with a balled fist pressed against her pursed mouth, supported by an arm crossed along her chest in an attempt to hide her amusement.ย
โItโs more like flirting again.โ The words Kiri muttered were small and meek but Eywa, if they didnโt hit large.
Both you and Neteyam froze at the intrusion, then stilled at the implication, a beat passing before you each stepped back in the same beat of time. He rose to his feet far too quickly besides you, your eyes blown wide in something too closely resembling horror, while Neteyam merely rolled his, tired and resigned, straightening back into the perfect son like it was second nature once more.ย
โStop being a skxawng, Loโakโ.โ
โโWe are not flirting, Kiri.โย
The words collided in the air, yours to Kiri a hiss and his to Loโak a sigh, overlapping with a defensive tilt that had the other two chuckling harder.
Loโakโs mouth twitched. โWow." He stated. โTouched a sensitive nerve.โ
And Neteyam, the all mighty responsible son he is, didnโt reach for the bait Lo'ak hung so low for him, instead, he crossed his arms with a sigh at his unexpected presence. โWhat are you doing here?โ
The answer came before either of them could speak, as a sudden fifth voice came echoing from the brush of leaves. A small, blurred figure soon came dashing out of the tree scape, making a b-line straight to the centre of the clearing in a full stumbling sprint. She was headed directly towards where you stood in a pout next to Neteyam.ย
โDad said to come get you two because youโre taking too long!โ
Kiri and Loโak's eyes grew wide. And with a quick exchanged glance of horror, at the same time they barked. โTuk!โย
But she ran right past them, as if their voices fell silent to the wind.
Loโak lunged forward, catching her by the arm just before she could skid to a stop at your feet. The glare he sent her sharp and immediate enough to make her shrink in on herself, ears drooping as she braced for the scolding she knew was soon to come.
โDad told us to come get them,โ He corrected, gesturing between himself and Kiri. โThat wasnโt an invitation to follow.โ
Tuk's round eyes glint up with that innocent reasoning you just couldn't deny, her pupils glossing over as she pouted heavy in protest and twisted her head to look at you and Neteyam.
โBut Dad said youโve been out here alone long enough!โ
Tuk protested, twisting free of Loโakโs grip with a determined wriggle and darting straight to you. The moment she was within your range, she grabbed your forearm with both of hers, tugging urgently as she looked up with those wide, worried eyes.
โHe told mom that if you and Neteyam keep fighting like this, youโll probably end up at the Tree of Souls by tonight!โ She paused, then her voice pitched higher with pure betrayal. โBut you canโt! You promised youโd help me braid my new beads tonight!โ
For a heartbeat, the clearing went unnervingly still. You stared still as stone down at Tuk, mortification burning hot beneath your skin at the implication that flew right over her head but knocked you right up yours instead. And besides you, Neteyam fared no better, looking as if the world had briefly knocked him off balance too, His eyes widening just enough to betray him before he could pull himself back together.ย
In stark contrast just a ways away, Loโak let out a sharp bark of laughter, doubling over with his grip on Kiri's arm, just as she finally outright lost the battle sheโd been silently fighting, turning away from the set of two dazed and angered eyes with a hand clamped over her mouth.
She shook with quiet, uncontrollable cackles, restraint entirely gone, fed by the matching looks of mortification plastered across both your faces. The two of you looked ridiculous.
And Tuk, sweet innocent Tuk, oblivious to the chaos her words had detonated in the once silent clearing, glared up at Neteyam's shell-shocked face with furrowed brows and that pouty sneer.
โStupid Neteyam.โ She declared, voice ringing with righteous indignation. โYou canโt take Y/N anywhere tonight. Eywa heard it - sheโs with me today!โ
She punctuated the proclamation with the scrunch of her nose and a quick, defiant flick of her tongue, poked in his direction.
For a split second, Neteyam only stared at her, still caught somewhere between the weight of what had just been said and the very real presence of his little sister. Then he blinked, jaw tightening as the annoyingly-older brother instinct finally won out over shock. With a sharp, almost automatic motion, he reached out and pinched her tongue between his fingers. An act that had Tuk squealing and flailing in protest.
โOi!โย Tuk yelped, recoiling instantly, clutching her tongue with a gasp.
Neteyam let the sound settle before he spoke. He shot you a brief, weary glance, as if checking whether youโd reacted at all, then turned back to his sister, composure sliding firmly back into place. His voice level and measured with a delicate care he reserved specifically for her.
โThat is entirely enough out of you. Someone needs to give you a lesson about eavesdropping." He glanced back at his brother and sister, motioning a hand to the two still giggling. "Time to take you home before we all get scolded.โ
Tukโs ears drooped immediately, shoulders curling inward as she shifted her weight from foot to foot, fingers still hovering protectively near her mouth. She opened her lips as if to argue, then thought better of it, gaze flicking between Neteyam and the ground with exaggerated remorse.
That was when Kiri scoffed, the tension finally cracking as ahe straightened, still grinning as she shouted. โHe's right, youโve caused enough trouble. Come on, teylupil.โ
She didnโt wait for her to comply, instead walking to grab her, planting two steady hand on each of her shoulders, then began steering her away with decisive finality, already turning her toward the path before she could wriggle free.
โBut I didnโt do anything!โ Tuk protested.
โTell it to dad.โ Kiri laughed.
Tuk craned her neck back toward you one last time as Kiri dragged her away, voice pitching higher with urgency. โY/n, donโt forget my hair-!โ
โI know,โ you cut in quickly, the words tossed over your shoulder like a promise already made as the two disappeared down the winding path in a lingering bicker.
Loโak remained a heartbeat longer. His gaze flicking between you and Neteyam, something quiet and knowing glinting behind his eyes as his mouth twitched with barely restrained amusement.
You caught it quickly, and shut it down even quicker, face smoothing into neutrality as you turned away, dropping back into a crouch before the stump as if nothing had been disturbed in you.
โWe will collect the threads and follow.โ Your voice came out flat and deliberately ungiving, spoken without the fault or fracture he was clearly waiting to see. Whatever reaction they had hoped to draw out of you never came, instead, your expression smoothed into something unreadable, as if nothing at all had happened in the last few minutes.
When he didn't get it from you, Loโak redirected his attention to Neteyam with a long, assessing look. He was waiting for the reaction you refused to give, and when he found nothing but the faint quirk of Neteyamโs mouth, he huffed a quiet laugh and finally began his own descent toward the start of the winding path back to the village.
โDadโs pissed.โ He called over his shoulder. โTry not to be too long.โ
The brush swallowed him soon after as well, laughter and murmured whispers dissolving into the low hum of the forest. And then the clearing fell still again.
You let out a slow breath you hadnโt realized you were holding, shoulders rolling as the tension finally bled off. Remembering yourself, you turned back to the stump, your hands moved quickly now, rough and efficient, gruffly snatching clumps full of fibre from the scattered pile. You stuffed them into the woven basket Neteyam had brought, as if keeping busy might quiet everything still coiled tight beneath your skin.
For a moment, Netayem watched. It almost seemed like that armored composure of yours was taut as rigid as usual, as if nothing in the last five minutes had made you falter for even a moment. To anyone else, maybe, it did appear as so, but he knew you well enough to see the way your jaw clenched so tight heโd envisioned you cracking a molar, and the harsher than necessary grip in your fingers as you haphazardly tossed the fibre around. Not to mention the stutter in your tailโs path, the tell heโd learned long ago as the one that always surfaced when you were lying.
It left him releasing a chuckle he couldn't contain, a deep, rumbling sound which made your ears twitch sideways in annoyance. You paused in your frantic movements, head snapping to the side in a motion which left your glowing amber eyes glaring daggers at his towering form.ย
โWhat?โ You spat, tired, irritated and painfully obvious to him โ embarrassed.
โStill upset about what Kiri said?"
Your jaw clenched, fangs peeking as you whipped fully around to face him, rising to your full height at the implication. The basket thumped forgotten at your feet as the tension tipped to a peak beyond your capacity, and you stalked towards him with an almost predatory sway.ย
"I am not angry about that ridiculousโโ You cut yourself off, taking a moment to collect the basket off the ground, along with a breath of humid air, allowing it to sit in your lungs before releasing in a desperate attempt to somewhat self-regulate. โDo not flatter yourself, Tawtute. Flirting? With you? I'd sooner make Tsaheylu with a thanator."
His eyes gleamed with mischief, but it wasnโt the boyish, innocent kind he wore when messing with his siblings. This one was the kind he wore only where you were involved, deliberate and cocky, slipping neatly beneath the cracks in your composure because he knew where to press.ย
The careful, responsible mask he wore all the time loosened just enough to reveal the tease underneath, a glimpse of something warmer and far more dangerous than his jabs at you ever were. He didnโt crowd you with his body so much as he crowded you with his unyielding certainty, leaning in just the smallest amount, voice dropping into something that felt like it belonged in the a dark room rather than under the open light of tree canopies.
โFunny,โ He murmured, and Eywa, the way he said it made your spine want to curl. โYour tail is flicking like it does when you lie. And you react so much when I get close, almost as if... as if you enjoy it.โ
Heat hit you so fast it was humiliating, up your neck, across your cheeks, down your chest - anger and something you refused to name twisting together until you couldnโt tell which was which. Your hand shoved into his chest on instinct, a firm press meant to reassert space, meant to remind him you were not something to be read and teased apart like the vines beneath your knife.
But his skin under your palm was solid and warm, his breath even, his posture maddeningly steady. You hated that he didnโt move. You hated that the push didnโt become a shove, that your body betrayed you with restraint and a split-second hesitation that had nothing to do with strength. Your pulse seemed to jump when he watched you like this.
โBack off,โ You snapped instead, aiming for venom and getting something too light, too strained. You lifted your chin as if height alone could restore your pride. โI do not enjoy anything about you hovering like a skxawng who thinks he is Eywaโs gift to the clan.โ
You couldnโt handle it anymore, the way his eyes bore into yours like they read every thought, so you moved to leave the clearing, to be as far away from him as can be.
Neteyam didnโt move. His eyes stayed locked on yours, unblinking, the gold in them catching the filtered light until they looked almost feral. The smirk was gone and in its place was something colder as he took one slow step forward, crowding you until the basket handle dug into your hip and the scent of him, warm skin, crushed leaves, the faint sweat from the summer heat, filled every breath.
