Summary: Growing up with Neteyam meant being by each other's side always but what about forever..?
𖦹 wc, 1,7k
ᨒ warnings: fluff, mild teasing
𖦹 word key
Olo'eyktan - clan leader
tsakarem- tsahìk-in-training
tsa'lan- auntie
'evenge- girl
ioi- ceremonial apparel
maite- my daughter
kelku- home
taronyu - hunter
yovo- purple fruit
utumaiti- banana fruit
yawne- beloved
It was clear to everyone in the clan how close you and Neteyam were. Your parents have been childhood friends with Neytiri and eventually Jake when he came around. Your earliest and fondest memories always had the Sully family, your rough playing with Lo’ak at moments where you always ended with being the one to dominate over him. How you and Kiri bonded over your shared curiosity for Pandora itself, with always willing to venture out and seek new sights. And how you enjoy being able to play with Tuk, being an only child she was easily able to become the sister you never knew you needed. And Neteyam…how you enjoyed the company of the young hunter. Being close in age (he beat you only by a year) you both relied on each other in every experience growing up. He was the one to teach you how to hunt, you were teaching him how to weave and make clothing. Every experience was shared between you, and that proximity eventually turned your relationship from platonic to not so platonic. Though you both have seen the shift , neither of you commented on it. The clan had begun to whisper, noticing how his eyes followed you during training and how you always seemed to find a seat next to him during the evening meals. Of how ideal the two of you are, him, the future Olo'eyktan and you, the tsakarem. It was made by Eywa.
Neteyam was a warrior, disciplined and fierce, but his courtship of you was gentle. At least that's what everyone said. But you always brushed it off by saying he was just being kind. Yet no one could believe that, it started with small gestures…
Whenever he scoured for berries, he always seemed to bring you the sweetest ones in branches high upon tree branches. He always found a place next to yours during clan gatherings slightly eyeing you every now and then, his shoulder slightly pressed upon yours almost signaling that he will be there for you. One time you were sitting upon a tree watching him practice his hunting with his bow, you stood up and walked towards him.
“Think you can show me some tricks eh” you ask, a smile painting your face.
“Of course ! Anything in particular?” he replies.
“Just whatever you see fit I can learn”.
Your guy’s stature felt intimate, you felt his strong chest against your back, his arms and hands rested against yours, feeling his breath steady as he corrected your form, teaching you how to curve the arrow.
Neteyam hoped he stayed calm enough as he felt your touch, Eywa was testing his restraint to not stare and admire your features that second. Yet as he taught you he felt his eyes constantly drifting to your face, he took in the shape of the patterns on your skin, the beads etched into your hair and the way your freckles glowed as the night slowly came.
You turned to face him and your eyes met his golden ones, you both froze.
“A-ah I’m sorry, there was something on your hair, yes by here” He stammers and he attempts to wave off “debris” in your hair slightly ruffling it.
“Yea sure Neteyam and I am the Tsahik” You say giggling and rolling your eyes, setting the bow down and fixing your hair from the frizz he caused.
“You could be… Y/N I-”
“Neteyam!” Your heads turned to face the voice, and saw Neytiri walking towards you both.
“Mother!”
“Tsa’lan Neytiri!”
“ Both of you must come back, it is getting late and I don't want to see you both seen by a thanator or viperwolf!” She begins to walk off. You take a deep inhale before speaking.
“Race you…?” you ask, turning to Neteyam.
“Wh-” Before he can even answer, you bolt to the village.
“This ‘evenge”. He says to him laughing before running after you.
It was almost the start of one of the clan’s hunting festivals and your parents stated you needed to look your best, which left you where you were right now. Your body adorned a new ioi one you designed yourself. Your chest piece carried intricate designs that had beads of a deep emerald and light blue that compliment your dark blue skin. You carried waist beads that sat tight against your waist which felt unique and made you hopeful to catch Neteyam’s attention. Your loincloth was also decorated with beads.