โGift?โ He repeated, voice quiet and flat, the kind of quiet that made your spine prickle. โI am the one stuck dragging your half-finished work back to the village every time you storm off. That sound like a gift to you?โ
Something in his words snapped the tension in a way that almost had a stifled laugh escaping you. The image of perfect Neteyam, future Oloโeyktan, the ever-responsible son, trudging behind you with a basket full of your messy fibers and a everpresent moping frown to match struck you as absurdly funny considering he was the one who always offered to do it anyways. That short, sharp laugh escaped before you could stop it, low and mocking, cutting through the thick air between you.
โPoor you.โ You sang, voice dripping with false sympathy as the anger flipped into something crueler and entirely more enjoyable. โAll that dragging must be so exhausting for such meek shoulders to carry.โ
His eyes narrowed, the feral glint sharpening into irritation, but you were already moving. You jerked the basket from where it pressed against your hip and shoved it hard into his front, the woven edge leaving him doubling slightly from the sudden jab to his ribs, a smack that landed with a satisfying thud.
A few loose fibers fluttered to the ground as he stumbled back a few steps and caught the basket on reflex, fingers curling tight around the rim. The motion finally giving you the space you longed to breathe once again.
โExcept, you came here knowing you were going to do it anyways. So, there,โ You said, stepping back with a grin that showed too many teeth. โProblem solved. You can carry it all the way home anyways, like the dutiful son you are. Try not to strain yourself complaining about it later.โ
Neteyamโs jaw clenched hard enough that you could see the muscle jump beneath his skin, his ears pinning back flat against his skull. The feral edge in his eyes flared hotter, and for a second you thought he might actually snap, toss the basket aside and give you the fight you both pretended you didnโt want.
Instead, he gripped the handle tighter, knuckles paling and barked, โFnaweโtu skxawng!โ
The insult landed far too humorously for you to care, Instead you tilted your head back with an overly delighted smirk, very amused by his irate slurs and the way his facade cracked. โYou call me the stubborn idiot? But you carry the basket anyway. Funny how that works?โ
He exhaled through his nose, blood boiling at the way you managed to throw his earlier words back at him. The sound was almost a growl, and he took one deliberate step onto the path after you. โStart walking, Fang. The sooner we get back, the sooner I am rid of you for the day.โ
โPerfect!" You grinned, but the grin quickly dropped. "Twelve whole hours before you find another excuse to follow me around tomorrow.โย
You barely glanced back to see if he was following when you took off towards the village, because you already knew he was.
The clearing was loud with voices and laughter, bodies packed close as food and weapons were passed around in uneven circles, and it felt like the whole village had decided to breathe in the same place at once.
Someone had dragged a fresh kill in not long ago and the smell still hung in the air, mingling with roasted meat, crushed herbs, and the faint sting of smoke from the fire that kept getting fed as if it might swallow the night. Nets of fruit were being unknotted and handed off, cups passed between hands, blades checked and re-sheathed in the same idle rhythm people used when they were safe enough to relax but still too wound up to sit still.
You were wedged between a few of your friends near the edge of one of the many circles, packed close enough that their shoulders kept bumping yours when someone laughed too hard or shifted in their seat. Kiโtiri had been retelling an exaggerated recall of her day on patrol, her eyes gleaming with irate exasperation as she animatedly spoke of the moment Loโak decided to start throwing stones out of boredom, nearly nailing Moโat on the head from the overhang.
Tuk sat too. She had found you the moment you settled onto the woven mat, darting straight to your side to claim her usual spot and spend her evening meal with you instead of her siblings or friends. It's something that had become so common during communal mealtimes that your friends had come to expect the young Sully girl attaching herself to your side like a second tail. It was as if the decision had been made somewhere in her head and the rest of the world simply had to accept it, and now she perched happily at your side like she belonged there.
Her small hand gripped your wrist with the possessive certainty only children had, and she fidgeted with the jewels decorated across your fingers, twisting the woven strands carefully as if she were inspecting treasure. The beads youโd braided fresh not even a few weeks before clinked softly each time she moved, and every now and then she would lean her head against your arm and sigh, pleased with herself like sheโd taken down a Thanator.
โWill you make these for me too?โ She asked โ more like stated โ for what had to be the third time tonight, thumb brushing the tiny knotwork with awe.
โWhen you stop trying to steal mine..โ You murmured back, and she grinned, utterly unbothered by the threat.
You let yourself settle into it for a moment, letting the noise wash over you because it was easier than thinking after long days training, because nights like this were meant to feel simple and unwinding. You were halfway through listening to your friend complain about yet another act of stupidity Loโak had attempted on their patrol together, when Tukโs fingers suddenly stilled on your ring, halting and tightening hard enough that the movement forced you to glance down at the girl with a concerned furrow of your brow.
โWhat?โ You muttered, eyeing her of an answer before she spoke it.
Tukโs eyes flicked past you toward the centre of the clearing, eyeing something in the distance that left you searching the vicinity in hopes of catching the focus of her gaze. Her mouth fell slightly, an almost angered look settling across her face before she scoffed, turning back to you in a huff that had her drawing closer.ย
โNeteyam is with that noisy woman again. Anโaya.โย
She spat the name in that high-pitched mocking tone children did, and at first, you didnโt react. Not outwardly, at least. But something in your chest tightened all the same, small and sadistic, as if it even mattered at all.
You followed Tukโs gaze without meaning to, your eyes slipping past the firelight and moving bodies until they found him almost instinctively. Neteyam sat just beyond the centre of the clearing, leaned back against a stack of supply crates, relaxed in the way you only ever saw when he was amongst people he trusted, his shoulders were loose and his attention tilted toward the woman beside him.
Anโaya was speaking animatedly, hands moving as she spoke and laughed so easily, and Neteyam had angled himself toward her without thinking, one knee bent beside his chest, head dipped slightly so he could hear her better over the noise.
It irked you. And it irked you more that it even irked you in the first place. Because you hated him. You told yourself it irked you because you hated that he was enjoying himself. Right. Of course.ย
But the irritation still sat heavy and ugly in your chest, coiling tighter the longer you watched, and you hated that too, hated that your attention wouldnโt let it go, and that your mood had soured so fast despite being so fine just a moment ago.
There was no reason for it. None that made sense. You hated that stuck up tawtute more than anyone else and you argued with him so much you made a sport out of it. So why did your chest tighten when he didn't brush away the hand she put on his shoulder?
Tuk noticed the shift in your mood right away. Her nose wrinkled as her grip tightened again and she leaned in closer, glaring openly now.
โI donโt like her,โ she muttered, voice fierce and final. โShe talks too much. And she sits too close to Neteyam. And she laughs at his jokes even when theyโre not funny.โ
You attempted for even a minuscule moment to draw yourself back, to brush it away and forget it ever made you feel anything by resorting to your usual self regulation habits โ insulting the man.
โNothing Neteyam says is funny.โ But not even that seemed to work to calm you because that irrationally confusing feeling still clawed at your chest.
โThatโs not true,โ Tuk called out immediately, tilting her small face up at you with those wide eyes. โYou laugh at him all the time! Just not when heโs looking.โ
She leaned in closer, voice dropping into something hurt and almost bordering a whine. โHeโs supposed to sit with us.โ
โThat is not how this works.โ You snapped the reply too quick, eyes diverting from the scene to pick up another piece of utumauti fruit as if it never bothered you.
Tukโs eyes rolled at the response she should have predicted. She never understood why you acted so weird about it, when it was obvious to her that you liked her brother - because that was just what people did when they liked someone. They got weird and sharp and pretended they didnโt. She didn't see it elswhere often, but she knew it because that was what you and Neteyam did.
Your friends had gone quiet at the sudden stir occurring just beside them. Kiโtiri quickly noticed the shift in your mood and tilted her head, studying you now with open curiosity.
โWhy are you angry?โ She cut in plainly. โDid he do something again?โ
โNo." You replied stark. โHow could he? Neteyam is all the way over there.โ
Kiโtiri exchanged a quick, knowing glance with the friends beside you. โI didn't even mention his name." And the corner of her mouth lifted as a chorus of light giggles sung around the circle.
You answered with a quick, harsh warning glare, a motion that had the laughs slowly dying but the smiles still lingering in a knowing gleam. Kiโtiri leaned in again, allowing you the dignity of ending her teasing, feeling almost a little bad at how astoundingly purple you looked.
"Youโre getting upset,โ She stated simply and not unkindly. โYou do that only where Neteyam is involved.โ
โI am not upset.โ But you were too far maddened for that to be convincing. โAnd he is not involved. I have been sat here, and he has been there this entire time.โ
The lie hung heavy and brittle as you clicked your tongue. Tsk.
"Yeah, sat with that healer girl." Mikatxi interjected low and humoured.
Your chest tightened, sharp and sudden, like the threads Neteyam pulled too taut in the woods and before you could bite it back, the denial tore out of you, louder than intended and edged with fury.
โI do NOT care who he sits with!โ You hissed, voice cracking on the volume. โHe can sit in her lap for all the stars in the sky care! I would not notice if Eywa herself told me!โ
โSeems like you doโฆโ
โโWhat is going on!?โ
The voice carried across the fire, calm but accusatory, and edged with something that made the fine hairs along your arms rise. In your bladed fury, you let your voiceย spike too high and missed the one pair of eyes that had locked onto you from beyond the fire.
Neteyam hadnโt stood, he hadnโt even moved from his spot. But he had leaned forward with a watchful, almost concerned eye, braids swinging low and hand hanging off his elevated knee as he observed with what you knew was that stupidly disingenuous concern.
The way he intervened like he was already rehearsing for Oloโeyktan burned you, as if he believed he could snuff out any simmering flame with his big, proud words simply because his blood said so.
And that wasnโt even half your problem. The problem was that Anโaya followed his gaze immediately, curiosity sparking as she turned to see what had drawn his attention, blinking and glancing between the two of you, clearly lost by why he interrupted her mid sentence.
That alone was enough to make your teeth grind. Because what was your relationship with that skxawng any of her business?
โWeโre fine.โ You called back, sharper than necessary, your eyes not even bothering to glance his way once. โTry having your own conversations instead of monitoring everyone else, tawtute.โ
Neteyamโs mouth tightened just slightly at the insult, a breath leaving him slow and measured as if he were counting to three in his head. He didnโt rise, not yet. Only tipped his chin and let a quick โEywa help me,โ fall to the air before pushing himself to his feet at last.
He crossed the space between you in a way that had your fist tightening in anticipation for yet another argument, only fueled by the image of Anโaya hot on his heels like a second tail of his own, close enough to the boy that it felt intentional whether it was or not. Tuk sat up, planting herself more firmly at your side like a guard animal half her size.
โI said we are fine,โ you warned as he stopped in front of you.
Your friends ogled at the two of you, already bracing for the next round of your endless bickering.
โAnd I said I was just asking.โ His voice was calm but firm, and his eyes began searching your face for something, as if he could find whatever it was if he looked hard enough. โYou are upset.โ
You sputtered a short sudden laugh but your tone held no humour. โRight, I forgot I am only allowed to feel some way once you have approved of it first. I forgot I need my warden to tail me through the village and make sure I am behaving. Shall you go report my mood back to our fathers now?โ
Neteyamโs jaw flexed, his calm finally straining at the edges.
โThat is not what I am doing. You know I do notโโ
โYou do!" Your outburst came hard against his sentence, not having the patience nor heart to hear his excuses. โMy tail flicks too harshly, and it is enough to call council with our fathers! Tell them to rest easy, golden son. I am not about to reign war over one evening meal.โ
Neteyam sighed, rubbing a hand over his face like he was bracing himself. โWell, you donโt have to turn everything I say into a fight.โ
โAnd you donโt have to turn everything I do into your problem to solve. The mantle still sits on your fathers head, you are allowed to have a personality until then.โ
An overdramatically long groan suddenly sounded to the left of you, and both your eyes snapped over to Tuks exaggeratingly agitated from, as she sighed in that childish way she did.
โStop fighting!โ She begged, voice whiny with pure childish exasperation. โYou guys always pretend like you don't want to talk, and then Neteyam comes and you fight forever because he wonโt leave you alone, but then you don't tell him to go away, and it's annoying!"
โTuk!โ Both you and Neteyam barked simultaneously, horror gleaming in both of your eyes because that was so obviously not true!
โThat is what happens." She insisted stubbornly. "You do it all the time.โ
"No!" You rejected. "We argue because he hovers!"
Anโaya, from the shadow of Neteyamโs shoulder, suddenly appeared forward, finally establishing her presence with a smile that was not wide nor warm, but enough to show she was not very fond of the girl her friend had been talking to.
"Maybe, if we did not worry about what you might do next, Neteyam would not be expected to hover and act like Oloโeyktan already."
Your head turned slowly toward her, blood finally boiling beyond that point that only Neteyamโs presence could push it to. Because who was she to imply you were a burden he had to shoulder, a mess he had to trail behind and fix every time you existed too loudly for her liking?
And especially who did she think she was inserting herself into Neteyamโs problems as if they were her own. โIf we did not worryโ โ as if she had any right to speak for the frustration he supposedly felt?
You let your eyes trail to her far too self-satisfied form, sneering with the scowl you usually only reserved for that gawking fool besides her. But if she insisted on acting as his equal, she could be handled like him too.
โOh, is that your healerโs wisdom speaking, or are you only borrowing the golden sonโs voice while he is too busy ogling to use it himself?โ
Her smile faltered and her chin lifted a fraction as her eyes narrowed in something mimicking offence. And then your gaze snapped to Neteyam, fury bright and uncontained now that the girl he had dragged to your circle had suddenly felt all too comfortable insulting you in front of all your friends.
โMaybe our fathers should stick her as your new training partner since she is already so good at handling me."
"Fangโ" Neteyam's voice was eerily low.
"โNow that my guard dog has a guard dog.โ
And then he stiffened. โEnough.โ
But you didn't stop. โIs this what you tell people about me?โ
Neteyam opened his mouth to speak, visibly caught off guard by the sudden accusation.
โThat is notโโ He started for the umpteenth time but again you didnโt let him finish.
โI would think you respected me even a little, enough, considering all my father has done for you and your family. Enough considering you always like to remind me that 'we are partners.' But you let your women speak to me like I am beneath you.โ You scoffed softly, the sound carrying just far enough to be heard.
โA leader, they say you will be.โ You continued, words mocking. โTell me how this is keeping the peace. Seems your peace is built on my silence. Both your peace and our fathers.โ
You rose without haste, the motion deliberate enough that the space around you seemed to shift with it. The ground felt steady beneath your feet, solid in a way your chest had not been for the last several breaths, and for the first time that night you welcomed the clarity that came with deciding to leave rather than be dismissed.
โY/n, noโ please donโt be mad,โ Tuk whined, the plea tumbling out of her in a rush as she reached for you, fingers brushing the edge of your wrist but failing to catch hold. Her face pinched with genuine worry. "I didn't mean to make it worse."
โYou did not.โ You said shortly. โThis is not on you, Tuk.โ
And then you turned and left without a word, the sudden absence of your presence cutting through the clearing sharper than any insult you had ever sent him, and for the first time Neteyam did not know whether you were just angry or actually hurt by what had happened.
It was confusing because you had never let any interaction between the two of you get to you like this, yet now that you had chosen distance in place of where you would usually just choose name calling, he couldnโt help the feeling like heโd missed something far too important while it was happening.
The noise resumed all too quickly behind you, laughter reclaiming the air as if nothing had shifted at all, but he stayed where he was, unease settling low in his chest as he watched yourย retreatingย form saunter away, hips swaying with jolting anger and body tempting his eyes to never shift.
He didnโt know when he started noticing things like that. The way your hips rolled as you walked, the flex of the muscles along your thighs with each step, and the way the line of your back shifted as you moved.
It sat wrong that he noticed these things about you, because he didnโt notice them on anyone else. More than anything else, the fact that you hadnโt looked back sat even worse. And the fact that he feltย that hollow pull, tight and wrenching in his chest because of it, sat the worst of all.
โAt least you don't have to worry about watching her anymore." Anโayaโs voice cut in beside him, light and coaxing, like she was trying to pull him back by the wrist.
Neteyam nodded absently, already half elsewhere, the hollow feeling in his chest refusing to settle. Even as he turned back toward the fire, his attention lagged behind, tethered not to the laughter or the conversation resuming around him, but to the quiet space youโd left behind. To the quiet, unwelcome understanding that this time, you hadnโt walked away to cool off โ you had walked away because he had apparently crossed a line he didnโt even realise he was dancing.
One delicate, purposeful step after the other. Neteyam watched your sultry hips as they worked against the motion of your legs, swaying against the gracefully deliberate rhythm of your strut. Every step was intentional, not a single wasted motion and certainly no hesitation, each one drawing a slow, tightening circle around him. You eyed him like prey and circled him like a predator.ย
He, too, circled your figure. Less graceful in his approach, his steps heavier and more grounded, but just as analytical with his eyes all the same. He told himself he tracked your figure because he had to, that he noticed how dangerously alluring you looked in your stride because he was being tactical, certainly not because he found it mesmerising.
Partnered again. You almost rolled your eyes had it not been for the undivided attention you locked onto his solid figure.
You suspected that they were doing it on purpose now, because whenever given the opportunities, your fathers paired the two of you as if it was something written into the roots of the forest itself. As if Eywa refused to separate you.
Jakeโs voice cut through the air before either of you could make a move.
โEnough posturing,โ he barked from the edge of the ring, arms crossed, gaze sharp and unimpressed. โThis isnโt a mating dance. Someone's going to have to make a move soon enough. Engage.โ
The command barely left Jakeโs mouth before you jolted.
You didnโt rush him all at once because that was never your style. You shifted your weight and pivoted to your right instead, just as your tail came down with a sharp snap to the left, a deliberate ploy to feint him around you with sound.
Neteyam stuttered for a moment, nearly diving left and falling for the bait, but caught himself immediately, because of course he did. His jaw tightened as he corrected, blocking you by widening his stance, shoulders settling into a space much larger than you had accounted for.
You collided with his chest, steadying yourself with a tight hand clamped around his forearm that flexed under your grip. It was a successful motion that kept you upright, but your proximity to Neteyam left you vulnerable to an open hand palm against your shoulder, knocking you a step back. It was a warning shot, not meant to land hard, but it angered you all the same.
โGood feint, Y/n. Nice recovery, Neteyam.โ Jake called out.ย
Your eyes never pivoted from Neteyam, but Jake's words riled you further, knowing he got praise for the first hit.ย
"Is that all you have?" You taunted, circling again, your breath steady despite the fire igniting in your veins. "Afraid to hit me for real, golden boy?"
Neteyamโs ears flicked at your taunt, but his expression stayed infuriatingly calm. He rolled the shoulder youโd nearly landed on earlier, circling with you, mirroring your steps like heโd memorized every rhythm youโd ever moved to.
โWell, would not want to mess up that pretty face.โ
You flared your teeth in a hiss at his words, fangs bared and all, as the implication of them did not evade you. The idea that you were too feminine to fight. Bullshit.
It was bait, you knew it deep within, and yet you lunged for it all the same.
You dropped low, striking dirty with a sweeping leg that made contact with his ankles while your hands aimed for his torso. He leaped back to counter, but you were faster, leaping with a twist and raking your manicured claws down his ribs just to watch him hiss.
You landed in a crouch behind him, tail lashing with triumph at the hit but he countered instantly, arm hooking yours, using your momentum to flip you over his hip, but you held tightly, and this time you both went down. You snapped right to the ground, landing with a splat and a breathy groan, which he followed taut behind with, and soon you were caged beneath him as his braids fell around your face like a curtain.
โCareful,โ he murmured, voice rough, eyes dropping to your mouth, โkeep rubbing up on me like that and people may talk.โย
Damn his Sully tongue and their dirty human minds. Only they โ only he, were rash enough to say such vulgar words.
Heat flared in your face, nothing else but pure rage, and you answered with a growl, driving your knee up sharp between his legs. Not hard enough to hurt, you think, but just enough to make him block instinctively and give you room to twist.
You both rolled again, a tangle of limbs and snarls across the dirt, kicking up dust around you until you came out to a stop, this time you were on top, straddling his waist, thighs clamped tight, hands slamming his wrists into the dirt beside his head.
โI will kill you!โ
Neteyamโs eyes blazed up at you, all traces of amusement gone. His ears pinned flat against his skull, jaw clenched so tight you saw the muscle jump. He bucked hard beneath you, trying to throw your weight, muscles straining as he fought your hold.
โGet. off. of. me.โ He snarled, voice low and dangerous through his squirms against you, wrists twisting against your grip. โWhy must you always turn it into this?โ
You dug your nails in deeper, refusing to budge, chest heaving with anger. โYou started it with your filthy mouth. Think you can say whatever you want and I will just take it?โ
He arched again, harder this time, nearly unseating you from his lap and you slid to settle on his chest. His breath came in harsh pants now, struggling under the weight of you on his lungs, but his eyes still burned up at you with pure defiance.
The shift gave him a perfect view of you, sweaty and furious as you loomed above him, your braids wild, chest heaving and skin gleaming with a sheen of sweat. A deep flush crept up his neck and face at the sight, dark purple blooming across his cheeks and he prayed to Eywa it looked like it was from a lack of air to everyone watching.