As you were braiding your hair, attaching beads every so often your eyes kept looking to your left at the gift. Over the past few weeks when Neteyam began "courting you" , you began making a gift that you felt would be dear to him. During training sessions you would always head there to watch but your eyes always found Neteyam. You always scanned the ways he was so meticulous in the way his eyes were trained on his targets. The way he handled his bow and arrow always was a visual you would never get tired of. So you began your planning.
You picked a branch from a hometree that you felt was the strongest and resilient for a bow. Each day you would carve the wood and remain vigilant to not get caught, until Kiri saw you one day.
You were carving the sacred wood one day when your shoulders stiffened when someone's voice spoke up…
“You know a gift like that would give him a heart attack”
“ What gift" You attempt to hide the bow behind you. " W-what do you mean..?" You saw Kiri tilt her head, knowing well you know what she meant. "
"...Would he not like it?” You reply with a slight shake in voice turning towards the young na’vi.
“Like it..? He would accept the gift and kiss the ground you walk on for a lifetime!”
You remained silent, shocked by her statement.
“What I'm saying is… don’t worry about making the gift perfect I’ve been seeing you carefully carve that wood for days now, he’ll love whatever it is you make him, you have my brother wrapped around your finger Y/N”. You smile at her and hug her.
“But you know what would be a nice touch though” She says breaking your embrace.
“What?”
“Carving your name into the bow”
Your train of thought broke when you heard your mother’s voice.
“Y/N, are you okay maite?
“Yes mother, what is wrong?”
“ It is time for the festival, come we must be with your father, he’ll be hosting the ceremony this year and you must help with the preparations”. She turned out the entrance of your kelku, you stood up and followed her, carrying your gift on your side wrapped in cloth.
Your father finally finished his speech, he and the other taronyus' congratulating the hunters on their achievements particularly Neteyam, who they praised highly. But Neteyam only half listened to the conversations and praises as he found his eyes trained on your figure. You sat with your friends near a fire, feasting and gossiping. His eyes glanced over you. Have beads always looked so good on your hair? What is adorning your waist? What is making you carry that beautiful smile? What is that laying by your side?
“Looks like Neteyam is real busy right now,” Feya, one of your friends, said her tone a light teasing one.
“What do you mean?” You turned your head and caught his eyes already meeting yours. You spin your head back, a flush appearing on your face.
“ You plan to give it to him today right?” your friend, Tsu’eya speaks. You look to the side.
“Yes, I want congratulate his achievements but I am unsure if he will even like it”
“Like what?” You spun your head to meet the face of the voice and your breath hitched. There stood Neteyam, wearing his ioi and oh how handsome he looked wearing it.
“Like how me and Tsu’eya need to go get more Yovo and Utumauti, ‘cause you know we love to eat” The two scurry off.
You both look at the girls as they run off, the sound of their giggles trailing behind them. You left out a small sigh, turning your head to Neteyam as he let out a small laugh.
“Come I must share something” He says, reaching for your wrist and pulling you away from the festival towards the Tree of Souls.
“Neteyam what are we doing here?” You let go once you arrive under the tree. You both stand under the trees glow, his back facing you.
“Y/N” He says, turning to you and smiling on his face.
“We have known each other since we were ‘evi and since then my care and love for you has grown stronger. You have been there for me in ways that many could not. You always healed me after missions, listened to whenever I rant about Lo’ak's antics or shared my worries when it comes to my place in the clan. When I began courting you, I wanted every moment to be special, like this one”
He took a deep breath, reaching into his pouch to pull out a necklace. It was intricately woven, a skill he had practiced in secret, knowing your love for the art. It featured deep indigo and sea-glass green beads, your favorite colors, centered around a small, carved piece of obsidian.
"I am not as skilled a weaver as you," he admitted, his voice dropping to a low, intimate rumble. "But every bead I strung, I thought of a memory of us. I want everyone to see this and know who you belong to. If you will have me, my yawne" He stepped closer, the necklace dangling between his fingers.
"I would be honored to wear it," you replied. Pulling your hair up to allow him to place the necklace. As he fastened the cord around your neck, his fingers lingering on your skin. You turned to him.