โI am trying to win a damn spar, not handle your tantrum.โ He said through short breaths. โYield!โ
โForce me, Tawtute,โ you hissed, grinding your knees harder into his sides.,โor keep dancing for your sempul like the skxawng you are.โ
His face darkened at that, a fresh wave of fury rolling off of him. He surged up with a grunt, flipping you both violently in a cloud of dust that kicked as you grappled. It was a flurry of elbows and knees jabbing at whatever body parts they could reach, claws scratching, fangs baring, and hisses sounding out like a tussle of five years olds.
He landed a sharp elbow to your ribs and you responded by snatching at his long swinging kuru braid and tugging at it, pinning him for a split second before you broke free with a snarl.
The spar had turned ugly so fast, no one had time to register what it was until it already had become it. There was no technique or poise left, just primitive fighting and petty aggression mixed with ragged breaths and dirt covered bodies, every strike fuelled by years of building resentment.
And Jake was done watching it.
"That's enough!" he barked again, the sound cracking through the clearing like a whip.ย He dragged a tired hand down his face, exhaling through his nose before turning on you both with an outstretched arm that sliced downward in a sharp, commanding arc. "Get off!"
His voice was so demanding and final, it had you cowering in your skin and scampering clumsily off and away from Neteyams heaving figure mirroring your own.ย You subtly brushed the dirt clinging to your arms in an attempt to salvage even an ounces worth of dignity, but it wasn't working, because your hands still shook and beneath it all, that ugly vulnerability lingered heavy as Jakes eyes beat down on you.
Jake continued.
"It was funny at first, cute even, when you two were teens and it didn't matter. But by Eywa, you're adults now. You have responsibilities and the clan is going to depend on you."
The authority in his voice pinned you both in place.
"I'm sorry, sir," Neteyam spoke with a breathy compliance, eyes trained downwards in a way that almost left you scoffing at how pathetic he looked - at how quickly he folded under the pressure of his father despite talking so big against you moments ago. It took everything in you not to roll your eyes while being lectured by his father about acting mature.
So, you muttered through gritted teeth, "Yes, sir," forcing the words out while fighting every instinct that screamed at you to glare at Neteyam instead of Jake.
Jakeโs gaze flicked between you. โYou two are going to be the leaders of this clan some day.โย
As he spoke the words, there was a pause as he immediately noticed the sudden way the two of you began shifting apart, blue faces crawling into flushed purple ones. It only took him another moment to realise the implication of his words, and he saw it. Of course he saw it. Eywa, the two of you couldnโt even look at each other at an implication he didnโt even mean!
Realization dawned on his face, and he let out a long, exasperated sigh. "And this โ this right here โ is exactly what I mean. Every little thing between you turns into a problem. You donโt know how to keep things contained when itโs the two of you.โ
He jabbed a finger toward Neteyam, ready to correct your misunderstanding.
"You will be Olo'eyktan one day." Then the finger swung to you. "And you will be the clan's head warrior. His right hand. His most trusted." Jake pinched the bridge of his nose. "Sooner or later, you have got to get along. The People need to see unity, not... whatever the hell this is."ย
He said the line so defeatedly, as if his two greatest proteges had become his two biggest failures in that moment, and it left you deflating in embarrassment at the notion that your rivalry with his son had turned into something beyond comprehensive words. Instead, reduced to โhellโ - to some weird sky people word.
Shameful.ย
The silence that followed was thick enough to choke on. You stared at the ground, heat crawling up your neck, wishing the woven walkway would just open and swallow you whole because it was almost like your own father had just admitted that you were acting a fool.ย
As Jake Sully, the man who raised you almost as his own in the proximity of your father and their strict training regimes, was sighing down at you and his idiot son with weary frustration.
You knew he didnโt mean it cruelly. This was that strange sky-people thing he did, where he slipped into what was described as the โmilitaryโ tone, meant to correct rather than offend. That didnโt make the cut sting less deep, though.
You were mid deliberation when you suddenly heard it, the tiniest huff of breath from Neteyamโs direction. Not quite a laugh, but close enough, and it had you glancing up at him with the scowl you reserved only for him.
Neteyam wasnโt looking at his father anymore. Now he was looking right at you, glaring through the corner of his limp braids, head still hung low as one side of his mouth twitched upward in that infuriating half-smirk he saved just for you too.
His amber eyes glinted with something resembling a shocked amusement, almost as if he couldnโt quite believe you were actually compliant. Like your mortification was the funniest thing heโd seen all day.
You knew you shouldnโt. You knew this was a horrible time. But in that moment it was like something inside you finally snapped with finality for the first time ever.
Where you usually would have met him with snark, now you were meeting him with red vision and a complete lack of respect.
Your ears flicked back, pinned taught to your hair like an animal on its prey only moments away from pouncing. Tail lashing once almost like a whip.
โWhat?โ you hissed, so low it was almost swallowed by the breeze, meant only for him, but almost so quiet that Neteyam nearly missed the fact that you had spoken entirely. โSomething funny, Tawtute?โ
He caught your words all the same, the perfect, golden son act completely slipping away, traded for a smirk that widened a fraction larger at your beyond irked facial expression. โA child, Fang.โ He taunted, hitting right where he knew you hurt most. โYou look like a child scolded by her elder. It is quite damn funny.โ
That was all it took.
You stepped forward, voice rising despite yourself, despite the voice telling you that only awful consequences would come from acting out right now. The worst part of you could not have cared less that his father wasnโt even through with lecturing the two of you yet, the bigger part of you so enraged, so encompassed by Neteyam and his stupidity, his audacity, that you just-
Did. Not. Care.ย
Your figure snapped upright, tall and menacing, body twisting to face him fully as your large blearing eyes glossed over, unblinking and fear-provockingly wide.ย
โOpen your mouth again, Tawtute, and I swear to Eywa and everything she deems sacred, I will slam you down and make you swallow every sorry sound you choke in front of the whole clan.โ
Neteyamโs smirk froze, then vanished almost as quickly as it came. His ears were the ones to flick forward now, sharp at the ends and persistently alert. His golden eyes that had been mocking you a heartbeat ago had darkened into molten amber pits, pupils narrowing to slits. The perfect son was gone entirely.ย
His tail lashed once, hard enough to slap the air as he twisted his body entirely to tower over yours. It was the first time in all your years of knowing him where he had ever intimidated you, because it was the first time in all the years youโd known him that his size truly registered. Tall, and broad, and built like the future leader he was meant to be.ย
Your gaze dropped before you could stop it, tracing the sharp lines of his frame all the way down until they stopped to linger on the bold stripes that curved low around his hipbones and disappeared beneath the edge of his loincloth. They had always stood out more than anyone elseโs, as darker, thicker, more prominent than the others. The Tawtute genes, you told yourself, thatโs why they were like that, no other reason, certainly. A flush crawled up your neck, hot and confusing, and what would have been disguised as pure rage to any onlooker.
It pressed in on you though, close enough that the heat of him brushed your skin. Because, it didnโt feel like pure rage alone. Your mind could try to convince you, but your body would do otherwise, betraying your thoughts with that persistent betraying flicker of your tail.
And Neteyam noticed. Of course he noticed.
โKeep staring like that, Fang,โ he said, leaning in until his breath stirred the loose strands of hair at your temple, โand I will give you something to actually choke on.โ
The words hit low and vicious, a promise wrapped in threat and before you even processed which arm had lifted first, your hand, with pre-curled fingers was already moving toward his chest to shove him back as hard as you possibly could. A hiss so guttural and sharp tearing from your gaping mouth, decorated by the furiously purple hue that painted your face like a white canvas.ย
His own shot up just as yours had, catching your wrist mid-air in a grip like the metal on the ships the sky people flew. Not painful, but almost entirely unbreakable.
For one suspended heartbeat you were locked there, with his fingers around your wrist and bodies inches apart, both of you breathing hard, tails thrashing in mirrored fury. The space between you felt suddenly too small, the air too thick.
Then Jakeโs voice cracked through it like a whip.
โI said enough!โ
He was on you in two strides, one massive hand clamping the back of Neteyamโs neck, the other seizing your upper arm and hauling you both apart with force that made your feet skid on the woven mat.
Jakeโs eyes were wild, ears pinned flat, chest heaving.
โYou two are done,โ he growled, voice shaking with barely-leashed anger. โDone acting like feral animals that canโt control their emotions. Grown adults and Iโm still treating you two like I did when you were twelve.โ
He exhaled sharply, making the decision at that moment.
"You're going out to the eastern watchpost. Tonight. Just the two of you." He held up a hand when you both opened your mouths to protest. "No arguments, not a goddamn word. It's an hour ride so that's plenty of time to cool off and you'll spend the entire night there.โย
Jake was not having it. โI want the supplies inventoried, the platforms repaired, and I want every corner of every ridge scouted for any signs of human activity, and you're going to do every moment of it together. You'll eat together, sleep in the same goddamn hammock if you have to, and you'll come back tomorrow morning acting like the future leaders you're supposed to be."
He released you with a shove toward the rookery.
โGo saddle your Ikranโs.โย
When the two of you hesitated, Jake snarled โNow! And if I hear one more word out of either of you before youโre out of my sight, I swear to Eywa Iโll tie you both to the same tree instead.โย
Jake's voice sounded so tired and the clearing had gone deathly quiet. Neteyamโs jaw flexed, but he said nothing and he was the first to turn without even so much as a glance in your direction, stalking toward the rookery with rigid shoulders, his braids swaying with each step, and every taut line of him vibrating with a restraint he almost lacked.
You stood frozen for half a breath longer, heart hammering against your ribs, wrist still burning where his grip had been. Then you turned too, spine straight with the kind of discipline that fooled everyone but the Sullys, because Neteyam and Jake could both see the bruise that adorned your ego, they just both knew better than to comment on it this far in.
The young warriors scattered around the training grounds let their conversations die and bows lower as you both strode past. Your ikran sensed the rage rolling off you and answered your call with shrieks and flared wings, and an agitation that mimicked your own. And you mounted without glancing at Neteyam once, attaching your queues to the end of your Ikrans with what was probably a little more force than necessary. He did the same and Jake watched it all with a tired stare as Neteyam banked east first, cutting through the darkness like a blade, before you followed silently behind him without a glance back.
Jake finally let out the breath heโd been holding, dragging a tired hand down his face. The forest answered him with the soft rustle of leaves and distant night calls of your fleeting Ikrans, nature utterly unconcerned with the problem heโd just sent walking into it. He had broken up enough sparring matches to know the difference between anger and whatever that had been.
Eywa help them, he thought. Because I am officially out of patience.
Behind him, the rustle leaves and heavy approaching footsteps had his ears perking up, expecting the presence before the sound of a low chuckle could startle him. The sound of a man who had already arrived at the same conclusion and was simply waiting to see if Jake would catch up.
Jake turned to find your father standing there, arms crossed, tail swaying lazily behind him as his eyes tracked the two figures disappearing into the trees. There was concern there, yes, but there was also something else that Jake had seen displayed on his face every time your families met and you and his son fought. Something almostโฆ entertained.
Your father watched the treeline a moment longer before he spoke, his expression thoughtful rather than amused, though the hint of it lingered all the same.
โYou finally snapped.โ He said, eyes not glancing at Jake, but to the sway of trees that shielded your retreating forms in the distance. โOnly took till the moment they stopped trying to fight clean.โ
Jake let out a slow breath and rubbed at the back of his neck, because that had been the exact moment his stomach had dropped, when the spar had stopped looking like training and started looking like something feral. โI told myself it was just their temper getting the best of them,โ he admitted. โThat theyโd settle once one of them landed a solid hit, but Iโve never seen them go at it like that.โ
Your father hummed softly in agreement. โEven anger has rules.โ He said. โWhat I just saw forgot them. No form. No distance. Just handsโฆ wherever they could reach.โ Your fathers eyes finally glanced over to Jake, a knowing smirk leaving him chuckling at the revelation.
Jake snorted quietly, humour slipping through despite himself and soon they were laughing low in unison. โMy son knows better than that.โ
โAs does my daughter,โ He replied, and there it was, that note of worried pride that always crept in when he spoke of her. โWhich is how I know they have reached a point where the body starts answering questions the mind refuses to ask.โ
โYouโre worried.โ Jake observed.ย
โI am a father,โ he simply replied, and then after a beat added, โAnd I have eyes. I know Neteyam is fond of her.โ
โHe wontโ,โ Jake moved to start comforting his friend, shifting to place a hand on his shoulder when your father let a short snort leave him.
โI do not worry about Neteyam, I worry about her,โ he said, with no effort to soften the curve of his mouth. โNeteyam has always known where the line is even when he pretends not to, and I have watched him choose restraint around her provoking comments time and time again. When it would have been easier not to.โ A pause, then quieter, โThat matters to me. It is her who has no restraint.โ He ended with a chuckle.
Jakeโs smirk lingered, but it softened at the edges, tempered by something more careful in tone. โYeah, well, they have both been very good at lying to themselves.โ He let a beat pass before he chuckled. โWell, maybe not your daughter, she canโt lie to save her life.โ
โIt really is her we should worry about.โ Your father laughed. โIf I were foolish enough to wager,โ he suddenly turned, clapping a hand to Jakeโs shoulder, โI would bet they return insisting the night was torture, then flinch every time their queues touch because they finally know what theyโre used for.โ
This time, the laugh Jake let out was almost too loud for his liking, glancing around in hopes that no one had heard the less than tasteful wording.ย
โIโm not taking that bet,โ he said, then hesitated, the amusement fading just enough to let the doubt through. โI expected you to be angrier with me for sending them off together.โ
Your father snorted. โYou did the same with Neytiri,โ he replied. โAnd you didnโt exactly handle it with grace.โ
Jake grimaced. โThat was different.โ
โNo, It was not,โ he said lightly, his gaze flicking back toward the trees, โand Neteyamโs trying too hard not to cross the same line. My daughter has never been good at pretending there isnโt one.โ
Jake exhaled through his nose, shaking his head, rubbing yet another exhaustedly stressed hand down his face at the implication of his words. โIโm not gonna sleep tonight.โ
โGood,โ Your father said quietly. โSomeone should keep watch. In case they burn the forest down. Let us just hope we do not share the name Grandfather and time soon either.โ
Your feet hit the platform before his did, heavy with a careless thump that transitioned quickly into long strides against the creaking wood, riddled with the intention of getting as far away from Neteyam as possible, who was landing close behind you. There wasnโt anywhere far to run off too, especially in the dark of night on a foreign base you had visited not even twice before, so you settled towards the end of the platform on a pile of large crates that rattled against your weight.
Neteyam dismounted much slower than you had, gently detaching his queue, before petting his Ikran three times, signalling its dismissal to perch elsewhere. It left with a shriek, chasing your own which had scattered the moment you landed.ย
Moonlight filtered through the canopy above, adorning everything in a bleary silver and deep shadows illuminated by bioluminescent blues. The base was rickety and barely large enough to accommodate a few people with all the supplies stolen and housed from the sky-people around. The wooden branches sagged and the leather tarp frayed, neglected and unkept for what seemed to be decades. But it was going to have to work considering you were banished here for the night.ย
Neteyam didnโt look at you right away. He took the first few moments to busy himself checking over the boxes, silently counting the stock in the typical Neteyam way that forced him to be a stickler for the rules, to listen to every authoritative voice, to be the most stuck up Naโvi to ever grace Pandora's blue planet.
It took him a second of a forced and uncomfortable silence before he finally broke the tension, his voice low and failing to hide the tinge of irritation behind it despite his attempts to at least try and get something done. โWe should start with inventory. Get it over with.โ
You didnโt move from your position on the crate farthest south. And you almost laughed at how pathetically authoritative he attempted to sound, because you knew his blood still seared hot with boiling anger at being scolded not even an hour ago. Instead, you tugged at the string of the bow you had picked up from beside you, slowly swaying the one foot you left dangling as you fidgeted with the fraying thread.ย
โDo it yourself.โย
Your voice โ so dismissive and blunt in tone โ had Neteyamโs pointy ears pinning back and deep amber eyes snapping at you in a quick, sharp warning.ย
โDo not start.โ
You took the first moment since he entered to direct your attention away from the flimsy bow, finally looking up at him with an all too unimpressed glare. โToo late.โ You sneered, your typical fang glaring snare on full display. โYou started it the second you opened your skxawng mouth back at the training camp. Even children know to be silent when Toruk Makto speaks, yet somehow you can not manage to get that through your thick skull?โ
โMy thick skull?โ Neteyamโs big eyes bore straight through your own, blown wide and non-blinking almost as if trying to read you for an answer he wasnโt going to find. He looked absolutely exasperated and a breathy laugh that held no humor escaped his lips as he shook his head. โThats rich coming from the one who is sat on a crate of knives, doing absolutely nothing.โ
โWe are only here because perfect son could not bite his golden tongue long enough to remember his father was still speaking. You listen to him when we're here but not when it counts back home. I thought you were supposed to be the smart and disciplined one.โ
โKind of difficult to concentrate on a lecture when the woman threatening to make me choke is attempting to swing her claws into my chest.โ
โI only reacted because youโ!โย
The words stuttered in your throat, dying in your mouth as heat flooded your face in a violent wave, remembering what led to your outburst in the first place. Remembering the explicit words he let slip from soft yet smug lips like he had any right saying it in the first place.ย
โBecause you speak lewd words that should only be muttered between the most established of mates.ย
โโBecause I what?โ Neteyamโs voice was softer now, but the smirk that followed was anything but gentle. It spread slow and lethally arrogant across his face, eyes glinting with a new light that felt almost predatory, as if heโd just found the one loose thread that would unravel you completely.
โBecauseโโ Your face was so flushed, you could hardly bring the words to the surface. โโBecause you- you have a vulgar mouth! Y-You speak filth just to provoke me.โ
ย โVulgar?โ Neteyam's eyes glinted with something completely different from the irate exasperation from earlier, it was like his entire demeanor had calmed, replaced completely by that arrogant smirk, like he was the only one able to translate the book the two of you had been trying to read your whole lives. โMe? I think I recall you mentioning something about slamming me down on my back.โย
A sharp gasp tore from your throat. The words hit like a physical blow, twisting your earlier threat into something raw and unmistakable. Your face burned hotter, if that was even possible, violet spreading across your cheeks as you instinctively looked him up and down.
โThat is not what I speak! Why must you keep bringing up those words?โ The words tumbled out too fast and breathless to be convincing, and you almost kicked yourself for the delivery.
โBecause you are the one who said them, you just donโt like what they mean.โ
He began stepping closer. His strides were so deliberate, as if planned in advance, and unhurried, as if you were not another moment away from clawing out his eyes.
โThey meant nothing,โ you shot back, chin lifting in defiance. โYou twist everything.โย
The sound of Neteyamโs footsteps drew your eyes to lock on his figure, tall and looming as he strutted one slow step at a time closer, and you found your eyes doing that traitorous thing they did a lot now, wander. Wander down. And down.ย
It started with his face, as you watched the sway of his braids while he strode with that infuriating arrogance, brushing the sharp lines of his jaw with a clatter of his beads. Then it was his impossibly round eyes fixed right on you โ which they always seemed to be when you were around โ unblinking and heated through a downwards gaze. They were eyes that masked what you knew to be such a conceited personality as so deceivingly innocent.ย
Soon your gaze fell to the wide frame of his shoulders and the firmness of his chest, and it dawned on you that youโd only just noticed how much broader they had become over the years spent together, carved from tireless hours of drawing bowstrings and traversing the harsh landscape of Omatikiya forest, lean with muscle that shifted under blue skin with every stride he took closer.
Your eyes wandered again until they finally fell right to where they seemed to stop at a lot now; his lower body, narrow hips marked by the most vibrant stripe pattern youโd ever seen on any man โ on any Naโvi youโd laid eyes on. They were darker and thicker, more pronounced and unlike any others, they trailed off and disappeared so low into his loin cloth it almost felt purposeful in the way they pulled your eyes. Like they were specifically made to draw your eyes and your eyes only, and hold them there by design.
Those lines were unnatural in their perfection and it wasnโt fair. It wasnโt fair that they made your face so hot and your heartbeat feel as if it could move to places it should not be, and it especially wasnโt fair that it wasnโt a you thing, it was a him thing. You only liked it on him.
You told yourself for the hundredth time โ that it was the Tawtute genes making everything about him just a little too defined, a little larger. Not that you were staring, of course, just studying. Because he was different and you were always curious, you told yourself. But your tail flicked once, another betrayal that told you that was a lie, and you prayed the shadows hid it..
The shadows did not hide it. And of course he noticed.