“I too have something to give” You say, bending down and picking up the clothed wrapped gift. As you unwrapped it, the tree's glow captured its details, the intricate carving of the wood, the bindings it wore.
"I know you are a protector of our people," you whispered. "I wanted you to have something that was made only for you. To keep you safe, and to remind you that you always have a place to return to." You placed the bow into his hands.
Neteyam ran his fingers over the etched wood, his breath hitching when he saw your name. "My yawne, It is beautiful. The craftmanship... it’s perfect."
You look at each other, leaning closely, when your lips finally meet, nothing else matters. In the eyes of the clan, you were two children of great warriors, but in this moment, you were simply two souls finally finding their way home to one another.
🪼⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ AHHH My first avatar fic!! Oh em gee, literally have been such a fan when I came across the first movie when I was like 9 lol. I am accepting requests since I really want to get back into writing andddd I'm currently still on college break so I have a lot of free time. So feel free to ask me or comment an idea you would like!!
❤Synopsis: Paige keeps her flirtatious attitude every game, you just wanted to be the same
⪻────𖤓────⪼
The final buzzer shrieked, echoing through the arena as the Seattle Storm, your team, once again fell to the Dallas Wings, led by the one and only Paige Bueckers. You walked off the court, jaw tight, the familiar sting of a loss compounded by the ever-present shadow of Paige's playful, yet maddening, taunts.
"Rough game, sweetheart," Paige purred, her voice a low rumble next to your ear as you headed towards the locker room tunnel. You ignored her, focusing on the glare of the court lights. "You know, you wanted to kiss me so bad you could barely play!" She shouts behind you.
You scoffed, a quick, dismissive sound, but a blush crept up your neck. It was always something with her. Every game, every timeout, every accidental brush on the court, she…Paige found a way to needle you, to make those infuriating comments like "You're distracted, thinking about me, aren't you?" or "Just admit it, I make you weak." Your teammates found it hilarious, a running gag, but for you, it was a constant, simmering battle against the undeniable pull you felt toward her.
════════════════════════════════════════════
The season wore on, a relentless cycle of travel, practice, and increasingly intense matchups against the Wings. And with each game, Paige's teasing escalated. During a particularly heated moment in one of your matchups, she’d whisper, "You know you want this, don't you?" as she effortlessly stole the ball. Another time, after you missed a crucial free throw, she leaned in during a timeout, her breath warm against your ear, "See? Too busy dreaming about me."
You'd lost count of the many eye-rolls and sarcastic comebacks you've made , but inside, your stomach would do a little flip every single time. It was exhausting, thrilling, and utterly confusing.
════════════════════════════════════════════
The regular season was winding down, and the Seattle Storm were facing the Dallas Wings for the last time before playoffs. The energy in the arena was electric, a palpable tension. You were guarding Paige closely, your focus absolute, when she drove to the basket, a blur of motion. You managed to stay in front of her, forcing a contested shot. As the ball clanked off the rim, she landed perfectly, turning to face you.
"You know," Paige said, her voice dropping to that low, teasing register that always made your heart do a little stutter-step. She leaned in, her eyes sparkling with mischief, a playful smirk dancing on her lips. "You really should just say you wanna date me."
The air around you seemed to solidify. The roar of the crowd faded into a distant hum. All the weeks, all the games, all the suppressed longing and frustration coalesced into a single, unbidden truth.
You looked directly into her eyes, your own unwavering. "I do," you said, your voice clear and steady, cutting through the din. "I really, really do."
Neither of you could tell if you were being sarcastic.
Paige sure as hell didn’t want you to be.
Paige's playful smirk vanished. Her eyes, usually so full of humor and light, widened in genuine surprise. The teasing glint in them was replaced by an expression of utter shock. For the first time all season, Paige Bueckers was completely, undeniably speechless as she stares at you running back into your position.
· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·
Authors Note: Finally dropped another pic! I really wanna be dropping one at least once a week but college is already killing especially with summer work. But please feel free to request more fics or other WNBA playersss! mwah
-synopsis: during one of KK's live, reader attempts to teach the UCONN team some Spanish, Paige ends up unveiling a bit more
•| ⊱✿⊰ |•
The notification for KK's live popped up, a wide smile spreading across your face. You'd been good friends with KK since you both arrived at UConn, and lately, you'd been spending a lot of time with the whole basketball team. Tonight, it looked like the entire starting five was crammed into KK's dorm room, all fighting for space in front of the camera.
"Alright, y'all!" KK's voice boomed, her phone precariously propped against a stack of textbooks. "Welcome to another chaotic night with the Huskies! We got Paige, Azzi, Jana, Nika... and we got [Y/N] here!" She swung the camera to you, and you waved, feeling a little shy under the sudden spotlight. "So, [Y/N] has been teaching us some Spanish, 'cause we're trying to be cultured, you know?" She winked.
Comments started flooding in, a mix of heart emojis, fire emojis, and questions about practice.
"Okay, Professor [Y/N]!" Paige, ever the enthusiast, clapped her hands together. "What's our lesson tonight? I've been practicing 'Hola, ¿cómo estás?'" She grinned, a playful glint in her eyes. That grin had you already thinking Paige had something up her sleeve.
"Muy bien, Paige!" you chuckled, feeling more comfortable as the team's familiar energy surrounded you. "Tonight, we're going to learn some compliments. You know, for when you want to tell someone they played a great game, or that their outfit is fire."
Jana perked up. "Ooh, I need this! Nika, get ready for some compliments in Spanish."
You started with some basics, writing them on a whiteboard you'd brought over: "Eres increíble" (You are incredible), "Jugaste muy bien" (You played very well), "Me encanta tu energía" (I love your energy). The team, surprisingly focused, repeated after you, their accents thick but their enthusiasm infectious. Paige, in particular, was picking it up fast, her brow furrowed in concentration one moment, then beaming proudly when she got a phrase right.
"Okay, last one for tonight," you announced, turning back to the board. "This one's a bit more personal, but it's good to know. How about... 'Eres mi persona favorita'?"
"What's that mean?" Azzi asked, leaning in.
"It means 'You are my favorite person,'" you explained, and a soft "aww" rippled through the comments.
Paige, who had been quietly watching you, suddenly piped up, a mischievous glint in her eyes. She turned to the camera, a wide, confident smile on her face. "Okay, wait, wait, wait!" she said, holding up a hand. Then, she looked directly at you, her gaze warm and steady.
Taking a deep breath, she then looked back at the camera, a triumphant smirk playing on her lips as she announced, very clearly, in Spanish: "[Y/N] y yo estamos saliendo."
The room went completely silent. KK's jaw dropped, Nika's eyes widened, and even Azzi looked stunned. The comments section, however, absolutely exploded.
You, on the other hand, felt your face flush crimson. You knew exactly what that meant. “[Y/N] and I are dating.”
Paige, still beaming, turned to you, her hand gently finding yours and intertwining your fingers. "Did I say that right, Professor?" she asked, her voice innocent, but her eyes sparkling with amusement and something deeper.
You could only nod, a dizzying mix of embarrassment and pure elation washing over you. The team, finally processing what just happened, erupted in cheers and playful jeers.
"PAIGE!" KK shrieked, finally finding her voice. "You can't just drop bombs like that on my live!"
But Paige just shrugged, squeezing your hand. "Well, she taught me the words, so I figured it was time to use them." She looked at you again, her smile softening. "Right?"
"Where'd you learn to say that?" You say giggling.
"Google Translate..." She says looking to the side.
"Paige you cannot be serious"
"Just kidding I asked some girl in my Spanish class to teach me"
"You could've asked me you know" You say slightly shoving her playfully.
"Well that would've beat the point of the surprise, We've been wanting to go public, might as well make it big"
You just laughed, shaking your head, your heart doing a happy little flutter in your chest.
OMGGG This was my first fanfic posted on here, I really want to continue writing so feel free to request something in the comments or when I open the request box...lol
But I tried to incorporate a latina cuz I be barely seeing any ( ) x latina readerss so yeaa, hope y'all liked it :P