Neteyam slowed, stopping just close enough that the space between you felt inconsequential. He wasnโt touching you, at least not yet and somehow it still felt as if he had pressed his entire body against yours. As if you were suffocating beneath him.ย
His gaze dipped and it wasnโt hurried, but it wasnโt subtle either, following the same path yours had just taken; down the line of his chest, over the sharp cut of his hips, to the stripes adorning his body next to the band of his loincloth before lifting again, eyes glinting with the most unbearably smug sense of amusement youโd imagine possible from a single man at the realisation he had just made.ย
It was silent for a beat, air heavy with tension before Neteyam spoke.ย
โYou must really like my loincloth.โ
Your ears shot straight up and outwards, standing tall and perky as if alerted by a lingering predator, eyes blowing wide as you shot your head up to meet his gaze head on.ย
โShut upโ!โ
โโYou know, my mother makes themโโ
โ โI donโt careโ!โ
โ โShall I ask her to make another? She does adore youโโย
โโYou do not know anythingโ!โ
โโI know exactly when you lie.โ
The words were being sputtered so fast, they crashed into each other in an overlapping, frantic mess. To any onlooker, it would have almost sounded as if you were talking in unison.ย
Your tone was desperately sharp, doused in mortification and hidden in anger. And his was flooded with pure, unadulterated tease, knowing very well how every word he spoke rolled down your ears and crawled beneath your skin. You blushed so often around him he could almost mistake you as a purple Naโvi now.ย
The overlap fell apart as abruptly as it had started. You glared at him, chest tight, ears still rigid with embarrassment and fury, daring him to say one more thing. He didnโtโฆย
At least, not right away.
His gaze dipped instead, unashamed and bashfully amused, tracking back down to where yours had been just moments ago. His mouth curved like heโd found something amusing he was excited to explain. But you knew he was only rubbing the fact that he caught you staring in.ย
โMy mother uses five beads on each knot,โ he said smugly, and you followed his fingers as they brushed against the small carved beads on the loinclothโs cords. โShe says it is the number of balance. Five for the senses and all.โย
Then he suddenly looked up at you, those overly round, innocent eyes portraying that innocence all too well. โSeems it is not working, you do not look very balanced right now.โ
If you were in half a mind with any common sense, you would have scolded him once again and shoved him as far back as your arms would allow in hopes for a little space and clarity. Unfortunately for you, however, that sense was ripped directly out of your already fumbling grasp the moment your eyes followed his hands to where he gripped that damned loincloth you really couldnโt escape.
They were larger and longer than most others, scarred from weaponry and cliff climbing, and calloused in places where the overuse was notable. His fingers, all five of them, grasped the thread of the cloth, and as his grip tightened, the purple veins littering the surface of his skin protruded along with it.ย
Watching the way his fingers curled, and the way his veins pulsed, it sent heat crawling up your throat and pooling behind your ears. Every flex of a tendon, every faint flicker of those tiny freckled lights, felt like a private taunt aimed straight at whatever composure you had left.
You swallowed hard, forcing your voice steady even as it came out breathier than you wanted. โFive is a greedy number anyway.โ You muttered, eyes still traitorously fixed on the curl of his knuckles.ย ย
His gaze followed yours until it landed on the object of your fixation; his calloused, human-like hands that resembled a foreign race more than it did his own. It lingered on the way your eyes lingered there too long, and the way your breath had betrayed you before your mouth ever could. And a slow smile curved across his lips, smug and knowing.
โGreedy?โ He spoke the word as if it heeded a riveting discovery and without haste, he lifted said hands; the ones you hadnโt stopped ogling at, toward your sightline. โIs that what you think they are?โย
His long fingers extended deliberately to parade all five digits to your wide, helpless eyes, and he began wriggling them in slow, mesmerising pulses as if he, too, were suddenly fascinated by the anatomy you had just mocked.ย
โTawtute.โ He uttered it in mocking, the way you usually did, except his voice dipped low with smug delight. โThatโs what you call me, isnโt it?โ
Now, he let his hands hover close enough that you could feel the warmth radiating from his palms, close enough that if you stuck your tongue out just enough, youโd be able to taste the skin. Close enough, that the fact you had even entertained that thought made you sick to your stomach with dizzying confusion.
โTxampay tawtute.โ He purred, eyes half-lidded and glinting as he drank in the flush climbing your neck.
Then, unhurried and impossibly sure of himself, he leaned in. His body now crowding every inch of air yours occupied, chest nearly brushing your own, until he reached past your shoulder and caught your wrist in one smooth motion. The hand that rounded your skin tugged upwards to bring your hand up between you to display the four fingers you always had, and his golden eyes gleamed as if it was the first time he had seen it. Slowly, he lifted his own hand to mirror yours, five fingers spread to contrast the four of your own just across from his, hovering directly opposite it.
โDemon blood.โ He muttered, though he wasnโt offended. It was more a statement, or amused even, awaiting a reaction.
You watched, breath caught, as he hesitated for a single heartbeat, watched in your peripheral as his eyes bore into your face, searching for any flicker of protest or resistance. A sign that never came.
And once he realized that, he dipped one long finger down between the gaps of yours. Then another, and another until he slid each one of his fingers between your own, interlocking your hands like he was claiming every unoccupied space he could find.ย
โDo you call me tawtute so often because you think about how my hands would feel on you?โ
Then he guided your joined hands, fully intertwined, up and back, lifting them slowly until your knuckles brushed the rough-woven wall behind you. He pressed them there and the motion brought him so much closer, it was as if he had taken up all the air, because why were you suddenly finding it so much more difficult to draw a breath?
โNeteyam.โ The name came out like an unsure whine, nothing like the sharp hiss youโd wielded against him a thousand times before. Because the last place you had ever imagined yourself being was here, pinned beneath the steady weight of his gaze, his body, his five greedy fingers laced so perfectly through your four and it confused you that no fiber of your being was begging to reject it.ย
You watched with greedy eyes as his face twisted from out of your view, head shifting down towards the crook of your neck and the frantic rate of your breath betrayed every last pretense of calm. His mouth stopped just on the cusp of your left ear, and you felt the warm, velvet skin of his lips brushing the sensitive shell of it, tied with the cherry on top by the soft sway of his braid against your cheek and the smell of him. That intoxicating scent which smelt of eclipse leaves and sweet hearth vines.
They had been your favourite scents for as long as you could remember, and it was only just dawning why that is now.
He took a beat, his breath warm on your skin before he spoke. โI know you hate me.โ
You did. You hated him, the Olo'eyktan perfect first born. The boy that followed you like a shadow through the winding roots of Hometree. The child you had been measured against since the first time a blade had been pressed into your palms.
โNeteyam learns quicker,โ
โNeteyam already wields a bow,โ
โNeteyam never loses his temper.โ
You had heard it from your father your entire life and you hated him for being the excellence you couldnโt be. You hated that he wore it so smug. And more than anything, you hated that he actually tried to soften it and make space for you beside him instead of behind. He was so good to you, and you hated that he never got mad when it counted.
And now โ now โ you couldnโt reconcile that boy with the man standing close enough to steal your breath, hands steady where your resolve should have been. You couldnโt fathom how you were letting him do this. How the same Neteyam youโd spent years resisting, spitting at, and training like Eywa herself had told you to do so in order to best him, had slipped past your defenses without even raising his voice. All it took was him invading your space closer than he ever tried before and your resolve dwindled.ย
โI know you think you hate me.โ He repeated, but this time you could hear the smirk that crept up his irritatingly gorgeous face. โBut you never look at me like this when you say it. And thisโโ his free hand drifted down, fingertips ghosting along the tense line of your hip until they found the base of your tail, โ--this is the most still your tail has been all night.โ
The gentle, knowing stroke along the sensitive underside made your spine arch involuntarily before you could stop it, so far into him you could feel the press of everything below his loincloth against your lower belly and it made you whine. A guttural, involuntary sound you didnโt mean to make, nor had you realised escaped you until Neteyamโs glowing amber eyes widened alongside his smile.ย
You struggled to find your voice, with the overwhelming feeling of Neteyam all around you, touching every inch of your skin, all consuming and intoxicating but when you did, it was breathy and weak.ย
โDo notโโ you stuttered, pausing your words to find breath.
Then your voice came again, interrupting his thoughts in a moment where his grip faltered slightly around your fingers and tail. You sounded so primitive and defeated, it was like the entire forest in a ten-mile radius had stilled.
โโstop.โ
Neteyam stilled, mind reeling and eyes searching every inch of your face in desperate search of an answer to an unspoken question you sparked within him. Do not? Stop?ย
Do not stop?
He gawked at you, ogling at every inch of your face in hopes of an answer. Your eyes, droopy and half-shut, turned sideways as if too ashamed to look him in the eyes. Mouth just a touch open, drawing long and heavy breaths, and your beautiful blue skin, flushed that purple colour he was becoming so fond of seeing, gleaming with a layer of warm, sleek sweat.ย
You looked absolutely ruined. And he absolutely detested the idea that you might have been telling him to stop โ truly stop โ his advances because now that he had a glimpse of such a sight, he cursed the idea that he may never see it again knowing exactly what you looked like underneath him. So he waited with baited breaths, a wait you did not make him stand long for, and then you delivered.
โDo.. not.. stop.โ You spoke between heavy breaths. โNeteyam, please.โ
And then he saw it. The way you had been pressing up against his right thigh, locked between both your own thighs and rubbing against your core, just close enough to create friction. The sight and the plea shattered whatever thin thread of control heโd been clinging to as he finally realised what you meant.ย
A low, guttural sound rumbled from deep in his chest, a half growl, half reverent thanks to Eywa herself, as he surged forward, releasing your tail momentarily, only for the hand to sweep through the air, landing right on the back of your neck as he pulled you towards him with a roughness he rarely displayed.ย
And that's when it finally happened. His mouth crashed against yours, hungry and possessive, swallowing the next broken gasp that spilled from your lips. His fingers curled into the sensitive skin just below your hairline in a way that made your knees weaken, and had you not still been sitting on this crate, you were sure you would have faltered and folded to the ground.ย
His tongue pushed at the seam of your lips, coaxing them apart with a devastating hunger, as if he had been waiting far too long to claim this moment, only clarified with the roll his body made to press into your own. The muscles of his abdomen elongated and protruded against the skin, screaming at you to touch them, to feel them, as he pushed your intertwined hands further back into the wall.ย
That was when his hand around your neck finally began its descent downwards. It started at your shoulders, brushing against your collarbone and lingering just a moment around your breasts. He swirled against the curve underneath the soft fat and the trail left hot tingles in its wake, sending blood rushing to every nerve the pinpoint of his fingertips lined.ย
It continued on, searing down the arc of your waist, against the curve of your hips and drew a curl to stop just a few paces below your belly button, and yet not even a breath above from the band of your loincloth.ย ย ย
Your breath hitched as those fingers paused there, so achingly close, tracing lazy, maddening patterns just above the thin strip of woven fabric โ the only thing left between you and completely surrendering to the man who haunted your every waking moment. Neteyam pulled back from the kiss, only far enough to watch your contorting face, the molten amber of his eyes now nearly non-existent, replaced almost entirely by his pupils, blown wide with lust and a restraint that was seconds from snapping.
He could feel the heat radiating from you, and could tell you were trying to resist whatever thoughts were happening in your head, unsuccessfully so. He could see it in the way your thighs tremored ever so subtly, and in the way your hips shifted restlessly against him, as if seeking friction but hating who the friction you seeked came from. A low, approving, yet humoured growl rumbled in his throat as he pressed his forehead to yours, breath ragged.
โYou are always so responsive.โ He murmured, voice gravelly, lips brushing yours as he spoke and fingers still working their patterns at the lowest part of your belly. โEvery touchโฆ you light up for me.โ
โYou always think you know what I feel.โ The words spat harsh but breathless, trying desperately to deny him the satisfaction of winning.
But Neteyam just laughed, stating flatly. โYour freckles glow, fang.โ
And your flush deepened knowing your body was betraying your mind.ย
โStop talking. I still despise you.โ
Neteyam took the opportunity to lean back, making enough room to have a full view of your body without disconnecting your lower bodies. Finally his hand strayed from your belly, sliding to the left of it before stopping right at the rope that knotted your loincloth into place. He glanced down at it expectantly, then up to meet your eyes, his own glinting with mischief.ย ย
โFunny way of showing it.โ He commented.
Then his fingers pulled at the string, and all you did was let your head fall back against the wall in response.ย
The knot gave with a soft tug, the woven cord loosening until the loincloth sagged against your hips, and you felt the cool air kissing at your newly exposed skin. It left your sighing, and Neteyam actually laughed at the sight of you.ย
His next move was to grab at your right leg, lifting it high until it settled on top of his right shoulder. The motion had you shifting forward slightly, nearly hanging off the edge of the crate now. Once it was placed, he leaned down, meeting the slant of your body against the crate until his face met just above yours.ย ย
โNo fangs now, huh?โ He taunted, voice dripping with smug triumph, his breath hot against your lips as his free hand slid up the thigh draped over him with the most reverently possessive grip.
Your eyes narrowed, a spark of fury cutting through the haze of pleasure. โIโll silence you.โ
Before he could fire back another cocky word, you flexed the leg hooked over his shoulder and shoved hard. Your heel dug into the muscle of his back as you pushed, using every bit of leverage to force him downward and surprise flashed across his face for a split second before he dropped to his knees in front of you, left hand disconnecting from yours and instinctively reaching to grip your hips as a means to steady himself.
There he was โ all mighty Neteyam, son of Toruk Makto, future Oloโeyktan โ kneeling between your thighs, directly in front of your exposed core, with amber eyes flicking a mix of shock, defeat and drooling hunger.
You let your head rest back against the wall again, eyeing him through the brush of your lower lashes and fingers threading roughly into his braids to hold him exactly where you wanted him.ย
โI told you I would make you swallow your sorry sounds.โ And with a sharp tug forward, the control had been shifted to your hands. โNow swallow.โ
The low, involuntary groan that vibrated through his chest and into your core was the only answer he managed before his mouth obeyed. His head moved first then his tongue dragged slow and deliberate, tasting you like heโd been starving for years and refused to rush the meal. But the grip you kept in his braids, tight and unforgiving, told him exactly who set the pace.ย
Heat slammed through you, ugly and mixed with the pure rage of having him under you. You hated him for making your body clench like this, hated the way your thighs shook because his tongue felt so damn good, but hated it more that you questioned if the reason he felt so good was because he had done this before. Hated that the idea made you jealous.ย
You were a mix of pleasure and shame โ that Neteyam was on his knees, eating you out like he had no choice and that he was disgustingly good at it. And when you rolled your hips forward, demanding more, he gave it without hesitation, lips sealing around you, tongue curling deep and relentless, then it dawned on you that he was worshipping your clit like he was singing a prayer.
Your thighs trembled around his shoulders, the leg still hooked there locked tighter, heel pressing between his shoulder blades to keep him exactly where you wanted him ย โ on his knees, serving the woman whoโd sworn to hate him forever. And he did it so well you had been reduced to a moaning, whining and squirming mess beneath his hands that were holding you down.
โEywa, shitโ Y/nโ โ The name slipped out raw and whiny, and the vibration of his voice had you absolutely feral, snapping in an instant. But not to your end. No.
Because the only thing you could think about was why he felt so good. Why he was so talented at everything. The idea of him having experience with this, of him doing this to someone else, made something vicious twist in your chest.
So your hand in his hair tugged hard, snapping his head back and away from your core to glance up at you with daze in his eyes and your slick dripping down his chin.
He blinked up at you, lips swollen and shining, breath coming in rough pants. For once, the smugness was gone, replaced by raw, hazy want and a flicker of confusion at the sudden stop.
You stared down at him, chest heaving, jealousy burning hotter than the aftershocks still pulsing between your legs, and the words came sharp, cutting through the air like an arrow.
โWho else?โ You spat, voice accusatory and ugly with envy, fingers tightening in his braids in a visceral way you couldnโt help.
โWhat?โ He sounded so breathless, and so confused, eyes still foggy from being buried between your thighs.
โYou move like this is not new to you.โ You snapped, the words spilling out jagged. โPeople do not learn that by accident.โ
โFang, what are youโโ
Then your mouth spat the words like the answer was so obvious, like you had been just waiting for the name to be mentioned. โ โIt is Anโaya, isnโt it?โ
โAnโaya!?โ He said it like the name didnโt belong here at all. Because it didnโt. Because twenty seconds ago he was face-deep drowning in what he deemed to be his new favourite flavour, and now heโs thinking of a girl heโs barely spent more than 10 minutes alone with.
โYou lie with her too!โ The accusation came out sharp enough to feel final, as if it wasnโt something to be debated and you had already made up the answer.ย
Neteyam stared up at you for a beat, eyes wide, mouth still wet and open like he couldnโt decide whether to laugh or groan. Then the laugh won, short and completely disbelieving as the weight of your words settled into him. He searched your eyes, stern and glazed, angry with something he knew you barely understood and it dawned on him. Holy shit.
โYou are jealous.โ He said it so incredulously, like it was the best revelation he made all week. A rough laugh tore out of him, head tipping back in your grip, the sound raw and disbelieving. And it was like you couldnโt even deny it, all you could do was sneer your usual fang baring scowl and snap your head away with a tsk of your tongue.
โAnโaya?โ he rasped, grin sharp and crooked, chin still dripping with you. โEywa fang, you think I have ever touched her? Ever wanted to?โ
He shifted forward on his knees, hands sliding up your thighs as he finally raised to his feet off his knees to meet you at eye level. His face was inches from yours, grip firm but not pushing and you watched as that aggravating amusement melted into the softest look you think he had ever sent you. His smugness fell, the cocky edge dulling into something so honest.
โI do not lie with Anโaya. Just you, fang.โ He spoke so slowly, voice low and steady, and almost gentle despite the filth of the moment. โI only ever think about you.โ
The words hit harder than they should have. Heat flooded your face, your chest, mixing between the jealousy and the flattery until you couldnโt tell which burned more. You didnโt know if you believed him โ or more so didnโt know if you wanted to believe him. So you picked your arm up to pinch the side of his ear, using it to drag his face impossibly closer. Your gaze flickered between both his eyes, searching for something, an answer to a question you werenโt even sure you knew what.
For a split second, something in your grip faltered. The idea that he might be telling the truth was somehow worse than the lie. So you tightened your fingers on his ear for a beat before yanking his head back with a force meant to hurt.
โProve it,โ you snarled.
Neteyamโs breath hissed through his teeth at the sting, but the look he gave you was pure lust, not a single trace of softness left. In one brutal motion he tucked one hand under your ass, and the other around the curve of your waist, before spinning you around so fast the world tilted for a fraction of a second. Your chest slammed against the crate, palms scraping metal as he kicked your legs wider and pressed his full weight into your back.
You heard him before you felt him, the quick tug and rustle as he worked the knot of his loincloth free behind you. Something involuntary dragged your head back, forcing you to peek over your shoulder. The fabric fell, and it was like every silent inkling youโd ever felt bite at you, every reflexive moment that told you to study his stripes despite never knowing why, finally dawned on you why it had always been so urging.
Those large, vibrant stripes were only a preview into what the loincloth hid. They tapered lower and thicker up the base of his cock, before finally crawling into a thinning stretch that ended just beyond the tip of his head, which was slick with precum and the most angry, swollen shade of red. Red. Like a Tawtute.
And it was in that moment you realised that all those little characteristics that made him slightly different โ the broader shoulders, the extra finger, the sheer size of him below the cloth and the way his tip skin flushed pinker than any Naโvi youโd ever seen โ werenโt the flaws or accidents you convinced yourself was the reason you fixated on them. They were proof that he had Toruk Maktoโs blood running through him, the son of a leader, born to be a leader. And right now that blood had him hard and leaking for you, the girl whoโd spent years calling him sky-demon scum.
The realisation twisted hot and ugly in your gut, hate and want braided so tight you couldnโt pull them apart but that was so swiftly disrupted by the feeling of him pushing forward, the tip of his achingly large cock making contact with your swelteringly wet entrance, and it had you absolutely unraveling at the mere contact of it.
You couldnโt help the moan that slipped out of you at both the stretch he gave with just the top of him, barely even a quarter full, and at the sight of him ogling down at the space between you, at the way the tip of his cock looked barely swallowed inside of your warm hole, his fist gripping at the base.
Neteyam caught the sound, eyes snapping up just in time to see you bury your face in your arm and he laughed that irritatingly smug laugh that vibrated through his chest and into your back.ย
โAlready moaning for me, Fang?โ He murmured, voice thick with satisfaction and lips brushing the shell of your ear as he spoke. โYou canโt even pretend to hate me anymore.โ
โDo notโฆ,โ you hissed with a breathy sigh, the words cracking despite your best effort to sound venomous, โโฆdare assume you know what I feel.โ
He hummed, amused, like your denial was the sweetest thing heโd ever heard.
โI do not think I'll have too.โย
Goosebumps rose in its wake, your hips stuttering back despite yourself before you could correct it. His hand tightened on your hip, holding you steady, while the other slid up your spine in a slow, deliberate path until his fingers closed gently but firmly around the thick base of your kuru, the long, sacred braid that cascaded down your back.
The feeling of his hand around your kuru had your entire body jolting, a sharp, electrifying shock racing through every nerve in its wake. You spun in his grip with a surprise heโd never seen on you before, eyes blown wide, breath caught, and all that sharp defiance from before suddenly fractured by something he had never seen painted so vulnerably on you.
You looked so unsure, so confused, so conflicted, staring at his hand like it was both a threat and a gateway to something new.
At your face, Neteyamโs expression softened too, the smugness fading completely as he brought the end of your braid up between the two of you, turning it so the the wispy ends of your braid went limp to expose the pink tendrils beneath. They snaked in the air, searching the air as if awaiting what was yet to come.
His own kuru hung over his shoulder, and he used his other hand to grab at it, settling it so close to yours that the tendrils already began reaching for each other, drawn like magnets, but far enough that they did not touch.
โI will not force this, and I will not continue with this if you say no. I honestly donโt think I can.โ he said, voice low, rough with restraint but steady. โTsaheylu with meโฆ or we stop right here. Your choice, Fang. Always your choice.โ
The words hung heavy. You hated him for giving you the out. Hated him for making it feel safe to say yes even though you really thought you would have said no. Hated how much you wanted him, and wanted to know what it felt like to be bound to the one person youโd spent your whole life trying to push away.
Your chest rose and fell fast. The tendrils of your kuru twitched, brushing the air toward his and you didnโt speak as you watched them try to connect. Slowly, deliberately, you reached your hand up to wrap around his forearm, watched as the hand that held his kuru faltered at the intrusion and met his eyes as he searched yours for answer.
It didnโt come as a verbal one, but your mind had been made the moment you tugged his arm forward to allow his kuru to connect to yours. And in an instant the tendrils met, wrapping and fusing, snapping the bond into place.
A gasp tore from both of you at once, backs arching, eyes fluttering as raw sensation flooded through. The pleasure was intense and overwhelming, but more than that: every buried feeling, every unspoken want, every flash of anger and longing and need crashed together in a single, shared current that left you both moaning messes.
He groaned your name like it hurt and you whined his so helplessly, fingers digging into his shoulders and the world narrowed to just the two of you.
Neteyam moved first, hands sliding under your thighs, lifting you effortlessly as he spun you both around and sank to his knees. He laid you gently on the cool floor beneath him, settling between your legs, face-to-face now with his forehead pressed to yours, kuru still joined, the bond pulsing with every heartbeat.
He slid back into you slowly, eyes never leaving yours, letting you feel everything โ his awe, his hunger, the years of wanting you heโd hidden behind every smirk and fight. And you wrapped your legs around him, pulling him deeper, and for the first time with there being no crate, no wall, no anger between you, nothing but the bond, neither of you could deny the truth that lingered between you for years anymore.
The bond made it unbearable in the best way because you could feel everything.ย
You could feel every slow drag of him inside you echoed back through the link. You felt his pleasure at how tight and wet you were, your helpless clench around him, and the ache that flared harder with every inch he gave. You felt the way your body gripped him like it never wanted to let go, and he felt it too, a low, broken groan rumbling from his chest as his hips finally seated flush against yours.
โFuckโโ he breathed, voice ragged, forehead still pressed to yours. His eyes were half-lidded, pupils blown wide, the golden amber almost gone. โYou feelโฆ I can feel you everywhere.โ
You couldnโt answer with words. The bond carried it for you: the rush of heat, the ache, the impossible fullness of him stretching you open while his emotions poured into you
He started to move, slow at first, deep rolls of his hips that dragged the thick length of him along every sensitive spot inside you. Each thrust sent a wave through the bond, pleasure looping between you until it built on itself, amplifying, stealing your breath. Your nails raked down his back, leaving red lines over his stripes; he hissed and answered by snapping his hips harder, driving a sharp cry from your throat.
Through the link you felt how much he loved that sound, how it made him throb inside you, how close he already was to losing control and you responded by sticking your mouth to his neck, and sucking hard in an attempt to quiet yourself.
โTell me,โ he rasped, one hand sliding up to cradle the back of your head, keeping your faces close, noses brushing, โtell me you feel it too.โ
You did. Eywa, you did. The anger was still there, flickering at the edges, but it only made the pleasure sharper, almost as if the bond was burning it clean and turning years of hate into something so much more overwhelming.
โI feel you,โ you finally gasped as your mouth left his neck with a slimy pop, and you noticed the angry purple mark that sat in its wake. Your voice cracked, legs tightening around his waist to pull him impossibly deeper. โAll of you. Donโt stopโ!โ
The next thrust ended with another broken sound from you, a half-moan, half-word that slurred through your tongue almost incomprehensibly.
โMmmโ โtayemโโ
Neteyamโs rhythm faltered for a heartbeat, then picked up again, faster now with a cocky triumph you felt flooding the bond like heat. A low, smug chuckle vibrated against your neck as he nipped the skin, sucking and pinching at it with pride.
โI got you that good, huh?โ He murmured, voice rough but dripping with satisfaction, hips rolling deep and deliberate. โGot the stubborn Fang stuttering my name?โ
You tried again, desperate, the pleasure coiling so tight you could barely think.
โMaโ tayemโโ
He laughed again, breathlessly arrogant and loving every moment of thisย โ loving that you, always so sharp-tongued and composed, always throwing insults at him and trying to embarrass him in front of your families, was reduced to this, such a moaning, whiny mess you couldnโt even get his name correct.
โCa not even get your words right,โ he teased, smirking against your lips, eyes gleaming down at you with such amusement. โIf only everyone could see you now.โ
โMa โteyam.โ You managed it this time, much clearer and insistent of every syllable that trembled out of you on the next thrust. And he froze.
Not completely, his hips still rocked shallow and instinctively, but the rhythm stuttered hard, like someone had yanked his hips backwards and held them still. His eyes widened, searching yours through the haze, the cocky smirk smacked off his face in an instant as the meaning finally slammed into him.
Ma โteyam.ย
Your Neteyam
The bond flared hot with it, your claim, raw and unfiltered, pouring straight into him. A ragged groan tore out of his chest, half between shock and something much, much deeper, like a stirring pot of pleasure and disbelief and possession all tangled together into two bodies merged as one. His forehead dropped to yours again, losing every trace of that smug control because the words were echoing through the link like a vow, and it broke him.
A low, guttural groan ripped from his throat, deep and wrecked and his whole body shuddered as the realization hit him harder than any phrase ever uttered to him. His hips jerked forward once, hard and uncontrolled, completely unlike his usual poise, as he buried himself to the hilt inside you, and that was it. He came with a broken cry of your name, voice cracking on the syllables as he spilled hot and deep, pulse after thick pulse flooding you.
The bond amplified everything and you felt every throb of his release as if it were your own and that made yours follow soon after, the overwhelming rush of his pleasure crashing into yours, the way his heart slammed against his ribs, the dizzying mix of disbelief and euphoria that Neteyam was now claimed by you in the most intimate way possible, solidified by the way your attached kuru still hung besides you, your deep purple marks decorated his neck, and your bodies lay against each other, sleek and fucked out.
His forehead pressed hard to yours, eyes squeezed shut, breath coming in harsh, uneven pants against your lips. His arms trembled as he held himself above you, hips still twitching with aftershocks, grinding slow and shallow as if he couldnโt bear to pull out.
โFuckโฆ fuckโโ he gasped, voice hoarse and trembling, nothing left of the smug warrior whoโd been teasing you since you got to this forsaken watchpost. โYouโฆ you saidโฆโ
โThat I despise you?โ You murmured, eyes fluttering closed as you breathed him in, beyond exhausted, tail finally curling loose and lazy behind you. โI do.โ
A broken laugh tore out of him, warm and disbelieving, his nose brushing yours as his breathing slowly began to steady. โI donโt even need to see your tail to know you lie.โย
And as if to prove his point, he brought his hand around to the place where your kurus joined, stroking the exposed, sensitive nerves gently with his thumb. The bond hummed softly at the touch, sending a lazy ripple of warmth through you both and your tail flicked once, then curled deliberately around his thigh, holding him close.
He felt it, of course and a quiet, satisfied hum left his chest.
โSee?โ He whispered, lips brushing the corner of your mouth. โEven your tail is done fighting me.โ
You opened one eye, glaring weakly up at him. โDo not get used to it, skxawng. The second we are back with the clan, I am telling everyone you cried after your father yelled at you.โ
Neteyam snorted, shifting his weight so he could prop himself on an elbow and look down at you properly. His braids fell forward, framing his face, and the bond carried the soft glow of affection he was trying, and miserably failing to hide behind his usual smirk.
โThen I will have to tell them how the almighty daughter of our clan head warrior begged for me toโโ
You slapped a hand over his mouth, eyes narrowing. โFinish that sentence and I will bite you again.โ His eyes crinkled at the corners, laughter muffled against your palm and you narrowed your eyes as you spoke once more. โI could still push you off this ledge. No one would find the body till morning.โ
โMaybe so.โ He conceded easily. His hand slid up to cup the back of your neck, thumb brushing the base of your kuru in a way that made your spine shiver despite your best effort to stay at least a little defiant. โBut then who would keep you company on patrol anymore? You would miss arguing with me.โ
You huffed, shoving at his chest. โI would finally earn peace.โ
โPeace is boring.โ He countered, catching your wrist and pressing a kiss to the inside of it, soft and infuriatingly gentle. โAnd you would miss my family interrupting us every five minutes, thinking they will catch you slipping in the act. My dad likes messing with us too much to let you go.โ
You snorted, but the sound lacked real venom. โYour father likes me because I am not afraid to yell at you when you are being an arrogant teylupil. That is not the same as liking me.โ
Neteyamโs grin turned softer, eyes crinkling at the corners. โHe likes you because you are strong. And because you force me to be stronger. Even when you are threatening to skin me alive.โ
You rolled your eyes so hard it hurt, but your tail betrayed you again, curling tighter around his leg like it had decided it wasnโt letting go anytime soon.
โFlattery will not save you,โ you muttered, dropping your head back to his chest so you didnโt have to look at that stupid, fond expression on his face. โWhen we get back at dawn, we say nothing. We walked the perimeter. Inventoried the stock. End of story.โ
Neteyam arched a brow, amusement flickering through the bond as his eyes flickered around at the area even messier then it was before you two had arrived. โYou think they will believe that? Nothing has been done here. And you lookโฆโ He brushed a thumb over your neck, tracing where his mouth had been earlier. โโฆthoroughly ruined.โ
You swatted his hand away, but there was no real heat in it, not like before. โYou look worse, Tawtute. Like you lost a fight with an Ikran.โ
He laughed, full and unguarded this time โThen let them think what they want, I already won.โ he whispered when you parted.ย
You rolled your eyes, but your tail tightened around his leg again, betraying you.
โI still despise you,โ you muttered into his neck.
